In brief [Archives:2008/1136/Local News]

ADEN

Workshop on industrial zones in Yemen to be held

The Ministry of Industry and Trade, in collaboration with Egyptian experts, will organize a workshop on Sunday focusing on schemes for establishing industrial zones in Aden, Lahj and Abyan provinces.

The four-day workshop will review several plans and studies on infrastructure requirements for the industrial zones. The studies were conducted by an Egyptian committee and headed by deputy industry minister Samir Abu al-Naja,

A symposium on the importance of industrial zones and their role in development and creating jobs will follow the workshop.

DHAMAR

FCC to distribute educational equipment for Dhamar schools

The French Cultural Center (FCC) will launch on Monday a program for distributing educational equipment to six schools in various districts in the province. The program is funded by the French embassy in Sana'a.

In a statement to Saba news agency, program coordinator Saif Dakha said that a workshop for 24 French language teachers on teaching methods and modern electronic communication will be held during the program.

He pointed out that 3,000 students are studying French through the program.

HODEIDAH

Workshop on UNICEF's children report

60 representatives from health, education and media institutions will participate in a workshop on Saturday concerning a UNICEF report on children's conditions in Yemen for the year 2008.

The UNICEF-organized workshop reviewed a number of documents, including plans for reducing child and mother mortality rates, the media's role regarding child mortality, health conditions for children and mothers, filling the gap between the media and health sectors and encouraging the media to promote social activities for reducing mortality rates among children.

The report stated that in Yemen, one of the world's poorest countries, 84,000 children die every year because of diseases they could easily be protected against.

SANA'A

FAO takes Yemeni proposal to define Myiasis as cross-border disease

The World Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) accepted a Yemeni proposal to regard the Myiasis disease as a cross-border disease requiring concerted actions.

In the 29th FAO conference held recently in Cairo, Yemen put forward many proposals to fight such diseases, in addition to promoting cooperation among Far East countries and advocating the study of plant and animal genes.

Agriculture and irrigation minister Mansour al-Howshabi said the conference tackled the issues of cross-border diseases, promoting agricultural development as a vital factor in reducing emissions and identifying practices that will help restrict emissions and improve the management of natural resources to create sustainable living.

SOCOTRA

Socotra candidate for world's seven wonders

The Swiss New Seven Wonders Foundation announced that Socotra Island is on the list of 77 international sites being considered for the new seven wonders of the world.

Among the 77 sites, the island is ranked 74th.

Other sites include Al-Ahsa' oasis in Saudi Arabia, the Dead Sea in Jordan, the Jeita Cave in Lebanon and the Nile River in Egypt and Sudan.

In the second stage, 21 sites will be chosen from the list, from which seven will be selected in January 2009.

Surveys have revealed that more than a third of close to 800 or so plant species on Socotra are found nowhere else in the world. Botanists rank the flora of Socotra among the ten most endangered island flora in the world.

Fourteen mammal and 175 bird species that currently live on the island have been recorded as endemic species. Having been virtually isolated from the rest of the world for a long period, Socotra remains one of the most fascinating places on earth.
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