7LOCAL/GULFARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

KUNA photosTop: KRCS volunteers pose for a picture, and (above) aid being distributed.

KRCS in Amman to aid Syrian refugees

Int’l businesswomen’s forum kicks off

Bahrain’s role in empoweringwomen economically hailedMANAMA, March 28, (KUNA): Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, wife of the Bahraini King and President of the Supreme Council for Women, stressed on Monday the kingdom’s role in empowering women eco-nomically and developing their business capabilities.

In a keynote speech during International Businesswomen’s Forum and Exhibition, held on March 28 to 30, Princess Sabeeka said such scientific forums and exhibitions mark an opportunity for expertise-sharing and business development.

She also considered the gathering a signifi-cant opportunity for the Kingdom of Bahrain to promote its experience in women’s eco-nomic empowerment, and to make use of world experience in addressing women’s challenges.

She believed that the Bahraini Supreme Council for Women is deemed an example for women’s economic empowerment.

Held under the patronage of Princess Sabeeka, the event is organized by the Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society (BBS).

The event is attracting more than 200 busi-nesswomen from the Gulf Cooperation

Council (GCC), Arab, Eastern Asia and African countries, as well as government officials, academics and business leaders in various sectors of industry, economy and the major financial institutes, universities and business training centers.

The forum features a host of specialized lectures and panel discussions on challenges faced by businesswomen and solutions to overcome them, successful stories from dif-ferent parts of the globe, and the role of youth and businesswomen in social responsibility.

The event aims to revitalize trade move-ment and promote investment opportunities in the local market to serve the local economy and the ability of Bahrain on global competi-tion.

The exhibition will be held on the side-lines of the event with the aim of develop-ing economic relations within a business-friendly atmosphere, stimulating invest-ments, promoting women’s economic role and highlighting the role of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) in serving businesswomen and strengthen-ing relations with economic partners across the world.

A convoy of Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) arrived in Amman on Monday, with the aim of delivering humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees hosted by Jordan.

In a statement to KUNA, Mohammad Al-Enzi, head of KRCS’s delegation in Jordan, said the 74 tons of aid will be handed over, until April 1, to about 1,300 Syrian refugee families across Jordan.

Aid includes about 2,250 blankets, clothes for different ages, cleaning mate-rials and other foodstuffs like rice and dates, he said, adding that the program will cover refugees in different areas like

Amman, Ruwaished, Ajloun and others.He expressed his hope that this aid

would contribute to alleviating humanitar-ian suffering of Syrian refugees and meeting their basic needs.

Since the outbreak of Syrian crisis, KRCS drew up a clear plan to provide support and aid to a largest segment of refugees hosted by Syria’s neighboring counties, including Jordan, as much as possible, he pointed out.

He voiced his gratitude to Kuwait’s donors and benefactors for backing the convoy, lauding at the same time efforts exerted by Jordan Red Crescent Society in delivering aid. (KUNA)

Saudi Cabinet calls for formingunited front against ‘terrorism’

‘Obama’s upcoming visit to follow-up Camp David’s outcome’

RIYADH, March 28, (KUNA): The Saudi Cabinet stressed the importance of forming a united front against terrorism; a phenome-non that is “rejected by all religions, conven-tions and international laws.” The weekly ses-sion of the Cabinet, chaired by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, also praised the first meeting of Chiefs of Staff of the Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IMAFT) which was held in an effort to form collabo-ration and to build an effective strategy to combat terrorism.

In addition, the meeting emphasized the importance of studying radical thinking in order to eliminate it through replacing it with values of tolerance and open dialogue.

Moreover, the Cabinet called on UN Security Council to secure an international protection system for the Palestinian territo-ries, noting that this system should be set up in accordance to the Fourth Geneva Convention, which defines humanitarian pro-tections for civilians in a war zone.

Meanwhile, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said Sunday the upcoming visit by US President Barack Obama to the region was to follow up remaining issues agreed upon during the summit in Camp David in Washington last May.

The minister made his remarks in a joint press conference with his South Africa counterpart Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.

Al-Jubeir underlined relation between Saudi Arabia and the United States remains strong, despite regional changes in the region, adding that the US affirmed its commitment in sup-porting and defending GCC countries in the past GCC-US summit.

Last week, Obama said he will visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on April 21.

While there, he will participate in a summit with leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries -- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the White House said.

“Hosted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the gathering will be an opportu-nity for leaders to review prog-ress in strengthening US-GCC security cooperation since the productive Camp David Summit hosted by President Obama in May 2015,” the statement added.

❑ ❑ ❑

President of South Africa Jacob Zuma and Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz opened a joint pro-jectiles complex at the Military Industries Corporation (MIC) in Al-Kharj governorate on Sunday.

The complex includes nine buildings for making, process-ing, packaging, assembling, fill-ing, thermal treating, and testing various kinds of ammunition.

The complex is to produce military projectiles ranging from the shells of medium caliber such as mortar rounds (60 mm, 81 mm 120 mm), artillery shells of (105 mm and 155 mm) caliber and heavy shells such as aircraft bombs of weights of 500 pounds and up to 2,000 pounds, accord-ing to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The South African leader and the Saudi Deputy Crown Prince were briefed by MIC head Mohammad Almadhi on the complex and the MIC industrial activities, and made a statement during the event.

He said that complex was cre-ated with a license from the com-pany (Rheinmetall Denel) for ammunition of South Africa at a cost of approximately (USD 240 million).

Top and above: Some photos from the Easter celebrations.

St Stephen’s Indian Orthodox Church celebrate EasterSt Stephen’s Indian Orthodox Church, Kuwait celebrated Easter with tradi-tional piety, in remembrance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ after cru-cifixion on Good Friday.

Easter or ‘The Feast of Resurrection’ marks the end of Lent, a 40-day peri-od of fasting, prayer, and penance. The last week of the Lent is called Holy Week and Good Friday com-memorates the crucifixion and death

of Jesus on the Cross.The faithful in large numbers con-

gregated for Easter mass at the Indian Community School, Khaitan. The Orthodox Christian Youth Movement Vice-President Rev Fr Philip Tharakan (Thevalakkara) was the chief cele-brant and parish Vicar Rev Fr Sanju John the co-celebrant of the service.

In his homily the chief celebrant spelled out the message of renewed

hope and promise symbolized in the sacrifice of Christ for the redemption of God’s creations.

Fr Philip Tharakan added the resur-rection is also proof enough that death is not the end but we live through a different stage of life of hap-piness and everlasting life.

The important event associated with the service was the ‘proclamation of Resurrection’ by the chief celebrant.

Al-Ghanim offers condolences: National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim sent a cable of condolences Sunday to Pakistan’s Parliament Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, expressing deep sorrow over victims of a terrorist attack that tar-geted a children’s park in the city of Lahore.

In the cable, Al-Ghanim also con-demned the “heinous” and “criminal” act that targeted innocent women and chil-dren, confirming the Kuwaiti Parliament’s full solidarity with the Pakistani people, and rejection of such actions that target Pakistan’s security and stability.

He also stressed the importance of launching regional and international coop-eration in order to counter terrorism and eradicate its roots.

Earlier, Pakistani officials announced that the death toll of the Lahore suicide explosion has risen to 56, with over 120 wounded. (KUNA)

❑ ❑ ❑

Gulf metro project delayed: The Ministry of Finance pushed the Gulf metro project back to square one because of its failure to grant financial compensa-tion to the owners of farming plots that will be affected by the construction of the metro, reports Al-Anba daily quoting sources.

Sources said the ministry offered alter-native plots to the concerned land owners instead of financial compensation but the owners rejected the offer; hence, the delayed implementation of the metro which is supposed to link the six GCC nations.

❑ ❑ ❑

KU plans to cut bonus: Kuwait University intends to follow in the foot-steps of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) in reduc-ing the bonus granted to professors who work during summer, reports Al-Anba daily quoting sources.

Sources clarified this step is in line with

the recommendations presented by the National Committee for Rationalization of Expenditures in its recently-concluded meeting.

Meanwhile, Al-Qabas daily has quoted educational sources as saying that the uni-versity will witness a crisis soon due to the cancellation of some summer courses due to lack of budget.

Sources pointed out the 25 percent decrease in the budget for the next fiscal year will affect the summer courses, taking into consideration the financial allocation for professors. Sources said some items will be affected by the rationalization mea-sures as there are items which are consid-ered untouchable when it comes to ratio-nalizing expenditures.

Sources added tension is mounting among students and professors, whereas some parties have allegedly started making arrangements to ensure the summer cours-es will not be affected similar to what is currently happening at PAAET.

‘Employees paidwithout working’KUWAIT CITY, March 28: There are indications that several Kuwait Municipality employees have been receiving salaries and allowances wrongly, as they do not work for the money they earn and only depend on wasta and nepotism, reports Al-Shahed daily.

A source disclosed that concerned employees do not engage in any official duties, but their names appear on the pay roll as employees of the Municipality who receive all financial entitlements. He also said five of them were assigned to depart-ments that are not relevant to their specialties, indicating they used wasta to receive allowances and bonuses.

News in Brief

Al-Jubeir