Day: April 15, 2023

The Arab Parliament on Saturday welcomed the prisoner swap between the Yemeni government and Houthi militia under the umbrella of the United Nations and International Committee of the Red Cross.

In a press statement, the parliament commended all Arab efforts exerted to put this step in place, mainly the efforts of Saudi Arabia and Oman, which came in the context of Arab endeavors to ensure tranquility in Yemen and to find a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis.

In this context, it underlined the significance of this move as coming at a critical time where steps are being taken to alleviate the anguish of the Yemeni people.

The parliament, further, reiterated its absolute backing for all Arab and international endeavors to restore stability in Yemen.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah reaffirmed his country’s principled and unwavering backing for Syria’s national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and opposition to interference in its internal affairs.

The minister made the remark during unofficial talks on the sidelines of a suhur (pre-sunrise meal) banquet hosted by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud in Jeddah on Friday, and attended by the foreign ministers of the GCC countries, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt.

He said Syria is an important Arab country and principal part of the Arab national security system and had undeniable historical contributions to the enrichment of human civilization.

With the Syrian crisis entering its 13th year, Syria, its people and neighboring countries have suffered security, political, economic and humanitarian impacts, he said, regretting that regional international interference in its affairs has disrupted regional security and stability, thus creating a breeding ground for terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking.

Since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis, Kuwait has adopted a principled stance based on giving no political, financial and military backing to any party, and, instead, favoring a political and peaceful solution to the crisis and allowing humanitarian aid access, he said, pointing Kuwait-hosted three donor conferences to ease out the humanitarian situation in Syria.

Kuwait also attended several international conferences on the humanitarian situation in Syria and put forward several initiatives in this regard through its non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (2018-2019), he said, boasting that air traffic between Kuwait and Syria has not been suspended since the crisis hit the country.

Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah spoke highly of Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries for their initiatives aiming at resolving the Syrian crisis through political and realistic solutions.

In this context, he reiterated the necessity of finding a political solution to the Syrian crisis, based on maintaining this Arab country’s unity, security, stability and Arab identity only for the good of its people.

However, he stressed, this solution should be built on sound foundations and frameworks and in line with relevant Arab resolutions, mainly genuine and tangible confidence-building steps by the Syrian government by releasing prisoners, identifying the fate of missing people, facilitating the repatriation of refugees and displaced persons, delivering humanitarian aid to the needy, resuming constitutional committee activities and, finally, reaching national reconciliation.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced it will go on a two-day strike starting April 30, rejecting the government’s pay raise proposal in order to end the strike.

The government “needs to increase what has already been offered and we will be highly critical of any move to reduce it,” RCN general secretary Pat Cullen was quoted by the BBC as saying on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the NHS junior doctors in England noted it may organize another strike alongside the upcoming nurses’ strike, to pressure the health ministry into providing decent salary raise for everyone.

Most health unions refused a proposed raise of five percent and a 1,655 sterling (USD 2,000) as reward for last year.

The announcement came only hours after the junior doctors four-day strike ended. The strike led to the cancellation of tens of thousands of appointments and surgeries across England’s hospitals.

The UK had been suffering a series of strikes in different sectors since 2022, an unprecedented strike rate since the 70s.

Workers unions are demanding a raise higher than the inflation rate, which is still above ten percent since last September, the highest in over 40 years.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

KUWAIT — Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah reaffirms his country’s principled and unwavering backing for Syria’s national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and opposition to interference in its internal affairs.

LONDON — The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announces it will go on a two-day strike starting April 30, rejecting the government’s pay raise proposal in order to end the strike.

KHARTOUM — Fighting breaks out between Sudanese Army troops and paramilitary forces, the Rapid Support Forces, in the capital Khartoum and a northern town, the irregular force says in a statement.

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron signs the main part of the retirement law that lifts the age of retirement from 62 to 64 years, BFM reports.

Source: Kuwait News Agency