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Lebanese woman on trial in Cairo and women activists released in SA

4-6-2018

Egypt’s Public Prosecutor, Nabil Ahmad Sadek, referred to the criminal trial on Sunday of Lebanese citizen, Mona Mazbouh, for insulting the Egyptian people and spreading rumors that are harmful to society and offensive to religions. To recall, Mazbouh posted last week a video on her facebook account accusing Egyptians of sexual harassment, scam and theft after being exposed to bad personal experiences. Mazbouh had reportedly used offensive terms in the video which angered Egyptians who demanded her arrest. Later, Mazbouh appeared in a second video apologizing to the “respectable Egyptians” for her remarks. Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia, and following the waves of arrests of human and women’s rights defenders and the release of four of them (https://goo.gl/QQsH1i), the public prosecutor’s office clarified last Saturday that it has interrogated the accused human rights groups advocating women’s rights and announced the provisional release of 8 of them, including 5 women and 3 men, while keeping 9 others in custody. The Public Prosecutor statement also said that the detainees admitted their connection and collaboration with parties and organizations that are hostile to the Kingdom. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, June 4, 2018)

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Countering corruption in human trafficking in Lebanon

4-6-2018

Al Akhbar newspaper wrote about the corruption in the offices recruiting migrant domestic workers (MWDWs) and which was uncovered during last week’s sit-in by a group of these agencies in front of the labor ministry. The protest, to recall, was called upon by their syndicate to demand a regulation of the sector. According to Al Akhbar, the demonstrators gave examples of the illegal methods and the bad reputation involving a black market in the industry, the illicit leasing of licenses and the inconsistent process to get these licenses, where in most cases, permits are released through fraudulent brokers mediating with the successive ministry of labor officials (for more, kindly refer to the following link: (: https://bit.ly/2LVlDPf). On the other hand, Al Akhbar drew attention to the suffering of MWDWs, including racist discrimination and injustice in legal matters, as well as, exploitation and abuse through confiscating the workers’ passports or forcing them to work in violation of the provisions specified in the signed contracts, and not paying their wages. Added to all this, Al Akhbar said, is the disrespect for the worker’s privacy and their torture by a number of recruiting offices in order to restrain or repress them. Many Lebanese, Al Akhbar wrote, tend to treat the migrant worker as one of the house’s possession. On the subject, the president of the National Federation of Employees and Workers Unions in Lebanon (FENASOL), Castro Abdallah, denounced the existence of such offices, underlining the need to regulate and organize the work of MWDWs through the state-run National Employment Office (NEO). (Al Akhbar, June 4, 2018)
 

Previous related news: 
Human traffickers, MWDW violence in Lebanon
New warning to MWDW recruitment agencies
Labor ministry warns offices against taking money from MWDWs
Directory of services of MWDWs in Lebanon
Human traffickers, MWDW violence in Lebanon
 

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Travel Lebanon at Garden Show

4-6-2018

Tourism minister Avedis Guidanian in collaboration with USAID director in Lebanon, Anne Patterson, inaugurated the Travel Lebanon exhibition held concurrently with the Garden Show & Spring Festival at Beirut Hippodrome (https://goo.gl/JYWqqf). On the occasion, Guidanian said the exhibition is an opportunity to launch Lebanon’s tourism season, noting that rural tourism allows residents and tourists to enjoy the splendor of the country while supporting its local economy. To note, Travel Lebanon is organized by Hospitality Services for the fifth consecutive year, with the support of the Lebanon Industry Value Chain Development (LIVCD) project funded by USAID, in cooperation with the Lebanese ministry of tourism. More than 50 partner tour operators in the rural tourism sector partook in the 4-day event with the aim to promote rural landmarks and destinations, guesthouses and related services and activities. In addition, 18 associations and NGOs provided new promotional publications completed as part of a USAID grant. (Al Diyar, June 3, 2018)

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Minister Bassil’s culinary and wine diplomacy!

1-6-2018

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jibran Bassil, said at a press conference yesterday that the State has failed its citizens, its industry and agriculture, as well as the unique made-in-Lebanon products, noting that his ministry has administered examinations for some 20 economic attaches to market Lebanese wine in 20 different countries. Bassil also announced the details of the Lebanese Wine Day 2018 projected to take place in the Swiss cities of Zurich and Geneva from June 11 to 14, with the participation of 34 Lebanese producers. “We are happy to be present in Geneva and Zurich, but we aim big at the larger markets of Russia, China, India and the Koreas, and we can reach them for they boast immense prospects for selling the Lebanese wine,” Bassil maintained. Meanwhile, the foreign ministry held an Iftar banquet yesterday during which Bassil launched the Lebanon Gastrodiplomacy program attended by 250 guests, including politicians, diplomats and heads of industrial and trade chambers, with the participation of 22 eateries. The initiative, to note, is the joint outcome of the ministries of economy, industry, agriculture, culture and tourism in collaboration with the Lebanese Industrialists Association (LIA) and the owners of restaurants. It is part of the foreign ministry’s policy aimed to promote made-in-Lebanese goods and its authentic cuisine as an essential component of the country’s heritage and culture, said Rasha Hadad from the ministry. Work is underway, Haddad said, to form the National Commission for Lebanon Gastrodiplomacy which is expected to lay down food benchmarks in partnership with Lebanese chefs, Hadad added. (An Nahar, Al Akhbar, Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, June 1, 2018)

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Garden Show & Spring Festival opens in Beirut Hippodrome

1-6-2018

Lebanon’s First Lady Nadia Chami Aoun inaugurated on Wednesday the 15th edition of the Garden Show & Spring Festival at Beirut Hippodrome under the theme, ‘Sounds in the garden’. Some 220 exhibitors showcased a large selection of plants, flowers, outdoor furniture and accessories and all kinds of gardening equipment. The 4-day event is expected to attract a crowd of 20,000 or more persons. According to Joumana Damous, managing director of Hospitality Services, the festival is important because it highlights green spaces and extends an opportunity for visitors to discover original ideas to enrich and decorate their balconies, terraces and gardens. Showgoers can also learn about many art installations and design displays, said Myriam Shouman, co-organizer of the event. To note, nearly 10% of the entrance fees proceeds will go to help charities chosen for this year, namely Les Restaurants du Coeur, Caritas, CCCL and Tamanna association. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, June 1, 2018)

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Beekeeping training in Donniyeh

1-6-2018

In collaboration with the Italian AVSI foundation, the Federation of Municipalities of Donniyeh announced on Wednesday that it is organizing a beekeeping training workshop. With the completion of the course, beneficiaries will receive certificates endorsed by AVSI, the agriculture ministry and UNICEF. In addition, each beneficiary will get an opportunity to train for one month at a specific company or attend an entrepreneurship course at an agricultural institute in Abdeh or Batroon, as well as, a chance to start his/her own project. The workshop extends over 12 days at a scale of 4 hours per day, noting that participants should be between 15 to 25 years of age. To note also, the training covers the following topics: identification of bee species and breeds; economic and environmental benefits of bees; beekeeping products; structure and specifications of beehive; conditions for stationing beehives (milieu, pastures, trees); beekeeper’s suit and beekeeping supplies; prevention and public safety requisites; importance of regular inspection; beekeeper’s calendar; nutritional requirements for honey bees; bee diseases and treatment and finally, the honey extraction process. (Al Mustaqbal, May 31, 2018)

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Maritime bridge program renewed to boost exports

31-5-2018

The president of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), Nabil Itani, announced a series of measures to address the challenges facing the productive sectors, namely, agriculture. These measures include the following: increase by 15% the value of financial incentives of agricultural exports through the AGRI Plus program; extend support to agri-food goods exported to Jordan similar to exports bound for GCC states pending the reopening of the Jordanian-Syrian borders, and finally renew work of the exports maritime bridge program. The outcome of the sea export program, to recall, has been disappointing in its first year and has been widely criticized, especially in terms of its high costs (https://bit.ly/2slXmti). On this, Itani replied by stating that the program has contributed to sustaining the place of made-in-Lebanon products in the Arab markets and acquire consumers’ trust in these products as well as the credibility of Lebanese producers with their trade partners in said countries. IDAL president explained that the Lebanese exports via the maritime bridge have reached 151 tons, with agricultural products representing 88%, agri-foods (8%) and industrial goods (4%). The exported shipments via marine vessels stood at 7,442 container trucks, including 6,677 subsidized trucks, during 136 trips made by the four cargo ships registered with the sea bridge program, Itani said. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, May 31, 2018)

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Slaughterhouse in Tripoli shut down for violating health conditions

31-5-2018

North Lebanon governor, Judge Ramzi Nahra, ordered the shutdown of a slaughterhouse within the vicinity of the Federation of Municipalities of Fayhaa for violating minimum health and hygiene conditions. The abattoir was sealed with red wax based on a request annotated with the signature of the deputy prime minister and minister of public health in the caretaker government, Ghassan Hasbani. In his letter to Nahra, Hasbani maintained that after reviewing the contents of the report presented by the health department in the district of Tripoli, it was found that the slaughterhouse did not meet relevant requirements, and thus, “we ask you to take the necessary measures to close the abattoir until it complies with required conditions.” The minister was firm that the place will have to receive a prior permission from his ministry to reopen. (Al Mustaqbal, May 31, 2018)

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Amal Educational Institutions push back and maintain that motherhood is a natural right

31-5-2018

In response to the report published yesterday in AL Akhbar daily under the heading, ‘Amal Educational Institutions: pregnancy not allowed for teachers’, (c.f: https://bit.ly/2skncxN), the institutions released a statement signed by its CEO, Dr. Rida Saadeh, claiming that the newspaper’s report contains distorted facts. The statement maintains that is the Institution is enforcing bar against pregnancy of its teachers, it would not have granted over 100 to maternity and health leaves during the academic year.  The statement further sustains that this is the teachers’ natural right and pointing out that female teachers represent nearly 85% of the faculty. The statement said the Institution has always been fair to its teaching staff and is among the first academic establishments in the country to recompense the salary increase according to the payscale ratified recently. The institution, the statement concluded, observes the laws that recognize the rights of its employees, in terms of salaries and leaves, as well as, in incentives, respect and acknowledgment, and abides by the state laws in effect when the State itself fails to do that. (Al Akhbar, May 31, 2018)
 

Previous related news: 
Shame: Pregnancy not allowed at Amal educational institutions
 

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Iranian female student faces Khamenei, criticizes situation

30-5-2018

Iranian female student, Sahar Mehrabi, stood up to supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei during an Iftar dinner for students on Monday and harshly criticized the current situation in Iran, recounting numerous crises and the fabrication of security cases to target activists. Mehrabi also drew attention to an ‘intensified systematic inequality in social classes in the country, a deterioration of public trust, an exacerbated environmental crisis and increase in shantytowns.’ Mehrabi mentioned the high unemployment rate and challenges facing minorities. Mehrabi addressed Khamenei complaining that investigation into the performance of institutions under his control, is impossible, namely Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Judiciary, the state television and financial firms. Mehrabi also slated officials for being beyond accountability, describing the situation as ‘problematic’. She concluded by asking Khamenei: “What is your answer to questions, criticisms and protests.” In reply, Khamenei said finding a solution to the problems is not an easy thing as students expect, and suggested integrating the revolutionary, zealous and committed youth into government apparatus. He maintained that the evolution of a society requires a freedom of expression, which in turn needs a legal framework, as he put it. (Al Hayat, May 30, 2018)

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