Addressing the concerns shared by several locals and residents, security sources clarified the intention behind the newly deployed biometric system at various border crossings and airports. The objective is to construct a comprehensive database for the Ministry of Interior, they disclosed.

With 49 biometric devices installed across land, sea, and air entry points, along with two dedicated centers in Umm Al-Hayman and Jahra, the ministry aims to enhance national security. Spearheaded by First Deputy Prime Minister and acting Minister of Interior and Defense, Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled, the project aims to facilitate a seamless travel experience.

Security sources reassured that this new move would not pose any hindrance to citizens or residents regarding their travel or residency renewal. The act of collecting fingerprints wouldn't obstruct anyone from entering or leaving the country. The ministry's current agenda is to develop a security database comprising all entrants, be they citizens, residents, Gulf nationals, or even visitors. The next phase will involve recording ten fingerprints of the country's residents and linking them with their residency renewal process.

The implementation of the biometric system has demonstrated impressive accuracy, efficiency, and a high-speed data collection process for everyone who underwent fingerprinting. This effective approach has been witnessed amidst the significant rush at land, air, and sea ports.

The Department of Land and Air Ports has successfully registered a massive number of travelers, including citizens, residents, and visitors, using the fingerprinting method which typically takes no more than three minutes. In cases of unrecognized fingerprints due to injuries or other issues, facial and eye scans are conducted, which takes approximately five minutes.

In an attempt to ease the anticipated congestion during the summer travel season, authorities have made provisions for Kuwaiti nationals to take their fingerprints at one of the two centers in Umm Al-Haiman and Jahra. Operating 24/7, these centers will alleviate congestion at border crossings. The fingerprint system applies to all individuals who are 21 years old or above. Complete data captured by these biometric devices is sent to the Criminal Evidence Department, creating a special database linked with the Gulf security system.

There exist agreements among GCC countries to share data about individuals wanted in security-related cases. The prime objective is to identify counterfeiters, apprehend individuals wanted by security, and record the security data of the person undergoing fingerprinting.

In coordination with the General Department of Information Systems, the Criminal Evidence Department has installed 49 scanning devices across land ports, sea ports, and airport terminals. The staff managing these devices have been thoroughly trained for the project to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and speed, thereby preventing any travel delays.

It's noteworthy that the Ministry of Interior has successfully completed a project to develop a comprehensive central biometric system for Kuwait, which includes fingerprints, palm, face, iris, and electronic signatures of all individuals.

The project was overseen by Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled, who closely monitored the final stages of the project. This initiative also includes a thorough overhaul of entry and exit procedures for travelers and vehicles, the establishment of secure data centers, provision of automated devices to simplify procedures, and the ability to check local and international blacklists before authorizing travel.

As a result of the Corona crisis, the Civil Service Commission has decided to pay 180 dinars as a screen allowance to all teachers from GCC countries who worked during the distance learning period.

As with their Kuwaiti counterparts, only teachers working in government schools are eligible, according to Al-Rai.

The administrative sector of the Ministry of Education has submitted a list of names to the CSC for approval.

In the meantime, the educational areas have listed the names of teachers who are shortlisted for replacement and their services will be terminated before May 31.

Some sources have rumored that the ministry's financial sector would pay teachers' salaries and dues until next September instead of at the end of the year.

A recent study found that rising temperatures erode human sleep globally and steal precious hours from people’s sleep. It warns that sleep hours will decrease further with rising temperatures, especially for the elderly, females and low-income communities.

The study, published by the scientific journal “One Earth”, included 47,000 adults in 68 countries, and found a significant change in sleep duration when the nighttime temperature rose above 50 degrees (10 degrees Celsius), as it is in nights when temperature exceeds 86 degrees. On average, people sleep 14 minutes less, reports Al-Rai Daily.

Over longer periods of time, the loss is more significant, according to the study, which showed that people already lose an average of 44 hours of sleep per year, and as warming continues, people will be under intense pressure to get a good night’s rest.

According to the study, the nighttime temperature has risen faster than the daytime temperature in many places around the world. By the year 2099, individuals worldwide may lose between 50 and 58 hours of sleep per year.

The study indicates that there is no evidence of the human body adapting to high temperatures. The elderly and females are most affected, along with poor communities.

She stated that without air conditioning in poor communities, and if greenhouse gas concentrations are not stable until the end of the current century, each person could lose two weeks of sleep per year on average due to the high temperature each year.

She pointed out that we often take sleep for granted. However, not getting enough sleep can increase our risk of many serious health problems, such as poor mental health, obesity, heart problems, or even early death.

According to the study, lack of sleep is associated with decreased cognitive performance, decreased productivity, impaired immune function, negative cardiovascular outcomes, depression, anger, and suicidal behavior.

The study warned against air conditioning use because it exacerbates global warming by increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

The study found that continued urbanization will further amplify ambient heat exposure.

The study recommends a focus on heat-resilient urban planning, environmental design, and biopsychosocial interventions to fairly protect the world’s urban population centers and vulnerable communities from exposure to high nighttime temperatures.

Public Authority for Manpower announced that work in open areas will be banned from June 1 to August 31.

Authority informed that the ban will be from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm under direct sunlight to protect the workers from the scorching heat during the summer.

The Ministry of Health has recently taken strict measures to address violations in private health facilities across the country. In an effort to uphold quality standards and ensure public safety, the ministry has closed several establishments and revoked their licenses. These actions were taken based on the findings of specialized inspection committees, which identified various infractions within the targeted facilities. This comprehensive crackdown includes the closure of 5 private health centers, 40 medical clinics, and 20 private pharmacies.

Private Health Centers:
The inspection committees discovered numerous violations related to the operation of private health centers. These violations ranged from improper management of medical services to non-compliance with regulations governing the practice of the medical profession. The closure of these centers aims to safeguard the integrity of the healthcare system and ensure that patients receive appropriate and lawful treatment. By revoking the licenses of these centers, the Ministry of Health sends a clear message that adherence to standards is of paramount importance.

Medical Clinics:
In addition to the private health centers, the ministry's inspection committees identified violations within 40 medical clinics. These violations pertain to the practice of the medical profession, including the provision of auxiliary services. It is crucial to maintain high-quality healthcare services across the country, and the closure of these clinics serves as a reminder to uphold professional ethics and comply with regulations. The Ministry of Health emphasizes the significance of maintaining the public's trust in the medical profession and aims to prevent any substandard practices that may compromise patient well-being.

Private Pharmacies:
Among the facilities affected by the recent enforcement actions are 20 private pharmacies. The inspection committees found evidence that these pharmacies were being managed by individuals who were not the original license holders. Such unauthorized management raises concerns regarding the quality and safety of pharmaceutical services. To ensure the delivery of reliable and trustworthy healthcare products, the Ministry of Health has revoked the licenses of these pharmacies. This step serves to protect the public from potential risks associated with improper management and unregulated pharmaceutical practices.

The Ministry of Health has taken decisive action against violations in private health facilities to maintain the integrity of the healthcare system and safeguard public health. The closure of 5 private health centers, 40 medical clinics, and 20 private pharmacies reflects the ministry's commitment to upholding professional standards and ensuring the well-being of patients. By addressing these violations, the ministry sends a strong message that non-compliance with regulations and unauthorized management will not be tolerated. The public can trust that the Ministry of Health is actively working to maintain the highest standards of quality and safety in the private healthcare sector.

The Kuwaiti Cabinet held Monday its weekly meeting, chaired by His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. After the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr. Khaled Al-Fadhel said: The Cabinet touched on the results of the participation of the Representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in the Arab 32nd Summit, which was held Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah.
The cabinet stressed that the State of Kuwait reaffirms its support for Arab League Council Resolution No. (8914), welcoming the final statement of the Jeddah meeting and the statement of the Amman meeting. It also expressed hope that Syria’s return to the Arab League will help end the crisis and the suffering of the Syrian people.
The Cabinet confirmed the dates for the Islamic Eid Al-Adha holiday, where state bodies nationwide will be closed starting from Arafat Day on Tuesday, June 27 until Sunday, July 2, with work resuming the following day on Monday. Discussing current developments around the world, the cabinet condemned the storming and ransacking of the residence of the Kuwaiti military office chief in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, in addition to the Qatari embassy, slamming these incidents as “acts of aggression” that target diplomatic missions.

The Cabinet went on to urge authorities in Sudan to take appropriate measures aiming to protect diplomats in the African country, while ensuring that such incidents do not occur again.(KUNA)

In confirmation to the article published earlier regarding the Ministry of Interior’s announcement to designate four centers in addition to the border crossings to implement the biometric system, the Department of Public Relations and Security Media of the Ministry of Interior stated that, as part of the security authority’s keenness to secure the border crossings with the latest security means and technologies, and in accordance with the national project to protect the country’s security, the Ports and Borders Security Sector has activated the biometric system, which includes taking scans of the face and eyes and fingerprints of those entering the country through the Kuwaiti ports, reports Al-Rai daily. The department explained that the biometric system will be applicable for everyone who are 18 years and above, according to the procedures for issuing nationality in Kuwaiti law. All individuals – citizens, residents or visitors – arriving in Kuwait through the various ports will be subject to this system.

Facilitate
In the interest of the security authority to facilitate the citizens and travelers, four centers affiliated with the General Department of Criminal Evidence have been allocated with the cooperation of the General Department of Information Systems in Jahra, Ali Sabah Al-Salem, Farwaniya and West Mishref areas. They will be open daily for 24 hours.

The investigation management center will be open from 8:00am to 8:00pm to complete the biometric procedures. Biometric devices have also been provided by the General Department of Criminal Evidence at the air, land and sea border crossings.

Citizens and residents must book an appointment through the “Meta” platform, and visitors through the Ministry of Interior’s website https://meta.e.gov.kw/En/ to visit the centers designated to complete the biometric procedures (for those who wish to do it before traveling). Travelers through all kinds of ports are allowed to leave without completing the biometric procedures, as its work is limited to arrival (when returning from travel).

Work is underway to open new sites and centers, which will be announced in the near future. Meanwhile, ten days after its implementation, the new security system set up at the border crossings and centers designated by the Ministry of Interior is working efficiently, within the framework of the technical project aimed at controlling security and preventing the entry of wanted individuals and forgers, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting security sources.

They explained that a total of 65,000 citizens, Gulf nationals, residents and visitors have been entered in the biometric system since its launch on May 12 in all of the country’s land, air, and sea entry ports. All these individuals had returned to Kuwait after traveling overseas.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Monday conferred with the highest honour of Fiji by its premier Sitiveni Rabuka in recognition of his global leadership, in a rare honour for a non-Fijian.

Modi arrived here in Papua New Guinea on Sunday on his maiden visit to the country to host a key summit between India and 14 Pacific island countries to boost bilateral ties.

"Big Honour for India. Prime Minister Modi has been conferred the highest honour of Fiji by the PM of Fiji: Companion of the Order of Fiji in recognition of his global leadership. Only a handful of Non-Fijians have received this honour to date," the Prime Minister's Office said.

Prime Minister Modi dedicated the honour to the people of India and to the generations of the Fiji-Indian community, who have played a key role in the special and enduring bond between the two countries, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Twitter.

On the sidelines of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) summit, he also met his Fijian counterpart Rabuka.

"Delighted to meet PM @slrabuka of Fiji. We had a great conversation on various topics. The relations between India and Fiji have stood the test of time. We look forward to working together to further cement it in the coming years," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

Recently, the health ministry announced it will start charging expats KD 20 per unit of blood, which caused a huge controversy not only among expats, who were shocked by the decision, especially since they are major blood donors, but also among citizens, who consider it as discriminatory. Kuwait Times asked Lawyer Thamer Al-Sanea about the legal point of view on this issue, and whether someone can submit a grievance to stop this decision. 

Sanea said this decision is legal and does not violate any legislations according to Kuwaiti law, but at the same time it violates international human rights standards which Kuwait has signed on. He added according to the laws in Kuwait, this issue is considered a ministerial decision. Therefore, it is seen as an independent decision that the government does not interfere in. But Sanea said the ministry of health has no logical or acceptable reason for applying this decision, as it is considered inhumane, adding anyone can file a grievance to try to stop this decision.

Kuwait Times also asked the opinion of citizens regarding this issue — some rejected this decision, but others think this it is the best way to reduce crowding caused by expats. Journalist Dahem Al-Qahtani tweeted his objection. “Regarding the MoH decision to sell blood bags to expats for KD 20, what if the patient undergoes urgent surgery or faces a shortage of blood? What if they cannot pay? Will they let them die?” he asked. “This is a very offensive decision for Kuwait and who suggested and approved it damaged the country’s reputation inside and outside,” he added.

“Raising the fees for dispensing blood bags in this way may make us face a process of selling blood for cash, which is prohibited by the country’s laws and Islamic legislations. Forcing a patient to provide a donor to the blood bank in exchange for blood bags, from a legal point of view, means the country is forcing a barter process, which is also prohibited,” lawyer Riyadh Al-Fadhli tweeted.

“In the name of the great Hippocratic oath, I hope officials at the ministry of health completely cancel blood transfusion fees for patients without any restrictions or conditions. And I call on everyone to donate quickly to the blood bank so that the strategic stock does not run out,” consultant cardiologist Farida Al-Habib tweeted.

On the other hand, a Kuwaiti woman commented on other citizens’ position on this decision. “Why those people who defend expats don’t talk about the price of a blood bag that is sold to citizens at private hospitals for KD 50, and the citizen is forced to buy it due to need,” she tweeted, adding, “expats are the reason private hospitals in Kuwait are asking money for blood bags. They are using all the stock,” she claimed. Another female citizen thinks this decision is due to visitors who come to Kuwait to undergo major surgeries and use most of the blood stock, alleging they don’t pay anything, although they pay thousands in their countries without any questions.

Meanwhile, Kuwait Society for Human Rights (KSHR) issued a statement denouncing the decision, saying the ministry has disregarded international obligations that Kuwait has to uphold with regards to respect for human rights, including health rights, pursuing the highest level of healthcare and seeking to implement the right to healthcare through a non-discriminatory approach. The KSHR statement affirmed its rejection of discriminatory treatment between citizens and resident patients, as these decisions represent violations of health rights stipulated in international conventions and treaties. 

The Kuwait International Airport Customs Administration confirmed that every person entering or leaving the country through the various Kuwait ports must declare to the customs authorities the amount of currencies or financial instruments if the value exceeds 3,000 dinars or its equivalent in any foreign currency, reports Al-Jarida daily.

The daily said the authorities have also stressed that no gold bars can be taken out of the country without customs document saying it will benefit the passenger and enable him/her to enter the country.

In a new developmental to raise the efficiency of the Internet sector in the country, Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA) plans to regulate high Internet speeds of up to 400 Mbps, up from the current maximum rate of 100 Mbps, reports Al- Rai daily. The sources pointed out that what fuels the movement of CITRA is that the Ministry of Communications had some time ago developed the network to high capabilities, which included jumping at the speed of the target rate 3 times, and it is likely that this will be achieved in the next few months.

Framework
According to reliable sources within this framework the Chairman of the CITRA Board of Directors Amer Al-Omar and his deputy, Eng Abdullah Al-Azmi discussed with all CEOs of licensed internet providers their willingness to increase the internet speed according to the targeted rates, and in a way that contributes to raising customers’ benefit with the maximum possible rates of service speed increase. The sources stated that the targeted rates of increasing the speed of the Internet are in line with the technological changes that occurred in the needs of individual and corporate customers, which increased the use of the service and expanded its applications at great levels.

She sources pointed out that all licensed Internet providers have shown great willingness to meet the requirement of doubling the Internet speed, with the commitment of CITRA to remove all obstacles that may hinder this trend, indicating that among the points raised is work related to regulating the mechanism for switching to target speeds, and adjusting the price ceiling. The sources said that CITRA has already begun to develop the required technical and financial scenarios, explaining that the efforts exerted for this include setting a new ceiling for prices, consistent with doubling the internet speed to the required rates, provided that any planned increase in this regard does not burden the customers, especially the small and medium enterprises. It is noteworthy that, according to the price list set for 2021, the maximum ceiling for 100 Mbps speed consumption is 322 dinars annually.

The sources stated that the meeting of CITRA officials with service providers was not limited to the file of increasing the speed of the Internet, but rather included a number of other developmental issues in the sector, including increasing the ability of providers to activate various applications of modern technology, and raising the efficiency of their plans to develop their business in this field. In addition, the meeting touched on improving the service to ensure the sustainability of its quality and limiting its interruption to the highest possible degree, provided that this is accompanied by the continuous development of its techniques. The sources said CITRA officials stressed during the meeting their keenness to overcome the technical and coordination challenges facing the implementation of the work plans of Internet providers, in a way that ensures the continuous development of their business in line with the latest models used globally in their sector

Kuwait Engineers Society's head, Eng. Faisal Al-Atl, has sounded an alarm bell saying Kuwait may find it hard to find jobs for engineers in future because the number of engineering graduates is 3,000 annually while the actual need for both the government and private labor market does not exceed 1,000, reports Al-Rai daily. He added, because there is no coordination between education of all kinds and the need of the labor market, and since the annual turnout of engineers far outpaces the need of the labor market, there is a need for specialized engineers in the oil sector, such as machinery and drilling engineers, but no one studies these disciplines, while the focus is on petroleum engineering in general, so there is an imbalance in the labor market and its needs in which the graduate will not find an opportunity to work in the future with his certificate. The KES has prepared a list of 13,000 expatriate engineers who have not passed professional tests conducted by the society in cooperation with Kuwait University, and the society has not found a clear answer.

The KES has submitted a proposal and asked the Public Authority for Manpower to amend Kuwaitization law in the private sector so that it is at least 30 percent for Kuwaitis. The number of public benefit associations was approximately 25, and they have been operating since the 1960s, according to their goals and plans to develop and serve their members and society at large. However, after this date, the number exceeded 100 associations with the same goals and technical specializations.

There appears to be some political agenda behind some of these associations, which may weaken civil society's ability to fight corruption, disseminate its ideas, and interfere with its activities, and public benefit associations, especially professional associations, have been serving the country and its citizens since their inception with declared goals and activities. According to published figures, Kuwaiti engineers working in the private sector do not exceed 2,000, unlike oil engineers and government employees.

In his view, KES supports the employment of Kuwaiti engineers and Kuwaitization of the engineering sector, and in all of our meetings with officials, he stressed the importance of opening up new work opportunities and ending the queue system for Kuwaiti engineers in government, and we have rehabilitated hundreds of engineers in order to replace them in the private sector. As part of this initiative, we presented a proposal under the title ‘Engineers are future leaders’ to replace Kuwaiti engineers working in the private sector, which has received a lukewarm response by assigning the association the responsibility of accrediting non-Kuwaiti engineers,” he noted.

We have members and colleagues who belong to the bedoun category and they enjoy all the services the society provides, but they do not have the right to vote in the elections for the society's board of directors. Moreover, he said that anyone who submits an application and fulfills the conditions will receive membership. Al-Atl confirmed that the Society of Engineers is the oldest public benefit society in Kuwait, as it was established in 1962, at the beginning of the urban and economic renaissance and shortly after Kuwait’s independence, and its objectives include contributing to the industrial and urban renaissance in the country, preserving the rights and legitimate professional interests of engineers and organizing the rules for practicing the profession and raising their standards.

It also encourages the conduct of engineering research and the development of Arab engineering specifications in partnership with the concerned institutions and bodies in order to consolidate ties and document scientific and technical cooperation between Kuwaiti engineers and their colleagues in Arab and foreign countries. Attempting to resolve disputes between engineers or between them and their clients in connection with engineering work, and encouraging engineering vocational training in Kuwait.

Dr Hamad Al-Adwani of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has ordered the suspension of Kuwaiti students' enrollment in five British universities, according to Al-Qabas.

The daily obtained a copy of the decision, which stipulates the suspension of enrollment of Kuwaiti students at all levels of undergraduate and postgraduate programs at the University of Salford, De Montfort University and Brunel University London.

In addition, Kuwaiti students were not allowed to enroll in the Bachelor of Electronics and Electrical Engineering program at the University of Central Lancashire and the Bachelor of Pharmacy program at the University of Brighton because of the minister's directive.

Within a week of the biometric scan's implementation at all border points, Al-Jarida reported quoting official sources that 36,000 people took part.

Biometric fingerprints are currently taken from those entering the country through the border crossings, including citizens, GCC nationals, and expatriates. The scanning does not include those under 21.

Essentially, the biometric scan is a security project in the interest of citizens and residents.

There will be a scan of the eye print, the face print, and the ten finger prints. The previous decimal fingerprint was an ordinary photograph.

Currently, this only applies to arriving passengers and the elderly and people with special needs will receive priority.

All travelers – citizens and residents – leaving with gold bars must obtain a statement regarding these bars from the Air Cargo Customs Department at the Kuwait Airport before traveling, within the framework of adherence to the applicable customs procedures, especially since it has been noted that travelers have left with large quantities of gold during the recent period, reports Al-Anba daily. The customs source said this phenomenon has only one meaning that the traveler who carries gold with them has converted the value of his money into gold, which must be dealt with by customs authorities in the context of laws in force to protect the traveler himself before anything.

The traveler is required to bring an invoice proving his ownership of the gold bars, in addition to his identification papers, and submit to the Air Cargo Customs Department one day before travel to prove what bars he will carry with him during the flight, and upon his arrival at the airport, he presents the issued statement to the customs inspectors and completes the journey with ease.

About the quantity limit to be disclosed, the source indicated that any gold bars or coins, regardless of their size, small or large, must be disclosed and a statement obtained, as they are not artefacts or jewelry for personal use, as the bars are known to be a conversion process from currency to gold, and then it must be re-monetized in another country, which must be subject to an audit that ensures the following:

1- Evidence of the traveler’s ownership of the gold, as his submission of the purchase invoice in the export statement is evidence that he obtained it properly and did not obtain it as a result of any illegal behavior.

2- Protection of travelers, both citizens and residents: Proving that citizens and residents carry these bars when traveling is one of the protection mechanisms for them, since they disclosed them directly, which proves their good faith.

Regarding the submission of a statement issued for the artifacts, the source confirmed that the gold artifacts that women carry for personal use when traveling, it is a relative matter. If they are in reasonable quantities that are used as adornment, then a statement by the female traveler is not required. But if the quantities that a woman wears are exaggerated in weight, then the matter here requires that she go through the normal procedures, including obtaining a statement issued for those artifacts.

The process of evaluating artifacts when traveling is subject to the discretion and experience of customs inspectors in Kuwait, who have the skills to enable them to estimate the situation for the traveler, which is something they deal with very high flexibility to ensure the application of the spirit of the law as well as the protection of the capabilities of citizens and residents.

Regarding large quantities of gold taken by travelers, the source indicated that the matter cannot be stopped, as Kuwait is an open market that has no restrictions, and it is part of facilitating the movement of trade and funds as long as it proceeds in the proper legal context and there are no suspicions that the movement of that gold may be linked to any activity other than legal.

Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, and Acting Minister of Defense, instructed Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled to clean the labor market of violators and adjust demographics on his behalf. According to Al-Qabas daily, campaigns launched by the Interior Ministry and other concerned parties resulted in the arrest of about 600 marginal workers referred to deportation prisons in the past two weeks.

With the participation of officers from the Residency Affairs Investigations Department and various sectors of the Ministry of Interior, the tripartite committee led by the Public Authority for Manpower carried out many field campaigns to regulate the labor market and eliminate law violators.

Tripartite committee field campaigns revealed an increasing phenomenon of "fake doctors," as expatriates were caught practicing medicine, nursing, and providing specialized medical services without obtaining certificates or licenses that permitted them to do so in medical centers and private clinics. Statistics issued by the tripartite committee showed that six of those arrested practiced the medical profession and treated patients.

A large number of domestic workers and others were arrested for practicing medicine and nursing. Legal measures were taken against them through cooperation between the Ministry of Interior, the Public Authority for Manpower and the Ministry of Health. The field teams were also able to monitor and seize 15 dummy recruitment offices for domestic workers. About 90 workers were found in violation of the residency law, as well as absconders who were working on the basis of daily wages. To prepare for their deportation from the country, they and those who run these facilities were referred to the appropriate authorities.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced on Friday that each of the 815 Filipinos affected by Kuwait's recent suspension of visa issuance will be provided with financial assistance amounting to ₱30,000.

DMW Secretary Toots Ople said in a press briefing that this financial aid is designed to help support the families of the affected individuals and also offset some of the costs they incurred during their application process.

Of the 815 impacted, 514 were intending to leave the country as experienced domestic workers, holding an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) and merely awaiting their flights to Kuwait.

In addition to financial aid, the DMW, under the guidance of Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac, will also provide livelihood and employment assistance to those impacted by the visa suspension.

"We are currently profiling each affected worker to determine their skill sets and job preferences. This will aid in the provision of suitable employment opportunities," Cacdac stated.

This initiative by the DMW is in response to the recent issues with the suspension of visa issuance in Kuwait which has resulted in a significant impact on Filipinos intending to work there. The agency aims to alleviate the challenges faced by these workers due to the unexpected change in their employment plans.

The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) in Kuwait has introduced several alterations to its Civil ID renewal process. While these changes aim to streamline the renewal procedure, they have caused some initial confusion among expatriates accustomed to the previous system.

In my recent encounter with this modified process, I found that after my visa renewal, the expected notification from PACI to initiate my Civil ID renewal never arrived. In an attempt to understand this discrepancy, I decided to manually initiate the renewal process on the PACI website, by selecting the 'Card Renewal' option available here.

Upon entering my Civil ID number, the system informed me that my residency information had been updated, an unexpected response as I was looking forward to a prompt to pay the usual 5 KD renewal fee.

Further investigation led me to an even more interesting discovery. When I tried to repeat the renewal process by re-entering my Civil ID number, I was met with the message: "The request is denied as there was a previous request with no change in the residence information." This suggests that PACI's new system is designed to prevent unnecessary repeat renewal requests when there's no change in residency information. i verified mobil id also it was updated with latest residency information.

I also found a crucial point worth noting: it seems that the renewal fee of 5 KD is required only for those who received their Civil ID cards last year. For individuals, like myself, who paid the fee last year but did not receive the renewed Civil ID, the fee is not required again for the renewal process this year.

These changes in PACI's renewal procedures appear to be designed to prevent duplicate fees and avoid redundant requests, thereby making the renewal process more efficient. Despite the initial confusion, it seems that these revisions are geared towards a smoother renewal experience for residents. As always, if there are any doubts or uncertainties, it's best to get them clarified directly with PACI to avoid potential future complications.

According to weather experts, Kuwait is expected to experience summer rain from today, Thursday, until Saturday. While the weather conditions will be hot over the next five days, there will also be an increase in humidity and winds. However, by next Sunday, the weather is predicted to stabilize.

During the transitional period, Kuwait often witnesses significant and rapid changes in weather conditions, as stated by weather forecast observer Abdulaziz Al-Qarawi. Al-Qarawi further mentioned that the weather will return to stability on Sunday, with generally hot temperatures during the day and mild temperatures at night.

Meteorologist Issa Ramadan pointed out that there is a possibility of sporadic rain occurring on Thursday and Saturday in certain parts of the country. Additionally, astronomer Adel Al-Saadoun shared his opinion that the upcoming weekend is likely to be rainy, accompanied by thunderstorms.

The weather experts' forecast indicates that while the heat will persist, Kuwaitis can expect relief in the form of summer rain. This transition period brings about changes in the atmospheric conditions, leading to a temporary increase in humidity and winds.

To ensure the comfort and well-being of residents and visitors alike, it is advisable to stay updated with the latest weather forecasts and take necessary precautions during this period. Here are a few long-tail SEO keywords to enhance the article's search engine optimization:

Kuwait is set to experience summer rain from Thursday to Saturday, bringing temporary relief from the hot weather. The transitional period may result in rapid changes in weather conditions, such as increased humidity and winds. However, by Sunday, the weather is expected to stabilize, with hot temperatures during the day and mild temperatures at night. Stay informed about the latest weather forecasts and take necessary precautions during this period to ensure personal safety and well-being.

Coinciding with the arrival of the first official Philippine delegation to Kuwait to conduct discussions related to the repercussions of its labor crisis, local and external indicators highlight the difficulty of the talks, with Kuwait sticking to its position regarding the two points of the “shelter” in the Philippine embassy, and the labor offices’ communication with labor sponsors, and considering them the gateway for any treatment of the crisis, reports Aljarida daily.

Kuwait believes that these two points represent a violation of laws and the bilateral labor agreement, and therefore no embassy may establish such a shelter center outside the affiliation of the two authorities concerned in this regard, namely the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Public Authority for Manpower. Local labor information revealed that members of the Philippine delegation arrived in Kuwait, and are expected to start holding meetings with the concerned government agencies, with the aim of paving the way for a new agreement that addresses the demands of the two parties.

In parallel with the Kuwaiti side’s assurances in the talks (Public Authority for Manpower and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to adhere to the directives of the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and Acting Minister of Defense Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled regarding “Manila’s non-compliance with the terms of the labor agreement”, the Philippines escalated its rhetoric and confirmed, in the words of its Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Eduardo de Vega, that the Philippines has no intention of closing its shelter for runaway or mistreated workers in Kuwait, despite the pressure that Kuwait exerts on it, and the ban it imposed on its workers.

De Vega said, in a television interview yesterday, “While Kuwait is concerned about the shelter that the Philippine government has established in foreign lands, the Philippines will not close it because it will have negative repercussions on our workers. First of all, if we shut it down, what will happen to the fleeing Filipinos? They will end up on the streets and be arrested by the police. We therefore confirm that we do not intend to close this shelter, which was one of the two recurring issues that the Kuwaiti government was concerned about regarding the bilateral labor agreement between the two countries.”