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LOCAL ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019 2 ‘Crucial and dynamic’ Iraq’s ties with Kuwait, says top lawmaker MoFA takes over role of Kuwaiti national POWs panel KUNA photos Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Farid Amadi during the opening of the exhibition of projects and achievements of the ministry (Riwaq). KUNA photos The winner of the click competition for the month of February – by Hassan Mahmoud. Deputy Director-General of KUNA and Editor-in-Chief Saad Al-Ali while receiv- ing the winners of the award for the months of January and February, Ahmed Darwish and Hassan Mahmoud on the sidelines of the honoring. BAGHDAD, April 21, (KUNA): Iraqi Par- liament Speaker Mo- hamed Al-Halbousi on Saturday described his country’s rela- tions with Kuwait as “crucial and dynamic” during an Iraqi-hosted conference, compris- ing leading parlia- ment representatives of neighboring countries. He said there was “wide” understanding and that eco- nomic deals were in the “preparation phase” between the two. Al-Halbousi said that this was thanks to Kuwait’s hosting of a global donor conference targeting Iraq’s reconstruction in February last year. Iraqis are “no longer anx- ious” about being one-dimen- sional and are today keen on building strategic partnerships with their neighbours, without “favouritism.” Iraq has signed agreements with Iran and Saudi Arabia, he said, while its relations with Turkey “exceptional,” as the two prepare for joint economic plans. Iraq is also keen to open its border crossings with Syria for trade, after doing so with Jor- dan. Meanwhile, Kuwait’s Minis- try of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said it would assume the role formerly associated with the National Committee for the Missing and POWs after it was disbanded on Sunday. The ministry will manage the matter instead, it said in a state- ment, expressing commitment to maintaining services offered to the families of Kuwaitis who went missing after Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait. The committee was formed in 1992, a year after the libera- tion of Kuwait by joint military Kuwaiti and allied forces. The families were urged to renew their information at the following address, between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm: Foreign Ministry – Consu- late Affairs Shuwaikh, Jahra Road, near Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Tel: (+965) 2222-5726, (+965) 2222-5736. KUNA honors winners of ‘Click’ Separate ice rink for players being built MoH checks on Kuwaiti patients at Mayo Clinic Citizens said avoiding nursing profession Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) hon- ored Sunday the winners of the best picture for January and February 2019, as part of the “Click” contest posted on its website for amateur and professional photographers. KUNA Deputy Director General and Editor-in-Chief Saad Al-Ali has honored Ahmad Darwish the winner of January’s best picture and Hassan Mahmoud for February. Al-Ali noted importance of this com- petition to encourage creative photog- raphers as part of KUNA’s policy to cater for skills and talents. The competition portrays Kuwait’s monuments and landmarks, as well as daily life through the lenses of the photographer, he pointed out. (KUNA) Winter sports becoming very popular in Kuwait and are attracting many fans KUWAIT CITY, April 21, (KUNA): Minister of Health Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Sabah visited the Kuwaiti patients being treated at Mayo Clinic in Rochester City, Minneso- ta State, north of the United States, on Saturday. The minister aimed to get reassured on health condi- tions of the Kuwaiti patients and make sure of the care provided to them, according to a statement by the Minis- try of Health. During his visit, Sheikh Dr Basel met the direc- tor general and executives of the nonprofit academic medical center to explore prospects of health coopera- tion and experience sharing as well as the possibility of training Kuwaiti physicians at US specialized centers. The minister, leading a delegation from his minis- try, is now on a visit to US hospitals, accommodating Kuwaiti patients, to be ac- quainted with the problems they might face. Yesterday, he met of- ficials of Kuwait Health Office in Washington and instructed them to facilitate the treatment and stay of pa- tients and their companions, according to the statement. Awqaf okays eight caravans for minor pilgrimage Al-Ghanim congratulates Kuwaiti surgeon, Queen Elizabeth II on her birthday By Fahad Al-Enizi KUWAIT CITY, April 21, (KUNA): Winter sports are very popular and at- tract many fans from around the world, and the International Olympic Com- mittee (IOC) is organizing the Winter Olympic Games every four years. The winter sports are attracting a grow- ing number of boys and girls in Kuwait who play ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating and curling ice, under su- pervision of Kuwait Winter Games Club. Kuwaitis began practicing ice hockey and have formed an amateur team in 1980s. But, the challenge was lack of an sepa- rate ice rink for players to exercise and play games, but the Club and the Public Authority for Sport joined hands to build an rink with IOC standards in Bayan Area. Feheid Al-Ajmi, Club chairman, said the new rink would contribute to devel- opment of winter games in Kuwait. Speaking to KUNA, Al-Ajmi said the first three stages of the contribution of the rink were supervised by a team from Fin- land, while the fourth phase, which would be supervised by a German team, would include installation of ice machines. Vice-Chairman Khaled Al-Mutairi said the new facility would organize the training timings for the teams, who would play in a safe environment. Jassem Al-Awadhi, Kuwait National Ice Hockey men team player, said they were eager to see completion of the rink because it would contribute to improve- ment of their game and endurance. Yara Al-Kharji, Kuwait Figure Skat- ing women team player, said the new facility would ensure sustainability of practices. KUWAIT CITY, April 21: Ministry of Awqaf has approved of eight caravans for minor pilgrimage this year based on low- est prices, reports Al-Qabas daily quot- ing reliable sources. The same sources noted a total of 245 Kuwaitis and 125 Bedoun pilgrims have since registered, and Kuwaitis are paying KD 1,300 according to the classification of services, while Bedouns are paying be- tween KD 1,000 and KD 1,300. They also said the committee affiliated to Hajj Affairs Department formed to examine buildings in the holy land com- pleted their work and returned to Kuwait on Saturday. The committee has pledged to deal with observations made among the Hajj caravans before the start of Hajj season. ❑ ❑ ❑ Despite the State’s tendency to expand medical facilities, those observing the current situation, especially those con- cerned with medical affairs, noticed the delayed operation of these projects, re- ports Al-Qabas daily. The latest statistics revealed that Jaber and Jahra hospitals need 910 doctors; 3,900 nurses; 1,180 pharmacists and 740 technicians. Meanwhile, a source from the Fac- ulty of Nursing in the Public Author- ity for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) said citizens are avoiding the nursing profession in spite of the ur- gent need for national manpower in this field, similar to other professions; es- pecially among men who shun this job because of the wrong societal outlook towards it. HH Amir congratulates Kuwaiti surgeon inducted into ASA KUWAIT CITY, April 21, (KUNA): His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Sunday sent a letter to Kuwaiti sur- geon Dr Waddah Al-Refaie, who was inducted into the American Surgical Association (ASA), making him the first Kuwaiti to receive such honor. In the Letter, His Highness the Amir expressed most profound pride of Al-Refaie’s academic and medical accomplishments, wishing him a con- tinuously successful career. 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 sent similar let- ters to Dr Al-Refaie. Dr Al-Refaie is the Regional Chief of Surgical Oncology and John Dil- lon Professor of Surgical Oncology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. The ASA, founded in 1880, is America’s oldest and most prestig- ious surgical organization, whose members include the nation’s most prominent surgeons. Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim on Sunday sent a letter to Kuwaiti sur- geon Dr Waddah Al-Refaie, who was inducted into the American Sur- gical Association (ASA), making him the first Kuwaiti to receive such honor. In the Letter, Al-Ghanim expressed most profound pride of Al-Refaie’s academic and medical accomplish- ments, wishing him a continuously successful career. Also, National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim sent Sunday a cable to Queen of the United King- dom and the other Commonwealth realms Elizabeth II, congratulating Her Majesty on her birthday. Amir’s award hailed: Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of HH Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Award for Informatics Sheikha Aida Salem Al-Ali expressed happiness over the exceptional award that the World Bank gave to His High- ness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. She said she is proud of HH the Amir who has a unique global position in terms of humanitarian activities, distinguished leadership, generosity and wisdom. She pointed out the recent achievement highlights part of the successful career of HH the Amir in all fields; and it is added to the previous title given to him – Leader of Development, Peace and Humanitarian Work. ❑ ❑ ❑ 3 help friend escape: Police have arrested three people who helping their friend to escape from the police, reports Al-Rai daily. This happened when police during an inspection tour of Keifan suspected an unidentified youth and after checking his name, they found he had been sentenced in absentia to three years imprisonment. When the suspect was put in the patrol car, his friends came from nowhere and started a fight with the police and as they were involved in the scuffle, the suspect escaped. News in Brief
