KUWAIT: Director of the public authority for the disabled Dr Shafiqa Al-Awadhi hailed the health minister's decision to establish special offices for disabled affairs at every health facility. Awadhi also praised the care shown by the minister and his keenness on providing prevention, guidance, treatment and rehabilitation services at various public health facilities, noting that the decision was the result of constant discussion between the health minister and the minister of social affairs and labor.

Criminal court rejects pleas
The criminal court yesterday rejected pleas made by the defendants in the Ministry of Interior hospitality case and postponed the case to a hearing on Sept 1 to summon more witnesses. Security sources noted that the defendants' attorney demanded releasing the detainees and lifting the travel ban on those already free.

Fishing season

Chairman of Kuwait Fishermen's Union Thaher Al-Sowayyan announced the mullet fishing season will start today, and expressed hope that this year's catch will be more abundant than last year's.

Municipality inspections
Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Fahd Al-Sholah yesterday toured Sabah Al-Ahmad City to inspect municipal services there. During the visit, Sholah met with representatives of the citizens' voluntary committee to discuss residents' problems. He also announced that new cleaning contracts will take effect by October to help improve cleaning services in the city.

Development projects

With the presence of Minister of State for Economic Affairs Mariam Al-Aqeel, Ports Authority Director Sheikh Yousef Al-Abdullah and the reform and development committee at the Municipal Council finished reviewing all the challenges the municipality is facing in development projects. Speaking during the meeting, Aqeel said six of the development plan projects had been facing problems, including the medical city, developing the harbors and the design and construction of specialized desert and marine development research centers. Sheikh Yousef said that the workshop was held to discuss the delayed projects, adding that most projects had been approved except one concerning allocating land to build four storage areas and attract more investments.

By Meshaal Al-Enezi