Khazen

Al-Rahi Offers Condolences in Dahieh, Urges Political Initiative to Honor Victims of Blasts

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Monday reiterated his call for political parties to close ranks in the wake of the deadly bombings that rocked Tripoli and Dahieh. After offering condolences at the headquarters of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council on Dahieh’s outskirts over the victims of the Rweiss blast, al-Rahi said "what happened on August […]

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US draws closer to Syria response as officials say chemical weapons used

The Obama administration was inching closer to a decision on how and whether to strike Syria, after Secretary of State John Kerry and the White House both declared that the evidence showing chemical weapons were used in a deadly attack last week is "undeniable." "What is before us today is real, and it is compelling," […]

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A HISTORY OF SOAP

  A pinch of coarse sea salt. A dash of rosemary. A bit of olive, almond, and coconut oil. Blend together, put over fire, and stirred for about two hours. Sound like a recipe? It is, but it’s one used for soap. At Khan el Saboun in Daher el Aayn, Tripoli, the Bader Hassoun family […]

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Drums of war in Middle East

  BEIRUT: Pressure is mounting on the United States and its allies to respond to an alleged chemical weapons attack outside the Syrian capital that officials say was probably perpetrated by the government, even if they cannot establish responsibility with certainty. U.N. weapons inspectors were to begin moving in to the site of the attack […]

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Bombings Strike Lebanon, as Mosques Are Targeted in Growing Violence

TRIPOLI, Lebanon — Car bombs exploded outside two Sunni mosques in this northern Lebanese city on Friday as many worshipers were just finishing prayers, killing dozens of people, wounding hundreds and sending new sectarian shudders through the country, already deeply unsettled by the conflict in neighboring Syria. The double bombing was the first time that […]

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Syria crisis: US weighs military options

He gave no details, but media reports say the US Navy is strengthening its presence in the eastern Mediterranean. On Friday, President Barack Obama said fresh allegations of chemical weapons use by the Syrian government this week was of "grave concern". Syria’s main ally Russia said there was evidence rebels were behind the attack. The […]

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A Christian sentenced to ten years in prison for spreading copies of the Gospel

Tehran – An Iranian man, converted from Islam to Christianity, was sentenced to ten years in prison for "crimes against state security": the defendant is guilty of distributing copies of the Gospel in the country. Mohammad-Hadi Bordbar, known as Mostafa, a native of the city of Rasht, was accused of conspiracy and sentenced. As reported […]

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Suleiman Voices Concern over Syria Chemical Attack

President Michel Suleiman on Thursday expressed "grave concern" over the use of chemical weapons in Syria and condemned the firing of rockets from Lebanon at Israel as a "violation of Resolution 1701 and Lebanese sovereignty." The president said that if confirmed the attacks would totally be in violation of “human values and principles.” Suleiman voiced […]

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Hezbollah holds Lebanon’s Sunnis hostage

It didn’t take long after last week’s car bomb in Al-Roueiss for Hezbollah to lay out its plan of attack. The group immediately announced a retaliatory campaign against Sunni targets under the guise of targeting so-called “takfiris” in Lebanon. Hezbollah-allied media have specified by name the areas where the group is likely to launch operations […]

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