Lebanon
Struggling China boss needs the 'Becks effect'
Mar 21, 2013 21:55 EDT
China boss Jose Antonio Camacho will hope a sprinkling of stardust from the visiting David Beckham will rub off on his team as he fights for his job in Friday's crunch Asian Cup qualifier with Iraq.
Cyprus convicts Hezbollah man over anti-Israel plot
Mar 21, 2013 19:36 EDT
A Cypriot court has found guilty a self-confessed Hezbollah militant who had been accused of involvement in a plot to attack Israeli interests on the Mediterranean island popular with tourists.
Gunfire kills two in Lebanon's Tripoli
Mar 21, 2013 18:45 EDT
Two people were killed and 18 more wounded in renewed violence in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on Thursday, a security source told AFP.
Obama in direct appeal to young Israelis on peace
Mar 21, 2013 17:16 EDT
In a powerful direct appeal to Israelis, President Barack Obama Thursday insisted a two-state peace with the Palestinians could still be forged and was their only hope of true security.
Gunfire kills one in Lebanon's Tripoli
Mar 21, 2013 17:00 EDT
One man was killed and five others wounded in two separate exchanges of fire in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on Thursday, a security source said.
Iran leader hints at first direct US nuclear talks
Mar 21, 2013 13:25 EDT
Iran's supreme leader on Thursday signalled openness for the first time to US offers to hold direct talks on his country's disputed nuclear drive, but voiced pessimism over the chances of a breakthrough.
Iran will 'annihilate' cities if Israel attacks: Khamenei
Mar 21, 2013 11:09 EDT
Iran will "annihilate" the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa if it comes under attack by the Jewish state, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Thursday.
Obama: Syria to be accountable for any use of chemical arms
Mar 20, 2013 15:43 EDT
US President Barack Obama on Wednesday warned the Damascus regime it would be held accountable for any use of chemical weapons against civilians in Syria in a move which would spark an international response.
A generation 'traumatized' in Syria, expert witnesses say
Mar 19, 2013 17:02 EDT
Women and children are suffering the worst horrors in Syria, with many subjected to rape and sexual violence in a war that has traumatized a generation of young people, US lawmakers heard Tuesday.
Syria raid on Lebanon 'unacceptable': Lebanese president
Mar 19, 2013 06:09 EDT
Lebanese President Michel Sleiman on Tuesday denounced as "unacceptable" air raids carried out by Syrian warplanes against targets inside Lebanese territory.
Syria opposition to choose PM as regime planes 'bomb Lebanon'
Mar 18, 2013 15:46 EDT
Syria's opposition coalition met in Istanbul to choose its first prime minister on Monday, as Syrian warplanes bombed northern Lebanon for the first time in what Washington labelled "a significant escalation" of the conflict.
Syrian planes bomb Lebanon border area: army source
Mar 18, 2013 13:28 EDT
Syrian warplanes bombed the border area with Lebanon for the first time on Monday, a high-ranking Lebanese army official told AFP, reportedly targeting Syrian rebel positions inside Lebanon.
Syrian planes bomb Lebanon border: army source
Mar 18, 2013 10:36 EDT
Syrian warplanes bombed the border area with Lebanon for the first time on Monday, a high-ranking Lebanese army official told AFP, raising new fears that the Syrian conflict could spill over into its neighbour.
Lebanon tensions after Sunnis attacked in Shiite areas
Mar 18, 2013 08:38 EDT
Tensions flared in Beirut overnight after three Sunni clerics were attacked in two separate incidents in majority Shiite areas of the Lebanese capital, sparking angry demonstrations.
Jordan, Lebanon playing with 'fire': Syrian daily
Mar 17, 2013 13:51 EDT
Lebanon and Jordan are playing with fire by allowing jihadists and weapons to pass across their borders into Syria, the Syrian government newspaper Al-Thawra warned on Sunday.
Ex-army chief Yaalon named Israel's new defence minister
Mar 17, 2013 11:05 EDT
Former chief of staff Moshe Yaalon was named Israel's new defence minister on Sunday to succeed Ehud Barak, a statement from the ruling rightwing Likud party said.
A trusty spokesman helps pope's debut on world stage
Mar 17, 2013 05:08 EDT
As Pope Francis starts out in the Vatican, following his historic election as Latin America's first pontiff, a trusty fellow Jesuit will be helping him broadcast his message -- Father Federico Lombardi.
Costly Iraq war left US no stronger in Middle East
Mar 16, 2013 23:48 EDT
The US-led invasion of Iraq overthrew a dictator, but 10 years on the war is seen to have destabilized the Middle East, exposed the limits of military power and left America no stronger than before.
Omar Souleyman sings for his troubled Syria at SXSW
Mar 16, 2013 17:38 EDT
Syria's Omar Souleyman arrived literally at the 11th hour at South by Southwest (SXSW) for a benefit concert in the wee hours of Saturday for victims of the conflict in his homeland.
Lebanon must stem flow of fighters to Syria: president
Mar 16, 2013 12:51 EDT
Shortly after his office announced the comments, made in a meeting with the Lebanese community in the Ivory Coast during an official visit, witnesses on Saturday reported a Syrian troop buildup along parts of the border with Lebanon.
Facts from the Wikipedia page:
| Republic of Lebanon
اَلْجُمْهُورِيَّة اَللُّبْنَانِيَّة (Arabic)
al-Jumhūrīyah al-Lubnānīyah République libanaise (French) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
| Anthem: Lebanese National Anthem | ||||||
 Location of Lebanon
| ||||||
| Capital (and largest city) | Beirut 33°54′N 35°32′E / 33.9°N 35.533°E | |||||
| Official languages | Arabic, French (conditional)1 | |||||
| Spoken languages | Arabic (Lebanese dialect), French, English, Armenian | |||||
| Ethnic groups | 95% Arab2, 4% Armenian, 1% other[1] | |||||
| Demonym | Lebanese | |||||
| Government | Confessionalist, parliamentary republic[2] | |||||
| - | President | Michel Suleiman | ||||
| - | Prime Minister | Saad Hariri | ||||
| - | Speaker of Parliament | Nabih Berri | ||||
| Independence | from France | |||||
| - | Declared | 26 November 1941 | ||||
| - | Recognized | 22 November 1943 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 10,452 km2 (166th) 4,035 sq mi | ||||
| - | Water (%) | 1.6 | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2009 estimate | 4,234,000[3] (124th) | ||||
| - | Density | 404/km2 (25th) 1,046/sq mi | ||||
| GDP (PPP) | 2009 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $53.818 billion[4] | ||||
| - | Per capita | $13,952[4] | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2009 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $32.660 billion[4] | ||||
| - | Per capita | $8,467[4] | ||||
| HDI (2009) | ▲ 0.803[5] (high) (83rd) | |||||
| Currency | Lebanese pound (LBP) | |||||
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | |||||
| - | Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | ||||
| Drives on the | right | |||||
| Internet TLD | .lb | |||||
| Calling code | 961[6] | |||||
| 1 | ^ Article 11 of the Constitution of Lebanon states that "Arabic is the official national language. A law shall determine the cases in which the French language is to be used."[2] | |||||
| 2 | ^ Lebanese ethnicity is a mixture of Phoenician, Greek, Armenian, and Arab elements.[7] Many Christian Lebanese do not identify as Arab, and prefer to be called Phoenician.[1]. | |||||
