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News Summary Report Thurs/ Nov. 15, 2018
Korea-Kuwait Relations
“Souk Safar” Hosts the Korean Ambassador
Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the State of Kuwait, Dr. Hong Yongki visited Souk Safar, the new and innovative project for Boudai Aviation Group in the Avenues Mall.
Yongki lauded the concept of providing all the needs and services of passengers at one place
“Souk Safar”, and he remarked that Korean Airline particularly provides tourism promotions to Korea and raises awareness of people about Korea as a touristic destination.
The Ambassador handed an award to the winner of the poll that was held as part of the event of Korea-Arab Friendship Caravan.
On his part, GM of Boudai Aviation Group, Rober Hayek extolled the visit of the Korean Ambassador to Souk Safar, and affirmed that Souk Safar, the official agent of Korean Airlines in Kuwait always seeks to promote Korea as an attractive touristic destination for Kuwaiti travelers and residents as well.
He further pointed out that there are persistent efforts to launch direct flights to Korea in the near future. He also remarked that as part of the promotional campaign, “Discover the World at Souk Safar”, several embassies of different countries shall be hosted by the end of each week to identify the most significant touristic and cultural attractions in the world – Al-Rai- P.12
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Domestic Affairs Traffic Back on After Suspension at Kuwait Airport
Air traffic at Kuwait International Airport fully resumed after being temporarily suspended because of the current unstable weather conditions hitting the country, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said Thursday.
Prior to the resumption, flights were redirected to Saudi Arabia's Ad Dammam and Riyadh airports, as well as Bahrain's Manama airport, DGCA noted.
The volatility in weather conditions would continue until Friday morning, according to forecasts. would continue until Friday morning, according to forecasts. KUNA
Rainy Cumulus Clouds Moving Northward
Head of the maritime forecasts section of the Meteorological Department said the satellite maps show that cumulus clouds continue moving from south to north Kuwait in the early hours of Thursday.
The incessant rains rains expected to continue until this midday and then weather will start improving on Friday, Yasser Al-Balloushi told KUNA.
He noted that the low-altitude clouds and fog, coupled with the rainfall with variant intensity countrywide, visibility to almost nil. KUNA
Civil Defense, KFSD urges vigilance amid downpour
Kuwaiti Civil Defense Committee spokesperson, Colonel Jamal Al-Fudari, urged on Wednesday citizens and residents to stay indoors due to the unstable weather conditions of heavy rains.
Al-Fudari stressed during the meeting held at the headquarters of the Committee on the citizens and residents to stay in their homes to give the concerned bodies the opportunity to carry out their tasks required in dealing with the effects of weather conditions.
Meanwhile, Kuwait Fire Service Directorate KFSD renewed its call on citizens and residents be cautious and take all necessary precautions for their safety. KUNA
Parliament Investigation of “Downpours” Within Two Months
The National Assembly finished discussion of the downpours crisis in its complementary session yesterday and issued 7 recommendations. Meanwhile, it formed tripartite parliamentary committee to investigate the reasons behind non-readiness of the government to counter the heavy downpours. The members of the committee include Al-Humaidi Al-Subaie, Khaled Al- Otaibi, and Dr. Adel Al-Damkhi, provided that it shall submit its report within two months.
The National Assembly further states withdrawal of the law of early retirement and referring it to the Financial Committee for further study, providing submitting it prior to the session of November 27 for voting.
The government represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Khaled
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Al-Jarrah stipulated that the committee should be a technical committee from outside the parliament to reach satisfactory results.
The recommendations approved by the National Assembly state referral of violations and suspicions stated at the report of “the Public Utilities Committee” regarding “flying of road gravel” to Anti-Corruption Authority (NAZAHA) accompanied with evidences and proofs within one month from the same date, and to brief the National Assembly of the results of the current government investigations, whether at Housing Care Institution or MPW or others within one month from the above date.
The National Assembly also approved a recommendation of fair and immediate compensation from the government to all those harmed from the natural disaster, and its consequential drowning, blockage, and damage to private properties. It further recommended giving due care to the family of the martyr, Ahmed Al-Fadhli and other similar cases. Besides, it approved a recommendation to set a map for flooding and seasonal accumulation of water by the MPW and others. It also recommended acceleration of approving a law to appoint leaders, and to establish an authority for managing crises and disasters. Al-Anbaa
Kuwait's 3 main ports still at halt over unstable weather - KPA
Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA) announced Thursday continuing to suspended navigation at the three main ports of Shuwaikh, Shuaiba and Doha due to unstable weather conditions.
Kuwait has been hit by unstable weather conditions involving rainstorms that resulted in low- visibility and roads submerged. KUNA
Ministries, Government Organizations, Faculties, Schools and Banks Are Off Today The Cabinet decides that today, Thursday, will be off for all ministries, government department and organizations, faculties and public and private schools as a precautionary measure due to the fluctuating weather and the heavy downpours.
Due to the heavy downpours during the coming few hours, and anticipations of Meteorological Department that weather fluctuation shall continue, it has been decided to consider today, Thursday, as off for all ministries, government departments, faculties, and public and private schools”, the Cabinet clarified via its account on Twitter.
The Cabinet also lauded citizens and expats regarding commitment of the instructions of government bodies and Kuwait TV. On his part, Civil Service Commission declared that today,
“Thursday” is off upon the decision of the Cabinet in this regard due to instability of weather conditions. Moreover, Kuwait Banks Union declared suspension of works of banks as a precautionary procedure. Al-Anbaa
Iqama expiry fines waived for 4 days as public holiday declared
As torrential rains and thunderstorms continued yesterday, the government declared today a public holiday for schools and government departments after it had given a similar holiday yesterday.
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Government agencies this time looked much more prepared as the government utilized all the capabilities of the civil defense, municipality and the public works ministry, in addition to the police force and the fire department, which stood ready to deal with any flooding.
A police source yesterday said residency fines will not be collected from citizens whose helpers’
residencies - as well as expats whose residencies and that of their dependents - expired yesterday or will expire today, because these days were declared holidays due to weather conditions.
The source added fines will not be collected for the four days from Wednesday through Saturday, and renewals will be made on Sunday. The interior ministry also decided not to renew residency permits of Bangladeshi and Nepalese workers without fingerprinting regardless of their residency type in the private sector.
The National Assembly yesterday formed a threemember committee to investigate allegations of government mismanagement and failure to deal with heavy rains that lashed the country in the past two weeks.
The committee was assigned to investigate those responsible for the flooding of main roads and submit its report to the house within one month. The Assembly elected MPs Adel Al- Damkhi, Khaled Al-Otaibi and Dumaitheer Al-Enezi, who later resigned, and was replaced by MP Al-Humaidi Al-Subaei.
The formation of the committee came following a heated debate in the Assembly over what lawmakers claimed was a government failure and lack of preparedness to deal with the rains.
MPs then approved a number of recommendations that included the formation of the committee and asking the government to provide the Assembly within one month of the results of its investigations into the disaster. The lawmakers also approved a recommendation calling on the government to provide fair and urgent compensation for all those who suffered losses and damages because of the rain. Kuwait Times
MPW set Tight Plans to Handle Downpour Impacts
MPW made full preparation plans yesterday and today as its teams spread all over express roads and internal streets. Moreover, it opened downpour drainage ports to drain rain water regularly in order to prevent its accumulation or cause the formation of pools.
Moreover, the Ministry has monitored areas of deficiencies, which caused accumulation of water last Tuesday including Al-Sabahya and Al-Mangaf Tunnel, which has been opened, however, it shall be shut down again in case the level of water increases, and this shall be subject to the instructions of the Minister of Public Works and in coordination with the Higher Committee of Civil Defense.
This also included Sabah Al-Ahmad residential area, which had pre-preparations and emergency plan, especially after the heavy downpours of Tuesday. Al-Ghazali Tunnel and other areas were also included. The teams never stopped working at all governorates in order to use pumps to eliminate any accumulations of water.
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MPW teams were assisted by other bodies like the National Guard, KFSD and the military to assist both citizens and residents to avoid what had happened last week, and its consequential material damages, whose effects are still seen till today.
Minister of Public Works, Hossam Al-Roumi said that he monitored conditions closely early yesterday and made inspection tours to areas of deficiencies at many places like Mangaf, Ahmadi, Sabah Al-Salem residential city, and the coast road accompanied by the assistant undersecretary for maintenance sector, Abdul Aziz Al-Sabah and a number of officials at the Ministry to follow-up maintenance works, road networks and sanitary drainage.
The Public Authority for Roads and Transportation were on its highest alert and handled the downpours with full professionalism with instructions from General Manager of the authority, Suha Ashknani, who attended there since early morning and toured a number of road networks.
She gave her instructions to set the necessary solutions and to handle the latest updates.
Moreover, Deputy Chairman of the Public Authority for Roads and Transportation, Saud Al- Naqqi made several tours in regions with recurrent problems and monitored the conditions by himself. Conditions were table in Al-Jahra governorate. Al-Anbaa
State departments mobilize equipment across Kuwait to address emergencies
The Ministry of Public Works reiterated yesterday that all its equipment are spread around the country as a precautionary measure for any emergency. Minister of Public Works and State Minister of Municipality Affairs Hossam Al-Roumi personally followed up on work developments in presence of the ministry’s personnel, the ministry said in a statement.
It added that all ministry’s and Public Authority for Roads and Transportation’s equipment as well as those of the ministry of defense and the National Guard are put on full alert in anticipation of any emergency that may arise due to the potential downpour.
Meanwhile, Kuwait Municipality said it deployed 6,000 workers and 1,100 pieces of machinery to the six governorates to address any emergency that could emerge from the rainy weather. The machinery include vehicles, bulldozers and tank trucks that were made available for government bodies, general coordinator of the municipality Adel Al-Nassar said late Tuesday night.
“The staffers of the municipality are on alert for dealing with the weather emergency and protecting the safety of citizens and expatriate residents as well as public and private property,”
he affirmed. “At the behest of Director General of Kuwait Municipality Ahmad Al-Manfouhi, we are working with other state bodies, including the Ministry of Public Works, to remove mud and sand from the watercourses swiftly,” Nassar added. Kuwait Times
KNPC Emergency Plan
Official spokesman of the Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) and executive vice president of administrative and commercial affairs Basem Al-Issa confirmed yesterday that the company is continuing to work on the emergency plan, which was announced a few days ago following the country’s exposure to weather fluctuations.
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Issa said that the plan includes opening of emergency rooms in the company’s main building and the ports of Mina Abdulla and Mina Al-Ahmadi, and also monitoring work of the refineries and ensure that the refining and production processes are not affected by weather fluctuations and possible heavy rain. Issa pointed out that the company’s officials are present around the clock in the crisis management room to directly supervise the work in the refineries, stressing that the situation is under full control thanks to God Almighty and efforts of Kuwaiti nationals working in different locations of the company. He assured the public that matters are normal in all fuel stations in the country, both the stations of the KNPC or others, stressing that all their needs were secured and there is no need to jostle at the fuel stations. Kuwait Times
Kuwait keen on replacing expats with national manpower: Minister
Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Minister of State for Economic Development Hind Al-Sabeeh stressed Kuwait’s keenness on replacing expatriates with national manpower in various sectors in order to resolve the demographic imbalance.
Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony held to honor the participants of the 4th meeting of the GCC labor and social affairs committees, Sabeeh said that GCC states exchange experiences in replacing expats with citizens and noted that the door was open for GCC labor to move around GCC states according to their qualifications.
Responding to a question about the joint GCC market, Sabeeh stressed that it is a GCC demand and is still subject to studies. Besides labor ministries, the proposal also involves other ministries.
The GCC Secretariat’s assistant secretary for economic affairs Khalifa AlEbri hailed Kuwait’s efforts in hosting the 4th meeting of the GCC social affairs and labor ministers. Also speaking on the occasion, Omniya Company CEO Sana Al-Qimlas thanked the companies that provided job opportunities for citizens. Kuwait Times
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Economy Kuwaiti Oil Loses $ 13 Thousand a Month
The price of Kuwaiti oil continues dropping to unprecedented levels since last October. It dropped more than $ 13pb during the last month, as the price reached $ 67.25 pb yesterday as per the price declared yesterday by KPC.
In world markets, oil prices reached $ 67 pb yesterday to compensate for losses of the previous session due to the rising opportunities that OPEC and its allies shall minimize their production during the meeting of the coming month to support the market.
Brent Crude rose to $ 66.65pb after it declined to $ 65.02 at a previous time. US crude rose 60 cents to $ 56.29.
Price of oil rose, however, 3 informed sources said that OPEC and its allies discuss a proposal to minimize production to 1.4 million barrels pb, and this figure is higher than what was stated by officials before.
Due to the rising concerns from oil prices dropping and supply maximization, OPEC speaks again about minimizing production after months from its increase. OPEC shall meet on the 6th of December to take a decision at the production policy for the year 2019.
Sources clarified that supply minimization to 1.4 million pb is one of the options discussed by energy ministers of Saudi Arabia and Russia, a non-OPEC member as well as other countries during the meeting held in Abu Dhabi last Sunday.
“I think that minimizing production 1.4 million barrels per day shall be more reasonable than minimizing more or less”, one of the sources said.
Sources further added that it shall be necessary to engage Iran, an OPEC member and Russia in the new plan. IEA said that world oil supplies shall exceed demand during 2019. Al-Anbaa
“We Will Not Allow Growth of Oil Stocks”: UAE
UAE Minister of Energy, Suhail Al-Marzouie said that OPEC and its allies shall have to minimize oil production next year to prevent growth of supply, and there is a meeting pending formation among members to support a decision of market balance.
“ We noticed that there is a risk in maximizing oil stocks if no action is taken on our part, and we shall not let this happen”, said Al-Marzouie, who presided OPEC in 2018.
“It is obvious that there will be a need to move from production maximization to production minimization”, he added. Al-Anbaa
“No Justification to Any Exceptional Procedure to Stop Oil Price Dropping”: Novak Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation, Alexander Novak said that oil prices on the long run should be taken into consideration when taking any decision by oil exporting countries,
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and that there is no justification to take any exceptional procedure to stop price dropping.
“Oil market is highly fluctuating. We remember that oil price was rising significantly, and it is now dropping on the same pattern. We have to perceive developments on the long run regarding the way by which the price of oil shall stabilize”, said Novak.
“It is not convenient for parties of the oil market to respond to any exceptional fluctuations”, he added. He further pointed out that the oil market is not fully comprehensible after the repercussions of the enforcement of the US sanctions on Iran.
Novak clarified that Russia reduced oil production nearly 20.000 barrels per day since the beginning of this November. Al-Anbaa
Kuwait Oil Price down $ 3.32 to $ 63.93 pb Wed
The price of Kuwait's crude oil went down USD 3.32 to stand at USD 63.93 per barrel (pb) on Wednesday compared to USD 67.25 pb the day before, said Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) on Thursday. KUNA
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External Affairs
Kuwait renews solidarity with Palestinian people in defending just cause, legitimate right Kuwait has reiterated its solidarity with the Palestinian people in defending their just cause and legitimate rights, including its historic and firm right in Jerusalem, which were guaranteed by relevant resolutions of international legitimacy, reiterating anew recognition of the state of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its capital.
This came during a speech by the Kuwaiti delegation to the UN, which was delivered by First Secretary Bashar Al-Duwaisan before the Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly during discussion of a "Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories".
Al-Duwaisan highlighted the suffering of the Palestinian people, which, according to the UN report, continues to exist despite the passage of more than 50 years, and that Israel, the occupying power, violates relevant Security Council resolutions, treaties and international laws.
He said that one example of these repeated violations by the Israeli occupation forces is the violence committed during the last few months on the Gaza border, coinciding with the anniversary of the great March of Return, when Israeli military forces committed the worst forms of repression of peaceful demonstrations that killed more than 60 Palestinians.
He added that the number of wounded exceeded 2,400, all of whom were unarmed civilians, stressing that these practices are a flagrant violation of the principles of civil and political human rights, as well as all international laws.
"How long will the Israeli killing machine continue to take the lives of defenseless Palestinian people without deterrence or accountability from the international community... and to what extent will the violations of the Israeli occupation force reach," he wondered.
Al-Duwaisan said: "I am deeply saddened by the inability of the Security Council to stop or condemn these Israeli violations, and to call for an independent and transparent investigation to determine those responsible for the deaths of many innocent Palestinians." He stressed that Kuwait condemns these violations and supports the Palestinian demand to activate some of the existing international mechanisms such as the Middle East Quartet, through expanding its membership to include other regional parties and add to its work more vitality under the umbrella of the UN to take care of the peace process. KUNA
Those affected by heavy rain will be compensated - His Highness PM
Those affected by heavy rain will be compensated, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah affirmed on Thursday.
His Highness's remark came during a meeting held, along with senior government officials, at the operations' room of the Ministry of Interior in Sabhan area earlier today.
Lauding efforts exerted by concerned bodies in dealing with current weather conditions of the country, His Highness pointed out that thanks to such efforts, damage was less, however compensations are due accordingly.
His Highness the Premier was briefed with plans and views of state establishments in face of
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the exceptional weather conditions. KUNA
Kuwait affirms support for Kosovo, urges settlement with Serbia
Kuwait has affirmed support for Kosovo's efforts to bolster its stability and sovereignty and rebuilding state institutions.
The Kuwaiti stance was announced by the State of Kuwait Envoy to the United Nations, Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi, in an address to a UN Security Council session on security in that country.
Al-Otaibi expressed backing for the country efforts for dialogue and merger with the European Union, implementing signed agreements between Kosovo and Serbia for reaching sustainable solutions to sticking issues, as a prelude to normalizing relations and establishing good neighborliness ties for sake of regional security.
He urged Pristina and Belgrade to work together for drafting the constituent order for the association of mainly-Serb municipalities as a matter of utmost significance for building confidence between the two sides.- KUNA
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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/
