(Reuters) – The Vatican hailed the United Nations’ implicit recognition of a Palestinian state on Thursday and called for an internationally guaranteed special status for Jerusalem, something bound to irritate Israel. The 193-nation U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution to upgrade the Palestinian Authority’s observer status at the United Nations from "entity" to "non-member […]

  Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Friday that the 2013 parliamentary elections will be held on time, refuting all rumors and statements suggesting the contrary. After meeting Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara al-Rahi in Bkerki, Miqati rejected any isolation or boycotting of communication between the rival parties, saying that all “sides should stand united especially given […]

  TRIPOLI/BEIRUT: Tensions ran high in Tripoli Friday night after at least 20 fighters from the city were killed in an ambush by the Syrian army in the town of Tal Kalakh near the border with Lebanon, a Lebanese security source told The Daily Star.   The men are from the Sunni neighborhoods of Bab […]

Khazen.org and its members are extremely sad and affected by the passing of Cheikha Wadad Rafiq el Khazen. She was a unique person, with a huge heart. Her giving to the khazen family is unique and had no limit. She united many Khazen family and played an exception role in supporting us all the khazen’s. […]

  Dear Editor: It is not rocket science. It is the borders! War is a daily routine in the Middle East. Why is it difficult to have a nonaggression agreement between different parties? There are never clear winners in wars. The same factions are still fighting the same war they were fighting 50 years ago. […]

  Aid agencies in several countries bordering Syria say the prolonged civil war there is putting huge strain on their efforts and on Syria’s relations with it neighbors. Figures released Wednesday by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights put the number of registered Syrian refugees in Lebanon at more than 100,000, with 30,000 more […]

  Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rahi said on Tuesday that he prefers that the 2013 parliamentary elections be held on time, even if no agreement was reached on a new electoral law. “If they can’t agree on a new electoral law, the 1960 law is still in place,” said al-Rahi upon his arrival to Rafik Hariri International […]

  BEIRUT: President Michel Sleiman postponed Wednesday National Dialogue to early 2013 as MP Walid Jumblatt’s ministers carried on with efforts to bridge the gap between Lebanon’s rival political camps. Sources at Baabda Palace said the next National Dialogue session, the last round of which was held in September, was scheduled for Jan. 7 of next […]

  The Pope addressed the gathering at noon on Nov. 26 in the Pope Paul VI Hall. He first greeted American Cardinal Harvey, Indian Cardinal Thottunkal, Nigerian Cardinal Onaiyekan and Filipino Cardinal Tagle in English, before addressing Cardinal Raï in French and Colombian Cardinal Salazar in Spanish. As the Pope addressed Lebanese Cardinal Boutros Raï […]