MEW to build 9 new water towers in Sabah Al-Ahmad

Kuwait: The Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) has finalized contracts for the construction of nine new water storage towers in the Sabah Al-Ahmad housing estate. The reinforced concrete towers, costing a total of KD8.5 million, should be completed and ready for use within the next year, said an MEW official, adding that they will provide water for Sabah Al-Ahmad residents and any others in the area requiring it. Meanwhile, the MEW is awaiting the delivery of a number of massive new soundproofed diesel generators.

The generators, costing a total of KD15 million, are expected to arrive before Ramadan when the demand for power peaks and will be allocated to those areas prone to power cuts just in case of any blackouts. On a separate issue, MP Mohammad Al-Huwaila has supported parliamentary colleagues' calls for an emergency meeting of the National Assembly council to discuss the problems faced by high school graduates unable to get places at Kuwait University despite meeting the entrance criteria due to the university's overcapacity problems.

Smart' power system achieved using the latest technology

KUWAIT: Minister of Electricity and Water Salem Al-Othayna said on Monday that the improvements in Kuwait's power network are being carried out using the latest equipment and sophisticated power conservation techniques. Al-Othayna, who is also the Acting Minister of Information, said that, as well as conserving power, the 'smart' system used by the MEW ensures that the power supply is directed towards those areas where it is most needed.

In a statement released after he inaugurated Salwa's second main power plant, which uses the 'smart' system, the minister said that the new system "contributes to reducing consumption levels by 15 to 20 percent through conserving the previously wasted power." Kuwait has taken the regional lead in introducing the 'smart' system, which was first suggested by an MEW expert committee in 2008, said Al-Othayna, lauding the efforts of the five Kuwaiti engineers, all female, who first launched the project and of the additional eight who also played a part in ensuring the successful introduction of the cutting edge system.

Al-Adwa slams MAIA over imam suspension

Kuwait: MP Khalid Al-Adwa has become the latest parliamentarian to condemn the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs' (MAIA) decision to suspend an imam over a sermon condemning the Syrian regime over its actions. Al-Adwa said yesterday that the MAIA should call a halt to its repressive role in inhibiting imams' freedom of speech in their sermons, accusing the ministry of wishing to make sermons monotonous and irrelevant to actual national concerns.

MAIA officials should instead be looking to mosque imams as important figures with a responsibility for shaping society and directing its members in the correct way, socially, politically and economically, as well as morally, particularly in their Friday sermons, he said. Imams are not civil servants, the MP pointed out, adding that the ministry must show empathy for the Kuwaiti people's cares and concerns and face up to challenges.

Kuwait Info Alerts | News

Kuwait Info Alerts | News

51 repatriated Pinoy maids seek safety back home

KUWAIT: Rowena's journey to what she believed would be greener pastures resulted in abuse, starvation and false accusations of adultery. After arriving in Kuwait to work as a maid, 32-year-old Rowena Alinsasaguin ate only bread (kubos in Arabic) for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Her most luxurious meal was chicken with rice, which she was given once a week. On every other day it was only kubos, without anything on it. I did not come to Kuwait to die. I came here to live and help my family," she sobbed, recalling her wretched experience. After four months of suffering, she finally called her agency to request a transfer and her request was eventually granted. After the next few months, however, the female employer became suspicious that Rowena was having an affair with her husband. In 'revenge' for this imagined romance, Rowena would receive reprimands and beating almost every day.

Kuwait Info Alerts | News

Kuwait Info Alerts | News

College of Education students asked to re-take course

Kuwait: In a recent incident, that adds to the poor reputation of Kuwait's education system, 400 students from the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training's (PAAET) College of Education were informed yesterday that one of the courses they have been studying throughout this summer semester was cancelled. Students have been studying the course since June, but were only informed yesterday, a week before the final exam, that it was cancelled due to a fault in the registration department. The officials were unable to answer our questions at first. We were confused as to what will happen for all the work we have performed throughout the summer semester. Are we going to re-do the entire course again. What were the reasons." wondered Sarah, one of the students. She added, "We were given a notice that we are no longer registered with that course. We were shocked, so we tried to get in touch with our instructor who told us that that this was the management's decision.

Kuwait Info Alerts | News

Kuwait Info Alerts | News

Kuwait football team to take on Filipino rivals

Kuwait: After a rigorous training session held in Lebanon and Jordan recently, the Kuwait Football Team [Al-Azraq] returned home last Friday. The team is in the heat of intensive preparations held here for the much-awaited '2014 qualifier match' scheduled against the Philippines' Azkals team. The match will be held on Saturday at the Qadsiya Sports Club in Hawally. Sheikh Talal Fahad Al-Sabah, Chairman Kuwait Football Association (KFA) visited the training ground on Monday evening, wished the team well and expressed his support..He dropped by to give our team a morale boost. He just wished our team well and success for the Saturday game. His presence was greatly valued by our team. Being able to see him here on the ground was quite remarkable," said Talal Al-Mehteb, Media Relations Officer. Al-Mehteb spoke to the press Sheikh Talal addressed the team at KFA's headquarters in Adaliya.

Kuwait Info Alerts | News

Kuwait Info Alerts | News

Belgian official sees ample scope to promote medical in kuwa

Kuwaiti minister of health Dr. Hilal Musaed Al-Sayer met here Monday Kris Peeters, Minister-President of the Flemish region of Belgium, and discussed ways to boost collaboration in the medical and health is sector between Belgium and Kuwait."It was very positive meeting and we discussed a lot of possibilities to work together. Healthcare in the Flanders region is a very important sector and has the ambition to be in the top five of the European countries and regions by 2020," Peeters told the Kuwait news agency after the meeting."We have discussed and given more information about this initiative and we hope that we can work in the future with Kuwait and see what we can do together," his said. He stressed that there are a lot of possibilities and opportunities to work together with Kuwait.