“We feel sorry for the current political situation in our country. It is sad that the majority of MPs who won the elections carry such conservative ideologies and ideas, which I consider unconstitutional. There are many issue that are much more important to solve and discuss such as the reforms in health, education and other sectors, which they were promoting in their election campaigns,” Lulwa Al-Mulla, Secretary General of the Women’s Cultural Society told the Kuwait Times.

“After Parliament was dissolved, we expected to see the MPs calling for reforms, and instead they came with other silly issues such as changing article 2 of the Constitution to make Islamic jurisprudence the only source of legislation, or approving a law of decent attire. And now Al-Mnawer is stating he wants to propose a draft law for hijab. Kuwaiti woman will not allow any changes to our Constitution and we will not let them force any rules on us. We are Muslims and respect our religion and this is a new issue. We refuse to change Kuwait into ‘Kuwaitistan’ as they like,” added Al-Mulla.

Ibtisam, a 40-year-old Kuwaiti, found this law proposal illogical. “The Kuwaiti community is open-minded and developed, and cannot be compared to some extreme communities like Saudi Arabia. How can MPs restrict people from having plastic surgery? Islam is a religion of ease and not difficulty. I believe that such a draft law will not pass. If by any chance it passes, I will contest it as false and appeal it in the Constitutional Court as its unconstitutional. I am not against wearing hijab, but it should be optional and not forced by anybody,” she stated.

The westerners living in Kuwait did not welcome this law either, but expressed their ability to adapt to it and accept it as long as they live here.

“If this law passes and I am still living here I will respect the laws of the country. I will probably wear a headscarf if it becomes law. However, I think this may affect a lot of people’s decisions to come and work in the country. It might make some foreigners leave, as this might be uncomfortable for them. But again, as a foreigner I respect the country’s right to make the laws that suit them best,” said Canadian expatriate Emily.

Even men are against such a proposal. “I do not agree with a law to make hijab obligatory clothing for women, although my wife wears hijab. She decided to wear it by her own free will without force from anybody. We are not living in Qandahar, and I am sure such a law will not pass. I think this matter is a personal freedom, set in the Constitution, and it will not work by force,” said 45-year-old Salem.

By Nawara Fattahova, Staff Writer

The strike will be held in protest against unpaid financial allowances that workers demand from the government. The Civil Service Commission(CSC) is expected to discuss the demands during a meeting to be held on Monday.

The Kuwait Trade Union Federation(KTUF) staged a sit-in last Wednesday despite earlier reports that the government plan to pass general pay raises ranging between 20 and 40 percent – averages which fall short of most unions’ demands. In addition to salary raises  and allowances, most labor unions base their demands on the prospect of achieving equality among public sector employees.

Meanwhile, sources who spoke to Al-Qabas on condition of anonymity warned that yielding to all demands might create more problems “when that would put more pressure on the state’s budget and create even more discrimination among employees.” “Allowances are paid to those who raise their voices rather than hard working employees who earn their pay,” one source argued, reported Al-Qabas.

In other news, sources familiar with CSC said that it plans to pay allowances not based on the department where workers are employed, but instead on job classifications. “This mechanism will help achieve equality among state employees which cannot be realized by passing salary increases or allowances individually,” a source explained.

The same sources also hinted that allowances will soon be paid to employees in jobs classified as ‘rare professions,’ like Customs General Department personnel, legal staff members, and Ministry of Health laboratory  technicians, reported Al-Rai.

Travelers flying with baggage can also take advantage of web-checking and are only required to drop their luggage at the dedicated fast baggage-drop counter, bypassing all check-in queues.

The web check-in service is currently only available in Kuwait Airport but will be rolled out across the airline’s network in the coming few months.  Jazeera Airways Kuwait travelers may check-in as early as 24 hours before their flight, and as late as one hour before their flight, in addition to choosing their seat while checking-in as well.

Jazeera Airways VP Ground Operations Ali Fairooz said, “Our new two-step process is fast, efficient, comfortable and empowers our guests to take more control over their travel plans. This is truly Kuwait’s first full web check-in service, and we are confident that both our leisure and our business travelers customers will utilize and rely on this new service”.

Jazeera Airways operates a two-class cabin comprising a Business Class and an Economy Class. Jazeera Airways’ Business Class offering includes a separate cabin for passengers, exclusive check-in counters, Business lounge access at airports, in-flight à la carte menu, and 60 kilograms in free baggage allowance.  The airline’s Economy Class offers travelers free baggage allowance of 40 kilograms, free on-board monthly meals, and year-round value fares.

In 2011 the airline carried 1.2 million passengers in total across its network that includes high-demand business, leisure, family, and weekend destinations such as Dubai, Bahrain, Beirut, Alexandria, Amman, Damascus, Istanbul, Sharm El Sheikh, Assiut, Aleppo, DeirEzzor, Luxor, Mashhad, Sohag, Jeddah, Riyadh and Cairo.

Jazeera Airways is an IATA-member airline and operates one of the youngest Airbus A320 fleets across the Middle East and North Africa.

Established in 2005, Jazeera Airways Group is a Kuwait Stock Exchange-listed company with over 12,000 shareholders.  The company has 12 fully-owned Airbus A320s in operation, distributed between its airline business, Jazeera Airways (six aircraft), and its fully-owned leasing business, Sahaab Aircraft Leasing (five aircraft).  Sahaab has assets placed with Virgin America, SriLankan Airlines, and Jazeera Airways.

“It is illogical to turn the crime of violating one of our most prestigious constitutional institutions, into a simple error”, Al-Sultan added. The remarks came amid reports which hint changes could be made to the official complaint forwarded by the head office of the previous Parliament.

The storming of Parliament, in which a number of MPs in the current Parliament stand accused, was set to be discussed during the meeting of the Parliament’s head office yesterday. Al-Sultan said any decision regarding the case will be “based on handling the case within legal and constitutional frameworks”. -Al-Jarida

Parliamentary updates

Rapporteur MP Dr. Mohammad Al-Muttar said fellow MPs in the Foreign Relations Committee are set to embark on a tour around the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to discuss establishing a unified GCC confederation.

MP Adel Al-Damkhy said proposed regulations to organize the establishment of political bodies will “create security concerns” if they are not accompanied with regulations that criminalize forming secret organizations. “Without criminalizing secret organizations, such proposals fail to protect society from foreign interventions”, the lawmaker added. -Al-Rai

MP Abdulhameed Dashti argued in a letter he sent to Parliament’s head office that a visit carried out by human rights committee members to the Central Jail recently was unconstitutional. Dashti says he a committee member, was never invited to participate in the tour. He says this violates article 12/1963 of Parliament’s internal regulations. -Al-Qabas

MP Riyadh Al-Adasani called on the Ministry of Communications to activate a law, passed in 2007, by which cell phone users can switch providers while keeping their phone numbers. The independent lawmaker also demanded efforts to launch reform in the state’s sports sector. MP Dr. Abdullah Al-Turaiji called on the Kuwait Football Association board to “resign immediately” after failing to improve the sport in recent years.

Major General Jassem Al-Mansouri, General Director of the Kuwait Fire Services Directorate, denied suggestions made by a Parliament member recently that Ahmadi is still suffering from a gas leak problem that first emerged two years ago.
“Regular gas level checks indicate that the level of gas leaks in Ahmadi sits at zero degrees at this point”, Al-Mansouri said on Saturday. He said residents of 198 evacuated houses in the area have returned to their homes, except for four families whose houses will be ready by the end of this week. -Al-Rai

By A Saleh, Staff Writer

Dr Hammadieh added that obesity plays a key role in fertility problems in Kuwait because of the effect it can have on ovulation, “Obese patients who successfully lose 10 percent of their weight often become pregnant spontaneously.” He added, however,  the prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) makes things considerably more complicated, “PCOS is a major cause of obesity, and is very common in Kuwait. It makes it easier for women to gain weight, and more difficult to lose it.”

The rise of obesity, he added, worsens fertility problems as women with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher are considerably more likely to experience delays in natural conception. He further added, “Patients with an average BMI benefit much better from fertility treatments, whereas patients with a BMI over 30 percent have a 25 percent lower success rate. In the UK, patients with a BMI over 35 will not be treated. Overweight patients are also more likely to suffer complications during their pregnancy.” Being severely underweight, however, is just as detrimental to fertility as being obese, Dr Hammadieh warned.

Dr Hammadieh added that many couples in Kuwait try and pursue fertility treatment very early into their marriages if they fail to conceive quickly which, he warned, can ignite a vicious cycle. “Infertility treatments for women include hormone shots, which can cause weight gain spark a vicious cycle. Young couples should wait at least a year before seeking help.”

However, many couples still succumb to pressures to conceive immediately following marriage. Young Kuwaiti couple, Hamad and Salwa, are currently considering IVF treatment after attempting to conceive for four years. “I am fine with waiting, but the pressure we are under from our families is ridiculous. I have PCOS so it may take more time than usual,” said Salwa. Hamad is just 25, and Salwa is 22. “My family is wondering why I’m not pregnant. They think I’m using contraceptives and preventing a pregnancy on purpose. My mother is constantly telling me ‘Shame on you, married couples should have children,’ which is really hurtful.” What’s more, the couple had originally wanted to wait before having a child. “We weren’t in a rush, but then the pressure started, so we gave in. When Salwa didn’t get pregnant immediately, the pressure and questions and curiosity became extreme,” added Hamad.

According to a 2010 report on infertility and difficulty conceiving in Kuwait, there are subtle pressures ingrained in the culture, and even the language, that further remind couples of their need to reproduce. “In Kuwait, it is customary to identify adults by placing the prefix ‘Abu’ or ‘Umm’ with their child’s name, for example, Abu Khalid or Umm Mohammed meaning Father of Khalid or mother of Mohammed, respectively.” The report, which was compiled by Florence and Alexander Omu using research undertaken in Kuwait, further added “This custom serves is a reminder to the infertile couple of their social obligations to procreate and results in personal frustration.” The report further revealed that as a woman’s age increases, the more severe their emotional reaction becomes, as they become more aware of their biological clock.

Dr Hammadieh noted that additional stresses and pressure to conceive, whether cultural, personal or familial, can be very detrimental, “Stress can cause overeating, which will worsen PCOS and make it even harder for couples to conceive.” It’s likely that many couples experience the same stress Salwa and Hamad came under, as Dr Hammadieh revealed the extremity that pregnancy pressures can reach, “There are expectations for women to get pregnant here quickly, some families even become concerned if the new bride menstruates after marriage, as there is an expectation for her to get pregnant immediately.”
Pre-existing family conflicts can quickly transform the usual pressures and stress into an intense blame-game when fertility problems arise, “My husband’s family said our difficulty to have children was because he was being punished for divorcing his first wife, who was also his second cousin. Even when we had a baby girl, they belittled me because his ex-wife had given him sons,” said 32-year-old Jordanian expatriate, Layla. She described the treatment she received from her husband’s family as ‘bullying’ and added that if her husband, Ahmad, hadn’t been as supportive and loving, she would have left him purely to escape the incessant comments and cruelty from her in-laws.

Layla and Ahmad struggled for nine years to have a baby before turning to IVF to have their daughter. Their inability to conceive naturally, however, still affects their lives. “My husband’s family wanted him to stay with his ex because they are related. She was abnormally cruel and, I’m sure, must be suffering from bipolar disorder. She was awful with her own children and was abusive with their maid. He hit breaking point and got a divorce, which devastated his parents.” When Ahmad married Layla, his family’s initial devastation at the divorce grew to outrage as they consider Layla’s family to be of lesser social standing than their own, “We married for love, whereas his first marriage was arranged. When I had trouble conceiving, they said it was a sign that I wasn’t a ‘good’ woman, and that he was being punished for leaving his first wife and hurting his family. They even suggested that he leave me or take a second wife who could ‘fulfill her duties’ properly,” recalled Layla.

According to Omu and his report, it’s not uncommon for women to experience the distress and friction Layla described, “Infertile wives are said to experience greater emotional disturbances than their husbands because, during the process of female socialization, pregnancy and childbirth are considered as the most important function of the wife.” The report, further revealed, “The other factor that might have been of concern to some of the women is the fear of losing their spouses to another woman who may be able to prove their fertility by getting pregnant.”

However, placing higher levels of pressure on women can often be inaccurate, “Difficulty in conceiving can be related to male factor problems, for example if he has a low sperm count, which is very common,” said Dr Hammadieh. “In Kuwait, many men take steriods for bodybuilding, which can greatly reduce their sperm count. Cigarette smoking is also very harmful.” He added that couples having trouble conceiving should test males first before commencing tests on women. It seems that men are considerably less stressed or concerned, however, as Omu’s report revealed that while all of the women interviewed confirmed feelings of anxiety, only four of their partners said that they felt sad, worried or anxious about their infertility diagnosis.

Regardless of which partner is dealing with fertility problems, Dr Hammadieh insisted that all must make an effort to stay fit and healthy, “If parents notice their children gaining weight and overeating, they should address it sensibly to avoid it becoming a more severe problem later, given the consequences of obesity. A balanced diet, exercise and good sleeping patterns are vital for overall health, including reproductive health.”

By Lisa Conrad, Staff Writer

Muna Al-Fuzai

 KUWAIT:  Submitting  a draft law to criminalize ‘indecent’ clothing and behavior in Kuwait reflects the fact that Kuwaiti society is increasingly adopting a regressive mentality, and is an offense to an already deeply conservative society,  said political activist Muna Al-Fuzai in a statement to Kuwait Times yesterday. She stressed that other important issues need to be tackled in the country.

“While there may be incidents that violate Kuwaiti societal norms, they cannot be considered a phenomena that need to be countered with the help of legislations and deterrent measures,” said  Al-Fuzai, adding that Kuwaitis expect parliamentarians to focus primarily on combating corruption, create development and improvements in the educational, health, sports, tourism fields.

Furthermore, Al-Fuzai opined that the draft law put forward by the Islamic Adalah (justice) Bloc ” suggests that immorality has been spreading in  Kuwaiti society, therefore requiring disciplinary measures to correct an  error.” The local activist asserted that recommendations which restrict public freedoms “violate the Constitution” and are unnecessary, given the existing regulations in place.

“I suspect if most people and lawmakers would accept such outrageous proposals, and I hope that the Parliament Speaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun will express a clear opinion on the matter,” Al-Fuzai said before urging MPs to give priority to pushing developmental projects forward.

KUWAIT: Nasser Al-Sayer, NBK Deputy Chairman addresses NBK’s annual general assembly meeting at the bank’s headquarters yesterday

KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) held its annual general assembly meeting at the bank’s headquarters yesterday. Nasser Al-Sayer, NBK Deputy Chairman, stated that NBK Group delivered success at every level despite a difficult year. “NBK Group achieved a strong performance thanks to the bank’s resilience, clear strategy, conservative culture, and high professional standards, all of which have limited the bank’s exposure to lower quality assets in and outside of Kuwait.”

The General Assembly endorsed the recommendation of NBK’s Board of Directors to distribute a cash dividend equivalent to 40% of the nominal value of the share (40 fils per share) and bonus shares by 10% (10 shares for every 100 shares) to shareholders on record at the time of the General Assembly meeting.

Strong financial performance
Al-Sayer stated that NBK has succeeded in achieving a net profit of KD 302.4 million ($1,086 million) during 2011, compared with KD 301.7 million ($1,083 million) in 2010. “NBK continued crossing the threshold of one billion dollar profits in 2011, which confirms NBK’s strength and ability to deliver strong results despite the crisis,” he noted.

NBK’s earnings reached 77fils per share in 2011. NBK’s total assets increased 5.6%, reaching KD 13.6 billion and shareholders’ equity rose 4.5% to KD 2.2 billion by the end of 2011. Other profitability indicators remained strong by regional and international standards: Return on Assets (ROA) reached 2.25% while Return on Equity (ROE) recorded 14.6% for the year.

NBK Group’s net operating income grew by 8.4% Y-o-Y reaching $1,939 million (KD 540 million). Despite the ongoing turmoil in regional markets and the stagnant operating environment in Kuwait, NBK continued to maintain exceptionally strong asset quality indicators with NPLs/Gross loans ratio dropping to 1.55% as of year-end 2011 compared to 1.65% in 2010 and coverage ratio mounting to 243% in 2011 up from 209% in 2010.

Islamic banking
In 2011, NBK began reaping the results of the strategic acquisition of a 47.3% stake in Boubyan Bank. “Boubyan Bank showed significant improvement in profitability and marketshare following NBK’s strategic stake acquisition,” Al-Sayer said. “NBK will continue supporting Boubyan Bank by providing world class talent and expertise though we remain committed to operating as two separate entities.”

Highest rated in Mideast
Ibrahim Dabdoub, NBK’s Group Chief Executive Officer noted that NBK continues to hold the highest credit ratings among banks in the Middle East, with international rating agencies confirming the bank’s leading franchise, strong financial position, robust earnings capabilities and above peers asset quality. “We have over the years maintained the highest asset quality indicators by regional and international standards, despite the ongoing economic challenges,” Dabdoub added.

NBK is currently rated “Aa3″ by Moody’s, “AA-” by Fitch Ratings and carries an “A+” rating from Standard and Poor’s. All NBK ratings have a stable outlook. Added to this, NBK has been recognized as the ‘Best Bank in the Middle East’ for the second consecutive year by the leading financial publications: Global Finance, EuroMoney and The Banker.

Human Resources and CSR
NBK has a long tradition of supporting social and community-oriented activities in the country, spending more than KD 30 million on a Corporate Social Responsibility program covering a range of initiatives. “We believe that our people are our most valuable resource and to that end we’ve implemented numerous professional development and training programs while focusing recruiting efforts on hiring and training the country’s best and brightest minds. NBK Group hired more than 1000 nationals of both genders during the past three years.” Al-Sayer noted.

Fatal accidents
Two men died in a crash on Abdaly Road. Police and paramedics were present at the scene shortly after a report of an SUV turning over on the road. A Kuwaiti driver and his Egyptian companion, both in their twenties, were pronounced dead on the scene before the bodies were referred to the proper authorities. An investigation  was opened to reveal circumstances behind the incident.
Meanwhile, a police academy student was killed in a car accident reported on King Fahad Highway recently. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene where his car settled, after losing balance and overturning. He was identified as Fahad Al-Rughaib, 26-year-old, and was set for graduation next week. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident.

Death probe
An investigation is currently ongoing to determine the circumstances behind the death of a mentally disabled female citizen, found dead inside a house in Riqqa. Police and paramedics headed to the scene shortly following an emergency call made by the home owners, after they found the victim unconscious inside her room. Criminal investigators were called after the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy report is awaited to carry on with the investigation.
A 36-year-old farmer was found dead inside an Abdaly farm owned by a Kuwaiti citizen. After investigations were carried out at the scene, the body was taken to the forensic department to determine the time and cause of death.

Criminals intercepted
An Asian taxi driver faces multiple charges after he was caught in the company of two runaway housemaids. He was taking them to a brothel. The incident took place in Jahra, where two patrol officers pulled over a taxi carrying two Asian women who were behaving very suspiciously. After a few questions, the women confessed they had just ran away from their employer’s house in the area. The driver admitted that he was taking them to a vice den in return for commission. The two women were also found in possession of items they confessed to have stolen from their employer’s house before escaping. The three were taken into custody and referred to the proper authorities to face charges.

Child hurt
A 5-year-old child was hospitalized in critical condition after falling from the third floor of a house in Saad Al-Abdullah recently. A Kuwaiti  man arrived at the emergency room of Jahra Hospital carrying his injured and blood-spattered child, who was immediately rushed to the intensive care unit. The father explained that the child accidently fell from a window when left unattended. A case was opened for investigations.

Stolen car found
Pure chance led a senior female citizen to find her car reported stolen nearly a month ago. She was able to retrieve it with a little help from her children. The woman is in her thirties according to the police report. She was shopping for groceries near her Abdaly farm when her driver spotted a vehicle outside. He was able to identify the car as the one stolen from him in a Salmiya street a month ago. The woman reportedly headed to the vehicle and demanded that the two men inside return the car. The suspects refused to cooperate and drive away from the scene. The woman called her sons, who soon arrived at the scene. They forced the suspects to stop. Police arrived and placed them under arrest. Officers also found light weapons belonging to the suspects inside the stolen vehicle. The men remain in custody pending further procedures. -Al-Rai, Al-Watan, Al-Anba