KUWAIT, Dec 24 (KUNA) -- The State of Kuwait witnessed many important events at different levels in 2013. Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) is pleased to transmit a roundup of the major events that took place during the year at the local arena.
HIS HIGHNESS THE AMIR: ====================== January 23 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attended the Popular Heritage Festival.
January 29 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, marking his seventh anniversary in office, attended the flag raising ceremony in Bayan Palace, with the presence of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and prominent figures.
January 29 -- His Highness the Amir received United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon at the presence of His Highness the Crown Prince.
January 30 -- His Highness the Amir opened the International Donors Conference for Syria with the participation of representatives of 59 countries. His Highness the Amir, in his opening speech, praised the efforts of Secretary General Ban for calling on the international community to hold the conference due to the worsening humanitarian conditions of the Syrian people as result of the violent conflict. His Highness Sheikh Sabah announced a donation of USD 300 millions to the Syrian people.
February 4 -- His Highness the Amir sponsored and attended the opening of Sabah Al-Ahmad Urology Center.
February 25 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah gave a speech on the occasion of the 52nd National Day and the 22nd Liberation Day.
March 11 -- His Highness the Amir opened the 7th conference of heads of diplomatic missions.
April 2 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attended the national operetta "Kuwait Amana." April 8 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sponsored and attended the opening ceremony for Al-Othman House Museum.
May 26 -- Faisal Bandar Al-Duweesh held a luncheon in the honor of His Highness the Amir.
May 27 -- Falah Bin Jame held a dinner banquet in the honor of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
June 4 -- Meslet Zaben Al-Hathal held a luncheon in honor of His Highness the Amir.
June 10 -- Mohammad Mufarrej Al-Musaileem held a dinner banquet in honor of His Highness the Amir.
June 16 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah addressed the Kuwaiti people after the constitutional courts ruling, saying that this was a historic verdict which showed that Kuwait was a state of institutions ruled by the constitution and law, and "there is neither authority nor ceiling above the authority of what is right and justice." June 17 -- Adwan Mohammad Al-Towala held a luncheon in honor of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
June 26 -- His Highness the Amir left to Qatar to congratulate Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa upon his assumption of office.
July 22 -- His Highness the Amir visited Kuwait Disabled Sports Club, and Kuwait Blind Association accompanied by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Deputy Chief of National Guard. His Highness the Amir also visited police and army officers clubs and the national guards as part of his Ramadhan tour.
July 28 -- His Highness the Amir accepted the resignation of His Highness the Prime Minister.
July 29 -- His Highness the Amir signed an Amiri order to appoint His Highness Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah as Prime Minister, and assigned him to form a new government.
July 30 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, during his speech on the occasion of the last 10 days of Ramadhan, announced an amnesty for those convicted of defaming his status as Amir. His Highness the Amir said in his speech that Kuwait was heading toward a new phase through the parliament's new legislative term, and the country will witness a promising horizons of progress, development and serious work for diversification of income, follow-up on execution of development plans, execution of vital ventures, through the aspired "fruitful and constructive" cooperation between the executive and legislative authorities.
-- HIS HIGHNESS THE CROWN PRINCE: ============================== January 28 -- His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah patronized "The Crown Prince Horse Racing Championship." Sheikh Dhari Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah attended the ceremony on behalf of his Highness the Crown Prince.
February 21 -- The State of Kuwait celebrated the seventh anniversary of His Highness the Crown Prince sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's assumption of office.
April 22 -- His Highness Sheikh Nawaf patronized and attended the annual graduation ceremony of Kuwait University (KU) for academic year 2011-12.
April 22 -- His Highness the Crown Prince met with Falah bin Jame and Al-Awazem charity chairman Dr. Rasheed Abdulhadi Al-Houri and members of the charity.
September 4 -- His Highness Sheikh Nawaf met with participants in the 25th traditional pearl diving expedition.
November 2 -- His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah patronized the annual Crown Prince grand shooting tournament, organized by Kuwait Shooting Federation. Governor of Hawally Abdullah Al-Fares represented His Highness the Crown Prince at the event.
November 23 -- Kuwait camel race club held a contest under the auspices of His Highness the Crown Prince, who was represented by Hawally Governor Abdullah Al-Fares.
December 4 -- His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah represented His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at Kuwait Foundation for Advancement of Sciences' (KFAS) awards ceremony.
December 8 -- His Highness the Crown Prince patronized the family dialogue conference, organized by the Kuwaiti Society for the Ideal Family. Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Dr. Thikra Al-Rashidi represented His Highness Sheikh Nawaf.
HIS HIGHNESS THE PRIME MINISTER: ================================ February 9 -- Under the patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the Arab Blind Forum was held at the Kuwait Blind Association.
May 27 -- His Highness the Prime Minister approved the resignation of oil minister Hani Hussein. Mustafa Al-Shimali was appointed as acting oil minister.
June 12 -- His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah arrived to Baghdad, capital of Iraq, on an official visit.
June 16 -- The Cabinet held an extraordinary meeting, chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister, following the Constitutional Court's ruling regarding a law suit filed by some citizens on the electoral law.
June 20 -- The Cabinet held an extraordinary meeting under His Highness the Prime Minister's chairmanship. Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah called for new elections for the National Assembly on July 27, 2013.
June 22 -- His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah patronized and attended the opening of a multi-purpose hall for the deaf at Kuwait sport club for the deaf.
September 2 -- State Minister for Cabinet Affairs and Health Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah announced that Faisal Al-Sarawi was appointed as adviser at the Diwan of His Highness the Prime Minister.
September 22 -- His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah addressed students in all grades, their parents and teachers, at the start of the new academic year.
September 25 -- Representing His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister addressed the UN General Assembly.
November 7 -- His highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah arrived in India for an official visit, part of a tour that also included Pakistan.
November 10 -- His Highness the Prime Minister and the accompanying delegation arrived on a two-day visit to Pakistan.
November 11 -- During His Highness the Prime Minister's visit to Pakistan, Kuwait and Islamabad signed cooperation agreements in the areas of extradition, drug control, visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic, special and official passports, as well as joint investment.
December 8 -- His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received the head of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces Ahmad Al-Asi Al-Jarba.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: ================== January 23 -- The National Assembly approved the public companies' law.
February 20 -- The parliament approved a report by the Financial and Economic Committee regarding the establishment of a fund to support small and medium size enterprises.
June 16 -- The Constitutional Court rejected a law suit contesting the one-vote, one-person decree and ruled dissolve of the 2012 parliament.
June 26 -- The government approved a decree to call for parliamentary elections on July 27. Up to 395 candidates ran for the elections.
July 27 -- elections were held and two women Dr. Maasouma Al-Mubarak and Safa Al-Hashem won.
July 28 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah called on the parliament to convene on August 6.
August 6 -- MP Marzouq Al-Ghanim was elected as Speaker.
September 28 -- Palriament Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim visited Jordan to show solidarity in the face of regional developments.
-- October 1 -- Parliament Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim accompanied by an official delegation visited Turkey where he met Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and discussed means of enhancing bilateral relations.
October 5 -- Speaker Al-Ghanim arrived in Geneva, Switzerland, to participate in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meetings.
October 29 -- Speaker Al-Ghanim opened the first session of the parliament of the second regular term of the 14th legislative session.
October 31 -- MP Riyadh Al-Adsani submitted an interpellation of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah regarding the housing problem and corruption.
November 10 -- MP Dr. Khalil Abdullah submitted a request to grill Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs and Minister of State for Planning Dr. Rola Dashti.
November 12 -- MP Hussein Quwaiaan submitted an interpellation request for Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of Health Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. Following the grilling, 10 lawmakers submitted a no-confidence motion.
November 13 -- MP Riyadh Al-Adsani submitted another interpellation against His Highness the Prime Minister, and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Salem Al-Athaina over the failure of the government policy.
November 14 -- MP Safa Al-Hashem submitted two interpellations against His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs and Minister of State for Planning Dr. Rola Dashti.
November 18 -- MPs Abdullah Al-Tamimi and Faisal Al-Duwaisan submitted a request to grill Minister Al-Athaina.
November 26 -- The Parliament agreed to discuss five interpellations and postponed a sixth. In the same session the house renewed the confidence in Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of Health Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah.
November 28 -- MP Hamdan Al-Azmi submitted a grilling request against Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Dr. Thikra Al-Rashidi.
December 1 -- The Leglsiative and Legal Committee lifted immunity of Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim over a law suit.
December 12 -- The parliament approved a series of recommendations to address the housing problem. FOREIGN POLICY: =============== January 26 -- Kuwaiti Ambassador to Chile Reem Mohammad Al-Khaled presented her credentials to the Ecuadorian Vice-President Lenin Moreno as a non-resident Plenipotentiary Ambassador.
February 12 -- Kuwait and Sudan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Diplomatic Relations.
March 11 -- Kuwait and Russia celebrated the Golden Jubilee of their diplomatic relations, established in March, 1963.
April 9 -- The 19th Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (AIPU) Conference kicked off under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, with the participation of Arab member states.
May 5 -- A bilateral agreement on forming a permanent committee was signed between Kuwait's government and Tanzania.
May 28 -- Two memoranda of understanding were signed between Kuwait and Iraq on maintenance of border signs and financing a project of constructing a residential complex in Umm Qasr.
June 9 -- Kuwait signed two agreements with Burundi to establish a higher committee for political consultations between the foreign ministries.
June 12 -- Kuwait and Iraq signed six agreements and MoUs on politics, transportations, culture, higher education, diplomacy and the environment.
June 16 -- The Second Annual Arab Diplomats Training Course started, organized by Kuwait Foreign Ministry in cooperation with the United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Center for South West Asia and Arab Region.
June 18 -- Kuwait's Ambassador to the Republic of Albania Najeeb Abdulrahman Al-Bader presented his credentials to President of Kosovo as the first non-resident Ambassador in Pristina.
June 19 -- the seventh session of the joint higher committee between the State of Kuwait and the Kingdom of Morocco kicked off. The two sides signed five agreements and MoUs in the field of exhibitions, an additional protocol to the Convention on mutual assistance and cooperation in custom affairs, MoU for cooperation between the Foreign Ministries, an executive program for tourism for the years 2013-15 and executive program in the field of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs for the years 2013-15.
June 23, Kuwait and Tajikistan signed a number of agreements in a ceremony attended by His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Crown Prince and Tajik President Emomali Rhamon, on exemption of visa, cultural and arts cooperation, avoiding double taxation and financial evasion, taxation on capital, tourism cooperation and health cooperation.
June 27 -- The UN Security Council voted unanimously to get Iraq partially out of Chapter VII of the UN Charter, transfer the files of the missing Kuwaitis and properties to the mandate of UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
July 12 -- Kuwait and Tanzania signed a MoU aimed at establishing a joint committee for political dialogue.
August 26 -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Kuwait on an official mission and signed a memorandum of cooperation on political dialogue in national development and a cooperation agreement in the fields of higher education and scientific research.
September 4 -- Philippines Foreign Ministry announced that the authorities in the Philippines succeeded in releasing Kuwaiti hostage, Ahmad Al-Kanderi.
September 8 -- the Iraqi parliament ratified an agreement between Kuwait and Iraq on the organization of marine navigation in Khour Abdullah waterway.
September 9 -- Kuwait and Honduras signed an agreement on entry visa fees exemption for official and diplomatic passport holders, in addition to a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of political consultations between the two countries' foreign ministries.
-- September 15 -- Kuwaiti Ambassador to India, Sami Mohammad Al-Sulaiman, met with Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav and presented a copy of his credentials as the State of Kuwait's non-resident Ambassador to Nepal.
September 18 -- Kuwaiti Ambassador to Venezuela Mohammad Al-Shabou presented a copy of his credentials as non-resident Ambassador to Panama.
September 19 -- Kuwait's ambassador to Austria and to the International Organizations in Vienna, Sadeq Marafi presented a copy of his credentials to Lassina Zerbo, the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO).
September 19 -- Kuwaiti Ambassador to Kenya Yusuf Al-Sanad submitted his credentials to the President of Rwanda Paul Kagame as the non-resident Ambassador to the country.
September 20 -- the representative of His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and the accompanying delegation arrived to New York for the meetings of 68th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations.
September 20 -- Kuwait signed a five-year technical cooperation agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
September 21 -- Kuwait officially assumed presidency of the Near East Regional Group of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), succeeding Iran.
September 26 -- Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah attended the UN first High-Level meeting on Nuclear Disarmament.
September 27 -- King Philippe of Belgium awarded the "Order of the Crown-Grand Cross" insignia to Kuwait's ambassador to Belgium Nabeela Al Mulla in recognition of her significant role in strengthening ties between the two countries.
October 1 -- Kuwait's ambassador to Austria and to the International Organizations in Vienna, Sadeq Marafi presented a copy of his credentials to Li Yong, Director General of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
October 2 -- Kuwait's Ambassador to Oman, Fahad Hajar Al-Mutairi submitted his credentials to Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bader bin Hamoud Al-Busaidi.
October 5 -- Kuwait's Ambassador to Egypt Salem Ghassab Al-Zamanan presented a copy of his credentials to Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy.
October 8 -- Kuwait and Cyprus signed a number of agreements dealing with entry visa and technical arrangements between the two countries' foreign ministries as well as bilateral political consultations. The agreements also touched on fighting terrorism and cooperation in the education, health, media and tourism sectors.
October 9 -- President of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiadis granted Fahad Abdulrahman Al-Mejel, an eminent businessman and honorary consul general of Kuwait to Cyprus in recognition of his contribution to the growth of the bilateral ties over the past 46 years.
October 10 -- Ambassador Jamal Mohammad Al-Ghunaim submitted his credentials as the new head of the Permanent Mission of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations office and other International Organizations in Geneva.
October 21 -- Sheikh Ali Khaled Al-Jaber Al-Sabah submitted credentials to the Italian President Giorgio Napoliano as a new ambassador to Kuwait in Rome.
October 21 -- Tareq Yousef Al-Shumaimry was appointed as the President of the Financial and Administrative Committee at the permanent headquarters of the International Court of Justice at The Hague and the Executive Committee and Budget Supervisor at the headquarters.
October 23 -- Kuwait's ambassador to Austria Sadeq Marafi presented his credentials to the Austrian President Heinz Fischer.
October 24 -- The first session of the Higher Joint Kuwaiti-Turkish Commission was held.
October 26 -- Kuwaiti ambassador to Senegal, Mohammad Fadhel Khalaf, presented his credentials to Senegalese Foreign Minister Mankeur Ndiaye.
October 27 -- Kuwait Ambassador Salem Ghassab Al-Zamanan presented his credentials to Egypt's Interim President Adly Mansour as Kuwait's envoy to Egypt.
October 28 -- Kuwait's ambassador to Romania Mubarak Mohammad Al-Suhaijan presented a copy of his credentials to the Romanian foreign ministry.
October 28 -- Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani and the accompanying delegation arrived in Kuwait for an official one-day visit.
October 29 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah donated one million Kuwaiti Dinars (USD 3.548 million) to UNESCO.
October 31 -- Kuwaiti Ambassador to Senegal Mohammad Fadhel Khalaf presented his credentials to Senegalese President Macky Sall.
-- August 4 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah signed decree 209/2013 to form the new government.
August 6 -- His Highness the Amir inaugurated the first session of the 14th legislative term of the National Assembly. In his speech, His Highness the Amir hoped that the newly elected MPs would work on sustainable cooperation between the parliament and the government, adding that their priority should be the development of every field coupled with fighting corruption.
September 13 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah visited US President Barrack Obama at the White House, where they discussed the Palestinian-Israeli talks, relations with Iraq, the economic future of the GCC, and the Syrian crisis.
October 28 -- His Highness the Amir decorated the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani with the Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer.
October 29 -- His Highness the Amir inaugurated the second session of the 14th legislative term of the National Assembly. His Highness the Amir in his speech, praised the efforts of the newly elected parliament that saw positive results in resolving Kuwaitis outstanding issues. His Highness Sheikh Sabah also praised the cooperation between the parliament and the government.
October 30 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Egypt's interim president Adly Mansour at Bayan Palace.
November 13 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah donated USD 10 millions to help the Philippines face the aftermath of the typhoon Haiyan. November 19 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah inaugurated the third Afro-Arab summit in Kuwait, held under the theme "Partners in Development and Investment." His Highness the Amir said in his speech that "economy and investment occupy the largest part of our agenda, We need to plan our future on the basis of genuine partnership." Kuwait extended to Africa a USD one billion in easy loans for the next five years, and another USD one billion for investment in Africa to be channeled through international financial institutions. Moreover, Kuwait had also announced an annual award of USD one million in the name of late Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sumait focusing on development researches in Africa.
November 23 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah visited Saudi Arabia and Qatar to discuss issues of mutual concern, means of cooperation among the GCC countries, and the latest regional and international developments.
November 24 -- His Highness the Amir inaugurated the seventh meeting of speakers of Shura Councils and National Assemblies of the GCC countries.
November 27 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received foreign ministers of the GCC states on the occasion of starting the Ministerial Council's 129th session to prepare for the 34th session of the Supreme Council of the GCC.
December 8 -- His Highness the Amir received Chairman of the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) Ahmad Al-Asi Al-Jarba in Dar Salwa.
December 10 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah inaugurated the 34th session of the GCC Supreme Council in Bayan Palace, with the presence of the GCC leaders. His Highness the Amir, in his speech, underlined the importance of exchanging experiences and point of views among GCC members, in order to face the latest regional and international changes and developments.
December 11 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah concluded the 34th session of the GCC Supreme Council. His Highness the Amir noted that the decisions taken by the GCC leaders during the summit conference would help promote the cooperation among the six GCC member countries in all fields.
ECONOMIC AGREEMENTS: ==================== February 22 -- Kuwait signed an agreement with Mexico to encourage and protect investment and strengthen the two countries' trade relations.
April 1 -- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mustafa Al-Shimali and Jamaican Minister of Industry and Commerce George Anthony Hylton signed an agreement to encourage and protect investment between the two countries.
April 20 -- Kuwait and Mauritius signed an agreement to encourage and protect investments and to strengthen the two countries' economic relations.
April 20 -- Kuwait and Lithuania signed two agreements to avoid double taxation, and encourage and protect investments.
November 18 -- Kuwait and Tanzania signed an agreement to encourage and protect investments.
KUWAIT FUND FOR ARAB ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT'S (KFAED) LOANS: ========================================================== January 2 -- Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) signed a loan agreement of KD 25 million with Sudan (about USD 88.5 million) to finance electricity projects in three states.
January 22 -- KFAED signed a loan agreement of USD 54 million with Yemen to finance the fourth phase of rural areas' roads.
February 4 -- KFAED signed agreements with Lebanon to fund development projects worth USD 87 million.
February 5 -- The Kuwait fund and the Lebanese Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) signed a memorandum of understanding to build monuments in five locations to represent the cooperation between the two countries.
March 6 -- KFAED signed a loan agreement with Chad to fund a road construction project worht KD five million (about USD 17.7 million).
March 7 -- KFAED signed an agreement with Ghana to fund the emergency and intensive care project in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital worth KD 4.5 million (about USD 15 million).
March 11 -- Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and Cote D'Ivoire signed a loan agreement of KD 5.88 million (about USD 18.2 million) to fund a road construction project on the borders with Burkina Faso.
March 14 -- KFAED and Togo signed a loan agreement of KD 3.4 million (about USD 12million) to fund a road building project.
March 18 -- Kuwait Fund and Mauritania signed two agreements to fund a sugar production project in Nouakchott with KD nine million (about USD 31.8).
March 20 -- Yemeni President Abdo Rabbu Mansour Hadi awarded KFAED Director General of the fund with the "unity medal" for his efforts in supporting development in Yemen.
March 21 -- Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development signed a loan agreement of KD four million (about USD 14 million) with Sierra Leone, to fund a road reconstruction project.
March 21 -- Kuwait Fund signed a loan agreement of KD five million (about USD 17.7) with Nepal to fund a hydroelectric power station project.
March 23 -- Kuwait Fund signed a loan agreement of KD 15 million (about USD 53.1million) with Yemen to fund road construction projects.
March 27 -- KFAED signed a loan agreement of KD 2.9 million (about USD 10.2 million) with the Republic of Burundi to fund road reconstruction project.
March 28 -- Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development signed an agreement with Jordan to fund Aqaba's Liquid Natural Gas Terminal project worth USD 65 millions.
March 31 -- KFAED signed an agreement with Yemen to fund a power grid network in Aden worth USD 35 million.
April 4 -- KFAED signed an agreement with Yemen to fund the reconstruction of a number of damaged cities worth USD 50 million.
April 11 -- KFAED signed four agreements with Bahrain to fund development projects worth USD 1.3 billion.
April 17 -- KFAED signed a grant agreement with Senegal to provide USD five million for food productions.
May 7 -- KFAED signed a loan agreement with Tunisia totalling of TND 125 million (about USD 75.8 million).
May 28 -- KFAED signed two agreements with Yemen to fund reconstruction cities damaged by the 2011 conflict and the electricity distribution and transfer network development project with USD 85 million.
May 31 -- Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development signed a grant agreement with Burkina Faso to provide it with USD five million from the resources of Kuwait Goodwill Fund to support agricultural projects.
June 27 -- KFAED signed seven agreements with Morocco to fund development projects worth USD 1.250 billion as part of the GCC development program.
July 1 -- KFAED signed a loan agreement with Sudan to fund irrigation project with KD 25 million (about USD 85 million).
October 2 -- Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development signed a loan agreement of KD 30 million (about USD 102 millions with Egypt to fund railroad development in Banha, Zagazig, Ismailia, and Port Said.
October 7 -- KFAED signed two grant agreements with Somalia to fund airport and university projects.
November 7 -- KFAED signed a loan agreement of USD 46 million with Sudan for mining projects.
November 11 -- KFAED signed a loan agreement of KD 5.8 millions (about USD 20.3 million) with Burkina Faso to fund international project in the country.
November 12 -- KFAED signed a loan agreement of KD 3.6 million (about USD 12.2 million) with Rwanda.
November 12 -- Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development signed a grant agreement of USD three million with Somalia to support food security.
November 17 -- Kuwait Fund signed a loan agreement of KD four million (about USD 14 million) with the Cape Verde to fund the building and reconstruction of health related buildings.
November 18 -- KFAED signed a loan agreement of KD five million (about USD 17.7 million) with Senegal to fund a road reconstruction project.
November 19 -- KFAED signed a loan agreement of KD 15 million (about USD 53.
1 million) with Djibouti to fund the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad road project.
November 19 -- KFAED signed a loan agreement of KD three million (about USD 10.6 million) with the Republic of Malawi to fund a road project.
November 21 -- Kuwait Fund signed an agreement with Yemen to fund the building of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad college along with 12 community colleges specialized in vocational education in 12 governorates, worth USD 60 million.
November 25 -- KFAED funded 12 development projects in Guinea with about USD 177 million.
November 26 -- KFAED signed an agreement to provide the emergency center in Akkar northern Lebanon with necessary equipment including ambulance cars, fire trucks, and heavy equipment for road constructions.
December 5 -- Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development signed a loan agreement of KD 10 million (about USD 35.4 million) with China to fund the Wuzhou Vocational Education Center.
-- November 4 -- Ambassador Ayada Mabrad Al-Saeedi presented his credentials to President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff as State of Kuwait's Ambassador in Brasilia.
November 6 -- Kuwait's ambassador to Azerbaijan Saud Abdulaziz Mohammad Al-Shamlan Al-Roumi presented his credentials to Azerbaijani Foreign Minister.
November 6 -- Kuwait's Consul General to Karachi Mohammad Al-Khaldi presented a copy of his credentials at the Pakistan's Foreign Ministry.
November 10 -- Sheikha Rima Al-Sabah ranked among the 117 most powerful women in the nation's capital on Washingtonian magazine's annual list of most influential women for her strong presence in the humanitarian action.
November 10 -- Kuwait's Ambassador Talal Mansour Al-Hajri presented his credentials as Kuwait's Ambassador in Khartoum, to Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir.
November 12 -- Kuwait and Kenya signed agreements concerning the avoidance of double taxation and the encouragement and reciprocal protection of investments.
November 14 -- Ambassador Yusuf Ahmad Abdulsamad presented his credentials to President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic as State of Kuwait's Ambassador in Belgrade.
November 15 -- Kuwait's ambassador to Mongolia Khaled Al-Fadhli presented his credentials to Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj.
November 15 -- Kuwait's ambassador to Azerbaijan Saud Abdulaziz Mohammad Al-Shamlan Al-Roumi presented his credentials to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
November 17 -- The State of Kuwait and Kenya signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint committee designed to enhance bilateral relations.
November 19 -- Kuwait's Ambassador to Hungary Hamad Burhamah presented his credentials to Hungarian President Janos Ader.
November 22 -- Kuwait's ambassador to Belgium Dharrar Abdulrazzak Razzooqi presented his credentials to King Philippe of Belgium.
November 25 -- Kuwait's Ambassador to Qatar Meteb Saleh Al-Mutotah presented his credentials to the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.
November 25 -- Kuwait's Ambassador to South Korea Jassem Mohammad Al-Bedaiwi presented his credentials to the South Korean President Park Geun-Hye.
November 27 -- Kuwait and the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council signed an agreement to set up headquarters of the intellectual property training center in the Gulf Cooperation Council.
November 29 -- Kuwait's Ambassador to Thailand Abdullah Al-Sharhan presented his credentials to the Chief of Protocols Department in Thailand's Ministry of Foreign affairs.
December 2 -- Kuwait and Hungary signed several cooperation agreements related to visa exemption and an MoU between Saud Al-Nasser Al-Sabah Diplomatic Institute and the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs as well as higher education, scientific research and public works.
December 2 -- Kuwait's Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ahmad Khaled Al-Jeeran presented his credentials to the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe as a resident Ambassador Plenipotentiary of the State of Kuwait to Zimbabwe.
December 3 -- Kuwait signed political assurances accord with the UN.
December 10 -- Kuwait and Egyptian Ministries of Awqaf signed a joint cooperation protocol in the field of scientific and cultural communication and interaction.
December 12 -- Kuwait's Ambassador to Brunei Dr. Fahad Al-Dhafeeri presented his credentials to Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
HUMANITARIAN AID: ================= January 2 -- Two teams from Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) were sent to Jordan and Lebanon to provide relief assistance to Syrian refugees.
January 17 -- Kuwait offered a donation of KD 362,000 (about USd one million) rendered by the Kuwait-based Society of the Revival of Islamic Heritage to Zakat (alms) Committee of Jerusalem in support of the resistance of the Palestinian people.
January 26 -- Zakat House announced that KD 14 million (about USD 49.5 million) worth of financial aid had been allocated for illegal residents in Kuwait in 2012.
January 29 -- The activities of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) donors for the relief of Syrian people kicked off, organized by International Islamic charity Organization, with the participation of 77 local and regional charities.
June 26 -- Kuwait donated KD one million (about USD 3.5 million) to Children's Cancer Center of Lebanon (CCCL).
June 27 -- The Embassy of Kuwait in Canada, offered a donation valued at USD 352,000 to Chairman of Ottawa Islamic School.
July 3 -- The Embassy of Kuwait in Albania presented a donation valued at 172,000 euro, offered by the Society of the Revival of Islamic Heritage, to Albania-based Al-Irfan Society, in support of a number of orphan projects.
July 8 -- KRCS contributed to the drilling of 10 water wells in Bosaso city in Somalia.
July 10 -- The Kuwait cabinet approved urgent relief to Egypt due to the current deteriorating circumstances of the Egyptian people, upon the instructions of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
July 15 -- Embassy of Kuwait in Jordan started distribution of food aid to 1,250 Jordanian families, as part of a campaign to meet the needs of poor families in the Kingdom.
July 16 -- KRCS sent a convoy of trucks carrying 20 tons of dates to Syrian refugees in Jordan as part of its relief program to alleviate their suffering.
July 18 -- Fahad Al-Ahmad Humanitarian society launched a donation campaign to raise funds for the biggest "waqf" project to sponsor Islamic preachers in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.
July 23 -- The Society for Social Reform affiliate, Al-Rahma International Charity, announced assistance of US 144 thousands dollars for Syrian families that took refuge in Jordan.
July 25 -- KRCS launched a project to support Dialysis patients of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
August 3 -- World Health Organization (WHO) handed USD five million to Jordan, as a donation from the State of Kuwait in support of Jordan, a host country of Syrian refugees.
August 8 -- Kuwait donated USD 50,000 to the Mexican Red Cross in celebration of the 150th anniversary of establishing the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
August 14 -- KRCS dispatched a fully-equipped ambulance vehicles, and a six-ton shipment of dates in relief aid to fight outcome of drought that hit vast regions in Somalia.
August 19 -- Kuwait celebrated the World Humanitarian Day organized by Kuwait-based United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, themed " The world needs more humanity." August 25 -- A Kuwaiti Air Force transport aircraft arrived to Sudan, carrying relief supplies to people affected by the floods that hit a number of regions. The USD 2.5 million aid package came upon the instructions of Acting Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
August 30 -- Kuwaiti Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Ambassador Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi offered a donation of USD 500,000 to the Alliance of Civilizations Voluntary Trust Fund.
September 12 -- The International Islamic Charity organization organized an urgent campaign of food aid to alleviate the suffering of Sudanese people affected by the floods that hit the White Nile state.
September 22 -- KRCS distributed food and shelter facilities to around 4, 000 families affected by floods in Umm Al-Qura town in Al-Jazeera state, Sudan.
September 27 -- KRCS launched "Ragheef" - Arabic form for loaf of bread - fourth campaign in Lebanon in relief of Syrian refugees, in cooperation with Lebanon Red Cross.
October 3 -- KRCS distributed Eid Al-Adha aid on 300 Syrian refugees' families in Jordan in cooperation with The Jordan National Red Crescent Society.
November 1 -- Kuwait donated USD 604,000 to Islamic Cultural Institute in Switzerland to cover the costs of two projects to be implemented by the institute in La Chaux-de-Fonds city, west of the country.
November 17 -- The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) offered the Chairman of KRCS Barjas Humoud Al-Barjas the Henry Dunant Medal for his service to humanity in recognition to his enormous efforts exerted in the field.
November 18 -- The President of Malawi Dr. Joyce Banda signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chairman of the Kuwait-based non-profit organization Direct to establish a university, besides implementing a number of other charitable projects in the country.
November 20 -- The Embassy of Kuwait in Canada donated USD 150,000 to the Board Chairman of Parkdale Islamic Community Center (Hamza Mosque) Ayoub Losham for the acquisition of the current headquarters of the mosque in Toronto. Toronto is among the major cities in Canada that has a large Muslim community.
December 1 -- Kuwait, through its embassy in Riyadh, donated USD 500,000 to Madagascar to encounter the effects of the violent seasonal Haruna cyclone which hit large parts of the country.
December 6 -- The Kuwaiti Ambassador to Argentina Salah Al-Mutairi handed a donation of USD 500,000 to the Argentinian government to finance a project of expanding blood diseases and tumors department in Garrahan Cancer Hospital.
December 14 -- KRCS distributed relief aid to Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Petroleum: ========== January 27 -- Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI) signed a contract of USD nine billion with an international consortium on the engineering and construction of oil refinery and petrochemical center in northern Vietnam.
February 5 -- Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) and Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) signed a KWD 7.5 million (about USD 26.5 million) contract for technical and laboratory services in the oil and gas production.
February 18 -- Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) announced receiving two awards in the 7th Middle East Artificial Lift Forum (MEALF) in Abu Dhabi.
March 25 -- Minister of Oil Hani Hussein inaugurated the first GCC petroleum media forum.
March 26 -- Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) won two international awards, a Gold Award by the British Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) and the Safety Award by the British Safety Council.
June 8 -- The Ministry of Oil's website awarded the Arab E-Government certificate.
July 1 -- Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) won the first exploration of oil field in Hadhramaut, south Yemen.
July 15 -- Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) announced discovering a new oil field in Kabd area west of Kuwait.
July 24 -- Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) announced signing a five year combined loan agreement worth USD 750 million.
August 21 -- Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) fire brigades put out a fire that broke out in Mina Abdullah refinery as result of an oil leak in crude refining pipes.
September 6 -- Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) fire brigades put out a small fire that broke out in one of its construction sites. No damages were reported.
September 16 -- Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) announced winning the ISO certificate in laboratory qualities.
September 22 -- The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil Mustafa Al-Shimali named Nawal Abdullatif Al-Fuzai in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Governors Council.
September 22 - Two children drown near the Burgan Oil Field of the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).
September 29 -- The Ministry of Oil appointed Assistant Undersecretary for administration and financial affairs Sheikh Talal Nasser Al-Athbi Al-Sabah as Kuwait's Representative to the Executive Bureau of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC).
October 3 -- Kuwait Petroleum International Q8 opened the first unmanned fuel station called "Tango" in Holland.
October 7 -- Kuwait petroleum and gas exhibition was opened under the sponsorship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
October 22 -- Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) won the Middle East oil and gas award, organized by Oil and Gas international journal, for the best industrial training project.
October 31 -- Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) announced winning Lloyd's List Award of the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent, for the recognition of its environmental achievements, especially the KOC Maritime Reserve.
November 11 -- Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) won ADIPEC award for best oil and gas innovation or technology in the International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference in the UAE.
November 19 -- Chairman of Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah won the honorary Sea trade award for the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.
November 28 -- EQUATE Petrochemical Company won the Environmental Program of the Year Award by Oil and Gas Middle East journal.
December 7 -- Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) announced inaugurating the enormous tanker (Al-Fintas) and naming an oil bi-products tanker as Burgan, as part of the third phase of developing its fleet.
December 11 -- Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) signed a five year contract of KWD 118 million (about USD 417.6 million) with the British Engineering Consultancy and Project Management Services (AMEC), to provide consultative services for the administration of the company's projects.
Economy: ======== February 3 -- Kuwait hosted the seventh meeting of the Union of Arab Securities Authorities.
March 4 -- Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas Al-Saleh inaugurated the Kuwait and international real estate exhibition, with the participation of 42 real estate companies presenting projects worth KWD one billion (about USD 353.
9 billion).
April 13 -- Kuwait International Bank announced signing a financing contract of KWD 14 million (about USD 49.5 million) with Al Wafir Marketing Services Company.
June 16 -- EQUATE Petrochemical Company announced winning the Best Contribution for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) award by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS).
October 6 -- The ceremony of His Highness the Amir's Prize for outstanding factories was held with the presence of Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas Al-Saleh, sponsored by the Public Authority for Industry, the volume of industrial investments in Kuwait has amounted KWD 3.1 billion, (about USD 10.9 billion).
November 8 -- Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas Al-Saleh inaugurated the investment in Africa forum, organized by the Kuwait-based Direct Aid Society.
November 8 -- Kuwait St. Martins Group bought the More London complex, one of the most prominent real estate in London as a total value of USD 2.8 billion.
November 11 -- The forum entitled "creativity, innovation ensure industrial competition" was opened, with the participation of a number of Arab experts and specialists in creativity and innovation.
November 11 -- The Africa-Arab economic forum kicked off to discuss funding joint projects, and present the results to leaders participating in the Afro-Arab summit.
December 11 -- The Arab investment forum kicked off with the participation of investment ministers.
December 11 -- The 15th Arab business men forum kicked off under the patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah.
December 14 -- Manpower and Government Restructuring Program signed a contract with the Kuwaiti Industries Union for the employment of citizens in the industrial field.
- Social Affairs, Services and Public Utilities: ============================================== January 7 -- The Public Authority for Minors Affairs received the international ISO 2008/9001 certificate of 2012 for the quality of information system.
January 12 -- The first meeting of the secretaries of the Arab Planning Institute for the year 2012-2013 starts activities.
January 13 -- The international humanitarian law conference kicked off, organized in cooperation with Kuwait Institute for Justice Studies.
January 20 -- Kuwait won the best section award in Al-Khartoum 30th international fair during which over 650 local and international companies representing 18 countries took part.
January 22 -- Kuwait's 5th Waste Management Exhibition kicked off with the participation of local and international experts.
January 22 -- Halal Industries and Fields Conference kicked off. It was organized by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in cooperation with Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research.
February 10 -- His highness the Amir patronized a conference entitled 'Young Eengineers, Future Leaders'.
February 11 -- The first international conference of Arab and International Relations Council was held.
February 23 -- Kites festival kicked off at Maseela Beach Resort in commemoration of the National Day celebrations.
March 3 -- Kuwaiti engineer Muhalhel Jassim Ibrahim Al-Mudhaf won the first prize in the international Khalifa international palm award held in Abu Dhabi.
March 5 -- The Heritage Village was opened in a ceremony under the patronage of His Highness the Prime Prince Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
March 10 -- The National Youth conference kicked off. It was aimed at promoting cooperation between youth and the state bodies.
March 13 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah patronized the opening of the National Youth Conference.
April 3 -- The opening ceremony of Kuwait's fourth international award for recitation and memorization of the holy Quran.
April 9 -- The opening of the 38th Islamic book fair.
April 22 -- The first conference of Kuwait Dialogue Center launched under the patronage of His Highness the Amir.
April 27 -- His Highness the Amir patronized the opening of the 3rd session of Kuwait's media gathering for youth.
May 13 -- The annual forum of information society awarded Kuwait a prize for the best online employment project.
May 31 -- Istiqlal Al-Azmi won the post of President of the European International Adjudication Center in the European Union.
June 9 -- The National Conference for Electronic Legislations was held under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
June 12 -- The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor announced signing of an agreement with the United Nations Development Program, under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Planning.
June 16 -- Kuwait and Yemen signed an agreement for judiciary cooperation.
June 16 -- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) awarded Kuwait for achieving the millennium development goals.
June 23 -- Chairman of the State Audit Bureau Abdulaziz Al-Adsani inaugurated the 48th meeting of the Executive Council of the Arab Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ARABOSAI).
June 29 -- Director General of the Central Agency for Information Technology Abdullatif Al-Surai received an e-government award in Dubai.
July 6 -- Faris Al-Obaid received the certificate and membership of the committee for future leaders, presented by Montana International Institute for Young Leaders. He was the first Kuwaiti with such achievement.
July 17 -- Youth Summer Festival kicked off, offering 56 different activities.
July 20 -- The Public Authority for Civil Information won two awards for geographic information technology in the ESRI international conference held in San Diego, USA.
August 15 -- Kuwait Sea Sport Club organized the annual trip for the 25th diving anniversary.
August 20 -- Jordan's King Abdullah II awarded Ali Abdullah Al-Shamlan and Abdullah Yousif Al-Ghunaim with the first degree independence medal, for their role in presenting a bright picture of Islam and its teachings.
August 26 -- International informatics prize organization chose Secretary General of Kuwait's electronic prize engineer Manar Al-Hashash for the fifth time in a raw to join the judging panel in the organizations prize 2013.
September 15 -- Bahrain's Good Word Society honored Deputy Chairman of Kuwait Volunteer Work Center Ahmad Al-Murshid as part of Sheikh Essa Bin Ali Al-Khalifa award for voluntary work.
September 17 -- The fourth annual conference on partnership and exchange of information for a better humanitarian work kicked off. It was organized by the International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) in cooperation with the Direct Aid Society and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
September 19 -- A contract was signed to launch Al-Abdaliya solar energy station.
September 30 -- Kuwait's 17th grand prize for Quran recitation and memorization started under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah .
November 7 -- Youth creativity conference Nuqat started under the theme (executing civilization shock).
November 11 -- The e-government forum was held under the patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. December 4 -- The sixth session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) started under the patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister.
December 4 -- The Seventh Annual Competition for Arab Youth Business Achievements kicked off under the patronage of the Minister of Information and Minister of State of Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud Al-Sabah.
Defense: ======== January 13 -- The National Guard held a training course under the slogan "the strategic role of manpower administration in modern military bodies", with the participation of officers from Bahrain, the Kuwaiti army and the Ministry of Interior.
February 6 -- GCC Al-Jazeera Shield Force starts its 9th joint drills.
March 13 -- The opening session of the 13th meeting of GCC navy commanders kicked off.
March 18 -- Graduation ceremony for officers of the 17th and the 40th batch was held under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
March 20 -- His Highness the Amir the Supreme Leader of the Armed Forces Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah patronized the graduation ceremony of the 39th batch of officers, specialty officers, and female specialty officers.
April 7 -- The 13th meeting of the GCC military training and education kicked off.
June 16 -- The 15th meeting of the GCC operations and training committee kicked off, the meeting discussed cooperation between the GCC countries in the training of the armed forces.
June 17 -- Mubarak Al-Abdullah Joint Command and Staff College held a graduation ceremony for participants of the 17th joint command and staff.
June 19 -- Naval force institute held a graduation ceremony for students of beginners and advanced courses under the patronage of the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant-General Sheikh Khalid Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah.
Septemebr 1 -- The 34th meeting of the GCC armed forces communications group kicked off.
September 23 -- The military logistic services conference kicked off.
October 31 -- The Ministry of Defense signed a military drill agreement with the US army.
November 6 -- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Khalid Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah issued an order to accept all sons of martyrs of illegal residents status in the Kuwait army.
November 7 -- Kuwait and France signed an agreement for a military drill in 2104 .
November 14 -- The Ministry of Defense expressed its deepest sympathy and condolences over the death of Lieutenant Colonel Abdulaziz Al-Ghannam who died in an accident while participating in a joint command and staff training course.
December 10 -- The Gulf defense and civil aviation exhibition was opened under the patronage of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Khalid Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, with the participation of local and international companies, and the Ministry of Defense.
National Security: ================== March 7 -- Kuwait Fire Service Directorate held the 11th fire fighter festival under the patronage of Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of State for Municipal Affair Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah.
March 10 -- The Gulf Traffic Week started under the theme "Your Safety, Our Goal".
March 24 -- The 28th meeting of the GCC criminal investigation committee starts.
April 1 -- The Ministry of Interior executed three men convicted with murder.
April 7 -- The Ministry of Interior said the ammunition warehouse in Kazma shooting field was robbed. At least 15,000 9mm bullets, and 20,000 16mm bullets were stolen.
June 10 -- A fire broke out in the construction sites of the Sabah Al-Salem University City at Al-Shidadia.
June 14 -- The Ministry of Interior called on all Kuwaitis to cooperate to safeguard the country's security. Follow the rules for their own safety. It banned all kinds of demonstrations , despite the constitutional court's ruling in this regard.
June 18 -- The Ministry of Interior executed two people convicted with rape and murder.
June 26 -- The Ministry of Interior celebrated the World Anti-Drug Day.
August 7 -- His Highness the Amir pardons six men and a woman who were found convicted of defamation of His Highness the Amir.
September 10 -- Sheikh Thamer Ali Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah was appointed as Chief of the National Security Apparatus.
September 19 -- A small fire broke out in the Interior Ministry's General Directorate of Investigation in Salmiya. The fire was due to an electrical short circut.
September 28 -- A small fire broke out in Al-Jahra road project, supervised by the ministry of public works. Minor damage was reported.
October 22 -- The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs condemned the breaking into two mosques in Hawalli, where the intruders burned and torn the Holy Quran.
November 13 -- The Ministry of Interior announced arrest of eight Iraqi intruders carrying 50 shotguns.
November 19 -- Two people died as result of heavy rains that swept the country. The General Fire Directorate said 110 people were brought to safety in rescue operations.
November 26 - Drugs Fighting General Directorate arrested fugitives; one of them had previously opened fire on a policeman.
December 9 -- The Criminal Court aquitted all those accused of breaking into the National Assembly.
Municipality: ============= September 28 -- Male and female voters cast their votes to elect 10 members of the Municipal Council (2013).
October 7 -- The Cabinet approved a decree appointing six members of the Municipal Council.
October 21 -- Minister of State for Housing Affairs and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Salem Al-Utheina inaugurated the Municipal Council 11th term.
October 21 -- Municipal Council member Muhalhal Al-Khaled elected uncontested as its chairman upon opening of the 11th term. Member Meshaal Al-Juwaisri was chosen to serve as the deputy chairman.
November 4 -- Municipal Council held first regular session of the 11th term.
Environment: ============ June 10 -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, with attendance of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, inaugurated the national campaign for conserving marine environment, "Senyar-7." June 17 -- The Environment Public Authority (EPA), represented by the national anti-desertification committee, celebrated the World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD).
June 20 -- Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS), namely Committee for Preservation of Wildlife, held a scientific seminar as part of the "wildlife week," promoting an invention by the Saudi engineers, Ibrahim Al-Alem, "the agricultural polyrems." September 11 -- Environment Public Authority (EPA) launched a campaign to rehabilitate Kubbar island.
September 14 -- KEPS registered first breeding in the country by herons at Al-Jahraa natural reserve.
October 11 -- Kuwaiti signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury to monitor trade in this hazardous substance.
November 16 -- KEPS won the local "Sawaed" contest that grouped national and GCC volunteering teams.
November 23 -- EPA launched a campaign to clean Al-Shuwaikh beach; in coordination with the Japanese embassy, private schools, volunteers and environmentalists.
December 5 -- Minister of Information, Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, opened the "green spring camp." Health services: ================ January 14 -- Dr. Mustafa Al-Musawi, the head of the Ministry of Health organs transplantation ward, became on top of Middle Eastern countries in the realm of securing human organs and tissues from demised people, at a rate of six donors per a million, followed by Iran and Saudi Arabia.
January 16 -- Dr. Mohammad Faihan Al-Otaibi, a dermatologist at Asaad Al-Hamad Center, affiliated to the Ministry of Health, was granted "the international board (accreditation certificate) for pathological diagnosis. He was the first Kuwaiti doctor to earn the international accreditation.
January 22 -- Al Razi Orthopaedic Hospital started operating the "ORM" advanced device for spinal cord surgeries.
February 1 -- The International Neuroimaging Conference was held in Kuwait.
February 3 -- Health Minister Dr. Mohammad Al-Haifi opened the 11th International Surgeons Conference.
February 4 -- 4th Kuwait International Pharmacy Conference. February 7 -- Dr. Qais Al-Dweiri, the Ministry of Health assistant undersecretary for public health, declared stoppage of trade in Naif chicken on suspicion the birds were infected with Salamonella.
February 10 -- The Third Dentistry Conference was held.
February 15 -- The Colon and Penile Cancer Conference convened.
February 16 -- The 17th Women's Diseases Conference was organized.
February 18 -- The official Kuwaiti newspaper, the Gazette, reported founding of Kuwait Medical City, at a capital of KD 200 million.
February 28 -- Kuwait Thalassemia Association declared that 375 persons in Kuwait were infected with the disease.
March 2 -- The First Hemochromatosis (also called iron storage disease) Conference was held.
March 5 -- The Seventh Bone Surgery Conference was held.
March 18 -- The Fifth Gulf Nuclear Conference was held.
March 25 -- The Fourth Gulf Oral Health Week got underway.
March 26 -- Accreditation Canada International April 3 -- The second international head and neck surgeries was held.
April 6 -- Kuwait University's Faculty of Medicine opened the third conference for liver diseases.
April 8 -- The fourth scientific meeting for skin laser treatment was held.
April 11 -- Kuwait hosted the Fifth Anesthetization and Intensive Care Conference.
April 13 -- The Ministry of Health held the 8th Urinary Tract Surgery Conference.
April 15 -- The first Emergency and Disaster Management Conference was held.
April 22 -- Dr. Ibrahim Al-Enezi innovated a new liposuction technique.
April 27 -- Minister of Health Mohammad Al-Haifi opened the Kuwaiti-North American Neurology Conference.
May 13 -- The Minister of Health inaugurated the first Strategic Planning Conference aimed at overhauling health care services.
June 17 -- The Minister of Health opened the MoH Information Center.
June 23 -- The Minister of Health opened external clinics for children at Al-Addan Hospital.
September 8 -- Ibn Sina Hospital and Saud Al-Babtain Center for Burns and Plastic Surgery took part in a ceremony marking the world natural therapy day.
October 22 -- Hayat Center for breast cancer treatment was opened.
November 2 -- Dr. Khaled Ahmad Al-Saleh, Kuwaiti Oncologist, Kuwait's Prize for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases.
November 13 -- The MoH declared a 47-year-old citizen was infected with Corona.
November 19 -- Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of Health Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah opened the 12th international GCC conference for skin and genital diseases.
November 19 -- Al-Razi Fractures Hospital received international accreditation.
November 27 -- Minister of Health Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah opened the international conference for combating medical industrial counterfeiting.
December 3 -- The 8th women diseases conference was held.
Tourism: ======== January 26 -- Kuwait took part in the East Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Exhibition 2013, held in Istanbul, Turkey with the aim to specifically boost Kuwaiti-Turkish cooperation in the field of tourism.
February 14 -- Swiss tourism authorities report that Kuwait ranked third in number of tourists visiting Switzerland.
February 17 -- A Circus is added to the Hala February annual festival attractions.
November 18 -- The Kuwaiti Government signed an agreement on cooperation in the tourism sector with the Government of Tanzania.
Climate: ======== September 16 -- Director of the Meteorological Department at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Mohammad Karam announced that his department was awarded the ISO 9001 by the International Organization for Standardization.
November 19 -- Heavy rain fall caused damage, and two deaths were reported, as well as operations to rescue over 110 people in different parts of the country.
November 26 -- The national seismic network at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) reported seismic activity, but said the seismic waves were not caused and do not foretell any earthquakes.
Sports: ======= January 1 -- In a list announced by "Around the Rings" electronic magazine, specialized in the news and activities of the international Olympic movement worldwide, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah was chosen as the second strongest sports effective figure in the international arena for the year 2013.
January 29 -- According to The International Federation of Football History Statistics (IFFHS), a total of eight Kuwaiti clubs were included in the list of best 300 football clubs in Asia during the 21st century from year 2001 till 2012.
February 9 -- Kuwait Taekwondo team player Abduallah Al-Farhoud withdrew from Swedish Taekwondo Championship on grounds he would not compete against an Israeli player in the second round of the competition.
February 23 -- Kuwaiti fencer Bader Al-Otaibi won a gold medal and ranked the first at the Arab juniors fencing championship in Jordan.
March 4 -- A seven year-old Kuwait boy won an international chess championship. The promising player Abdulaziz Raed Al-Fars came first at the Chess contest of the International Mind Games, which was held at the Hungarian capital of Budapest.
March 4 -- Kuwaiti Abdullah Al-Rashidi won a gold medal in the men's skeet finals at His Highness the Amir of Kuwait 2nd International Shooting Grand Prix.
March 4 -- Kuwaiti player Ali Al-Mirshaad won the gold medal in the Fujairah Open International Taekwondo Championship men's competitions.
March 8 -- Kuwaiti shooting team ranked the first in Arab Shooting Championship at both the men and women contests.
March 8 -- The Kuwait Open Squash Tournament (under the name of His Highness the Father late Amir Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Cup) for men kicked off with the participation of 46 global rating players from 18 countries.
March 13 -- Kuwait Second Arabian Horse Beauty Contest kicked off with the participation of more than 420 horses, representing 174 stalls from Kuwait and abroad. The festival prizes are valued at more than KD 200,000 (about USD 707, 000). April 14 -- The 13th Kuwait Camel Race Championship took place under patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
April 21 -- Kuwait Football Association President Sheikh Talal Al-Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah opened the Kuwaiti team mosque, which was built at the expense of members of the team at a cost of USD 210,000 in Aden Governorate, southern Yemen.
May 4 -- Abdulaziz Al-Mandeel won the gold medal in the Asian Athletic Grand Prix 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand. May 4 -- Kuwait's national team won the title of GCC 4th Taekwondo Championship for Men in Doha, Qatar.
May 28 -- Al-Qadsia Sports Club football team won the 51st Cup of His Highness the Amir beating Al-Jahra Sports Club 3-0. The match was attended and sponsored by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
June 2 -- Kuwaiti players Mohammad Al-Ghareeb and Sara Bahbahani won the golds in the Fourth Kuwait Tennis Open Tournament.
June 15 -- Kuwaiti Jet Ski racer Ahmad Al-Dawas won the gold in the GCC first Jet Ski Championship in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. June 16 -- Kuwait National football team player Mohammad Fahad Al-Mutairi passed away due to an extreme blood loss. The deceased had played for Al-Qadsiya, Al-Nasser, and Sulaibikhat sporting clubs and was selected in the Kuwait National Football squad.
June 16 -- Kuwaiti Jet Skier Abdullah Al-Fadhil won the first place in two different categories in the third round of a USA tournament. June 17 -- Kuwaiti skeet-shooter Abdullah Al-Tarqi Al-Rashidi won a gold medal and the first place in the world skeet shooting championship in Cyprus.
June 29 -- Kuwaiti fencing player Yousif Al-Shamlan won the Sabre gold medal in the Gulf fencing tournament in Qatar.
July 4 -- Kuwait men fencing team won the first place, achieving 19 medals in the Gulf fencing tournament in Qatar.
July 6 -- Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah, representing His Highness the Prime Minister, inaugurated the world futsal tournament, with the participation of 16 teams.
July 10 -- The world futsal tournament launched.
July 12 -- Cote D'Ivoire Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan awarded President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah the Medal of the Republic of the rank of Noble Commander for his services of the international Olympic movement, as well as young athletes around the world.
August 19 -- World champion Kuwait jet skier Abdullah Al-Fadhil came with a prominent achievement by being declared US 2013 tournament champion.
August 21 -- Kuwait shooter Mohammad Al-Hamly won a gold medal in the second Asian youth games tournament in China.
August 23 -- Asia ice hockey federation conference kicked off, with the participation of representatives of the International Ice Hockey Federation, 17 asian federations, along with Australia and New Zealand's federations.
August 26 -- Kuwaiti jet skier Abdullah Al-Fadhil won the first place in the speed racing tournament in Florida, USA.
September 4 -- Kuwait fencing team won 15 medals in west Asia juniors tournament.
September 5 -- Kuwait Squash Federation won the right to host the world squash championship in 2015, organized by the World Squash Federation.
September 8 -- Kuwait fencing team ranked in the first place in the west Asia juniors tournament in Jordan, winning six medals.
September 9 -- Kuwaiti jet skier Yousif Al-Abdulrazaq won the first place in the pro category (1600 CC) in the first round on the world championship in Italy.
September 14 -- Kuwait table tennis team won two gold medals, two silver, and two bronze in the 16th Gulf tournament in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
September 17 -- Al-Tadhamon Sports Club won the first place in the Asian clubs weightlifting tournament held in Pyong Yang North Korea.
September 20 -- Public Authority for Youth and Sports (PAYS) Chairman Faisal Al-Jazzaf announced that Kuwait has been voted to represent Arab countries in the "approval committee" formed by the signatories of the UNESCO Convention against doping in sport until 2015.
September 24 -- Kuwait Squash Team won a gold and bronze medals in the Squash Men's Singles at the Arab Championship in Jordan.
September 30 -- Kuwait Futsal Team won championship of the first-ever GCC Futsal Championship, held in Doha, before the end of the event after beating Qatar 5-1.
September 30 -- The general assembly members of the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) re-elected Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah as president of the board of directors.
October 3 -- Arab Gulf nations stage first-ever Women's International Handball Championship.
October 5 -- Kuwait Squash team was crowned champion of the Gulf Youth Squash Championship.
October 9 -- Al-Fatat (Girls) Sporting Club won the 3rd Bani Yas Women Basketball Tournament defeating Al-Muqawuloon team of Jordan 83-75 in the finals in Abu Dhabi.
October 10 -- Al-Qadsiya Sports Club basketball team won the first international basketball championship beating Egypt's Alexandria Union Club 64-54.
October 21 -- Chairman of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah was honored by Lebanese President Michel Suleiman with the National Order of the Cedar in appreciation of his support for Lebanese sports.
October 21 -- Kuwaiti Jet-skier Abdullah Al-Fadhel won title of the US Jet-ski Seasonal Tournament (Drag Race).
October 24 -- A legislative decree of the law (no. 134/2013) was issued to amend some provisions of law (no. 42/1978) on sport bodies.
October 24 -- Mishaal Al-Mutairi clinched bronze medal in the men's 100m sprint in the West Asian Junior Athletics Association Championship held in Amman, Jordan.
October 25 -- Khaled Al-Subaie and Faisal Suroor won the gold medals in the long jump and discus throw respectively at the West Asian junior Athletics Association Championship held in Amman, Jordan.
October 25 -- Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was re-elected President of the Asian Handball Federation (AHF).
November 2 -- Kuwait Sports Club, for the third time, clinched the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup defeating fellow team of Al-Qadsiya Sports Club 2-0.
November 2 -- Kuwait won the 9th Gulf Billiard Championship trophy in Dubai.
November 4 -- Kuwaiti jet-skier Abdullah Al-Fadhel won the champion title of the International Drag Race Championship, held in the US.
November 8 -- Kuwait Rally Championship 2013 kicked off.
November 18 -- Women and Sports Forum, organized by the women sports commission of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), in coordination with the International Olympic Committee and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) kicked off.
November 19 -- Kuwait National Football Team qualified for the 2015 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup after defeating Thailand 3-1.
November 30 -- Mishari Al-Dhafiri won the Middle East Rally Championship (Group N).
December 1 -- Yousef Al-Abdulrazzaq won the jet-ski runabout world title in Abu Dhabi.
Demised personalities: ====================== Jan 5: The Amiri Diwan mourned demise of Sheikh Ugab Al-Malek Al-Homoud Al-Sabah.
March 17: Kuwait held a funeral for the renowned media figure, Ghanima Fahad Al-Marzoug, who passed away at the age of 72. She was a pioneer in the media and humanitarian fields.
May 6: Kuwait lost a patriotic personality, the former deputy prime minister, minister of justice and social affairs, Dr. Mohammad Al-Afasi.
July 29: Kuwait lost the ex-minister of planning, Sulaiman Abdul-Razzag Al-Mutawaa.
Aug 15: The State of Kuwait lost the former minister of education, higher education and health, Anwar Al-Nouri.
Oct 6: The artist, Hussein Al-Musayeb, passed away. He was a pioneer in formative arts.
Oct 14: Kuwait lost one of the founders of the national educational and theatrical movement, Ugab Mohammad Al-Khatib. He was 92.
Oct 19: Kuwait lost Mustafa Boudai who died at the aga of 77. He was a famous leading businessman.
Nov 12: Radio announcer Ahmad Abdulal died. He was one those figures who contributed to establishment of Kuwait Radio.
Dec 11: The Amiri Diwan mourned Sheikh Nayef Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. (end) rk.ba.lb.bz.
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