Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei Darussalam has been allocated more booths at the 2010 China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO) set for October 20 in Nanning, China.

According to the Secretary-General-of the China-Asean Expo Secretariat and Director General of the Guangxi International Expositions Bureau, Zheng Junjian during a press conference, Wednesday, Brunei's participation in the CAEXPO has seen a year-on-year increase in terms of booths they need and the number of enterprises.

Read more: More Booths For Brunei At CAEXPO

Bandar Seri Begawan - A civil servant was brought to the Magistrate's Court in the capital yesterday for violating Section 420 of the Penal Code (Cap 22) and, if convicted, he can be punished with imprisonment for a term that may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to a fine.

According to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, L/Cpl Shamsuddin bin Haji Jainuddin, in October 2006, had cheated a local man by deceiving him into thinking that he could assist in expediting the approval of his 10 years' passage allowance from the Ministry of Finance and dishonestly induced the man to hand over $400 to him, when in fact he never gave such assistance.

No plea was taken and the court set bail for the Royal Brunei Armed Forces personnel at $4,000 or one local surety.

The case will be further mentioned on September 16, 2010 at 10am.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

9 RBAF personnel leave for Philippines

Bandar Seri Begawan - National duties, be they at home or abroad, don't wait for any festivities. But for the families of nine personnel of Royal Brunei Armed Forces yesterday, who have been deployed to the seventh International Monitoring Team (IMT) mission to oversee the ceasefire agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), it was a touch emotional to see their beloved ones leave them less than a fortnight before Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

The nine were given a send-off in a ceremony held at Hangar B of the Royal Brunei Air Force Base in Kg Rimba.

The deployment of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces personnel is part of dregional cooperation that continues to contribute to the peace support assistance and stability of neighbouring states. The latest contingent comprises 540 Maj (U)Amiruddin bin Hj Tuah, 579 Maj Abdul Mutalip bin Bujang, Cpt Norranellwi bin Saeran, 680 Cpt (U) Suhaili bin Hj Mail, 9869 W02 (L) Abd Rahman bin Hj Jambol, 10334 W02 Saidi bin Hj Tudin, 10323 Sgt Sufri bin Saidin and 12933 1 Sgt (U) Md Suni bin Hj Mahmod and will be led by 248 Lt Col Hasmee-bin Hj Abdul Wahab.

The nine soldiers will form a mobile team to be stationed in Cotabato City, Philippines where they will be responsible for observing and monitoring the implementation of the cessation of hostilities as well as agreements signed between government soldiers and the MILF.

During their one-year tour of duty, the RBAF team will be given privileges and immunities as resident diplomatic representatives.

This involvement also provides the RBAF personnel with much-needed experience and exposure in overseas missions.

Prior to their departure, Deputy Minister of Defence, Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat put on the armbands for each of the nine personnel, witnessed by senior officers from the Ministry of Defence, RBAF officers and family members of the personnel.

Also in attendance at the farewell ceremony were RBAF Commander Major General Dato Paduka Seri Hj Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Hj Abidin, Philippines Embassy official, Malaysian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, Hj Saifulbahri bin Hj Mansor, Deputy Permanent Secretaries, Service Commanders and Commandant of Training Institute RBAF, as well as Military and Civilian Directors at the Ministry of Defence.

Earlier this week, a doa selamat was held for the officers and personnel.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Meanwhile

9 RBAF Officers Join Mindanao Peace Team

Bandar Seri Begawan - Nine of the nation's finest Royal Brunei Armed Forces officers departed for Mindanao to continue the Sultanate's commitment to monitor the peace process in the Philippines.

The nine personnel will form a part of the seventh International Monitoring Team (IMT) mission to oversee the ceasefire agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Their deployment forms part of Brunei Darussalam's commitment to regional cooperation and to providing support assistance and stability of neighbouring states.

Read more: Emotional Farewell For Peacekeepers

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Indonesian Embassy in Brunei is seeking to engage a defence counsel to represent one of its citizens who has been accused of an attempted murder of a toddler.

During the proceedings at the High Court yesterday, Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Hj Kifrawi Dato Paduka Hj Kifli granted the application and adjourned the case to October 16, in order for the embassy to secure a defence lawyer for Suyanti.

Read more: Indonesia Embassy To Engage Counsel For Citizen Accused Of Attempted Murder

Bandar Seri Begawan - Securing a place in either the University of Oxford or Cambridge is "a possible dream" for Bruneian students.

While admission is competitive, it is encouraging to note that one in five applicants secured one of the 3,300 seats available at Cambridge last year, while more than one in six people who applied for Oxford were successful.

These observations were made by British High Commissioner. Mr Rob Fenn, the guest of honour at the 4th Oxbridge Roadshow hosted by Maktab Duli Pengiran Al-Muhtadee Billah's in Gadong yesterday.

Mr Fenn and his spouse, Mrs Julia Fenn, who are both Cambridge graduates, said they were looking forward to helping Bruneians prepare their application for the prestigious higher learning institutes.

Read more: Studying At Oxford, Cambridge Uni `A Possible Dream' For Brunei Students