Page 1 of 6 News Summary Report
Mon / Nov 11, 2018
Domestic Affairs
Weather Improves Gradually in Coming Hours –Meteorologist
Weather will improve gradually as of 3:00 a.m. on Sunday and would last until Tuesday, but rain would start pouring as of Wednesday, a meteorologist forecast on Saturday.
Abdulaziz Al-Qarawi told KUNA Kuwait witnessed today unstable weather condition due to concentration of clouds over southern and western areas.
Heavy rain then started pouring accompanied by over 75 kilometer-per-hour wind speed, with water level between 7-15 mm.
Al-Qarawi called on people to follow weather forecast from its official source – KUNA November, 11, 2018
Roads that have been totally blocked due to water accumulation are as follows:
1- King Abdul Aziz Road, Al-Sabahya Tunnel and Al-Mangaf Road on both sides 2- The 7th ring road with Kabad Bridge on both sides
3- Kabad road after the 4th ring road in the direction of the coop society.
4- The road between Abdullah Port and Om Al-Haiman, coming from Al-Wafra in the direc tion of Abdullah Port. MOI
Interior Ministry receives 20,027 reports during heavy rainfall days
Kuwait's Minister of Interior Undersecretary Lieutenant General Essam Al-Nahham announced on Saturday that the Ministry's operations center received during the past few days, since outbreak of heavy rainfall, up to 20,027 reports including 3,000 ones of serious situations.
He took part in a joint press conference, held by government bodies taking part in the emergency high committee at the Ministry of Interior operations center at His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Building today, on procedures that have been taken to cope with the record heavy rainfall and future plans.
The Ministry prepared operation chambers to work all over the day as well as administrative ones in the southern areas of the county that were severely affected yesterday by the rains.
It is currently preparing new chambers in the norther parts of Kuwait to prepare for the expected rains, Al-Nahham said.
He called on citizens and expatriates to ignore rumors regarding the weather status, and to listen only to the appropriate and true information from the official sources through Kuwait official TV channel.
Page 2 of 6
He praised the distinguished efforts exerted by various ministries and governmental bodies that were in charge of this crisis since the outbreak of the heavy rainfalls.
He affirmed Prime Minister Deputy and Minister of Interior's keenness to be present at the operation center to follow up on latest developments of the situation in Kuwait, and to issue any needed orders to facilitate the traffic flow- KUNA
Electricity Ministry Activates Emergency Plan
Minister of Oil, and Minister of Electricity and Water, Bakheet Al-Rashidi on Saturday announced the activation of the emergency plan to include all sectors.
In a telephone conversation with Kuwait TV, the Minister said the electricity network is fully ready in terms of production and distribution.
He added that the ministry’s emergency room is linked to the state’s main room to follow-up weather developments. The Ministry is able to produce water and electricity with a capacity exceeding needs of consumers, he stressed. The capacity of producing electricity is above 10,000 megawatts, while consumers need not more than 7,000 megawatts, he explained.
The Ministry and its staff are ready for any emergency, and there are continued follow-up processes through the emergency center (152) and the ministry’s Twitter account. He issued warnings when re-operating the electrical current.
Meanwhile, the ministry on its Twitter account urged all people not to approach power lines for their safety.- KUNA
Al-Roumi is in his Position --- Tours Harmed Areas with BouShehri
“ All Roads Are Open, Except Al-Manqaf Tunnel”: Al-Naqi
Ministry of Public Works and Road Authority summoned all their teams to handle the impacts of Friday flooding, especially clogging of some roads, the most significant of which is Al-Mangaf Tuneel, and also to handle the flying gravel problem on express roads.
As an emphasis on his resuming his work in his position after submitting his resignation the previous day, MPW Minister, Hossam Al-Roumi toured along with Minister of State for Housing Affairs and Services Minister, Jenan BouShehri yesterday harmed areas, especially Sabah Al- Ahmad Residential Area.
On his part, CEO of Express Roads Authority, Saud Al-Naqqi said that the heavy rains of the previous day led to clogging parts of the express roads, especially Al-Fahaheel road in front of Al- Regga and Abu Halifa regions, apart from three other locations at the Sixth Ring Road and the Seventh Ring Road in front of Abdullah Al-Mubarak and the Stadium. In addition, there were also harmed areas on King Fahad Road inclulding the entry of Fahad Al-Ahmad and Jaber Al-Ali.
Al-Naqqi added that the efforts of the various bodies contributed to opening all those clogged areas, with the exception of Al-Mangaf Tunnel. He remarked that the Tunnel pumps worked at the time of the heavy rain, however, the amount of rains exceeded their capacity.
Page 3 of 6
He affirmed on collaboration of all government bodies to work as one unified team to handle the crisis since its beginning till now.
As for potholes in Al-Jahraa Road, Al-Naqqi said that the Authority hasn’t received the road yet, and shall not be in a hurry to receive it prior to having a report from a specialized technical committee on it, and that the Authority asked a report from the contractor of the project regarding those potholes.
In his turn, Undersecretary of Monitoring and Undersecretary of Sanitary Sector at MPW, Waleed Al-Ghanim that all networks of the ministry, whether rain networks or sanitary networks worked with all their capacity since the previous day. (Al-Qabas, P.8)
Meeting of the Executive and Legislative Authorities …. Disclosure and Recommendations The Government-Parliament Meeting shall be held today at the National Assembly’s office. The requests of the MPs shall be focused on holding low performing government officials accountable, and on supporting those harmed by the impacts of the rain fall.
“ Surely we are in a natural disaster in the form of heavy rains that we thank God for, and we hope that damages are only in properties but not in people”, said MP Safaa Al-Hashem to Al-Rai.
“We are now talking about what should be rescued, however, recommendations of investigation committees are usually not enforceable. We have frequently grilled and held accountable, however, the condition is the same. Anyways, we hope that HE the Prime Minister held all those low- performers accountable”, she added.
“Those who request resignation of the government claiming the impacts of the heavy rains, are themselves who requested its resignation prior to the rains”, said MP, Ouda Al-Rouei
“Resignation of MPW is due and we have asked him to bear the responsibility, however, it is not sufficient to resign as a sign of bearing responsibility. We are now waiting for the government- parliament meeting to see the government response and parliament arrangements regarding this”, he added – (Al-Rai, P.3)
Page 4 of 6 Economy
Agility Kuwait Achieves KWD 58.9 Million As Net Profits During 9 Months
Agility Kuwait today declared achieving 58.9 million KWD ( Nearly $ 193 million) as net profits during the first nine months of the present year.
The company said in a press release that the percentage of net profits reached 19.7% in comparison to the first nine months of the last year. KUNA
CBK issues new rules for personal loans, financing
The Central Bank of Kuwait yesterday issued new regulations for granting loans and personal financing for consumer and housing purposes and issuance of credit cards. Governor Dr Mohammad Al-Hashil told KUNA that the new instructions come within the framework of the Central Bank’s interest in regularly reviewing its instructions and regulatory controls in light of economic and banking developments. In this regard, the bank, in cooperation with a global consulting company, reviewed the instructions issued on the mechanisms of granting loans and other financing operations. He added that the study took into account changes in macroeconomic performance indicators since the last adjustment to the maximum limits of these loans in 2004, including changes in population growth rates, inflation rates and rising prices of consumer and durable goods – Kuwait Times
Page 5 of 6 External Affairs
Iraqi president begins official visit to Kuwait today as part of Gulf tour
President of Iraq Barham Saleh, accompanied by an official entourage, is due to begin an official visit to Kuwait today for holding official talks with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. This was announced by an Amiri Diwan statement yesterday. Earlier in Baghdad, Iraqi Presidency said in a statement that the president would begin a Gulf tour starting in Kuwait to discuss with leaders of the regional countries how to build “best relations” with Baghdad. The official Iraqi statement said that the president, during his talks with the Kuwaiti leaders, would discuss ways of boosting the bilateral relations, noting that his regional whirlwind will include the UAE. This regional mission is part of Iraq’s efforts to build the best form of ties with the Gulf and Arab states, it said, in addition to setting up bases for good neighborliness, examining “economic and development integration.” – Kuwait Times
Page 6 of 6 Sources
KUNA: http://www.kuna.net.kw/Default.aspx?language=en
Al Rai: http://www.alraimedia.com/
Kuwait Times: http://www.news.kuwaittimes.net/website/
Arab Times: http://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/
MEED: http://www.meed.com/
Al Anbaa: http://www.alanba.com.kw/newspaper
Al-Seyassa: http://al-seyassah.com/
Al-Anbaa: https://www.alanba.com.kw/newspaper/
Al-Jareeda: http://www.aljarida.com/
