I. Headlines:
· Prime Minister: Bahrain is blessed with quality human capital.
· Deputy Premier urges all parties to rally behind the banner of national unity.
· Prime Minister issues directives to speed up the construction of the HBDC.
· Batelco inks major ICT agreement.
II. Political, Local, Government:
Prime Minister: Bahrain is blessed with quality human capital.
HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa met yesterday with senior government officials at Al-Gudaibiya Palace. HRH praised what he called the government’s strong resolve and Bahraini people’s determination to overcome impediments hindering the kingdom’s development process. For that, the Prime Minister urged to maintain close follow-up and field visits to better serve citizens and further upgrade government work. HRH the Prime Minister demanded ministers and officials to clarify the truths for citizens and remove any bewilderment regarding any issue raised by the media and asserted that Bahrain is blessed with quality human capital.
Deputy Premier urges all parties to rally behind the banner of national unity.
Deputy Premier Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa has last night hosted his Ramadani Majlis as he received senior officials, Shura Council members, Mps, clerics, leading business figures and citizens. Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa talk about the Kingdom of Bahrain as a model in promoting the goals of construction and development, stressing the need to preserve and promote this Bahraini spirit in all national issues and foster the values of leniency, fraternity and social cohesion. Deputy Premier stressed that Bahrain embraces all people and urged all parties to rally behind the banner of national unity.
Major-General Tariq Al-Hassan receives Bahrain Bloc.
Major-General Tariq Al-Hassan, the Public Security Chief has met yesterday with the Bahrain Parliamentary bloc led by Legislative Committee deputy chairman Mp Ahmed Alsaati. The Bloc deputy chairperson Mp Hasan Bukhammas, Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee Chairperson Mp Sawasen Taqawi, Mps Dr Jamal Saleh and Dr Soumaya Al-Jowder attended. Both sides in a session discussed the detrimental impact of excessive rallies on public interests, the national economy and the smooth flow of traffic. The Bloc voiced that these exaggerate rallies are not in line with the constitutionally-guaranteed responsible freedom of expression.
III. Economic, Trade, Business:
Batelco inks major ICT agreement.
Batelco has signed an MoU with Bahrain Development Bank (BDB) for joint collaboration on enhancement of local information communication technology entrepreneurship initiatives and projects. Batelco CEO Mr. Rashid Abdulla after signing the deal said that this collaboration of the two major Bahraini organisations will also benefit our Kingdom in supporting local ICT entrepreneurial projects and that Batelco is delighted to announce the co-operation with the BDB in order to expand on its aspirations in the field of ICT entrepreneurship projects. This cooperation is one of many initiatives that Batelco is currently working on to support local talent and encourage entrepreneurs.
ABC reports $193m operating income for Q2.
Bahrain-based Arab Banking Corporation (ABC) announced yesterday about its consolidated group’s net profit reaching $105 million for the first half of 2012 with operating income of $193 million in Q2. Net profit for the second quarter was $51 million compared to $54 million in the first quarter of 2012. Total operating income amounted to $193 million, below $214 million in the first quarter, mainly due to lower interest rates and exchange rate changes in Brazil even as income from lending activities increased on the back of higher volumes whilst trade finance activities continued to remain high. Total operating expenses were $103 million compared to $99 million and net impairment provisions were $13 million against $15 million in the previous quarter.
IV. Social, Culture, Tourism, Environment:
Prime Minister issues directives to speed up the construction of the HBDC.
HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa presided over the regular weekly Cabinet meeting at Al-Gudaibiya Palace yesterday. The cabinet reviewed a report submitted by the Health Minister on the practical steps and therapeutic and preventive measures taken by the Ministry of Health in Bahrain to combat sickle cell disease and provide high-quality health care for sickle cell patients. In this context, HRH Premier issued directives to speed up the construction of the Hereditary Blood Diseases Centre (HBDC) and supply it with the needed equipment in order to be able to provide comprehensive high-quality services for sickle cell patients.
Revamp plans road intersection .
Ministry of Works said that it plans to revamp a number of intersections and roads in the Arad area of the Kingdom by transforming them into traffic signal-controlled junctions. The Minister of Works, Mr. Essam Abdulla Khalaf, said these plans will consequently increase the capacity of the roads in Arad. This, however, came during a meeting in which the Minister received in his office MP Othman Shareef in the presence of director for Sanitary projects Asmaa Murad and Roads Planning & Design director Kadhim Abdulateef. Minister Khalaf said that this comes in line with directives from HRH the Prime Minister to improve infrastructure in the area.
V. Photo of the Day:
* HRH the Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa while meeting with senior officials on Sunday at Al-Gudaibiya Palace. 22nd July 2012 Al-Wasat.
Issued by:
Embassy of Malaysia,
MANAMA
23rd July 2012