The Acting Director General of Kuwait Municipality Saud Al-Dabbous issued a binding administrative circular to all sectors and branches of the municipality in all governorates regarding the need to take necessary measures and preparations to confront the rainy season. The circular stressed the importance of alerting and following up with the cleaning companies contracted by the municipality to ensure that all areas surrounding the manholes are cleaned, and the surrounding waste materials, plastic bags, building materials, and rubble are removed. They must also ensure that garbage containers are emptied periodically, especially before the start of the rainy season, so that waste materials are not carried by the rainwater to close the drainages.

The garbage containers must not be placed above the service areas of the Ministry of Public Works and others. The work must be followed up by the supervisory bodies in the municipality and its branches in the governorates represented by the public hygiene and road works departments, and the safety departments, to ensure the removal of any rubble or waste above manholes and rainwater drains, or internal drainage systems, and to take legal measures in this regard against anyone who violates this.

Al-Dabbous stressed the necessity of ensuring the cleaning equipment are in a state of complete readiness and placed in areas close to residential areas, activating the emergency plan, and ensuring the permanent presence of the regulatory apparatus and officials at all functional levels during times of heavy rain for the activation of the emergency plan.

While the "Covid-19" pandemic has passed, the financial and administrative violations committed by the Ministry of Health during the crisis still constitute significant audit material. It was revealed in the Audit Bureau's annual report regarding the implementation of the ministries' final accounts for fiscal year 2022-2023 that bonuses, financial compensation, salaries, and allowances were paid to doctors and workers during the pandemic and to doctors who held administrative positions worth about 940 thousand dinars, in violation of the laws and regulations.

In its report, the Bureau stated that “the Ministry combined the reimbursement of compensation rewards for overtime work assigned to quarantine workers and the rewards for doing the same work for the front rows, in violation of Law No. 4 of 2021, which links the budgets of ministries and government departments for fiscal 2020/2021 and the restrictions contained therein, 543,923 dinars were unlawfully spent.”

The Bureau confirmed that the Ministry of Health had disbursed a "guard allowance" and a training bonus to some doctors and employees in the field of pharmaceutical services and allied medical services who were not assigned to the system and training worth 144,900 dinars at the Ministry, in violation of Civil Service Council Resolutions No.

Regarding salaries and allowances, Resolution No. 5 of 2010 was issued. In violation of Civil Service Council Resolution No. 5, the Ministry of Health also disbursed 250 thousand to those holding administrative positions as training bonuses and guard allowances. Human doctors and dentists receive salaries and allowances according to Resolution 5 of 2010.

Acting Director General of Kuwait Municipality Saud Al-Dabbous assigned some supervisory positions in the municipality to 12-hour shifts followed by 12-hour rest periods. Al-Dabbous issued this decision.

Those holding supervisory positions within the municipality were assigned to the shift system in accordance with the terms of reference approved by the organizational structure and Article 5 of Resolution No. 12/2012, amended by the Civil Service Council's decision. Based on the nature of the work and the need, No. 26/2023 was approved.

The second article included schedules for assigning a 12-hour shift followed by 12 hours of rest for all departments and branches of the municipality in two shifts – the first from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and the second from 1:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The working hours mentioned in Article Three may be amended based on the work needed and at the request of the entity, provided that the day's working time is not less than 12 hours.

The article stipulates that those in charge of this system will not enjoy weekends, Friday prayers, or official holidays during Ramadan, nor will their official working hours be reduced.

Specifically, in Article Five of the decision, the Finance and Administrative Sector is assigned the responsibility of listing the names of supervisory employees for the purposes of granting them shift allowances in Category “B” as defined in Civil Service Council Resolution No. 12/2012 and its amendments.

Starting from the date of issuance of the decision, the Development and Information Sector is responsible for amending the attendance and departure "fingerprint system" for supervisory titles mentioned in the decision in coordination with the Finance and Administrative Sector.

 The General Directorate of Relations and Security Awareness has issued a cautionary notice, advising the public to exercise vigilance and refrain from engaging with fraudulent messages or unknown sources. These deceptive messages deceitfully impose financial penalties for alleged failure to settle traffic violations, underlining the fraudulent nature of such activities.

The Directorate stressed that the Ministry of Interior dispatches legitimate alerts and notifications via the “Sahel” application to address any traffic violations requiring attention. These official notifications serve to keep individuals informed and ensure their compliance with traffic regulations. It is crucial to exercise caution and validate the authenticity of any received communication, particularly when it pertains to financial matters or legal responsibilities.

 Fahd Al-Shoula, the Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Communications Affairs has submitted a draft law to the Council of Ministers that aims to prohibit the housing of expatriate bachelors in specific residential areas.

According to a government source, this draft law has been forwarded after receiving approval from the Fatwa and Legislation Department.

One of the key provisions of this proposed law is the prohibition of renting residential units or their parts to expat bachelors in family residential and private housing areas. It also forbids the accommodation of bachelors in these areas. Additionally, landlords, if renting to individuals not covered by this ban, are required to provide a copy of the lease contract to the municipality for approval by the regional mayor. Any contract or agreement in violation of this law shall be considered invalid and carry no legal weight.

The draft law further specifies that tenants and occupants of residential units who are bachelors in family residential and private housing areas cannot be registered or issued civil cards unless they can confirm a kinship relationship with the property owner or the owner’s spouse up to the fourth degree. Domestic workers are exempt from this requirement, reports Al Qabas.

Penalties have been outlined in the draft law, with fines ranging from a minimum of one thousand dinars to a maximum of five thousand dinars. These penalties will be imposed on landlords, tenants, or anyone found sheltering or being housed in areas designated for family housing in violation of the law.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has taken action against imported fish companies, including their factories, branches, and refrigeration facilities. These businesses have been subject to legal action after being discovered engaging in commercial fraud related to the quality and freshness of frozen fish and shrimp.

They were found to be selling products that were supposed to be frozen as chilled and fresh, and they had tampered with the expiration dates on frozen items. In total, these companies distributed 2,500 kilograms of such products to the general public, restaurants, and markets.

The Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy has made a significant announcement regarding the commencement of maintenance work on specific secondary substations situated in the six governorates. This essential maintenance is anticipated to lead to temporary power interruptions, with the timeline spanning from 11/4/23 to 11/11/23.

It’s important to note that the duration of these maintenance activities might be subject to change, contingent on the unique characteristics and circumstances of the work. The ministry has expressed its appreciation to its valued customers for their cooperation during this outage.

Additionally, the ministry has highlighted its commitment to the implementation of electronic integration with the Ministry of Interior, as well as streamlining the bill collection process for travelers. The rollout of a flexible work system is currently pending the finalization of an integrated system by Diwan, set to be completed by 11/1/23.

Engineer Haitham Al-Ali reassured the public by stating that there are no planned power cuts for the current year, the upcoming year, or any foreseeable time in the future.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Electricity has officially approved tenders for the enhancement of the electrical network.

Kuwait is on track to achieve complete localization, or "Kuwaitization," in 10 sectors by the end of this year, according to local reports and sources.

The government has refused requests from several government agencies to postpone the Kuwaitization process. This initiative will result in the replacement of expatriates with Kuwaiti nationals in various fields, including information technology, marine, literature, media, arts, public relations, development, administrative follow-up, statistics, and administrative support across all ministries, institutions, and government agencies.

The total workforce in the government sector, comprising both Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti employees, stands at approximately 4,746,000 workers, with Kuwaitis making up about 76.0 percent of the total workforce.

 In an effort to enhance services and streamline processes, Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior, through the General Directorate of Relations and Security Media, has introduced 15 self-service machines that are capable of expansion. This development is part of the ongoing digital transformation initiated by the General Traffic Department to provide citizens and residents with efficient and digitized services.

The 15 self-service devices have been strategically distributed across various governorates and commercial centers, operating during both morning and evening hours for the convenience of users. These machines offer a range of services, including the renewal of driving licenses and the issuance of replacement licenses for lost or damaged ones. Users can access these services through the “Online” application, using the self-service machines located in shopping complexes and commercial centers.

Furthermore, the General Traffic Department has integrated the renewal of driving licenses with the “Sahel” and “Hawiyati” applications, ensuring that licenses are in compliance with the required conditions. This digital transformation aims to simplify the process and reduce the need for physical paperwork.

For users who prefer in-person assistance or in case of high demand on self-service machines, dedicated service centers have been established to cater to the needs of citizens. These centers are available in addition to the General Traffic Department’s various offices, with special counters for citizens to facilitate their transactions efficiently.

This technological advancement is part of Kuwait’s commitment to improving services and providing a seamless experience for its citizens and residents. With the integration of digital services and self-service machines, the Ministry of Interior is taking significant steps to modernize and simplify various administrative processes.

Originally, Australia was slated to host the 2034 World Cup, but Saudi Arabia appears set to fill the void after Australia revoked its bid.

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) had earlier opened the door to countries interested in hosting the 2034 World Cup. The 2034 edition of the World Cup is expected to return to Asia for the third time in its history.

Saudi Arabia officially submitted its bid for the 2034 World Cup on October 9, hoping to become the third Arab country to host after Qatar in 2022 and Morocco alongside Spain and Portugal in 2030.

Originally, Australia planned to bid for the 2034 World Cup hosting rights, but today announced its withdrawal and supported Saudi Arabia's bid.

According to the Australian Football Federation, "We wish FIFA and the rightful host of the 2034 World Cup the greatest success for the sake of the game and for all those who love it."

Australia highlighted its success in jointly hosting the Women’s World Cup with New Zealand and achieving significant profits. The focus will now shift to hosting other important football events.

The withdrawal of Australia makes Saudi Arabia a potential contender to host the 2034 World Cup, enhancing its chances of hosting the prestigious competition.

 The Civil Service Commission is considering announcing a public holiday for the New Year 2024. The holiday will either be one day corresponding to Monday, January 1, 2024, or extended for 4 days from Friday, December 29, 2023, until Monday, January 1, 2024, and the official working hours will resume the next day ie on Tuesday, January 2, on the basis that Sunday, December 31, is a “rest day” because it falls between two holidays — Saturday, December 30, which is a rest day, and Monday, January 1, 2024, which is an official holiday, it was decided to consider the day that falls between two days off.

The CSC pointed out that the first precedent was in 2017, when it was decided to consider Sunday, December 31, 2017, as a day of rest due to its falling between Saturday, December 30, which is a day of rest, and Monday, January 1, 2018, which was an official holiday on the occasion of New Year’s Day, reports Al-Anba daily.

The second precedent was in 2022, as it was decided to consider Thursday, May 5, 2022, as a rest day because it came between the Eid al-Fitr holiday and Friday – the official day off.

The Ministry of Interior made an announcement regarding a change in the uniform for all police personnel.

Starting from November 1, 2023, all members of the police force, including officers, non-commissioned officers, will be required to wear the black winter uniform.

This announcement has been made to ensure clarity and uniformity in the attire of all police officers during the winter season.

The Administrative Court has set Dec 3, 2023, to look into the lawsuit to ban the ‘Tik Tok’ application in Kuwait to allow the government lawyer to prepare the response.

According to a lawsuit filed with the Administrative Court the applicant has requested that the “Tik Tok” website and App be blocked in Kuwait, pointing out that it publishes materials that contradict the morals, customs and traditions of Kuwaiti society.

The plaintiff stated in his lawsuit that “the Telecommunications Authority law authorizes the Authority to block any electronic application that violates the state’s laws in public interest.”

The lawsuit indicates that the application broadcasts clips that violate morals, and promotes clips that encourage violence and bullying, in violation of the laws of Kuwait, most notably the Child Rights Law.

According to official statistics on the prices of basic food items in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Kuwait is considered the cheapest among the Gulf nations. This achievement has been attributed by economic sources to the successful management of the food security dossier and policies to mitigate inflation pressures, as well as monitoring market conditions. This has played a vital role in preserving the purchasing power of citizens, and has limited the impact of rising food and energy prices, thanks to the subsidy system and the non-application of value-added tax.

An official statistical report from the Technical Department of the Advisory Committee for the Supervision of Goods and Pricing, affiliated with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, compared the average prices of goods in Kuwait with those in the Gulf countries in September of the previous year. It revealed that several goods, including rice, flour, poultry, children’s dietary supplements, and canned goods, are the cheapest in the Gulf. Other food prices in Kuwait are within acceptable ranges when compared to neighboring countries.

The report also pointed out that the rising global demand and increasing shipping costs have led to an increase in the prices of basic food items. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported a 27% increase in global food prices, attributed to the rise in the prices of most grains, vegetable oils, dairy products, and sugar. Countries have also suffered from food supply shortages.

The statistics indicate that the global price increase has put further pressure on countries that rely on food imports. It is expected to lead to increased inflationary pressures on food prices, prompting the need for several recommendations, including:

1. Providing new storage facilities to ensure the availability of goods in the country before global price hikes.
2. Stabilizing electricity and water prices and providing benefits for state-owned cooperative societies.
3. Halting increases in any state fees on food imports.
4. Facilitating the provision and recruitment of professional and skilled labor in the local market.
5. Streamlining import procedures and opening land, sea, and air ports to goods, such as opening the Al Abdali border for the import of Turkish meat.
6. Expanding trade and investment agreements in the field of food and animal resources.
7. Expanding foreign agricultural investment and diversifying the crops invested in.
8. Waiving customs duties and service fees, as well as fees for the release of essential food items, for two years.
9. Expanding the list of exempted goods from fees.
10. Improving and expediting customs facilities.
11. Addressing any new customs duties or taxes that could lead to local price increases, such as excise taxes.
12. Delaying the implementation of value-added tax until global food prices stabilize.
13. Suspending port fees on services provided to imported food shipments for two years.

Recently, several government decisions have been made to control the prices of essential goods and protect them from the effects of global inflation. One of the most prominent measures is the enhancement of strategic reserves of food items. The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mohammed Osman Al-Aiban, issued several decisions in this regard. These include the formation of a permanent committee to regulate the categories of rationed items, the establishment of strategic storage areas for creating warehouses and depots, as well as the formation of a committee to develop mechanisms for preserving food and commodity reserves. This committee’s task is to study the existing mechanisms for preserving food and commodity reserves, prepare a comprehensive plan for developing these mechanisms, and raise awareness about the need to reduce food consumption and waste.

Note: This translation and rewrite is for informational purposes and may not fully capture the nuanced cultural and contextual details of the original article.

Informed health sources revealed the launch of the national campaign for vaccination against Human papillomavirus (HPV) in preventive health centers on Monday. In an exclusive press statement, they affirmed that the Ministry of Health provides the vaccination free of charge to citizens and at about KD 56 per dose to expatriates. The sources indicated that the Ministry of Health distributed the first batch of the vaccine to all preventive health centers in the country, amounting to 900 doses for each center, which will be followed by additional doses distributed to vaccination centers, hospitals, and other relevant agencies.

They stressed the importance of vaccination against HPV to prevent cervical cancers, skin tags, tumors of the throat and mouth, and other cancerous tumors, indicating that this virus causes about 70 percent of cancers of the reproductive system and mouth. The sources explained that the Ministry of Health approved the vaccine some time ago, and during the past few hours, it distributed the first batches of the vaccine to the centers, some of which have already begun the vaccination. However, other centers had many inquiries about the categories excluded from vaccination fees, such as wives and children of citizens, Bedouns, health workers, and others.

This prompted public health officials to hold an expanded meeting yesterday in the presence of heads of preventive healthcare units to issue a detailed circular about the categories excluded from vaccination fees.

The sources went on to explain that the HPV vaccination ranges from two to three doses and targets age groups from 9 to 45 years. Groups of ages from 9 to 14 years receive two doses, with the exception of immunodeficiency patients who receive three doses, similar to the age group from 15 to 45 years.

It is worth noting that Human Papillomavirus is a common virus that can affect different parts of the body. There are more than 100 types of HPV, including the strains of HPV that cause warts on the hands, feet, and face, as well as the rectum and anus. Human papillomavirus affects the genital area and occurs as a result of a sexually transmitted infection. The infection is transmitted by touching the skin.

However, most strains of the virus are harmless, especially the type that causes genital warts. There are some more dangerous strains of HPV, which may increase the risk of cancer, especially cervical cancer, and early detection helps treat the condition better.

In most cases, HPV does not cause signs and symptoms, but some symptoms can be observed, most notably the appearance of warts in the affected area. They are swollen lumps on top of the skin and can appear a few weeks, months, or years after the infection occurs.

These warts can be caused by a virus infection, such as the various forms of the human papillomavirus, but they do not cause harm. In more serious cases, symptoms of HPV may not be noticed, but they may begin to appear as the cancer develops. Cervical cancer is the most common type of cancer caused by the human papillomavirus, but there are some other types of cancer that can result from it, but they are rare, such as anal cancer, vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer, penile cancer, and laryngeal cancer.

The Ministry of Interior is currently investigating how an individual from an undisclosed Gulf nation, who had previously been deported after serving time in jail, managed to re-enter Kuwait despite having his biometric fingerprints registered in the system, according to a report by Al-Anba daily.

A reliable security source revealed that the suspect was arrested during a security inspection in the Nahda area and was held in custody as authorities sought to determine how he had returned to the country.

The source emphasized that when questioned about the means of his reentry, the accused was uncooperative with security personnel. This raised suspicions of potential collusion involving an employee at a landport who may have facilitated his return following his prior deportation.

Three months following a domestic worker’s departure from the country, sponsors will have the option to terminate the worker’s residency (under Article 20) using the “Sahel” application. This service in the app is scheduled to become available on November 5, 2023.

In cases where the sponsor does not initiate the cancellation process, the domestic worker’s residency will automatically be revoked after a period of 6 months from their departure.

This development comes as a result of direct directives from His Excellency the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

To simplify the process for citizens, the Residency Affairs Sector has announced that, starting from November 5, 2023, individuals can either utilize the “Sahel” application or visit one of the Residency Affairs departments to request the cancellation of a domestic worker’s residency, without the previous mandatory 6-month waiting period.

In collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) has included Kuwait for the first time in the World Justice Project's WJP Rule of Law Index for 2023, ranking 52nd out of 142 countries.

Kuwait scored 0.58 out of 1.00, with a score ranging from 0 to 1, where 1 signifies the strongest commitment to the rule of law.

In addition to supporting efforts to identify and prevent corruption, Nazaha also aims to assess aspects included in the index that have never been assessed in Kuwait before.

In terms of original and independent data on rule of law, this index stands as the world's most trusted source. It encompasses 142 countries and relies on more than 149,000 household surveys and 3,400 surveys conducted among legal practitioners and experts. Its aim is to gauge and compare the perception and experience of the rule of law at the national level.

In addition, the index provides up-to-date and reliable information for policymakers, civil society organizations, academics, citizens, and legal professionals. Its ultimate goal is to promote policy reforms, guide program development, and support research aimed at reinforcing the rule of law.

A total of eight primary factors are included in the index, each of which is divided into 44 subfactors. As part of these primary factors are "limitations on government authority," "absence of corruption," "transparent governance," "fundamental rights," "public order and security," "regulatory enforcement," and "civil and criminal justice."

Special increase" came under the directives of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Nawaf to improve the standard of living of the people," Al-Munaifi said in a press statement. The concept was discussed with CSC and is in its final stages, and will be submitted to the Council of Ministers soon. The expected step is also part of a series of decisions issued recently in which the Ministry of Finance participated and whose financial cost was approved, including disbursing labor support for micro-activities or special activities, and continuing to disburse labor support to patients and their companions who work in the private sector during overseas medical treatment. The funds will also be disbursed to private scholarship students completing their studies or training, as well as to small and medium enterprise owners whose loans are financed by the National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprise Development for a period of six months.

According to Al-Munaifi, the Subsidies Committee is making efforts to rationalize subsidies and direct them to those who deserve them. She explained that the study is specifically related to subsidies for diesel and kerosene, and when it is completed, it will be submitted to the Council of Ministers to issue a decision. The matter comes in the context of studying the development of non-oil revenues and rationalizing the state’s general budget. Meanwhile, the Government Communication Center announced the approval of the Council of Ministers of a draft decision for obligating public entities to include the provisions of the Kuwaitization of government contracts regulations among the contracting requirements.

According to the center's account on the X platform, "the step was prompted by a letter from the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Talal Al-Khalid, Chairman of the National Demographics Committee. The regulation aims to create more job opportunities for national cadres to work for government contractors gain practical experience and develop technical skills while achieving continuity, development, and transition between contracts. The benefits of the government contracts list include a wage scale starting at KD 450 per month for a recent university graduate, health insurance for the worker and his family, a social allowance (employment support), and an annual raise ranging from KD 20 for the recipient of a “Very Good” rating to KD 30 for the recipient of an “Excellent” grade, as well as 40 days of paid annual vacation and an annual bonus.”

When their husbands are unable to earn an income and do not receive a regular salary, pension, or assistance from the public Treasury while neglecting their obligation to support their children financially, Kuwaiti government has approved granting a child allowance to working women in the private sector.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Talal Khalid Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, proposed the decision, which was announced by the Government Communication Center. In line with their counterparts in the public sector, it provides support for Kuwaiti women working in the private sector.