ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

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Alshaya family hosts Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly

Alshaya family welcomes former Turkish president GulKUWAIT CITY, Nov 24: The 11thPresident of the Republic of Turkey HEAbdullah Gül was welcomed to theAlshaya family Diwan this week during aprivate visit to Kuwait at the invitation ofHis Highness, Sheikh Sabah Al-AhmadAl-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of Kuwait.

Gül, who was Turkey’s President

between 2007 to 2014, was warmly wel-comed by Abdulaziz Mohammed Alshaya,Chairman of the Alshaya Group of compa-nies, Abdullah Abdullatif Alshaya, DeputyChairman of the Alshaya Group of compa-nies, and by Mohammed AbdulazizAlshaya, Executive Chairman of M.H.Alshaya Co, the retail division of Alshaya.

The visit celebrated the strong commercialrelationship that Alshaya has with Turkey.

Commenting, Mohammed Alshaya said:“We were very honoured to welcome MrGül as a long standing friend to our Diwan.Kuwait and Turkey enjoy a strong tradingrelationship and Alshaya has benefitedgreatly from the commercial opportunities

this presents. We were happy to celebratethose ties during Mr Gül’s visit.”

Alshaya opened its first retail store inIstanbul in 2002. Today, as part of awider portfolio of over 3,000 stores, thebusiness operates more than 350 stores incities across Turkey, including Starbucksand a range of Fashion and Health &

Beauty brands.Meanwhile, the honourable Sardar

Ayaz Sadiq, Speaker of the NationalAssembly of Pakistan was welcomed tothe Alshaya family Diwan this week dur-ing his state visit to Kuwait at the invita-tion of Mr Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanim, thespeaker of Kuwait’s National Assembly.

Sadiq was warmly welcomed byAbdulaziz Mohammed Alshaya,Chairman of the Alshaya Group of compa-nies, Abdullah Abdullatif Alshaya, DeputyChairman of the Alshaya Group of compa-nies, and by Mohammed AbdulazizAlshaya, Executive Chairman of M.H.Alshaya Co, the retail division of Alshaya.

News plays ‘key’ role in formingArab citizens’ thoughts: minister

PM’s rep addresses opening of 43rd FANA Gen Assembly confab

It is important to care for Arab youthand restore their confidence, instilling aspirit of loyalty and belonging, andincreasing their awareness as well as fac-ing rumors that spread across social net-works and other unknown sources ofadvertising to provide accurate informa-tion in a fast way, he said.

He also stressed the need to fight terror-ism, which is now expanding around theworld, as well as facing the extremist ideaswith greater guidance toward moderation.

Comprehensive and sustainable devel-opment is a key for solving a lot of prob-lems, especially poverty and underdevel-opment in the areas of science and tech-nology, where media should be up to thechallenges and responsibilities, he said.

The Arab region is going through accel-erating back-to-back significant events, amatter which creates huge responsibilitiesfor the Arab news agencies to work hard-er and maintain their status as major safesources for news, outgoing president ofFANA and Saudi Press Agency (SPA)Chairman Abdullah bin Fahd Al-Husseintold the opening session.

Al-Hussein added that the Arab agen-cies offer distinguished, effective andrespectable media amid an informationand technological revolution.

FANA is on the right path, making forthe future with steady steps to achieve itsmain goals for enhancing joint action andfostering cooperation among the memberagencies, Al-Hussein said.

Over the past two years, under Al-Hussein’s presidency, FANA fulfilled itsmissions and carried out its programs andactivities, he said, appreciating efforts bythe member agencies, the FANASecretariat and the federation’s secretarygeneral.

Then Al-Hussein handed over FANApresidency to Board Chairman andDirector General of Kuwait NewsAgency (KUNA) Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah.

He expressed confidence that the newpresident Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij wouldlead the federation for more achievementsand successes, for his experience, goodtraits and enlightened thinking.

FANA Secretary General Farid Ayarsaid that Arab consolidated and interac-tive media is an urgent need at present toface the enormous challenges, with aneye on the future.

He lauded FANA’s persistent efforts toboost positive interaction among the Arabnews agencies.

ChallengesAddressing the session, new FANA

president and KUNA Chairman SheikhMubarak Al-Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabahsaid that the media is facing tremendouschallenges due to the acceleratingchanges and developments in the Arabworld.

The present stage creates colossalresponsibilities and burdens that promptmore unity and cooperation to face chal-lenges and risks, he said.

The Arab media has plenty of expertiseand efficiencies, yet there is a dire need tomake the best investment of the availablepotential and to exchange views andideas, he said.

Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij stressed theneed for an “enlightened renewable andvariant (media) discourse” based on cre-ativity, to target people as a major goal,especially youth, the national wealth ofthe Arabs.

He called for getting closer to them,interacting with their thoughts, to offerthem media content that promotes theirthinking, skills and creativity.

Youth have been targeted throughbizarre thoughts that sought to attractthem to violence, extremism and terror-ism, which came to form the biggest chal-lenge for the security and stability ofmany world countries, Sheikh MubarakAl-Duaij said. He added that Kuwait wasthe target of despicable acts of terrorismat the end of the last century.

The country has recently been hit byterrorist attacks that were all failurethanks to the State’s wise leadership andunity and cohesion of the Kuwaiti peoplewho stood united in the face of threats totheir nation.

In the meantime, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij called the Arab news agencies forbroader support to development in theArab countries, through urging peopleto take part and interact with theseefforts.

He expressed thanks to SPA chiefAbdullah bin Fahd Al-Hussein for hissincere efforts during his two-year tenureas FANA president, and also to the feder-ation’s secretary general Farid Ayar.

The 43rd Conference of FANAGeneral Assembly, Nov 23-26, discussesa multitude of topics, such as cooperationamong the member agencies, staff train-ing, and agreements with regional andinternational counterparts.

Photo by Iehab QurtalEditor-in-Chief of the Arab Times and Al-Seyassah newspapers Ahmed Al-Jarallah received in his office Tuesday theGerman Ambassador to Kuwait Eugen Wollfarth, who was accompanied by the head of the public relations and press in

the embassy Zeina Nasir.

Abdulaziz Alshaya receiving Turkey’s former president Gul.

Abdullah Abdullatif Alshaya and Yusuf Alshaya welcoming Gul.

Abdulaziz Alshaya and Mohammed Alshaya receiving Pakistan’s ParliamentSpeaker.

From right: Mohammed Alshaya, Abdulaziz Alshaya, Abdullah Gul and SardarAyaz Sadiq.

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 24, (KUNA): Minister of State forCabinet Affairs and acting Minister of Information andMinister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah on Tuesday said the Arabregion is going through a stage of delicate developments andchallenges where news and information play a key role in for-mation of human thought and orientation.

News agencies represent main source for news and information, a fact that

stresses imperative of adopting a balanced information message, characterized bytransparency and impartiality, at a time where the world is facing development andopenness in media that need to develop expertise and human cadres, said SheikhMohammad Al-Abdullah, in a speech he addressed, in his capacity asRepresentative of His Highness the Prime Minister, at opening of 43rd Conferenceof the General Assembly of the Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA).

He stressed on the need to support media development efforts, as the only way to achieveprogress and prosperity and provide a decent life for the Arab peoples as well as to facedeliberate media campaigns that aim to tarnish image of Islam and Muslims.

MoC to sign KD 25,000 contract:The Ministry of Communications willlaunch the remote monitoring service forships after signing the contract with acompany specialized in this field, reportsAl-Shahid daily quoting sources.

Sources said the ministry will con-tact the company directly, indicatingthe contract is valued at KD 25,000and valid for three years. Sourcespointed out the remote monitoringservice will ease procedures forobserving the movement of ships atsea and taking precautionary measuresif the need arises.

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Twitter accounts hacked: TheTwitter and Instagram accounts of theCommerce and Industry Ministry havebeen hacked, reports Al-Qabas dailyquoting sources from the ministry.

Sources disclosed the hackersspread rumors and statements againstsome personalities through the hackedaccounts, clarifying the ministry hasnothing to do with such statements.

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Bid to buy shares of VIVA:Saudi Telecommunications MobileCompany is currently negotiating withsome Kuwaitis to purchase 58.9 per-cent of the shares of KuwaitTelecommunication Company (VIVA)and 15.180 percent of shares from twopublic institutions – six percent inKuwait Investment Authority and9.180 percent in the Public Institutionfor Social Security, reports Al-Shahiddaily quoting sources.

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Minister denies rumors:Minister of Education and HigherEducation Dr Bader Al-Essa hasdenied the alleged bias in grantingallowances and health insurance toKuwaitis studying abroad, reports Al-Rai daily quoting sources.

The minister made the statementafter the rumor spread through varioussocial networking sites.

He also clarified there is no truth inthe rumor that the ministry hasstopped the recruitment of Sauditeachers, stressing the ministry has nointention to take this step regardingSaudi teachers or any other nationality.

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Project to generate 1,000 jobs:The environmental fuel project willgenerate about one thousand jobs foryoung Kuwaitis while the projectedannual return is 11 percent of the cost(KD4.6 billion), reports Al-Qabas dailyquoting Deputy Executive Chairmanfor Support Services in KuwaitNational Petroleum Company (KNPC)Khalid Al-Asousi.

In a press conference after theinspection tour in the project siteorganized by Kuwait PetroleumCorporation (KPC) recently, Al-Asousi explained the mechanism forfinancing the project — 30 percentinternally and 70 percent from localand foreign banks. He confirmed thatthe first agreement on financing theproject has been signed valued at $4billion.

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‘Grant disbursed’: KuwaitUniversity Director Dr Hussein Al-Ansari has confirmed disbursement ofannual grant to 20 students with spe-cial needs, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

In a press statement, Al-Ansarirevealed the grant is offered by theOffice of the Dean of Students Affairs;indicating the grant includes laptopand some special programs.

He affirmed the university is keenon taking care of students with specialneeds by providing all the necessaryfacilities to tap their potentials andcreating a positive educational envi-ronment to help them in their studies.

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