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Security forces snatch 9-year old boy from his mother in observance of law!

18-6-2018

On Al Fitr Holiday, the security forces accompanied by Marwan Sidani, father of 9-year-old Fares, arrived at the house of Fares’s mother, Maysaa Mansour, and seized her son in observance of a decision by Beirut Attorney General and in implementation of a ruling issued by the Sunni Sharia Court to this effect. The security forces took the child by force through storming the doors of the house after his mother refused to turn him in. But following the wide public condemnation of a video shared on regular media channels and social media, the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces, sustained in a statement released yesterday that it was implementing the law in accordance with the decision of the competent judiciary. Citing judicial sources, An Nahar newspaper wrote that the ISF squad broke into the house after the mother refused to open the door to sign a pledge requiring her to give in her child or to detain her if she refused to do that. An Nahar also criticized the law which agrees to taking a child by force in the presence of the officer in charge of execution, which, it pointed, could affect the psychological condition of the child. The newspaper published the court ruling which provides the reasons for the issuance of a rare verdict that drops the mother’s right in the custody of her son until the age of 12, and assumes the father’s version of the story that the mother denied him access to their child. The mother has contradicted the claims and submitted relevant evidence to the case during the legal process. More on the following link: (https://bit.ly/2HV11mP). On the subject, the Minister of Justice in the caretaker government, Salim Jreisati, announced in a television interview on Monday, that he will take care of the issue, promising to announce the outcome in an official statement. (An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, June 18, 2018)

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Not in Lebanon: appointment of seven women ministers in Jordan

18-6-2018

For the first time in the history of Jordan, the new government sworn in on Thursday before King Abdallah included 7 women out of 28 ministers. The formation of the cabinet came after strikes in the Kingdom which erupted on May 30. The new women ministers are: Lina Annab, minister of tourism and antiquities, also minister for the same post in the resigned government of prime minister Hani Mulki; Joumana Ghunaimat, minister of state for media affairs; Mary Kaawar, minister of planning and international cooperation; Hala Zawati, minister of energy and mineral resources; Basma Nsour, minister of culture; Hala Bssiso Latouf, minister of social development and Majd Shweikeh, minister of public sector development. (For more info, kindly refer to the link below: https://goo.gl/1qRp3j). (Al Diyar, May 20, 2018)

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Torrential rain in Ras Baalbaq claimed lives, destroyed farms amidst official neglect

18-6-2018

Flash floods invaded the town of Ras Baalbaq on June 13 where water levels reached 10 meters causing damage to cultivated lands and property and leaving several people dead. But despite the residents’ anticipations of the torrential rain at this time of the year, which was the strongest this year, many people accused the authorities of negligence which led to disastrous consequences. On the subject, deputy mayor of Ras Baalbaq, William Nasr, told Al Modon electronic newsportal that, following repeated alarms of climate change in the region, representatives of the Higher Relief Council and local MPs met at the municipality demanding the cleaning of riverbeds filled with rubble and dump, but their demands were not met. The owner of one shop in the town said the massive flooding came as a result of the desertification of the Jroud area, lamenting that the government failed to build a dam to prevent the natural calamity. House Speaker, Nabil Berri, for his part, contacted HRC head asking him to respond adequately and offer disaster assistance, and pressing for an emergency assessment of the damages to compensate those affected. Also, Baalbaq and Hermel MPs met yesterday to discuss the situation as requested by Hizbullah Municipal Work Directorate and Amal Movement Municipal Affairs. On the other hand, Al Diyar newspaper reported that wheat, grain and fruit growers, particularly peach farmers in the border town of Bkei’ah plains, Wadi Khaled, have not been spared the wrath of nature. Heavy rains crippled life in the town and inflicted heavy damages on the harvest season and on local farmers. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, June 15, 18, 2018)

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Beehives distribution to various agricultural coops throughout Lebanon

18-6-2018

A team from the Economic and Social Fund for Development (ESFD) handed over on Wednesday a set of 743 beehives at a total value of 300,000 euros to agricultural cooperatives for beekeeping and honey extraction in the areas of Koora, North Matn, Higher Shuf, Jazzine, Marje3yoon and Nabatiyeh as part of the equipment to be provided to coops by end of September 2018. This comes after the delivery on June 4th of special machinery to agricultural cooperatives in West Beqaa, Baalbaq-Hermel and Amshit through ‘Distribution of Equipment and Tools to Agricultural Lebanese Coops’ project (c.f: https://goo.gl/Ndyftd). To note, ESFD is currently implementing the ‘Support of Active Cooperatives in the Sectors of Olives, Bees and Fish in All Areas of Lebanon’ program, in addition to some productive cooperatives. The said program includes assistance to 42 cooperatives with the aim to improve their production value chain through the provision of the necessary equipment at a value of 1.3 million euros, as well as, the development of their capacities in project preparation and proposal writing. (Al Hayat, June 14, 2018)

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Climatic changes exacerbate Lebanese farmers’ anguish

14-6-2018

The anguish of Lebanese farmers continue in the absence of official attention to agriculture. According to An Nahar newspaper today, nature and climate factors have inflicted heavy losses on farmers, which is not news, especially the recent torrential rains and flooding which damaged and wreaked havoc on many cultivated lands and greenhouses in the North and South. This drove farmers to raise their voices in protest to salvage whatever can be salvaged from the seasons, An Nahar wrote. In this respect, the chief of the Lebanese Farmers Association, Antoine Howayek, told the newspaper that the government’s neglect of agriculture is a ‘perfect crime’, adding, that failing to endorse the law to set up the National Social Security Fund for Natural Disasters intensifies further the suffering and exploitation of farmers. Meanwhile, the industry minister in the caretaker government, Hussein Haj Hassan, contacted yesterday the director general of Regi, Nassif Seqlawi, and the secretary general of the Higher Relief Council, General Mohamad Kheir, to brief them on the size of damage inflicted on tobacco farmers as a result of the heavy rain and hail storms which hit the Baalbek Hermel area last week. Similarly, Al Diyar newspaper today brought attention to the crisis ridden poultry sector in Akkar. It pointed out that the setbacks in the industry started in 2011 with the disruption in poultry exports through bordering Syria, and the successive snow storms which hit the area, in addition to the decline in prices due to the increase in imported eggs and chicken. (More info on the following link: : https://goo.gl/C6NFdT). (An Nahar, Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, June 13, 14, 2018)

 

Previous related news:  
Beqaa farmers raise their demands for the new government
Agriculture in Lebanon has yet to receive the due public attention
Potato & tobacco growers appeal to government for help
 

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The right of Lebanese women to grant nationality to their families

14-6-2018

In its issue of today, Al Diyar newspaper tackled the right of the Lebanese woman to pass nationality to her family. Al Diyar cited a “Christian source” which voiced fears over the large number of marriages between Lebanese women to Syrians or Palestinians men notably, which it described as permanent settlement in disguise, that could force a demographic change in the country. On the subject, former MP Mohamad Qabbani, stressed that endorsing the decision to give Lebanese mothers married to non-Lebanese the right to confer nationality to their family members, is coming up. It is no longer appropriate for Lebanon to continue with this discriminatory attitude between men and women, Qabbani said, adding, it is not only an action of democracy but is also stipulated by the Lebanese Constitution and all the international conventions signed and approved by Lebanon. Qabbani said it is outrageous and shameful to exclude Lebanese women married to Palestinians or Syrians based on allegations that this could lead to a grave demographic change in the country. In response to what some circles refer to as large numbers of above marriages, Qabbani said it is inaccurate and a fallacy. The number of marriages to Palestinians, does not exceed 2000 to 3000 Lebanese women, he clarified, noting that the Future Movement will push for the adoption of the draft bill in question. (Al Diyar, June 14, 2018)

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ESCWA promotes role of Saudi women 

14-6-2018

Following a series of reform measures in Saudi Arabia, including the issuance of driving licenses for women, https://goo.gl/EGrpdS, the executive secretary of ESCWA, Mohamad Ali Hakim disclosed to An Nahar daily that the Kingdom has an integrated strategy and is closely coordinating with ESCWA to this effect. He pointed out that Saudia is advancing progressively to increase the participation of women in the labor market. Saudi women, he said, hold degrees from western and Arab universities and are capable of holding key and leading positions in the public sector and the government, pointing to collaboration of the UN agency with the Women’s Committee inside the Saudi Cabinet. On the role of women in the economic and social development in the Arab world, Hakim maintained that ESCWA works through UN Women to promote and enhance this role, pointing to a group of programs with Arab states aimed to provide a larger and better share for females in the labor market. “This is a human rights issue, and Lebanese women can be pioneers in this process,” Hakim concluded. (An Nahar, June 14. 2018)

 

Previous related news:
Saudi Arabia starts issuing driving licenses to women
First women rally in Lebanon and first car driving day in Saudi Arabia!
Coming up next: Saudi women as taxi drivers
 

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Iran arrests prominent woman human rights lawyer

14-6-2018

Iranian authorities arrested yesterday prominent human rights lawyer Nisreen Sotudeh, her husband posted on Facebook. Sotudeh, 55, has represented several women detained for protesting against wearing the hijab. An Amnesty International statement which condemned the arrest said that the lawyer’s husband told a foreign press agency that his wife has been detained for a five year prison sentence on a charge she did not know anything about. Philip Luther from Amnesty International said that Nisreen has struggled all her life to defend human rights in Iran, adding that her arrest is the latest illustration of Iranian authorities’ attempts to limit her important work as a lawyer. To recall, Sotudeh was awarded the Sakharov Prize by the European Parliament in 2012 for her advocacy of human rights and political cases, including the case of juveniles facing execution in Iran. (Al Mustaqbal, June 14, 2018)

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A tourist investment of USD 18 million in Ain Sa3adeh

13-6-2018

The chairperson of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), Nabil Itani, yesterday handed over the package deal contract to the huge tourism investment project Forest Resort S.A.L. The project houses a number of restaurants, a health and sports club and a swimming pool, in addition to a jogging and cycling trail in the forest. The USD 18 million undertaking is expected to generate around 219 new jobs. On the occasion, Itani pointed out that the tourism industry is a booming sector with swarming opportunities that need to be invested, namely in the conference, hospitalization and environmental tourism. The above project, Itali boasted, is an architectural imprint and a quantum leap in tourism in Lebanon and the region. It presents a model of fresh prospects offered by the sector, and aided by numerous unique benefits that contribute to the prosperity and success of similar undertakings, particularly in terms of the handiness of skilled labor, as well as, the favorable geographic and climate conditions. (Al Mustaqbal, June 13, 2018)

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AUB’s Leila Badr awarded the Cedar Order

13-6-2018

President Michel Aoun granted yesterday the director of AUB Museum, Dr. Leila Badr, the Commander of the National Order of the Cedar in recognition of her cultural, scientific and heritage achievements. Badr was honored for her role in illuminating Lebanon’s image, and notably for her 40-year management of the third oldest archaeological museum in the Near East. She was also acknowledged for her groundbreaking contributions in the excavation operations in the capital which uncovered the first evidence that Beirut is a Phoenician city. Aoun on the occasion, commended Dr. Badr’s national accomplishments which chronicled the history of ancient Lebanon that shaped the Mediterranean region as the source of civilization. What Dr. Badr did, Aoun said, did not only serve Lebanon and the neighboring region, but also the global civilization as a whole, for it formed the basis of the early human civilization from which stemmed all the other civilizations. The honoree, in her turn, thanked President Aoun, saying: “I am very attached to my country, Lebanon, and much admire its ancient heritage which I worked for its discovery, preservation and recognition.” (An Nahar, June 13, 2018)

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