Thursday,13th May,2024

Crown Prince meets Al-Sabah family members

  HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah met Monday evening with the Al-Sabah family at Bayan Palace and recalled Kuwaiti rulers and loyal citizens throughout the years. During a speech on the occasion, HH Sheikh Sabah recalled various stands of Kuwaiti rulers in the past and its loyal citizens, which have set the most wonderful examples in confronting the most difficult circumstances and challenges to the homeland.

HH the Crown Prince remembered the values of fathers and grandfathers instilled in the most severe situations that required solidarity and cohesion from all, until the dear homeland crossed those difficult circumstances and sailed its ship to safety. HH Sheikh Sabah stressed the need to continue with such a leadership journey towards further progress and prosperity for the nation under the wise leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

HH Sheikh Sabah called on Al-Sabah family members to be the best supporters of HH the Amir and embody the best example of good morals and adherence to the law. HH Sheikh Sabah stressed the rule of law will be respected and upheld for everyone without discrimination or exception, wishing them continued success and prosperity for the benefit and good of their country. — KUNA

Kuwait mourns as fire kills 49

MoI vows resolute response to building violations

  The death toll of a fiery fire that gutted a multi-storey building in the southern district of Al-Mangaf early on Wednesday has jumped to 49, the Ministry of Interior announced. Major General Nasser Abu-Slaib, the MoI Security Information Director, affirmed in a press release that the landlords of burned buildings would be stiffly penalized.  

Personnel of the MoI’s directorate general of criminal evidence are investigating the causes of the fire and identifying some victims. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has ordered the relevant officials to instantly follow up on the tragic occurrence, seek to identify its causes, and bring those responsible to account.

Meanwhile, Kuwait’s public prosecutor has started an investigation into a fire that tore through a building housing expat workers in the southern Mangaf area. The probe aims to uncover the circumstances behind the incident and what might have triggered the deadly inferno, the public prosecutor said on social media platform X, praising the state-wide response to the disaster.

First Deputy Prime Minister, Defense Minister, and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Saud Al-Sabah has warned that any building violation would be addressed without prior warning as of Thursday. The minister gave the warning in the aftermath of the fire incident. “As of Thursday, the Municipality and its teams will respond to all violations at all apartment buildings without prior warning,” the minister told reporters while inspecting the fire site. The owner of the blaze building will be kept in custody until investigations into the causes of the fire are over, the minister pointed out.

Minister suspends officials

Minister of Public Works and Minister of Municipality Dr Noura Al-Mashaan suspended on Wednesday administrators at the Al-Ahmadi Municipal branch pending investigations into the fire that engulfed a building in the Mangaf area. In a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Dr Al-Mashaan affirmed that she instructed the municipality to open a full investigation into the matter.

On his part, Director General of Kuwait Municipality Saud Al-Dabbous expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims, affirming that an investigation was launched to determine the cause of the blaze. The suspended administrators were replaced by colleagues from other branches until the investigative process was concluded, he affirmed. — KUNA

Yemen launches ‘Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad College

  Governor of Yemen’s Socotra Island, Raafat Al-Thuqli, and Deputy Minister of Technical Education, Abd Rabbu Al-Mahwali, laid the foundation stone for a community college project named after the late Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The college project is being launched under the support, supervision, and implementation of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED).

The Yemeni News Agency (SABA) reported that the project includes a building for classrooms with a conference hall that can accommodate about 700 individuals, administrative and residential buildings, housing for faculty members and students, a restaurant, a mosque, a playground, and other buildings on an area of 45,000 sq m in the city of Hadibu, the center of the governorate.

Al-Thuqli appreciated the efforts of Kuwait and its unlimited support for education in Yemen, adding that proceeding with the project confirms the government’s interest in establishing educational institutions that enhance the labor market with qualified and specialized cadres. For his part, Al-Mahwali expressed his happiness for laying the foundation stone of the project, pointing out that this project will contribute to strengthening the specialized scientific aspect of Socotra Island. — KUNA

 Kuwait Ranks 3rd in Arab Education Quality and 44th Globally

In a recent study conducted between January and April 2024, the United Arab Emirates was distinguished by being ranked first in the Arab world on the list of the best educational systems in the world. The results were published in the American newspaper “Ceoworld”, which based its classification on two basic criteria: quality of education and educational opportunity.

Study methodology

The researchers evaluated 16 indicators under these two criteria, allocating 100 points to each indicator. The study included 93 educational systems around the world and was based on 196,000 responses received by the magazine during the study period.

Global rankings

• The United Kingdom: first in the world with a score of 78.2% in quality of education and 69.79% in educational opportunity.
• The United States: second in the world.
• Australia: third.
• Netherlands: fourth.
• Sweden: fifth.

Arabic classification

• The United Arab Emirates: first in the Arab world and 20th in the world, with a score of 64 in quality of education and 52.94 in educational opportunity.
• The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: 2nd in the Arab world and 38th in the world, with a score of 58.4 in quality of education and 46.45 in education opportunity.
• Kuwait: 3rd in the Arab world and 44th in the world, with a score of 56.7 in quality of education and 45.96 in education opportunity.
• Bahrain: 4th in the Arab world and 51st in the world, with a score of 54.1 in quality of education and 44.73 in education opportunity.
• Tunisia: 5th in the Arab world and 59th in the world, with a score of 51.4 in quality of education and 43.93 in education opportunity.
• The Sultanate of Oman ranked sixth in the Arab world and 64th in the world, followed by Qatar, which ranked seventh in the Arab world and 67th in the world.
• Lebanon is ranked eighth in the Arab world and 82nd globally, Jordan is ranked ninth in the Arab world and 88th globally, and finally Libya is ranked tenth in the Arab world and 89th globally.

Classification criteria

Quality of education: It included the general education system, readiness to attend university, number of research institutions, university funding, specialized experience, research outputs, and performance of higher education institutions.

Educational opportunity: included adult literacy rates, graduation rates, primary, secondary, and university completion rates, in addition to government spending on education as a percentage of GDP.

The importance of classifications

These classifications are approximate and depend on some indicators from which rough conclusions can be drawn. However, they provide valuable guidance that helps individuals choose places and universities that enhance their educational attainment.

With this classification, the UAE proves its position as a leader in the field of education in the Arab world, enhancing its reputation as a preferred destination for students seeking high-quality education.

Source: Ceoworld

Gulf Bank studying transition to Sharia-compliant banking

Gulf Bank announced last Tuesday 11th May that its board of directors has approved the engagement of an international consultant to conduct a feasibility study on converting Gulf Bank into a Sharia-compliant institution.

In an official disclosure on the Boursa Kuwait website, signed by Chairman of the Board of Directors Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi, the bank confirmed it has received no objection from the Central Bank of Kuwait to proceed with the study to transition to an Islamic bank. Gulf Bank will disclose the study’s findings upon completion. 

Cooperating with Awqaf Secretariat "Balad Al-Khair distribute sacrifices to 126 needy families in Kuwait."

The Balad Al-Khair Association revealed a new cooperation that brings it together with the General Secretariat of Endowments, to distribute sacrifices to needy families inside Kuwait. To make them happy during the Eid days and bring joy to their hearts.

Othman Al-Thuwaini, Director of the Balad Al-Khair Association, confirmed that preparations are continuing in full swing to welcome Eid Al-Adha so that its days will bring happiness to our brothers from needy families inside the State of Kuwait.

He added that the General Secretariat of Endowments continues its efforts to provide a helping hand to the groups most in need of care, including orphans, widows, and families of the sick, whose financial capabilities prevent them from feeling the joy of Eid. This is why cooperation with the Balad Al Khair Association was to distribute 42 sacrifices, benefiting 126 needy families.

Al-Thuwaini continued that the selection of sacrifices and their slaughter is done in accordance with Islamic law, in a way that preserves their dignity and makes their hearts happy.

He pointed out that cooperation between the Balad Al Khair Association and the Endowments Secretariat is always renewed to extend a helping hand to our needy brothers, especially on occasions when they need to feel happy.

Al-Thuwaini concluded that the Balad Al-Khair Association has launched, in recent days, many charitable projects related to sacrificial animals inside and outside the State of Kuwait, in continuation of its role in helping honorable donors revive the ritual and reap the reward, as well as helping beneficiaries with sacrificial meat, in a way that supports them and makes their hearts happy.

Kuwaiti charities urge solidarity with Sudan to face humanitarian crisis resulting from war

In light of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan, Kuwaiti charitable societies and foundations express their deep concern about the catastrophic situation that the Sudanese people have been experiencing since mid-April 2023. What is the current situation in Sudan? How can the international community aid?

The extent of suffering and unrest

More than 8.8 million people have fled their homes in light of the ongoing conflict, reflecting the extent of the suffering and turmoil faced by the Sudanese people.

Statistics indicate that access to food is the highest priority for displaced people, followed by health care services, water and sanitation facilities, especially in the Darfur and Kordofan regions.

As for future challenges, rising levels of hunger and malnutrition are expected to increase hunger-related mortality rates in the coming months, posing a major threat to the lives of thousands.

Kuwaiti aid efforts

Kuwaiti charitable societies and organizations continue their efforts to provide urgent humanitarian aid, which includes food, medicines, and necessities for daily life.

For his part, the head of the Federation of Kuwaiti Charitable Societies and Organizations, Saad Al-Otaibi, calls on countries and humanitarian organizations to provide the necessary support and assistance to overcome this humanitarian crisis.

Al-Otaibi thanks the Kuwaiti government agencies for their continued support and great contributions in delivering humanitarian aid to those affected in Sudan.

Al-Otaibi appeals to the international community to stand by the Sudanese people in this difficult ordeal and alleviate their suffering in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Affairs.

The humanitarian situation in Sudan requires urgent and coordinated intervention to alleviate the suffering of millions of displaced and affected people. Which calls on us all to stand by Sudan in this critical period and provide the necessary support and assistance.