Kuwait News
KUWAIT: Muhammad Al-Kandari, the Hawalli Governorate Inspection Supervisor at the Food and Nutrition Public Authority, has announced the closure of four food establishments in Hawalli and Salmiya due to severe violations. The closures were part of an ongoing effort to ensure food safety and public health through rigorous inspections and adherence to international food safety standards. In an interview with Al-Anba newspaper, Al-Kandari explained that these closures are part of a broader initiative to maintain high safety standards in food production and distribution.
The inspection tour revealed multiple violations, including the presence of flying and crawling insects in food preparation areas, poor personal hygiene among staff (such as untrimmed nails), and the sale of adulterated or expired food products. These infractions prompted immediate legal action and the closure of the offending establishments. Al-Kandari stressed that even if the food products currently appear safe, conditions can change over time. Thus, reopening is contingent upon a thorough re-inspection to ensure all violations have been resolved. The closed establishments undergo temporary reopening to allow for corrective measures, after which inspectors return for follow-up checks. Only once all issues are resolved, and previous violations are addressed, is permanent reopening permitted. The closed establishments include a bakery, a sweets shop, and a restaurant in the Hawalli area, along with two restaurants in the Salmiya area.
The Food and Nutrition Public Authority’s inspection team has been conducting regular visits throughout the governorate to monitor compliance and enforce regulations. Al- Kandari emphasized that these efforts are essential to protect consumer health and uphold food safety standards in the market. Al-Kandari’s team remains committed to ensuring that food establishments meet safety requirements. This commitment reflects the Authority’s dedication to implementing effective policies and control systems in accordance with international standards. These actions contribute to preserving public health and maintaining consumer confidence in food safety.
KUWAIT: The EU Ambassador to Kuwait Anne Koistinen presented the 2023 Chaillot Prize for the Promotion of Human Rights in the GCC region to the Kuwait Society for Human Rights. The European Union awards the Chaillot Prize every year for actions, campaigns, projects and lifetime achievements that favor human rights promotion and awareness in the GCC region. The Prize is named after the Palais de Chaillot in Paris where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948.
In her speech during the ceremony held at the EU residence in Kuwait, Ambassador Koistinen said: “I am honored to present the Chaillot Prize for the Promotion of Human Rights in the GCC region to the Kuwait Society for Human Rights for their unwavering dedication over the years to promoting and advancing human rights in Kuwait. I would like to highlight in particular their work in supporting and advocating for migrant workers’ rights in Kuwait and raising awareness about their labor rights. Engagement with the civil society in Kuwait is a very important part of EU delegation’s work, therefore I am looking forward to continuing our long-standing cooperation with the Kuwait Society for Human Rights.”
Khaled Al-Humaidi, President of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Society for Human Rights, said in his speech during the ceremony that ‘To be honored today by awarding us the Chaillot Prize for Human Rights is a great moral support for the Kuwait Society for Human Rights. This Society has taken upon itself the responsibility of defending human rights and promoting them in the Kuwaiti society through concerted efforts at the government and community levels.
We are delighted that the Chaillot Prize was granted to us for our tireless efforts in protecting the rights of migrant workers in Kuwait through the ‘Together Project’, which aims at raising awareness and protecting the rights of migrant workers in Kuwait. This project was implemented by the Kuwait Society for Human Rights in cooperation with the European Union delegation in Kuwait, the Netherlands Embassy, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, in addition to the US-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).’
For the EU, promoting and protecting human rights is at the heart of EU external policy as they are among the EU’s founding values of human dignity, freedom and respect of human rights. Cooperation on human rights and engagement with the civil society are an integral part of the relations between the European Union and all countries, including Kuwait. The European Union and Kuwait held their fourth Human Rights Dialogue in Brussels on December 5, 2023 , where the two sides exchanged about the latest developments on both sides and reiterated their commitment to an open and constructive dialogue to jointly address human rights challenges and share best practices.
KUWAIT: Kuwait has sent its first aircraft carrying 40 tons of food and medical supplies and ambulances to Port Sudan International Airport. Speaking to KUNA on this occasion, Deputy General Manager of Kuwait Society for Relief Omar Al-Thuwaini said the aid plane is part of a humanitarian campaign that was jointly launched by the society and eight other Kuwaiti charities to help Sudanese people who have been affected by their country’s war.
The Kuwaiti initiative is mainly intended to help answer Sudanese people’s basic needs, primarily food, medicine and shelter, amid the tough living conditions they are facing, he added. In this context, he voiced gratitude and appreciation to Kuwaiti state bodies, chiefly the ministries of defense, foreign affairs, social affairs and information, for their efforts to facilitate and speed up the humanitarian mission.
Chief of Relief and Projects at the Kuwait Society for Relief Mahmoud Al-Mesbah said the first Kuwaiti aid aircraft carried 20 pallets of medical suppliers, 20 pallets of foodstuff and three ambulances. Kuwaiti relief aid comes under the direction of the country’s political leadership for sending necessary humanitarian aid to the Sudanese people to ease the impact of war. Kuwait sent 16 relief aid planes carrying hundreds of tons of food and medical supplies, clothes and ambulances to Sudan in June. — KUNA
KUWAIT: Following a report from a concerned parent, the Public Prosecution has ordered the detention of a 24-year-old Syrian expatriate working unofficially at a private school despite holding a family residence permit. The parent accused her of using a needle obtained from the school clinic to inject his son and threatening other students to exert control over them.
According to details provided by a security source to Al-Jarida, the incident unfolded when the Salmiya Police Station received a report from a parent alleging that his son had been physically assaulted and intimidated by a female worker at the school in the Salmiya area. The parent claimed that the female worker had used a syringe to threaten his son and other students.
Upon investigation, it was discovered that the employee was working in violation of the school’s regulations, and her residency status did not permit her to be employed at the school. When questioned by security officials, the expatriate admitted to bringing the syringe needle from the school clinic in an attempt to scare the students during a period of unrest in the classroom. She claimed that she did not intend to harm anyone, specifically the complaining student.
A case was registered and forwarded to the General Department of Criminal Investigation – the Juvenile Police Department, which subsequently referred it to the Public Prosecution. The Public Prosecution decided to detain the expatriate woman pending further investigation, which will involve the school administration and the complaining student.
KUWAIT: The Meteorological Department has issued a weather advisory alerting residents of Kuwait to anticipate heightened activity in northwesterly winds. According to officials, wind speeds may surpass 50 kilometers per hour, potentially causing dust storms and reducing horizontal visibility, particularly in exposed areas. Additionally, the advisory warns of the possibility of increased sea waves along the coast.
The advisory, effective for 10 hours, will commence at 10 a.m. and conclude at 8 p.m., guiding residents to prepare for adverse weather conditions during this period.
Residents are urged to exercise caution, particularly when driving or venturing outdoors, and to stay informed about updates from local authorities regarding the evolving weather situation.
For further information and updates, individuals are advised to consult official sources and adhere to safety guidelines provided by the Meteorological Department.
KUWAIT: In a recent development, Al-Jarida has learned from reliable sources within the Ministry of Interior and the Public Authority for Manpower that directives have been issued to halt the issuance of work permits for Egyptian workers as of yesterday. This decision comes as part of efforts to implement new regulations aimed at ensuring greater oversight in the issuance process.
According to the sources, the decision to suspend work permits for Egyptian workers follows a series of complaints lodged by employers. These complaints allege that certain Egyptian authorities have been pressuring them to procure insurance for each worker from a non-Kuwaiti insurance company. Such practices have raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of the recruitment process.
In response to these concerns, both the Public Authority for Manpower and the Ministry of Interior are actively working to establish stringent controls over the recruitment of Egyptian workers. Priority will be given to individuals holding advanced degrees and specialized skills that align with the specific needs of the Kuwaiti labor market.
This move reflects a broader effort to streamline the recruitment process, enhance transparency, and ensure that foreign workers entering Kuwait contribute positively to the country’s workforce. As authorities move forward with implementing these new controls, further updates are expected to be announced in due course.
KUWAIT: A Sudanese expatriate has been arrested for killing his friend of the same nationality by stabbing him in the neck with a ‘screwdriver’ in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and then fleeing from the location. According to security sources, when the Ministry of Interior’s Operations Room received information about the presence of a corpse near a street in Jleeb Al- Shuyoukh area, Farwaniya securitymen, paramedics and detectives immediately rushed to the location and discovered that the body belonged to a Sudanese expatriate who died from a stab in the neck. The detectives, after conducting investigations, discovered that the person responsible for his murder is also a Sudanese national. Detectives immediately went to his apartment and arrested him.
When questioned, the suspect admitted that he killed his friend over a financial dispute especially since he was asking for money. He was referred to the Public Prosecution for necessary legal action. In a related context, the Security Media Department of the Ministry of Interior announced that officers from the Criminal Security Sector arrested the killer who committed the premeditated murder in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh area, as part of the efforts of the sector to arrest violators and outlaws, and under the direct field follow-up of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah.
The Directorate General of Criminal Investigation’s Farwaniya Investigation Department arrested the suspect in less than eight hours, from the time of receiving information about the quarrel and murder in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh area. After intensifying the search and investigation operations and carefully surveying the site, the perpetrator’s data and location were obtained. He was arrested and the crime tool was found. When confronted during investigations, the suspect admitted that he had attacked the victim due to a financial dispute.