Day: June 13, 2023

The Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) has honored the Minister of Information, Dr. Boutros Hallaq.

That came during the opening of the 23rd Arab Radio and TV Festival, which is currently being held in Tunisia, under the title “Arts and Culture Unite Us”

The festival will continue its activities till June 15th and it is being held in cooperation with the Tunisian Ministry of Culture, the Tunisian radio and television institutions, and the Arab Satellite Communications Organization “Arabsat.”

The event aims to contribute to the development of Arab radio and television production and raise its level in a way that meets the aspirations of the member organizations and the principles for which they work.

It also aims to monitor innovative and serious trends in Arab radio and television production and encourage them in order to develop Arab creative energies in this field.

The festival included a musical evening presented by the Tunisian musician, Mohamed Ali Kammoun, entitled “Arab Perfumes”.

A bunch of elite Arab, artists, directors, senior officials, and distinguished media professionals in the Arab arena were also honored during the festival.

The festival’s activities include holding various television and radio competitions.

The Syrian General Authority for Radio and Television, the General Organization for Radio and Television Production, and Syrian drama production companies are also participating in the exhibition, which is being held within the activities of the festival.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

The Jordanian army downed a drone carrying drugs from Syria on Tuesday morning, according to an army statement. Army officials said the drone was carrying 500 grams of crystal meth which have been transferred to authorities. ‘The Border Guard forces, in coordination with the military security services and the Drug Enforcement Administration, detected an attempt to illegally cross the border from Syrian territory to Jordanian territory by a drone, and it was shot down inside Jordanian territory,’ an army source said. Jordan has blamed pro-Iranian militias, who it says are protected by units within the Syrian army, for smuggling drugs across its borders towards Gulf markets. Damascus says it is doing its best to curb smuggling and continues to bust smuggler rings in the south. It denies complicity by Iranian-backed militias linked to its army and security forces. The sharp rise in smuggling attempts has forced Jordan since last year to change army rules of engagement along the border, giving its military the authority to use overwhelming force. ‘We are continuing to deal with resolve and force with any threat to our borders and any attempt to destabilise the security of the nation,’ the army said in a statement. The plane was intercepted and downed on its side of the border, it said. War-torn Syria has become the region’s main site for a multi-billion-dollar drug trade, with Jordan a main transit route to the Gulf states for Syrian-made amphetamine known as captagon, Western anti-narcotics officials and Washington say. Jordanian officials say they have raised their concerns with Syrian authorities but have not seen any real attempt to clamp-down on the illicit trade.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Rockland Group on Tuesday announced its collaboration with the Italian Embassy in Lebanon and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) while hosting a business delegation event at Le Yacht Club – Beirut. The event serves as a pivotal platform for fostering cooperation, exchanging knowledge, and strengthening the relationship between Italian business delegation, and Rockland Group. It helps foster new avenues for collaboration and facilitate growth opportunities and mutual benefits with a specific focus on the energy, engineering, infrastructure, and real estate sectors. The Italian delegation is lead by Mrs Letizia Pizzi, General Director of Confindustria Assafrica and Mediterraneo, the industrial Association of Confindustria, the Italian Business Organization with more than 150,000 member companies, representing Italian companies operating in Africa and Middle East. The delegation is lead as well by Federazione Anie, which represents the Electrical Engineering and Electronic companies operating in Italy with over 1,300 member companies, the Italian Contractors Association (ANCE) which represents the Italian Construction Companies with more than 86,000 companies registered at the Building Workers’ Welfare Funds. The Lebanese delegation is lead by President. Mohamed Choucair, President of Beirut and Mount Lebanese Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Lebanese Economic Organizations. Rockland Group, through its international offices in over 18 countries and operations in different sectors aims to solidify its position as a trusted and indispensable strategic partner for Italian companies in the Middle East and Africa, the fastest developing economies globally. The conference will convene Italian and Lebanese companies and industry experts, fostering a conducive environment for fruitful interactions, knowledge sharing, and the exchange of innovative information through impactful presentations and panel discussions. Rockland Group is a leading multi-sectorial holding operating across 18 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Rockland Group, founded since 1978, is committed to driving economic growth and innovation across its 11 active industries which include Renewable Energy, Oil and Gas, Construction, Real Estate, Telecom, Environmental Sector, F and B, Entertainment and Luxury Retail. With its vast experience and diverse portfolio, Rockland Group is uniquely positioned to be the preferred partner for Italy and Italian businesses venturing into the region. In the reception event, Rockland Group was represented by the Founder and Chairman Mr. Saud Itani, the company’s Business Development Director Mr. Naji Hatem, along with the company’s Commercial Manager, Lebanon Operations Manager and Trading Manager.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

House Speaker, Nabih Berri, is currently chairing a meeting by the Development and Liberation Bloc at the second presidential headquarters in Ain al-Tineh. A statement will be issued by the bloc in the wake of the meeting.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, will chair at 3:00 pm on Tuesday a cabinet session to be held at the Grand Serail. The Prime Minister earlier met at the Grand Serail with French Ambassador to Lebanon, Anne Grillo, with whom he held a horizon tour dealing with the situation in Lebanon and the region. The pair also discussed the French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian’s anticipated visit to Beirut next week. The Premiere also chaired a meeting to discuss the 2023 budget. He then received a delegation representing the “National Accord” bloc. The Prime Minister later had an audience with MP Michel Daher, who said on emerging that discussions mainly focused on ministerial affairs, as well as the latest developments in the Bekaa region.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon