Frigate Sabha returns to Bahrain

Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa expressed pride in the officers and the crew of Sabha for their participation in the "Operation Restoring Hope".

Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa recently patronised a ceremony marking the return of the Royal Bahrain Naval Force (RBNF) frigate Sabha to the kingdom after taking part in the "Operation Restoring Hope".
On arrival at the RBNF's headquarters, the commander-in-chief was welcomed by the BDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Dheyab bin Saqr Al Nuaimi and a number of senior BDF officers.
The royal anthem was played, and then the commander-in-chief greeted the ship's crew and met its commander Captain Adnan Hussain Safar and some officers.
Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa expressed pride in the officers and the crew of Sabha for their participation in the "Operation Restoring Hope".
The commander-in-Chief conveyed greetings from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander and lauded BDF's personnel for carrying out their sacred national and humanitarian duties bravely and courageously, praying to Allah Almighty to grant victory to BDF servicemen and their brethren from the Saudi-led Arab Coalition.
The Bahraini frigate's participation in the coalition aimed at protecting Yemen and its legitimate government, and implement the UN Security Council's resolutions.
Holy Quran recitation contest organised
Under the patronage of Education Minister Dr Majid bin Ali Al Nuaimi, the Student Services Directorate in the ministry has organised the Holy Quran and Prophet's Sunnah Award contest for memorisation of Chapters 25, 27 and 27 of the Holy Quran for administrative and educational Staff.
More than 70 contestants from schools all over the Kingdom participated in the annual event in the Cultural and Artistic Activities Centre.
The contest aims at training contestants on proper recitation methods according to the rules, to deduce the terms and provisions and utilise them in public life and to promote the spirit of competitiveness as a team among the contestants and to discover, encourage and follow up good recitation voices.
Finance minister urges economic diversification
Finance Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa urged diversified sources of income and reduction of reliance on oil revenues. He stressed the need to muster all efforts to confront current financial challenges which are resulting from plummeting oil prices in international markets.
He underlined the necessity to resort to borrowing to carry out endorsed plans, stressing the need to address current conditions without affecting medium and low-income people.
He outlined the three-pronged Government strategy to boost non-oil revenues maintain Bahrain's financial stability and support the pillars of the national economy. He stressed the need to recover the costs of fees levied on Government services and restructure Government subsidies of goods and basic services to benefit eligible citizens.
Citing updated figures, he said that Bahrain's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) soared to BD12.7 billion in 2014 up from BD3.4 billion in 2000. He stressed the steady growth of transformative industries, financial firms, transport and telecommunications in addition to the sector or personal and social services.
He pointed out that the policy of diversification has paid off as the contribution of oil and gas in the GDP dropped to 24% last year, down from 44% in 2000. Meanwhile, non-oil revenues rose from BD262 million in 2009 to BD399 million last year.

Under the patronage of Bahrain's Education Minister Dr Majid bin Ali Al Nuaimi, the Student Services Directorate at the educations ministry recently organised the Holy Quran and Prophet's Sunnah Award contest for memorisation of the Holy Quran for administrative and educational staff.
More than 70 contestants from schools all over the Kingdom participated in the annual event at the Cultural and Artistic Activities Centre.
The contest aims at training contestants on proper recitation methods according to the rules, to help them mould thier lives according to true principles of Islam, instill true spirit of righteousness and competitiveness as a team.
The memorisation contest helps them discover, encourage and follow up good recitation voices.

Finance Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa urged diversification of sources of income and less reliance on oil revenues.
He stressed the need to muster all efforts to confront current financial challenges which have resulted from plummeting oil prices in international markets.
He outlined three-pronged government strategy to boost non-oil revenues, maintain Bahrain's financial stability and support the pillars of the national economy.
He stressed the need to recover the costs of fees levied on government services and restructure government subsidies and basic services to benefit eligible citizens. Citing updated figures, he said that Bahrain's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) soared to BD12.7 billion in 2014 up from BD3.4 billion in 2000.
He pointed out that the policy of diversification has paid off as the contribution of oil and gas in the GDP dropped to 24% last year, down from 44% in 2000. Meanwhile, non-oil revenues rose from BD262 million in 2009 to BD399 million last year.

The Labour and Social Development Ministry will host a female career expo on December 27 to 28, as part of its efforts to diversify the mechanisms for employing women in the private sector institutions.
To be held at the ministry's hall from 8 to 3pm , the expo aims at providing employment for female university graduates in the banking and financial sector. Thirty three financial and banking institutions will take part in the expo and offer 303 job opportunities.
Labour and Social Development Minister will open the event in which the participating sides will showcase their needs from female national competencies in the financial and banking field.

• Bahrain