Latest news with #YasmineJaroudi
LBCI
22-05-2025
- LBCI
Child protection concerns: Investigation launched after reported sexual assault during school trip
Report by Wissam Nasrallah, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi What was meant to be a joyful school outing for children turned into a distressing experience. A 16-year-old boy who was working at an amusement park admitted to inappropriate behavior involving at least 15 children, according to his own statement. The incident occurred on Tuesday, May 20, during a field trip organized by Saint Coeur Ain Najm School for first-grade students, all between the ages of 6 and 7. The visit took place at VeréBleu Park and specifically at the zip line section, where children were supposed to enjoy a fun and exciting activity. One of the staff members assigned to help secure children for the ride—a minor himself—allegedly acted inappropriately by touching several of them while assisting them with the equipment. One child, only six years old, found the courage to tell his teacher what had happened. As school staff looked into the situation, more students reported similar experiences involving the same individual. The school administration took swift action, informing authorities who quickly intervened. The suspect was taken into custody and admitted to the actions. The school also began working closely with parents and professionals to offer psychological and educational support to the affected children. Though this is not the first such incident, it has once again raised questions about the need for stronger child protection measures and more rigorous screening and training of staff at places catering to young children.
LBCI
22-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Netanyahu orders global embassy alert: Israeli government blamed after death of two nationals in US
Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi Unlike the unity that typically follows attacks on Israelis at home or abroad, the killing of two Israeli nationals in Washington has failed to ease internal divisions in Israel. Instead, it has fueled further criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, with many blaming the incident on the ongoing war in Gaza. Critics within Israel have held the government accountable, arguing that the continuation of the Gaza war has triggered growing global hostility. In contrast, Israeli officials have attributed the attack in Washington to what they describe as a global surge in anti-Semitism. Following news of the Washington incident, Netanyahu instructed security agencies to heighten alert levels and increase protection around Israeli embassies and diplomatic missions worldwide. A subsequent security assessment led to stricter measures at synagogues and Jewish sites in countries Israel deems high-risk, based on intelligence reports. While Israeli authorities launched a broad campaign to combat anti-Semitism internationally, internal protests against the war and the government's leadership have intensified. Demonstrators continue to call for an end to the Gaza offensive and de-escalation on multiple fronts. Simultaneously, reports surfaced revealing a military plan named the "Small Gaza Project," which envisions Israeli control over 75% of the Gaza Strip, accompanied by increased displacement and forced evacuations of Palestinians. As Israel prepares to host an international conference on anti-Semitism—inviting diplomats, ministers, and representatives from various global organizations—members of Netanyahu's government accused fellow Israelis of fueling anti-Semitism through public criticism of the war and government policies.
LBCI
03-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Mount Lebanon municipal and mukhtars elections kick off—A walkthrough of the voting process
Report by Wissam Nasrallah, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi The first round of Lebanon's municipal elections is set to begin within hours, covering towns and villages across the Mount Lebanon governorate. Upon arriving at polling stations, voters must first confirm their names on the electoral list, which determines the specific polling room in which they are to vote. At the polling room, the head officer verifies that the voter has not already cast their ballot by checking for ink on their fingers. Voters must present a valid ID or passport, after which their names are called out loud so list delegates can log their participation. The head officer then signs an official envelope—white for municipal elections and brown for mukhtars municipal seats. In the voting booth, voters write the names of their preferred candidates on a blank sheet, or they may use a pre-prepared list. As the voting system is based on a majoritarian and not proportional law, voters have the right to cross out names or add candidates from other lists, provided they do not exceed the number of seats allocated to the specific municipality. Any additional names beyond the seat limit will be disregarded. Voters must also ensure their ballot contains no identifying marks that could invalidate it. After placing the completed ballot in the envelope, voters return from the voting booth, place their vote into the ballot box, sign next to their name, dip their fingers in indelible ink, and collect their identification documents.
LBCI
30-04-2025
- Business
- LBCI
Financial overhaul: Finance Committee debates bank reform, fails to move forward on legislation
Report by Lara El Hachem, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi A heated three-hour session of Lebanon's Parliamentary Finance and Budget Committee failed to advance the draft banking reform law, as MPs debated the general framework without addressing specific provisions or proposed amendments. The meeting saw unusually high participation, with 45 MPs in attendance. While many emphasized the importance of safeguarding depositors' rights, some MPs left the session describing the discussions as unproductive, while others viewed them as constructive. The law, which outlines a roadmap for restructuring Lebanon's embattled banking sector, remains unenforceable pending the passage of the Financial Gap Law, as stipulated in Article 37 of the draft. Although most parties agreed on this matter, deep divisions emerged over its implications. Hezbollah criticized the premise of tying one law to another that has yet to be introduced, calling the open-ended timeline for enacting the Financial Gap Law a 'legal flaw.' The Amal Movement echoed that sentiment. The Lebanese Forces Party urged lawmakers to accelerate the review of both laws to hasten the restructuring of banks and restore financial stability. Meanwhile, the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) accused the bill of legalizing "haircuts" on deposits, calling for a comparative study of how other countries have addressed similar crises. Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, who attended the session, defended the government's draft, citing international examples and reiterating that work on the Financial Gap Law would begin after the Banque du Liban (BDL) shares its input. Committee Chair Ibrahim Kanaan announced that BDL governor Karim Souaid will appear before the committee next week after missing Wednesday's meeting due to travel. In a statement, Souaid confirmed that he would submit the first draft of the banking restructuring plan, emphasizing that all stakeholders should align behind a single goal: achieving a gradual and sustainable economic recovery. The bank stressed that this must be based on a stronger banking sector, an independent central bank, and a fair, realistic mechanism for repaying depositors over time.
LBCI
28-04-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Beirut's southern suburbs targeted for the third time after ceasefire: Israel sends political messages
Report by Edmond Sassine, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi For the third time, Israeli forces have attacked Beirut's southern suburbs. The first strike came with a prior warning following rocket fire from South Lebanon, accompanied by Israeli claims of drone activity in the area. Three days later, Israel carried out the assassination of Hezbollah commander Hassan Bdeir in the same district. On Sunday, Israeli forces issued a sudden evacuation order targeting what was later identified as a hangar, claiming it stored Hezbollah's precision missiles. This latest strike is part of a larger pattern, with 3,028 documented violations between November 27, 2024, and Monday, April 28, 2025. The rate of violations has averaged more than 20 per day, reflecting what observers describe as a continuous, fragmented war waged by Israel on Lebanese soil, with little regard for the ceasefire agreement, the ceasefire monitoring committee, or the countries guaranteeing the accord. Observers see three key messages behind the attacks on the southern suburbs. First, Israel seeks to entrench its right to intervene in Lebanon, invoking U.S. guarantees that allow it to interpret the right to self-defense under the agreement according to its own terms. Second, the attacks send a signal to the Lebanese government, particularly in light of President Joseph Aoun's call for Israel to withdraw from five occupied points along the border so that Lebanon can assume complete security control and Speaker Nabih Berri's insistence that Hezbollah's arms should not be surrendered before Israel fulfills its obligations—tasks that Lebanon views as Washington's responsibility to enforce. Third, by striking Beirut's southern suburbs, Israel appears intent on replicating its strategy along the border: preventing reconstruction, deterring the return of displaced residents, and disrupting social, economic, and security stability. Through these measures, Israel aims to foment dissent within Hezbollah's stronghold.
