Arabic News Weekly Edition for Local, 7/21/1997
Weekly Edition, Local - Week of July 21, 1997
- Yemenis say red planet is theirs
Three Yemeni men claiming ownership of Mars have filed a lawsuit against the US space agency for invading the red planet. Yemen, International, 7/25/1997 - Female circumcision opposed
The sheikh of Al Azhar, Sunni Islam's higher authority, said he supports the Egyptian health ministry's ban on female circumcision despite a court decision to allow the practice. Egypt, Religion, 7/25/1997 - A burning failure
A secondary school student in Kafr El Shikh set fire to his school's offices during final examinations. Egypt, Local, 7/25/1997 - Religious talks with Malaysia
Minister Awqaf (religious affairs) Dr. Mahmoud Hamdi Zakzouk met today with a Malaysian delegation visiting Egypt, headed by the leader of the theology council in the Malaysia Islamic University. Egypt, Religion, 7/25/1997 - Hanging church restoration starts soon
Restoration work on Hanging Church, Balylon Fortress and the Capital (Egypt Christians) Church in old Cairo will start as a part of a general project for developing the area. Egypt, Local, 7/25/1997 - Bahrain to boost link with US
The crown prince said Manama wants "to strengthen the solid ties of friendship and cooperation" with Washington and paid tribute "to the US role of maintaining security and stability" in the Gulf. Bahrain, Military, 7/25/1997 - Lebanese broadcasters pull plug
As some radio and television stations that did not receive licensing at the last cabinet session began to go off the air, media executives were preparing for the next round of lobbying Lebanon, Entertainment, 7/25/1997 - More militiamen wounded in south Lebannon
"The Islamic resistance movement announces that its fighters detonated a bomb on the Kfarhouna-Jezzine road, inflicting many casualities and destroying one vehicle," a Hizbullah statement said. Lebanon, Military, 7/25/1997 - Fire mirror
A collection of poems entitled "Fire mirror" and written by the well-known Egyptian poet and critic Ahmad Samahah, was recently published in Cairo. Egypt, Literature, 7/25/1997 - New book on Jibrael Saadeh
"With Jibrael Saadeh: a study on his life and works" is the title of journalist Saje Korkomaz's book, recently published in Damascus. Syria, Literature, 7/25/1997 - Nostalgia Letters to Jasmine
"Nostalgia Letters to Jasmine" is the latest collection of poems by the Syrian novelist and poetess, Ghada al Samman. Syria, Literature, 7/25/1997 - Sudan rebels hold third of country, fierce combat
Sudanese rebel forces who have been fighting the government for 15 years in the south claim to control around one third of the country following an offensive launched in January. Sudan, Military, 7/24/1997 - Ramses II gets a new home
The Governor of Guiza paved and planted trees on all the roadsides leading to the antiquity area of Meit Rahina, birthplace of Ramses II . Egypt, Local, 7/24/1997 - Thieves bagged
Cairo airport authorities arrested two porters accused of stealing the contents of passengers' bags at the arrival hall, a police source said today. Egypt, Local, 7/24/1997 - Egyptians continue to harvest gold
Egyptian athletes continue to harvest medals at the Eighth Pan-Arab Games in Lebanon. Egypt, Sports, 7/24/1997 - USAID emphasizes importance of U.S aid to Egypt
It contributed during the last 20 years to increasing food production by 46 percent, backed family planning programs and helped set up infrastructure. Egypt, International, 7/24/1997 - Call for destruction free zone
The Arab League Technical Committee, responsible for drafting a treaty on establishing an area free of mass destruction weapons in the Middle East, will hold a two-day-meeting in Cairo on Sunday. Regional, Military, 7/24/1997 - Sudanese Parliament approves peace accord
The Sudanese Parlimant approved an accord which aims at ending the war in southern Sudan. The accord was signed by the government with former rebel factions. Sudan, Military, 7/24/1997 - Violence continues in Algeria as 56 more die
Islamic fundamentalist rebels have killed as many as 56 people in the last three days. Algeria, Local, 7/24/1997 - Saudis seek US weapons worth 1 billion US dollars
Saudi Arabia has asked the Clinton administration to sell it weapons and equipment for light armored vehicles worth 1.075 billion US dollars, the US defense department says. Saudi Arabia, Military, 7/24/1997 - Appointments soon, says justice minister
Lebanese justice minister Bahij Tabbara pledged that the cabinet will fill empty judicial positions before the end of September but did not set a deadline for approving allowances for judges. Lebanon, Judicial, 7/24/1997 - Syrian firms plan medical fair in Iraq
Syrian firms will open an exhibition of medical products in Baghdad on July 26 in a bid to sell Iraq medicines under its oil-for-food deal with the United Nations, the official Iraqi News Agency said. Syria-Iraq, Medicine, 7/24/1997 - Three held in North America over helicopter sales to Iraq
Three men, including a retired US army colonel, were arrested and charged with trying to sell military helicopters adapted for spraying chemicals to Iraq, authorities said. Iraq, Military, 7/24/1997 - LE one million compensation on Netnayahu
Cairo's district court will hear a LE one million compensation lawsuit lodged by lawyer Mamdouh Nakhla. Egypt, Local, 7/23/1997 - Unsportsman like conduct leads to ban
The board of popular National (Al-Ahli) sporting club, NSC, issued a decision banning the elder brother of twin players Hassam and Ibrahim Hassan from entering the club building. Egypt, Sports, 7/23/1997 - Ben Bella in Beirut
Ahmed Ben Bella, the former Algerian president and hero of his country's independence war, arrived in Beirut on July 20. Algeria, People, 7/23/1997 - Yemen, EU sign project to curb population growth
The European Union will fund a campaign in Yemen raising awareness of the country's burgeoning population and ways to keep birth rates in check. Yemen, Local, 7/23/1997 - Arabsat porn in Arabic countries no more
The French foreign ministry expressed deep regret after a technical error led to a pornographic film being broadcast on a French international TV channel, sparking an Arab client to pull the plug. Regional, Entertainment, 7/23/1997 - King says Saudi revising laws to curb water use
Saudi Arabia's King Fahd urged citizens to save water and said his government was revising laws regulating water consumption in the desert country. Saudi Arabia, Local, 7/23/1997 - Clashes over killed Israelis in Jordan
Police clashed with protesters calling for the release of a Jordanian soldier sentenced to life in prison for killing seven Israeli schoolgirls, his relatives said. Jordan, Local, 7/23/1997 - Security chief selling pizza
The man charged with protecting Israel's assassinated Prime Minister Yitzahak Rabin is now selling pizzas after being forced to leave his job in disgrace, a newspaper reported on July 19. Israel, People, 7/22/1997 - Algerian forces kill 90 rebels
Algerian troops have so far killed more than 90 rebels in a huge continuing operation, an Algerian newspaper said on July 21. Algeria, Local, 7/22/1997 - Sleeping sickness outbreak
South Sudan faces a sleeping sickness outbreak rated one of the worst in the world this century, according to the results of a joint probe released on July 19. Sudan, Medicine, 7/22/1997 - Arab collaborator's body found by Israeli troops
Israeli Troops near the West Bank city of Nablus discovered yesterday the body of a Palestinian suspected of collaborating with Israel, officials said. Israel, Local, 7/22/1997 - New movie house built by army for the first time
The current crisis hitting the Egyptian cinema industry, a key hard exchange earner and Egypt’s second largest export in the past, has forced many authorities concerned to step in to give a hand. Egypt, Entertainment, 7/22/1997 - Private hospitals to be regulated
Egyptian Health Minister Dr. Ismail Sallam, also a leading cardiac surgeon, is aware of the importance of regulating hospitals, which sometimes present moderate heath services at very high prices. Egypt, Medicine, 7/22/1997 - Disappointed film director
Celebrated Egyptian Film director Yousef Shahin complained yesterday that the US magazine Time had ignored him when it published a review on the winners of prizes during Cannes film festival. Egypt, Entertainment, 7/21/1997 - Terrorism alien to Islam, conference tells West
The recently concluded forum in Egypt on Islam and the West sought to dispel misconceptions about Islam, said an eminent Egyptian religious authority yesterday. Regional, Religion, 7/21/1997 - Egyptian wins prestigious award for art
An Egyptian was the first prize winner at a biennial Croatian fine arts festival recently, cultural sources said. Egypt, Culture, 7/21/1997 - Egyptian Grand Imam meets with Grand Sheikh of Italy
Grand Sheikh Imam of Al Azahar great Mosque Dr. Mohammed Sayed Tantawy received the head of the Italian Islamic community, Shiekh Abdul Wahed Luigi. Egypt, Religion, 7/21/1997 - Contract
Soccer midfielder Reda Aal of the popular Al-Ahli club is said to have secretly signed a contract to play for the Lebanese soccer team Al-Ansar for 1,500 US dollars a month. Lebanon, Sports, 7/21/1997 - Egyptian Roman monuments shown in Marcella
The Greek era ended in Egypt with arrival of the Romans in 30 B.C. They turned Egypt into the personal domain of the emperor and the wheat basket of the entire Roman empire. Egypt, Culture, 7/21/1997 - Daqamseh sentenced to life in prison for killing Israelis
A military court convicted Jordanian soldier on July 19 of killing seven Israelis in March and sentenced him to life in prison. Jordan, Local, 7/21/1997 - Syrian boxer captures gold at Arab Games
Syrian boxer Ihab al Yousef won the gold medal in the 75 kg weight class at the Arab Games in Lebanon after out pointing Algeria's Mohammed Bahara on July 19. Regional, Sports, 7/21/1997 - Israelis shell Lebanese areas
Israeli occupation troops in Zaffata on July 20 morning used artillery to bombard the Sajd mountain and Al Zahrani river bed. Israel-Lebanon, Local, 7/21/1997 - Shiites have no plans to create separate state
Higher Shiite council chief Sheikh Mohammed Mahdi Shamsdeen said on July 17 that the Shiites in Lebanon had no plans for a separate state, adding that they favored the concept of a modem, secular nation. Lebanon, 7/21/1997 - Sudan troops regain Ayoud
Sudanese government troops confirmed that they have retaken Ayoud city from southern rebels in the wake of three days of fierce fighting. Sudan, Local, 7/21/1997 - Bombs kill one, wound 49 in western Algeria
Two bombs exploded almost simultaneously in two cafes in the western Algerian town of Tlemcen, killing one person and wounding 30, an Algerian newspaper said on July 20. Algeria, Local, 7/21/1997