The labor market for expatriates who are sixty years and above continue to bleed because of the cost of renewing the work permits, which exceed 800 dinars, reports Al-Qabas daily. A recent report issued by the Public Authority for Manpower, in cooperation with the Central Administration of Statistics, revealed more than 4,000 expatriates, 60 years and above have left the country during the first quarter of this year. The government report pointed out that the decline hit all types of workers from this category of workers, whether university graduates or holders of a high school certificate, while their numbers stabilized until last April at 65,000 resident workers.

Employment
The employment of 60 years and above – holders of a general secondary certificate and below – pays large fees in exchange for renewing work permits, residence and health insurance. As for the sectors that witnessed a decline in the labor market, the report pointed out that the sector of administrative and support services activities was the highest in the total number of departures in 3 months, with a decrease of 1,423 workers, followed by the construction sector, which lost 792 workers.

The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector also lost 739 workers, in addition to 257 workers who left the accommodation and food services sector, and 103 others who left permanently after working for years in the manufacturing sector. With regard to those below 60 years workers, the report indicated the “wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles witnessed an increase of 3,406 workers, followed by the professional, scientific and technical activities sector with 2016 workers.” Changes in the labor market in the first quarter of 2022 – of the 1.3 million workers in the private sector 1,423 left the administrative services sector, 792 workers left the construction sector, 3,406 workers joined the wholesale trade and vehicle repair sector and 1,499 workers entered the education sector.

Most of the retail companies have moved their sales activities from traditional stores to the Internet in response to the effects of the pandemic. This shift towards the digital world was accompanied by the emergence of strong opportunities in the field of e-marketing, especially marketing through social media, reports Al-Anba daily. Over the past few years the social media has increasingly played a vital role in the retail sector. In fact, sources believe in one in ten purchase their needs via social media, demonstrating the decline of the traditional retail site in front of the modern digital point of purchase. The results of the “Connected Consumer” report revealed that 55% of consumers prefer digital channels in order to interact with brands, and this percentage has jumped to 65% among young consumers of Generation Z.

Online revenue
Social media has allowed companies of all sizes to reach new audiences, increase their following and increase their online revenue. This trend will maintain its momentum, as 61% of dealers and consumers plan to shop more via social media over the next three years, according to the results of the fifth report from ‘Salesforce’ on the status of the “connected consumer.” Moreover, the report showed that 56 percent of consumers shop more today on social media than last year. This shift in shopping habits highlights the importance of social media as a growing source of shopper traffic and revenue for online businesses, as these media have become widely used as tools to increase profits.

Terry Nicholl, Vice President, Middle East, Africa and Europe at Salesforce, believes that forward-looking retail companies should make sure to boost their investments in social media to ensure that their businesses can keep pace with the future, but about 45% of trade managers feel unprepared. To move forward on the path of leveraging emerging digital channels such as metaverse, tik tok and modern online social storefronts. The question for many is, where does the road begin? In order to target the right audience, companies first need to know where they are located. Determining the location of the audience that is shopping through digital channels is only the first step, as companies then need to identify the platforms used by the target audience and the places they are likely to buy from, while making sure that the company’s brand, its communication messages and services are consistent across other digital channels.

Many citizens and residents felt an earthquake early on Saturday morning around the nation, mostly in the Ahmedi area. The Kuwait National Seismological Network reports that at 2:36 am on Saturday, a 2.9-magnitude earthquake was felt south of Ahmadi.

The network also stated that the earthquake took place 8 kilometres beneath the surface.

Health sources said that the new Farwaniya Hospital, which is to be taken over soon, will be dedicated to treating citizens only, providing integrated health care and service similar to what is available at the Jaber Hospital. The sources told Al-Rai that the hospital will serve citizens of the Farwaniya Governorate, and will include all medical specialties.

The operational plan will be in stages as was done at the Jaber Hospital. The hospital will include advanced operating rooms, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery and maternity wards, and specialized wards, as well. The services will also include for the first time in Kuwait, an integrated physiotherapy and rehabilitation department.

The sources explained that the healthcare for expatriates of the Farwaniya region will be temporary through the old hospital, until the opening of the health insurance hospitals, which will provide care for the largest part of them, while the remaining segment of them working in the government sector will be distributed them among other health facilities in a fair and practical manner, that does not put pressure on any of the ministry’s facilities.

Considering the series of heinous crimes that have spread fear and anxiety among people in the past days and weeks, the time has come to not be silent about the matter any longer. In an effort to put an end to the nightmare of drug addiction and drug trafficking that has become a concern for citizens and expatriates, the Ministry of Interior is working on taking a set of strict measures and decisions in the next stage.

According to well-informed security sources, the ministry has issued instructions to expel any Gulf national or resident who is proven to have used narcotic substances. This comes as an urgent step to reduce the repercussions of this phenomenon on society by taking all necessary legal measures against these abusers and preventing them from entering the country again. The sources said, “After the shocking and horrific rise in the number of drug users of Gulf, Arab and foreign nationalities as per the latest statistics, the ministry has started expelling them from the country after confirming and verifying their use of narcotic substances through tests conducted on them to prove their abuse. Kuwait will not allow them to reside on its land, as they pose a real danger to the youth, and their presence threatens to spread the scourge of the abuse and promotion of these drugs.

There are instructions not to allow intermediaries to interfere at all in the matter and to hold legally accountable any employee who is negligent in their work”. The sources explained that the Drug Control General Department has a complete record of the drug users and promoters of narcotic substances who have been released from prison after the implementation of the penalties. They are under the microscope and control of the combatants, and anyone among them who return to the abuse of narcotic substances will be referred to the court again, and then will be imprisoned.

It is unfortunate that a large number of drug users and promoters of narcotic substances did not quit this scourge and returned to prison again. This is because they quickly returned to drug abuse and trafficking after they were released from prisons when their sentences ended. The sources highlighted the issuance of strict instructions to seize drug users, refer them to the concerned authorities, take all legal measures against them, and prosecute drug dealers. They called on citizens and residents to report drug dealers by calling the hotline No. 1884141 of the National Anti- Narcotics Committee, or the emergency No. 112, affirming that the reports will be treated with utmost confidentiality and secrecy. By Munif Nayef Al-Seyassah Staff and Agencies

The Kuwait Meteorological Department expected the country to be affected by very hot air masses, with moderate northwesterly winds that will be active during the day on Thursday, causing dust at times, especially over open areas. Head of the Marine Forecasting Department at the department, Yasser Al-Balushi, told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that this is due to the extension of India’s seasonal depression, which supplies the region with these very hot air masses, but the atmosphere is witnessing some changes, starting in the evening, as the country is affected by a relatively humid air mass, especially on the coastal areas.

The effect of the very hot air masses continues and causing dust at times, especially over open areas.

Regarding the weather Thursday, Al-Balushi stated that it will be very hot, with northwesterly winds to fluctuating light to moderate speed, sometimes active, ranging between 12 and 42 kilometers per hour, causing dust on open areas, and the expected maximum temperatures between 45 and 47 degrees Celsius, and the sea will be light to moderate. The waves are between 1 and 5 feet high. He stated that the weather in the evening will be hot and relatively humid on the coastal areas, and the winds will fluctuate to northwesterly, light to moderate, with speed between 8 and 35 kilometers per hour, and the expected minimum temperature is between 34 and 37 degrees Celsius, and the sea will be light to moderate, and waves and heights between 1 and 4 feet.

Maximum temperatures
He added that the weather on Friday will be relatively hot and humid over the coastal areas, with northeasterly to fluctuating winds, light to moderate, with speeds between 8 and 35 kilometers per hour, and the expected maximum temperatures between 44 and 46 degrees Celsius, and the sea will be light to moderate, and waves will rise between 1 and 4 feet. He indicated that the weather Friday night will be hot and relatively humid on the coastal areas, with light to moderate southeasterly winds, with speeds between 8 and 28 kilometers per hour, and the expected minimum temperature between 34 and 36 degrees Celsius, and the sea will be light to moderate in waves and a height between 1 and 3 feet.

Al-Balushi said that the weather during the day on Saturday will be very hot, with northwesterly to southeasterly light to moderate winds, with speeds between 10 and 30 kilometers per hour, and the expected maximum temperatures between 45 and 47 degrees Celsius, and the sea will be light to moderate, and its height is between 1 and 3 feet. He pointed out that the weather on Saturday night will be hot to hot and relatively humid on the coastal areas, with northwesterly winds turning to light to moderate southeasterly, with speeds between 8 and 28 kilometers per hour, and the expected minimum temperature between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius, and the sea being light to moderate in waves and height is between 1 and 3 feet. (KUNA)

Since the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) closed the zoo in March 2020 “until further notice”, as a precautionary measure to prevent the outbreak of the corona virus and limit its spread at that time, the authority has not announced any specific date for its reopening, which was receiving about 170,000 visitors annually before the pandemic, from all segments of society and age groups, and was considered one of the most important tourist and recreational facilities in the country, reports Al-Qabas daily.

The daily said, the citizens now demand the restoration of this recreational outlet and its reopening to visitors, pointing out that it is not logical to close recreational facilities without announcing a timetable for their reopening. After doing away with the restrictions related to the repercussions of the pandemic months ago and resuming most recreational activities in parks, complexes, malls, restaurants and others, it has become necessary to know the fate of the zoo, which has an area of 180,000 square meters, and is rich in many types of animals and birds and reptiles, in addition to a tram that takes visitors around the zoo moving on the green track. The zoo on the first and second days of any holiday in the past received about 2,000 visitors.

According to informed sources, the opening of the zoo again will take some time, given the need to restore and develop its facilities, especially animal cages, electrical installations, toilets and infrastructure in general. The sources pointed out the completion of these works require time between 6 to 12 months, in the event that these works are completed immediately. The sources added that the park contains 190 species of animals, birds, reptiles and mammals, with a total of about 1,500 animals, and these animals were not affected by any diseases or losses during the period of closing the park more than two years ago, indicating that this is due to the conclusion of a contract with a company to supply food inside cages throughout those years. The sources pointed out that the zoo is awaiting more government attention, to ensure the opening of this recreation within a short time, noting that the documentary cycle between government agencies may be one of the reasons for the slow completion of its maintenance work.

In light of the fact that the current prices are among the lowest in the world, Al-Anba daily reports that the government does not intend to increase fuel prices in order to match international prices.

Sources say the Government Subsidy Review Committee, headed by the Ministry of Finance, does not plan to discuss fuel price increases. According to him, the committee submits its recommendations and decisions to the Council of Ministers; reviews market conditions to compare them with subsidy values; and evaluates subsidies in order to determine whether they should be increased, reduced, or granted to specific groups.

The Legal and Financial Committee of the Council was tasked with reviewing the latest draft ordinance that the municipality of Kuwait had prepared on public hygiene and trash transportation. The new proposal includes severe measures to ensure public cleanliness, such as fining offenders up to 500 dinars for hanging clothing or other items carelessly on the streets. The proposal also forbade grilling in public places such as sidewalks, streets, squares, public parks, waterfronts, and state-owned properties, unless it is clearly stated that grilling is permitted there. Anyone who disobeys this instruction will be fined a maximum of 5,000 dinars and a minimum of over 2000 dinars.

Additionally, washing carpets and furniture while facing the street is prohibited due to the draught. It makes it against the law for owners of abandoned and damaged vehicles to leave them in public areas like squares and public spaces, including boats, homes, and mobile prefab chalets.

The Ministry of Health has established the Pharmacovigilance Office under the Drug Control Sector as part of its efforts to improve health care and drug safety, reports Al-Rai daily.

The daily obtained a copy of the tasks assigned to the office as follows: receive reports on the side effects and quality of pharmaceutical preparations, evaluate reports and indicators, monitor the marketing of registered drugs, continuous assessment of the safety and quality of pharmaceutical preparations, monitor and evaluate the side effects of pharmaceutical preparations to find out their causes and present solutions, monitor relevant news from international bodies and organizations, take appropriate decisions regarding the safety of pharmaceutical preparations in circulation, and follow up reports on adverse effects and problems related to the quality of all health-related products like medicines, medical, pharmaceutical, vegetable and veterinary preparations, medical devices and equipments.

The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) revealed that 1.437 million citizens and residents live in only 8 residential areas, representing 31% of the country’s total population. A recent report by PACI related to the historical data of the regions and the extent of the increase and decrease of population in 180 residential and agricultural areas until the end of last year, of which Al-Qabas obtained a copy of, showed that the Salmiya district is the most populous, with a total of 282,541 people, followed by the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. The report pointed to the displacement of Jleeb during the past year, which resulted in 56,779 people leaving the region and moving to other regions, where the total population until the end of 2021 was about 271,000, after they were close to 328,000 in 2019.

The figures showed the Sabah Al- Ahmad city has 60,257 residents after the district opened the doors for residents in 2015 and as for the West Abdullah Al-Mubarak district where the population registration began in 2020 has 1,257 registered residents. The sources added, there were 10,608 people registered in the Northwest of Sulaibikhat district, where people started moving in, in 2015 and until last year, as well as approximately 10,000 people in the suburb of Abu Fatira, which entered on the list of residential areas in 2009.

It was clear, according to the PACI report, the noticeable decrease in the population numbers in many areas, including Anjafa, Al-Bida, Al-Maseela, Abu Al-Hassaniya, Al-Khairan Al-Sakani, where the numbers do not exceed a thousand people; while 652 people were registered in the Al-Bida region, 515 in the Residential Khiran, 841 in Al-Maseela and 360 in Anjafa. Civil information data indicated that approximately 500,000 people live in the Jahra Governorate in comparison with the data of other regions in the country’s governorates it turns out that the Jahra regions are overcrowded, especially the city of Saad Al-Abdullah, which houses approximately 115,000 people.

It is noteworthy to mention Taima and Sulaibiya districts have 119,000 people distributed over 10,000 plots, which is a high number compared to the total housing provided by the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) for the purpose of benefiting the owners of housing requests, as a temporary housing alternative. Civil Information data showed 27 people are registered among the residents of the ‘Sulaibikhat Cemetery’ area, a majority of those registered as residents in the cemetery area are workers affiliated to the Kuwait Municipality, and they work in professions related to burial and washing the dead.

The Ministry of Information has confirmed that holding musical concerts in public places must be in line with the law in accordance with the ministerial decision issued in this regard, it reports Al-Rai daily. The daily quoting security sources stressed that any violation of these requirements exposes the violators to legal accountability.

The spokesman for the Ministry of Information, Anwar Murad, said that the ministry “immediately took the necessary measures against the company organizing a concert that was held in a hotel on the second day of Eid al-Adha.

In this context, MP Ahmad Mutee said “after contacting the Minister of Information regarding holding of the concert contrary to Islamic law, deterrent measures were taken and the organizing company’s license was withdrawn.” He added, “Everyone who contributed and dared to hold this party, which is against the morals of our conservative Kuwaiti society, will be held accountable and deterred.”

At examination centers affiliated with the Ministry of Health, pilgrims returning from Holy Land were asked to conduct PCR tests within three days of their arrival.

There are examination centers open between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. at the Jaber Bridge and at the Jaber Al Ahmad Hospital. There are also private centers available.

The Immune app will display the follow-up results of PCR tests. Within 10 days of returning back home, seek medical attention if you exhibit any symptoms of COVID infection.

Shri Sibi George, the Indian ambassador to Kuwait, is most likely to be named as the new ambassador to Japan. Sibi George will take the place of Sanjay Kumar Verma, the Indian ambassador to Japan who is relocating to Canada, according to Indian media reports.

A formal announcement has not yet been made, though. The new appointment in Kuwait received no mention in the reports, either. Both the Indian diaspora and Kuwaiti citizens praised Sibi George, who established new standards for the Indian Embassy in Kuwait. He had altered the Embassy's appearance to make it the second home of the more than 10 lakh Indians who now reside in Kuwait.

Sibi George's departure from Kuwait will be a big loss for the neighbourhood since he launched numerous new programs for community welfare and promoted Indian among the people. Sibi George has previously worked in Tehran, Riyadh, Switzerland, Cairo, Doha, and Washington, D.C.

 Kuwait’s imports of perfumes and its preparations amounted to 219.6 million dinars, an increase of 21%, with a value of 37.969 million dinars during 2021, compared to 191.367 million dinars in the year 2020, reports Al-Anba daily.

A recent statistics show that Kuwait’s imports of essential oils, extracts of resinous materials, perfumes, decoctions or cosmetics (toilet) amounted to 53.34 million dinars during the first quarter of last year, and 54.22 million dinars in the second quarter and 52.8 million dinars in the third quarter, and 59.25 million dinars in the fourth quarter of the year.

In a development that reflects some relative improvement, Kuwait ranked 14th in the Arab world in terms of the flow of foreign direct investments during 2021, according to the Arab Investment & Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (Dhaman), reports Al- Seyassah daily. In a report issued this week, it confirmed that, “Kuwait attracted about KD 198 million during last year, a growth rate of 239.8 percent, compared to 2020, which witnessed the exit of investments of about KD 142 million”.

Despite the modest share of Kuwait in the total inflows to the Arab countries, which amounted to 0.4 percent, Dhaman clarified in its annual monitoring that Kuwait ranked third with seven percent of the total inflows issued by Arab countries in the year 2021. With regard to foreign direct investment balances issued by Arab countries, it revealed that Kuwait came in fourth place with a share of 6.7 percent. It also acquired 13.6 percent of the volume of crossborder merger and acquisition deals that the Arab countries witnessed during 2021.

Dhaman highlighted that foreign direct investment flows from Arab countries to the world rose at a rate of 46 percent to $ 52 billion, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE contributing about 90 percent of those flows, with shares of 46.1 percent and 43.5 percent respectively. It affirmed significant increases in foreign direct investment inflows to the Arab countries by 42 percent, to reach about $53 billion in 2021, and to represent its share of 6.3 percent of the total incoming flows to developing countries and 3.3 percent of the total global flows amounting to about $ 1.58 trillion.

Flydubai, a low-cost airline, has halted service to Sri Lanka because of the political and economic instability in the South Asian nation. The airline promised to issue refunds to those customers who have purchased tickets.

From July 10 until further notice, Flydubai flights between Dubai and Colombo Airport (CMB) have been cancelled. We will keep a close eye on the situation in Sri Lanka, according to a flydubai spokesperson's statement on Monday.

Sri Lanka is a well-liked tourist location, and local airlines transport plenty of people from Dubai to Colombo. In April, the low-cost airline flydubai listed Colombo as one of its most popular destinations and reported an increase in flight demand.

However, despite fuel and food shortages in the nation, the acute political and economic turmoil is driving UAE and other airlines to halt flights to Sri Lanka. Since there are hardly any dollars available to import food and fuel, Sri Lanka has been in upheaval. The government is held responsible by the people of Sri Lanka for the severe corruption and nepotism that caused the economy to collapse.

The leaders of the South Asian nation were compelled to leave their official houses as a result of widespread protests. A spokeswoman for Flydubai stated in a statement that passengers who have made reservations to take these flights will be contacted and given the option of receiving a refund. The statement apologised for the disruption to the travel plans of our passengers.

The airline, which has its base in Dubai, announced last month that it is gearing up for a record-breaking summer due to an increase in demand for travel following the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the course of the airline's busiest summer ever, it anticipates carrying three million passengers. It predicted that flydubai's network of 102 destinations will have an average of 8,500 departures each month, which is more than pre-pandemic levels.

On World Population Day, India will overtake China as the world's most populous country in 2019. You did indeed hear it correctly! China will be outnumbered by us in terms of population. The population of India has surpassed 140 crores as of this moment.

The Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs predicts that by mid-November, there will be eight billion people on the planet, followed by 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050. The world population is projected to increase at its slowest rate since World War II, peaking at 10.4 billion people in the 2080s and staying there until 2100. In addition, India is anticipated to surpass China as the world's most populous country in 2023. More than half of the projected increase in the global population by 2050 will be concentrated in just eight countries, including India.

Asia currently has 4.7 billion people, accounting for 61% of all people on earth. Africa has 1.3 billion, Europe has 750 million, Latin America and the Caribbean have 650 million, and Oceania has 650 million people (370 million). Northern America and Oceania are home to the remaining 5% of the world's population (43 million).

One of the ten countries with a net migration forecast to exceed 1 million between 2010 and 2021 was India. A number of these countries experienced exodus due to temporary labour migration. Pakistan saw the largest net emigration of people (16.5 million).

According to the 2011 Census, India's population was 1.21 billion. The population of India is presently expected to be above 1.37 billion and will reach over 1,508,525,200,416 in 2022, according to United Nations estimates from 2020 and Worldometer data from 2022. Lakshadweep, with a population of only 68,000, is the least inhabited state, whereas Uttar Pradesh is the most populated with a total of 23.32 crore people. With 3.79 crore residents, Telangana comes in at number twelve, whereas Andhra Pradesh comes in at number ten with 5.3 crores.

The eighth billionth person to inhabit the planet is expected to be born this year, which makes this year's World Population Day (July 11) particularly significant. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres remarked, "This is a time to celebrate our variety, recognise our shared humanity and marvel at advances in health that have extended lifespans and significantly lowered maternal and child death rates."

A video clip went viral about a brawl with knives between two groups which took place in Salmiya. The Ministry of Interior was able to close a horrific case of stabbing of a Kuwaiti citizen in public street in full view of the victim’s wife and passerby. A Kuwaiti citizen and his partner were arrested. A case of attempted murder was registered. 

The MOI received a report about the stabbing incident in Hawally governorate, based on the information the accused was hunted down based on vehicle number plate. The owner of the car who used a knife and stabbed another was arrested from his apartment as he was about to leave his apartment in Salmiya he was arrested, he was accompanied by another not related to the incident. 

Tools used for drug abuse were found with them and a case of attempted murder and stabbing was registered under 193/2002 in Salmiya. According to the accused he justified his act due to previous disputes with the victim. The source added that the victim had a severe stab wound to the thigh, the accused and his wife went to the Salmiya police station and registered a case with a medical report.

Elangovan crafted the saint’s image to spread awareness on organic farming

In a novel attempt to spread awareness on organic farming, a farmer of Malaiappanallur near Kumbakonam has raised paddy on his field in a pattern that reflects the image of Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar.

P.G. Elangovan, 62, a staunch advocate of organic farming, had begun the work of raising seedlings on Kuzhithattu (hole plates), specifically sourced about three months ago, for the purpose. Thiruvalluvar, who dedicated a separate ‘adhigaram’ to agriculture in Thirukkural, was presented in the image with the colour-variation of ‘Chinnar’ variety of paddy (brown) and ‘Mysore Malli’ (green).

With the support of K. Vilvanathan of Arts College in Kumbakonam, the farmer drew a picture of Thiruvalluvar on about half acre of the field. He then meticulously planted the paddy seedlings on the lines, 65 days ago. Normally, it takes four to five hours to complete paddy transplanting on half an acre. But, it took five days for Elangovan to complete the task.

He had to work patiently to figure out the sitting posture of the saint-poet, whose work has transcended across borders for its universality and acceptance. The paddy crop is now at milk stage. On bird’s eye view, it aptly reflects the image of Thiruvalluvar. 

“We, the society, are in a dire need of emulating the message of Thiruvalluvar on organic farming. There can be no other personalities than Thiruvalluvar to propagate the message. Hence, I have chosen his figure to spread awareness of organic farming,” says Mr. Elangovan, who adopted the environmental-friendly farming about 10 years ago.

The field receives a steady stream of visitors from different parts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts. They spend time understanding the method in which the image has been made. Mr. Elangovan does not get away from the responsibility of explaining the artistic work to visitors.

Mr. Elangovan, a follower of ‘Nel’ Jayaraman who fought for preserving traditional paddy varieties, said he would be happy if at least one farmer in each village of the State switched to organic farming post his initiative.