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Short Takes:
Palestinian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nabil Shaath said that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat will meet on January 29 with US President Bill Clinton in the While House. Go

Iraq blamed the United Nations Sanctions Committee for stopping some strategic electric projects by obstructing and suspending special contracts in the electric sector. Go

France has decided to back Morocco's bid to host the 2006 World Cup, France Soir daily reported on Thursday. France decided to used its diplomatic relations with third world countries to back King Mohammed VI in this endeavor, the daily said. Go

Israeli Minister of Trade and Industry Ran Cohen expressed his belief that the Israeli - Syrian negotiation teams will overcome all obstacles concerning the agenda of negotiations. Go

The Moroccan House of Representatives convenes Thursday in a plenary session to hear the government statement read out by Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi. The House later convenes to look into and vote several bills, says a press release of the first house of Parliament. Go

The total visitors to the Nuba museum in Aswan city reached 22,000 during December, including 8,000 foreign tourists and 5,000 students who visit the museum for free in a program to develop awareness of museums among students. Go

Emirates airlines started running a direct daily trip starting from January 2 between Dubai and Bangkok, then to Hong Kong, using the new Boing 777 / 2000 airplane which joined its fleet in last November. Go

Egyptian Minister of Information Safwat al-Sharif said that the Cabinet decided to give the governmental ministries and organizations two days off instead of Friday only, adding that these ministries and organizations could add Thursday to Friday's vacation on the condition that its employees work longer hours on the rest of the work days and that every minister has the right to organize the work time in his ministry. Go

The Russian Foreign Ministry presented a protest today to the Lebanese government because of the incident took place in the Russian embassy in Beirut. Go

Statistics issued by the Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture stated that Tunisia's exports of olive oil have increased from January to November 1999 to 158,700 tons with a value of 370 million dinars in comparison to 112,200 tons worth 195.5 million dinars for the same period of 1998. Go

Iraqi study found five kinds of fungal poisons which cause cancer and other diseases in the areas that were shelled with uranium and chemical materials in south Iraq. Go

Bahrain's Minstry of Health is organizing vaccinations for those making the haj pilgrimage against diseases including meningitis, diphtheria and tetanus, Gulf Daily News reported. Go

Dubai municipal employees who hold their weddings in hotels or tourist locations will be exempted from a 10% municipal tax, Khaleej Times reported. Go

Japan's trade with the Gulf Cooperation Council member states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) fell during the first half of 1999 to $13.76 billion, down $2.35 billion compared to the same period in 1998, according to figures from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Gulf News reported. Go

Russian President Boris Yeltsin has refused to make any meeting with Israeli officials. Yeltsin, who arrived in Bethlehem on Wednesday to visit the holy shrines, said in statements quoted by Israeli Radio on Thursday that he has come to attend Bethlehem celebrations of the third millennium. Go

Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gaddafi on Thursday received a message from Lebanese President Emile Lahoud connected to conditions in Lebanon and the region. Go

The London-based al-Hayat daily quoted Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa as saying that he will stay in Shepherdstown until all efforts are made to achieve a progress in the framework of realizing a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. Go