His Royal Highness Prince Mohamad Bolkiah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is in Cebu in the Philippines to attend a three-day Asean Foreign Ministers' Retreat. Upon arrival at the Cebu Airport Sunday afternoon, His Royal Highness was welcomed by Brunei Darussalam's Ambassador to the Republic, Her Excellency Emelin binti Abdul Rahman Teo.

During the retreat which began Sunday, His Royal Highness and the other Asean ministers are expected to exchange views on a number of current regional developments and Asean matters of common concern.

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, the President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council has continued to make his rounds to observe the conditions of the accommodation for the country's officers and athletes who are taking part in the First Islamic Solidarity Games being held in Saudi Arabia.

This time, the President of the Brunei National Olympic Council took a closer look at the Games Village of the King Abdul Aziz Sports City, which accommodates Brunei delegates who are taking part in the athletic events and taekwando. Throughout the tour, His Royal Highness was accompanied by Brunei's General Consul to Jeddah, Pengiran Haji Jabaruddin bin Pengiran Haji Mohamed Salleh.

The Games Village also accommodates RTB crews who are covering the sports meet. The athletic events and taekwondo begin today. Meanwhile Brunei's karate-do exponents began their challenge Sunday.

The Housing Development Department and the Survey Department emerged as the winners in the male and female categories respectively of the Dikir Syarafil Annam Competition for the Ministry of development and departments under it. The event took place Sunday.

The Al-Ham team of the Housing Development Department won in the men's category after they defeated six other teams. The women's category was clinched by Bisharin team of the Survey Department after they defeated three other teams.

Prizes were presented by the Minister of Development, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Doctor Awang Haji Ahmad bin Haji Jumat and spouse, who also donated the trophies for both categories. The challenge trophy for the male category was contributed by permanent secretaries at the ministry. This year's competition was organised by the Housing Development Department.

Towards realising the meaning and objective of the Integrated Education System, the implementation of the Islamic studies for Muslim students and understanding Islamic religion for non-Muslim students is compulsory at all levels of education.

For short term, the Integrated Education System is combining the three curriculums of Religious subject, Al-Quran and Religious Knowledge being practiced at the primary school level as one module.

The education agenda was discussed during a meeting Sunday between the Director of the Islamic Education, Dayang Hajah Kasmah binti Haji Siput, and Officers and Religious School Teachers for Brunei Muara Zone One, Three and Four as well teachers from Arabic School.

The meeting also discussed the adaptation of Islamic values and the realisation of the concept of Islamic knowledge in the long term which will be upgraded in all subjects. The meeting was a follow-up of similar discussions held recently to further clarification on the status of the Integrated Education System.

More than one thousand officers and teachers from the Islamic Education Department attended the gathering. It took place at the Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah College in Gadong.