WASHINGTON: Kuwait University and the Public Authority for Youth announced in a joint statement Saturday that the team representing the Women’s Cultural and Social Society (Team Valtech) won the “Judges’ Award” in the high school division at the 16th edition of the VEX Robotics World Championship 2025, held annually in the US state of Texas. This year’s VEX Robotics World Championship features around 1,200 teams from 60 countries. The Kuwaiti team, which earned the Judges’ Award during the competition, included high school students Mohammad Al-Bannai, Fajer Al-Muqahwi, and Yousef Al-Tamimi, supported remotely by a team in Kuwait consisting of Yousef Al-Obaid, Widad Reda, and Mohammad Al-Ali, under the leadership of Latifa Al-Marzouqi.

The Judges’ Award is presented to teams that demonstrate outstanding performance in areas such as teamwork, overcoming challenges, excellence in oral presentations, and engineering documentation. The statement highlighted the collaboration between Kuwait University’s Department of Computer Science at the College of Science, the Public Authority for Youth, and the Ministry of Education, with strategic support from partners Zain Kuwait and Al-Sayer Group, contributing to this achievement.

It also noted that the judging panel was impressed by a team that did not receive one of the main awards but left a strong, memorable impression worthy of recognition. The statement emphasized that the Kuwaiti team was honored for its high level of commitment, innovative engineering solutions, and cooperative spirit, which caught the attention of the judges. Their intensive preparation and practical training — provided over recent months through a specialized program at the Department of Computer Science — were key factors in their success. The department continues to play a leading role in empowering Kuwaiti youth with technological knowledge and future skills in robotics and artificial intelligence, helping to build a generation capable of innovation and competition in the digital era.

Kuwait University and the Public Authority for Youth congratulated the team on their well-deserved win, expressing pride in their achievements and wishing the team continued success in their academic and technological journey. Next week, a similar robotics competition for elementary school students will be held in Texas, where Kuwait will participate for the first time with a team in this age category. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The Russian Embassy hosted the anniversary reception for the 80th anniversary of the victory of World War II, which fell on May 9, 1945. The event was hosted by Russian Ambassador Vladimir Zheltov at the Russian Embassy accompanied by ambassadors of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

“It is with great pleasure that I express on behalf of my colleagues our sincere gratitude to all distinguished guests for joining us today in commemorating the Victory over Nazism,” ambassador Zheltov said during his speech.

“Eighty years have passed since the end of the Great Patriotic War — the term we use in Russia to describe the period of World War II from Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, until Germany’s defeat and capitulation on May 9, 1945,” he said. He noted that several post-war generations have since emerged. “For many people nowadays the events of that war are but a distant past. However, it left a deep mark in the historical memory of our nations,” he said.

Ambassador Zheltov stated that the Second World War broke out due to a combination of factors and prevailing trends in global politics at the time, including the fragile world order that had emerged after the First World War. “The Soviet people, having suffered heavy losses at the beginning, turned the tide of the war in the course of the epic,” he said.

He added that the Battle of Stalingrad (autumn of 1942 – winter of 1943) was a pivotal moment in history that changed the outcome of the conflict. “From then on, the Eastern Front was moving only westwards. After kicking out the invaders from its territory, the Red Army subsequently liberated half of Europe from fascism. In May 1945, the ideas of global domination were buried in Berlin,” he said.

Ambassador Zheltov reminded that the Soviet Union lost 27 million people during the war, the majority of whom were civilians who perished because of bombings, destruction, and acts of genocide under occupation and in Nazi death camps.

“It is our common duty to remember all those victims. That is the heavy price of Victory over fascism. And this is why Victory Day is a sacred date for Russians and other peoples of the former Soviet Union,” he said. “At the same time, we value the contribution of our allies who fought along with us to defeat Nazi Germany and its satellites – both in Europe and Asia,” he continued.

KUWAIT: Japan and Kuwait will officially implement a mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, official and special passports starting May 12, 2025, the Japanese embassy in Kuwait said in a press release on Saturday. Under this new agreement, Kuwaiti nationals holding valid diplomatic, or special passports issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait will be allowed to enter Japan without a visa for a period not exceeding 90 consecutive days. Similarly, Japanese holders of valid diplomatic and official passports will be able to enter Kuwait without a visa.

“This historic step reflects the deep mutual trust and longstanding friendship between our two nations, and lays a solid foundation for further political, economic, and cultural cooperation,” Ambassador of Japan to Kuwait Kenichiro Mukai said in a statement.

Deepening diplomatic relations

Japan and Kuwait have enjoyed a long-standing and mutually beneficial relationship, dating back to 1958 when a Japanese oil company got oil drilling rights in Kuwait. “This visa exemption scheme will make it easier for government officials, international conference participants, and special passports holders to travel between our two countries, thus encouraging more dynamic exchanges and high-level dialogue,” said the ambassador.

“This is more than a procedural change — it is a symbol of our shared commitment to building a forward-looking, trust-based partnership.”

Visit Expo 2025 Osaka

The ambassador highlighted Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, which Japan is hosting from April 13 to October 13, 2025, as a perfect opportunity to visit the country. “It is more than an exhibition; it is a platform for co-creating the future,” he said. He added that visitors can encounter a wide array of transformative ideas and cutting-edge solutions addressing challenges in sustainability, technology, healthcare, and mobility.

The ambassador said Japan is presenting technical proposals as investment opportunities, such as Room Temperature Hydrogen Production Device, CO2 Adsorption and Desorption Device, Room Temperature Synthetic Fuel Production Device. “These technologies are already at commercially practical level, and I believe that investing in these technologies will be able to assist Kuwait oil sector to achieve net-zero by 2060 as envisioned in the national plan,” he said. “The visa fee will be exempted for those who visit the EXPO. We sincerely invite Kuwaiti people, to visit Japan during this momentous event.”

Sharing a message of peace

As Japan and Kuwait look to further deepening their ties, the Japanese ambassador stressed the importance of learning from the past. He invited people in Kuwait to browse the second Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Poster Exhibition. “This exhibition showcases impactful posters that convey the devastating reality of the atomic bombings, reminding us of the importance of peace and the inhumanity of nuclear weapons,” the ambassador said.

The exhibition is now open at the Contemporary Art Platform (CAP Kuwait) from April 29 to May 25, 2025. Ambassador Mukai described the opening ceremony which was held on April 29 as “a big success”, especially with the attendance of Sachiko Hiraoka, an Atomic Bomb survivor’s family who visited Kuwait all the way from Hiroshima to deliver the testimony of her family. The ceremony was attended by many people in Kuwait, including ambassadors, artists, and students. “We encourage more people in Kuwait to visit the exhibition and reflect on Japan’s history and its deep commitment to peace. The exhibition welcomes everyone with free admission,” said the ambassador.

Scholarships and creative exchange

Education and Culture are essential elements to build the brilliant future between Kuwait and Japan, said Ambassador Mukai, pointing to two opportunities open for students and artists in Kuwait. For one, the MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) Scholarship Program for 2026 is currently open for applications until June 12, 2025. “Kuwaiti students wishing to pursue bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD in Japan are warmly encouraged to apply. This is a chance to receive a world-class education while building bridges between the two countries,” he said.

Submissions are also open for the 18th Japan International MANGA Award, with a deadline of June 20, 2025. This globally recognized award welcomes artists from around the world. “We hope to see many talented Kuwaiti creators participate and share their stories through the powerful medium of manga,” said Ambassador Mukai.

The introduction of mutual visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders marks a new chapter in Japan-Kuwait relations. It opens doors — not only for official visits — but also for people-to-people connections, cultural exchange, and shared discovery. “We look forward to welcoming more Kuwaiti friends to Japan, and to continuing our journey together as partners in friendship, peace, and progress. Welcome to Japan! Welcome to the future!” said the ambassador.