Today's Headlines
- Jordanian King: The Israelis seriously talk about changing Arafat
The Jordanian King Abdullah II has warned against the grave conditions in the West Bank and Gaza. In his first statement to the press since the incidents of September 11th in the US to the London based al-Sharq al-Awsat daily issued on Thursday the Jordanian Monarch added that he is very concerned over the talks of replacing Yasser Arafat and warned against statements made by Palestinian opposition forces, noting that such statements might lead to a civil war. Jordan-Palestine, Politics, 12/14/2001
- Al-Assad meets with Burns, stresses Syria's firm position towards peace
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at al-Shaab palace on Thursday received the US under secretary of state for the Middle East affairs William Burns. Syria-USA, Politics, 12/14/2001
- Syrian sends its reply to UN resolution 1373, denounces the terrorist act against the Indian parliament
An official source at the Syrian foreign ministry said the following: The Syrian Arab Republic on Thursday morning sent to its permanent delegation at the UN its reply to issues raised according to the resolution of the UN Security Council resolution no.1373 so as the Syrian permanent mission will deposit it at the UN security council. Syria, Politics, 12/14/2001
- New Syrian governments formed, 33 ministers, including 4 prime minister deputies, 17 ministers for the first time
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has released legislative decree no.622 for 2001 provided for the formation of the Government in Syria as follows: Syria, Politics, 12/14/2001
- Israel severs contacts with Arafat, five Palestinians killed, 70 wounded
Five Palestinians were killed including one child and other 70 were wounded as the Israeli F 16 warplanes and military helicopters were launching most violent raids against the Palestinian cities especially Gaza and Ramullah and the Israeli tanks broke into the two cities and demolished several houses including the Palestinian radio and occupied the house of Marwan al-Barghouthi, the secretary of the Fatah movement in Ramullah, while the Israeli naval forces bombarded Deir al-Balah city and incurred in Rafah and Tel al-Sultan in Gaza.. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/14/2001
- Iraq accuses Kuwait of investing border oil fields and interfering in its internal affairs
The Iraqi government on Wednesday asked the UN to interfere in order to stop "the separate investment" by Kuwait of Iraq's oil in one of the oil fields in the southern parts of Iraq. Iraq-Kuwait, Politics, 12/14/2001
- New draft law for public media submitted shortly to government
Culture and information minister, Mohamed Achaari, said Thursday a draft law for the audio-visual media will be submitted shortly to the government before being examined by the parliament. Morocco, Politics, 12/14/2001
- Jordanian princess appointed a good will ambassador at the UN
Princess Basma Bint ( daughter ) of Talal, aunt of the Jordanian King Abdullah was chosen as an honorary ambassador for the UN Population Fund during he recent visit to New York, according to the Jordanian news agency Petra. Jordan, Culture, 12/14/2001
- A message from Prince Nayef to the Yemeni minister of the Interior
The Saudi minister of the Interior prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz has sent a written message to the Yemeni minister of the Interior Lt. Gen.Rashad Muhammad al-Oleimi. Saudi Arabia-Yemen, Politics, 12/14/2001
- Arab group requests emergency meeting of security council
The Arab group at the United Nations requested on Thursday an emergency meeting of the United Nations security council after Israel decided to isolate Palestinian president Yasser Arafat. Regional-Palestine, Politics, 12/14/2001
- Al-Assad confers with chairman of Hungarian labor party chairman
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at al-Shaab palace on Thursday the chairman of the Hungarian labor party Tomer Joula. The meeting was attended by the assistant secretary general of the Baath party Abdullah al-Ahmar. Syria-Hungary, Politics, 12/14/2001
- Kharazzi: Iranian- American contact are not an evidence on progress in relations
The Iranian foreign minister on Wednesday considered that the recent diplomatic contacts between Iran and the US on the sideline of the Afghani groups in Bonn s"hould not be considered as a progress in the relations between the two countries." Iran-USA, Politics, 12/14/2001
- Algerian interior minister hails solidarity surges towards flood-affected algeria
Algerian minister of the interior, Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni, paid tribute to the solidarity surges expressed to Algeria following the floods that affected the country last month. Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 12/14/2001
- Maher: intensive contacts on ME deterioration
Egyptian FM Ahmed Maher contacted Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, US Secretary Colin Powell and French FM Hubert Vedrine on the current tensions in the Middle East. Egypt-Regional, Politics, 12/14/2001
- UN report outlines long-term effects of Israeli closure of Palestinian territories
In stark contrast to the obvious direct economic impact of the closure of two Palestinian towns on the daily life of people, the longer term effects of the Israeli-imposed blockade are only now starting to emerge, according to the findings of a UN-commissioned survey released on Thursday. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/14/2001
- Yemeni President starts inspection visit to Aden
The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah saleh arrived on Wednesday evening in Aden in an inspection visit to the governorate during which he meets with the leadership of the local authorities, scholars and social and political activists. Yemen, Politics, 12/14/2001
- Price increase in Jordan at 1.6% for 2001
Data bases of the costs of living in Jordan for the first 11 months of the current year ( 2001 ) reported an increase in prices at 1.6% in comparison with the same period of time of 2000. Jordan, Economics, 12/14/2001
- China's foreign minister to visit Jordan
The Chinese Foreign minister Tang Jiang will arrive in Amman on December 24 in an official visit to Jordan that will last for two days at the invitation of the Jordanian foreign minister Abdul Illah al-Khatib. Jordan-China, Politics, 12/14/2001
- Government council adopts draft law on compulsory health coverage
A government council, meeting Thursday, adopted a draft law on compulsory health coverage that fundamentally reforms the health financing system in Morocco. Morocco, Economics, 12/14/2001
- Oman reduces entry visa fees to its territories to encourage tourism
Oman has decided to reduce entry visas to its territories as from January 5, 2002 and to grant the visas from its airport so as to encourage tourism. Oman, Economics, 12/14/2001
- King Mohammed dedicates mosque in Meknes
Morocco's King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, accompanied by Prince Moulay Rachid, on Friday dedicated the Mohammed VI Mosque in Meknes. Morocco, Religion, 12/14/2001
- Annan 'deeply disturbed' by upsurge in middle east violence
United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan, on Thursday said he was "deeply disturbed" by the recent upsurge of violence in the occupied Palestinian territories. Palestine, Politics, 12/14/2001
- EU extends a 30 million euros assistance to Palestinian authority
The European Commission will extend the Palestinian authority a 30 million Euro assistance to help it overcome liquidity problems it is facing after Israel decided to suspend the transfer of tax receipts to the Palestinian authority, following the flare up of violence since September 2000. Palestine-European Union, Economics, 12/14/2001
- Darren Clarke on course for Dubai desert classic
European No.3 Darren Clarke will join fellow European Ryder Cup stars Thomas Bjorn and Colin Montgomerie when the world"s top players descend on Dubai for the 2002 Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club from March 7-10. United Arab Emirates, Sports, 12/14/2001
- Thai bank to provide Islamic banking services
State-owned Krung Thai Bank (KTB) will launch Islamic banking services for the first time in the country early next year, according to a top executive. Regional-Thailand, Religion, 12/14/2001
Short Takes
- Specialized Jordanian departments will by the beginning of 2002 start a large scale inspection campaign for incoming labor force in Jordan to correct their conditions in light of the recommendations issued by the Jordanian government. Go
- Fifteen people, 8 girls and 7 women, were suffocated to death by gas Thursday in Casablanca, the civil rescue department said. The victims were suffocated by a gas leak at a traditional henna ceremony organized by a charity in the Ain Cock district of Casablanca. Go
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