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Wed, Aug 26, 2020
News Summary Report EXTERNAL RELATIONS
EU Trade Chief Committed to Boosting Relationship with GCC
The European Union’s Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan expressed his strong desire to strengthen trade and political relations between the 27-member European bloc and the 6-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
“Iam a very strong believer in improving the EU and Gulf relationships and my track-record shows I have backed my convictions with actions, including my time as an EU Commission for agriculture”, Hogan told a webinar on Tuesday.
“ I think we can do a lot more together”, he said.
Hogan, an Irish politician, welcomed the large number of people who were listening to this webinar saying it shows that there is a lot of interest from the Gulf region and EU for a stronger and close relationship between our two regions.
The webinar titled “Trends and Opportunities in the EU-GCC Trade Relations”
was organized by the Brussels-based think tank Bussola Institute.
Hogan noted that the EU-GCC partnership goes back to more than 30 years with the signing of the cooperation agreement in the 1988.
“The relationship between the EU and GCC have been gaining significantly economic as well as political cooperation”, stressed Hogan.
Our trade, he noted, flows have gone strongly over the last 30 years and particularly in the last decade have doubled.
The Gulf region is the eight trading partner of the EU, he said and called for the resumption of the stalled EU-GCC Free Trade Agreement negotiations.
“We should get round the table and resume our negotiations. We are working towards that objective at the moment”, he said.
The EU trade chief said that two-way trade in goods between the two sides amounted to 121 billion euro ($ 142 billion) in 2019. That doesn’t include services and foreign direct investments.
KUNA
Validity of PCR Certificate 96 Hours for Arrivals: DGCA
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said that based on update of the health authorities, PCR validity term has been amended from 72 hours into 96 hours from the date of taking the sample to the date of accepting the passenger onboard for arrivals to Kuwait International Airport.
Further, the DGCA indicated that the PCR certificate issued from the State of Kuwait will be sufficient for departures for a period that is not more than 4 days, and no PCR test is required when they return back to Kuwait as long as the PCR certificate is still valid, and the passengers have to be committed to the health precautions.
Al-Jareeda
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ECONOMY
Kuwait Oil Price Down 19 Cents to $ 45.14 pb – KPC
The price of Kuwaiti oil dropped 19 cents during Monday’s trading to $ 45.14 pb compared to $ 45.33 pb last Friday, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said Tuesday.
Globally, the price of the Brent crude gained 78 cents to $ 45.13 pb and the West Texas Intermediate edged 28 cents higher to $ 42.62 pb.
KUNA
“ We Need Oil Barrel Worth $ 90 To Avoid Borrowing”: the Government
Ministerial sources reiterated Kuwait’s critical need to borrow in this phase, stressing that the government cannot leave aside the Public Debt Law as one of the fastest alternatives to handle the crisis of liquidity scarcity.
Sources disclosed to Al-Qabas that the Government has conveyed a message to the National Assembly indicated that Kuwait needs an oil barrel with the price of
$ 90 pb in order not to be obliged to borrowing, remarking to the sharp decline in oil prices in view of the repercussions of COVID-19 outbreak.
Sources stressed that demands of financial reforms in order to handle severe imbalances and rationalize spending are indispensable, however, the results of financial reforms require 5 years from the starting date to implement them till their fruits start to occur in reality.
Meanwhile, Chair of the Parliamentary Financial Committee, Safaa Al-Hashem announced cancelling of the committee’s meeting, which was scheduled yesterday to discuss the Public Debt Law due to an excuse from the Finance Minister Barrak Al-Shitan.
Al-Hashem criticized the Cabinet decision regarding forming a committee to review the proposed plans and procedures to handle imbalances suffered by our
national economy, stressing that “people felt boredom, and projects are losing, and the report of the CBK has set solutions, however, the Finance Minister is unable to apply”.
Al-Qabas
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DOMESTIC AFFAIRS
Foreign Minister Hosts Chair of Engineers’ Society
Foreign Minister and Acting Defense Minister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al- Mohammad Al-Sabah received Chairman of the Kuwait Society of Engineers Faisal Al-Etel.
The minister, during the meeting, renewed the praise for the society for its support for the State in coping with repercussions of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
KUNA
Withdrawal of the Decision of Referral of the State Security GM to Retirement to Take Opinion of Fatwa and Legislation Department: Interior Minister
The Deputy Prime Minister, Interior Minister and State Minister for the Cabinet Affairs, Anas Al-Saleh said that the decision issued of referral of the State Security General Manger to retirement is withdrawn to take the opinion of the Fatwa and Legislation Department.
Al-Saleh added, “referral to retirement decision, pointed out by the interrogator, was signed yesterday based on a legal memo and on Article (100) of the police law. It was withdrawn today morning, and Fatwa and Legislation Department was addressed to ensure validity or non-validity of the decision.
Al-Qabas has been informed yesterday on Tuesday that the Minister Anas Al- Saleh has referred the State Security General Manager, Colonel Talal Abdul Latif Al-Saqer to retirement formally.
Al-Qabas
Speaker Al-Ghanem Inaugurates the Session of Voting on No-Confidence Motion Against the Interior Minister
Speaker of the National Assembly, Marzouq Al-Ghanem has inaugurated the session of voting on the no-confidence motion against the Deputy Prime Minister, Interior Minister and State Minister for the Cabinet Affairs, Anas Al-Saleh.
“Minister Anas Al-Saleh handles issues that couldn’t be handled by anyone before him”, said MP Safaa Al-Hashim in an intervention at the session objecting to the no-confidence motion.
MP Adel Al-Damkhi supported “No-Confidence motion” against the Interior Minister saying, “all is accountable on performance. In the country’s Constitution, there is no difference between Sheikh or citizen, remarking that he didn’t sign on the no-confidence motion till hearing the interrogator and the interrogated”.
The National Assembly has discussed the interpellation by MP Shuaib Al- Muwaizri to the Interior Minister at the session of August 18, and after the discussion 10 MPs submitted a no-confidence motion against the minister.
Al-Qabas
The Word of the Crown Prince Reflected People’s Aspirations to Face Corruption: The National Democratic Alliance
The National Democratic Alliance lauded the content of the word of HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad to the Kuwaiti People as it reflected the Kuwaiti’ people aspirations and hopes to face corruption and to seize public funds criminals, whatever their names or leadership or social positions.
Al-Jareeda
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Sources:
KUNA: http://www.kuna.net.kw/Default.aspx?language=en
Al Rai: http://www.alraimedia.com/
Kuwait Times: http:/36Y5/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/
