For 63 years, Kuwait Times has chronicled events both monumental and mundane. Each past issue, whether preserved in leather-bound, yellowing newsprint or stored digitally in the cloud, carries its unique story. Issue no. 12345, published on July 16, 2003, is no exception. This quirky milestone fell on a balmy midsummer Wednesday, featuring a historic moment on its front page.

The headline story highlighted the formation of a new Cabinet, marking the first time in Kuwait’s political history that the roles of prime minister and crown prince were separated. This was no ordinary government formation; it included two future Amirs — HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who was sworn in as premier, and HH Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, then the interior minister. It also featured three future prime ministers: HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah (then defense minister), HH Sheikh Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah (then foreign minister) and HH Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah (then communications minister).

Shakir Reshamwala

Regionally, the Middle East remained volatile, with Iraq dominating the headlines in the aftermath of the Second Gulf War and the ouster of Saddam Hussein, just under two years after the 9/11 attacks. Meanwhile, the Zionist-Palestinian conflict persisted, although infighting among Palestinian leaders seemed to momentarily subside in this issue.

Several familiar faces from today’s political landscape also appeared in issue no. 12345. Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (now president) and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva were featured, having outlasted their then-contemporaries like George W Bush, Tony Blair, Silvio Berlusconi and Kofi Annan. Even Mikhail Gorbachev made an appearance, promoting his book in Germany — a stark contrast to his former status as the powerful leader of the Soviet Union.

The technology section took readers back to 2003 when Nokia phones were all the rage. The latest model was the Nokia 3100, though signs of change were already on the horizon as the company experienced a dip in profits. In entertainment, Arnold Schwarzenegger attended the premiere of “Terminator 3” and Sean “Diddy” Combs, now embroiled in controversy and imprisoned, had just launched a new album. On the sports front, Tiger Woods remained the world’s No. 1 golfer, seemingly oblivious to the personal challenges that would later emerge.

Issue no. 12345 of Kuwait Times is a fascinating snapshot of a world both familiar and distant, reflecting pivotal moments in Kuwait’s history and beyond.