His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has granted an audience to the Commander of the U.S. Army for the Pacific. His Majesty received Lieutenant General John M. Brown the Third, Wednesday afternoon at the Istana Nurul Iman.

The Commander of the U.S. Army for the Pacific was accompanied at the audience by United States of America Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, His Excellency Gene Burt Christy and the U.S. Defence Attache based in Singapore, Colonel John Bordwell.

Also present were Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Froces, Pehin Major General Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Halbi, the Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Abu Bakar and the Permanent Secretary for Policy and Administration at the Ministry of Defence, Pehin Colonel Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Yasmin.

Meanwhile, in another part of the Istana Nurul Iman, Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha consented to receive in audience the wife of the Commander of the US Army for the Pacific. During the audience, Her Majesty consented to receive a souvenir from Mrs. Elaine Brown who is accompanying her husband, currently in the country for a two-day official visit.

Mrs. Brown was accompanied by the wife of the United States Ambassador, Mrs. Rebecca Stanford Christy and wife of Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Datin Hajah Kalshom binti Haji Suhaili.  Also present was Pengiring Diraja Datin Seri Utama Dayang Hajah Rosnah.

Earlier Wednesday, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang DiPertuan of Brunei Darussalam made an unplanned visit to the Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah College of Nursing in Gadong.

The visit could be seen as an indicator of the importance His Majesty places on the nursing profession as a major contributor to the National Health Care system. It was deemed a day of pride for the staff and students of the college as this was the second visit by His Majesty in the span of two years. His Majesty last visited the college on 15th April 2003.

The establishment of the Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah College of Nursing under the auspices of the Ministry of Education was seen as a first step towards the professional education for nurses in Brunei Darussalam. The move into higher education was undertaken in response to changing demands in health care needs of the population and changes in nursing education internationally. 

 The College of Nursing has offered various programmes, namely certificate and diploma course in nursing, diploma in High Dependency Nursing, one-year Overseas Study Programme and Professional Development and Continuing Nursing education.

During the visit, His Majesty took a closer look at the facilities and also scrutinized the college's compound where His Majesty viewed the condition of its buses.  The monarch also stopped at an Electrical Power Sub-station for the college, which is currently under maintenance. Since the inception of the college in 1986, accommodation has always been provided for both male and female students. There, His Majesty had a closer look at the facilities provided for the students

The college was officially opened on 4th September 1986 by Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah who is the Patron of the College. The Mission of the College of Nursing is to teach and develop Nursing education, establish research and give community service. To ensure academic credibility, a linkage was negotiated by the Ministry of Education with the Department of Nursing Studies of the University Of Wales College Of Medicine in the United Kingdom.

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince, in a sabda underscores youth's involvement in realising, strengthening and enhancing regional understanding, cooperation and friendship towards a peaceful and prosperous region. His Royal Highness made the sabda while officiating at the three-night South East Asian Youth Al Quran Reading Competition that began Wednesday night.  The event is being held at the International Convention Centre in Berakas.

His Royal Highness in his sabda said that youth are not left out in realising the importance of understanding and cooperation as well as friendship among Southeast Asian nations that should continue to be maintained and enhanced.   The Crown Prince also said such a desire is proven by youth participation in representing their nations in the Quran-reading competition. Their involvement is not only confined to such a competition but is also an integral part in producing a generation of excellent regional leadership.

His Royal Highness in his sabda further said that such a matter was well translated through the South East Asian Youth Quran-reading competition that is to realise the existence of a peaceful, prosperous, harmonious and unified world with its highly-tolerant ummah. His Royal Highness expressed the hope that more of such opportunity would be available to enable youth in the region to interact and prepare themselves as a major contributor in the international arena toward instilling the spirit of tolerance and friendship that would fortify existing cooperation and understanding. And through the South East Asian Youth Al Quran Reading Competition, His Royal Highness added, Brunei Darussalam has established a strong footing for youth cooperation toward strengthening good values in the region.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince rounded up his sabda suggesting that constructive and effective youth  programmes should be seen from a long-term perspective in the agenda of strengthening the regional identity by realising that today's youth are tomorrow's leaders.

On arrival at the ICC Wednesday night, His Royal Highness was greeted by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Dato Seri Paduka Doctor Haji Awang Hussain. With His Royal Highness were His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Malik and His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Mateen.

The function began with a recitation of the Al Fatihah verse led by Pehin Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Hamid.The Minister of Culture Youth and Sports in his welcoming speech, said that the competition is Brunei Darussalam's contribution toward regional solidarity and peace as well as strengthening relations and understanding among South East Asian nations.  His Royal Highness the Crown Prince then declared open the competition.

Eighteen readers from the Asian region countries including nine female readers are taking part in the three-night South East Asian Youth Al-Quran Reading Competition 2005.  Four presented their reading on the first night. They were from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Brunei Darussalam first organised the competition in 2000 for male readers only and three years later it was open to female readers. The competition is organised to enable the Asian youth to obtain knowledge and the teachings available in the Al-Quran. It also aims to uphold His Majesty's titah during the third ASEAN Summit in Manila in December 1987 when His Majesty announced Brunei Darussalam's intention to play an active role in launching the Youth Exchange Programme in ASEAN.

Earlier Wednesday, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince continued his series of working visits to both urban and rural communities to see the developments and well-being of the people.  His Royal Highness went to the Tutong district Wednesday, focusing his visit on Mukim Telisai. His Royal Highness visit began at the Tumpuan Telisai Primary School.

On arrival, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was greeted by the Special Advisor to His Majesty at the Prime Minister's Office and the Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa; Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Awang Adanan; Deputy Minister of Education, Pehin Dato Paduka Awang Haji Suyoi;  the Permanent Secretaries at the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Education as well as the Acting Tutong District Officer.

His Royal Highness then proceeded to the school hall. The Acting Penghulu of Mukim Telisai, Awang Ahmad bin Aman in his welcoming address pledged undivided loyalty to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Dipertuan of Brunei Darussalam. He also touched on the infrastructure and basic facilities as well as the developments in the Mukim.

His Royal Highness later toured the Tumpuan Telisai Primary School. The school introduced the Integrated Education System in January this year. Last year the school recorded 70% passes for the Primary Six examination.

His Royal Highness then went to the residence of the Ketua Kampung Telisai, Awang Haji Mohamad Zun bin Haji Mohamad Tajin. There, His Royal Highness consented to view an exhibition and activities presented by the kampung residents. Kampung Telisai has a population of about three thousand and two hundred residing in some four hundred and nineteen houses.

His Royal Highness then proceeded to the residence of the Ketua Kampung Danau, Awang Haji Abdullah bin Abdul Rashid. Kampung Danau is situated twenty two kilometers from the Tutong town. There His Royal Highness consented to receive a donation of one thousand dollars from Syarikat  Haji Yakub bin Taruddin in aid of the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Al-Muhtadee Billah Fund for Orphans.

The Kampung Telisai Health Centre was His Royal Highness's next destination. The health centre   provides comprehensive medical and health services to residents in the Mukim. The Kampung Telisai Health Centre began its services in June 1989 and currently has eleven health workers comprising a medical officer, nurses, a midwife and clerks. During the tour, His Royal Highness talked to the patients, and enquired after their health, aside from consenting to receive greetings from them and staff members.

His Royal Highness next stopped at the Semaun Aquaculture Sendirian Berhad, a subsidiary company of Syarikat Semaun Prims Sendirian Berhad. Situated in KampungTunggulian, the company was established in May 2002 to spearhead the development of commercial-scale fisheries industry in Brunei, provide export opportunity for aquaculture products for Bruneians and assist towards the success of local  farmers by ensuring steady and regular export market.  

There His Royal Highness consented to receive a donation of one thousand dollars for the Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah Fund for Orphans. His Royal Highness' next stop was the nearby Golden Chicks Hatchery and Breeding Farm Sendirian Berhad. The company began its operation in 1997 with a vision to supply sufficient poultry for domestic consumption. At the farm, His Royal Highness also consented to receive a donation of five thousand dollars to be donated to the Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah's Fund for Orphans. From there, His Royal Highness proceeded to the Telisai Police Post, established to monitor the safety and well-being of residents in the Mukim.

The Telecommunications Department's Telisai Earth Station was His Royal Highness's next stop. The station's mission is to provide high-quality with affordable price of info-communication services channel in fulfilling social aspiration and the economy of His Majesty's government as well as citizens of Brunei Darussalam.

His Royal Highness then proceeded to the Bukit Beruang National Housing Scheme Mosque to perform the mid-day  Zohor prayer.  After performing the Zohor prayer, His Royal Highness moved to the nearby Pengiran Kesuma Negara Primary School's hall for a luncheon. His Royal Highness then visited the school's classrooms. Pengiran Kesuma Negara Primary School was first used in January 1999.

His Royal Highness later consented to visit the residence of the Acting Penghulu of Mukim Telisai. There, His Royal Highness consented to view an exhibition and activities presented by the Mukim residents. There are three villages under Mukim Telisai namely Kampung Danau, Kampung Telisai and Kampung Bukit Beruang with a total population of more than five thousand. His Royal Highness next stopped at one of the houses under the Kampung Bukit Beruang National Housing Scheme.

His Royal Highness ended his visit at the Housing Development Department, Tutong Branch, located at the Bukit Beruang National Housing Scheme Community Hall Building. There are two types of housing provided by His Majesty's government in the area namely the housing scheme for Landless Indigenous citizens at Kampong Telisai where one hundred and seventy-one houses now stand; and the National Housing Programme at Kampong Bukit Beruang with five hundred and thirty houses. Located at the Bukit Beruang National Housing Plan. In the future, the Housing Development Department is planning a housing development project in Mukim Keriam.

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah is to attend the First Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia.

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah who is also the President of The Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council left the country for the 13-day game with Brunei's contingent of more than 20 athletes and officials.

Present to bid farewell to the contingent was the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Dato Seri Paduka Doctor Haji Awang Hussein. Brunei Darussalam will be participating in five of the 15 events at the games such as fencing, karate-do, tae-kwon-do, tennis and athletic. Four main cities; Mecca, Jeddah, Madinah and Taif will be the main venues for the games which will start tomorrow.