Organized terrorist activities in Lebanon are on the rise, according to a Western intelligence report quoted by Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) Monday. The report cites an increasing rate of terrorist-like attacks and the steady, organized infiltration of Lebanon-Syria border areas as
Relatives of one of two Israeli soldiers captured by Hizbullah fighters in 2006 said on Monday they had been told by an Israeli negotiator that a German-mediated prisoner swap was coming together. "We had a meeting with [envoy] Ofer Dekel
While the electoral districting for the 2009 parliamentary elections based on a slightly modified 1960 electoral framework is more or less known, the broader electoral order will be shaped by parliamentary deliberations regarding the package of reforms put forth by
A key meeting between President Michel Sleiman and spiritual leaders from Lebanon's main sects is due to take place at the presidential palace early next week, a well-informed source told The Daily Star on Monday. Nazem al-Khoury, a former MP
President Michel Sleiman has asked the United States to help Lebanon restore its sovereignty over the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms and Kfar Shuba Hills, according to a Presidential Palace statement. Sleiman said during a meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza
Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader MP Michel Aoun was adamant on his formula for the next cabinet despite a meeting with President Michel Sleiman aimed at eliminating differences and facilitating the formation of the new cabinet, well informed sources told
Britain has warned of a high risk of a terror attack in the United Arab Emirates, a regional economic and tourist hub that is home to several million foreigners. "There is a high threat from terrorism. We believe terrorists may
An Australian terrorism suspect whose conviction was overturned in 2006 was ordered to stand trial again Monday for allegedly receiving money from Al-Qaeda and possessing a false passport. The Victoria State Court of Appeal ordered the retrial after prosecuters said
Pakistan stoked tensions with Afghanistan on Monday, summoning the Afghan envoy and vowing to defend its sovereignty after President Hamid Karzai threatened cross-border attacks on militants. Karzai said on Sunday that Afghanistan would be justified to attack Taliban insurgents on
Iraniani President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cannot tolerate criticism, sacked Interior Minister Mostafa Pour Mohammadi was quoted as saying on Monday as he gave an unprecedented insight into the manner of his departure from the government.
Thousands of students in northwestern Iran have held a protest against the attempted sexual harassment of a female colleague by a top university official, the press reported on Monday. About 3,000 students at Zanjan university in the city of Zanjan
A joint North-South Sudanese force tasked with preventing a repeat of fighting in the disputed Abyei region will deploy this week but a day later than planned, its commander said on Monday. Troops from the Sudanese Army and the Southern
Turkey's ruling party on Monday answered charges in a court case seeking its closure for anti-secular activity, arguing that any ban would be rejected by the European Court of Human Rights. "There is no justifiable reason in this court case
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday pressed Israel to ease living conditions in the Occupied West Bank after warning that the growth of illegal settlements there and in Jerusalem was harming peace talks. Rice also raised the issue
Iraqi forces have completed their deployment in the southern city of Amara ahead of a planned offensive against militia groups in the Shiite stronghold, a top commander said on Monday. "The military is fully deployed to ensure total control of
At least 40 people drowned and around 100 are missing after a boat carrying illegal immigrants from Libya to Italy capsized, an Egyptian security official said on Monday. Forty bodies have been recovered after the boat sank shortly after leaving
The head of a Hamas delegation left Cairo on Monday without giving a final response to an Egyptian mediated cease-fire proposal as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas voiced hope a truce could be reached in days. Egypt's official Middle East News
Dozens of teachers in the United Arab Emirates staged a sit-in on Sunday to protest their transfer from teaching posts because of what they said were their Islamist views. "Nobody has explained to us the reason behind our removal from
Egyptian security forces detained a schoolboy for several hours after he wrote in an exam that President Hosni Mubarak was a tyrant who ruled over cowards, an Education Ministry official said on Monday. Safwat Hassan, 17, wrote in his end
The European Union on Monday threatened to impose sanctions against Sudanese who do not cooperate in bringing those accused of war crimes in Darfur to the international court. In a joint statement, EU foreign ministers said the bloc "stands ready
