Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal on Wednesday urged the new government to act with transparency, after he dissolved the National Assembly following weeks of political tension.
On Monday, Sheikh Meshal approved a new government after suspending some articles of the constitution following “interference” from politicians.
He urged cabinet members to be transparent in their actions in light of disputes and accusations of corruption between them and MPs.
“We affirm that we are in a new phase of serious, responsible work and continuous, unlimited giving to our homeland,” Sheikh Meshal said.
He also called on the new ministers to enact reforms that would benefit the country and finalise development and economic projects.
The remarks were made at a ceremony where Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al Abdullah Al Sabah and 13 cabinet ministers were sworn in.
He called on the government to “accelerate the implementation of long-awaited strategic development projects”, and ensure transparency in public spending.
Sheikh Meshal made the ministers responsible for developing the economy and investing in human capital and innovation to achieve sustainability.
Ministers of the previous government were accused by MPs of corruption, while the cabinet has blamed parliament for obstructing reforms.
Sheikh Meshal said those who “fail to perform their work” would be held accountable.
Elections were held in Kuwait on April 4 and, according to the constitution, a new government must be formed within two weeks.
However, tensions between members of the government and MPs have caused delays in the process, as has often been the case in the country.
The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
How Apple's credit card works
The Apple Card looks different from a traditional credit card — there's no number on the front and the users' name is etched in metal. The card expands the company's digital Apple Pay services, marrying the physical card to a virtual one and integrating both with the iPhone. Its attributes include quick sign-up, elimination of most fees, strong security protections and cash back.
What does it cost?
Apple says there are no fees associated with the card. That means no late fee, no annual fee, no international fee and no over-the-limit fees. It also said it aims to have among the lowest interest rates in the industry. Users must have an iPhone to use the card, which comes at a cost. But they will earn cash back on their purchases — 3 per cent on Apple purchases, 2 per cent on those with the virtual card and 1 per cent with the physical card. Apple says it is the only card to provide those rewards in real time, so that cash earned can be used immediately.
What will the interest rate be?
The card doesn't come out until summer but Apple has said that as of March, the variable annual percentage rate on the card could be anywhere from 13.24 per cent to 24.24 per cent based on creditworthiness. That's in line with the rest of the market, according to analysts
What about security?
The physical card has no numbers so purchases are made with the embedded chip and the digital version lives in your Apple Wallet on your phone, where it's protected by fingerprints or facial recognition. That means that even if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to use the card to buy things.
Is it easy to use?
Apple says users will be able to sign up for the card in the Wallet app on their iPhone and begin using it almost immediately. It also tracks spending on the phone in a more user-friendly format, eliminating some of the gibberish that fills a traditional credit card statement. Plus it includes some budgeting tools, such as tracking spending and providing estimates of how much interest could be charged on a purchase to help people make an informed decision.
* Associated Press
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
