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Indian held for drinking hangs himself to death

Indian held for drinking hangs himself to death

KUWAIT: A 32-year-old Indian expatriate committed suicide inside the bathroom of Al-Zour Police Station after he was arrested for consumption of liquor.

According to security sources, securitymen arrested the drunk expatriate during their patrol duty and referred him to the police station.

However, the latter hanged himself using his shirt inside the bathroom of the police station.

His corpse was referred to the Forensics Department and a case was registered for investigations.

- Arabtimes

Call for ban on Valentine’s Day

Call for ban on Valentine’s Day

KUWAIT: Head of Da’wa and Islamic Sharia Orientation Unit in the Social Reforms Society Dr Essa Al-Zafiri has advised the public to be aware of the dangerous repercussions of adopting non-Muslim practices and celebrations, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

Al-Zafiri also condemned the media hype on such celebrations by inciting people to exchange gifts or SMS on Valentine’s Day — a practice that originated from Rome. He attributed the spread of such practices in Muslim communities to the alleged loss of the Islamic identity amongst some of them. He said celebrating occasions which are not part of Islam is considered an imitation of the West.

He also appealed to the media to refrain from misleading the people, pointing out that the concerned authorities must take serious measures to ban celebrations which are not part of Kuwaiti traditions and customs.

- Arabtimes

Robot joins Jahra Hospital to help improve services – First in Kuwait history

Robot joins Jahra Hospital to help improve services – First in Kuwait history

KUWAIT: The latest member to join staff at Jahra Hospital is, in the first such development in Kuwait, actually a robot. The new addition is to join ‘scrubs’ at the pediatrics department at the hospital, department director Fahad Al-Enizi said. “The robot would help improve daily operations and monitoring at the department, and would enable diagnosis of many conditions for which there are no specialist departments and doctors at the facility,” he said. “Heads of departments can use it to better direct doctors on duty at odd-hours, monitor staff hours, and get a connection to many health facilities around the world as part of the continuous learning and training policy. “If a patient suffers from a digestive tract ailment, for example, and even with absence of specialists in that area in our hospital, the case is put to the robot, which in turn forwards it to specialists elsewhere for counsel.

“In some cases, it enables us to forward sonar imaging data to specialists abroad to determine whether a patient needs medication outside Kuwait, which would cut down cost from present levels. Huge sums are presently involved in the taking of tests and seeking accurate diagnosis and assessment once the patient is already abroad, with the state footing the bill,” he compared.

The doctor said the robot would be on a trial period at his department, and an official request for purchase would only be made and presented to the Ministry of Health after feasibility and reliability are verified by the hospital. Jahra Hospital had been the scene for another unique development last month. A new system is now receiving children with chronic conditions who are admitted to hospital often, and the child is directly put in a smart hospital room with special equipment without the need for the red-tape and routine route of going to the ER first.

The rooms were prepared entirely through the donation of the doctors of the department.

- KUNA

CBI Probe Ordered into Italian Chopper Deal

CBI Probe Ordered into Italian Chopper Deal

The Defence Ministry on Tuesday ordered an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the allegations of bribery and financial irregularities in the Rs. 3,600 crore VVIP helicopter deal with Italian defence firm Finmeccanica. The 2010 contract involved the supply of 12 Agusta Westland choppers.

Defence Minister A. K. Antony ordered the CBI probe soon after it became known that Giuseppe Orsi, the head of Finmeccanica, was arrested in Milan on Monday in relation to a probe into international corruption.

“He [Orsi] is suspected of involvement in the payment of bribes regarding the sale to the Indian government of 12 helicopters produced by Finmeccanica’s subsidiary AgustaWestland,’’ Italian news agency Ansa said.

Prosecutors suspect that around 50 million euros (about Rs 362 crore), about 10 per cent of the contracted amount, were ploughed back as kickbacks to ensure AgustaWestland won the contract, the agency reported.

According to media reports quoted in an AFP despatch from Rome, the Italian police arrested the chief executive of Finmeccanica for corruption and embezzlement in relation to alleged bribes given to the Indian government.

Giuseppe Orsi had been under investigation for months and had denied any wrongdoing in the India deal. The report said the magistrate in the case also issued an order for the head of AgustaWestland, Bruno Spagnolini, to be put under house arrest.

Two suspected intermediaries in the bribes who reside in Switzerland have also been targeted with extradition requests, Italian media reported. Italy’s Prime Minister, Mario Monti, said in an interview with Italian television: “Magistrates will do their work. I’m sure they will do it thoroughly and in the best way possible.”

India had inked the deal in February 2010 to acquire a dozen three-engine AW-101 helicopters from AgustaWestland for the Indian Air Force’s elite Communication Squadron, which ferries around the President, PM and other VVIPs.

Air India offers a Valentine Gift to the ladies of Kuwait!

Air India offers a Valentine Gift to the ladies of Kuwait!

The Maharaja is pleased to offer the “Ladies Special” on his flights from Kuwait to Indian Gateway Points of Ahmedabad, Goa, Hyderabad and Chennai as a special gesture to kick start the International Women’s day Celebration falling on 8th March 2013, with the following features:
You will get a 10% discount on the base fare if you are an adult lady passenger and you are purchasing your ticket in February 2013 for travel between Kuwait/India/Kuwait on AI 975/976/981/982 for destinations Ahmedabad, Goa, Hyderabad and Chennai .
You can avail it for your one way or return journeys.
You may start you travel anytime between now and 31st Mar'13

We welcome all our valued Women passengers on board Air India to fly the Maharani way!

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Head of Italian defence firm held on charges of bribes in India

Head of Italian defence firm held on charges of bribes in India

New Delhi: In a significant development, the head of Italian company Finmeccanica has been arrested in Milan in connection with charges that bribes were paid to secure an Indian defence helicopter deal worth Rs 3600 crore.

"Giuseppe Orsi, the head of Italian defence and aerospace giant Finmeccanica, was arrested on Monday in relation to a probe into international corruption. He is suspected of involvement in the payment of bribes regarding the sale to the Indian government of 12 helicopters produced by Finmeccanica's subsidiary AgustaWestland," Italian news agency Ansa said.

The 2010 deal has been under the scanner for more than a year now after Italian media reports suggested the arrest of two alleged middlemen in Europe for paying bribes to secure the deal.

The first three of the 12 AgustaWestland VVIP choppers have already arrived in India and the rest are expected to be supplied to the IAF by the middle of next year.

The Defence Ministry here is awaiting details from Rome after which it will act accordingly, sources said.

After the arrest, the Italian firm said in a statement that "Finmeccanica expresses support for its Chairman and CEO, with the hope that clarity is established quickly, whilst reaffirming its confidence in the Judges."

It added, "With reference to the precautionary measures issued today towards the Chairman and CEO of Finmeccanica and the CEO of the controlled Company AgustaWestland, Finmeccanica confirms that operating activities and ongoing projects of the Company will continue as usual."

The Italian firm had pipped American Sikorsky to bag the Rs 3,600 crore deal. In February 2010, India had inked the deal to acquire the 12 three-engine AW-101 helicopters from AgustaWestland for IAF's elite Communication Squadron, which ferries around the President, PM and other VVIPs.

Despite initial objections from the finance ministry, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had cleared the deal in 2010.

Defence Minister A K Antony had then said, "IAF and SPG repeatedly told us the helicopters were required because of the changing security scenario... the finance ministry also agreed later. The CCS then took a considered decision."

As per earlier media reports, "slush money" allegedly generated by Finmeccanica through arms contracts was used to bribe Italian political parties. The Indian VVIP helicopter deal has also come in for some mention in the reports.

After the allegations came to light, India had sought reports from the Italian investigators about their probe in the issue but no specific details were provided to it.

In Parliament, Defence Minister A K Antony had said that if any wrongdoing is found in the case, "suitable penalty measures" will be taken by the Ministry.

Antony had said the Defence Ministry was pursuing the matter and committed to take suitable penalty measures in event of allegations being substantiated.

"However, in absence of any specific information in this regard, government has not ordered any formal inquiry into the case so far," he said.

- Manorama Online

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Ministry denies the zebra meat rumors

Ministry denies the zebra meat rumors

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Kuwait Municipality has denied rumors which have been spread by some networking sites that restaurants in Kuwait serve zebra meat, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily.

Member of the Municipal Council Abdullah Al-Kandari has denied reports which quoted him as saying he had spotted zebra meat in one of the restaurants.

The daily added, the councilor has threatened to file a lawsuit against the person who has spread the rumors in his name.

However, a religious personality Hai Al-Hai was quoted as saying eating zebra meat is permissible, unlike the meat of donkey which is ‘haram’ in Islam.

- Arabtimes

Pope Benedict XVI announces resignation

Pope Benedict XVI announces resignation

Pope Benedict XVI, in a historic speech pronounced at the Vatican on Monday said he had decided to resign. This is the first time a Pope has decided to step down in 600 years. He said he was resigning in “full freedom” and would devote the rest of his life to prayer. The Pope said he no longer had “the strength of body or mind” to “fully serve the Petrine Ministry.

Pope Benedict XVI, formerly known as Cardinal Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger before he assumed Pontifical office on 19 April 2005, made the declaration in Latin, during a consistory in the Vatican.

The Holy See’s spokesperson, Father Federico Lombardi said the resignation would go into effect at the end of the month. “The Pope has announced he will give up his ministry at 8 pm on the 28th of February. That is when the period known as “sede vacante” or the Empty Chair will commence”. The next Pope will be elected before Easter which this year falls on March 31. The voting could well begin during Holy Week which begins on March 24.

In his speech, later relayed by Vatican Radio, the 85-year-old Pontiff explained that he had decided to step down “after having examined my conscience before God several times. I am convinced that my strength, given my advanced age, no longer allows me to fully exercise my ministry. In the present world, prey to constant change, the vigour of mind and body are also necessary to navigate Saint Peter’s boat and advance the Faith. I have lacked this strength these past months and I have been obliged to admit my incapacity to properly govern the ministry confided to me.”

Shock waves rippled across the world at this completely surprising, unexpected and unprecedented announcement. Believers flocked to the Vatican and to churches and cathedrals in most major cities in Europe. At the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris many faithful Catholics openly wept.

Pope Benedict XVI is the first German to be elected Pope since the eleventh century. On 16 April he will turn 86. Born to a modest and deeply Catholic Bavarian family, he entered the seminary in 1939, the year he joined Hitler’s youth movement – obligatory at the time. Known to be an eminent theologian, he was Archbishop of Munich and Freising in Germany’s most wealthy and eminently Catholic Bavaria from 1977 to 1981. Pope John Paul II called him to Rome to head the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith. His conservative views had earned him the nickname of “Pope John Paul II’s Rotweiler”.

- The Hindu

North Korea conducts third nuclear test

North Korea conducts third nuclear test

A magnitude 5.1 “artificial earthquake” was reported near a nuclear test site in North Korea on Tuesday morning, with South Korean Defence Ministry officials telling local media that the seismic activity was the result of a third nuclear test conducted by the reclusive state.

The “man-made earthquake” was also reported to have been felt in parts of northeastern China near the border with North Korea, close to the region where the country tested nuclear devices in 2006 and 2009 in moves that flouted international sanctions and heightened regional tensions.

A third nuclear test was expected by Chinese and Western officials sometime this week, with Saturday – the birthday of former leader Kim Jong-il – earlier seen as a likely date.

Warnings ignored

The reported test has, however, not yet been confirmed by North Korean State media. But only on Monday, Kim Jong-un, who took over as the new leader in December 2011 following the death of his father, signalled that the North – officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) – would continue with conducting long-range rocket tests despite recent warnings from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and even China, the North’s only ally.

The ruling Workers’ Party of Korea adopted a resolution on Monday that “stressed the need to continue launching satellites of Kwangmyongsong series and powerful long-range rockets,” the State-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

Seismic activity was detected at 11.57am local time (8.27 am IST) on Tuesday morning, the South Korean Yonhap News Agency said. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak had “convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council”, with both Defence Ministry and Foreign Ministry officials believing a nuclear test had been conducted, the report added.

Yonhap also reported that the North had notified the United States and China a day earlier. Chinese officials could not be immediately reached for comment on Tuesday morning, with some government departments remaining closed on account of the Lunar New Year.

South Korea’s reaction

South Korea has requested the UNSC to hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday evening, an official told Yonhap. A Defence Ministry official said the nuclear device had, according to initial estimates, yielded 6-7 kilotons, suggesting Tuesday’s test had exceeded the yields reported in tests in 2006 and 2009.

The move is set to heighten regional tensions. The previous nuclear test, in 2009, brought international condemnation and tightened sanctions from the UNSC.

In recent weeks, Chinese officials have said they had cautioned the North against going ahead with the test. While Beijing has continued to support the regime as it fears instability on its northeastern borders, Chinese analysts and State media have recently called on the country to take a tougher approach in dealing with the North.

- The Hindu

Vinodhini, Karaikal acid attack victim, dies

Vinodhini, Karaikal acid attack victim, dies

Vinodhini, the 23-year-old victim of an acid attack on November 14 died at a private hospital in chennai around 9.10 a.m. on Tuesday.

A youth, who had professed love for J. Vinodhini, a B. Tech graduate, accosted her on the way to the bus terminus in Karaikal near Puducherry and threw nitric acid at her. Vinodhini who was accompanied by her father, Jayapal, a watchman in a private school in Karaikal, sustained serious injuries to her face, stomach, arms and shoulder. She was rushed to a private hospital and later to JIPMER in Puducherry for treatment. The next day she was refered to Government Kilpauk Hospital for treatment.

After several surgeries over a months' time, she was shifted to a private hospital in Kilpauk for further specialised treatment.

With resources running out, her family took her to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital last month. But within two days she was again moved to the private hospital.

Plastic surgeon V. Jayaraman, who treated her till the end said had responded to treatment even on Monday.

"We did our best, but she had a cardiac arrest. We tried to revive her twice," he added.

Her uncle Ramesh was inconsolabe. "We tried so hard to ensure treatment but she is gone," he said.

A request has been sent to the Karaikal police to come to Chennai and complete the formalities. The body will be handed over to the family after the post-mortem, which is expected to be performed at KMC.

- The Hindu

Waiting period for MRI appointment reduced

Waiting period for MRI appointment reduced

The waiting period for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) appointment has been reduced to two weeks, reports Al-Nahar daily quoting Minister of Health Dr Mohammed Al-Haifi as saying. In a statement after a meeting with the directors of health zones and hospitals, Al-Haifi added that work is underway to cover employee deficiency in the hospitals. He noted the clinics for casualties will be inaugurated at health centers in the coming period.

Meanwhile, the Director of Ahmadi Health Area Fahad Al-Foudari disclosed the development plan of Al-Adan Hospital and the health centers will be implemented over a period of five years at a cost of 70 million dinars. The projects also involve rehabilitation works at health centers affiliated to the zone and KD 280,000,000 has been allotted for execution. In other development, the Director of Al-Sabah Health Area Adel Al-Osfour said Behbehani Center for Bone Marrow Implant will be inaugurated in two weeks.

- Arabtimes

Govt doing its best to improve services: Kuwait

Govt doing its best to improve services: Kuwait

Dubai: Kuwait’s Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Muba-rak Al-Sabah said Monday that the state is doing all in power to ameliorate public services and improve performance of government bodies. In statements to KUNA on the sidelines of his participation in the Government Summit 2013, kicked off here Monday, Sheikh Moha-mmad added that the state is exerting great efforts to eradicate bureaucratic procedures in government agencies.

The Minister noted that Kuwait is studying the best practice-examples in this regards from all over the world to apply what suits it. The Government Summit aims to draw expertise from around the world and act as a platform for innovation and knowledge sharing. Billed as the largest government gathering in the Arab world, the summit has attracted 2,500 participants and will include speakers from specialized research centers in government development in Denmark, Canada, Australia, South Korea and Brazil, as well as the Middle East.

- Arabtimes

Arab-international conference begins

Arab-international conference begins

KUWAIT: Under patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and with attendance of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, as representative of His Highness the Amir, the First International Conference of the Arab and International Relations Council was inaugurated yesterday under the theme, “the Arab world and the globe; Future Outlook.”

Mohammad Jassem Al-Sager, the chairman of the council, opened the event with a statement, and Sheikh Hamad Bin Jabr Al-Thani, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, was next to address the summiteers.

The inaugural session was attended by Acting Speaker of the National Assembly Mubarak Al- Khurainej, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, sheikhs, ministers, governors, visiting former Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi, former Lebanese prime minister Fuad Al-Siniora, senior state officials, and eminent guests.

- KUNA

Error at fingerprint devices

Error at fingerprint devices

Kuwait: The Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) recently discovered that all its fingerprint devices were out of order and called upon all employees to re-scan their fingerprints once the system was repaired.

In this regard, informed sources said that a ministerial directive urged all of MEW’s 14,000 employees to go back to the ministry to record their fingerprints once again, otherwise they would be considered absent and subjected to legal accountability.

The sources also noted that the system that malfunctioned had been installed only recently and the break down seemed a deliberate act of sabotage which calls for an investigation to identify the culprit.

- Kuwait Times

UAK Memorandum -Direct flights - Kuwait - Mangalore

Direct Flights to Kuwait / Mangalore Sector

UAKK Submits Memorandum to the Chairman – Jet Airways

A delegation from United Associations of Karnataka, Kuwait (UAKK), a forum of Several Associations of Karnataka and North Kerala in Kuwaitmet Mr. JaleelKhaled, General Manager of Jet Airways for Kuwait, Abudhabi& Al-Ain region in their Sharq office and submitted a memorandumon 7^th of January addressed to Mr. NareshGoel – Chairman of Jet Airways requesting him to consider Jet Airways direct flights to Kuwait / Mangalore Sector or Kuwait / Mangalore / Bangalore Sector as soon as possible as most of the Coastal Karnataka NRIs and the NRIs from northern parts of Kerala in Kuwait prefer to travel in Jet Airways flightswhich will help them to fulfill their travelling/vacation commitments in time.

The delegation included Mr. Hasan Yusuf and prominent Coastal Karnataka NRIs Mr. SatishchandraShetty, Mr. Archie Menezes, Mr. Ramesh Kidiyoor, Mr. Stephen Machado, Mr. FayazShaikh and Mr. James Paul.

The memorandum was jointly signed by the Heads of following14 Karnataka State Associations operating in Kuwait for Community development projects:

Karnataka Muslim Welfare Association (KMWA), Kuwait

Tulukoota Kuwait (TKK)

Kuwait Canara Welfare Association, Kuwait (KCWA)

Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association (KKMA), Karnataka Wing

Kuwait Kannada Koota (KKK)

Kasaragod Expats Association (KEA)

BantaraSangha Kuwait (BSK)

Shirva Welfare Association, Kuwait (SWAK)

KundapurVarado Welfare Association, Kuwait (KVWA)

St. Aloysius College Alumni Association (SACAA), Kuwait

Kuwait Pangala Association (KPA)

Agnesian Alumnae Kuwait (AAK)

Kuwait Brahmavar Welfare Association

United Mangaloreans Kuwait

Copies of the memorandum have been Submittedto the Senior Management authorities of Jet Airways i.e. Mr. Nikos Kardassis – CEO, Mr. SudheerRaghavan – COO, Mr. GaurangShetty – Senior VP (Commercial) and Mr. ShakirKantawala – Regional Manager, Gulf, Middle East and North Africa and the Manager – Jet Airways, Mangalore. Memorandum has also been copied to prominent dignitaries H.E. Satish C. Mehta, Ambassador of India, Kuwait,
Dr. (Shree) M. VeerappaMoily, Union Cabinet Minister, Shree JayaprakashHegde – MP, LokSabha, Mr. Nalin Kumar Kateel – MP, LokSabha and to Mr. J.T. Radhakrishna – Airport Director, Mangalore.

Mr. JaleelKhaledadvised that he will personally talk to the Jet Airways Senior Management regarding this request from UAKK Coastal Karnataka NRIs in Kuwait.

UAKK has been formed to accelerate joint strategies for some common goals of Karnataka State NRIs in Kuwait.

Earlier, during the month of January, UAKK Heads of Associations and prominent NRIs of Coastal Karnataka had discussed about the possibility of Jet Airways Direct Flights to Kuwait / Mangalore Sector or Kuwait / Mangalore / Bangalore Sector in a meeting held on 12^th January 2013 at Indian Community Senior GirlsSchool in Salmiya. Mr. S.M. Basheer, Senior Official from KKMA did welcome address. Open discussion was held regarding the hurdles of our passengers in present scenario and was decided to contact with Jet Airways Management requesting them to consider direct flights to Kuwait / Mangalore sector. Heads of the Associations elected Mr. Hasan Yusuf as Chief Coordinator and prominent NRIs Mr. SatishchandraShetty, Mr. S.M. Basheer, Mr. Archie Menezes, Mr. Ramesh Kidiyoor, Mr. Stephen Machado and Mr. Salam Kalandad as Coordinators.

Vote of thanks was done by Mr. Steven Machado, President of KCWA – Kuwait.

Report by : UAKK Correspondent

Fire at Avenues Mall: leaves no injuries

Fire at Avenues Mall: leaves no injuries

KUWAIT: Police sources reported a fire breaking out in The Avenues Mall in Al-Rai on Sunday evening, with no confirmed human casualties resulting.

The fire broke out at 5:00 pm in The Avenues Mall on Sunday as a result of a cable catching fire in a sportswear store. No deaths or injuries have been reported as a result of the fire, stated the police sources, noting that current losses are only financial.

Deputy Director General for Control and Human Resources Development, Brigadier Khaled AL-Mikrad stated that the fire brigade was mobilized in the evening upon receiving a report of a fire in a sportswear shop in The Avenues Mall, leading to the direction of three Fire Stations immediately.

These are Shuwaikh Industrial Area Fire Station, under the leadership of Captain Khalid Al-Maatouq, Ardiya Fire Station, under Captain Muharib Al-Khurainij and the Technical Rescue Fire Station under the leadership of Captain AbdulWahab Al-Faras.

He stated that the fire was on the first floor of The Avenues Mall, and that it was subdued in record time, without any human casualties. This was due to the coordination of the fire brigades through control-ventilation-evacuation techniques.

He noted that there was a partial evacuation of the mall, to ensure the safety of those present.
Director of the Fire Brigade, General Yousef Al-Ansari oversaw the accident. HE the Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Municipality affairs Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al-Sabah also followed up on the fire,
coordinating with General Al-Ansari.

Also present were the Director of the Capital Governorate Fire Brigade, Colonel Hamad Al-Hadlaq, Head of the Investigation Unit Colonel Ali Al-Marzouqi, as well as various other special forces.

- Arabtimes

Guinness invited to record-breaking Hala February opening ceremony

Guinness invited to record-breaking Hala February opening ceremony

KUWAIT: The publishers of the Guinness World Records Book have been invited to attend the 2013 Hala February opening carnival to record the world’s largest celebratory theater which will take place over nearly 100 meters stretch across the Salem Al-Mubarak Street in Salmiya. This was announced by Programs and Activities Manager Madina Ismail, who promised “unprecedented events” during the opening ceremony of the festival in its 14th consecutive year. Meanwhile, the organizing committee for the festival met senior officials from the Ministry of Interior to discuss the security preparations for the opening day on February 15th. Undersecretary Assistant for General Security Affairs, Major General Mahmoud Al- Dousary, assured the committee that security departments were fully prepared to maintain law and order during the anticipated event. In the meantime, Chairman of the Retro Motors Auto Company, Khalid Al-Khashram, announced the firm will participate in the opening carnival as a sponsor, and planned to take part with 20 classic cars. He also announced in a recent statement that eight classic cars with vintage ranging between 1964 and 1972 will be auctioned during the Hala February festival. The auction will be held at the Regency Hotel. Meanwhile, MP Saleh Ashour called for support from the public and private sectors in Kuwait to the Hala February festival in the form of sponsorship and participation in the events as well as discounts and offers.

- Kuwait Times

23 arrested in ‘illegal calls’ raid in Farwaniya, Khaitan

23 arrested in ‘illegal calls’ raid in Farwaniya, Khaitan

KUWAIT: A total of 23 people were arrested for illegally providing international calling services. The arrests came during a joint operation carried out by the Farwaniya Security Department and the Ministry of Communications. The crackdown targeted locations in Farwaniya and Khaitan where the suspects had set up cabins from where people can make cheap online calls in violation of the MOC regulations. It was also found that the arrested people were staying illegally in the country.

- Kuwait Times

500 complaints against police in 2012

500 complaints against police in 2012

KUWAIT: Around 500 complaints were filed against police officers last year, a rise of 20 percent compared to 2011, according to a newspaper report published yesterday quoting sources with knowledge of the official statistics. Meanwhile, the sources who spoke to Al-Qabas on the condition of anonymity said that disciplinary measures were taken against at least 65 officers after they were found guilty during investigations.

Fifteen of these officers spent time in jail for abusing power, said the sources who also noted that the majority of complaints were made against traffic police officers and detectives.

While indicating that some cases are still awaiting further investigations, the sources pointed out that a number of complaints were dismissed due to lack of evidence. In the meantime, the sources revealed that at least 1250 Ministry of Interior employees, including police officers and desk job staff members, were reported absent from work in 2012. Of these, 50 had reportedly ‘fled’ their offices after initially checking in, the source added.

Meanwhile, the sources said that the Control and Inspection Department plans to carry out inspection tours at migration and traffic departments around Kuwait to inspect the process of work.

This was being mulled after complaints about employees leaving their offices around 1:00 pm everyday, which is one and a half hours before the official working day comes to a close. The sources noted that the department conducted more than 3,500 similar checks last year.

- Kuwait Times

Allahabad Stampede Toll Rises to 36

Allahabad Stampede Toll Rises to 36

36 people were killed in a stampede at Allahabad railway station on Sunday evening, the railways said today.

Out of these, only 20 bodies have been identified, which include 17 women. All the bodies are at the Medical College Mortuary in Allahabad, where post-mortem is being conducted.

The incident occured at 7 p.m. near platform no 6, where a footbridge reportedly collapsed due to the heavy rush of pilgrims who had converged on the Sangam for the Mauni Amavasya Snan.

Massive crowds surged to the railway station from 5 p.m. Reports said someone fell during the rush, causing others to topple over each other.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed grief over loss of lives in the stampede and instructed the Railway Ministry to provide all possible assistance.

“I send my heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved families and wish those injured a speedy recovery,” Dr. Singh said.

The Central government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh to the next of kin of those killed, and Rs. 1 lakh each to the seriously injured pilgrims.

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