4 Established 1961 Local Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Photo of the Day

Established 1961 The First Daily in The Arabian Gulf

THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961 Founder and Publisher YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN Editor-in-Chief ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-ALYAN EDITORIAL : 24833199-24833358-24833432 ADVERTISING : 24835616/7 FAX : 24835620/1 CIRCULATION : 24833199 Extn. 163 ACCOUNTS : 24833199 Extn. 125 COMMERCIAL : 24835618 P.O.Box 1301 Safat,13014 . Email: [email protected] Website: www.kuwaittimes.net

News in brief Kuwait reports KD10.8b deficit for 2020/2021

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Finance said Saturday the budget deficit hit KD 10.8 billion (nearly $35.5 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021. The figure reflects an increase by 68 174.8 percent compared to last year, according to a ministry press release. Oil rev- enues in the last fiscal year stood at KD 8.790 billion ($28.9 billion); a 42.8-percent decline from the previous year, while non-oil revenues declined by 6.5 percent to KD 1.730 billion (some $5.6 billion). The expenditures on salaries and subsidies accounted for 73 per- cent of the aggregate expenditure, noted the release. Commenting on the figures, Minister of Finance, Minister of State for Economic and Investment Affairs Khalifa Hamada said FY 2020-2021’s deficit is the “highest in Kuwait’s KUWAIT: Players compete during a motosurf racing in Ahmadi Governorate, Kuwait, on Friday. — Photo by Ghazy Qaffaf (Xinhua) budgetary history”.

Foreign Minister congratulates new UN Envoy to Yemen Ambassador meets

KUWAIT: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Dr prominent Pakistani Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah con- gratulated Hans Grundberg on his appointment executives in Kuwait as the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy to Yemen. Sheikh Dr Ahmad Al-Nasser expressed KUWAIT: Pakistani executives from the account- during a phone call his sincere wishes of suc- ancy profession working in various industrial and cess to Grundberg upon assuming such impor- service sectors in Kuwait met the Pakistani tant position. He reiterated the State of Kuwait’s Ambassador Sajjad at the Pakistan House recently. principled an unwavering commitment to At the start of the meeting, the ambassador wel- Yemen’s unity, stability and security, as well as comed everyone at the Pakistan House. He reiterat- support to all efforts aimed at reaching a ed that Pakistani professionals in Kuwait should peaceful solution to the crisis. In this regard, play a positive role in further enhancing Pakistan’s Sheikh Dr Ahmad Al-Nasser underlined the image in accountancy, finance and technology field. importance of implementing the Saudi peace Ambassador Sajjad also highlighted the initiative in Yemen, in addition to the Gulf initia- achievements of Pakistanis in Kuwait in other ask questions and responded to their enquiries and help has been requested. tive, outcomes of the Yemeni National Dialogue areas like health, financial services and technolo- gave his views on the issues raised. The Pakistani During lunch organized for the prominent and the UN Security Council Resolution 2216. gy. He hoped that these trends will continue and executives thanked the ambassador for accepting to Pakistani executives, further discussions were held The top diplomat also reiterated Kuwait’s sup- that the Pakistani diaspora in Kuwait will “contin- meet them and were pleased to hear the measures and future actions determined. At the end of the port for efforts and measures to be undertaken ue to make Pakistan proud of their ever-growing taken by the ambassador and his team to solve the meeting, the ambassador lauded the positive role by the Special Envoy in the matter. achievements in their fields.” issues faced by the Pakistan community and also being played by the Pakistani executives in Kuwait He then requested the executives gathered to thanked them for their responsiveness whenever and wished them success in their future endeavors.

Kuwait Airways commends decision to allow residents in KUWAIT: Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) praised Kuwait’s recent decision to allow residents fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the country, saying that it the latest of decisions taken this year that are hoped to help revive the aviation industry that was heavily impacted by the pandemic. In this regard, KAC reiterated in a press state- ment yesterday that it had launched its first com- mercial flight to , Germany on July 17, with Thursdays. And on June 18, it began organizing schedule flights to this destination two times a three flights a week to Trabzon on Sundays, week; Thursdays and Saturdays. KAC had launched Mondays and Fridays, in addition to the regular on July 10 its first commercial flight to Geneva, flights to Istanbul. Moreover, the national carrier Switzerland, as it schedules two flights a week to announced two flights per week to Tbilisi on this destination; on Mondays and Fridays. On July 8, Mondays and Fridays, in addition to several summer the airline announced increasing weekly flights to tourism destinations. The corporation has affirmed to three; on Saturdays, Tuesdays and its readiness to restore full operations of commer- Thursdays. KAC had resumed operations to the cial flights in line with approval of the health British capital in the middle of June at a rate of a authorities and resumption of air navigation in other single flight a week. It has also announced renewing countries. KAC had relaunched its first commercial operations to Paris, Malaga, and Sarajevo. flight to Paris earlier this month. Flights to this des- On June 15, it announced starting three flights tination operate thrice weekly on Sundays, per week to Bodrum on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Fridays.