Introduction to the evening news 25-01-2012

The focal point of this Wednesday shifts from raging fires in the whole region to burning tires in Lebanon. The regional fires did not settle at one stop; in fact today the Egyptians commemorated the first anniversary of the revolution that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak in18 days. During this first anniversary, fires are still moving, most recently sweeping Syria that saw rapid diplomatic and field developments.

On the diplomatic level, all eyes are on Moscow that will state its position regarding the decision of the UN Security Council to open the Syrian issue. In the field, the death of priest Bassilios Nassar and that of the head of the Syrian Red Crescent could not be ignored.

In Lebanon, beyond burning tires in protest of power rationing, the Lebanese’s concerns are divided between the wage issue whose end was heralded when the wage decree was signed and the electricity conundrum that is getting further complicated in the absence of appropriate mechanisms.

We will begin with the Russian stance after the Arab League’s decision to transfer the Syrian case to the UNSC.