Winter Wonderland 2023 will offer over 55 attractions and performances, as well as 200 investment opportunities. Spanning roughly 130,000 square meters, the venue can accommodate up to 15,000 guests daily and will also feature a fast-track option for rides. The event is set to run for seven months, with specific working hours and ticket prices to be announced at a later date. Notably, admission will be free for children under four years old, while those aged five and above will be charged 5 dinars.

Meanwhile, Sabahiya 2023 is slated to open this year, boasting more than 40 attractions and exhibits. Covering an estimated 100,000 square meters, the site can host up to 10,000 visitors daily.

To avoid falling victim to fraud, the Anti-Cybercrime Department has warned citizens and residents to avoid dealing with fake bank links, through which bank data is stolen, advising them to inform the competent authorities.

The Acting Head of the Support Services Department at the Anti- Cybercrime Department, Lieutenant Colonel Ammar Al-Sarraf, confirmed to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the fake bank links, or what is known as (the delegate’s link), is a page that is very similar to the well-known payment pages, but it does not end with the kw domain. He said that the Crime Department provided a lot of awareness and guidance services to the public, government and private institutions, in order to avoid dealing with fake commercial accounts through social media platforms, in cooperation and coordination with the Communications and Information Technology Commission and telecommunications companies.

He added that there is a specialized team to combat fraud and fraud carried out by weak-minded people from outside and inside Kuwait, calling on everyone to inform the Cybercrime Department via the WhatsApp service (97283939) in order to reduce it, stressing that the department can be reviewed to provide a lot of technical assistance, including the recovery of “hacked accounts”. Lieutenant Colonel Al-Sarraf warned everyone against dealing with fake websites and advertisements on social media, whose owners promote the sale of products at unrealistic prices or through discounts to lure them to be victims of fraud in the hope of quick profit.

Restrictions Increase for Expats as Local Banks Respond to Civil ID Expiration

In light of recent policy changes, banks have started to enforce stricter regulations on expatriate customers with expired residence permits. These measures include freezing accounts or decreasing withdrawal limits as soon as the civil ID card expires.

As reported by the local Arabic publication, Al-Rai, banks implemented these measures from the first day of civil ID expiration. The rationale behind this decision is that once a customer's civil ID expires, they are considered an illegal resident, and further transactions with them would breach the law.

Expired civil IDs prevent customers from engaging in regular monetary withdrawal transactions. This limitation extends to loan disbursements, even if they were previously approved, and withdrawals from Visa and MasterCard accounts.

The account freezing process varies across banks, with some opting to freeze accounts entirely and others imposing reduced withdrawal limits. These restrictions will remain in place until the customer's residency is renewed.

For customers unable to renew their civil IDs, the option to close their accounts and withdraw the remaining balance is available, provided they submit the necessary documentation. However, the closure of an account may create difficulties in opening a new one, particularly for low-income workers, the report noted.

The Ministry of Health announced the allocation of 43 health centers in all health regions to work based on the shift system during the Eid Al-Fitr holidays, reports Aljarida daily.

In a press statement, the ministry explained that the centers operating 24 hours in the Capital Health Zone are Mirza Hussain Al-Ahqaqi Center in Daiya area, Hamad Al-Saqer Specialist Center in Adailiya area, Ali Thunayan Al-Ghanim Health Center in Sulaibikhat area, and Jaber Al-Ahmad Health Center 2. In Munira Al-Ayyar Health Center in Kaifan area and Abdullah Youssef Al-Abdul-Hadi Center in Yarmouk, work will start from 7:00 am to 12 midnight.

In the Hawally Health Zone, the centers working 24 hours are Rumaithiya Specialist Center, South Sabah Al-Salem, and West Salmiya centers. The West Hawally medical center and Mahmoud Haji Haidar medical center will work from 7:00 am to 12 midnight.

The Ministry of Health affirmed that the health centers in the Jahra Health Zone that will be open for 24 hours are Jahra Specialist Center, Saad Al-Abdullah Block 2, Health Palace and Abdali Center. The South Sulaibiya Center will be open from 7:00 am to 12 midnight.

In Mubarak Al-Kabeer health zone, work will be around the clock in the specialized Adan and Al-Salam centers. Work in Bayan and West Mubarak Al-Kabeer centers will be from 7 am to 12 midnight.

Regarding Ahmadi health zone, the centers operating around the clock are Sabah Al-Ahmad Center A, Khairan Center “Chalets”, Khairan Residential Center, Wafra Residential Center, Abdulaziz Al-Rashed Center in Bneider, Wafra Agricultural Health Center, Ali Sabah Al-Salem Center, Raqqa, Jaber Al-Ali, Fahaheel Specialist, Fintas Specialist, and West Sahiya Center.

The centers in the Farwaniya health zone that will be operating around the clock will be South Firdous, West Farwaniya, Andalous, Rabiya and Abdullah Al-Mubarak centers. The centers that will operate from 7 am until 12 midnight will be Osaimi Specialist in Khaitan, South Ardiya, South Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and Sabah Al-Nasser centers.

In addition, the Blood Bank Services Department announced the working hours of the Blood Bank during the Eid Al-Fitr holiday.

It declared that the first day of Eid will be a holiday, and work will resume on the second day of Eid.

Blood donation at the Central Blood Bank in Jabriya and the Tawuniya Center for Blood Transfusion in Adan will be from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. Platelet donation will be in the Central Blood Bank in Jabriya only from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm.

Recent statistics revealed that the number of single expatriates in the country has increased to about 1.2 million of various nationalities. They constitute about 36.4 percent of the total number of residents. The statistics also revealed an increase in the migration of expatriate families, which has contributed to transforming Kuwait into a “community of singles”, reports Al-Qabas daily.

According to reliable sources, some problems, crimes and wrong behaviors are widespread in bachelor societies. The suspension of issuance of family or visit visas for family members has dispersed expatriate families. The migration of expatriate families to their countries and the survival of the head of the family alone in Kuwait has negative repercussions not only on expatriates, but on Kuwaiti society in general.

At a time when there is an increasing need to accelerate steps to adjust the demographics, two reports issued by the Ministry of Interior and the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) revealed an increase in the number of families who left Kuwait permanently during the past months. The total number of family visas that were canceled in the past four years reached 100,000.

The annual departure rate of family members ranges between 11,000 and 15,000 expatriates annually. About 64,000 family members left Kuwait permanently during the COVID-19 crisis.

More than a million expatriates live collectively in crowded accommodations, particularly eight nationalities – Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Egypt, India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Syria.

It was reported that 53 percent of the Bangladeshi community live together, followed by 52 percent of Pakistani and Nepalese, and 50 percent of Egyptians, compared to 33 percent of the Indian community, 17 percent of the Filipinos, 10 percent of the Sri Lankans, and 7 percent of the Syrians.

According to the PACI report, the Farwaniya Governorate tops in the total number of bachelors, with a total of 356,000 bachelors, followed by the governorates of Hawally, Ahmadi, Jahra, Capital, and Mubarak Al-Kabeer in order.

The number of non-Kuwaiti bachelors who are born in Kuwait is 145,000, and the number of non-Kuwaiti bachelors who came from outside is about 984,000.

About 32 percent of bachelors do not possess any kind of educational certificate. They are classified in the category of “reading and writing”, and they are 410,000 in number. This is followed by 249,000 bachelors who hold an intermediate certificate.

There are more bachelors in the private sector than in other sectors, with a total of 611,000 bachelors, followed by 302,000 domestic workers, 128,000 students, and 22,000 working in the government sector.

In addition, sources warned of the accumulation of large numbers of bachelors in accommodations that lack the minimum security and safety requirements.

They indicated that some expatriates live in a crowded manner with 6 individuals in a single room, especially in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Mahboula, Khaitan, and Farwaniya areas

The International Astronomy Center (IAC) confirmed that seeing the crescent on Thursday is not possible with the naked eye from anywhere in the Arab and Islamic world, reports Al-Rai daily. The center stated that seeing the crescent on Thursday is not possible with a telescope in most countries of the Arab and Islamic world, with the exception of parts of West Africa starting from Libya.

However, vision remains very difficult and requires an accurate telescope, a professional observer and exceptional weather conditions. It is expected that the crescent cannot be seen even using a telescope from anywhere in the Arab world, unless the aforementioned conditions are available. The center added, “Hence, the principle of adopting the sighting of the crescent as a condition the start of Eid Al-Fitr will be on Saturday, April 22.”

In accordance with Article 107 of the Constitution, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah dissolved the 2020 National Assembly on Monday. He said this in His Highness Amir's speech on Ramadan's last ten days delivered by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. “We had decided to dissolve the 2020 National Assembly, which was reinstated by the Constitutional Court, in line with Article 107 of the Constitution, and we will call for holding general elections in the coming months,” the speech said.

According to Article 107, the Amir can dissolve the National Assembly by decree stating the reasons for the dissolution. For the same reason, the Assembly may not be dissolved again. In the two months following the dissolution, elections will be held for the new parliament. His Highness the Crown Prince read out the speech in which he explained that the dissolution of the parliament was a result of the people's will, and it will be accompanied by a new election and some legal and political reforms to help the country move into a new phase of discipline and legal reference.

Also, His Highness the Crown Prince said, this aims to avoid differences and abuses in the use of power by the executive and legislative authorities as well as to ensure neutrality and transparency. His Highness the Crown Prince asked the Government to bear its responsibility for the tasks. Last but not least, His Highness the Crown Prince prayed to Allah the Almighty to accept the fasting of the people and return these days with further blessings and goodness to Arab and Muslim nations. The Kuwaiti Cabinet held its weekly meeting on Monday, led by His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr. Khaled Al-Fadhel said after the meeting: On the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr, the Cabinet congratulated the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and the Kuwaiti people, praying that Allah will continue to bless Arab and Muslim nations with this good occasion. Furthermore, the cabinet approved a draft decree regarding the implementation of the decisions of the Constitutional Court of appeals related to the National Assembly elections in 2022, emphasizing the importance of observing all judicial rules and acting according to the law and constitution. At the meeting, the cabinet decided to cancel the exceptional salaries for the ministers listed in decree 191/2022.

As part of its discussion of the latest political developments, the cabinet welcomed the restoration of diplomatic relations between Bahrain and Qatar. Additionally, it expressed its extreme concern over the escalation and military clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), calling on all parties to stop military escalation. Ministry of Foreign Affairs' efforts to check on Kuwaiti citizens stranded in Sudan were praised by the Cabinet, which urged them to stay away from areas of tension and conflict and take the utmost care and caution.

The local real estate sector is an essential pillar of investment for companies and individuals, and a safe haven for those wishing to preserve the value of their money and savings. However, in light of the global economic turbulence, real estate agents are currently interested in following up their investment conditions. Usually when entering a stage of recession, as the market is currently in, the investor searches through his files and re-reads his investment map, reports Al-Qabas daily.

In a recent study by the daily, Aayan Real Estate Company shed light on the prospects of the local real estate sector to diagnose the current market situation and anticipate future expectations by providing insights and valuable information to investors and providing them with the latest information and data that contribute to supporting their investment decisions.

According to the study, the total number of private housing plots in Kuwait is about 207.1 thousand plots of land in 90 different areas as of the end of 2022, with the exception of the Sabah Al-Ahmad Marine City.

Mutlaa is considered the largest residential city in the country, as it includes about 28.2 thousand plots of land.

The total area of all land used in 2022 for private housing in Kuwait is 99.45 million square meters, with an average area of 480 square meters for each land. It is expected to exceed 100 million square meters in 2023, as there are many cities under planning by the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW).

The number of vacant private housing land in 2022 was about 41.60 thousand plots, equivalent to 20 percent of the total number of land in general (including the city of Mutlaa). This is a very low percentage compared to any Gulf country, as the percentage of vacant residential lands is between 35 percent and 40 percent in different countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The average rate of rentals for the investment sector is expected to decrease in 2023 by 8.5 percent compared to 2019 to reach about KD 4.420 per square meter. The occupancy rate is likely to increase slightly to 85.5 percent in 2023 from 85.1 percent in 2022 to reach 86 percent in 2024 and then to 87 percent in 2025.

There are 2,205 vacant investment residential lands in Kuwait, which is equivalent to 14.7 percent of the total residential investment properties. This is a very low rate compared to the neighboring regional markets, where the percentage exceeds 40 percent. This therefore will impose restrictions on supply, which in turn will lead to an increase in occupancy and prices within the sector.

The value of rents in the commercial sector may decrease by about five percent annually until 2024. The sector in general witnessed a correction of 10-15 percent in rental rates during the past 18 months.

Commercial complexes represent 16 percent of the leasable area at 909.9 thousand square meters at the level of the commercial sector. Shopping centers accounted for 6 percent by about 328.5 thousand square meters. Other leasable properties represent 74 percent at about 4.11 million square meters in different areas of Kuwait.

The total area of the offices used by the public and private sectors amounted to about 7.24 million square meters in 2022. The government’s share of the demand for office space was 47 percent, and the private sector 53 percent at 3.84 million square meters. It is expected to witness an increase to 4.12 million square meters by 2025.

The private sector owns about 282 properties allocated for office spaces in Kuwait City. Among these properties, about 250 properties are available for rent. As for the remaining properties, they are used by their owners.

The office space under construction in the country is estimated at 265 thousand square meters, distributed between 183.02 thousand square meters in Kuwait City, and about 82.74 thousand square meters outside the city.

The Capital Governorate accounts for 70 percent of those spaces for available commercial real estate, and Kuwait City real estate generates annual rental income of USD 314 million.

Regarding the office rental rates, the study estimated the rental prices for offices of various levels and sizes as follows:

1. Luxurious and distinguished offices – ranges from KD 6 to KD 14 per square meter, depending on the location and unit sizes.
2. Mid-level offices – ranges from KD 5.5 to KD 12.7 per square meter.

The study by Aayan Real Estate Company revealed a discussion currently taking place about plans by several government agencies to acquire land in Kuwait City to establish their own buildings. If this is actually done, it may have dangerous repercussions on the performance of the office sector.

From the point of view of the study, occupancy rates will be directly affected according to the likely scenario. In the event that the privately owned offices occupied by the government are vacated during the next three years, the occupancy rate will drop to 74 percent instead of 81.1 percent. This may lead to a decline in the values of many assets, failure to repay loans to banks, and loss of hundreds of jobs in the private sector.

According to the study, the government sector occupies 237,482 square meters of office space in different areas with a rental rate of approximately KD 8 per square meter, which means it spends about KD 22.8 million for annual rents.

Assuming that the official authorities decide to withdraw from the office market and construct their own real estate, it will need an area estimated at 45,670 square meters, if the average construction rate in Kuwait City is 520 percent.

The average price of land in the Capital Governorate is KD 8,500 per square meter, and thus the total value of the expected required area is about KD 388.2 million.

In order to develop an area of 237,482 square meters, the state will work to build twice that area for corridors and public services. Therefore, the total construction cost will amount to about KD 166.2 million. This means that the total spending on land and construction will amount to about KD 554 million (USD 1.8 billion). Thus, the government will save what it spends on renting offices by KD 22.8 million annually.

In theory, this means that it will take 24.3 years for it to start saving rent from its existing office space

At a time when the chronic traffic crisis is stagnating for years without a radical remedy, the government is still offering capricious solutions and harmful temporary painkillers by adding a lane here or there on the roads or creating a “flexible working time” system, which are useless solutions with a worn-out reality and a deteriorating infrastructure that is falling apart which has only overcrowded the roads, reports Al-Jarida daily. The daily polled the opinions of some experts who confirmed that a real breakthrough for this crisis could occur within 4 or 5 years, with a technical study prior to implementation. The head of the technical office at the General Traffic Department, Colonel Haqouqi Khaled Al-Adwani, said that the keys to resolving the crisis include developing roads, amending laws, and enhancing the traffic culture in society, in addition to rapid legislative intervention. For his part, the founder of the “Kuwait Comet” initiative, Jassem Al-Awadi, said the traffic congestion is due to “our reliance on individual means of transportation, as more than 80 percent of the traffic structure in Kuwait is individual vehicles.”

The Municipal Council, Engineer Alia Al-Farsi, said “our problem is overcrowding in the urban area,” stressing the need for new cities to be integrated and available with all services, which will ease overcrowding. For his part, the former head of the Department of Civil Engineering and Administrative Systems at the College of Engineering and Petroleum at Kuwait University, Dr. Fahd Al-Rukaibi, said crowding has become a part of our daily lives. If the average time it took previously for an individual to reach his destination was 30 to 35 minutes, it is now about 50 minutes.

The former Assistant Undersecretary for Traffic Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, retired Lieutenant General Fahd Al-Shuwaya, called for the formation of a higher committee to study this problem, stressing that “there is no country in the world that stops issuing driving licenses and withdrawing expatriate licenses, as this is definitely not a solution.”

Meanwhile, from 1980, we started constructing the Fifth Ring, Fourth Ring, King Fahad, Riyadh, King Faisal, and Al-Ghazali roads, but we overlooked an important thing, which is the establishment of the mass transportation system. These roads that we have established should serve us for hundreds of years. It is not true that after 20 or 30 years, the entire infrastructure changes, an example of which is the Fifth Ring Road. We modified it three times – first Al-Khattabi Road, then Abu Al- Qasim Road, and we canceled the intersections, and the third is currently opposite South Surra, and Al- Surra, and this is considered a disaster. I do not blame the Ministry of Public Works, but it is not permissible, after 20 years, to uproot South Surra from its roots, and demolish the infrastructure that was built and for which large sums of money were paid. It was supposed to be built from the ground up properly, taking into account all the changes that have taken place without the need for resorting to amending it.

There is no solution except by providing a system for mass transportation, because it greatly reduces traffic congestion. Today, when mass transportation is provided to the expatriates, they will not need a license or a car. When we travel to European countries, we do not use taxis, as we use mass transportation.”

The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) is reportedly planning to revoke over 10,000 invalid work permits registered with the organization. The authority has commenced legal procedures for cancellation after verifying the data's accuracy with the Ministry of Interior. The cancellation process will start following the Eid al-Fitr holiday, based on article 35 from the work permits procedures. According to the article, the authority can automatically cancel work permits if the worker has been abroad for more than six months without an exemption from the General Department of Residency.

Work permits can be cancelled if they have expired while the worker is abroad or if the worker has been deported for any reason. The authority will begin examining the cancellation of work permits for other reasons, including the submission of inaccurate data, documents, and unaccredited education certificates, starting next month. "Decisions to cancel these permits will be issued progressively, based on reviews, audits, and test results received from accredited professional organizations such as the Society of Engineers and the Kuwaiti Accountants Society," sources reported.

The initial phase of cancellations will involve 2,500 work permits to be announced this month. Sources clarify that the manpower authority will not issue work permits to those who have previously obtained them unlawfully, through fraudulent academic certificates or failing professional tests. Coordination between the authority and the Ministry of Interior will ensure that anyone with a cancelled permit becomes an illegal resident.

Sources indicate that various ministries will be tasked with addressing the demographic imbalance and reducing the number of unneeded expatriate workers in the market. The Ministry of Interior is expected to reassess the conditions for granting driving licenses to expatriates, as well as issuing mobile taxi licenses, which have become a significant market for attracting foreign workers.

These decisions were prepared for discussion and issuance but were postponed due to the government's resignation and the wait for a new government formation. Sources suggest that the supreme committee for addressing the demographic imbalance will likely hold a meeting with the Manpower Authority, potentially resulting in a comprehensive review of the requirements for issuing work permits in marginal professions currently attracting expatriate workers.

Butterflies are among the most beautiful flying insects and are the most delicate, calm and peaceful. Their charm lies in the beauty of their thin, multi-colored and beautiful wings drawn in exquisite geometric shapes. Their wings are covered with flat, minute scales overlapping with each other. The Kuwaiti and Gulf environment has been inhabited by several types of butterflies, such as the tiger butterfly, the lady variegate, the thorny, the spotted, and the rocky, which are distinguished by their charming colors, as if they were a mobile exhibition showcasing small paintings that move among the flowers lightly and gracefully. 

Regarding butterflies and their season in Kuwait, Rashed Al-Hajji, head of the Kuwaiti Environment Lens team, told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Sunday, that butterfl ies are among the cutest fl ying insects and are active during the spring season. Al-Hajji also added that butterfl ies love the sun’s rays and enjoy multiple and beautiful colors. He explained that these scales are the source of the wonderful colors and formations found in the wings, and they contain pigments and mineral coloring materials that give colors their magic when sunlight is reflected, especially the colors blue, orange, black and green.

Al-Hajji pointed out that there are a large number of colors overlapping in a wonderful way on the wing of a single butterfly, with harmonious geometric shapes, as if they were drawn accurately and identically on the wings. He mentioned that the wings of a butterfly are transparent at the beginning of their formation, then they quickly become colored, and they taste through their legs because they do not have a mouth, indicating that most butterflies go to rest with their wings erect above the body, and most of them live for a week or two only, but there are other species that may live for about 18 months. Regarding the most famous types of butterflies in the Kuwaiti environment and the Arabian Peninsula region, Al-Hajji said that the tiger butterfly is the most widespread and common and in line with the conditions of the Kuwaiti environment and the region.

He stated that the tiger butterfly is characterized by an interesting lifestyle, as “its larva feeds on milky weeds that contain cardiac toxin, which is transmitted to the cells of the butterfly, which provides it with protection from birds and lizards due to its toxicity.” He continued that the spotted and rock butterflies are abundant in the Arabian Gulf region and are distinguished by a dancing and attractive way of flying among the plants, while the violet butterfly is considered one of the most attractive butterflies. It migrates across the regions of the Arabian Peninsula and is known for its love of the sun and its presence in the spacious grassy areas. It is also fast flying and famous for its spiral dance near the surface. He pointed out that one of the most common species is the lady moth, which is also called the thorny butterfly, in relation to the food of its caterpillar, which consists of a type of plant called thistle thorns, and is characterized by its speed and strength in flight, which makes it difficult to catch it.

Al-Hajji said that the corona butterfly lives extensively in Kuwait and the Arabian Peninsula, and there is no similarity between its male and female, so that each of them has a special name. As for the lemon butterfly, it is one of the most famous butterflies in the Gulf region and is known for its feeding on the leaves of citrus trees, while its caterpillar is harmful to plants. He explained that the butterfly Great Arabian Salmon is a permanent migratory butterfly that abounds during the summer months in the Arabian Peninsula and inhabits desert areas. It is fast flying, which makes catching it difficult.

And he indicated that all data indicate and confirm the decrease in the numbers of these delicate creatures, which are now threatened with extinction year after year, pointing out that some of their species have disappeared completely or are almost rarely found due to urban projects, the expansion of civilization, the widespread use of pesticides, and the disappearance of natural habitats. For his part, a member of the Kuwaiti Environment Lens team, Muhammad Al-Saleh, said in a similar statement to (KUNA) that the arrival of spring in the country earlier this year and earlier than usual helped the butterflies appear in abundance, as they can be seen in various areas, especially gardens and farms.

Al-Saleh explained that the rains of goodness this year came early and instinctively during the months of October and November, which accelerated the blooming of wild flowers in an exceptional way, so wild plants and herbs flourished in most regions of the country, as well as flowers Newir, Zamlouq, ranunculus, chrysanthemum and others. He mentioned that early spring flowers provide food for butterflies that suck their nectar through a long proboscis through which they can extract the liquid substance in the flower nucleus.  

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has informed the Supreme Traffic Council that the flexible working hours system will continue to be applied after the Eid Al-Fitr holidays, provided that official working hours begin according to three time slots to be determined, reports Al- Qabas daily quoting informed sources.

They explained that several government agencies are studying the effectiveness of fl exible working hours and setting proposed working hours in order to achieve the optimal goal of its application. The government agencies are still seriously considering amending the official working hours for employees, either to implement the three-shift system for government sector workers, or to change the official working hours from 9:30 am to 5 pm.

The first vision aims to divide the employees into a morning shift from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, a second shift from 12 noon to 6:00 pm, and a third shift from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm. During government consultations, an opinion focused on the need to increase flexibility in the timings of entry and exit to a better timing, offset by other opinions that increasing flexibility in timing may not be appropriate for all ministries. The sources affirmed that it is possible to manage the application of flexible hours for each ministry and destination according to the nature of its work, adding that flexible hours is one of the immediate and quick solutions to the problem of traffic congestion in Kuwait.

It is noteworthy that the Council of Ministers had assigned the Public Authority for Roads and Transportation (PART), in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Electricity and Water, the Kuwait Municipality, and the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) to complete the necessary procedures to ensure the implementation of urgent, medium and long-term solutions that guarantee addressing the existing problem of traffic congestion in Sabah Al-Salem area, leading to the sustainability of the flow of roads to and from the area.

Representatives in the National Assembly had submitted several proposals in order to implement flexible working hours and remote work in government agencies with the aim of reducing traffic congestion and raising the productivity of citizens. The MPs believe that the presence of total and permanent flexibility in the working hours of employees will reduce tension and overcrowding and facilitate work in public facilities.

They stressed the need to formulate a comprehensive system that takes into account all functional and social aspects in order to motivate employees and productive work. The MPs affirmed that the fl exible hours system gives employees the freedom to organize their work lives to suit their personal needs, and employees can also enjoy easier and less expensive mobility during non-peak times. They highlighted the success of the application of the “flexible hour” system globally, as the number of women working based on this system in Britain reached 26.7 percent, and male workers at 17.7 percent, according to the National Statistics Office in 2003.

The MPs said, “This system allows public facilities to operate for a longer time by allowing the facilities to be opened early by employees who wish to do so in exchange for their early departure. It also allows it to continue for longer working hours through employees who wish to leave late in return for their late arrival to work». Many studies have shown that reducing daily working hours for employees may have more positive results by achieving higher productivity and improving service.

Many countries, including Qatar, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden, the Netherlands and Russia, have issued decisions to reduce daily working hours or make the work week four days instead of five with the aim of promoting job efficiency and increasing employee productivity, and giving more fl exible options to employees in a manner that takes into account their needs and circumstances, especially family circumstances. This also allows women greater opportunities to achieve a balance between the needs and requirements of caring for their family and children on one hand, and work requirements on the other hand, and all of this in a way that does not affect the services provided to citizens and the entitlements of employees, or reduce their wages and promotions.

The Ministry of Information affirmed that the relevant departments in the ministry continuously monitor what is published in all licensed media outlets to ensure their compliance with the provisions of the relevant media laws, which will have a positive impact on the level of Kuwaiti media and its message locally and abroad.

The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Information, Anwar Murad, said in a press statement on Thursday, that, according to the law, the initiation of legal procedures against news services that violate the law requires the submission of a denial by the party or the person affected by that media outlet, so that the Ministry can take the necessary action against the violating media services.

Murad explained that the ministry is keen to follow all licensed news services as stated in the articles of the law regulating electronic media, and to adhere to taking information from its sources, verifying its authenticity, and not publishing anything that might offend others or falsify facts. It called on all news services, media outlets and media workers to abide by what was stated in the articles of the law in order for the media to achieve its lofty mission and to improve the level of Kuwaiti media in various fields. (KUNA)

The Education Ministry will review its policy regarding the replacement of expatriate staff. “The ministry will take the advice of the Teachers Association’s demands to be cautious and not rush the Kuwaitization policy, in addition to not having large numbers in the lists of those dismissed.

They have agreed that the next layoffs will only be done after ensuring the availability of qualified national elements and determining the extent of their ability to perform at the same level, so that there would not be a sudden drop in the level of education, especially since the current education quality has some issues, including the low level of some teachers in schools,” sources revealed to Kuwait Times.

“The termination of 1,800 teachers in the current year will not happen again next year, as no more than 1,000 teachers will be laid off. The ministry will slow down termination decisions unless qualified Kuwaiti, GCC nationals or children of Kuwaiti mothers are available, and through hiring highly qualified expatriates that the ministry needs,” sources added.

The wave of transformation into the virtual world has affected all walks of life such that many crimes and negative phenomena have shifted from our real world to the World Wide Web including the phenomenon of begging, which spread remarkably on social media, reports Al-Qabas daily.

Although the phenomenon of electronic or virtual begging is not new, it has increased during the month of Ramadan, similar to the actual begging.

Similar to the way beggars knock on the doors of homes and wait in front of mosques in residential areas and others, there are beggars spread on communication sites who send many pre-prepared messages to account holders on Twitter and others. However, it is strange that some of these beggars manage to get the phone numbers of others and send them WhatsApp requests for donations or payments for the treatment of sick or afflicted people, and attach these messages with medical documents and forged papers.

They usually search for ways to prey on people’s sympathy, taking advantage of this atmosphere of faith and spirituality, and the desire to do good.

The phenomenon of e-begging has started spreading in a number of social media sites particularly Twitter and Instagram.

According to informed sources, it has become more like an organized trade where the beggar sends private messages to a number of users, asking them for material or in-kind assistance, and explaining his condition. Some of them even attach pictures to prove their poor financial condition.

Social media allows beggars to reach the largest number of users, thereby increasing their chance of obtaining what they want.

Most of the cases are scams against people, as these messages do not contain any accurate personal or other information.

The sources affirmed that the phenomenon of virtual begging is convenient for beggars, as it is a way through which the beggar hides using a fake account. Such a concealment relieves him of any social embarrassment he may feel in the case of actual begging, and also may keep him somewhat away from legal prosecution unless a complaint is filed against him.

They explained that the second and important feature is that virtual begging crosses borders and continents, as residents of different countries may use begging messages on people in other countries. Also, virtual begging gives the beggar a greater opportunity to explain his condition and write whatever he wants to write to tickle the feelings of the message recipient.

The phenomenon of electronic begging exists throughout the year, but it is prevalent during the month of Ramadan. It usually involves the beggar explaining his need to prepare for the holy month.

The Ministry of Health has announced that patients can now schedule appointments with visiting doctors through their official website or the Kuwait Health Q8 application. This is part of the Ministry’s continuous effort to automate its services and improve patient convenience.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Sanad, the Ministry’s official spokesman, explained that patients can submit their registration application via the Ministry’s website or the “Kuwait Health Q8” application. The application should include the patient’s information and relevant medical reports. The coordination team will then review the application and decide whether to accept it based on the visiting doctor’s field and specialization.

Once the request is accepted, the patient will receive a text message with the appointment date and instructions for necessary preparations and examinations before the scheduled appointment with the visiting doctor. This aims to optimize the visiting doctor’s time in serving patients.

Dr. Al-Sanad emphasized that this digital transformation and automation of health services is under the direct supervision and guidance of the Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadi. The service was developed by Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Mutairi, the Undersecretary for Technical Affairs in the Ministry, and Ahmed Gharib, the Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Health. The Ministry is committed to providing patients with the best possible service and convenience through its work methodology.

As the summer season is just around the corner, the Maintenance Department of the main power transmission stations in the Ministry of Electricity and Water is racing against time to ensure the ministry can secure loads and has put in place 72 maintenance programs with the help of 27 working teams affiliated to the department, each team comprising 6 to 10 engineers and technicians, reports Al-Qabas daily. According to Eng Nahar Al-Dhafiri, Director of the Main Transfer Stations Department at the Ministry, the department is responsible for about 700 main transmission stations with more than 3,200 electric power transformers, in addition to 160 individual transformer sites in border areas, farms and chalets, whose maintenance programs continue throughout the year as well as emergency teams which work 24 hours a day.

Power
Al-Dhafiri told Al-Qabas that the transmission networks sector undertakes the transfer of energy produced by the power generation sector through ground cables and overhead power lines to distribution stations in all the regions, explaining that the administration’s task is to implement everything necessary to secure the work of the main transmission stations by carrying out necessary maintenance, whether maintenance of electrical appliances or devices, protection of transformers, or firefighting devices, as well as civil maintenance and support systems. He explained that the administration currently has more than 50 maintenance contracts for power stations, with a value of 160 million dinars.

These contracts extend for 5 years and include various maintenance works. He pointed out that the work is not limited to maintenance, as there is equipment that is outdated, and the administration performs two processes of replacement and exchange for it, and that the transmission stations differ in their high voltages from higher effort to lower effort. Regarding the aging of the stations and the recurrence of fires, Al-Dhafiri explained that comparing the number of faults compared to the number of equipment or feeders connected to the stations, which exceed 52 thousand electric cells, revealed a decrease in the percentage of accidents and serious annual fires.

Faults
“We are talking about 6 to 7 annual faults out of a total of 52 thousand feeders and electric cells. This means that the percentage resulting from the breakdown of the insulation of any equipment and the occurrence of a malfunction that causes the station to go out or the occurrence of a fire sometimes represents approximately one in ten thousand, for out of every 10 thousand operating cells, there is one that goes out of service annually, and malfunctions are something that is likely to occur at all power stations globally and often the reasons are beyond the scope of maintenance work. He indicated that the number of employees in the department exceeds 1,500, including engineers and technicians, and it has a team of male and female engineers who supervise daily follow-up maintenance work, and there is a database for each station that extends for more than 20 years, and it is possible to refer to it and find out what it was subjected to in terms of work.

Al-Dhafiri pointed out that the administration pays great attention to training its cadres, especially obtaining a certificate of validity to operate, which is a level that requires a great effort, as the engineer undergoes tests and courses related to the operation of various network equipment, including transformers and circuit breakers, as well as security and safety procedures, examining equipment and dealing with it, within a system and program. A certified technician, and after going through all these trainings, is subject to an exam held by a committee whose recommendation is signed by the Undersecretary of the Ministry, to confirm that he has obtained the authority to operate. He stated from 1988 to 2020, the number of those who obtained a license to operate was 450, and since 2020 until today, there are 200 male and female engineers who obtained that license, and it is expected that by the end of the year the number will reach about 350 male and female engineers, which refl ects the large boom in training.

He explained that the Kuwaitization of jobs is a national demand, as the percentage of national cadres in management exceeds 90%, but at the same time, bringing international expertise that raises the level of our national cadres is an urgent requirement for the expertise that international companies possess, so we are keen to train our cadres through the use of global expertise to upgrade With the level of our engineers, and the expertise working with us, there is a great demand for them from all neighboring countries. Eng Nahar Al-Dhafiri listed five reasons for power failures are amateur hunters damage power lines while hunting for birds with rifles, passage of elevated trucks near overhead lines, contractors’ errors during excavation in places where services are provided to the Ministry, bad weather and 5the aging of some stations

The Kuwaiti Fire Department raised on Tuesday, its readiness and activated an emergency plan to deal with developments in the weather situation in the country, in light of reports received from the Meteorological Department. The Public Relations and Media Department said in a statement that the head of the General Fire Force, Lieutenant General Khaled Al- Mekrad, inspected the readiness of the central operations department to receive notifications and the readiness of all fire stations, in the presence of the deputy head of the force for the control sector, Major General Jamal Nasser, and the director of the central operations department, Brigadier General Saad Yassin.

He added that Al-Mekrad reviewed the plan for distributing water intake pumps and their locations, according to prior coordination with the Ministry of Public Works and the Roads Authority, and was also briefed on the procedures and readiness of all rescue teams deployed in all governorates of the country. It stated that Al-Mekrad also listened to a briefing on the readiness and distribution locations of all equipment, machinery, portable boats and hydraulic water withdrawal pumps designated for emergencies, in order to achieve maximum response speed with reports that may be received by the Central Operations Department.

It is noteworthy that the Meteorological Department said earlier in the day that the country is affected by a rainy condition that begins gradually this evening until Thursday afternoon, and is of varying intensity and heavy in some areas, to reach its peak from Wednesday afternoon until Thursday noon. (KUNA)

Keshub Mahindra, a pioneer of the Indian auto industry and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd Chairman Emeritus, died on Wednesday morning in Mumbai.

Mahindra, 99, breathed his last on Wednesday morning at home peacefully, the company confirmed.

"He was a man of principles and led from the front to preserve the legacy of our founders which has ensured that the organisation has remained rooted in ethics, values and good corporate governance," Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra said.

Further, Anand said, "Keshub Mahindra was known for his astute business acumen that helped in transforming Mahindra into a diversified federation of companies.

His compassion, and people-centric approach made him a global business icon, who was much loved and respected."

Keshub had led the Mahindra Group for 48 years as Chairman and expanded it from being an automobile manufacturer to other business segments like IT, real estate, financial services and hospitality.

He played key roles in forging business alliances with global majors such as the Willys Corporation, Mitsubishi, International Harvester, United Technologies, British Telecom and many others.

Born on October 9, 1923, in Shimla, Keshub was a graduate from Wharton, University of Pennsylvania, USA, and joined M&M in 1947 and became the Chairman in 1963.

In 2012, Keshub Mahindra, who remained as one of the directors on Mahindra & Mahindra's board for 64 years overseeing the group's metamorphosis from a steel trading company to a USD 15.

4 billion diversified group, handed over the baton to his nephew and the then Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Anand Mahindra.

He had also served on a large number of Boards and Councils in both private and public domain.

He was the founder Chairman of HUDCO, and also served on many corporate boards, including SAIL, Tata Steel, Tata Chemicals, Indian Hotels, IFC, ICICI and HDFC.

Besides, he also held the position of President of Employers' Federation of India and the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He was a member of the Sachar Commission on Company Law and Reforms, a member of the Prime Minister's Council on Trade and Industry and Chairman of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

A renowned philanthropist, Keshub redefined good corporate governance in India.

He was also a member of the Apex Advisory Council of ASSOCHAM.

In 1987, he was awarded the Chevalier de l'Ordre National de la Legion d'honneur by the French government.

In a statement, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) President Vinod Aggarwal condoled his demise saying the Indian Automobile Industry has lost one of its pioneers.

"His leadership in the early years of the journey of the Indian Auto Industry had led to India being recognised as an important player globally and also helped in India becoming a manufacturing hub for the Automobile sector," he added.

Mahindra was the President of SIAM in 1964.

"SIAM and the Indian Automobile Industry condoles the passing away of a true visionary and pray for the departed soul to rest in peace," Aggarwal said.

Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) said, "As members of the Auto Retail fraternity, we join in mourning the loss of an Industry Icon whose contributions to the growth of the Indian Economy will always be remembered."

Former M&M Managing Director Pawan Goenka tweeted, "The industrial world has lost one of the tallest personalities today.

Shri Keshub Mahindra had no match; the nicest person I had the privilege of knowing.

I always looked forward to meetings with him and was inspired by how he connected business, economics and social matters. Om Shanti."

India has successfully conducted a two-day nationwide mock drill in 33,685 health facilities, including 28,050 public and 5,635 private health facilities in 724 districts to take stock of Covid-19 preparedness, according to officials on Tuesday. 

According to the union health ministry statement, the mock drill was conducted in 35 states and union territories. Even though Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours saw a marginal dip with 5,676 new positive cases, the country reported 21 deaths. 

Three deaths each were reported from Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan. It was followed by Karnataka, where two deaths were reported.  Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu reported one death each. Kerala reported six reconciled deaths.  Mock drills, announced as Covid-19 cases saw a spike in India, were carried out in Delhi, West Bengal and other states on Tuesday. Many states conducted mock drills on Monday. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had visited RML Hospital on Monday to review the mock drill.

According to officials, the mock drills were conducted on Monday and Tuesday in all public and private health facilities, including government medical colleges, hospitals, district and civil hospitals, community health centres as well as health and wellness centres and primary health centres and private health facilities, including medical colleges, hospitals and other health centres.

The ministry said that critical medical infrastructure and resources, including oxygen beds, isolation beds, ventilators, PSA plants, oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders, as well as medicines and PPE kits, were assessed, and medical staff were oriented on the management of Covid-19 during the drills.

In preparation for the nationwide mock drill, online training with state and district surveillance units was conducted on April 4, 5 and 6.