Time is passing by, and the candidates are showing their cards. But what is evident from the proceedings is that there will be little competition between the two candidates, President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and Mr. Najeeb Qahtan Al-Shaabi. According to the regulations, the presidential campaign will start just 14 days before the presidential elections take place on September 23. So far, there are no indications that there is going to be a competitive race between the two candidates. 

In a survey launched by the Yemen Times, it was clearly evident that the general public is not satisfied with the platform given by the relatively unknown second candidate, Najeeb Qahtan Al-Shaabi, as it showed neither willingness nor sincerity and seriousness in going for the top executive position in the government. Furthermore, people feel that he is not willing to put up a tough fight for the post. Notwithstanding his rejection of the Al-Thawri Newspaper objections, the position of the candidate is still not clear enough. Is he really eligible for competing, or should he just resign and withdraw rather than being used as a puppet. The widespread feeling among most Yemenis is that, in the end, the elections will be nothing more than a referendum. The only way to overcome such pessimism would be to have a real full fledged race, with both sides having access to the same resources needed to gain public favor. That would not appear to be the case in the first direct election for the Presidency of the Republic. Some even wonder if it was worth it to have the elections at all, for that matter.. 

As the Ministry of Education announced on the 27th of August 1999, "out of 116,556 students, who took the 1998/99 High School Exams, 86,500 students became eligible for graduation." This means that more than 86% will have graduated this year. There were 12,146 absent and 12,000 students were refused entry to the exams. 
In a press conference held by the Deputy Minister of Education, Mr. Abdulmalik Al-Mu'alami in the Research and Education Development Center, he indicated that there were many cases of violations, cheating, and faking during the preparatory stages for the exams. 
On the other hand, for the students, the problem is different. Even after knowing the results, and after enjoying the moments of success, students will now have to cope with an uncertain future. Among the problems they face are: the high fees of Sanaa University and the other private institutions of higher education, which many are unable to afford, the inability to find jobs as high school graduates, the difficulty of access to technical and vocational training and having to face administrative procedures for delaying or waiving the military draft and the educational service requirements, or else serve them with pay that will not be sufficient to subsist on, if they get paid at all! Then comes the biggest problem, which arises when graduating from these universities and looking for a decent job. For sure, this will not be an easy task. 

The International Development Association (IDA), which is the World Bank institution that provides credits to the developing countries of the world, approved a total of $ 181.5 million in loans to support five development projects in Yemen during the fiscal year 1999. 
The five projects are all public services, which are as follows:  

1- Sanaa Emergency Power Station: The amount equivalent to US $ 54 million, will be used to finance the 50 Megawatt power station, which can operate on both Gas and Heavy Fuel Oil, to be built in Dhahban, an area north of Sana'a, to meet the increasing power generating gap. The demand for electricity has far exceeded the available generating capacity in the country in the main national electricity network. It is expected that the new generating capacity, will be the first to be built under a Build, Operate and Own Contact that will introduce private sector participation in the provision of electricity supply. 

2- Second Public Work Project:  This credit  allocates an amount of US $ 50 million,  The project represents the Second Stage of Public Works Projects in Yemen, which are included in the National Social Safety Net.  The SSN is a conglomeration of various social welfare projects and programs that are aimed at helping the poor and those adversely affected by the Economic and Administrative Reform Program.  Thus, the ultimate goal of the Public Works Project is to decrease the burden on the poor through the  creation of jobs and building infrastructure for the public, especially in urban areas ,where there is extreme poverty, but with some rural projects as well.  The projects entail greater beneficiary community participation and more private sector involvement in the construction and the sustainable management of public works projects. 

3- Public Sector Management Adjustment Credit: US $50 million. This project is the first of a proposed series of such projects. These projects will aim for the improvement of the efficiency of government financial and administrative functions in various sectors and operations, including budgeting, civil service, administration system, social services etc. 

4- Sanaa Water Supply and Sanitation: An amount of $25 million is allocated for this project which will address sewerage problems, and increase the efficiency of water supply, private sector involvement in projects related to the water sector.  The principal part of the project is the Sewerage Treatment Plant for Sanaa. 

5- Legal and Judicial Development: An amount of US $2.5 million. The project will seek to identify the weaknesses in the Yemeni judicial and legal system and introduce new ideas and procedures that will enhance the overall efficiency and functioning of the system. An important aim of the project is to restore public trust and confidence in the system and enhance the application of laws and legislation with a view towards the equitable and fair implementation of the laws and legislations and amending those laws that are found to be unreasonable or act to hinder the imposition of justice. 

Next week will witness drastic changes to the looks, layout, and printing of the paper. The major changes to the paper will be as follows: 
- The printing of the paper will be enhanced because it will be printed in another printing house, which will add to the quality of the contents in text or graphics, thus making advertisements and graphical pictures more attractive. 
- There will be improvements in the layout and categorization, which will be based on the latest survey results published on paper and on the Internet. 
- A weekly competition will be held every week, and prizes will be distributed to winners on a weekly basis. 
- New sections like (From the Internet) will be allocated for the issues that Yemenis abroad bring to the people in Yemen through the Yemen Times Site at www.yementimes.com 
- The Press Review page will be enhanced and will include news and view point articles. 
- More space will be allocated for news from other governorates, in addition to the Capital Secretariat. 
- There will be a weekly page on social, political, and economic issues that concern the man in the street (corruption, education, qat, economic effects, poverty, and other day to day issues.) This is in order to give social problems facing Yemenis in general more attention.
-More up-to-day news articles will be available from, not only local agencies, but also from international news agencies such as Reuters, Associate Press, etc. 
We aim to bringing the Yemen Times to even a higher level of efficiency and reliability. Hence don't get surprised if you see changes in the next issue of Yemen Times. We aim to keep the Yemen Times always on the top in Yemeni journalism.. 

Kidnapping is one of the major problems faced by the Yemeni society. It is actually a nagging problem that needs stiff measures on the part of the government. In fact, it has become a common practice that some foreigners sometimes find interesting and funny. This is because the hostage may be held for a couple of hours or even minutes. This is actually what happened to the German adviser to the Ministry of Health Dr. Ernst. 

Tenambergen and his Yemeni colleague. They were intercepted and taken hostage by local tribesmen last Saturday ,July 7 on their way from Sana'a to Mareb but released after intensive discussions. Yemen Times talked to Dr. Tenambergen, Seconded by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), in Yemen since June 1997 and who believes that kidnapping can be of a positive outcome. Here is his full story. 

"We were on our way to Mareb in a vehicle of the Yemeni-German health Sector Project to assist the health Office in Mareb in planning their development and its cooperation with districts for the coming 2 years. About ? km out of Sana'a, the laughing crowd of a bus on its way to Sana'a predicted that we would be kidnapped by a group that has claims against the Government and is intercepting government vehicles and foreigners. We realized that after a couple of safe trips to mareb we had become too careless. Our colleagues in mareb had not been informed properly about our departure to send their guards in time and collect us from Sana'a as usual and we were driving in our 4-wheel drive Mercedes instead of the small Opel that would get stuck already after 10 meters off the tarmac. We surely did not like to get taken hostage but we also did not want to cancel the 3-day planning workshop with 30 people waiting. We decided to rely on the traditional Yemeni virtues of hospitality fairness and practical common sense and continued or voyage." 

"Fifteen minutes later it happened. Two men on the road side took their Kalashnikofs when we passed and shot into the air. Three hundred meters further on two young tribesmen with guns stopped us. We stepped out of the vehicle while the leader of the group came running from the place where the shots had been fired. When we explained that we were on a mission for the Ministry of health he became very furious. He shouted that the government is not giving them anything and swore that they would keep us hostage. By then about 20 more tribesmen had gathered.""We explained to them very politely: The Ministry of Health is realizing that support for Mareb and other rural areas was insufficient and that our mission was part of a new program to change this and help Mareb. It would be to the disadvantage of the local population if those who want to come and assist Mareb could not feel safe. Although we had been warned we had continued our travel in order to see them and explain this to them. We should be allowed to continue our mission.""Then it all developed as we had hoped. There was a discussion of nearly one hour. At one stage, an elder tribesman took of his turban, lowered it in front of the leader of the intercepting group and pleaded for our release. The leader calmed down. We promised to see him in his village on our next trip to Mareb, shook hands and proceeded. 
On our way back to Sana'a we felt very safe with two tribesmen from Mareb as guides and guards in the vehicle." 

Amendment: 
"I hesitated to talk too much about the event. It might harm tourism, our "kidnappers" and even the security forces along the road who allowed us to pass. But on the other hand, the lessons which can be learned may balance these disadvantage.""Obviously, the unacceptable, violent action of some tribesmen is not merely chaotic and arbitrary. Also these ones seemed to have a case. We did not try to find out which one, but after knowing Mareb now for one year we dare to say that among other features of underdevelopment there is no functioning social infrastructure in the governorate. The Ministry of health has paid much more attention to Mareb in the last year. By this it does not only fulfill a humanitarian obligation, it also contributes to national security. A fair share is social services is known to strengthen the feeling of identity with the nation especially in border regions.""There will still be a period of uncertainty and misunderstanding. But this experience reinforces me believe that common sense has a chance everywhere as long as there is dialogue."