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News Summary Report Tuesday/August 28, 2018
Domestic Affairs
HH the Amir Congratulates Al-Misfir for Silver Medal in Asian Games
His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah congratulated on Monday Kuwaiti Karate player Ahmad Mohammad Al-Misfir for winning a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games, hosted in Jakarta.
His Highness the Amir, praised the achievement and wished the player more medals in the future.
His Highness the Acting Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah congratulated the Kuwaiti athlete for his achievement. His Highness the Prime Minister, Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent a similar cable- KUNA
Two Million KD Fine against Residence Traders
The government resumes its efforts to handle the issue of Kuwait demographics and put an end to residence traders.
Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, and State Minister for Economic Affairs, Hind Al-Sabeeh reported “the issuance of 250 judicial verdicts against fake companies that are involved in residence trading, and fining them the sum of KWD 2 million and 130 thousand”.
“Employees at the Public Authority for Manpower, especially work inspection department are exerting tremendous efforts to track fake companies, which have filled the market with marginal labor and were a key reason behind the rising imbalance in Kuwait demographics”, said Al-Sabeeh.
“Employers of those fake companies are committed to cancel the residencies of those marginal labor recorded on their files. There is a coordination with the General Directorate for Residence Affairs Investigations at the Ministry of Interior to enlist this marginal labor as requested for emancipation”, she added, noting that the total files transferred to the General Directorate of Investigations at the Ministry of Interior reached 322 files during the first half of this present year, all of which were transferred to court, however, the total number of files transferred to investigations last year were 561 files, 558 of which were transferred to court.
Al-Sabeeh affirmed that inspection campaigns shall be intensified on employers and companies of the private sector to ensure that they are complying with the labor law and to ensure that labor recorded at their files work for them and not for any other party –Al-Rai
Kuwaiti Education Ministry Ready for Academic Year 2018-19
Kuwaiti Ministry of Education and Higher Education expressed its readiness Monday to
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commence the new academic year, with its administrative and education staffs. The Ministry’s Undersecretary, Haitham Al-Athari said in remarks to KUNA that basic and fundamental preparations were conducted, as the country’s six educational administrations and school principals are completely ready for the new academic year.
Al-Athari conducted many field tours lately to various schools to deal with any possible obstacles, like some maintenance issues in a number of schools, added.
Meanwhile, Al-Athari stated that the schools are ready at all levels, guaranteeing a high level of hygiene, adding that all conditioning units are functioning well.
On the other hand, the Ministry is awaiting a patch of new teachers to arrive to the country, while the current teaching and administrative staffs are at full readiness, Al-Athari noted.
Three schools were closed, one in Hawalli and other two in Al-Ahmadi educational regions, for safety reasons, and students were transferred to other schools, Al-Athari affirmed –KUNA Feasibility Study on Offering Islands of Sheikh Jaber Causeway for Investment: The Cabinet
The Cabinet assigned the Public Authority for Road and Land Transportation and the Public Authority for Partnership between the Public and Private Sectors in coordination with the Supreme Council for Planning and Development the responsibility of conducting a primary feasibility study on offering the Islands attached to Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Causeway for investment and to brief the Cabinet of the results of this study within one month.
The Cabinet, presided by HE the Prime Minister, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak, held its weekly meeting yesterday afternoon at Seif Palace.
“ The Cabinet expressed at the outset of its meeting its deep appreciation for King Salman Ben Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and the government of Saudi Arabia on their significant efforts in Hajj season this year, and the facilities, preparations and tremendous capabilities provided to pilgrims to enable them do pilgrimage rituals.
Also, the Cabinet listened to an explanation presented by State Minister for Housing Affairs and State Minister for Services Affairs, Dr. Jenan Bu Shehri on the procedures and the steps that have been taken to face cancellation of flights of Wataniya Airlines, which led to delay arrivals of citizens to their homeland.
The Cabinet has further viewed the recommendations of Economic Affairs Committee regarding determination of the price of housing units at South Sabah Al-Ahmad City Project, and it decided to approve the price of 5 KWD per meter for a housing unit of 400m2, and thus the total price for the whole housing unit shall be KWD 2000 (only two thousand Kuwaiti dinars).
The Cabinet also viewed the recommendations of the Public Services Committee on the Project of Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway and decided to assign (The Public Authority for Roads and Land Transportation, and the Public Authority for Partnership between the Public and Private Sectors in coordination with the General Secretariat for the Supreme Council
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for Planning and Development as well as the authorities concerned with the initial feasibility study of offering the Islands attached to Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah for investment, and to brief the Cabinet of the results of the study within one month from today’s date” said Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Anas Al-Saleh – Al-Rai
Minister refutes MP’s claims of obstructing T4 operations
Minister of State for Housing and Services Affairs Jenan Bushehri yesterday denied allegations by opposition MP Mohammad Al-Mutair that the government was obstructing the work of a Korean company that won a contract to operate a new Kuwait airport terminal used by Kuwait Airways. Mutair had alleged that the company was unable to operate Terminal 4 properly because ministries were refusing to issue the necessary visas and residence permits, claiming this was done under pressure from a competing domestic airline. The lawmaker also threatened to file to grill the prime minister over the claims and accused the government of being weak.
Kuwait Airways was exclusively given the new terminal in a bid to reduce the rush of passengers at the main terminal as a Turkish Company is due to complete the new airport project by the end of 2021. Bushehri insisted that the civil aviation authorities and other officials have held meetings regularly with the South Korean Company to discuss facilitating operations and the company did not raise any complaints about visas and residencies.
She said that the ministries of interior and social affairs and labor have been providing the company with all the assistance needed for the recruitment of employees to ensure smooth operations. Bushehri, however, asked the lawmaker to submit any evidence regarding his claims and promised she would take the necessary legal measures.
The Minister stressed that operations at T4 are proceeding according to schedule in cooperation between the civil aviation, Kuwait Airways, the interior ministry, the customs and other authorities. She said this is being done gradually and in phases to reach full operation soon – Kuwait Times
Kuwait Government Assigns Departments to Bring Back Home Kuwaitis Stranded Abroad
Kuwait government assigned Monday Foreign and Finance ministries, and Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) to help bring back home Kuwaitis citizens, whose flights on Wataniya Airways were cancelled.
The government, meeting at Seif Palace under chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, assigned the three departments to facilitate return of citizens, said Anas Al-Saleh, Deputy Premier, Minister of State for Cabinet and Acting Interior Minister.
Minister of State for Housing and Minister of State for Services, Jenan Bushehri, briefed the cabinet about measures taken to help citizens stranded abroad after their flights on Wataniya Airways were cancelled, as school year was about to start.
Kuwait Airways announced yesterday it would operate a Charter airplane to bring back the
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passengers. Meanwhile, the cabinet expressed gratitude for King Salman of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi government for the successful Hajj season, as well as services provided for the pilgrims, which contributed to smooth performance of rituals.
The government, on housing issues, decided to set as 2,000 KD ($ 6,600) as the price for a 400- square-meter lot in South Sabah Al-Ahmad city.
The government also assigned the Public Transport Authority, Public-Private Partnership Authority and Planning and Development Council to carry out feasibility study over investment of islands linked to Sheikh Jaber AL-Ahmad Causeway – KUNA
A Program for Accelerating Expat Engineers’ Approval at Projects
Engineers Association called Ministry of Works to cooperate and urge Civil Service Commission to accelerate approving modification of the fingerprint system for the Ministry’s engineers working at different sites, clarifying that the association receives daily complaints from engineers in this regard.
The association further hopes interference of the Minister to put an end to the suffering of engineers, because the current fingerprint system along with the long distance between projects act as obstacles against productivity of engineers in various projects.
This call was stated at the meeting of Chief of Engineers’ Association, engineer, Faisal Al-Otol with Undersecretary of Ministry of Works, engineer Awatef Al-Ghoneim with the attendance of the secretary, engineer Fahad Al-Otaibi and assistant secretary Humod Al-Hadiya as well as member of the board, engineer Ali Mehsni.
Al-Otol indicated that the meeting focused on employment of Kuwaiti engineers at the Ministry and training them to work after graduation without long waiting periods – Al-Anbaa
State Audit Bureau: 420 Issues worth $ 2 Billion Were Studied in July
State Audit Bureau declared that during the last month of July it studied and examined 420 issues including public tenders, limited tenders and bids that are worth 118/740,701,866 KWD.
“ SAB has taken informed decisions regarding 321 issues that worth 208/554,448,967, with the percentage of 76.4% from the total issues that are under study during that period”, Ali Al- Kandari, a member of the team preparing the annual report said in a statement issued by SAB.
Al-Kandari, who also occupies the position of assistant auditor at pre-monitoring department for social affairs, said that pre-monitoring activities of some issues that have been examined have achieved direct savings in the public treasury that are worth KWD 806/873,523 – Al- Anbaa
International Work Organization, KUNA Host Journalism Workshop to Enhance Reports on Labor Tuesday
The International Labor Organization (ILO), through its regional fair migration project in the Middle East, and Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) will host a journalism workshop aimed at enhancing reports dedicated to the status of foreign labors in Kuwait on Tuesday.
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Chief Editors and senior journalists representing various media outlets will attend the event, according to a joint press statement by the two bodies.
The workshop – to be held at KUNA’s media training center – will include sessions highlighting the international standards connected with the suitable treatment of foreign labor and immigrants, the basic tenets of journalism ethics and standards, in addition to a dialogue amongst members of civil society as well as labor and immigrant groups.
KUNA is keen on bolstering cooperation with ILO via organizing workshop, which reflects the important role of journalism and media in providing a clear picture of the situation of migrants in Kuwait and the region –KUNA
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Economy
BCP: Unusual Trading Activity on Shares Due to FTSE Announcement
Boubyan Petrochemical Company (BPC) announced on Monday that the unusual activity on its shares during Sunday’s Boursa Kuwait trading session might be attributed to the FTSE Russell’s announcement.
The FTSE Russel, a leading global provider of benchmarks, announced that BPC shares have been added to the final list of FTSE Em All Cap index.
BPC announced in a press release issued on Boursa Kuwait website that this activity would attract foreign funds in to BPC shares estimated by Arqaam capital and EFG Hermes to be between ($ 46 – 53.4 million).
Otherwise, there has been no recent “undisclosed” development that is likely to affect the company or its affairs in a way, which would cause such unusual trading activity.
Boubyan Petrochemical Company (BPC) is a Kuwaiti shareholding company established in 1995 as the private-sector company in Kuwait that invested in the government-controlled petrochemical sector – KUNA
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External Affairs
His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Congratulated Zimbabwe and Mali for Winning Presidential Elections
His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait sent a cable of congratulations to the President, Emerson Mnangagwa, President of friendly Zimbabwe on the occasion of winning presidential elections, hoping him health and for his country everlasting progress and prosperity.
His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad also sent a similar cable to the President of friendly Zimbabwe, Emerson Mnangagwa.
His Highness the Amir also sent a cable of congratulations to President of friendly Mali, Abu Baker Kita on the occasion of winning Presidential elections for a second term, wishing him health, and for Mali and its people everlasting progress and prosperity.
His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad also sent a similar cable to the President of friendly Mali, Abu Baker Kita. Similarly, HE the Prime Minister, Sheikh Jaber Al- Mubarak sent a similar cable.
In other news, His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable of congratulations to President, Igor Dodon, President of the friendly Republic of Moldova on the occasion of the National Day of Moldova, wishing him health, and for his country everlasting progress and prosperity.
HH the Crown Prince, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad and HE the Prime Minister, Sheikh Jaber Al- Mubarak sent a similar a cable of congratulations to the President, Igor Dodon – Al-Anbaa
Jordanian Government Approves Judicial MOU with Kuwait
The Jordanian government approved Monday a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kuwait regarding exchange of legal and judicial expertise. The government approved the MOU during a meeting presided by Prime Minister, Omar Razzaz, official Petra news agency.
The MOU, it added, would boost judicial cooperation between Jordan and Kuwait, as well as exchanging relevant technical expertise – KUNA
Kuwait: Regional Organizations Can Contribute to Successful Elections in DRC
Kuwait said Monday working with the African Union (AU), the International Conference on the Greak Lakes Region and the development group in South Africa would contribute to success of elections in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This came by Mansour Al-Otaibi, Kuwaiti permanent representative to the UN, while addressing the UN Security Council’s session on situation in DRC. Al-Otaibi welcomed registration of candidates for presidential and legislative elections, and DRC’s President, Joseph Kabila’s respect for Constitution and December 2016 political agreement.
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He reiterated commitment to UNSC’s press release, which called all political parties in DRC as well as institutions responsible for organizing elections to assure success of voting and thus a peaceful power of transition- KUNA
Kuwaiti, Qatari Air Force Officers Meet in Doha
Air Comodore Adel Al-Hafedh, Commander of Kuwait Air Force, held talks in Doha Monday with Commander of Qatar’s Amir Air Force vice Air Marshal, Hamad Al-Dawway on issues of mutual interest, the armed forces said in a statement.
The two sides discussed training and exchange expertise in air force, it added. The meeting was attended by senior officers from both sides – KUNA
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/newspap
