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News Summary Report Thurs, Sept. 20, 2018
Domestic Affairs
Amir, Crown Prince meet senior state officials at Bayan Palace
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace yesterday His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
Meanwhile, His Highness the Crown Prince received His Highness the Prime Minister, as well as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah AlKhaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled AlJarrah Al-Sabah. In the meantime,
His Highness the Crown Prince received Deputy National Assembly Speaker Essa Ahmad Al- Kandari accompanied by the visiting Deputy Speaker of the Yemeni Parliament Mohammad Ali Al-Shedadi. The audience was attended by the head of protocol at His Highness’ diwan, Sheikh Mubarak Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah – Kuwait Times
Opening of first phase of Jaber Al-Ahmad hospital early Oct: Minister
The opening of the first phase of Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital will be beginning of October, said Minister of Health Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Sabah yesterday.
The first phase of Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital includes outpatient clinics, medical, surgical and pediatric wards, radiology, laboratories, operation theaters and emergency. Sheikh Basel was speaking on sidelines of the inauguration of the Cardiac Catheterization ward at Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital.
He said the launch of new health project would make a quantum leap in health service and patient care. The minister said the opening of the Amiri hospital extension will be in October as well as the emergency hospital in Sabah Al-Ahmad Area – Kuwait Times
Kuwait real estate improves in Q2, private housing up 2.4 percent
The real estate sector in Kuwait appears to have improved in the second quarter of the year going up by 3.1 percent with the private housing sector in specific jumping to 2.4 percent.
According to the Justice Ministry’s documentation and registration data, the value of real estate trades in the second quarter reached around KD 857 million (around $2.8 billion). A number of experts said that the real estate housing played a significant role in boosting numbers in the second quarter, as was the investment real estate sector (apartment buildings), which saw a significant action during the summer vacation season. As per their statements, the private housing sector’s 2.4 percent increase reflected KD 321.9 million (around $1 million) pumped into this sector. The average number of real estate deals was around KD 540,000 (around $1.7 million), which is an increase by 2.4 – Kuwait Times
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Economy
Inflation in Kuwait Rose 0.89% in August – Statistical Bureau
Basic consumer prices (inflation) rose by 0.89 % in August compared to the same month last year, the monthly report of the Central Statistical Bureau showed.
Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased monthly to 113.2% by 0.09%, as compared to July, as a result of high prices of major groups in the movement of the indices.
And annually consumer prices registered in August 2018 increased by 0.89%, compared with August 2017, said the Central Statistical Bureau in a report released on Thursday. Following the annual price movement in August 2018: Food and beverage group increased by 1.40%, cigarette and tobacco prices by 13.51%, clothing and footwear decreased by 1.03%, housing services decreased by 0.94%.
Meanwhile, household furniture prices increased by 2.00%, health group rose by 3.11%, transportation increased by 1.78%, communication group by 5,12%, Recreation and cultural group by 3.83%, Education by 1.71%.
As to the prices of restaurants and hotels, they climbed by 1.34%, miscellaneous goods and services by 2.48% - KUNA
OPEC Oil Price Up to $ 77.06 pb
Price of OPEC’s daily basket price (of several oil crudes) went up by 97 cents to $ 77.06 a barrel Wednesday compared with $ 76.09 the previous day, the organization news bulletin said on Thursday – KUNA
Kuwait Oil Price Up $ 1.18 to $ 76.44 pb
The price of Kuwaiti oil went up by $ 1.18 to reach $ 76.44 per barrel (pb) on Wednesday, compared with $ 75.26 pb on Tuesday, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) announced Thursday.
Oil prices in the international markets went up yesterday, as the Brent crude rose to $ 79.27 pb, likewise the West Texas Intermediate Crude was up $ 1.27 to $ 71.12 pb – KUNA
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External Affairs
Kuwait’s Finance Minister Discusses with US Ambassador Bilateral Ties
Kuwait Finance Minister, Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf discussed on Thursday with the US Ambassador to the country, Lawrence Silverman and the economic advisor at the Embassy, Joseph Ribli, ways of boosting cooperation between the two friendly countries.
The Ministry said in a statement that the meeting was held following the visit of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the official delegation to the USA, during which he held official talks with US President, Donald Trump – KUNA
Kuwait’s KFAED, Jordan Sign Deal to Schedule USD 300.7 MLN Debt
The Jordanian government and Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) signed Thursday an agreement to schedule debts worth $ 300.7 million.
KFAED’s operations department, director Marwan Al-Ghanim and the acting secretary general of the Jordanian Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, Ziad Obeidat, signed the agreement.
In a statement, Obeidat said the agreement aims to schedule Jordanian debts accumulated as a result of 17 loans. It would be paid off during a period of 40 years with a 15-year grace period at a one% interest.
Obeidat thanked the KFAED, the Kuwaiti government, and people for their generosity, affirming that Jordan welcomed all gestures of solidarity during periods of economic strife.
On his part, Al-Ghanim lauded relations with Jordan, stressing that Kuwait would help the fellow Arab country achieve economic stability.
During the Makkah summit in June, Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia agreed to provide
$ 2.5 billion in economic aid for Jordan – KUNA
Security Cooperation Agreement between Kuwait and the USA
Kuwait and USA signed yesterday a security cooperation agreement to enhance security cooperation between the two countries.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah received manager of Federal Investigations Bureau in the USA, Christopher Asher Rai in the attendance of the Undersecretary, Essam Al-Naham.
During the meeting, Al-Jarrah emphasized depth of brotherly relations between the two countries. He discussed with the visiting delegation the most important issues of mutual concern, especially related to security issues and enhancement of cooperation by means of exchange of information and experiences.
On his part, Rai expressed his appreciation for the role of Kuwait in supporting security and
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peace in the region, and he referred to the importance of the issues that have been discussed in view of enhancing relations between the two countries.
During the meeting, a number of security files have been discussed and the mechanism of exchanging information and experiences between Kuwait and the USA has been discussed. At the end of the meeting, both sides signed on a security cooperation agreement – Al-Rai
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World News
Kim to Close a Missile Testing Site – Shall Visit Seoul “In the Near Future”
North Korean Leader, Kim Jong-un declared yesterday that he may make a historic visit to the South, and he agreed to close a missile testing site in front of international inspectors at a summit with the South’s President, Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang yesterday.
Moon Jae-in, who traveled to Pyongyang in an attempt to resume negotiations on disarmament of the North, said that Kim’s visit to Seoul might be this year unless and otherwise there are
“certain circumstances”.
This visit shall be the first for a North Korean leader to the South since the end of the Korean War (1950 – 1953). “North Korea agreed to completely close Tongchang-ri Facility for rocket engines and rocket platforms testing in the attendance of inspectors from concerned countries”, Moon said in a press statement. He further confirmed that “North Korea might close Yongbyon nuclear plant in case Washington takes corresponding measures, a significant caveat.”
US President, Donald Trump welcomed this declaration yesterday and wrote a tweet saying,
“Kim agreed to allow nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations” adding “Very exciting!”
However, experts are still skeptical. “The consensus view was that the uranium enrichment facility at Yongbyon was built for (the) express purpose of being sacrificed”, said Jeffrey Lewis, who is arms control expert. He further added that N. Korea might have another location that is capable of production.
“Kim is playing this brilliantly: verify that I dismantle a single site that I no longer need anyway while I mass-produce the missiles the site helped me develop,” said Vipin Narang of MIT.
South Korean Presidency declared that Moon shall go do the US next week to hold talks with Trump.
Yesterday in the evening, Moon and his accompanying delegation had their dinner at a fish restaurant, which has been recently inaugurated at Taedongag, the river which passes through the capital. It lies in front of Mansu Mount, where there are huge statutes for the founding father of North Korea, Kim Eil Sung and his son and successor Kim Gung Eil.
Later, Moon attended a big exhibition, which is one of the promotional exhibitions organized in Pyongyang.
Moon’s visit, which lasts for three days, is the first for the President of a South Korean President to Pyongyang for a decade after the visit of Kim Di Jung in 2000 and Ru Moon Hyun in 2007 – Al-Rai, p. 19, September 20, 2018
