I. Headlines:
· The Bahraini-Pakistani Military Cooperation spotlighted.
· Customs agent release $11m after clearance from CBB.
· Damage assessment at Isa Town Souq kicks off.
· GCC economy “worth 2pc of global GDP”.
II. Political:
The Bahraini-Pakistani Military Cooperation spotlighted.
Commander-in-Chief of the BDF, Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, met yesterday with the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff for Operations in Pakistan , Rear-Admiral Hasham bin Siddique and his accompanying delegation, currently on a visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain. During the meeting, both sides discussed ways of bolstering military cooperation between the two friendly countries and stressed on the importance of such visits in more consolidating friendship ties in all fields.
HRH Crown Prince hosts his weekly Majlis.
HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander, yesterday hosted his weekly Majlis at Al-Riffa palace. Prince Salman received members of the Ruling Family, senior officials, ministers, dignitaries, Shura Council members and Mps, municipal councilors, scholars, clerics, leading economic and social figures, national and Arab academic, intellectual and media personalities and members of the diplomatic corps. They all hailed the diversity of the Majlis as a microcosm mirroring Bahrain’s cohesive society under the wise leadership of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa.
III. Economic, Trade, Business:
Customs agent release $11m after clearance from CBB.
The Acting General Director of Anti-corruption, Economic and Electronic Security on Sunday said that the circumstances surrounding the entry of $11 million by some U.S Navy officials in Bahrain has been investigated and released eventually. He stated that the Central Bank of Bahrain had received a letter on 19 June 2012 from the US Government requesting the entry of the money in order to pay the salaries of US servicemen stationed in Bahrain and other locations in the Gulf. The CBB acts as the financial regulator in Bahrain and it was in this role that it coordinated efforts with the Ministry of Foreign affairs to begin processing the request until it was seen that the request was there and the amount was released at the end.
GCC economy “worth 2pc of global GDP”.
According to Al Ahli Bank's economist Dr. Saeed Al Shaikh, the GCC countries' economy constitutes the equivalent of two per cent of the world's gross domestic product (GDP), the GCC possesses 30 per cent of the world's gas reserves and 40 per cent of the world's oil reserves. Dr Al Shaikh asserted that global and regional economic and security conditions make it imperative for countries of the Gulf region to surmount formalities such as bickering about hosting of the Gulf Union's head offices. Dr. Al Shaikh said that the Saudi oil production is expected to reach 9.4 million barrels per day during the current year in contrast with last year's 9.2m barrels per day.
IV. Social, Culture, Tourism, Environment:
Damage assessment at Isa Town Souq kicks off.
Following the directives of HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to assess the damage caused by the popular Suq blaze, the Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning ,Dr. Juma’a bin Ahmed Al Ka’abi, held a meeting with some of the Souq traders to discuss ways of assessing the damage, in the presence of the Central Governorate Municipal Council Head Mr. Abdulrazzaq Abdullah Hattab and the Central Governorate Municipality Director General Dr. Mohammed Ali and members of the municipal council. The Minister of Municipalities Affairs Dr. Al Ka’abi directed the Central Governorate to set up five work teams to meet all affected traders and evaluate their damage caused by the fire in coordination with concerned parties.
IAA President attends introductory symposium.
President of Information Affairs Authority (IAA), Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, attended yesterday an introductory symposium co-organised by IAA Equal Opportunities Unit and the Supreme Council for Women (SCW).The symposium highlighted ways of integrating women’s needs in development in line with the royal order number 14 for 2011 to set up and organize the national committee in charge of following up and implementing the national model of integrating women’s needs in the government’s work program, under the presidency of HRH Princess Sabeekah bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King and SCW Chairwoman.
V. Other News:
Bahrain International Airport conducts fire drill on Tuesday.
Fire and Rescue Services at the Bahrain International Airport stated that it will carry out an evacuation exercise on the ground level of the Terminal Building later today,17th of July 2012 between 01:00pm and 03:00pm, according to a. “The Airport’s fire and rescue team conducts such exercises on regular basis to ensure the safety and security of everyone who uses the airport and would like to thank the public for their support,” the statement added.
VI. Photo of the Day:
His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa with Ministers and top officials visited Isa Town Suq which damaged badly due to blaze on Sunday.16th June 2012 Al-Wasat.
Issued by:
Embassy of Malaysia,
MANAMA
17th July 2012