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News Summary Report Wed /July 17 , 2019
EXTERNAL RELATIONS
HRW: Return of dissidents unlawful
Kuwait’s deportation of eight Egyptian dissidents linked to the Muslim Brotherhood is unlawful and put them at “grave risk” of torture and prosecution, Human Rights Watch said yesterday. “The deportation of the men appears to violate Kuwait’s obligations under international law,” HRW said in a statement.
The New York-based rights group called on Kuwait to end further deportations to Egypt of anyone at risk of mistreatment.
AFP
Electricity network stable due to surplus production: Bushairi
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity and Water Engineer Mohammed Bushairi said the electricity network is stable due to a surplus in the production of electricity, indicating a surplus capacity of up to 18 thousand megawatts, while the load index on June 27 last, was the highest consumption reading 14,420 MW, reports Al-Rai daily.
During his participation in the “Ten to Ten” program on Al Rai Channel Bushairi pointed to some consumers’ response to cut down on consumption of electricity and water as much as possible and praised the cooperation of the cooperative societies with the ministry in this area, and the Ministry of Education, which has turned off the air conditioners in all schools.
He explained the minor interruptions caused by a fault at one of the secondary power stations or due to one of the faulty cables is very likely, and is handled quickly by the emergency teams He added: “The simple interruptions takes between one to two hours to handle from the arrival of emergency teams to the
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site, and if there are delays in for any reason, power generators are brought to supply power to the affected homes until the repair is carried out.
Arab Times
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ECONOMY
Kuwait Reserve Up to KD 11.9 Billion
The Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) announced that foreign reserve of the state of Kuwait is up to KD 190 million during the month of May, 1.61% up on annual basis.
Formal reserve assets for Kuwait last May amounted to KD 11.951, equivalent to
$ 39.370 billion opposite KD 11.762 billion ($ 38.748 billion) in the corresponding month of the previous year.
Kuwait reserve rose on monthly basis last May by 0.42%, whereas it was KD 11.901 billion in April.
Currently and deposits rose 1.42% to KD 11.216 billion opposite KD 11.059 billion in May 2018 and this contributed to the annual growth of Kuwait reserve.
The book value of gold reserve remained stable at KD 31.7 million, however, special drawing rights dropped by 2.88% to KD 563.2 million.
Statements indicated that the above numbers don’t include the external assets at the Public Authority for Investment, however, the gold value represents reserve assets possessed and maintained by CBK.
These assets are made up of cash gold, Kuwaiti reserves with the International Monetary Fund, special drawing rights, the currency and deposits -- excluding external assets of the Public Investment Authority.
Al-Seyassa
Al-Mubarak Presided the Meeting of the Supreme Petroleum Council Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s Prime Minister presided the 122 meeting for the Supreme Petroleum Council at Bayan Palace Yesterday.
The meeting approved the closing accounts of KPC and its subsidiaries that ended in March 31 with net profits KD 880 million, sources said to Al-Rai newspaper.
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Variation in 2018/2019 and last year’s profits , which reach KD 1.9 billion is due to exceptional profits of approximately KD 720 million that are generated because of restructuring the minister of finance’s portfolio estimated to be KD 5.5 billion to KD 6 billion, which is invested for the interest of KPC, sources said.
The meeting further discussed last year’s decision of depriving KPC from collecting finance interests related to financing production and exploration projects, which are estimated to be nearly KD 320 million, which will reemerge at the budget of the next year 2019/2020.
The Council also elaborated on several technical issues, the most significant of which are the results of the study requested by the Supreme Petroleum Council, which are related to “structuring KPC” to improve the financial performance of nearly KD 1 billion on annual basis.
The study decides transferring subordination of Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC) and Petrochemical Industries Company to KPC.
Moreover, the study decides to transfer subordination of Kuwait Gulf Oil Company K.S.C.C (KGOC) to KOC; and to transfer subordination of Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) to Kuwait Petroleum International Company.
In addition, the study decides to transfer subordination of Kuwait Oil Tankers Company (KOTC) to International Marketing at KPC.
Moreover, the Council discussed a number of oil projects, including petrochemicals at the company subordinated to KIPIC and Al-Dabdaba project for solar energy.
Al-Rai
Kuwait oil price down to USD 66.17 pb - KPC
The price of Kuwaiti oil went down 63 cents to USD 66.17 per barrel (pb) on Tuesday after being at USD 66.80 pb Monday, said Kuwait Petroleum
Corporation (KPC) Wednesday.
On a global level, oil prices went down on Tuesday after US President statement on progress with Iran, signaling tensions that could ebb in the Middle East.
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Meanwhile, the Brent Blend crude went down USD 2.13 to USD 64.35 pb, the same case with the West Texas Intermediate, which went down USD 1.96 to USD 57.62 pb.
KUNA
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DOMESTIC AFFAIRS
Young People Have the Biggest Share in Leadership: First Deputy Prime Minister
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al- Ahmad received at Bayan Palace yesterday a number of male and female students studying at Colorado University in the USA.
Sheikh Nasser urged students to exert more effort to achieve their desired objectives. He further urged them to achieve academic excellence and to invest opportunities given to them by joining such long-standing universities and benefit from their experiences to help build the future of their nation based on Kuwait vision 2035.
Moreover, Sheikh Nasser underlined that Kuwait’s wealth lies in the minds and efforts of its people who bear the responsibility of building a nation where all have equal opportunities to education and care.
He further remarked that young people shall have the biggest share in development, leadership and investment of all potential given to them.
Al-Seyassa
Kuwait Achieved Most Objectives of the Millennium
Ms. Mariam Al-Aqeel, State Minister for Economic Affairs said that Kuwait has achieved most development objectives with the advent of the third millennium prior to approving the objectives of sustainable development.
Further, she said that Kuwait achieved many significant successes in its pursuits to totally eliminate poverty and starvation, and provision of good education for all without exception, health care and others.
This came in a statement for Al-Aqeel on the occasion of Kuwait’s participation with an official delegation at the events of the high-level political forum that is held in the USA today (Wednesday) under the tagline “Empowerment of People and Ensuring Engagement and Equality”.
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Kuwait developed a comprehensive system that achieved significant drop in mortality among infants, children and mothers. Furthermore, Kuwait developed greatly the field of providing potable water and sanitary drainage, said Al-Aqeel.
Further, Kuwait achieved significant strides in the economic, social and human development while focusing its attention on environment and commitment to world partnership and world integration, she added.
Also, Al-Aqeel pointed out that Kuwait’s delegation participating in this forum will elaborate on the first voluntary national report for Kuwait regarding implementation of the objectives of sustainable development 2030, which sheds the light on achievements made and presents Kuwait as a successful experience that serves the world community in achieving objectives of sustainable development.
Meanwhile, Dr. Khaled Mahdi, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development, who presides Kuwait’s delegation participating at the forum said that Kuwait adopted the objectives of sustainable development in September 2015 and took a decisive decision of including objectives in the second development plan of Kuwait Vision 2035.
Objectives of sustainable development have been announced in 2015. Moreover, various government entities, civil society organizations and the private sector have been engaged
Al-Seyassa
Rank of a Minister Appointment is Not Subject to the Rules of Appointment of Leadership Positions: The Civil Service Commission (CSC)
The Civil Service Commission said that rank of a minister appointment is done in accordance with the Constitutional Powers bestowed to His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait directly, and therefore, it is not subject to the rules of appointing leadership positions.
This came in response to a request from the Parliamentary Financial Committee from the CSC to give a decision in the proposal submitted by MP Abdullah Al- Roumi regarding banning minister rank appointment at government bodies.
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Article 56 of Kuwait Constitution decides that HH the Amir appoints ministers and relieves them of duty subject to nomination of the Premier, said the CSC.
Based on the above-mentioned Constitutional text, HH the Amir decides with Amiri resolutions to treat some state employees as ministers in some aspects.
Since HH the Amir has the power to appoint ministers or relieve them of duty, then HH is entitled to decide treatment of some state personnel as ministers in certain limits, it added.
When a person is appointed with the rank of a minister, then he shall be considered as one of the politicians of the state of Kuwait.
Al-Anbaa
Procedures to Face “Radiation”
Captain Yousef Al-Forus from the Public Directorate of Civil Defense at the Ministry of Interior said yesterday that Kuwait continues to apply safe procedures to face any threats or emergencies related to radiation or nuclear accidents.
This came on the sidelines of a workshop titled “Preparations for radiation and nuclear emergencies”.
“Kuwait is one of the advanced countries in facing radiation”, he said.
Moreover, Al-Forus underlined the importance of participating in such workshops to benefit from the international experiences in dealing with radiation accidents and optimize the potential of the members of radiation emergency and nuclear security committee, which is composed of various ministries, organizations and government authorities to benefit from any accidents through proper and scientific-based handling approaches.
Further, he underscored keenness of the Public Directorate for Civil Defense on developing work and maximizing knowledge of this kind of accidents.
Al-Qabas
Foreign Labor Recruitment Subjected to PAM Laws – Official
Director General of the Public Authority of Manpower (PAM) Ahmad Al-Mousa affirmed Tuesday that foreign labor recruitment is subjected to PAM's conditions on labor law and resolutions.
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The authority issues work licenses and permits based on labor employers' applications and in accordance with state labor regulations, Al-Mousa said in a press statement.
Kuwait's labor laws, in addition to the authority's establishment order, give the state labor body the authority to recruit foreign workers based of labor employers' applications, he added.
On recent media reports regarding recruitment of thousands of foreigners, all from a specific nationality, to work in Kuwait, Al-Mousa indicated that such information lacks accuracy, adding this number contradicts with PAM's official statistics anyway.
The authority deals with submitted labor applications in accordance with regulations and conditions issued in that regard, he noted, adding it also responds to state bodies' foreign workers recruitment applications to implement governmental projects.
Al-Mousa also said PAM commits to employers' applications in accordance with the labor vacancy regulation, which imposed objective conditions irrelative with nationalities or number of workers.
According to Cabinet's resolutions, the authority acts through coordinating with all labor bodies in the country to find appropriate solutions for Kuwait's demographics, the senior official said, adding such a cooperation resulted recently in "positive" results.
Meanwhile, Al-Mousa mentioned the Minister of State for Economic Affairs has lately ordered to restructure the Supreme Committee for Studying and Dealing with Demographic Imbalance by resolution (2) of 2019, adding restoring demographics balance requires a public awareness, whether by labor employers or state bodies.
PAM is currently working on applying technical systems related to its Projects Department in order to determine the number of labor required to achieve state projects in conjunction with all their phases, and to avoid drawing risky estimations irrelevant with work reality, he said.
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The authority spares no effort in communicating with all labor bodies in Kuwait to provide data, Al-Mousa affirmed, reiterating keenness to communicate via its social media accounts as well.
KUNA
WORLD AFFAIRS
Netherlands mulls US request to join shipping security in Hormuz
The Dutch cabinet is considering a request from the US to help protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and in the Gulf of Oman, Dutch media reported Tuesday.
The US first asked its NATO partners to join the international alliance last month and made a formal request on July 9, Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok and defense minister Ank Bijleveld said in a briefing with MPs.
Tensions have been rising in the Gulf after a number of attacks on oil tankers.
The US has also asked the Netherlands to take part in a mission north of Syria but the media reports said it may be easier for the Dutch to decline this request if they agree to the naval role.
Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte is visiting US president Donald Trump later this month when both requests are likely to come up for discussion, DutchNews NL website reported.
KUNA
UAE Disowns Lost Oil Tanker in Hormuz Strait
The UAE denied media reports on owning an oil tanker that went recently missing in the Strait of Hormuz, official media reported Tuesday.
The oil tanker "MT RIAH" is not owned by the UAE, an Emirati official affirmed in a statement, according to Emirates News Agency.
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The tanker in question is neither owned nor operated by the Abu Dhabi, he reiterated, adding "It does not carry Emirati personnel and did not emit a distress call." The Emirati official also mentioned that his country is currently
"monitoring the situation with our international partners." The Panamanian- flagged tanker disappeared while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a strait between the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
KUNA
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/
