Latest news with #Interior
Arab Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
Exposed: How a Pakistani Paid for Kuwait Visa
KUWAIT CITY, July 23: Under the directives of His Excellency the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahd Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, and as part of the Ministry of Interior's intensified campaign to combat human trafficking and illegal residency practices, the General Department of Residence Affairs Investigations has uncovered a large, organized network involved in issuing residency permits illegally in exchange for money. The case came to light following a complaint filed by a Pakistani resident who reported paying 650 Kuwaiti Dinars to a man named Yasser Bilal Muhammad, also a Pakistani national, in return for securing a residency permit. The accused was summoned and confessed to receiving the payment for processing the residency. Further investigations revealed that he was a partner in 11 companies, collectively employing 162 workers. When several workers registered under these companies were questioned, they admitted to paying between 500 and 900 dinars for residency permits. Additionally, some individuals admitted to paying 60 to 70 dinars extra to have false salary information added to their work permits—an act that enabled them to qualify for family residency visas. During the investigation, Fahad Al-Enezi, the authorized signatory of the 11 companies, was also summoned. He admitted to receiving monthly payments between 500 and 600 dinars, and stated that he used the "Sahel" application to access work notifications and permits via the Public Authority for Manpower. A total of 12 suspects have been referred to the Public Prosecution, and ongoing investigations include raids, seizures, and inspections at the offices of the involved companies. Legal and administrative measures are being prepared against all individuals found to be complicit in this fraudulent network.
CTV News
6 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
‘We have to improve or we'll die': B.C. ranchers seek water solutions in long drought
Horses stand in a creek on a ranch as temperatures reach 33 degrees Celsius near Kamloops, B.C., on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Rancher John Parkes wants more water storage in B.C.'s Interior, which is suffering the impacts of a multi-year drought. But Parkes, manager of Nicola Ranch near Merritt, says it's not just for irrigation — water from dams is released into drying rivers to maintain flows and river ecosystems. 'My predecessors, over the last 100 years, built plenty of upland water storage for irrigation. What we need right now is we need water storage for conservation use, for fish flows.' Ranchers in B.C.'s Interior say they have asked the province to consider reducing red tape around building and expanding water-storage dams to help them cope with the ongoing drought. Parkes said ranchers in the area have already been working with First Nations to control water use to make sure there's enough for both agriculture and conservation. 'I would say that before we're cattle ranchers, we're stewards,' Parkes said. 'We value it because we know that's how we survive. Why aren't groups looking at building more ecological water storage for environmental values?' He said three persistent years of drought in B.C. meant dam water storage needed boosting, either by expanding existing dams or building new ones. Almost all water storage dams — which are distinct from dams on rivers — are privately held. He said the only reason ranchers in the Nicola Valley have not built more water storage dams is because of 'heavy regulation' from the province 'that leads to astronomical cost.' In a statement, the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said water storage is one method 'to mitigate against water scarcity.' It did not endorse or reject the idea. Minister Randene Neill toured Parkes' ranch this month and lauded efforts made by ranchers in the area to proactively organize water use so that no enforced restrictions are necessary. '(She) spent most of the day last Friday, July 11, with members of the BC Cattlemen's Association and local Nicola Valley ranchers,' the ministry statement said. 'She saw firsthand the work they have been doing for responsible water use and storage and was keen to hear about future proposals.' Matt Christensen, head of conservation partnerships in B.C. for environmental non-profit Ducks Unlimited, said the group had been working with ranchers and other agricultural producers on water management, and 'there's definitely an opportunity to increase water storage and availability in B.C. through dams.' 'What we're experiencing with the effects of climate change is increased surges of water in times when we maybe don't need it, and then a lack of water in times where we do need it,' Christensen said. 'And so, by creating and restoring wetlands, either using nature-based solutions such as beavers or by using dams, we can start to regulate the amount of water that is on the land base.' The latest B.C. drought summary, issued last week, shows about 60 per cent of the province rated as 'abnormally dry' or worse. 'Drought conditions continue to deteriorate in parts of the southern Interior, notably the Similkameen, Slocan-Lower Columbia and Creston basins,' the summary says. One researcher said the water challenge facing the province is going to be 'absolutely more concerning in the future rather than less.' Sam Anderson, post-doctoral research fellow at Simon Fraser University, said increasing heat waves mean snowmelts are happening earlier in the year, reducing summer flows. The warmer climate also means loss of glacial mass, he said. Glaciers are another major contributor to summer water flows in B.C., but they are losing their ability to recover mass during the winter. 'It's really important to recognize that water management is a highly complex thing,' Anderson said. 'And there are many different competing needs and users who need water at different times of the year.' But he also cautioned against the view that building dams upriver is a solution by itself. Downstream uses may also need to be considered, and a more comprehensive management plan for entire watersheds needs to be implemented, Anderson said. Parkes said his farm has spent millions of dollars on technology to improve water-use efficiency, such as upgrading irrigators and using ground sensors. But the logical next step is for more water storage, he said. He said drought in 2023 was so severe that many ranchers feared for their survival, prompting current proactive water management. 'We have to improve or we'll die,' Parkes said. 'And that's just been constantly what ranching has dealt with over the years. 'I know in urban British Columbia, there's maybe a narrative that we are in competition with nature, but I can tell you our values, if you line these up between us and the Indigenous people, they're all very, very, similar. 'We want to be part of the solution.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2025. Chuck Chiang, The Canadian Press
Korea Herald
15 hours ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Industry minister heads to Washington for trade talks with US counterparts
South Korea's new industry minister departed for Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to hold talks with high-level officials of the Donald Trump administration, about a week before the Aug. 1 deadline for a trade deal is set to expire. During his three-day trip to the United States, Kim Jung-kwan, minister of trade, industry and energy, will meet with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who also serves as the chairman of the National Energy Council, according to his office. "Given the significant impact that tariff negotiations could have on our economy, the government will thoroughly respond by carefully considering the sensitivities across different sectors," Kim was quoted as saying. "Although it is currently difficult to predict the direction of US tariff measures, the government will engage in negotiations under close coordination between relevant ministries, with an aim to maximize national interest," he added. "We will make every effort to ensure that this negotiation becomes an opportunity to upgrade the Korea-US cooperation in the industrial and energy sectors, producing a positive-sum outcome for both countries." The ministry of trade, industry and energy said Kim is expected to highlight the potential for increased cooperation between Seoul and Washington in many strategic industries, including energy, shipbuilding, semiconductors and batteries, while meeting his US counterparts this week. Kim's US trip, the first of its kind since he took office Monday, comes amid South Korea's efforts to speed up tariff negotiations with the Trump administration before Washington begins imposing 25 percent reciprocal tariffs on Korean products on Aug. 1. It also comes ahead of planned "2+2" trade talks involving South Korea's Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo and their US counterparts -- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer -- set to be held Friday (local time) in Washington. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is also arranging a visit to the US to meet with his counterpart, Marco Rubio, according to government officials. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac reportedly headed to Washington on Sunday to engage with his US counterparts in tariff negotiations. South Korea has been negotiating with the US on a wide range of trade issues for months, seeking a full exemption or reduction of the planned 25 percent reciprocal tariffs for the country and sectoral tariffs imposed on all steel and automobile imports by the Trump administration. Items on the negotiating table are said to include Seoul's import ban on American beef from cattle aged 30 months or older, proposed online platform regulations and restrictions on the export of high-precision map data. (Yonhap)
Business Recorder
16 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Chinese nationals: PM announces series of security steps
ISLAMABAD: In a move underscoring the deepening ties between Pakistan and China, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Tuesday a series of intensified security measures to protect Chinese nationals across the country. This development coincides with the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship infrastructure and economic partnership project pivotal to both countries' strategic and economic agendas. The prime minister, while chairing a high-level review meeting on the security arrangements for Chinese nationals in Pakistan, reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to safeguarding the welfare of Chinese citizens residing and working in the country. Pakistan, China in talks about security for Chinese nationals 'China is a friendly nation with which Pakistan shares historic and brotherly relations,' the prime minister said, emphasising that the security of Chinese nationals is a top priority for his government. The meeting came amid increasing attention on ensuring safe environments for foreign investors and workers as CPEC transitions to a business-to-business model, expanding opportunities for private sector collaboration. 'With the launch of the second phase, our responsibility to build a secure and business-friendly environment for the Chinese community in Pakistan has become even more critical.' Highlighting the government's strides in public security infrastructure, the prime minister pointed to the nationwide rollout of Safe City projects – an initiative aimed at enhancing urban surveillance and law enforcement capabilities through cutting-edge technology. These projects, according to Sharif, reflect Pakistan's growing capacity to meet international security standards. The prime minister also instructed authorities to prioritise the smooth and secure movement of Chinese nationals through airports, aiming to streamline their transit amid heightened security concerns. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi gave a detailed briefing to the prime minister on the special security arrangements already in place for Chinese nationals working in the country including the federal capital. These include increased protection protocols for Chinese nationals, security escorts during travel, and enhanced surveillance at residential developments housing foreign workers. 'We have implemented full coordination between federal and provincial authorities to address terrorism threats and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens,' said Naqvi. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Kuwait Times
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Deputy PM, Armenian envoy discuss security cooperation
Deputy PM, Armenian envoy discuss security cooperation KUWAIT: First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Saud Al-Sabah met on Monday with Armenian Ambassador to Kuwait Dr Arsen Arakelian to discuss issues of mutual interest and explore ways to boost bilateral security cooperation and efforts to combat crime. In a statement issued by the General Department of Public Relations and Security Media, the ministry said the meeting, held at the Ministry of Interior headquarters, reflects Kuwait's commitment to strengthening international cooperation in the field of security. Sheikh Fahad praised the strong ties between Kuwait and Armenia, affirming Kuwait's eagerness to deepen bilateral collaboration, particularly in areas related to law enforcement and public safety. Ambassador Arakelian expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and reiterated Armenia's interest in enhancing cooperation with Kuwait across various sectors. Both sides emphasized the importance of continuing coordination to further solidify the longstanding relations between the two friendly nations and advance shared interests. — KUNA
