Latest news with #Al-Anba
Arab Times
11-05-2025
- Health
- Arab Times
68,739 Registered Disability Cases in Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, May 11: The latest statistics of the Public Authority for Disabled Affairs (PADA) revealed that the number of disability cases of various categories registered at the authority has reached 68,739, reports Al-Anba daily. The authority gave a breakdown of the cases per category as follows: 17,939 mental disabilities (the largest number); 15,228 mobility disabilities;11,978 physical disabilities; 7,778 learning disabilities; 5,505 hearing disabilities; 5,390 visual disabilities; 2,534 psychological disabilities; 1,897 developmental disabilities; and 495 unspecified cases. A source from the authority disclosed that the requirements for opening a file for different disability cases include the following: Latest medical report from a government hospital; Valid civil identification card of the applicant; Civil identification cards and birth certificates of parents if the applicant is below 21 years old; If the applicant is a Bedoun, a copy of a valid security card showing the civil identification number and birth certificate if the applicant is a Bedoun child; If the applicant is a non-Kuwaiti with a Kuwaiti mother, birth certificate, civil identification and nationality cards of the mother, and the latest medical report in Arabic or English (should not be more than one year old) from a government hospital; For hearing impairment cases, the latest hearing test (not older than three to six months), attending physician's comments and signature on the OAE & ABRTEST - Diagnosis and Speech Test; For hearing and visual impairment cases, a medical report, a hearing impairment diagnosis, and a completed hearing committee form. For those with learning and psychological disabilities, a medical report from a government hospital or from a center accredited by PADA, a psychological report, an intelligence test, and reports sent by schools to the Education Department. For those with developmental disabilities aged five to six years: latest medical report and Stanford Test; For those with developmental disabilities aged three to 12: latest medical report or a developmental medicine report not more than one year old and a valid civil identification card. The source added that the service for opening a medical file for the first time is available year-round, indicating all documents should be submitted to the headquarters of PADA, along with a telephone number for communication and for sending messages regarding committee appointments
Arab Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Kuwait mulls earlier school start, Ramadan break adjustment
KUWAIT CITY, April 27: The Ministry of Education is considering an earlier start for the 2025/2026 academic year and plans to include the last ten days of Ramadan as part of the holidays, reports Al-Anba daily. According to educational sources, the ministry is currently working on the academic calendar in coordination with relevant authorities. The plan is to have school administrations begin on September 1, with students returning to school on September 7. This adjustment is being considered to compensate for the holiday during the last ten days of Ramadan, a period the ministry is contemplating suspending. The goal is to allow students and teachers to focus on worship and to promote religious and social values during this special time. Meanwhile, the ministry announced that registration for educational supervisory positions is open from Sunday, April 27 to May 8. Interested individuals can apply through the Ministry of Education's website under the 'Electronic Services' section, specifically the 'Educational Supervisory Positions Services.' In another development, the acting Undersecretary of Public Education Affairs Mansour Al-Dhafiri announced changes to the dates and procedures for the examination control center for the end of the second semester of the 2024/2025 academic year for the twelfth grade, as per Ministerial Resolution No. 115/2025, issued on April 1. Al-Dhafiri explained that the start period for the examination control center has been reduced by approximately 27 days compared to previous years. The start date for the control center for the science, arts, and religious education sections will now be Sunday, April 13, instead of the previous date of Sunday, March 16. The period from April 17 to April 24 was set for the printing and reviewing of twelfth-grade student transcripts by school administrations from the student record system. The period from May 11 to May 15 will be designated for conducting exams for subjects outside the schedule. Grades will be recorded in the student's record, and grade sheets (including daily work, practical work, and exams for subjects outside the schedule) will be printed for review by the school. Vertical technical review sheets for subjects outside the schedule will also be issued and recorded in the school's student record system. On May 19, the student record system will be closed for entering or modifying grades for twelfth-grade students at the end of that day. On May 22, the seat numbers for twelfth-grade students applying for the General Secondary Education Examinations will be announced on the ministry's website. On May 26, the exam committee cards and roll call lists for twelfth-grade students applying for the General Secondary Education Examinations will be made available on the ministry's website by the end of that day. Seat numbers for students applying for the second round of exams will be set on June 30. Al-Dhafiri confirmed that the exams for subjects outside the schedule (Quran, Constitution, and Human Rights) for home-schooled students will be standardized throughout the ministry. He stressed that if any of the unified tenth- and eleventhgrade certificates are unavailable, an equivalency certificate from the Private Education Department's Certificate Equivalency Department must be attached, irrespective of whether the student is studying outside Kuwait or transferred from private (foreign) schools. Also, a curriculum system certificate or the result of the equivalency exam for religious education certificates must be provided if the student is studying at home.
Arab Times
25-03-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Violations, penalties classified in money-wash and terror cases
KUWAIT CITY, March 25: Minister of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) Khalifa Al-Ajeel has issued Ministerial Resolution No. 25/2025 on the rules and procedures for the matrix of violations, penalties, and corrective measures applicable to Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBP) concerning combating money laundering and financing terrorism, reports Al-Anba daily. The resolution classifies violations into three risk categories -- low, medium and high with penalties ranging from a written warning to license suspension or revocation and a fine of KD 500 up to KD 10,000. Resolution Article One states that in implementing this resolution, the definitions provided in Article One of Law No. 106/2013 on Combating Money Laundering and Financing Terrorism will be adopted, along with additional definitions for the three risk levels as follows: 1. Low-risk violations: These are unintentional violations that do not harm an entity's reputation and are minor. 2. Medium-risk violations: These involve moderate reputational damage. 3. High-risk violations: These are serious violations that present a significant risk to reputation, both locally and internationally. Article Two of the resolution specifies that violations are categorized based on the provisions of Law No. 106/2013, its executive regulations and relevant ministerial decisions; depending on the type and severity of the violation. Low-risk violations require the application of precautionary measures as stipulated in Article 15 of the law, including the following: 1. Failure to comply with due diligence procedures for invoices under KD 3,000 due to an unintentional error: the applicable measures and penalties are determined on a case-by-case basis. For fewer than 50 violating invoices, a written warning is issued. If more than 50 invoices are in violation; an order will be issued to enforce compliance with specific procedures, accompanied by a one-month license suspension. 2. Failure to implement an ongoing training program for facility employees on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing requirements: the penalty for this violation starts with a written warning. If the violation is repeated, the penalty will escalate to include the requirement to comply with specific procedures and a one-month license suspension. 3. Failure to submit a transaction based on incomplete or inaccurate documents, without any strong indication of suspicious activity: for violations such as missing payment methods, missing electronic payment receipts or incomplete information on invoices; a written warning will be issued. For repeated violations, compliance with specific procedures will be required, and if the violation occurs a third time, the license will be suspended for three months. 4. Failure to comply with other obligations set by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Kuwait Financial Intelligence Unit: the penalty for this type of violation begins with a written warning; and if repeated, the license will be suspended for three months. For medium-level violations; a fine ranging from KD 500 to KD 3,000 will be imposed as follows: 1. Violation of handling cash exceeding KD 3,000: If the total number of violating invoices is fewer than 50; a fine of KD 1,000 will be imposed on the total invoices. If the total number of violating invoices exceeds 50; a fine of KD 3,000 will be imposed on the total number of violating invoices. 2. Failure to appoint a Kuwaiti compliance auditor: If a Kuwaiti compliance auditor familiar with anti-money laundering (AML) and counterterrorism financing (CTF) laws is not appointed, or if the department is not informed of any updates regarding the auditor's appointment; the following measures will apply: A commitment to appoint the auditor is required. In case of recurrence, a fine of KD 500 will be imposed. 3. Failure to implement due diligence for invoices exceeding KD 3,000: If the total number of invoices is fewer than 50; a fine of KD 1,000 will be imposed. If the total number of invoices exceeds 50; a fine of KD 3,000 will be imposed. 4. Failure to maintain financial records for five years: A fine of KD 1,000 will be imposed for failing to maintain financial records for the required five-year period. 5. Failure to terminate customer relationship when due diligence measures cannot be implemented: If due diligence measures cannot be implemented, the relationship with the customer must be terminated. In case of repeat violation, a fine of KD500 will be imposed. 6. Failure to comply with AML/CTF policies, procedures, systems and internal controls: Non-compliance with the relevant policies, procedures, systems and internal controls, or failure to disseminate them to local and foreign branches (if applicable), will result in: A fine of KD 500. In case of recurrence, the fine will increase to KD 1,000; and the license will be suspended until the violation is corrected. 7. Failure to circulate awareness brochures on AML/CTF to employees: A fine of KD 500 will be imposed for failure to circulate awareness brochures on combating money laundering and terrorist financing to employees. In the case of a repeat violation, the fine will be imposed again. 8. Failure to implement an electronic invoicing system: Using manual invoices instead of implementing an electronic invoicing system will require corrective action. In the case of a repeat violation, a fine of KD 500 will be imposed. 9. Failure to identify the beneficial owner of a purchase transaction: A written warning will be issued for failure to identify the beneficial owner and maintain their ownership structure Violation In the event of a repeat violation, a fine of KD 500 will be imposed. The report identified grave violations, with fines ranging from KD 4,000 to a maximum of KD 10,000 as follows: 1. Failure to notify the Security Council Resolutions Implementation Committee at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within three working days after refusing service to a customer due to their inclusion on sanctions lists. This violation results in a fine of KD 5,000 and mandatory adherence to specific procedures. In the case of a repeat offense, the offender will be banned from operating in the relevant sector for one year. 2. Failure to establish a system to inform employees about individuals listed on local and international sanctions lists, and non-compliance with directives issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This breach results in a fine of KD 4,000 and the implementation of specific corrective actions. For repeat violations, a fine of KD 8,000 will be imposed. 3. Providing a service to a person on local and international sanctions lists constitutes a violation. This leads to a fine of KD 8,000 and requires adherence to specific procedures. In the event of a repeat offense, the business license will be revoked. 4. Failure to notify the Kuwait Financial Intelligence Unit within two business days regarding customer data if there is suspicion that funds are linked to money laundering activities; as well as failing to disclose this to the customer. This violation incurs a fine of KD 5,000. For repeat violations, the fine increases to KD 10,000. 5. Failure to implement enhanced due diligence measures on politically exposed persons: If fewer than 50 invoices are in violation; a fine of KD 4,000 will be applied. For more than 50 violating invoices; the fine increases to KD 8,000. 6. Failure to submit a facility risk assessment study results in a fine of KD 500. If the violation recurs; the fine is doubled to KD 1,000.
Zawya
11-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Kuwait's CITRA sets new licensing fees for internet providers
KUWAIT - The Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA) has prepared two draft regulatory decisions regarding the requirements and controls for licensing wireless Internet service providers and Internet service providers, reports Al-Anba daily. According to these draft decisions, the annual license fee for wireless Internet service providers is set at KD 75,000. Applicants are required to submit an unconditional guarantee letter of the same value from the bank in favor of CITRA, which should remain valid throughout the license period. Meanwhile, the annual license fee for Internet service providers is set at KD 98,000, and applicants must provide a guarantee letter of the same value from the bank. The regulations for Internet service providers and wireless Internet service providers include the installation and operation of necessary devices and programs to block access to sites that violate religion, morals, national security, or public order, or those specified by CITRA or reported by the public. Licensees are prohibited from connecting their private networks to any other local or international networks outside Kuwait's borders to provide wired or wireless Internet services without prior written approval from CITRA. Also, Internet service providers are prohibited from allowing their subscribers to resell the service. The draft regulatory decision regarding the requirements and controls for licensing Internet service providers stipulates that providing Internet service is prohibited without obtaining a license from CITRA. Licensees, such as wired or wireless Internet service providers, must apply CITRA to obtain a license for their activities, following the regulations outlined in this decision. Service providers may offer wireless Internet services only after obtaining the necessary prior approvals and frequency allocations from CITRA. The license application must be submitted to CITRA, signed by the legal representative of the applicant, using the approved forms. The application must include several documents, along with a detailed study of the applicant's administrative, technical, and financial capabilities, which should clarify the necessary resources to provide the service. Additional documents or data may also be requested by CITRA to complete the application review process. According to the decision, CITRA will issue its ruling on the application within 60 working days after verifying that all requirements have been met. The license will be valid for one calendar year, starting from the date specified in the license. The decision specifies the financial counterpart for the annual license fees at a non-refundable amount of KD 98,000, payable in advance upon receiving CITRA's approval to grant the license. Also, the applicant is required to submit an unconditional bank guarantee letter of KD 98,000 in favor of CITRA, issued by a local bank, which will remain valid throughout the license period. The draft of the second resolution on the foundations and controls for licensing wireless Internet service providers stipulates that mobile telecommunications companies must obtain a license from CITRA before offering wireless Internet services. Companies are required to apply CITRA to obtain a license for providing wireless Internet services, under the conditions and regulations stipulated in the resolution. The license application must be signed by the legal representative of the applicant and submitted on the approved forms. It should be accompanied by relevant documents and a detailed study of the applicant's administrative, technical, and financial capabilities, clarifying the necessary resources to provide the service. Additional documents or data may be requested by CITRA to complete the application review process. The decision further specifies that CITRA will issue its decision within 60 working days.
Arab Times
10-03-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
CITRA sets new licensing fees for internet providers
KUWAIT CITY, March 10: The Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA) has prepared two draft regulatory decisions regarding the requirements and controls for licensing wireless Internet service providers and Internet service providers, reports Al-Anba daily. According to these draft decisions, the annual license fee for wireless Internet service providers is set at KD 75,000. Applicants are required to submit an unconditional guarantee letter of the same value from the bank in favor of CITRA, which should remain valid throughout the license period. Meanwhile, the annual license fee for Internet service providers is set at KD 98,000, and applicants must provide a guarantee letter of the same value from the bank. The regulations for Internet service providers and wireless Internet service providers include the installation and operation of necessary devices and programs to block access to sites that violate religion, morals, national security, or public order, or those specified by CITRA or reported by the public. Licensees are prohibited from connecting their private networks to any other local or international networks outside Kuwait's borders to provide wired or wireless Internet services without prior written approval from CITRA. Also, Internet service providers are prohibited from allowing their subscribers to resell the service. The draft regulatory decision regarding the requirements and controls for licensing Internet service providers stipulates that providing Internet service is prohibited without obtaining a license from CITRA. Licensees, such as wired or wireless Internet service providers, must apply CITRA to obtain a license for their activities, following the regulations outlined in this decision. Service providers may offer wireless Internet services only after obtaining the necessary prior approvals and frequency allocations from CITRA. The license application must be submitted to CITRA, signed by the legal representative of the applicant, using the approved forms. The application must include several documents, along with a detailed study of the applicant's administrative, technical, and financial capabilities, which should clarify the necessary resources to provide the service. Additional documents or data may also be requested by CITRA to complete the application review process. According to the decision, CITRA will issue its ruling on the application within 60 working days after verifying that all requirements have been met. The license will be valid for one calendar year, starting from the date specified in the license. The decision specifies the financial counterpart for the annual license fees at a non-refundable amount of KD 98,000, payable in advance upon receiving CITRA's approval to grant the license. Also, the applicant is required to submit an unconditional bank guarantee letter of KD 98,000 in favor of CITRA, issued by a local bank, which will remain valid throughout the license period. The draft of the second resolution on the foundations and controls for licensing wireless Internet service providers stipulates that mobile telecommunications companies must obtain a license from CITRA before offering wireless Internet services. Companies are required to apply CITRA to obtain a license for providing wireless Internet services, under the conditions and regulations stipulated in the resolution. The license application must be signed by the legal representative of the applicant and submitted on the approved forms. It should be accompanied by relevant documents and a detailed study of the applicant's administrative, technical, and financial capabilities, clarifying the necessary resources to provide the service. Additional documents or data may be requested by CITRA to complete the application review process. The decision further specifies that CITRA will issue its decision within 60 working days.
