The Food and Nutrition General Authority has rolled out a new initiative aimed at enhancing public awareness about the nutritional content of packaged foods. Under the banner of “Your Hand is in Our Hand,” this initiative introduces a system of light signals on the front of food packages, making it easier for consumers to make informed dietary choices.

Aligned with Kuwait Vision 2035 and following the recommendations of the World Health Organization, this initiative is part of a broader strategy to promote healthier eating habits, combat obesity, and prevent chronic non-communicable diseases linked to nutrition.

Implemented by the Community Nutrition Affairs Sector, the initiative extends an invitation to all national food companies producing locally packaged foods to participate. The goal is to foster community partnerships and engage food manufacturers, producers, and importers in sustainable development efforts.

The light signals placed on food packages serve as visual cues, indicating the levels of energy, fats, saturated fats, sugars, and salt contained in the product as percentages. This labeling system aims to empower consumers by providing clear information to help them make healthier food choices and manage their intake of fats and calories more effectively.

Engineer Saud Al-Dabbous, the Director-General of the Municipality, has initiated a campaign targeting car awnings in cooperative societies' parking lots across the governorate. This move is part of ongoing efforts to address violations and safeguard state property.

The campaign, unfolding in three stages of monitoring, issuing warnings, and eventual removal of violating structures, aims to document violations and ensure compliance with regulations. Many of the car awnings in question are unlicensed, constituting unlawful exploitation of state property.

Future stages of the campaign will extend to addressing car shades in schools and other government agencies, underscoring the government's commitment to enforcing the law and upholding regulations.

Engagement with municipal leaders and legal experts has been crucial in devising an effective regulatory framework. Discussions have emphasized the necessity for a comprehensive approach to tackle longstanding issues related to illegal car awnings, especially those belonging to government agencies.

The campaign's initial phase has already seen the removal of 45 umbrellas from government agency walls in the Hawalli region and an additional 6 in Mubarak Al-Kabeer. This proactive stance reflects the Municipality's determination to combat violations and promote adherence to regulatory standards for the community's benefit.

According to an informed source, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) suspended the appointment process in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and rejected candidates. He explained that CSC recently addressed DGCA to confirm the cancellation of those nominated to work in the central employment system and hold administrative and technical qualifications not allocated to the entity at all levels.

CSC also requested that it be informed of the technical qualifications and specializations required to be canceled, especially since there are technical specializations designated for civil aviation, including ground pilotage, a diploma in aircraft maintenance, avionics, a diploma in engines and structures, meteorology, and others.

DGCA had previously addressed CSC regarding stopping the appointment process and returning all nominations received to the central employment system. More than 100 citizens had their nominations returned to the pilotage, especially since some of them had undergone medical examinations and interviews. The source indicated that some of the nominations were from former ministers, including the elected ones, who issued nomination letters in large numbers without clear criteria and controls for employment, which increased the density of the number of employees.

The coordination between the Ministries of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy, and the Ministry of Interior has taken a significant step forward as electronic connection procedures are nearing completion. Informed sources disclosed that citizens will soon be required to settle their dues to the Ministry of Electricity before carrying out transactions related to the Ministry of Interior.

According to sources cited by Al-Jarida, this collaborative effort aims to streamline processes and ensure the timely payment of outstanding bills. The success of a similar initiative, which required expatriates to clear their electricity dues before traveling, resulted in the collection of substantial sums owed over the years, thereby reducing accumulated debts.

Encouraged by this success, the Ministry of Electricity is now actively pursuing practical measures to facilitate the collection of outstanding dues from citizens. To this end, citizens who commit to settling their accumulated amounts in installments will be allowed to proceed with their transactions.

Importantly, officials emphasize that the objective is not to impede the interests of citizens or residents but rather to ensure the collection of long-standing debts. The Ministry’s efforts in this regard have yielded significant results, with total collections for the past fiscal year reaching approximately 500 million dinars, inclusive of associated fees.

However, challenges persist, particularly concerning outstanding debts owed by various government agencies to the Electricity Authority, which amount to around 550 million dinars. As the ministries work together to address these issues, the focus remains on fostering financial accountability and promoting efficient service delivery for the benefit of all stakeholders.

MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri revealed that the Economic Committee in the Council of Ministers submitted a recommendation on March 27 “to increase gasoline prices by 25% rather than improve living conditions." The recommendation was submitted and approved by the Council of Ministers on April 2, 2024, with effect from June 1.

Al-Muwaizri called on the government to halt these decisions affecting the people, adding, “We hope the next government will take charge of approving decisions related to enhancing living conditions.”

He also stated, “I informed all representatives during yesterday’s coordination meeting that enhancing living conditions is a top priority for me personally, and I hope representatives will not proceed with any legislative map until everything related to improving living conditions for all citizens is approved.”

The first phase of voting for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is set to begin from April 19. The polling will take place in 7 phases and will witness many first time voters exercising their right to universal adult franchise. In order to be eligible for voting in the upcoming elections citizens should have achieved the age of 18 as of 1 April 2024.

First time voters should check the electoral rolls to ensure their names are listed as an eligible voter in their constituency. This can be done by visiting the elections commission website. Citizens can look up their names using their Voter ID number, which the EC calls the “EPIC”, or Elector’s Photo Identification Card. Additionally, mobile numbers, personal details such as name, date of birth and relative’s information from the constituency can be used for search for names in the electoral roll.

The Ministry of Interior is dedicatedly pushing forward to finalize the biometric fingerprinting procedure for both citizens and residents within the designated timeline, as revealed by a reliable security source to Al-Rai. Assuring adequacy, the source confirmed that the existing fingerprinting centers can accommodate all individuals, negating the need for expansion.

With around 2 million citizens and residents already fingerprinted, approximately 400,000 individuals remain pending. To expedite the process, the Ministry has extended working hours at existing centers, bypassing the necessity for additional facilities. The commitment remains unwavering to adhere to the established plan, aiming to complete biometric fingerprinting for all by the end of May, as stipulated in the three-month deadline initiated in March.

In response to concerns about appointment booking services through the "Sahel" application, the source clarified that there are no technical glitches. Instead, enhancements were implemented during the Eid holiday period in collaboration with the Information Systems Department.

Regarding appointment bookings for domestic workers, the source emphasized that workers themselves must schedule appointments through either the "My ID" or "Sahel" applications, without sponsor involvement. This streamlined measure ensures efficient handling of appointments for domestic staff.

Kuwait Airways has introduced a convenient home luggage delivery service for passengers arriving from London, with plans to gradually extend the service to other flights shortly, reports Al- Qabas daily. Passengers can request this service 12 hours before their flight through the airline’s official website or mobile application, as detailed in a statement released by the Kuwait Airways. Abdul Mohsen Salem Al-Faqan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kuwait Airways, emphasized the company’s commitment to providing exceptional service to its customers. He highlighted Kuwait Airways’ dedication to ensuring passenger comfort from the moment they enter the airport terminal until they board the aircraft. Al-Faqan underscored the airline’s focus on modernizing its fleet, enhancing onboard entertainment options, and delivering a luxurious travel experience.

Al-Faqan further noted Kuwait Airways’ recent advancements in launching new destinations and services, including home travel procedures for Royal and First-Class passengers, limousine services for premium classes, electronic boarding pass issuance, and onboard BLUEfiinternet service. The introduction of the home luggage delivery service represents another milestone in Kuwait Airways’ commitment to passenger convenience.

The KAC CEO Captain Ahmed Mohammad Al-Karibani elaborated on the airline’s summer schedule for 2024, which includes the launch of new destinations such as Antalya, Bodrum, Trabzon, Sharm El-Sheikh, Malaga, and Nice. The summer schedule encompasses a total of 54 destinations, with increased frequencies to popular European destinations like London, Amsterdam, Munich, Vienna, Geneva, and Sarajevo. Additionally, flights to other destinations such as Dubai, Riyadh, and Manchester will see increased capacity to accommodate rising demand.

Kuwait Airways has confirmed that its flight operations remain unaffected to all destinations, except for countries where airspace closure has been announced, including Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Jordan.

The airline stated that it will reschedule all passenger tickets to and from these countries once their airspace reopens and safety is ensured. In a statement on its official social media account, Kuwait Airways assured passengers that it is closely coordinating with relevant authorities in Kuwait and abroad to monitor developments and official updates, prioritizing passenger safety. The airline’s Emergency and Rapid Response Committee is prepared to take necessary measures to ensure passengers’ safety and facilitate their smooth return once airspace reopens.

Earlier, Kuwait Airways had announced the diversion of incoming and outgoing flights from areas of tension, scheduling flights according to the revised itinerary in consideration of regional security concerns.

As the three-month deadline approaches for mandatory biometric fingerprinting set to expire in June, Kuwait has rolled out home biometrics services for individuals unable to visit Interior Ministry centers.

Under the directives of Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Acting Interior Minister Fahd Al Yousuf, necessary biometric equipment is provided for conducting the service at home. This initiative particularly targets the elderly and those with illnesses preventing them from visiting ministry centers.

The primary aim of these directives is to streamline the fingerprinting process for individuals facing compulsory requirements.

Both citizens and expatriates in Kuwait are mandated to undergo fingerprinting within three months, starting from March 1, to retain access to Interior Ministry services. Failure to comply will result in the suspension of all ministry transactions.

Ministry officials are actively taking biometric fingerprints of Kuwaitis, citizens of other Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and expatriates at various border outlets, Kuwait International Airport, and specific centers within security premises nationwide. Travelers are allowed to leave Kuwait without undergoing fingerprinting, with the procedure to be completed upon their return.

To simplify the process, Kuwaitis and expatriates can now schedule fingerprinting appointments via the Sahel app for unified government electronic services, as confirmed by an official spokesperson.

Yousef Kazim, Sahel’s spokesperson, elaborated on the booking system, stating that individuals can choose their preferred site and available time slot for fingerprinting. Upon receiving a confirmation alert for the appointment, individuals must present either the “My Identity” app or their civilian identification card during the fingerprinting session.

Foreigners make up approximately 3.2 million of Kuwait’s total population of 4.8 million, emphasizing the importance of these biometric measures in maintaining national security and governance protocols.

According to sources within the residency sector of the Ministry of Interior, the advisory committee overseeing demographic issues has proposed a linkage between the expansion of work permits for foreign workers from multiple countries and the establishment of health insurance hospitals and dispensaries for expatriates.

The committee, as revealed by the sources, has evaluated a report submitted by the company responsible for constructing and operating these medical facilities. The report indicated the completion of three hospitals and twenty dispensaries, with ongoing efforts to operationalize them and provide necessary medical staff in coordination with the Ministry of Health. However, no definitive timeline has been set for the completion of this process.

It was emphasized by the committee that the expansion of the labor market to include new foreign workers should be synchronized with the availability of adequate health facilities for expatriate workers. Failure to do so, the committee warned, could lead to increased pressure on government healthcare facilities. Additionally, the committee is closely monitoring reports on the residency sector to track the number of violators who are expected to regularize their status or leave the country within the grace period set by the Ministry of Interior, ending on June 17.

Security estimates suggest that the current number of violators, encompassing various nationalities, ranges between 120,000 to 140,000, highlighting the urgency of addressing these issues.

In a recent statement, a security source from Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has debunked circulating rumors regarding the travel restrictions for expatriates who have not undergone biometric fingerprinting. The source confirmed that the absence of this procedure does not impede expatriates from re-entering the country.

Contrary to speculations, the Ministry clarified that there is no truth to claims suggesting that expatriates failing to undergo fingerprinting will be barred from entering Kuwait after the upcoming deadline, slated to commence in June. Emphasizing on the adequacy of the given time frame, the source assured that the deadline allows citizens and residents ample opportunity to comply with the mandatory biometric fingerprinting.

Highlighting the procedural aspect, the source mentioned that expatriates who haven’t undergone fingerprinting will be required to do so upon their return to Kuwait. This can be accomplished either at the airport or at designated fingerprinting centers situated across the six governorates of Kuwait, including shopping centers.

Moreover, the Ministry emphasized that the biometric fingerprinting process is a one-time requirement, generating digital records that aid security services in verifying individuals’ identities. Additionally, it serves as a preventative measure against the entry of deported or banned individuals into the country.

The clarification aims to alleviate concerns among expatriates and ensure smooth travel procedures in line with the Ministry’s directives.

Various departments at the Interior Ministry were crowded on the last working day before the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, especially the Residency Affairs General Department, which received a directive from Assistant Undersecretary for Residency and Nationality Affairs Major General Ali Al-Adwani to complete the transactions of clients before the holiday without violating any law, reports Al- Jarida daily quoting a reliable source from the security sector. According to the source, the Farwaniya Governorate Residency Affairs Department completed 1,200 transactions with the satisfaction of clients who, along with their employers, thronged to the department on the last working day before the holiday. The daily’s staff visited the department in Reggae to personally observe the work atmosphere on the last day before the Eid holiday.

They were surprised by the large number of expatriates who came to submit their applications. Deputy Director of the department Colonel Adeeb Al-Suwaidan spearheaded the implementation of the plan to ensure the smooth processing of transactions despite the huge crowd, which included sorting the transactions to prioritize the urgent ones. Al-Suwaidan supervised the distribution of numbers to the clients after checking their documents at the main door of the department, such that those with urgent transactions were allowed to enter immediately to complete them within official working hours. The transactions included renewal of residency permits, issuance of visit visas, amending the status, transferring information, and renewing the residency permits of wives and children for those who hold family visas among others. Urgent corporate transactions were received in the morning and were completed at the end of the official working hours.

The department instructed those whose transactions are not urgent to come back after the holiday. A limited number of commercial and family visit visa transactions were received, so they were completed quickly; while other visit visa transactions were postponed until after the holiday due to the heavy workload on the last day before the holiday. After the holiday, priority will be given to expatriates whose residency permits expired during the holiday.

The Administrative Section in the Court of Appeals has obliged the Ministry of Education to pay KD24,000 to an engineer — the value of unpaid salaries from May 2022, reports Al-Seyassah daily. Attorney Abdullah Amin filed the case on behalf of his client — a senior computer engineer in the ministry who was surprised when the salary was not paid from May 2022 under the pretext of work interruption.

Earlier, the Administrative Court dismissed the case, but Amin maintained his defense at the Appeals Court. He presented a documentary portfolio and evidence of his client’s right to receive the unpaid salaries retroactively; taking into consideration that no penalty has been imposed on his client and was neither suspended from work nor referred for investigation. He argued the non-payment of salary decision was marred by arbitrariness and misuse of authority, as it was issued due to disagreements between the engineer and the direct supervisor (department head), as the latter was eligible for promotion to the department head’s position.

The Kuwait Interior Ministry has announced the release of policemen in honor of the forthcoming Eid occasion. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Defense has declared the release of military personnel who were held for disciplinary cases, following directives from Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf and Army Chief of Staff, Air Marshal Bandar Al-Mazyan.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Defense, it was noted that the decision to release military personnel stemmed from Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf’s commitment to joining military personnel and their families in celebrating Eid joyfully. This gesture of goodwill underscores the minister’s belief in fostering unity and solidarity among the armed forces during this festive period.

The release of both policemen and military personnel signifies the importance of celebrating Eid with loved ones and emphasizes the values of compassion and inclusivity within Kuwait’s security apparatus. These actions by the ministries aim to ensure that individuals can fully participate in the Eid festivities, reflecting the spirit of camaraderie and familial bonds cherished during such cultural and religious occasions.

A reliable security source has confirmed that expatriates are permitted to return to Kuwait without having undergone biometric fingerprinting, debunking rumors circulating to the contrary. Contrary to speculation suggesting expatriates might face entry denials after the June 1st deadline set by the Ministry of Interior for biometric fingerprinting, the source clarified that such rumors are baseless.

According to the source, the timeframe provided by the Ministry of Interior allows citizens and residents ample opportunity to undergo the required fingerprinting procedure. While failure to comply may result in the suspension of transactions with the Ministry of Interior, it will not bar individuals from entering the country.

Expatriates who haven't completed the fingerprinting process will be obliged to do so upon their return, either at the airport or at designated fingerprinting centers across Kuwait's six governorates and shopping centers. The source emphasized that the biometric data collected is a one-time procedure, digitally stored to facilitate security verification and to permanently prevent the entry of deported or banned individuals.

WhatsApp, a platform owned by Meta, is gearing up to roll out several new features designed to enhance user experience and engagement. These upcoming additions, set to launch soon, are aimed at enriching conversations, simplifying content sharing, and improving chat management for users worldwide. Among these updates is the potential introduction of notifications for status updates. Yes, you might soon receive notifications of unseen status updates from your contacts. While this feature has been mentioned by reliable sources like WA Beta Info, WhatsApp has not officially confirmed it, so it’s best to approach this news with caution.

Regarding this anticipated feature, WhatsApp is reportedly experimenting with a notification system to alert users about unseen status updates from their contacts, slated for a future app update. Although the exact criteria triggering these notifications are yet to be disclosed, one possibility is receiving a mention in an unchecked status update.

This approach aims to keep users informed about relevant updates directly involving them. Additionally, another potential trigger for these notifications could be interactions with favorite contacts, emphasizing the significance of these relationships and staying updated on their activities. This prioritization could enhance the relevance and timeliness of status updates.

While the specifics of how this feature will be activated are still under wraps, its introduction aims to ensure users stay consistently informed and connected with their contacts’ updates. The notification feature for status updates is currently in development phase and is expected to be included in a forthcoming app update.

In addition to this feature, WhatsApp is also anticipated to unveil a dedicated “Suggested Chat” section within the app, aimed at facilitating new connections and fostering communication between users. Positioned at the bottom of the chat list, this section is expected to recommend contacts from users’ address books with whom they have not previously interacted, making it easier to expand social networks and initiate conversations with suggested contacts. Furthermore, users will have control over their messaging experience, with the ability to dismiss the “Suggested Chat” section at any time.

Moreover, recent reports have hinted at WhatsApp’s plans to enhance its privacy features by introducing the ability to lock chats not only on primary devices but also on linked devices. Users will be able to create a secret code on their primary phone to access locked chats on linked devices, ensuring that sensitive conversations remain concealed from unauthorized access across all platforms.

As of April 1, members of the Kuwait police force have begun donning their summer uniforms, adhering to a circular issued by the Ministry's Public Relations and Security Media Department.

The directive mandates the switch to summer attire, a customary practice for the police force. During the winter season from November to March, officers typically wear black uniforms. In contrast, the summer season sees a return to their original blue police uniform.

Underscoring its active participation in enhancing financial awareness and inclusion among all segments of society, the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) continues to promote the “Let’s Be Aware” campaign launched by the Central Bank of Kuwait, in collaboration with local banks and the Kuwait Banking Association (KBA). In this context, NBK intensifies awareness by publishing educational content including video clips and text communications, as well as awareness tips on all its social media platforms and other digital channels, in addition to re-posting of CBK’s related communications. This aims to increase awareness among all segments of society and familiarize them with different fraud schemes and the precautions to steer clear of these threats.

NBK urges customers to be cautious when making donations to any charities online, and to verify the identity of the recipient, to avoid falling victim to fraud, especially with the increasing fraud schemes and scams used by fraudsters to deceive victims. This comes within the bank’s commitment to raise customers’ awareness and keep them updated on the latest fraud trends and how to avoid them. The bank also warned against donating to unfamiliar charities, whether through links or on websites, as fraudsters may use fake websites similar to the websites of well-known charities, or claim affiliation to real charities raising funds for war or disaster-stricken people, then send the links to the victims which transfer them to the fake website page and ask them to make payments.

Furthermore, the bank called customers to beware of e-mails, text messages or phone calls asking for donations for well-known charities, warning them of responding to such fraudulent messages attempting to obtain their banking information in order to steal their money or information. NBK employs its strong customer communication capabilities as well as all its digital channels, which are the most popular among all Kuwaiti banks, to support the Central Bank’s endeavors to protect customers and the national economy.

It is worth mentioning that NBK is a key promoter and participant in all CBK’s campaigns and initiatives to increase financial and banking awareness among different segments of society. As the leading financial institution in Kuwait, the bank frequently organizes various activities to raise awareness on all topics related to the banking sector, as well as many training courses for its employees to enhance their knowledge and expertise in the areas of combating fraud and financial crime. The “Let’s Be Aware” campaign is the largest across the GCC region focusing on raising banking and financial awareness among banks’ customers. The campaign covers a variety of crucial topics including: anti-fraud tips, awareness of high-risk investments, ways to maximize benefit from banking services, promoting savings and investment culture, as well as other related topics.

The cabinet, during its extraordinary session held on Saturday at Bayan Palace under the chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, approved a bill calling upon the National Assembly to hold the first regular session of the 18th legislative term on April 17 (Wednesday).

The cabinet decided to refer the endorsed bill to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.