2008-03-21

RCS reaches out to needy in Lebanon

The UAE Red Crescent Society (RCS) has provided heaters to hundreds of families in Northern Lebanon in a bid to help them battle the severe cold the northern part of the country is experiencing. It has also launched, in association with Bait Al Zakat in Tripoli, a medical campaign to provide medical care services and therapeutic programmes for the needy, said Saleh Mohammed Al Mulla, Deputy Secretary General of the RCS for aid and projects. The RCS office in Lebanon supervised the execution of these programmes in association with Bait al Zakat, Al Mulla said. RCS has also offered humanitarian aid to a Mauritanian family, whose four children are suffering from different disabilities.

Khaleej Times

2007-03-19

Tourism Ministry announces start of traveling 'Food and Feast' festival

The Tourism Ministry launched on Tuesday the "Food and Feast 2008" festival of Souk al-Tayyeb, which will take place in several Lebanese regions in an effort to promote local nutritional traditions. Nada Sardouk, director general of the Tourism Ministry, said the festival "is a call for all the Lebanese to come together around the traditions of Lebanese hospitality." Souk al-Tayyeb's director, Kamal Mzawak, said this year's event includes an exhibition for local food products and a competition of "local food," in addition to entertaining activities. "The Food and Feast festival aims to support local producers from different Lebanese regions, promote local production and encourage rural producers," he said. "It also aims to recognize the traditional Lebanese food of every region and encourage internal tourism." Mzawak said the 2008 festival will kick off on March 29 in Mina, Tripoli, and then move to several other Lebanese regions in the North, South and the Bekaa Valley before concluding activities in December. Mzawak added that every event organized in various Lebanese regions will be accompanied by visits to tourist sites there, "knowing that the souk works hand in hand with municipalities, regional authorities and other organizations to plan for such events and execute them." Speaking on behalf of the Mina municipality, Nabil Katra said Souk al-Tayyeb succeeded in "proving its presence on the Lebanese tourist and development map." "Souk al-Tayyeb could build a new environmental logic aiming at supporting human beings' safety and health," he said. Souk al-Tayyeb is the first market for farmers in Lebanon. It has worked since its establishment in 2004 to support farmers and producers. It includes more than 45 cultivators and cooperatives and seeks to find new markets in different Lebanese regions.

Daily Star

2008-03-19

Sultaniyeh School in Tripoli

Education Minister Khaled Qabbani said on Monday that official exams in Lebanon will start on June 16, adding that the deadline for applications is April 19. During a meeting with the union of private educational institutions, Qabbani said the Lebanese Baccalaureate official exam will be held from June 16-28, while the Brevet exam will be held from June 30 to July 3. Qabbani said applications submitted after April 19, "are to be rejected." According to the minister, the tests will include general questions that do not tackle sectarian and religious issues. "All questions are neutral," the minister said. Qabbani also said efforts were being made to computerize the exams. "The necessary machines are to be imported and they should arrive in Lebanon before the first session starts," he said. "In case of delay, they will be definitely in use during the second session." Stressing the need to properly monitor the exams, particularly the Brevet exam in Beirut, the minister called for keeping general supervisors and correctors away from supervising students in order for the latter to start correcting copies "directly after the end of tests related to their field of study." Qabbani, on the other hand, charged the ministry's engineering unit with inspecting the Sultaniyeh School in Tripoli which suffers cracks in the walls and ceiling "before taking the necessary measures to protect students and teachers there."...

Daily Star