Subscribe to newsletter

Custom Search 1

You are here

Home

News

Error message

  • Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in include() (line 51 of /var/www/weeportal-lb.org/new/sites/all/themes/crtda/node--ressource_center.tpl.php).
  • Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in include() (line 51 of /var/www/weeportal-lb.org/new/sites/all/themes/crtda/node--ressource_center.tpl.php).
  • Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in include() (line 51 of /var/www/weeportal-lb.org/new/sites/all/themes/crtda/node--ressource_center.tpl.php).
  • Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in include() (line 51 of /var/www/weeportal-lb.org/new/sites/all/themes/crtda/node--ressource_center.tpl.php).
  • Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in include() (line 51 of /var/www/weeportal-lb.org/new/sites/all/themes/crtda/node--ressource_center.tpl.php).
  • Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in include() (line 51 of /var/www/weeportal-lb.org/new/sites/all/themes/crtda/node--ressource_center.tpl.php).
  • Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in include() (line 51 of /var/www/weeportal-lb.org/new/sites/all/themes/crtda/node--ressource_center.tpl.php).
  • Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in include() (line 51 of /var/www/weeportal-lb.org/new/sites/all/themes/crtda/node--ressource_center.tpl.php).
  • Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in include() (line 51 of /var/www/weeportal-lb.org/new/sites/all/themes/crtda/node--ressource_center.tpl.php).
  • Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in include() (line 51 of /var/www/weeportal-lb.org/new/sites/all/themes/crtda/node--ressource_center.tpl.php).
English

Cannabis growers in Beqaa slam the government

12-10-2017

An Nahar featured today the cultivation of cannabis in Beqaa as a compensation for losses associated with traditional agriculture and for government’s lack of support. In this respect, the newspaper reminded of the government 1992 alternative agriculture project aimed to encourage Baalbaq and Hermel farmers to substitute the cannabis with other crops that can generate higher proceeds. To recall, the project was set to last until 2006 at an estimated cost of USD 300 million provided by the United Nations agency in charge of the project. An Nahar drew attention to large-scale corruption and political interventions that stopped the project in 2000, while noting that the UN pledged contributions did not exceed USD 20 million. Pointing to the close start of the harvest and to the wastage of the past three seasons which was not a priority for the government, the newspaper wondered if the latter stimulated this cultivation by turning the blind eye. On the subject, An Nahar spoke to a number of farmers who said they have been duped by the attitude of slackness and inaction of the Lebanese State. They said they are planting cannabis to live, while noting the consequences of their illegal status. Some 36,000 arrest warrants have been issued against them for drugs and illegal trade involvement, they told An Nahar reporter. While the agriculture situation is calamitous, and the Beqaa farmers are left to the mercy of undesirable weather hazards and avaricious merchants, they proposed setting up an integrated agricultural program and establishing a cost-effective alternative agriculture, aided with government support throughout all stages of production. (An Nahar, October 12, 2017)

Share on

Grape molasses day in Rashaya al Wadi

12-10-2017

The Rashaya & Beyond association, involved in development and eco-tourism, organized on Sunday October 8 the Grape Molasses Day to familiarize people with the area’s heritage and resources. Some 1,500 visitors flocked from across Lebanon to taste the traditional foodies made by Rashaya al Wadi, including honey, dried figs and, specially, the grape molasses. On the event, Nizar Mhanna, head of the above association said the aim of the activity is to introduce the town with what it boasts to tourers, particularly the conventional method of making grape molasses. Bahaa Qodami from Good Grapes association explained the stages of preparing the molasses, from picking the grapes, to washing and squeezing, boiling and condensing. (L’Orient Le Jour, October 10, 2017)

Share on

France awards Antoinette Shahine with national order of merit

12-10-2017

On the World Day Against the Death Penalty on October 10 of each year, the French Ambassador to Lebanon, Bruno Foucher, conferred French Honor Knight of the National Order of Merit on human rights activist Antoinette Shahine who was sentenced to death but later set free for acquittal. During the ceremony held at the Pine Palace in Beirut, Foucher hailed on behalf of his country Shahine’s struggle for the abolition of capital punishment, commending her tolerance that helped her continue her battle in this direction. “What you went through makes you the ambassador of human dignity in every sense of the word,” Foucher said. Shahine in response said the French honor inspired her to fight against capital punishment, injustice and torture that she experienced in prison. “Today, is the World Day Against Death which I have been celebrating for the past 22 years. And since my release from prison in 1998, I have been working to stop the death sentence in defense of human rights,” Shahine maintained. (An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, October 12, 2017)

Share on

Farmers’ seasonal plight in Lebanon

11-10-2017

With each new season, Lebanese farmers raise their voice to highlight the difficulty in marketing their harvests and to slam the negative attitude of government, which are causing financial losses. Al Diyar newspaper said in an agricultural feature, that with the end of September and the start of October of each year, the Beqaa farmer is on a date with more disastrous circumstances brought about by poor marketing of the apple production due to the ongoing conflict in neighboring Syria and the closure of the transit route to Arab states via Syria. A group of local farmers criticized government’ response stating that the first batch of compensation for apple growers was insufficient to compensated their huge losses. While many others admitted that the government’s procrastination drives them to engage in the illegal cultivation of cannabis, as well as in robbery and theft. On the other hand, agricultural cooperative associations in Batroon area, outlined in a letter to the agriculture minister, its requests and needs, including observing an additional share for olive coops in the Caza, and provision of assistance to apple and olive growers in terms of fertilizers and marketing their crops. On the other hand the chief of the Beqaa Farmers Association, Ibrahim Tarshishi, announced on Friday the disbursement by the ministry of finance of a LBP 23 billion cash advance allocated for the current wheat harvest supply, and asked farmers to prepare their produce for delivery as per LBP 590 for one kg, as approved by the Cabinet. Tarshishi said the decision ends a 3-year chapter of inaction by the government which refrained from collecting the supplies and compensated farmers financially. On a related note, MP, Anwar Khalil, commended the recent decision of Prime Minister Hariri to support olive oil production in Hasbaya and Marje3yoon. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, September 25, 29, 2017)

Share on

Civil mobilization to release a transgender woman in Lebanon

11-10-2017

The Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH), the Arab Foundation for Freedoms and Equality (AFE) and a group of social media followers launched calls during the past 24 hours for the release of Suzy, 50 years, who is one of the first transgender women of Lebanon. Suzy was arrested in Beirut last Sunday due to an absentee ruling in 2011 accusing her of involvement in unnatural relationships that are contrary to the rules of nature (Article 534 of the Penal Code) as well as of the practice of prostitution (Article 523 of the Penal Code), according to the website of CLDH. The latter also revealed that Suzy has confessed to the security forces that sometimes she has to sell her body to strangers in order to survive. While considering the prime reason for Suzy’s detention is her sexual identity, CLDH described it as a clear violation of human rights and the international conventions protecting those rights and to which Lebanon is a signatory. How can a person like Suzy who was rejected by her family and society be safe and live in peace, CLDH statement said, while pointing out that her age and illness could affect her overall health and emotional conditions. (L’Orient Le Jour, October 11, 2017)

Share on

Banking on industrialization to counter emigration

11-10-2017

Lebanon’s productive sectors have been undermined since the end of civil war in 1990, and the industrial sector has been destabilized like other marginalized sectors, thus representing a smaller proportion of national economy due mainly to a history of missed development opportunities, according to Al Akhbar today. The newspaper cited the executive director of the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS), Sami Atallah, and fellow economic researcher, Nancy Ezzedine, as saying that the share of the industrial sector out of the total GDP has shrank steadily from 24% in 1997 to 14% in 2016. They pointed out that Lebanon continues to register the worst trade deficit in the region, mostly as a result of dependency on imports and poor export outlets. The trade deficit reached USD 15.65 billion by December 2016, with a 3.56% annual increase. Atallah and Ezzedine went on to explain that the industrial sector has been constrained due to limited development in industrial policy, poor electricity coverage and a high cost of production, in addition to the repercussions of the Syrian conflict. In conclusion, the economists pointed out that Lebanon requires a supportive industrial policy capable of optimizing benefit from industrialization prospects, noting that this strategy is key to the development of the country in order to create highly sophisticated jobs and dodge further brain drain. For the article in Al Akhbar, kindly visit the link: https://www.al-akhbar.com/node/284538. (For more about Lebanon’s manufacturing sector please check: https://www.lcps-lebanon.org/publication.php?id=295&category=900&year=2017 ) (Al Akhbar, October 11, 2017) (Al Akhbar, October 11, 2017)

Share on

Mutual lawsuits in case of Maj. Suzan Hajj

11-10-2017

Reactions continue to the case of dismissal of Maj. Suzan Hajj from her position as ISF Anti-Cybercrime Bureau for liking a tweet insulting Saudi women. After her sacking, Hajj filed a complaint to competent circles accusing journalist Ziad Itani owner of Ayoub News electronic portal of his wily premeditated screenshot of the like. This fact Itani denied during interrogation at Jdeideh judiciary police station, alleging that the shot was taken by journalist Asaad Bsharah, advisor to Major General Ashraf Rifi, who leaked it to the Information Department and the Ministry of Interior. To note that after Bshara refused to show up for investigation, Maj. Hajj’s attorney initiated a private prosecution against him with the charges of eliciting sectarianism, slander, defamation and fabrication of crimes. In turn, Bsharah filed a complaint with the public prosecutor against the satirist Charbel Khalil who posted the tweet and Maj Hajj or anyone involved, with the charges of inciting sectarian tension and promoting conflicts among the constituents of the nation (Article 317, Penal Code) and disturbing Lebanon’s relations with a sister nation as well as exposing the Lebanese citizens to reactions that may cause harm to them or to their interests (Article 288, Penal Code). (L’Orient Le Jour, October 11, 2017)

 

Previous related news: 
More condemnations against sacking of Maj. Suzan Hajj
Suzane Hajj head, ISF senior officer removed because of a Twitter ‘like’
 

Share on

Compensation to apple farmers finally released

10-10-2017

In a tweet yesterday, the finance minister, Ali Hassan Khalil, mentioned the release of the second LBP 20 billion installment in compensation to apple growers, noting that the first and equal batch of payment has been delivered back in May (: http://bit.ly/2qLojnk). To recall, the government on August 25 agreed to pay the second installment before end of the month, but the finance ministry deferred the transfer of the amount. Accordingly, the prime minister pledged during a legislative meeting on September 16 to release the overdue payment before the end of the month. However, none of these promises were met, which prompted the chief of the Lebanese farmers Association, Antoine Howayek, to egg farmers on to a revolution to claim their demands and rights “under a leadership that has no roof for its struggle” as he said. Earlier in August, apple growers staged a series of protests in response to the delay in payment of the compensation and to reiterate their requests for finding external markets for their produce. On this front, and following the two agreements signed last September between agriculture minister, Ghazi Zeiter, and his Syrian and Jordanian counterparts to increase Lebanese exports to both states, Zeiater stressed on Monday the need to reopen borders with Syria and coordinate with its government on facilitating the marketing of agricultural products to the Arab countries via the Syria gate.  (L’Orient Le Jour, Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, October 3, 4, 9, 10, 2017)

 

Previous related news: 
More promises and suggestions to deal with the apple glut
Further delays in settlement of compensation for apple farmers
Akkar apple growers receive part of compensation
Apple farmers protest shrinking compensation
 

Share on

Marketing made-in-Lebanon products locally

10-10-2017

The chief of the Mount Lebanon Traders Union, Nasib Gemayel, and a number of heads of trade associations in Mount Lebanon, visited yesterday the Lebanese Industrialists Association (LIA) premises where he met president Fadi Gemayel and members. During the meeting, participants discussed the challenges facing the trade and industrial sectors amidst precarious economic conditions. Both sides agreed to give traders priority for marketing their goods in the local commercial establishments of Mount Lebanon. The head of the Union launched an initiative in support of the industrial sector asking merchants to prioritize the selling of made-in-Lebanon products at their shops. He announced that as of today, traders, whether members or non-members, of Mount Lebanon associations will receive circulars to this end. In the next phase, Gemayel clarified, “we shall cooperate with the LIA and various economic groups on the development of a trade law in Lebanon that takes into consideration this matter and other issues such as regulating the big shopping centers sector.” (An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, October 10, 2017)

Share on

L’Oreal-UNESCO honors 7 Arab women researchers

10-10-2017

The L’Oreal-UNESCo for Women in Science Levant and Egypt Fellowship Program, in cooperation with the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS), honored on Thursday 7 Arab women researchers from Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan and Syria, for year 2017, for their exceptional research work during a ceremony held at Ecole Superieure des Affaires in Beirut. The winners are: Dr. Elise Njeim (Lebanon): Researcher at CNRS, specialist in Microbial Ecology and Biological Control; Carine Jaafar (Lebanon): PhD student in the Cell and Molecular Biology Program at AUB; Nour Ghadban (Syria): PhD student in Computer and Automatic Control, in the Engineering Department Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering at Tishreen University, Latakia; Dr. Menattalah el Seirafy (Egypt): Researcher at the Center for Genomics at Zewail City of Science and Technology, Cairo, specialist in Molecular Biology and Genetics; Basma Mostafa (Egypt): Assistant Lecturer and PhD student at the Faculty of Computers and Information at Cairo University; ; Dr. Areej Abuhammad (Jordan): Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Jordan, specialist in Pharmacology and Drug Discovery; Dr. Arwa al Shuwaikh (Iraq): Assistant Professor, at the Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine of Nahrain University in Baghdad. (Al Akhbar October 10, 2017)

Share on

Pages


Subscribe to RSS - News