KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior said Thursday that agents of the General Dept. of Anti-Drug Trafficking broke up a network of narcotic traders in possession of 145 kg of hashish. Surveillance of a female suspect, of Asian nationality, led to the seizure and the dismantling of the illegal drug cartel, according to a statement from the Ministry’s General Directorate of Security Relations and Media.

The suspect was arrested under a warrant from the Public Prosecution and confessed to the charges of trading in the drugs and association to the cartel. A non-Kuwaiti inmate of the Central Prison was leading the gang, which includes another Asian accomplice – at large outside Kuwait.The security services broke into the cell of the prisoner, interrogated him and inspected his cell phone. The man confessed to the charges, the statement said, noting that legal procedures are being made pending the prosecution of the three culprits. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The launching by Kuwait Oil Company of its Artificial Intelligence Innovation Center (AIIC) represented a milestone in the process of digital transformation in the country?s oil sector.

The Center, supported by Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), is meant to keep abreast of the world?s latest technological trends through making use of AI and innovative technologies to reduce costs, ensure quality and speed up decision-making. Under auspices and in the presence of Minister of Oil Tarek Suleiman Al-Roumi, AIIC was inaugurated on August 7, 2025, in collaboration with Microsoft, Halliburton Co, and Ghaia.ai, KOC?s CEO Ahmad Jaber Al-Eidan said in statements to KUNA on Saturday.

The Center, supervised by KOC?s division of south and east Kuwait, opened a new chapter in digital transformation in Kuwait.It is part of KOC?s strategic partnership with Microsoft, one of five of the world?s leading technology conglomerates, Halliburton ­- world’s second-largest oil service provider, and Ghaia.ai, a leading developer of autonomous artificial intelligence systems (Agentic AI), he said.

Ghaia.ai, as strategic partner of Microsoft, is in charge of operating the AIIC on its G Agen platform.”G Agen, the fruit of cooperation between Microsoft, Halliburton and Ghaia.ai, deploys smart digital agents that think, act, and evolve – working for humans to unlock new levels of efficiency and innovation,” Al-Eidan pointed out.

More than automation, G Agent provides a dynamic mesh for collaboration between agents and humans across departments and teams, which will help enhance the operating capacity of KOC and facilitate the decision-making process.

From oil and gas to retail and government, it delivers impactful outcomes in the most complex environments.Agentic AI, one of the pioneering projects in autonomous AI systems, is capable of setting goals, making decisions, and performing complex tasks with minimal human intervention, acting independently to achieve objectives, he affirmed.”It will give momentum leap to the KOC in the areas of data analysis and provision of precautionary solutions and support the realization of the goals of Kuwait Vision 2035,” Al-Eidan went on.

AIIC will keep abreast of the innovations and the latest changes around the globe, and give guidance relating to the development of the oil sector in Kuwait, he said.He voiced hope that cooperation between KOC and its partners will open new horizons for digital transformation of the energy sector not only in Kuwait but in the entire region as well.

On his part, Naim Yazbeck, president of Microsoft Middle East and Africa (MEA), said KOC leads a bold vision for the future of the energy sector in Kuwait where AI and human innovation word towards speedier digital transformation.Microsoft maintains firm commitment to helping Kuwait develop the skills of its national cadres and leading the transformation to a smarter and more sustainable future in the oil sector, he said in similar statement to KUNA.Expressing Microsoft?s pride of its partnership with KOC, Yazbeck said the AIIC is not only a training center but also an integrated platform for joint innovation.

The Center serves as a strategic mainstay in the drive to achieve distinctive operating capacity, provide smart solutions in energy and meet the unique aspirations of the State of Kuwait, he added. — KUNA

KUWAIT: A Kuwait Times article has been featured in the ministry of education’s newly revised Grade 7 English textbook, part of the updated national curriculum set to roll out in the first semester of the 2025–2026 academic year. The article, originally titled “Personification of Kuwait’s Philanthropic Legacy: Dr Al-Sumait” and published on Aug 15, 2024, has been adapted into a simplified reading activity. It is designed to help students strengthen their English vocabulary and comprehension while introducing them to the values of philanthropy and community service.

The inclusion reflects the ministry’s broader strategy of integrating real-world themes into language learning. New materials have been developed for kindergarten through Grade 9, with textbooks across subjects updated as part of the curriculum overhaul. For Kuwait Times, Kuwait’s first English-language daily established in 1961, the feature marks another meaningful way the newspaper’s content supports education and language development.