The strange accident that happened at the Jahra Traffic Department building when the roof suddenly collapsed, has sounded alarm bells of the need to expedite certification of certificates and the accreditation mechanism, and to conduct professional tests for engineering support staff to avoid such accidents in future, which over the past years have led to the demolition of old government buildings, some of which were built by unskilled labor, reports Al-Qabas daily.

None of the employees or the visitors was injured because one of the employees who felt something was wrong urged the visitors and colleagues to leave the hall seconds before the roof came crashing down. Head of the Society of Engineers, Faisal Al-Atl, believes the latest incident in the Jahra Traffic Building blamed unqualified workers, and leniency in engineering supervision and contractors.”

The sources told Al-Qabas that there was a delay in adopting the testing mechanism and operating the professions center in the Kuwait Society of Engineers, despite its readiness, due to some concerns among the Public Authority for Manpower about the enormity of the project. The sources stated that the “engineers” had prepared a center for professional tests for supporting jobs in the engineering sector, which was screened during the last period, and to enable the certification of the certificates of its employees, and to ensure their expertise and testing.

Sources added PAM and the society met on several occasions during the past two months, and agreed to operate the center and start approving professional certificates and the step will be linked to new or renewal of work permits. The linking mechanism will be electronic between the authority and the association, regarding the accreditation and issuance of work permits for professionals affiliated with 71 different professions.

Al-Atl cited five elements that threaten incidents such as the traffic department — many government buildings are old and dilapidated, use of unskilled labor in construction work, lax supervision of engineering works by contractors, delay in adopting the testing mechanism for engineering workers and the slowdown in the operation of the ‘Professional Center’, despite its readiness

Ahmadi Health District Director Ahmad Al-Shatti has vehemently denied the rumor that Adan Hospital recorded a case of monkeypox; stressing both the hospital and the district remain free of monkeypox, reports Al-Seyassah daily. In an exclusive statement to the daily, Al-Shatti disclosed that the medical specialists at Adan Hospital monitored a Kuwaiti child, who came from Bosnia a few days ago, due to suspicion of being infected with monkeypox. Although the doctors in charge of treating the child did not notice any monkeypox symptoms, they referred the child to the Communicable Diseases Hospital as a precaution, he explained.

He added the results of tests proved that the child has no smallpox, and that he is suffering from rashes caused by change in weather conditions or intake of certain foods. He affirmed the alert level has been raised to efficiently deal with any possible monkeypox infection by holding workshops and lectures on the disease in coordination with the Public Health, Primary Health Care, Dermatology and Emergency departments in the hospital.

He went on to confirm that the epidemiological situation in the region remains stable, pointing out the decreasing number of Covid cases in the country. He said Adan Hospital is closely monitoring developments, as well as circulars issued by the concerned international and local authorities, about epidemics and emerging diseases.

 Kuwait Federation of Restaurants, Cafès and Catering Services Chairperson Fahd Al-Arbash said the revenues of the sector has decreased by 40 percent compared to its earnings in June when it incurred millions of losses, reports Al-Anba daily. In a statement to the daily, Al-Arbash revealed that the sector is facing certain challenges; foremost of which is the rising prices of raw materials used in operational processes like oil, butter, chicken, rice, cheese, chocolate and others.

He added there has been 100 percent increase in the prices of some items, prompting many restaurant owners to procure primary products on credit. He warned that lack of control over the prices will further increase the losses of restaurants.

Turnover of the company, formed by 2,677 women, from cultivation of indigenous varieties pegged at ₹3 crore for the year
Panchabati Baske of Damodarpur village and Nirmala Mahato of Murakhati village are trendsetters in their respective villages in West Bengal’s Jhargram district. Though not highly educated, Ms. Baske and Ms. Mahato have started a revolution by cultivating indigenous varieties of rice organically, without using any chemical fertilisers. There are 55 women farmers in Damodarpur village and 21 women farmers in Murakathi village following in their footsteps by growing indigenous varieties of rice.

Hundreds of women farmers have taken up the cultivation of indigenous rice varieties like Kalabhat (Black rice), Mallifullo (brown rice) and Kerala Sundari (raw aromatic full bran folk rice) and Red Rice, locally called as Sathia, in the remote villages of Jhargram.

What started in 2017 with a dozen women has taken the form of a company with 2,677 women farmers as shareholders to Aamon Mahila Chasi Producer Company Limited. The number of women cultivators, across the five-gram panchayats of Nayagram block in Jhargram, participating in this initiative now stands at over 4,500. The area of land cultivated this year is more than 1,100 hectares .

Ms. Baske started by cultivating the indigenous rice varieties in two to three cottahs of land in 2016-17. This year, she has cultivated black rice in 1.5 bighas (1 bigha = 20 cottahs) of land and Sathia rice in one bigha land. “We are saving ₹4,000 to ₹5,000 per bigha on fertilisers and there is not much difference in the yield,” she said. Both Ms. Baske and Ms. Mahato told  The Hindu that they have made profits by cultivating organic indigenous rice varieties. They also said that as stakeholders to Aamon, they have a greater say in decision making when it comes to farming. 

PRADAN, a non-government organisation, have hand-held the women by providing training in the cultivation process. Photo: Aamon women
PRADAN, a non-government organisation, have hand-held the women by providing training in the cultivation process. The body has also set up a rice processing mill and has started marketing the indigenous produce to different parts of the country. A bio- fertiliser unit has also come up in the region replacing the chemical-based fertilisers used in high-yielding varieties by farmyard manure and other natural inputs.

Madhura Kanjilal, an executive with PRADAN, said that the turnover for Aamon this year is pegged at ₹3 crore. “The women who are part of Aamon have a voice now. Though agriculture is considered a male domain, most of the labour is provided by women. Women farmers at Aamon have the final say as to what to do when it comes to agriculture,” she said.

According to the women farmers, the yield varies with the varieties. While it is about five to six quintals per bigha for indigenous varieties, for the high-yielding paddy cultivated with chemical fertilisers, this can be about nine to ten quintals. With the price of the indigenous varieties being three times, the women farmers are making profit. 

Supplementary product
Aamon has also provided the women farmers with control over what seeds they could use to grow their food, thereby relieving them of dependence on the high-yielding varieties available in the market which require chemical-based fertilisers.  Along with rice, the women also produce plates made of sal leaves, which are abundantly found in the region.  This year onwards, the women farmers are also selling this ecofriendly product.

Buddhadeb Jana, manager at Aamon, who looks after the marketing of the indigenous organic rice varieties, said that the challenge remains to reach individual customers. “We have customers in different parts of the country from Maharashtra to Tamil Nadu. We at Aamon are mostly dependent on institutional buyers but are ready to sell those seeking orders above 50 kgs,” he said.

Mr. Jana also added attempts are being made so that the rice varieties are available to individual customers through online platforms.

Today, India supplied the tenth batch of medical assistance as part of India’s ongoing humanitarian assistance. The same was handed over to the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Kabul.

In view of the urgent appeals made by the United Nations to assist the Afghan people, India has, so far, supplied 32 tons of medical assistance in ten batches, which includes essential life saving medicines, anti-TB medicines, 500,000 doses of COVID vaccine etc. These medical consignments have been handed over to the World Health Organization(WHO) and Indira Gandhi Children Hospital, Kabul.

In Kuwait, the Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital has already performed over 100 robot-assisted surgeries, with the number expected to rise to 200 by the end of the year.

Among the medical procedures performed at Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital were obesity, colon, abdominal wall, hernia and bladder operations, according to Dr. Sulaiman Al-Mazidi.

Based on the great support of the Ministry of Health, his surgical department boasts that it uses endoscopies and robots in surgical operations.

The achievement is in line with Kuwait's vision to overhaul the health system and provide citizens with the best care in the world.

Dr. Maher Al-Chaar, Co-Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery at St. Luke's University Hospital in Pennsylvania, said he visited Kuwait to perform complicated robot-assisted surgeries.

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In a decision recently released by the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Fahd Al- Shariaan, a guarantee of KD5,000 is now required to obtain a license to operate a nursery, reports Al-Jarida daily. In addition, the owner should be a Kuwaiti who holds a diploma, university certificate or its equivalent; and should not be employed in the government or private sector.

For new applicants and those renewing licenses, the concerned committee will review the license application within 10 days and approve it within 30 days. The applicant will be notified in writing within one week from the date of issuance of approval or rejection, including a statement justifying the decision. Sources revealed that the amendment also includes conditions for selecting the nursery's location.

The Minister of Municipality, Dr. Rana Al-Fares has a 3-phase time plan for Kuwaiti jobs in the municipality, reports Al- Qabas daily. The first phase begins with the termination of contracts of 33% of non- Kuwaitis with a notice period, starting from next September 1, followed by the second phase by ending 33% on February 1, 2023, provided that in the third phase the notice period will begin period from July 1, 2023 for the remaining number of expatriate employees.

Al-Fares in a letter addressed to the Director- General of the Municipality, Eng. Ahmad Al- Manfouhi, a copy of which is obtained by the daily, has asked him to provide her with lists of the names of non-Kuwaiti employees in preparation for taking the necessary legal measures to terminate their services within one week.

Excluded
The letter excluded the following categories — the non-Kuwaiti employee of a Kuwaiti mother, children of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and permanent residents (bedoun), provided they are registered with the Central Apparatus for Illegal Residents’ Status and others as determined by the letter. Al-Fares stressed the suspension of all procedures for the appointment of non- Kuwaitis, and the suspension of all transfers of non- Kuwaiti workers between departments and sectors.

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.