A funeral was held on Sunday for Kuwait's Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, who died on Saturday at the age of 86.
Only relatives were in attendance, Kuwait's state news agency said.
Funeral prayers took take place at the Bilal bin Rabah mosque on Sunday morning and were broadcast on Kuwaiti TV.
“You have built a house of God, and made sure to perform your prayers on time in it … our beloved Emir,” state broadcaster Kuwait TV said.
Shrouded in Kuwait's flag, Sheikh Nawaf's body arrived in a hearse belonging to the Amiri Diwan. He was carried into the mosque in a ceremony attended by members of the military, Amiri Diwan and relatives.
“Oh Allah has been kind to us; so be kind to him,” a newscaster on Kuwait TV said.
“You have ruled and you have been fair.”
Kuwait's new Emir and former Crown Prince Meshal Al Ahmad Al Sabah stood behind the imam leading prayers.
“We have loved you genuinely from our heart – you’ve ruled and have been just. We ask God to place you with his other loyal, good followers,” the newscaster said.
“Our hearts are broken – we’ve seen in you a merciful father, a generous Sheikh, a sensitive heart … and a pure soul.”
“We ask God to help us tolerate the pain.”
Sheikh Nawaf's body was laid to rest at the Sulaibikhat Cemetery, where servicemen, high-ranking officials and cemetery workers helped to bury him.
“Goodbye Nawaf Al Ahmad, may God have mercy on you,” the newscaster said.
“Goodbye my leader.”
Kuwait announced a 40-day mourning period.
Absentee prayers will be held across Kuwait's mosques at noon prayers, Kuwait's Ministry of Endowments said.
Condolences came in from around the world after word of Sheikh Nawaf's death.
He was admitted to hospital last month for an emergency and had been in poor health.
The UAE and Oman announced a three-day mourning period. Saudi Arabia was among the first to issue condolences and will also be holding absentee funeral prayers in the Grand mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's mosque in Madinah.
The UAE will hold prayers for Sheikh Nawaf across all mosques in the country at noon.
Leaders and officials from across the world travelled to Kuwait to pay their respects.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman offered his condolences to the new Emir in Kuwait, reported the Saudi Press Agency.
Jordan's King Abdullah II, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Bahrain's King Hamad were among the other leaders to travel to Kuwait.
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also visited the OPEC oil producer.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin also travelled to Kuwait.
Mr Austin praised Sheikh Nawaf's “courage and leadership”.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the people of Kuwait and Sheikh Nawaf's family,” he wrote on social media platform X.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was among the European leaders to pay tribute to Sheikh Nawaf.
“His Highness was a great friend of the UK, and we will remember fondly all he did for our bilateral relationship and his work to promote stability in the Middle East,” Mr Sunak said.
EU ambassador in Kuwait Anne Koistinen also shared her condolences.
“I’m deeply saddened by the passing of His Highness the late Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah,” she wrote on X.
Cristian Tudor, the EU ambassador to Qatar, said he was “deeply saddened” to hear of Sheikh Nawaf's death.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent his condolences to Kuwait and said Ukraine would always be grateful for Sheikh Nawaf's support.
“Sending my deepest condolences to the Kuwaiti people on HH Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah’s passing,” he wrote on X.
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
The view from The National
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
Profile of Udrive
Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
It
Director: Andres Muschietti
Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor
Three stars
RESULTS
6pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $40,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alajaj, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
6.35pm: Race of Future – Handicap (TB) $80,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner: Global Storm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Azure Coast, Antonio Fresu, Pavel Vashchenko
7.45pm: Business Bay Challenge – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Storm Damage, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
20.20pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed (TB) $100,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Appreciated, Fernando Jara, Doug O’Neill
8.55pm: Singspiel Stakes – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O'Meara
9.30pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Meraas, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
Company%C2%A0profile
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The%20specs
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