One of the most common methods used by hackers to gain financial information is 'Congratulations, you have won a prize'. But since many people in Kuwait are by now aware of such fraudulent pop-ups on their computers and mobile phones, hackers have of late begun to improvise and find new ways to attract the attention of victims and steal their confidential information.

It is easy for those with average financial literacy to provide their financial and other confidential information to hackers through several methods of financial fraud. A new scam employed by hackers to target Kuwait is through fake emails and messages that are sent in the name of the Ministry of Communication, or other government authorities, to pry information from victims.

Unlike the lure of a prize, which usually attracts a small number of people, and even fewer people fall for the scam, an official message or email from a ministry of communication or interior usually attracts a much broader response. According to a recent fake email from the Ministry of Communications, recipients are asked to transfer a nominal fee for delivery or service. However, once your bank information is entered, everything in your account is wiped clean.

A number of Kuwaiti bank accounts have been reported to have been accessed by this type of fraud in recent weeks. Hackers have developed sophisticated tools to swiftly extract all the money from the accounts of their victims. Since the perpetrators of such hacks are usually in countries outside Kuwait, such as African and Asian nations, it becomes difficult to trace these hackers and bring them to justice.

The Kuwaiti population places several orders from abroad today, making it easy to fall into the hackers' trap especially when the fee is low. Added to that, in order to pay this nominal fee the victim would provide their bank details. This is when the hacker achieves control of the victim’s bank accounts, and in seconds performs withdrawals of large amounts. Besides targeting the funds of individuals, these hackers also attack and seize control of the databases of private corporations and public sector entities, and then demand that a ransom be paid for the return of the database and its control to the concerned company or government entity.

In Kuwait, another common scam is the offer of discounted services from beauty and health parlors that do not exist. They lure the consumer with a direct call and use the name of a well-known entity. When the victim agrees to an appointment or offer, the fraudster sends them a link with a small reservation fee. Unfortunately, once the payment process is completed, not only is the agreed amount deducted but several large transactions will follow even before the victim gets a chance to suspend the account.

Asked about the possibility of recovering the stolen amounts, bank officials explained that there are two types of bank cards - the 'KNET' card, a regular debit card that allows direct withdrawals. This means that the debit from a person’s account is immediate, which limits the ability of banks to intervene and stop the payment quickly.

Visa and Mastercard are two types of credit card available in Kuwait. A customer who owns the credit card and uses it to buy something, a merchant selling a product or service, a bank that holds the buyer's account, and an intermediary bank that is usually located outside Kuwait are involved in withdrawing from these credit cards.

As the payment process involves four parties, it takes about a week to complete, allowing the buyer to stop the completion of the transaction by asking the banks involved not to transfer the amounts.

Kuwaiti banks estimate that credit card transactions have an 80 percent chance of being recovered, whereas KNET debit card transactions have only a 10% chance. If the withdrawals were made through either Visa or MasterCard, it could take between a week and 45 days for the funds to be returned to the buyer's account. While banks in Kuwait are striving to strengthen their defenses against hacking, it is also worth noting that hackers are constantly evolving their offensive hacking tactics.

To prevent financial fraud and keep accounts safe from hackers and other illegal actors, keep in mind that bank account information should be kept confidential and never shared with strangers through emails or social media messages. It must not be given to any party, even if the sender of an online message claims to be a ministry or even your own bank. The request for personal data from bank accounts, even if required, is never done by telephone, e-mail or messages.

The OTP (one-time password) sent by your bank must never be shared with anyone, even if you fall prey and enter your personal account data.

Disclosing the OTP to another individual would be the equivalent of handing your house key to a thief, who will then have complete control over taking anything in your house at that point in time. The OTP is the key that allows hackers to easily steal from a victim’s account, and hence it must never be shared with any other person, no matter how persuasive or motivating the message asking for the OTP might be.

The Central Bank of Kuwait along with local banks and many government agencies have been frequently sending out messages through online and offline media to raise the level of public awareness about hacking and other online fraudulent activities.

While these proactive steps have helped tackle and reduce fraud operations to a large extent in Kuwait, we need to remember that it is also our individual responsibility to take the necessary precautions to prevent falling victim to such scams.

Starting on Wednesday, the Ministry of Health will launch a vaccination campaign through 17 primary health care centers, as well as hold a training session on Tuesday for the health workers who will administer the vaccine. According to Al Rai newspaper, the Public Health Department addressed a letter to the director of the Primary Health Care Department under the title “Training on Giving the Moderna Bivalent Covid 19 Vaccine.”

It included the specific centers that will provide the service, namely Sheikha Fotouh Salman Al-Sabah Health Centers in Shamiya, Jassim Al-Wazzan Health Center in Mansouriyah, Jaber Al-Ahmad Health Center 1 in the Capital Health District, while in the Hawally Health District, it included Salwa Specialized Health Centers, Mahmoud Haji Haider Health Center, and Rumaithiya Specialist Center, as well as the allocation of Al-Omariya centers, Abdullah Al-Mubarak and Al-Andalus in the Farwaniya area, Fintas and Fahaheel Specialized Health Centers in the Ahmadi area, and Al-Adan Specialized Center in Mubarak Al-Kabeer area.

Meanwhile, Al Naeem, Al Oyoun, and Saad Al Abdullah Health Center - Block 10 in Jahra Area and Abdulrahman Al Zaid Health Center in West Mishref have been designated as the vaccination center for booster doses for ages 12 to under 18, as well as the first and second doses for ages 5 and above.

A temporary license was granted to a citizen who wishes to train one of his close relatives by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmed Al-Nawaf.

Al-Rai daily reports that the decision stipulated that anyone applying for a "temporary" driving license permit must hold a valid private driving license issued for at least five years.

The body of an inmate who died inside the central prison has been referred to forensic medicine for an autopsy.

According to friends of the inmate the man suddenly fell to the ground and was struck by convulsions.

He was rushed to the prison doctor and after examining he was declared dead, reports Al-Rai daily.

Al-Anba daily reports that the Ministry of Interior plans to grant foreign investors and investment entities privileges concerning their residency, workers, and family members in Kuwait, regardless of their nationalities. In accordance with a decision that is being prepared for issuance, the investor will be granted a multiple entry visa for a period of six months to complete the licensing procedures.

Investment entities and their employees are also granted regular residence for a period of five years, renewable from the date of issuance, with the possibility of staying outside Kuwait for a period exceeding six months without obtaining permission to leave.

As part of the decision, to be issued soon, investment entities will be allowed to use specialized technical workers for commercial visits and will not have to obtain a university degree, unless he is granted temporary residence in accordance with Article 11 of Amiri Decree 17/1959 or converts his visit into a family residence.

Investing companies and their workers will be able to obtain a visa to join a family if they have regular residency, according to the decision, and investment companies will be able to apply for entry visas for several trips not exceeding one year, as well as be able to enter the country repeatedly with that visa without being restricted from staying within the country for a certain period of time.

According to the established rules and principles, investment entities can also apply for entry visas for nationalities prohibited from entering, after conducting an audit and obtaining security permission from the competent authority.

In an announcement recently, Air India announced special fares for Kuwait travelers planning to travel to India. The prices of one way tickets from Kuwait to Chennai start from 36 KD while from Kuwait to Bombay or Delhi start from KD 28. These fares are valid until 31st March 2023.

The fares of Air India are significantly lower compared to other carriers by almost half. The country manager urges passengers to take advantage of these special promotional fares by flying Air India.

The Public Authority for Civil Information stopped the home delivery service of civil cards as the contract with the specialized company was not renewed. The last request for renewal of the contract was submitted to the State Audit Bureau on July 28, 2021.

PACI earns 650 fils from the Civil ID card holders while remaining amount goes to the delivery company, reports Al Qabas. The Audit Bureau report revealed that the company continued to provide its services during 2022, despite the end of the contract in July 2021. The authority stopped the service this month.

The Public Authority for Civil Information  is expediting the issuance of cards for domestic workers, citizens, and expats working in government ministries. The delay in issuing Civil ID cards for private company workers, dependent residence delay may continue for months. Already the complaints from Kuwaitis and expats have increased due to the delay in obtaining civil cards.

Anu Abel, who met with an accident on Saturday, January 28th, passed away at Farwaniya hospital. She was 34 years old. She was hit by a speeding vehicle while crossing the road on Saturday evening while returning from her work place. Anu Abel was working with Lulu Exchange as a Customer Care manager.

Originally from Kottarakkara, Kerala, Anu left behind her husband Abel Rajan and son Haron Abel, who is 9 years old.

Heartfelt condolences - IFL Team

The Kuwaiti Meteorological Department said the country expects light rainfall Monday and will gradually increase on Tuesday, peaking in the afternoon and continue until Wednesday morning, reports Al- Rai daily. Amira Al-Azmi, Head of the Department of Navigational Forecasting Department, told Kuwait News Agency today, that the country is expected to be affected by rainfall as a result of the extension of a surface depression accompanied by a moist air mass that coincides with the presence of an atmospheric depression in the upper layers of the atmosphere that leads to the multiplication of low and medium clouds accompanied by thunderstorms and a decrease in temperature and horizontal visibility in some areas. She added that the chance of light rain begins on Monday, with light to moderate southeasterly winds that will gradually activate, especially in the coastal areas, with waves rising at night to more than 6 feet.

Al-Azmi expected that the chances of rain will gradually increase from Tuesday, as it will peak from afternoon until Wednesday morning, and it will be moderate in its entirety, with active to strong winds, with a speed of more than 70 kilometers per hour, leading to turbulent waves, as they reach a height of 8 feet. She indicated that the maximum temperatures are expected to record a noticeable increase on Monday and Tuesday, between 24 and 27 degrees Celsius, and to decrease again on Wednesday.

In order to prevent money laundering, local banks refuse to provide electronic payment links to home business owners, indicating approval to provide them with electronic payment services, and to transfer the proceeds of their operations to an account designated for that purpose, while other banks are strict in this regard, including the creation of a company or the request for deposits.

According to the banks, the required certificate allows individuals to receive means to accept open payments, similar to large companies with audited budgets, which makes them more sensitive to the possibility of money laundering, terrorist financing, or other acts that violate the law. Sources told Al-Rai daily that some may use these tools to commit crimes.

The sources indicated that payment agents complained to the Central Bank of Kuwait verbally about depriving their individual customers of obtaining the electronic payment gateway service and point-of-sale devices that enable them to settle their payments, arguing that the license they obtained from the Central Bank and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry gives them the right to activate this service to their individual clients, but the banks’ strict stances weaken their ability to expand their business and increase their market share in the home projects market, and from here the story begins.

In the recent period, some electronic payment agents have received growing complaints from their individual clients who work in small businesses such as selling swimming pools, T-shirts, handicrafts, and others, stating that they are unable to obtain electronic payment certificates from banks, as they are refused electronic payment gateway service and point-of-sale devices to complete their operations, and that they can obtain this service if they obtain a commercial license, meaning if they establish a company.

It was said that they had tried other banks to obtain the certificate, but faced difficulties such as obtaining credit cards and transferring their salaries or requesting a deposit that they were not able to make.

To deal with these claims, they turned to their agents who practice electronic payment services, who contacted the banks for further clarification. As a result of the risks of exposure to the violation of AML/CFT instructions associated with this activity, it is difficult from the bank's perspective to allow individuals to accept payments within the limits of corporate transfers.

They made it clear that they do not question the soundness of the business of this segment, and that the requirement of a commercial license to grant the certificate does not carry any complication, indicating that what confirms this is that banks accept to grant the certificate to the holders of commercial licenses, even for one-person companies without capital or founding partners, or microbusiness license holders.

According to the sources, the banks' position is consistent with what they are required to do regarding continuous due diligence in work relations. In order to ensure that these operations are consistent with what is known about the customer, his activity, and the degree of risk associated with him during the duration of this relationship, the operations must be checked during that period.

In their view, this procedure is not complicated as long as the bank guarantees that the payment tools available to the customer are not used to commit acts that violate the law, stating that the bank must comply with instructions regarding money laundering and terrorist financing, according to the "Central" circular.

Applicants of payment certificates are increasingly required to obtain a commercial banking license because it assures the existence of a supervisory regulator that oversees the business and financial accounts of this segment. Unlike individuals who work without regulatory cover, which makes their business more dangerous than companies, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is the supervisory regulator.

Based on regulatory directives issued to all banks regarding the regulation of electronic payment services, it is clear that agents practicing electronic payments were not convinced by this proposition. The instructions for regulating electronic payment of funds and providing payment services for individuals emphasize the need for direct follow-up of agents to ensure that they comply fully with them.

Sources confirmed that 95 of the clients of bank agents practicing electronic payments are individuals, and that the banks' requirement of a commercial license for granting certificates of payments is illegal, along with an unspecified supervision procedure. She indicated that banks give their individual clients the service of receiving money through links, although they do not have commercial licenses, nor do they require payment certificates from them, while they do not allow clients of individual payment agents to use the links of payment and settlement companies licensed by the Central Bank and “commerce”.

Sources noted that the strictness of the banks threatens the survival of payment and settlement companies and prevents home business owners from collecting electronically, contrary to the government's and banks' efforts to transform Kuwait into a financial center and boost digitization locally and globally.

The sources said, “If individual micro-business owners obtain commercial licenses, why would they need the services of payment practitioners to collect their payments, after they are now able to open corporate accounts in banks that guarantee them the flow of their money electronically?”

There was a proposal submitted by Hani Shams, Khalil Abel, Khalil Al-Saleh, Ahmed Lari and Saleh Ashour stating that a National Committee for Regulating and Managing Demographics should be formed in order to address the imbalance, as well as to develop plans for amending the current demographic structure in order to achieve social, economic and job security.

Al Qabas said that the committee would take on tasks and specializations, including conducting a comprehensive study of the population dimensions, as well as developing a labor policy and plan to reach the maximum number of expats at a rate not exceeding 30 percent of Kuwait's population, and at a rate not exceeding 25 percent of Kuwait's citizens for one nationality. The plan’s development, implementation, and completion will be within a period not exceeding seven years, and oblige the concerned authorities to link educational outcomes with the targeted percentages in the plan to bridge the deficit in the labor market of Kuwaiti labor. In addition, expat workers will be replaced with Kuwaiti labor by a rate of no less than ten percent annually in the government sector, and a percentage of not less than five percent in the private sector for a period of five years.

According to a study prepared by the Research and Information Sector of the National Assembly's Studies and Research Department, Kuwait's demographics should be regulated by a national committee affiliated with the Prime Minister, titled "The National Committee for Regulating and Managing Demographics". According to the study, among its objectives is to develop a labor policy in the state, determine the actual needs of the required specializations from foreign workers, and set regulations and laws for expat workers.

Furthermore, it is responsible for resolving all legal, financial and humanitarian issues related to expat workers, as well as ensuring that companies and institutions that employ foreign workers are held accountable, as well as submitting periodic reports on the employment situation and variables to the executive and legislative authorities.

It was claimed that the increase in expat labor, mainly marginal labor, has many security and social implications, and the study focused on achieving a few main objectives, including increasing gross domestic product and raising the standard of living for citizens. With regard to the development of population policies, the plan mainly aims at regulating population growth, both Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti, in a way that improves the demographic composition for the benefit of citizens. It also seeks to improve the labor force in the public and private sectors and deals with population policies.

The plan also addresses issues of developing, qualifying and training the national workforce, as well as improving the quality and productivity of expat workers, as well as maintaining the country's reputation. The report mentioned that the process of national development has resulted in an increase demand for the labor force in the past, and with the small size of the Kuwaiti population, as well as the scarce supply of the national labor force, the general policy of the state tended to facilitate the recruitment and employment of expat labor to compensate for the deficiencies to meet the requirements of the economic expansion, infrastructural development, social services and related activities, disrupting the labor market.

The Kuwait Ministry of Health has formed a special partnership with Abbott Laboratories, an international company specializing in medical devices and healthcare, to meet the local market's demand for pharmaceutical supplies, as part of its efforts to meet local market demands. A joint partnership agreement has been signed between Kuwait Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries (KSP) and Mezzan Holding. The partnership aims to manufacture 26 innovative products locally in Kuwait. Commenting on this new partnership, H.E. Dr. Ahmad Al Awadi, Minister of Health said: “This partnership supports the ministry’s goal of making Kuwait the pharmaceutical hub in the Middle East, placing great importance on the quality of medications and pharmaceutical products that it procures, securing the needs of our country.”

The welfare of our nation is our priority, and today Kuwait has direct access to innovative and quality products that meet local needs, as well as gaining valuable knowledge. Investments from multinational companies like Abbott contribute to the well-being of our local community as well as to the diversification and growth of Kuwait's economy in line with its New Kuwait Vision 2035. We are here today to witness a promising partnership between Abbott and KSP (subsidiary of Mezzan Holding KSCP), a leading Kuwaiti pharmaceutical company.

The partnership marks a milestone for Kuwait as an international pharmaceutical company invests in local manufacturing. Kuwait's Ministry of Health and the US Embassy facilitated and supported the agreement. As Kuwait localizes manufacturing, it will have easier and faster access to these products, as well as the opportunity to receive technology transfers, employment opportunities, and training programs.

As a result of this partnership, Dr. Rashed Khazal, Chairman and Managing Director of KSP, said: "We are immensely proud to be partnering with Abbott in this landmark agreement for Kuwait and our company." Abbott is a solid brand when it comes to quality and innovation and we believe this is the start of a long-term partnership that will help us advance our manufacturing capabilities and the pharmaceutical sector in Kuwait.” With a 15-year track record of successful manufacturing and distribution of pharmaceutical products for local and regional customers, KSP has in recent years invested in its manufacturing lines, manufacturing facilities, and strategic partnerships to develop the product and portfolio range.

With over 120 products available in the Kuwaiti and Middle Eastern markets, the company is committed to expanding its portfolio of high-quality medicines. The Charge d'Affaires at the US Embassy, James Holtsnider, also commented on the partnership and its role in facilitating it, saying, "This is a big deal for Kuwait and Abbott." Kuwait is working hard to create a business-friendly environment that attracts new investment, so this investment will help improve the healthcare ecosystem. In addition, it demonstrates Abbott's long-term commitment to Kuwait and its citizens." He also added: "We are also proud to announce that Abbott has taken on a leadership position as a Board member of the US-Kuwait Business Council, highlighting their commitment to this bilateral relationship."

Among the 12 government institutions and companies for which preliminary studies have been conducted as part of the proposed privatization process are Kuwait Airport, according to the provisions of the Law Regulating Privatization Programs and Operations and its implementing regulations.

Al-Anba daily reported that a preliminary study in this regard does not mean the airport will be privatized.

As the sources pointed out, privatization requires legal procedures, which include the approval of the Supreme Council for Privatization and the presentation to the Council of Ministers for approval, and before that, accurate, comprehensive and specialized studies will be prepared, pointing out that this study was prepared many years ago.

Mazen Al-Nahedh, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Affairs, announced 262 government services will be available exclusively through Sahel.

The success of the application, Al-Nahedh told Al-Rai daily, has contributed to the attainment of Kuwait's digital transformation goals in line with its National Development Plan. The number of Vision 2035 users has exceeded one million, who have completed about 8.610 million services, and have received about 29 million notifications and 17.615 million statements.

He indicated that the number of entities participating in the application is 28, providing 277 services, leaving approximately 400 electronic services with those entities, which have not been converted to “Sahel”; and added that the step comes as a continuation of reaping the fruits of success, and is very supportive of launching the application in completing transactions, without reviewing government agencies, as this will have a great impact in directing the different segments of society to electronic dealing in completing transactions, and on the other hand, easing pressure on government agencies and preventing wasting time in completing transactions manually despite their electronic availability, through the Sahel application.

In addition, we will be able to reduce traffic congestion and direct work energies from each side to other businesses to make the best use of them.

Ali Al-Fahd, head of the Federation of Cooperative Societies, confirmed that the federation refused the companies' requests to increase the price of their products, saying some companies would not supply products to cooperative societies as a result.

According to Al-Fahd, "no company can raise the prices of its commodities without the approval of the Federation, and no decision to fix prices can be revoked."

However, informed sources denied halting the sale of Almarai products based on a court ruling, as well as increasing prices for some of the company’s products, stressing that what was said in this regard is related to a judicial closure order, which came for a period of one day, for the refrigerator displaying the company’s products at the Jahra Association, resulting from a complaint filed 3 years ago by a citizen.

According to the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), the automatic suspension of the files of companies that fail to transfer the salaries of their registered workers has been reactivated. According to sources in the authority, avoiding suspension requires deposited salaries by the seventh day of the due date, according to Al-Qabas daily. PAM stated Thursday that the automatic suspension of files of companies that are not committed to paying salaries “was decided to be implemented during the Corona crisis, starting from March 19, 2020, to remedy the negative effects of the epidemic on business owners and workers.” The authority pointed out that activating the suspension automatically is in accordance with the law and PAM regulations to control the labor market, and is in line with the standards of organizations and bodies concerned with human rights to ensure the rights of workers.

It was noted that the suspension is "a precautionary measure to alert the employer of the necessity to transfer salaries to local financial institutions." PAM emphasized that what has been circulated regarding stopping the renewal and transfer of is not accurate, stressing that the suspension of the company's file does not stop the renewal of work permits for suspended files, and does not stop the transfer of unsuspended files, which confirms that the employment will not be harmed or that they are violating residence laws.

According to sources, the company will not be able to obtain new work permits because of its financial obligations to the workers. To resolve technical difficulties when transferring labor wages to local financial institutions, business owners should find out the reason for rejection from the electronic system.

A source at PAM confirmed that the government’s system automatically follows up on workers’ wages, and enters reasons for non-transfer, as well as reasons for deductions on wages, so that the authority’s specialists can follow up on requests without having to review them personally. If the conditions are met, PAM stated that the employer's file will also be automatically opened, allowing him to submit his requests more easily.

It is expected that the Ministry of Education will terminate the services of around 1,800 expatriate teachers on February 5, according to Al- Anba daily. As a result, the concerned teachers will have sufficient time to prepare for termination, which will take effect at the end of the current academic year.

According to the source, the ministry is keen on implementing Kuwaitization policies in educational institutions, especially for subjects where Kuwaiti teachers or those born to Kuwaiti women who married non-Kuwaitis are sufficient. In accordance with its Kuwaitization policy, the ministry announced two days ago it would recruit Kuwaitis, Kuwaiti citizens born to Kuwaiti wives who marry non-Kuwaitis, Bedouns, and citizens of other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Al- Anba daily reports that the Kuwaiti Association of the Basic Evaluators for Human Rights (KABEHR) has emphasized the need to review the healthcare system for expatriates, including medicine provision. After several doctors criticized recent decisions regarding medical fees for expatriates, the association issued a press release, stating these decisions were made without considering the salaries of expatriate workers and the fact that they pay for health insurance on a yearly basis.

Inability to pay medical fees has led to many expatriates not visiting clinics or hospitals or undergoing necessary tests, according to the association. KABEHR pointed out that health care is one of the basic human rights. The solution shouldn't be at the expense of the weaker party, including families that are burdened with financial obligations as a result of global inflation and high prices, even if there are administrative obstacles, such as an inefficient distribution of medicines or a lopsided demographic structure.

In the association's proposal, health insurance hospitals should be opened immediately, and the Secretariat General of Awqaf should support the healthcare system by providing some coverage for expatriates' treatment costs, such as X-rays, tests, or medicines; explaining that in Islam, Awqaf is a civilized system that provides humanitarian assistance. When such decisions are not thoroughly studied, they will negatively affect Kuwait's international human rights record at a time when Kuwait's government and civil society are promoting Kuwait's civilizational and humanitarian roles to improve its image, the association concluded.

According to a recent scientific study, people who received a third dose of the Corona virus vaccine, or a booster dose, had significant increases in antibodies and protection from the disease.

According to the BBC, Al-Rai daily reports that the BBC report concluded that patients who received the third dose of the vaccine were protected from the disease like healthy people.

Those who contracted the virus and received the vaccine during the epidemic may feel more confident if they leave the house now.

More than 9,000 blood samples were examined in the study.

Compared to the first two doses, the booster dose resulted in a 10-fold increase in antibodies.

The national study included the Bristol Kids Study of the 1990s, which followed thousands of people born in the city over the course of their lives.

During the 1990s, Professor Timpson, co-author of the national study and principal investigator of the Bristol Children Study, said: "The Bristol Children Study provided insight into the response to Coronavirus and the impact of vaccines over the course of the pandemic as participants responded to antibody tests."

"Observing the dynamics of the immune response was fascinating, and seeing the effect of booster doses was reassuring," he said.

The study helped reassure Sheila Smith, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Smith was confined to her home during the lockdown and was hardly out for more than two years.

“It was really difficult,” Smith says. I felt so stressed and so lonely.”

Anne Morris, chief nurse at North Bristol Health Services, hopes this new study will help people with chronic illnesses who have not yet received the booster shot.

“It’s really important that they come and get a booster dose, because only about 60 percent of these groups got the booster doses, and we want to encourage them to get the booster doses now,” she says.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry warned Friday against marketing or selling any product or publication bearing the image of His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Crown Prince or state emblem of Kuwait.

“Article 16 of the ministerial resolution No. 216 of 2014 bans exhibiting, selling, or marketing any product or publication putting a printed a photo of His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Crown Prince or the state emblem,” the ministry Undersecretary Mohammad Al-Enezi told KUNA.

He affirmed that the ministry would not hesitate in taking legal actions against violators.

Al-Enezi cautioned that the ministry inspection teams were carrying sudden raids on stores to catch violators.

He added that the inspectors had already registered a number of violations in this regard.