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Beirut Design Fair spotlights young talents

25-9-2017

Under the patronage of economy minister, Raed Khoury, the first edition of the Beirut Design Fair opened on Wednesday at BIEL with the participation of 44 exhibitors representing the work of 100 designers from Lebanon and the world. The purpose of the fair is to showcase the best galleries and renowned designers alongside rising talents and promising artists. The event drew attention to young stars from today’s emerging creative generation through a SPOT ON showcasing their products in a joint pavilion. Workshops, seminars and round tables were also held on the sideline of the BDF. The latter, to be note, is organized in conjunction with the Beirut Art Fair for contemporary art aimed at promoting culture in Lebanon and the MENA region. (Al Hayat, September 22, 2017)

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Lebanese Angela Salamoun and her ‘Jaleesa’ startup second in the Seedstars world competition

25-9-2017

The Beirut-based co-working space for entrepreneurs and freelancers, Antwork, hosted on Saturday the Seedstars World competition for startups. Angela Salamoun and her ‘Jaleesa’ startup won the second place as a social impact business that connects busy parents with experienced and trusted child care institutions in Beirut. It is to be noted that the winner for Lebanon, was Sammy Khoury’s for his Vision in Motion startup, and was selected among 10 competing startups after deliberation by a jury of Lebanese and regional business owners. Khoury will represent his country in Switzerland next April 2018 where he will participate in one week of training with the opportunity to meet winners from other countries, in addition to world investors and mentors. The top team will be awarded USD 1 million in investments and prizes. Khoury, a statement by Seedstars noted, was shortlisted for his innovative idea B2B that helps businesses track customers tastes through an installed camera or close circuit television. (Al Hayat, September 25, 2017)

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Hezbollah’s Naim Qassem shameful speech on women stears controversy

25-9-2017

The words of deputy secretary general of Hezbollah, Sheikh Naim Qassem, on the second day of Muharram, has steered controversy on social media especially that he demeaned divorced women in general and undermined their value, capabilities and status in society. His speech was largely criticized on social networking platforms and he was requested to apologize for this and for the injustices practiced in the Jaafari spiritual courts. Qassim, in his address to the system of schooling and education, gave the following example: “A teacher, who happens to be a divorced woman, can negatively influence her female students by instructing them and lecturing then on life which is a replica of her own wretched and shameful experience as a divorcee”. Qassim also expressed his resentment over co-ed education and co-ed schools environment whether in the classroom, on trips or on various occasions. He voiced his disapproval for virtual networking between men and women, describing it as a form of illegitimate or illegal meeting in privacy between a man and a woman. (An Nahar, L’Orient Le Jour, September 25, 2017)

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Graduation of Lebanese, Syrian women in a US funded project

25-9-2017

As part of ‘Teaching Women English’ program in rural areas across Lebanon funded by the US Embassy in Lebanon, Maakom Charitable and Social Association organized yesterday a graduation ceremony at Rashid Karami International Fair venue in Tripoli. On the occasion of the graduation event held for the fourth consecutive year, Maakom president, Gina Usta Alluch said the program embraced Lebanese and Syrian women from all regions of the North and the northern part of Mount Lebanon inside 12 classes for a period of six months. They enrolled in 150 English language courses and in several social training sessions as well as in trips organised by the program, Alluch said, pointing to small social initiatives launched by each separate class. A documentary film on the project’s activities was also screened, in addition to live testimonies from graduates. Claudette Jamil, a participant from Amchit, who recounted her suffering with breast cancer and the ensuing chemotherapy treatment, said she became stronger after she completed the English language course. For her part, Nancie Hatoom from Keserwan, mentioned the spirit of cooperation and challenge inspired by the program which supported her in overcoming the difficulties and strengthened her confidence in her capacities. Yesr Ahmad from Akkar, said she decided to take the course when she could not find work because of her weak English. But that at the end of the course, her language improved and she was able to find the job she was looking for. (Al Mustaqbal, September 25, 2017)

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Woman member of the Aley municipality resigns because of constraints on her work

22-9-2017

In its issue of yesterday, An Nahar brought up the story of tensions within the members of the Aley municipal council. Saada Wahab Halimeh, member in the said council, resigned as a results of attempts to constrain her work and activities within the town council. She told the newspaper that her action was guided by the trust of her constituency whom she respects as people have supported her endeavors. She added that the town of Aley believed in the role of women and as such she decided to resign when she was asked to halt her activities. (An Nahar, 21/9/2017)

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Arab Researchers 2017 award goes to Mirvat el Sibai, LAU

22-9-2017

LAU Cell and Molecular Biology professor, Mirvat el Sibai, was recognized by the prestigious Abdel Hamid Shuman Foundation for Arab Researchers 2017 in its 34th edition in which 151 candidates from Arab universities and scientific institutions participated. El Sibai won the award for her distinguished research on cancer and carcinogens or carcinogenic agents used in the treatment of different kinds of cancer, as well as for her extensive and impactful scientific research. The jury comprised of specialized committees reviewed the works of the contenders for the prize in the following fields: medical and health sciences, humanities, social sciences, education, technology, agriculture, economy and administrative sciences. (Al Mustaqbal, September 21, 2017)

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From Beijing: Obstacles impeding the advancement of Lebanese women

22-9-2017

The minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, said on Wednesday that despite the progress brought about since Lebanon’s accession to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), yet many obstacles continue to constrain the advancement of women, mainly in legal issues. Ogassapian was speaking at the Chinese-Arab Women’s Forum organized by the All-China Women’s Federation in Beijing. In his speech, ‘Mobilizing women forces and sharing in the building of the Silk Road’, Ogassapian pointed out that his ministry has in a 6-month record time completed the development of the national strategy for gender equality aimed to promote the status of women in all arenas in compliance with Lebanon’s commitment to implementation of CEDAW. Accordingly, Ogassapian said, his ministry seeks to remove discriminatory provisions and legislations and set a comprehensive work plan based on the national strategy in order to achieve the desired change commensurate with international agreements. He further stressed the need to adopt a participatory approach between nations to step up gender equality and realize the sustainable development agenda for the year 2030. While commending the Lebanese Parliament’s endorsement of the right of a married woman to run for municipal elections at her hometown before marriage, Ogassapian regretted in a statement that this amendment was incomplete. He recalled that on July 29 he submitted to the Cabinet a draft bill requesting the adjustment of some prejudiced provisos related to municipal elections as noted above demanding respect of the right of a married woman to retain her membership in the municipal council after marriage and the subsequent transfer of her registry to her husband’s town. He also reminded of his request to allocate a minimum 30% representation quota for women in the municipal councils, demanding the Legislature to ratify proposed amendments to the effect of empowering Lebanese women and bolstering their presence in these councils. (Al Mustaqbal, September 21, 2017)

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Oil tax bill approved and Berri calls for youth specialization in oil studies

20-9-2017

The Parliament in its legislative session of yesterday approved the 26-article oil tax law with a supplementary article requiring the Ministry of Energy to submit a report to the Council of Representatives every four months detailing all phases of the offshore oil and gas exploration and production process. The bill sets the royalty rate at 4% with 20% of the calculated taxable income on oil companies, that is the total revenue generated from petroleum activities after deducting all expenses. The income tax on companies will be set under the proposed sovereign wealth fund law responsible for collecting revenues from the exploration process, and the same applies to the dividend distribution tax. The energy and water minister, Cesar Abi Khalil, said after adoption of the bill, that the legislative system related to the functioning of oil and gas activity has been completed, and is commensurate with international standards regulating the petroleum industry. Abi Khalil advised oil firms wishing to participate in the first bidding round to observe the provisions of the law. On the other hand, Parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri, lamented the migration of Lebanon’s youth in search for jobs because they cannot find jobs in their country with the prevailing cabal of corruption. He stressed the importance of educational orientation, urging students to specialize in oil studies. “Give me some 6,7 or 10 thousand petroleum engineers. The industry has room for all of them. We need this specialty,” he said. Berri was speaking to a group of outstanding students in Amal Movement’s educational institutions who visited him. Al Akhbar, An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, September 16 and 20, 2017

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The military court considers a woman's suit against her ex-husband and resumes the trial in Elian Saftali’s case

20-9-2017

A woman, A.T sued her ex-husband, Lebanese Army sergeant, R.M, in the military court, accusing him with threatening to kill her and destroying her parents residence. In the details, A.T as a plaintiff in a questioning session headed by Brigadier General Hussein Abdullah, said that her ex-husband broke into the house and smashed the glass in an attempt to forcibly take their daughter, noting that he was granted with visitation rights by the competent  spiritual court . The court’s order required that the husband takes the children from the town’s churchyard and not from the house where he usually lashes at them. A.T recounted that she asked the mukhtar to be present before heading to the church with her daughter. And when the mukhtar saw the reaction of the 6-year-old child who refused to get out of the car to go with her father, he declined to hand her over to her father on humanitarian grounds. “We all returned home, but were chased by my ex-husband who started screaming and threatening with murder and breaking the door glass,” A.T expounded. And when her mother tried to pull the key out of the door he hit her on her head, A.T added. It is to be noted that the military court sentenced R.M a sum of LBP 200 thousand. In an other development, the Military Court of Cassation, headed by Judge Tony Latuf, resumed yesterday the trial of the two convicts in the case of murder of young Elian Saftali as she was leaving one of the nightclubs in Maamelteyn east of Beirut. The Court decided to ask 6 defendants to reappear as well as others who have not attended the hearings before. It also decided to bring a female witness to the next hearing on October 19. (Al Mustaqbal, September 15, 20, 2017)


Previous related news: 
Eliane Saftali murder updates
Updates on Eliane Saftali case and domestic violence in Lebanon
Court ruling for re-trial of accused in the murder of Eliane Saftali
Updates on Eliane Saftali case and domestic violence in Lebanon

 

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AUB professor insults student for wearing hijab

20-9-2017

Activists on social media shared yesterday the case of Maryam Dajani, the social sciences student at the American University of Beirut (AUB) who was allegedly discriminated against by sociology professor, Dr. Samir Khalaf for wearing hijab. Khalaf, Dajani recounted, was giving his lecture, when she politely asked him to repeat what he was saying. But “to my shock, rather than reiterating, he lashed out at me with hate saying, ‘you cannot hear me because of that stupid hijab (head scarf) covering your ears… if you removed it, you would have been able to hear me’,” Dajani said. Dr. Khalaf’s reaction, she added, would have been different if asked by other students to repeat a sentence. For his part, Khalaf clarified his stand making clear that the issue was repeated more than once with the same student and the reason is not the hijab but that she wears it very tightly over her ears which prevents her from hearing properly. “She was the only student in the room requesting that I restate my words though my voice is loud,” Khalaf noted. “Personally, I am against a person explicitly showing his/her religious affiliation, regardless of his/her appearance. This is a personal matter and point of view and I do not mean the hijab only,” Dr. Khalaf maintained. The subject is over-stated and amplified, he said, mentioning that he will meet the student and a Title IX officer responsible for reporting discrimination including discriminatory harassment incidents to elucidate his viewpoint. (L’Orient Le Jour, September 19, 2017)

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