We are looking for sales & marketing representatives in different countries. Apply now!

Short Takes:
Renowned Egyptian actor Nour al-Sharir described the Israeli authorities' practices against Arab citizens in the occupied lands as "the ugliest forms of terrorism and racism ever known by humanity." Go

Well-informed Jordanian sources said US Defense Secretary William Cohen will arrive in Amman on April 18 for a short working visit to Jordan. Go

25,000 Egyptian and 10,000 Arab tourists arrived to Cairo to spend their Greater Bairam vacations in Egypt. Go

The Arab group, under chairmanship of Egyptian Prime Minister Kamal El-Ganzouri during the meeting of the council of International Parliamentary Union in Namibia, agreed on presenting the project drawn up by Libya to lift the UN economic sanctions after the judgment of the International Court of Justice. Go

Safwat at El-Sherif, the Egyptian minister of information, will leave Cairo on April 26, heading a high-ranking delegation to Guwuana Island in South America, as on April 28 Egypt will become the first Arab country to launch a communications satellite. Go

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa stated that Egypt is making intensive communications effort with the parties concerned with the peace process to face the current crisis in the process, adding that the Egyptian communications include the US, the European Union, the Palestinians, the Arabs and Israel. Go

The third phase of Tunisia International rally car race for 1998 started on Monday in Tunisia with the participation of 169 cars and more than 200 motorcycles, after the first two phases of the race were completed in France and Italy. The third phase, which will be completed within 6 days, covers 2,291 km inside Tunisian territories. A Tunisian team made up of three cars and three motor-cycles is taking part in the rally. Go

French Minister of the Jean-Pierre Chevenement will pay a several-day visit to Egypt this week, according to an invitation from Egyptian Minister of Interior Habib El-Adli to discuss enhancing security cooperation between Egypt and France. Go

Israeli police shot and killed a Palestinian man, who the police said had refused to stop for them, after a chase between Jerusalem and Ramallah, Fox News reported. Go

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed El-Khaled El-Sabah stated that 84 persons had died in Kuwait, among whom were 73 Kuwaiti citizens, due to drugs. He said cases of addiction in Kuwait are on a continuous increase, and totaled 1,383 cases from 1991 through June, 1997. Go

A delegation of Egyptian businessmen will visit Iraq in May. During their visit, the delegation will focus on increasing commercial exchange between the two countries and establishing joint projects as well as on increasing Egyptian exports to the Iraqi market. Go

Syrian President Hafez al-Assad received Lebanese President Elias Hrawi at al-Rawda Palace in Damascus on Monday. Talks dealt with recent developments in the region and bilateral issues. Go

After instituting streamlining measures, Qatar's Gulf Air airlines saw a $8 million operating profit in 1998, following two straight years of losses, Gulf Times reported. Go

Members of Israel's Open Doors movement protested outside Damun Prison, near the city of Haifa in northern Israel, against the continuing detention without trial of some 200 Palestinians there, Jordan Times reported. Go

UAE President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan called on the UAE's rulers not to sell their UAE properties, but to distribute lands to all UAE citizens, Khaleej Times reported. Go

An Israeli Cabinet panel approved a plan to build six new villages along the West Bank border, Bahrain Tribune reported. Go

A Saudi group, Petroma Refining and Marketing Company, will collaborate with the US-based Hutchinson Group to build a $5 billion refinery and petrochemical facility in Bahrain, Saudi Press Agency reported. Go

Hamas rejected the Palestinian government's assertion that bomb maker Mohyidden al-Sharif's death was the result of an internal dispute within Hamas and reiterated its position that Israel is behind Sharif's death, Bahrain Tribune reported. Go

A Canadian citizen was sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading guilty to lesser charges in a case in which he was accused of trying to sell military helicopters to Iraq, Fox News reported. Go

US inspectors will plan future visits to Iraqi presidential sites based on pending findings from the first round of inspections, Nando Times reported. The spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that UNSCOM chairman Richard Butler's report on the first round of inspections is due on April 11. Go

A draft law which addresses improvements in women's rights, including regarding the custody of children was approved by Algeria's government, CNN reported. Go

The Algerian foreign debt was cut by nearly $2.4 billion during 1997 to $31.22 billion, CNN reported. Go

Commenting on the Middle East peace process, White House spokesman Mike McCurry said, "The commitments that the parties made to each other through the declaration, through the Oslo format -- and there are fundamental commitments under the Madrid format -- remain." McCurry added US President Bill Clinton and peace process envoy Dennis Ross were to meet last night to discuss Ross' assessment of his recent trip to the Middle East. Go