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In its edition of Friday, Al Diyar newspaper drew attention to emerging voices, with religious extremist background, faultfinding the ongoing touristic festivals organized by the diverse municipalities, establishments and associations in the northern regions of Akar, Minyeh and Tripoli. Such positions, the newspaper mentioned, sometimes reached the level of justifying the killing of the promoters of similar events. Al Diyar pointed out to some hardline statements signed by spiritual figures officially affiliated with Dar al Fatwa, which, the newspaper added, question the stand of the seat of Dar al Fatwa. On the other hand, many clerics known for their religious tolerance and moderation have denounced that “touristic festivities do not infringe on or threaten the northern society as long as they observe public manners and stay within the framework of morality while not affecting the essence of religion.  In Saida as well, opposing voices emerged, while groups of Sidon residents launched a campaign entitled: “Saida will not dance”, which called for the cancellation of these festivals. Similarly, the “Jama3a Islamiya” organisation also affirmed that "these festivals are not the best and only way to stimulate the economy". Despite these objections, organizers in Saida, underscore that the city will not cancel the planned festivals. On the latest festival updates, the Annual Festival Committee of Habariyeh in the South launched its two-day fiesta on Saturday, including a play, magic show and musical concerts. On the same day, the minister of tourism, Michel Pharaon, inaugurated the 3-day Baruk Touristic Festivals under the heading ‘Shuf Lebnan bil Baruk’ (Lebanon in the eye of Baruk). The event hosted an exhibition for rural products and showcased paintings and shows by artists. Likewise, the municipality of Beyt Malat kicked off its first summer festivals with the screening of a documentary on the village followed by a display of fireworks. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, August 26, 27 and 28, 2016)

 

The BLC bank won three regional awards for its comprehensive commitment and support of women empowerment and development of business environment. The first of the awards which was organized by the US Commerce Department carried the title of the ‘best bank in the Middle East and North Africa backing enterprises led or owned by women for 2016’. According to the bank’s statement, the BLC was selected, during a meeting last March in Egypt, amongst 9 MENA countries, namely, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia. CPI Financial, Banker Middle East organized the other two awards: ‘the best bank for the empowerment of women’ and the ‘the best bank achieving a shift in the business environment’. The latter, the statement noted, came as a result of the BLC’s impressive accomplishments in terms of growth and profitability maintained by progressive programs bound for the empowerment of women, small and medium enterprises as well as retail or consumer banking services. (Al Diyar, August 29, 2016)

 

In its edition of today, L’Orient Le Jour shed light on an eatery, “Ammol's”, in the heart of Londonrun by a British Lebanese woman, a mother of four, who emigrated from the southern town ofMarje3yoon during the civil war. Amal Farha-Oakx underlined the main incentive for opening her business which is to familiarize the British public with the traditional culinary delicacies of her home country, particularly the southern healthy and mouth-watering cuisine. Speaking to L’Orient Le Jour reporter, Amal boasted her specialty recipes which she learned from her mother at home and which have helped her nurture treasured customers abroad. Amoul’s, according to the British glossy magazine, Tatler, was classified among the best 300 diners in the British capital, and has won the acclamation of the famous food critic Jay Rayner, besides winning a five star accreditation from the leading trip advisor travel site. Amal said that she has no intention or plans to open another branch for her restaurant, stressing that she prepares the food from scratch and all by herself, but said she could expand the pool of services offered. Expressing her pleasure for the outstanding turnout, she added that the place and food appeal to the young Lebanese generation residing in England. (L’Orient Le Jour, August 22, 2016)

In a progressive and unprecedented move in the Arab world, the Tunisian Prime Minister announced last Saturday the formation of a youth par excellence cabinet with a large women representation. The newly appointed 26-member government comprises 8 high-caliber women and 14 portfolios for youth, including 5 ministers under 35 years of age. This measure came after less than two weeks from the Tunisian Parliament’s endorsement of a draft law supporting penal action against harassers of women in public places. (http://bit.ly/2bo2yS).

 

For the first time in the history of Tunisian governments, women are granted 8 ministerial portfolios, most were in the past restricted to men, as follows:

 

- Minister of sports and youth: Majdoline Sharny, 35 years, bachelors in architecture from the National College of Engineering and Construction.

 

-Minister if Health: Samira Meri’i, 53 years, doctor and associate professor of pulmonary diseases at the School of Medicine, Tunisia

 

- Minister of energy, mines and renewable Energy:, Hala Sheikh Ruho, 44 years, professorship degree in finance from the Higher Institute of Economic Studies, Tunisia, masters from Montreal University, Canada, has occupied a number of senior international posts

 

- Minister of finance: Lamia Zareebi, 55 years, last degree from the National School of management, bachelors in economic studies

 

- Minister of family, women’s and child’s rights: Naziha Obeidi, bachelors in education, professorship in modern languages, masters in education from Sorbonne University.

 

- Minister of tourism: Salma Lumi, masters in acting

 

-  State clerk for youth: Taten Kalal, degree from Cartage University and Paris, worked as adviser in many international offices inside Tunisia

 

- State clerk for professional formation: Sayida Lunissi, 29 years, degree in history, masters in political sciences from the Sorbonne, Renaissance Movement MP at the Tunisian Parliament.

 

(As Safir, August 22, 2016)

In its edition of August 19, the Daily Star newspaper highlighted the industry of tobacco in Lebanon which flourished markedly with the beginning of the war in neighboring Syria and the resultant shutdown of many tobacco businesses in the country. To shed more light on the subject, the Daily Star spoke to George Hobeika, senior board member of the state-owned Regie Libanaise des Tabacs et Tombac, better known as Regie, who stressed that the presence of Syrian refugees in Lebanon has more than tripled the consumption of made-in-Lebanon tobacco in five years. Cedars, Hobeika mentioned, was particularly boosted because it is similar to the widely smoked Hamra cigarettes of Syria, adding that Regie sales were estimated at USD 1 billion in 2012. Hobeika also revealed that a technical team from Italy is currently installing state-of-the-art equipment that is expected to speed up production up to nearly 12,000 cigarettes per week. On the other hand, Hobeika explained to the Daily Star reporter that domestic demand on Cedars has outweighed the size of its production, which temporarily weakens plans for exports.

In parallel, Al Mustaqbal newspaper reported that the tobacco industry in Akkar is regressing on a yearly basis due to the high cost of production and to the impact of the climate change. Despite this, the newspaper wrote, this agriculture remains the most viable among similar subsidized agricultures particularly when the harvest is abundant and the prices set by the Regie were equivalent to the cost of production. In this respect, tobacco farmers who kicked off the harvest season, have all agreed that the exceptional efforts they exert hardly correspond to the current prices set by the Regie. The current prices are estimated at LBP 3.5 million per each single mandatory license. )The Daily Star, Al Mustaqbal, August 19, 21, 2016(

 

The northern capital is polarizing private and public sectors, civil and foreign organisations, and mobilizing efforts, in an attempt to boost the economy, through providing a number of facilities and incentives in order to attract investments. On the subject, Raya Al-Hassan, president of the General Authority Board of the Special Economic Zone for Tripoli, represent a zone “free of all customary public sector regulations”, that will play an important role in attracting investments in Lebanon and outside Lebanon and particularly in the Diaspora”, she told a delegation of the campaign ‘no matter what happens’) law shu ma sar).

In the same spirit, Tawfic Dabbusi, president of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Tripoli and the North, stressed, during a meeting with members of the Civil Movement Board-the North, the cooperation between the two sides across all areas. He pressed the need to adopt the principles of planning and training from a socio-economic perspective.

For his part, the president of the Civil Movement, Fadi Obeid, underscored the common interests between the Chamber and the organization, adding that both parties are planning to work together on environmentally-friendly projects, particularly on alternative energy projects, such as tapping solar energy to illuminate the streets in the cities of Al-Fay7a2.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of a tour by UNIDO to Harb Center for Artisan Industries in the northern city, the general superintendent of Al Azm Association, Abdel Ilah Mikati, encouraged the introduction of modern and state of the art designs to the products, underscoring the role of training and empowerment of the local youth on the use of hi-tech equipment, which he pointed will increase the opportunities of their employment. In a related vein, al Azm association launched in Tripoli and al Mina district, a campaign entitled, ‘the city resembles a rose’ .The activity covered street cleaning and restoration, planting trees in the parks and renovation of heritage mosques and old internal markets. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, August 20, 23, 24, 2016)

 

In an interesting feature today, Al Hayat newspaper tackled the recent crackdown on the burkini full body swimsuit for women designed by an Australian Lebanese designer, pointing to the mounting furor in France under the pretext of secularism, security or gender equality. The newspaper wrote that Aheda Zanetti, owner of the trademark burkini and employer of tens of workers, has spelled out her surprise towards the disparaging and silly controversy criticizing or supporting her line of fashion. “Every person has the right to express themselves the way they choose, as long as it does not harm other people,” Aheda maintained. Some people, she added, have a preference for the culture of nudity while others opt for decency, which she explained, “does not mean isolation from society.” While the swim wear is designed for Muslim women, it does not clash with western culture, Al Hayat cited Zanetti as saying, mentioning that the burkini allows Muslim women to “mix with others, enjoy swimming and the beach and live the joy of freedom.” “I cannot understand the reason behind this antagonist campaign which inspires women to enjoy the sun and light,” Zanetti said, pointing out that the idea for the design emanated from a need and desire shared by many Muslim women living in the West and wanting to practice water sports. She categorically denied any political or extremist grounds behind her creation, stressing that the burkini gives way to a fair blend between Muslim and Occidental cultures. “Freedom, flexibility and confidence combined best describe the design launched back in 2004 before becoming a swimwear on demand by women across the globe,” Aheda boasted. In conclusion, Zanetti told Al Hayat reporter that the made up rumpus against the burkini shall not affect its trade; on the contrary, it has attracted more publicity for her products with sales soaring by 40% (some 700 pieces have been sold between 2007 and 2016). (Al Hayat, August 25, 2016)

 

In its edition of August 22, L’Orient Le Jour published a special feature on pistachios, a basic ingredient of many traditional dishes in Lebanon, particularly desserts and sweets. The cultivation of pistachios, the newspaper wrote, kept on dwindling since the eruption of the civil warm with imports growing from Iran, Syria and Turkey.  Indeed, pistachios have become a delicacy smartly blended into an assortment of local cookeries. To know more, the newspaper spoke to a number of sweets business owners who boasted the special fusion effect of the pistachio added product. Ranim Hallab, the marketing manager at Qasr al Helu-Hallab, mentioned that they use nearly 60 tons of pistachios every year for the making of maamoul, baklava and ice cream, as well as for decorative purposes. Similarly, Mussa Rifai, general manager of Rifai Roastery, told L’Orient Le Jour reporter that salted pistachios top their sales. Lebanon, the newspaper went on to say, has imported around 3.122 tons of the product in 2015 at USD 20 million, mainly from Iran (86%), Syria (4%) and Turkey (3%); the Iranian pistachios being among the best, according to Castania Roastery manager. The share of pistachios coming from the US, a major world producer of the crop, remains meagre, as Lebanese consumers do not favor it much. And while 30% to 40% of the pistachios is used in the making of desserts, the rest is being sold as a roasted, salted or flavored product. Meanwhile, though it is hard to estimate the total size of Lebanon’s export of pistachios, L’Orient Le Jour, citing customs figures, said exports of pistachios did not exceed 108 tons (worth of USD 323 thousand) and were destined to Jordan. (L’Orient Le Jour, August 22, 2016)

 

The UNIFIL’s Eastern Sector Command ended yesterday a 2-week training workshop held at the social cultural center of the southern town of Khiam.  The workshop targeted some 25 girls and women between the age of 8 to 40 years. The course covered training sessions in handicrafts, flower arrangement, sweets and confectionary, first aid, food safety, embroidery, knitting, and house crafts, like metal embossing as well as paper and glass decoration. During the closing ceremony, the Spanish Battalion commander, Brigadier Jose Romero, underlined the main goal of the workshop which is to enhance the skills and know-how of women beneficiaries for their personal benefit or for income-generating purposes and handed the participants certificates to this effect. )Al Mustaqbal, August 24, 2016)

 

While labor minister, Sajaan Azzi, continuously refer to the galloping unemployment in the country, member of the Change and Reform Coalition, Simon Abi Ramya, pointed, albeit unintentionally, to both government's inability to address the issue of unemployment and to the failures of the civil service system, when he indicated that 17 thousand vacancies are currently across ministries and public departments. Abu Ramya, who was speaking during a meeting yesterday of the Parliamentary Youth and Sports Committee, disclosed that only 7 thousand of the 24 thousand public posts Yesterday’s session discussed Decree No. 319 regulating the ministry of youth and sports and maintaining its need to fill a number of vacancies. In this respect, a study completed by the ministry has revealed a shortage in commissioners (176 persons required against only 48 current employed), which explains the deterioration in the ministry’s services. (Al Diyar, Al Akhbar, August 24, 2016)