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Arsal women develop the ‘kilim’ rugs to sell in the capital

3-7-2017

L’Orient Le Jour featured today the ‘kilim’ wool or cotton rug weaving by the women of Arsal in Beqaa. In this respect, the newspaper brought to light ‘Oumnia’ Boutique in Downtown’s Saifi district, a project founded in February 2006 by Nivine Maktabi in cooperation with USAID. The store embraces a carpet workshop currently run by women from Arsal who hand weave decorative carpets with a story or a message. These women, the newspaper wrote, have inherited the craft from their grandmothers who used to knit kilim to embellish the interior of their houses. Today, thanks to ‘Oumnia’ venture, rural women of Arsal are selling their produce for financial returns. Makatabi described to L’Orient Le Jour reporter this intricate and demanding craftsmanship which, she said, “requires patience, precision and passion.” The kilim rug is normally dark colored, but nowadays, women are learning to use and intertwine bright colors into the designs she draws, Nivine boasted. The undertaking, she noted, contributes largely to economically empowering the women of Arsal, who she has long sought to work with. (L’Orient Le Jour, July 3, 2017)

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How Islam, Christianity view violence against women

3-7-2017

The International Center for Human Sciences (CISH) in Byblos organized yesterday a dialogue and debate session on the ‘viewpoint of Islam and Christianity on violence against women and the solutions they offer’, in the presence of Mufti of Tripoli and the North, Dr. Malek Chaar, Patriarchal Aide, Father Joseph Nafaa and a crowd of dignitaries. On the occasion, Chaar portrayed the different types of persecution and violence women have borne throughout the ages. Female infanticide, the pessimistic outlook to the birth of girls, and forcing a woman to marry a total stranger, (all common in Arab culture) were a few examples, the Mufti stated. He described this oppressive mindset as “ugly and a stigma in the history of the Arab nation,” and cited verses from the Koran to demonstrate that Islam has tried to address these issues. He said Islam has given the woman the right to self-determination and independence, stressing her equal partnership with man in bringing up a family and in claiming responsibility. For his part, Bishop Nafaa mentioned that the abuse of women is rooted in the way women’s dignity and status are perceived compared to men. Many civilizations, he maintained, have placed women in a lower position and considered them as subordinates to men, who are “more apt to be in charge in family matters and in society in general.” In conclusion, Nafaa advised the Bible should be understood from its cultural perspective, noting "that there is a real misunderstanding of religious texts and that supporters of women’s exploitation have based their rhetoric on some texts to justify them and give them divine immunity,” as he put it. )Al Diyar, July 3, 2017)

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Nayla Audi’s sweets and ice cream in Lebanon and the US

30-6-2017

In a special feature today, L’Orient Le Jour highlighted a venture by Nayla Audi, who runs the Oslo and MILK ice cream and cakes parlors in Lebanon and the United States. Despite her infatuation with the world of gastronomy, she studied political science at the American University of Beirut, Nayla told L’Orient Le Jour reporter. From there, she moved to the US where she worked in the business of confectionaries, Nayla went on to say. In 1997, she returned to her homeland to kick off her first sweets shop, Oslo, in Ashrafieh’s neighborhood of Mar Mkhail, investing nearly USD 25 thousand and collaborating with only one assistant, Audi stated. Today, she boasted, her shop employs 22 workers and offers a wide assortment of desserts including 80 ice cream flavors and some 300 sweet courses. To mention, in 2011, Audi expanded the shop that now extends over 600 square meters, and opened a branch in Los Angeles. In 2017, she launched a new branch in Verdun, Beirut. MILK, on the other hand, founded in LA in 2007, employs 32 persons catering almost the same Oslo ice cream brands, and an additional branch was founded also in California in 2012. (L’Orient Le Jour, June 22, 2017)

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European reward to Jabal el Sheikh honey

30-6-2017

Jabal Loubnan for National Products, owner of Jabal el Sheikh Honey brand, won the golden prize for best strategy to preserve the quality and freshness of honey published by the European Society for Quality Research (ESQR). Jabal Loubnan manager, Hussein Kadamani, received the award at a grand ceremony held at Grange St Paul Hotel, London, to honor winners from different categories. To recall, last year, the German automaker of BMW won a similar prize by the same publisher. The minister of industry, Hussein Haj Hassan, praised the winning company and the efforts of its keepers for promoting Lebanon’s agricultural industries in the world, urging them to sustain compliance with international standards which give them access to and a competitive edge in global markets. He stressed the need to lead and develop the agro-food sector, declaring his ministry’s full support to that effect. (Al Diyar, June 30, 2017)

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NCLW reports on its women’s strategy

30-6-2017

The president of the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW), Claudine Aoun Roukuz, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) representative, Asma Qurdahi, launched yesterday the third annual report for the implementation of the National Strategy for Women in Lebanon, in the presence of minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, and a group of civil society associations, the media, universities and concerned parties. Roukuz maintained that the report highlights national efforts in 2015 to realize the National Strategic Objectives for Women in Lebanon 2011-2021, which focus on promoting a society based on the principles of justice, impartiality and equality among men and women. Roukuz also announced commitment to the 12 strategic goals as part of a solid faith in the continuity of the public sector and alteration or rotation of authorities. “We shall work on developing the strategy in line with our aspirations and goals to reach complete gender equality in our Lebanese society,” Roukuz said. Equality can only be achieved by empowering women to play their role in building society and national economy and eradicating all legal, social and structural barriers that prevent their participation and evolution across all sectors and spheres of life, Roukuz added. (Al Diyar, June 30, 2017)

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EIB supports SMEs with 90 million Euro

30-6-2017

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed two agreements, the first with Societe Generale de Banque au Liban (SGBL) and the second with the First National Bank. Accordingly, the banks will supports Small and Micro Enterprises within the framework of the European Investment Bank support towards the private sector in Lebanon and which seeks to increase the flexibility of the Lebanese economy. As such, the European Investment bank signed yesterday an agreement with SGBL to open a Euro 60 million credit line to finance small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Lebanon. On the signing, SGBL chair and general manager, EIB vice president, Dario Scannapieco, pointed out that the deal will enable SMEs to expand their operations and generate jobs. In addition, SGBL strengthened its strategic partnership with the European Investment Bank through a new agreement between the two parties. This agreement stipulates that SGBL will open a line of credit of Euro 30 million over 7 years targeting companies that are active in various economic sectors namely SMEs in order that they develop production and create more youth employment opportunities. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, June 29 and 30, 2017

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Eliane Saftali murder updates

30-6-2017

The Military Court of Cassation yesterday adjourned to September 19 the hearing in the case of killing of Eliane Saftali by escapee Hassan Hamiyeh after listening for more than three hours to conflicting testimonies of four witnesses. The next session will be devoted to people who were present outside the nightclub on the night of the murder. In the latest updates, the victim’s  mother, Grace Saftali, revealed that Mohamad Safwan, when summoned as a witness in the investigation procedure, informed her that Hassan got edgy after being banned from entering the pub. He tried to calm him down after firing the first bullet which killed Eliane, warning him, “you killed her”, Safwan told the mother. Then, when he grabbed the culprit’s hand trying to sway him, the assailant fired in the air and hit the sign of the nightclub with two bullets, according to the victim’s mother. The latter also spoke of negotiations Hamiyeh’s family tried to conduct with her family through a third party, mentioning a blank cheque, saying the offer was turned down. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, June 30, 2017)

Previous related news: 
Trial of Eliane Saftali adjourned
Court ruling for re-trial of accused in the murder of Eliane Saftali
 

 

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Traditional straw chair weaving, rapidly vanishing in Tripoli

29-6-2017

Al Mustaqbal newspaper featured today traditional straw chair weaving that was common in Tripoli some 200 years back. The artisan work recently seen a significant decline with the corresponding evolution of furniture industry, Al Mustaqbal wrote. Only one small factory located in Bab el Hadid neighborhood at the entrance of the heritage tailors souk, is still in operation. The owner, Omran Makari, said he inherited the profession from his father some 40 years ago, which involves, wicker, basketry and some wooden items, like trays, mortars, baskets, plates, and toilet seats. Such products, Makari boasted, attract customers from the villages and towns surrounding Tripoli, as well as, tourists who visit the city and its old souks. Despite the limited demand on his creations, he is still adamant to preserve the tradition, Makari said. (Al Mustaqbal, June 28, 2017)

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Burkini banned in Tripoli

29-6-2017

Al Akhbar highlighted today the ban of Noura Zaim from swimming at the Mira Mar Resort Hotel and Spa in Tripoli for wearing the full-body burkini. The story sparked wide controversy which turned into a case of public opinion similar to the one instigated in some European countries, as if the discrimination bug has reached Lebanon, Al Akhbar sarcastically wrote. Viewpoints and attitudes on the issue were divided on the social media. While some supported the resort’s action as being subject to the owner’s position, others condemned it for contradicting the principles of equality and violating personal freedom. They further described it as a racist practice against ‘muhajabat’ (veiled women), comparable to the veto on the entry of domestic workers or brown-skin people to the majority of beaches in the country. Moreover, some expressed their denunciation of such measures for being enforced on ‘public spaces’ where the law clearly guarantees free access to public beaches. Al Akhbar said that in the midst of this mayhem, the government shies away from effecting the law. The minister of tourism has refrained from commenting on the matter, while the president of the owners of beach resorts backed the action taken by Mira Mar, which he maintained, has the right to impose its own system that conforms to the backgrounds and temperaments of its customers, Al Akhbar said. For his part, former minister of interior, Ziad Barud, voiced his objection to the way private institutions are enforcing their own private rules, stating that they have no right to force a dress code on people, except inside halls that fall within private property and outside public spaces. (Al Akhbar, June 29, 2017)

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Timmy Hayek emerging Lebanese fashion designer

29-6-2017

L’Orient Le Jour featured today the career path of emerging Lebanese fashion designer, Timmy Hayek. Despite her young age (28 years), the newspaper wrote, Hayek proved her talent in the industry. Since her study and graduation in fashion design in 2012 from the UK Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design, Hayek did not have a day off. She was trained by famous designer Mark Jacobs at the Paris premises of Louis Vuitton back in 2011, and later by the renowned French Charles Du Castelbajac. For her graduation project, she moved to London to gain skill-based experience with Mary Katrantzou and Alexander McQueen, Hayek told the newspaper’s reporter. To recall, in 2010 Hayek won the prize of liberal art textiles and her design was sold to the legendary British store ‘Liberty’. Hayek disclosed that she launched her first women collection, carrying her name, with Stars Fashion Forward Dubai in 2014 and opened her first boutique shop in Beirut in 2015, located in Monot Street of Ashrafieh. (L’Orient Le Jour, June 24, 2017)

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