His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Tuesday left the country for Saudi Arabia to attend the Summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, OIC. Before leaving, doa selamat was read by the State Mufti, Pehin Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Abdul Aziz.

Present at the Brunei international Airport to bid farewell to His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince; and His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Malik. Accompanying His Majesty was His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Also present were Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran-Pengiran Cheteria, Cabinet Ministers, Members of Council, Deputy Ministers as well as senior government officers.

Sport competitions provide opportunity for athletes and players to compete against one another and a strong base for their development as well as fostering a strong bond of friendship and solidarity. The Deputy Minister of Education, Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Doctor Haji Mohammad was speaking at the 42nd ASEAN Schools Sports Council Management Committee’s Meeting, Tuesday.

The Deputy Minister who is also the President of the ASEAN Schools Sports Council said that sports will continue to be one of the mediums which unite people of all races and backgrounds. He added athletes will learn valuable things and experience top level competitions.

At the meeting, Cambodia was officially admitted as the 8th member of the ASEAN School Sports Council. The meeting also discussed minutes of the previous ASEAN Schools Sports Council Management Committee, a review of the technical committee’s report and confirmation of activities for next year.

Brunei Tourism becomes the first tourism authority in the ASEAN region to register a “dot travel” name for its website. The newly redesigned website for Brunei Tourism is now viewable at: www.bruneitourism.travel, which projects a contemporary and high class image of Brunei as a destination aiming at attracting discerning travellers.

Brunei Tourism strongly encourages local industry members to register websites under the new “dot travel” TLD as this will likely benefit their businesses in the long run.

The “dot travel” TLD will empower the broad spectrum of the travel industry, from the smallest to the largest players, to better promote their products and services within a universal framework on the internet.

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts or WAGGGS Asia-Pacific, continued their Round Robin Project Programme by carrying out more challenging activities and survival village. This is inline with the aim of WAGGGS to focus on its future direction and develop strategies to meet the needs and aspirations of girls and young women in the 21st Century.

The activity was held at the Penanjong Camp in Tutong. About one hundred members of WAGGGS gathered at the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Training Institute to take part in the challenging activities. Tuesday, they took part in leadership command and task, obstacle course and survival village.

The participants were divided into six groups with each group involving in the leadership command and task activities. They were required to foster interpersonal skills such as leadership, problem solving and team work while brain storming in an open dialogue on the gathering theme, “Facing Challenges and Opportunities in Good Faith”.

The programme will allow participants to share experience, exchange ideas and bridge the gap created by the difference in languages, cultures and religions. It is hoped that through such a programme, the participants will have the opportunity to improve and be prepared to face the challenge in implementing the Asia-Pacific strategic plan for 2005 through 2008.