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Positive action by private individuals, organizations, and business: The example that Pope John Paul II has demonstrated in bringing people together and in speaking for those with no voice. Go

Egyptian Petroleum Minister Sameh Fahi warned of the continuing negative results of petroleum prices in the international markets on the cost of producing all kinds of goods during the coming period. In special statements to ArabicNews.com Fahmi said, "Continuing this increase in the petroleum prices could confuse plans of the major companies that work in all fields, and it will also affect the final price of these goods due to the increase in the production costs," emphasizing the importance of the petroleum-exporting countries working to avoid these negative results. Go

King Mohammed VI, commander in chief and chief of the general staff of the Royal Armed forces, arrived in Errachidia, southeastern Morocco, Thursday to inspect drill grounds in the area. The king who is accompanied by his brother, Prince Moulay Rachid, will also undertake an inspection tour to drill grounds in Ouarzazate and to the southern zone command in Agadir. Go

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak sent an invitation to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to attend the meetings of the "Group of 15" countries in Cairo on June 19 - 20. Go

Libya appointed Mubarak al-Shamekh as its new prime minister after eliminating the majority of the government ministries, Gulf Times reported, adding that Beshir Bujeneh and Bagdadi Mahmudi were named as deputy prime ministers for production and services, respectively, while Abdel Rahman Shalgham was named foreign minister. Go

The Moroccan minister in charge of the Maghreb and the Arab-Islamic world, Abdeslam Znined, conveyed on Thursday to Algerian Premier Ahmed Benbitour a message from King Mohammed VI to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Znined, who arrived on the same day in the Algerian capital, said the message is part of a series of letters sent by the king to African leaders on consolidation of cooperation in the continent to improve the living conditions of populations in various African countries, mainly in economic, trade, industrial, and environment protection. Go

The hotel capacity in the Egyptian southern Sinai area reached 23,000 rooms, including 13,000 in Sharm El-Sheikh, while the rest of the rooms are in Dahab, Nowaiba and Ras Sadr. General Mustafa Afifi, governor of south Sinai, told ArabicNews.com that, "There is a great demand from the investors to establish entertainment tourism projects like the trade centers that are specialized in diving, water sports and beach requirements," saying that the area is witnessing a continuous improvement in the special tourism components like establishing airports and harbors. Go

The Islamic Development Bank agreed to present $1.3 billion to five African countries: Egypt, Sudan, Uganda, the Comoros Islands and Djibouti. A statement issued by the bank today said these sums will be specified for developing the basic infrastructure in these countries and bilateral trade inside Africa, referring to the importance of removing all commercial barriers and restrictions in Africa and achieving economic integrity like the joint European market. Go

Morocco was listed among the 27 emerging market economies which made headway in conveying economic data to capital markets, says the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Bulletin. Go

King Mohammed VI has been invited to pay an official visit to Spain next September, said the official spokesman of the royal palace, Hassan Aourid. Go

Sudanese Justice Minister Ali Mohammed Ossman Yassin asserted in an interview with Egypt's Al Ahram newspaper that was published today that "The Egyptian support for Sudan has reflected on improving its relations with the neighbor countries and the Arab ones, and Egypt seeks to reform Sudan's relations with the USA." Go

Egyptian judicial sources said today that 40 Egyptian women presented on the first day of issuing the executive list for the legal proceedings law on personal affairs lawsuits which allows women to give up all their legal claims to get a divorce, which is the most important item in the new law. This legislation caused a wide controversy in Egyptian society and was legalized after strong debate in the People's Assembly. Go

A Saudi statement issued today said that the volume of Saudi investments in Egypt reached 3.7 billion LE through 332 projects in industry, real estate, services and tourism. The statement said the facilities presented by the Egyptian government to investors helped the Saudi investment volume reach 30% of the Arab investments in Egypt, adding that there are many new agreements for joint cooperation between the two states that will be implemented during the current year to increase the volume of commercial exchange, which reached 560 million LE during the last two years. Go

Gamal Baoumi, the Egyptian assistant foreign minister for European affairs, stated that the European continent is the first commercial partner for Egypt, with an annual commercial exchange that reaches 45% of the volume of Egyptian foreign trade. Baoumi, who is responsible for the Egyptian-European partnership file, said that any agreements that will be signed in the future will not have a negative effect on the Egyptian industries but will contribute to increasing their capacity in the international competition. Go

The interministerial investments commission approved five investment projects worth $580 million. The projects, expected to generate some 1,330 direct jobs, cover the sectors of electricity, tourism, mines, and air transport related services. Go

Representatives of the Arab laborers renewed their solidarity with the Lebanese people and workers against Israeli aggression on south Lebanon and asserted in the opening meetings of the central council of the international union of Arab labor syndicates yesterday their opposition to any form of normalization with Israel's labor union (Histadrut) until after the end of all forms of occupation of Arab land and the declaration of the Palestinian state. Go

Members of the government imposed on Kuwait during Iraq's occupation testified yesterday that the head of that government, a former Kuwaiti military officer, Alaa Hussein Ali threatened to kill members of the government that did not obey him or disparaged Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and boasted of being the fifth most important person in the Iraqi government, Bahrain Tribune reported. Hussein, who is accused of collaboration with Iraq, has said he was forced into leading the occupation government by Iraq. Go

An agreement was reached yesterday on the construction of a gas pipeline that will connect Qatar to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Omanwith construction to begin in 2004, Gulf Times reported, adding that the UAE Offsets Group (UOG) will hold 51% of the $10 billion project, while TotalFina Elf of France and Enron of the USA will equally divide the remainder in a partnership which is to last a minimum of 25 years. Go

Gulf Air has decided to allow staff that was to be transferred to the Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Company (GAMCO) as of October 1999 to remain with Gulf Air if they wish, Gulf Daily News reported. Go

An Israeli military delegation is due to arrive in Turkey during the coming week to sign an agreement for a military cooperation between the two countries. Go

Poland's Ambassador to Yemen was kidnapped yesterday by tribesmen calling for the release of a tribesman who was arrested last week, Washington Post reported. Go