On this day in history, Kuwait has witnessed a series of pivotal moments shaping its national trajectory. In 1952, Sultan Ibrahim Al-Klaib, a prominent figure who served on both the Al-Maaref council and municipal council, passed away at the age of 63. A decade later, during the early phase of Iraq’s invasion in 1990, the Iraqi regime deployed civilians from allied nations as human shields at strategic sites across Kuwait and Iraq. That same day, the United Nations Security Council unanimously called for Iraq to permit foreign nationals to leave safely and refrain from endangering their lives. In 1992, Kuwait and France formalized a defense cooperation agreement in Paris, reinforcing mutual security commitments. The year 1999 saw the founding of the Kuwait Health Insurance Company with a capital of KD five million, majority-owned by the Public Institution for Social Security. In 2000, Marzoug Al-Marzoug, a key figure in Kuwaiti television and co-founder of its pioneering troupe, died at 54. A major energy discovery followed in 2004 when Kuwait Oil Company identified a Jurassic oil reservoir in Bahra Field, holding light crude with a 44-degree API gravity, capable of producing 4,860 barrels daily alongside 670.12 million cubic feet of associated gas. In 2007, the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research recorded a 4.3-magnitude seismic event in southern Kuwait’s Al-Manageesh area. A decade later, in 2016, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and the Arab Petroleum Pipelines Company (SUMED) signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly assess potential oil ventures. In 2020, life in Kuwait began returning to normal as pandemic restrictions were gradually lifted, while the National Assembly debated a no-confidence motion against Deputy Prime Minister Anas Al-Saleh—initiated by MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri and supported by ten lawmakers—though the minister retained his position. In 2021, sports journalist Hussein Al-Bloushi launched the country’s first dedicated sports museum, housing thousands of memorabilia from football icons. Most recently, in 2024, Dr. Fawaz Al-Zaid, a leading researcher and head of the Department of Bioenergy and Neurosciences at Dasman Diabetes Institute, became the first Kuwaiti elected to the European Association for the Study of Diabetes’ global council—an honor reflecting his international scientific impact.
— news from Kuwait News Agency
— News Original —
Today in Kuwait’s history
KUWAIT, Aug 18 (KUNA) n– n1952 — Sultan Ibrahim Al-Klaib passed away at the age of 63. He held several posts during his lifetime, serving as a member of “Al-Maaref” council and the municipal council. n1990 — The Iraqi regime decided to gather communities of the international allied states at vital installations on Iraqi and Kuwaiti territories, using them as human shields during early stages of its aggression on Kuwait. n1990 — The United Nations Security Council unanimously demanded that Iraq allow foreigners it was holding to depart Kuwait and Iraq and abstain from compromising their safety. n1992 — Kuwait and France inked in a treaty in Paris to regulate cooperation in case Kuwait faced an external aggression. n1999 — The Kuwait Health Insurance Company was established at a capital of KD five million with the Public Institute for Social Security (PIFSS) owning 99.9 percent of shares. n2000 — The Kuwaiti artist Marzoug Al-Marzoug, co-founder of the Kuwait television troupe, died at the age of 54. n2004 — Kuwait Oil Company discovered a Jurassic oil trap in Bahra Field. It contained light crude of 44 degrees intensity. The trap ‘s daily output was estimated at 4,860 barrels per day, along with associated gas estimated at 670.12 million cubic feet per day. n2007 — Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) reported a 4.3-magnitude quake on the Richter scale in Al-Manageesh in southern Kuwait. n2016 — Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and the Arab Petroleum Pipelines Company (SUMED) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on studying oil projects. n2020 — Life gradually returned to normalcy in Kuwait as authorities continued to ease COVID-19 countermeasures n2020 — The National Assembly discussed a motion of interpellation directed towards Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh. The motion, submitted by MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri, saw 10 MPs calling for a vote of no confidence against the minister, who survived the interpellation. n2021 — Sports media journalist Hussein Al-Bloushi established the first sports museum, collecting thousands of items and possessions of football stars. n2024 — The Dasman Diabetes Institute (DDI) announced that Dr. Fawaz Al-Zaid — researcher and head of the Department of Bioenergy and Neurosciences at the Institute — has been selected as a member of the prestigious global council of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). Dr. Al-Zaid is the first Kuwaiti to earn this membership. (end) gta