Various departments at the Interior Ministry were crowded on the last working day before the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, especially the Residency Affairs General Department, which received a directive from Assistant Undersecretary for Residency and Nationality Affairs Major General Ali Al-Adwani to complete the transactions of clients before the holiday without violating any law, reports Al- Jarida daily quoting a reliable source from the security sector. According to the source, the Farwaniya Governorate Residency Affairs Department completed 1,200 transactions with the satisfaction of clients who, along with their employers, thronged to the department on the last working day before the holiday. The daily’s staff visited the department in Reggae to personally observe the work atmosphere on the last day before the Eid holiday.

They were surprised by the large number of expatriates who came to submit their applications. Deputy Director of the department Colonel Adeeb Al-Suwaidan spearheaded the implementation of the plan to ensure the smooth processing of transactions despite the huge crowd, which included sorting the transactions to prioritize the urgent ones. Al-Suwaidan supervised the distribution of numbers to the clients after checking their documents at the main door of the department, such that those with urgent transactions were allowed to enter immediately to complete them within official working hours. The transactions included renewal of residency permits, issuance of visit visas, amending the status, transferring information, and renewing the residency permits of wives and children for those who hold family visas among others. Urgent corporate transactions were received in the morning and were completed at the end of the official working hours.

The department instructed those whose transactions are not urgent to come back after the holiday. A limited number of commercial and family visit visa transactions were received, so they were completed quickly; while other visit visa transactions were postponed until after the holiday due to the heavy workload on the last day before the holiday. After the holiday, priority will be given to expatriates whose residency permits expired during the holiday.

The Administrative Section in the Court of Appeals has obliged the Ministry of Education to pay KD24,000 to an engineer — the value of unpaid salaries from May 2022, reports Al-Seyassah daily. Attorney Abdullah Amin filed the case on behalf of his client — a senior computer engineer in the ministry who was surprised when the salary was not paid from May 2022 under the pretext of work interruption.

Earlier, the Administrative Court dismissed the case, but Amin maintained his defense at the Appeals Court. He presented a documentary portfolio and evidence of his client’s right to receive the unpaid salaries retroactively; taking into consideration that no penalty has been imposed on his client and was neither suspended from work nor referred for investigation. He argued the non-payment of salary decision was marred by arbitrariness and misuse of authority, as it was issued due to disagreements between the engineer and the direct supervisor (department head), as the latter was eligible for promotion to the department head’s position.

The Kuwait Interior Ministry has announced the release of policemen in honor of the forthcoming Eid occasion. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Defense has declared the release of military personnel who were held for disciplinary cases, following directives from Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf and Army Chief of Staff, Air Marshal Bandar Al-Mazyan.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Defense, it was noted that the decision to release military personnel stemmed from Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf’s commitment to joining military personnel and their families in celebrating Eid joyfully. This gesture of goodwill underscores the minister’s belief in fostering unity and solidarity among the armed forces during this festive period.

The release of both policemen and military personnel signifies the importance of celebrating Eid with loved ones and emphasizes the values of compassion and inclusivity within Kuwait’s security apparatus. These actions by the ministries aim to ensure that individuals can fully participate in the Eid festivities, reflecting the spirit of camaraderie and familial bonds cherished during such cultural and religious occasions.

A reliable security source has confirmed that expatriates are permitted to return to Kuwait without having undergone biometric fingerprinting, debunking rumors circulating to the contrary. Contrary to speculation suggesting expatriates might face entry denials after the June 1st deadline set by the Ministry of Interior for biometric fingerprinting, the source clarified that such rumors are baseless.

According to the source, the timeframe provided by the Ministry of Interior allows citizens and residents ample opportunity to undergo the required fingerprinting procedure. While failure to comply may result in the suspension of transactions with the Ministry of Interior, it will not bar individuals from entering the country.

Expatriates who haven't completed the fingerprinting process will be obliged to do so upon their return, either at the airport or at designated fingerprinting centers across Kuwait's six governorates and shopping centers. The source emphasized that the biometric data collected is a one-time procedure, digitally stored to facilitate security verification and to permanently prevent the entry of deported or banned individuals.

WhatsApp, a platform owned by Meta, is gearing up to roll out several new features designed to enhance user experience and engagement. These upcoming additions, set to launch soon, are aimed at enriching conversations, simplifying content sharing, and improving chat management for users worldwide. Among these updates is the potential introduction of notifications for status updates. Yes, you might soon receive notifications of unseen status updates from your contacts. While this feature has been mentioned by reliable sources like WA Beta Info, WhatsApp has not officially confirmed it, so it’s best to approach this news with caution.

Regarding this anticipated feature, WhatsApp is reportedly experimenting with a notification system to alert users about unseen status updates from their contacts, slated for a future app update. Although the exact criteria triggering these notifications are yet to be disclosed, one possibility is receiving a mention in an unchecked status update.

This approach aims to keep users informed about relevant updates directly involving them. Additionally, another potential trigger for these notifications could be interactions with favorite contacts, emphasizing the significance of these relationships and staying updated on their activities. This prioritization could enhance the relevance and timeliness of status updates.

While the specifics of how this feature will be activated are still under wraps, its introduction aims to ensure users stay consistently informed and connected with their contacts’ updates. The notification feature for status updates is currently in development phase and is expected to be included in a forthcoming app update.

In addition to this feature, WhatsApp is also anticipated to unveil a dedicated “Suggested Chat” section within the app, aimed at facilitating new connections and fostering communication between users. Positioned at the bottom of the chat list, this section is expected to recommend contacts from users’ address books with whom they have not previously interacted, making it easier to expand social networks and initiate conversations with suggested contacts. Furthermore, users will have control over their messaging experience, with the ability to dismiss the “Suggested Chat” section at any time.

Moreover, recent reports have hinted at WhatsApp’s plans to enhance its privacy features by introducing the ability to lock chats not only on primary devices but also on linked devices. Users will be able to create a secret code on their primary phone to access locked chats on linked devices, ensuring that sensitive conversations remain concealed from unauthorized access across all platforms.

As of April 1, members of the Kuwait police force have begun donning their summer uniforms, adhering to a circular issued by the Ministry's Public Relations and Security Media Department.

The directive mandates the switch to summer attire, a customary practice for the police force. During the winter season from November to March, officers typically wear black uniforms. In contrast, the summer season sees a return to their original blue police uniform.

Underscoring its active participation in enhancing financial awareness and inclusion among all segments of society, the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) continues to promote the “Let’s Be Aware” campaign launched by the Central Bank of Kuwait, in collaboration with local banks and the Kuwait Banking Association (KBA). In this context, NBK intensifies awareness by publishing educational content including video clips and text communications, as well as awareness tips on all its social media platforms and other digital channels, in addition to re-posting of CBK’s related communications. This aims to increase awareness among all segments of society and familiarize them with different fraud schemes and the precautions to steer clear of these threats.

NBK urges customers to be cautious when making donations to any charities online, and to verify the identity of the recipient, to avoid falling victim to fraud, especially with the increasing fraud schemes and scams used by fraudsters to deceive victims. This comes within the bank’s commitment to raise customers’ awareness and keep them updated on the latest fraud trends and how to avoid them. The bank also warned against donating to unfamiliar charities, whether through links or on websites, as fraudsters may use fake websites similar to the websites of well-known charities, or claim affiliation to real charities raising funds for war or disaster-stricken people, then send the links to the victims which transfer them to the fake website page and ask them to make payments.

Furthermore, the bank called customers to beware of e-mails, text messages or phone calls asking for donations for well-known charities, warning them of responding to such fraudulent messages attempting to obtain their banking information in order to steal their money or information. NBK employs its strong customer communication capabilities as well as all its digital channels, which are the most popular among all Kuwaiti banks, to support the Central Bank’s endeavors to protect customers and the national economy.

It is worth mentioning that NBK is a key promoter and participant in all CBK’s campaigns and initiatives to increase financial and banking awareness among different segments of society. As the leading financial institution in Kuwait, the bank frequently organizes various activities to raise awareness on all topics related to the banking sector, as well as many training courses for its employees to enhance their knowledge and expertise in the areas of combating fraud and financial crime. The “Let’s Be Aware” campaign is the largest across the GCC region focusing on raising banking and financial awareness among banks’ customers. The campaign covers a variety of crucial topics including: anti-fraud tips, awareness of high-risk investments, ways to maximize benefit from banking services, promoting savings and investment culture, as well as other related topics.

The cabinet, during its extraordinary session held on Saturday at Bayan Palace under the chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, approved a bill calling upon the National Assembly to hold the first regular session of the 18th legislative term on April 17 (Wednesday).

The cabinet decided to refer the endorsed bill to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

The Ministry of Interior has unveiled a convenient service on the Sahel government app, allowing users to easily check their biometric completion status. This feature aims to assist individuals in determining whether they still need to undergo fingerprinting or if the process has been completed.

Below are the instructions to verify your Biometric status using the Sahel app. We've included English translations of each screenshot to assist those who may not understand Arabic, ensuring clear comprehension throughout the process.

1. Accessing this service is simple; users can navigate to the 'Security services' section within the Sahel app and locate the "Service" section at the bottom of the screen.  (Second button from the right on the bottom bar)

2. Select "Ministry of Interior" from the list of services."

3. Go to the sub-menu under the 'Ministry of Interior' and choose the fifth option from the top, which is "Inquire biometric appointment."

4. This action will lead you to a new page, where you can check the status by entering your Civil ID number.

5. If your biometric is successfully completed, the next page will show a green tick (as shown in the screenshot). Or else a red tick.

The Ministry of Finance is taking proactive steps to overhaul the pricing of government public services as part of the public financial sustainability axis outlined in the government work program for 2024-2027. Informed sources revealed to Al-Anbaa that the ministry is collaborating with various government agencies to conduct “intensive” meetings aimed at implementing this initiative.

During these meetings, a comprehensive strategy for the repricing process of government services will be devised. This includes the development of a clear mechanism to analyze the cost and impact of government “goods and services.” The initiative aims to streamline service pricing by establishing a database containing essential information such as service names, definitions, descriptions, types, categories, and the number of transactions conducted annually.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Finance intends to elucidate the objectives of the repricing initiative and the necessary data requirements. This includes outlining the goals of the initiative and specifying the types of data needed to facilitate the repricing process effectively.

The initiative underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing financial sustainability and optimizing the delivery of public services. By ensuring transparency and efficiency in service pricing, the government aims to improve fiscal responsibility and enhance overall governance.

As discussions progress and plans are solidified, stakeholders anticipate positive outcomes that will contribute to the long-term financial stability and effectiveness of government operations.

The Ministry of Interior announced the addition of a ‘To Whom It May Concern’ certificate issuance service exclusively for polling day to vote in the “Nation 2024” elections through the ‘Sahel’ application.

The ministry stated that this service allows citizens to extract the certificate electronically, print it, submit it to the polling committee, and participate in voting on election day.

The number of first-time residency permits issued by the end of 2023 reached 84,975 and the number of canceled residency permits during the period reached 57,060, Al-Anba daily reported.

According to the data, the number of existing visa holders in Kuwait reached 2.93 million. This includes 47,530 Article 14 (temporary residency); 96,500 Article 17 (government employees); 1.5 million Article 18 (private sector employees); 972 Article 19 (investor or foreign partner in a business); 786,000 Article 20 (domestic workers); 504,170 Article 22 (family visa); 735 Article 23 (students) and 1,980 Article 24 (self-sponsored).

Meanwhile, the number of Residency Law violators decreased from 133,440 in 2022 to 121,190 by the end of 2023, the report added. According to the report, half of the Residency Law violators are domestic workers (Article 20) whose number reached 60,700 by the end of 2023; followed by 28,080 Article 18 visa holders; 25,270 Article 14 visa holders; 6,146 Article 22 visa holders; 701 Article 17 visa holders; 196 Article 24 visa holders; 23 Article 19 visa holders and six Article 23 visa holders.

The Al-Ujairi Center and Al-Ajiri Scientific Center have announced an upcoming celestial spectacle set to grace the skies of Kuwait and the wider Arab region this Saturday. According to a statement provided to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Wednesday, the center revealed that a triple conjunction between the moon and the planets Mars and Saturn is on the astronomical agenda.

The event, slated to unfold before dawn on Saturday around 4:01 am local time, will see the moon align with both Saturn, often hailed as “the pearl of the solar system,” and Mars, famously known as “the red planet.” This rare cosmic alignment is anticipated to capture skygazers until sunrise.

During this celestial phenomenon, observers will have the opportunity to witness all three celestial bodies with the naked eye. The moon, taking on the form of a crescent, will mark the final crescent of the holy month of Ramadan. However, the spectacle will gradually fade with the increasing light of the morning twilight as sunrise approaches at precisely 5:33 am.

Additionally, the moon will also form a conjunction with Venus, the brightest planet in the solar system, presenting skywatchers with a mesmerizing sight of the two celestial entities side-by-side in the sky just before sunrise on Sunday.

This rare cosmic alignment offers enthusiasts and stargazers a unique opportunity to marvel at the wonders of the universe. As the event unfolds, observers are encouraged to seize the moment and witness this remarkable display of celestial harmony in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) declared on Wednesday the suspension of operations across all ministries, government agencies, public bodies, and institutions on Thursday, April 4th, deeming it a day of rest. In a statement posted on its official social media account (X), the CSC noted that entities with unique operational requirements would adjust their schedules accordingly, prioritizing the public interest.

Meanwhile, the Kuwait Banking Association, in coordination with the Central Bank of Kuwait, has declared the closure of local banks on Thursday, as a day off in observance of the 2024 National Assembly elections. This decision aims to allow employees the opportunity to participate in the electoral process. Normal operations will resume on Sunday, April 7th. In preparation for the National Assembly elections, Kuwait’s Cabinet declared Thursday a public holiday. The decision, made during the weekly session chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah at Bayan Palace, mandates the closure of all ministries, government bodies, and public institutions on April 4. Decree 29/2024 designates Thursday as a day of rest, urging citizens to participate in electing members of the National Assembly.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) declared on Wednesday the suspension of operations across all ministries, government agencies, public bodies, and institutions on Thursday, April 4th, deeming it a day of rest. In a statement posted on its official social media account (X), the CSC noted that entities with unique operational requirements would adjust their schedules accordingly, prioritizing the public interest.

Meanwhile, the Kuwait Banking Association, in coordination with the Central Bank of Kuwait, has declared the closure of local banks on Thursday, as a day off in observance of the 2024 National Assembly elections. This decision aims to allow employees the opportunity to participate in the electoral process. Normal operations will resume on Sunday, April 7th. In preparation for the National Assembly elections, Kuwait’s Cabinet declared Thursday a public holiday. The decision, made during the weekly session chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah at Bayan Palace, mandates the closure of all ministries, government bodies, and public institutions on April 4. Decree 29/2024 designates Thursday as a day of rest, urging citizens to participate in electing members of the National Assembly.

Google has agreed to purge billions of records containing personal information collected from more than 136 million people in the U.S. surfing the internet through its Chrome web browser.

The massive housecleaning comes as part of a settlement in a lawsuit accusing the search giant of illegal surveillance.

The details of the deal emerged in a court filing Monday, more than three months after Google and the attorneys handling the class-action case disclosed they had resolved a June 2020 lawsuit targeting Chrome’s privacy controls.

Among other allegations, the lawsuit accused Google of tracking Chrome users’ internet activity even when they had switched the browser to the “Incognito” setting that is supposed to shield them from being shadowed by the Mountain View, California, company.

Google vigorously fought the lawsuit until U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers rejected a request to dismiss the case last August, setting up a potential trial. The settlement was negotiated during the next four months, culminating in Monday’s disclosure of the terms, which Rogers still must approve during a hearing scheduled for July 30 in Oakland, California, federal court.

The settlement requires Google to expunge billions of personal records stored in its data centers and make more prominent privacy disclosures about Chrome’s Incognito option when it is activated. It also imposes other controls designed to limit Google’s collection of personal information.

Consumers represented in the class-action lawsuit won’t receive any damages or any other payments in the settlement, a point that Google emphasized in a Monday statement about the deal.

“We are pleased to settle this lawsuit, which we always believed was meritless,” Google said. The company asserted it is only being required to “delete old personal technical data that was never associated with an individual and was never used for any form of personalization.”

In court papers, the attorneys representing Chrome users painted a much different picture, depicting the settlement as a major victory for personal privacy in an age of ever-increasing digital surveillance.

The lawyers valued the settlement at $4.75 billion to $7.8 billion, relying on calculations based primarily on the potential ad sales that the personal information collected through Chrome could have generated in the past and future without the new restrictions.

The settlement also doesn’t shield Google from more lawsuits revolving around the same issues covered in the class-action case. That means individual consumers can still pursue damages against the company by filing their own civil complaints in state courts around the U.S.

Investors apparently aren’t too worried about the settlement terms affecting the digital ad sales that account for the bulk of the more than $300 billion in annual revenue pouring into Google’s corporate parent, Alphabet Inc. Shares in Alphabet rose 3% to close Monday at $155.49, giving the company a market value of $1.9 trillion.

Austin Chambers, a lawyer specializing in data privacy issues at the firm Dorsey & Whitney, described the settlement terms in the Chrome case as a “welcome development” that could affect the way personal information is collected online in the future.

“This prevents companies from profiting off of that data, and also requires them to undertake complex and costly data deletion efforts,” Chambers said. “In some cases, this could have a dramatic impact on products built around those datasets.”

Google is still facing legal threats on the regulatory frontier that could have a far bigger impact on its business, depending on the outcomes.

Get ready for a shift in the weather as Kuwait braces for the Dharaan season, with rising temperatures and increased atmospheric instability. The Al-Ojairi Scientific Center has announced that this season will last for 26 days, starting from Wednesday.

The Dharaan season is characterized by the Sarayat phenomenon, which brings about transient weather patterns. During this period, the sun's angle allows for direct heating of the soil, which in turn accelerates air currents. This leads to a transition from cooler to warmer weather conditions, accompanied by dustiness in the air.

Divided into two segments, each lasting 13 days, the Dharaan season signifies the transition from spring to a warmer climate.

The Central Bank of Kuwait has announced an expansion of ATM services in various commercial complexes during the Eid period. This initiative aims to meet the increasing demand for new banknotes of Kuwaiti dinar in smaller denominations, particularly for the distribution of Eidiya among citizens.

In a recent press statement, the Central Bank revealed that ATM services will be accessible in prominent locations such as the Avenues Mall, 360 Mall, Al Kout Mall, and the Assima Mall. The service will be operational from April 2 until the second day of Eid Al Fitr, facilitating easier access to smaller denomination banknotes. This collaborative effort involves cooperation with KNET and the respective mall management.

This expansion of ATM services builds upon the positive reception observed in previous years. It offers convenience to the public by eliminating the need to acquire various denominations of banknotes, particularly the smaller ones that are typically scarce in conventional ATMs.

The first phase of the study on the railway link between Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be completed within the next three months, reports Al-Anba daily quoting sources from the Ministry of Public Works. Sources revealed this phase includes determining the route that will start from Kuwait (Al-Shaddadiya area), passing through the city of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Sources said the necessary procedures and approvals for the first phase are currently being finalized; indicating the second phase is the design phase that requires approximately one year, while the third phase includes implementation and construction within three years. It is expected that the project will be completed in 2028.

Sources explained the project aims to achieve safe and efficient railway transportation and facilitate the transportation mechanism between the two countries; which will promote increased trade exchange and economic growth, and ensure the safety of passengers and properties. The distance between Kuwait and Riyadh is estimated at 650 kilometers. Studies showed that travel time will be reduced to two hours through the railway link project. The fees for consulting services for conducting the financial, economic and technical feasibility studies for the project will be shouldered equally by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia as per the stages and scope of services. The consulting fees will not be collected until after the outputs for each stage are approved by both parties, sources added.