Session adjourned - Gulf Daily News

14Gulf Daily NewsTuesday, 25th June 2013Commitmentto Bahrain’svalues hailedHis Royal HighnessPrince Salman bin HamadAl Khalifa, CrownPrince, Deputy SupremeCommander and FirstDeputy Prime Minister,yesterday held his weekly majlis atRiffa Palace.He welcomed a cross-section ofBahraini society, with guests includingmembers of the Ruling Family,n Condolence cablesHis Majesty King Hamad yesterday sent a cable ofcondolences to Indian President Pranab Mukherjee overthe death of hundreds in floods which have devastatednorthern India. His Royal Highness Prime MinisterPrince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa sent condolencecables to the Indian President and Prime MinisterManmohan Singh. HRH the Crown Prince sent a similarcable to Mr Mukherjee.n Scholarship plan endorsedEducation Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimiyesterday endorsed the scholarship plan for2012/2013. He said scholarships are available forboth male and female students, without genderdiscrimination in most specialisations. However, theministry sought to strike a balance between boysand girls taking into account Bahrain’s needs, hepointed out. The number of grants and scholarshipsavailable this year are 2,624, out of which 1,774are for government and private school studentsin addition to 800 grants (financial allowances).Dr Al Nuaimi said the ministry has also provided50 scholarships for students with special needs. Anumber of scholarships have been allocated forgifted and talented students in extra-curricularactivities following a Royal decree to this effect,Dr Al Nuaimi said. High school graduates witha cumulative average of at least 90 per cent andwishing to apply for the scholarships are required toaccess websites (www.moe.gov.bh) or (www.bahrain.bh) for registration. “Registration will start todayand run until Thursday midnight,” scholarshipsdirector Isa Abdulla Al Kooheji said.n VoIP use under studyMinister of State for Communications ShaikhFawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa yesterday said thatBahrain is studying the use of VoIP applications (Voiceover Internet Protocol) in the kingdom to ensure thatappropriate public policies and regulation are in place.He sad no decision had been made to limit the use ofthe technology at this point.n Hizbollah clamp ‘will continue’GCC Secretary General Dr Abdullatif bin RashidAl Zayani has affirmed that procedures againstHizbollah’s interests in the GCC region willcontinue. On the sidelines of the 2013 UN PublicService Forum, he said that those procedurescover Hizbollah’s affiliates, as well as financial andcommercial interests.n Students to be honouredBahrain University president Dr Ibrahim MohammedJanahi will today honour 123 outstanding students whosenames have been listed on the scroll of honour during thefirst term of the academic year 2012-13. The ceremonywill be held at 4pm in Shaikh Abdulaziz Hall at theSakhir campus.n Graduation ceremony at NIITTamkeen hosted a graduation ceremony at theNational Institute of Industrial Training (NIIT) inHidd for the second group of Bahraini graduatesfrom its engineering multi-skills programme. Theprogramme, offered in collaboration with NIIT, is oneof many Tamkeen initiatives seeking to develop skillsof Bahrainis according to labour market requirements.n Private study grants blowIndividuals and private organisations that haveannounced plans to offer scholarships abroad are expectedto go ahead with the scheme in secret after a recentgovernment ban on scholarships granted by privateparties. The move aims to embarrass the governmentby seeking students’ appointment after graduation, eventhough they may not be needed in the market, our sisterpaper Akhbar Al Khaleej has learnt.n Training session for preachersThe Royal Academy of Police organised a trainingsession on combating drug addiction marking theInternational Day Against Drug Abuse and IllicitTrafficking, which falls tomorrow. Seven scholarsand preachers in charge of lecturing on “fightingdrug addiction” took part in the two-day event beingheld in co-operation with the Justice, Islamic Affairsand Endowments Ministry.n HRH the Crown Prince in talks with the US official and below, Shaikh Khalidreceives Ms Jonesn Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro yesterdaypraised efforts by Bahraini writers and researchers in documentingBahrain’s ancient history. This came during a meeting with Dr AliHassan Folath who presented his book Reflections.The business community yesterdayurged a “quick and final” solutionto the truck ordeal on KingFahad Causeway.Bahrain Chamber of Commerceand Industry chairman Dr EssamFakhro discussed the issue with theAmerican Chamber of Commercein Bahrain (AmCham Bahrain)n HRH the Crown Prince meets dignitaries and guests at his majlispresident Qays Hatim Zubi.The meeting was held at Beit AlTejjar marking the election of thenew AmCham Bahrain board.The chamber warned of repercussionsof the truck problem onBahrain’s investment status as agate to the GCC market.“The problem has causedsenior government officials, membersof parliament, the Shura Counciland municipal councils, prominentreligious figures, academics, communityleaders, journalists, and severaldiplomats.Those attending praised the CrownPrince’s keen engagement with citizens,following in the steps of hisforefathers by continuing a commitmentto Bahrain’s values, traditions,social fabric and national identity.They also commended his effortsto reinforce sustainable developmentof the kingdom, to achieve furtherAllies thanked forbacking reformsHis Royal Highness theCrown Prince yesterdaymet US Acting AssistantSecretary of State for theNear East Elizabeth Jones atRiffa Palace.The Crown Prince highlightedBahrain’s continuingefforts to meet its longtermgoals under the reformproject led by His Majestythrough dialogue and consensusbuilding.He expressed Bahrain’sappreciation for the supportof allies to the reforms programme.The Crown Prince underscoredthe significance ofvisits, such as the one byMs Jones, in supportingbilateral relations as wellas boosting co-operationand co-ordination on manyissues of common interest.The US official praisedthe strengthening relationswith Bahrain and drew attentionto the positive results ofthe Crown Prince’s recentvisit to Washington.Current regional andinternational issues of significancewere also discussed.The US Acting AssistantSecretary of State wasalso received by ForeignMinister Shaikh Khalid binAhmed Al Khalifa.He stressed the importanceof bilateral tiesbetween the two countries,which he said were witnessingconstant progress invarious fields.They also discussedissues of mutual interest aswell as regional and internationaldevelopments.n Minister of State for Electricity and Water Affairs Dr Abdulhussain Mirzayesterday received Bahrain’s Ambassador to India Mohammed HassanShikhoo.n Dr Fakhro and Mr Zubi with AmCham Bahrain and BCCI membersQuick solution to truck ordeal urgednational companies massive lossesand reduced their exports in anunprecedented way,” it said.It voiced concerns, reporting asubstantial reduction in exports ofBahrain-based US firms.It urged a quick solution as thecauseway represents the umbilicalcord for companies to exportprogress and prosperity within theframework of the reforms led by HisMajesty King Hamad, and continuedgovernment efforts to deliver higherlevels of services.their products.Leading factories have reducedtheir production and are reconsideringtheir expansion plans, preferringto wait for the truck ordeal tobe settled. Dr Fakhro congratulatedthe new AmCham Bahrainboard and urged co-operation topromote bilateral trade.