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Abu Rakhoosa in ritzy Beirut downtown despite Solidere

7-6-2016

Al Diyar daily portrayed in its issue of June 4, 2016, the difference between SOLIDERE luxurious realm and ‘Abu Rakhoosa’ modest bazaar which was reborn in Beirut down town following the civil protests which began last August in the heart of ritzy Beirut commercial district. One of the founders of the 15-member Abu Rakhoosa board, Hassan Hamzeh, recounted the successes and challenges faced by the said impromptu popular market in its move to reclaim the seized rights of the people in the capital’s downtown area. Its aim, he said, is to allow low-scale venders flocking from all over the country to showcase and sell their reasonably priced products to middle and low income categories under the slogan, ‘Beirut is the immortal right of Lebanese people’. Hamzeh disclosed to the newspaper that Abu Rakhoosa will reopen for one day, on Sunday, June 4, 2016, from 3pm to 12 am, and will host all kinds of artisan products, handicrafts and provisions. He maintained that due to the growing number of guests every time, the souk is in need of regulation in order to smoothly accommodate as much sellers as possible. The popular market, Hamzeh told Al Diyar, is organized on a monthly basis and has a permit from Beirut Governor, Ziad Shbeeb. The target, he revealed, is to become a weekly event, but that still is awaiting the approval of the municipality. Al Diyar, on the other hand, reported that the fate of Abu Rakhoosa which has moved to the Martyrs Square from Riad Al Solh Square is threatened by a planned new real estate project, Solidere 2019, to be located in the heart of Martyr’s Square, and which will host numerous restaurants and a huge underground parking. (Al Diyar, June 4, 2016)
 

 

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Syndicate of hospitality calls for political stability to promote tourism

6-6-2016

The deputy president of the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Night Clubs and Pastries in Lebanon (RCNP), Khaled Nazha, stressed that the syndicate is striving to attract the Lebanese emigrants and Arab Gulf tourists in particular to visit the country this summer. He pressed the need for stability at both the political and security level as this would help restore the country’s traditional reputation as an Arab and international touristic hub. Speaking to Al Markaziya news portal, Nazha lauded the accomplishments by local eateries through their extended presence in regional and global markets, and their subsequent support to the domestic economy. He also referred to the radical transition by the sector on the level of food and public safety, commending the contribution of the following  factors:  1) the training and awareness workshops implemented by the Syndicate across Lebanon; 2) the monitoring efforts carried out by the inspection bureaus at the tourism, economy and public health ministries, as well as by concerned civil society groups; 3) vigorous positive competition by the various touristic institutions to cater the best of services to their customers; 4) efforts exerted by prestigious local eateries to expand their businesses outside Lebanon through facilitating franchise permits; 5) approval by the Lebanese Parliament of the food safety law and the stringent application of that legislation; 6) the development of curricula of hospitality in vocational schools and the incorporation of specialized courses related to food and public safety. (Al Diyar, June 5, 2016)

 

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Fair Trade Lebanon celebrates its international day

6-6-2016

Fair Trade Lebanon celebrated yesterday the World Fair Trade Day for the fifth consecutive year at St George Monastery in Roomieh, east of Beirut under the slogan, ’10 Years of Commitment’. The event was held under the patronage of Tourism Minister Michel Pharaon and in the presence of Acting US Ambassador Richard Jones and some 1200 friends of the association. Around 22  cooperatives and small and medium enterprises partook in the Sustainable Opportunities for Fair Trade Activities in Rural Areas (SOFAIR) funded by the Middle East Partnership Initiative MEPI, and implemented in collaboration with Atayeb al Rif Coop. The ceremony included an exhibition of organic products made by the Fair Trade affiliated cooperatives, with a unique contribution from Sofil Catering group that beautifully displayed culinary items prepared by Fair Trade Lebanon associations. On the occasion, Fadi Samaha, representing minister Pharaon, stressed the significant role such venues play in promoting and reviving the heritage of remote Lebanese areas. The tourism ministry, Samaha said, attaches great importance to these sorts of events on, especially on the agricultural, development, and even the touristic levels. He recalled the new strategy launched recently by the ministry to motivate rural tourism and encourage the steadfastness and interaction of the locals with the riches of their countryside. (Al - Diyar June 6, 2016)
 

 

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Nutritional guidelines to prevent women cardiovascular incidents

6-6-2016

The Women Heart Health Center (Yaduna-WHHC) association launched the guiding principles for Lebanese women to observe in order to prevent cardiovascular diseases that have proven to be the primary cause of women mortality in the country and worldwide. During a press conference last week, the WHHC nutrition specialist, Ziad Arabi, highlighted the aim of the prevention section at the organization which is to raise women’s awareness on necessary tools that guarantee healthy daily life choices. These, he explained, cover healthy diet recommendations that advise for a reduced intake of added sugars, saturated fats and sodium chloride, while concentrating on a variety of nutritious foods, like, vegetables, fruits, cereals, low-fat dairy products and fat-free meats, in addition to protein and oil rich foods. (Al Mustaqbal, June 5, 2016)
 

 

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A new restaurant complex in Hazmieh and over 500 new jobs

3-6-2016

The Minister of Tourism, Michel Pharaon, inaugurated yesterday the Backyard restaurant complex in Hazmieh, east of the capital, in the presence of the President of the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Night Clubs and Pastries in Lebanon, Toni Rami, the town mayor, Jean Asmar and a crowd of dignitaries. Pharaon  underlined in his word the importance of such project which generates more than 500 jobs.  Karim Burhani, one of the general directors at the Emerging Investment Partners (EIP) revealed that the venture is one of three undertakings by the 2-year-old company founded by Obaji and Fadel families and Wassim Hneineh, and which invests in the various economic sectors across the Arab region. Burhani thanked the tourism ministry and Hazmieh mayor for their support of the $9 million complex stretching over nearly 7800 km2 and embracing some 17 eateries and pubs. For his part, Jean Asmar described the project as “beautifully crafted and unique in its delicate features, particularly with the participation of prestigious commercial institutions.” He stressed the need of Hazmieh and the environs for such a great touristic, glamorous and elegant getaway”. He pledged to make the investment a success, especially that it is expected to benefit the young generation by providing employment opportunities and expand the revenues of the municipality to continue delivering the best services for its constituency. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, June 3, 2016)
 

 

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Tawleh restaurant reminds the Assyrians of Lebanon of their traditional cuisine

3-6-2016

In its issue of yesterday, L’Orient Le Jour daily shed the light on the great success reaped from the traditional Assyrian food week displayed by the Tawleh (Souk El Tayyeb) restaurant to remind the Assyrian community in Lebanon of their national cuisine. While recalling the presence of some 60 thousand citizens of Assyrian origin who fled to neighboring Lebanon following the Turkish massacres, the yummy dishes are distinctively chosen from the Turkish regions of Orpha and Mardine. On the subject, Tawleh manager, Kamal Mzawaq, told the newspaper that he was not expecting such a big number of guests, and he promised lovers of the Assyrian food with a similar event on June 23. Visitors who flocked to Tawleh were mostly Assyrian families residing in Lebanon. The two main Assyrian women chefs boasted their creations of the famous Bourani dish, made from rice and meat, besides chickpeas, kibbeh and stuffed grape leaves. (L’Orient Le Jour, June 3, 2016)
 

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Industry minister aims to double Lebanese exports in 7 years

3-6-2016

Prime Minister, Tamam Salam, said on the ‘National Day of Industry’ that despite huge ambitions to make industry the basic pillar of economy, this sector requires stability and favorable conditions to grow and flourish. Meanwhile, on the occasion, the minister of industry, Hussein Haj Hassan, set a timeline (5 to 7 years) needed to improve national industry. He said this will be achieved through “increasing total exports from USD 3.5 billion to USD 5 billion, while reducing imports from USD 18 billion to USD 16 billion.”  “As such, the trade deficit will fall from USD 15 billion to USD 11 billion,” he explained. The minister called on Arab and foreign partners to protect the Lebanese domestic economy and to support efforts aiming at boosting Lebanese exports and decreasing imports.
In a related vein, Haj Hassan sponsored earlier this week the 7th annual Lebanon Student Star Pack 2016 organized by the Lebanese Packaging Center, LibanPack, with the support of the Lebanese Industrialists Association and UNIDO. Among participants in the contest entitled ‘You love Lebanon, Work in the Industry Sector’, were some 400 students from prestigious universities in Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco who exhibited their innovative ideas in the packaging industry. Hajj Hassan noted the essential role of the canning and packaging technology as an added value to industrial and agricultural products. (As Safir, An Nahar, Al Diyar, June 3, 2016)
 
 

 

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Women in South municipalities a mere 2% as in Beirut compared to 3.5% in Mount Lebanon and 1% in Beqaa

2-6-2016

After slightly rising to 3.5% in Mount Lebanon, the rate of representation of women in municipal election in the districts of the South and Nabatiyeh has decreased to 2% falling, scoring a tie with Beirut, with a rise compared to Beqaa results which scored 1%. A preliminary analysis of the electoral results (on May 22)  in the two Southern districts has shown a high rate (10%)  of women candidates in Jezzine, and a 49% rate of victory out of the total number of women nominees and 5% of the overall candidates. In Nabatiyeh, however, the scene was different, recording the lowest participation rate 3.5%, and a 27% of winning votes out of the total number of female candidates and only 1% of the overall candidates. On a similar note, the boldness of the women of Hasbaya should be lauded, with recalling the victory of 6 out of 12 women nominees who challenged the religious veto on their participation. According to the data published on the electoral portal of the Ministry of Interior (elections.gov.lb/), the overall number of candidates in the South was 5597 candidates, including 308 women, out of whom 123 won at a rate of 2%. The distribution came as follows: Jezzine: 719 candidates, including 73 women, 36 women won at a rate of 5%; Saida: 1056 candidates, including 59 women, 25 women won at a rate of 2.3%; Tyre: 1223 candidates, including 65 women, 25 women won at a rate of 2%; Bint Jbeil: 660 candidates, including 33 women, 12 women won at a rate of 1.8%; Marjeyoun: 534 candidates, including 25 women, 9 women won at 1.6%; .Hasbaya: 411 candidates, including 16 women, 6 women won at a rate of 1.4%; Nabatiyeh: 994 candidates, including 37 women, 10 women won at a rate of 1%.
 

 

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Nadia Sheikh first woman dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, AUB

2-6-2016

The President of the American University of Beirut AUB, Dr. Fadlo Khury, announced in a statement issued yesterday the appointment of Dr. Nadia Sheikh as the first woman for the position of dean of the 150-year-old School of Arts and Sciences to succeed Dr. Patrick McGriffi.  The statement described Dr. Cheikh as prestigious in the world of History and Near Eastern Studies and a well-known researcher in the Abbasid and Byzantine eras and a staunch supporter of gender equality issues. Sheikh is presently the Assistant for the Academic Affairs Acting Deputy Director at the AUB. Sheikh received her BA in History and Archeology in 1985 from AUB before pursuing her studies at Harvard University in the United States and returning in 1992 to the AUB with a doctorate in History and Near Eastern Studies. She also served as Director of the Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies and head of the Department of History and Archaeology in 2013. She became full professor in 2006.
Al Mustaqbal, June 2, 2016
 

 

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“Beqaa Youth in Labor Market” project kicked off

2-6-2016

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Zahle launched yesterday the ‘Support of Beqaa Youth in Labor Market’ Program. The event was held in the presence of the Chamber’s deputy, Antoine Khater, the national coordinator of the Ministry of Social Affairs affiliated Host Communities Support Program, Suheir Ghali, the technical advisor of the project at UNDP, Marina Ugodica, and the Beqaa project office director, Hussein Nasrallah, in addition to a group of employers and concerned people. On the occasion, Khater pointed out that the support of the Zahle Chamber to projects that involve youth training on labor market skills and requirements contributes to reducing unemployment and fuels the economic cycle in the region.” In the same spirit, Ugodica explained that the program helps in the development of the skills of young professionals and their integration into the local labor market. It is also expected to motivate the domestic economy and improve the country’s position amidst the political instability, Ugodica maintained. Ghali for her part, noted that as Lebanon hosts the largest number of Syrian refugees, the launching of the project comes to inspire the young generation who deserve the best attention in response for their high productive, innovative and initiative potentials. “There should be a sponsor and supporter for every innovation,” Ghali stated. (Al Diyar, June 2, 2016)

 

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