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Touristic festivities continue

10-9-2018

Under the patronage of minister Avedis Guidanian, the ministry of tourism launched on September 8th a tour to the historic and archeological sites in Tyre and Qana designed for reporters, travel agents and tour guides in the internal tourism sector. The event aims to promote touristic landmarks across Lebanon, and is expected to be followed on September 11 by another tour to Anjar and Majdel Anjar in Beqaa and a third on September 18 to Byblos Jbeil and the environs on the North East coast. The ministry announced that it is planning additional tours to cover the various Lebanese regions, while noting that transportation from Beirut and other logistical arrangements are free for all. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Communist Party organized an environment trail in Wadi Zibqin to declare the Wadi and neighboring towns a natural reserve. Wadi Zibqin, to recall, lies between the villages of Zizqin, Majdel Zoon, Qleileh, Yater, Ramya, Beit Lif and others extending until Occupied Palestine to the south and ending in the sea to the north west. Also, Souk el Akl, in collaboration with Rotaract Saida, concluded yesterday the Street Food Fiesta of Khan el Franj which was distinctive for the architectural design of its facilities made from recyclable material, like wood and plastic, in an attempt to encourage environment conservation under the slogan, ‘Green Saida’. The event which opened on September 7 in cooperation with the municipality, hosted some 25 pavilions for restaurants from the city and outside that showcased a variety of foods, sweets and juices catering to all tastes. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Akhbar, September 8, 10, 2018)

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Securing healthy day care services in southern suburbs

10-9-2018

The Islamic Health Society (Al Hay’aa al Sihiya al Islamiya) announced the results of ‘Identifying the needs of daycares’ project based on classification of a number of kindergartens located within the area of its work in the Southern Suburbs in order to secure a healthy child-friendly environment. The results were issued one day after the health ministry decided to shut down four nurseries in several Lebanese regions due to their ill-treatment of children. (c.f:https://bit.ly/2wTjKN9). The classification, to note, covered 33 licensed daycares within the geographic area of Beirut’s Southern Suburbs. The results came as follows: 9 daycares were rated ‘Excellent’, 7 rated as ‘Advanced’, 9 as ‘Very Good’, and 5 as ‘Good’ and 1 as ‘Poor’, noting that the standards and specifications on which Al Hay’aa based its results are the same as those adopted by the health ministry. According to Al Hay’aa’s program director Alya Siblani, obtaining a license from the ministry should be the first condition to be taken into consideration by the child’s parents. The conditions to acquire a license, Siblani explained, are not difficult to get, like the nature of the building or construction, the necessary equipment and installations, like beds, etc, and provision of emergency measures for the prevention from dangers and accidents. Siblani pointed out that the permits are issued only once, and can be modified if the license owner wanted to add annexes, sections or other items that require adaptation, noting that the ministry has introduced a decree to renew licenses every two years. Similarly, the head of the Mother and Child Health Department at the ministry, Pamela Mansour, disclosed that currently there are 470 licensed nurseries in Lebanon, pointing to the lack of statistics on the number of unlicensed daycares which flourished over the past few years making it difficult to give a clear estimate on them. (Al Akhbar, September 8, 2018)

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Four Lebanese ministers present at Damascus International Fair 

7-9-2018

The ministers of industry, agriculture, tourism and public works were present at the Damascus International Fair which opened yesterday in its 60th edition until September 15. Ghazi Zeitar, agriculture minister, stressed, according to An Nahar, that the participation of the Lebanese ministers in the exhibition which is the largest economic, social, cultural and art event in Syria, was official and not in their personal capacity. The Lebanese pavilion hosted some 60 companies from the construction, industry, technology and engineering sectors. On the sideline of the opening event, industry minister Hussein Haj Hassan, met his Syrian counterpart, Samer Khalil, and discussed with him the border crossings. Khalil maintained that currently there is no reason to reopen Nassib Crossing on the borders with Jordan, based on a feasibility that showed no big value added to made-in-Syria products as a result of its restoration, maintaining that the subject needs further study. Haj Hassan, on the other hand, said the crossing is essential for Lebanese exporters and traders, regardless of their political views who want to see reconstruction in Syria, as well as Customs agents who have interest in activating transit transactions via the border crossings, noting that it was expected during the Fair to hold talks between the Lebanese and Syrian sides to reopen Naseeb crossing (c.f: https://bit.ly/2M8Nme0) . Meanwhile, a broad meeting was held between the four ministers, the secretary general of the Syrian Lebanese Higher Council, Nasri Khoury, and the Syrian internal trade minister, Abdallah Maghrebi, to discuss economic relations and ways to develop cooperation at all levels. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, September 7, 2018)
 

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American women & President Trump

7-9-2018

Al Diyar newspaper published today a poll by the Washington Post on American women and their position vis-a-via US President Donald Trump. The poll showed that 66% of women respondents disapproved Trump’s action as a president of the United States of America. The survey also indicated that nearly 59% of women potential electors said they categorically rejected Trump’s actions in the presidency, while 30% of women showed their support, including 20% who strongly supported him. According to the Washington Post survey, around 89% of women respondents expressed their desire to take part in the midterm congressional elections, and 65% backed the Democratic Party’s victory, expecting it to face the Republican led US Administration. To recall, that during the midterm elections planned for November 6, some 435 members of Congress, one third of senators and most of conservatives will be re-elected. The US political life, liberty and even the life of Trump and his family members depends on the results of these elections. Should Democrats secure a majority of congressional seats, Trump will be reportedly in danger of impeachment and complicity with Russia, Al Diyar wrote. (Al Diyar, September 6, 2018)

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Lebanon ranks low globally in protecting women from violence

6-9-2018

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper published a report by the World Bank entitled, ‘Women, Business and the Law 2018’, covering 189 countries. The report is the fifth edition in a series of biennial reports issued every two years measuring the discrimination and exploitation of women and the legal obstacles impeding their economic contribution. According to Al Akhbar, the report is based on a number of indicators related to women’s human rights, CEDAW and relevant international conventions, with emphasis on the prevalent legislative, social and cultural systems in the subject countries. Regarding Lebanon, it ranked six among Arab countries as the least discriminating country against women, but posted low in protection of women against violence compared to other Middle Eastern countries. Also, Lebanon posted lower indicators in relation to employment and incentives for employment, property rights, compared to higher middle income countries in the region. Overall, Lebanon recorded 22 out of 50 indicators measuring discrimination against women (according to the World Bank study criteria), as it lacks property laws that protect women in the event of divorce, in addition to discriminatory laws in inheritance matters, equal pay for women in compensation for jobs of the same value, and jobs that are banned for women. Regarding the protection and provision of a decent and safe workplace for women, the study has shown a lack of legislations that combat harassment at work. (For the full report, kindly visit the following link: http://wbl.worldbank.org. (Al Akhbar, September 6, 2018)

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President Aoun keen on securing jobs for graduates of technical schools

6-9-2018

President Michel Aoun said yesterday that he is very keen to secure jobs for graduates and students of vocational schools, considering it a priority to strengthen the production sectors in the country. Aoun was speaking during his meeting at Baabda Palace with a group of students who ranked first, second and third in the technical and professional education, (400 students). Aoun also emphasized the need to boost and empower vocational education in order to contribute to 70% of public education, given the ample prospects available to its graduates. Concurrently, the US Embassy in Lebanon jointly with LAU and AUB celebrated the admission of a new batch of students under Tomorrow’s Leaders Program sponsored by the US-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). On the occasion, the representative of the Embassy said in her address to the students, “We look to you as a force of change in your communities.” To note, the total number of students beneficiaries from the US-funded program that provided free college education, has reached some 369 students since 10 years. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, September 6, 2018)

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Closing of 4 nurseries because of child ill-treatment

6-9-2018

The Health Ministry Information Office announced yesterday that after receiving complaints on the ministry’s hotline (1214), against a number of child daycare centers, inspection teams from the Mother and Child Department conducted field visits to verify these complaints. The office added in its statement that based on the results of the field visits, the health minister Ghassan Hasbani issued four circulars, requiring the suspension of the license and temporary shutdown of a nursery in Zuq Mkhayel after a child broke his leg as a result of an accident; freezing the licenses and closing for one month of two kindergartens in Shiyah and Tripoli because of repeated abuses of children, including biting, and freezing the license of a nursery in Jal el Dib for verbally abusing a child. The office stressed that the suspension should be considered as the last warning before final closure if violations continue. (An Nahar, September 6, 2018)

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BIFF postponed because of sluggish economic situation

6-9-2018

The Beirut International Film Festival (BIFF) announced yesterday that its 2018 edition will be postponed for several months due to the precarious economic conditions in the country as well as the growing political and regional insecurities. The BIFF said the decision was taken after deep reflection and will resume hopefully the beginning of 2019 to shed light on Beirut and Lebanon as always. Despite this postponement, the BIFF statement said, this year carries a rich and wide collection of activities, movies and events, notably the partnership with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) which organizes the OSCARS, pointing to a special program partnering with AMPAS entitled ‘Cinematographers, Directors and Film Editors: The Art of Visual Storytelling’. The statement also mentioned AMPAS’ partnerships with other international festivals to implement said program and that it has chosen BIFF from the Middle East and North Africa. To note, the BIFF is officially funded by private bodies, while the government contributes to a slight share through the ministries of tourism and culture. (An Nahar, September 6, 2018)

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Jordan, Lebanon and Syria to discuss the opening of the Nassib Crossing during Damascus Fair

5-9-2018

The Lebanese industry minister, Hussein Haj Hassan arrived in Damascus yesterday to attend the Damascus International Fair 2018 (DIF) at the invitation of his Syrian counterpart, Mohamad Samer Khalil, An Nahar daily reported. The exhibition in its 60th edition opens tomorrow, September 6 with an Arab and international presence. Haj Hassan is expected to inaugurate the Lebanese pavilion which hosts some 56 companies and factories and around 15 media and advertising firms. An Nahar said that the agriculture minister Ghazi Zeiater is expected to arrive in the Syrian capital later today. Meanwhile, Al Hayat newspaper wrote that while the president of the Lebanese Chambers, Mohamad Choucair, did not receive any invitation from the management of the Lebanese section to visit the exhibition, he hesitated to admit that the Chambers received the invitation but that he personally will not attend attributing this to political reasons and not to a government decision to boycott the event. On the other hand, Al Hayat reported that a Jordanian economic delegation from the commercial, industrial and services sectors has arrived in Damascus yesterday in an official visit called on by the Federation of Syrian Chambers in preparation for the international fair. The newspaper said that both sides will discuss developing trade exchange between the two countries and removing obstacles to the reopening of the Nassib border crossing. The Lebanese officials in turn, are expected to discuss with their Syrian counterparts strengthening economic and trade relations, and more particularly the reopening of the Nassib crossing, according to An Nahar, which said that Syrians believe that the reopening of the crossing, which has long facilitated the entry of Lebanese exports into Jordan, is principally a political matter. The president of the Union of Mediterranean Confederation of Businessmen, chief of industrialists, Jacques Sarraf, pointed out that negotiations between the Lebanese and Syrian officials are essential due to the vitality of the Crossing, stressing that the issue is not limited to the two countries, but involves Jordan as well, which should approve its reopening. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, Al Hayat, August 29, September 5, 2018)

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Positive official attitude towards a gender equal nationality law

5-9-2018

In its issue of today, The Daily Star examined the nationality law which gives women the right to confer nationality to their children and spouses, pointing that concerned activists are sensing a more positive attitude in official stands, especially in light of the draft bill submitted in August by the PSP to this effect (c.f: http://lkdg.org/ar/node/17714), while also noting that the advisor to the prime minister on women’s affairs, Abir Chbaro, has stressed that the Future Movement bloc is preparing its own proposal to this end. On the subject, the coordinator of My Nationality is a Right for Me and My Family Campaign, Karima Chebbo, maintained a change in the political view which has become more flexible in recognizing the right of women to equality with their male peers in granting nationality to their family members. She noted that this matter faced rejection in the past, reminding of a similar draft law put for review in 2012 by former premier Najib Mikati but that was turned down on the pretext that it creates demographic change in the country (c.f: http://www.lkdg.org/ar/node/8990). And while Chebbo made clear that the issue is currently being treated seriously and positively but that there will be resistance to the idea to hamper its endorsement, she promised to continue the struggle because this is the right of women, and a right is a right, regardless of religion, or doctrine or sex or color, as she said. The Daily Star also recalled the foreign minister Jibran Bassil’s nationality draft which excluded women married to nationals from neighboring states, namely Palestinians and Syrians. (The Daily Star, September 5, 2018)

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