'Visions' features 150 pieces of art by 25 AWA members from around the world.

The paintings and sculptures will remain on sale until Saturday, from 9am to 1pm and 5pm to 8pm.

A ladies morning took place yesterday and a percentage of money raised during the exhibition, staged under the patronage of the Culture and Information Ministry, will be donated to local charities.

When he is not busy introducing listeners to the wider world of classical music on Classic FM, the former barrister and politician runs his own international business consultancy and writes for the Evening Standard, The Guardian and The People.

Around 150 tickets have already been sold for the event, which is hosted by the Bahrain True Blues.

It will start with a reception where chairman Alistair Macleod will present BD2,400 to the RIA Centre and BD2,000 to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

A dinner will then be held, followed by a speech by Mr Mellor, a former member of Britain's Conservative party.

A prolific newspaper, magazine columnist and after-dinner speaker, he presented a very successful phone-in football show on Radio 5 Live, in the 90s.

A limited number of tickets remain for the event, starting at 7.30pm, which will be attended by British Ambassador Jamie Bowden.

Tickets, costing BD20, can be obtained by e-mailing btbevents@gmail.com or calling Steve on 39963616 or George on 36035116.

Health Minister Dr Faisal Al Hamer said the accreditation meant the facilities and services meet all requirements of the world body.

"This is also the first time a government facility in the region has been granted this certification," he told a Press conference.

"Though we have received this accreditation, it does not mean we shall rest on our laurels, because AC will now have yearly inspection visits to ensure that we continue to maintain the facilities."

The BD300,000 accreditation exercise, carried out last year, involved the AC team visiting facilities and evaluating the health education practices, quality of care provided and the level of professionalism displayed by staff.

The minister said that the exercise was part of implementing and fulfilling Bahrain's 2030 Economic Vision, which promises to provide the best possible medical care.

Present at the Press conference were ministry senior officials, including under-secretary Dr Abdul Hai Al Awadhi.

Dr Jean-Jacques Favier was part of the crew that flew from June 20 to July 7 in 1996, orbiting Earth 272 times and covering seven million miles.

He holds a PhD in metallurgy and is a researcher at Centre National D'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) in Paris.

Dr Favier is also a member of the Space Station User Panel of ESA and a member of the Association of Space Explorers.

The lecture will be held at the College of Science and Information Technology in Lecture Hall 50 at its Sakhir campus.

It is open to the public and will begin at midday.

The 'Speak Easy Spoken English' course begins at the ILA premises, Baraka Building, Palace Road, Gudaibiya, next month and lasts for eight weeks.

Classes will be held twice a week and participants will be presented with a certificate at the end of the course.

The course is for those who cannot afford to attend expensive classes.

Peoples with a minimum qualification of high school graduation are eligible to join the course.

The main objective of this project is to help the participants acquire basic communication skills in English, which will enable them to interact better at their work place as well as outside, says the ILA.

Skills

The course is conducted by skilled teachers who volunteer their time, while the co-ordinators organise the classes.

The classes cover basic spoken English, communication and social skills and etiquette.

A nominal fee of BD5 will be charged for enrolment.

Application forms for the course will be available from today at Indian Embassy, Indian Club, Manama Temple, Sacred Heart Church, Central CafŽ, Mysore, Nafoora, Vrindavan, Sangeetha, Gouri Krishna and Century Restaurants.

Selected applicants will be called for an interview at the ILA premises to qualify for registering in the course.

Forms have to be read carefully, filled with correct details and faxed to 17820559 before March 21.

The ILA's speak easy subcommittee members, Sherin Hussain, Thanuja Anil and Annie Mathews are co-ordinating the project.

For further information, call 39116576 or 39402907 or 39900389.

The pair, who are rumoured to be dating, were welcomed at Bahrain International Airport by staff of the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC).

Flo Rida is headlining Saturday's entertainment at this weekend's Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, along with Sean Kingston.

Meanwhile, Bahraini Eman Ali Ghuloom has won BD5,000 in the BIC Race Zone raffle.

It is the second prize awarded this week, with two more BD5,000 draws scheduled over the next few days.

Any individual purchasing tickets for any of the rides or games staged at the BIC Race Zone in Seef, opposite Bahrain City Centre, is eligible to be entered into the raffles.

PEOPLE are invited to take part in an auction on Sunday when goods worth thousands of dinars go under the hammer at Mina Salman.

The auction of the goods, which have been abandoned at the port by importers who have never collected them, will be held at Warehouse No 1 from 9am, a customs official told the GDN yesterday.

"Those interested can be individuals or companies and can examine the goods at the venue before they make their bids," the official, who did not wish to be named, said.

The inspections of the goods can be carried out today until Saturday.

"The goods include clothes, furniture, electronic items, machinery, spare parts, cars, scooters, motorcycles and household articles that have been imported into the country in the last few months."

He said that importers had been asked to complete formalities for the goods by last Monday, but they failed to do so.

There were several reasons for importers failing to collect merchandise once it reached Bahrain, according to customs officials.

These include cars that do not have the required paperwork, machinery the importer feels he does not need anymore etc.

For more information, contact the Customs Affairs on 17359798.

mandeep@gdn.com.bh

The 31-year-old is standing trial alongside his Bahraini wife at the Lower Criminal Court for begging.

The couple appeared in court with their defence team, where the woman said she begged for money to feed her children but claimed her husband wasn't aware of the situation.

The man pleaded not guilty, claiming he didn't know his wife left the house.

The defence team requested the court to release him from police custody.

The judge agreed and released him on a BD50 bail.

Police arrested the 20-year-old woman several times roaming the streets with her seven-year-old stepdaughter begging for money, according to court documents.

She was arrested for the third time last week outside a mosque after Friday prayers where she claimed she was forced to live rough to feed her children.

Police found BD3.500 in her possession when she was arrested, according to court documents.

Initial investigations revealed that her husband dropped her off near the mosque and forced her to beg for cash while he waited for her at a coffee shop.

According court documents, he had also forced his first wife to beg on the streets.

However, she told police that she started roaming the streets when her husband lost his job two years ago but claimed he wasn't aware of what she did.

It is understood the woman was earlier released from police custody.

The judge adjourned the case until April 5.

noor@gdn.com.bh

Chief executive officer Zuhair Awachi admitted the visas of several workers had expired, while others had been denied holidays.

He blamed global financial turmoil, delays in payments from clients - including the government - and a tax on expat workers for crippling the construction industry.

But he claimed the company was now in the process of cancelling the visas of its workforce and sending them back home.

"We are aware that visas of some of our workers have not been renewed," he told the GDN.

"And we also know that many have applied for annual leave, but their applications have been rejected.

"We are cancelling their visas and sending them back to their countries.

"We have already sent 28 last month and 10 at the beginning of this month.

"The reason is that we didn't get BD800,000 from one of the ministries and, on top of that, we have to spend a lot of money on expat workers when we bring them to Bahrain to work for us.

"We are spending a lot of money on their training, and Labour Market Regularity Authority (LMRA) and General Organisation for Social Insurance (Gosi) fees.

"The LMRA knows our situation very well, we are suffering as a construction company and due to budget problems.

"We haven't received payment from ministries for several months and we have an official letter from them asking us to bear with them.

"We, as a local company, can only wait and try to finish the work on time - but foreign companies abandon the work and leave the country.

"What happened in the case of the Isa Town flyover? The company (Sungwon) took the government to court.

"We as locals can't do that as we are Bahrainis and we have to live and work in Bahrain, in good or bad conditions."

Mr Awachi said the company had already flown home hundreds of workers in the past six months, and said 100 more were due to leave within two months.

"We have 800 expats and 250 Bahrainis working for us and we increased the basic salary for each employee last year," he added.

"Our company is located on the road - it's not hidden and everybody knows about it.

"The problem is that we can't satisfy all our workers and, unfortunately, we have to send them back.

"Around 100 workers are already on the list and we will finish the list in two months' time.

"We are now processing their documents and finalising their settlements so that they can leave for good and forever.

"Everybody knows that liquidity in the market is very low and, for us, it was really a bad season.

"In the last six months, 240 workers left Bahrain and we are looking for more idle manpower to be sent back."

Mr Awachi revealed that family funds were being pumped into the company, but said he hoped for a quick recovery from the crisis.

"We have high hopes that Bahrain will recover soon and all the sectors, not only construction, will boom again," he added.

He said his wife was convinced he had remarried in Bahrain because he had not returned home to India for six-and-a-half years.

The 41-year-old works for Habib Ali Awachi and Sons Company as a labourer, but said the firm had still not renewed his visa three years after it expired.

He says he has never had a holiday despite working for the company since October 2003 and is now begging his bosses to send him back to his family.

"Several times I asked my company for a holiday, but they didn't agree and asked me to wait," he told the GDN.

"First, they asked me to wait as they had to renew my visa, which they never did.

"Then the human resources and personnel managers changed and the new managers have no idea what I was talking about.

"Whenever I went to them with my application, they asked me to wait.

"I can't wait anymore as it's been a long time since I saw my family.

"I have a 13-year-old son and a nine-year-old daughter, who I haven't seen for the past six and a half years.

"My wife, who is now demanding I come home immediately, thinks I am remarried to another woman and don't want to go back anymore.

"I have called and explained to her several times, but she doesn't understand.

"She has now asked me to come back immediately or else she will kill herself and our children as well."

The man, who asked to remain anonymous because he feared he could be punished by his bosses for speaking out, has now turned to the Indian Embassy for help.

He claimed there were around 150 workers in a similar position.

"I went to the Indian Embassy on Monday and explained my situation," he said.

"They promised to investigate and get back to me.

"I didn't go to work since Tuesday and I don't want to go unless they fulfil my demands.

"I am not asking for anything, just to allow me to go home."

An embassy official confirmed it was aware of the case and had approached the company, but would not comment further.

aneeqa@gdn.com.bh

Non-spayed outdoor female cats will go into 'heat' or estrus seasonally in the spring and summer, and may go into heat several times during the season.

It is speculated though, with global warming, that cats are now breeding earlier. Cats kept indoors and exposed to artificial lights may cycle year-round.

These 'heat' cycles may begin as early as the fifth month of the kitten's life. If a kitten does produce her own litter, the energy required to breed and nurse her young will deplete her of the energy to complete her own growth to a normal-sized, healthy, mature cat.

How do you know your cat's in heat ? Check for external signs such as swelling or bloody discharge, although these are not as obvious in cats as they are in dogs.

The main signs seen are behavioural - loud vocalising, rolling on the floor, elevating the hindquarters and possibly a decrease in appetite.

Many people have confused these signs as their cat being in pain. This may continue for one week on average.

What can you do? We recommend spaying your cat before the first heat, eliminating the risk of accidental pregnancy and reproductive diseases later on in life. It is a routine operation.

Cats may be spayed while in heat (or pregnant), but there is additional risk due to the engorged vessels and tissue of the reproductive tract - a higher chance of bleeding during surgery or other complications.

The cost of surgery while in heat or pregnant is often higher as well.

If your cat's in heat, your vet can prescribe hormones to suppress her heat's period. But this is a temporary method. As soon as the cat has finished her reproductive function, it's better to neuter her than to permanently give her hormones.

The BSPCA and shelters worldwide, dread the so-called 'kitten season'.

Not only do we need to find homes for the kittens, it also means that the new crop of kittens will eliminate any chances of adoption for older cats, including last year's kittens.

¥ Jennie works at Dr Nonie Coutts Veterinary Surgery. Please send questions to vetquestions4bspca@gmail.com

This week's BSPCA Pet of the Week is our sweet-natured Tara.

Breed: Local mix

Colour: Tan and white

Coat: Short-haired

Sex: Female

Age: Approx 18 months

Neutered: No

Tara is a very friendly, obedient, sweet-natured dog, who just loves to be cuddled by adults and children. Her beautiful amber-coloured eyes seem to glow with affection. She has been house-trained by her previous owners and responds well to commands. Tara gets on well with other dogs, is fully vaccinated and eager to find a new, loving family who can take her for long walks.

If you are interested in adopting Tara or any of our other dogs or cats, please visit the BSPCA in Saar, near St Christopher's School or log on to our website www.bspca.org for directions.

Contact: BSPCA Sanctuary, 17591231. Open to the public 9am to 1pm. Closed on Sundays.

The news coincided with the announcement that it was taking legal action against Al Areen Holding Company, the owner of its property in Bahrain.

Banyan Tree claims it is owed $1,122,000 (BD423,033) as part of a hotel management agreement signed last March and a settlement agreement reached in November.

It has now filed a petition to wind up the Al Areen Holding Company and said in a statement yesterday that it hoped proceedings could be completed this year.

"BTHR (Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts) may be successful in the winding-up proceedings, but may not be successful in recovering any amounts from it," added the statement.

Claim

"If BTHR is successful in the winding-up proceedings, the HMA (hotel management agreement) will be terminated as a consequence."

The statement added the BTHR parent company, Banyan Tree Holding Limited, could witness a drop in net tangible assets and earnings per share by S$0.0015 (BD0.000404470).

"We shall, where necessary, announce any further material development relating to its claim against Al Areen and the winding-up proceedings," added the statement.

The Al Areen Holding Company also owns the Lost Paradise of Dilmun water park and is behind the Sunset Hills Al Areen, Oryx Hills Al Areen, Downtown Al Areen and Al Areen Homes residential projects.

In a statement, the BTH pledged to take a "firm position" on any breach of contract.

"It is common knowledge that the financial crisis has impacted several entities in the Middle East; to a certain degree, it has affected some of our hotels.

"We endeavour to operate with the highest standards and if we are unable to settle issues amicably, we need to defend our own credibility and - as a matter of principle - take a firm position with regard to any breaches and outstanding debts," the BTH said.

However, it added the company remained committed to the GCC region and would continue to explore opportunities in the Gulf.

"It is very important that we find like-minded partners who sincerely share our vision and demonstrate a commitment to the Banyan Tree brand experience.

"Our plans to open in other parts of the Middle East continue to be on track.

"In January this year we soft-opened Banyan Tree Al Wadi, a 101-key desert, beach and golf resort in the Ras Al Khaimah emirate north of Dubai.

"There are five other projects under development in Abu Dhabi, Egypt and Oman."

Al Areen Holding Company officials were unavailable for comment yesterday.

Valiyaveettil Ashokan left a note saying he could no longer stand being "tortured" by colleagues, who were also his room-mates.

He also took to his grave a secret he couldn't bear to tell, according to another letter to his sponsor.

The 37-year-old left a suicide note in Malayalam with his brother on Monday night, phoned him to tell him where it was, then cut the call - sparking a desperate but futile overnight search to find him before he killed himself.

Brothers Dileep and Lakshmanan, along with friends, alerted police in Muharraq police and were still searching the area when the body was found by a school watchman.

The Interior Ministry confirmed yesterday that the body was found hanging at around 9.30am outside the Ameena bint Wahab Primary Girls School, Muharraq.

"The body of an Indian man was found hanging by a piece of cloth from a palm tree," said an official.

"The school's watchman called the police after finding the body. The body has been sent for autopsy."'

Mr Ashokan, who had been here for nearly two years, leaves a widow and four-year-old son, at their home in Kannur, Kerala.

He worked as a designer at a Muharraq jewellery shop and was apparently being taunted and shunned by his colleagues and room-mates - though his manager said yesterday that it was meant in fun.

"There was no problem in the family, but he had issues with his room-

mates," said Mr Dileep.

"He stayed with around 30 colleagues and he was always complaining about them teasing him.

"He did not talk much and minded his own business.

"His room-mates were always trying to avoid him in whatever they did and he believed that they hated him and was talking behind his back.

"He didn't have any friends because he didn't socialise and had been like this forever.

"A couple of months ago a new guy joined their company and he was told by the others to be careful about Ashokan.

"They told him that our brother was weird and since then Ashokan had been too worried because he couldn't understand why they would say that.

"Since then he used to come to my room after work because he felt unwelcome at his room.

"He only went back when it was time for bed.

On Tuesday Mr Ashokan went as usual to Mr Dileep's house at 8pm and left at 9.45pm.

"Ashokan called me at 10.15pm and said he had kept a letter in the draw of my table, then immediately cut the call," said Mr Dileep.

"I didn't really understand him and tried calling him back but his phone was switched off.

"I found the letter and it said he was fed up of life and was going to leave this world and go to another world, where there was no-one.

"He also said that he had written two other letters, one for his wife and another for his sponsor, which were with him."

Mr Ashokan's company manager, who asked that neither he nor the firm be named, said that the room-mates so shocked at the news that they could not work.

"Ashokan was a very silent man and never shared his problems, thoughts or feelings with anyone," said the managerl.

"It seemed like he was in depression.

"But he was just too perfect at his work and we never had any issues with him.

"We let him be, but we have now heard that he killed himself because he was being teased by his room-mates.

"This is a bachelor's accommodation where men joke and tried to pull each other's legs.

"But that was no reason to end his life.

"He should have at least thought about his wife and child.

"His room-mates meant no harm and I think Ashokan was easily targeted because of his quiet nature.

"They are in a deep shock after hearing the news and everyone stopped work and returned to their rooms.

"Ashokan was a person who would not do anything to harm anyone and expected the world to be the same."

Mr Ashokan was laughing and joking with his colleagues on Monday and working like it was his last day, said his sponsor, who also asked not to be named.

"I have cameras in my shop and workshop and I have watched his actions in the workshop on his last day," he said.

"On Monday night, he was working as if he would never come back again.

"He was a serious man and never spoke unnecessarily, but that night, he was laughing and joking with his colleagues.

"I don't know what could be the reason. I only know that I lost a very nice worker.

"The police found a couple of letters in his pocket, one for his wife and one for me.

"In the letter to his wife, he apologised to her and said he was committing suicide because he had no other choice.

"The letter also read that there was a secret that no-one knows and he was unable to share it with anyone.

"He thanked me in the letter and said if I was not able to repatriate his body, I could ask his brothers to take care of the matter.

"He said that no one was responsible for him committing suicide and that he was sick and tired of this life."

Arrangements are being made to repatriate the body.

begena@gdn.com.bh aniqa@gdn.com.bh

Five Boeing 747s carrying as many 20-foot and 30 40-foot containers have been working round-the-clock for the past seven days to ensure that needs of some of the biggest names in motorsports are catered for.

There is an average of 20,000 items transported by air for each F1 race, the most important and expensive of which are the racing cars, say DHL officials.

Replacement parts for the F1 cars, including engines, tyres, spares and necessary gas and petrol requirements, have also been brought.

Other freight include TV and camera equipment, VIP tents, computer technology, radio sets and even paper serviettes and vacuum cleaners.

"DHL has 25 years of motorsport experience behind its work in the field of Formula 1 racing," said DHL Express Middle East, North Africa and Turkey managing director Garry Kemp.

"We understand the needs of the sport - speed, precision, reliability and teamwork - which are quintessential success factors for both DHL and F1 teams."

The international logistics firm also provides F1 operations with round-the-clock access to its Extra Services Team, which provides deliveries to and from the track within 24 hours via express flights.

An on-board courier helps expedite the packages through customs, while particularly urgent requests can be flown directly from the airport to the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) paddock by helicopter.

DHL has also set up a mobile logistics centre at the race-track, which is solely responsible for handling urgent shipments, dealing with custom clearance as well as the transport of hazardous goods and temperature-controlled items.

"From start to finish, the DHL team never stops working and time is of the essence on the track," said Mr Kemp.

"Even while the race is on, engineers are constantly working on improvements and parts need to be available at a moment's notice.

"Therefore, a trusted logistics partner who can deliver fast and reliable support with a flexible approach is the key behind the world's biggest and fastest motorsport event.

"This is a huge responsibility and one that DHL is proud to carry as the official F1 logistics provider."

The three-day F1 feast roars into action tomorrow with the opening of the F1 World Championship as well as racing from the GP2 Asia Series, the Porsche Mobil1 Super Cup and the Chevrolet Supercars.

A host of off-track entertainment, including international superstar DJs, dancing troupes, classical musicians and a dedicated big-top circus, has also been lined up.

The BIC has also invited 18 former F1 world champions and their winning cars during an exclusive never-before-seen on-track ceremony.

Entertainment after the racing action will be provided from some of the planet's hottest talents, including Timbaland, Flo Rida, Sean Kingston and Emirati singer Hussain Al Jasmi.

Tickets are still available for the race and can be purchased at the BIC's stands at Seef Mall and Bahrain City Centre, the BIC Welcome Centre, Sakhir, by phone on 17450000 or online at www.bahraingp.com.

danm@gdn.com.bh

The 22-year-old took the stand behind closed doors in the trial of the man accused of attacking her.

The Bahraini defendant, who denies the charges, allegedly lured her into his office under the pretence of offering her work but locked her in a room and tried to rape her, say prosecutors.

However, the woman managed to escape after fighting off her attacker, according to court documents.

Suspicious

The 31-year-old defendant appeared in court with his defence lawyer Fatima Al Hawaj, who cross examined the woman for 30 minutes.

She later requested the court to summon further witnesses to the stand, which judges agreed.

The defendant was introduced to the alleged victim, who worked at a telecommunications company at the time, while she was looking for another job last July. He reportedly arranged to meet her at his office in Malkiya on a Friday, claiming only to be free on that day.

One of the woman's colleagues, a Bahraini man, offered to accompany her to the defendant's office after becoming suspicious.

He stood outside while listening to the conversation between them through the woman's mobile phone, after asking her to keep the line between them open, according to court documents.

When the woman got up to leave at the end of the interview, the defendant allegedly locked the doors, pushed her against a wall and tried to rape her.

She then screamed for help, scratched the man in his neck, pushed him aside and managed to escape after her colleague distracted the defendant by repeatedly banging on the door.

Medical reports stated the defendant had scratch marks on his neck and behind his ears and bruises caused by repeated punches to his chest.

It also showed that the woman had wounds on her hands.

However, the defendant claimed he received the bruises from the woman's colleague who assaulted him after kicking down the door. He also claimed that he had never promised the woman a job in parliament because she only had a diploma, but offered her a job in his office.

The case was adjourned to April 19.

noor@gdn.com.bh

It is targeting a slice of a service industries market worth "a $1 trillion today, $2 trillion by 2020", said His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Commander-in-Chief.

Bahrain is seeking investment and growth in areas where it has the skill to excel," he told CNN's Quest Means Business presenter Richard Quest.

"We are moving into a far more diversified economy that is dependent on the private sector as the main engine of growth," said the Crown Prince.

"We're going to do that by really stimulating business, by transforming the role of government and continuing to invest in new technologies and innovations."

This means revolutionising the role of government from provider to enabler and regulator, he said during an interview broadcast worldwide last night as part of CNN's week-long i-List Bahrain coverage.

The aim is to build a better future for the generations to come, said the Crown Prince.

"We're not in any danger of running out of oil in the next 10 years but for the future generations, that expect a better future than their parents had, we have to build an economy that is based on productivity," he said.

"In order to do that we need to invest in education, we need to get them skills, new technologies. It gives them a better life."

It has a clear vision of the economic, political and social way forward, said His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander.

That means an equal chance for all, regardless of sect, he told CNN's Quest Means Business presenter Richard Quest.

"We're going financial services, we're going manufacturing. We're going into niche products so that we specialise and do what we do well," he said in an interview broadcast worldwide last night as part of CNN's week-long i-List Bahrain coverage.

"Our ambition is firmly in the right place. We intend to grow and we intend to provide that future to our citizens and we intend to compete.

"We can't be the masters of everything, we really have to focus our talent so we have to pick areas where we want to focus.

"Logistics, for example. We have a world-class infrastructure in the new Khalifa Port. We have the Salman Industrial City.

"We know the types of companies we want to attract; those that create high-value jobs, those that build into our logistics infrastructure."

It is the younger generation who hold the keys to the nation's development, said the Crown Prince, who is also Economic Development Board chairman.

"I want the young people of Bahrain to believe their future is in their hands.

"I want them to have the skills and the tools to make it happen, so education is critical and making sure we transcend the fissures that exist in any society, whether they be sectarian whether they be caste-based, whether they are skill-based, we must do our utmost to give everyone a fighting chance."

He disagreed with Mr Quest's suggestion that Bahrain was "trying to hold the democratic tiger by the tail and that is inevitable that it is going to come and bite".

"I think democracy is a process. It is a set of values and legal institutions: separation of powers, voting rights, due process of law, all of those things that are in place as we speak today," said the Crown Prince.

None of the vehicles examined and given a 'go over' so far had been detected with potentially faulty accelerator pedals, which could stick while accelerating, said Ebrahim Khalil Kanoo (EKK) executive general manager Ismail Akbar.

"All Avalon and Sequoia vehicles that we have examined as part of a special service campaign have been found to be without any of the issues mentioned in the recall," he said.

"However, we are examining every vehicle thoroughly and will take action if needed."

After the recall, announced last month, EKK had said up to 1,000 cars could be brought in for inspection.

These included Avalon models dating back to 2005 and the Sequoia, which was only launched last year.

"We were reasonably sure there would be no issues in cars sold in this part of the world but we are checking every vehicle.

"We expect the rest of the cars to be examined in the next two weeks to be able to give all our vehicles in Bahrain a clean chit."

EKK started its campaign on February 20, when all affected car owners were called in to have their vehicles checked.

Mr Akbar once again urged owners of other Toyota models not to panic, stressing that their vehicles were not affected.

"There are several other models affected globally, but in Bahrain, only the Avalon and Sequoia were affected and what we have examined so far, it is an all-clear," he said.

Mr Akbar said if there were any other issues with other vehicles, all customers would be taken into confidence immediately.

mandeep@gdn.com.bh

However, the show went ahead as planned and fans enjoyed performances by his band and Bahraini DJ Outlaw at the free concert.

A statement issued by the event's organisers on Facebook confirmed Finley would not perform.

"He was sent back to Dubai by immigration, but his band is here and the show must go on," Likwid Productions supremo Karim Miknas told the GDN.

The singer was set to headline the concert, but organisers apologised to fans saying that it was out of their hands.

"We regret to announce that due to unforeseen circumstances, Finley Quaye will not be performing at tonight's Bud Music...Live! event," said the Facebook statement.

"You can still come and enjoy live music as Finley Quaye's band will be performing all your favourite songs and DJ Outlaw will be performing his live and alive set with Flip & Mai vocal artists.

"Our sincere apologies for any disappointment caused," the statement added.

Sex with anyone aged under 15 will be considered rape, even if they consent, under amendments to the Penal Code proposed by parliament's foreign affairs, defence and national security committee.

It has drawn up new penalties for sex offences after consultation with the Interior Ministry at the committee meeting yesterday.

The minimum sentence for rape would be seven years, under the new law.

Those who harass a female in public, or through any telecommunications such as by phone or the Internet, would face a minimum of three years in prison, a BD500, or both.

Anyone who encourages or forces anyone into prostitution will face a minimum one-year in prison, or three years if the victim is aged under 18, said committee chairman Shaikh Adel Al Mawaada.

The breakthrough is credited to the BCCI trade arbitration and dispute committee. BCCI board member and committee head Khalid Ali Rashid Al Amin announced the settlement as he chaired the second panel meeting. Members Samir Al Wazzan, Mohammed Abdulrahman, Ayman Tawfeek Almoayyed, Daoud Baljik and Dima Rasul Al Haddad attended.

The committee managed an out-of-court settlement in 30 days.

"The key talks will contribute to boosting relations and promoting co-operation further", the Kuwaiti Amir said as he visited the Premier at his residence at Bayan Palace at the end of the three-day visit.

Crown Prince Shaikh Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah also attended the audience.

Shaikh Mubarak Al Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah hosted a luncheon in honour of the Premier attended by senior ruling family members.

Earlier, HRH the Premier received at Bayan Palace the Adviser at the Kuwaiti Amiri Court Shaikh Fahd Saad Al Abdulla Al Sabah and underlined the deep-rooted Bahraini-Kuwaiti relations, asserting the kingdom's priority to consolidate them.

In line with his keenness to boost the role of social interaction in strengthening bilateral ties, the Premier paid more visits to Kuwaiti personalities and families.

He received dignitary Badr Khalid Al Badr whom he hailed as one of the most outstanding Kuwaiti figures who left obvious imprints in Kuwait's development process.

He praised Al Badr's literary activities which represent a reference for Kuwait's history.

He also visited Shaikh Faisal Al Saud Al Sabah, Al Radhwan Majlis and Shaikh Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah.

During these visits, HRH the Premier asserted that Bahrain and Kuwait complement each other politically and economically, stressing that they have set an example that should be followed.

Later, HRH the Premier was seen off by Kuwaiti Prime Minister Shaikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Shaikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign affairs Shaikh Dr Mohammed Sabah Al Salim Al Sabah and senior Kuwaiti officials.

On arrival, he was welcomed at Bahrain International Airport by senior members of the Ruling Family, ministers and other officials.

The Premier sent cables of thanks to Kuwait Amir, the Crown Prince, and the Prime Minister for their hospitality, wishing them health and happiness and further prosperity.