Natasha Bertrand

In an effort to increase its negotiating leverage during Syria peace talks in Vienna, the Obama administration has adopted a combined military and diplomatic approach that resembles a strategy employed last year to strong-arm Iran into negotiating with the West over its nuclear program.

In Syria, as in Iran, Washington is trying to pressure defiant parties into accepting the West’s terms by changing facts on the ground.

With Iran, it was economic sanctions, an increased military presence in the Persian Gulf, and a covert intelligence war. With Syria, it is a timeline for the departure of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the (perhaps symbolic) deployment of 50 special-operations forces to northeastern Syria to help local elements fight ISIS, and a covert CIA program to arm moderate Syrian rebels with antitank missiles.

by Alex Griswold

The French have scrapped a state dinner with the leader of Iran after the Iranian delegation took issue with the menu, including the serving of wine.

Presidents François Hollande and Hassan Rouhani were all set to have dinner during Rouhani’s tour of Europe this weekend. But dinner was scrapped after the Iranians demanded that it conform to Islamic dietary standards: meaning halal meat and, crucially, no alcohol.

The French, who have a strong tradition of strict secularism in government affairs, balked at the request. They suggested instead a meatless and alcohol-free breakfast, but the Iranians found that “cheap” and too informal. Instead, the two leaders will meet in a face-to-face chat, sans food or alcohol at all.

By AP

By Abigail James (CALIFORNIA NETWORK)

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) – The 200 children were forced to lie stretched out in the dirt side-by-side in a single long line. At least 12 gunmen, armed with assault rifles and handguns, are seen standing behind the children.

The first militant opens fire at "point blank range" shooting each child, making his way down the row. The other militants then begin shooting causing the area to fill with dust, clouding the camera’s vision. A clear sustained sound of gunfire can be heard throughout the entire original recording.

By Joseph A. KechichianSenior Writer – Gulf news

Beirut: The Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, was adamant that his call to hold a regular legislative session was legal, despite the possibility that several Christian parties remained ambivalent about any participation.

Aware that a boycott may derail sorely needed legislation to curtail money laundering, boost the country’s banking sector, and further secure $600 million worth of key World Bank development funds, the Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea vowed that his party would not disrupt the Speaker’s contemplated initiatives. Geagea’s LF and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) accepted the compromise formula advanced by the Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Mar Bisharah Al Ra‘i, who urged parliament to adopt several “technical actions” dealing specifically with financial laws.

By Robert Fadel Lebanese Member of Parliament

Few will forget the tragic image of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi, who drowned as his family attempted to flee to Europe. His death came to symbolize the desperation gripping millions as they escape one of the worst humanitarian crises of this generation. As his image was displayed by media outlets around the world, it forced European leaders to re-examine their response to the deplorable situation. Yet, several emergency summits later, Europe continues to remain short sighted in its plan for tackling the problem, ineffective and ambivalent in its reaction. Europe will only prevent the issue from deteriorating further by working with countries like Lebanon, to implement solutions where the issue originates.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 10 (UPI) — The Republic of Lebanon confirmed the purchase of six Embraer-made A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to bolster its air force’s close-support capabilities.

The planes were manufactured by Embraer Defense & Security and Sierra Nevada Corporation. Under the contract, which was approved by the U.S. State Department, company officials will support aircraft operation as well as training programs for Lebanese Air Force pilots and mechanics. Jackson Schneider, president and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, calls the Super Tucano the best and most capable aircraft on the market.

Yassin Fawaz- Forbes

BEIRUT–For the better part of four decades, Lebanon has been battered by one knockout punch after another. Many of its wounds have been self-inflicted–civil war, sectarian strife, political paralysis, corruption–but the country has also been beset from the outside. It was also under Syrian military domination for years, invaded twice by Israel, manipulated by Iran, and staggered by the bombing death of its former prime minister, Rafiq Hariri. Now the tiny country is struggling to feed, house and educate more than 1 million refugees from next-door Syria.

What else could go wrong? It could miss a major economic opportunity, partly for reasons beyond its control but partly because the country can’t get its act together.

Just over a year ago Lebanon, which needs all the help it can get, was preparing to auction the first licenses to drill for gas in its territorial waters. Nearly 50 major international energy corporations, including Total, Shell, Chevron and ExxonMobil, had qualified in April 2013 to enter the bidding for exploration licenses. Since then, vast new gas reservoirs have been found in the waters of Egypt and Israel, increasing the likelihood that the pool extends into Lebanese waters as well, but nothing has happened in Lebanon. The process has come to a halt.

Catholic Herald

ISIS terrorists released 37 Syrian Christians over the weekend, part of a group of 200 Assyrians they kidnapped in February.

The Assyrian Human Rights Network posted pictures on its Facebook page of the newly freed civilians arriving in the predominantly ethnic Assyrian village of Tal Tamr, in the northeastern Hassakeh province. The photos show a woman kissing the hand of an elderly woman in tears, and a priest greeting the former captives in a church ceremony.

The group said in a statement that negotiations continue for the release of another 124 people who remain in captivity, according to AP news. Edmond Gabriel, chairman of the Assyrian Charitable Association in Hassakeh province, said 27 of the released are women. He said another group of captives was expected to be released today.

By Hasan Lakkis, Daily Star Lebanon

Prime Minister Tammam Salam will fly to Riyadh Tuesday to attend the 4th Summit of South American-Arab Countries, held once every three years and to discuss the latest developments related to a Saudi funded arms deal to equip the Lebanese Army. Defense Minister Samir Moqbel, Finance Minister Ali Hasan Khalil, and Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil will be accompanying Salam.

This summit is aimed at increasing South-South cooperation and implementing policy coordination measures through multilateral forums.

Brazil proposed to establish the conference in 2003, aiming to draw together leaders and civil societies from South American and Arab League member states to focus on diplomatic coordination and common issues of interest.