News Summary Report Wednesday, March 3, 2021
External Affairs
Foreign Minister receives calls from Omani and Indian counterparts The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al- Sabah, Tuesday, discussed over a phone call with the Omani Foreign Minister, Bader bin Hamad Al-Busaidi, the bilateral ties between the two countries, in addition to the recent global and regional developments. Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah on Tuesday received a phone call from his Indian counterpart Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, dealing with the historic and close relations between the two countries and means of elevating these ties. The two sides also discussed various regional and international issues. KUNA/Al-Rai
Iraq to complete war compensations to Kuwait within a year
Iraq has so far paid US$ 49.5 billion in war compensations to Kuwait, an Iraqi official said on Tuesday. “Iraq’s dues now amount to only US$ 2.5 billion,”
Mazhar Salih, an adviser to the prime minister, told Iraq’s Al-Sabaah newspaper.
In 1991, the UN obliged Baghdad to pay US$ 52.4 billion in compensation to individuals, companies, governmental organizations, and others who incurred losses resulting from the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Salih said the Iraqi government is deducting 3% of oil revenues to pay the remaining compensation to Kuwait following the 1991 Iraqi invasion of its Gulf neighbor. “The remaining war reparations are expected to be paid within a year or so,” he said. Al-Jarida
Domestic Affairs
New Cabinet takes oath before Amir today
HH the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah called on the executive and legislative authorities in his country to cooperate as a new government took oath before him, according to state-run news agency KUNA. Sheikh Nawaf received the Prime Minister, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al- Hamad Al-Sabah to swear-in as head of cabinet. Ministers of the new government were also sworn in. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- Ahmad on Tuesday issued a decree forming the new government under the chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al- Hamad Al-Sabah.
The decree of the government lineup is as following:
1- Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.
2- Abdullah Youssef Abdurrahman Al-Roumi, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Nazaha Enhancement.
3- Issa Ahmad Mohammad Hassan Al-Kandari, Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs.
4- Dr. Mohammad Abdullatif Al-Fares as Minister of Oil and Minister of Higher Education.
5- Sheikh Dr. Bassel Humoud Al-Sabah, Minister of Health.
6- Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs.
7- Dr. Rana Abdullah Al-Fares, Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology Affairs.
8- Mubarak Salem Al-Harees, Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs.
9- Sheikh Thamer Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah as Minister of Interior.
10- Khalifa Musaed Hamada, Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic and Investment Affairs.
11- Abdurrahman Baddah Al-Mutairi, Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs.
12- Ali Fahad Al-Mudhaf, Minister of Education.
13- Shaya Abdurrahman Ahmad Al-Shaya, Minister of State for Municipality Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Affairs and Urban Development.
14- Dr. Abdullah Issa Al-Salman, Minister of Commerce and Industry.
15- Dr. Mashaan Mohammad Mashaan Al-Otaibi, Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy and Minister of Social Affairs and Societal Development.
Under the decree, His Highness the Prime Minister will inform the National Assembly about this decree, which comes into effect since its issuance. It will be published in the official gazette. Meanwhile, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah addressed His Highness the Amir, expressing gratitude for his precious confidence, tasking him with heading the council of ministers and working out the cabinet new line-up. His Highness the Premier said he deeply appreciated the task accorded to him, amid "this phase marked with challenges, risks and rapid events that require serious and fruitful action to make more accomplishments in various realms for sake of attaining the Kuwaiti people aspirations." His Highness the Prime Minister pledged to His Highness the Amir and the people of Kuwait to spare no effort to work out, in coordination with the parliament, purposeful plans that may address society problems and issues and in translation of "Your Highness's aspirations." His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled delivered the new cabinet lineup to His Highness the Amir who endorsed it and declared its proclamation. Moreover,
Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled assured His Highness the Amir to put, along with the ministers, all their capacities and expertise at disposal of service of Kuwait.
KUNA/Al-Anba
Constitutional Court rejects appeal against vote for National Assembly elections
The Constitutional Court decided to reject the appeal against the vote in the National Assembly elections, Today, Wednesday, Al Qabas reported. In addition, the court decided to extend the deadline for pronouncing the verdict on the membership of MP Badr Al-Dhahoum to March 14. Tines Kuwait
Kuwait breaks daily COVID-19 case record for second day in a row
The Ministry of Health recorded on Tuesday 1,341 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, marking the highest single-day number since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country. The ministry also announced seven more deaths caused by complications caused by the infection over the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of confirmed infections in the country to 193,372 and virus-related fatalities to 1,092. According to the ministry’s spokesman Dr.
Abdullah Al-Sanad, there are currently 11,161 active cases in the country out of which 160 are receiving treatment in intensive care units. A total of 8,586 swab tests were conducted over the past 24 hours, raising the total number of COVID- 19 examinations in the country to 1,800,627, Al-Sanad said. The ministry also announced that a total of 964 more patients have recovered from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, pushing the total number of recoveries in the country to 181,119. The spokesman urged citizens and expatriates alike that abiding by health precautions, mainly, following social distancing rules, is the only way to halt the spread of the virus. All Newspapers
CSC: Isra & Miraj holiday on March 11
The Civil Service Commission on Tuesday declared all government and public departments and institutions would close on March 11 (Thursday) to mark Isra and Miraj holiday. Regular work will resume on March 14 (Sunday). However, managements of some sectors of special work nature are entitled to determine how to observe the holiday according to their conditions and with consideration to public interest. KUNA/Al-Rai
MOI extends amnesty for residency violators till the end of March
Al-Anba learned that the Minister of Interior Sheikh Thamer Al-Sabah yesterday issued a decision extending a grace period for expat residency violators till the end of March. The new decision aims at encouraging expat residency violators to adjust their status. Al-Anba
