In Brief [Archives:2008/1151/Local News]

Around the Nation

– Syrian cultural week to be held in Yemen next May

Culture Minister Mohammed al-Maflahi reviewed here on Saturday with the Syrian ambassador to Yemen Abdul Ghafor Sabouni current arrangements for holding the Syrian cultural week in Yemen.

Sabouni briefed the minister on the program of the Syrian cultural week that is to be held in Sana'a and some other governorates during the period of May 10 – 16.

He made clear that the week includes setting up an exhibition for the Syrian book and an exhibition for plastic arts in addition to showing five Syrian-produced movies and some TV series.

Two musical bands would take part in the week, the Syrian diplomat said, adding that a number of Syrian writers and authors would also participate in the week's activities.

For his part, al-Maflahi welcomed holding the week, voicing the ministry's readiness to cooperate to make the week's activities succeeded.

– Yemeni officials launch awareness campaign of smoking

Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi and Mayor of the capital Sana'a Yahya al-Shuaybi launched in Sana'a an awareness campaign of the harmful effects of smoking.

The campaign, carried out by the al-Resalah Centre for Studies and Democratic Development in collaboration with the National Association of Combating Smoking (NACS), would include the capital Sana'a and the two provinces of Ibb and Taiz.

Head of the NACS Abu Bakr al-Qirbi affirmed the importance of the campaign's success to create awareness of the harmful effects of smoking that “causes serious diseases and health damage to smokers