Tag Archives: kuwait
Kuwait votes amid boycott calls
Kuwait votes amid boycott calls (AFP) / 27 July 2013 Kuwaitis voted on Saturday in the country’s second parliamentary election in eight months with a less than moderate turnout after the opposition urged a boycott. Polling began slowly in the morning but increased slightly later to drop again at around noon. Turnout in some districts was under 20 per cent by 2pm, according to state-run Kuwait Television. Turnout was higher in some constituencies, especially in tribal areas, but no official figures were provided. The first results are not expected until after midnight (2100 GMT) as ballot papers are still counted manually. Information Minister Shaikh Salman Humoud Al Sabah said after visiting a polling station in Jahra west of Kuwait City that turnout was high. Besides opposition calls for a boycott, the sweltering heat of around 45 degrees Celsius combined with Ramadan fasting, also apparently contributed to a low turnout. It was the second time the opposition had called for a boycott in protest at an electoral law that it says enables the ruling Al Sabah family-controlled government to manipulate the outcome. The law was ruled legal in June by the constitutional court, even though it dissolved parliament on procedural flaws and ordered Saturday’s election. “I just hope this parliament completes its (four-year) term,” said civil aviation employee Bassam Eid, after voting in Al Qasia. “We are frustrated at the repeated dissolution of the house,” Eid told AFP. The last two parliaments were dissolved by the constitutional court on procedural grounds, while previous parliaments were dissolved by the Emir. “I am really concerned at the turn of events in the country as there will be no development without political stability which we hope will be achieved after this election,” Dr Jawad Abulhassan told AFP. Pensioner Umm Mohammad said she hoped for an end to the disputes plaguing the country, but was not optimistic. “We earnestly hope to see political stability in the country after this poll… We are still afraid that this might not happen,” she said at a polling station reserved for women in Jabriya, south of Kuwait City. Some groups that boycotted the last election — notably the liberal National Democratic Alliance and some of the emirate’s powerful tribes — did take part on Saturday. But only a few opposition members were among the 300 hopeful candidates. They include eight women, the lowest number since women won political rights in 2005. Around 30 Arab election observers visited polling stations and were assisted by monitors from the Kuwait Transparency Society. The opposition failed to mirror the support it mobilised ahead of the last election, but has remained adamant that it will not take part in a “corrupted” political system. Just days before polling day, the authorities arrested at least four candidates and dozens of their campaign staff on suspicion of attempted vote-buying. Of Kuwait’s population of 3.9 million, just 31 per cent are citizens and of that 1.23 million only 440,000 are eligible to vote. The voting age is 21 and Kuwaitis in the police or army are barred from taking part. Continue reading
UAE tops in Mena region in global innovation index
UAE tops in Mena region in global innovation index Haseeb Haider / 4 July 2013 The UAE ranks 38th on the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2013 for its achievements in the socio-economic spheres. In the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, the nation is leading in the areas of political, regulatory and business environment, human capital and education. Tertiary education and efforts for research and development are other areas where the UAE has done remarkably, according to the index, which has rated the nations for their efforts toward innovations and the outcomes. Du CEO Osman Sultan addressing the Press conference in Abu Dhabi. — Supplied photo The nation has also scored well for its infrastructure ICT as well as physical, ecological sustainability, and business sophistication including knowledge workers, innovation linkages and knowledge absorption. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait lead the Middle East in overall innovation performance according to the GII 2013 Index, published by Cornell University, Insead and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (Wipo), a specialized agency of the United Nations. This year’s study benefits from the experience of its knowledge partners: Booz & Company, the Confederation of Indian Industry, du and others. Saudi Arabia ranked top in the Mena region in market sophistication (credit, investment, trade and competition), Kuwait in knowledge and technology outputs (knowledge creation, knowledge impact and knowledge diffusion), and Qatar in creative outputs (creative intangibles, creative goods and services and online creativity). The UAE got the top slot for ease of paying tax and scored third place for its intangible assets, and the 14th slot for intensity of local competition environment. The report has acknowledged the success of Dubai’s Vision 2010 and Dubai Strategic Plan 2015, which will drive the regional business capital towards a knowledge-based economy and boost physical infrastructure. The GII 2013 looked at 142 economies around the world, using 84 indicators including the quality of top universities, availability of microfinance and venture capital deals – gauging both innovation capabilities and measurable results. Switzerland and Sweden’s performance reflects the fact that both countries are leaders in all components (pillars) of the GII, consistently ranking in the top 25. At a media briefing, Bruno Lanvin, the report’s co-editor and executive director of Insead’s European Competitiveness Initiative said that in the Arab world recent political and social changes have also underlined the importance of addressing the needs and expectations of the population in terms of growth and job creation, especially for the young. Under performing Mena countries can catch up with innovation leaders if they “learn” to innovate, said Hatem Samman, lead economist and director of Booz & Company’s Ideation Center. “In the Middle East, we are seeing governments focus on building innovation capabilities as a means of catalysing the growth and diversification of their economies,” said Rasheed Eltayeb, principal in the public sector practice at Booz & Company. “The unprecedented socio-economic momentum that has been created in the last few decades in the UAE makes this country very well positioned to continue to play a pivotal role in this exciting journey as a regional hub for innovation,” said Osman Sultan, chief executive officer of du. — haseeb@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Kuwait lauds UAE report on human rights
Kuwait lauds UAE report on human rights (Wam) / 8 June 2013 Kuwait has lauded a report submitted by the UAE to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), deeming the document as an important step within the development of human rights in the GCC member-state. Kuwait News Agency quoted Kuwait’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Ambassador Dherar Razouqi on Friday as saying that the UAE made some huge leaps concerning human rights, indicating that this was evident in the Emirates topping the Arab ranking within the UN index for human development. Continue reading
