Latest news with #MahirHaneef
Daily Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Learning Is National Investment: HH Shaikh Mohammed
• Investment in education stressed • Bayan School history preserved • Private sector role praised You Know What: Established in 1982, Bahrain Bayan School is the Kingdom's first national, non-profit, bilingual private school. Mahir Haneef TDT| Manama His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa has stressed that education must remain a top priority for national investment and innovation, calling it vital to building a brighter and more prosperous future. HH made the remarks on Wednesday while inaugurating the 'Nassiyat Al Elm' project at Bahrain Bayan School, a new initiative under his patronage that seeks to document and preserve the Kingdom's private education heritage. Legacy meets vision HH Shaikh Mohammed said Bahrain's leadership, under His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, places education at the centre of national development. HH highlighted the role of innovation and empowerment in equipping Bahrainis for success and praised the national workforce and private schools for their contribution to advancing the sector and shaping future generations. Bayan School honoured Founded in 1982, Bahrain Bayan School stands as a pioneering national, non-profit bilingual institution. The new project, launched on its campus, features an archive of historical documents and photographs chronicling the evolution of private education in Bahrain. HH Shaikh Mohammed toured the exhibition and commended its role in preserving the Kingdom's academic legacy for future generations. HH also praised Her Excellency Dr Shaikha May bint Sulaiman Al-Otaibi, the school's Founder and Executive Chairperson, for her leadership in raising educational standards. Support recognised HE Dr Al-Otaibi described the archive as an essential academic and cultural reference, enabling students and researchers to engage with the story of Bahrain's educational development. She thanked HH Shaikh Mohammed for his patronage and acknowledged the sponsors - National Bank of Bahrain, Al Salam Bank, GFH Financial Group, and Khaleeji Commercial Bank -for their critical support. The archive will be accessible to the public and is expected to enhance the national education landscape as a valuable long-term resource.
Daily Tribune
4 days ago
- Daily Tribune
Beneath Bare Feet, Mecca Engineers Mercy
Saudi expands white roads to cool pilgrims' path • 82% expansion in cooled roads • Walkways aid elderly, disabled • Trees, mist enhance comfort You Know What: During Hajj, ground temperatures in Mecca can exceed 60°C under direct sun, posing serious risks of heatstroke for barefoot or thinly-shod pilgrims. Mahir Haneef TDT| Manama Saudi Arabia has significantly expanded its cooled roads initiative in Mecca, offering critical relief to pilgrims as temperatures continue to rise across the region. The project, launched in 2023, has now grown by 82%, transforming over 84,000 square metres of pedestrian routes in Arafat using locally sourced, heat-reflective materials. These specially developed surfaces reduce road temperature by nearly 12°C and reflect up to 40% more sunlight in the early hours, helping mitigate the effects of urban heat islands while cutting down on energy use and pollution. Accessibility focus Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser, Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the Roads General Authority, inaugurated the upgraded stretch of the 'White Road' project, which includes new features aimed at enhancing mobility for individuals with disabilities. A 4,000-metre accessibility path leading to Mount Arafat was unveiled as part of the initiative. The path is surfaced with cooled materials designed to minimise vibrations, allowing easier navigation for wheelchair users and those with mobility challenges. Rubber roads, green corridor The expansion also includes a 33% increase in flexible rubber walkways, designed to soften the ground beneath pilgrims' feet. Extending from Namira Mosque to Arafat Train Station, the upgraded stretch brings the total rubber-paved area to 16,000 square metres. Testing by the Road Research Centre confirmed the material's safety and comfort, especially for elderly pilgrims. To further ease the journey, a green corridor project now lines a 1,200-metre stretch of the route with trees and shade. Cooling mist systems and water fountains, installed in collaboration with the Abdulrahman Fakieh Charitable Foundation, have been added to lower ambient temperatures and improve air quality. Global ranking goals The Roads General Authority aims to position Saudi Arabia among the top six countries globally in road quality by 2030. The Kingdom already leads in intercity connectivity with a network exceeding 73,000 kilometres and is working to reduce road fatalities to fewer than five per 100,000 people. The expanded initiative reflects Saudi Arabia's ongoing push to blend innovation, accessibility, and safety into its transport infrastructure, particularly during high-density pilgrimage seasons.
Daily Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain backs ASEAN-GCC free trade push at summit
• Bahrain pushes trade pact • GCC-ASEAN deal supported • Malaysia-GCC FTA welcomed You Know What: The GCC and ASEAN collectively represent nearly 10% of global GDP, making their trade partnership a rising force in global economics. Mahir Haneef TDT| Manama Bahrain has reiterated its support for stronger Gulf-Asian economic cooperation by backing the launch of talks for a GCC-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, announced during the second ASEAN-GCC Summit held in Kuala Lumpur. His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, issued the call while representing His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the high-level gathering, which brought together leaders and senior officials from both blocs. Trade priorities aligned HRH praised the signing of a joint statement that officially launched negotiations for a Malaysia-GCC Free Trade Agreement on Monday. The signing was witnessed by His Highness the Crown Prince of Kuwait and the Prime Minister of Malaysia, and was described by HRH as a milestone that sets the stage for broader regional integration. Reaffirming Bahrain's commitment to advancing collective prosperity, HRH said the proposed GCC-ASEAN FTA would provide a practical framework for strengthening economic and political ties while promoting coordinated action in a rapidly changing global environment. Shared goals and vision HRH also referenced the first GCC-ASEAN Strategic Dialogue held in Bahrain fifteen years ago, noting that what began as exploratory engagement has matured into a genuine strategic partnership. From food security and sustainable tourism to education and clean energy, HRH said the two regions are increasingly aligned in their approach to shared priorities. 'There is tangible progress and real momentum in our collaboration,' HRH noted, adding that this spirit of cooperation is key to turning challenges into long-term opportunities. Commitment to cooperation During the summit, HRH reaffirmed Bahrain's dedication to multilateralism and diplomacy, referencing HM King Hamad's call at last year's Arab Summit in Bahrain for an international peace conference on the Middle East. HRH concluded by emphasising the importance of people-to-people connections and cultural exchanges in building a resilient and forward-looking partnership. 'Through our people, we will build a future-ready alliance that delivers prosperity and peace,' HRH said.
Daily Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain Marks Journalism Milestone; Nation Honours 25 Years of Journalism
• Press pioneers to be honoured • Silver Jubilee marked Saturday • Royal support reaffirmed You Know What: The Bahrain Journalists Association was one of the first independent media bodies in the GCC to introduce professional training programmes for journalists as early as 2001. Mahir Haneef TDT| Manama Bahrain will honour its pioneering press figures this Saturday evening as the Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA) marks its 25th anniversary with an official ceremony under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The Silver Jubilee celebration will shine a spotlight on the contributions of the founding generation of journalists who established the association in March 2000, and who helped shape Bahrain's professional media landscape over the past two and a half decades. Founders honoured The event will pay tribute to several prominent Bahraini figures who played a central role in transforming the idea of the association into a functioning institution dedicated to protecting journalists' rights and upholding standards of professionalism, independence, and organisational integrity in journalism. Among those to be honoured are Nabeel bin Yaqub Al-Hamar, Dr. Hilal Al Shaiji, Isa Al Shaiji, Anwar Abdulrahman, Ali Sayyar, Ahmed Salman Kamal, Ebrahim Bashmi, Ali Saleh, Khalid Rashid Al Zayani, Saeed Mohammed, Abdullah Al Ayoobi, and Abdullah Salman. Royal support Chairman of the Association, Isa Al Shaiji, expressed deep appreciation to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for the consistent support extended to the national press since the beginning of his reign. He also thanked HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister for his continued backing and for personally patronising the Jubilee event and the Prime Minister's Award for Journalism. Al Shaiji described the occasion as a 'historic milestone' for Bahraini journalism, symbolising the evolution of media as a respected partner in the Kingdom's development. Legacy and future The celebration will also recognise entities and companies that supported the BJA's initiatives over the years, contributing to the association's sustainability and its mission to develop journalism in Bahrain. In addition to formal speeches, the programme will feature a documentary highlighting the BJA's journey, offering a look back at how the organisation has evolved alongside the Kingdom's own transformation.
Daily Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
From Manama to ASEAN: HRH Prince Salman bolsters Thai, Malaysian ties
• Leaders discuss economic ties • Focus on ASEAN-GCC summits • Visit includes Malaysia talks You Know What: Thailand was the first Southeast Asian country to establish formal diplomatic ties with Bahrain in 1977, a partnership that has steadily grown through trade and tourism. Mahir Haneef TDT| Manama His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, reinforced Bahrain's strategic engagement in Southeast Asia on Monday during his official visit to Malaysia, where he also met with the Prime Minister of Thailand on the sidelines of the ASEAN-GCC and ASEAN-GCC-China Summits. Diplomatic push Meeting with Her Excellency Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Prime Minister of Thailand, HRH Prince Salman emphasised the Kingdom's strong and expanding ties with Thailand. Both leaders discussed bilateral cooperation and reviewed opportunities to deepen coordination across economic and development sectors. HRH underlined the importance of elevating Bahraini-Thai collaboration, stating that joint efforts will help unlock new opportunities for growth that serve the mutual aspirations of both nations. The leaders also exchanged views on key regional and international issues, exploring avenues for broader strategic alignment in a rapidly evolving global context. Summit participation HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister is leading Bahrain's delegation at the ASEAN-GCC Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, held this week in Malaysia. The meetings aim to foster stronger links between Gulf and Southeast Asian nations, particularly in trade, sustainable development, and security. HRH highlighted the summits as pivotal platforms for sharing expertise and promoting regional collaboration, which he said is critical to unlocking new prospects for sustainable growth and stability. High-level delegation Travelling on behalf of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, HRH Prince Salman was received upon arrival in Malaysia by Yang Berhormat Senator Dato' Seri DiRaja Dr. Zambry bin Abdul Kadir, Malaysia's Minister of Higher Education. The Crown Prince is accompanied by a senior delegation that includes His Excellency Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, H.E. Noor bint Ali Al-Khulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, HH Shaikh Abdullah bin Isa Al Khalifa, and H.E. Colonel Shaikh Ahmed bin Isa Al Khalifa. HRH is also expected to meet with senior Malaysian officials during the official visit, with both sides looking to expand cooperation in multiple sectors. HRH Prince Salman's engagements this week signal a renewed diplomatic momentum in Bahrain's relations with key Asian partners.
