I. Headlines:
· “Human Rights Watchdogs Are One-sided”, Interior Minister says.
· Bahrain to boycott news broadcast on Arabsat.
· World’s first entrapreneur forum opens today.
· Princess Sabeeka attends “Freedom Palm”.
II. Political:
“Human Rights Watchdogs Are One-sided”, Interior Minister says.
Interior Minister Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa said yesterday that certain human rights organizations adopt a one-sided view in dealing with the information they receive from Bahrain. The Minister said that they are closing their ears to official replies coming from the government of Bahrain and refuse considering the other side of the narrative. He singled out human rights activists who aspire to play a positive role to reveal the truth in total objectively. Commenting on the human rights Council president's speech, who claimed that NGOs representatives and participants attending the council meeting had been threatened, the Minister affirmed that the ministry had not received any complaints from concerned people regarding the matter. He pledged also to investigate the issue and to take necessary legal measures whether in their favour or against them.
Bahrain to boycott news broadcast on Arabsat.
Bahrain’s Information Affairs Authority (IAA) announced yesterday that Bahrain channels will soon no longer broadcasted on Arabsat. This came in protest over its transmission of Iranian propaganda. IAA decided to stop broadcasting from this Friday, in protest over “its failure to take an official measure to stop the hostile media campaign waged by the Iranian channels against Bahrain and Kingdom Saudi Arabia to incite sectarianism and shake security and stability, in breach of Arab and international agreements and conventions. The IAA denounced the Iranian channels’ exploitation of Arabsat to broadcast programs inciting sectarianism, hatred, violence, terrorism and disseminating lies and defamatory media materials targeting political and social leaders in both kingdoms.
Parliament Speaker backs GCC union.
Parliament Chairman Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Dhahrani yesterday paid tribute to King Abdulla bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud for his call to move from the phase of GCC cooperation to the phase of complete GCC Union. He stated: “Establishing the union would be a great achievement which would build on the GCC landmark strides since its inception over three decades ago”. Mr. Al-Dhahrani was making a statement marking the 31st anniversary of the establishment of the GCC.
III. Economic, Trade, Business:
World’s first entrapreneur forum opens today.
The world’s first intrapreneur forum opens later today in Bahrain bringing together global business leaders and experts in small and medium enterprises, according to the organisers. Being organised by the Bahrain-based The Firm (TF), the first ever global conference of its kind dedicated to supporting the development of intrapreneurship within corporations and SMEs will feature a number of exciting business leaders and intrapreneurship experts. TF, an international private members networking organization for business development and intrapreneurship, announced key highlights of the Global Intrapreneurship Forum 2012, taking place in Bahrain on May 27-28 2012 at the Gulf Hotel under the patronage of the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Hassan Fakhro.
Bahrain to diversify its revenue base away from oil.
The Economic Development Board (EDB) in its quarterly report stressed on the importance for Kingdom of Bahrain to diversify its revenue base away from oil, and to manage the government debts which continued to grow over the past few years. The EDB’s Quarterly report highlighted that public revenues are highly reliant on oil revenues that total more than 75% of government revenues in recent years. These oil revenues are also largely dependent on the flat production of the offshore Abu Safa Field such as those seen in 2009 when revenues dropped by more than 36% with the decrease in oil prices.
IV. Social, Culture, Tourism:
Princess Sabeeka attends “Freedom Palm”.
HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, wife of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women, participated in the opening of the Freedom Palm Oasis in Notre-dame Cathedral in the French capital Paris in the presence of the private representative of HM the King Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al-Khalifa and with the participation of prominent political and religious figures. In her speech the Shaikha affirmed that Kingdom of Bahrain was and still is a place for peaceful coexistence between the different religions and cultures and a living example for religious freedom. She also pointed out that Bahrain is known for its historical and civilized position whereby mosques and churches exist near each other and both the sound of Muslim call for prayer and the sound of the ringing of bells of churches can be heard.
V. Photo of the Day:
*HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa participating in the opening of the Freedom Palm Oasis in Notre-dame Cathedral in the French capital Paris in the presence of the private representative of HM the King Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al-Khalifa and with the participation of prominent political and religious figures. 26rd May 2012, Al-Wasat.
Issued by:
Embassy of Malaysia
MANAMA,
27th May 2012