Israel & Kuwait- Shimon Peres

It seems that Israel and Kuwait are inching towards formal relations, as suggested by earlier media reports. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Shimon Peres talked favorably about Kuwait, and how it intervenes "positively" in the Palestinian cause.

• Al-Seyassah article (.pdf)
  

New Universities in Kuwait- Part II

It is official! As mentioned previously in Kuwait2005, The Cabinet of Ministers in Kuwait approved today draft laws to license two educational institutions (the names as they were provided by the Cabinet):

1. Kuwait School of Technology
2. American Middle East University

EXTRA! EXTRA! Who was on Saddam's payroll?

The Independent Inquiry Committee into the United Nations Oil-For-Food Programme released a report on Thursday, uncovering a large list of individuals and companies who benefited from Saddam's oil coupons. To the dismay of Middle Eastern leaders, the committee is very explicit and clear in naming the culprits. The list includes a vast array of companies and individuals. Some of the notable inclusions are (numbers are for barrels lifted not allocated):

• Khaled Jamal Abd Al-Nasser, Egypt, 5.8 million barrels
• Al-Dulaimi Group, Qatar, 3.6 million barrels
• Toujan Al-Faisal, Jordan, 1.0 million barrels
• Sheikh Issa Bin Zayed Al-Nahayan, UAE, 1.0 million barrels
• Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al-Nahayan, UAE, 1.96 million barrels
• Sheikh Hamad Bin Ali Bin Jabr Al-Thani, Qatar, 8.89 million barrels
• Communist Part, Belarus, 3.44 million barrels
• Liberal Democratic Party, Belarus, 6.56 million barrels
• Socialist Party, Bulgaria, 3.02 million barrels
• Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chad, 1.05 million barrels
• George Galloway, UK Member of Parliament , 6.68 million barrels
• Welfare Party, Hungary, 1.10 million barrels
• Congress PArt, India, 1.01 million barrels
• Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jordan, 1.90 million barrels
• Son of President Lahoud, Lebanon, 2.28 million barrels
• Government of Namibia, 4.07 million barrels
• Ministry of Oil and Gas, Oman, 3.08 million barrels
• Palestine Economic Institute, 3.69 million barrels
• Palestinian Liberation Front, 2.05 million barrels
• Labor Party, Romania, 3.31 million barrels
• Communist Party, Russia, 106.9 million barrels
• Deputy Prime Minister, Russia, 1.50 million barrels
• Peace and Unity Party, Russia, 46.41 million barrels
• Presidential Office, Russia, 16.40 million barrels
• Leith Shbeilat, Jordan, 13.86 million barrels
• Communist Party, Slovakia, 2.52 million barrels
• Faras Mustapha Talas, Syria, 3.06 million barrels
• Communist Party, Ukraine, 7.90 million barrels
• Government of Yemen, 4.71 million barrels
• Radical Party, Yugoslavia, 4.06 million barrels

Companies involved in financing these robberies include:

• Bayoil
• Mitsubishi
• Shell International Trading
• Taurus Petroleum Limited
• VITOL

Sharjah and Kuwait Manufacturing (SKM) was involved in providing air conditioners, medical equipment and appliances, to Iraq. They were paid 6.18 million dollars for three contracts.

New Universities in Kuwait

According to Al-Qabas newspaper, four new license requests have been submitted on behalf of foreign educational institutes to open branches in Kuwait. However, the article does not mention the requesting institutions, and states that these are American and Dutch institutes. After some research, it seems the following universities could be the ones mentioned in the article:

• Middle East American University in affiliation with Purdue University
• Boston University
• University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine
• Science and Technology College of Kuwait in affiliation with the India Institute of Technology in Delhi
  

What are the highest ranked Kuwait-related websites?

According to Alexa, Salmiya dot net is the highest ranked Kuwait-related website, coming in at 2543 worldwide. It is worthy to mention that 6arab.com comes in at 476 overall, but is categorized in Middle East rather than Kuwait. For the complete list click here. Following is a list of the top 10 Kuwaiti websites according to Alexa:

1. Salmiya dot net at 2543
2. Kuwait Airways at 9242
3. Kuwait University at 29452
4. Indians in Kuwait at 29617
   
5. Kuwait International Airport at 87865
   
6. Wataniya Telecom at 97941
   
7. Ministry of Finance at 173332
8. Public Authority for Applied Education and Training at 136188
9. Gulfnet International at 148466
   
10. AiwaGulf at 158039

Please note this is Alexa's ranking of most popular sites for Kuwait. However, notable sites missing from the official list include:

1. Al-Watan at 6747
2. Al-Seyassah/Arab Times at 9042
   
3. Al-Rai Al-Aam at 9353
4. Al-Qabas at 10561
   
5. KUNA at 12842
   
6. NBK at 16004
   
7. MTC-Vodafone at 58119
   

The Hero of Qadisiya...The Hero of Arabs

...Should have stayed away from Kuwait!

Saddam's Trial to Open Soon

Congratulations to all the people out there who were/are affected in any way by the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. His trial is set to start within the hour.

Global Corruption Report 2005

Transparency International released the Global Corruption Report for 2005. Kuwait came in at 44 overall in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index. Finland was first, while Bangladesh and Haiti tied for 145th.

Kuwait vs. Brazil Match

The 5-time world champions Brazil will end this season with two friendly games in the Arab World. Brazil will play the UAE national team on the 12th of November, and then head to Kuwait to meet Al-Kuwait Club on the 15th.

• Tickets for the game in Abu Dhabi range from $48 to $409 while tickets in Kuwait range from $34 to $103.
• Brazil faced Arab teams many times in the past including:
• Saudi Arabia (4 times recording 4 Brazil victories)
• Algeria (3 times recording 2 Brazil victories and a tie)
• Egypt (4 times recording 4 Brazil victories)
• Morocco (2 times recording 2 Brazil victories)
• Tunisia (1 time recording a Brazil win)
• Tickets for the match in Kuwait can be ordered from the Kuwait Club site.
  

Weather Forecast in Kuwait- Calm For Now

The political storm has passed for now. After the Amir's wise move of restating his confidence in Sheikh Sabah, and sending a strong message to Sheikh Salem Al-Ali, it seems the policitcal situation is calm again. However, this is not the end of this chronic battle for power, as actions encourage reactions. Time will tell how things will be set straight as the Amir promised in his recent statement. Further, politicians expect a retaliation for taking this battle for power into the public domain. Time will tell.

Political Situation in Kuwait- Latest Developments

After Sheikh Salem Al-Ali's fiery statement to Al-Qabas newspaper, some controlled reactions have been published today.

• Sheikh Jaber restates his confidence in Sheikh Sabah and promises to set things straight.
• Member of Parliament Ahmad Al-Sadoun chips in.
• Al-Seyassah's editorial focuses on the need for solution for the political stalemate.
• Kuwaiti government calls for unity.
  

It's Heating Up- Kuwaiti Style

According to Kubbar, the temperature in Kuwait is currently 35.7 degrees Celsius with calm winds. However, it seems things are heating up according to this news item.

Kuwait & Israel: Stepping Towards Normalization?

After the announcement earlier about GCC countries preparing to lift the economic embargo on Israel, the New York Times ran this story about possible steps taken by Kuwait to ease hostilities toward the zionist nation.
Highlights of the story include:

• Kuwaiti newspapers floating ideas about easing hostilities towards Israel to help Palestinians. Note: People laughed at Saddam when he claimed he is going to liberate Palestine when he invaded Kuwait in 1990.
  
• Al-Seyassah pushing for lifting the economic embargo on Israel.
• An interview with former Minister Saad Bin Tefla who said, about lifting the economic embargo, "if it's good for our allies, maybe it's good for us."
• Ahmed Al-Sarraf claimed that "we owe Israel alot" since it did not retaliate to Iraq's Scud missiles in 1991. Had Israel retaliated, "it would have affectd our cause significantly," he added.

Basically, a free trade agreement with the US does not permit an economic embargo on Israel. So once you read that Kuwait signed a free trade agreement with the US, you will know that the embargo has been lifted.

Arizona Women Plead Innocent

The two women involved in a hit-and-run accident in Arizona have pleaded innocent during their arraignment hearing earlier this morning.

• Note: The story was carried by the Associated Press.