The Ministry of Health (MoH) has responded to rumors circulating on social media regarding a shortage of antibiotics in a pediatric intensive care unit (ICU). Contrary to these claims, the MoH has confirmed that there is an ample supply of antibiotics available across various healthcare facilities.

In a statement, the MoH reassured the public about the availability of antibiotics, highlighting a diverse range of types, names, categories, doses, and alternatives. These resources are in alignment with established treatment protocols and medical standards, ensuring that pediatric patients receive appropriate care.

Furthermore, the Ministry emphasized the importance of discretion when discussing medical matters on social media platforms. Misinformation can lead to unnecessary panic and confusion among the public, potentially impacting healthcare delivery.

Thousands of Bangladeshis gathered to pray for rain on Wednesday in the middle of an extreme heatwave that prompted authorities to shut down schools around the country.

Extensive scientific research has found that climate change is causing heat waves to become longer, more frequent and more intense.

Bangladesh's weather bureau says that average maximum temperatures in the capital Dhaka over the past week have been 4-5 degrees Celsius (39-41 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than the 30-year average for the same period.

Muslim worshippers gathered in city mosques and rural fields to pray for relief from the scorching heat, which forecasters expect to continue for at least another week.

"Praying for rains is a tradition of our Prophet. We repent of our sins and pray for his blessings for rains," Muhammad Abu Yusuf, an Islamic cleric who led a morning prayer service for 1,000 people in central Dhaka, told AFP.

"Life has become unbearable due to a lack of rain," he said. "Poor people are suffering immensely."

Police said similarly sized prayer services were held in several other parts of Bangladesh.

The country's largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, issued a statement calling on its members to join the prayer services planned for Wednesday and Thursday.

Authorities ordered all schools last week to cancel classes until the end of the month.

A man rests on a cart during a heatwave in Dhaka, Bangladesh. — Reuters

Temperatures across Bangladesh have reached more than 42C (108F) in the past week.

"April is usually the hottest month in Bangladesh. But this April has been one of the hottest since the country's independence (in 1971)," government forecaster Tariful Newaz Kabir told AFP.

Kabir said fewer rainstorms than average for the period had contributed to the heat.

"We expect the high temperatures to remain until the end of this month," he said.

Hospitals in the southern coastal district of Patuakhali had recorded local outbreaks of diarrhoea due to higher temperatures and the resulting increased salinity of local water sources, state medical officer Bhupen Chandra Mondal told AFP.

"The number of diarrhea patients is very high this year," he said. "This is all linked to climate change."

In a recent statement to Al-Anbaa, sources underscored the pressing need to accelerate efforts towards Kuwaitizing the administration of the Civil Service Commission. Currently, the Commission Affairs Department employs 14 individuals, of whom 8 are non-Kuwaiti.

This initiative aligns with the Civil Service Commission's mandate for all ministries, government agencies, and institutions to achieve complete Kuwaitization of their workforce.

Sources elaborated that the Kuwaitization drive involves assigning tasks to qualified individuals based on their competency and experience in relevant fields. These measures are expected to enhance effectiveness and efficiency, instill confidence in job performance, promote discipline and responsibility, and mitigate the risks of corruption and wastage.

In a related development, the Civil Service Commission has approved the renewal of granting annual financial bonuses, not monthly bonuses, to members of the Legal Department at Kuwait Municipality. These bonuses are equivalent to the grades received by members of the Fatwa and Legislation Department for the fiscal year 2023-2024.

According to the commission's approval obtained by Al-Anbaa, annual remuneration for director and deputy director positions is set at 18 thousand dinars, aligning with positions in the Fatwa and Legislation Department. Similarly, rewards of 12 thousand dinars and 8,000 dinars have been allocated for advisor and assistant advisor positions, respectively, mirroring positions in the "Fatwa and Legislation" department and corresponding roles in the general salary scale.

Remarks of Ambassador of India

H.E Mr. Ghanem Al Ghenaiman, Managing Director, Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA),

Mr. Saleh Al-Selmi, Chairman, Union of Investment Companies (UIC),

Mr. Rabah A. Al-Rabah, Director General, KCCI,

Mr K Rajaraman, Chairperson of International Financial Services Centres Authority - Gift City

Mr Sanjiv Aggarwal, MD & CEO of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund of India

Delegates from Invest India,

Delegates from Confederation of Indian Industry,

Mr. Gurvinder Singh Lamba, Chairman, IBPC and co-partner for this event,

Friends from media,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Good morning,

      I welcome you all to the second edition of the India-Kuwait Investment Conference. The positive vibes created by last year’s Investment Conference encouraged us to organize the event this year as well. And we hope to institutionalize this annual event for the next few years in the calendar of events in Kuwait. Allow me to thank all stake-holders for their presence here, particularly Managing Director of KIA, Chairman UIC, DG, KCCI and all distinguished delegates from India, who have flown in especially for this Conference despite current geopolitical uncertainties and climatic vagaries in the region. I also take the opportunity to thank all potential end-users of this Conference for their presence here. Most importantly, this event would not have been possible without the support and assistance of the Executive Committee members of the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC).

Friends

2.   The basic historical edifice of India-Kuwait relations has been trade and commerce. And this remains pertinent even in contemporary times when both our countries are at the cusp of transformation - India, the world’s 5^th largest economy and with a goal to become ‘Viksit Bharat’ i.e a developed country by 2047 and Kuwait with its ambitious Vision 2035. And the challenge for us is, how do we translate this into an opportunity, how do we actually find the connects, the viability and the business case, to make the best of it.

3.   Last year also, I had posed the same question. Why India? Why does an investor need to look at India at the expense of some other investment destination? Is India offering something of greater value? I would again say the answer lies in the following facts and statistics and not any subjective philosophy:

(I)   Economic Resilience and Growth: India is the fastest growing major economy in the world, 5^th largest economy with GDP of USD 3.5 trillion, poised to become world’s third largest economy by 2027-28, has the world’s largest working population of 522 mln and the only major economy to keep growing above 6% per annum in the last decade. The GDP growth last year was 7.2%.

(ii) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Inflows. India has consistently attracted foreign direct investment, reflecting investor confidence in the country's economic fundamentals and growth prospects. A National Single Window Clearance system has been put in place at both Central and State Government levels. The FDI inflow during last 10 years was USD 596 billion and annual FDI doubled in a span of 8 years from USD 35 bn to USD 84 bn last year.

(iii) Diverse Investment Opportunities: India offers a diverse range of investment opportunities across various sectors, including but not limited to manufacturing, infrastructure, renewable energy, technology, healthcare, and agriculture. Initiatives such as Make in India and Digital India further enhances the attractiveness of investing in India. The Productivity linked Investment scheme with financial incentives worth USD 44 bn to promote domestic production in 14 priority sectors is a major step in this regard. To give an example, Apple’s ‘Made in India’ Iphone exports under PLI doubled from USD 5 bn to USD 10 bn this year.

(iv)  Strategic Location and Market Access: Not only does India provide a market-size of over 1.4 bn people, it serves as a strategic gateway to the vast markets of South Asia, South-east Asia, and the Middle East. The Indian exports totaled USD 770 bn last year.

(v)  Massive infrastructure development: Massive infrastructure drive is underway, including 100 critical transport infrastructure projects worth USD 9 bn that opens up possibilities for investments in various infrastructure sectors of India. For e.g the number of airports have doubled from 74 to 149 in last 10 years. Similarly, India has the largest rail network in Asia and 2^nd largest road network globally with port-handling capcity expected to increase 4 times by 2047.  

(vi) Technology and Innovation Hub: India has emerged as a global hub for innovation and technology, with a thriving start-up ecosystem and a skilled workforce. It will become a USD 1 trillion digital economy by 2026. India has the 3^rd largest Start-up Ecosystem globally with 80 new Start-ups registering everyday. contributes 1 out of 10 unicorns globally and has the highest number of Start-ups recognized per day globally. Over 30,000 patents were granted in 2022, that shows its innovation strength.

And all this has only been made possible with pro-business reforms by the Indian government. India has achieved 79 positions jump in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business over the last 5 years. Initiatives such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), etc. have streamlined processes and created a more favorable investment environment.

And how does India @100 I.e in 2047 look like:

• 2^nd largest economy in the world of estimated USD 32 trillion
• FDI to grow 12 times to USD 1 trillion
• Exports to grow 12 times to USD 8 trillion
• Largest and youngest working population with a median age of 29

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our bilateral trade of about 14 billion USD today is primarily based on oil and food-sector trade. While Kuwait is crucial for our energy requirements, India is critical for Kuwait’s food-security. And we have seen this during the challenging times of Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, there is a huge scope for diversification into sectors such as infrastructure, manufacturing, renewable energy, technology, healthcare, tourism, agriculture etc. We are seeing encouraging signs of diversification in our export basket to Kuwait. I strongly believe trade and investment goes hand in hand. To transform growing trade relations between Kuwait and India into a robust investment partnership requires a strategic approach and concerted efforts from both sides. We must explore collaboration between public and private sectors to catalyze investment in critical infrastructure projects. Similarly, we are seeing an increasing role of Indian companies in delivering high-quality infrastructure projects in Kuwait. And the presence of distinguished representatives from CII speaks of the growing interest of Indian businesses in Kuwait.

I am sure today’s deliberations and presentations at the Conference will give a detailed eye-view of the investment landscape in India, particularly opportunities in diverse sectors. And there would be many in the audience that may like to take advantage of the opportunities in “Incredible India’ – a global hot-spot for investments and ‘Make in India’.

I thank all our partners for making this event possible today.  And last but not the least, my Embassy team for their hard work in putting all this together.

The gradual increase in maximum temperature has caused the electrical load index to start rising, heading towards record-breaking electricity consumption rates in the upcoming summer months. Consumption is expected to surpass the 17,000 megawatt mark, nearing production levels.

Informed sources at the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy informed Al-Rai newspaper that “the ministry is facing a critical stage due to the upcoming electricity production shortages crisis, expected to start next summer and extend until 2028, as there are no projects slated for completion in the next three years.” They indicated that “the crisis could worsen year after year due to the ongoing urban expansion in Kuwait, particularly in new residential areas.”

Sources attribute the crisis the ministry is currently facing to delays in proposing and implementing electricity and water production projects. These delays include projects proposed by either the Ministry or the Public-Private Partnership Projects Authority. Additionally, the crisis is exacerbated by the obsolescence of production units in generation stations and the high maintenance costs associated with them.

They pointed out that ministry officials are “relying on next summer’s maximum temperature not reaching record levels." There are concerns about potential severe measures, such as planned power cuts, if the temperature indicator reaches dangerous levels for farms, chalets, and businesses during peak hours between one and three in the afternoon.”

The sources mentioned several recommendations to avoid production shortages, which were put forward by two fact-finding committees on the causes of the electricity shortage. These committees were formed by Dr. Salem Al-Hajraf, Minister of Electricity, Water, Renewable Energy, and State Minister for Housing Affairs, and his predecessor, Dr. Jassim Al-Astad.

He stated, “Among the recommendations to overcome the current crisis and alleviate the severity of the electricity shortage are several options, starting with utilizing the Gulf interconnection between the Cooperation Council countries. Additionally, there is a proposal to reduce loads by no less than 20 percent during peak times (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.) in industrial areas, including factories and certain oil facilities.”

Gulf energy pact: A temporary fix for the looming electricity crisis

The sources mentioned, “Completing the agreement to import electrical energy from some Gulf countries through the Gulf Interconnection Authority can temporarily alleviate the expected electricity crisis. However, it cannot prevent it during the upcoming summer season, as expectations suggest that the anticipated shortage may reach 1,000 megawatts during the summer of 2025.”

The sources explained that “due to technical reasons, the ministry cannot import more than 600 megawatts from the Interconnection Authority. These limitations are determined by technical factors related to the size of the interconnection lines between the Gulf countries.”

Slow documentation hampers projects

The Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy was unable to add approximately 13,000 megawatts due to the slow documentation process in implementing its projects, whether they were presented through the Ministry or the Public-Private Partnership Projects Authority.

Partnership projects:

Al-Zour North Station (second and third phases), with a capacity of 2,700 MW.

Al-Khairan (first phase), capacity 1,800 MW.

Al-Shaqaya (renewable energy) with a capacity of 4,500 MW.

Ministry projects

Nuwaiseeb station (first phase), with a capacity of 3,000 MW.

Subiya station (fourth phase), with a capacity of 1,050 MW.

In a bid to streamline business processes and foster a more conducive business environment, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has introduced six new electronic services aimed at facilitating the establishment of companies. These services are accessible through the "Sahl Business" application, catering to the needs of business owners.

Yousef Kazem, the spokesperson for the unified government application for electronic services, known as Sahl, highlighted the significance of these newly introduced services. He explained that within the Kuwait Business Center section of the application's services list, business owners can now avail themselves of streamlined procedures for establishing various types of companies, including profit-making, non-profit-making, and professional-holding companies.

Kazem emphasized the convenience of these electronic services, noting that the entire process of setting up these companies can now be completed directly through the application, eliminating the need for manual paperwork and physical visits to government offices.

As part of its ongoing efforts to combat money laundering, the Central Bank of Kuwait has implemented a new auditing system requiring intensified inspections of money transfers to and from Kuwait. This move aligns with the standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), reports Al-Rai daily. The Central Bank has mandated that exchange companies under its supervision hire an impartial global auditing firm to assess compliance with Law 106/2013, which addresses money laundering and terrorist financing. The audit focuses on transactions and activities that appear unusual or lack clear, legitimate economic purposes. The auditing process must be carried out twice a year, on June 30 and December 31. The newly introduced auditing system ensures that transactions are not conducted with individuals or entities listed on international or local blacklists.

It also involves scrutinizing public benefit organizations and charitable institutions by examining a selected sample of their transactions. In addition, the audit verifies that customer information and details about the actual beneficiaries of transfers are properly collected and updated. Records of customers and their transactions must be retained for a minimum of five years. Importantly, the appointed auditor cannot be an internal auditor or affiliated with the company’s internal control team. These enhanced measures demonstrate Kuwait’s commitment to ensuring financial transparency and curbing illicit activities within its financial sector.

The Interior Ministry announced two separate timings for residency violators, who wish to amend their status and those who wish to leave the country.

According to the Ministry of Interior statement, the morning period in all governorates during official working hours will receive those wishing to amend their status in the country.

The evening period from 3 pm to 8 pm is for those violators who wish to leave the country and who have new passports or travel documents to register them in the computer system at the Residency Affairs Departments of Mubarak Al-Kabeer and Farwaniya Governorates.

Residency violators who wish to leave the country and have valid passports registered in the Ministry of Interior system do not need to visit these places again and can leave the country directly, it added.

MoI published the details in various Indian languages including Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi, in addition to the English language.

Apple said it had removed Meta’s WhatsApp messaging app and its Threads social media app from the App Store in China to comply with orders from Chinese authorities.

The apps were removed from the store on Friday after Chinese officials cited unspecified national security concerns.

Their removal comes amid elevated tensions between the U.S. and China over trade, technology and national security.

The U.S. has threatened to ban TikTok over national security concerns. But while TikTok, owned by Chinese technology firm ByteDance, is used by millions in the U.S., apps like WhatsApp and Threads are not commonly used in China.

Instead, the messaging app WeChat, owned by Chinese company Tencent, reigns supreme.

Other Meta apps, including Facebook, Instagram and Messenger remained available for download, although use of such foreign apps is blocked in China due to its “Great Firewall” network of filters that restrict use of foreign websites such as Google and Facebook.

“The Cyberspace Administration of China ordered the removal of these apps from the China storefront based on their national security concerns,” Apple said in a statement.

“We are obligated to follow the laws in the countries where we operate, even when we disagree,” Apple said.

A spokesman for Meta referred to “Apple for comment.”

Apple, previously the world’s top smartphone maker, recently lost the top spot to Korean rival Samsung Electronics. The U.S. firm has run into headwinds in China, one of its top three markets, with sales slumping after Chinese government agencies and employees of state-owned companies were ordered not to bring Apple devices to work.

Apple has been diversifying its manufacturing bases outside China.

Its CEO Tim Cook has been visiting Southeast Asia this week, traveling to Hanoi and Jakarta before wrapping up his travels in Singapore. On Friday he met with Singapore’s deputy prime minister, Lawrence Wong, where they “discussed the partnership between Singapore and Apple, and Apple’s continued commitment to doing business in Singapore.”

Apple pledged to invest over $250 million to expand its campus in the city-state.

Earlier this week, Cook met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi, pledging to increase spending on Vietnamese suppliers.

He also met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Cook later told reporters that they talked about Widodo’s desire to promote manufacturing in Indonesia, and said that this was something that Apple would “look at”.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al-Sabah issued a ministerial decision amending some provisions of Ministerial Resolution No. 957/2019 on the executive regulations of the Foreigners’ Residency Law and its amendments, reports Al-Anba daily. Article One of the decision states that Article 12 of Ministerial Resolution No. 957/2019 is amended as follows: ”A foreigner who enters the country under Clause Nos. 1-7 and 14 of Article Four of this decision may remain here without a residence permit for a period not exceeding two months from the date of his entry.

Procedures must be initiated to obtain regular or temporary residency within this period. “Regular residence data are recorded on the civil identification card issued by the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI), while data related to temporary residency stipulated in Article 14 of this decision are recorded by the mechanism specified by the Residency Affairs General Department in the Interior Ministry.”

Article Two mandates the concerned undersecretary to implement this decision, which shall take effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. Meanwhile, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, Acting Minister of Interior, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef issued a ministerial decision regarding the mechanism for granting work permits and the transfer of migrant workers recruited with work permits and the prescribed fees, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

The decision stipulates the following:

Article 1 – The employer must obtain work permits according to an estimate of need after obtaining the approval of the concerned department of PAM. An additional fee of KD 150 will be collected for each work permit under the provisions of this decision.

Article 2 – The following categories are exempted from paying the additional fee referred to in Article One of this decision:

1 – Companies wholly owned by the government.
2 – Hospitals, dispensaries, medical centers and medical clinics licensed by the Ministry of Health.
3 – Universities and private colleges.
4 – Private schools.
5 – Foreign investors approved by the Investment Promotion Authority.
6 – Sports clubs, federations, public benefit associations, cooperative societies, trade unions, foundations, and charitable endowments.
7 – Agricultural plots licensed by the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR).
8 – Fishing.
9 – Barns, grazing sheep and camels.
10 – Industrial establishments and small industries.

Article 3 – In cases where it is permissible to transfer workers from one employer to another by the procedures in force at PAM, the transfer of a migrant worker who was brought in with a work permit to another employer is permitted by the provisions of this decision, which is before the lapse of three years and for a fee of KD 300. The ban imposed on the movement of labor outside the sectors referred to in the decisions issued by PAM will continue in accordance with its procedures.

Article 4 – The Director General of PAM may issue administrative decisions and circulars regarding the implementation of the provisions of this decision, particularly the conditions and controls for granting or suspending permits.

Article 5 – The Board of Directors of PAM must direct its affairs to prepare a study on the effects of implementing this decision before one year has passed from the date of its implementation, and present it to the concerned minister along with any recommendations that the board deems appropriate.

Article 6 – Suspend the provisions of Ministerial Resolution No. 12/2017 regarding adding fees to employers who meet the conditions in the event of recruiting workers over the number allocated to them. – Suspend the provisions of Ministerial Resolution No. 26/2018 regarding the fees applied on employers holding second-class work permits. – Suspend the provisions of Chapter One regarding “Categories of Permits” from part two of the list of rules and procedures for granting work permits referred to, during the validity period of this decision mentioned in Article 7 below. – Excluding government contracts and projects and small and medium enterprises for holders of licenses registered with the Business Owners Service Department, they are excluded from the application of the provisions of this decision.

Article 7 – This decision shall be effective starting from June 1, 2024 for a period of one year, and shall be published in the official gazette. The concerned authorities shall be informed and shall implement what is stated therein.

To address the high labor wages and the labor shortage in the country, a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al-Sabah, the Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) approved to amend the mechanism for granting work permits, transferring expatriates brought from abroad with work permits, and imposing an additional fee on them, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

PAM’s Board of Directors unanimously decided to amend the mechanism that was previously in place for granting work permits. Employers can now bring in migrant workers from abroad as estimated for their license, instead of the previously set quota of 25 percent for overseas recruitment and 75 percent for local recruitment. This is aimed to reduce the high wages as a result of the labor shortage as well as to develop the business environment. The decision will come into effect as of June 1, 2024. The previous decision obliged business owners, according to their activity categories, to obtain specific permits from abroad and complete recruitment through local hiring. This led to an increase in labor wages and imposed a higher burden on the citizens.

The new decision imposes an additional fee of KD 150 for issuing a work permit for the first time. This is aimed to achieve greater employment stability for employers. It also imposes a fee of KD 300 for the transfer of migrant workers from one company to another if they have not not been in the country for more than three years. In both cases, the employer’s approval is required for the transfer. The decision aims to limit visa-trade and make it easier for employers to carry out their commercial activities and develop the business environment. It is also aimed to reduce the cost and wages of labor, which will contribute to lower costs in the construction and contracting sector and other activities in the country.

In other news, The Public Authority for Manpower has developed a comprehensive program for regular and ongoing inspections of institutions and facilities to ensure compliance with labor laws and specific regulations, reports Al-Anba daily quoting reliable PAM sources. As part of its ongoing awareness campaigns conducted throughout the year via its websites, the Authority has initiated a “Flash” campaign urging employers to adhere to all provisions of the Labor Law and regulations governing the labor market. This includes ensuring that employment contracts are honored and that workers are assigned tasks specified in their work permits by the Authority.

The Authority emphasized that failure to assign tasks as per the work permit could lead to penalties, including imprisonment for up to 3 years and fines ranging between 2,000 and 10,000 dinars per worker, or both. Moreover, the Authority has cautioned business owners against employing workers registered under another employer’s files. Violation of this regulation could result in similar penalties as mentioned above. In another development, the Public Authority for Manpower, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Public Authority for Youth (Work Makers Team), facilitated 137 job opportunities for citizens seeking employment in the private sector. These opportunities arose from government contracts with the Ministry of Health.

During the event, the Authority provided details about the available positions, the nature of work, and addressed queries from applicants. Personal interviews were conducted with 137 job seekers, followed by a training program spanning five weeks for successful applicants. The training program, focused on Ministry of Health contracts, concluded with the hiring of supervisors and first supervisors to oversee cleaning, internal transportation, and waste disposal services. This initiative aligns with PAM’s commitment to promoting employment opportunities for Kuwaiti citizens in the private sector and ensuring job security in government contracts, as outlined in Kuwait’s regulations for the nationalization of government contracts.

The Ministry of Justice has introduced a new service called “Partial or Full Payment to the General Administration of Execution” through the Sahel application, reports Al-Jarida daily. This service enables users to access information regarding the amounts owed to them by the General Administration of Execution and allows them to make partial or full payments towards these amounts. By utilizing this service, individuals can settle their debts partially or in full.

Upon complete payment, all administrative procedures initiated by the administration, such as travel bans, vehicle seizures, or freezing of the debtor’s assets, will be lifted. Additionally, users will receive notifications confirming the lifting of these seizure and prevention procedures. This new feature aims to streamline the process of debt settlement and enhance accessibility to services related to debt repayment, ultimately providing individuals with greater control over their financial obligations.

The Food and Nutrition General Authority has rolled out a new initiative aimed at enhancing public awareness about the nutritional content of packaged foods. Under the banner of “Your Hand is in Our Hand,” this initiative introduces a system of light signals on the front of food packages, making it easier for consumers to make informed dietary choices.

Aligned with Kuwait Vision 2035 and following the recommendations of the World Health Organization, this initiative is part of a broader strategy to promote healthier eating habits, combat obesity, and prevent chronic non-communicable diseases linked to nutrition.

Implemented by the Community Nutrition Affairs Sector, the initiative extends an invitation to all national food companies producing locally packaged foods to participate. The goal is to foster community partnerships and engage food manufacturers, producers, and importers in sustainable development efforts.

The light signals placed on food packages serve as visual cues, indicating the levels of energy, fats, saturated fats, sugars, and salt contained in the product as percentages. This labeling system aims to empower consumers by providing clear information to help them make healthier food choices and manage their intake of fats and calories more effectively.

Engineer Saud Al-Dabbous, the Director-General of the Municipality, has initiated a campaign targeting car awnings in cooperative societies' parking lots across the governorate. This move is part of ongoing efforts to address violations and safeguard state property.

The campaign, unfolding in three stages of monitoring, issuing warnings, and eventual removal of violating structures, aims to document violations and ensure compliance with regulations. Many of the car awnings in question are unlicensed, constituting unlawful exploitation of state property.

Future stages of the campaign will extend to addressing car shades in schools and other government agencies, underscoring the government's commitment to enforcing the law and upholding regulations.

Engagement with municipal leaders and legal experts has been crucial in devising an effective regulatory framework. Discussions have emphasized the necessity for a comprehensive approach to tackle longstanding issues related to illegal car awnings, especially those belonging to government agencies.

The campaign's initial phase has already seen the removal of 45 umbrellas from government agency walls in the Hawalli region and an additional 6 in Mubarak Al-Kabeer. This proactive stance reflects the Municipality's determination to combat violations and promote adherence to regulatory standards for the community's benefit.

According to an informed source, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) suspended the appointment process in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and rejected candidates. He explained that CSC recently addressed DGCA to confirm the cancellation of those nominated to work in the central employment system and hold administrative and technical qualifications not allocated to the entity at all levels.

CSC also requested that it be informed of the technical qualifications and specializations required to be canceled, especially since there are technical specializations designated for civil aviation, including ground pilotage, a diploma in aircraft maintenance, avionics, a diploma in engines and structures, meteorology, and others.

DGCA had previously addressed CSC regarding stopping the appointment process and returning all nominations received to the central employment system. More than 100 citizens had their nominations returned to the pilotage, especially since some of them had undergone medical examinations and interviews. The source indicated that some of the nominations were from former ministers, including the elected ones, who issued nomination letters in large numbers without clear criteria and controls for employment, which increased the density of the number of employees.

The coordination between the Ministries of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy, and the Ministry of Interior has taken a significant step forward as electronic connection procedures are nearing completion. Informed sources disclosed that citizens will soon be required to settle their dues to the Ministry of Electricity before carrying out transactions related to the Ministry of Interior.

According to sources cited by Al-Jarida, this collaborative effort aims to streamline processes and ensure the timely payment of outstanding bills. The success of a similar initiative, which required expatriates to clear their electricity dues before traveling, resulted in the collection of substantial sums owed over the years, thereby reducing accumulated debts.

Encouraged by this success, the Ministry of Electricity is now actively pursuing practical measures to facilitate the collection of outstanding dues from citizens. To this end, citizens who commit to settling their accumulated amounts in installments will be allowed to proceed with their transactions.

Importantly, officials emphasize that the objective is not to impede the interests of citizens or residents but rather to ensure the collection of long-standing debts. The Ministry’s efforts in this regard have yielded significant results, with total collections for the past fiscal year reaching approximately 500 million dinars, inclusive of associated fees.

However, challenges persist, particularly concerning outstanding debts owed by various government agencies to the Electricity Authority, which amount to around 550 million dinars. As the ministries work together to address these issues, the focus remains on fostering financial accountability and promoting efficient service delivery for the benefit of all stakeholders.

MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri revealed that the Economic Committee in the Council of Ministers submitted a recommendation on March 27 “to increase gasoline prices by 25% rather than improve living conditions." The recommendation was submitted and approved by the Council of Ministers on April 2, 2024, with effect from June 1.

Al-Muwaizri called on the government to halt these decisions affecting the people, adding, “We hope the next government will take charge of approving decisions related to enhancing living conditions.”

He also stated, “I informed all representatives during yesterday’s coordination meeting that enhancing living conditions is a top priority for me personally, and I hope representatives will not proceed with any legislative map until everything related to improving living conditions for all citizens is approved.”

The first phase of voting for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is set to begin from April 19. The polling will take place in 7 phases and will witness many first time voters exercising their right to universal adult franchise. In order to be eligible for voting in the upcoming elections citizens should have achieved the age of 18 as of 1 April 2024.

First time voters should check the electoral rolls to ensure their names are listed as an eligible voter in their constituency. This can be done by visiting the elections commission website. Citizens can look up their names using their Voter ID number, which the EC calls the “EPIC”, or Elector’s Photo Identification Card. Additionally, mobile numbers, personal details such as name, date of birth and relative’s information from the constituency can be used for search for names in the electoral roll.

The Ministry of Interior is dedicatedly pushing forward to finalize the biometric fingerprinting procedure for both citizens and residents within the designated timeline, as revealed by a reliable security source to Al-Rai. Assuring adequacy, the source confirmed that the existing fingerprinting centers can accommodate all individuals, negating the need for expansion.

With around 2 million citizens and residents already fingerprinted, approximately 400,000 individuals remain pending. To expedite the process, the Ministry has extended working hours at existing centers, bypassing the necessity for additional facilities. The commitment remains unwavering to adhere to the established plan, aiming to complete biometric fingerprinting for all by the end of May, as stipulated in the three-month deadline initiated in March.

In response to concerns about appointment booking services through the "Sahel" application, the source clarified that there are no technical glitches. Instead, enhancements were implemented during the Eid holiday period in collaboration with the Information Systems Department.

Regarding appointment bookings for domestic workers, the source emphasized that workers themselves must schedule appointments through either the "My ID" or "Sahel" applications, without sponsor involvement. This streamlined measure ensures efficient handling of appointments for domestic staff.

Kuwait Airways has introduced a convenient home luggage delivery service for passengers arriving from London, with plans to gradually extend the service to other flights shortly, reports Al- Qabas daily. Passengers can request this service 12 hours before their flight through the airline’s official website or mobile application, as detailed in a statement released by the Kuwait Airways. Abdul Mohsen Salem Al-Faqan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kuwait Airways, emphasized the company’s commitment to providing exceptional service to its customers. He highlighted Kuwait Airways’ dedication to ensuring passenger comfort from the moment they enter the airport terminal until they board the aircraft. Al-Faqan underscored the airline’s focus on modernizing its fleet, enhancing onboard entertainment options, and delivering a luxurious travel experience.

Al-Faqan further noted Kuwait Airways’ recent advancements in launching new destinations and services, including home travel procedures for Royal and First-Class passengers, limousine services for premium classes, electronic boarding pass issuance, and onboard BLUEfiinternet service. The introduction of the home luggage delivery service represents another milestone in Kuwait Airways’ commitment to passenger convenience.

The KAC CEO Captain Ahmed Mohammad Al-Karibani elaborated on the airline’s summer schedule for 2024, which includes the launch of new destinations such as Antalya, Bodrum, Trabzon, Sharm El-Sheikh, Malaga, and Nice. The summer schedule encompasses a total of 54 destinations, with increased frequencies to popular European destinations like London, Amsterdam, Munich, Vienna, Geneva, and Sarajevo. Additionally, flights to other destinations such as Dubai, Riyadh, and Manchester will see increased capacity to accommodate rising demand.