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

Short Takes:
An Egyptian merchant vessel left the Alexandria port on Monday heading for Casablanca, inaugurating thus the new sea line between the two ports. The boat, loaded with 3,000 tons of white cement, ammonium and electric lamps, will anchor in Casablanca at the beginning of July. Go

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is contributing $500,000 to the Yemeni government to improve reproductive health services. US Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs Frank Loy presented the gift yesterday in Yemen, praising the progress Yemen has made in "improving the health and development of its citizens." But he added that there is still more progress to be made, saying, "The deaths of millions of women and children could be prevented by improved access to, and quality of, reproductive health services -- including maternal and child health care, and birth spacing information, education and services." Go

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz in Jeddah on Sunday met with the chief of staff of the British defense exports, Tony Edward, and members of the accompanying delegation, currently visiting Saudi Arabia. Issues of mutual concern to Saudi Arabia and Britain were discussed. Go

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri described the Israeli attack on his country last week as an attempt by Israel to impose a special peace that is not based on the formula of the Madrid's conference, the principle of land-for-peace and international legitimacy resolutions. Berri, who heads the Lebanese negotiations in the meetings of the Arab Parliamentary Union in Damascus, said Israel cannot split the Syrian and Lebanese tracks of peace negotiations, adding that if Israel wants to withdraw from the Lebanese south and implement resolution 425 it has to do so without conditions or restrictions. Go

The UN on Monday in Geneva stated that there are "significant humanitarian needs in the areas of food security, water, health and basic education" in foodstuffs in five villages controlled by rebels in southern Sudan. The director of the UN office for coordinating humanitarian affairs in Geneva, Ross Mountian, said the UN mission had visited the villages which are situated in the mountainous area of Nuba and got acquainted with the conditions there. Mountian said, "People there suffer malnutrition." This is the first visit by a UN mission since the beginning of the 1980s. Go

The Turkish ambassador to Israel, Barlas Ozneir, has announced that Turkish President Suleiman Demirel will visit Israel next month, during which he will meet with the Israeli President Ezer Weizman and several Israeli officials. The Israeli ambassador added that Demirel will also visit the Palestinian authority areas to meet Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. Go

Syrian Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa Tlass on Monday received the commander of UNDOF (the UN Disengagement Observer Force) in the Golan, Gen. Cameron Ross. Talks dealt with UNDOF's working role in the Golan. The chairman of the Syrian delegation to the truce committee also attended the meeting. Go

Sudanse Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismael has called on the US Congress to reconsider its decision which calls for the US administration to ban military planes from flying in the airspace of southern Sudan and Nuba mountain. In a statement to the Sudanese daily al-Hayat, Ismael said the decision taken by the US Congress for foreign relations does not help foster exerted peace efforts, rather sets the fire of wars in southern Sudan. Go