Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal, right, with Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah. Photo: Kuna
Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal, right, with Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah. Photo: Kuna
Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal, right, with Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah. Photo: Kuna
Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal, right, with Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah. Photo: Kuna

Kuwait forms government with new defence and oil ministers


Ismaeel Naar
  • English
  • Arabic

Kuwait formed its fifth government in less than a year under Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah, naming new ministers for the defence and oil portfolios who took the oath of office ahead of parliament convening on Tuesday.

Saad Al Barrak was named as oil minister, replacing Bader Al Mulla, while Manaf Al Hajeri was reappointed as finance minister.

Sheikh Ahmad was reappointed as prime minister last week and formed his new cabinet ahead of the newly elected parliament convening its first session on Tuesday after more than a year of tensions between the legislative and executive branches.

At Tuesday’s session in parliament, Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal, who was granted key constitutional powers in 2021, is expected to address both the government and citizens.

His previous speech at the National Assembly last October struck an emotional chord when the Crown Prince fought back tears as he recited verses from the holy Quran in a call for unity, before receiving a standing ovation.

As the new cabinet took its oath of office in front of Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal on Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad acknowledged past challenges have hindered their relationship with parliament.

“We pledge to God first and then His Highness the Emir of the country, your highness and the people of Kuwait to be worthy of the precious confidence in carrying the responsibility, bearing in mind the outstanding issues and the size of the grave challenges facing them, dedicating ourselves to serving Kuwait,” he said.

Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, the new defence minister, returns to politics and government after more than a decade of absence. He was also appointed as deputy premier in the new cabinet. He was previously minister of oil and energy for most of his tenure in past governments.

New Kuwaiti oil minister Saad Al Barrak, pictured in 2008.
New Kuwaiti oil minister Saad Al Barrak, pictured in 2008.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Salem Al Sabah and Minister of Finance Manaf Al Hajeri kept their posts, as did ministers of health, information, education, commerce and industry and public works.

Newcomers to the cabinet include Sheikh Feras Al Sabah as minister of social affairs, Faleh Al Rqubah as minister of justice and Fahad Al Shulah as minister of state for municipal affairs.

In an unprecedented move, 47 out of the 50 elected MPs met informally last week ahead of their inaugural session on Tuesday to outline their agenda priorities, including discussions on amending the law surrounding the powers of the Constitutional Court.

They also discussed changing the legislature’s bylaws regarding the requirements for cabinet representation during sessions.

In a strongly-worded statement, the MPs who met said they would “not be satisfied with a weak government”.

Reacting to the government formation on Sunday night, MP Jenan Boushehri – the only woman to be elected to parliament – said the new government “faces a real test”.

“The new government collectively faces a real test by presenting a national action programme that is in line with the requirements of the representatives of political reform, economic development, and improvement of the living conditions of citizens according to applicable mechanisms and a specific timetable,” Ms Boushehri said.

Kuwait holds some of the world's largest oil reserves and has strong fiscal and external balance sheets, but political bickering and institutional gridlock have hampered investment and reforms aimed at reducing its heavy reliance on oil revenue.

Who is in Kuwait's new cabinet?

  • Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah
  • First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Talal Khaled Al Sabah
  • Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah
  • Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Essa Al Kandari
  • Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Oil and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Saad Al Barrak
  • Minister of State for Municipality Affairs and Minister of State for Communications Fahad Al Shulah
  • Minister of Information and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Abdulrahman Al Mutairi
  • Minister of Health Ahmad Al Awadhi
  • Minister of Public Works Amani Bougammaz
  • Minister of Education, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Hamad Al Adwani
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Salem Al Sabah
  • Minister of Commerce and Industry, Minister of State for Youth Affairs Mohammad Al Aiban
  • Minister of Finance Manaf Al Hajeri
  • Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy Jassem Al Ostad
  • Minister of Justice, Minister of State for Housing Affairs Faleh Al Rqubah
  • Minister of Social Affairs, Minister of State for Women and Childhood’s Affairs Sheikh Feras Al Sabah
Match info

Karnataka Tuskers 110-3

J Charles 35, M Pretorius 1-19, Z Khan 0-16

Deccan Gladiators 111-5 in 8.3 overs

K Pollard 45*, S Zadran 2-18

The biog

From: Upper Egypt

Age: 78

Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila

Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace

Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace

MATCH INFO

Manchester City 3 (Silva 8' &15, Foden 33')

Birmginahm City 0

Man of the match Bernado Silva (Manchester City)

Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon

Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon

1999 - 1st round

2000 - 1st round

2001 - Quarter-finalist

2002 - 1st round

2003 - Winner

2004 - Winner

2005 - Winner

2006 - Winner

2007 - Winner

2008 - Finalist

2009 - Winner

2010 - Quarter-finalist

2011 - Quarter-finalist

2012 - Winner

2013 - 2nd round

2014 - Finalist

2015 - Finalist

2016 - Semi-finalist

ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
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Important questions to consider

1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?

There are different types of travel available for pets:

  • Manifest cargo
  • Excess luggage in the hold
  • Excess luggage in the cabin

Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.

 

2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?

If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.

If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.

 

3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?

As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.

If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty. 

If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport. 

 

4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?

This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.

In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.

 

5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?

Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.

Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.

Source: Pawsome Pets UAE

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Ballon d’Or shortlists

Men

Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool), Sergio Aguero (Aregentina/Manchester City), Frenkie de Jong (Netherlans/Barcelona), Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham), Dusan Tadic (Serbia/Ajax), Kylian Mbappe (France/PSG), Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool), Donny van de Beek (Netherlands/Ajax), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon/Arsenal), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany/Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus), Alisson (Brazil/Liverpool), Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands/Juventus), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Georginio Wijnaldum (Netherlands/Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands/Liverpool), Bernardo Silva (Portugal/Manchester City), Son Heung-min (South Korea/Tottenham), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich), Roberto Firmino (Brazil/Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria/Manchester City), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal/Napoli), Antoine Griezmann (France/Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Eden Hazard (BEL/Real Madrid), Marquinhos (Brazil/Paris-SG), Raheem Sterling (Eengland/Manchester City), Joao Félix(Portugal/Atletico Madrid)

Women

Sam Kerr (Austria/Chelsea), Ellen White (England/Manchester City), Nilla Fischer (Sweden/Linkopings), Amandine Henry (France/Lyon), Lucy Bronze(England/Lyon), Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands/Arsenal), Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany/Lyon), Pernille Harder (Denmark/Wolfsburg), Sarah Bouhaddi (France/Lyon), Megan Rapinoe (USA/Reign FC), Lieke Martens (Netherlands/Barcelona), Sari van Veenendal (Netherlands/Atletico Madrid), Wendie Renard (France/Lyon), Rose Lavelle(USA/Washington Spirit), Marta (Brazil/Orlando Pride), Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Lyon), Kosovare Asllani (Sweden/CD Tacon), Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden/CD Tacon), Tobin Heath (USA/Portland Thorns)

 

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
heading

Iran has sent five planeloads of food to Qatar, which is suffering shortages amid a regional blockade.

A number of nations, including Iran's major rival Saudi Arabia, last week cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of funding terrorism, charges it denies.

The land border with Saudi Arabia, through which 40% of Qatar's food comes, has been closed.

Meanwhile, mediators Kuwait said that Qatar was ready to listen to the "qualms" of its neighbours.

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

FIXTURES

Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)

Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)

Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)

Washmen Profile

Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures

MATCH INFO

Inter Milan 2 (Vecino 65', Barella 83')

Verona 1 (Verre 19' pen)

The%20stats%20and%20facts
%3Cp%3E1.9%20million%20women%20are%20at%20risk%20of%20developing%20cervical%20cancer%20in%20the%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E80%25%20of%20people%2C%20females%20and%20males%2C%20will%20get%20human%20papillomavirus%20(HPV)%20once%20in%20their%20lifetime%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EOut%20of%20more%20than%20100%20types%20of%20HPV%2C%2014%20strains%20are%20cancer-causing%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E99.9%25%20of%20cervical%20cancers%20are%20caused%20by%20the%20virus%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EA%20five-year%20survival%20rate%20of%20close%20to%2096%25%20can%20be%20achieved%20with%20regular%20screenings%20for%20cervical%20cancer%20detection%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EWomen%20aged%2025%20to%2029%20should%20get%20a%20Pap%20smear%20every%20three%20years%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EWomen%20aged%2030%20to%2065%20should%20do%20a%20Pap%20smear%20and%20HPV%20test%20every%20five%20years%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EChildren%20aged%2013%20and%20above%20should%20get%20the%20HPV%20vaccine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Omar Yabroudi's factfile

Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah

Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University

2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship

2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy

2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment

2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment

2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager

 

 

 

 

Updated: June 19, 2023, 12:42 PM`