KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health announced Tuesday the successful completion of four surgeries to implant electronic chips for dual stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The operations were carried out by a national medical team at the ministry’s Zain Center, led by Dr Mutlaq Al-Saihan. In a press statement, the ministry said the procedure – described as the first of its kind in government hospitals in the Middle East – was successfully performed on four Kuwaiti citizens aged between their fifties and eighties.

The ministry explained that the technology is designed to treat obstructive sleep apnea, a condition characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep that can lead to serious health complications if left untreated. This medical milestone, the ministry stressed, underscores its commitment to providing patients with the latest internationally recognized treatments and advanced healthcare solutions across its facilities. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Zain Kuwait announced that it has joined the Kuwait Green Building Council (KGBC) as a Platinum member, in a step that reflects its commitment to accelerating the sustainability agenda in the workplace and the community and to reducing emissions and enhancing energy efficiency. This comes as a core part of Zain’s sustainability strategy and as an extension of its community programs that focus on reducing environmental impact and supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Commenting on the partnership, Corporate Relations Department Manager Hamad Al-Musaibeeh said: “Joining the Kuwait Green Building Council confirms Zain’s direction to turn sustainability principles into measurable, day-to-day operational practice. We will benefit from the capacity-building programs and technical advisory services that KGBC provides to develop the competencies of our engineering and operations teams and to adopt more advanced standards for energy and water efficiency and waste management across our facilities.”

He added: “We believe that sustainable ecosystems enhance quality of life and create economic and social value for our customers, partners and society as a whole, and they support Kuwait’s shift toward a more sustainable future. We are therefore pleased with this partnership and look forward to advancing our shared vision to achieve lasting social impact.” General Manager of the Kuwait Green Building Council, Dalal Al-Hashash, said: “We are proud to welcome Zain as a Platinum Member of the Kuwait Green Building Council. For years, Zain has been at the forefront of integrating sustainability into its business strategy and operations, setting an example for the private sector in Kuwait.”

She added: “This partnership is not about starting the journey, but about deepening collaboration and knowledge exchange to accelerate innovative solutions in energy efficiency and emissions reduction. As the technology sector is set to experience one of the fastest rises in energy demand, we are delighted to work with one of Kuwait’s leading companies to ensure that future growth is guided by sustainability principles that put people and the environment at the center of development.”

The Kuwait Green Building Council will provide Zain, through its Platinum Membership, with specialized capacity-building platforms through training, workshops and seminars, in addition to technical advisory services to align projects with sustainable building standards and practices. The Council also offers marketing support channels to highlight members’ environmental responsibility, and spaces for professional networking and the exchange of expertise among leaders in this field to enhance opportunities for partnerships and collaboration.

As a Platinum Member, Zain will support the Council’s activities, programs and campaigns, and will share its experience in adopting best practices across its current and future projects. This includes expanding energy-efficiency applications, rationalizing water consumption, improving waste management and enhancing indoor environmental quality in facilities, which will positively affect users’ health and wellbeing and increase productivity.

Green buildings are defined as the design, implementation and operation of buildings in a manner that reduces negative environmental impacts and improves the quality of life for occupants and workers throughout a building’s life cycle, from planning to decommissioning. This is achieved through solutions that include reliance on renewable energy sources, maximizing natural lighting, using sustainable materials, applying water-conservation technologies and adopting effective waste-management strategies.

This step aligns with Zain’s sustainability vision, which places climate action and resource efficiency at the core of its operations and supply chain and supports its long-term emissions-reduction targets. It also reflects the company’s commitment to partnering with specialized local entities to build more sustainable buildings and urban infrastructure in Kuwait. The Kuwait Green Building Council was officially established as a non-profit, non-governmental entity in 2017. As a membership-based organization of relevant stakeholders, it aims to encourage and support sustainable urban and built-environment development in Kuwait. It is affiliated with a global network of more than 75 Green Building Councils operating under the umbrella of the World Green Building Council.

The Council offers annual membership packages for various segments including companies, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, specialists and students. These packages cover benefits and responsibilities that include capacity-building programs, technical consulting to implement green building standards, marketing support to highlight members’ commitments, and opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange, with the aim of entrenching a culture of sustainable construction and supporting related initiatives and strategic plans.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Monday received the credentials of five newly appointed ambassadors to Kuwait. The envoys included Dr Adam Abdo Hassan, Ambassador of the Republic of Niger; Dr Brahima Diakite Kaba, Ambassador of the Republic of Liberia; Badiro Aguimon, Ambassador of the Republic of Benin; Michel Joliwa, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland; and Hassan Sogo, Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal.

His Highness the Amir receives the credentials of the Senegalese Ambassador.

His Highness the Amir receives the credentials of the Liberian Ambassador.

His Highness the Amir receives the credentials of the Ambassador of Benin.

His Highness the Amir receives the credentials of the Ambassador of Niger.

The ceremony was attended by Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah, Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, Director of the Office of His Highness the Amir Lt Gen (Ret) Jamal Mohammad Al-Dhiyab, Undersecretary of the Amiri Diwan Sheikh Abdulaziz Mishal Mubarak Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Assistant Foreign Minister for Protocol Affairs and Minister Plenipotentiary Abdulmohsen Jaber Al-Zaid and Commander of the Amiri Guard Maj Gen Bader Amer Al-Sahloul. — KUNA