Based on the Municipal Council's decision, a team from the Ministry of Electricity and Water is going after the telecom towers that are violating the law in private residential areas. According to Resolution No. 121/2017, which forbids the extension of electric power without the ministry's approval, the presence of telecommunication towers in private residential areas and the subsequent violations related to electricity extensions and the increase in pressure on the network are considered serious violations.

This is the first time that such a step has been made to halt the violations of these towers in private residential areas, according to local reports. According to the report, power was turned off for a number of these towers after warnings were issued and notices instructing their removal were put up. The Kuwait Municipality, the Ministry of Health, the Directorate General for Civil Aviation, and the Ministry of Communication must all provide their consent before these towers can be built in residential structures. 

At the Kuwait International Airport, officials conducted an unexpected traffic campaign to target private taxis. Twenty offenders were detained, and legal action was taken against them.

Security operations were carried out by officials against unlicensed taxis (private vehicles) that pick up passengers at Kuwait International Airport. Officials announced that the campaign against illegal taxis will continue and recommended passengers deal with the authorized "cab" at the airport upon their arrival.

As the taxis authorized to operate at the airport are operated by trained drivers, the Ministry advised travelers entering the country not to rent these illegal cars.

A government document sheds light on a comprehensive vision for the development of the Failaka Island complete with a touristic park, reports Al- Qabas daily. The project represents a unique opportunity to establish a development, tourism and investment project with international standards and within the existing laws and procedures at no cost to the state, and provides a valuable addition to the country’s tourist attractions.

The document, a copy of which is obtained by the daily, states that the Failaka Island Resort development project will revive the tourism sector in the country, provide job and contracting opportunities for Kuwaiti companies of different sizes and in different sectors, attracts Gulf and non-Gulf tourists and confirms government’s seriousness in developing the island and attracting reluctant investors. The daily added there are several advantages such as encouraging the tourism sector in Kuwait, and moving the economic wheel on Failaka Island at the lowest cost to the state budget; government participation by providing tourist lands at a cost that encourages the private sector; participation of the private sector to attract the best models of tourist parks through construction, development and operation; increasing the supply of land allocated for recreation, which will lead to a decrease in fixed operating costs; enhancing the demand and raising the value of projects and related services directly and indirectly, in preparation for the implementation of the comprehensive development project for Failaka Island entrusted to the Minister of Municipality and enabling the private sector to attract talent and develop unique and innovative projects with economic, social and environmental returns.

General perception
The general perception of the project shows during the process of redeveloping and operating the park, a commitment is made to preserve the unique cultural, social and environmental heritage of the island, in line with the comprehensive vision of Failaka Island; the Failaka Tourist Park site divided into 2-4 parks as needed, and that each park has a special character, to serve various segments of clients (tourist park, family park, heritage park), sanatoriums for physiotherapy or convalescence and recuperation and the development of public facilities and services for all parks in an integrated manner to serve the project as a whole, provided that collective and alternative internal transportation are provided to ensure a comfortable and attractive environment for citizens.

The time period for starting the project is believed to be from 6 to 9 months and will included setting the project’s needs, specifications and conditions for the investor; establishing a selection mechanism from technical, economic, financial, and service specifications, and the project idea; announcing the investor submission period of 3 months; a committee that studies the submitted projects and selects the most appropriate; a lease contract will be concluded between state property and the investor for a period of 20 years. According to the proposed model for the development and operation of the project is lease for 20 years using the differentiation mechanism including the project is offered for rent for a period of 20 years in accordance with Article 17 of the State Property Law. Which stipulates that it is permissible to lease the state’s private real estate or movable property at a nominal fee or less than the same wage to a legal or natural person with the intention of achieving a purpose of public benefit, and the lease is based on the proposal of the Minister or the head of the competent authority or institution and the approval of the Council of Ministers; the desire of the Ministry of Finance to offer the project for exploitation and to attract offers from qualified and licensed private sector companies is announced and terms terms and conditions for submission are set to serve the overall perception of the island from the Ministry of Municipality and in line with the highest international standards.

 The concerned departments in the Ministry of Education are racing against time in preparing for the next school year considering a lot remains to be done in terms of maintenance works and air conditioning, reports Al-Seyassah daily quoting sources.

Sources affirmed that the ministry officials have intensified their efforts to address shortcomings before the opening of schools. Sources expressed concern over the delay in preparations; taking into consideration the numerous requests and reports from educational districts, particularly the need for comprehensive maintenance and renovation of many schools.

Sources revealed these reports include the renovation and painting of fences, toilets, floors, sewage and water networks; maintenance of air conditioning and fire prevention systems and playgrounds; repair of landings and walkways; roof insulation; construction of canopies, electrical maintenance and other works.

Kuwait ranked fourth in the Arab world and 26 globally in average monthly salaries, according to a list recently published by the American magazine “CEO World”, where the average net monthly salary in Kuwait amounted to $1854.45, reports Al-Rai daily.

Five Gulf countries occupied the first positions in the Middle East and North Africa countries with net average monthly salaries, where the UAE topped the list in the Arab world and ranked fifth globally, to be the only country regionally among the top ten countries on the list.

The value of the average net monthly salaries in the UAE, according to the list, is $3663.27, surpassing all European countries except for Switzerland and all Asian countries except for Singapore.

In the second place in the Arab world is Qatar and ranked 11th globally, with an average monthly salary of $3168.05, followed by Saudi Arabia in third and 25th globally with an average of $1,888.68, then Kuwait, followed by Bahrain, which ranked 28th globally with an average of $1,728.74, and in sixth place in the Arab world and 30th globally Oman averages $1,626.64.

As for the Arab countries with the lowest average salaries, according to “CEO World”, is Egypt, which ranked 100th globally with an average of $219.73, preceded by Algeria in 98th place with an average of $249.67, and then Tunisia, which ranked 96th in the world with an average of $277.44. The American magazine calculated the average net monthly salaries in various countries of the world after deductions and comparing income in some of the richest and least income countries.

While Sri Lanka ranked at the bottom of the list with the smallest average monthly salary, Switzerland came first in the world compared to more than 105 countries covered by the “CEO World” accounts, with an average net monthly salary of $6,141.1, followed by Singapore with an average of $4,350.79, then Australia with an average of $4,218.89, the United States with an average of $3,721.64, then the UAE with an average of $3,663.27.

Kuwaiti authorities have decreed that management of private pharmacies must be limited to Kuwaitis with licenses to practice the profession, a local newspaper reported. In order to regulate private pharmacies, Kuwaiti Health Minister Khalid Al Saeed has decreed.

Al Rai said pharmacies have three months to readjust their status. Violators will face unspecified legal action.

In another ministerial decree, applications for pharmacist licences for non-Kuwaitis and new private pharmacies were suspended.

In the paper, it was noted that the suspicion would remain in place until the results of a related study were released.

Non-Kuwaiti managers of pharmacies and foreign pharmacists are unknown.

In the wake of the COVID-19, Kuwait seeks to correct its demographic imbalance.

Kuwait's economy has suffered as a result of the pandemic, with increasing calls for curbing foreign employment and accusations that migrant workers are straining infrastructure facilities.

The Ministry of Health announced the closure of the Jaber Bridge Vaccination Center for Covid-19 as of Thursday, August 18, after improving indicators of the epidemiological situation in Kuwait, with the continuation of providing vaccines in 16 health centers distributed over different regions of the country.File photo of medical and nursing staff at the Jaber Bridge Center

The ministry said in a press statement Wednesday that the reception timings for individuals wishing to be vaccinated will be daily from Sunday to Thursday from 3 pm to 8 pm in those centers according to prior appointments, with the Abdul Rahman Al Zaid Center (formerly West Mushrif) to vaccinate the age group from 5 to 18 years old.

The ministry added that it is possible to proceed without prior appointment to obtain vaccination doses and booster doses for all age groups at the Jleeb Center in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. Last Wednesday, the ministry announced the closure of the Kuwait Center for the Covid-19 Vaccination in the Meshrif region. (KUNA)

 The residency affairs departments in the six governorates have been instructed to stop granting family visas until further notice, reports Al-Anba daily quoting a source from the security sector. The source disclosed this is in compliance with the directive of the senior leadership in the Ministry of Interior, clarifying that certain professionals like doctors are exempted.

The source added the decision does not apply to those who had earlier been issued visas to be with their families here. He explained the decision is in line with the regulations issued by the assistant undersecretary for Residency Affairs and director general of the Residency Affairs General Department. He said the decision is valid until the completion of a study on regulating visit visa procedures.

 Calls were launched via Twitter by its users to prevent government employees from using their smartphones during official working hours, on the grounds that some of them are more preoccupied with their phones than in performing their duties, reports Al-Nahar daily. However, legal sources affirmed that there is no law obligating the ministry or entity to prevent its employees from using their personal phones in the workplace. Reactions rejecting this call were based on their opinion that such a measure is an attack on personal freedom.

However, there is no law or decision that allows this measure to be taken. As for the advocates, they called for setting controls so that the use of mobile phones is limited only during the break time or the absence of clients, given that mobile phones have become an integral part of daily life. They also called to allow the use of mobile phones only for necessary matters, and prevent the use of gaming sites or applications during working hours

The cost of a flight ticket to return to Kuwait has become five times the price of a flight ticket from Kuwait to the same destination, reports Al-Anba daily. Active destinations recorded departure ticket prices costing less than KD 20 but return tickets costing between KD 140 and KD 190 during the current days. According to traders in the travel and tourism sector, the rise in prices for returning to Kuwait is natural with the approaching end of the summer vacation when return tickets to Kuwait become the most in demand. Reservations are witnessing a continuous increase, which increased the rate of demand, and the prices along with it.

Opportunity
Citizens and residents who are not currently connected to any work or study dates have an opportunity to plan and start a vacation at a lower cost as long as they leave during the current period, and return after the schools open. A member of the Union of Travel and Tourism Offices Abdul Rahman Al- Kharafi said the current period is witnessing an increased demand for reservations for incoming flights to Kuwait compared to departing flights, which contributed to the rise in ticket prices. He revealed that the prices of tickets for flights departing from Kuwait are witnessing a significant decline, especially for some destinations that have a weak turnout near the end of the summer vacation, including Alexandria and Assiut in Egypt, which reached low prices of nearly KD 20 to only depart, while it costs KD 27 to travel to Cairo. Al-Kharafi said he expects the prices of flight tickets to return to Kuwait to decrease after mid-September, with the beginning of the new school year, as the majority of traveling citizens and residents will have returned to the country.

This will reduce the demand for return tickets, which will reduce their prices severely and will provide the opportunity for many to travel back and forth at competitive prices. Meanwhile, Director General of Bash Aviation Company for Travel and Tourism Muhammad Bashir said the increase in the prices of return tickets to Kuwait comes within a normal framework, especially since the current period until the start of schools constitutes the season for travelers returning from annual summer holidays, which raises the demand for tickets. He said, “Some Egyptian destinations recorded ticket prices below KD 20 from Kuwait, prices that we have not seen over the past few years, not to mention other touristic destinations for which Kuwaiti citizens are in high demand, whose ticket prices are KD 50 and less, such as Istanbul, Beirut and Baku, while the price for traveling to London dropped to KD 147”. Furthermore, Director of Sales Department at Al-KharafiTravels Naji Khader explained that the increasing demand for return tickets to Kuwait by citizens comes mainly from European destinations, Turkey and Thailand.

The ticket prices from London to Kuwait are reaching the level of KD 204, from Istanbul to Kuwait about KD 226, and KD 110 from Baku. Among the destinations from which residents come to Kuwait such as Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and India, there is an increased demand, with the prices of return tickets from Jordan to Kuwait between KD 150 and KD 220. The prices of return tickets from Cairo and Alexandria range between KD 140 and more than KD 160, and from Beirut about KD 176. Khader said he expects the prices of return tickets to Kuwait to witness a drop of up to 70 percent in the middle of next month. In addition, Director of the “Red Sea” Company for Travel and Tourism Sherif Bazaza said the high prices of return tickets to Kuwait are currently a normal thing.

Tourism
The travel and tourism market usually witnesses this with the end of the summer season due to the great demand for return tickets, as they coincide with the return of students, teachers, residents and travelers from abroad simultaneously before the start of the next academic year. This increases the level of demand for tickets, more than the number of seats offered, and thus is reflected in the ticket prices, which increases automatically. Bazaza added that ticket prices do not differ whether booked in Kuwait or abroad.

Former Indian Embassy official Shri Jaladhi Mukharji passed away in India on Tuesday August 16th.

He was the Second Secretary at Ministry of External Affairs, Delhi and was the Head of Chancery and Chief Public Information Officer at Indian Embassy in Kuwait.

He superannuated from his position on the year 2020 and was living in India.

The security teams conducted a surprise campaign in Salmiya and an extensive campaign in Jleeb for the fifth consecutive day.

According to the Security Media Department of the Interior Ministry, this is under the directives of Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Ahmad, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Acting Interior Minister, with follow-up by Lieutenant-General Anwar Al-Barjas, the Undersecretary of the Interior Ministry.

Kuwaitis and expats have been warned against spreading rumors and distorted news by the Cybercrime Department, MOI advises them to take information only from official sources in order to avoid being held legally accountable for the accuracy of information published in reliable media.

The Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) and Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) are public institutions under the government. The primary objective of these two institutions is to provide accurate statistical data being used as basis for drafting public policies, the most basic of which is the population census. The indisputable hypothesis is that the data of both institutions must be identical.

In case of discrepancies in their data they must coordinate to unify their data before releasing the information or explaining reasons behind the discrepancy, Al-Rai daily reports. In the first week of August 2022 the CSB released its population statistics as at the end December 2021. The report stated that the total population of Kuwait reached 4,216,900 — a decline of 119,112 compared to 4,336,012 in 2020. This is attributed to the decrease in expatriate population by about 148,000 and an increase of about 29,000 in the number of Kuwaitis.

Release
Meanwhile, PACI has yet to release its demographic statistics as at the end of 2021. Its statistics by the end of June 2021 showed that Kuwait has a population of 4,627,674 — a difference of 411,000 compared to the CSB statistics at the end of 2021, which is a significant difference. Fundamental differences extend to the age groups, as CSB estimates those who are aged 60 years and above at 361,493 while PACI estimated 122,004 at the end of June 2021. For the age group 25 to 29 years old, the estimate of CSB is 206,048 while PACI’s estimate is 512,087 — a difference of 306,000. Looking into the population statistics of both institutions makes one feel that these are the statistics of two different countries. It is difficult to lay down any policy with such a significant difference.

If the primary statistics are wrong, it is possible that the more complex statistics on which it is built, such as economic growth, infl ation, employment and unemployment are also wrong. It is necessary to avoid discrepancies and ensure the accuracy of figures. The two institutions should meet to review the discrepancies and their justifications before the statistics are released, or this task should be assigned to one institution only. Otherwise, all studies and policies adopted by the State will be inaccurate. Accurate and updated statistics are considered the fuel of development.

Public Education

People are hoping that Kuwait will start a new era in improving the quality of public education and restore its pioneering role. This role is impossible without the commitment to determine priorities, combat corruption and ensure fair parliamentary elections. One of the priorities should be reforming the oil sector, considering most of its highly qualified administrators have been replaced with the unqualified or those with poor qualifications.

This disaster led to the distribution of positions among corrupt influential people whose loyalty is bought and whose number has multiplied. Another priority is development of the educational sector. The level of public education declined by about 4.6 years, according to the World Bank and the latest programs of the previous governments. This means that the educational level of a high school graduate here is below that of an eighth grade completer elsewhere.

An official report titled, “For Kuwait’s Sake Let’s Teach Our Children Integrity”, estimated the average cost for a student in government schools – kindergarten to secondary – at KD 3,800 annually. According to a survey conducted by Al-Shall, the cost of private school education is more than the average cost in American schools — KD 3,900. The average cost for students in bilingual schools is about KD 2,900; KD 2,600 in British schools, KD 500 in Indian schools and KD 427 in Arabic schools, all of which have better educational outputs than government schools. This means that the problem is not the scarcity of money, but wastage and misappropriation, in addition to numerous shortcomings such as the failure to link the teachers with rare specialization and research, teacher’s promotion in continuing education, cheating and inflation of the administrative system for employment purposes. All of these have disrupted the provision of other educational needs such as laboratories, tools and training courses.

Traditional

While education around the world is witnessing a curriculum revolution because most traditional jobs are no longer needed in the future, the public education curricula in the country has been unchanged. Since the outputs of public education are the inputs of higher education, the lag in its outputs makes raising the level of higher education almost impossible.

Therefore, the classification of higher education institutions lags behind that of neighboring countries where the Kuwaiti public education curricula were taught in the past. Kuwait needs a new administration fully aware of the sabotage in public education, and believes that improving the country’s level will be in vain without improving its human capital which, in turn, will not be achieved without a real educational revolution that includes curricula and values. No one is seeking for new invention as clear examples abound, what matters is determination.

The World Health Organization, which is looking to rename monkeypox, called Tuesday for help from the public in coming up with a less stigmatizing designation for the fast-spreading disease. The UN health agency has for weeks voiced concern about the name of the disease that emerged onto the global stage in May. Experts warn the name can be stigmatizing to the primates it was named after, but who play little role in its spread, and to the African continent that the animals are often associated with.

Recently in Brazil, for instance, there have been reported cases of people attacking monkeys over disease fears. “Human monkeypox was given its name before current best practices in naming diseases,” WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told reporters in Geneva. “We want really to find a name that is not stigmatizing,” she added, saying the consultation is now open to everyone through a dedicated website: https://icd.who.int/dev11 .

Monkeypox received its name because the virus was originally identified in monkeys kept for research in Denmark in 1958, but the disease is found in a number of animals, and most frequently in rodents. The disease was first discovered in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the spread among humans since then mainly limited to certain West and Central African countries where it is endemic. But in May, cases of the disease, which causes fever, muscular aches and large boil-like skin lesions, began spreading rapidly around the world, mainly among men who have sex with men. Worldwide, over 31,000 cases have been confirmed since the start of the year, and 12 people have died, according to the WHO, which has designated the outbreak a global health emergency.

While the virus can jump from animals to humans, WHO experts insist the recent global spread is due to close-contact transmission between humans. The UN health agency announced last week that a group of experts it had convened had already agreed on new names for monkeypox virus variants, or clades. Until now, the two main variants have been named after the geographic regions where they were known to circulate, the Congo Basin and West Africa. The experts agreed to rename them using Roman numerals instead, calling them Clade I and Clade II. A subvariant of Clade II, now known as Clade IIb, is seen as the main culprit behind the ongoing global outbreak.—AFP

In the period from 21 to 27 August, Kuwait University will accept applications from foreign residents, GCC students, and high school graduates who wish to study at the university at their own expense.

During a press conference, Dr. Muhammad Zainal, Acting Secretary-General of Kuwait University, announced that students who meet the admission requirements would be able to submit their applications electronically, including graduates of the Kuwaiti unified system, the religious institute, American High School, and English high school graduates.

With the Entertainment City project, there is hope for the future, but will it be able to bring enjoyment and fun to thirsty children and their families? Al-Rai daily reports Kuwaiti families are waiting for the sun to rise again on the entertainment city as it once was, a place of celebration for all occasions and holidays.

In its current form on 2.570 million square meters, the extended entertainment city (planned) on the coastal area is one of the huge projects that were within the scope of the Tourism Projects Company. As a result, the Minister of Finance is now responsible for implementing the project in a timely manner, in coordination with a number of government agencies, as the project is of great economic and social importance, as it is a huge recreational outlet serving the citizens of all Gulf countries on holidays. KCCI Board member Osama Al-Nisf told the daily that "communities need entertainment projects, especially if they are successful and integrated.

Kuwait's Vision 2035 will be achieved through the new projects." Dr. Khaled Al-Rasheed, a faculty member at Kuwait University's College of Engineering, said recreational places make up the backbone of any country's tourism industry, since they are the main element attracting tourists, the center of the economy, and the reason citizens and residents stay in the country during the summer.

In response to the Council of Ministers' decision to accelerate the construction of a new entertainment city, Amthal Al-Huwaila, professor of psychology at Kuwait University, thanked them for taking the time to see the needs of the citizens. In order to remove the stress of life, study and work in any society, recreational activities are essential.

According to Al- Huwailah, the project should be completed within a year, so Kuwait can begin entertaining families from all neighboring countries again. Some countries have built huge tunnels and bridges in record time, and she hopes to benefit from their experiences. It was stated by the psychological consultant, Dr. Khaled Al-Mohannadi, that the state is composed of three areas - political, economic, and social, the last of which includes everything that makes a person feel safe, comfortable, and well-being, when he sees the normality and health of society, emphasizing that mental health is an important aspect of social security, as it directly impacts social security, as well as the presence of entertainment venues, which are both preventative and curative.

The Ministry Of Interior has issued verbal instructions to the Residency Affair Department in all six governorates to stop issuing family and visit visas to expats until further notice.

Only doctors and Europeans who apply for online visa will be excluded from this decision. Those who have been already issued family visas don’t come under these new instructions. New procedures and conditions are being implemented which will be approved after the study is done.

The head of the Kuwaiti Fishermen Union, Dhaher Al-Suwayan, announced Monday, August 15, fishing for Kingfish will be suspended until October 15. He called on all fishermen to adhere to the fishing seasons in order to preserve the fish wealth and fish stocks of the country. Al-Suwayan said in a statement that the fishing sector is one of the most important sectors of food security in the country and deserves to be reviewed by officials to develop it and increase the support provided to it. He pointed out that the support for fishermen has remained the same since the beginning of the nineties and did not change like other subsidies for food security sectors.

He pointed to the need to allow fishermen to fish for mead inside Kuwait Bay with the controls set by the Environment Public Authority and the supervision of the fisheries sector in the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fisheries Resources, stressing that the mead fish are found only in shallow waters and leaving them without fishing makes them migrate to neighboring countries.

He said he hopes the Public Authority for Agriculture will allow fishing mead inside the bay after the approval of the Environment Public Authority under the supervision and control of its inspectors, especially as it is one of the favorite foods of citizens and its presence in abundance will contribute to reducing prices. He explained that the Environment Public Authority has opened fishing inside Kuwait Bay for fishing enthusiasts, with a prior reservation on the authority’s website, hoping that the fishermen will have a share in this, declaring their willingness to pay any required fees, in order to provide the supply in the markets in the quantities required for consumers.

More than six years after recalling its top envoy to Tehran in solidarity with Saudi Arabia after it severed ties with Tehran in 2016, Kuwait has appointed an ambassador to Iran, both countries said on Sunday.

Iran's foreign ministry said on Saturday that Ambassador Bader Abdullah Al Munaikh handed over his credentials to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in Tehran. The Kuwaiti foreign ministry confirmed Munaikh's appointment.

Kuwait already has an Iranian ambassador.

Saudi Arabia is working to improve ties with Iran, with which it has been locked in a rivalry that has spanned conflicts in the region.

Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Tehran in January 2016 after Iranian protesters stormed its embassy in Tehran amidst a Saudi execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.

As other Gulf Arab states rally around Riyadh, Kuwait recalls its envoy to Iran. Under a foreign policy that balances relations with its larger neighbors, Kuwait has maintained relatively good relations with Tehran.

Last year, Saudi Arabia initiated direct talks with Iran. According to the kingdom's foreign minister, progress has been made in five rounds of Iraq-mediated talks, but not enough.