I. Headlines:
· Muharraq Constituency to choose its MPs by-election.
· The Future of Bahrain in the knowledge economy is promising: CEO of VentureCom.
· Housing Ministry unveils 14 million B.D project.
· Tamkeen graduates a new batch of nurses.
II. Political:
Muharraq Constituency to choose its MPs by-election.
Voters have started casting their vote in the parliamentary by-election for Bahrain's Muharraq constituency. Four candidates, Mr. Sameer Kadhem, Mr. Mubarak Mukhaima, Dr. Abdulrahman Buali and Hind Bucheery, go head to head in the bypolls to fill the constituency eight seat vacated by Ghanim Al Buainain, who was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs back to April. There are 8,128 registered eligible voters who can cast their ballots from 8am to 8pm at the Hidd Intermediate and Secondary Girls Schools and two general polling centres outside the constituency located at Bahrain City Centre and Bahrain International Airport. Bahrainis living or travelling abroad have already cast their ballots at Bahrain's embassies and consulates in Amman, Cairo, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
Justice Minister receives U.S Assistant State Secretary.
Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al-Khalifa received US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Mr. Michael Posner yesterday. They discussed ways of further bolstering relations between the two countries in all fields and also raised issues of mutual interest. The meeting was held at the office of the Minister and US Ambassador Thomas Krajeski which was also attended by some officials from the Ministry.
III. Economic, Trade, Business:
Future of Bahrain in the knowledge economy is promising: CEO of VentureCom.
In an exclusive interview with Al-Wasat Newspaper, the Chief Executive Officer of VentureComs Mr. Mohammed Al Fardan unveiled to Al-Wasat about their company’s efforts to convince ambitious banks and investors to help in creating Technological City to IT and telecommunications in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He estimated the cost of establishing such a city of two billion dollars. Mr. Al-Fardan asserted that the future of Bahrain in the knowledge economy is very bright and promising. He said that the Kingdom is, actually, well-qualified to be an ideal and strategic location for technical and logistical support for the information technology business in the Middle East and North Africa region.
President of IAA reviews Cooperation with CNN & Fox News.
President of the Information Affairs Authority (IAA) Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa has paid a visit to the headquarters of the CNN and Fox News stations to meet a number of officials of both stations and review with them areas of cooperation between IAA and theirs. Shaikh Fawaz expressed admiration of the advanced level reached by those world-reputed channels, expressing IAA’s keenness to enhance cooperation with them in order to take advantage of their expertise.
IV. Social, Culture, Tourism:
Tamkeen graduates a new batch of nurses.
Tamkeen announced the graduation of a new group of nurses from The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain), in a ceremony held at the university. 19 male and female nurses who completed Tamkeen sponsored nursing training programme were awarded BSC degrees in General Nursing. The programme is one of more than 100 programmes offered by Tamkeen under the umbrella of the Human Capital Development programmes that aim to address the skills gap in the local market and position Bahrainis as the employees of choice.
Housing Ministry unveils 14 million B.D project.
Ministry of Housing unveiled yesterday a multi-million plan to help citizens purchase, construct or revamp their houses. The BD14.358 million lifeline that will benefit a batch of 435 applicants registered with the ministry. Housing Minister Bassem bin Yacoub Al-Hamer had signed an edict in this regard, taking immediate effect once issued. The Housing Bank (Eskan Bank) will start informing the beneficiaries within days to report to its premises and submit required forms for payments to proceed. Al-Hamer congratulated the batch of beneficiaries, stressing the ministry’s resolve to meet citizens’ applications under the unveiled strategy.
The Bahraini Quality Society to host its 5th conference.
Under the patronage of the Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Bahrain Quality Society (BQS) is preparing to launch the activities of the 5th conference entitled “Quality towards Excellence”. The conference is scheduled to take place from December 5 to 6 of this year with the participation of a number of experts in the field, and would be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Meanwhile, BQS President Khalid Jassim Bumateah that the focus on quality was selected due to the fact that it is one of the most challenging issues for all leading establishments. He also indicated that quality has become the tool utilized by companies to forge their way towards excellence.
V. Photo of the Day:
* Tamkeen announced the graduation of a new group of nurses from The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain), in a ceremony held at the university.
16th June 2012 Al-Wasat.
Embassy of Malaysia
MANAMA,
17th June 2012