In Brief [Archives:2008/1176/Local News]
IBB
Over 56.000 tourists visit Ibb during first half of 2008
Over than 56.000 tourists visited the province of Ibb during the first half of 2008.
General director of the tourism sector in the province Ameen Juzailan said the province has witnessed increasing tourist activities since the beginning of the year.
Juzailan said several tourist projects are under construction in the province at a cost of YR 8.5 billion including a resort by the Bin Laden Group at a cost of $ 30 million and that includes a four stars hotel, parks and entertainment facilities, chalets and meeting halls.
Ibb is one of the most attraction in Yemen. It is so called the Green province since it is featured with year-around green lands and mountains.
Rockslide destroys 4 houses in Ibb
A rockslide has resulted in the destruction of 4 houses in al-Sha'ir district of Ibb governorate causing several injuries to a woman. Director general of the district Saleh al-Sufi told Saba on Friday that local authority worked on evacuating inhabitants of the village, noting that the rockslide was caused by torrential rains. He added that the local council asked for relief for the victims of the incident and sending of a committee to assist losses.
TAIZ
HRITC and IDEA to evaluate democracy in Yemen
The Human Rights Information and Training Center (HRITC) in collaboration with the Sweden-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance IDEA is to implement a program to evaluate democracy in Yemen.
The state-run 26sep website quoted director general of the HRITC Abdul Qawi Salim al-Ariqi as saying the program will involve four districts in four governorates which are the districts of Sheikh Othman in Aden, Maeen in Sana'a, Mukala in Hadramout and Qahira in Taiz.
Al-Ariqi added that the program will evaluate democracy in Yemen with field teams that will be assigned to evaluate democracy in the country in the mentioned districts.
Hence, the teams will conduct a comprehensive national report on democracy in Yemen that should explain democracy defects and weaknesses to take necessary measures to deal with such problems.
SANA'A
ESCWA delegation arrives in Sana'a to discuss railway project
Delegation of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asian (ESCWA) arrived in Sana'a headed by acting director of Economic Development Administration and Globalization Nabeel Safwat in a several days visit during which he would meet officials of Transportation Ministry.
Safwat said to Saba that during the visit he would discuss the feasibility study of setting up a railway project in Yemen, noting that the railway will link Yemen with neighboring countries whether Saudi Arabia or Oman on the one side or Djibouti and Africa on the other side.
Yemen oil revenues rise by 113 %
The Yemeni revenues of oil exports increased during the first half of 2008 to US $ 2.660 billion compared with US $ 1.246 billion in the same period in 2007.
An official report published by the Central Bank of Yemen (CBY) attributed this increase to the rise of produced oil in this period to 23.75 million barrels compared to 20 million barrels in the same period of 2007 in addition to the oil barrel's price rise to $ 112 while it was $ 62. Worth mentioning, the Yemeni oil production currently ranges between 300,000-350,000 barrels per day. Yemen has 87 oil blocks; 26 exploratory blocks by 16 oil companies, 7 blocks are under the validation, 28 open blocks, 14 blocks are under the promotion and 12 productive blocks operating by 11 oil companies.
SNACC to receive 300 financial disclosures from legal officials
The Supreme National Authority for Combating Corruption (SNACC) is going to receive 300 financial disclosures from court heads, heads and deputies of prosecutions soon.
Well-informed sources at SNACC told the weekly 26 September that the authority would also refer to the General Funds Court two corruption cases, one of which is the case of Taiz – al-Turba road.
The SNACC will follow up the legal producers until issuing verdicts, according to the sources.
Agreement to study restructure of Yemen fishing sector signed
The Ministry of Fisheries Wealth signed on Saturday an agreement with New Zealand's company ” Pros Shlard” to study restructuring the fishing sector in Yemen at $ 500,000. Under the agreement, the New Zeeland's company will study current situation of the sector and fishing institutions to find out solutions for all issues facing development of the sector.
The 24 months study aims at improving the sector of fisheries wealth. The agreement was signed by minister of fisheries wealth Mohammed Shamlan and New Zealand board chairman of the company.
Shamlan urged the company to study the sector deeply and make sure from credibility while it is doing the study.
For his part, the director of the fifth fish project Amr Awad said that the study would be key element of the project, which is cost $ 32 million funded by world bank and European Union.
PM opens 4th Sana'a festival for story and novel
Prime Minister Ali Mujawar opened on Saturday 4th Sana'a festival for story and novel, which is organized by Ministry of Culture in coordination with the Story Club. The festival will last until next Monday. Some 200 Yemeni and Arab authors and novelists are taking part in the festival.
In the opening session of the festival, Mujawar affirmed importance of honest words to enhance principles of tolerance, dialogue and democracy, indicating to the role of Yemeni intellectual in strengthening such principles and unity.
He also affirmed concern of the government to support cultural activities in the nation, highlighting role of the writers and intellectuals in protecting unity, security and stability of the
nation. Among Arab participants in the festival are Dr. Huda al-Noaimi, a Qatar novelist, Alias Farkoh, a Jordanian novelist, Azat al-Qahmawi, an Egyptian author, Abdul-Salam, a Tunisian criticizer, Moroccan criticizer Dr. Mubarak Rabya, Syrian criticizer Dr. Abdullah Abu Hifa, Saudi story writer Zynab Hafni, Saudi criticizers, Hassan al-Nomai and Sultan al-Qahtani and Omani story writer Suliman al-Mamari.
171 antique pieces foiled to be smuggled via Sana'a airport
Security systems managed to foil smuggling attempts of 171 antique pieces at Sana'a International Airport during the first half of 2008. These antique pieces are reported to have been possessed by 10 people of Yemeni, Arab and foreign nationals. Director of Antiquities Office at Sana'a International Airport Ali al-Mahsani has stated to Saba that those pieces, which refer back to the Islam and pre-Islam periods, include a number of bronze and stone statutes, stone stamps, coins, scripts and others.
Saudi medical mission to perform cardiac surgeries for Yemeni children
A Saudi medical mission, led by the head of the cardiac surgery department at the prince Sultan Cardiac Center Huwaida al-Qathami, has arrived in Yemen to perform cardiac surgeries for Yemeni children with congenital heart defects.
Al-Qathami said the visit comes under the orders of the custodian of the two holy mosques king Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and the Saudi crown prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz and aims to boost bilateral relations between the two neighbor countries particularly in the medical area.
She made clear the surgeries to be carried out would be of those related to Congenital heart defect corrective surgeries for children, newborns and young who still suffer from congenital heart defects. She added that about 160 patients have been examined and over than 180 would be medically examined to be treated at the al-Thowra General Hospital.
The mission comprises of 39 cardiac surgery specialists from the Saudi Defense and Health ministries.
The mission will be performing surgeries for more than three weeks along with Yemeni doctors who will try to benefit from the experiences of their Saudi counterparts.
Sana'a to host 17th Arab Scouts Meeting
Yemen will host the 17th Arab Scouts Meeting and the 10th International Meeting of Civilization which will be held during 15-25 August in Sana'a with the participation of 22 Arab countries.
General envoy of the Yemeni Boys and Girls Scouts Association Abdullah Obeid said on Friday to Saba that preparations are underway to host this Arab event under close follow-up of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
He revealed that the preparatory committee has reached an agreement with a commercial company to sponsor this important Arab event in return for YR10 million of which YR5 million have been received.
LAHJ
UNIECF projects in Lahj discussed
Lahj governor Muhsin al-Naqib headed on Saturday a meeting between directors of education, health, planning and international cooperation offices and representative of UNIECF office over the organization's activities in the governorate.
The meeting focused on the UNIECF health and educational activities. Al-Naqib valued UNIECF positive role in offering support for offices of education and health in Tor al-Baha and Halmin districts, wishing further support to over other districts in the governorate.
ADEN
YEC exports 6,000 tons of salt to Seychelles
Yemeni Economic Corporation (YEC) exported 6,000 tons of salt during the first half of 2008 to Seychelles islands with a total cost of US $ 210,000. The director of salt sector in Aden Abdul Rahman Hassan told Saba that the corporation aims in its production plan for the second half of 2008 to increase its salt export to Seychelles and some European markets. He added that the export process would be via French companies voiced their desire to import and marketing the Yemeni salt.
Family planning course launched in Aden
Aden launched on Saturday a training course in the field of family planning for 20 women health cadres which will last for 6 days funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
In the opening of the course, director of Reproductive Health Management in Aden Nadia Sa'ad affirmed the importance of providing the necessary information to participants with necessary knowledge to participate in the promotion of the concept of family planning.
For his part, the UNFPA official Azah al-Zabeidi affirmed the importance of benefiting from the session to improve reproductive health services and family planning methods.
Aden, Djibouti universities sign agreement of academic cooperation
Aden University and its Djibouti University signed on Thursday an agreement of academic and cultural cooperation for 2008-2010. Under the agreement, the Aden university would prepare a study program in bachelor in field of accounting and Arabic language and business management for the Djibouti University. The Aden University would also present Arabic references and publications in these studies to the University of Djibouti. The agreement was signed by rectors of both universities. Rector of Aden University Abdul-Aziz bin Habtor expressed happiness for signing the agreement, highlighting good ties between the two countriesFor his part, the rector of Djibouti University Fahmi Ahmed praised high level of Aden university and its study programs, saying that his university works to develop Arabic study. Djibouti university was set up in 2000.
HAJJAH
Exports cost through al-Tuwal outlet reached YR7.7 bln
Volume of Yemeni exports cost via al-Tuwal land outlet reached YR7.7 billion during the first half of 2008 compared YR5 billion to the same period of 2007. The exports are mainly focused on fish and agricultural products. Director general of al-Tuwal Customs Salem bin Buraik has told Saba that customs has achieved a remarkable increase in customs revenues at a percentage of 15% compared the same period of the last year, making clear that this increase is due to the commercial exchange between Yemen and Saudi Arabia and other facilities granted to comers to Yemen.
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