Latest news with #Interior
Kuwait Times
24 minutes ago
- Automotive
- Kuwait Times
Traveling abroad and need a physical Kuwaiti driving license? Here's how
KUWAIT: As summer travel picks up, many expatriates have reported that Kuwait's digital driving license is not accepted abroad, making international car rentals challenging. But this is now changing. After a suspension that began on Dec 10, 2023, the issuance of physical driving licenses for expats resumed in mid-April 2025, following ministerial decision no. 560/2025 issued by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah. The amendment allows expatriates to reissue physical licenses for a KD 10 printing fee, effective immediately upon its publication in the official gazette Kuwait Al Youm. Here's a step-by-step guide to the process (the exact steps may vary slightly by location): 1. Visit the traffic department (muroor): Head to the traffic department of the governorate that originally issued your license — this might differ from your current governorate of residence. Keep in mind that working hours and queues can vary for citizens, expats and companies. 2. Request the application form: Go to the typing section and request a form to issue a physical driving license. This service usually costs KD 1. You will need to attach: • A copy of your Civil ID • A copy of your current digital license (from the Kuwait Mobile ID app) • Your previous physical license (if available) 3. Form submission and payment: • Submit the filled form at one of the designated counters for verification and stamping. • Then, proceed to pay the KD 10 reissuance fee. • Note: If you no longer have your previous physical license, an additional KD 10 fee may apply. 4. Final submission and collection: Submit the signed and stamped form at the designated printing counter, then wait for your name to be called. Your physical license will be printed and issued shortly, depending on the number of applicants.
Japan Today
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
Trump likes renaming people, places and things. He's not the first to deploy that perk of power
By LAURIE KELLMAN FILE - President Donald Trump holds up a signed proclamation declaring Feb. 9 Gulf of America Day, as Interior Secretary Doug Burgum watches aboard Air Force One as Trump travels from West Palm Beach, Fla. to New Orleans, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File) History, it has been said, is written by the winners. President Donald Trump is working that lever of power — again. This time, he's insisting that Washington's NFL team change its name from the Commanders back to the Redskins, a name that was considered offensive to Native Americans. Predictably, to Trump's stated delight, an internet uproar ensued. It's a return to the president's favorite rebranding strategy, one well-used around the world and throughout history. Powers-that-be rename something — a body of water, a mountain in Alaska, St. Petersburg, Istanbul, Mumbai, various places in Israel after 1948 — in line with 'current' political and cultural views. Using names to tell a leader's own version of the nation's story is a perk of power that Trump is far from the first to enjoy. A name, after all, defines identity and even reality because it is connected to the verb "to be,' says one brand strategist. 'A parent naming a child, a founder naming a company, a president naming a place ... in each example, we can see the relationship of power,' Shannon Murphy, who runs Nameistry, a naming agency that works with companies and entrepreneurs to develop brand identities, said in an email. 'Naming gives you control.' In Trump's case, reviving the debate over the Washington football team's name had the added effect of distraction. 'My statement on the Washington Redskins has totally blown up, but only in a very positive way,' he wrote on his social media platform, adding a threat to derail the team's deal for a new stadium if it resisted. In fact, part of the reaction came from people noting that Trump's proposed renaming came as he struggled to move past a rebellion among his supporters over the administration's refusal to release much-hyped records in Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking investigation. Over about two weeks, Trump had cycled through many tactics — downplaying the issue, blaming others, scolding a reporter, insulting his own supporters, suing the Wall Street Journal and finally authorizing the Justice Department to try to unseal grand jury transcripts. Trump's demand that the NFL and the District of Columbia change the team's name back to a dictionary definition of a slur against Native Americans reignited a brawl in miniature over race, history and the American identity. Trump's reelection itself can be seen as a response to the nation's reckoning with its racial history after the 2020 police killing of George Floyd. That year, Americans elected Democratic President Joe Biden, who championed diversity. During his term, Washington's football team became first the Washington Football Team, then the Commanders, at a widely estimated cost in the tens of millions of dollars. And in 2021, The Cleveland Indians became the Cleveland Guardians. In 2025, Trump has ordered a halt to diversity, equity and inclusion programs through the federal government, universities and schools, despite legal challenges. And he wants the Commanders' name changed back, though it's unclear if he has the authority to restrict the nearly $4 billion project. What's clear is that names carry great power where business, national identity, race, history and culture intersect. Trump has had great success for decades branding everything from buildings he named after himself to the Gulf between Mexico, Cuba and the United States to his political opponents and people he simply doesn't like. Exhibit A: Florida's governor, dubbed by Trump 'Meatball Ron' DeSantis, who challenged him for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. And Trump is not the first leader to use monikers and nicknames — branding, really — to try to define reality and the people who populate it. Naming was a key tool of colonization that modern-day countries are still trying to dislodge. 'Naming,' notes one expert, 'is never neutral.' 'To name is to collapse infinite complexity into a manageable symbol, and in that compression, whole worlds are won or lost,' linguist Norazha Paiman wrote last month on Medium. 'When the British renamed places throughout India or Africa, they weren't just updating maps," Paiman wrote. "They were restructuring the conceptual frameworks through which people could relate to their own territories." Trump's order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America is perhaps the best-known result of Executive Order 14172, titled 'Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness.' The renaming sent mapmakers, search engines and others into a flurry over whether to change the name. And it set off a legal dispute with The Associated Press over First Amendment freedoms that is still winding through the courts. The news outlet's access to events in the Oval Office and Air Force One was cut back starting in February after the AP said it would continue referring to the Gulf of Mexico in its copy, while noting Trump's wishes that it instead be renamed the Gulf of America. It's unclear if Trump's name will stick universally — or go the way of 'freedom fries," a brief attempt by some in the George W. Bush-era GOP to rebrand french fries after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. But there's evidence that at least for business in some places, the 'Gulf of America' terminology has staying power. Chevron's earnings statements of late have referred to the Gulf of America, because 'that's the position of the U.S. government now,' CEO Mike Wirth said during a Jan. 31 call with investors. And along the Gulf Coast in Republican Louisiana, leaders of the state's seafood industry call the body of water the Gulf of America, in part, because putting that slogan on local products might help beat back the influx of foreign shrimp flooding American markets, the Louisiana Illuminator news outlet reported. The racial reckoning inspired by Floyd's killing rippled across the cultural landscape. Quaker retired the Aunt Jemima brand after it had been served up at America's breakfast tables for 131 years, saying it recognized that the character's origins were 'based on a racial stereotype.' Eskimo Pies became Edy's. The Grammy-winning country band Lady Antebellum changed its name to Lady A, saying they were regretful and embarrassed that their former moniker was associated with slavery. And Trump didn't start the fight over football. Democratic President Barack Obama, in fact, told The Associated Press in 2013 that he would 'think about changing' the name of the Washington Redskins if he owned the team. Trump soon after posted to Twitter: 'President should not be telling the Washington Redskins to change their name-our country has far bigger problems! FOCUS on them, not nonsense.' Fast-forward to July 20, 2025, when Trump posted that the Washington Commanders should change their name back to the Redskins. 'Times," the president wrote, 'are different now.' © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Kuwait Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Cabinet calls for nationalizing health services for better care
Ministers review fiscal deficit and climate roadmap KUWAIT: The Cabinet has emphasized the importance of nationalizing health services to enhance the quality of medical care and strengthen the efficiency of national human resources. The directive was issued during the weekly Cabinet meeting held Tuesday at Bayan Palace under the chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Following the session, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Shareeda Abdullah Al-Maousherji said the ministers were briefed on the outcomes of Health Minister Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi's official visit to France. The visit included the signing of several memoranda of understanding with leading French medical institutions, as part of efforts to bolster Kuwait's healthcare sector. The Cabinet also reviewed letters sent to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah from leaders of friendly and sisterly nations, focused on enhancing bilateral ties and fostering mutual cooperation. Ministers were also informed of His Highness the Prime Minister's recent meeting with Egypt's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Industry Kamel Al-Wazir and his accompanying delegation, during which ways to deepen cooperation between the two countries were discussed. Regional and environmental cooperation First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Saud Al-Sabah briefed the Cabinet on the outcomes of his official visits to Lebanon and Syria. During these visits, he met with senior officials to discuss avenues for strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in the field of security. In line with Kuwait's commitment to combating climate change, Minister of Oil Dr. Tareq Al-Roumi, along with senior officials from the Environment Public Authority, presented a long-term national roadmap aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable development. The strategy focuses on adopting innovative, integrated solutions to drive sustainable economic growth and enhance national resilience to climate change impacts. Economic outlook and fiscal performance Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investments Noura Al-Fassam delivered a detailed briefing on preparations for Kuwait's upcoming economic evaluation and assessment. She also presented the State's final financial statement for fiscal year 2024-2025, which recorded a deficit of KD 1.056 billion. The Cabinet acknowledged the urgency of addressing financial waste and boosting non-oil revenues, calling for collective action across all government entities. It reviewed and approved draft laws related to final financial statements for the fiscal year, which will be referred to His Highness the Amir for endorsement. Citizenship review Lastly, the Cabinet approved the report submitted by the Supreme Committee for the Investigation of Kuwaiti Citizenship, concerning cases involving the loss and withdrawal of nationality. The decisions were made in accordance with the provisions of Law No 15 of 1959 regulating Kuwaiti nationality. — KUNA
CBC
10 hours ago
- Climate
- CBC
'We have to improve or we'll die': B.C. ranchers seek water solutions in long drought
Social Sharing Rancher John Parkes wants more water storage in B.C.'s Interior, which is suffering the effects 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. WATCH | B.C. unveils new drought-tracking system: B.C. unveils new drought-tracking system 3 days ago As the driest summer months approach, the B.C. government has unveiled a new system to track and report drought conditions in the province. The program will show how much water a community has stored for use and how well rivers and creeks are flowing. 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 tours ranch 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 B.C. Cattlemen's Association and local Nicola Valley ranchers," the ministry statement said. "She saw first-hand 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. Water challenges will increase, researcher 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."
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Pakistan, Bangladesh reach agreement on visa-free travel for diplomats, officials
Pakistan and Bangladesh have agreed to allow visa-free entry for diplomatic and official passport holders, signaling improved relations. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi's meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart, Lieutenant General (retired) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, also focused on boosting cooperation in internal security, police training, and combating narcotics and human trafficking. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Pakistan and Bangladesh on Wednesday reached an agreement to permit visa-free entry for holders of diplomatic and official decision was taken at a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Lieutenant General (retired) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury in Dhaka, the state-run Radio Pakistan move signals a further thaw in bilateral ties long shaped by historical hostility, observers between Pakistan and Bangladesh have witnessed a marked improvement following the establishment of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus in the meeting between Naqvi and Chowdhury, the two sides also agreed to enhance cooperation in the fields of internal security and police training, the Radio Pakistan report they discussed increasing collaboration on anti-narcotics and anti-human trafficking. Views were exchanged on joint counter-terrorism measures and exchange programmes between police academies of the two countries, it described the visit of Pakistan's Interior Minister to Bangladesh as extremely important to promote bilateral cooperation between Dhaka and also thanked Naqvi for extending the offer of police training to Bangladeshi has formed a joint committee, to be headed by Interior Secretary Khurram Agha, to further boost cooperation with Bangladesh.A high-level Bangladeshi delegation will soon visit Islamabad to tour the Safe City Project and National Police between Pakistan and Bangladesh have improved since the current political set up came to power, as the two sides are trying to reset ties.
