Updates Monday 23 July 2012

 

 

TOP OF THE NEWS Arab nations urge Assad to quit as fighting rages July 23, 2012 The Arab League on Monday called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to swiftly give up power as troops launched a fresh assault on rebels in Damascus and Aleppo. Arab states also called on the rebels and opposition to form a transitional government of national unity along with the "de facto national authority," without detailing who that authority might be. COMMENT Palestine's Radioactive Man? Harry Hagopian, June 20, 2012 Well over eight years after his demise, and at a time when the world is preoccupied with the Arab uprisings, Al-Jazeera commissioned a series of highly-sophisticated tests that might indicate Yasser Arafat was poisoned by the highly toxic polonium. The forensic pathologists have not yet unmasked the smoking gun, but its acrid smell lingers very much in the air. AGENDA Syrian refugees breaking taboos Nadine Elali, July 22, 2012 A group of Syrian refugees made up of women and children crossed the Lebanese border into the village of Wadi Khaled in the company of only one man, a taboo Syrians have set aside due to the magnitude of the crisis they are facing. Is Assad finished? Alex Rowell, July 21, 2012 What with Wednesday's assassination of senior members of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's inner circle and Thursday's rebel takeover of border crossings to Turkey and Iraq, analysts tell NOW the regime may be on its last legs. However, the regime's weakening presents concerns of its own. Hezbollah's Bulgarian wing? Ana Maria Luca, July 20, 2012 Bulgarian authorities, Mossad and the FBI are trying to identify the suicide bomber who killed five Israeli tourists in a sea-side resort city. While Israeli and US officials insist on blaming a "Bulgarian Hezbollah wing," Bulgarian authorities say there is, so far, no evidence supporting their claim. NOW EXTRA PAVONI Naziha Baassiri, July 20, 2012 PAVONI, meaning "peacock" in Italian, was launched in August 2011 by childhood friends Lebanese-Canadian Mike Derderian and Canadian Gianni Falcone. In less than a year, their haute couture label PAVONI has succeeded in becoming an international name, gaining the appeal of several celebrities such as Katy Perry, Shakira, and Fergie. NOW SYRIA Latest Syria developments July 23, 2012 They toare standing up for freedom and demanding democratic reforms in the face of an oppressive regime. NOW Syria is tracking the latest developments from inside the state, where peaceful protesters are pushing forward the Arab Spring with a new uprising. BLOG The Syrian army is the new boogie man Posted by: Nadine Elali Friday, July 20, 2012 Another one bites the dust Posted by: Liliana Mihaila Friday, July 20, 2012 The summer of Lebanon's discontent Posted by: Louisa Ajami Friday, July 20, 2012 ARTS & CULTURE Events @ Metro مي زيادة كنت أحسب الباطل مركّباً معقّداً... Expo Mamihlapinatapei By Nina SHARABATI CUTS How long can the regime last? The Econmist , Print edition Inside the quiet effort to plan for a post-Assad Syria Josh Rogin , Foreign Policy With Syria imploding, is Hezbollah next? Benedetta Berti , The Christian Science Monitor Syria endgame: who and what will emerge from the ruins? Martin Chulov in Beirut , The Observer Subscribe a Friend - Enter your friends' email address if you want them to receive our daily newsletter.

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