Kuwait Times

The Interior Ministry’s Undersecretary Lieutenant General Sulaiman Al-Fahad presents a memento to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Tuesday urged the Ministry of Interior (MoI) personnel to double efforts to maintain domestic security and stability. His Highness the Amir, in a speech during a visit to MoI’s Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s building, urged the police personnel to confront anyone attempting to undermine the country’s stability, social fabric and chaos.

He said the country was facing “unprecedented negative phenomena,” and they were growing due to the rising population and spread of social media, citing the increase use of drugs, murders, theft and trespassing. “They require strict implementation of the law on all without any tolerance.” His Highness the Amir however expressed content over the declining crimes’ rate.

His Highness the Amir was accompanied by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Deputy head of National Guard Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. He called for the collaboration of efforts to address the traffic congestions, hoping the completion of new road networks would ease traffic.

His Highness the Amir, who was received by Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and MoI’s Undersecretary Lieutenant General Sulaiman Al-Fahad, expressed concern at the alarming number of people being killed by road accidents. “This requires strict implementation of traffic laws and regulations, and to toughen penalties on violators and reckless,” underlined his Highness the Amir.

Meanwhile, Lt Gen Suleiman Al-Fahad thanked His Highness the Amir for his annual visit, saying: “This inspiring tradition materialized the special father-son relationship and gives us impetus to double our efforts guided by your wise instructions.”

Crime rates
“Since your last visit, the security institution has made numerous achievements to promote the performance of the security personnel in terms of professionalism and preventive security over the last year. These achievements include; first, reducing the rate of offences by nine percent compared with the previous year, the rate of criminal offences by 18 percent, the rate of cases registered against unknown offenders by 28 percent, and the narcotic crimes by 17 percent,” he said. “Second, reducing spending by approximately KD 32 million without affecting the efficacy of the security apparatus, and securing up to KD 140 million from traffic violations committed over the last two years,” he added.

On the plan of the Interior Ministry for 2015-18, Lt Gen Al-Fahad said it envisages sending intermediate officers on scholarships to Egypt, Jordan, Germany, Singapore and Britain to build their capacity and qualify them for assuming leading security positions in the future.

He noted that the number of police and traffic patrols grew by 2,700 in 2015 besides 883 traffic patrols and 550 police patrols that joined service in last March equipped with the state-of-the-art technologies.

He added that the security services made headway in leveraging the electronic systems through launching the central electronic library, mounting surveillance cameras on roads and key facilities, the electronic passport system, and launching an alternative premise for the central computer system at Nawaf Al-Ahmad Building in the Ministry of Interior in Sabhan neighborhood.

His Highness the Amir was accompanied by Minister of Amiri Diwan Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Amir’s Chief of Staff Ahmad Fahad Al-Fahad, Head of the Amiri protocols Sheikh Khaled Abdullah Al-Sabah, Undersecretary of Highness the Crown Prince’s Diwan Sheikh Mubarak Faisal Al-Sabah and head of the Media and Cultural Affairs at the Amiri Diwan Yusuf Al-Roumi. – KUNA

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Kuwait Times

KFSD’s Director General Lieutenant General Yusuf Al-Ansari presents a memento to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, as Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Sabah looks on.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah lauded the continued efforts exerted by members of Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD) in keeping lives and properties safe. His Highness the Amir made his remarks Tuesday during his visit to the Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD) headquarters on the occasion of the Holy Month of Ramadan, during which he opened the new building.

He was accompanied by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Deputy Chief of Kuwait National Guards Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. They were received, upon their arrival, by Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and KFSD’s Director-General Yusuf Al-Ansari.

“Throughout your honorable history, which you made through great sacrifices, commitment, and loyalty to your duties, you have proven your worthiness and earned the attention and respect of all,” His Highness the Amir said, according to Amiri Diwan statement.

His Highness the Amir pointed out the great responsibilities and risks taken by firefighters when controlling fires, saving lives, and preserving properties. His Highness the Amir also praised KFSD’s officials’ tireless efforts and strives in enhancing their employees’ efficiency levels through engaging them continuously in various training courses in firefighting and security and safety rules.

His Highness the Amir also commended KFSD’s keenness in enhancing all their firefighting centers, spread all around the country, and equipping them with the latest firefighting equipment and systems, highlighting by that their high-level administrative work in firefighting action, whether field or precautionary.

His Highness the Amir also expressed his appreciation of KFSD’s efforts in raising public awareness in fire precautionary among citizens, and adopting the procedures of implementing safety and security requirements inside buildings, malls, and public facilities.

His Highness wished the department’s officials and employees all the best of luck in serving their country, and prayed to Allah Almighty to protect them and bestow his mercy upon the ones who lost their lives while attempting to save others’, and place them in his heavens.

In his speech, KFSD’s Director General Lieutenant General Yusuf Al-Ansari said, on behalf of the directorate’s staff, it is an honor to offer greetings to His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Crown Prince and the government on the occasion of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The visit of His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince to the directorate translates the strongest meanings of cohesion and communication between the wise leadership and the country’s firefighters, he said. “This stresses Your Highness’ support for the firefighters and keenness on getting acquainted with them,” he added.

Strategies
The visit is a great honor, and raises the staff’s morale and encourages them to develop their performance to be in favor of the country, Ansari noted. “There are some strategies of the directorate that are in line with the vision of Your Highness and aim to turn Kuwait as an international and financial hub,” he stated.

They are as follow:
1- Believing in achieving national duties as planned.
2- Cementing the principle of achieving integration among all different bodies of the government, mainly Ministries of Defense and Interior, and Kuwait National Guard.
3- Believing that the private sector is an indispensable strategic partner of the development process.
4- Depending on national efforts to maintain the country’s security and protect their properties, and for the safety of citizens and residents.
5- Paying attention to awareness programs on the protection of fire at homes, through educating people to be a main nucleus on how to safeguard their rights and properties.
6- Using modern technology and sciences to cope up with the development of industry and production, and to evolve the center of the firefighters to be an internationally recognized academy and to set up specialized centers in this field.
7- Coping up with the global development in the areas of research and sharing expertise on regional and international levels that helped Kuwait recently join, as a main member, International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO).

“The constant Keenness of firefighters to save lives and protect properties is undoubtedly stemming from the generous support and care of Your Highness for them as Your Highness is the Humanitarian Leader,” he said. Concluding his speech, Al-Ansari wished His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince good health, and the State of Kuwait further prosperity and progress.

His Highness the Amir was accompanied by Minister of Amiri Diwan Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Amir’s Chief of Staff Ahmad Fahad Al-Fahad, Head of the Amiri protocols Sheikh Khaled Abdullah Al-Sabah, Undersecretary of Highness the Crown Prince’s Diwan Sheikh Mubarak Faisal Al-Sabah and head of the Media and Cultural Affairs at the Amiri Diwan Yusuf Al-Roumi. – KUNA

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Kuwait Times

Photo shows drug suspect with the 98 kg of illicit drugs.

KUWAIT: Narcotics detectives yesterday foiled an attempt to smuggle 98 kg of illicit pills with a market value of over KD 3 million into Kuwait, said the General Department for Drug Control’s Acting Director Col Waleed Al-Duraei, while briefing Interior Ministry Undersecretary Lt Gen Suleiman Al-Fahd and top security officials visiting the narcotics department. Duraei explained that narcotics detectives had been tipped off concerning a large shipment of illicit pills hidden inside a van arriving from a European country for a Syrian.

The suspect was placed under close surveillance for three weeks before a search warrant was issued and his house was stormed and he was arrested. Duraei added that the suspect confessed and led the police to the van and showed the secret compartments in it, where detectives found 49 plastic bags including around a million pills. Fahd thanked the narcotics detectives and his assistant for criminal security Maj Gen Abdul Hameed Al-Awadhi for their efforts in protecting Kuwait as well as other GCC states.

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Kuwait Times

KUWAIT: The National Assembly yesterday approved the budgets and final accounts for seven new government bodies after strong criticism by MPs especially against the Port Public Authority. The Assembly also decided to cancel today’s additional session and instead opted to hold daily sessions throughout next week to finish debating the budgets of government bodies and later the state budget before it goes into summer recess early next month.

The bodies whose budgets were approved include Public Ports Authority, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Public Industries Authority, Public Authority for Communications and Information Technology and National Fund for small and medium enterprises. MP Yousef Al-Zalzalah said the Ports Authority looks like a government within another and the minister overseeing it has failed to curb many irregularities and wide-spread corruption.

He said the Ports Authority needs a bloodless coup to change the course of its operations and this requires the intervention of the Council of Ministers because the Communications Minister has not been able to resolve its problems. MP Adel Al-Khorafi said that on top of its administrative problems, the Ports Authority will immensely suffer in the coming four months because of the road construction at its gates and a strong decision is needed to rectify things at the Authority.

MP Jamal Al-Omar bluntly claimed that the state of affairs at the Ports Authority is the result of an ongoing battle between the current administration and the old one which still has supporters inside whom he accused of acting like a mafia. He said this mafia has its people and is strong and the minister cannot confront them, adding that the government’s inaction is very suspicious as it appears to be scared of taking the needed decision to reform the Ports Authority affairs.

MP Abdullah Al-Tameemi said the Ports Authority situation has been deteriorating from bad to worse, adding that the main commercial port of Shuwaikh is sliding and the current administration has failed to improve it. MP Faisal Al-Kundari said the Ports Authority has a young director who has the ideas to improve it but needs powers to carry out his programs.

MP Saadoun Hammad said the Assembly needs guarantees from the government to reform the situation at the Ports Authority in order to boost profits. He also demanded to know the names of companies which lease areas at the ports but fail to pay the rent. MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji said that the one who is administering the Ports Authority is more powerful than its director and public funds worth KD 20 million are squandered among influential people he did not name.

MPs also criticized the functioning of other bodies especially the Industrial Authority. Head of the Budgets Committee MP Adnan Abdulsamad said that his committee has rejected the budgets of all the bodies for not taking any effort to rectify mistakes. MP Saleh Ashour said it appears that all these bodies are the property or act as closed companies for the members of the board of directors and the officials at these bodies think that they have inherited them from their forefathers. He said that most of the officials have been appointed in these bodies through influence and have no ability or competence to manage them.

By B Izzak

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Kuwait Times

The secret forest of Mahboula

The green and open spaces of Mahboula seem to have turned into an illegal landfill. All over the area garbage is being dumped without the slightest sense of responsibility towards this country or possible damage to the natural environment.  In older times, locals used to picnic in the tree-filled areas around Mahboula and Fintas, which were famous for their beauty and greenery in arid Kuwait. But now much of the area is covered with trash, discarded furniture and other throwaway items.

Some people are still aware of the beauty and value of this place. In a clearing in Mahboula – which is located near oil refineries – hundreds of trees still stand, despite the rigors of the harsh climate.

People play sports and hang out with friends, notwithstanding the rubbish and construction waste due to a lack of open public spaces. A large group of oil sector employees come here to play volleyball, their favorite game, and meet people. Most of them are Nepalese. They say that they need to play on their day off because sport has always been a great way to get rid of work pressure and raise their productivity levels.

Before sunset, one can find buses of oil companies dropping workers near their homes, which indicates that the area is largely inhabited by those who work there. Mahboula has been witnessing a construction boom in the past three years to house more workers after the announcement of many projects by the Kuwait Oil Company and the government.

The remaining trees will soon be uprooted to be replaced by commercial and residential buildings. It will take a miracle to stop this concrete tide and preserve this land and convert it into a public park. Some pressure groups have been demanding preservation of open public spaces and historic buildings in Kuwait City. So where are they now, when it comes to the outer districts? Why don’t they bring their candlelight vigils and banners to protest against the slow death of these trees?

Story and images by Athoob Al-Shuaibi

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Kuwait Times

KUWAIT: An Indian man, who has been absconding for seven years, was arrested by Ahmadi police in Mina Abdallah area, and was sent to concerned authorities for legal action. A police patrol suspected the man when he saw the patrol and started acting confused, so he was asked for his civil ID. The man claimed not to have any, so he was arrested and taken to the area police station. A security source said the Indian, during interrogation, asked a friend to bring his expired passport, and he was found wanted on a seven year old absconding case.

Husband beats wife
A citizen in her 40s accused her husband of beating her hard then kicked her out of the house over a domestic dispute. She lodged a complaint against him at Mubarak Al-Kabeer police station. The citizen gave police a medical report from Mubarak hospital stating she suffered bruises and grazes, and she said they were caused by her husband. Investigations are underway.
Citizens brawl in Qairawan

Security men broke up a fight between two citizens in Qairawan area over a car accident. Both sides were taken to the police station and charged with exchanging blows and referred for questioning.

Liquor traders busted
Weapons detectives arrested a soldier and a bedoon who sells liquor, as both had unlicensed weapons and ammunition. Both were sent to concerned authorities. The arrest was made following a tip off. The solider was arrested in his Salwa house and detectives found an AK-47 and a pistol, both unlicensed. The second suspect was arrested in Salwa as a pistol and liquor were found with him. Both were sent to concerned authorities.

Youth stabbed
A juvenile was taken to Adan hospital for treatment of a deep wound in his shoulder due to a stab, but he refused to file a complaint, because the suspect is his elder brother, and the stab was by mistake. Police recovered the knife.

Two drunks arrested
Horse mounted police arrested two Nepalese in the surrounding of Saad Al-Abdallah academy, and both were suspected of being under the influence of alcohol. They were sent to criminal evidence.

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Kuwait Times

KUWAIT: Residency detectives have arrested a citizen and two Egyptians for forging bank documents and stealing public funds. Manpower Public Authority received information about a company that won a tender from the Ministry – and part of the conditions is to employ Kuwaiti female security officers. The women were forced to open accounts in a bank, and the company took their ATM cards. The company deposited their salaries in the bank and do withdraw money immediately.

Assistant Undersecretary for Nationality and Passports Affairs Maj Gen sheikh Mazen Al-Jarrah ordered the arrest of the suspects. The company manager and accountant, both Egyptian were arrested and they confessed to forcing the female employees to sign bogus receipts to prove to the MPA that they receive their salaries. The company owner was also summoned.

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

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Kuwait Times

KUWAIT: The Kuwait stock exchange said yesterday that it was suspending shares in Kuwait Food Co (Americana) pending clarification of a media report.

Reuters reported on Wednesday, quoting sources familiar with the matter, that Americana was back in talks to sell a majority stake to a group of Gulf investors, Adeptio, just days after negotiations collapsed over valuation issues. Americana, Adeptio and Americana’s top shareholder did not respond to requests for comment

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Kuwait Times

Photo shows the ‘Family House’

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior has launched a considerable plan primarily aiming at maintaining social and family links and easing out the psychological pain of prison inmates. The Ministry’s scheme, dubbed as “Family House”, is part of the humanitarian attitude pursued by the Humanitarian Leader, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

By adopting this correctional and humanitarian initiative, the ministry seeks to link inmates with their families and society and to encourage them to exercise appropriate behaviors and to soften their feelings of social isolation. The “Family House” is compliant with the principles of the tolerant Islamic Sharia’, international values, charters and conventions, and world agencies’ recommendations for inmate human rights. The scheme provides prison residential units with full living and entertainment services for inmates to spend up to 72 hours with their spouses, children, parents, brothers and sisters. However, inmates can gain access to this new scheme only should they commit themselves to good behaviors, discipline and regulations. Run by an integrated team of academics, social workers and psychiatrists, the fresh prison system is intended to provide appropriate rehabilitation and correction to all inmates so that they could effectively contribute to societal development.

In this context, Assistant Undersecretary for Correctional Institutions and Prisons at the Ministry of Interior Major-General Khalid Al-Deen said the “Family House” mainly aimed at the rehabilitation and correction of inmates so that they could become good individuals who can serve their own society. Speaking to KUNA, he said over 3,000 inmates in Kuwaiti prisons, including 130 females, can enjoy new prison services purposed to maintain inmates’ family and social links in appropriate residential units. He added that this scheme would certainly provide inmates with an atmosphere of psychological and social reassurance and stability just as part of correction measures.

The senior security official went on to say that the plan would also spur inmates to improve their behaviors, give up past negativities, observe prison instructions and join various correctional programs involving vocational, educational, cultural and religious ones. Also speaking to KUNA, Dr Khaled Al-Atrash, a family expert and psychiatrist, said that inmates should not be subject to social isolation since serving prison terms should be meant to rehabilitate them and groom them for better future. He said that in this regard, the “Family House” is a good step in the right direction for maintaining inmates’ social and family links and relationships. Asked about this experiment, a number of inmates hailed the initiative as giving them the hope to get back to the right path and to re-communicate with their family members in a healthy atmosphere aiming at alleviating their imprisonment woes and sufferings. They appreciated the Ministry of Interior’s scheme as having great psychological and social reflections on their prison lives. — KUNA

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Kuwait Times

First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

KUWAIT: Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) plays a pivotal role in growing the nation’s overseas investments and cementing its relations with world countries, said First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Speaking at a National Assembly session in his capacity as KFEAD’s chairman of the board, and addressing the session’s discussion of KFAED’s budget, Sheikh Sabah Al- Khaled touted the work of the Fund which, he noted, has spiked its initial starting budget from KD 970 to five billion Kuwaiti dinars currently.

Rebuffing charges by the lawmakers of the Fund’s lack of performance over the years, he said the Fund has performed well, having “garnered a solid reputation in 105 countries on all the continents of the world.” He cited the fact that the Fund “has given 900 loans with a total value of 19 billion Kuwaiti dinars over the past 55 years in its existence.”

He nixed the idea of allowing the parliamentary committee on budgets and final accounts open monitoring offices in countries where the Fund is carrying out its investments. He showed the government’s readiness to work with the lawmakers on improving whatever they feel should be done to bolster the Fund’s overall mission and performance. — KUNA

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Kuwait Times

Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah -’The Transformation of Kuwait’ by Dr Souad M. Al-Sabah

KUWAIT: “Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah – The Transformation of Kuwait” authored by Dr Souad M Al-Sabah was issued in the English language to celebrate the anniversary of this Sheikh who was one of the most significant figures of Kuwait and who led the Gulf state to modernity. Sheikh Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah was largely responsible for the creation of Kuwaiti defense forces and made it priority to see Kuwait national interest in the face of the British, American and Iranian pressures during crucial period of change.

“The inspiration for this book came to my mind in the aftermath of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990,” Dr Souad Al-Sahah wrote in her preface to the book, which is published by “I B Taurbis”. “The ordeal left a lasting impact on my thinking. It brought home to me the importance of documenting the modern history of my country, which I felt as a sort of moral and ethical duty. I was an insider to many events that I thought should be brought to light,” she added.

She pointed out that “this book is not a compilation of personal memories and recollections. I studied carefully almost all previous works in Arabic and English on Kuwait during the lifetime of sheikh Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah and I interviewed a lot of people who worked with him or served under his command.” Dr Souad Al-Sabah researched British, American, and Kuwaiti archives to compile the facts in this book. The book focuses on the life and history of sheikh Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah, who was a prominent Kuwaiti statesman. He served as Deputy Ruler of Kuwait during most of the 1950s until his resignation in 1961.

These times were characterized by rapid social change; a traditional society was shaken from its roots under the impact of the newly founded oil wealth-and during that decade. The book analyses the role of Abdullah’s quality of leadership makes a difference, especially in times of turmoil and uncertainty. “I have tried to underline the role of the sheikh in dealing with the accelerated changes that swept Kuwait in all walks of life during that period. At times he initiated the changes, and at others he steered Kuwait and its people into a safe haven,” Souad Al-Sabah continued saying in her preface.

Strength of his role
The strength of his role stemmed from three major sources: first, he enjoyed distinguished status within the ruling Al-Sabah family – he was the only living son of Sheikh Mubarak the Great (Mubarak Al-Kabir), the founder of the state (reigned 1896-1915). Thus, he was “uncle” of all rulers and dignitaries of Kuwait from 1915 onwards. Second, over the years, Sheikh Abdullah was trained in different administrative, security and political positions. When he was 14 years old he was tasked with administrating one of the “gates” of Kuwait. At that time Kuwait was surrounded by a number of gates that were kept open during daylight and closed by night. Sheikh Abdullah Mubarak fought smuggling, protected the borders and preserved law and order. The book records many details about his role and responsibilities.

Third, in the 1950s, he assumed the position of Deputy Ruler and developed excellent working relations with the ruling Sheikh for home he acted as trusted right-hand man. Although Sheikh Addullah Mubarak grew up in the desert and maintained great respect for Bedouin culture and traditions, he understood the need for change. This book demonstrates how he was a pioneer in accepting new ideas and ways of doing things. He spoke out to encourage girls’ education and initiated plans to establish a Kuwaiti university. He encouraged young people to enjoy modern sports. Sheikh Abdullah Mubarak built institutions in which the book states in great details how he had a role the fields of security, army, civil aviation, education, broadcasting and non-governmental associations.- KUNA

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MoI inaugurates new building in Al-Jahra

KUWAIT: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said Thursday the security personnel are entrusted with protecting the safety of life and property of citizens and expatriates. “The plan to upgrade the facilities of the Ministry of Interior and build the capacity of the security personnel is well underway,” he said in a speech during the inauguration ceremony of the new headquarters of Al-Jahra Security Directorate tonight.

“The Ministry has recently made headway in implementing its strategy to cut down the rate of criminal offences thanks to the dedication and strenuous efforts of the security personnel,” he affirmed. Sheikh Mohammad conveyed to the leaders and staffers of the Security Directorate the greetings of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Meanwhile, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior Lt-Gen Suleiman Al-Fahad reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to upgrade and modernize its facilities according to the set timetable.

“The Ministry’s plans in this regard take stock of the world’s latest developments in terms of management and security,” he added. On his part, Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services Maj.-Gen Eid Abu-Salib made a presentation on the new building. “The four-story building covers has a total area of 20,000 sq. m. and is equipped with the state-of-the-art technologies,” he noted. Governor of Al-Jahra Lt-Gen Rtd Fahad Al-Amir extolled the efforts being made by Sheikh Mohammad and the senior officers of the Ministry of Interior to protect the security of the country. – KUNA

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General Manager of Kuwait General Administration of Customs (KGAC) Khaled Al-Saif

JEDDAH: Shuwaikh Port has been designated to serve as a launch pad for the implementation of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Customs Union procedures, due to start by the end of the year, General Manager of Kuwait General Administration of Customs (KGAC) Khaled Al-Saif said yesterday.

Al-Saif revealed that information in a statement to KUNA on the sidelines of participation in a meeting of GCC financial and economic delegations in the Saudi city of Jeddah. Moreover, Al-Saif noted that Shuwaikh port has been deemed exemplary due to the fact that it has been found to be up to par with GCC Customs Union standards.

He also added that all GCC nations have allocated one of their ports for which to implement the planned procedures. “The shortcomings found in the chosen ports have been very minimal and all of them are roughly 80 percent fit for the planned procedures to be implemented,” Al-Saif said.

“These procedures aim to eliminate any impediments to customs duties between GCC nations,” he noted. The General Manager of KGAC also said that the GCC Customs Union has made “significant strides,” as he noted that the same procedures planned for sea ports will be implemented on aerial ports as well. The procedures implemented on the chosen ports will ensure tax free transport of goods, as any taxes levied would be left to governments’ discretions.

Meanwhile, Al-Saif said that no final decision has been made on the statuses of added value and selective taxes, noting that the issue will be addressed in a forthcoming meeting slated for October. He also pointed out that taxes issued on goods are dependent on whether the goods are imported or locally made.

VAT, selective tax
In another development, Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Acting Oil Minister Anas Al-Saleh affirmed Thursday night that the 104th extraordinary meeting of the GCC Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee discussed and approved the two framework agreements on the value-added tax (VAT) and the selective tax.

“The ministerial committee will hold a joint meeting with the GCC technical committee September or October to finalize the two agreements and lay the ground for their enforcement in the six members of the GCC,” he told reporters following the meeting. “The just-ended meeting reviewed the proposals of the technical committee, made up of undersecretaries of the ministries of finance, regarding the facilitation of the business atmosphere and the protection of consumer rights.

“The remaining points relate to prevention of double taxation and prevention of any unjustifiable rise in prices,” he revealed. The conferees agreed to ask the GCC Secretariat to designate an acclaimed consultancy office to review the provisions of the conventions in order to ensure the best possible practice, the minister added. — Agencies

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KUWAIT: Ministry of Interior’s Relations and Security Media Department yesterday congratulated Kuwaitis and expats as Kuwait celebrates Gergean.

Ministry of Interior also warned against unlawful behaviors noting that some parents usually leave their children outside very late in the night and unaccompanied.

The department also warned all motorists to be very careful and to slow down in the streets.

The department urged parents to be very careful to avoid losing children. It also urged mothers to avoid dressing their little girls with golden jewelry and leaving them alone on streets to celebrate the occasion – warning that this might make them easy targets for robbers

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KUWAIT: From Dubai to Tunis, Euro 2016 football fever is sweeping the Arab world, filling cafes and restaurants and overshadowing the nightly television soap operas that normally dominate Ramadan viewing. Every year, during the Muslim fasting month, television audiences soar as families gather in front of their sets after breaking the daytime fast. Usually the ratings are dominated by the dozens of rival soaps that are aired by state and private channels.

But this year, Ramadan coincides with the Euros which are another massive draw. “The Euro championship is a high season for us,” said Mohammed Saeed, who runs a cafe in an upmarket area of Cairo. “We wait for it every four years to guarantee a full house.” Cafes in the Egyptian capital have draped the flags of competing countries over their entrances to attract fans.

Some games are played during the day, when devout Muslims are fasting, while others clash with the iftar meal which breaks the daily fast at sunset. In Tunisia, where most cafes are closed during daylight hours in Ramadan, the venue moves to people’s homes.

Evening games begin a few minutes after Muslims break their fast, a time most Tunisians spend with their families watching television. “No doubt there will be disputes in homes between those wanting to watch the soaps and others who want to watch the Euro matches,” said the head of a major television channel in Tunisia.

Television viewing in the region peaks during Ramadan with ratings remaining high well into the night and advertisers devote large chunks of their budget to the small screen’s high season. With most games showing on foreign satellite channels, the main Tunisian channels have scheduled daily analysis programs on the matches.

Passionate about football
Ramadan hasn’t stopped people following the contest on big screens in the Gulf. In Kuwait, whose national team was banned by FIFA in October from taking part in World Cup qualifying matches because of alleged government interference in sports, fans take consolation in the Euros.

“Kuwaitis are passionate about football. It’s their favorite sport. But with the local championship being dull, football fans are passionate about the Euros,” said Salman Awad, former coach of the local Al-Salmiya team. Germany, the reigning world champions, are the most supported team in Kuwait and in many other Arab countries, exceeding defending European champions Spain.

“Germany will win against Spain” in the final, was the prediction of Abbas Sistani as he sat in a restaurant in Kuwait City. In Dubai, one restaurant has erected a huge tent on the beach with big screens to show the games. Wafts of aromatic smoke fill the air as diners puff on flavored tobaccos from hookahs, the water pipes that are a popular social pastime across the region. In another restaurant, an excited Jamie, sporting a white England shirt, said the cosmopolitan city state was a great venue to follow the tournament.

“I don’t think we’re going to win it. I don’t think we’re close to being favorites,” he said. But “when it’s a decent game, this place is jam-packed… you can’t get that atmosphere at home… It’s as good as it gets.” — AFP

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Kuwait Times

Young Voices

KUWAIT: Nearly a quarter of Kuwait’s entire population is under the age of 14 and yet with the exception of school assemblies, we never hear their voices. During Ramadan, Kuwait Times likes to publish a special series that engages with its readership in a more direct, personal way to learn their concerns, issues and viewpoints.

This Ramadan, we will chat with some of our youngest readers about their lives in Kuwait, in an attempt to see the world through their eyes. What do they see for the future of our beautiful country? What would they improve and how would they change it? By listening to their future plans, stories, and experience in Ramadan, we can remind ourselves and hopefully our readers of the ties that bind us all together as a species. These are the voice of Kuwait’s future and we invite them to share their thoughts with us here.

Riley Malcon B Roman is a six-year-old Filipino boy from Jabriya Indian School. Born in Kuwait, Riley stays with his dad, drawing or playing with his favorite Angry Bird toys. “I love to draw Angry Birds. I want to be like my dad (an artist) and do what my father loves doing. I imitate him and always mess up his workplace, so I get scolded,” he said. Riley loves Kuwait and the cold weather during winter. “I also love summer because there is no school, so more playing and drawing,” he laughed.

At home, Riley plays his favorite Angry Bird game on his gadget. “I love my father – he takes me to places I love and plays with me,” he said. Riley also has a pet bird named ‘Angry Bird’. “I like my pet bird – what I love the most is the sound it makes. I like to listen it and I clean its cage every day,” he said. Riley likes animals like crocodiles, baboons, birds and dinosaurs. He spends most of his time watching animal shows on TV. “I enjoy seeing the movement of animals,” he said.
Riley loves Ramadan because of the food and candies he gets in the night.

If you would like your child to be interviewed for this special series, please email us at local@kuwaittimes.net

– By Ben Garcia

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Kuwait Times

Five arrested on begging charges

KUWAIT: Capital police arrested four Asian nationals begging in the vicinity of Yarmouk Co-op Society. In addition, a Jordanian woman in Kuwait on a visit visa was arrested at Ardhiya Co-op Society. The arrests came during ongoing crackdowns on begging during Ramadan, the Interior Ministry’s Relations and Security Department said. It added that all suspects were referred to relevant authorities pending summoning their sponsors, who will be held legally accountable by banning them from sponsoring any further people, while the beggars are deported.

Food safety campaign
As part of Kuwait Municipality’s ongoing food safety campaign during Ramadan, the Capital inspection team inspected a large number of stores, butcheries and grocery shops yesterday. The team filed 30 citations against peddlers, seven citations for unlicensed food transport vehicles, confiscated two tons of expired food items, closed down three butcheries and two stores, removed two unlicensed grocery stores and inspected five food preparation centers. The team also removed 95 illegal ads.

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

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Kuwait Times

Sheikh Mohammed Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah

KUWAIT: Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammed Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah stressed the significance of the tenders law for both the economy and execution of projects. Sheikh Mohammed added that the new law would give contractors more opportunities and open the market to both local and foreign companies to compete equally and transparently. He also noted that preparing a memo about this particular law was the first thing he did when he joined the Cabinet in 1996, and it took this memo 20 years to come to light. Meanwhile, MP Saud Al-Huraiji said that the new tenders law would help Kuwait catch up with other GCC states’ achievements that had been delayed for many reasons in Kuwait, including lack of legislations.

Power plants safe
A Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) official strongly denied the credibility of videos that have been circulating recently about a malfunction at the Shuaiba plant because of jellyfish entering the power generation units. “Jellyfish are seasonal and are usually prevented from entering the generation units that use seawater for cooling,” Assistant Undersecretary for Water Plant Operation and Maintenance Sector Fuad Al-Oun. He added that special nets were also used to prevent jellyfish from entering the water distillation and desalination units.

University management
The national campaign for fighting fake and forged degrees issued a statement expressing the rejection of separating Shadadiya University from Kuwait University under a new administration or private sector management. The campaign urged lawmakers to adopt this issue because Kuwait University staff and students have been impatiently waiting for the new project.

By Meshaal Al-Enezi

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Kuwait Times

Assembly discusses final statements of accounts

KUWAIT: The National Assembly is set to hold a session today to discuss legislation pertinent to the final statements of accounts of a number of government bodies. Today’s session will tackle the budgets of eight governmental entities, in addition to a report by a youth and sports parliamentary committee, which suggests some amendments to law number 42/1978 that deals with sports authorities, said a statement by rapporteur of parliament’s priority committee Ahmad Lari on Thursday.

Moreover, involved government bodies include the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET), Kuwait University (KU), Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI), Kuwait Fire Service Directorate and Environment Public Authority (EPA), amongst other government institutions. Similarly, tomorrow’s parliamentary session has also been allocated to discuss the budgets of nine additional government bodies, as well as reports issued by a cultural and educational parliamentary committee. – KUNA

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Kuwait Times

KUWAIT: Dust covers the sky in Kuwait City this past Thursday. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Astronomer Khaled Abdullah Al-Jamaan said that the current dusty weather is part of a climatic condition locally known as ‘Bawareh.’ During that season, northerly and northwesterly winds occasionally blow, causing the rise of dust during daytime, before it subsides by night. Jamaan added that Bawareh winds usually reduce the temperature during the day because the dust blocks the sunrays. This season often lasts until the end of July, he pointed out.

MoH budget
Auditing bodies approved the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) request to import and provide pharmacies at public hospitals and polyclinics with fast-acting insulin injections for diabetic patients at a total cost of KD 3.1 million. MoH sources also said that the ministry is currently preparing to import special equipment for Farwaniya Hospital’s radiology department at a total cost of KD 565,000, in addition to special equipment for the physiology department at a total cost of KD 17,000.

Zour plant
The final day for receiving bids for the North Zour power plant’s phase 2 tender will be Tuesday, June 21, said the Partnerships Technical Bureau. The bureau added that other projects like Municipal Solid Waste Treatment Facility in Kabd, and the Abdaliya Integrated Solar Combined Cycle Project have no fixed dates so far. In addition, the bureau explained that 50 percent of shares of the North Zour power plant’s phase 1 would be offered for public bidding after the project is fully operational in November.

By A Saleh

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