News From Kuwait

News & Issues from Kuwait

July 15, 2007: Kuwait population has reached 3.2 million, . Kuwaiti citizens are less than 1 million and the rest are go reign workers mostly unskilled. There are 1 million unneeded foreigners. Unemployment among Egyptian are around 100,000 who are unskilled and unemployed. The foreigners are putting a lot of financial pressure on Kuwait government since all services are subsidized or free.
July 14 , 2007: About 10, 100 students have graduated from High school this year. Most of them will hit the work force looking and demanding the government to employ them. The rest will continue their education in the Universities and colleges. The labor market , specially the government sector , can not accommodate such numbers in this tiny country. According to Kuwait Constitution , the government is responsible to employ all citizens , even if they are not needed. This policy is effecting the productivity of the workforce in the government sector , where it is the lowest among the world

July 13 , 2007: Kuwait Airways will be sold by Kuwait government to the private sector and also to the public , after it has shown for many years the financial losses it is suffering. The question who will buy such a loosing business.

Feb.26 , 2007: Kuwait has reported 20 cases of Birds Flu , accordingly some strict measures has been taken by Health Official , where imports has been stopped and The Bird market has been closed down.

Feb.25, 2007: Kuwait celebrate its 46 National day and the 16th. Liberation day.

Aug.29, 2006: The new School year will start in first week of Sept with 705 government schools opening to receive 355,000 students. Imagine what this young population job future would be as this tiny country certainly will not be able to cope with rising population and limited job opportunities.
May 2, 2006: Despite the recent decision to close down all illegal stores in residential areas as of 1 March, some verbal instructions were given by Kuwait municipality officials allowing the reopening of those stores, welcome to Kuwait , a land were every illegal issue is done despite the law, by means of WASTA ( connection & interest).
May 2, 2006: The population in Kuwait has reached 1 million. Most of the citizens are bedwin coming from Iraq & Saudia Arabia. The real Kuwaiti identity has been lost with such influx of people who have are not faithful to the country nor respect the law. Most of the new citizen are unskilled and un-educated and put a burden on the country.
April 25, 2006: Kuwait City: A member of the Kuwaiti ruling family has been arrested after being caught with a large quantity of drugs, the South African Independent has reported. The prince, who has not yet been named, is part of the Al Sabah family and is reported to have had at least 10 kilogrammes of cocaine and 120 kilogrammes of hashish in his possession. The arrest was made under the orders of Shaikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah, the Interior and Defence Minister, after the drugs were supposedly found at the royal's house.
Feb.11, 2006: Camels with robot riders take part in the sixth regional competitive camel race held in Kuwait. Kuwait and other Arab Gulf countries started using robots as jockeys after children were banned from the sport in response to criticism by international human rights groups.
Feb.11, 2006: Kuwait Amir has appointed his brother as Crown prince , and also appointed another relative as the Prime Minister. New government were formed, however the new government have only 4 new faces and does not promises much in terms of the challenged ahead that require a strong government and qualified Ministers.

Kuwaiti people say goodbye to their late Amir , Jaber al Ahmad Al Sabah.

Jan.15, 2006: Emir of Kuwait has died at the age of 77, today and he has been succeeded by Crown Prince Saad Abdulla Al sabah. He has taken authority as Emir on Dec.31, 1977. He led the country wisely through difficult times, and was a quite ruler who cared about his country and his citizens.

Nov.27, 2005: Expatriates in Kuwait must be university graduates and draw a salary of not less than $1,370 a month in order to obtain a driver's licence.

More than 1m vehicles on Kuwait's roads
Nation's population 2.8 million

Number of expatriates
More than 1.8 million

Number of vehicles
More than 1.1 million
Nov.21^st., 2005: Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways also announced Sunday that it agreed to buy six Airbus A320s, bringing the total number of that aircraft type in its fleet to 10. The low-budget, no-frills carrier expects to take receipt of the new planes sometime between 2007 and 2010.

Nov.21^st., 2005: Kuwait is rated at 100 place among countries applying E-Government. In fact there is no E-government in Kuwait. Other GCC countries such as UAE and Qatar has made adanced steps in this regard due to its government dedication to this task , which will save time & money for the state and the citizens.
Oct.30^th, 2005: Kuwait's first private, low-fare airline - Jazeera Airways - will make its maiden commercial flight on Sunday. The new airline's operation includes daily flights from Kuwait City to Dubai, Beirut, Damascus and Manama, and three flights a week to Amman. It also plans to operate to Egypt, India and southeast Asia later. Jazeera Airways is offering discounted rate compared to other regional airlines in the area, thus opening the door for competition and price war that will benefit the local traveler.
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Nov.15, 2005: Rain has been reported in Kuwait City , signaling the start of winter.

May 16, 2005: Kuwaitis hailed  the historic parliamentary vote of granting women full political rights as a victory for democracy, saying this will enhance the country's development and progress. May 16, the day parliament gave women their full political rights is a special day in Kuwait's history and will go down as a 'national' day like Independence Day. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed the decision. US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters: "We think this is an important step forward for Kuwait, for the women of Kuwait and for the nation as a whole."

May 6, 2005: The Kuwaiti Government, under pressure from lawmakers, has accepted in principle a proposal to increase wages of nationals working in the public and private sectors.

April 25, 2005: Hundreds of supporters of Shiite member of parliament Sayed Hussain Al Gallaf staged a demonstration yesterday at the offices of Al Watan Arabic newspaper to protest the daily's criticism of the lawmaker.
April 25, 2005: A Bedwin has poisoned his 8 children in order to kill them after he had a fight with his wife. The man had also taken the poison in a suicide attempt. Five of his children has died and 3 are critical conditions. The man also was rescued and he faces trial. It has been noticed that such kind of crimes are on the rise specially among Bedwin citizens of Kuwait.
April 16, 2005: A group of Lebanese youths organized a charity party on Thursday evening at Burj Al-Hamam Restaurant to collect donations for those who lost relatives in a wave of attacks after the assassination of former premier Rafiq Al-Hariri.
March 28, 2005:”A probe by a Kuwaiti parliamentary committee has found "abuse" of public funds in fuel sales worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the US army in Iraq in 2003.
March 24, 2005: An international report showed that commercial rents of office spaces in Kuwait is the highest among Arab countries and 20th in the world, according to rental value of 2004.
March 23, 2005: A leading liberal academic has been handed a one-year suspended jail term by Kuwait’s appeals court for writing an article deemed offensive to the Muslim holy book, the Quran. Ahmad al-Baghdadi, a university political science professor and columnist, was convicted of “disparaging the Quran” for criticizing plans by the ministry of education to increase the number of Islamic education lessons in schools.
March 17, 2005: Kuwait’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs issued a new fatwa yesterday saying charity organizations cannot raise funds in mosques. Mosques are places entirely devoted to worship, reciting of the holy Quran and religious education and should not be used for other purposes including collecting charity and zakat. It has been noted that some funds of the charity organization is going to terrorist organization and misused by some charities.
Feb 25,2005: Lebanon's security chief is suing a Kuwaiti newspaper ( Al syassah) editor who accused him of assassinating former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri in a massive bomb blast in Beirut.
On February 14, Kuwait's Al-Siyassah newspaper accused Major General Jameel al-Sayed and two senior Syrian intelligence officials of plotting and carrying out the murder.
The security chief said Al-Siyassah's accusations had caused him great harm and vowed to press the case until the end.
The charges in the daily were not attributed to any source, but Jarallah, who also owns the newspaper, expressed no remorse and said he was prepared to meet the lawsuit head on.
Al-Siyassah has campaigned long time against the Syrian military presence in Lebanon.
Feb.14,2005: An Islamist group identifying itself with Saudi militants warned Kuwait in a statement posted on the Internet Tuesday that it would face a fierce war unless US forces leave the oil-rich Gulf emirate. Unless "the "infidels, including America and other occupying troops" leave Kuwait, "it will be the end of your tyranny... a fierce war in which many innocent people will lose their lives," said the statement. The statement addressed to the Kuwaiti government was attributed to the Brigades of the Martyr Abdul Aziz bin Issa al-Muqrin, named after Al-Qaeda's Saudi chief who was killed by security forces in Riyadh last June. The statement, whose authenticity could not be confirmed, also addresses the Kuwaitis in the name of the "Brigades of the Peninsula Lions," apparently a part of the bigger group. The Peninsula Lions have been mentioned in Kuwait for their involvement in a series of clashes with security forces in the emirate since the start of the year and in which two Saudis were among eight suspected militants killed. Kuwait is entering a terrorism war similar to Saudia Arabia, however Kuwait government is much weaker to handle such a situation.
Feb.4. 2004: Kuwait may face acute water shortage by the year 2015 if the population growth continues at the current level and if it did not find new water resources or build more desalination plants, a recent academic study said. The study, prepared by the professor of geographical economy at Kuwait University Obaid Al-Otaibi, predicted that by 2025, the population in Kuwait would reach six million and consume 304,770 million imperial gallons, but that water shortage will be felt as early as 2015. In the event that the UN percentage for decreasing population growth is adopted and awareness is spread, Kuwait's population is estimated to reach four million in 2025 and consume 203,180 million imperial gallons. In this case, it would be possible to cover developmental water demands. The study aims to explore different aspects of the water problem in the country, the effects of increased population, as well as economic and social development projects. On this aspect, the study said that construction expansion has raised demand on water from 11,602 million imperial gallons in 1975 to 88,452 million in 2000. The annual consumption of fresh water per individual increased from 11,168 gallons to 39,631 gallons over the same period. As for the industrial sector, the study noted that its consumption rate in 1990 was eight million square meters, increasing to 13 million in 1996. The industrial sector accounts for 2 to 2.5 per cent of the demand on water in the country. Among the obstacles before developing sustainable water resources in Kuwait is the increase in water demand and polluted water sources which require elevating the standards of groundwater management, more efficient irrigation systems, as well as planting trees and landscaping. The study also stressed the importance of managing desalinated water according to correct technical and economic principles, as well as installing efficient water distribution networks and adopting advanced payment methods. Al-Otaibi recommended in his study that a higher authority be established grouping relevant bodies to restrict interference and duality and to allow for coordination between them.
Aug.24.2004: Kuwait currently reports its reserves at 94 billion barrels. Yet it has reported its reserves at 94 billion barrels since 1992. Unchanged, each and every year. This is despite daily production and no significant new finds.

Aug.13, 2004: It is estimated that 40,000 people leave and enter the country daily in Kuwait . The heat and school break drive most people to travel. This is a huge number considering the population of the country which is less than 2 million. The temperature in Kuwait was at 48 high and even reached 50 degree Celsius.

June 5, 2004: A senior Kuwaiti minister and a key member of the Al Sabah ruling family said in comments yesterday that political parties and "rotation of power" will be allowed in the country at "one stage." Kuwait is the first Gulf Arab country to have a lively political life and an elected parliament which has vast legislative powers and can question ministers.
June 3, 2004: Kuwait will be giving free aid of crude oil worth $1 million daily to Jordan . Kuwait also agreed to start operating the Kuwaiti development Funds in Jordan , after King Abdulla of Jordan visit to Kuwait . This is in contrast to the bad manner Jordanian are treating Kuwaiti students studying in Jordanian Universities. Kuwaiti students are treated badly and often beaten and subjected to violence. The agony of the situation is that the Jordanian government do nothing to stop such violence. In contrast Kuwaiti government make such rewards to Jordan . Is this politics or stupidity.
May 29, 2004: The safety of Kuwaitis in Jordan has again been thrown into doubt after it was confirmed that two students were brutally attacked recently. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Education reiterated that two Kuwaiti nationals were assaulted earlier this month. One was reportedly kidnapped and then beaten so badly that he is now confined to a wheelchair. The exact reason for these assaults is not known, but Kuwait wealth and its friendship with the US may be a factor.
May 29, 2004: The Council of Ministers yesterday took a landmark decision by approving a draft law to grant Kuwaiti women full political rights of voting and standing in elections to the National Assembly. The historic decision was taken during the cabinet's weekly meeting "in line with the government's keenness to broaden popular participation in the parliament", said a statement issued following the meeting.
April 18, 2004: Security men were at high alert for terrorism when a hotel in Mangaf area received an anonymous call claiming that there was a bomb in the building. The hotel was quickly evacuated. But police found no bomb after a detailed search of the premises. Investigations are going on to determine the source of the call. The hotel is used by many US military personnel.
April 17, 2004: A Kuwaiti lady working at a bank has transferred KD 200,000 to the account of her Arab husband and his sister. Unfortunately for them, the bank's management discovered that the cash had been transferred illegally. The police are now investigating the case. * A dispute over some matters pertaining to their work led to a fight between an Egyptian woman and her Lebanese woman colleague at a bank in Sharq area. When the case was reported to the police, they accused each other of starting the fight.
April 12, 2004: Kuwait . The Rehab Co-operative Store was the scene of an armed robbery in broad daylight yesterday, security sources reported. According to eyewitnesses, two men, with their faces covered, got out of a car and smashed the shop window and glass door of the co-op when the workers had left for prayers. The robbers stole a large sum of money, Internet and pre-paid tele-cards. They escaped in their car, which police said was also stolen.
April 11, 2004: A Kuwait Army personal fired shots at his wife with a shotgun, security sources reported. The military man's wife managed to hide out and call her brothers, who in turn called the police. The police arrived and quickly restrained the 'furious' man. Case papers indicate that the couple had fought over some domestic matters, and that the husband had angrily left the house. He returned later with a shotgun, and began shooting at his wife. Fortunately, the police acted on short notice when called by the wife's brothers. The man was arrested and referred to the concerned authorities for further investigations.
April 11, 2004: Security men have arrested a Kuwaiti teacher of Islamic studies, who was caught having sex with the mother of one of his students in the desert area. On investigation by the police, the woman alleged that she was seduced by the teacher on the promise that he would pass her son in school. The Ministry of Interior has officially informed the Ministry of Education about the case, and after investigations, the teacher's services have been terminated.
March 24, 2004: A leading political activist slammed Islamists in Kuwait , saying they have introduced extremism in the country, the local English daily Arab Times reported.
"Islamic groups in Kuwait have drawn level with the Taliban and those donning the religious cloak are not angels, with some guilty of misappropriation of public funds," said Dr Ahmed Al Munayyes.
"Why do these America-haters go to the US to spend their holidays? I even saw a member of hardline Islamists, who raises hackles over music shows, attending a music party with his family in Bahrain ."
The government is also not doing much to control the menace of religious extremism, and the threat that these elements might hijack our country cannot be totally ruled out, Al Munayyes said.
Even after the post of Crown Prince was separated from the Cabinet, the situation remains the same, he said. The liberals have protected the country from the absurdity of these groups, Al Munayyes emphasized, adding that the liberals formed the Constitution without letting the country slip into the clutches of fundamentalism.
March 13, 2004: Kuwait , looking to open its doors after the fall of Saddam Hussein, on Saturday scrapped prior visa requirements for citizens of 34 countries. The new decision became effective immediately and applies to nationals from North America, most of Western Europe, Southeast Asia , New Zealand and Australia .“ Entry visas will be provided to citizens of these nations upon arrival at various terminals without the need of a Kuwaiti sponsor,” Major General Thabet al-Muhanna, interior ministry assistant undersecretary, said in the decision. The new measure is “consistent with the openness policy,” being adopted by the oil-rich emirate, and is aimed at “promoting the domestic economy,” he added. The new facility applies to citizens of the United States , Canada , France and Britain , in addition to Italy , Germany , Portugal and several other European nations, besides Japan , Malaysia , South Korea and Singapore . All of eastern Europe, Arab countries and south Asian nations are excluded from the new measure.
March 13, 2004: Kuwaiti Assistant Undersecretary for Tourism Affairs Nabeela Al-Anjeri said that the public and private sectors are working together to highlight the new conditions in Kuwait, as the government has lately taken several measures to encourage tourism in the country. She said that these procedures included getting rid of restrictions to foreign travelers, underlining that citizens of 34 states will soon be able to get a visa to enter Kuwait on the borders without the need of a sponsor. In the meantime, Kuwait opened its doors for foreign investment as foreign companies are now able to own Kuwaiti companies by 100 per cent in most of the sectors including restaurants and hotels with tax exemption in the first ten years. Al-Anjeri said that, last month the government approved the establishment of 20 new hotels to meet the growing demand. She also said the demand for furnished apartments in Kuwait has also increased, adding that a strategic governmental plan for tourism is being prepared and will be ready by next September.
March 6 , 2004: A Kuwaiti government official , stated that Kuwaiti un employment will reach 35,000 by the year 2005. This alarming figure is very conservative , some experts expect higher figures. Un employment will create many problems , mostly drug abuse and addicting. Other crimes will also increase. The Kuwaiti government is sleeping over this issue without making any decision or plan to expand the economy and encourage foreign investments and create new jobs by privatization an adopting open economy, like Dubai is doing.
March 5, 2004: Kuwait is eminantly facing a water shortage problem. There is an increase of consumption this year which has not been predicted. The man to blame behind this problem is Assitance Under Secretary for Power Plants and water Projects ( Mr. Homud Al Enzi). With his poor planning, he did not take into consideration building a water distillation plant when Sabiya Power station was constructed. The man is so corrupt , that many people are pointing at him for the latest disastor Kuwait is facing. Kuwait has also many problems: Housing shortage , Education problems, Health problems, corruption problems.
Feb. 26, 2004: Kuwaiti citizen celebrated the Liberation day with street marching , Flag waving , dancing and other expressions. Kuwaiti welcomed the Liberation day more than the national day. The Gulf Road was backed with people from Kuwait city all the way to Salmiyah.
Feb.26, 2004: An unidentified man barged into a garage in Shuwaikh industrial area brandishing a weapon and threatened to kill the mechanic unless he handed over the keys of a particular car. The frightened mechanic gave him the keys and the man fled the scene with the car.
Feb.26, 2004: A Kuwaiti citizen was shot at while driving along the Maghreb Expressway. He gave police the description of the assailant and investigations are underway. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Feb.25, 2004:The Ministry of Health announced yesterday that the ministry inspection teams, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, have seized big quantities of illegal and expired medicines from a private pharmacy. A ministry press release said it included drugs for muscle building and female hormones, sex stimulators, antibiotics and other medicines stolen from the Ministry of Health. It added that the pharmacist used to inject young men with muscle building hormones, noting that they found some used syringes containing particles of these medications. Big quantities of expired drugs, with the date of expiry covered with price stickers, many smuggled medications that do not carry the distributor's serial number, and samples of forbidden medications ready for sale were all found at the pharmacy. After reviewing the pharmacy's records, the pharmacist confessed selling forbidden and dangerous drugs without prescription, in addition to injecting young men with hormones and sex stimulators for KD 25 per injection. He also admitted that if he did not have the medicine the customer is asking for, he would replace it with any vitamins and convince them of buying it as an alternative drug. The pharmacist was also hiding banned and non-licensed medicines in his apartment.
Feb.25, 2004: The criminal court adjourned the alleged rape case of a Filipino maid by three soldiers in the Sabah Al-Salem police station till March 14. The accused men, who are in judicial custody now, will be brought to the court on that day. Security sources indicated that the results of medical examination on the victim had verified the rape and time of the incident matched with the period of her detention in the Sabah Al-Salem police station. Many Filipino ladies are raped by the corrupted Kuwaiti Police , who are mostly Bedwin or Bedoon. These people have no ethics and respect for any nationality. They must be punished by long term prison sentence, however they are seldom punished , and if they were sentenced to prison , they will get a pardon from the Amir , due to their tribes lobbying and haggling.
Feb.24, 2004: Kuwaitis continue to be targets of high value for Iraqi kidnappers. This time, the hoodlums are asking for KD 15,000, for a Kuwaiti -- an employee of the Ministry of Interior -- whom they abducted when he visited Abu Al -Khaseeb with his wife to greet his father- in -law who had just returned from Haj.
Feb.23, 2004: Kuwait yesterday expressed deep concern and disbelief over statements attributed to the current chairman of the Iraqi interim Governing Council in which he was reported to have made new claims to Kuwait 's territory. A government official told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) in a brief statement that "The State of Kuwait followed up the statement with concern and amazement. We are awaiting clarification from the interim Governing Council of brotherly Iraq about the truth of the statement and its aim". A number of Kuwaiti lawmakers have strongly blasted Iraq over "repeating" such statements, but Islamist MP Mohammad Al-Baseeri quoted officials at the Governing Council as denying the statements. The current chairman of the Governing Council Mohsen Abdul Hamid said that territorial claims to Kuwait and Jordan could be made by a sovereign Iraqi government in the future.

Feb. 23, 2004: The coalition forces arrested two Kuwaiti brothers while attempting to smuggle 127 million Iraqi dinars out of Iraq . The men were caught at Safwan on their way back from Iraq when the police discovered the money in their vehicle during a routine search. They told the authorities that the money was destined for Kuwait .

Feb.22, 2004:About 200 Pakistani nationals clashed with a similar number of Chinese men on the Seventh Ring Road over the weekend. According to security sources, the problem started when a Pakistani driver quarreled with a Chinese colleague at the venue the previous day. The next day, each of the drivers brought their compatriots to "finish off" the fight. Security men arrived at the scene and arrested the leading members of the groups.
Feb.22, 2004: Three Kuwaiti men seriously beat up their widowed sister and took away her eight-year-old son. They were said to be angry with her for attempting to re-marry without their approval. However, sources said that, the woman had sought their approval, but that the brothers refused; and so she went ahead with her plans, taking her son from the first marriage to live with her. The woman is being treated at Mowasat Hospital for the injuries she received, while the police at Salmiya have registered a case of kidnapping and assault against the brothers.
Feb.21, 2004: Kuwait is facing a big water shortage problem as consumption increases. Poor planning by the Ministry of Power has resulted in such situation. The man behind the water distillation projects (Homud Al Enezi) had made a very poor estimate of the increasing demand of water. This official is so unqualified that he was behind many delayed power and water projects in the country.
Feb.10, 2004: Kuwait has ordered an investigation into whether there were irregularities regarding a contract to supply fuel to the US army. 's oil minister has referred a Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC) contract to supply the US army with crude and gas products to the public prosecutor on Sunday to investigate any wrongdoing, the state news agency KUNA said.

"The deal between Petroleum Corporation and a contractor to supply the US army was referred to the public prosecutor to investigate... and provide the judiciary, which is known for its objectivity, a chance to have a final say on whether there was any abuse of power or of public funds," KUNA quoted Energy Minister Shaikh Ahmad al-Fahd al-Sabah as saying.

Overcharging evidence

A US draft audit in December found evidence that a subsidiary of the US firm Halliburton may have overcharged by $61 million for bringing fuel into Iraq via Kuwaiti subcontractor Altanmia Commercial Marketing Co.Last month, Shaikh Ahmad said his government had nothing to do with the Halliburton case. The minister said then that Kuwait had not breached any laws and that the local contractor was chosen by the Americans and not by state-run KPC, which is in charge of the oil sector in the Gulf Arab state. He also said the deal would be referred to the public prosecutor if there were any suspicions. The Pentagon's inspector general is looking into whether Halliburton charged too much for fuel taken into Iraq . Trucking in fuel was part of a no-bid contract given to KBR by the US Army Corps of Engineers to rebuild Iraq 's oil industry. Halliburton has said KBR had closely followed procurement rules in Iraq , where one of its main jobs has been to deliver fuel to the civilian population.
Feb.2, 2004: The sixth annual "Hala February" festival kick started today in Kuwait with various social, cultural, economic and entertainment activities.
Officials are optimistic about this year's festival, since it is the first after the momentous fall of Saddam Hussain's regime. The event, which runs through to February 26, is meant to activate the country's economy and restore Kuwait 's location on the tourist map. The festival will open with a number of surprises on the Gulf Road adjacent to the Flag Square . It will witness contributions by military bands, performances by popular and folklore groups, fireworks displays as well as cartoon characters.
Feb.2,2004: Customs officers at the Abdali border post recently foiled attempts by six Iraqi women to sneak into Kuwait , as reported by a local newspaper..
A security source said authorities have detained an unidentified Kuwaiti man for allegedly helping the women to enter Kuwait illegally by giving them a ride in his Jeep. During interrogation, the women said they wanted to take part in the Hala February festival. The women said they have a relationship with an influential personality at the Ministry of Interior who helps them enter and leave the country at will.
Jan.28, 2004: Kuwait is becoming un-safe country due to the high rise crime rate. It is not safe even to walk outside the house in a residential neighborhood at night. Drugs , rapes , stealing and other crimes are very high to such a small country. The corrupted and un-qualified Kuwaiti government are not able to handle the internal security of the country. Most of the criminals are Bedwin and bedoon and are members of the military or police force.
Jan.28, 2004: Kuwait is facing a rise in drug abuse, with 20,000 drug addicts in a population of approximately 2.2 million, according to official sources. Recognizing this problem, the country is now waging war on drug traffickers. However these figures are much less than the real figures. It was estimated that every family have a drug addict. The drug abuse is now becoming an epidemic is it is spreading among school girls as the number of girls addict is increasing adding to the problem. Kuwait government does not know to handle this epidemic last week the hanging of 3 drug traffickers thought to be a deterrent, which is not, because these are not the big dealers. The problem with dug trafficking in Kuwait is that it involves Kuwaitis from the Ruling family who do the bulk trafficking and no one can touch them
Jan.18, 2004: Kuwait had decided to install an iron separation fence along the border with Iraq at a length of 217 Km. News reports in Kuwait said that Kuwaiti cabinet approved to install this fence, according to a request from the ministry of the interior which considered it a security need to protect the northern border, and prevent cars coming from Iraq from approaching the electricity bars. The barrier which is built at a cost of 28 million dollars will be installed near the border. Marks separating the Iraqi side and the Kuwaiti side were adopted by the UN as official border markers.
The barrier will extend from the Kuwaiti city of Um Qaser until the joint border triangle with each of Saudi Arabia and Iraq . Asphalted roads will be also constructed to facilitate the moves of border security movement.
Jan. 16 2004 : Kuwait will hang a convicted Pakistani drug dealer in public, a form of punishment not often carried out in the emirate, the Arab Times newspaper reported yesterday. Fadhl Sherin Sharif will be hanged publicly at a police station in the capital, Kuwait City , under the supervision of Prosecutor General Judge Hamid Al-Othman at a date to be set soon. Kuwait ’s criminal court convicted Sharif of dealing in heroin and was sentenced to death. An appeals court upheld the verdict.
Jan 15, 2004: Kuwait has been forced to shut down its three refineries and the country's fuel exports are at a virtual standstill after a huge fire erupted in a power plant. Exports of refined products such as naphtha and jet fuel to Asian markets are on hold. The fire broke out late on Monday in the 200,000 bpd Shuaiba refinery to the south of Kuwait . It forced state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) to shut down operations in the 270,000 bpd Mina Abdullah and 442,000 bpd Mina al Ahmadi refineries. The reason for the shut down , is the real fact of lack of maintenance and skilled labor. Kuwaiti always look for cheap workforce and allow un professional contractors to work on the oil facilities.
Jan.11, 2004: More than 75 Iraqi cardiologists arrived in Kuwait on Thursday for a four-day symposium aimed at updating their technical knowledge and introducing them to the latest drugs and technologies in their field. The four-day event was organized by the government's Humanitarian Operations Centre in cooperation with the US military, and sponsored by international and Kuwaiti pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies.
Jan.11, 2004: Security sources reported in Surra that a young man set fire to a female citizen's car in retaliation for her rejecting his advances. After controlling the fire, investigators questioned the owner, who accused the citizen of stalking her for some days, trying to talk to her, following her to her house, leaving a note with his mobile number on her car, and threatening to set fire to it unless she called him. A case was filed and the number is being checked to identify its owner.
Jan.10, 2004: After many reports of armed robberies at grocery stores in Sulaibiya, security agents arrested the suspect, utilizing descriptions given by the victims. Security sources pointed out that the suspect is a stateless ex-convict wanted for many cases.
Jan.1, 2004: A Kuwaiti lawyer , Osama al-Munawer, known for defending Islamist activists facing terror charges has been suspended for one year by a judicial committee for leaking investigation details to the media, the lawyer said yesterday.
Dec.30, 2003: A five-member gang was arrested in connection with a series of burglaries in expatriate residences in Hawalli and Salmiya. In some instances, the gang reportedly raped their female victims. Security sources revealed that the four Kuwaitis and a bedoun in the gang deceived their victims posing as investigation agents. The arrested men confessed to over 20 cases of burglaries and rape registered at the police. Initially, two of them detained on the basis of descriptions given by the victims and the other three were apprehended subsequently. Police recovered from them the chains used for restraining the male members of the houses while they raped the women. Also several electronic items, jewellery, mobile phones and currency were confiscated in a search of the apartments used by the accused men.
Dec.29, 2003: The Chinese commercial attaché expects trade exchange between Kuwait and China to increase 45 per cent by the end of 2003 to about $10bn. On the occasion of the declaration of the launch of the Kuwaiti Youth Merchants' Convoy to China , the attaché said in a press conference that trade exchange between the two countries recorded during the first 10 months of the year totaled about $8.8bn.
Dec.21, 2003: The U.N. security council on Thursday confirmed the killing of 605 persons that Kuwait says had been missing since the Iraqi invasion of its land in 1990. The chairman of the council, the Bulgarian ambassador, Steven Tavrov, said that the council "share with the UN secretary general Kofi Annan its views, and expresses condolences to the families if the Kuwaiti citizens and others." In a report on Tuesday, Annan ruled out finding the Kuwaiti alive ever since they have been missing since the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990. He expressed warmest condolences to the families of the missing Kuwaitis and to the state of Kuwait . The UN Security Council expressed its "deep regret," because the Kuwaiti properties, especially the national archive which was confiscated by the Iraqi forces have not yet been returned to Kuwait .
Dec. 14 , 2003: Kuwaiti citizens celebrated in the streets of Kuwait City on the news of Saddam Husain capture. Many have waved the flags of Kuwait and the US and pictures of George Bush the President.
Dec.14, 2003:The second phase of the Kuwait Water Front Phase 5 project is nearing completion with the opening of a seafront leisure and retail area containing a five-star hotel, fully - equipped world-class marina, fine dining restaurants, luxury shops, and entertainment centers. Linked to the prestigious Marina Mall by an enclosed panoramic pedestrian bridge across the Gulf Street , the new coastline phase completes a massive three-year KD 50 million (US$170m) development considered one of the most challenging construction projects of the 21st century in Kuwait . Kuwait should learn from Dubai to see how much investments and developments are happening in Dubai . This kind of project is considered a peanut compared with Dubai projects.
Dec.13, 2003: Three bombs letters has been received by various newspapers editors in Kuwait . These threats come as GCC Presidents plan to meet this month. These letters are obviously from terrorist organization or terrorist governments in the Middle East . These letters has been traced to Lebanon , with possible Syrian links. Since Kuwait newspapers are the most free and independent news media in the Arabian world, it is envied and targeted by many extremist. Kuwait is the victims of terrorism for so long, even before the Iran – Iraq war.
Dec.12, 2003: A bomb letter has been received by Al Seyassa daily newspaper. The letter detonated on opening causing injury to the Editor secretary. The letter was reported coming from Lebanon. Who would want to harm an editor of a Kuwaiti newspaper, but some radicals or terrorist government like the Baath party in Syria or in Iraq. Libya can not be excluded too.
Nov.24, 2003: Two Kuwaiti citizens were arrested with 91 bottles of Red Label whisky in their possession. Police records show one of the culprits was wanted in connection with other crimes.
Nov.23, 2003: A senior government official lost his wallet containing important documents including his access card for the Amiri Diwan, the cabinet room and the foreign ministry. He complained that when reported the matter to the police station the officer in charge refused to register it, saying that his wallet might be returned to him. May be the policeman knows the criminal?
Nov.22, 2003: A Filipino housemaid, who was detained at Sabah Al-Salem police station upon a run-away complaint filed by her sponsor, told the district attorney that three policemen had raped her while in custody. She alleged that the cops enticed her saying she would be released if she yielded to their desire. The policemen, however, denied the allegation. The court sent the woman for a medical check up. Kuwait police is so corrupted and have no ethics, specially the Bedwin, that they themselves and quite often rape housemaid or any other girl arrested and brought to police station. Although many complaints has been raised about such behavior, there is totally no ethics or value with the police force. Although the officers are usually educated, however they cover up for crimes committed by the police force. The problem is that they think that they are above the law and no punishment expected. How a country could proper if their own security force are corrupted and in fact criminals, except for the very few, who cannot do much and eventually quit or retire from the police work.
Nov.14, 2003: In a desperate attempt to escape from a blaze that engulfed his apartment, a Palestinian expatriate jumped off the sixth floor of a building after throwing his wife, two sons and their maid. Investigation reports indicate that a fire broke out at 8.30 in the morning in the apartment on the sixth floor of a building. Passers-by reported that they heard three explosions followed by a big flame and thick black smoke. Thereafter, they saw the man near his bedroom window calling for help. People put some mattresses on the ground and the family members landed safely on them.
Oct.6,2003: Kuwait will supply a ship carrying some 50,000 Australian sheep, rejected by Saudi Arabia on health grounds, with food, water and fuel before the vessel sails for an unknown destination, the Ports Authority said yesterday.
The British army has dropped a plan to distribute the sheep in southern Iraq, and the fate of the animals, some of which have died during their eight weeks at sea aboard the Cormo Express, remains unclear.
August 26, 2003: Reports are coming of long delays of Kuwait Airways flight coming from Cairo, due to unknown reasons. Flight 1804 last Thursday were delayed over 5 hrs. Passengers were not informed and many suffered the long waiting in the crowded airport. Kuwait Airways is reportedly loosing over $240 million/ year, due to bad management and very bad service. Many people prefer not to use this Airline carrier.
July 31, 2003: In a recent report by Kuwaiti Minister of Finance, there will be about 220, 000 unemployed in Kuwait by the year 2008. If this figure is true, it will mean that1/3 of the Kuwait population will be unemployed. Such a situation will have a serious economic, social and political impact on the country, it might even signal a change in the political & economical system in this country. Unemployment problem will be very severe to other GCC countries too, especially Saudia Arabia.
July 21, 2003: Egyptian Labour Attaché to Kuwait Consul Rizk Showeil Saed recently disclosed Egypt has blacklisted 12 Kuwaiti companies and establishments since he was posted in Kuwait a year ago, reports a local Arabic daily.

He added the blacklisted companies are accused of trading in residence visas, keeping in their custody passports of workers for money and refusing to permit them to travel home and transfer their residence to new sponsors.
July 18,2003: The Year 2003 will be documented as the rise of a new era in Kuwait's history where for the first time the posts of Crown Prince and Prime Minister are separated.
July 18, 2003: Kids this summer will be camping on islands and playing paint-ball instead of doing drugs. GRASS, an independent branch of the National Committee for Drug Control (NCDC), announced the launch of its seventh campaign at the Marriott Hotel on Tuesday. Campaign "Al Hiwaya Himaya," translated as "hobbies protect people from idleness," was established because 77 per cent of Kuwait's drug abusers state that they turn to drugs from boredom.
July 17, 2003:Kuwait named a new government, a day after the state separated the post of Prime Minister from that of the Crown Prince, heeding calls for reform. Also a new Parliament has been elected by the citizens of Kuwait.
The Kuna news agency said Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, acting oil minister in the outgoing cabinet, was retained.
The cabinet is headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, named by the Emir, His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah, to form a new cabinet.
New faces in the cabinet included Interior Minister Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, a brother of the Emir, and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah, who takes over the post previously held by Sheikh Sabah. As the ailing Crown Prince is out from running the government , there are some hopes for reforms in this GCC country.
July 13, 2003: Kuwait's Emir split the posts of Crown

Prince and prime minister for the first time in its 42-year-old democracy in a move seen as heeding repeated calls for domestic reform. Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah named long-serving foreign minister and half-brother Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed as the emirate's first new premier in 25 years.

Ending days of speculation and years of calls, primarily by the emirate's liberals, for a separation of the two posts, Sheikh Sabah, 74, replaced 72-year-old Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Salem al-Sabah, who had been prime minister since 1978 but retains the post of Crown Prince in the reshuffle.

The Emiri order asked Sheikh Sabah, who previously served as first deputy premier and has run the foreign ministry since 1963, to form a new government.

"It's quite a relief that the office of prime minister is independent of the heir apparent," said political analyst and sociologist Khaldun al-Naqib.

"It will open the road in the future for someone from outside the ruling family to become prime minister," he told AFP Sunday.

"In my opinion, the hesitation to the separation was due mainly to this prospect ... (but) the obstacle has now been removed."

Sheikh Sabah's appointment is seen as heralding long-awaited change and the emirate is anxiously awaiting the composition of his new government.

Sheikh Sabah, a pro-liberal who favors privatization and globalization, is keen on improving Kuwaiti-Arab relations, even with those Arab governments that supported Iraq after it invaded Kuwait in August 1990 and occupied the emirate for seven months.

"The hope is that Sheikh Sabah will be free to form a government of his choosing," said Naqib. "It will be unfortunate if Sheikh Sabah brings in the old hands, those who have been politically spent. " We hope he'll bring in the young and educated, not necessarily technocrats but those independently minded, a departure from the normally obedient and loyal cabinet members," Naqib said. "Let's hope we have a government with planned determination and not one bogged down by tribal and sectarian considerations."

Due to health problems, Sheikh Saad had already delegated extensive authority to Sheikh Sabah, who in February 2000 himself had a heart pacemaker operation.

Sheikh Saad underwent colon surgery in early 1997 and has since spent long periods in Britain and the United States for recovery and medical tests.

Each time he has traveled abroad for tests, official statements have been released to underline worries about his health, fuelling the debate about the succession.

Sheikh Saad himself confided in early 2000 that his doctors had advised him "not to exhaust himself and to delegate less important tasks to colleagues."

However, retaining his post as crown prince, Sheikh Saad, a distant cousin of the Emir, would automatically become head of state in the event of Sheikh Jaber's death.

This would be in accordance with a tradition whereby the Al-Jaber branch of the ruling Al-Sabah family, to which the Emir and Sheikh Sabah belong, alternates the position of head of state with the Al-Salem branch, represented by Sheikh Saad.

Both branches are descendants of Emir Sheikh Mubarak al-Sabah, who ruled until 1915.

According to the Kuwaiti constitution, the Emir and the crown prince must be descendants of Sheikh Mubarak, who is considered the founding father of modern Kuwait.
The emirate is a member of OPEC and ranks among the world's largest oil producers with an output of almost two million barrels per day.

July 1, 2003: The Criminal Court recently sentenced a Kuwaiti man, identified only as M.S., to capital punishment for kidnapping and killing an Indian woman, reports Al-Qabas daily. Case papers indicate the woman was on her way to the Indian Embassy in Sharq, when the convict offered to drive her in return for money.
However, instead of driving her to the embassy he changed route and drove through the desert. Sensing bad intentions, the woman protested but the man continued driving. Left with no option, the woman opened the door of the car and jumped out and became unconscious. The suspect put his ‘prey’ in the back seat and raped her. Then to hide his crime, he stabbed her on the chest several times with a sharp object which led to her death.
June 30, 2003: The General Department of Immigration has changed its mind on lowering the family visa salary cap being applied on expatriates in the government sector from KD 400 to KD 250, a newspaper reported Thursday.
June 25, 2003: Kuwait is leading global efforts for the restoration of the Iraqi Marshes systematically destroyed by Saddam Hussein through diverting the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. The construction of dams in Turkey and Syria on rivers flowing into the marshes aggravated the problem by blocking the flow of water to the marshlands.
June 23,2003: Kuwait airport authorities recently refused to let into the country seven passengers coming from Canada, although they carried valid visit visas.
A security source at Kuwait International Airport, who refused to disclose his name, blamed the Immigration Department for not informing passengers coming from SARS hit countries that they would not be allowed to enter Kuwait unless they spend 10 days in a 'safe' country before arriving into Kuwait.
June 22,2003: The Criminal Court recently sentenced an unidentified teacher to life imprisonment for trafficking in narcotics. The teacher who was arrested inside a cafe in Kheitan has admitted to selling drugs to students, says the daily.
June 21,2003: Police recently found the corpse of a 33-year-old Kuwaiti man, identified only as S.M., inside a car parked in a suburb of Kaifan.
Police also found in the car 63 narcotic pills and a piece of hashish. Records indicate an unidentified person called the Operations Department of the Ministry of Interior when he saw the man lying inside the car. The remains were referred to forensics and police are investigating. The drugs problem in Kuwait is really reaching an epidemic in this small society. Did you notice the high rate of crime in Kuwait.
June 21,2003: Police recently arrested a female Kuwaiti employee of the Ministry of Communications for stealing sheep from several livestock pens in the area, reports Al-Rai Al-Aam daily. Case papers indicate police conducted intensive investigations after receiving several complaints from owners of livestock pens. The daily said some Asian men selling sheep in the market provided police with the car plate number of the woman, who they said sold sheep in the market. When the woman was summoned for interrogation, she admitted to stealing sheep from six livestock pens. She also guided police to her boyfriend and accomplice, 25-year-old, unemployed man, identified only as A.A., - who had earlier been sentenced in absentia to 15 years for trafficking in drugs - and A.A. guided police to another accomplice, identified as A.S., who was also sentenced to seven years in absentia for trafficking in drugs. The three burglars have been referred to the Prosecution.
June 14,2003: Ahmadi securitymen Saturday arrested two Kuwaitis, identified only as S.R. and A.D., for allegedly ripping off some expatriates at knife point and impersonating police officers.
A Filipino man, who had been stabbed by two men after he refused to give them his wallet, identified the two suspects in a police lineup. S.R., 30, is a former soldier at the Ministry of Defence, and A.D., 33, is unemployed. The two suspects confessed to carrying out nine looting operations against expatriates, mainly Asians, in Fahaheel and Abu Halifa.
June 13,2003:The US Naval forces will hold a live ammunition drill in the area between the islands of Ouha and Kubbar from June 16 until June 20, the Kuwaiti Army said.
June 12,2003: The National Committee for Missing and POWs Affairs (NCMPA) Monday telephoned 149 Kuwaiti families of POWs to inform them of the death of their children who were captured by Iraqi forces during the 1990-1991 occupation of Kuwait.
On Sunday, Kuwait announced that the remains of one of hundreds of its citizens missing since Iraq's seven-month occupation had been discovered at a mass grave near the southern Iraqi city of Samawah. DNA testing revealed the remains belonged to Saad Meshaal Aswad Al-Enezi, a Kuwaiti taken prisoner by Iraqi forces in November 1990. Kuwaiti officials say evidence indicates he was shot dead between 1991 and 1992.
A POW task force and coalition troops last month found the Samawah grave site, saying it may hold the remains of Kuwaitis missing for more than a decade. Kuwaiti forensic teams are in Iraq inspecting mass graves and tracking down information on other POWs. Kuwaiti officials said tens of other remains are being tested to determine who they belong to.
Kuwaitis demanded their government and coalition forces do more to account for their loved ones, and the state posted a $1 million reward for credible information leading to the discovery of any missing people. US and British forces, who used Kuwait as a launch pad for the invasion of Iraq, have searched fruitlessly through Iraqi prisons for the missing. Now with the discovery of Iraq's mass graves, initial hopes of finding relatives alive began fading. After the long suffering of the families of Kuwait POW, the final agony is that the loved ones are dead after having subjected to tortures at the hands of Saddam Husain regime. All Iraqi Intelligence officers must be brought to trial for the inhumane acts committed against the Kuwaitis, Iraqi and other people.
June 5,2003: A 32-year-old American, identified only as Steven and working at Doha Camp, recently filed a complaint with police accusing two unidentified youths of attempting to run him down with their car, reports Al-Watan daily.
The complainant told police he was replacing a flat tire in Yarmouk, Block 4, when the youths drove straight in his direction. Sensing trouble he dived to the side of the road to avoid being run down, but ended with bruises and injuries to his head, hands and knees.
June 4,2003: One hundred and thirty seven Kuwaiti men have registered so far to compete in upcoming parliamentary elections. Kuwaiti women do not hold the right to vote or run for election which is one reason why only 15.4 percent of the nation’s estimated 820,000 citizens are eligible to choose parliamentary representatives. Kuwait has the real free election in GCC countries and considered the most democratic election, however the Bedwin population make their own elections as the constitute more that 2/3 of the population.
May 4,2003: A Kuwaiti court condemned to death Wednesday a man convicted of murdering a U.S. contractor working in the country, the defendants lawyer said. The court also handed down prison terms to three other Kuwaitis it found to be accomplices to the crime.
June 3, 2003: A Kuwaiti man, whose identity has not been disclosed, recently called police when he found strange objects inside the room of his maid, fearing them to be items used in sorcery work, reports Al-Anba daily. The man who said he heard strange sounds coming from the maid’s room at night, also told police he has strong reasons to believe the Asian maid, identified only as A., used black magic in his house because since her arrival the ‘atmosphere’ in the house had worsened. The maid has been referred to the Criminal Investigations Department.
June 4, 2003: An unidentified bedoun schoolgirl who attempted to end her life by slitting her wrists have been admitted to a hospital. A Kuwaiti woman who saw the girl bleeding behind Jahra Cinema raised an alarm and passersby rushed the ‘victim’ to hospital. During interrogation, the girl told police she was heart broken after discovering her lover had dumped her for another woman. A case of attempted suicide has been registered.
June 3,2003: A Kuwaiti passenger aboard an Egypt Air jet that made an emergency landing at Athens airport after a bomb alert was arrested Sunday and will be prosecuted in Greece, police said.
The 39-year-old man was the last passenger to use the toilets before the emergency landing, prompted when a flight attendant discovered a message in the toilet warning of a bomb on board, police said. Greek authorities quickly evacuated the 85 passengers and nine crew members of the Airbus A320 upon landing la