Arabic News .com Front Page for Arab News

Today's Headlines

• Albright expresses optimism following meeting with al-Assad
  US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Tuesday evening described her talks with Syrian President Hafez al-Assad as very constructive. Syria, Politics, 12/8/99
• Al-Assad discusses Middle East peace process with US secretary of state
  Syrian President Hafez al-Assad received US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Tuesday afternoon at the Damascus al-Shaab presidential palace. Syria, Politics, 12/8/99
• Israel called on to abide by UN resolutions over the Golan
  The UN General Assembly has called on Israel to abide by its resolutions concerning the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, especially UN Security Council resolution 497 of 1981. Syria, Politics, 12/8/99
• Baz urges Israel to stop blocking peace process
  Presidential Political Advisor Osama el-Baz called on Israel to stop adopting measures and policies that impede the peacemaking, as the region is in dire need for the continuation of the peace process. Egypt, Politics, 12/8/99
• One Lebanese citizen killed by Israeli bombardment
  One Lebanese citizen was killed as a result of the Israeli bombardment against al-Mansouri plain in south Lebanon on Monday evening. Lebanon, Military, 12/8/99
• Little possibility of holding referendum in Sahara before 2002, UN secretary general
  There is little possibility of holding the referendum in the Sahara before 2002 or even later, said UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Morocco, Politics, 12/8/99
• AL chief for good preparation for an Arab summit
  Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid has asserted that an Arab summit cannot be convened before good preparations for it in order to conclude positive and good results. Regional, Politics, 12/8/99
• Conflict settlement a prerequisite to lasting development in Africa, Moroccan foreign minister says
  The settlement of conflicts in Africa is a pre-requisite for a harmonious and lasting development in Africa. The statement was made by Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mohamed Benaissa, who took part in the ministerial follow-up meeting of the France-Africa summit conference, held in Paris on December 7. Morocco, Politics, 12/8/99
• American appreciation for Mubarak's reform efforts
  "The US has voiced full appreciation for President Hosni Mubarak's efforts to realize reform and revival in Egypt," Prime Minister Dr. Atef Ebeid said on Tuesday following President Mubarak`s meeting with a visiting USAID delegation. Egypt, Economics, 12/8/99
• Iraq resumes criticism of draft resolution easing sanctions
  Iraq escalated its criticism of the draft resolution currently being discussed by the United Nations Security Council, which aims at easing economic sanctions imposed on Iraq and bringing back the inspection system on the Iraqi weapons. Iraq, Politics, 12/8/99
• Jordanian parliamentarians against Israeli participation in Amman's IPU conference
  Parliamentarian Khalil Ateyah has called on the parliamentarians in Jordan to submit a collective resignation in case Israel's participation in the conference is confirmed. Jordan, Politics, 12/8/99
• Saudi defense minister meets with Yemeni minister of state Saudi Arabia, Politics, 12/8/99
• Syrian - Iranian information cooperation
  Iran and Syria signed a joint note for information cooperation between the two countries. The note, which was signed by Iranian Minister of Islamic Culture and Guidance Ataollah Mohajerani and Syrian Information Minister Mohammed Salman, included programs for radio, television and press cooperation. Syria, Politics, 12/8/99
• Iran, Algeria for boosting bilateral relations
  High-ranking Iranian sources said that relations between Tehran and Algiers will witness great developments within the coming weeks or months to restore these relations to normalcy. Algeria, Politics, 12/8/99
• Sudanese opposition coalition convenes in Kampala
  The Sudanese Democratic National Alliance convened in Kampala yesterday to discuss all the peace initiatives for Sudan, especially the agreement that was ratified by the Sudanese government and the opposition Ummah Party under the chairmanship of El-Sadek El-Mahdi. Sudan, Politics, 12/8/99
• UN urges humanitarian aid for Somalia
  The UN has called on the international community to provide US $50 million to evade the occurrence of a humanitarian catastrophe which will endanger 600,000 inhabitants in Somalia. Somalia, Economics, 12/8/99
• Jordan: Limited spread of Newcastle chicken disease
  The Jordanian ministries of health and agriculture asserted that news reports which spoke about the spread of the "Newcastle disease in the poultry farms in Jordan is too much exaggerated, and the average of casualties from this disease is within its natural frame." Jordan, Agriculture, 12/8/99
• Developing the commercial cooperation between Lebanon and Iraq
  Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan stated that, "From now on the commercial cooperation with Lebanon will be developed." Iraq, Politics, 12/8/99
• Saudi Arabia gets Eritrean messages
  Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz on Tuesday in Riyadh received a message from Eritrean President Isiais Afwerki. No information was disclosed on the content of the message. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 12/8/99
• Saudi defense minister meets with British, US delegations
  Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz received the chairman of the British defense exports commission, Tony Edwards, and members of the accompanying delegation currently visiting Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 12/8/99
• Moroccan premier meets head of Spanish opposition
  Moroccan Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi met in Rabat Tuesday with the secretary general of the Spanish Labor Socialist Party (PSOE, opposition), Joaquim Almunia, who arrived on the same day in Morocco. Morocco, Politics, 12/8/99
• Moussa stresses importance of security, development in Africa
  Foreign Minister Amr Moussa yesterday stressed the importance of making peace in Africa to back the march of development and solve current disputes. Egypt, Politics, 12/8/99
• Bulgarian - Egyptian agricultural talks
  Bulgarian Minister of Agriculture, Forests, and Agrarian Reform Ventsislav Vurbanov left Cairo this morning for Morocco after a three-day visit to Egypt, during which he was received by Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Yusef Wali. Egypt, Agriculture, 12/8/99
• Morocco, Bulgaria sign cooperation agreement
  Morocco and Bulgaria signed in Rabat on Tuesday a cooperation agreement to promote and develop relations in agriculture and forests. Morocco, Politics, 12/8/99
• On Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon
  Al-Quds newspaper issued in the occupied Arab territories said, according to well-informed sources, that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak intends to postpone debates over a unilateral withdrawal from south Lebanon until next April. Lebanon, Politics, 12/8/99
• Libya, Togo for further cooperation
  Libya and Togo have agreed to expand the movement of trade exchange and strengthening of bilateral cooperation in various economic, trade and cultural areas and the establishment of a joint committee on cooperation between the two countries. Libya, Politics, 12/8/99
• Amnesty condemns demolition of Palestinian houses
  Thousands of Palestinians live under constant fear of their homes being demolished by the Israeli authorities because they have no chance of getting a building permit, even on land that has belonged to their families for generations, Amnesty International said in London Wednesday. Palestine, Politics, 12/8/99
• Ebeid defends feasibility of national projects
  Egypt yesterday denied intentions to reconsider any of the giant projects taking place in Upper Egypt, Sinai or around the Suez Canal. Egypt, Economics, 12/8/99
• Malaysia denies intention to establish relations with Israel
  Malaysia on Tuesday denied reports it intended to establish diplomatic relations with Israel unless a peaceful settlement is reached in the Middle East. Israel, Politics, 12/8/99
• Palestinian - Israeli meeting in Jerusalem canceled Palestine, Politics, 12/8/99
• IFC provides $35 million credit line to Lebanese bank
  The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is investing $35 million to allow Byblos Bank to provide more mortgages and long-term financing for smaller businesses in Lebanon, where there is still a big need for new housing following years of civil war. Lebanon, Business, 12/8/99
• New carnage in Algeria
  The Armed Islamic Group (GIA) in Algeria has committed a new crime, as five citizens were killed and another five were wounded when the GIA attacked the popular quarters of al-Dardara from Khamis Melyana city in Ein al-Defli province, 146 km from the capital, Algiers. Algeria, Local, 12/8/99
• Egyptian organization apologizes for not receiving a prize from US factional organization Egypt, Politics, 12/8/99
• Issuing a Jordanian verdict on land merchants in the occupied areas
  A Jordanian court issued yesterday a one-year prison sentence against four Palestinians carrying Israeli citizenship for forging Jordanian seals and documents to forge transactions of land sales in Jerusalem near Al-Aqsa mosque to Israeli persons. Jordan, Politics, 12/8/99
• Clinton: Talks to restart between Syria and Israel
  US President Bill Clinton said today that negotiations are to begin next week between Syria and Israel from the spot at which they broke of in 1996. Syria, Politics, 12/8/99

Short Takes

• The first religious Judge in Damascus, Adel Bundul, said on Tuesday that he had not seen the crescent moon of Ramadan (the fasting month for Muslims). He added that December 9 will be the first day of Ramadan. Go
• Tunisian President Zein El-Abidin Ben Ali expressed his thanks and gratitude for the welcome he and his accompaning delegation received during their visit to Egypt lately. He also expressed in a letter of thanks received by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak after the official visit lately that intimacy prevailed in the talks on points of view, finding conformity in all topics of joint concern. Go
• Official Sudanese sources stated that the final arrangements for the meeting between Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Sudanese President Omar Hassan El-Bashir in Cairo will take place in the second half of the current month. The sources said that all the disputes obstructing the visit have been avoided and that the meeting will tackle the latest developments of the Libyan - Egyptian initiative and the obstacles facing its success, as well as the Djibouti initiative between the head of the opposition Ummah Party, El-Sadek El-Mahdi, and El-Bashir, which was supervised by Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh. Go
• Abd El-Monem Saudi, Egypt's ambassador to Algeria, managed in his endeavors and intensive communications with high-ranking Algerian officials in the Transportation Ministry and the Algerian authorities in order to set free an Egyptian crew that works on the ship Mickey, which was detained by Algeria's harbor authorities for two weeks. Egyptian diplomatic sources in Algeria said the crew includes five members, among which is the captain, adding that the ship, owned by a Greek company, and its crew will leave Algeria during the nexy few hours. Go
• The April Understanding Monitoring Committee on Tuesday held a meeting at the headquarters of UNIFIL at the Lebanese border town of al-Naqoura. The committee was to discuss several Lebanese complaints of continued violations of the provisions of the understanding by the Israeli occupation forces and their attacks on civilians and residential areas in south Lebanon and its western Bekaa. Go
• Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will start an Arab tour on December 18. It will cover the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan and Egypt. The Algerian daily al-Khabar said this visit will come after the first meeting of the new Algerian Cabinet, which will be headed by Smail Hamdani. Go
• Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Monday night issued a general pardon for those who are accused of the explosions that took place in Khartoum last year. In a statement following the release of the pardon, al-Bashir said that this pardon is in compliance with the policy of peace and reconciliation taking place in Sudan at the present. Go
• Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz on Monday night in Riyadh received US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and members of her accompanying delegation. Present at the meeting was Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal. Go
• Bahrain's crown prince and commander general of the Bahrain defense force, Sheikh Salman Bin Hamad al-Khaleifa, on Tuesday received a message from Kuwaiti Crown Prince and Premier Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Salem al-Sabah dealing with fraternal relations between the two countries and there development in all areas. Go
• Bahraini Prime Minister Sheikh Salman Bin Khaleifa al-Khaleifa on Tuesday received an official invitation to visit China to attend China's celebrations of Macau island's return to Chinese sovereignty. The Gulf News Agency said that the Chinese ambassador to Bahrain, Pan Xiangkang, delivered the message to Sheikh Salman during their meeting on Tuesday. Go
• The first propane storage facility in Morocco is being completed in Jarf Lasfar harbor on the Atlantic ocean, 100 km south of Casablanca. Go

Old Daily Page · Selection From Recent Days: