Yemen Observer

Yemeni artifacts redline

Thu, 08 May 2008 08:45:33 PST

The security authorities caught a Canadian citizen with nearly 200 artifacts dating back to the Stone Age at Sana’a airport last Thursday, said a security official.The source also said that the authorities are undergoing an investigation, pending a decision to be reached Thursday evening.

Two kidnapped Japanese tourists set free

Thu, 08 May 2008 08:23:44 PST

Following security pressure and tribal negotiations, the two female Japanese tourists who were kidnapped Wednesday morning in the Marib province have been set free, according to the head of the tribal mediation delegation, Sheikh bin Muaili. The two women were handed over to the security authorities in Marib late Wednesday night and were escorted to Sana’a Thursday morning.

Tribal mediation starts to free Japanese tourists kidnapped in Mareb

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:19:53 PST

Tribal mediation started contacts and negotiations with kidnappers to release the two Japanese hostages, kidnapped by some tribesmen in the governorate Mareb, 300 km northern east Sana'a., said Sheikh bin M'aeli of Mareb.
The two Japanese female tourists were kidnapped by militant tribesmen in Mareb province Wednesday morning.

Long serving journalist honored

Wed, 07 May 2008 07:15:53 PST

On International Press Freedom Day, the Ray newspaper honored its first editor and establisher, Mohammed Jassar, amid attendance of a number of journalists. Ghamdan al-Yosofi, the paper’s current editor, spoke at the gathering about Jassar’s role in helping many young journalists, who later became distinctive names in the field of journalism.

US Embassy announces Fulbright Program

Wed, 07 May 2008 06:23:23 PST

The United States is now accepting applications for its prestigious Fulbright Program. Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program is offered yearly to foreign students as a two-year program for Master’s Degree programs in the United States. The Yemen Observer recently sat down with Ryan Gliha, Public Affairs Officer of the United States Embassy in Sana’a to discuss the Fulbright Program offered by the United States Embassy and the privileges it has.

Freedom of Press worldwide and the Yemen case

Wed, 07 May 2008 05:59:49 PST

Conference on allergy and immune system held at Sana'a University

Wed, 07 May 2008 05:31:17 PST

Once again, Sana'a University has embraced a large medical conference for allergy and immune system diseases, which lasted from April 29 to May 1. More than 500 Yemeni doctors attended the Third Yemeni-Saudi Conference of Clinical Immunology and Allergy and benefited from about 57 researches, as well as discussions held by 30 scientists and academics from Saudi Arabia and other different Gulf countries during three days.

Mediation committee back in Sa’adah

Wed, 07 May 2008 05:24:44 PST

A presidential mediation committee, along with the Qatari committee arrived Sunday in Sa’adah in a bid to contain the volatile situation and sporadic clashes between government troops and al-Huthi rebels after the Friday mosque bombing, sources from the committee said.

This comes just after six suspects believed to be involved in the bombing that took place in front of the Bin Salman mosque after Friday prayers in Sa’adah governorate were arrested on Friday evening at a checkpoint with weapons in their car, said a spokesperson from the Ministry of Interior.

French suspect in smuggling case released on bail

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:24:37 PST

The Eastern Court of the capital released the 58 year-old French citizen, Yves Lebourgeois, accused of attempting to smuggle Yemeni ancient artifacts, according to Saba news agency. The court approved in its first trial session last Monday to release him on bail in addition to ensuring the French consulate in Sana’a to keep the suspect under house arrest in Yemen and not leaving until the end of the trial.

Journalists demand improvments in freedom and professional standards in Yemen media

Wed, 07 May 2008 01:47:21 PST

Nullifying imprisonment of journalists, freedom of information and its disseminatios, issuing newspaper rights, qualifying journalists through training in and outside Yemen, improving living standards of journalists all were among top recommendations participants agreed on in the two-day symposium titled Press Freedom in Yemen between Responsibility and Commitment on May 3-4 organized by Eradt Shaab Organization.

Al-Wasat comes back by court sentence against minister’s decree

Wed, 07 May 2008 01:41:17 PST

Government considers decreasing wheat prices

Wed, 07 May 2008 01:04:12 PST

The Minister of Trade and Tndustry, Dr. Yahiya bin Yahiya al- Mutawkil, made an announcement over the government’s concern in the international trends regarding the basic commodity prices and the recent decrease in wheat prices and and implementing those trends on the local markets to alleviate the raising cost of living.

EU launches East-West cultural exchange

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:44:19 PST

Culture and traditions often differ greatly form one country to another and because of this, many countries try to show and teach their culture to others, as well as learn of other cultures, all in a spirit of curiosity. Each culture has its own way of communicating, arguing, eating, sharing, and showing affection and each tradition remains through a series of passing along the nuances, habits, and sayings for hundreds of years, with only slight variations occurring within each generation.

Two Ministers and three female candidates top governors elections list

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:39:02 PST

Since the start of receiving the candidates applications for the governors elections, 132 applications were received in the different governorates, according to the Deputy Minister of Local Administration Khalied al-Akwa, More than 20 applications have been received for the post of the mayor of the capital Sana’a and more than 20 persons have been nominated for the post of the governor of Sana’a.

Cabinet orders closure of monopolizing diesel stations

Sun, 04 May 2008 05:36:30 PST

The Cabinet is holding Ministry of Oil and Minerals responsible for overseeing the process of the supply and distribution of diesel to the licensed stations in Yemen and to take legal action against manipulators of the distribution, as well as ordering the closure of the stations that manipulate or violate laws of diesel distribution.

Oil Prices: Another Prediction

Sat, 03 May 2008 07:22:59 PST

Last week Hamish McRae, one of the world’s best economic journalists, declared in “The Independent” that “Hardly anyone a year ago successfully predicted the rise in the oil price to $120 a barrel --in fact I have not found a single forecast of that.”

Culture festival calls for cultural revolution

Sat, 03 May 2008 07:16:42 PST

Hail Saeed’s Cultural and Sciences board member, Abdul-Jabbar Hail, confirmed in Taiz that their group has successfully interacted with the community’s interests through the enhancement the community’s cultural and scientific standards.

Minister of Culture to translate book on Yemeni architecture

Sat, 03 May 2008 07:03:28 PST

Minister of culture, Mohammed abu Bakr al-Maflahi, gave credit to the British researcher of Iraqi origin, Salma Damlogi’s, efforts for documenting the Yemeni mud architecture in her research entitled, “Yemeni Mud Architecture Arts.”

Series of lectures held marking Intellectual Copyright Day

Sat, 03 May 2008 07:00:08 PST

The Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the General Publishers’ Association, organized a cultural lecture at Culture House entitled “Publishing Issues and the Writer’s Rights.”

Syrian Cultural Week announced

Sat, 03 May 2008 06:54:05 PST

The PM, with the Yemeni and Syrian Culture Ministers, announced that the opening of the Syrian Cultural Center in Sana’a will be on May 12 at Yemeni Syrian committee meetings.