Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) - Kuwaiti Newspapers

Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)
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Brief history about Kuwait News Agency

The Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) was founded according to an Amiri Decree which was issued on 6th October 1979. The goals of the agency were specified as gathering news and distributing it to individuals and media institutions to provide them with objective news services, and to focus on Kuwait's just causes regionally and internationally. The Kuwait News Agency's building is located in Shuwaikh area between the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the building of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society, opposite the Kuwait Sports Club overlooking Al-Jahra Street. There are 365 employees in the agency according to 1999 statistics. The average of news in both Arabic and English bulletins was 72,500 news the same year.
During Iraqi invasion of Kuwait

In spite of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the resulting seizure of KUNA's equipment and archives by the Iraqi army, the agency was able to reorganize its structure. During the Iraqi invasion, the Kuwait News Agency relied on its national staff of employees and began operating from London. The British capital was chosen because of the substantial Arab and international media presence there. The mission of the agency at that time was defined as emphasizing the legitimacy of the political system and independence of Kuwait as a sovereign state recognized by international and regional organizations. In addition, it was to affirm that what happened on the second of August 1990 was a military invasion and an act of aggression against the legitimacy and sovereignty of an independent state. KUNA began transmitting from London on 13 October 1990. From then until November 1991 it transmitted 16,110 news items. After the liberation of Kuwait, KUNA in November 1991 returned to its head office in Kuwait and began to re-establish itself. This process was completed by 1992. On 15 November 1991 KUNA resumed transmission of its news service from Kuwait, with an average of 40 news items daily, which had increased to 42000 news items in the year 1999. The number of employees increased from 75 in 1978 to 365 in 1999.
During Iraqi invasion of Kuwait

Arabic Language Transmission: On 10th June 1992 ??? the transmission hours for the Arabic bulletin were increased to 12 hours daily. On 14th October 1992 they were increased to 16 hours daily. On 15th November 1978 KUNA began its external news service in Arabic service for three hours each day, which was expanded to 12 hours a day. The external transmission hours were increased to 16 hours daily on 15th February 1979. English Language Transmission: On 15th January 1980, KUNA began transmitting its English language service inside Kuwait for 12 hours a day. On 25th February 1980 KUNA started offering its English news service to subscribers outside Kuwait for ten hours a day, and after that increased it to 16 hours daily inside and outside Kuwait.