Latest news with #Al-Nahar
Arab Times
19-07-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Judicial Specialization: The missing pillar in Kuwait's economic reform vision
Adapted and expanded from an original interview conducted by journalist Abdullah Othman and published in Al-Nahar on July 18, 2025. This version has been updated to reflect current legal developments and strategic judicial reform initiatives. In a progressive move aimed at accelerating the resolution of commercial disputes and enhancing Kuwait's competitiveness, Minister of Justice Counselor Nasser Al-Sumeit recently issued a ministerial decision forming a specialized committee to draft a decree-law for the establishment of specialized economic courts, along with its explanatory memorandum. The committee, chaired by Counselor Abdullah Al-Qusaimi, includes representatives from key national institutions such as the Central Bank, the Ministry of Commerce, the Kuwait Bar Association, and Kuwait University. It is tasked with delivering a framework that reflects international best practices while addressing the complex realities of Kuwait's evolving economy. This governmental initiative is both timely and visionary. However, to truly transform the justice system and support economic modernization, Kuwait must go beyond establishing a single economic court. What is required is a fully integrated system of specialized courts structured by value, subject matter, and legal complexity. This will ensure that commercial and financial disputes are resolved swiftly, competently, and in line with global standards. Why Judicial Specialization Is Strategic. Specialized courts are no longer an administrative preference. They are a structural necessity. In modern economies, disputes span a wide range of sectors including taxation, customs, capital markets, insolvency, anti-money laundering, intellectual property, cross-border finance, and complex commercial fraud. Each domain carries unique legal and regulatory requirements that demand judicial expertise. Placing all these matters under one general economic court risks jurisdictional overlap, inefficiency, and procedural delay. A segmented and specialized judiciary, on the other hand, empowers judges to build sectoral depth, improves case flow, and enhances investor confidence. This is a key driver behind the Minister's initiative Global Best Practices and Local Relevance Kuwait's proposed judicial reform should mirror the legal sophistication of mature economies. Models such as the UK's Business and Property Courts and the Delaware Court of Chancery in the United States provide strong benchmarks. These systems offer specialized procedures, expert judges, and value-based jurisdiction. This leads to faster litigation cycles, improved consistency, and greater legal certainty for commercial actors. Kuwait must now build a framework that translates those advantages into its local context. A Framework for Kuwait's Specialized Judiciary In response to the Ministry's directive, the following structural proposal is recommended: 1. Value-Based Specialization High-Value Commercial Court: Jurisdiction over disputes exceeding KD 5 million, or those involving cross-border or institutional finance. 2. Subject-Matter Specialization Tax and Customs Court Capital Markets and Investment Court Insolvency Court (with separate civil and criminal divisions) Economic Crimes Court Intellectual Property and Technology Court Competition and Consumer Protection Court This segmentation ensures that each dispute is handled by a judiciary with domain-specific competence and procedural efficiency. Anticipated Impact on Kuwait's Investment Climate The Minister's initiative reflects a broader realization. A modern economy requires a modern judiciary. If properly implemented, judicial specialization will yield profound benefits, including: Faster resolution of commercial and investment disputes Reduced reliance on international arbitration Greater legal certainty for investors and businesses Alignment with global standards in dispute resolution Direct support for Kuwait Vision 2035 as a legal and financial center Kuwait's message to the global investment community will be unmistakable. This is a jurisdiction that protects capital through competence, speed, and legal clarity. Legislative Feasibility and Institutional Readiness Kuwait's constitutional and legal framework fully supports this direction. Articles 164 and 166 of the Constitution grant the legislature authority to structure the judiciary, provided that the principle of dual-instance litigation is upheld. Additionally, the newly enacted Judicial Fees Law No. 78 of 2025 introduces a proportional fee of 1 percent for cases exceeding KD 5 million. This serves as a significant policy tool supporting the creation of value-based judicial channels. The Ministry's inclusive committee, comprising stakeholders from the judiciary, academia, financial regulators, and investment authorities, provides a strong foundation for building consensus and shaping a specialized court system rooted in Kuwait's legal identity. Academic and Comparative Insights Legal education in Kuwait has long acknowledged the importance of specialization. At Kuwait International Law School, advanced courses such as Economic Crimes I and II reflect the layered complexity of modern litigation, where financial understanding and legal analysis intersect. Assigning such cases to general criminal courts or bundling them into a single economic court undermines their intricacy. Instead, they must be addressed within specialized judicial tracks, managed by judges trained in both law and financial systems. Internationally, Egypt's experience with economic courts offers valuable lessons. While pioneering in the region, Egypt's model faces challenges from jurisdictional overlap and the merger of civil and criminal cases into a single court. Kuwait should avoid this approach. Conclusion: Aligning Legal Reform with Economic Ambition The decision to establish specialized courts is a critical and welcome milestone. But Kuwait must now look beyond a single economic court and embrace a full architecture of judicial specialization. It must be modular, expert-driven, and tailored to the modern business environment. This is not merely a reform of the courts. It is a structural investment in Kuwait's economic future. A truly competitive economy is built on three pillars: sound regulation, business-friendly policy, and judicial certainty. Kuwait is now poised to lead by building a legal infrastructure that reflects its aspirations, supports its investors, and upholds its role as a regional leader in law, finance, and governance.
Memri
14-07-2025
- Memri
Lebanese Daily Reports Arrest Of Senior Islamic State (ISIS) Commander In Lebanon, Seizure Of Weapons, Drone Components
On June 24, 2025, Lebanese daily, Al-Nahar, reported that the Lebanese intelligence agency, the General Directorate of General Security (GDGS), captured a senior ISIS commander who was planning "security operations" in Lebanon. The security forces said that he was in possession of a significant quantity of weapons and ammunition, as well as electronic devices and equipment used in manufacturing drones. The seized equipment was handed over to official military services, and an investigation under the supervision of judiciary department has been launched. The full text of this report is available to MEMRI Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor subscribers. Subscription information is available at this link. JTTM subscribers can visit this page to view the report
Jordan News
15-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan News
Gov't forum reviews Public Service and Administration Commission achievements - Jordan News
Gov't forum reviews Public Service and Administration Commission achievements The Government Communication Forum held a meeting with media representatives on Wednesday on the Public Service and Administration Commission's achievements and aspirations in its second Year. اضافة اعلان The commission's chairman Fayez Al-Nahar said his institution carried out its new role in drawing up policies, technical and advisory support, and oversight and compliance. He went over the stages of the commission's establishment, the reasons for change in its roles, and areas of work, which include leadership, human resources, government services, joint services, corporate culture, organizational structures, and institutional planning and development. Al-Nahar said the new public sector recruitment strategy primarily relies on open advertisements, noting that the commission has carried out 70 percent of recruitments through open adverts and only 30 percent were via the available competitive inventory, which will be canceled entirely by 2027 with the aim of ensuring fairness and equal opportunity for all. The public sector recruitment strategy, he said, currently adopts an integrated approach to keep pace with transformations in human resources management and ensure optimal utilization of national competencies, as it starts with proactive planning of job needs through the Human Resources Planning Committee. Job openings are then announced on official websites and daily newspapers, ensuring transparency and equal opportunity, he added. Government entities, he said, screen applications and identify a list of candidates according to the job requirements, and competencies are then assessed using specific tools and criteria, including tests and personal interviews with a focus on skills needed, knowledge, and behaviors. Interviews are conducted by specialized committees, while the Competency Assessment Center offers various tools to objectively evaluate applicants, enhancing selection accuracy, added Al-Nahar. Ministry of Government Communication Secretary General Zaid Nawaiseh said the Public Service and Administration Commission was established after implementation of the public sector modernization roadmap began, and that its outcomes are in line with the political and economic modernization scheme as a gateway to the second centennial of the Jordanian state. The commission, he said, began work on the human resources system and amendments to the civil service system, which he called "a historic transformation" in Jordanian public administration. //Petra//SS
Libyan Express
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Libyan Express
Libya-Lebanon diplomatic exchange continues over al-Sadr case
BY Libyan Express May 04, 2025 - 03:00 Updated: May 04, 2025 - 03:05 Lebanese Shia religious leader Imam Musa al-Sadr, whose unresolved 1978 disappearance remains a point of diplomatic tension between Libya and Lebanon. Photo via IRNA Libya's Justice Minister Halima Abdulrahman has stated that certain Lebanese parties are impeding progress on resolving the Musa al-Sadr case. In comments to Al-Nahar newspaper , Halima Abdulrahman indicated that Libya has sent Lebanese authorities a detailed roadmap for judicial cooperation regarding the case. The plan includes proposed steps towards resolving the matter and addressing the situation of Hannibal Gaddafi, who is currently detained in Lebanon. The Libyan Justice Ministry reports it has not yet received an official response from Lebanese counterparts regarding their proposal. Halima characterised this as an 'unjustified delay'. According to the minister, Libya remains prepared to cooperate with Lebanon on investigating the 1978 disappearance of Imam al-Sadr. She stated that Libya seeks a resolution based on principles of sovereignty, legal process, and protection of citizens' rights. The case dates back to August 1978 when Imam Musa al-Sadr and two companions disappeared during an official visit to Libya. Hannibal Gaddafi, son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been held in Lebanon since 2015 in connection with the case. The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express. How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@ Please include 'Op-Ed' in the subject line.
Libya Observer
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Libya Observer
Justice Minister: Lebanese parties hindering an end to Musa Al-Sadr's case for political reasons
Libya's Minister of Justice in the Government of National Unity, Halima Abdulrahman, has blamed unnamed Lebanese parties for obstructing the closure of the case concerning Imam Musa al-Sadr for 'political purposes.' She reaffirmed that her ministry was closely following the case of Hannibal Gaddafi, who is being held in Lebanon in connection with the same case, as part of 'Libya's commitment to protecting the rights of its citizens abroad.' In a statement to Lebanon's Al-Nahar newspaper on Friday, Abdulrahman said the Libyan judicial authorities had contacted their Lebanese counterparts regarding the case, attaching a detailed roadmap that presents a practical and comprehensive vision for reaching a fair and just resolution. The plan includes mechanisms for judicial cooperation between the two countries that would lead to the closure of the case and the release of Hannibal Gaddafi. Abdulrahman stressed Libya's full readiness to cooperate with Lebanon in all efforts to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of Imam al-Sadr in 1978. She emphasized the importance of resolving the case in a framework of transparency, mutual respect for sovereignty and the law, in a manner that upholds justice and safeguards the dignity and rights of Libyan citizens. She reiterated her openness to all forms of legal cooperation with the Lebanese authorities. She also pointed out that the initiative is now in the hands of the Lebanese judiciary, and that Libya is still awaiting an official response, noting that the 'unjustified delay is a cause for concern.' The Minister of Justice described the delay as a sign of political exploitation of the Imam al-Sadr case by Lebanese parties unwilling to see the file closed, which negatively affects the course of justice and the basic rights of the detained Libyan citizen. She expressed hope that the case would be addressed 'in the spirit of justice and with full respect for legal and human rights.'
