KUWAIT: Meteorologist Essa Ramadan expects temperatures to drop to zero in the desert and six degrees Celsius in urban areas. "According to Kuwait Meteorological Center detectors, temperature in desert areas is 0-4 degrees centigrade and 6-9 in urban areas," he said, expecting the cold weather to continue through today despite being sunny, and expected the temperature to record 15 C by daytime and drop to zero in the desert and 3-7 C in urban areas.

Subaih's statements

Lawyer Bassam Al-Asoussi who represents former undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MSAL) Abdul Mohsen Al-Mutairi criticized Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Minister of State for Planning and Development Hind Al-Subaih for statements she made in a TV interview in which she indicated that her decision to refer his client to retirement was made 'for the state's best interest.' "Did he commit any violations or worked against the state's greater good? If so, why was he not referred to prosecution?" he wondered, describing the minister's statements as 'punishable by law' and that the minister would have to further explain how his client worked against the country's greater good.

Meanwhile, MP Saud Al-Huraiji denied apologizing to Minister Subaih 'as she claimed in the interview.' "Unfortunately, although being responsible for two portfolios, minister Hind Al-Subaih does not realize the meaning of some words," he said. He further explained that what he did was only to comment on a misquote during a press conference and that he thus had to explain what he meant in a parliamentary session during which he stressed that he would not stop 'fairly and impartially' monitoring the minister's performance. "We will not follow in her steps in unlawfully avenging Kuwaiti citizens whose only fault is that they support a lawmaker threatening to grill the minister," he said. Furthermore, Huraiji said that he had no problem in supporting the grilling motion his colleague Mohammed Al-Enezi intends to file against Subaih. He also promised to file one himself unless the minister stops what he described as 'rampant corruption in MSAL.'

Fashion show

MP Humoud Al-Hamdan yesterday filed an enquiry asking Minister of Education Bader Al-Essa about a concert and fashion show recently held at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET), describing it as a disaster. Hamdan said that the event was held under the title of 'Arab Fashion Day,' during which female students performed dances and songs in the presence of a male audience including the dean and others. He added that videos from the concert were posted on social media networks.

Duo acquitted of drug trafficking

The criminal court yesterday acquitted two expatriates charged with drug trafficking and who were facing capital punishment according to Kuwaiti laws. According to the public prosecution, the two defendants were arrested for committing a traffic violation and running a red traffic light, and on searching their vehicle, policemen found six sacks of hashish. According to the arresting officer's report, he found a scale they allegedly used in selling the drugs. In his argument, the defendants' lawyer Soud Al-Najdi proved that the vehicle his clients drove did not belong to them, and accordingly, the drugs found in it do not necessarily belong to them. He also noted that his clients had denied the charges instantly. Accordingly, the court acquitted them for 'void arrest procedures.'

New ambulances

The Health Ministry is due to receive 54 new ambulances fully equipped with the latest security, safety and emergency service technologies within a few days pending launching them by the beginning of the new year. Notably, the ministry had started using eight ATV-ambulances at camping sites that are remote from urban areas and during special vacations, holidays and national ceremonies.

False claims

The local logistical company released a statement yesterday in which it stressed its commitment to the contracts signed with governmental and non-governmental bodies, and strongly denied violating any of those contracts conditions as 'claimed' by some media and lawmakers. The company strongly denied usurping any lands in ports or elsewhere, and stressed that this had been verified by a report made by a special committee that was formed by Minister of Communications Essa Al-Kandari on October 12.

By Meshaal Al-Enezi and A Saleh