News

Lebanese movie director, Nadine Labaki launched a campaign yesterday titled “Zarri’et Qalbi” (plant of my heart) gathering a group of public figures in a promotion video produced remotely. Celebrities and relatives of Labaki were filmed planting in different locations and singing to the song ‘Hashisht Albi’ (weed of my heart) from the soundtrack of her famous film ‘Halla’ Lawein’. The campaign as published on Labaki’s social media pages, is a collaboration of many sustainable agricultural initiatives that seek to help citizens wishing to grow seeds and vegetables in their homes or fields. In its reaction to above campaign, Al Akhbar daily wrote, that while many hailed the initiative, the video has sparked wide criticism towards the touristic approach tackling the anguish of the Lebanese people which presented a dreamlike solution to the dilemma as is always the case in Labaki’s films. (Al Akhbar, May 18, 2020)
 

One of the main challenges of agriculture in Lebanon is the almost complete absence of local fertilizer production, Al Akhbar daily reported on Saturday. The market’s need to import chemical and organic fertilizers is combined with the near to the ground exchange rate of the Lebanese Lira against the US dollar and the obstacles facing production and export lines in producing countries due to the Corona pandemic. The import figures of chemical fertilizers that poison food and the environment are frightening, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars in the last ten years alone. The highest price per ton imported in 2019 was USD 272, Al Akhbar wrote. On the other hand, and in a simple calculation, the Lebanese daily discard between 3.5 to 4 thousand tons of organic waste out of a total 5 to 7 thousand tons of waste, that is more than 2000 tons of organic fertilizers. Therefore, Lebanese lose nearly USD 544 thousand every day (without counting in the cost of manufacture), Al Akhbar concluded. (Al Akhbar, May 9, 2020)
 

In its issue of today, An Nahar newspaper spotlighted marital affairs in three drama series currently aired on TVs. The featured episodes, according to An Nahar, drive us to break free from all socializing and interpersonal relations as they sustain immense extra marital affairs, double-dealing and back-stabbing. In the details, the newspaper analyzed three models of failed marriage relationships, exposed or disguised under the veil of lies. The woman in the first series, “Children of Adam”, is presented as extremely naïve, softie and kind-hearted, the fact that causes her harm. She is deceived by a husband who plays the role of a dutiful and respectful community figure, while in reality he is a big cheater and hypocrite, the newspaper wrote. And while In the second series, “If we did not meet”, the husband views his partner as a piece of furniture, in “Bardaneh Ana”, the husband is portrayed as boasting all the power and authority unlike his wife, who is completely neglected and mistreated. Her existence as a woman is annihilated and appropriated. To conclude, An Nahar stressed that a life like this under one roof is disastrous. (An Nahar, May 13, 2020)
 

The Al Akhbar issue of May 4th spotlighted an Egyptian soap opera currently running for the month of Ramadan.  The series entitled "Pronce" includes a number of conversations featuring its male lead actor, Mohammed Ramadan, as well as female cast and which are lade with derogatry comments vis-a-vis women especially women who are divorcees or widows.  This status is being referred to as a social stigma in the series.  According to the newspaper, this series is being discussed extensively in social media in view of the negative scropt it includes vis-a-vis women and which reproduce negative gender stereotypes.  The newapaper also talks about another series, "why do we love again" and which talks about women divorcee under a different light and by spotlighting their struggles with society.  This series takes ona modern view of women as the protagonist is a divorced women who seeks another love after her separation. (Al Akhbar, May 4th, 2020)
 

In its issue of last Friday, An Nahar newspper published a detailed report on the increase in domestic violence cases under lockdown.  The article refers to a recent report publish by Kafa Violence and Exploitation which indicates that the number of first-time calls received on their special hotline was 105 in April compared to 75 in March.  The report notes that this spike is related to the 6 murder cases which took place during the month of April as women who have been living with violence start fearing for their lives and are therefore motivated to call for help.  According to the paper, first time callers who have been living with violence are now calling more because they are under lockdown with their abusers 24/7.  Many say that they are often humiliated, shouted at, gaslighted and threatned with physical and economic abuse in addition to isolation and and threats to be separated from their children.  The article concludes by saying that the overwhelming majority of callers are adult, Lebanese married women with their husbands as abusers.  The abuse reported is often verval, emotional and spiking into physical. (An Nahar. May 8th, 2020)
 

Emerging Investment Partners (EIP), a private equity fund management for the MENA region, announced that it has successfully closed the first phase of subscriptions at its Levant Fund. The anticipated target size is USD 60 million to be employed in small and medium enterprises in Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq. EIP said in a statement, that the main contributions to the fund are from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), A member of the World Bank Group, and Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF), in addition to local investment parties, namely Obegi and Al Fadel Groups and Capital pe. The fund, according to the statement, will focus on SMEs whose sales are less than USD 50 million, provided the invested amounts in each company is between USD 1 million and USD 6 million. The Fund investments will target existing high potential companies helping them to expand and scale up their activities locally and globally through export. (Al Akhbar, March 12, 2020)
 
 

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar newspaper spotlighted Dalal Sharaf, a seamstress from Saida, who lately started sewing face masks for protection from the corona virus at only LBP 2000 each. Speaking to Al Akhbar, Sharaf said that a friend has advised her to pick up where she left few months ago at the outbreak of the financial crisis which hit Lebanon and get back to sewing. She started gathering leftover white fabrics and rubber bands to create effective masks that fight the virus as well as the money mongers and those who benefit from the crisis, namely pharmacy owners and merchants who exploited people’s need for masks to raise the price of one piece to over LBP 12,000. Sharaf boasted her new product stressing its hygiene measures compared to those sold at drugstores. The face masks guarantee no air leakage due to the quality of the fabric and the sturdy bands attached at the side of the mask extending around the ears and cheeks, she explained. “What is important, she stated, is that it is reusable after vigorous washing, sterilization and ironing at high temperature. (Al Akhbar, March 13, 2020)
 

After the accusation against Al Maounat and AUBMC hospitals and two doctors in the case of child Ella Tanus who lost her limbs 5 years ago as a result of medical errors, the medical staff at AUBMC decided to appeal the ruling which it described as ‘unfair and detrimental’ to the future of medical practice in the country. Recalling, that the indicted parties have also been fined with LBP 1 billion and 800 million for the damages incurred. In light of the above verdict against AUBMC, the AUH and Dr. Rana Sharara, concerned doctors at AUBMC met on Tuesday voicing their outright support to Sharara and to her dedication to save the life the child girl who was already suffering from bacteremia. The doctors said the court’s decision has failed to distinguish between the medical error and the complications related to the natural course of the grave illness. Clarifying that said decision was based on an outdated law that is not compatible with medical malpractice legislations adopted in world countries, they said stand by the AUBMC administration and Dr. Sharara in appealing to the court to reinstate justice in this case. (An Nahar, March 12, 2020)