The conference “Arab and Gulf Family Issues in Light of Digital Transformation” was inaugurated yesterday by the Center for Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies under the auspices of the Ministry of Interior. The participants emphasized the advantages of modern technology and the enormous potential and capabilities it has made available to humans but warned of the negative repercussions of modern technology on the Arab and Muslim family and its values, traditions and role. The speakers at the conference highlighted the seriousness of the phenomenon of electronic addiction, which has become an epidemic threatening young people.

They stressed on the role of social media in spreading rumors, lies, and falsifying facts in some cases, in addition to spreading the culture of violence and hatred, due to which they called on parents to set limits and controls on children’s use of mobile phones. Director of the Center for Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies Dr. Yaqoub Al-Kandari said, “The conference comes in the context of the center’s constant and ongoing keenness to pay attention to issues related to the family, women and society, based on its belief in the role of the family. Modern technology has played a major role in social issues in the Gulf, the Arab world and the world as well as in the family, and has led to extraordinary transformations in human beings.” Dr. Al-Kandari explained that the era of technology began in the mid-nineties and was accompanied by warnings to protect families.

At the beginning of the current millennium, social media increased in power and brought about tremendous changes. It continues to have many effects in an era in which the mobile phone has transcended the boundaries of time and space. Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the International Organization for the Empowerment of Women and Capacity Building Dr. Taghreed Al-Hajli highlighted the importance of the conference in protecting the Arab and Gulf families from the dangers of digital transformation when it is used negatively. Furthermore, a faculty member at the Saad Al-Abdullah Academy for Security Sciences Dean Dr. Mutlaq Al-Mutairi said technological development and social media have made a phone extend beyond its role as a means of communication. He explained that the mobile phone has become a television, a camera, a recorder, and a newspaper.

Digital transformation has benefits, including that it brought the family closer together with their children studying abroad, made the world more open, became a platform for opinion, and helping scientific researchers. On the other hand, the most prominent disadvantage is children’s addiction to the Internet and social media, so the family must not leave the phone in the hands of their children 24 hours a day.

Other negative aspects include the large number of traffic accidents resulting from the use of a mobile phone while driving, its contribution to some people becoming atheists, and its contribution to the spread of rumors and lies. This has become more dangerous with the emergence of artificial intelligence and its ability to falsify facts. In the same context, Professor of Criminal Sociology and Crime at the Saad Al- Abdullah Academy for Security Sciences Dean Dr. Bader Al-Khubaizi stated that modern technology has positive effects on various social, political, educational and psychological levels. However, one of its most prominent negatives is the availability of unethical websites on the Internet, which negatively affects teenagers and young people, as well as exposure to fraud, bullying, threats, blackmail, and the dissemination of strange ideas that violate religious values, in addition to its negative role in disturbing people through hacking.

Addiction to sitting in front of smartphones causes mental illness and social violence, and leads to an increase in crime rates. In addition, a professor at the International University of Science and Technology Dr. Sami Al-Azmi said, “Electronic addiction has become a pathological epidemic that threatens young people, the mainstay of societies, causing serious harm to the efforts to achieve development. These harms are increasing in light of the weakness of religious motivation among children.”

 

 

 

 

Kuwait is expected to witness scattered rain from Thursday and will continue until Friday morning, Meteorologist Issa Ramadan said.

He expects the clouds to increase in coming days, starting from Wednesday, with the first depressions approaching the region. The winds will become active on Thursday and the humidity rises, with the beginning of the rainy days.

The temperature is expected to drop significantly from Thursday and the scattered clouds will continue on Saturday and Sunday. The chances of seasonal rain will return again at the end of the month with the continuation of low weather in November, he said.

 

 

 

 

It is obvious that the path to taxation in Kuwait on multinational companies moves in one direction, whether from the government or from the concerned entities, since the indications are clear that the stage of persuasion has been passed, considering that paying locally is preferable to deducting externally. 

In confirmation of this, informed sources revealed to Al-Rai that banks and companies with foreign branches are finally preparing and accurate calculations for tax, especially after Kuwait officially submitted a request to join the framework of the draft law of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). 

It is true to say that the ideal title for the accounting discussions currently open is “Determining the material impact of tax implementation,” or in short, how much is the cost of implementing the procedure in the budgets of the coming years? 

In this regard, sources reported that major banks and companies formed working teams of their financial employees and discussed with their auditors scenarios of the expected financial impact on their budgets as a result of deducting 15 percent of their profits locally as taxes, in order to avoid falling within the scope of the OECD draft law that imposes tax on multinational companies at least 15 percent if the revenues of the parent group exempt from paying taxes in their countries reach 750 million euros annually. 

The sources said that Kuwaiti companies concerned with the new tax recently reviewed with their auditors their expectations for the cost of the new accounting obligation in their budgets as part of their preparations for preparing their financial statements for the fourth quarter of the current fiscal year. 

The sources indicated that the accounting forecasts that were recently circulated among companies and their auditors indicate that the initially expected tax withholding will be a number consisting of 6 digits, noting that the organization’s draft law stipulates that “the tax paid should not be less than 15 percent,” and the government’s approach does not include a higher rate than the minimum. 

This means, accounting-wise, that the weighted average cost for the Kuwaiti companies that will be included in the new tax base will be in millions, varying from one company to another, and will often range annually between one million and 70 million dinars, while the potential number of companies covered by the tax is estimated at about 20, including government companies with multiple markets. 

The sources confirmed that the new tax is not scheduled to be calculated in the quarterly data on the 2023 budget, as the odds indicate the possibility of starting implementation in 2024, which is most likely, or in 2025, noting that there will be no tax calculated for 2023 data, but accounting preparation must be made. To implement the procedure and determine its impact on the capital adequacy ratio, the size of the commitment, and setting aside its allocations in the budget, while estimating the size of the application cost on net profits. 

As an inevitable result of this reality, the discussion among Kuwaiti companies operating in several markets, which is the technical meaning of multinational companies, has turned to accounting delivery and preparation for the application of the new tax rules. Here it can be said that there are several issues that must be worked on, and one of the thorniest issues is determining the tax rate.  

Perhaps the most prominent question that is still searching for precise answers relates to how this tax is calculated, especially in the budget of companies that already pay taxes in their foreign markets. 

In principle, there is almost no accounting consensus on the premise of deducting taxes paid externally from the total payments due from consolidated profits. 

To simplify, assuming that the combined profits of a company amounted to 600 million dinars, half of which came from foreign markets and were burdened with the taxes of these markets, the amount required to be paid locally would be 300 million dinars, and by applying the 15 percent tax locally on this amount, the amount due to be paid to the public treasury would be 45 million dinars. 

By deducting the historical taxes paid locally, a total of 6 percent, which is 1.5 percent zakat (it is expected to calculate the full value of zakat, 2.5 percent), and the same amount to support workers, and one percent for the Scientific Progress Foundation, and then the amount of additional tax that the company with the assumed profits will bear is equal to 300 million dinars is 9 percent. This means, accounting-wise, that the amount of tax withholding due from the profits of the company in question is 27 million dinars. 

Of course, there are accounting questions whose answers are still confusing and ambiguous, the most prominent of which is what are the procedures for redistributing the taxes of multinational companies to the countries that have their headquarters and where their profits are spread if they do not apply the local tax that is exempt from entering the scope of “Organization of Cooperation” taxes. 

More precisely, if the Kuwaiti company subject to the organization’s tax operates in the Gulf, Europe, Egypt, Turkey and other markets, how will its total taxes be distributed? Will the application be according to the concept of fines or according to a percentage of income? 

The sources pointed out that the OECD draft law aims to prevent companies from hiding behind “tax residency” in this or that country that adopts attractive tax rates, and is not actually linked to or operates in tax havens that do not impose sufficient taxes on their major companies, such as Kuwait. 

The proposed reform is based on two pillars — the first aims at a fair distribution between countries of the rights to impose a tax on the profits of multinational companies, and the second is based on imposing a global minimum tax to ensure that the company does not pay less than it should wherever it is located. 

The Organization for Cooperation estimates the expected annual tax revenues, based on 15 percent, at approximately $150 billion. 

 

 

 

 

Around 10,000 nurses will receive an average increase of 50 KD as a result of the Ministry of Health reclassifying the nature of work allowance for nurses into two categories A and B, rather than the existing three.

The Ministry of Health confirmed in a press release that this reclassification will result in an increase in the nature of work allowance for its beneficiaries by an average of 50 dinars per month. Approximately 10,000 nurses will be affected by this, including 697 Kuwaiti nurses and 7,902 non-Kuwaiti nurses.

 

 

 

 

A time for imposing taxes is fast approaching for Kuwait's multinational companies, as indications suggest that this may soon be the case. Initially, the government and relevant entities persuaded these companies to pay taxes locally, but it appears that persuasion has evolved into concrete action, reported Al-Rai Daily.

Kuwait recently submitted a formal application to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), marking the beginning of potential taxation. Multinational companies operating in Kuwait will have to adjust their financial plans in response to this request.

Major banks and multinational corporations have assembled teams of financial experts and engaged auditors to assess the expected financial impact. According to the new tax law, companies must pay 15 percent of their local profits in taxes. Kuwait's government is unlikely to impose a rate higher than the minimum.

The impact of this new tax varies depending on the size and revenue of the companies. Some anticipate costs ranging from one million to 70 million dinars. The tax is expected to affect about 20 companies, including government entities with multiple markets.

The implementation of this tax is not expected to affect the 2023 budget; rather, it will probably start in 2024 or 2025. As a result, companies are focusing on accounting preparation in order to determine its impact on their capital adequacy ratio, commitment size, budget allocations, and net profits.

Companies are grappling with important questions amid these changes. Notably, how is the tax calculated for companies already paying taxes in their foreign markets? At present, there is no consensus on how to deduct externally paid taxes from consolidated profits.

There are also questions regarding the redistribution of taxes for multinational companies operating in multiple countries. How will the tax be distributed, according to the concept of fines or as a percentage of income?

OECD aims to prevent companies from using "tax residency" to take advantage of low tax rates in tax havens that do not impose sufficient taxes on major corporations. A global minimum tax and a fair distribution of tax rights between countries are the OECD's proposed reforms.

 

 

 

 

The Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy disclosed to Al-Rai that the Ministry has successfully activated the final two key transmission stations in South Abdullah Al-Mubarak. This allows Kuwaiti citizens in that vicinity to utilize their plots for for power access.

The sources elaborated, stating, “With the successful operation of the last two out of four primary transmission stations, the Ministry has now completed the operation of all main transmission stations, along with their associated secondary stations, to power all the region’s current voucher holders,” reports Al-Rai daily.

They further mentioned that the expected number of locations set to receive power exceeds 700, marking the conclusion of the power delivery process to all designated areas in the region. They emphasized the Ministry’s and distribution networks sector’s dedication to ensuring power delivery to plots in new areas, in close coordination with the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW).

On a different note, the sources indicated, “The Ministry is actively pursuing solar energy projects following the Independent Power Provider (IPP) framework. They are engaging specialized companies in this domain to swiftly establish solar energy facilities to cater to the country are increasing electricity demands in the years ahead.”

They emphasized that the Ministry is accelerating its efforts to augment electricity production capacity, foreseeing an annual consumption rate increase of 5 to 6 percent, aiming to avert an energy shortage crisis by 2025.

They added, “The Ministry has elucidated its objectives to these companies, expecting them to present optimal proposals showcasing their capability to achieve the Ministry’s sought-after goals.”

On a related note, the Supreme Committee for Partnership Projects between the public and private sectors is scheduled to convene this week to deliberate the feasibility study for the Al-Shaqaya project.

The global consultant has completed the preparation of tender documents, laying the groundwork for their review and implementation. The objective is to enhance electrical production capacity, particularly from renewable sources.

 

 

 

 

In a recent development, the Traffic Department is taking steps to review the driving licenses held by expatriates, as reported by local media. The department has already revoked the licenses of hundreds of expatriates who failed to meet the conditions for obtaining their licenses, creating a significant issue in compliance with traffic regulations.

According to the report, a concerning number of individuals whose licenses have been revoked continue to drive their vehicles under the cancelled licenses, blatantly violating traffic laws and regulations.

Notably, some of these licenses were originally issued with conditional terms and exceptions related to salary and university qualifications. The Traffic Department has now clarified that these specific licenses will undergo a thorough review.

This new decision comes in the wake of reports and information that have confirmed the issuance of thousands of licenses with unwarranted exceptions. As the Traffic Department strives to uphold road safety and regulatory standards, this review is seen as a crucial step in rectifying the situation

 

 

 

 

The Ministry of Health launched a service for booking through the “Kuwait Health” application a mammogram test in five specialized centers – Shaikhan Al-Farsi in Surra, Al-Naeem, Egaila, Zahraa, and South Khaitan. The Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi said the launch of the digital service for booking mammogram tests is aimed at facilitating and encouraging women to detect breast diseases at an early stage, especially those over the age of forty, as this is one of the most important strategies for prevention and for improving therapeutic results.

He explained that a woman wishing to undergo the test can enter through the “Kuwait- Seha” application, follow the instructions, and respond to inquiries regarding booking an appointment for a mammogram test. In addition, the test is scheduled to be conducted in any of the five health centers distributed in different parts of the country.

These centers are South Khaitan Health Center, Egaila Health Center, Zahraa Health Center, Naeem Health Center, and Sheikhan Al-Farsi and Sharifa Al-Awadhi Center in Surra. In this regard, the Head of the National Program for Early Detection of Breast Diseases Dr. Asmaa Hussein issued a press statement on the sidelines of the National Program for Early Detection of Breast Diseases’ celebration of World Breast Cancer Day, under the slogan “Your test now… means safety”, in which she said the service is intended for Kuwaiti women over the age of 40 who are not pregnant or breastfeeding.

 

 

 

 

On Thursday, Fadhel A-Dosari, CEO of Touristic Projects Company, announced that Winter Land will open to the public on Sunday and will be able to accommodate 15,000 visitors per day.

As Al-Dosari stated at a news conference, the park's first season was quite successful, as 600,000 people visited it within four months.

The project will proceed in the next coming years with the goal to entertain more than three million people per year.

 

 

 

 

A directive has been issued by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to revoke the licenses of companies and institutions that alter the appearance of vehicles significantly.

In a bid to enhance road safety and reduce accidents caused by unsafe vehicle modifications, the Ministry is preparing to launch a campaign targeting non-compliant entities in collaboration with the General Traffic Department. This campaign follows the publication of the decision in the Official Gazette, reported Al-Jarida Daily.

An increase in accidents involving vehicles that have undergone external modifications using potentially hazardous equipment led to the decision to revoke licenses. Additionally, accidents resulting from modifications to cruise control systems carried out by these institutions have raised safety concerns.

 

 

 

 

Abdullah Al-Rajhi, the official spokesman for the General Administration of Civil Aviation, stated that the company’s servers experienced a malfunction, which caused the system to stop for an hour due to an emergency technical defect.

This issue was not limited to Kuwait International Airport alone, as several airports worldwide faced the same problem. However, the defect was resolved, and the system returned to normal

 

 

 

 

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), plans to introduce a Unified Gulf visa system, akin to the Schengen-style visa, aimed at tourists.

JEDDAH. Saudi Arabia, Oct 10, (Agencies): In a bid to stimulate economic growth across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, plans are underway to introduce a Unified Gulf visa system, akin to the Schengen-style visa, aimed at tourists. This initiative, reported by Oman’s Minister of Tourism, is set to simplify travel for visitors to GCC member states, which include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar. Travelers will soon be able to explore multiple countries within the region using a single visa.

The proposal for a unified Gulf visa has gained unanimous approval from GCC ministers of tourism, and they have invited feedback on the plan, with a deadline set for December. Oman’s Minister of Heritage and Tourism, Salim Mohammed al Mahrouqi, shared his enthusiasm about this development during the seventh meeting of GCC tourism ministers, which was chaired by Oman.

Minister al Mahrouqi stated, “The common tourism visa for the Gulf Cooperation Council is coming very soon,” highlighting the unanimous agreement on its importance. He expressed confidence in the forthcoming discussions that will lead to a comprehensive agreement on the unified visa.

The primary objective of the meeting was to enhance cooperation and promote tourism development within the GCC. Minister al Mahrouqi emphasized the broader goals, saying, “We aim to uplift the GCC’s tourism status, enrich our national economies, and meet our people’s aspirations.”

During the meeting, discussions also centered on the creation of a GCC Tourism Statistics Platform. Notably, the ministers approved the Gulf Strategy for Tourism 2023-2030, underscoring their commitment to implementing this strategy effectively through regular progress reports.

Recognizing the substantial potential of tourism in the Gulf peninsula, Jassim Mohammed al Budaiwi, GCC Secretary-General, pointed out that it plays a vital role in sustainable development. He highlighted the presence of 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites across GCC states.

Al Budaiwi shared encouraging statistics, revealing that 2022 saw a record-breaking 39.8 million tourists visiting the GCC, marking a remarkable 136.6% increase compared to the previous year. Tourist spending also surged to USD 85.9 billion, representing a growth of 101.2%. Intra-GCC tourism constituted 29.7% of the total tourist numbers, marking a 98.8% increase compared to 2021.

Looking ahead, the GCC Tourism Strategy has ambitious goals, including an annual 7% increase in tourist arrivals until 2030. The strategy aims to boost inbound tourist spending by 8% and domestic tourist expenditure by 2.4% during this period, with a key objective being a 7% annual increase in direct GDP until 2030.

Ahmed Aqeel al-Khatib, Saudi Minister of Tourism, emphasized the importance of a joint vision, stating, “We’re considering establishing a unified Gulf statistics center and a common tourist visa system. With coordinated efforts, the GCC is poised to capture a significant share of the global travel market.”

Concluding the meeting, a proposal titled “Our Gulf, the Birthplace of Civilizations” was introduced, with member states expected to finalize their contributions by the end of 2023, as reported by ONA.

 

 

 

 

The first week of the launch of the annual vaccination campaign against seasonal influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia witnessed a strong turnout from various age groups. About 15,000 people appeared for vaccination against seasonal influenza and 2,000 for vaccination against pneumococcal pneumonia in 50 preventive healthcare centers in the country.

According to informed health sources, the risk groups are the most likely to receive vaccination at a rate of 45 to 50 percent, led by patients suffering from asthma and chronic respiratory diseases, smokers, diabetics, employees of the Ministry of Health, and morbidly obese people. The average number of vaccination beneficiaries in each health region ranges between 2,000 to 3,000.

There is a high turnout for vaccination this year compared to previous years due to the collective awareness gained about the importance of immunization after the COVID-19 pandemic. The sources revealed the Ministry of Health’s plan to intensify awareness about the importance of vaccination by organizing many joint activities and events, adding that specialized health teams will be formed to conduct field tours and organize vaccination campaigns in coordination with various institutions and companies.

 

 

 

 

Instructions have been issued to impose strict restrictions on people who operate taxis illegally at the Kuwait International Airport. According to security sources, the instructions stipulate that any expatriate who is found operating a taxi from the airport should be deported. If he is a Bedouin resident, his car should be impounded for two months, and he should be detained by the traffic police for 48 hours for committing this serious violation.

The sources highlighted the numerous complaints received by the General Traffic Department from retired citizens who operate airport taxis, claiming that there are people transporting passengers in an irregular and illegal manner.

The sources said instructions were issued to traffic and investigation officers to intensify work around the clock, take the necessary measures to eliminate violators of traffic laws and rules, and allow passengers to be transported from the airport via official airport taxis only. They said traffic campaigns will be implemented on a daily basis by detectives and security personnel, and distributed in all parts of the Kuwait International Airport buildings.

 

 

 

 

The Kuwaiti sky will witness a partial eclipse with a full moon on Saturday, October 28, according to the Space Museum at the Sheikh Abdullah Al- Salem Cultural Center. KUNA reported today that the Earth's shadow obscures 6 percent of the moon's disk at its peak, and that this eclipse can be seen in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Western Australia, which indicates that it takes one hour and 17 minutes to complete. Khaled Al-Jamaan, the Center's General Supervisor of Museums and the Space Museum, told KUNA today, Monday. He added that this eclipse is the second and last for this year, noting that the next lunar eclipse will be on September 18, 2024. In his explanation, the eclipse will begin with the penumbra phase and then become an eclipse. The penumbra phase indicates a decline in the moon's illumination without the moon being eclipsed.

This phase begins at 9.01 p.m., then the partial eclipse phase begins at 10.35 pm and its peak is at 11.14 p.m. and ends at 11.52 pm. Al-Jamaan reported that there are three types of eclipse. Total eclipse occurs when the entire moon enters the Earth's shadow area and its disk is eclipsed, leaving the moon completely invisible at night, especially in desert regions. He explained that the second type is a partial eclipse, which occurs when part of the moon enters the Earth’s shadow area, causing part of the moon’s disk to be eclipsed. The third type is a penumbra eclipse, which occurs when the moon enters only the semi-shadow area, and the moonlight becomes dim without being eclipsed. As part of its plan to create an astronomical scientific archive of all astronomical phenomena in Kuwait's skies, the Space Museum plans to document the phenomenon.

 

 

 

 

 

In less than 5 months, the governments of the State of Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have come a long way towards launching the “bullet train,” which indicates the depth of the relationship, agreement, and smooth dealing between the two brotherly countries, reports Al-Qabas daily.

The daily has learned that the Kuwaiti executive and supervisory authorities are racing against time to complete technical and legal approvals regarding paving the way for the implementation of the consultative agreement regarding the completion of a high-speed railway line that will connect Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Informed sources expected that all approvals related to the Kuwaiti side would be completed during the current month or next at the latest, in order to begin studying the financial, economic, and technical feasibility of the project, followed by the remaining steps to launch the subsequent stages, leading to the implementation process.

In June 2023, an Amiri decree was issued approving the agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the railway link project between the two countries. On September 26, the Saudi Council of Ministers also approved the railway link project agreement between Kuwait and the Kingdom, according to what was reported by the Saudi Press Agency.

Al-Qabas learned that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, represented by the Ministry of Public Works and the Saudi Railway Company (SAR), agreed to appoint the French company SYSTRA — one of the world’s leading engineering and consulting groups specialized in public transport and mobility solutions. For more than 65 years, the Group has worked alongside cities and regions to contribute to their development by creating, improving, and modernizing their transport infrastructures — to implement the feasibility study.

Informed sources revealed that, according to this agreement to appoint one consulting company, the Ministry of Public Works completed the contracting documents, and addressed the Audit Bureau therein, in order to obtain its approval to approve the consulting company SYSTRA, and the amount contracted with it, so that the Ministry can sign consulting contracts for the financial and economic feasibility study.

The sources said that the cost of the feasibility study for the link project rose to $10.57 million, equivalent to approximately 3.270 million dinars, to be paid equally between the two parties, with 1.635 million dinars for each party. It is expected that SYSTRA will complete the feasibility study for the railway link project between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia Within a period not exceeding 6 months.

The sources explained that according to the agreement concluded between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, the project of the two brotherly countries is a separate project and different from the railway project of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Regarding the “Gulf Train”, the Public Authority for Roads and Land Transport about two months ago launched a special exercise to complete the feasibility study related to the project through the Central Agency for Public Tenders, and the offers of 9 local and international consulting companies competing to win the contract were accepted.

The sources indicated that the Roads Authority is now in the stage of sorting contracts to choose a company entrusted with conducting the feasibility study for the Gulf train project, expecting that the name of the winning consulting company will be announced before the end of this year.

The Kuwaiti-Saudi agreement stipulates that the railway line between the two countries will extend from the train station point located in the State of Kuwait — which will most likely be located in the south of the country — to the train station point which will be located in the city of Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Project highlights

— May 23, 2023, the Saudi Council of Ministers authorized the Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, or his representative, to discuss with the Kuwaiti side regarding a draft agreement between the government of the Kingdom and the government of the State of Kuwait regarding the railway connection project between the two countries.

— June 4, 2023, the agreement was signed in the cities of Riyadh and Kuwait through diplomatic channels.

— June 12, 2023, an Emiri decree was issued approving the agreement.

— September 26, 2023, the Saudi Council of Ministers approved the railway connection project agreement.

It is expected that within less than two months, Kuwait will sign a consulting contract to launch the project study process.

 

 

 

Several banks have expressed concern that expatriate bank accounts that have been deported may pose a risk to the financial system because fraudsters can exploit these still-open accounts to commit financial frauds or to launder money.

 

Around 30,000 deported persons have bank accounts with various commercial banks in the country, according to estimates. Regional and international criminal gangs may target these 'live' accounts to move their illegal funds without drawing attention to themselves. These accounts could also be used to recruit more expatriates for fraudulent operations, either directly or in exchange for fees. Even dormant accounts that lack funds can be vulnerable to hackers, who seek to penetrate them for the largest possible amount of personal data and password information, as well as financial information.

 

Banks warn that continued exposure to financial fraud gangs or those engaged in money laundering increases the vulnerability of the financial system. Accordingly, they have called on the authorities to establish an information link between banks and the Ministry of Interior so that the names of deported people are immediately provided to the banks, which can then freeze these accounts, especially accounts that lack funds.

 

The regulatory authorities, led by the Financial Investigation Unit of the Central Bank, are said to be monitoring the accounts of clients who have deposits in their accounts, have liabilities, or have job or commercial dues to pay that will be deposited later, subject to further scrutiny by the bank.

 

 

 

 

According to Al-Rai Daily, the Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA) has launched three new services through the government application “Sahl” that cover customs release, frequency spectrum, and individual requests.

Businesses and individuals can streamline customs-related processes by using CITRA's customs release services, which include import, temporary import, temporary export, and export requests.

Radio amateurs and marine radio operators can now apply for permits related to frequency spectrum services. Additionally, the application process for the release of communications equipment is now more accessible.

In addition, "Sahl" offers users the opportunity to request the blocking or unblocking of electronic content, giving them more control over their online experiences.

 

 

 

 

 

The Ministry of Public Works is actively preparing for the impending rainy season, collaborating closely with relevant authorities, particularly Civil Defense and the General Fire Force, along with multiple organizations forming the Rain and Floods Consequences Committee, reports Al-Rai daily.

Reliable sources within the Ministry of Works informed the daily that “last week, the Rain and Floods Consequences Committee, comprising 15 agencies, convened to discuss the readiness of these entities for the upcoming rainy season.”

During this meeting, the committee members thoroughly examined the ministry’s plan and the specific tasks it will undertake. Each entity will execute its respective responsibilities in the event of heavy rain surpassing the drainage system’s capacity.

The sources further elaborated, “It was agreed that the emergency switchboards of the relevant authorities will be interconnected with the civil defense switchboard, ensuring seamless coordination of tasks among the involved parties.”

They emphasized that “the Ministry is currently engaged in activities such as cleaning manholes and drains, removing sediments and plankton that can obstruct rainwater drainage in certain areas.”

Additionally, they highlighted, “The Ministry will liaise with the Public Authority for Roads and Land Transport to guarantee the secure operation of tunnel pumps, aiming to prevent any congestion, particularly during intense rain occurrences.”

Shifting the focus to the initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy in readiness for the rainy season, ministry sources noted that the distribution networks sector is nearing completion of maintenance and isolation of roofs for secondary transformer stations requiring upkeep.

This measure aims to prevent any seepage into the station components during rainy periods. The sector has successfully finalized necessary maintenance work for approximately 90 percent of the insulation for stations’ roofs in need of attention.

 

 

 

 

Consultant endocrinologist and Head of the “Essentials of Endocrinology and Diabetes” conference Dr. Zidane Al-Mazidi yesterday highlighted the high rate of diabetes among children in the country, stressed that 40 out of every 100,000 children are diagnosed with diabetes every year.

In an exclusive press statement to Al-Seyassah on the sidelines of the inauguration of the two-day “Essentials of Endocrinology and Diabetes” conference, Dr. Al-Mazidi said, “Short stature is the most common endocrine disease among children in the country, followed by hypothyroidism, calcium deficiency, early puberty, adrenal and hypothyroidism, and undescended testicles in newborns.

Genes play an important role in endocrine diseases, as they represent approximately 10 to 20 percent of the causes of the disease.”

Dr. Al-Mazidi explained that the conference was organized by the Kuwait Society for Endocrinology, with the cooperation of the Kuwait Medical Association and the Dasman Diabetes Institute. An elite group of consultants and specialists in Kuwait, the Gulf countries and the world participated in the conference to discuss the latest therapeutic developments and to exchange experiences in this field.

The conference highlights the most important scientific developments in the treatment of diabetes and other issues related to endocrine glands, the importance of early diagnosis of these diseases, and the close link between obesity and diabetes.

It grants participants 14 points of continuing medical education from the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specializations.

Dr. Al-Mazidi expressed hope that the conference will come up with important recommendations that are in the interest of the health sector in the country.

He stressed the importance of such conferences that keep pace with the scientific development the world is witnessing, offer knowledge about the latest developments and research in the field of health care for patients with issues related to endocrine glands and diabetes, highlight methods for providing health care services and discuss what benefits medical personnel.