Today's Headlines
- Ruler of Bahrain ratifies national charter approved by people 's referendum
Ruler of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa on Friday in al- Manama ratified the national work program approved by the Bahraini people in the referendum held on February 12 and 15. Bahrain, Politics, 2/17/2001
- Algerian - Egyptian talks focus on furthering economic, trade relations
The preparatory panel concluded on Thursday preparations of the agenda and the six cooperation agreements to be signed by the two sides with the aim of buttressing economic and trade relations. Algeria-Egypt, Economics, 2/17/2001
- Egypt's plan of action centers on unemployment, development
Egypt's Prime Minster Atef Ebeid said that the government's plan of action centers on three issues: the joblessness, the balance between the state's resources and spending and increasing the growth rate to 7.8 percent. Egypt, Economics, 2/17/2001
- Syria and Lebanon to buy Sudanese meat
The Sudanese minister of livestock minister Abdullah Muhammad Sayed Ahmad has announced the consent of both Syria and Lebanon to import the Sudanese meat after they leant about the assurances on health and quarantine measures pursued in Sudan. Sudan-Regional, Economics, 2/17/2001
- Egypt nominates Amr Moussa as Secretary-General of AL
Egypt has nominated its Foreign Minister Amr Moussa for the post of Secretary-General of the Arab League. The term of incumbent chief Esmat Abdel Meguid, an Egyptian diplomat, is due to end in May. Regional-Egypt, Politics, 2/17/2001
- Sudan stresses backing to Morocco's territorial integrity
Sudan has stressed its backing to the territorial integrity of Morocco. "Our position regarding the Sahara issue is constant. We are unionists," Sudanese foreign minister, Mustapha Othmane Ismail Sudan-Morocco, Politics, 2/17/2001
- Five Iraqis killed, 8 wounded by US- British air strikes
The Iraqi capital Baghdad on Friday underwent air strikes carried out by 24 British and American planes and both London and Washington admitted of launching the air raids and the White House confirmed that President George Bush permitted these strikes. Iraq-USA, Politics, 2/17/2001
- Mubarak Italian visit focus on political coordination
Talks will deal with the deteriorating positions in the Palestinian territories in the light of accession to power in Israel by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, ways of developing distinctive relations between Egypt and Italy. Egypt-Italy, Politics, 2/17/2001
- Bouteflika lauds convergence of political will between Rabat, Algiers
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria has lauded "the convergence of political will" between Morocco and his country. Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 2/17/2001
- Algeria and the Arab Maghreb federation
Algeria has renewed its complete readiness to contribute to the success of every effort that embodies the will of the whole of the Arab Maghreb people to achieve their ambitions towards building a united Arab Maghreb able of coping with the rapid developments taking place in the world. Algeria-Maghreb, Politics, 2/17/2001
- On Azmi Beshara and Knesset immunity
The Israeli radio said on Friday that the chairman of the bloc of Shas movement in the Israeli Knesset Yaer Bertes on Friday called on the Israeli general security department al-Shabak to lift the security umbrella given to Arab member at the Israeli Knesset Azmi Beshara who has the chance to hold repeated visits to Damascus. Israel, Politics, 2/17/2001
- Sudanese rebellion forces kill former governor
The Sudanese daily al-Anbaa unveiled that the forces of the rebellion Mushar had killed Veter Kouj, the former governor of the Sudanese Mayout provinces who was kidnapped by the Southern Sudanese rebellion Movement in 2000. Sudan, Politics, 2/17/2001
- American muslim group criticizes US bombing of Iraq
"This kind of action does not serve the cause of peace and stability in the region," said CAIR, adding "a new administration should have a new vision for foreign policy to replace one that is outdated and ineffective." Iraq-USA, Politics, 2/17/2001
- Egypt lauds the Vatican's call for respect of international legitimacy
Egypt's Ambassador to the Vatican Farouk Raafat said Friday the Holy See is highly interested in President Hosni Mubarak's Tuesday visit to the Vatican. Egypt-Vatican, Politics, 2/17/2001
- Italy writes off Egypt's debts
"Between 2001 and 2005 Italy will gradually drop the $164.7 million in owed Egyptian debts, Mansour said, adding that a new economic agreement between the two countries would take care of that. Egypt-Italy, Economics, 2/17/2001
- UN Middle East envoy warns that fiscal collapse could cause massive violence
The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process on Friday warned that an impending fiscal collapse of the Palestinian Authority could lead to an institutional collapse, which in turn might spawn further violence "and a situation that might get completely out of control." Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/17/2001
- Gravely concerned at Middle East violence, Annan urges restraint and dialogue
Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Friday expressed grave concern at the rising level of violence in the Middle East and appealed to the parties to prevent a further escalation and resume their dialogue. Regional, Politics, 2/17/2001
- China demands end to ongoing fighting, Mubarak recoginzed for efforts
China demanded an end for the ongoing struggle in the Middle East and urged the warring parties to observe the utmost self-restraint and halt further deterioration of matters. Egypt-China, Politics, 2/17/2001
- Egypt - China boost cooperation in oil domain
Chairman of Chinese National Oil Company, the biggest oil company in China, hailed as excellent cooperation between Egypt and China in the field of petroleum. Egypt-China, Economics, 2/17/2001
- Sharon and peace with Syria
In its Friday's issue, the Israeli daily Jerusalem Post said in an article by its editor Herb Kenon that the Israeli prime minister elect Ariel Sharon said Thursday in a message he addressed to President Bashar al-Assad that Israel wants to start negotiations with all Arab states without prior conditions and that it expects Syria to suppress Hizbullah which has started its operation not only in South Lebanon but also inside Gaza. Syria-Israel, Politics, 2/17/2001
- Arab, Islamic states aborted Israeli bids to join SC
In the light of world-wide changes and transformations, the developing countries were obliged to look for advanced means to face the new changes, resulting in the influence of the big powers on the trends of the United Nations (UN), and the UN Security Council (SC). Regional-Israel, Politics, 2/17/2001
- Palestinians defy the siege, three killed, 26 wounded
Confrontations escalated in the occupied Palestinian territories especially after Friday's prayers on Friday and the Palestinian youths confronted the Israeli occupation forces in marches of danger and three Palestinians were killed and 26 wounded by the Israeli bullets in Qilqelya, Khan Younis and Rafah. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/17/2001
- World hails Mubarak's poverty-combat efforts
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Chairman Fawzi Hamad Sultan on Friday hailed President Hosni Mubarak's efforts in the field of eliminating poverty. Egypt, Culture, 2/17/2001
- Mubarak calls Israelis to extend hand to Arabs for better future and peace
Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak has called the Israeli people, now that they have chosen a new Prime Minister, to extend a hand to Arab peoples for a better future for both sides. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 2/17/2001
- Morocco's interests should be central in any new fishery accord, minister
Morocco on Friday stressed that the preservation of its interests should at the core of any new fishery accord with the European Union. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 2/17/2001
- One Israeli soldier killed in Shebaa
The Lebanese National resistance had retaliated the Israeli violations of the Lebanese territories by an attack against an Israeli military on foot patrol in the occupied Shebaa farms resulted in killing one Israeli soldier and wounding two others. Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 2/17/2001
Short Takes
- The United Arab Emirates UAE daily al-Bayan quoted Syrian sources as saying that the chairman of the Palestinian Authority will visit Damascus during the two coming days. The said sources told the paper that the efforts exerted since weeks to arrange for this visit had attained its fruit especially in light of the grave developments in the Peace process and Sharon's ascending to power in Israel. Go
- Morocco's Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi met in Rabat Friday Saudi Prince Talal Ibn Abdelaziz, president of the Arab Gulf Program for Backing to UN Development Agencies and of the Arab Chilhood and Development Council. Go
- The US secretary of state Colen Powel on Thursday evening made a telephone call with the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat. Go
- Morocco's Portuguese coach, Humberto Cuelho, has convoked a 22-player team for a World Cup qualifier against Senegal next Saturday in Rabat. Go
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