KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Oil Minister Tariq Al-Roumi said on Thursday that OPEC is closely monitoring global oil supply, demand trends, and US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks on Russian oil. “Through OPEC, we are monitoring the market in terms of supply and demand, and we are monitoring the US President’s statements,” Al-Roumi told reporters, adding that he expects oil prices to be below $72 per barrel. The minister described the market as healthy, with demand growing at a moderate pace.

Oil prices slid about 1 percent to an eight-week low on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump’s remarks about progress in talks with Moscow created uncertainty over whether the US would impose further sanctions on Russia. Trump has threatened additional sanctions on Moscow if no moves are made to end the war in Ukraine. Washington imposed on Wednesday an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian oil. The CEO of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said that the country’s quota production according to OPEC’s latest agreement is 2.548 million barrels per day (bpd) and it has capacity to produce more.

“We are producing this quota, and we have a production capacity that far exceeds that, and we use this capacity when necessary,” Sheikh Nawaf S Al-Sabah said to reporters. OPEC and its allies, together known as OPEC+, agreed on Sunday to raise oil production by 547,000 barrels per day for September. The latest in a series of accelerated output increases aimed at capturing market share was in line with market expectations and marked a full and early reversal of the group’s largest tranche of output cuts, amounting to about 2.5 million bpd, or about 2.4 percent of global demand. — Reuters

KUWAIT: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Sabah on Thursday paid an official visit to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), where he was briefed on ongoing and future plans aimed at upgrading airport infrastructure and enhancing technical and navigation services in line with leading international standards.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Defense, Sheikh Abdullah congratulated DGCA President Sheikh Hmoud Mubarak Al-Hmoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on the issuance of the Amiri Decree regarding the new Civil Aviation Authority Law, describing it as a pivotal milestone in advancing Kuwait’s civil aviation sector.

He commended the DGCA’s efforts in developing the sector and strengthening the country’s air transport system, affirming the importance of continued institutional support to achieve Kuwait’s broader aviation goals. For his part, Sheikh Hmoud expressed his gratitude for the visit, underscoring the significance of such high-level backing in driving forward the sector’s development in accordance with Kuwait’s strategic vision. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Ministry of Information and Culture, led by Minister Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, held its first high-level committee meeting to discuss preparations for the 48th Kuwait International Book Fair. The event is scheduled to take place from November 19 to 29 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait.

Minister Al-Mutairi highlighted the key preparations at the meeting, emphasizing that the upcoming fair “reflects Kuwait’s cultural stature and keeps pace with developments in knowledge and information fields.” He also reviewed plans for a cultural program alongside the fair, aimed at enriching the experience with events that “achieve the desired benefit for the public.”

The committee discussed creating a special pavilion called “The Young Author” to spotlight the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters’ commitment to children and youth. This initiative aims at nurturing their talents and providing knowledge that “strengthens building their future.”

The meeting also covered the fair’s media and marketing strategy, along with administrative and financial procedures essential for organizing the event. A highlight of this year’s book fair will be the selection of the Sultanate of Oman as the guest of honor, showcasing Oman’s distinguished cultural and heritage achievements. The event will also feature celebrations marking Kuwait as the Arab Capital of Culture and Media for 2025.

The meeting was attended by prominent officials including Dr Mohammed Al-Jassar, Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters, Turki Al-Mutairi, Assistant Undersecretary of Television Sector at the Ministry of Information, Aisha Al-Mahmoud, Assistant Secretary-General for Culture at the National Council, Saad Al-Enezi, Assistant Secretary-General for Finance and Administration, Khalifa Al-Rabah, Director of the Kuwait International Book Fair, Mohammed Al-Osaimi, Director of Financial Affairs at the Ministry of Finance, and Shurooq Al-Qaffas, Media and Public Relations Supervisor. — KUNA