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Gulf Daily News
Friday, 17th October 2014
Email: gdnnews@gdn.com.bh
n Leaders thanked
HIS Majesty King Hamad received a cable of thanks from
Bahamas governor-general Dame Marguerite Pindling,
in reply to a congratulatory cable on her country’s
Independence Day.
l His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa
bin Salman Al Khalifa received a cable of thanks from
Pakistani National Assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq,
who visited the kingdom last month.
n Services highlighted
EDUCATION Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi visited
a classroom for students with autism in Al Rawda
Primary School. He was briefed on services provided
to autistic students and the advanced equipment which
helped students excel in math and join normal schools.
n Proposals presented
MINISTER of State for Electricity and Water Affairs
Dr Abdulhussain Mirza met Terry Bevan of Nano
Technology Products who presented proposals to increase
energy production from solar panels.
n Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro yesterday
opened the Cake Boutique at Seef Corner, Seef District. Present
were His Majesty King Hamad’s adviser for media affairs Nabeel
Al Hamer, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry second
deputy chairman Jawad Al Hawaj, Cake Boutique pastry chef
Austrian Nadia Zucchelli and MESK Holdings managing director
Nawaf Riad Alshawwa. Above, Dr Fakhro cuts the ribbon as Mr
Alshawwa, left, and Mr Al Hamer look on.
n The Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry celebrated
World Habitat Day at InterContinental Regency Bahrain. It was held
under the patronage of Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al
Khalifa. In a speech marking the occasion, Minister Dr Juma Al Ka’abi
stressed Bahrain’s keenness to back the international community’s
efforts to promote sustainable urban development. Dr Al Ka’abi
outlined the ministry’s plans and achievements in urban development
in line with goals of the UN Human Settlements Programme.
n Palestine move welcomed
BAHRAIN’S Foreign Ministry has welcomed the
decision of Sweden and the British House of Commons
to recognise Palestine as an independent state. The
ministry said these important steps will support
efforts to end Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands
and the establishment of an independent Palestinian
state.
n Creativity camp launched
INJAZ Bahrain chief executive Shaikha Hessa bint
Khalifa Al Khalifa expressed happiness over the launch
of the “Creativity Camp” for private schools, in cooperation with GPIC.
She praised the role of the company in supporting inJAz
Bahrain’s initiatives, adding that the programme will
grant students the opportunity to learn entrepreneurship
skills to develop their businesses in the future.
Shaikha Hessa toured the schools taking part in the camp,
held at GPIC club. She said the programme is one of the
three new ones added by inJAz to its list of 12 activities
this year.
n Recommendations accepted
n Culture Minister Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa led Bahrain’s delegation to the 20th meeting of the GCC Culture Ministers
in Kuwait. Kuwaiti Minister for Information, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Director of National Council for Culture, Arts and
Letters Shaikh Salman Sabah Al Salem Al Homoud Al Sabah opened the meeting. The ministers approved Bahrain’s proposal to set up a
museum for a historical or heritage site in each country. A number of GCC intellectuals and artists were honoured. The Culture Ministry
had nominated writers Aqeel Swar, Ali Foulad and Ghada Khonji to be honoured during the current session.
THE Interior Ministry has accepted the
recommendations made by the Ombudsman
secretariat in its first annual report issued in May.
The ministry is preparing a plan to implement the
recommendations in stages, said Ombudsman office
secretary general Nawaf Al Ma’awada.
He was speaking at a seminar on the role of
Ombudsman Secretariat and the Prisons and
Detainees Commission. It was organised by Bahrain
University’s Faculty of Law.
The recommendations include rules for inspecting
inmates, Mr Al Ma’awada said, stressing the need to
make jail staff aware of the new regulations to ensure
the rights and privacy of prisoners.
n Hotel sector backed
LABOUR Ministry Under-Secretary Sabah Al Dossary
yesterday received newly-appointed general manager
of Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, Hotel and Spa Christian
Zandonella. He affirmed the ministry’s keenness to
develop Bahrain’s hotel sector, which offers a range of job
opportunities for citizens.
n Officers honoured
GENERAL Director of Traffic Shaikh Nasser
bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa honoured Captain
Bader Abdullateef Al Oraifi and policeman Jassim
Mohammed from traffic accident section for their
efficiency and commitment to work.
n Society to monitor polls
MABADI Human Rights Society has announced its
intention to take part as an observer in the parliamentary
and municipal elections next month.
The society said it was forming teams made up of lawyers
and human rights activists. The group submitted an
official application to the Legislation and Legal Opinion
Commission.
n 259,328 visit Bahrain
A TOTAL of 259,328 people visited Bahrain between
October 9 and Wednesday. Of these, 191,807 arrived
from Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries via
King Fahad Causeway, 67,266 through Bahrain
International Airport and 255 through ports.
n Opinion polls held
BAHRAIN Youth Society (BYC) conducted opinion
polls on the upcoming elections as part of its national
youth campaign. It aims to raise youths’ awareness on the
importance of taking part in elections.
BYC president Ali Sharafi said the society is holding
meetings with a number of Bahrainis aged between 20
and 40 to be informed about their trends and awareness
on electoral process.
The polls will address Bahraini youths’ concerns like
unemployment, housing and health care.
n Health Minister Sadiq Al Shehabi yesterday met a team of experts
and consultants from the World Bank, on a visit to Bahrain to discuss the
National Health Insurance Programme to be introduced by the ministry.
The minister said the new plan would open doors for more local and foreign
investments. The delegation will take part in a seminar on national health
insurance on October 21 at the Isa Cultural Centre.
n Al Najma Club has signed an investment agreement with
Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group. Club vice-president Isa
Al Qattan and Shifa Al Jazeera chairman Dr Mohammed
Rabeeullah sealed the deal at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain,
Hotel and Spa in the presence of club board member
and head of football section Shaikh Abdulrahman bin
Mubarak Al Khalifa. Under the agreement, Shifa Al
Jazeera will sponsor Al Najma Football Club for a fiveyear period and provide financial incentives in case
the club wins the Bahraini Football Premier League or
qualifies for His Majesty King Hamad’s Football Cup. The
incentive will be doubled if the club wins the cup.
UK report hails Bahrain’s reforms
THE UK’s technical assistance
to Bahrain’s reform programme
continued with real efforts being
made in areas where human rights
concerns remain, said a major
British report published yesterday.
The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office mentioned in
its human rights and democracy report for last year that there
were still significant issues to be
addressed, but evidence reflected
real efforts.
It said that between April and
September this year, the UK remained fully engaged with Bahrain’s government on human
rights issues through high-level
ministerial meetings.
“In June, the then Minister
for the Middle East and North
Africa, Hugh Robertson, visited
Bahrain for the third meeting of
the UK-Bahrain Joint Working
By MOHAMMED AL A’ALI
Group, to discuss the UK’s ongoing support for Bahrain’s reform
programme with particular focus
on strengthening human rights
and the rule of law,” it said.
“We welcome evidence of Bahrain’s commitment to improving
prison conditions with a new
women’s prison now operational,
and a new build programme commenced at Jaw Prison.
“Accountability of the security
forces remains crucial.”
It mentioned that British officials raised concerns about
continuing allegations of mistreatment and torture with the
government of Bahrain, and
urged it to ensure all allegations
are fully and transparently investigated, with those responsible
held accountable.
The report said in some areas,
freedom of speech and expression continue to be constricted,
for example where individuals
are convicted for inciting illicit
activity and spreading false information.
“We remain concerned by the
2013 decree on contacts between
political societies and foreign
parties, which was enforced for
the first time in July last year.”
It said that in September, the
government of Bahrain presented
an update on implementation of
its UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations at
the UN Human Rights Council in
Geneva.
“Whilst it is clear that progress
has been made in a number of areas, there is still more to be done.
“During the September session
of the UN Human Rights Council,
we welcomed some of the steps
taken by Bahrain (e.g. on devel-
oping the NIHR), but encouraged
the government to enhance its
co-operation with OHCHR and
UN officials and Special Rapporteurs, accepting the full OHCHR
offer of technical assistance.”
“For the remainder of 2014,
through diplomatic and technical
assistance, we will continue to
play our part in supporting Bahrain’s reform programme and in
addressing the remaining recommendations of the UPR and Bahrain Independent Commission of
Inquiry.”
“We strongly support the
King’s announcement on September 21 this year to hold parliamentary elections in November,
as one of only a few countries in
the region to do so, and have been
actively encouraging all sides to
engage in the process. The EU
has expressed similar support and
encouragement.”