The Central Bank of Kuwait has requested exchange companies to urgently provide it with a statement that includes “high-risk” customers (company’s clients, divided according to the degree of risk specified for each of them [low – medium – high]) including those who conduct money transfers to countries included in the red list of high-risk countries classification as well as the number of suspected cases of money laundering or terrorist financing that it has been monitoring during the last 3 years, reports Al-Rai daily. According to relevant sources, the regulator's actions in this regard are part of a broader supervision coordination, led by the Central Bank, to ensure that exchange companies, banks, and finance companies are not able to bypass. It is expected that Kuwait and its financial institutions will be assessed in May by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on whether they are in compliance with anti-money laundering and terrorist financing requirements.

In accordance with Law No. (106) of 2013 regarding money laundering and terrorist financing, its executive regulations, and related decisions and instructions, the sources stated that. Exchange companies were requested to provide data to the Central Bank within 10 working days in order to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. CBK suggested earlier to exchange companies and local financial institutions that the FATF team would ask them about suspicious cases in which the information kept about the real beneficiaries did not match the information updated about them, and their number, as well as procedures for verifying the real beneficiaries' identity.

To assess their effectiveness in preventing money laundering and terrorist financing, one of the expected questions is that, if there are systems that detect conformity, what are the appropriate scenarios for issuing an alert, what is the percentage of similarity established in the system that triggers the alert, and how is this ratio calculated? When providing bank credit services, how is the identity of the goods and their relevance to dual-use goods ascertained? In addition to setting standards and promoting effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, proliferation, and other threats to the integrity of the international financial system, the “FATF” is responsible for setting standards.

Major General Tawheed Al-Kandari, Director General of the Ministry of Interior's General Department of Public Relations and Security Media, said that the ministry's residence affairs department receives requests for leave of absence for expatriates through the residence departments in the six governorates, provided that an acceptable and documented excuse is presented.

In an interview with Al-Jarida, Al-Kandari said, “immigrant students who complete their studies outside the country and hold an Article 22 residence permit may apply through their guardians for permission to stay for more than six months outside the country provided they submit proof from the university at which they are registered and the Kuwaiti embassy in that country attests to the same.

"The same applies to humanitarian cases and patients as well, provided that proof of their health condition is presented, which is also certified by the Kuwait Embassy in the same country." The residence permit will automatically be revoked if their stay outside the country exceeds six months.

Al-Kandari stated that the Public Relations and Security Media Department of the Ministry of Interior announced about 3 months ago that the Nationality and Residence Affairs Sector will begin the electronic cancellation of the residencies of those who fall under Article 17 (government sector), Article 19 (partner in the private sector), Article 22 (dependent), Article 23, (study) and Article 24 (self-sponsor) and Article 18 (private sector employment) if they remain outside the country for more than six months.

He explained that his went into effect on Aug 1, 2022 and ended at the end of Jan 31, 2023. The cancellation will be done as per Article (12), Paragraph (3) of the Foreigners Residence Law.

The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs announced that residents of Kuwait will be able to obtain Umrah visas electronically by registering their biometric data, reports Al-Qabas daily. In a press statement, the ministry explained that Saudi Arabia has decided to allow the residents of the State of Kuwait who wish to perform Umrah to do the following –

1. Register their biometric data, including fingerprint registration for those pilgrims who come from five countries, to complete the procedures for issuing Umrah visas electronically before their arrival in Makkah and Madina.

2. The fingerprint registration is currently applicable to all pilgrims coming from the United Kingdom, Tunisia, the State of Kuwait, Malaysia, and Bangladesh. Interested pilgrims will have to use the Saudi Visa Bio app that allows visa application, register fingerprints, and register biometric data in order to attend the significant Muslim pilgrimage sites.

3. The biometric registration includes face, eyes, and fingers of the hands, and submission of passport through the app.

4. Registration of the biometric data on the app is done through four steps – automatic reading of passport, determining the type of visa, taking a photo of the face, and taking fingerprints.

The launch of the new app is based on a commitment made by the Saudi government late last year to allow enrollment of biometrics through mobile devices so that pilgrims to Makkah can avoid visiting visa centers in person.

This makes the country one of the first in the world to accept biometrics via mobile phone for visa issuance. In February 2022, Saudi Arabia also released an electronic passport with a chip that stores the user’s biometrics for authentication purposes.

The Director General of the General Department of Public Relations and Security Media at the Ministry of Interior, Major General Tawheed Al-Kandari, said that the residence affairs sector in the ministry receives, through the residence departments in the six governorates, requests for leave of absence for expatriates, provided that an acceptable and documented excuse is presented according to each case.

Al-Kandari added, in a statement to Al-Jarida, that “immigrant students who complete their studies outside the country and who hold Article 22 residence permit can apply through their guardian for permission to stay outside the country for more than six months provided they submit a proof from the university in which they are registered and the same has to be attested by the Kuwaiti embassy in the respective country,” reports Al-Jarida daily.

Cases
He pointed out that “the same applies to humanitarian cases and patients, provided that proof of their health condition is presented, also certified by the embassy of the State of Kuwait in the same country.” In the event that their stay outside the country exceeds more than 6 months the residence permit will be automatically cancelled.

Al-Kandari stated that the Public Relations and Security Media Department of the Ministry of Interior announced about 3 months ago that the Nationality and Residence Affairs Sector will begin the electronic cancellation of the residencies of those who fall under Article 17 (government sector), Article 19 (partner in the private sector), Article 22 (dependent), Article 23 (study) and Article 24 self sponsor and Article 18 (private sector employment) if they remain outside the country for more than six months. He explained this went into effect on Aug 1, 2022 and ends at the end of Jan 31, 2023. The cancellation will be done as per Article (12), Paragraph (3) of the Foreigners Residence Law.

Health Minister Dr Ahmad Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi has concluded a meeting with technical and administrative departments at the Farwaniya Hospital to review the latest preparations prior to the inauguration of the third phase of the new Farwaniya Hospital for nationals. The new phase will start functioning from February 5.

The meeting witnessed a review of the plan of transferring patients, organizational details and procedures and a discussion of transferring the rest of the departments successively.  The meeting also addressed the issue of the workflow situation as well as the challenges that accompanied the previous operational phases and ways to mitigate them in order to provide health services to citizens, according to the best required quality standards.

The Health Minister talks to the staff at Farwaniya Hospital.

The operational plan for the third phase includes inauguration of work in the department of obstetrics and gynecology as well as related departments including the departments of pharmacy, radiology, laboratory, sterilization, intensive care and anesthesia.

The real estate sector in Kuwait will remain stagnant in 2023 due to lack of interest in private housing, investments, and speculation over land prices, said experts on Wednesday. Speaking to KUNA in various interviews, the experts also pointed out that investors were not interested in purchasing real estate in inner areas due to the lack of affordable lands, construction cost, and other factors.

Former secretary of the real-estate federation Qais Al-Ghanim indicated that there was a slowdown in real-estate activities on a global level due to a number of reasons including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the disruption in the supply chains of goods, and high inflation in the western industrial countries. Investors are buying time and very careful in using their liquidity until a clear global picture was presented, he added.

In regards to Kuwait, Al-Ghanim said that the struggle of purchasing and selling amongst clients and property owners would result in the stagnation of real estate in Kuwait. The housing real estate is the most affected due to the lack of purchase ability on parts of clients and investors opting for bank deposits with high interest rates rather than investing in real estate, he continued. On his part, director of Al-Muasher (index) real-estate company Ahmad Al-Nabhan said that stagnation might be expected as far as 2025 due to high land prices and alarming construction cost for houses.

He noted that there were speculation over government procedures to impose fees on those owning more than one piece of real estate and undeveloped lands in addition to lift subsides on electricity and water for owners of multiple homes.

Al-Nabhan also criticized the current trend in allowing apartments-style housing in private residential areas, saying that it had caused on overload on infrastructure. He stressed that the Municipality had a role in enforcing the rule of law and prevent housing in residential areas from being used for speculation and unlawful investments. Ali Al-Khadhmi, CEO of Amtar real estate, predicted that market value of real-estate housing would drop by 10 to 15 percent this year after deals within the sector fell by 45 percent in 2022.

He said that inflation could be countered via increasing interest on bank deposits and loans for housing and commercial usage, indicating that resolving the housing crisis must come through providing more land for development to balance supply and demand.

There is a correlation between the thriving of global and national economies, which would have a positive impact on real estate in general, he affirmed. According to statistics by the real-estate records and documentation department at the Ministry of Justice, 2022 saw 4,470 real-estate deals worth KD 2.7 billion (around $8.8 billion), a decrease of 14 percent in terms of value and 50 percent in terms of deals from 2021’s 8,115 deals worth KD 3.2 billion (around $10.4 billion. – KUNA

A 118-year-old French nun, Sister Andre, has died in a nursing home in France, according to her nursing home.

According to Al-Rai daily, Lucille Randon, who took the name Sister Andre after joining a Catholic charity in 1944, recovered from Corona virus last year.

The French nun was born on February 11, 1904 and was the oldest living person in the world, according to the Aging Research Group’s global list of centenarians.

According to Major General Tawheed Al-Kandari, Director General of the Ministry of Interior's General Department of Public Relations and Security Media, requests for leave of absence from expatriates are received by the ministry's residence departments in the six governorates, along with an acceptable and documented excuse, Al-Jarida reported. Those students who have completed their studies outside of the country and have residency under Article no. 22, can apply, through their guardian, to the residency department affiliated with it, and request an absence permit after submitting proof from the university, as well as a notarized proof from the Kuwait Embassy in the concerned country.

Similarly, Al-Kandari noted that the Kuwait Embassy in the same country verifies the health condition of humanitarian cases and patients. With the exception of those whose assessment is due in the first and last place to the leaders of the residence sector, if their stay outside the country exceeds more than six months, their visa will be automatically revoked.

It was announced about three months ago that the Department would begin electronic cancellation of employment residencies within the Nationality and Residence Affairs Sector. The government sector, the partnership sector, the dependent sector, the student sector, the self-sponsorship sector, and those who have been outside the country for more than six months are covered by Article (17). By calculating their stay outside the country from 1 August 2022 until the end of this month, their residency will be automatically canceled in accordance with Article (12), Paragraph (3) of the Foreigners Residence Law.

The Director General of the General Department of Public Relations and Security Media at the Ministry of Interior, Major General Tawheed Al-Kandari, said that the residence affairs sector in the ministry receives, through the residence departments in the six governorates, requests for leave of absence for expatriates, along with an acceptable and documented excuse, Al-Jarida reported. Students who complete their studies outside the country and hold residency Article no. 22, can apply, through their guardian, to the residency department affiliated with it, and request an absence permit after submitting proof from the university, as well as a notarized proof from the Kuwait Embassy in the concerned country.

Al-Kandari pointed out that the same applies to humanitarian cases and patients, with proof of their health condition also certified by the Kuwait Embassy in the same country. In the case that their stay outside the country exceeds a period of six months, their stay will be automatically cancelled, except for those whose assessment is due to the leaders of the residence sector first and last.

It was announced about three months ago that the Department would begin electronic cancellation of employment residencies within the Nationality and Residence Affairs Sector. The government sector, the partnership sector, the dependent sector, the student sector, the self-sponsorship sector, and those who have been outside the country for more than six months are covered by Article (17). According to Article (12), Paragraph (3) of the Foreigners Residence Law, their residency is automatically canceled by calculating the period of their stay outside the country from 1 August 2022 to the end of the month.

Within the framework of continuous efforts to combat the phenomenon of drugs and to raise awareness of its dangers, reliable sources said more than 340 citizens and residents reported their addicted children during the past three months. After realizing their inability to contain the situation, they urged the concerned authorities to correct their behavior, treat them and rehabilitate them, reports Al- Qabas daily. The sources said, “We consider this step as a good one that serves as a societal awareness of the dangers of this devastating scourge.

These deadly toxins represent an imminent danger to young people who are the wealth of the nation. Everyone must join efforts to combat them and besiege their promoters, as well as implement plans aimed at treating addicts. An addict who presents himself to the Public Prosecution Office or whose family reports him, is exempted from punishment and subject to treatment and rehabilitation. The voluntary admission of a person who uses or is addicted to drugs or psychotropic substances, to the addiction treatment center located in the Sabah Health Zone, either alone or with any of his family members, is the first correct step on the right path.

Awareness
The Ministry of Interior, represented by the Criminal Security Sector’s Drugs Control General Department, focuses, in its periodic awareness bulletins, including the booklet ‘Drug Prevention Messages’, on the fact that an addict is examined after he surrenders on his own to ensure that he has used or is addicted to drugs or psychotropic substances.

The attending physician in the addiction treatment center opens a file for him, and then he is directed either to enter the center or go to the outpatient clinic after signing an acknowledgment of acceptance of treatment. The first step in treating a drug user is to remove the drug toxins from the blood during a period from seven to ten days, according to a medical treatment program. It will then be followed by psychological and social treatment and many programs that support his recovery and prevent relapse. In the event that the addict does not come forward voluntarily, the alternative step is for his family to present a “complaint of addiction” report to the Drugs and Liquor Prosecution in accordance with Law No. 74/1983 or Law No. 48/1987.

After that, the report is referred to the Drug Control General Department for coordination and implementation of the Prosecution orders. The subject is invited to attend, and if he does not comply, he will be arrested. He is then sent for treatment to the addiction treatment center, where the specialist doctor examines him. If it is proven that he has abused drugs, the Public Prosecution office will be notified of that, and an order will be issued to detain him for a period not exceeding three weeks. This detention period will be renewed according to the procedures followed.

As for the third step, it is for the abuser or addict or any of his relatives to apply directly to the Drug Control General Department where they will be directed to file an addiction complaint with the Drugs and Liquor Prosecution. The addict will either be referred to an addiction treatment center, or will be directed to follow up with a counseling office until he recovers, or will be sent to specialized centers abroad for treatment. According to Law No. 74/1983 regarding combating drugs and regulating their use and trafficking, article 34 of the law stipulates that no criminal case shall be leveled against a drug user who voluntarily comes forward for treatment, and the patient is placed under observation in a sanatorium for a period not exceeding three weeks.”

Addiction
Consultant Bibi Al-Amiri, Head of the Mental Health Lighthouse for Children and Adolescents at the Kuwait Center for Mental Health affiliated with the Ministry of Health, said drug addiction is medically considered a “psychological disorder” that requires an intensive treatment program. Dr. Al-Amiri explained that “psychological disorder” is an incubating environment for drug abuse and addiction due to the ease of response to external influences, such as the environment affected by the scourge of drugs, bad people, and others. The factors associated with the disorder, such as severity of fear, anxiety, shyness in front of others, isolation, etc., lead them to drug use of all kinds in order to help them overcome the difficulty and not undergo the correct psychological treatment.

Those involved in the scourge of drugs usually begins at the age between 13 and 15 years due to the factors related to this age such as high impulsiveness, and desire to discover and identify narcotic substances in natural synchronization with the development and formation of the brain. Those who have a genetic (biological) susceptibility are more likely to be addicted than others in order to feed their internal needs. About 50 percent of mental disorders for children begin before they reach 14 years of age. She stressed the need to shed light on these categories in order to search for defects and find radical solutions to them in order to avoid their occurrence or to treat them in the event of addiction.

Al-Amiri said, “The distribution of mental disorders of all kinds around the world is numerically close, but the difference lies in their severity and the sources of treatment. This severity appears more clearly in our regions due to the presence of the so-called “genetic basin”, including autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar. The presence of an addict within the family circle puts him in a state of constant fear and anxiety about the unknown because of the lack of a sense of total safety, which may gradually affect the rest of the family, and thus generate other cases that are subject to abuse and addiction. Discovering imbalances and knowing the target segments early opens the door to avoiding and protecting all groups. Activating the role of psychological treatments through schools, clubs, sports and ministerial facilities, and others is no less important than the rest of the other efforts in the same field.

 The Kuwait Meteorological Department expected the weather to improve gradually from Tuesday afternoon as clouds decrease and chances of rain recede. The weather forecast observer Abdulaziz Al-Qarawi, told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the country will be affected by an air elevation accompanied by a cold air mass.

Al-Qarawi stated that the country was affected since Monday afternoon, by a rainy condition that started light gradually as a result of the extension of a surface depression accompanied by a moist air mass that coincided with the presence of a deep depression in the upper layers of the atmosphere. He added that this led to the proliferation of low and medium cloud interspersed with some cumulus clouds, accompanied by moderate to heavy thunderstorms in some areas especially the southern ones during the night and dawn of the day, and wind activity with a decrease in horizontal visibility in some areas and sea waves rising to more than 7 feet. He also pointed out that the amounts of rain recorded varied in most of the country’s stations.

In Kuwait Airport, it recorded 29 millimeters, while it recorded 44 millimeters in Wafra, 27 millimeters in Al-Ahmadi, 21 millimeters in Al- Abraq, and 29 millimeters in Kuwait City. These quantities are expected to increase during the coming hours. (KUNA)

 The Public Authority for Roads and Transportation (PART) announced the closure of Al-Ghazali Road towards Shuwaikh Port for a period of ten days, reports Al-Qabas daily. The authority said the closure is carried out in coordination with the General Traffic Department, and the road is scheduled to be reopened on January 26.

It added that the closure period extends from 1:00 am to 5:00 am. The authority’s statement did not explain the reason for the closure, but it has been carrying out maintenance work for days and spreading asphalt on Ghazali Road towards the Sixth Ring Road, to deal with the phenomenon of fl ying gravel that appeared in the wake of the rains that the country witnessed last week.

Kuwait’s Cabinet issued a statement regarding a decree pardoning the freedom-restricting penalty imposed on a number of individuals in a court ruling. In its statement, the cabinet outlined the “belief of the political leadership… (in) national reconciliation that brings good to the people of this nation,” labeling the decision “the opening of a bright new page.”

The move is aimed at “stability,” the document mentioned, highlighting that “Kuwait is more important through its children.” “This step will create an atmosphere for fruitful cooperation between the executive and legislative authorities in accordance with the constitutional foundations and remove all obstacles that would hinder development and achievement,” it said.

The ministers also praised “the father of all,” His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, for his “noble Amiri initiative” to pardon the individuals. “This honorable Amiri pardon was issued by the pure will, firm determination and sincere desire of His Highness the Amir,” added the cabinet

A maximum interest rate of 6.5 percent annually should not be exceeded on consumer loans and housing installment loans in Kuwait, according to the Central Bank of Kuwait (3.5 percent discount rate, plus a margin of 3.0 percent under the current interest rate structure), reports Al-Qabas daily. As evidenced by surveys conducted by the Central Bank of Kuwait on interest rates applied continuously, the Central Bank stated in response to a question from MP Osama Al-Zaid that this borrowing cost is lower than that of major world countries and countries in the region.

 The Central Bank explained in its statement that the interest rate structure at the level of local bank loan and deposit portfolios, as well as the intervention of the Central Bank of Kuwait, determines the maximum interest rate on loans. Banks are bound to these maximum interest rates without having to have minimum or maximum interest rates on customer deposits in return.

Additionally, if the discount rate increases, banks can increase interest rates on loans within the maximum limits, while the interest rate on deposits may not always increase, which the Central Bank of Kuwait does within the framework of monetary policy operations, by interfering in a way that ensures consistency in the work of the interest rate structure to ensure that dinar deposits are attractive and competitive.

The Council of Ministers approved holidays of Isra and Miraj and the National Day for Isra and Miraj: on 19th Feb, work will resume on the 20th of Feb while National and Liberation Day: from the 25th to the 27th, and work will resume on the 28th of February

The Kuwaiti Cabinet studied Monday recommendation of the follow-up committee of implementing major development projects on the periodical report submitted by the Ministry of Public Works regarding Kuwait International Airport Terminal 2. This came during the Cabinet’s weekly session, headed by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah at Sief Palace, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Barrak Al-Shaitan said after the meeting.

The Cabinet decided to task the Ministry of Public Works and the Central Agency for Public Tenders with taking necessary steps to cut red tapes, Al-Shaitan noted. The Cabinet then discussed National Assembly affairs and was briefed on the Speaker’s letter submitted on January 10 by MP Mubarak Al-Hajraf concerning the grilling motion against Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment Abdulwahab Al-Rushaid.

The motion will be listed on the next parliament session’s agenda in line with the Article 135 of the bylaw. The Cabinet expressed reassurance about the minister’s responses, stressing that interpellation is a constitutional right for MPs.

On Arab and international political affairs, the Cabinet expressed Kuwait’s strong condemnation of the terrorist attack that took place near Afghanistan Foreign Ministry headquarters and resulted in casualties and injuries. The Cabinet stressed Kuwait’s principled and firm position of rejecting all kinds of violence and terrorism, affirming standing with the Afghan people, offering sincere condolences to the relatives of the victims, and wishing a speedy recovery to those injured. The Cabinet further voiced Kuwait’s sympathy and solidarity with Nepal over a passenger plane crash in Pokhara, offering condolences to its leadership, government, people and relatives of the victims

In a step that is considered a gateway to improving the public transport environment in Kuwait, Hawally Governorate has inaugurated a model bus stop for public transport bus passengers, which is the first of its kind, as it contains an air conditioning unit, outlets for charging mobile phones, and surveillance cameras around the clock, reports Al-Qabas daily.

This bus stop, which will be a precursor to 15 other stations in the Capital Governorate, is characterized by its innovative design, as it meets the needs and requirements of passengers, with a modern concept, and is in line with international standards. In a press statement, the Hawally Governor Ali Al-Asfar said, “The aim of the project is to eliminate congestion by 80 percent if it is circulated to the rest of the governorate.” He called for the contribution of private companies to develop means of transportation and bus stops.

Regarding the costs of establishing the bus stop, Al-Asfar said, “The governorate was the one that undertook its construction, and the cost amounted to KD 5,000.” He went on to say, “The governorate was keen for the maintenance period to be ten years in order to ensure the quality of service. What we lack is for some state agencies to help us deliver electricity so that we can implement the project in crowded areas within four months.

The bus stop contains automated doors and air conditioning units to provide comfort for passengers and to protect them from humidity and hot weather. There are also CCTV cameras installed to maintain security therein.”

On January 8, Imad Al-Jalawi, Deputy Director General for Air Navigation Services, wrote to the Director General of the General Administration of Civil Aviation to inquire about the expiration of Kuwait International Airport's license certificate on December 31, 2022, and was informed that the renewal took place on time on January 1 for two years.

Al-Qabas daily reports that the deputy director had no news about the renewal, which prompted him to write in his official letter.

It was alleged that the airport operated without a license for several days after its license certificate expired on December 31, 2022, and it was not renewed before it expired.

Several sources told the daily that the airport's operation following the expiration of its license could lead to problems with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), in addition to fears that some major airlines will not fly to Kuwait.

The letter sent by the Deputy Director General for Air Navigation Services, Imad Al-Jalawi, to the Director General of the General Administration of Civil Aviation, stated, “We inform you that the Kuwait International Airport license certificate expired on Dec 31, 2022, and the Air Navigation Department addressed the Aviation Safety Department on Dec 15, 2022 in the same regard, and the statement of the Safety Department said the certificate had not yet been signed; therefore, “please kindly instruct those who are required to approve the new certificate, as one of the airlines has contacted the air control officials to inquire about the validity of the airport certificate, due to its importance to the authorities of the state licensing airlines.”

Rainy weather is expected to start gradually Monday evening until Tuesday afternoon across the country, said Kuwait Meteorology Center on Sunday. The presence of a deep low pressure in the atmosphere mixed with high surface humidity creates the perfect conditions for low and mid-level clouds formation, as well as thunderstorms, indicated meteorologist Abdulaziz Al-Qarawi.

Light to moderate rainfall is expected with the possibility of some heavy downpours over the southern part of the country. High wind and low visibility make for bad sea condition as waves expected to reach up to six feet. Al-Qarawi said conditions will improve as a cold weather front is expected to arrive later on Tuesday bringing dry cold conditions.

The Ministry of Interior on Sunday cautioned the public to be cautious of the turbulent weather with forecast rainfalls in some regions. The ministry in a statement urged people in difficulty to call 112 for emergency aid. Kuwait since the dawn has witnessed sporadic rainfalls amid low visibility, particularly sensed by motorists. (KUNA)

The COVID-19 situation in Kuwait is stable and under control, said Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi on Sunday. This came on the sideline of the 13th conference for the Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences. Dr. Al-Awadhi affirmed that the ministry gathered daily random samples to make sure that the situation was monitored. The three-day conference is focusing on sexually transmitted disease and the Islamic answer to this problem. Treatments and means of prevention would be discussed during the course of the event.

The World Health Organization, meanwhile, appealed to China to keep releasing information about its wave of COVID-19 infections after the government announced nearly 60,000 deaths since early December following weeks of complaints it was failing to tell the world what was happening.

The announcement Saturday was the first official death toll since the ruling Communist Party abruptly dropped antivirus restrictions in December despite a surge in infections that fl ooded hospitals. That left the WHO and other governments appealing for information, while the United States, South Korea and others imposed controls on visitors from China. The government said 5,503 people died of respiratory failure caused by COVID-19 and there were 54,435 fatalities from cancer, heart disease and other ailments combined with COVID-19 between Dec. 8 and Jan. 12.

The announcement “allows for a better understanding of the epidemiological situation,” said a WHO statement. It said the WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, talked by phone with Health Minister Ma Xiaowei. “WHO requested that this type of detailed information continued to be shared with us and the public,” the agency said. The National Health Commission said only deaths in hospitals were counted, which means anyone who died at home wouldn’t be included.

It gave no indication when or whether it might release updated numbers. A health official said the “national emergency peak has passed” based on an 83% decline in the daily number of people going to fever clinics from a Dec. 23 high. The report would more than double China’s official COVID-19 death toll to 10,775 since the disease was first detected in the central city of Wuhan in late 2019. China has counted only deaths from pneumonia or respiratory failure in its official toll, which excludes many fatalities that might be attributed to the virus in other countries. Meanwhile, high-speed train service resumed Sunday between China’s mainland and Hong Kong under restrictions that allow 5,000 passengers from each side to make the trip daily and require a negative virus test within the previous 48 hours.

The two sides are reopening travel links that were suspended under Beijing’s “zero-COVID” strategy, which aimed to keep the virus out of China. Hong Kong imposed different but similarly severe restrictions that blocked most international travel. Candice Zhong, a resident of the neighboring mainland city of Shenzhen who arrived in Hong Kong, said she planned to visit the city’s two major theme parks. “I want to come to Hong Kong to see what it’s like now,” Zhong said at the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway terminal. “I will go to Disneyland and Ocean Park.”

The residence affairs sector of the Ministry of Interior has no intention of extending the campaign to join a family and those who have been outside the country for more than 6 months, indicating that all campaigns under Article 22 “joining a family” for students, wives and others must happen before January 31, 2023.

The source told the Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Residency Affairs, Fawaz Al-Masha’an, has ordered the automatic cancellation of the residence permit of all expatriates who have been outside the country for 6 months at the end of this month, saying their residence permits will be automatically cancelled and they will not be entitled to re-enter except with completely new procedures and approvals.

The source added, the situation that the whole world faced during the Corona pandemic necessitated the Ministry of Interior to take humanitarian decisions, including renewing residence permits without the person coming to the country within 6 months, as well as renewing their residence while they are outside the country, and by the end of this month, all these privileges will end.

The Ministry of Interior had announced that the Nationality and Residence Affairs Sector would begin the electronic cancellation of the residency of workers, Article 17 (government sector), Article 19 (partner in the private sector), Article 22 (joining a family), Article 23 (student), and Article 24 (self sponsor), who have been outside the country for a long time (more than 6 months).