4 Established 1961 Wednesday, July 29, 2020 Local

Established 1961 The First Daily in The Arabian Gulf Sixteenth meeting of UK- Joint THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961 Steering Group takes place today Founder and Publisher YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN Defense subgroup to discuss training, joint exercises Editor-in-Chief ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-ALYAN KUWAIT: The first of the sub-groups of the response, training of Kuwaiti forces in the UK, the framework of the UK/Kuwait Bilateral Joint EDITORIAL : 24833199-24833358-24833432 sixteenth meeting of the biannual UK-Kuwait and progressing government-to-government Steering Group (JSG). I am delighted that this ADVERTISING : 24835616/7 Joint Steering Group, which is the Defense sub- procurement discussions among other subjects. 16th JSG will take forward our work across key FAX : 24835620/1 group will be held virtually today. The meetings areas of bilateral Kuwait-UK co-operation, CIRCULATION : 24833199 Extn. 163 of the UK-Kuwait Joint Steering Group reflect starting with a meeting of the Defense Working ACCOUNTS : 24833199 Extn. 125 the two countries’ commitment to working Group on July 29, which I look forward to COMMERCIAL : 24835618 together to advance the close Kuwait-UK rela- Facing attending. P.O.Box 1301 Safat,13014 Kuwait. tionship to the benefit of both countries. The This will be followed by working groups Email: [email protected] UK-Kuwait Joint Steering Group covers a wide challenges focusing on next steps in bilateral co-opera- Website: www.kuwaittimes.net range of issues, including trade, investment, tion on security, including aviation security, migration, security, defense, cyber security, presented by cyber security, health, trade and investment, healthcare, education, higher education, scien- COVID-19 international development, education, culture tific research, environment, culture and interna- and science. I am most grateful to Khaled Al- tional development. Jarallah, Deputy Foreign Minister, Waleed Al- George takes over The defense subgroup will focus on ways to Khubaizi and their cross-ministerial teams for strengthen cooperation between the two coun- their support and encouragement in our joint as ’s new tries especially on training and joint exercises. The British Ambassador to Kuwait Michael endeavor to deepen our co-operation and The discussions will cover Exercise Desert Davenport said: “Over the next few weeks the jointly face the challenges presented by ambassador on Aug 2 Warrior, emergency planning and crisis UK will be hosting virtual working groups in COVID-19.” Kuwaiti charity trains 100 Yemeni youth KUWAIT: Kuwait Relief Society (KRC) launched yes- terday technical and vocational youth empowerment project, which aims to develop the capabilities of 100 young people in Taiz Governorate in electrical supply and maintenance of solar energy, within the framework Sibi George of the ‘Kuwait by your side’ campaign. In his speech during the inauguration ceremony, the First Deputy Governor of Taiz Abdul-Qawi Al-Mikhlafi praised KUWAIT: Sibi George will assume office as Kuwait’s humanitarian, relief interventions and the gen- India’s new ambassador to Kuwait on August erous support towards relief organizations in Yemen, 2. He will succeed K Jeeva Sagar who has completed his tenure in Kuwait as India’s and its people, especially in the humanitarian, health, ambassador, informed sources said. environmental and development projects for more than George, a 1993 batch five years. He added that these courses improved (IFS) officer, has been India’s Ambassador to young people’s life and turned them into productive Switzerland since 2017. He was first appointed self-reliant individuals to support their families and as political officer at Indian High Commission in improve their living conditions, pointing out that the . He also has served various Indian mis- authorities provide all support and facilities to establish sions in , , , and such activities. Director of Response Corporation, who Washington DC in various capacities prior to implemented the project Mohammad Al-Katheeri stat- his appointment in Switzerland. ed that the 30-day training comes within the interest of The Kuwait government had earlier KRC and Response Foundation in rehabilitating youth approved George as India’s new ambassador abilities to improve their living standards. He showed to the country, who will be submitting his that the course also includes another 10 days of training credentials on his arrival in Kuwait, the to acquire the skills of entrepreneurship and managing sources added. small projects, so that they can raise their ambitions to start their own projects. —KUNA

sive only to Gulf Bank Gulf Bank carries employees, offers a more focused approach towards raising awareness on vari- out employee ous topics such as mental health, human relations, wellbeing campaign creative problem solving and motivation. Dr Amar KUWAIT: In response to the unprecedented cir- leads these workshops cumstances resulting from the current ongoing with particular attention coronavirus pandemic, Gulf Bank has launched the to frontline and customer- ‘Employee Wellbeing Program’ to assist its employ- facing employees who ees cope with the drastic changes and its effects on constitute the majority of Salma Al-Hajjaj their emotional and mental wellbeing. The program, attendees. which offers employees access to professional coun- On the importance of this program, Gulf Bank’s seling through a series of focused workshop ses- General Manager of Human Resources Salma Al- sions, is designed to target specific challenges facing Hajjaj has stated: “We are committed to looking the bank’s workforce, particularly the customer fac- after our employees’ well-being, even as we con- ing employees. In partnership with Dr Amar tinue to serve our customers, which is why we Behbehani, who holds a PhD in Creative Psychology believe this initiative will be of great benefit to and Design Education, the sessions offer up to 40 them. We designed this program to address spe- hours of group counseling where employees discuss cific challenges and provide employees with the the state of their psychological wellbeing and are tools they need to adapt. Being fully aware of the offered the tools and advice to cope with any emo- mental and emotional implications this pandemic tional or mental challenges they face. has had on the masses, we believe it is an essential The initiative was at first launched as public recovery program.” webinars targeting employees in the banking sector Gulf Bank is currently welcoming customers at a during Kuwait’s full lockdown to monitor the psy- select number of branches throughout the country, chological effects this period had on employees and and is keen on applying all the necessary precau- to provide the guidance and advice on coping tionary measures to ensure the regular sterilization mechanism. Using a multitude of interactive tools of its locations. These measures include taking cus- and polls, attendees discussed issues related to per- tomers’ temperatures at the entrance, maintaining sonal, social and career wellbeing in light of the physical distance, and ensuring both customers and psychological challenges employees have been staff are wearing gloves and masks at all times. Gulf adapting to during the past few months on both a Bank is committed to applying the best preventive personal and career level. health measure to ensure the safety of both its The current ongoing workshop sessions, exclu- clients and staff. KNPC opens new petrol station

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s state-owned gas firm on Monday residential areas were also among the new locations inaugurated a fuel station in the country’s Jaber Al- for these gas pumping stations, added the statement, Ahmad residential area, the fourth in a string of similar highlighting the ‘modern’ architecture used to con- facilities the company has recently opened nation- struct the environment-friendly facilities, all of which wide. The new gas station is one of 18 stations set to were equipped with ‘cutting-edge’ solar panels. The spring up across the country, most of which will be in station in Jaber Al-Ahmad also includes an adjacent residential areas to meet consumers’ demand for fuel, convenience store, ATM machine and an auto repair Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) said in shop, amongst other miscellaneous services, KNPC a statement. Sabah Al-Ahmad and Saad Al-Abdullah statement added. —KUNA