Brunei Darussalam and South Africa are to explore more ways to enhance their bilateral relations. The move was revealed by the Foreign Minister of the Republic of South Africa, Her Excellency Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in a media conference.
 

Her Excellency explained that her visit to country was aimed at exploring possible cooperation between the two countries.
 

Her Excellency also said that South Africa is a country with a diverse economy, and a follow-ups visit will be necessary in order to find out where Brunei Darussalam and South Africa's interests align. The visiting minister also said that South Africa is a relatively young country, but has achieved much development in the 10 years or so since the abolishment of apartheid.

Work values and ethics such as honesty, trustworthiness, innovativeness, creativity and teamwork spirit are essential to be posessed by every civil servant. Emphasising this at the Convention of Quality Control Circle for the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports this morning, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry said that these qualities are especially important in the context and principle of Quality Control Circle to excel in conducting any project.
 

Dato Paduka Awang Haji Yakub bin Awang Abu Bakar said that the civil service is an important and critical institution which is the backbone or administrative generator of a nation. He underscored that as such all officers and personnel have the heavy responsibility of ensuring that civil service generates high quality and productive as well as constructive services.
 

The "PELITA" team from the Youth Unit of Youth and Sports Department of the Belait District Branch was adjudged the winner. The team is responsible in overseeing youth and community-related matters as well as helping Youth Associations in their applications for financial assistance quicker and through the proper channels.

The winning team will represent the Ministry at the National Level Convention of Quality Control Circle among Ministries this year.

The Tanjong Maya Association or PERTAMA for short was formed 45-years ago with the aim at discharging combined effort with government agencies and welfare bodies in the country, in enhancing welfare as well as developing the economy and education in Mukim Tanjong Maya in particular and the nation in general.
 

The PERTAMA Association has implemented and carried out various social activities. Among them was providing job opportunity for local people at its Pertama Primary School. With such achievement, the association was awarded as Excellent Association in Management Category 2004 organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
 

Marking its achievement and formation, the PERTAMA Association Friday organised a Recreation Festival at the Pulau Warisan Tanjong Maya in the Tutong District. Officiating at the one-day festival was the Assistant Tutong District Officer, Awang Haji Wardi.

Youth should equipped themselves with knowledge and skills. The knowledge and skill not only gain at school or institution but also by participating outdoor activities such as Youth Camp. The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Awang Haji Jemat bin Haji Ampal, made the remarks at the Closing Ceremony of a four-day Youth Camp.
 

The Permanent Secretary urged the youth to participate in any beneficial activities in order to develop Quality Self-Development. 65 students comprised of Primary Six and Lower Secondary One and Two took part in the camp. Among the objectives of the programme is to provide the students with the opportunities to develop their communication skills, exchange knowledge, experience and ideas with new friends. It also aims to instill good discipline and team work among students.

Brunei Darussalam will observe the International Day against Drugs Abuse and Illicit Trafficking tomorrow with the theme: ''Value Yourself, Make Healthy Choices". Brunei Darussalam, as a member of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, remains steadfast in its efforts in the war against drugs. In conjunction with the event, the country's Narcotics Control Bureau today received a donation of several hundred pieces of T-shirts worth 9 thousand dollars from HSBC Brunei.
 

The banks' Chief Executive Officer Mr.Guy Priestly presented the donation to the Acting Director of the NCB, Awang Haji Abdul Majid bin Mangarshah. The International Day against Drugs Abuse and Illicit Trafficking will be marked with day-long activities involving several government agencies,non-governmental organisations, school children and the Parents-Youth Movement Against Drugs Abuse. The programme will be held from 930 in the morning to 930 in the evening, at the Mall in Gadong.

The concern of the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation in extending charities, especially in helping those befalled with misfortune, is consistent with the objectives of it's establishment.
 

This morning the foundation made a donation of 6 thousand and 500 dollars to six families whose houses were burnt in fires. On hand to present the donation to the head of each family was the Managing Director of the Foundation, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Ali Hashim. The families comprising 25 members lost their houses at the Kampong Mumong Housing Scheme, Kampong Tunggulian near Sungai Liang and Kampong Sungai Bakong in Lumut recently. The function took place at the residence of the Ketua of Kampong Lumut One.
 

Nearly 50 thousand dollars were donated to a converts in Temburong district to enable him to build a house

The government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang DiPertuan of Brunei Darussalam, through various agencies is constantly giving due attention to the well-being of the rakyat and people.

Yesterday, a muslim convert in the Temburong District received financial aid of more than 48 thousand dollars from the Dakwah Islamic Centre and the Brunei Islamic Religious Council to enable him build a new house. About half of the assistance received by Awang Mohd Yusof bin Abdullah came from the Islamic Dakwah Centre and will go towards costs of materials while the remainder to pay for the cost of the construction and other services. Among those present in the foundation-laying ceremony for the house was the Assistant Temburong District Officer, Awang Shahminan bin Haji Tengah.

Awang Mohd Yusof bin Abdullah and his family of five embraced Islam in 1978. He serves with the Royal Brunei Police Force, stationed at the Police Control Post of Kampong Temada, Temburong. He expressed his gratitude for the assistance as he and his family would now be able to live on their own. Presently they are still living in a Long House at Kampong Temada.

The opening rounds of the annual Tug- Of- War competition for the Brunei Muara District was held last night at the Taman Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien in the capital. The competition held inconjunction with His Majesty's 59th Birthday Celebrations was launched by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Major General Retired Dato Haji Awang Mohammad who is also a member of Board of Director of The Islamic Bank of Brunei, IBB.
 

Fifteen teams took part in a week long competition which was divided into ministries, association, private sectors, mukims and kampongs from the Brunei Muara District only. Last night six teams competed in the competition. Tonight another seven teams will compete at the same venue.

More than three thousand personnel from all units of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces today participated in a charity walkathon and cycling events held in conjunction with the 44th formation anniversary of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. Both events commenced at six different locations including the Bolkiah Garrison, the Royal Brunei Air Force base in Kampong Rimba, the Berakas Recreational Park and Tutong Camp.
 

Among those participated was the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Pehin Major General Dato Paduka Haji Awang Halbi. The event can help to build physical and mental strength of the army personnel as well as a get together among the high and lower rank of the force. Walkathon and cycling all ended at the Berakas Garrison. During the charity event, the army collected more than thirty seven thousand dollars.
 

 The proceeds will be donated to the Duli Pengiran Muda Mahkota Al Muhtadee Billah Fund for orphan, the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Orphan fund and the Pusat Ehsan in Kampong Bengkurong. Apart from carrying out their duties in safeguarding the well-being of the nation from any subversive element that can demoralise the peace and sovereignty of the nation, the Royal Brunei Armed Forces also showed their concerns to help the needy through such an activity.