Subscribe to newsletter

Custom Search 1

You are here

Home

News

English

ISIS women demand the return to their countries

22-2-2019

The British government issued a decision on February 19 to strip the citizenship of 19-year old Shamima Begum who fled London 4 years ago to join ISIS in Syria. Noting, that Begum who lives in a refugee camp in Syria has asked to return to London before her child was born last week. On the decision, a British Home Office spokesperson said the ministry does not comment on individual cases, but that the decision to revoke citizenship was based on good evidence. For her part, Begum described the British decision as ‘unfair’, revealing that her family will consider all legal avenues to challenge it and claim the nationality of her Dutch husband. On the subject, An Nahar newspaper today cited the Insider as saying that several women from the US, Canada, Britain and France who fled their homes to join ISIS have sought forgiveness asking to return. In the details, Kelly McLaughlin of the Insider said two women, one from US Alabama and another from Alberta, Canada, asked to come home after Shamima asked to return to London. McLaughlin added, that two French women living in al Hawl refugee camp are trying to return to France as well, noting that their country is hesitating to welcome them back. (An Nahar, Al Diyar, February 21, 22, 2019)

Share on

Constitutional Council overturns election of Future MP Jamali of Tripoli

22-2-2019

The Constitutional Council invalidated yesterday the election of Future Movement MP, Dima Jamali, and ordered new parliamentary elections for the Tripoli Sunni seat within 2 months according to the majority voting system. This step follows the appeal filed by unsuccessful candidate Taha Naji (on Faisal Karami’s National Dignity electoral list), while noting that the decision was taken by the majority of 7 votes against 3. The Constitutional Council, to recall, has looked into 17 contested files in Beirut’s First and Second constituencies, Metn, Zahleh and Baalbaq-Hermel, but did not annul any of the elections results. The head of Islamic Charity association, MP Adnan Trabulsi, expressed his surprise by the decision of the Constitutional Council which did not rule in favour of Taha Naji. MP Karami described the decision as invalid, considering Naji had enough ballots to win the seat. For her part, MP Jamali stressed after meeting yesterday with prime minister Saad Hariri, that she respected the Council’s decision, revealing that Hariri asked her to run in the by-election, promising her support. On the subject, the head of Justicia Beirut Consult, lawyer Paul Morcus, rejected accusations against the Constitutional Council alleging political interference. The Council, he noted, after investigations, found that the result was flawed and incorrect, but that there was a razor-thin margin between the two competing lists which does not allow it to announce the winning of any of them. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, Al Diyar, Al Akhbar, February 22, 2019)

Share on

Pope calls for effective measures against sexual abuse in church

22-2-2019

Pope Francis called on Thursday for taking concrete and effective measures to confront the issue of sexual abuse in the Church. Francis was speaking during the opening of the historic Vatican summit in front of 114 Catholic Church leaders and Vatican bishops who have descended on Rome to discuss clerical sexual abuse. Francis said that God’s people are looking onto us and are not expecting the same predictable condemnation, but tangible measures to curb the phenomenon. The Pope called on participants to listen to the cry of the meek who plead for justice against unabated sexual abuse by clerics against minors. During the 4-day meeting, Pope Francis will seek to convince heads of the Catholic Church around the world of their individual and personal responsibilities towards these assaults, hoping to awaken the clerical conscience in a collective educational approach, combined of speeches, sermons and small language working groups. (Al Mustaqbal, February 22, 2019)

Share on

Cultural and social factors facilitating child marriage in Lebanon

21-2-2019

In its issue of today, Al Diyar newspaper drew attention to the child marriage in Lebanon, noting that despite repeated promises by officials, a solution has not been set in motion. On the subject, Al Diyar spoke to psychiatrist Celia Khater, who explained that cultural factors are key in the rise of the phenomenon, saying, mostly, it is related to stereotypical notions about the sexual life of women and girls and their traditional role in society as housewives or mothers. Khater maintained that the marriage of underage girls is also linked to social factors, particularly to the economic status of the family. The result is deprivation of education for girls or early drop out from school to marry early as an answer to ensuring economic self-sufficiency, especially for households living in extreme poverty. Khater went on to say, that in some cases, the marriage of minors could be a financial resource for the family through so-called ‘Mahr’ (dowry) paid upon completing the marriage contract. Khater concluded by saying that, religious and political factors also impede the ratification of the law preventing the marriage of minors in the country. For his part, the head of Justicia Beirut Consult, lawyer Paul Morcus, said there is no unified age for marriage in Lebanon, noting that each sect advises its own legal age for marriage based on its religious rules. Legally, Morcus stressed, there is no Lebanese law that bans the marriage of minors, despite efforts made by civil society activists to this end. (Al Diyar, February 21, 2019)

Share on

Favouring domestic goods in public procurements

21-2-2019

In a letter to the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the ministry of industry requested repeating the circulars to all public departments and municipalities to observe all legal texts advising the favouring of domestic products in all government procurement transactions. The ministry also demanded the issuance of a unified and updated decree covering all products proposed by the ministry according to the needs of the national industry and the local consumption market. It suggested raising the favouritism scale from 10% to 15% in prices over a period of years to assess results and take appropriate action needed. For his part, the new industry minister, Wael Abu Faour issued a decision yesterday calling for the formation of a joint committee from his ministry and the National Authority of the Litani River to survey and enforce environmental compliance of all industrial establishments around the river basin. On the other hand, the Beirut Land Customs Combat unit, upon instructions from the Customs general director, raided food warehouses in the area of Mount Lebanon and confiscated tons of foodstuff violating standards, in addition to a shelf life measuring apparatus and scores of adulterated cheeses. Nasser Haq and Ahmad Murtada were arrested for involvement. (Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, February 21, 2019)

Share on

Prostitution ring caught in Tabarja

21-2-2019

The ISF General Directorate announced in a statement yesterday that it had posted on its Facebook page a letter from a citizen reporting M.H for running a prostitution ring and meeting members in a restaurant in Maamelteyn east of Beirut. The statement went on to say, that on January 23, 2019, and as a result of inspection, the Judicial Police Anti-Human Trafficking Unit was able to identify and arrest the suspect. The latter, (Syrian, born in 1976) admitted upon interrogation that he facilitated sex work for a number of girls whom he met online and who live with another suspect, A.H (also Syrian, born in 1985) who drives them to their clients, the statement said. The ISF pointed out that, on January 26, 2019, its units raided the residence of A.H at one of the Tabarja hotels and arrested three Syrian girls involved in prostitution, and they are: A.H (born in 1998), M.R (born in 1987) and K.R (born in 1993). They admitted the charges against them in complicity with 10 other persons of Lebanese and Syrian nationality. (Al Mustaqbal, February 20, 2019)

Share on

New government to support industries, Lebanon trade brand at the bottom

20-2-2019

President Michel Aoun, during his meeting on February 18 with new industry minister, Wael Abu Faour, stressed his support to the productive sectors in the country, notably the industry, highlighting the importance of prioritizing local products during any upcoming bids or tenders here. Faour said after the meeting that he briefed the President on the latest 2018 data available at the ministry, which showed that Lebanon exported worth of LBP 2.3 billion against the importation of goods which exceeded LBP 18 billion. This, Faour warned is economcally unsustaibale, cautioning that the domestic industry is being largely undermined. On the other hand, Al Akhbar newspaper said today that Lebanon ranked 95 out of 100 nations in the Brand Finance global report 2018 down one point from 2017. Brand Finance evaluates the most valuable nation brands and the degree of their attractiveness to tourists and investors. Al Akhbar wrote that the market image of Lebanon has been largely distorted, saying that the formation of the new cabinet or some minimal and patchy reforms will not improve it. (Al Akhbar, Al Diyar, An Nahar, February 20, 2019)

Share on

Boosting agricultural exports to GCC, Jordan, Iraq

20-2-2019

The new minister of agriculture, Hassan Lakis, held discussions  yesterday with the CEO of Dubai Municipality for Environment, Health and Safety Sector, Khaled Sharif Awadhi and the Chair of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Majid Ghureir, ways of agricultural cooperation between Lebanon and the UAE. This includes increasing agricultural exports bound to the Emirates, namely citrus fruits, apples, banana, grapes, potato and food and animal products. Lakis stressed during the meeting that his ministry will work hard to boost Lebanese agricultural production destined to the GCC, Jordanian and Iraqi markets after its decline over the past four years due to the closure of Nassib Crossing and the resulting halt of land export activity. During his tour, Lakis also visited the Lebanese Consulate in Dubai where he talked to Lebanese exhibitors partaking in the Gulf Food 2019 show and Lebanese exporters who briefed him on obstacles impeding the export of made-in-Lebanon products to the Emirates. Lakis reportedly made several contacts to this end. On the other hand, the Lebanese farmers’ anguish continues (: https://bit.ly/2BJhNoG). On February 15, Joseph Isaah, Lebanese Forces MP, appealed to concerned ministers in the new cabinet to step up efforts to create external outlets for the marketing of the apple produce stacked to date in cold storage. He urged them to find quick solutions to the impasse, warning that the Lebanese farmer cannot bear the accumulative losses any longer.  (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, February 17, 20, 2019)
 

Previous related news:
Livestock farmers in Hermel, beekeepers of Upper Metn demand end to foreign competition
Potato, apples and poultry farmers lament unchecked imports
Farmers' misfortunes: Blocked borders, unfair competition, unpaid compensations

Share on

SMEs represent 96% of Arab companies, Lebanon leading in startups

19-2-2019

The director for the Middle East and Central Asia at IMF, Jihad Azour, said SMEs represent nearly 96% of registered companies in the Arab region, yet loans they receive barely exceed 7% of the total bank lending in the region. Azour was speaking during a seminar on February 11 at the American University of Cairo to launch the report, ‘Improving the financial coverage of SMEs in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia’. The report shows that Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and the Emirates have three quarters of startups in the region. In the same vein, Total Group Lebanon announced yesterday that it has shortlisted 15 out of 309 contestants in the 2018-2019 edition of the ‘Startupper of the Year’ competition who registered their initiatives online. Over two days, the 15 finalists presented their projects after receiving the required training to be later evaluated by a local panel. At the end of the nominations, the jury will announce the names of the three winners on March 1, 2019. The young entrepreneurs shall receive a financial prize up to 12500 Euros, in addition to professional mentorship, as well as benefit from an advertising campaign to promote their projects. Total will also announce the top women entrepreneur from one of the candidates to motivate her initiative. (Al Akhbar, Al Diyar, February 15, 19, 2019)

Share on

Horeca Lebanon returns in April

19-2-2019

The 26th edition of the hospitality and foodservice exhibition, Horeca Lebanon, will be held in Beirut from April 2-5. The show is expected to attract more than 18,000 visitors and over 350 local and international exhibitors from France, Italy, Turkey, Greece, the Netherlands, UAE, Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Korea who will showcase their products allowing guests to discover over 2500 food brands. According to Joumana Damous Salameh, the managing director of Hospitality Services, the event organizer, this year’s slogan, ‘For a better industry’ sums up the purpose of the show to become a regional meeting hub building a future for the sector in Lebanon and the Middle East. Over 60 international experts from the world of food, beverages and hospitality will attend the exhibition to present demos and be part of a jury in a number of competitions. Horeco Lebanon will also host two new highlights of Lebanese flavors, and they are, ‘Al Matbakh’, where local and international chefs will supervise a variety of cooking workshops celebrating Lebanese food heritage. The second special event is the ‘Arak Lab’ which allows local experts to share their expertise. (Al Akhbar, February 19, 2019)

Share on

Pages


Subscribe to RSS - News