Yemen lost about YR 5 billion so far due to tobacco smuggling. The number is further growing and has reached an increase of 20-28% this year. The government's inability to prevent smuggling is costing the country a lot, and it will further harm the economy, unless something is done about it. The consumption tax revenue and the customs sector was losing YR 250 million, in customs duties on tobacco imports. The National Tobacco and Matches Company admits this development and claims that the company had lost YR 2 billion, in sales from 1994 to 1998. Smuggling is expected to weaken the economy even further if certain measures to stop it will not be implemented in the near future. 

The Ministry of Immigrants has started distributing the fifth disbursement of compensation money, Class C, due to those Yemenis coming back from Kuwait and Iraq as a result of the Gulf War. Dr. Ahmad Al-Bishari, Minister of Immigrants, pointed out that the Ministry began distributing the compensation money in November 1998 up to July 1999." Around US $ 30,000,000 has been paid, so far", the Minister added. He went on saying that $ 4,000,000 would be distributed among 1,800 people. The number of beneficiaries so far who will have been compensated will then reach 16,000 after payment of this installment. On the other hand, the Ministry of Immigrants formed a special committee to distribute the compensation money in Hadhramout, Al-Maharh, Dhamar, Aden and The Secretarial Capital. 

The Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of Sanaa, Aden, Hodeidah, Taiz, and Ibb held a meeting to discuss the deteriorating situation of the Yemeni Federation of CCI. During the meeting, they reviewed the mismanagement in the federation and how to overcome it. The particular issues in focus were solving the problems faced by the private sector members related to the chamber, and the Chairman's mismanagement of the federation. At the end of the meeting, the Chamber representatives took the issue to the extent of withdrawing their membership in the Federation and maintain their right of filing lawsuits against the Federation for all wrong actions taken by the FCCI 

Sana'a- A foreign diplomat expressed his disappointment to a local newspaper with the way by which the upcoming presidential elections is to be held in October. The foreign countries and the international organizations which support democracy in Yemen were hoping to see real competitive elections in which all parties present their programs and nominees in a way that can help enhance the democratic experience, the same source pointed out. It added that the fact that some of the meaningful parties opted to refrain from participating in the elections and chose nominees from other parties shows that the political crisis the country faces is still ongoing. This crises creates an atmosphere of insincerity and mistrust, which is also enhanced by the state organizations that break the law and intervene so as not to give equal chances for more people to participate in the elections. The Islah party, the largest opposition party in Yemen, has nominated Ali Abdullah Saleh for the upcoming presidential elections. 

For the first time in its history, Al-Ghidhah streets are being asphalted. The Desert Line Company, owned by engineer Ahmad Fareed, started asphalting Al-Ghidhah streets a week ago and now it is about to finish. People in the city are all amazed at the quickness of finishing the project thanking engineer Ahmad Fareed and President Ali Abdullah Saleh for initiating this work. The same company is also asphalting Shohain-Al-Ghidhah road. People hope that Mr. Ahmad Fareed will carry out the third project promised by the President Ali Abdullah Saleh which will connect Saihoun and Nashtoun with asphalt. 

The verdict in the case of the eight British citizens facing terrorism charges had been delayed by the judge of the Primary Court of Aden on Thursday. In the previous sessions, the Prosecution had asked for the imposition of the maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. Even though the Prosecutors indicated that there was no reason for delay, the defense lawyer stated that he expected the verdict to be announced on August 9. 
There were suspicions that the defendants' confessions were extracted by force. On the other hand, the group's leader had appealed the death sentenced issued on him by the court. 

Yemenia announced that it is reducing its tariffs by 40% to Socatra, Se'yun, Al-Rayyan, and Al-Ghaidha. Yemenia had also announced that it has common rated its flight fees so that passengers on international routes with local legs, will not have to pay for the local legs. Yemenia's Marketing Managing, Abdullah Al-Mutarrib explained it this way: "You can now travel from Taiz-Sanaa-London by only paying for the Sanaa-London fee, the Taiz-Sanaa fee will be free of charge." There is yet more good news, Yemenia flight tariffs to and from some of the other countries have been also been reduced. 

A political seminar on the Yemeni-American relations was held last Wednesday, July 20 , 1999, in the Center for Studies of the Future, headed by Dr. Faris Al-Saqqaf. The seminar was attended by many members of the American community in Yemen, including a representative of the American Embassy, Ms. Angela Dickie, who gave a speech, in which she acclaimed the achievements and deeds of the late Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf. 

In a Baadan village, Ibb governorate, last week, six Yemenis with US. Citizenship, were the victims of a hand grenade attack while chewing qat. The assailant, A'adel Al-Bada'ani has already admitted that he had been pushed to commit this act by people, who he has identified to the security police department. Security police are still on the hunt after the accomplices. 
Fadhal Al-Dailamy, an injured victim in the incident, is now under intensive treatment in Azal Hospital in Sanaa. In a phone call to the Yemen Times, Dailamy stated his disappointment at the the indifference of the U.S. Embassy, which has yet to even send someone to see him. 

Organized by the opposition parties, a ceremony to pay a final tribute to Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf and Abdullah Sallam Naji was held in Al-Turbah on Thursday, July 22. In the beginning of the ceremony Mr. Mohammed Sultan Abdulla, Spokesman of Taiz-Ibb Coordination Council of the Opposition- Al-Mawasit Branch delivered a speech in which he said: 
"A lot of people gathered together this morning in Al-Turbah to pay tribute to the late Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf. This event has moved our emotions for the departure of this great man who can never be forgotten. Fear built a new place inside of us after his death but we will do our best to overcome it. This event came along with another painful event which is paying tribute to another patriot; Abdulla Sallam Naji. May God bless them both." 

In an answer to Yemen Times questions about the death of Dr. Al-Saqqaf, Mr. Abdu Al-Ilah Al-Mouhiby, member of the consultative council and head of the Popular Forces Federation in Al-Turbah, said: 
"First of all, I would like to thank the Yemen Times for the great efforts it makes to highlight the problems of the common people. Regarding your question, Dr. Al-Saqqaf's death was shocking to everybody. His death has left a big gap not only for his friends and acquaintances but also for the whole humanity. He died, but he is still alive in our hearts because great men never die. He has left us a good example of a real patriot to be followed. 

Through the Yemen Times I want to say that we have lived with great patriots like Dr. Abdu Al-Aziz Al-Saqqaf and Ali Abdu Al-Aziz Nassr and today we trust the new generation which will follow their footsteps. At the same time I would like to express my sorrow for the loss of the real sense of democracy in our country." 

Commenting on the current situation with regards to the presidential elections, Mr. Al- Mouhiby said: 
"We were very enthusiastic about the elections in the beginning because we thought that they would be real and the competition would be between the Government and the opposition. We wanted real elections in which all the parties participate but the fact was disappointing, the so-called competition would be inside the ruling party." 
What the People Say 
In a question to T. Ahamed Aoon, A member of the Unionist Nasserite party in Al-turbah , who said: 
the death of Al-Saqqaf was terrifying to the majority of the people who found themselves facing something they have never anticipated. Regarding his evaluation of the the upcoming Presidential elections after the recommendation of the Parliament, he said: " We are looking to the Presidential elections from its indications and not from the results as it is a foregone conclusion that the President, Ali Abdullah Saleh is the winner. As the ruling party refused to recommend the opposition's candidate, the elections will be comic and farcical because it lacks real and heated competition 
Yemen Times also interviewed Mansoor Abul aziz, the vice chairman of the Opposition Coordination Council in the region, who said: Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf's death had a painful impact on us. We never expected such a thing to happen. About his evaluation of the situation, he said: everything has happened not as we expected which actually creates strong confusion in the process of the emerging democracies. 

Mr. Abdullah Abdul Walee Al-Monaifee, the Chairman of the Coordination Council of the Opposition Parties, said: "The death of Al-Saqqaf was a strong shock to all Yemenis. He was the best model Yemen has ever seen. However, his soul, contributions, and great efforts will live on forever. We organize this ceremony to express our appreciation of his efforts and contribution, and all that done by the late, Abdulah Salaam Nagee, who had been a multidimensional literary figure in our country. 
" I see that our parliament and the ruling party are controlling and handling things to their interest under the cover of democracy". he added 

A speech was made by Mr. Emad Al-Saqqaf, Yemen Times Taiz Bureau Chief. He expressed the tensity of love the late showed towards Yemen and Yemenis and said: "He never pursued any material gains, and his only concern was to tell the truth, comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable and to build the modern Yemen, the society of law and order. His deeds and great contributions make him the most dominant figure in the society.