SATURDAI - MAY 25, 2013 VOL. XVI - ISSUE 41

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SATURDAY - MAY 25, 2013

CIVIL DEFENSE CONFERENCE ON KAMRAN DAM DISCLOSES FINDINGS

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Report

CABINET APPROVED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUPREME COUNCIL FOR FOOD SECURITY

PROTESTERS DEMAND BANNING OF WEAPONS IN MAJOR CITIES

BY MOHAMMED SHARHAN

Hundreds of political and social activists demonstrated on Thursday in a protest against the proliferation of arms in the major cities, a week after the killing of two young adults, Hassan Aman and Khaled al-Khateeb by tribes’ men belonging to Islahi leader, Ali Abdo Rabo al-Wadhi.

The activists roomed the streets of Sana’a reaching the house of the President Abdo Rabo Mansour Hadi demanding the capture of real killers and removing and banning carrying weapons in the capital.

The protesters demanded the arrest of the second accused of killing the two young men in the incident, which caused an uproar and wide rage among the people of Yemen, and the National Dialogue Conference suspended its sessions for one day to demand the Ministry of Interior to arrest the perpetrators.

Families of the victims released

5

Business

SOUTHERN NDC MEMBERS CRITICIZE GOVERNMENT

Health

VOL. XVI - ISSUE 41

THE MOST EFFICIENT EXERCISE EQUIPMENT WILL HAVE YOU GETTING HEALTHIER BY THE JUMP TRAMPOLINES: THE BEST WAY TO JUMPSTART YOUR HEALTH AND HAPPINESS

8

YEMEN’S SOUTH RALLIES FOR “DISENGAGEMENT”

BY ISCANDER AL-MAMARI

A number of National Dialogue Conference southern members have described government as “Provocative” regarding the southern demands raised during the massive celebrations that took place in Aden on Tuesday.

ANGRY PROTESTERS TOOK TO SANA’A STREETS ON THURSDAY, CONDEMNING ARMS CARRYING. “A PLACARD RAISED BY PROTESTERS READS: IF YOU’RE SILENT TODAY , TOMORROW WILL BE THE VICTIM.”

a statement saying that those who pull the trigger are saboteurs hands that have no interest in humanity, and think they are above law and justice and will not be punished.

They strongly condemned such reckless behavior of some Outlaws

of tribe norms and values that deny the blood of innocent people unjustly.

This heinous crime rocked the Yemeni society and revealed the cover

BY ISCANDER AL-MAMARI

The journalists’ abduction in Mareb is in its second week so far, and there is no reaction from the local authorities in Mareb Province, where the kidnappers submitted demands to Governor, Sultan al-A’rada and Mohammed Ali alMaqdashi, commander of the sixth region.

The three journalists were kidnapped at 8:30 PM last Wednesday in Habab area in Serwah in Mareb Province, while on their way to alMahra Province in a journalistic

“Authority in Sana’a provokes people of the south through some acts including imposing unity forcibly” he stated.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

JOURNALISTS FLEE ABDUCTION IN MAREB Journalist fleeing abduction in Mareb to Yemen Observer: we demand govt., A’rada, Maqdashi to set our colleagues free

“I back southern masses that flocked into al-Oroodh area last Tuesday to express their opinion rejecting unity,” southern leader and (NDC) member, Nasser al-Taweel told the Yemen Observer.

mission. The kidnappers took them as hostages to an unknown place in Serwah. Two of the five hostages taken down from the bus managed to escape. They are Noman al-Asbahi and photographer Mohammed al-Shamiri.

THE 7TH MASSIVE RALLY OF THE SOUTHERN MOVEMENT IN LESS THAN A YEAR THAT TOOK PLACE IN ADEN LAST TUESDAY.

BY MOHAMMED KALFOOD

Hundreds of thousands of southerners, Hirak aides, flocked to al-Oroodh area downtown of Aden city, coming from different provinces in Yemen’s south, in-

CTU ARRESTS FOUR AL-QAEDA SUSPECTS IN SANA’A

BY HESHAM AL KIBSI

Members from Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) arrested on Tuesday four terrorists suspected of links to al-Qaeda in the capital Sana’a, a security source told the Yemen

Observer who preferred not to be named.

“The CTU members raided a house in Shumaila area next to the CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Noman al-Asbahi told Yemen Observer that, he and Mohammed al-Shamiri c catch up with the bus while the driver was escaping with the passengers after he failed to release the journalists and after the masked kidnappers beat him.

The kidnappers held the chief editor of Suhail channel, Yasin al-Zikri, Ibrahim al-Ashmori from al-Thawra newspaper and CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

ur e Pleas able taste G á© ¥GòŸ àe

cluding Hadramout and Shabwah.

In this 7th massive rally of Hirak (Southern Movement) in less than a year, aides and supporters CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Saturday - May 25, 2013 Vol. XVI - Issue 41

PUBLISHER

LOCAL NEWS

FARIS SANABANI

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trustworthy and unbiased information on

Yemeni Affairs and constantly

improving the professionalism of our staff and their lives through the compound effect

ACTING EDITOR IN CHIEF ABDUL - AZIZ OUDAH DEPUTY OF CHIEF EDITOR FOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

FAISAL DAREM

EDITORIAL ADVISER ZAID AL-ALAYA’A AMINAH LEONARD HASNA ABDUL MAJID

EDITING SECRETARY FARES ANAM

SENIOR JOURNALISTS AKRAM AL-GAOLAHI

JOURNALISTS

MOHAMMED ALI KALFOOD MOHAMMED SHARHAN HESHAM S. AL-KIBSI

TRANSLATOR MOHAMMED A. ABDULRAHMAN

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR NABEEL SALEH AL-WA’AIL

GRAHPIC DESINERS

BY OBSERVER STAFF

UN special envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar emphasized presence of progress on security and political level especially after army reorganization decrees which met with broad support. Benomar hoped in an interview with Saudi-based Okaz from the international community not to impose sanctions on Yemeni political settlement spoilers, calling on all parties to push the political settlement forward.

“I recognized presence of awareness in NDC by everybody and it is a historic opportunity aims at building a new society and solve a number of difficult issues and issues of importance to the nation,” Benomar added. “Yemenis show that they are able to take decision by themselves when they agreed for power transition through the language of dialogue.”

He hailed efforts exerted by president Hadi who accepts ruling Yemen in a very difficult historical circumstances and who took a number of bold and responsible decisions.

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SAUDI ARABIA CRUCIFIES FIVE YEMENIS AL-MASDAR ONLINE

The Saudi Ministry of Interior, and bloggers on the social networking said Saudi Arabia executed five Yemenis after being charged with forming armed gangs in southern Yemen and committing a number of crimes including murder.

Bloggers on Twitter published the pictures of five men who were hung on two cranes, saying that a banditry penalty was issued against them, ordering their crucifixion in front of the Jizan University gate after their execution.

Saudi Arabia carries out strict ruling against criminals in the Kingdom, however it bans freedom of expression. Activists accuse the Kingdom of repressing political opponents who demand change.

Saudi Arabia used to execute convicts by beheading them with swords in public squares, but it recently abandoned that and resorted to gun shootings for lack of executioners.

The Saudi Interior Ministry issued a statement saying that the five Yemenis; Khalid Mohammed Ali Sira’, Adel Mohammed Ali Sira’, Qasem Mohammed Ali Sira’, Saif Ali Saleh al-Sahari and Khalid Hussein al-Sahari,

formed a criminal gang, committed crimes in a number of areas in the kingdom and robbed shops. They were also charged with conspiracy in the murder of Ahmed Bin Hussein Harobi (a Saudi national,) by taking him by surprise while he was asleep, beat and strangled him to death, according to the Ministry.

The Ministry added that the security authorities caught and referred them to court which charged them with banditry. The appeal

Court and the Supreme Court also ratified the judgment and approved implementing it.

The Interior Ministry statement concluded by saying that the Saudi Government is keen to achieve justice and carry out Sharia laws against those who commit aggression against innocent people, shed their blood or steal their money, warning that all who think of committing such actions will meet the same destiny.

POLICE ARREST INTERPOL WANTED SUSPECT

BY OBSERVER STAFF

Yemeni security forces arrested a suspect wanted by the Interpol over theft crimes which he committed while living in Saudi Arabia.

Security authorities in Hajja told the Se-

curity Center that the 27 years old Y. A. A. al-Hakami was arrested in al-Shaghadra Directorate in Hajja in northern Yemen, explaining that the suspect, who was wanted by the Interpol, shot at the police force which was assigned to capture him, injuring a colonel who was working as the

Deputy Commander of al-Shaghadra Directorate.

He also injured one of the soldiers; however he was not able to escape as the members of the force arrested him. They say he was held so as to face legal procedures.

LAMAR HOTEL ORGANIZES A SOFT OPENING

BY SHEZAAN SYED

Lamar Hotel located in Haddah Street on Monday May 13, 2013 organized its soft opening announcing its services to be now available for its guests.

The opening ceremony saw special visitors such as the Mayor of Sana’a Abdul Kader Hilal, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mr. Mohammed Assadi, Minister of Local Administration Professor Ali Mohammed Al Yazidi, Salem bin Taleb Director of the Office of the Prime Minister, Hanish Rajah and political security agent, Rainy Ali owner Lamar Hotel and Professor Anisa Hussein Mohamed Alziaaa Director General of Lamar hotel who opened the hotel with four Star City alone next to the Italian Embassy.

The hotel which has been up and ready for some time now had been delayed in its full function due to the recent situation the coun-

try was in. Equipped with a posh restaurant, rooms and coffee shop, the hotel possess a fair chance of providing professional servic-

es to its guests. Location wise too it has advantage of attracting guests as most people prefer to be near the city center.

CONTINUATION FROM FRONT PAGE

PHOTOGRAPHERS MOHAMMED QUATAB HAMED AHMED

3

PROTESTERS DEMAND BANNING OF WEAPONS IN MAJOR CITIES of deterioration level for those who intend to maim history and the values of Yemeni society and mess up social peace and build an arsenal of injustice and oppression, said the statement.

“This issue is no longer our cause, but it is the cause of all Yemeni throughout this wounded country and abroad, “ said the victims’ families.

The protesters called on President Hadi to quickly evacuate major cities of tribal militants, and stop the issuance of arms licenses to the sheikhs and tribal populations.

“We appreciate directives of President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi that were issued for the arrest of the killers of the martyred and the bringing them to justice for a fair trial,” they said. “We value standing with the right to move the homeland to safety, also we thank all honest people who supported us and stood with us in the justness of our cause to support the right.”

YEMEN’S SOUTH RALLIES FOR “DISENGAGEMENT” celebrated what they describes as “disengagement from the north”, referring to the failed attempt for secession by Yemen’s south former president Ali Salem al-Beedh in 1994, four years after Yemen’s unification on May 22.

At al-Oroodh area, supporters raised alBeedh’s pictures, chanted secessionist slogans and called for “restoring the southern state” as the only solution for them.

During the rally the southern supporters presented a critical exhibition of NDC with “a symbolic funeral”. A short parade was also performed by ex-southern military members who said they were discharged

after the 1994 civil war.

service for protecting the Serwah pipelines.

or army, according to them.

“Revolutionaries and heroes, people of the south, the struggling and rising southerners, I send you my greetings on this great day…”

AL-Asbahi said Mareb Governor promised them on Wednesday to release their fellows within the next two days.

CTU ARRESTS FOUR ALQAEDA SUSPECTS IN SANA’A

On Wednesday, a recorded speech by al-Beedh was aired on this 19th anniversary of “disengagement”. In his speech he addressed what he called “revolutionaries of the south.”

SOUTHERN NDC MEMBERS CRITICIZE GOVERNMENT He further said that power in Sana’a should send assuring messages to the people of the south not to provoke them.

“Unity is a benefit and if not so we are not in need of it.”

“Southern people should say whatever they please because they made unity of 1990 themselves,” he added.

Taweel stated, “Power in Sana’a neither apologized to the southerners nor carried out points presented by Yemeni Socialist Party.”

JOURNALISTS FLEE ABDUCTION IN MAREB Ahmed al-Shamiri the Saudi Okaz correspondent.

He added that they sought the help of Sheikh Mohammed al-Radmani, who lives near the kidnapping area to free their kidnapped fellows.

He said this worked and they found the kidnappers in one of the hills and entered into negotiations with them, but they refused to release the hostages, insisting on meeting their demands from Governor al-A’rada, and Gen al-Magdashi, in addition to the employment of some of them in the military

Al-Asbahi said one of the kidnappers is called Yahia al-Mosama, from one of the military units in Serwah, adding that five of the mediation efforts failed to free the hostages.

He called on the state, Mareb Governor and Gen. al-Maqdashi to interfere for the release of their colleagues, saying that they are in bad conditions, as they are held in caves and their feeding is very poor.

The whereabouts of the journalists is not known, while the Yemeni Journalists’ syndicate (YJS) called for the immediate release of their colleagues denouncing this criminal action of kidnapping of terrorizing the citizens and the destruction of land and offspring.

The YJS called on the security authorities to live up to their commitments towards the citizens who began to feel on their travels that they wer travelling in a wasteland devoid of humans, law, police

YJS requested the sheikhs, political, social, religious and media personalities of the area to interfere to secure the immediate release of their colleagues.

Traffic Police HQ in Sana’a during the down hours of Tuesday”, the source said.

“During the raid a shootout took place with the CTU members, leaving two members wounded, said the source, adding that one terrorist was only injured.

According to the source, this raid came as a result of confirmed information obtained through the investigation processes with two al-Qaeda suspects who were arrested at al-Azragain checkpoint north Sana’a two week ago.

The source also said that the obtained information led the security services to arrest five terrorists last Monday in al-Baidha province, south Yemen.

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Saturday - May 25, 2013 Vol. XVI - Issue 41

REPORT

CIVIL DEFENSE CONFERENCE ON KAMRAN DAM DISCLOSES FINDINGS

A

joint media conference on the Kamran dam was held on Sunday at the culture house in Tahrir area, Sana’a city. The Deputy of Civil Defense Authority, Abdulkareem Me’yad, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture at the Agriculture and Irrigation Sector, Ahmed Nasser and head of the Aides of justice NGO, Ra’ad al-Baaz were explaining the issues of dams and the Kamran dam in particular. Among the attendees were journalists and Civil Defense service members at the Kamran dam.

BY HESHAM SAMI AL-KIBSI

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) issued earlier, orders preventing people from swimming in the dam, which recently became famous after the sinking of a young couple. A video by the husband’s mobile camera, which had documented the last moments of their lives in a tragic scene, was uploaded onto Youtube and gained many viewers.

“The main purpose of building dams is known, it’s either for irrigating farmlands or to store water to fill ground water reservoirs, the secondary purposes include tourism. The Kamran Dam was built to feed the ground water and especially the Sana’a reservoir which according to recent studies is threatened with depletion which means that the Capital Secretariat may no longer be a capital in case the water runs out because people cannot live in an area without water.”, said Ahmed Nasser, Deputy Minister of Agriculture at the Agriculture and Irrigation Sector.

The panelists explained that the issue is widespread in many dams around Yemen and that ignorance is the main reason behind the deaths.

“Our info indicates that we have a 6-8 meter drop in ground water levels annually. One of the solutions for this drastic drop of ground water levels is to build dams. According to statistics, 17 people have drowned in Kamran dam and this number could increase if people continue to swim in dams in general not only the Kamran dam because dams contain smooth sticky mud that can stick to a human’s body.

The weeds in lakes can terrify people and even if a good swimmer feels something touching his/her body, it is possible he/she panics and drowns.”, added Nasser.

“We, at the Civil Defense, say that before building a dam, the specialized authorities must send the blueprints of the dam to the Civil Defense so that it revises and applies safety conditions like any other facility. I think that in Yemen, people don’t abide in this regard.

Even coordination is not present, now we’ve begun, some weeks ago, to activate a safety committee which is being headed by the Deputy Minister of Interior Brig., Ali Nasser al-Akh’sha’ and it is studying the methods of coordinating with the Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Oil. We are also studying how to issue permits with the Oil facilities as a start.”, said Abdulkareem Me’yad, Deputy of Civil Defense Authority.

“After that, we will work on the hospitals, schools and dams. Dam’s are

included in our duties as Civil Defense because dams mustn’t be built unless the Civil Defense issues an approval; this is the system all over the world and unfortunately it isn’t followed in Yemen. Petrol stations, residential buildings, schools and hospitals are being built without coordination with the Civil Defense. We demanded for and activated the Safety committee and two sub-committees were formed; a legal committee is being headed by Hashim al-Wazeer in the capital secretariat in order to study the methods of setting safety permits and a technical committee is being headed by me and includes figures from the Ministries of Publics works, Water, Trade and other ministries.”

“Instead of dams being a way to preserve lives by providing a water resource, it has became a curse that reaps souls every now and then. This is a collective responsibility, this responsibility lies not only on the specialized authorities, even the public should be aware. When a human being leads him/her/self to death and doesn’t sense that this is wrong it is a serious problem. The locals in the dam area warned a man telling him that 9 people had drowned but still he joked and said, I’ll be the 10th” and he swam and then drowned! In Yemen, people change houses into hospitals and schools even though there aren’t any emergency exits and no water reser-

“Instead of dams being a way to preserve lives by providing a water resource, it has became a curse that reaps souls every now and then.

voirs or water hoes for fire and no fire emergency alarms, as if human beings’ lives don’t matter in Yemen!”

“Drowning incidents in Yemen have risen not only at the Kamran dam but also at Bani Matar, Mukhtar waterfall and elsewhere. We set a plan and distributed Civil Defense rescue teams to such places including dams over a month ago. We also asked the Sana’a security to provide a security pickup and it has been also stationed at the Kamran dam. Some citizens, even though there are armed security personnel, forcefully enter the lake and swim, and after that, the security personnel open fire to prevent citizens from swimming and although they open fire, they still swim by force. We have more than 7000 dams in Yemen and they are reaping souls due to ignorance. We are awaiting for the judicial verdict to drain the Kamran dam to be implemented, which must take place.”

When asked if the Civil Defense has taken precautionary procedures, Me’yad replied: Yes, we asked for a team of Scuba divers from the Special Forces to search for the serpent that was witnessed by the civil defense team and citizens in order to eliminate it. We’ve also stationed a security pickup 24/7 at the dam. But still no local council members, security personnel nor locals are able to convince some people not to swim in the dam. We pray to god that people know the value of their lives.

“We’ve said before that draining the dam is inevitable because there maybe bodies trapped under the water. We were about to drain the dam but the locals refused because they benefit from it. “, explained Ahmed Nasser.

Regarding the serpent, the ministry reported earlier, before the conference, that the rescue team of divers, repeatedly sent to carry out operations to prevent potential drowning, said “there is likely a huge snake in the dam which maybe causing the drowning.” The ministry added that it asked the Defense Ministry to send a team of divers from Special Forces to deal with the snake in the dam that has raised the public concerns over the Dam of Kamran.

“The Serpent isn’t the main reason for drowning; we’ve only discovered it a day ago. The last victim was a young man from Abyan named Tareq Ahmed al-Beshairi. I told his father that the ambulance arrived and I told him that we can take him for autopsy to know what caused his death. The father responded angrily saying, “You want to dissect my son?!!” and he was going to

fight over it. This is before we found out about the serpent which was approximately 3-4 meters long. We as authorities wanted to know what is the real reason behind the deaths? What is killing those people?”, Me’yad explained.

“Some suggest building fences, even though gunfire didn’t stop people from swimming, so I say that building fences in the minds of Yemeni people is more vital and better than building fences on the country’s beaches and lakes. Building fences around each lake isn’t cost efficient, it is better and more efficient to spread awareness amongst people.

The media, preachers, schools, universities and institutes have a great role in spreading awareness about this issue.”, Nasser added.

“The Aides of justice is a legal NGO that provides free legal aid for the insolvent people or for the society as whole. We have filed a law suit against the company that constructed the dam for not abiding by safety rules and conditions. Secondly, they didn’t notify the authorities that were suppose to check

The locals in the dam area warned a man telling him that 9 people had drowned but still he joked and said, I’ll be the 10th” and he swam and then drowned!

the dam like the Civil Defense or Ministry of Agriculture. We’ve asked to drain the dam because there might be bodies trapped in the mud or between weeds.”, said Ra’ad al-Baar, head of the Aides of justice NGO. When the panel was asked for details about the serpent, Mey’ad asked an adjutant/eyewitness to talk about his findings.

“We would like to clarify to you as journalists that we are stationed there as a rescue team nothing more nothing less. We are carrying out our duties and we make it clear to the people that swimming is forbidden as the dam is not fit for swimming but still people don’t abide. Last Thursday and Friday, May 17-18, we were at the eastern side of the damn at sunset where the couple (man and wife) drowned, near the tree.”, said adjutant, Faris Mohammed Shaye’, rescue team member and eyewitness of the serpent.

“We heard cries from citizens saying that there’s something in the water and we saw that it was a big serpent that dives and then comes out to the surface of the water, over and over again.

Its head looked like a child’s head. We were shocked, because before, on the same day, we swam in the dam with my colleagues equipped with a lifeline, an air tube and superficial rescue equipment in order to bring back some citizens before they reach the deep part. If I knew before that there was a huge serpent, I wouldn’t have entered the water.”

“On Friday, it appeared before noon and an hour before sunset at the same place. We weren’t the only ones who saw it, many citizens saw it. God willing, with cooperation of the media, the Ministry of Interior and specialize authorities, we will find a solution urgently.”, added Shaye’.

Yemen’s Interior Ministry previously said that a huge snake of more than three meters in length could be the cause of the drowning accidents which led to the deaths of many people in the Kamran dam in the area of Beit Boss, south of the capital Sana’a.

After the media conference, the panelists promised to notify media outlets when the draining of the Kamran dam commences.

MARKETS

BUSINESS

▌ CURRENCY

CABINET APPROVED THE ESTABLISHMENT

Exchange Rate Yemeni Riyal (YER)

OF SUPREME COUNCIL FOR FOOD SECURITY

BY FAISAL DAREM

Chaired by Prime Minister Mohammed Salem Basendwa, the cabinet adopted the bylaws of the Gulf Cooperation Council Standardization Organization (GSO), based on a memorandum submitted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, as Yemen a member in the GSO since 2010.

▌ CURRENCY

12 Month Chart

U S Dollar to Yemeni Riyal

The cabinet said that the adoption of the GSO’s bylaws will in-

SEMC AND FES ORGANIZE A SEMINAR ON FISCAL DECENTRALIZATION

YEMEN

crease trade exchange between Yemen and GCC’s States, support for the national product, and

assist in the integration between Yemen’s economy and Gulf States’.

GERMANY TO CONTINUE SUPPORT THE STABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT

▌ PRECIOUS METALS

Gold

Market Price (Sana’a) May 23, 2013 Price per gram

US$

YER

24K Gold

44.73 $

9569.41

22K Gold

41.01 $

8771.98

18K Gold

33.58 $

7177.12

14K Gold

26.14 $

5582.26

1387.25 $

297634.49

44600.09 $

9568948.77

24K Gold (1 ounce) 24K Gold (1 kilogram)

FIGURES

$5.981 billion

Yemen’s foreign currency reserves stepped up in March 2013 compared to last February, the Central Bank of Yemen (CBY) has said.

A report of the CBY showed that the Yemen’s foreign currency reserves increased up to $5.981 billion after it declined to $5.777 billion February.

The current reserves cover six months of imports, according to the report.

It also indicated to an increase in the foreign assets of the Yemeni banking system amounting to YR 1.540 trillion YR at the end of March 2013 compared with YR 1.502 trillion in February.

1537 containers Taiwan’s international shipping line “Evergreen” is to launch its trips to the container port in Aden starting from tomorrow Wednesday, by receiving the Liberian ship Santa Bijeljina in the first international maritime trip to the port.

A navigational source in the port told Saba that the ship Santa, which is 222 meters in length and carrying 1537 containers of goods, will operate its trips to the port by an international navigational trip a week.

The source noted that the shipping line Evergreen is linked to a number of international ports, especially ports of South Asia and the Far East.

It is worth mentioning that the Aden container port inaugurated earlier this week the French international shipping line that its navigational activity enters with the Evergreen line in the new international shipping lines to revive the international maritime traffic in the port.

SEMC Chairman, Mustafa Nassr, said in the opening ceremony that this seminar aims to introduce the other countries’ experience in this field, especially in Germany, and the application mechanisms of Fiscal Equalization in the central and regional levels. He confirmed that the finance issue will be the essential debating point when discussion on distributing resources starts.

Ms. Ariela Gross, Resident Director, Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Yemen (FES), confirmed that the seminar comes within series of workshops on political decentralization which sheds light on addressing the issue of sharing country’s wealth equally among its citizens.

Ms. Gross said she thinks that injustice and inequality in living conditions is one of the big challenges in Yemen.

From other side, Mr. Ameen Al-Maqtari, Undersecretary of Local Administrative Ministry for plans and budget sector, said that Money is the lifeblood of decentralization in all its administrative and politic forms. He pointed out that there are successes and there are failures in Yemeni experience.

The Oil and Minerals Ministry has announced that 35 international oil companies applied for the right to franchise in the new oil sectors presented for investment by the Ministry.

In a statement to 26 September, the Minister of Oil and Minerals, Dr. Ahmed Dares, explained that the Ministry decided to extend receiving tenders up to mid June,

instead of the previous deadline of May 15, due to the growing investment demands by oil companies, which a technical committee will study their proposals and accept the best ones.

Dares added that the Oil Ministry had taken a number of measures to encourage investment and provide the suitable atmosphere for the companies to invest

BY OBSERVER STAFF

Germany would continue to support the stability and development paths in Yemen and help the Yemeni government to overcome the challenges of the current transitional stage said, Dagmar Lohan Responsible of Yemen’s sector.

He said that during a meeting held on Saturday between Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mohammed alSa’adi with a mission of the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development headed

by Responsible of Yemen’s sector Dagmar Lohan.

During the meeting, al-Sa’adi and Lohan reviewed the trends of the German development aid to Yemen in the fields of education, water, health and good governance as well as progress of the German-funded in such fields.

They also discussed arrangements for the return of German technical experts to work in the out the importance of relating the expenses with tasks of regions.

He focused on need to support poor regions.

He clarified that usually central government is strong in laws formulation, while the regional government strong in the implementation. He added that the German constitution included general rules that the revenues go to national governments and regional governments as necessary expenses,

Mr. Al-Maqtari confirmed that decentralization failed during the last period because Central authorities insist that they are anxious about public money.

He added that during 13 year of decentralization experience in From his part Dr. Tawfeeq AbYemen there is still demands to duljabar, Assistant Professor of modify 70 laws against the local Economics in Taiz University, authority law. talked about Yemeni experience A German expert, Harald Blam- in Fiscal Decentralization and he ber, presented a lecture on Fiscal pointed out that there is a decline Equalization as part of Fiscal De- in revenue in the local administracentralization in which he pointed tive units, therefore local authority

YEMEN, 35 INTERNATIONAL OIL COMPANIES COMPETE IN NEW OIL SECTORS

in Yemen, attracting many companies to apply for investment in the declared oil sectors.

The Minister pointed out that leading oil companies applied for the franchise right in oil sectors including U.S. Hunt, the British Hrtg, Irish Circle Oil, the Austrian OMV, the Kuwiti Koufpec, the Canadian Trans Pacific, the Russian Bashineft and the German Opeix.

An official talk session between Yemen and the Republic of Czech was held on Tuesday in Sana’a. The session co-chaired

by Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi and Czech First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel Schwarzenberg reviewed aspects of cooperation and coordination between the two countries, particularly in political, economic, security and cultural fields.

Al-Qirbi and Schwarzenberg stressed the need to strengthen the Yemeni-Czech relations in all areas, in addition to invite the Czech companies to invest in Yemen, where they will enjoy all merits and facilities to establish their investment projects in the country.

The talks also touched on several regional and international issues of common interest.

Moreover, Al-Qirbi and Schwarzenberg signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between the Diplomatic Institute of the Yemeni Foreign Ministry and the Diplomatic Academy of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enhance cooperation, exchange of expertise and training in the field of diplomacy.

BY FAISAL DAREM

All participants in the seminar of Fiscal Decentralization, which was organized by Studies & Economic Media Center (SEMC) and Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), agreed to have a Fiscal decentralization system which fit with Yemeni environment and to benefit from international experience in this field as it cannot apply an importer system.

ECONOMIC SNAPSHOTS YEMENI-CZECH OFFICIAL INVITE THE CZECH COMPANIES TO INVEST IN

The cabinet approved the establishment of the Supreme Council for Food Security headed by the Prime Minister and with all relevant ministries and agencies as members, in order to set up and carry out the goals, strategies, policies and programs for food security.

Grade

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Saturday - May 25, 2013 Vol. XVI - Issue 41

German underway projects in Yemen.

The Minister welcomed the return of German experts, pointing that Yemen has exceeded the political repercussions of the crisis erupted in 2011.

Ms. Lohan reiterated the German government’s adherence to provide economic assistance to Yemen, stressing that Germany would continue to support the stability and development paths in Yemen and help the Yemeni government to overcome the challenges of the current transitional stage.

Ms. Lohan reiterated the German government’s adherence to provide economic assistance to Yemen, stressing that Germany would continue to support the stability and development paths in Yemen and help the Yemeni government to overcome the challenges of the current transitional stage said, Dagmar Lohan Responsible of Yemen’s sector. units need to improve their financial capacity.

Then discussion was started by participants about distribution of powers and resources between the central authorities and local authorities. Mr. Plamper clarified that in Germany 70% of the expenses spent on the local level and 30% of the central level. The participants stressed on the need to respect the rule of law and this is a basic principle for any system.

Some of the participants expressed their fear of failure experience of fiscal federalism or financial decentralization in Yemen because of the lack of infrastructure; because there are some governorate cannot cover 5% of its expenditures

YEMEN PARTAKES IN 2ND MEETING OF DGCA-MID IN JEDDAH Yemen is to partake in the 2nd meeting of the Directors General of Civil Aviation - Middle East Region (DGCA-MID), which is held in Jeddah ,Saudi Arabia during ( May 20-22).

Chairman of the General Authority for Civil Aviation and Meteorology Hamed Faraj news explained to Saba that the meeting will discuss over three days a number of important topics in the various areas of civil aviation, including security and safety of aviation and air transport and airport security in addition to displaying a number of working papers submitted by participating States in the conference.

The meeting aims to develop unified visions and recommendations contributing to strengthening the joint Arab cooperation relations in the civil aviation field, Faraj added.

Faraj pointed out that the General Assembly of the Arab Civil Aviation Commission (ACAC) will hold an extraordinary meeting in Jeddah on the sidelines of the conference for consultation and coordination between the Member States in the Assembly to choose candidates of the Arab bloc for the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in the upcoming elections of the organization in September in Canada.

YEMENI-TUNISIAN TALKS TO ENHANCE SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND LABOR Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Amat al-Razzaq Hummad discussed here on Sunday with Tunisian ambassador to Yemen Jamal al-Jowayli the bilateral cooperation relations in the fields of social affairs and labor.

They also reviewed the possible ways to activate the bilateral agreements signed between the two countries, and how Yemen can benefit from the Tunisian experience in the fields of eldercare and maternal and child care.

The meeting dealt with the Tunisian will to avail from the Yemeni experience in the field of the handicapped Disabled Care and Rehabilitation Fund (DCRF).

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Saturday - May 25, 2013 Vol. XVI - Issue 41

H E A LT H THE MOST EFFICIENT EXERCISE EQUIPMENT WILL HAVE YOU GETTING HEALTHIER BY THE JUMP

TRAMPOLINES: THE BEST WAY TO JUMPSTART YOUR HEALTH AND HAPPINESS

A

nyone who wants to be healthy knows that one of the most important ways to do this is to exercise. The image of someone sitting for hours with very little energy or movement is not the visual that is imagined for health.

Health means movement and vibrancy. So we imagine athletes performing various feats and the health conscious running with bodies glistening with sweat. If we were to choose one activity to improve our physical fitness most of us might choose running, swimming, riding a bike or taking an aerobics class. We might imagine that this exercise must be done for extended periods of time and be strenuous to get the desired benefit.

BY HASNA’ ABDULMAJID *

But what if it didn’t have to be strenuous at all? What if there was a way to exercise a third of the time that a runner did and yet get the same benefit. What if you could simply bounce up and down for 10 minutes and get the same results as if you ran for 33 minutes? It sounds almost too good to be true but it’s not. All you need is a trampoline and you could be on your way to a fitter, stronger, more youthful and healthier you.

Old News, Good News Recently trampolines (more popularly known as rebounders) have picked up popularity again but their benefits have been known for quite some time.

The reason for using the term trampoline in this article is due to that being closest to what it is known by in the sports stores in Sana’a that sell this special piece of equipment.

The first trampoline was invented

by George Nissan a gymnast who designed it to improve his ability in gymnastics. Later it was used to enhance the performance of Air Force pilots and later NASA performed studies and published a report in 1981 in the Journal of Applied Physiology where it was concluded that rebounding/trampolining was 68% more efficient than jogging. NASA said, “...for similar levels of heart rate and oxygen consumption, the magnitude of the biomechanical stimuli is greater with jumping on a trampoline than with running, a finding that might help identify acceleration parameters needed for the design of remedial procedures to avert deconditioning in persons exposed to weightlessness. “ The reason for this finding this goes back to healing NASA’s astronauts after they were in space. While outside of the earths atmosphere astronauts experience a weightless environment where there was no need for strong dense bones or powerful muscles.

Due to this they would lose their bone density and muscle tone in as little as 14 days. To rehabilitate the astronauts NASA had them carry out exercises on trampolines which quickly rebuilt their bones as well as their muscle strength.

What was the reason for this? The explanation is connected to opposing forces working on the body. When a person uses a trampoline they are generally jumping up and down in a bouncing motion. The springs in a trampoline allow the individual to achieve a height that would otherwise be impossible without it. So at the highest point of the jump or bounce the body is suspended in the air and there is a fraction of time in which weightlessness is achieved. Then suddenly gravity kicks in and the person is about to come down. This gravitational force acting on the suspended body causes the body to come down weighing up to four times more at the moment of impact.

The body interprets this acceleration and deceleration as an increase in gravitational pull which would mean that the body improves for the same reasons the astronauts deteriorated.

The astronauts being in an environment with less gravity ( in actualiy, zero gravity) caused their bodies to lose muscle and bone . With trampolining, the body simulates an increase in gravity and therefore quickly causes the body to improve in some of the following ways...

Muscle strengthening Trampolining is a workout for all your muscles. It works the feet and leg muscles up to the stomach muscles, the upper body muscles and your back in particular. The muscles are constantly getting a workout as they are engaged at every moment. This benefit is beyond that of running and other exercises which have an intense level of impact.

REBOUNDING CAN BUILD YOUR BONES AND MUSCLE MAKING YOU INTO A FASTER STRONGER RUNNER LESS PRONE TO INJURIES.

A STUDY CONDUCTED BETWEEN NASA AND THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY YIELDED SUCH ASTOUNDING RESULTS THAT LED THEM TO SINGLE OUT THE TRAMPOLINE AS THE BEST PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT WAS EVER INVENTED FOR BENEFITTING A PERSON’S HEALTH. AHMED QAASIM ( ABOVE) POINTS OUT MODELS AVAILABLE AT SPORTS LAND AND THROUGHOUT SANAA.

Building Bone Trampoline exercise puts a slight stress on the bones with each jump.

Over and over this helps the muscles to build up and improves bone density.

Every time you land the force of gravity is multiplied but with the trampoline the actual impact is softened up to 80 percent. Bones and joints are protected while being strengthened. This can later on prevent osteoporosis and other brittle bone diseases.

Strengthening Your Cells Every part of the body is made up of cells. When you rebound you cause every cell in your body to move up and down. The nucleus of each cell must remain in a firm state so as not to collapse or burst. The cell membranes are also caused to strengthen to keep the cell and its contents from being damaged. Every time you land on the trampoline the cells must resist that force and thereby become stronger.

Eye Improvement Rebounding is the only exercise that puts both gravitational force and g force on every cell of the body and therefore strengthens every muscle including those of the eyes. This is exceptional in that all of the eyes muscles are not as easy to exercise as other muscle groups.

Improve lymphatic circulation The Lymphatic system is amongst the vital systems of your body responsible for keeping illness at bay.

It removes the toxins that you take into your system daily from processed additives to second hand cigarettes smoke. Trampoline exercise can help increase lymphatic drainage and therefore poisons and toxins. The lymphatic system is system of vessels, glands, and fluid that act like a garbage collector in your body removing toxins, dead cells and other harmful substances from the blood. Every form of exercise stimulates moment of the lymph fluid but the most effective way to activate that movement is through jumping on a trampoline. The motion and opposing forces cause all of the one way valves of the lymphatic system to open and close simultaneously, increasing lymph flow by up to 15 times. At the bottom of each bounce the cells compress to withstand the impact. This in turn extracts toxins and waste.

Improved Mental State As with every form of exercise endorphins like seratonin and dopamine are released when you jump on the trampoline. These chemicals that are released by the brain and make you feel blissfully happier. This keeps depression and other negative mental states at bay.

Increased metabolism Trampoline exercise has been proven to increase your metabolic rate, helping your body to process nutrients more efficiently. This helps to you keep your weight down.

NASA REPORTED THAT OXYGEN INTAKE WHILE TRAMPOLINING WAS ABOUT 68% GREATER THAN WITH RUNNING. WHEN YOUR CELLS ARE BATHED IN OXYGEN IT PROMOTES HEALING, REJUVENATION AND ANTI-AGING.

THE FIRST TRAMPOLINE APPARATUS WAS BUILT BY GEORGE NISSAN ,FEB. 3, 1914- APRIL 7, 2010 , AN AMERICAN CIRCUS ACROBAT AND OLYMPIC MEDALIST. HE INVENTED THE TRAMPOLINE IN HIS GARAGE IN 1936 AND AFTERWARDS PATENTED THE DEVICE.

Co-ordination and motor skills While jumping on a trampoline there are many activities occurring simultaneously. There is the action of bouncing, maintaining balance and coordinating the position of the body while also preparing for the next action.

This has been proven to have a great impact on developing bi-lateral motor skills Are you a runner?

While running is a sport in which the body can quickly benefit through weight loss and overall health, there is the disadvantage of potential injury and stress on the body. Running and jogging place a lot of physical stress on lower limbs and feet which is the main pitfall. Andrew Weil who runs himself discussed that some of these can be alleviated by running on dirt but said, “ Running has some potentially serious disadvantages that you should consider before choosing to do it on a regular basis. The chance of injury is greater than for any of the other aerobic activities listed here. Running traumatizes the body, especially joints in the legs, knees, and back, as well as the kidneys.”

“G” forces can QUADRUPLE a jogger’s weight factor. So a 150 pound person while jogging can exert up to 600 pounds of pressure on their joints every time their foot makes contact.

One the other hand the springs on a trampoline take away all the impact of the road, and there has been a marked improvement in trampolines so they can take up to 90% off the stress of the joints that bear your weight and the brunt of impact. The activity has been shown in a test to be three times

more beneficial to you than running .

So a ten minute bounce is the same as a half hour run!

Underrated and Overlooked It’s not surprising that those who are not into fitness would not know much about the benefits of trampolining but even those who were in the business of selling sports equipment did not always seem to be aware . Ahmed Qaasim al Khamiree who worked at Sports world on Zubairi , diagonal from Al Huda.explained how very few people purchase them. He explained, “Most people who purchase the trampolines are schools. They purchase them for the children to have play and recreation. Very few people purchase it maybe one in every hundred. And those who live in regions that have tourism such as Aden and Hodeida may purchase them for their business.

There seemed to be a difference of opinion as to whether using a trampoline or rebounder burns more than running because people jump at different intensities just as they run at difference speeds. Again, the studies yielded by NASA yielded the results which proved rebounding give more effectiveness with less effort and no negative side effects. As with all equipment precautions should be made as children and some adults may attempt various stunts and flips which could put them at risk for injury.

In the end there is no other easily accessible sport that can benefit you at such a cellular level. Dr. Benjamin Snider, ND had some advice on using the trampoline. He said, “Rebounding ( trampolining) may be the most underrated, and most poorly understood exercise available to us. There are only a few types of activity that will benefit you like a rebounder. What is so shocking is that rebounding is relatively unheard of. After some popularity in the 80’s, the rebounder has found itself in the crawlspace again, displaced for other, many time less efficient, forms of exercise. I have been using a rebounder regularly for many years. I have experienced firsthand the way my body rejoices after I’m finished bouncing offering an emphatic thank you for the time I have taken to support it. Suspend your disbelief just for a moment and give rebounding a try. Your body will thank you.” .......... * Hasna’ Abdulmajid is an expatriate who came to Yemen to study Arabic and Islamic studies in a traditional manner. A visual artist and former radio host, she is currently writing pieces for the Yemeni Observer which highlight vital social aspects of the global and local community. Do you have any topics you would like to read about?

What are some of your healthy habits? Share your voice by emailing @ hasna.abdulmajid@gmail.com!

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Saturday - May 25, 2013 Vol. XVI - Issue 41

HOTELS

E N T E R TA I N M E N T Sudoku

Crossword Puzzle Across 1. Four categories of objects from which to jump (1,1,1,1) 4. Area of Manchester (4,4) 7. Employed to put items on shelves (7) 9. German pistol (5) 11. Sturgeon - good source of caviar (9,4) 12. Begin (5) 17. Mortal Kombat, Soul Calibur etc. (8,5) 18. Worries (5) 19. Moment (7) 20. Avoided (2-6) 21. Uncommon (4) Down 2. Assault (6) 3. Flee (6) 5. Sentimental (6) 6. Fancy (6) 8. German physicist d.

1955 (8) 10. Four-sided polygon (8) 13. Establishment in which alcahol is made (6) 14. Himalayan guide (6) 15. Component (6) 16. Sterling note (Slang) (6)

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QUOTATION In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.

Robert Frost Everything, Words, Learned Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

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Charles Darwin

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Never be bullied into silence.

Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.

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Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

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Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.

Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you’re living?

Future, Mind, Past

Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.

God, Hate, Heart Life is a song - sing it. Life is a game - play it. Life is a challenge - meet it. Life is a dream - realize it. Life is a sacrifice - offer it. Life is love enjoy it.

Sai Baba Love, Game, Sacrifice A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.

George Bernard Shaw Mistakes, Nothing, Making When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me’.

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Buddha Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too.

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William James

Change, Future, Past

Eyes, Living, Within

Believe, Help, Living

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong.

Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.

Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.

Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.

Mark Twain Nothing, Saying, Living

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John Lennon Busy, Making, While Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.

I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.

George Washington Carver

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Forward, Reality, Whatever

Friends, Thoughts, Find

Simple, Making, Insist The truth is you don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow. Life is a crazy ride, and nothing is guaranteed.

My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can.

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You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.

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A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.

I have a simple philosophy: Fill what’s empty. Empty what’s full.

Scratch where it itches.

All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.

Strong, Young, Far Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

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Yemen’s Most Informed, Professional & Widely Circulated

SATURDAY - MAY 25, 2013 VOL. XVI - ISSUE 41

TOTAL E&P YEMEN SPONSORS WORLD DAY FOR MUSEUMS

CAT-SIZE DINOSAUR FOSSIL FOUND IN YEMEN

BY OBSERVER STAFF

BY OBSERVER STAFF

Abdulkader Hilal, Sana’a General Secretary, and Dr. Huda Ablan, the Vice- Minister of Culture, inaugurated the World Day for Museums event at the National Museum on May 18 in Sana’a.

During the ceremony, which was sponsored by TOTAL E&P Yemen, The Director General for the General Organization for Antiques and Museums (GOAM), Mr. Muhanad Al-Sayaghi expressed his gratitude for TOTAL Yemen’s financial contribution and hoped for the company to continue to do so.

The ceremony included folklore dances and exhibitions, which were well-received by the audience. After that, Sana’a General Secretary inaugurated TOTAL E&P Yemen Photo Gallery located at the museum in the presence of Dr. Huda Ablan, the Vice- Minister of Culture, Mr Franck Gellet, the French Ambassador in Yemen, and Mr. Kevin Hannaford, Director of Operations and Acting General Manager of TOTAL E&P. The gallery contains descriptive photos of some of TOTAL E&P Yemen’s accomplishments in several developmental projects in Yemen as well

as captioned photos of some of TOTAL Group’s projects around the world.

The inauguration of TOTAL E&P Yemen’s photo gallery coincides with the World Day for Museums ceremony and is a result of intensive cooperation between TOTAL E&P Yemen and GOAM. TOTAL E&P Yemen is proud of its distinguished cultural programs for their common goal of caring for Yemen’s civilization and ancient history.

Such programs are inspired by the company’s commitment towards working in Yemen for more than 25 years.

100 ORPHANS QAT-FREE WEDDING HELD FOR FIRST TIME IN SANA’A

BY ISCANDER AL-MAMARI

The first collective Kat-free wedding, organized by Orphanage in the Yemeni capital Sana’a last Monday, held coinciding with the 23rd anniversary of Yemeni unity.

The Orphanage celebrated the wedding of 100 young graduates without Kat. The wedding included many diverse events and activities, and aims to establish the first collective wedding to help the Orphanage graduates who are unable to afford the costs of marriage to provide a community festival awareness and consolidate the idea of Kat-free weddings.

This wedding is considered a trend by Yemenis to gradually leave Kat chewing as this phenomenon burden Yemenis young and old. Worthy men-

tioning that a few Kat-free weddings have been held in the Yemeni capital Sana’a and

Report in Al-Thawra newspaper said Monday residents of Ofoq (horizon) village in Thammar Province, south of the capital Sana’a, found a dinosaur in the size of a cat inside a piece of rock during their agate mining.

The paper’s correspondent in Thammar said that the dinosaur goes back to 145 million years. Its body is preserved, covered with some hair on its 40 cm neck, while its height doesn’t exceed 30 cm.

Ofoq village, which is in Jahran Directorate, is about 15 km North West of Thammar center.

This is the first discovery in Arabia peninsula which shows a dinosaur’s fossil which goes back to the cretaceous and limestone ages, however it is not classified whether it belongs to carnivores or if it is a diplodocus.

“This discovery will make a shift in the geological, excavations and zoology sciences,” said Dr. Najeeb al-Silwi, Dean of the Community college, adding the importance of

the discovery lies in the body which maintains the whole of its parts, as no bodies had been discovered before in the Arabian Peninsula and the discoveries were limited to remains, dinosaurs’ feet traces, drawings on the walls and in the best cases skeletons.

Dr. al-Silwi, called the relevant archeological authorities and researchers to visit the area and conduct studies and researches to obtain more scientific knowl-

edge of these animals which disappeared 145 million years ago.

According to the paper the discovered dinosaur is kept by a citizen in the area in a good condition, but it needs more care to preserve it from crumbling and damage. The people of the village tell of a number of dinosaur skeletons and heads of different sizes scattered in the area but they declined to disclose their whereabouts for fear of being tampered with.

TURKISH-YEMENI BUSNIESS AGREEMENTS SIGNED

The CompuGroup Medical Turkey (CGM) and Al Watania Insurance company of Yemen will sign an agreement, with the presence of Turkish Ambassador Fazlı Çorman, at 10.00, 21 May 2013 Tuesday (Tomorrow) in Sheba Hotel. All press members are kindly invited to the signing ceremony.

Aim of this private sector agreement is to provide consultancy services and carry out electronic health claim management system developed in

Turkey. Al Watania Insurance will manage the employee health funds of its clients in an efficient and effective manner by the know-how and systems of CGM. CGM and Al Watania collaboration will first work for the members of Public Electricity Company and their dependents. This practice is expected to be a model for other employers in Yemen.

Turkish Embassy con-

siders this agreement as another area of cooperation between our two brotherly countries and welcomes it.

other provinces as this one is the first collective Kat-free wedding.

1ST SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE FOR INDUSTRY TO BE HELD IN ADEN The economic capital of Yemen, Aden, will hold at the end of the month the first scientific conference on the cement industry in Yemen under the slogan "Cement industry and the local and global future prospects" during the period of 27-28 May 2013.

The conference, which is organized by the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Aden and sponsored by the National Company for Cement - a subsidiary of HSA & Co. - aims to define the types of cement used in the process of construction and to highlight the characteristics and advantages of the Pozzolana Cement and to review the experiences and expertise in the cement industry on the local and international level.

The conference will discuss a number of working papers dealing with many themes related to the types and properties of cement, properties and applications of Pozzolana cement, raw materials, means and measures

to reduce energy in the cement industry, modern technology and environmental regulations in modern cement industry, in addi-

tion to regional trends and global use of Pozzolana cement and its contributions to environmental and economic development.

Socotra Press Tel: 01 - 505 430

BY NA’A’EM KHALED