Embassy of the State of Kuwait / ArchitectkiddSave this picture!© Luke YeungEmbassy, Interior Design•Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Architects: Architectkidd Area Area of this architecture project Area:  3000 m² Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2024 Photographs Photographs:Luke Yeung Lead Architects: Udomsak Komonvilas, Jariyawadee Lekawatana, Luke Yeung More SpecsLess Specs Save this picture! Text description provided by the architects. The Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Brunei is located in Bandar Seri Begawan. Architectkidd was selected to design the interior spaces by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait along with architecture studio Arkitek RekaJaya. Architectkidd looked beyond direct symbolism and cultural representations and instead focused on how the design could incorporate virtues in more abstract and functional ways. Cooperation, openness, and engaging public spaces were considered, and these values were expressed in materials, light, and form - qualities that the building environment can communicate as a public institution and civic cultural space.Save this picture!The Foyer is the first experience upon entering the Kuwait Embassy. It features an atrium space with a skylight at its highest point. Vertical wooden louvers were installed from the ceiling to the floor and are gently tilted along a sloping curvature to filter daylight from above. Natural light integration is enhanced by the curving geometry, helping to reduce energy dependence while also imbuing the space with a sense of calm.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The Reception Hall is at the heart of the building, and with this new space, the Kuwait Embassy is able to curate public events. The ceiling design in the reception hall is a crafted pattern of undulating forms that create a dynamic interplay of depth and texture. Each panel was carved from polymer in shapes that, when combined, form an acoustic-friendly, three-dimensional surface. The sculptural quality adds a sense of movement while the repetition of the modules ensures a unified formal language. Lighting is embedded within the recessed patterns and provides an ambient glow, enriching the spatial experience.Save this picture!In other public spaces of the Embassy, the fluid design approach led to the idea of subtle wayfinding. The gallery and hallways have long and rippled wood walls to guide the users' direction towards the atrium and main staircase. These wavy walls offer a fluid and organic form that contrasts with the geometry of the rectilinear spaces.Save this picture!Materials and finishes were designed to ensure longevity and practical performance, and also to enhance visual and tactile qualities. The use of textured surfaces, such as the patterning of wall panels and marble stone flooring, contributes to a multi-layered interaction with the space. The integration of natural materials such as wood and marble, along with the soft diffusion of light, creates a welcoming environment that balances necessary security measures with warmth and hospitality.Save this picture!The expansive approach continues with interior sightlines between the spaces, creating a sense of visual continuity. With unobstructed views of surrounding areas, embassy staff work mostly in natural light during the daytime hours, with artificial light reduced to a minimum.Save this picture!By softening the boundaries between formality and warmth, security and openness, the Embassy of the State of Kuwait reimagines the way a diplomatic institution can function as a cultural bridge. As embassies increasingly take on roles beyond their traditional functions, this project aims to express how design can contribute to a more engaged approach towards fostering connections among nations.Save this picture! Project gallerySee allShow less Project locationAddress:Bandar Seri Begawan, BruneiLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeArchitectkiddOffice••• Published on May 19, 2025Cite: "Embassy of the State of Kuwait / Architectkidd" 18 May 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1030144/embassy-of-the-state-of-kuwait-architectkidd&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!想浏览ArchDaily中国吗?是否 You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Grokking terrorists Report: Terrorist groups seem to be paying X to raise funds, collect tips Did Musk rip Treasury Department over terrorist payments while X paid terrorists? Ashley Belanger – May 15, 2025 12:20 pm | 7 Yemen's Houthi supporters wearing masks depicting the faces of Trump and Netanyahu, chained and standing for trial, participate in a demonstration staged against Israel and the US president Donald Trump on May 9, 2025 in Sana'a, Yemen. Credit: Mohammed Hamoud / Contributor | Getty Images News Yemen's Houthi supporters wearing masks depicting the faces of Trump and Netanyahu, chained and standing for trial, participate in a demonstration staged against Israel and the US president Donald Trump on May 9, 2025 in Sana'a, Yemen. Credit: Mohammed Hamoud / Contributor | Getty Images News Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more Back in February, Elon Musk skewered the Treasury Department for lacking "basic controls" to stop payments to terrorist organizations, boasting at the Oval Office that "any company" has those controls. Fast-forward three months, and now Musk's social media platform X is suspected of taking payments from sanctioned terrorists and providing premium features that make it easier to raise funds and spread propaganda—including through X's chatbot Grok. Groups seemingly benefiting from X include Houthi rebels, Hezbollah, and Hamas, as well as groups from Syria, Kuwait, and Iran. Some accounts have amassed hundreds of thousands of followers, paying to boost their reach while X seemingly looks the other way. In a report released Thursday, the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) flagged popular accounts seemingly linked to US-sanctioned terrorists. Some of the accounts bear "ID verified" badges, suggesting that X may be knowingly going against its own policies that ban sanctioned terrorists from benefiting from its platform. Even more troublingly, "several made use of revenue-generating features offered by X, including a button for tips," the TTP reported. On X, Premium subscribers pay $8 monthly or $84 annually, and Premium+ subscribers pay $40 monthly or $395 annually. Verified organizations pay X between $200 and $1,000 monthly, or up to $10,000 annually for access to Premium+. These subscriptions come with perks, allowing suspected terrorist accounts to share longer text and video posts, offer subscribers paid content, create communities, accept gifts, and amplify their propaganda. Disturbingly, the TTP found that X's chatbot Grok also appears to be helping to whitewash accounts linked to sanctioned terrorists. In its report, the TTP noted that an account with the handle "hasmokaled"—which apparently belongs to "a key Hezbollah money exchanger," Hassan Moukalled—at one point had a blue checkmark with 60,000 followers. While the Treasury Department has sanctioned Moukalled for propping up efforts "to continue to exploit and exacerbate Lebanon’s economic crisis," clicking the Grok AI profile summary button seems to rely on Moukalled's own posts and his followers' impressions of his posts and therefore generated praise. Ars was able to replicate the summary, which described Moukalled as "a fierce Lebanese economist and journalist" who "champions resistance against Israeli aggression, exposing economic fallout and rallying for Palestine and Lebanon's sovereignty from Moscow's airwaves." It further praised Moukalled as someone the X community relies on for "economic insights," who "passionately champions resistance, critiques foreign influence in Lebanon, and honors martyrs with fiery posts." Paul told Ars that the TTP found several accounts for which Grok provided a positive and sometimes poetic spin while describing sanctioned terrorists. An Ars review of Grok summaries of other flagged profiles confirmed the pattern, suggesting that X does not reference data outside of X when summarizing profiles of known terrorists and possibly not even critical data on its own platform. According to the TTP, "X appears to be violating sanctions that bar US companies from transacting or dealing with sanctioned individuals and entities" by granting these accounts paid blue checkmarks. No response from X yet It's unclear what actions X might take to investigate the accounts. The TTP's director Katie Paul told Ars that X has acknowledged the report but so far has not commented on it. Earlier this year, when the TTP flagged other suspected terrorist accounts, X responded within hours, claiming to have "a robust and secure approach" to block sanctioned terrorists from accessing monetization features. At that time, X claimed that some suspected terrorists who were flagged were not directly named on any sanction lists, while "others may have visible account check marks without receiving any services that would be subject to sanctions." But the TTP suggested that even providing services "for the benefit of any blocked person" could be considered a US national security risk and a sanctions violation—even perhaps "where aides or colleagues are running a premium account in the name of a sanctioned person." The TTP noted that X suspended some accounts following its earlier report, but the clean-up effort seemed "short-lived." Some accounts quickly popped back up under new names or simply resubscribed to X Premium when the option became available. X did not immediately respond to Ars' request to comment. But an X user asked Grok about the TTP's report, generating this response: Reports suggest X has allowed accounts linked to sanctioned terrorists, like Hezbollah leaders, to purchase blue checkmarks, potentially violating US sanctions. The Tech Transparency Project noted this in 2024 and May 2025, indicating ongoing issues. X claims compliance with laws and has removed some checkmarks, but doubts remain about their vetting process. Evidence leans toward violations, though X disputes some claims, saying not all accounts are directly sanctioned. The issue is unresolved, raising concerns about platform safety. Paul told Ars that the TTP will continue monitoring suspected terrorist activity violating US sanctions on X. She said that Musk potentially "actively profiting from Houthi accounts and helping them fundraise" is notable from a national security standpoint in particular, since the Houthis recently sent a warning during Donald Trump's Middle East visit threatening to escalate tensions following a ceasefire where Houthis agreed to suspend attacks on American vessels. Ashley Belanger Senior Policy Reporter Ashley Belanger Senior Policy Reporter Ashley is a senior policy reporter for Ars Technica, dedicated to tracking social impacts of emerging policies and new technologies. She is a Chicago-based journalist with 20 years of experience. 7 Comments

In 2022, archeologists unearthed what appeared to be the oldest intact reed boat. It was found buried in a sediment-filled former channel of the Euphrates River, near the ancient city of Uruk, in the Mesopotamian floodplain of what is now Iraq.“The findings provide valuable insights into the utilization of Uruk's waterways, the evolution of its floodplain, and the broader processes that shaped early urbanization in Mesopotamia,” according to the conference paper.Analyzing the Ancient BoatAlthough the researchers had a rough estimate of the era the boat probably hailed from, they had difficulty giving it a more exact date, because its materials were contaminated by bitumen.So, a group of scientists from the German Archaeological Institute turned to different technique, they explained when they announced the boat’s age at a European Geosciences Union meeting. They tapped into multiple materials surrounding it, rather than dating the reeds themselves.“The excavation revealed that the boat was embedded in sand layers, surrounded by fine-grained floodplain sediments that are rich in artifacts and faunal remains,” according to the paper.Understanding the Boat's AgeThat collection of clues meant they could use multiple methods to home in on the boat’s age. On the sediment, they applied a technique to determine when it was last exposed to sunlight. On the bone fragments, they turned to the radiocarbon dating that they had originally intended to perform on the boat itself. And on the ceramic fragments, they used several pieces of archeological evidence to see where they fit on the timeline.Taken together, these pieces of evidence put the boat’s age at about 3,600 hundred years — give or take a few hundred years in either direction. Knowing the boat’s age allows archeologists to put it into context with other discoveries from that era.Mesopotamia SocietyRemnants of comparable craft have been found in Kuwait and Egypt. But unlike them, this Mesopotamian boat remains relatively intact. Archeologists are considering restoring it, but few, if any people, have expertise.Although Mesopotamia, often called the “Cradle of Civilization” is well studied — from the frequency its citizens kissed to the way they recorded business transactions — many mysteries remain — including why its society faded away.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:EGU General Assembly 2025. Timing of the First Mesopotamian Boat Unearthed in a Euphrates Paleochannel near Uruk (Iraq)Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues. He began his career in newspapers, but switched to scientific magazines. His work has appeared in publications including Science News, Science, Nature, and Scientific American.