Deputy Director General of Farwaniya and Mubarak Al-Kabeer Municipalities Eng. Nawaf Al-Kandari affirmed that building violations cannot be tolerated, and this is currently under the microscope, reports Al-Rai daily.

Eng. Al-Kandari said, “What is currently taking place in the two governorates is a process of listing the violating real estate, followed by several procedures such as issuing reports of violation seizures, and case reports to those concerned. From there, a precautionary block was placed on the violating property.

Judicial rulings have been issued to remove aspects of violations in the violating property, and to fine the owner of the property.”

Al-Kandari explained that he directed the oversight departments to take all legal measures in this regard, and intensify field inspections to reduce violations.

The precautionary block on real estate that is used for storage, such as investment and private housing, will not be lifted, and the basements will not be opened until all violations are removed.

The encroachments on state property in the two governorates are faced with severity without leniency, especially since the oversight teams have been instructed to monitor the infringement through tours or by receiving complaints. The reports must be submitted within two weeks only.

The concerned teams have taken all measures for removing the existing encroachments on state properties in industrial areas such as West Abu Fatira, Al Ardiya, South Khaitan, and Jleeb Al Shuyoukh markets.

In addition, Al-Kandari said the bachelors’ file is a top priority for the municipality’s senior management, including the State Minister for Municipal Affairs Fahad Al-Shula and the Director General of Kuwait Municipality Eng. Ahmed Al-Manfouhi, adding that a decision was issued to form a specialized committee to combat housing bachelors in private and model housing.

In the upcoming academic year, the Ministry of Education plans to introduce a fingerprint system for approximately 90,000 teachers and administrators in public schools. This initiative aims to enhance attendance control and improve administrative efficiency within the education sector, reports Al-Rai Daily.

As part of its ongoing efforts to modernize and streamline operations in the education sector, the ministry has decided to implement the fingerprint system. By utilizing biometric technology, the ministry seeks to accurately monitor and record teachers and administrators' attendance across various schools in the country.

With the fingerprint system, the ministry can track attendance effectively, ensuring that teachers and administrators are present during their designated working hours. This measure aims to enhance accountability and contribute to a more efficient educational environment.

The fingerprint system implementation is expected to have benefits. Firstly, it will provide an accurate record of attendance, enabling the ministry to address any issues related to absenteeism or irregularities in a timely manner. By automating attendance tracking, reducing paperwork, and eliminating manual record keeping, it will streamline administrative processes.

The Committee to Study the Prices of Services Provided by the Blood Bank and Laboratory Analysis confirmed that blood is not a commodity for sale or purchase, and the fee for expatriates is a symbolic fee for administrative procedures.

After one and a half years of study, the committee decided to impose a fee on expatriates in 2021. The fee is for administrative charges such as preserving and transporting blood bags and laboratory analyses. The fee is exempt in the event of a donor, which is for encouraging blood donation.

Patients who need blood transfusions and their derivatives, such as critical cases, children, and cancer patients, are exempt from these fees.

Also, the committee stated that it made strenuous efforts to compare these fees with those of other countries in the region, since they are still relatively low compared to the actual costs of blood transfusion and preservation services as well as the technical and administrative procedures involved.

As a result of imposing a fee, the committee anticipated that blood transfusion services would be rationalized and directed in the right direction.

An unidentified employee of the Ministry of Health has been sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labor by the Criminal Court, in a move seen as a deterrent and strict ruling.

According to the court's ruling, the accused did not receive treatment or visit any government or private clinic or hospital on the dates he claimed he was sick. Earlier the court had refused to release the suspect on any guarantee.

Kuwaitis have reportedly spent 4 billion dinars on travel in 2022, a jump of 69.5% bringing their total spending to more than 4 billion dinars, compared to an expenditure of 2.36 billion dinars, according to the preliminary data of Kuwait’s balance of payments for the past year issued by the Central Bank of Kuwait, reports Al-Anba daily. The expenditure hiked after the Kuwait International Airport became fully operational and the resumption of summer flights, nearly two years after the closure of the Airport and the tightening of travel procedures to prevent the spread of the Corona epidemic.

According to the daily, money spent by Kuwaitis on the travel item during the past year is considered the highest since the outbreak of the Corona pandemic, and the total spending during the first quarter of last year was 1.13 billion dinars, and in the second quarter 835.8 million dinars, and in the third quarter 1.1 billion dinars and in the fourth quarter it was 935 million dinars. In terms of spending by tourists inside Kuwait, it witnessed an increase, as their total spending reached 333 million dinars during 2022. On the other hand, the Central Bank data showed that expatriates’ remittances during 2022 reached 5.4 billion dinars, declining by about 2.17% compared to 2021, which was 5.5 billion dinars.

The balance of payments showed that commodity exports by Kuwait during the past year witnessed an increase of 49%, or the equivalent of 10 billion dinars, to reach 30.7 billion dinars, of which 28.8 billion dinars were oil exports, compared to commodity exports that amounted to 20.6 billion dinars, of which 19 billion dinars were oil exports. The significant increase in the value of Kuwait’s merchandise exports came in conjunction with the increase in the value of the country’s oil exports by about 51.1%, or the equivalent of 9.7 billion dinars, as a result of the rise in oil prices, which recorded their highest levels ever during the past year. In terms of the country’s imports of goods, their value was 8.6 billion dinars during the past year, compared to 8.4 billion dinars during 2021, with an increase of 3.3%, or the equivalent of 280 million dinars. The preliminary CBK data of the balance of payments for t2022, as well as the amended data for 2021, showed that the current account (which shows a summary of receipts and payments between the local economy and other economies with regard to transactions of goods, services, and income) recorded a surplus during 2022.

The Embassy of India, Kuwait, in association with Indian Business & Professional Council (IBPC), with the support of Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Union of Investment Companies (UIC), Kuwait organized an Investment Conference recently at Hotel Four Seasons, Kuwait City. A press release issued by the embassy said delegates from Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Invest India, National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) comprising of high-ranking officials participated in the Investment conference.

The delegates from Invest India gave an elaborate presentation highlighting the emergence of India as one of the fastest growing economies in the world in recent years, making it an attractive destination for businesses and investors alike. The Macroeconomic indicators justify the strong positing of India as a rising economy. The macro indicators show on the back of solid structural reforms and macroeconomic stability, India’s growth story has just begun. India is currently a $3.5 trillion economy, ambitiously aiming to be $5 trillion economy by 2025; India achieved the highest annual FDI inflow of $84.84 billion in FY21-22 as ‘Make in India’ focuses on 27 sectors to make India a manufacturing hub.

The highlights of macroeconomic indicators show US$ 7.1 billion FDI equity inflows in services sector in FY22; UPI-based transactions grew 121 percent in value and 115 percent in volume between 2019 and 22; India ranks as the second largest manufacturer of mobile handsets in the world in volume terms since over 200 units are manufacturing cellular mobile phones and parts/ components up from only 2 units in 2014. This is addition to India being a democratic stable governance regime and the largest democracy in the world; currently the United States is the leading economy in the world followed by China, Japan and Germany with India taking the fifth spot with $3.5 billion after being in the 10th position in 2014-15 with $2 trillion economy.

In a world increasingly reliant on technology, Kuwait is paving the way in airport, seaport, and land port security by implementing a comprehensive biometric system. This innovative project, successfully launched in March 2023, has now become fully operational since May.

Biometric Security: A Game-Changer for Kuwait's Ports

Kuwait's new biometric system is transforming the way security operations are carried out at its ports. The system collects multiple types of biometric data, including hand and palm prints, facial images, iris scans, and electronic signatures. This robust approach ensures a higher level of security and accuracy in identifying individuals passing through Kuwait's ports, strengthening the country's safety measures against potential threats.

1. Hand and Palm Prints: This biometric method uses the unique patterns of ridges and valleys on the fingers and palm of a person's hand. It's similar to fingerprinting but covers a larger area and includes additional features such as vein patterns. The unique characteristics of each person's hand and palm print make this a reliable method of identification. In the field of biometrics, hand geometry, which involves measuring and recording the widths of fingers, the lengths of fingers, and the width of the palm, is also used.
2. Facial Images: Facial recognition is a complex biometric method that maps facial features from a photo or video and compares this information with a database of known faces to find a match. This technology uses various data points, including the distance between the eyes, the width of the nose, the depth of the eye sockets, the shape of the cheekbones, and the length of the jawline.
3. Iris Scans: The iris is the colored ring around the pupil of the eye. Each person's iris pattern is unique and remains stable over time, making it a reliable biometric for identification. Iris recognition technology uses a high-resolution camera to capture a detailed image of the iris. This image is then converted into a digital template which can be matched against a database for identification.
4. Electronic Signatures: This form of biometric identification captures the unique way in which a person signs their name. This includes the speed of writing, the pressure applied, the angle of the stylus, and the overall rhythm and flow of the signature. Special software can analyze these characteristics and use them to verify a person's identity.
5. Face Photo: A face photo is a common requirement in many identification processes and is often used in conjunction with facial recognition technology. The photo provides a visual record of a person's appearance that can be used for manual verification if needed.

Streamlining Procedures with Automation

The heart of the new system lies in its automation. The use of automatic devices facilitates the reading and verification of travel documents, enhancing the speed and efficiency of processing travelers. This swift procedure also includes verifying the security features embedded in the documents to control forgery cases. Additionally, the system matches the collected biometric data with the traveler's identity, offering an extra layer of security.

Preventing Crime with Advanced Checks

The biometric system stands as a bulwark against crime and forgery. By allowing for thorough checks against local and international lists of prohibited individuals, the system controls the documentation of travel movement, preventing unauthorized individuals from entering or exiting the country. This forward-thinking approach is key to maintaining national security and stability.

Revolutionizing Vehicle Checks

Alongside individual checks, the biometric system also revolutionizes vehicle verification at land ports. Every vehicle is meticulously checked to ensure it is not included in lists of locally or internationally stolen vehicles. This crucial step is taken before documenting the vehicle's movement, further bolstering Kuwait's security.

Training and Infrastructure: Essential Pillars of the Project

The successful implementation of the biometric system didn't happen overnight. It involved meticulous planning, the provision of trained security personnel, the establishment of secure data centers, and the development of organizational steps to facilitate travelers' procedures. Each of these pillars has played a vital role in bringing this innovative project to life.

A Message to Travelers

With the implementation of the new system, the Saudi Embassy has informed its citizens about the requirements for traveling to Kuwait. The embassy statement emphasizes the necessity of a decimal fingerprint for all departures and arrivals through Kuwait's air, land, and sea ports.

Conclusion

Kuwait's comprehensive biometric system is an example of how technology can enhance national security. With its emphasis on automation, detailed checks, and efficient procedures, the system is set to redefine the security landscape of Kuwait's ports.

The General Administration of Customs said passengers coming from Iraq, Syria and Lebanon are barred from bringing into the country any foodstuffs of unknown origin or home-made products, reports Al-Anba daily. Acting Director General of the General Administration of Customs, Sami Muhammad Al-Kandari, has issued customs instructions listing preventive measures to prevent passengers from bringing in foodstuffs from some neighboring countries.

The instructions came based on the recommendations of the Common Diseases Committee between Humans and Animals, which recommended banning personal foodstuffs from countries where some diseases have been monitored and recommended the following – continuing to prevent the entry of any foodstuffs of unknown origin or home-made products accompanied by those coming to the country and food products are allowed to enter provided they are packaged by the food producing establishments.

Meanwhile , the Minister of Electricity and Water and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Mutlaq Abu Raqba has approved the partial list of employees eligible for the excellent job performance bonus, reports Al-Anba daily quoting sources. Sources explained “the approval of the bonus payment for the rest of the employees will be completed within a month — after confirming that they fulfilled all the conditions.” Sources added the ministry will send messages to the employees included in the approved list, while affirming that Raqba is keen on disbursing the bonus to all deserving employees as soon as possible.

The delay caused by the Public Authority for Civil Information in issuing Civil IDs to expatriates has only increased the sufferings of the expatriate community (those who have renewed their residence permits), reports Al- Jarida daily. Each time a resident checks the status of Civil ID on the PACI website the screen fl ashes the familiar message the ‘Civil ID card is still being processed’.

The daily added, PACI continues to delay without any reason to the extent the expatriates face problems everywhere and do not even know when they will get their IDs as if we live in an unseen world, not the world of technological development and digital transformation and artificial intelligence, although neighboring countries complete their identities in a few minutes, without the person visiting the government agencies.

After canceling the “residence” sticker on the passport, non- Kuwaitis are exposed to a long journey in which they suffer from two things and problems inside and outside Kuwait when traveling, and despite the justification of PACI that the delay is due to the Corona pandemic in 2020, after 3 years the situation is still the same and to make matters worse no one knows who can be contacted. This is in spite of the Authority announced on Aug 10, 2020 its apology to citizens and residents for the delay in issuing and distributing cards, due to the Authority’s disruption for 4 months following the impact of the Corona pandemic.

Resuming
It announced that the delivery rate reached – after resuming work – more than 10 thousand cards per day, which means It receives 1.3 million cards per month, and 15 million annually, which is more than 3 times more than the population of Kuwait, while some visitors wait more than a year and do not receive their cards.

The authority confirmed that it receives 1.3 million cards per month but the reality of the situation is contrary to that. With great dissatisfaction, Al-Jarida opened the file of the delay in issuing the card, as it toured the Public Authority for Civil Information, to find out the reasons for the delay of the cards and asked some of the visitors about the status of their civil cards where they expressed their strong dissatisfaction with the current conditions and poor service at the PACI.

Expatriates pointed out that they rely heavily on the digital card (My ID) in completing personal transactions, but there are parties that require verification through the original card, which put them in the circle of returning some transactions until the new card is issued. They added that in parallel with the presence of 3 million people using my “identity”, there are parties, inside and outside Kuwait, that do not count. One of them indicated that the long wait for the new civil card has entered its tenth month, and the application is still under process stressing that the repeated review is to amend some information.

Kuwaiti, Gulf and other nationalities will be able to verify their face prints, fingerprints and electronic signatures on Wednesday at the land, air and sea borders using the central biometric system, reports Al-Anba daily quoting sources.

In cooperation with the General Department of Criminal Evidence and Border Security Sector, the General Department of Information Systems installed the biometric devices last week in order to create the largest database for travelers. Sources disclosed that the system is connected to the borders of all Arab and Gulf countries to ease coordination and security follow up. This will prevent those wanted by law from fabricating documents, as their data will be revealed immediately.

The Kuwait Center for Poison Control was inaugurated Wednesday by the Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi. The center specializes in following up on poisoning cases, providing advice and treatment plans, controlling toxic substances, and coordinating with the concerned state authorities. In a press statement, the minister said that the center carries out a number of tasks and provides information based on scientific evidence regarding poisoning cases. Dr. Abdullatif Al-Oumi, the Center's Head, emphasized that the center specializes in organizing laboratory tests for toxins, preparing poisoning studies, coordinating with concerned authorities to monitor toxic substances, and training medical personnel.

Also, Dr. Al-Oumi noted that poisoning cases dealt with by the center include cases of poisoning caused by nutritional supplements, medicines, medical preparations, chemicals, narcotics, toxic fumes, foods, biological or radioactive toxins, heavy metal toxins, plants, or poisoning caused by poisonous mushrooms, snake bites, scorpions, or marine organisms of all kinds. Meanwhile, Kuwait’s Ministry of Health launched Wednesday an awareness campaign on the harms of tobacco, in cooperation with the National Anti-Smoking Program. Vice President of the Health Ministry’s National Anti-Smoking Program Dr Ahmad Al-Shatti said in a speech during the campaign launch that the ministry is working to reduce the number of smokers due to its negative effects on human health. Al-Shatti noted that smoking is not a “masculine behavior and includes both genders,” which calls for raising the level of awareness as well as control of sales of tobacco, preventing smoking in public places, and stop advertising and promoting it. In his statement, Dr Abeer Al-Bahou, Head of the Health Promotion Department and member of the National Anti-Smoking Program, said that tobacco harms “our health as well as the planet,” adding that the campaign aims to encourage governments to stop cultivating tobacco and to switch to crops that support farmers in improving food security and nutrition.

Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, heads the National Committee for Regulating Demographics, which is responsible for uprooting vice, purifying the labor market of menial workers, and cracking down on visa traders.

Additionally, the government is accelerating its efforts to Kuwaitize state jobs. This came just 24 hours after the Council of Ministers decided to form a committee in this regard, reports Al-Qabas daily.

According to sources, Al-Khalid has instructed the Public Authority for Manpower and other concerned institutions to do more to alter demographics and intensify the Ministry of Interior's efforts to arrest thousands of expatriates who violate labor and residence laws, identify fake companies, and identify visa brokers and work permit sellers.

According to sources, the Minister of Interior also emphasized the importance of opening up to new countries that export skilled labor.

Over a period of four years - from 2019 to the end of 2022 - the Public Authority for Manpower and the concerned authorities referred 139 visa trade cases to the Public Prosecution.

A source told the daily that 16 cases of visa trade were referred to the Public Prosecution in the past year alone, eight times more than in 2021.

121 visa and trade cases were referred to the Public Prosecution Office in 2019 and 2020, according to sources.

In the same context, the head of the Migrant Workers Committee at the Kuwaiti Human Rights Society, Mishari Al-Sanad, told Al-Qabas that sponsorship leads to a tragic situation for some workers, as a result of the employer's delays in paying their salaries, forced labor, and filing malicious reports without the worker's knowledge, contributing to a high number of cases like these.

In addition, Al-Sanad stated that working overtime without additional pay or housing is not suitable for human life due to the large numbers of workers huddled together. Furthermore, the owners of companies circumvent the law to their advantage, along with closing the company file without informing the worker, resulting in the worker falling foul of the law.

As a result of these issues, Kuwait's rating decreased, according to a report issued by the US State Department last year. Al-Sanad stressed the lack of evidence of increased effort to combat such issues. The number of victims is growing and the government has not taken concrete and sufficient measures to protect them.

After confirming that they had purchased residency permits from a fake company, the tripartite committee arrested 205 violators of the Labor and Residence Law in just eight days in May, including 89 on a list of those prohibited from renewing their work permits.

Based on informed sources, the committee referred to the competent authorities those in charge of the fictitious company seized in the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh area, which sells visas. In addition, 13 fictitious offices managing domestic workers were raided in the Farwaniya and Mubarak Al-Kabeer governorates.

As a result, the Committee of Owners of Consumer Order Delivery Companies revealed the response from the Assistant Undersecretary for Public Security Affairs and the Assistant Undersecretary for Operations and Traffic Affairs, Major General Abdullah Al-Rajeeb, regarding the transfer of any violators of the Labor and Residence Law from the delivery companies to the relevant authorities, since this business thrives and is rife with illegal workers.

The term "tax" often elicits a sense of apprehension, primarily because it's synonymous with an inevitable decrease in our financial reserves. In this guide, we delve into India's Tax Collected at Source (TCS), specifically focusing on its application to overseas remittances. This regulation became effective on July 1, 2023.

The Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) and Its Purpose

Indian residents frequently travel internationally for various reasons, including education, medical treatments, business dealings, tourism, and visiting friends or relatives. In response to this, the Reserve Bank of India introduced the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) on February 4, 2004. This scheme enabled individuals (excluding companies) to transfer up to $25,000 in foreign currency per financial year (from April to March) for specific purposes. Notably, the permissible transfer limit was subsequently increased to $50,000 in 2007 and $250,000 in 2013.

TCS Implementation to Combat Tax Evasion

Over time, Indian tax authorities identified discrepancies in many cases between the taxable income declared by individuals and the amount transferred overseas annually. To address potential tax evasion, the Indian government implemented the TCS on LRS remittances from October 1, 2020.

Under this policy, an Indian tax resident can transfer up to $250,000 (approximately Dh918,000) without seeking special approval from the Reserve Bank of India. However, these transactions will now be subject to TCS. The foreign exchange dealer collects a 5% TCS and transfers it to the tax department under the taxpayer's Permanent Account Number (PAN). The taxpayer can subsequently claim credit for this TCS when filing their annual income return.

A Significant Increase in TCS in 2023

India's finance minister announced a substantial change in the 2023 budget, increasing the TCS rate from 5% to 20%, effective July 1, 2023. As a result, funds transferred overseas for vacations, investments, or other purposes (excluding education and medical expenses) will now incur a 20% TCS.

Educational remittances exceeding Rs700,000 (around Dh31,500) will continue to be subject to a 5% TCS, while all other expenses will be charged at the higher 20% rate. However, for overseas educational expenses funded by loans, the TCS rate is reduced to 0.5% of the remittance proceeds (up to the loan amount), with no change in the 2023 budget.

Impact on Indian Investors

The increase in TCS from 5% to 20% significantly impacts individuals making remittances, as they must now pay the TCS at the point of transfer and offset it against their tax liability for that financial year. This change may also deter Indian residents from investing in international stock markets, real estate, or businesses. Despite their growing popularity among India's affluent population, potential investors may reconsider their decisions unless they are prepared to pay the higher TCS rate upfront under the LRS and claim it back when filing their tax return.

A Sigh of Relief for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)

However, the new regulations offer some relief for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), as the TCS increase only applies to resident Indians transferring funds abroad through the LRS. NRIs transferring funds from their Non-Residential Ordinary (NRO) account to their Non-Residential External (NRE) or foreign accounts are not subject to TCS. Additionally, if an NRI visiting India opts for

an overseas tour package, they will not be subjected to TCS, as clarified by the Central Board of Direct Taxes in a press release on March 31, 2022.

TCS vs TDS: The Role of Advance Tax

Like Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), TCS operates as an upfront tax paid by resident Indians, considered a prepayment and offset against their tax liability for the financial year. While the increase in TCS results in higher cash outflows for taxpayers, it simultaneously leads to a rise in the government's tax revenue.

Conclusion: Navigating India's TCS on Overseas Remittances

Understanding India's Tax Collected at Source (TCS) and its implications for overseas remittances is crucial for both resident and non-resident Indians. The increase from 5% to 20% has significant implications for residents, especially those intending to invest abroad. For more insights into the world of international remittances and Indian taxation, check out our other resources [link to related articles on your website].

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The Ministry of Communications has launched a new service to deliver express mail and parcels to homes exceptionally to the Al-Masayel Post Center for a nominal fee, reports Al- Qabas daily. Sources told the daily, that despite awarding the tender for customs clearance, transportation, sorting, delivery, distribution and delivery of parcels, express mail and postal packages to a company, the ministry decided to limit the distribution of parcels and express mail to Masayel.

The sources added, “If a person chooses the service of delivering the parcel to his home, he pays fees starting from 500 fils and up to 1.5 dinars for each parcel or postal package, and in the event that there are additional parcels or postal packages, other fees will be applicable. Informed sources told the daily that the mail delivery service to homes is considered good, but the fees need to be studied through legal channels before being approved, as well as the distribution to the rest of the post offices in the regions. The sources stated that the role of post offices is currently ineffective, and therefore everyone is forced to visit the Al-Masayel Post Office to receive mail, stressing that post offices in all regions must be subject to development in order to be utilized optimally.

The sources stated that after awarding mail delivery to one of the companies, the service provided will be optional for the public, so that a text message will be sent to the phone if he wishes to receive the parcel by delivery service, or he prefers to collect it from the Al-Masayel center. Informed sources revealed the value of the fees in the event that they are delivered to homes, to be as follows: Half dinar for postal packages for consignments less than 2 kg, and for each additional package, the delivery charges will be 200 fils, provided that it is of the same addressee, category, and weight of the first package; 1.5 dinars for regular or premium parcels for shipments larger than 15 kg up to 30 kg and 600 fils for each additional parcel provided that it is the same addressee, category and weight as the first parcel.

All types of work and entry visas for Filipino workers entering Kuwait have been suspended after an alleged non-compliance with the clauses of a bilateral labor agreement, reports Al-Anba daily quoting sources. According to sources, the suspension came at the orders of the First Deputy Prime Minister, Interior Minister and Acting Defense Minister Sheikh Talal Khaled Al-Ahmad Al- Sabah.

The Acting Director General of the General Administration of Customs Sulaiman Abdulaziz Al-Fahad issued customs instructions regarding electronic services and integrated regular mechanisms for an exit power of attorney for a Kuwaiti vehicle of individuals, through which the mechanism for issuing the power of attorney will be online for the owner of the car and the one being given the power of attorney, and the authentication of the agency through the feature authentications via My Identity application, reports Al-Anba daily. In this regard, informed sources explained that the car travel agency issued by the General Administration of Customs is a service provided to Kuwaiti and Gulf citizens only. The car travel agency service is provided to residents through the agency service at the Ministry of Justice and not customs, which means that the current decision applies to citizens and Gulf nationals only and does not apply to residents.

The new customs instructions No. 18/2023 were based on what was stated in the provisions of the Unified Customs Law of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf No. 10/2003 and its executive regulations, and Customs Instructions No. 50/2003 regarding the implementation of Law No. 10/2003 issuing the Unified Customs Law of the GCC States Cooperation for the Arab Gulf states and law No. 20/2014 regarding electronic transactions and further to customs instructions No. 77/2022. Without prejudice to any obligations arising from other laws in force in the country, and in accordance with what is required by the public interest to facilitate and prepare customs procedures, the following mechanisms are in place for a vehicle travel agency for Kuwaiti individuals through the electronic services of the General Administration of Customs.

The applicant can complete and finalize the procedures for issuing a travel exit permit in a Kuwaiti vehicle for individuals through the following steps:

1. Enter the civil number of the car owner.

2. Enter the civil number of the person entrusted to him.

3. Enter the vehicle plate number.

4. Choose the type of power of attorney (one trip or several trips) and the date of travel.

5. Choose the outlet for issuing the power of attorney.

6. The system checks the information of the car and the owner through electronic link services with the Ministry of Interior.

7. An authentication request is sent through the “My Identity” application to both the car owner and the person entrusted to him, to authenticate the request for issuing a travel agency.

8. After authentication, the applicant pays the electronic stamp fees and service fees through electronic payment services, and then sends a request to issue a power of attorney.

9. After completing the payment operations, the applicant will be able to print a copy of the travel permit with the QR code, through which the authenticity of the document can be verified.

The instructions specified the customs procedures for the port during the creation of the exit movement in the vehicle registration part of the automated customs system. The power of attorney number is entered by the specialist (customs inspector), and the system verifies that the vehicle number matches the vehicle number in the power of attorney, and that the civil number of the owner matches the information with the civil number of the owner by power of attorney, then matching the driver’s civil number with the movement information with the civil number of the person entrusted with the power of attorney.

The instructions also stated that if any of the information entered in the movement does not match with the information entered in the power of attorney, a message appears to the specialist that the movement does not match the power of attorney used. If the type of power of attorney is “one trip” and it was used before in an exit movement, a message appears stating that the power of attorney it has been used before. In the event that the type of power of attorney is “several trips”, the system verifies the expiry of the power of attorney as determined during the issuance of the power of attorney. If it is completed, a message stating that the power of attorney has expired will appear.

Al-Fahad stressed in the instructions that the expert must take into account the use of the civil numbers of both the owner and the driver in the vehicle movement information, for the purposes of verifying the one exiting, as the travel agency that is issued from the services portal is issued based on the civil numbers on the authentication processes that take place through the “My Identity” application, provided that the new instructions will be implemented starting from earlier this week.

Substantial reserves of lithium have been identified in the Degana municipality of Nagaur district in Rajasthan, according to the Geological Survey of India (GSI).

GSI has claimed that the amount of lithium present in these reserves can meet 80 per cent of the country’s total demand. The discovery of these reserves could help reduce India’s dependence on China for Lithium, which is used in batteries for mobiles, laptops as well as electric vehicles. Because of its high cost and the increase in demand all over the world, it is also called ‘White Gold’.

GSI officials say this lithium reserve is much bigger than the reserves found in Jammu and Kashmir. In February this year, 5.9 million tonnes of lithium reserves were discovered in Jammu and Kashmir.

Lithium deposits in Rajasthan have been found in the same Renwat hills of Degana town and its surrounding areas. The GSI team went to Degana not to search for lithium, but to search for tungsten. But there they discovered deposits of lithium.

According to the report of Geologist Devendra Singh of Barmer, along with the Renwat hills of Degana in Nagaur district of Rajasthan, Barabar in Pali district, Bap area of Jodhpur, Pokaran of Jaisalmer, Kuchaman and Didwana of Nagaur district, Sujangarh and Talchhapar of Churu and Pachpadra in Barmer district may also have Lithium deposits.

After a video clip depicting a quarrel involving the use of sharp tools was circulated on some social media sites, the Public Security Sector was able to apprehend the individuals involved.

They have since been handed over to the appropriate authorities to facilitate their deportation from the country.

The decision taken by the Ministry of Health to impose a fee of KD 20 for each bag of blood and its derivatives for for non-Kuwaiti residents who are registered in the health insurance system, as well as to impose laboratory test fees has sparked a popular outcry among citizens and residents, reports Al-Nahar daily.

A massive campaign was organized on social media, calling on the Ministry of Health to rescind its decision under humanitarian considerations.

Medical circles described the decision as “hasty and ill-considered”, stressing that its implementation will have negative effects, even at the level of blood stocks in the blood bank, which always makes appeals to the public to donate due to a shortage in its strategic stock of blood.

They revealed that the data related to the blood bank revealed that 65 percent of the donors are expatriates.

They said they wondered how blood can be taken from them as a “donation” and then sold to them when needed.

They highlighted that in 2022, 84,500 units of blood cells and 7,000 units of platelets were collected from citizens and residents of more than 75 nationalities.

They stressed that such a decision will discourage many from donating their blood, and instead choosing to do so only when asking for a donation for their relatives or friends or for emergency humanitarian assistance from expatriates, as the ministry exempted those who have donors from financial fees.

The Ministry of Health had issued a statement clarifying the decision regarding the fees for blood bags.

It affirmed that the decision exempts a patient from all fees if there is a donor for each blood bag or its derivatives.

The Ministry of Health explained that the fees will not apply to Kuwaiti patients, emergency or critical cases, cancer cases, children of non-Kuwaiti patients, or other humanitarian cases. They are limited to specific categories such as non-Kuwaiti patients of non-emergency and pre-scheduled operations. This is within the framework of preserving the national strategic stock of blood and its derivatives