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News Summary Report Mon, Sept. 17, 2018
Korea-Kuwait Relations
MOH Was Too Quick to Declare Elimination of MERS (Corona Virus) Risk
Informed health sources confirmed that infection with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which infected a citizen from South Korea, who was diagnosed of it after returning to S. Korea from Kuwait didn’t come to a close despite declarations of undersecretary of the MOH, Dr. Mostafa Reda and assistant undersecretary for public health affairs, Dr. Magda Al- Qattan that contact tracing was negative.
Sources described the press conference that was held at the Ministry last week as premature, and that leaders at the Ministry should have waited till passage of the incubation period, which is 14 days. Korean health authorities as well as the WHO asked to have a detailed preview of protective health procedures, and justifications for declaring elimination of risk prior to passage of the incubation period.
Sources noted that the incubation period for infection with MERS might reach 14 days according to reports of the WHO, and this requires isolating those who were in contact with the infected case for 14 days and taking precautionary measures with them prior to declaring that the state is free from MERS.
Sources advised that leaders of the MOH should avoid causing embarrassment in front of the world community by being too quick to declare elimination of the infection, which was diagnosed in South Korea on a S. Korean citizen, who returned from Kuwait.
Sources confirmed that neither the necessary procedures for determining the reason behind the infection nor the applicable scientific follow-up procedures advised by the WHO were adopted.
Sources anticipated that the coming few days shall witness developments in this case because of the Ministry’s quick declaration in a press conference that there is no risk as this is contradictory to reality as the incubation period is 14 days.
Sources demonstrated that the Korean side asked officials of the MOH “Where and how was the Korean engineer infected? What is its source? and why it wasn’t diagnosed in Kuwait?
Sources expected that the Korean Embassy shall send to Kuwait a specialized medical team or a medical consultant to detect reality and to resume procedures of the file of the Korean engineer, who was infected with MERS (Al-Jareeda)
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Domestic Affairs
“Education is a Noble Mission to Prepare Generations”: Supreme Council for Planning Chief of Journalists’ Society, Fatma Hussein said yesterday that the Prime Minister’s keenness on success of the education forum and its adaptation with the labor market is a reflection of his steadfast belief of the significant role of the civil society in implementing comprehensive development plans.
Hussein confirmed on the necessity of cooperation of those organizations with all government institutions by giving ideas, which shall assist them in setting work plans and work needs from the trained and qualified labor.
She further added that Al-Mubarak’s care for this forum that is organized by Kuwait Journalists Association in cooperation with the Supreme Council for Planning and Development is an indication of His Highness strong belief in the importance of education in building Kuwait and achieving progress and prosperity. This also indicates His Highness trust in the capabilities and efficiencies of the young people of Kuwait and the necessity of investing in these energies to implement the “ New Kuwait Vision 2035”, which needs trained labor that match the labor market requirements.
Hussein clarified that the forum aims to shed the light on the controls and frameworks, which contribute to determining the needs of the labor market from education outputs, and the importance of continuous follow-up of the latest scientific, industrial and administrative updates.
On his turn, the Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development, Dr.
Khaled Mahdi said that the forum confirms that adaptation of education outputs with the community needs enhances the youth’s belief in the importance of education and also consolidates their role in achieving the development plan and the community’s welfare.
He further added that education is a noble mission that leads to improvement of life, and that education could create new generations of young people, who are capable of achieving our nation’s dreams.
He confirmed the importance of involving the community, especially the young people in “ the New Kuwait Mission 2035” through the education forum to achieve the noble Amiri desire, which is concerned with transforming Kuwait into a financial and commercial center that is attractive for investments – (Al-Jareeda)
5 MPs to Investigate Forged Certificates – Deficiencies in Preparedness for the New Academic Year
MPs Mohamed Al-Dallal, Farrag Al-Arbeed, Osama Al-Shaheen, Mubarak Al-Hajraf and Ali Al-Dekbasi submitted a letter to Speaker of the National Assembly, which requests formation of Parliamentary Investigation Committee subject to Article 114 of the Constitution and Article 148 of the Executive Regulations to investigate issues of deficiencies in preparedness for the new academic year and the forged certificates.
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The letter includes determination of issues investigated by the Committee such as deficiencies in preparedness of the MOE for the new academic year 2018, especially in the field of services availability, quality of A/C, sanitary services, maintenance and public services. The letter further includes investigation on the issue of forging academic certificates and their equivalences (Al-Rai)
Visit Visa for Wife and Children 3 Months, Business Visa is 1 Month: Al-Nawaf
Al-Anbaa was informed that Assistant Undersecretary for Citizenship and Passports Affairs, General Sheikh, Faisal Al-Nawaf has issued a generalization with a humanitarian aspect stating that wife’s and children’s visit visa shall be for 3 months rather than 1 month.
The source indicated that the new instructions were issued by the end of the working hours of last Thursday, and was enforceable starting from yesterday (Sunday).
The source further clarified that the decision came after considering the humanitarian condition of the wife and children and that their existence with their family in a long visit shall have a humanitarian aspect and a positive effect on the local market.
The source also indicated that any expat, who issued a family visit for one month could apply for a new visa for 3 months. The source also confirmed that the remaining visas are still for one month. In other words, business visas as well as other family visas that are not for wife or children (for example for brother, sister, father or mother) are issued only for one month (Al- Anbaa)
Dedicating 150 Thousand Square Meters for Small and Medium Projects: “Business Environment”
MP Yousef Al-Fadalah, Supervisor of Parliament Business Environment Committee declared that the Public Institution for Housing Care intends to dedicate nearly 150 thousand square meters for the initiatives of the National Fund for Developing Small and Medium-sized projects.
“We held the meeting in the attendance of Minister of Commerce, Khaled Al-Roudhan, Minister of Social Affairs, Hind Al-Sabeeh, and GM of the Public Institution for Housing Care, Bader Al-Waqyan. We all discussed several issues, the most significant of which is submitting industrial plots for initiators at the National Fund for Development of Small and Medium-Sized projects”, said Al-Fadhala in a press statement upon the meeting of the Committee yesterday.
“The schedule of the meeting included two major issues, the first of which was the industrial plots that could be dedicated by the government to Small Projects Fund by the Public Authority for Industry and the Public Institution for Housing Care”, he added, noting that a meeting is scheduled after three weeks to make a detailed exhibition of the plots’ areas that shall be dedicated to the Fund. He further declared that there is nearly 150 thousand square meters that shall be submitted to the National Fund for Small Projects.
He confirmed that the Public Institution for Housing Care shall develop the plots and dedicate 100 square meters from them to be workshops areas and 50 thousand square meters to be warehousing areas – (Al-Rai)
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No Delays over New Hospital in Kuwait – Health Minister
The construction of a new sprawling medical facility in Kuwait is running on schedule, Kuwait’s Health Minister, Dr. Basel Al-Sabah said on Sunday, allaying concerns over alleged delays impending the project.
The minister’s remarks came as he toured the Jaber Al-Ahmad hospital, where he was joined by a number of senior officials. As they closely inspected the hospital, the officials said they were “highly impressed” with the medical facility and how much progress has been made in construction.
Amid his tour, in response to a question by the press, the Kuwaiti Health Minister said it was
“plainly obvious” that the project would be completed in a timely and efficient manner – KUNA
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Economy
OPEC Crude’s Average Price Retreated 1.4 pct last Aug. - - KAMCO
KAMCO announced on Sunday that average monthly oil prices of OPEC crude retreated by 1.4% in August to reach $ 72.3 pb, while Kuwait’s crude plunged by 0.7% to reach $ 71.8 pb.
KAMCO said in a report that oil prices rose on impending supply crunch and dwindling confidence in spare capacity. Brent crude futures reached five-month high to breach the $ 80/b level for the first time since May-18 backed by a number of factors that included a higher than expected drop in crude inventories in the US, onslaught of Hurricane Florence and tropical storm Gordon in the US during the first half of Sept. 18, the looming US sanctions on Iran and production disruptions in some key oil producing nations.
On the other hand, the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China continues to rattle emerging markets across the globe, including oil prices. Talks of import duty on additional Chinese goods and its reciprocal reaction has put downward pressure on oil prices along with a broader weakness in the other emerging market benchmarks.
Supply side concerns also included the level of spare capacity with global oil producers in the face of Iran sanctions coupled with production disruptions everywhere.
According to recent data, OPEC production has increased at a lower-than-expected pace recently, while producers like Venezuela and Libya continue to face production issues.
According to the latest monthly report from the IEA, production in Venezuela could fall to 1 mb/d by the end of the year. Markets would now be looking at the indications from the upcoming Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee between OPEC producers and their allies later this month that would set the course for future production agreement between OPEC members.
Oil traders also kept a close eye on Hurricane Florence that made a landfall on the US East Coast during the second week of Sept. 18. Unlike the tropical storm Gordon that hit the US Gulf Coast during the first week of September 18 temporarily affecting oil production in the Gulf Mexico, Hurricane Florence was not expected to affect oil production or supplies.
However, the hurricane, even with its strength lowered from category 4 to category 2, is expected to result in a temporary increase in fuel purchases and its impact is only expected to be limited to gas pipelines in the affected region.
According to the most recently US inventory data from API, US crude inventories declined by 8.64 million barrels during the week ended 7- Sep 18 to reach 395.9 million barrels – KUNA 11 International Corporations Are Qualified to Implement $ 2 Billion Projects
An official oil source informed Al-Anbaa Newspaper that Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) re- qualified international specialized contractors with the past days to implement and develop a number of the future projects of the company for contractors, who are recorded in civil and construction categories in a long-waited step to qualify new companies.
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As per the approved lists of projects whose value is between $ 1 and $ 2 billion, 11 international corporations have been qualified including Dailem from South Korea, Floor (UK), Hyundai for Heavy Industries (S. Korea), GGC (Japan), Petrofac (UK), Samsung and SK (S. Korea), Técnicas Reunidas (Spain), KBR (UK), Technip (Italy), Daewoo for Engineering and Construction (S. Korea), Larsen and Toubro (India), and Saipem (Italy) – Al-Anbaa
Kuwait Unveils Plan to Build “Competitive Market” - - Watchdog
Kuwait’s competition protection authority has introduced a carefully mapped out plan in an effort to increase competitiveness in the local market.
The strategy aims to meet precise objectives, including building an effective and highly competitive market, the competition watchdog’s head, Dr. Rashid Al-Ajmi said in a statement on Sunday.
The national economy is the ultimate beneficiary if an intensely competitive market is built”, Al-Ajmi said, pointing out that the watchdog has the capabilities needed to root out any practices seen as injurious to the local market.
The plan will be carried out over three different phases in the next few years, focusing on training programs for employee across the government sector, in addition to broad reforms that support a more robust economy.
Meanwhile, the competition watchdog has also embraced a new slogan in line with the substantial changes to Kuwait’s economic policies – KUNA
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External Affairs
His Highness the Amir Receives Phone Call from Lebanese President
His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received on Sunday a phone call from the Lebanese President, Michel Aoun, who expressed rejection to all recent allegations and remarks by a certain Lebanese media outlet against Kuwait and its Amir.
During the phone call, President Aoun also expressed appreciation and respect to the people and government of Kuwait and to His Highness the Amir for his stance towards Lebanon in the past.
The Lebanese President praised the brotherly and historical ties that bring together the two countries, wishing him good health and continuous progress and development of the State of Kuwait under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir.
In turn, His Highness the Amir expressed his sincere appreciation to the President for these noble feelings that reflect the strong relations between the two countries and wished him a long healthy life and further development to his country- KUNA
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World News S. Korea launches submarine
South Korea launched its first ever missile capable attack submarine on Friday, despite a recent diplomatic thaw with the nuclear-armed North. The $700 million, 3,000-tonne Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine is capable of firing both cruise and ballistic missiles and the first of three planned diesel-electric boats to go into service in the next five years. It represented a “leap forward in the country’s” defence industry, President Moon Jae-in told a launch ceremony at the Daewoo shipyard where it was designed and built. “Peace through power is the unwavering security strategy of this government.” Moon will head to Pyongyang next week for a third summit with the North’s leader Kim Jong Un, as US-led efforts to persuade Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons have stalled. “We have set off on a grand journey toward the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula,” Moon said. (AFP)
