KUWAIT: The Kuwait Diving Team, operating under the Environmental Voluntary Foundation (EVF), has successfully completed the first phase of a major coastal cleanup campaign at Ushairij, removing eight tons of marine debris including plastic waste, abandoned fishing nets, wood, iron, barrels and tires. The waste posed a serious threat to both marine navigation and the coastal environment.
Team leader Waleed Al-Fadhel told KUNA on Wednesday that the initiative comes as part of the team’s participation in activities marking International Mother Earth Day, observed annually on April 22. He noted that Ushairij is considered a vital ecological zone in the southern Kuwait Bay, serving as a sanctuary for wildlife and a key stopover site for migratory birds traveling between North Asia and Africa. The area also encompasses the Umm Al-Naml Island Nature Reserve and holds historical significance for Kuwait.
Al-Fadhel indicated that cleanup efforts would continue over the coming days due to the significant volume of waste collected, emphasizing the need for joint efforts to restore the area’s natural state. He stressed that the team’s coastal cleanup projects, which have been ongoing since its establishment in 1986, remain a core objective and align with the United Nations Environment Program’s “Clean Seas” initiative, aimed at combatting marine pollution and preserving marine ecosystems. The team is preparing to submit a detailed report of its activities to the UNEP Regional Office for West Asia, based in Beirut. Al-Fadhel highlighted the team’s rapid response mechanism, which involves immediate coordination with government entities and volunteers upon receiving reports of pollution.
He also noted that in the past four months, the team has carried out several cleanup operations along the Kuwaiti coastline, including in East Al-Judayliyyat, Sulaibikhat, Kuwait Towers, Al-Salam, Nuwaiseeb, Al-Zour, Bnaider and Khiran. Al-Fadhel urged the public, especially beachgoers, to support efforts to preserve the marine environment, stressing its importance as both a livelihood resource and a natural attraction. He also called for enhanced environmental monitoring and stricter enforcement by relevant authorities to deter violations.
He extended his gratitude to the government bodies supporting the initiative, particularly the Environment Public Authority, the General Directorate of Coast Guard, the Kuwait Ports Authority, Kuwait Municipality, and the Public Authority for Agricultural and Fish Resources, as well as private sector partners and individual volunteers. Al-Fadhel concluded by praising the government’s proactive environmental measures in the Ushairij and Kuwait Bay areas, including the removal of the former fishing village and port, reduction of industrial activity, and restrictions on overfishing — efforts that have significantly improved coastal conditions and restored natural water flow and sand movement in the area. — KUNA
KUWAIT: A group of students from Indian Learners Own Academy visited the offices of Kuwait Times and Kuwait News on Monday for an interactive media tour on Thursday. Aimed at sparking curiosity and creativity, the visit gave students a glimpse into the dynamic world of journalism beyond the classroom. Thursday’s visit was the second this week, after another group of students from the academy explored Kuwait Times and Kuwait News on Wednesday.
Jana Alnaqeeb, Kuwait Times’ PR & CSR Manager, led the tour alongside members of the digital and editorial teams. The students explored various departments, including the editorial section, studio, printing press, and archives, gaining firsthand insights into how news stories are created, edited, and published. They also learned about the importance of credible reporting and how social media content is crafted to engage younger audiences.
KUWAIT: Kuwait Times team explains to students the behind-the-scenes of video news reporting at the studio. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat
Students visit the warehouse where a Kuwait Times vintage printing press machine is on display.
Students gather at the Kuwait Times meeting room.
Students learn about the news production process at the editorial department.
Youssef Abu Ghazaleh, content creator and archivist at Kuwait Times, guides students through the newspaper’s historical archives.
Adding a playful twist to the visit, the team organized a game of hide and seek for the students, who dashed through the newsroom and turned the space into a lively, energetic environment.
The visit was part of the school’s initiative to blend education with real-world exposure and Kuwait Times’ ongoing mission to connect with and inspire future generations.
