KUWAIT: The first flight in Kuwait’s air bridge to deliver urgent humanitarian aid to Gaza will depart Sunday from Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base to Egypt’s Al-Arish Airport, the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) announced. KRCS Chairman Khaled Al-Mughamis said the flight will carry essential relief supplies for Palestinians facing severe shortages of food and medicine under the Zionist entity’s ongoing blockade and assault. “This trip marks the start of the air bridge, which is part of Kuwait’s urgent relief campaign to support the people of Gaza,” he told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Saturday.

The mission is being coordinated with Kuwait’s ministries of Social Affairs, Defense, and Foreign Affairs, alongside the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent societies. Al-Mughamis said the aid was prepared in cooperation with the Kuwait Flour Mills and Bakeries Company and transferred to the air base by a specialist logistics team “to ensure the safety of the supplies.”

Sunday’s flight is the first in a series organized under a nationwide campaign launched by Kuwait’s top leadership to support Palestinians facing catastrophic humanitarian conditions. The campaign brought together government bodies, civil society groups, and the public in what officials have called a coordinated national response.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Social Affairs announced that the donation drive had raised KD 11.5 million for Gaza relief. Funds are being used to purchase food and other essentials through the flour mills company, with KRCS overseeing distribution according to requests from participating charities. Volunteers will accompany each flight to supervise handover to the Egyptian Red Crescent and ensure delivery into Gaza, KRCS Director General Fawaz Al-Mazrouei said.

Kuwait’s campaign comes as Gaza faces catastrophic conditions. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 61,369 Palestinians have been killed in the Zionist entity’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023. This includes 212 who died from hunger — 98 of them children. The ministry also noted that 21 Palestinians were killed and over 341 injured while trying to get humanitarian aid in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed while seeking aid to 1,743, with over 12,590 others wounded since May 27.

“To the people of Gaza: Relief is on the way, God willing. The people of Kuwait stand with you and will not fall short, God willing,” Al-Mazrouei said. — Agencies

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior announced Saturday that its security forces, under the direct supervision of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, arrested a suspect with a criminal record for manufacturing and promoting the psychotropic drug shabu in Saad Al-Abdullah. In a statement, the ministry said the suspect, whose citizenship had been recently revoked, was tracked following intensive investigations and field surveillance. Authorities discovered that he had been producing shabu using chemicals smuggled illegally into the country.

The operation led to the seizure of 30 liters of a key precursor chemical, 3 liters of shabu in the semi-final production stage, 6 kilograms of the drug ready for distribution, and large quantities of chemicals and equipment used in the manufacturing process. The seized narcotics were estimated to have a market value of KD 500,000 (about $1.64 million). Two firearms and a quantity of live ammunition were also confiscated. The suspect was referred to the competent authorities for legal action.

The Ministry of Interior reaffirmed its determination to combat drug trafficking and dismantle networks involved in the production and distribution of narcotics. It stressed that security agencies will continue to act decisively against drug dealers to safeguard society from the dangers of this destructive scourge. The ministry urged the public to cooperate with security forces and report any suspicious activity to help preserve the nation’s security and the safety of its citizens and residents.— KUNA

TUNIS: The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization’s (ALECSO) Director of Culture Department Humaid Al-Nofali announced that the inclusion of Kuwait Towers on the Arab Heritage List affirms their status as a distinguished architectural landmark. The towers, recognized under the modern architecture category, were selected for their prominence in contemporary Arab heritage. Al-Nofali told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the decision was based on their unique engineering design, creative vision, and aesthetic appeal, qualifying them for entry into ALECSO’s “Architectural and Urban Heritage in Arab Countries” register.

He noted that the jury unanimously acknowledged the towers’ embodiment of a modern architectural approach representing a pivotal stage in the evolution of Arab architecture. The iconic structures, he added, present a rare blend of cultural identity and modernity, enhancing their value as both a cultural symbol and a tourist attraction.

Al-Nofali underscored the significance of ALECSO’s heritage register, which offers a distinct perspective compared to those maintained by international bodies such as UNESCO and ISESCO. The register focuses on the urban growth of cities, particularly ancient urban centers that have preserved their historical character. Several such cities, he said, have been listed after meeting the organization’s criteria.

The initiative, he stressed, aims to safeguard Arab architectural and urban heritage amid challenges posed by exceptional circumstances, natural disasters, and human-made threats. Beyond preservation, the register seeks to raise public awareness of this heritage’s importance and integrate it into sectors such as tourism, the economy, and traditional crafts, thereby supporting sustainable development. — KUNA