His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddien Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to receive in audience the Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs. His Majesty received the visiting Honourable Alberto G. Romulo at Istana Nurul Iman Tuesday.

Present was the Special Advisor to His Majesty at the Prime Minister's Office and the Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Dato Haji Awang Isa, the Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, Pehin Dato Awang Haji Yahya,

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, the President of the Brunei Darussalam's National Olympic Council has attended the second day of the 1st National Shooting Championship 2005 held at the Jerudong Shooting Range. His Royal Highness participated in the men's trap event, not to compete but just to give moral support to the participants.

Awang Rizal Fuzian bin Salleh from the Royal Brunei Police Force emerged as the best shooter in the men's final trap event by collecting one hundred and nine points defeating five other shooters. His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah later consented to witness the men's final trap event. Meanwhile, Dayang Madiani binti Haji Metali from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces emerged as the top shooter in the final women's trap event. The championship continues today at the same venue.

The standard of Jawi literacy among teachers in the country is at a moderate level. This is according to several researches conducted jointly by the Planning, Development and Research Department and the Universiti Brunei Darussalam in gathering information on the status of Jawi literacy among teachers within the Ministry of Education.

The Minister of Education, Pehin Dato Haji Awang Abdul Aziz revealed this matter at the Certificate presentation of Jawi Skills Course Tuesday. Yang Berhormat Pehin said, lately Jawi writing seemed to be ignored because Romanized writing has dominated the development of the Malay Language. The Minister said the Romanized writing has been strengthened through the education system and the core of administration, and this has affected the usage of Jawi writing.

Yang Berhormat stressed that measures and strategies that have been conducted by the Ministry of Education in expanding the Jawi Skills were through the school curriculum, teachers and schools' administration as well as dissemination of information to the public.

More than 100 teachers from integrated schools received their certificates after the completion of 10 days of Jawi skills course held nationwide.

Malaysia has spoken highly of Brunei Darussalam's stable educational system and vision, consistent with its efforts to create the Brunei identity. The view was expressed by the Malaysian Education Minister, Yang Berhormat Dato Sri Hisammudin Tun Hussein, who is currently on an official visit to the country.

According to Yang Berhormat, with their firm educational policies, Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia have no need to look to any particular model for education. Yang Berhormat spoke on the stability of the Brunei educational system and he lauded the national leadership vision which according to him is very clear.

The Malaysian Education Minister said he observed that the Brunei approach is firm and the vision clear. But in an ever-changing environment both countries need to have the teaching resources that also seek to attain excellence. It is indeed right for Brunei Darussalam to have its own mould towards producing citizens who will lead the country. This was yet another element observed by the Malaysian Education Minister during his visit to Brunei Darussalam.

Yang Berhormat hoped that the bilateral relations would not be limited only between himself and the Brunei Minister of Education, but would be further strengthened and enhanced between teachers and officers of the two countries. This is so that they can find the best and most suitable ways in accordance with the characteristics and requirements of the two countries. He stressed that Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia have no need to look to any particular model for education because they are fortunate in that they can choose from the best approaches in the world.

The Minister of Health says in response of His Majesty's desire to see the country producing more clerics, intellectuals and experts in various fields, the Brunei Islamic Bank Berhad is considering Fellowship Awards known as the IBB Fellowships at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

This was disclosed by Pehin Dato Awang Haji Abu Bakar who is also Chairman of the IBB Berhad and its subsidiary groups and the Takaful IBB Berhad, at the launching of a four-month course on Islamic Banking and Finance for Officers and Staff of the bank. Yang Berhormat said the Fellowship Awards will be for Islamic Banking and Finance course, and it aims to upgrade knowledge and expertise in the field with hopes the initiative would upgrade the standard of Islamic banking and finance in the country.

At the function, the Minister of Health and the Vice Chancellor of UBD, Doctor Haji Ismail witnessed the signing of the Fellowship Awards between the two institutions. More than 20 employees of the bank attend the course being held at the UBD.

The 5th Joint Commission on Defence Cooperation meeting between Brunei Darussalam and the United Kingdom has started. The two-day meeting, which aims to foster the existing closer relations and cooperation between the two countries, is hosted by the Ministry of Defence in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Brunei's delegation consisting of senior officers from the Ministry of Defence, the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was led by the Deputy Permanent Secretary Policy and Development Ministry of Defence, Awang Haji Mustapa Bin Haji Sirat. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom delegation made up of officials from the Ministry of Defence, the UK Armed Forces was led by the Director-General of Operational Policy at the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence, Mr. Martin Howard.
Also present was the British High Commissioner to the country, His Excellency Andrew Caie. The meeting discussed reports on several bilateral cooperation activities including policy and strategy which need cooperation between both governments as well as to exchange ideas on mutual benefit issues.

Three ships from the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force - JMSDF are in Brunei waters on a goodwill mission to enhance mutual cooperation with the Royal Brunei Navy as well as to forge bilateral ties between the two nations. The three ships namely Hatsuyuki, Hamayuki and Isoyuki are the destroyers from Japan's Maritime Self- Defense Force Overseas' Training Unit. The ships comprise of five hundred and fifty crew members and will be in the country until Friday. The crew will be engaged in activities promoting positive interaction between Brunei Darussalam and Japan as well as exchanging information between the two Navies.

Meanwhile, the Commander of Escort Division Three of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, Captain Masahiro Emi paid a courtesy call on the Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy, Colonel Joharie bin Haji Matussin at the Navy Headquarters. Also present were the Ambassador of Japan, His Excellency Yoshinobu Nisaka as well as senior officials of both navies.

In the meantime, the Hamayuki Ship will be open to the public at the Muara Commercial Port Wednesday and Thursday from nine to eleven in the morning and from one-thirty until four-thirty in the afternoon.