UAE widENS cRAckdOwN; MORE ISlAMiStS ... - Kuwait Times

6 LOCAL
KUWAIT: The Kuwait Red Crescent Society fundraising campaign in progress. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat
KRCS holds fundraising
campaign for Syrians
By Nawara Fattahova
KUWAIT: The Kuwait Red Crescent
Society (KRCS) is holding the
Fundraising Campaign for the Relief
of the Syrian People. During this five
days campaign it is accepting financial
donations until Thursday from
10:00am - 1:00pm, and 9:00pm -
12:00 midnight.
Until yesterday afternoon the
campaign already collected about
USD 1.5 million. They are now
preparing the trucks that will carry
the donations to the Jordanian-
Syrian borders for the Syrian
refugees in Jordan. “We are cooperating
with the Jordanian Red
Crescent and the Kuwaiti Embassy
in Jordan to distribute the donations.
These trucks will leave there
next week, and the volunteers will
distribute the food there,” Khaled
Al-Zaid, Head of Media Center told
the Kuwait Times yesterday.
“We are preparing other team
with donations to leave to Lebanon,
particularly the Lebanese-Syrian
Burgan Bank completes summer training program
KUWAIT: Burgan Bank recently held a graduation
ceremony to mark the conclusion of its
annual summer training program. 47 students
participated in this program, which aimed to
develop their talents and introduce them to
the world of banking, which is one of the key
sectors of the Kuwait economy.
Students aged between 15 and 19 years
old were split into two groups, each group
undergoing extensive two-week training. The
course was divided into a week of classroom
theory and another week of practical execution.
Throughout the program, participants
got to visit the head office vault, the Private
Banking and Treasury department, as well as
the call center.
A key component of the internship program
was to induct students about basic
banking operations, and Burgan Bank’s wide
range of products and services. Students
received the chance to develop their creativity,
understand the basics of successful customer
services, and finally, they were trained
on how to write winning resumes.
The students celebrated the completion of
their training in a prestigious ceremony host-
borders. This team will go by plane.
Even after the holy month of
Ramadan is over we will still collect
donations for the Syrians until this
problem is over. In fact we aim to
Khaled Al-Zaid
enter Syria and deliver the donations
to all areas in Syria,” he added.
The KRCS is cooperating with
the United Nations Refugee Agency
ed by Burgan Bank, where Halah El Shirbini,
Burgan Bank’s Chief Human Resources and
Development Officer gave a motivational
speech in congratulations to the graduates.
The bank’s Chief Retail Banking Officer,
Muneera Al-Mukhaizeem was also present
and distributed certificates of completion.
Burgan Bank continues to embrace an
active role in its contributions towards the
Kuwaiti social fabric. The bank continuously
holds summer training programs with an
objective to foster and encourage future leaders
and talent working across the banking sector.
Established in 1977, Burgan Bank is the
youngest commercial bank based in Kuwait,
with a significant focus on the corporate and
financial institutions sectors, as well as having
a growing retail and private bank customer
base.
Burgan Bank has four majority owned subsidiaries:
Gulf Bank Algeria - AGB (Algeria),
Bank of Baghdad - BOB (Iraq), Jordan Kuwait
Bank - JKB (Jordan) and Tunis International
Bank - TIB (Tunisia), (collectively known as the
“Burgan Bank Group”).
UNHCR and other organizations.
“The Jordanian Red Crescent for
instance have told us what are the
needs of the refugees there, so we
are only sending food staff including
sugar, milk, tea, oil, rice, and other
commodities which will supply
all the families there for a month. As
they informed us that these are the
most important things they need in
Ramadan. There are about 150
thousand Syrian Refugees in
Jordan,” explained Al-Zaid.
The donations accepted at
KRCS are only financial. “Our society
is experienced with the materials
and commodities that we have
to buy. Also we have to make sure
that the food stuff has certain
validity and is not expired, this is
why we don’t accept from people.
Thus we made an exception today
for instance, a donor came and
brought us 100 rice bags each of
20 kg, and we had to accept it,
especially that it’s one of the commodities
that the refugees need,”
he pointed out.
Reckless drivers close Sabhan road
KUWAIT: A large group of reckless drivers
closed Sabhan road Friday night and damaged
several police cars when the road
became a “closed track” where the young
men showed off their skills and dangerous
driving moves. A large crowd of young men
gathered on both sides of the road to
watch and this kept police from reaching
the area. A security source said that patrols
headed to Sabhan Road after reports that a
large crowd was obstructing traffic. As soon
as patrols arrived, however, the crowd
began throwing stones at them, then threw
nails onto one of the roads, damaging the
police cars’ tires. The source said there were
nearly 150 young men, and they have been
gathering there almost daily since the start
of Ramadan and staying from 1:00 am until
dawn. The young men show off with their
cars, and an accident took place a few days
ago when one of the reckless youths hit a
family car, injuring a 13 year old girl. Police
authorities are taking measures to put an
end to such acts.
Woman in custody
Airport security officers apprehended a
female citizen and transferred her to concerned
authorities when they discovered
marijuana in her luggage. A security source
said customs officials noticed the woman
was acting strangely, so they searched her
bag, where a small amount of marijuana
was found. The woman told officials that
the drug was for her personal use. Airport
detectives sent the woman and the marijuana
to drug authorities.
Jahra fight
Police in Jahra acted to break up a fight
between two families during which four
persons were injured and they all were
issued medical reports detailing their
injuries. A security source said a call from a
resident in Jahra reported a large fight had
broken out between two families, so
patrols rushed to the scene and broke up
the fight. The injured were sent to different
hospitals so they would not resume fighting.
The “combatants” were bedoons. A girl
from one of the families told police that a
woman attempted to kidnap her at a flat,
but she was able to escape and this caused
the fight.
Grocery store fire
Fire destroyed a grocery store behind
the chamber of commerce and industry,
prompting Hilali and Madina fire centers to
respond. No injuries were reported, and
investigations are underway to find out the
exact cause of the fire.
Farwaniya fire
A fight broke out between an Indian
and an Egyptian expat in Farwaniya, and
the Indian received a heavy bruise on his
right eye. The Indian was sent to Farwaniya
Hospital, while the Egyptian was placed
under arrest pending further action.
Car accident
A car accident killed a 17 year old
Kuwaiti man at Al-Aqsa Mosque, as the
man lost control of his car, striking trees
and a light post. The driver was taken to an
area hospital where he was pronounced
dead.
Boy arrested
Police arrested a 15 year old boy as he
was driving a car in Failaka Island that he
stole from Hawally. A security source said a
citizen told Hawally police that his car had
been stolen while it was parked near a football
field. Officials said police published the
car descriptions, and a few days later
Failaka police informed their Hawally colleagues
that they found the car and arrested
the thief.
This five days campaign was
also supported by the Ministry of
Information and the Kuwait
Channel is broadcasting the donations
daily. “I would like to thank
the Minister of Information for his
support to this campaign which
made it successful especially in
Ramadan. Also many banks have
collected donations and brought
them here and we reached this
number,” concluded Al-Zaid.
Um Ahmad is one of the
donors who came to donate for
Syria said this is a duty to help our
brothers in Syria. “Especially in
Ramadan it is the best time to
donate. We can also pay Zakat of
Ramadan to Syria. We have to help
them as they need our help, it is a
religious and human responsibility
to support them. We don’t like to
call it donation and instead it
should be called support to
respect their feelings. We call
upon the citizens to support the
Syrian nation through their donations,”
she stressed.
The bank has continuously improved its
performance over the years through an
expanded revenue structure, diversified funding
sources, and a strong capital base. The
adoption of state-of-the-art services and technology
has positioned it as a trendsetter in the
domestic market and within the MENA region.
Burgan Bank’s brand has been created on
a foundation of real values - of trust, commitment,
excellence and progression, to remind
us of the high standards to which we aspire.
‘People come first’ is the foundation on which
its products and services are developed.
Earlier this year, ‘Brand Finance’ - the international
brand valuation company- rated
Burgan Bank brand as AA with positive outlook.
The rating places Burgan Bank Brand at
2nd amongst the most valuable banking
brands in Kuwait.
Excellence is one of the bank’s four key
values and Burgan Bank continually strives to
maintain the highest standards in the industry.
The bank was re-certified in 2010 with the
ISO 9001:2008 certification in all its banking
businesses, making it the first bank in the
GCC, and the only bank in Kuwait to receive
By Ben Garcia
KUWAIT: Warning to unregistered and
uninsured vehicles. The General Traffic
Department at the Ministry of Interior
plans to launch a campaign to look for
more than 250 thousand vehicles registered
in its database that are uninsured.
They will be impounded if found,
although notice will be served.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity,
sources from the traffic department
said vehicle owners will first be contacted
to either renew their cars’ registrations
or hand over their license plates,
otherwise the drivers’ privileges at the
traffic department will be suspended.
There are people in Kuwait who
ignore directives from authorities, even
as their cars have been uninsured and
unregistered for a long period of time.
Billy and Muhammad are just two of
them. “I had a problem with my visa 2
years ago. So I can’t renew my residency
and other personal and public documents,
but I was allowed by the MSAL
to stay in Kuwait while my case was
such accreditation. The bank also has to its
credit the distinction of being the only Bank
in Kuwait to have won the JP Morgan Chase
Quality Recognition Award for twelve consecutive
years.
Burgan Bank won the prestigious “Banking
Web Awards” prize in the commercial and corporate
Category for Kuwait. In 2010 Burgan
Bank was awarded with the “Best Internet
Banking Service award” from Banker Middle
East Awards. Burgan Bank was recognized in
2011 as Kuwait’s “Best Private Bank”, by World
Finance. The bank also won, in 2011, the coveted
“International Platinum Star for Quality”
award from Business Initiative Directions, and
“The Best Technical Award” from Banking Web
Awards. In 2012, Global Banking and Finance
Review online magazine recognized Burgan
Bank as the “Best Banking Group in the
MENA” as well as the “Best Corporate Bank in
Kuwait”. The bank also won the coveted “Best
Bank Branding” award by the Banker Middle
East.
Burgan Bank, a subsidiary of KIPCO
(Kuwait Projects Company), is a strongly positioned
regional bank in the MENA region.
News
in brief
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Ministry plans hunt
for 250,000
unregistered vehicles
KUWAIT: Despite low demand for fish
during the holy month of Ramadan, the
prices of all kinds of fish, especially local
varieties, have been soaring. A medium
size zubaidi (Pomfret)was sold for KD
135, and a basket of small mullet was
sold for KD 75 and Balool was sold for
KD seven per kilogram.
Salem Al-Salmi Al-Failakawi, supervisor
of the Main Fish Market in Sharq,
said that the prices of fresh fish have
reached record rates, with zubaidi
being sold for KD 10 per kilogram. Al-
Failakawi also urged the Public
Authority for Agricultural Affairs and
Dama championship
to begin Tuesday
KUWAIT: Under the patronage of Sheikh Ali Al-Yousif Al-
Sabah, the Touristic Enterprises Company’s(TEC), 8th
‘Computer Dama’ (PC Checkers) competition will begin
on July 31, 2012 at the Yachts Club overlooking the Gulf
Road.
Commenting on this year’s championship, Sheikh Ali
stressed that holding it this year means that the past seven
championships had proven to be very successful and
had attracted many participants
from various age groups
and nationalities.
Chairman of the organizing
committee, Dr Nouri Al-Wattar
stressed that previous competitions
have greatly contributed
to boosting this year’s
competition level. He added
that the championship mainly
Dr Nouri Al-Wattar
being heard,” admitted Billy, who is
from England. Billy’s car has been
parked at its flat and is rarely used for
business purposes. His new company,
however, provides him with transportation.
“I don’t know how it will affect me,
but I am ready. Maybe they’ll take my
car, which is okay,” he said.
But the likes of Muhammad, a mandoub
from Egypt, has a different story.
His car wasn’t registered for over eight
years, yet he seems not to care. “I have a
big wasta,” he brags. “I avoid police
because I don’t want hassles, I don’t
want delays, but if they are there, I will
give up my car,” he said.
Currently, there is a proposal to raise
the penalty to KD100 for the current
‘fixed KD5 fine’, although sources
admitted the penalty is not always a
good deterrent, which motivated the
ministry to go ahead with its planned
campaign, which reportedly seeks to
look for some vehicles registered to
Kuwaiti citizens that haven’t been
insured since before the 1990 Iraqi
Invasion.
Fish prices continue to soar
focuses on reviving Kuwaiti
heritage by spreading the
game among younger genera-
tions in both Kuwait and other GCC states. He added that
starting from the fifth year, female participants began
taking part in the competition.
Al-Wattar also hailed the competition sponsors like
Abdul Aziz Soud Al-Babtain and Sons Company and the
Touristic Enterprises Company that will give away valuable
prizes for the winners besides the ones provided by
the organizing committee.
Fish Resources (PAAAFR) to put out a
trawl near Kuwaiti islands, namely
Boubyan, where schools of fish exist.
“This ban has caused a shortage in fish
supplies. The excuse of placing a ban
during fish mating season is not needed.
In neighboring countries, trawling is
done freely,” he complained.
He also noted that for the first time in
Kuwait’s history, a basket of small mullet
(Maid) was sold for KD 75 and Nuwaibi
was sold for KD four per kilogram.
Finally, Al-Failakawi expressed hope
that prices will return to normal after
Eid. —Al-Watan
Safar sworn in as minister
KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah
Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received yesterday
at Seif Palace, in the presence of His Highness
the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-
Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime
Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-
Sabah, D. Fadhel Ali Safar. Safar was sworn-in as
Minister of Public Works. The swearing-in ceremony
was attended by Deputy Minister of the
Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah,
Secretary General of the Cabinet Abdulatif
Abdullah Al-Roudan, Director of His Highness
the Amir’s office Ahmad Fahad Al-Fahad, and
Head of Amiri protocols Sheikh Khaled Al-
Abduallah Al-Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah.
Municipal Council
disapproves of Jleeb church
KUWAIT: Member of the Municipal Council,
Mane Al-Ajmi stressed that the formal approval
granted by the Ministry of Awqaf to construct a
new church building should not be understood
to mean that the Municipality has completely
approved of the request. He added that the
ministry may not authorize building of a church
in Kuwait. “The old fatwa bans building churches
in the Arabian peninsula and Kuwait is part
of it,” said Al-Ajmi noting that Muslim scholars
have prohibited building churches in the lands
of Muslims. “We already have enough churches
in Kuwait,” he added, noting that the Municipal
Council does not approve of the idea of building
a new church in Jleeb. —Al-Watan
One killed, several
injured in a spate
of accidents
By Hanan Al-Saadoun
KUWAIT: A car accident took place at Kabd near Radio
Kuwait’s premises, resulting in an unidentified individual’s
death. A 45-year-old Sri Lankan expat suffered
bruises and a 55-year-old Egyptian expat fractured his
left thigh bone. The body was removed for an autopsy
by the medical examiner. The others were referred to Al-
Farwaniya Hospital.
Another car accident took place at the Fifth Ring
Road under Al-Rumaithiya and Bayan bridge, resulting
in two Egyptian expats aged 18 and 48 respectively sustaining
fatal injuries. They were admitted to Mubarak
Hospital.
A car accident took place at Al-Fintas and Al-Eqaila
crossroads, resulting in a 30-year-old Bangladeshi
expat suffering injuries. A 39-year-old Egyptian expat
suffered facial injuries. Both were admitted to Al-
Adan Hospital.
Fire incident
A fire broke out at a building in Bnaid Al-Gar. Two
Indian expats aged 48 and 60 years and a 41-yearold
Egyptian national also suffered from smoke
inhalation. They were administered treatment on
the site. The other two were admitted to Al-Amiri
Hospital. The flames were tackled within an hour’s
time.