His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddien Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Dipertuan of Brunei Darussalam has attended the official opening of the Second South Summit of the Group of 77 in Doha, Qatar. The two-day summit is being attended by heads of state or government of the 132 member states from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Caribbean. Fifty of the G-77

member countries are undeveloped, 50 others in the process of development and 32 in development.
 

The G-77 gathering was inaugurated by the Emir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani. During the summit, the G-77 leaders are expected to address the State of South-South Cooperation and to review the development challenges facing by members of the group. In this context, the summit will review the progress in the implementation of the Havana

Programme of Action, which was adopted at the First Summit in Cuba in 2000. Summit sources say the gathering is expected to issue two documents namely the Doha Declaration and the Doha Plan of Action.

Brunei Darussalam is making relentless efforts to preserve some of its wildlife, especially those listed as endangered species and these include turtles. So far numerous baby turtles have been released into the sea from Brunei beaches. And Wednesday, two wildlife species, the slow loris (Kukang) and tarsier (Tanpalilih) were released into the wild forests of Tasik Merimbun in the Tutong District.
 

According to the Curator of Natural History at the Brunei Museums Department, both mammals are among the wildlife species whose population is small and should be protected from poachers. Under the country’s Wildlife Act, there are 34 endangered species of wildlife that are protected and they are not be hunted or kept in captivity. Under the current law, there are seven species of mammals, 23 species of birds and four species of reptiles that are listed as protected species. People caught contravening the law are liable to a fine of two thousand dollars or one year imprisonment.

making soy bean drink in this country has grown recently, with some locals even producing soy bean drinks with different flavours.
 

A 29 year-old permanent resident, Asri bin Amadi was fined a sum of one thousand six hundred dollars by the Bandar Seri Begawan Magistrate’s Court or in default three months in jail for offences punishable under the Customs Act.
 

Asri was said to have brought in eight cartons of chicken wings weighting 80 kilogrammes without permit. He was caught by the police at the Rasau toll area in Kuala Belait who found the contraband goods inside his car. He was given eight weeks to pay the fine. All the smuggled goods were confiscated and the court ordered them to be destroyed.

The Philippine Embassy in the sultanate has organised a traditional dance show at the International Convention Centre in Berakas inconjunction with the Republic’s 107th anniversary of its independence. Wednesday night’s performance was also attended by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Major General Retired Pehin Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Mohammad bin Haji Mohammad Daud and his spouse, Datin Hajah Saidah.
 

The traditional dance show included the Bayanihan performance by fifteen dancers. Their presence is the third in the sultanate and they have so far been making performances in nearly five hundred towns in the world. The Bayanihan troupe, who is also known as the Philippine National Treasure, has also received numerous awards for their outstanding performances.