Strong Turkey-Kuwait ties, rooted in the historical friendship between the two nations, have enabled both countries to take the relations to a higher level, Ankara’s outgoing Ambassador to Kuwait City, Ayşe Hilal Sayan Koytak, said.

Noting that bilateral ties between Turkey and Kuwait have greatly improved since she assumed office in November 2017, Sayan Koytak said there has been a serious growth in the economy, trade, tourism and cultural relations. She continued by saying that there is an extensive potential for cooperation and that Turkey aims to further deepen its ties with Kuwait at all levels.

“Ongoing developments in our region and the world require dialogue,” she said, adding that Turkey values consultations, dialogue and cooperation with Kuwait on regional issues and both countries have a similar approach to regional and global developments.

Turkey and Kuwait have various dialogue mechanisms to enhance ties, according to the ambassador. The Joint Committee for Cooperation held its first meeting in Ankara in 2021 after eight years, where both countries touched upon areas of cooperation and signed an action plan for 2021-2022.

“Our goal now is to come up with a five-year action plan,” Sayan Koytak said.

Meanwhile, the ambassador also highlighted education initiatives, including the Kuwait Turkish School, which is affiliated with Turkey’s Education Ministry. She also noted that more people seek to learn Turkish due to the popularity of Turkish TV series.

In addition to Turkish courses offered at the Kuwait Turkish School, the Turkish Embassy also launched an initiative for the establishment of the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center, which will be completed soon.

Bilateral relations between the two countries have been strengthened in recent years with deals in several realms, including economic, trade, defense and political areas./Daily Sabah

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health are urging men who have sex with men to get vaccinated for meningitis amid "one of the worst outbreaks of meningococcal disease among gay and bisexual men in U.S. history."

Twenty-six cases and seven deaths from meningococcal disease have been recorded in Florida in recent weeks, of which 24 cases and six deaths were in gay and bisexual men.

The CDC said in a statement that the outbreak of meningococcal infections was "primarily among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, including those living with HIV. Recent data show that about half of the cases associated with this outbreak are among Hispanic men.

"This outbreak is mostly affecting people who live in Florida, but has also affected some people who have traveled to Florida."

Stock images: a map of Florida and a rendering of the meningococcal bacterium next to neuron cells.ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

Meningococcal infections include meningitis (an infection of the meninges membrane lining of the brain and spinal cord) and bloodstream sepsis. If left untreated, both these conditions can kill within days. Two serogroups—subspecies of the meningococcal bacteria—known as B and C have been recorded in the Florida outbreak.

Serogroup C is the strain currently affecting large numbers of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. There is also an outbreak in Leon County of serogroup B meningococcal disease among college students.

The bacteria is spread through prolonged close contact involving sharing respiratory or throat secretions, such as saliva or spit. Although it is not classified as a sexually transmitted disease because it is not transferred via sexual bodily fluids such as semen, it can be spread through sex or kissing.

"Getting vaccinated against meningococcal disease is the best way to prevent this serious illness, which can quickly become deadly," said Dr. José R. Romero, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, in the CDC statement.

"Because of the outbreak in Florida, and the number of Pride events being held across the state in coming weeks, it's important that gay and bisexual men who live in Florida get vaccinated, and those traveling to Florida talk to their healthcare provider about getting a MenACWY vaccine."

The MenACWY vaccination protects against serogroups A, C, W and Y, while the MenB vaccine is recommended for serogroup B. People with HIV are most vulnerable to meningococcal infections, as they are often immunocompromised. The CDC advises people with HIV to receive a meningococcal conjugate ACWY vaccine, as well as booster doses of this vaccine throughout life.

Neisseria meningitidis bacteria are responsible for these outbreaks, but many people have the bacteria living inside them without getting ill. About 1 in 10 people have these bacteria in the back of their nose and throat, but they will not get sick unless the bacteria gets into the bloodstream or the lining of the brain. Serogroups B, C, and Y are the most commonly seen in the U.S./agencies

KUWAIT CITY : The Central Bank of Kuwait informed banks that, starting from July 3, they must provide it with data of financial transfers in and out of Kuwait, and cash deposits with local banks that are equal to or more than 3,000 dinars, reports Al- Rai daily quoting CBK sources. The sources stated that the Central Bank has issued a circular to all banks that it was decided to establish a database for the transactions to be reported (TRS) and related to each of the cash deposits made to customer accounts (LCT) and money transfers executed to Kuwait for the benefit of customers (FCT), which are equal to or greater than 3 thousand dinars or its equivalent in foreign currencies per day for one customer.

The sources indicated that this decision comes within the framework of increasing the Central Bank’s double follow-up to additionally verify the extent of the banks’ commitment to follow up on unusual operations, explaining that, in order to quickly benefit from the data required to be sent from banks according to the guideline in this regard, it was decided that receiving information should be required (TRS) for the relevant data from (LCT) and (FCT) no later than 10 am from the day following the date of executing the transaction, including holidays and official holidays, with the possibility of receiving the system after that for transactions that were not listed by the unit Within the predetermined period, as a result of technical errors or malfunctions that led to this.

In addition, the bank must present the justifications and clarifications that caused this to the Coordination and Monitoring Unit of Information Systems in the Control Sector at the Central Bank, as it is scheduled to take the appropriate regulatory action in the absence of clarifications acceptable to the bank in this regard. The sources indicated that the Central Bank had previously informed bank officials that it plans to create more tools in this regard, which contribute to increasing the ability to inquire, follow-up and analyze patterns and behavior of unusual operations.

Responsible banking sources expected that the database of these transactions would expand compared to the numbers that the Central Bank had collected years ago, specifically before the establishment of the Financial Intelligence Unit in 2013 regarding combating money laundering and terrorist financing. It is noteworthy that CBK officials had earlier held an extensive meeting with directors of anti-money laundering and terrorist financing departments, compliance and internal control managers, and specialists in local banks, with the aim of making arrangements to provide the supervisory regulator with new data./AT

KUWAIT CITY: After two consecutive years of suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first flights of pilgrims to the House of Allah in Makkah for this year will depart from Kuwait International Airport on July 3, reports Al-Qabas daily. In a press statement, Director General of the Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) Yousef Al-Fawzan announced an integrated plan to deal with the current pilgrimage season. He revealed that the scheduling of 20 flights, and an additional one, to transport about 5,622 pilgrims to the holy land has been completed”.

Al-Fawzan explained that DGCA held several meetings with the authorities operating at the airport and other related parties, and discussed ways for simplifying the procedures for the pilgrims and passengers during the season and the Eid al-Adha holidays. DGCA has completed its preparations for the current pilgrimage with a set of terms and controls in order to facilitate the procedures for the movement of pilgrims.

The operational arrangements for pilgrims’ flights and their departure timings from the country have been made, in proportion to the numbers. The departure and arrival of pilgrims will be through three terminal buildings – T4, T5 and T1 – in order to prevent overcrowding, and through four companies – Kuwait Airways, Saudi Airlines, Jazeera Airways and flynas.

The quotas and seats for pilgrims were distributed to the airlines in accordance with the policy of DGCA and in a manner that serves the air transport market in the country and the pilgrims, and achieves fairness among companies. Al-Fawzan confirmed that the plans that DGCA will implement include “the Hajj Expedition Offices will receive the pilgrims’ bags and bring them to the airport, instead of the pilgrim himself, so that the latter comes to the airport and goes directly to the passports area without going through the baggage weighing hall to avoid any delay”.

He said, “This procedure also applies upon return to the country. The Hajj Expedition Offices will receive the bags and distribute them to the pilgrims at the office headquarters. Support staff will be provided by all the authorities operating at the airport, and will be distributed to the departure and arrival halls and the corridor leading to the parking lots. Also, additional counters at the airport will be provided for operating agencies to ensure the comfort and convenience of pilgrims, which contributes to the completion of travel procedures easily”.

Al-Fawzan affirmed the keenness of DGCA to provide all logistical services to the pilgrims by allocating field work teams to serve them in six stations starting with car parks, passing through the airport hall, the passport area and the transit area, and then boarding./AT

Kuwait University (KU), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the PACE engineering and architectural consultancy firm signed on Thursday a letter of Intent (LOI) on joint humanitarian projects. The signing of the LOI occurred at the United Nations House in Mishref. UNHCR representative in Kuwait Nisreen Rubaian said in a joint press conference that the LOI was a starting point for cooperation for the involved parties. The UNHCR was glad for the partnership with the private, charitable, and academic sector in Kuwait, which reflect the pure intention of the Kuwaiti people and the youth in this country.

Now that the number of refugees and displaced persons around the world had surpassed 100 million people, it was paramount for all organizations, communities and global citizens to act together for the betterment of the world, she added. Meanwhile, head of the college of architecture at KU Dr Sheikha Al-Mubaraki that the LOI was an important document aimed at bolstering the trilateral parties’ efforts to serve refugees.

Those studying architecture are keen on contributing to humanitarian efforts and aid directed towards the refugees. Similarly, PACE’s CEO Tarek Shuaib indicated that the firm was eager to provide its expertise for entities or individuals involved in refugees’ relief. He affirmed that the firm was eager to be part of Kuwait’s humanitarian reach whether through awareness campaigns or actual architectural efforts. – KUNA

A ministerial committee has begun procedures to prepare a clear framework for work environment in the northern economic zone as it awaits a new government, following the National Assembly elections in few months. Official sources said the 15 government entities that are members of the committee must complete their job in the next nine months before the new 2023-2024 budget which starts by April 2023.

There should be practical mechanisms to establish an economic zone in northern Kuwait – with a legal investment structure. The sources said that the work plan targets 2025 as a date to implement the economic zone project, adding that the government will create an Authority (in 2025) which will be named the Northern Economic Zone Authority.

Meanwhile, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Dr Nayef Al-Hajraf has welcomed the planned meeting between GCC commerce ministers and UK International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan in Riyadh on Wednesday. In a press statement, the GCC chief stated that the GCC states are interested in bolstering economic and trade cooperation with the United Kingdom. He admired the constructive moves taken by both sides to achieve this goal since their latest meeting in London last October. Al-Hajraf noted that they have discussed during this meeting signing a joint free trade agreement to signal a new milestone in GCC-UK relations.

Labor ban mulled

In other news, Kuwait government is studying a proposal to ban all types of visas given to expatriates from 10 countries, mostly African, because they do not have embassies in Kuwait, local media reported. Kuwait’s Interior Ministry is currently considering banning all types of visas to citizens of 10 countries, including seven African states: Madagascar, Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Benin, Mali and Congo.

The three other non-African countries have not been identified. According to an Arabic daily report, these countries do not have embassies in Kuwait although there are thousands of their citizens working in the country, making the deportation of violators and those involved in crimes difficult. Sources said the deportation of convicted expatriate residents from the 10 countries is very complex and time-consuming process – posing a threat to the country’s security.

Another reason is that there are no direct flights between Kuwait and these countries. Local media indicated that some violators from these countries deliberately conceal or destroy their passports, making it difficult for security services because there are no embassies in Kuwait where they can get travel documents issued for the deported people to be able to leave the country.

Many convicted people from the 10 countries have been in jail for long time because they destroyed their documents. Kuwait resorted to the embassies of their countries in Saudi Arabia and the UAE to get their official documents issued in order to deport them. – Agencies

Despite the war in Ukraine, global services trade continued to grow in the second quarter of this year, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said on Thursday.

The WTO’s Services Trade Barometer stood at 105.5 for the second quarter, well above the previous reading of 102.5 in September 2021.

Among the barometer’s components, the passenger air transport index registered the strongest gain, coming in at 117.1.

It was followed by the services purchasing managers’ index at 105.1, and information and communication technology services at 104.2.

The financial services index, on the other hand, lost momentum and stood at 101.7.

The WTO said the services trade activity index has shown slow but steady growth since it bottomed out in the second quarter of 2020 in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The index continued to move towards recovery in the fourth quarter of 2021 with a 15.6% year-on-year increase, although it remained 8.9% below its pre-pandemic peak in the second quarter of 2019,” read a WTO statement.

Figures higher than 100 suggest above-trend growth, while those below 100 indicate the opposite, according to the WTO./agencies