As reported by India's leading business daily, 'Business Standard,' the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), overseeing Kuwait's sovereign wealth fund, has reduced its Indian market exposure by approximately 30% as of December 2023 compared to the previous year. The KIA, ranked as the third-largest sovereign wealth fund in India, has invested around Rs 9,019 crore across a portfolio of over a dozen domestic stocks. Among its top holdings are Maruti Suzuki, M&M, Zomato, Oberoi Realty, and Brigade Enterprises.

Meanwhile, the Singapore-based Government Investment Corporation (GIC), India’s largest sovereign wealth fund, witnessed a 32% surge in the market value of its domestic equity holdings, reaching Rs 2.14 trillion by December 2023. Similarly, Norway's Norges, India's second-largest sovereign wealth fund, experienced a 21% increase in its India equity holdings, totaling Rs 86,628 crore during the same period.

Nordic countries kept their places among the 10 most cheerful, with Denmark, Iceland and Sweden trailing Finland.

Afghanistan, plagued by a humanitarian catastrophe since the Taliban regained control in 2020, stayed at the bottom of the 143 countries surveyed.

For the first time since the report was published more than a decade ago, the United States and Germany were not among the 20 happiest nations, coming in 23rd and 24th respectively.

In turn, Costa Rica and Kuwait entered the top 20 at 12 and 13.

The report noted that the happiest countries no longer included any of the world’s largest countries.

“In the top 10 countries only the Netherlands and Australia have populations over 15 million. In the whole of the top 20, only Canada and the UK have populations over 30 million.”

The sharpest decline in happiness since 2006-10 was noted in Afghanistan, Lebanon and Jordan, while the Eastern European countries Serbia, Bulgaria and Latvia reported the biggest increases.

The happiness ranking is based on individuals’ self-assessed evaluations of life satisfaction, as well as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity and corruption.

Growing inequality

Jennifer De Paola, a happiness researcher at the University of Helsinki in Finland, told AFP that Finns’ close connection to nature and healthy work-life balance were key contributors to their life satisfaction.

In addition, Finns may have a “more attainable understanding of what a successful life is”, compared to for example the United States where success is often equated with financial gain, she said.

Finns’ strong welfare society, trust in state authorities, low levels of corruption and free healthcare and education were also key.

“Finnish society is permeated by a sense of trust, freedom, and a high level of autonomy,” De Paola said.

This year’s report also found that younger generations were happier than their older peers in most of the world’s regions — but not all.

In North America, Australia and New Zealand, happiness among groups under 30 has dropped dramatically since 2006-10, with older generations now happier than the young.

By contrast, in Central and Eastern Europe, happiness increased substantially at all ages during the same period, while in Western Europe people of all ages reported similar levels of happiness.

Happiness inequality increased in every region except Europe, which the authors described as a “worrying trend”.

The rise was especially distinct among the old and in Sub-Saharan Africa, reflecting inequalities in “income, education, health care, social acceptance, trust, and the presence of supportive social environments at the family, community and national levels,” the authors said.

The Central Bank of Kuwait has declared the successful conclusion of the distribution of new Kuwaiti currency notes to all local banks in preparation for Eid Al-Fitr.

Reports from various media outlets indicate that this initiative is aimed at meeting the demand for fresh currency among both citizens and residents during the festive season.

Individuals interested in obtaining new banknotes of different denominations are encouraged to visit their respective bank branches during regular working hours. The specific branches providing the "Ayadi" exchange service will be communicated through Kuwaiti banks and other available channels.

The Residency Affairs Departments in the six governorates opened their doors Sunday morning to receive applications from expatriates who are in violation of the residency and labor laws and wish to benefit from the amnesty to amend their status based on the conditions set by the Ministry of Interior. Al-Seyassah visited many residency affairs departments, where it was noticed that the number of visitors who arrived on the first day, especially in Jahra, Mubarak Al- Kabeer, and Ahmadi departments, were significantly less as compared to the numbers in Hawally and Farwaniya departments. According to security sources, the number of expatriates who applied to amend their status on the first day did not exceed 500.

However, it is normal for fewer people to turn up on the first day because some violators under Article 18 visa require obtaining a new work permit and a sponsor for a new company. It takes time to renew the work permits and then adjust their status. There is coordination between the Directorate General of Residence Affairs, the airport, and the border crossings regarding the departure of violators without paying the fines. Those in violation can pay their fines, leave the country, and return without a block being placed on their file. The amnesty launched by the ministry is an opportunity for an estimated 120,000 residency law violators of various nationalities to amend their legal status. They can benefit from the amnesty after paying the fines they owe, and avoid security prosecution. It is expected that the number of violators visiting the departments will increase in the coming days to take advantage of the amnesty.

Meanwhile, an expatriate, who requested anonymity and whom Al-Seyassah met during its tour, revealed that some violators do not have enough money to pay the fines, which is a maximum of KD 600, and they are unable to transfer their sponsorship to a new company, due to which they are forced to remain in their current situation.

Another expatriate violator praised the Ministry of Interior for issuing this amnesty to violators of the residency law for the latter to either amend their legal status or leave the country without paying the fines. He said, “Kuwait is a country of humanity and generosity. It is not strange for Kuwait to issue such a humanitarian amnesty that takes into account the circumstances of the violators.

There are hundreds of violators waiting for this moment to amend their status and that of their families, and pay the fines owed by them.” He described the amnesty as a “precious opportunity” as there are violators who have been with their families for more than five years but can now amend their legal status without facing any prosecution or deportation from the country. It is worth highlighting that the duration of the amnesty announced by the Ministry of Interior is three months, which began yesterday and will end on June 17.

After the expiry of the amnesty, the Ministry of Interior will continue its security campaigns to arrest violators of the residency law, and deport the violators who will not be allowed to return to the country again. The amnesty launched by the ministry gives the violator of the residency law the ability to leave the country through any border crossing without paying any of the fines and return to the country whenever he wants through fresh procedures and without a block placed on his file.

According to a security source, violating expatriates wanted in financial cases against whom final judicial rulings were issued cannot benefit from the amnesty, and can amend their legal status until these debts and financial claims are settled.

Documents required to benefit from the amnesty:
■ A passport copy
■ A copy of the civil ID
■ New work permit
■ A copy of the new sponsor’s card
■ Signature authorization
■ Application Form

Data released by the Central Bank of Kuwait highlights a notable surge in credit facilities extended by local banks to non-resident customers, showcasing an annual growth rate of 18.4%. As of January 2024, these facilities reached approximately 4.17 billion dinars, indicating a substantial increase from 3.52 billion dinars recorded in January 2023, amounting to a net growth of 649.3 million dinars.

These credit facilities, specifically tailored for foreign individuals not residing in Kuwait, underscore the burgeoning confidence in the Kuwaiti banking sector. They are bifurcated into two segments: one totaling four billion dinars and the other denominated in dinars, amounting to 105.7 million dinars. These figures are closely monitored as part of the banks' foreign assets portfolio.

At the domestic level, encompassing the operations of local banks and their branches within Kuwait, data from the Central Bank reveals that total foreign assets held by local banks stood at 25.14 billion dinars by the end of January 2024. This marks a significant increase from the 22.9 billion dinars reported in January 2023, reflecting an annual growth rate of 9.7% and a net surge of 2.2 billion dinars.

Foreign assets of local banks encompass a spectrum of financial instruments including deposits with foreign banks, loans to foreign banks, credit facilities to non-residents, foreign investments, and other assets.

As of January 2024, deposits in foreign banks amounted to 6.7 billion dinars, showing a slight decrease from the 6.88 billion dinars recorded in January 2023, translating to a 2.6% reduction.

Loans to foreign banks witnessed an increase, reaching 2.15 billion dinars in January 2024 compared to 1.99 billion dinars in January 2023, marking an 8% rise.

Foreign investments surged to 10.5 billion dinars by the end of January 2024, up from 9.2 billion dinars in January of the preceding year, reflecting a 14.1% increase and a net rise of 1.28 billion dinars within the span of a year.

Additionally, other foreign assets held by banks saw growth from 1.45 billion dinars in January 2023 to 1.68 billion dinars by the end of January 2024, representing a 15.8% annual increase and a net addition of 225.5 million dinars.

On the front of foreign liabilities borne by local banks, data from the Central Bank indicates a total of 12.38 billion dinars by the end of January 2024, compared to 12.8 billion dinars in the previous year, marking a decrease of 3.2%, equivalent to 442 million dinars.

Foreign liabilities are categorized into deposits from non-residents, loans from foreign banks, and other liabilities.

Deposits from non-residents, totaling approximately 9.1 billion dinars by January 2024, experienced a decline from 9.8 billion dinars in January 2023, resulting in a net decrease of 700 million dinars.

Meanwhile, loans from foreign banks surged to 1.3 billion dinars by January 2024, marking a 20% increase from 1.09 billion dinars in January 2023. Other liabilities were recorded at 1.9 billion dinars.

In total, net foreign assets soared to 12.7 billion dinars by the end of January 2024, reflecting a remarkable 27% increase compared to 10 billion dinars in January 2023.

As temperatures soar to 30 degrees Celsius, the electrical load index in the country has begun to climb steadily, reaching 8,380 megawatts at one o’clock Saturday afternoon, reports Al-Jarida daily. However, meteorology department Engineer Maha Al-Asousi, the acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy, has assured the public that there is no energy crisis despite the surge in electricity demands during the holy month of Ramadan, while at the same time calling on citizens and residents to exercise energy conservation, particularly during peak consumption hours.

The Ministry’s reports attribute the increase in electricity loads during the summer season to the widespread use of air conditioning units. Despite the current stability, sources within the electricity sector anticipate potential crises in the coming years due to increased loads resulting from urban expansions and past disruptions in energy projects. These shortages are expected to fluctuate annually. Last year, the electrical load index nearly reached 17 thousand megawatts, leading to localized power outages across the country due to malfunctions in some stations. Efforts to manage energy consumption and address infrastructure challenges remain critical to ensure a stable electricity supply amidst rising demand.

The countries in the GCC region are situated in the most desertified environments in the world, which makes resources and drinkable water crucial necessities. While there are 157 desalination plants in the region, including eight in Kuwait, the past two decades saw an increase in salinity, which would pose a threat if levels exceeded 55 percent.

The percentage poses a threat to countries in the region with average drinkable water consumption exceeding 295 liters per person, which is a high global consumption rate, according to the GCC Statistical Center in one of its previous reports. In addition, climate change is another factor that must push countries in the region to address the situation to safeguard this vital resource. In this regard, KUNA spoke to vice dean for scientific, research, and higher education affairs at Kuwait University’s (KU) college of life sciences Dr. Badr Al-Enezi who said that there were several factors leading to the increase in salinity in regional waters. The academic revealed that the traditional desalination process in itself caused the rise in salinity, he claimed, noting that it was important to find alternatives to older technologies due to the current process producing more salt and pollutants. He added that the water sanitation system was also a culprit, pointing out that byproducts of such stations on the coast increased the chances for algae and seaweed growth, which boosted oxygen levels in seawater.

On the salinity level on the coastline of Kuwait, which stretches to around 200 kilometers, he said that it ranged around 45 to 50 percent, but warned of approaching 60, which would be a hazardous percentage. Al-Enezi indicated that he worked with several entities in Kuwait and abroad, including the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), and through research he managed to produce three solution projects approved by the Environment Public Authority (EPA). The projects included two new desalination technologies aimed at decreasing salinity and protecting the environment at the same time.

SpaceX came close to completing an hourlong test flight of its mega rocket on its third try Thursday, but the spacecraft was lost as it descended back to Earth. The company said it lost contact with Starship as it neared its goal, a splashdown in the Indian Ocean. The first-stage booster also ended up in pieces, breaking apart much earlier in the flight over the Gulf of Mexico after launching from the southern tip of Texas near the Mexican border. “The ship has been lost. So no splashdown today,” said SpaceX’s Dan Huot. “But again, it’s incredible to see how much further we got this time around.”

Two test flights last year both ended in explosions minutes after liftoff. By surviving for close to 50 minutes this time, Thursday’s effort was considered a win by not only SpaceX’s Elon Musk, but NASA as well as Starship soared higher and farther than ever before. The space agency is counting on Starship to land its astronauts on the moon in another few years. The nearly 400-foot (121-meter) Starship, the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built, headed out over the Gulf of Mexico after liftoff Thursday morning, flying east. Spectators crowded the nearby beaches in South Padre Island and Mexico. A few minutes later, the booster separated seamlessly from the spaceship, but broke apart 1,500 feet (462 meters) above the gulf, instead of plummeting into the water intact. By then, the spacecraft was well to the east and continuing upward, with no people or satellites on board. Starship reached an altitude of about 145 miles (233 kilometers) as it coasted across the Atlantic and South Africa, before approaching the Indian Ocean. But 49 minutes into the flight – with just 15 minutes remaining – all contact was lost and the spacecraft presumably broke apart. At that point, it was 40 miles (65 kilometers) high and traveling around 16,000 mph (25,700 kph). SpaceX’s Elon Musk had just congratulated his team a little earlier. “SpaceX has come a long way,” he said via X, formerly called Twitter. The rocket company was founded exactly 22 years ago Thursday.

NASA watched with keen interest: The space agency needs Starship to succeed in order to land astronauts on the moon in the next two or so years. This new crop of moonwalkers – the first since last century’s Apollo program – will descend to the lunar surface in a Starship after transferring from NASA’s Orion capsule in lunar orbit. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson quickly congratulated SpaceX on what he called a successful test fl ight as part of the space agency’s Artemis moon-landing program. The stainless steel, bullet-shaped spacecraft launched atop a first-stage booster known as the Super Heavy.

Both the booster and the spacecraft are designed to be reusable, although they were never meant to be salvaged Thursday. On Starship’s inaugural launch last April, several of the booster’s 33 methane-fueled engines failed and the booster did not separate from the spacecraft, causing the entire vehicle to explode and crash into the gulf four minutes after liftoff. SpaceX managed to double the length of the fl ight during November’s trial run. While all 33 engines fired and the booster peeled away as planned, the flight ended in a pair of explosions, first the booster and then the spacecraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration reviewed all the corrections made to Starship, before signing off on Thursday’s launch. The FAA said after the flight that it would again investigate what happened. As during the second flight, all 33 booster engines performed well during ascent, according to SpaceX. Initially, SpaceX plans to use the mammoth rockets to launch the company’s Starlink internet satellites, as well as other spacecraft. Test pilots would follow to orbit, before the company flies wealthy clients around the moon and back. Musk considers the moon a stepping stone to Mars, his ultimate quest. NASA is insisting that an empty Starship land successfully on the moon, before future moonwalkers climb aboard. The space agency is targeting the end of 2026 for the first moon landing crew under the Artemis program, named after the mythological twin sister of Apollo.

The Ministry of Interior has taken proactive measures to address the issue of begging, designating a hotline within the Criminal Security Sector for swift response to such cases.

Emphasizing the gravity of begging as a societal offense that tarnishes the civilized fabric, the Ministry underscores its commitment to bolstering security efforts against this phenomenon, reports Al-Anba daily.

The General Department of Security Relations and Media urges public cooperation with the General Department of Criminal Investigation by promptly reporting any instances of begging. Citizens can reach out via designated hotline numbers: 25589655 and 25589644, or utilize the emergency line (112), operational round the clock. It emphasizes the citizen’s role as a guardian of their homeland, emphasizing collective responsibility for the welfare of society.

In a recent decree, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Acting Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef, has granted a grace period to expatriates found violating residency laws and regulations in Kuwait. This grace period spans from April 1, 2024, to July 1, 2024, coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan and the ascension of His Highness the Amir to power.

The decision is geared towards maintaining Kuwait's humanitarian stance while facilitating adherence to residency regulations. Individuals unable to settle fines or rectify their residency status are offered the option to depart from designated ports without incurring penalties and may re-enter under revised procedures.

Those failing to rectify their status within the grace period will be subject to legal penalties, including deportation. Additionally, individuals encountering administrative or judicial hurdles are advised to seek assistance from the General Administration of Residence Affairs for further evaluation.

The Assistant Undersecretary for Sanitary Engineering Affairs at the Ministry of Public Works Eng. Abdul Rahman Al-Enezi announced the end of sewage problems in the residential city of Sabah Al-Ahmad after linking the entire city’s pumping station to the Umm Al-Hayman purification station, which was recently completed and operated, with a capacity of 500 thousand cubic meters per day.

In a press statement issued Monday, he explained that the sewage problems, which had lasted more than 12 years and had been worrying the people of the area, had been completely ended by connecting the pumping station to the purification station. This is because of the elimination of the sources of environmental pollution, such as unpleasant odors, insects, swamps, and other problems, which were the causes of several complaints from residents to all parties.

Al-Enezi stressed the sector’s keenness in the previous stage to accelerate procedures and redouble the effort to connect the city to Umm Al-Hayman station, in implementation of the directives of the Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Dr. Noura Al-Mashaan to overcome all obstacles to the connection process and to expedite the solution to the problem that has been troubling citizens in the area for years. Accordingly, the eastern and southern parts of the area were connected. He stated that the quantities of sewage pumped from the pumping station in the area to the Umm Al-Hayman station currently amount to 30,000 to 36,000 cubic meters per day. Its total capacity is 140,000 cubic meters per day, in order to absorb all the quantities of sewage once the area is completely inhabited.

WHY is sponsorship necessary for those planning to visit Kuwait? It’s time to open up the country and eliminate these hesitations and requirements. Everyone eager to explore Kuwait, and holds a round-trip ticket and hotel reservation, or friends who can vouch for well-being during their stay in Kuwait, should be warmly welcomed.

While there are certain nationalities we may prefer not to host due to security concerns, we must also recognize the importance of tourism. Rigorous oversight can be applied to those visitors, while maintaining caution in countries with strained relations or poor security conditions.

Zahed Matar

Arab Times

Government agencies continue to implement executive measures, requesting the Civil Service Commission to examine academic certificates issued from the year 2000.

The Ministry of Education has given its employees a week to upload copies of university certificates issued since 2000, along with their equivalency from the Ministry of Higher Education, via the ministry’s website.

Similarly, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs has circulated a notice to all its employees, both citizens and residents, emphasizing the necessity of submitting a copy of their university academic qualification and the equivalency issued by the ministry.

Higher education for a maximum period of one month is required. Any employee failing to provide the necessary data will bear legal responsibility.

According to security sources, officers from all sectors of the Ministry of Interior, including Public Security, Traffic, Operations, and Criminal Investigations have been deployed to deal with traffic jams and arrest outlaws and beggars during the month of Ramadan, especially those present in markets, stores, and mosques. They explained that any expatriate caught begging will be deported from the country and a block will be placed on the sponsor’s file. According to the instructions of the ministry leadership, strict measures must be taken regarding this phenomenon, which increases during the month of Ramadan.

In this context, the ministry’s Security Media Department announced that the Criminal Security Sector has designated a hotline to receive reports related to beggars after which necessary steps will be taken immediately. Security efforts are being exerted to confront this phenomenon, which represents a crime against society and harms the civilized appearance. The department called on everyone to cooperate with the General Department of Criminal Investigations by immediately reporting any observed case of begging, using the following two numbers – 25589655 and 25589644 – or the emergency hotline No. 112, which receives their reports round the clock. The department said every person must be “a guardian of his country and keen about the public good”.

The Embassy of India in Kuwait is currently accepting applications and inquiries related to the Certificate of Relationship. Please note the following:

1. Since it is a one-page document, up to six names can be listed on a single relationship certificate. There is no need for separate Relationship Certificates for each individual if multiple persons require one.

2. Documents required for a Relationship Certificate:

(a) The original passport of the applicant(s).

(b) Self-attested copies of the passport and Civil ID of the applicant(s) and the relative(s).

(c) Copy/copies of all documents related to supporting the relationship, such as passport(s), birth certificate, etc.

(d) In the event of a discrepancy in the name(s) of the relative(s) as stated in the submitted supporting documents, the applicant is required to provide the following additional documents:

A notarized affidavit duly attested by the Home Department of the concerned state government and the Ministry of External Affairs, or any of the branch offices or Regional Passport Offices (RPO) in India.

One and the same certificate issued by the Taluk office/registrar office/tehsildar or other relevant state government authorities. This certificate should be duly attested by the Home Department of the concerned State government and the Ministry of External Affairs, or any of the branch offices or Regional Passport Offices (RPO) in India.

3. If an applicant requests a Relationship Certificate for their spouse, the spouse’s name must be mentioned in the applicant’s passport.

4. Additional documents may be required for verification based on the documents submitted.

Upon completing a contract with a company in Kuwait, it's expected that both parties adhere to the agreed terms, including any provisions for transitioning to another company. However, situations can arise where an employee finds themselves wrongfully reported as absconding, despite having fulfilled their contractual obligations. This situation not only brings undue stress but can also have serious legal implications. Here's a detailed guide on how to navigate such a scenario, ensuring your rights are protected and you can move forward with your career in Kuwait or elsewhere.

 Immediate Actions to Take:

1. Discuss the Issue with the Company's Mandoop: The first step should be to directly communicate with your company's mandoop (a company representative responsible for handling legal and governmental paperwork). Misunderstandings or clerical errors can sometimes lead to wrongful absconding reports. It's possible that the company has motives not immediately apparent, such as avoiding payment of dues.

2. Approach the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM): If discussions with your company don't yield results, your next step should be to approach PAM. You can update your status and explain your situation, providing evidence that the company did not comply with the mandatory notice period or issue a termination letter. PAM can then review your case and potentially mediate.

Understanding Your Rights and Legal Avenues:

1. Seek Legal Advice: Given the complexity of labor laws, consulting a lawyer specializing in Kuwaiti labor law is crucial. They can offer advice specific to your case and guide you on possible legal actions against the company for wrongful reporting and failure to adhere to the contract terms.

2. Gather and Submit Necessary Documentation: Ensure you have all relevant documents, such as contract copies, communication records with the company, and any proof of the notice period breach or termination letter absence. This documentation is vital for legal proceedings and for filing a complaint with PAM.

Planning Your Next Steps:

1. Negotiate a Transfer or Temporary Visa: Ideally, your employer should provide assistance in securing a temporary visa while you find another job or facilitate an immediate transfer if you already have an offer. If the company refuses to assist, this should be included in your complaint to PAM and discussed with your lawyer.

2. Filing a Complaint with PAM: If your employer is uncooperative, filing a formal complaint with the Public Authority for Manpower is necessary. Detail your situation, backed by all available evidence, to initiate an official review and mediation process.

3. Considerations for Leaving Kuwait or Moving to Another GCC Country: Resolving an absconding report is crucial before attempting to leave Kuwait or apply for jobs in other GCC countries. Unresolved issues can lead to travel bans or employment restrictions within the GCC.

Key Takeaways:

1. Act quickly and document all interactions with your employer.

2. Direct communication with the company's mandoop may resolve the issue without further legal actions.

3. Legal advice is crucial in navigating the complexities of labor law and potential court proceedings.

4. Filing a complaint with PAM can help mediate and resolve disputes with your employer.

Being wrongfully reported as absconding is a challenging scenario, but understanding your rights and the steps to address the issue can help mitigate the situation. From seeking legal advice to engaging with Kuwait's Public Authority for Manpower, there are avenues available to rectify the situation and protect your professional future in Kuwait or elsewhere in the GCC.

Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Center has unveiled an extraordinary celestial event set to grace Kuwait on Saturday, March 16. For the first time in 33 years, Kuwait will experience equal nights and days, each lasting precisely 12 hours. This remarkable occurrence coincides with the sacred month of Ramadan, enhancing its significance.

Khaled Al-Jumaan, the esteemed director of the Space and Astronomy Museum at the cultural center, revealed the details on Monday. According to Al-Jumaan, the sun will rise at 5:57 am and set at 5:57 pm on the 16th of March. As a result, the day will gradually lengthen, offering a unique opportunity to observe and appreciate the subtle changes in daylight duration.