New family visa rules expected --Small companies Asked to report salary status
KUWAIT CITY - The issue of introducing new rules to help more expatriates to be able to bring their families into Kuwait ‘is under consideration’ and a ‘decision on the matter is expected very soon’ interior ministry undersecretary Al-Othman announced yesterday even as Interior Minister Sheikh Nawaf Al-Sabah said the decision to scarp prior visa requirement for nationals of 30 countries is aimed at promoting the domestic economy and facilitating the entry of more foreigners into the country. Last summer, the ministry cut the monthly salary ceiling for expatriates to be able to bring their families to KD 400 form the previous KD 650 in the private sector and for those in government service. The ministry also allowed the combining of salaries of the husband and wife to be able to bring their children.
A company in Kuwait with 50 employees or more will soon have to provide the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs with quarterly reports on their salary status, proving that its workers were being paid regularly, as an earlier ministerial decision, which was applicable to all companies with 200 employees only, has been amended said an official. Answering a question on steps taken by the ministry to reduce the surge in Labour dispute over unpaid wages witnessed recently, Dr. Al-khazraji said the ministry will soon oblige companies with less than 200 employees to submit quarterly reports detailing the situation of their workers salaries.
Saudi probe into ‘gay wedding’
Saudi investigators are grilling some 50 people, mostly expatriates, for allegedly attending a gay wedding in the city of Medina, a newspaper reported yesterday. The suspects deny they were attending a gay marriage, which is prohibited in Saudi Arabia, saying they took part in a ceremony to mark the wedding of Chadian friends, Arab News said. But investigators say that invitations to last Wednesday’s ceremony indicated it was a gay function and point to the suspicious behavior of guests, who fled the venue at the sight of police cars, some leaving their vehicles behind. Police raided a rest house where the ceremony was under way after a tip-off from the commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, or religious police, the paper said.
Youth Junoon show
kuwait :Future Generation’ is set to organize, for the very first time in Kuwait, a mega musical show with Asia’s biggest rock band ‘Junoon’ very soon. The venue and date for this mega show will be announced shortly. For more information and details please feel free to contact mobiles: 6858983 / 6411616.
Ministry to study currcula
Kuwait city, March 1: The Undersecretary of Education Dr. Hamoud Al- sadoun said the Educational curricula and Resarches Department will launch a study before making basic amendments of educational curricula, reports Al- Seyassh. According to Arab times Dr. Al- Saadoun said the study will be over by the end of year 2004 and the amendments will be applied in the academic year 2005/06.
Dr. Al-Saadoun was quoted by media as saying the new amendments are in line with new education system, while the basic religious principles will remain untouched. He also said the new educational stages of 3-4-5 will be applied from nexr acadmic year, however the establishment of 575 additional classes and appointment of 750 teachers remain to be completed before September 2004.X-ray charges for insured to be slashed
The Ministry of Health revealed today that the Ministry is planning to reduce X-ray fees by as much as 50% for those holding health insurance, including expatriates, stateless residents, the children of Kuwaiti women who are married to non-Kuwaitis, and the wives of Kuwaiti men. In another development, MP Hussein Al-Qallaf said that he would grill the Health Minister shortly because of the Minister’s failure to solve many problems, which had been pointed out to him in previous questioning by the MPs. Among the issues of concern to MP Al-Qallaf are the Minister’s appointment of his friends to Ministry positions, ignoring the need for scientific expertise in these appointments, continuing problems pertaining to the inefficiency of medical services, and issues relating to health insurance for expatriates
Report and Pictures by Nishad Anwar
Hikma Educational Institute celebrated the completion of fourth year after its inception at the Institute premises with gaiety.
Noorhajan Anwar, Managing Patron lighting the lamp.
The cheerful gathering comprised the chairman, members of the management committee, parents, students, well-wishers and ex students in addition to the schools own strength.There was much excitement mingled in the air, of the prizewinners of the various competitions held in the year 2003-2004.
The chief guest of the evening was Ashwani Shiv, manager of Mazda – Towell Auto Centre. The Chairman Anwar Abdulla, Managing Patron Noorjahan Anwar and the members of the management committee accompanied the chief guest.In his address the chief guest congratulated the Institute and expressed his pleasure to be a part of the celebration. He also praised the students for their involvement in co-curricular activities. “In this age of globalization, the children participating in these areas is really great” he said.
The other distinguished guests were P.M. Jabir convener of Indian Social Club, Kerala wing, Venugopal and Rajan, members of the management committee and Dr. Hamza Parambil.Usha Prasad, a teacher of the Institute welcomed the gathering. Vice - Principal Pia Helena D’Souza presented the annual report in which she briefed about the overall achievements of the school in 4 years and elaborated on the achievements of 2003-04 academic year.
The cultural programme began with the national anthem of Oman. The Bharatnatyam performance by Salma Anwar a grade seventh student was a very touching one. Salma who is training under Guru Beena Radhakrishnan, performed an excellent Bharatnatyam dance composed in Raga set to Ganapathi.
The students impressed the audience with a variety entertainment of dances. They danced to vibrant and catchy songs of various states as well as the cross country ones under the theme ‘Unity in diversity’, thereby transporting the audience to different places.
The chairman of Al Hikma group, Anwar Abdulla in his address said that The objective of the school is to provide an education which is developmental and integrative in character leading to the nurturing of every pupil into a multi-competent person and to a
multifaceted development which enables head, heart and hands to become balanced parts of an organized whole. “In the firm belief that “Good Education is the high road to personal and national progress, the school aims at drawing out what is the best in the child, in body, mind and spirit. It aims to inculcate in the child, through appropriate learning experiences and opportunities, a desire to learn, not just in he classroom, but all the time, making it an ongoing process through life.” he said. The audience was also treated to Kuchipudi performance by Murphy Vijayan, a grade ninth student.
Noorjahan Anwar, the Managing Patron of the Institute proposed a vote of thanks. She thanked each and every one who contributed to the success of the programme. “We began with a less number of students four years ago, but now we have grown to a great height making it one of the best Institute in the Sultanate. Our’s is a miracle in the making” she said.
Watch this space for more pictures
2. ANNUAL 2 – Ashwani addressing the gathering
3. ANNUAL 3 – Sanal TM. Receiving the best student award from the chief guest.
4. ANNUAL 5- Salma Anwar, performing the Bharathnayam dance
5. ANNUAL 6- Murphy Vijayan perfoming the Kuchipudi
6. ANNUAL 8 - Students dancing to the tune
7. ANNUAL 9 – A Bengali folk dance
8. 10 – A group dance by the students
9. 11. Vice Principal, Pia Helena reading the annual report.
