Latest news with #ministries
Zawya
9 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Kuwait government launches full review of public projects and contracts
KUWAIT CITY - In a move to enhance transparency, efficiency, and oversight, the Kuwaiti government has initiated a comprehensive inventory of all ongoing and planned projects and contracts across ministries and public institutions. The initiative aims to closely monitor implementation mechanisms and evaluate the progress of infrastructure and service-related developments. According to informed sources, all government ministries and relevant entities have been instructed to promptly prepare detailed lists of active construction projects — ranging from administrative buildings to public service facilities — as well as their associated contracts. Ministries are also required to submit the latest monthly progress reports for these projects. The directive, described as a key regulatory and oversight measure, includes the preparation of a full register of existing maintenance contracts across all ministries and institutions. Sources noted that this initiative is designed to establish a centralized, accurate database that will support informed decision-making, help assess execution quality, and detect any implementation shortcomings or project delays. In addition to active projects, the government has also asked for comprehensive documentation of upcoming construction projects that ministries and government bodies intend to carry out. These should include proposed timelines and implementation frameworks. Officials stated that the broader goal is to promote inter-agency coordination in order to eliminate duplication, prevent overlapping responsibilities, and ensure effective planning and resource allocation. The review marks a significant step toward bolstering accountability and strategic planning across Kuwait's public sector infrastructure and service initiatives.
Express Tribune
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Israel bombs Syria army headquarters
Listen to article Israel bombed the Syrian army's headquarters in Damascus on Wednesday after warning the Islamist-led government to leave the country's Druze minority alone, as authorities announced a ceasefire in the community's southern heartland after deadly sectarian clashes. Syrian government forces entered the majority-Druze city of Sweida on Tuesday with the stated aim of overseeing a ceasefire agreed with Druze community leaders following days of fighting with local Bedouin tribes. However, witnesses reported that the government forces joined with the Bedouin in attacking Druze fighters and civilians in a bloody rampage through the city. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said that the violence in Sweida province since Sunday had left more than 300 people dead, including government forces, local fighters and 27 Druze civilians killed in "summary executions... by members of the defence and interior ministries". The Syrian presidency vowed to investigate the "heinous acts" in Sweida and to punish "all those proven to be involved". On Wednesday, state media said a fresh ceasefire had been agreed, announcing "the deployment of security checkpoints" in Sweida city. A previous truce declared on Tuesday appeared to have had little effect on the ground. The fighting was the most serious outbreak of violence in Syria since government forces battled Druze fighters in Sweida province and near Damascus in April and May, leaving more than 100 people dead. The Islamist-led authorities have had strained relations with Syria's patchwork of religious and ethnic minorities since they toppled longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in December. Israel, which has its own Druze community, has presented itself as a defender of the group, although some analysts say that is a pretext for pursuing its own military goal of keeping Syrian government forces as far from their shared frontier as possible.
Hindustan Times
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
89 killed as Syria sectarian clashes rage
At least 89 people were killed in the southern Syrian province of Sweida as clashes between Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters raged for a second day Monday, a monitor said. The Syrian military and interior ministries announced troop deployments, safe corridors for civilians and a pledge to end the fighting "quickly and decisively".(AFP) As the violence escalated, Israel -- which had previously warned that it would intervene in Syria to protect the Druze -- said it struck "several tanks" in Sweida, without providing further details. The fighting underscores the challenges facing interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, whose Islamist forces ousted president Bashar al-Assad in December, in a country reeling from 14 years of war. The Syrian military and interior ministries announced troop deployments, safe corridors for civilians and a pledge to end the fighting "quickly and decisively". The violence began Sunday when Bedouin gunmen abducted a Druze vegetable vendor on the highway to Damascus, prompting retaliatory kidnappings. Though hostages were later released, the fighting carried on Monday outside Sweida city, with mortar fire hitting villages and dozens wounded, said the Suwayda 24 news outlet. The streets of Sweida were deserted, with an AFP photographer reporting gunfire during funerals. "We lived in a state of extreme terror -- the shells were falling randomly," said Abu Taym, a 51-year-old father in Sweida. "Traffic on the streets is paralysed, and most shops are closed." Suwayda 24 reported the arrival of "dozens of victims" at hospitals as a result of clashes in the province's western countryside and shelling of villages. The Observatory, which relies on a network of sources on the ground, raised its death toll to 89, including 46 Druze, four civilians, 18 Bedouin fighters and seven unidentified people in military uniforms. A defence ministry source told Al-Ekhbariya state television six security forces personnel were killed "during disengagement operations in Sweida". An AFP correspondent on the outskirts of Sweida city saw vehicles carrying fighters, large interior ministry military convoys, civilian vehicles and motorcycles carrying armed men towards the front lines, as well as ambulances transporting the wounded to hospitals in Damascus. While Druze spiritual leaders called for calm and urged Damascus to intervene. Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, one of the three Druze spiritual leaders in Sweida, expressed his "rejection of the entry" of general security forces into the province, demanding "international protection". 'Lack of state institutions' In a Sunday post on X, Interior Minister Anas Khattab said: "The lack of state, military and security institutions is a major reason for the ongoing tensions in Sweida, "The only solution is to reactivate these institutions to ensure civil peace," he added. The latest bloodshed follows deadly violence in April and May, when clashes between Druze fighters and security forces in Druze-populated areas near Damascus and Sweida killed more than 100 people. The Observatory said members of Bedouin tribes, who are Sunni Muslim, had sided with security forces during earlier confrontations. Local leaders and religious figures brokered agreements at the time to de-escalate the tensions, putting Druze fighters in charge of security in Sweida since May, though armed Bedouins remain present in several areas. On Sunday, Sweida governor Mustapha al-Bakur urged his constituents to "exercise self-restraint", while Druze community leaders urged authorities to step in. In response to the violence, the education ministry announced the postponement of Monday's scheduled secondary school exams in the province. Israel and the Druze Syria's pre-civil war Druze population numbers around 700,000, many in Sweida province. The Druze, followers of an esoteric religion that split from Shiite Islam, are mainly found in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Bedouin and Druze factions have a longstanding feud in Sweida, and violence occasionally erupts between the two sides. A surge in violence in March targeting the Alawite community -- with more than 1,700 killed -- and the subsequent attacks on Druze areas have undermined confidence in the new Syrian authorities' ability to protect minorities. In the wake of those incidents, Israel -- which has occupied part of Syria's Golan Heights since 1967 -- cited the protection of the Druze to justify several strikes, including one in early May near the presidential palace in Damascus. Israel is home to around 152,000 Druze, according to the latest available data, including 24,000 living in the Israeli-occupied Golan, of whom fewer than five percent hold Israeli citizenship.
Bloomberg
16-06-2025
- Science
- Bloomberg
China Reviews Impact of US Data Curbs Due to Trump's Budget Cuts
China's government is reviewing impacts on the nation's scientific research after President Donald Trump's moves to withdraw funding from some US agencies and halt publication of certain categories of data. Several Chinese ministries and bodies have in recent weeks started assessing potential disruption to their work, and made efforts to determine the extent to which some activities have become reliant on data published by the US, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified to discuss details that aren't public.
Zawya
09-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Kuwait's new law sets deadline, penalties for unpaid service fees
Kuwait - In a move aimed at tightening fiscal discipline and ensuring the effective recovery of dues, the Kuwaiti government has issued Decree-Law No. 75 of 2025 concerning the collection of fees and financial costs for the use of public facilities and services. The law introduces a framework to govern the financial relationship between ministries, public institutions, and beneficiaries of state-provided services, reinforcing the principle that public utilities—ranging from electricity and water to telecommunications and transport—are not free but must be paid for under regulatory and administrative mandates. Core Provisions and Mechanisms Automatic Service Suspension and Installment Flexibility Under Article 1, if a debtor (whether an individual or a private legal entity) fails to pay dues within 30 days of notification, the concerned ministry or public body may temporarily suspend services. This suspension is lifted automatically through the government's digital systems once the outstanding amounts are paid. The law allows for installment-based repayments for those financially unable to settle the dues in one go, pending approval from the creditor. However, failure to adhere to the installment plan leads to its cancellation and the immediate initiation of debt recovery procedures. Mandatory Grievance Process Before Legal Action To prevent unnecessary litigation, Article 2 mandates that any individual disputing the suspension of services or the calculation of dues must first file a written grievance with the concerned authority. A response must be issued within 30 days. If no response is given, it is considered a rejection. Only after this process can a lawsuit be filed—within 30 days of either the rejection notice or the lapse of the response period, whichever comes first. Priority Lien on Debtor's Assets In a bold move to secure state revenues, Article 3 grants government creditors a statutory lien over all assets—movable and immovable—owned by the debtor. This gives the state legal priority in recovering its dues ahead of other creditors. Immediate Enforcement of Debt Recovery Article 4 elevates any official debt document or collection decision issued by a government entity to the status of an 'executive instrument.' This means the state can enforce collection directly without the need to go through lengthy court proceedings, following the procedures of Kuwait's Civil and Commercial Procedures Law. Ten-Year Statute of Limitations with Interruptions Article 5 introduces a 10-year statute of limitations for fee collection, starting from the due date or the end of the relevant fiscal year for annual fees. Crucially, this limitation can be interrupted by any official notice from the creditor that includes the outstanding amount and a request for payment, effectively restarting the clock on the limitation period. Judicial Fees Exempted Article 6 clearly states that the new law does not apply to judicial fees, which remain governed by Kuwait's Judicial Fees Law No. 17 of 1973. Rationale Behind the Legislation The explanatory note accompanying the law clarifies that the government's decision stems from widespread abuse of the existing system. Many beneficiaries of public services—including water, electricity, communications, and municipal services—have delayed or avoided payments, thereby burdening the state financially. This law is not meant to serve merely as a budgetary resource measure, but as a strategic tool for ensuring the efficient management of public utilities and discouraging negligence by debtors. It aims to restore the financial discipline required for a sustainable public service framework. Moreover, the government recognizes that some debts have accumulated to levels beyond immediate payment. By permitting structured payment plans, the law seeks to offer a balanced approach—enforcing payment obligations while recognizing genuine financial hardship. Implementation Timeline Article 7 mandates that ministers shall enforce the law within their jurisdictions, and it will come into effect three months from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. Decree-Law No. 75 of 2025 marks a pivotal shift in Kuwait's approach to public service fee collection. By combining legal enforcement with digital automation, flexible repayment options, and judicial safeguards, the law positions the state to better protect public funds while promoting accountability among service users. It's a clear message that the era of unchecked fee evasion is coming to an end. Arab Times | © Copyright 2024, All Rights Reserved Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
