8th Int'l Quran Award set for April

KUWAIT: The total number of contests against the 2016 parliamentary election results reached 52 at the end of the deadline given for petitions on Sunday. Ironically, one of the challenges was filed by former justice minister and third constituency candidate Yaqoub Al-Sane, in which he also contested the parliament's dissolution decree. Meanwhile, a court rejected a request filed by former MP Abdullah Al-Barghash yesterday to change the judges hearing his contest against an earlier court order on withdrawing his citizenship. Separately, the administrative court yesterday annulled the former interior minister's decision on referring some public prosecutors to retirement and ordered their return to their posts. The public prosecutors had sued the ministry in this regard.

Corruption

The anti-corruption authority stressed about looking into media reports regarding corruption and investigating them as per article 44 of its charter, the authority's acting secretary general Dr Mohammed Bozobar said yesterday that it will investigate and verify accusations that have solid proof and then take proper measures including investigation, interrogation and referral to public prosecution. Bozobar urged all citizens and expats to file reports and complaints about corruption, backing them with solid proof and documents. He also reminded all officials asked to file their financial disclosure reports to observe the deadlines they have to meet.

Gulf Road

The Ministry of Public Work's assistant undersecretary for road engineering Ahmed Al-Hessan said 9.5 percent of the Arabian Gulf Road development project has been completed so far. He added that the project's total cost is KD 13.9 million and that it is scheduled to be executed in 24 months with the aim of making traffic flow at the Bidaa roundabout much easier. He also noted that the project includes a 670-m-long flyover above the roundabout linking Taawon Street to Balajat Street.

Quran award

Assistant Undersecretary for Quran Affairs at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Waleed Al-Ammar said under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the ministry will hold Kuwait's 8th International Quran Memorization and Recitation Award ceremony in April. Ammar added that one of the main aims of holding this annual competition is to attract Muslims from all over the world to compete in memorizing the Quran.

Development plan

Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Minister of State for Planning and Development Hind Al-Subaih received best wishes for retaining her portfolio in the new Cabinet yesterday. Subaih expressed wishes that the development plan achievement rate will increase this year, and stressed that automated systems that are being trialed and will be fully launched in April 2017 to provide better and swifter services in all ministry departments. Regarding referring violations concerning the disabled to the public prosecutor, Subaih said that the latter has requested further documents to commence immediate investigations.

By Meshaal Al-Enezi