BEIRUT -- Syrian security forces backed by tanks and snipers launched a ferocious assault Sunday on defiant cities and towns, killing at least 70 people and possibly many more as the regime raced to crush dissent ahead of Ramadan. Corpses littered the st...

  

Lebanon: Byblos Bank's unaudited consolidated total assets increased by 8.2% (+$1.3bn) during the first half of 2011 to $16.5bn as at 30 June, 2011, as compared to $15.3bn at the end of 2010 (+13.3% year-on-year increase). [AMEInfo.com]

  

Lebanon: Lebanese lender Byblos Bank has reported a net profit of $83.97m in the first six months of 2011, up 16.2% from $72.28m recorded in the same period of 2010, The Daily Star has reported. Customers' deposits increased during the period by 5.9% to $12.6bn as of June 30, 2011, up 12.5% year-on-year, and net customers' loans increased by 4.1% during the period to $3.9bn, up 12.8% year-on-year. [AMEInfo.com]

  

Lebanon: Lebanon's online portal for food and hospitality related enquiries and news Beirutrestaurants.com announced its partnership with Scanbuy subsidiary Scanmark Beirut. The regional arm of the US based global provider of mobile barcode solutions (QR Codes) will furnish Beirutrestaurants.com with 2D 'Contact Codes' for the Lebanese restaurant sector. [AMEInfo.com]

  

Lebanon's few remaining Arabic calligraphers, whose elegant script and interweaving words transport you to another era, are working to preserve an art form struggling to compete with new technology.

  

LEBANON - Party in the Park is set for 6-8 p.m. Tuesday in Pleasant Square Park, across from the post office.

  

Lebanese are among the world's most nocturnal crowd, with Beirut ranking third as one of the cities that never sleep, preceded by Cairo and Montevideo, according to an online study.

  

Zeid Hamdan, the front man of band Zeid and the Wings, was arrested Wednesday for defamation of the president over his song General Suleiman.

  

BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 29 (UPI) -- A U.N. tribunal Friday officially named the Hezbollah members indicted in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

  

Free Patriotic Movement MP Alain Aoun said Friday the sanctioning of Lebanese personalities would not benefit Lebanon's stability.

  

The following are the names, details and charges of the four Lebanese suspects charged with involvement in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

  

Future Movement MP Jamal Jarrah accused a pro-Syrian Lebanese group of being behind a recent bomb attack that left six French U.N. peacekeepers wounded earlier this week.

  

Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Friday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.

  

A new Beirut-based satellite channel is set to launch early next year, aiming to cover the reality of economic and social issues in the Arab world, according to its director.

  

Lebanon frees singer Zeid Hamdan, detained over a song in which he urges President Michel Suleiman to "go home".

  

Lebanon advanced to the third round of World Cup qualifying with a 4-2 aggregate win over Bangladesh, despite losing the second leg 2-0 on Thursday.

  

Add Byblos Lounge to the short list of outstanding Middle Eastern restaurants in Worcester.

  

Beirut finds the middle ground between oddball and everyman.

  

BEIRUT : The Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah condemned on Wednesday the attack that targeted the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) convoy on Tuesday in southern Lebanon.

  

Lebanese officials are mulling the possibility of starting low-cost charter flights between Amman and Beirut to activate the tourism season this summer.

  

Initial reports that the city center's iconic egg building was to be demolished turn out to be false, as heritage activists demand better communication from developers on the future of the city center.

  

The Lebanon Express recently asked about a dozen current and past community leaders why Lebanon has been and continues to be successful at bringing new businesses - new jobs - to the city.

  

Interior Minister denies reports that Lebanon is considering a ban on non-Lebanese protests after pro- and anti-Syrian regime demonstrations in Beirut turned violent over the weekend.

  

BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 27 (UPI) -- Hezbollah respects Beirut's authority on border demarcation, though reserves the right to avenge attacks on oil and gas installations, its leader said.

  

The UN Secretary General says he is "deeply disturbed" by a bombing that wounded five French peacekeepers in Lebanon.

  

A parcel addressed to the Israeli Foreign Ministry arrived accidentally at Beirut airport Wednesday, causing panic among customs authorities, a security source told The Daily Star.

  

By Mubarak Al-Hajri (with photos) HAMMANA, Lebanon, July 27 (KUNA) -- A number of Lebanese figures and businessmen lauded on Wednesday the State of Kuwait's countless contributions in Lebanon, expressing great gratitude to the leadership of Kuwait, especially to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

  

A roadside bomb planted at the entrance to the southern port city of Sidon struck a United Nations convoy Tuesday, wounding five French soldiers, one of them seriously, the United Nations said. The attack comes just two months after another bomb near the same spot wounded six Italian peacekeepers. Prime Minister Najib Mikati ordered an investigation, though there was no immediate claim of ...

  

DRUMMOND, N.B. - The lawyer for a New Brunswick farmer jailed in Lebanon for more than four months says his client is being treated like a criminal and the Canadian government is doing nothing to help.

  

A roadside bomb blew up next to a United Nations convoy carrying French peacekeepers in south Lebanon on Tuesday, wounding at least five of them in the second attack on the U.N. force in two months, the United Nations said.

  

Five French soldiers serving with the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon have been wounded.

  

The leader of Lebanon's Shiite Muslim Hezbollah group on Tuesday warned Israel against trying to steal Lebanon's maritime resources and said it would retaliate against any Israeli attack on the country's oil and gas installations.

  

Five French soldiers serving with the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon have been wounded.

  

Beirut: "East Harlem" Beirut 's new album, The Rip Tide , is out August 30 physically via bandleader Zach Condon's own Pompeii Records . If your music collection largely consists of ones and zeroes, though, you can hear it a lot sooner: the album's digital release date has been moved up to next Tuesday, August 2. Listen to the BNT'd album track "East Harlem" above.

  

LEBANON - A sizzle cuts through the air above the grassy fields of the Lebanon sports complex, like bacon on a hot griddle. A dozen people tilt their heads upward, shading their eyes with a flattened head to the forehead, trying to maintain a glimpse of the projectile, screaming in its approach towards the heaven. Finally the tension is broken by the metallic voice of a walkie talkie 'Bad flight ...

  

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A roadside bomb blew up a United Nations vehicle near the southern Lebanese port city of Sidon on Tuesday, wounding five French peacekeepers.

  

Five French soldiers serving with the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon were wounded on Tuesday, one seriously, in a roadside bomb attack in the southern city of Sidon, a UN official told AFP.

  

A roadside bomb blew up next to a U.N. convoy carrying French peacekeepers in south Lebanon on Tuesday, wounding three of them in the second such attack in a month, a Lebanese security official said.

  

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A roadside bomb blew up a U.N. vehicle near the southern Lebanese port city of Sidon on Monday, wounding at least three peacekeepers, Lebanese security and witnesses said.

  

The Lebanese government has yet to look into the issue of funding the U.N.-backed court probing the assassination of statesman Rafik Hariri, Free Patriotic Movement MP Walid Khouri said Monday.

  

The Board of Education for Lebanon City Schools is having a meeting on Tuesday to discuss placing another levy on the November ballot.

  

Lebanon: Emirates has this month marked 20 years of operations to Beirut, highlighting the airlines enduring commitment to the market. On Monday 15th July 1991, Emirates' inaugural flight to Beirut landed. From an initial three flights per week each seating 145 passengers Emirates now has a total of 14 weekly flights with up to 364 seats per flight. [AMEInfo.com]

  

Eleven Israeli military aircraft have penetrated Lebanese airspace and flown over parts of the country in flagrant violation of a UN Security Council resolution.

  

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri is planning to return to Beirut soon, ending a three-month absence, in a move likely to intensify the March 14 coalition's opposition against the Hezbollah-dominated government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati...

  

The Lebanese government should discuss with the U.N. and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon any challenges Lebanese groups have to the constitutionality of the court, said Baabda MP Alain Aoun...

  

The Lebanese Army arrested at least 10 people after violence broke out in Beirut late Sunday between pro- and anti-Syrian government protesters, a security source said Monday.

  

Lebanon's BLOM Bank posted first-half net profit of $163.56 million, up 4.6 percent compared with same period last year.

  

Late tonight, Bob and Lisa Pence can talk about their trip to Palm Springs in April - after everyone sees it tonight on 'House Hunters on Vacation' (10:30 p.m., HGTV). The episode was shot in and around Lebanon, and in Palm Springs. The family applied to the show by sending in a video in February, and [...]

  

Syria's government has endorsed a draft law that it says will allow the formation of political parties alongside President Bashar Assad's ruling Baath Party, part of a series of promised reforms that the opposition has dismissed as largely symbolic.

  

A journalist working for Lebanon's state-run National News Agency narrowly escaped death while returning from the south, the NNA said Monday.

  

Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Monday.

  

?Lebanese banks have a long-term vulnerability to their dependence on foreign depositors and on Lebanon's debt-servicing capacity, the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit said in a recent report.

  

LEBANON - A Lebanon family's 'vacation videos' will be seen by the entire nation Monday night.In April, the Pence family - parents Bob and Lisa and their three children, John, 12; Emily, 9; and Avery, 3 - were whisked away on a week-long vacation by House Hunters on Vacation, a television series on HGTV. On each episode, a different family is given a surprise vacation, told where they are going ...

  

A senior Lebanese politician says Lebanon cannot survive in the face of Israeli aggressions without the Hezbollah resistance movement, to which the country's future is closely tied.

  

Victims of the July 2006 war with Israel should file lawsuits against Lebanese officials and Western governments for assisting the Jewish state during the conflict, Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Nawaf Mousawi said Sunday.

  

Lebanese Scouts will head to Sweden this week for the 22nd annual World Scout Jamboree, an international meeting of scouts from over 160 countries.

  

Lebanon submits request to U.N. to extend mandate of UNIFIL forces for a year, sources say Sunday.

  

Lebanon: Art of Colors (AOC) has expanded its geographical spread further in Middle East region by appointing the leading distribution company CCT as its authorized distributor for Lebanon. In a recent report, BMI forecasted the size of the Lebanese IT market in 2011 to be $321m, up from nearly $287m in 2010. [AMEInfo.com]

  

Lebanon ranks as 43rd most failed state, fifth in MENA region, down from last year's position at 34, according to Failed States Index.

  

Lebanon: In an effort to maintain a greener and cleaner environment, Spinneys, Servicorp and Nestle Waters have decided to join hands to promote the recycling of plastic bottles and cans in Lebanon. Dubbed 'Protect Lebanon - Recycle Today', the initiative revolves around the placement of Reverse Vending Machines in several Spinneys stores and will be piloted for the first time in Lebanon in the Dbayeh and Achrafieh stores of Spinneys. [AMEInfo.com]

  

Lebanon: Lebanon's central bank governor Riad Salameh has said the country will continue to draw a distinction between commercial and business banks, The Daily Star has reported. "We will continue to encourage business banks to perform special tasks until the issuance of a law to organise the capital market in Lebanon," Salameh told participants in a workshop on Basel III recommendations. [AMEInfo.com]

  

Two goals in each half helped Lebanon beat Bangladesh 4-0 in the first leg of their World Cup qualifier on Saturday. Hassan Maatouk opened the scoring in the 16th minute and then Mahmoud El Ali found the net 11 minutes later. Lebanon extended its lead 10 minutes into the second half through defender Ali Al Saadi, who was part of the Safa SC side that finished runner-up in the 2008 AFC Cup.

  

Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Saturday.

  

Lebanon: Lebanese lender, Bank Audi has reported a 10.8% increase in net profit to $179m in the first six months of the year, on improved market conditions and after efforts last year to cut funding costs and improve interest margins, Reuters has reported. The country's largest in terms of assets and deposits, reported $161.4m net profit in the first half of 2010. [AMEInfo.com]

  

A judge of the Court of Queen's Bench granted a creditor protection extension to the family of Henk Tepper, the New Brunswick potato farmer who's been in a Beirut jail for the last four months.

  

Syrians in Lebanon are being urged to hold a mass gathering at the Syrian Embassy in Beirut Sunday in support of the security and stability of Syria.

  

BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 22 (UPI) -- Syrian tanks were keeping refugees from fleeing the fighting into Lebanon Friday, witnesses at the border said.

  

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Damascus residents troubled by intensified crackdowns on pro-democracy protesters in the Syrian capital are now staying at home, hoarding money and bracing for violence.

  

Beirut, 22 July 2011 (United Nations Information Centre)-- Political instability in the region is likely to dampen economic recovery, a UN report says.

  

21 July 2011 The Secretary General for the Lebanese-Syrian Council, Nasri Khoury, confirms the close cooperation between the Central Banks in Lebanon and Syria, and denies that the ratio of transfers, from Syria to Lebanon, is as high as rumored.

  

BEIRUT: Prime Minister Najib instructed Cabinet members Thursday to band together and implement wide-ranging reforms that would support a tourist sector which he branded a 'national priority.?

  

IRISH troops on the frontline in south Lebanon are tasked with trying to keep a lid on tensions between the warring sides boiling over and threatening a fragile peace pact.

  

France denied Thursday it had reneged on an agreement with Lebanon by freezing its missile supply to Beirut, as was reported in a pan-Arab newspaper.

  

They?ve been here less than a week but already some are planning their next trip to Lebanon.

  

Leading bankers downplayed the significance of Moody's change of outlook on four Lebanese banks from stable to negative, stressing that these banks are highly liquid and can weather any unexpected storm.

  

BEIRUT?Gunfire and explosions erupted Thursday in the city at the heart of Syria's anti-government uprising as soldiers launched a massive crackdown, witnesses said.

  

By Justin McClellandStaff Writer

  

LEBANON - Authorities say a sheriff's sergeant was hurt and two men charged after a two-vehicle collision led to a confrontation with family members of one of the drivers.

  

Lebanese GLC demands minimum wage raise

  

Lebanon: In the first half of 2011, Lebanon's economic activity reported signs of slowdown due to the environment prevailing in the region. Main real sector indicators reported decreases relative to the corresponding period of 2010, suggesting a lower GDP growth forecast in 2011 than in 2010. [AMEInfo.com]

  

Lebanon: Amana Capital, online brokerage company based in Lebanon, has launched its customized mobile trading platform, allowing users to access the markets anytime, anywhere and trade on the go. The personalized platforms can be accessed through any iPhone, Blackberry as well as any iPad, computer, or browser. [AMEInfo.com]

  

Lebanon: MTC Touch, the mobile operator in Lebanon and Zain affiliate, announced the expansion of its Certified Outlets' network, to include 29 outlets in addition to the company's headquarters at Charles El Helou and its 5 regional service centers. [AMEInfo.com]

  

Representatives of the Lebanese Diaspora urged the government Wednesday to press ahead with allowing Lebanese abroad to vote in the next elections...

  

Speaking of the international tribunal is increasingly becoming a way of intimidating Lebanon by the international community. The appearance of Resolution 1559 was followed by Resolution 1757 under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Reolution 1559 has been applied only partially.

  

SAINT JOHN, N.B. - A lawyer for a New Brunswick potato farmer who has been held for months in a Lebanese jail says Ottawa should help his client see a doctor for a mental health assessment.

  

A daycare and a dozen homes were evacuated Wednesday after a gas leak in Lebanon, officials say. Read more at www.WISHTV.com

  

The overall commander of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon has said that Irish troops have a lot to do to maintain stability there.

  

Lebanon plans to hire Blom Bank SAL (BLOM) and Citigroup Inc. (C) to advise on refinancing about $950 million in Eurobonds and interest payments due next month, according to two people familiar with the matter.

  

Fight which developed overnight following an original dispute regarding a woman leaves man with fractures and bruising.

  

Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Wednesday.

  

Follow Israel news on and . In what is seen as an act of courage, Lebanon's Prime Minister said Monday his government will support the UN special tribunal that is investigating the 2005 killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

  

Figures released by Certificate of Deposits CDS and bond pricing firm CMA Datavision show that spreads on 5-year credit default swaps for Lebanon ended the second quarter of 2011 at 351 basis points...

  

Wine is the new alcohol, says Michel Gibran, who, along with his business partner Tommy Tabib co-owns a wine bar, L?Osteria, in the emerging Beirut district of Mar Mikhael.

  

Lebanese President Michel Sleiman has urged an expansion of bilateral ties with Iran, calling on the Islamic Republic to help Lebanon reach national unity.

  

Lebanese University official Antoine Khoury was severely beaten by students Tuesday, a security source told The Daily Star.

  

BEIRUT, 19 July 2011 ( IRIN ) - The demand for equal religious, gender and other treatment for all Lebanese citizens has gained pace with some saying the time has come to review laws that confer inequality, especially on women.

  

Lebanon's Cabinet unanimously agrees to recognize South Sudan during its meeting Monday night.

  

Three Israeli reconnaissance planes have penetrated Lebanese airspace again and have flown over parts of the country in blatant violation of a UN Security Council resolution.

  

This year's political instability, both at home and in the region, has put a damper on the summer diaspora camp experience in Lebanon, although initiatives aren't completely lacking.

  

Lebanon's prime minister said Monday his government will support the U.N. special tribunal that is investigating the 2005 killing of a previous Lebanese prime minister.

  

The Box a leading smart storage company in Beirut offers both moving and storage services which work together to offer better choices for their customers.

  

Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Monday.

  

President Michel Sleiman, voicing concern over deep political divisions between rival factions...

  

Sidon MP Bahia Hariri said the Lebanese would face off a new Israeli aggression on Lebanon's natural resources.

  

Like so many Lebanese musicians, jazz vocalist Randa Ghossoub resides between borders.

  

Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah on Sunday warned Israel against developing "a single metre" of disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean to search for offshore gas deposits.

  

BEIRUT - Activists say Syrian troops backed by tanks have entered a town near the border with Lebanon and are carrying out a campaign of arrests.

  

Lebanon: The Lebanese transport ministry is considering plans to launch charter flights to Jordan to accommodate growing passenger traffic between the two countries, The Daily Star has reported. Travel between Jordan and Lebanon has been greatly constrained since a popular uprising rocked neighbouring Syria in March, restricting land travel to and from Lebanon. [AMEInfo.com]

  

BEIRUT, Jul 16, 2011 (AFP) - After winning a confidence vote at home, Lebanon's Hezbollah-dominated government is headed for another test over the country's financial duties towards the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL).

  

Lebanon: As a major step towards promoting environmental awareness and creating a more sustainable future in the Middle East, the International Trade Exhibition and Conference for Environmental Technologies, Sustainability and Clean Energy, EcOrient 2012, was launched during a press conference held at the Beirut Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture on July 15th 2011. [AMEInfo.com]

  

Hania Mrou's brows furrow as she stares into her Blackberry. An SMS message on the mobile phone in her other hand has just delivered bad news about the whereabouts of a 35mm film reel.

  

BEIRUT?A Syrian activist says security forces have killed 14 protesters during anti-government demonstrations across the country.

  

Lebanese authorities seize a large number of contraband cigarettes, worth an estimated LL117 million ($78,000) in taxes.

  

Seven Estonian tourists returned from Lebanon to their Baltic homeland Friday, less than 24 hours after being freed following a four-month kidnap ordeal.

  

Lebanon's new cabinet held its first session Thursday exactly one week after it won a confidence vote in Parliament. Key administrative appointments were tackled during the session, which was held at the presidential palace.

  

The Transport Ministry is considering the launching of charter flights between Amman and Beirut in order to accommodate heightened traveler traffic between the two cities, according to a statement released by the ministry Thursday.

  

BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 14 (UPI) -- The Lebanese cabinet is meeting on Thursday to discuss the contentious issue of the government's energy policies in relation to the country's offshore energy assets.

  

BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 14 (UPI) -- Seven Estonian bicyclists kidnapped earlier this year were released Thursday in Lebanon, though sources said Beirut had no prior knowledge of the operation.

  

JERUSALEM, July 14 (UPI) -- Hezbollah Deputy Chief Sheik Naim Qassem has warned Israel it would protect its borders and maritime rights against encroachment.

  

Prime Minister Najib Miqati's Hizbullah-backed cabinet won a routine confidence vote on Thursday despite a walk-out by the opposition.

  

Estonia's foreign ministry confirmed on Thursday that seven of its citizens held for almost four months in Lebanon had been freed and were being cared for in the French embassy in Beirut.

  

BEIRUT - Seven Estonian tourists abducted nearly four months ago by masked gunmen while cycling through Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley have been released, officials said Thursday.

  

Seven Estonian cyclists kidnapped in northern Lebanon in March were released Thursday, the Lebanese Army said.

  

Seven kidnapped Estonians were freed in Lebanon Thursday, almost four months since being abducted by armed men as they entered the country on a bicycle tour from neighbouring Syria, a police official said.

  

BEIRUT: Solidere shares continued to plunge unabated amid signs that the prices of the real estate company may not regain their strength if the political picture in Lebanon remains obscure, brokers said Wednesday.

  

As the Lebanese government struggles to defend its right to offshore natural resources, with the issue expected to be discussed in Thursday's Cabinet meeting...

  

Special traffic measures will be in effect during Thursday's celebration of Bastille Day, the police announced.

  

BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 13 (UPI) -- The opposition March 14 movement can bring down the government and its Hezbollah allies, the former Lebanese prime minister said.

  

UNIFIL, Lebanese and Israeli army officials hold a tripartite meeting Wednesday at the southern border crossing of Naqoura expected to discuss Israeli violations of Lebanon's airspace.

  

Lebanon: Amidst an evening abounding with elegance and sophistication, Longines has now added its elegant touch to the beautiful city of Beirut with the launch of its first boutique in Downtown Beirut. The new boutique, opened in partnership with their long-time Lebanese associates Est.H. Atamian, marks yet another successful step in Longines' enduring quest to expand in the Middle East region. [AMEInfo.com]

  

In the last 10 years, art fairs have overtaken biennials and other large-scale exhibitions as the primary drivers of the international art world.

  

Just back from a visit to Lebanon, a land where politics is a perennial blood sport, I can't help but reflect on the views I was exposed to regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Most interesting was the reaction to my retort when asked, "How could a people who experienced the horrors of the Holocaust inflict misery on others?"At the risk of giving unintended offense, acknowledging that ...

  

BEIRUT (Reuters) - U.S. ambassador Robert Ford has been at the forefront of a rapid breakdown in ties between the United States and Syria, resulting in Washington deeming President Bashar al-Assad illegitimate and an assault on the U.S. embassy.

  

People harmed in the attack that killed former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri can join the legal proceedings, the tribunal investigating the 2005 killing said Tuesday.

  

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria denounced on Tuesday a statement by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in which she said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had lost legitimacy and was "not indispensable."

  

Lebanon: The UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) is participated in the 8th Annual Meeting of the General Assembly of Arab ICT Regulators Network (ARGNET) hosted by the Republic of Lebanon through its Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the General Secretariat of the Arab Network for ICT, in Beirut from 6-7 July 2011. [AMEInfo.com]

  

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman said Monday that Lebanon will make use of all the legitimate means to defend its offshore gas resources, warning Israel against violating the international law.

  

A dozen pro-Palestinian activists held a demonstration Monday in front of the European Union building, after a flotilla heading to Gaza was prevented from leaving Greece and other activists were banned from entering Israel over the weekend.

  

Miss Lebanon 2010 Rahaf Abdallah (right) crowns 19-year-old Yara Khoury Mikhael (second right) as Miss Lebanon 2011 after she won the beauty contest in Beirut on Sunday night. The other winners were first runner up Carolina Nassar, second runner up Sonia Lynn Gabriel and third runner up Paloma Mady.

  

A judge with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon has issued arrest warrants for suspects in the 2005 killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Harriri and 22 others.

  

BEIRUT, 11 July 2011 ( IRIN ) - Of all Lebanon's communities the Dom, described by some researchers as "the Gypsies of Lebanon", are the most marginalized: Up to 68 percent of Dom children do not attend school, according to a new report.

  

BEIRUT -- Witnesses say Syrian pro-government protesters have attacked the U.S. embassy compound in Damascus, causing damage. The witnesses said the protesters smashed windows and raised a Syrian flag on the compound on Monday.

  

Lebanon responded angrily Monday to Israel's proposed maritime boundary, calling it an act of "aggression," as a dispute builds over huge natural gas and oil reserves beneath the sea.

  

BEIRUT - A witness in Syria's capital says security guards at the French Embassy have fired into the air to...

  

Lebanon is calling Israel's proposed maritime boundary between the two nations an act of "aggression," as a dispute builds over huge natural gas and oil reserves beneath the sea.

  

Lebanon: Canon Middle East hosted its top dealers in Lebanon to preview its most recently launched printer models in the market. The event was instrumental in securing business of worth over $20,000 during the 2 hour event and it has resulted in a 20% increase in sales projection for Canon in the office personal products (OPP) segment in the same month. [AMEInfo.com]

  

Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Monday.

  

The Halifax Lebanese Festival had an impressive turnout this weekend, despite Saturday's steady rain.

  

Lebanese Forces MP lashed out Sunday at Sports and Youth Minister Faisal Karami, who had described the party's leader Samir Geagea as a criminal who was unconstitutionally released from prison.

  

Don't clench it between your teeth. Do take a puff no more than twice a minute.

  

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Interpol has circulated arrest warrants for four suspects in the 2005 assassination of Lebanese statesman Rafik al-Hariri, U.N.-backed tribunal said on Sunday.

  

Israel's cabinet approved on Sunday a map of the Jewish state's proposed maritime borders with Lebanon to be submitted for a UN opinion, in a brewing dispute between the neighbours over offshore gas fields.

  

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria said it had summoned the envoys of the United States and France in Damascus on Sunday to express objection over their visit to the restive city of Hama last week without clearance from the authorities.

  

Israel's Cabinet has proposed a maritime boundary with Lebanon significantly different from the line that Beirut is seeking.

  

BEIRUT - The Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which is investigating the 2005 murder of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, said on Sunday that Interpol had circulated arrest warrants for the four suspects in the bombing.

  

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel outlined maritime economic borders on Sunday that challenged what it said were boundaries submitted by Lebanon to the United Nations in a dispute fueled by massive Mediterranean gas finds.

  

Lebanon's Ambassador to the U.S. will join a forum focusing on business opportunities in the Middle East following recent changes in the Arab world, a U.S.-based newspaper reported over the weekend.

  

Lebanon: The Lebanese Banks Association has said the regional turmoil has not affected the performance of Lebanese lenders in Arab countries, The Daily Star has reported. "The size of Lebanese banks in Arab countries is too small compared to their sizes in Lebanon and hence they were not affected by the regional turmoil and particularly the latest Syrian events," Joseph Torbey, president of the association said. [AMEInfo.com]

  

TEHRAN, July 9 (MNA) -- The recent political developments in Lebanon were totally predictable.

  

A senior Lebanese security official says Interpol has issued international alerts against four Hezbollah men indicted in the 2005 assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister Rafik Hariri .

  

A plane crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo that killed 56 has also claimed the life of a Lebanese man, Hussein Ali Khazal, who hailed from Ainata, south Lebanon.

  

Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Saturday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.

  

President of the Lebanese banks association Joseph Torbey said Friday that the Lebanese banking sector is resilient and the regional turmoil did not affect the performance of Lebanese banks in Arab countries.

  

The Lebanese love affair with cars - visible everyday on the country's streets and highways - is the subject of a new exhibition that seeks to convert a buzzing car culture into a unique history lesson.

  

A Lebanese lawmaker says that the uncertain fate of four Iranian diplomats kidnapped by Lebanese Forces in July 1982 harms the dignity of the Muslim Ummah.

  

BEIRUT - Syria accused the United States of inciting unrest on Friday, saying the U.S. ambassador's unauthorized trip to the flashpoint city of Hama proved Washington has a hand in a four-month uprising seeking to topple the country's autocratic regime.

  

BEIRUT: The Special Tribunal for Lebanon denied Thursday suggestions made by a Hezbollah MP that the court had maintained an office in south Beirut.

  

As the U.N. releases its Millennium Development Goals Global Report 2011 Thursday, attention is shifting to the many hurdles ahead, which for Lebanon range from countering devastating environmental degradation to reducing regional income disparities.

  

BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 7 (UPI) -- The Lebanese government was corrupt from the beginning in its opposition to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, an opposition lawmaker said Thursday.

  

Lebanon's prime minister has vowed to cooperate with a United Nations-backed court charging Hezbollah operatives over the assassination of the country's former leader, Rafik Hariri, six years ago.

  

Lebanon's new government under billionaire Najib Mikati won the parliamentary vote of confidence it needs to start work.

  

Lebanese lawmakers have voted to approve the newly formed Hezbollah-dominated Cabinet after a contentious debate over the government's position in confronting the Islamic militant group.

  

Government of Hezbollah-backed PM Najib Mikati secures its position as Western-backed opposition walks out before vote.

  

Lebanon's new government wins a vote of confidence in Parliament after three days of heated debate over its policy statement.

  

Lebanese Company - Audited Consolidated Financial Results - 2010

  

Lebanon: Family-owned businesses face unique challenges, including complex family and business relationships and business succession considerations. The Lebanese League for Women in Business (LLWB) convened its third Corporate Ambassadors Program (CAP) at the Olayan School of Business at the American University of Beirut to address the national and global trends of family-owned businesses and to discuss strategies for management and succession. The program hosted over 200 professionals and prominent speakers. [AMEInfo.com]

  

Avadis Kassibian fatally shoots his attacker after seizing his rifle during an attack at Kassibian's Beirut home in which he was shot Wednesday night, a security source said.

  

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Israel used force "not commensurate to the threat" when it fired live ammunition during a Palestinian demonstration in May, but the protesters also behaved in a provocative and violent way, a U.N. report released on Wednesday said.

  

Organizers of a popular Halifax summer festival are hoping for a record turnout.Years of steadily climbing attendance at the Lebanese Festival made the host venue, Saint Antonio's Church, expand its parking lot a few years ago to accommodate the increase.Last year, the place was filled, said festival committee member Vicky Mina.?We had about 10,000 (people), just going by the amount of food that ...

  

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon accused Israeli soldiers of using excessive force in a May 15 incident by firing live ammunition at unarmed Lebanese demonstrators trying to breach a border fence.

  

BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 6 (UPI) -- The Special Tribunal for Lebanon is part of a war against the Shiite resistance movement that will ultimately prove useless, said Hezbollah's leader.

  

As the pan-Arab turmoil arrives at Lebanon's doorstep and raises fears of renewed civil strife, chances are that the unfolding regional transition will also help Lebanon restore some of its lost glory as the Arab world's financial hub.

  

LEBANON - At the July 13 city council meeting, an interview committee is expected to recommend someone to fill the Ward III seat on city council formerly held by Don Thoma, who died May 21.

  

Lebanon: Lebanese lender Byblos Bank has selected FP7 Beirut to handle its creative and media portfolio in Lebanon following a multi-agency pitch, Campaign ME has reported. FP7 is part of MCN, which operates several agency brands across the Middle East and North Africa including Lowe, UM, Initiative, Magna Global, Promoseven 360, MRM Worldwide, McCann Healthcare, Weber Shandwick Mena, and InnovationsDigital. [AMEInfo.com]

  

Lebanese President Michel Sleiman conferred the Medal of the National Order of the Cedar, Grand Officer Rank, on former Philippine Ambassador Gilberto Asuque for his services in enhancing bilateral relations between Lebanon and the Philippines.

  

The Lebanese parliament kicked off sessions on Tuesday to discuss the new cabinet's policy statement, with the Western-backed March 14 opposition making use of all its weapons to discredit the government which is dominated by Shi'ite armed group Hezbollah and its allies.

  

LEBANON - A Lebanon native who popularized home decor and easier living is being honored on a postage stamp.Russel Wright, the forerunner of celebrity designer/lifestyle experts like Martha Stewart, is being honored on a U.S. stamp that was released Tuesday. Wright is one of 12 'Pioneers of American Industrial Design,' stamps that honor inventors and inventions that 'shaped the look of everyday ...

  

SIDON, Lebanon, July 5 (UPI) -- A lawyer and his family survived an attempted assassination by automatic gunfire in southern Lebanon at dawn Tuesday, a security source told The Daily Star.

  

Four Hezbollah members indicted in the 2005 assassination of a former Lebanese prime minister cannot stay fugitives forever and should get lawyers, the defense chief of an international tribunal said Tuesday.

  

Lebanon: Biomass Organic Products has launched the first organic dairy products factory in Lebanon, to produce a variety of local and EU-certified organic dairy products that will be offered to consumers across Lebanon starting July 2011. [AMEInfo.com]

  

BEIRUT: Lebanon's opposition has demanded Prime Minister Najib Mikati announce his full support for a UN-backed court charging Hezbollah members in ex-premier Rafiq Hariri's murder, ahead of a vote of confidence.

  

Lebanese poet and writer Said Akl was honored on his 100th birthday during an official mass in Bkirki Monday.

  

Lebanon's opposition has demanded Prime Minister Najib Mikati announce his full support for a UN-backed court charging Hezbollah members in ex-premier Rafiq Hariri's murder, ahead of a vote of confidence.

  

The son of assassinated Prime Minister Rafik Hariri accused Lebanon's new premier Monday of bowing to pressure from Hezbollah, which is refusing to turn over four members indicted by a U.N.-backed tribunal for the truck bombing that killed the Lebanese statesman in 2005.

  

Lebanon's pro-Western political faction has called on the government to respect an international tribunal calling for the arrest of four Hezbollah members in the assassination of a former prime minister.

  

BEIRUT - Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has said the authorities would never arrest members of the Shia militant group indicted by a UN-backed tribunal seeking the killers of statesman Rafik al-Hariri.

  

The Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon conducted a joint-naval maneuver over the weekend off the coast of the Mediterranean.

  

The judiciary issued a ruling over the weekend banning an unidentified Lebanese newspaper from publishing news related to the trial of retired Gen. Fayez Karam, a member of the Free Patriotic Movement suspected of being an Israeli collaborator.

  

Lebanon: After the successful launch of the LG Media Club in April, LG Electronics has continued to engage the Lebanese media in the latest trends by organizing a special roundtable event. The discussion was led by an interior designer and highlighted the topic of how electronic products have evolved into elegant artworks that enhance a home's appearance rather than just a necessity. [AMEInfo.com]

  

Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, says no Lebanese government will ever be able to arrest the group members sought by a United Nations-backed tribunal.

  

BEIRUT - Syrian President Bashar Assad dismissed the governor of the key central city of Hama on Saturday in apparent political payback after hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the largest demonstration yet against Assad's authoritarian regime. The move, announced by the state-run news agency SANA, was seen by...

  

BEIRUT -- Syrian President Bashar Assad dismissed the governor of the key central city of Hama on Saturday in apparent political payback after hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the largest demonstration yet against Assad's authoritarian regime.

  

BEIRUT - Syrian President Bashar Assad dismissed the governor of the key central city of Hama on Saturday after one of the largest protest gatherings to demand an end to Assad's authoritarian regime.

  

Druze chief Jumblatt: International indictments will reopen old wounds and further divide Lebanon

  

The United States on Thursday called on the Lebanese government to act on a UN- backed tribunal's indictments in the 2005 assassination of then Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, which local media said were directed against the Shiite militant group Hezbollah, a key player in the new cabinet.

  

The indictment by the international tribunal of several people for the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri has brought the new Lebanese government led by Prime Minister Mikati face to face with a situation, which will entail dealing with difficulties both inside the country and abroad. It also raises many questions about the link between this and the developments in the Middle East.

  

WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- Washington is looking to Beirut to act on indictments from a tribunal probing the assassination of Rafik Hariri, a spokesman said.

  

Lebanon is braced for a violent reaction from the Shiite Islamist party Hezbollah after four of its senior figures were accused of masterminding the assassination of Rafiq Hariri, the former prime minister, six years ago.

  

The indictment reportedly accusing Hezbollah members of killing a former prime minister will fuel unrest, not justice.

  

Lebanese Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said four suspects were named in an indictment filed by a United Nations tribunal investigating the killing of former premier Rafiq Hariri.

  

Arrest warrants were issued for Lebanese citizens Mustafa Badreddine, Salim Ayyash, Hassan Oneisseh and Assad Sabra, Charbel said in a phone interview today. He didn't provide further information about the suspects.

  

A UN-backed tribunal investigating the assassination of a former Lebanese prime minister delivered indictments to prosecutors yesterday, naming four men, including two suspected members of Hezbollah, in a six-year-old case that redrew the country's politics and unleashed years of discord.

  

Popular Indie band Beirut will perform at the Electric Factory