KUWAIT: American universities are experiencing a noticeable decline in students from Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, with decreases also seen among students from Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE, reports Al-Qabas daily. Conversely, Middle Eastern student enrollment in other popular Western destinations like the UK and Australia remains relatively stable, with a growing interest observed in East and Southeast Asian countries for higher education, according to The National. Data from the Open Doors for International Education report reveals a significant drop in the number of Saudi and Qatari students studying in the United States during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Factors such as personal safety concerns, including the risk of gun violence, and high tuition fees have been cited as reasons for this shift away from American universities. Vinay Loungani, sales director for the Middle East and North Africa at Crimson Education, notes a decline in interest in the United States from the region due to safety, financial, and geographical reasons. Dr. Ryan Allen of Chapman University and Dr. Krishna Bista of Morgan State University suggest that an unwelcoming climate may deter Middle Eastern students from pursuing higher education in the US. Changes in scholarship systems and the availability of high-quality educational institutions in the Middle East have also influenced students’ decisions to study abroad.

For instance, the presence of institutions like New York University Abu Dhabi and American universities in Qatar has contributed to students opting to stay in their home countries. In contrast, the UK has seen an increase in Middle Eastern student numbers over the past decade, with universities capitalizing on higher tuition fees for international students. This trend has been facilitated by the cap on tuition fees for British students, making UK universities an attractive option for foreign students.

KUWAIT:  The crescent moon was not sighted at the Saudi Tamir and Sudair observatories. The Saudi Meteorological News Agency reported low visibility conditions, anticipating that the Shawwal crescent would not be easily visible. Eid Al Fitr will be celebrated on 10th April

KUWAIT: As is customary, with a working day sandwiched between two official holidays, the Ministries Complex experienced a noticeable case of employee absenteeism yesterday, as many chose to extend their Eid Al-Fitr holiday by including Sunday and Monday. During a visit by Al-Qabas to the Ministries Complex, despite numerous offices being devoid of employees, there was a sense of calmness, with transactions smoothly handled by those officials on duty for the small number of visitors present. With the scarcity of visitors, employees engaged in side conversations, predominantly centered around the soaring prices during Eid, holiday destinations, the outcomes of the National Assembly elections held the previous Thursday, traffic congestion, and speculations about the winners in European League matches. Sources told the daily that the employee attendance rate did not surpass 51%, with a significant number opting to request permission to leave before the end of the workday, with permission requests reaching up to 62% in most government agencies. Officials from various legal affairs sectors in some government agencies confirmed to Al-Qabas that employees’ leave during this period was pre-planned. They emphasized that employees have the right to select their periodic leave dates after securing approval from their superiors, and they may also avail themselves of medical services, provided that there are personnel available to attend to patients and ensure uninterrupted workflow.

These officials cautioned that individuals absent without excuse during these two days (Sunday and Monday) will be referred to legal affairs for necessary disciplinary measures. Similarly, employees who clock in but leave work afterward are being monitored. Inspection tours are being conducted to ensure employees’ regularity and the timely completion of tasks without disruption. Immediate resolution of customer complaints is prioritized following the Council of Ministers’ directives emphasizing the necessity of efficient service delivery without inconveniencing citizens.

Meanwhile, the phenomenon of mass student absenteeism has escalated, with most schools experiencing a complete lack of student presence. In contrast, teachers and administrators have demonstrated remarkable dedication to their work, reports Al-Qabas daily. Educational authorities attribute the absence of students to the convergence of factors such as the last ten days of Ramadan and the imminent Eid al-Fitr celebrations.

KUWAIT: The Public Prosecution has referred 12 secondary schools minors to the State Security, after it was found that they had joined the terrorist organization ISIS and incited others to join it and adopt its ideas, reports Al-Qabas daily. The source explained that some of these events were discovered through investigations with members of terrorist cells who were recently arrested, while others were discovered through individual cases, after they were monitored by the Ministry of Interior as being involved in belonging to the terrorist group, and were subjected to intensive investigations and charged with committing crimes against the state security. The source confirmed that investigations proved that these juveniles announced, through clips and blog posts on social media, their support for the terrorist group ISIS, and incited their peers to affiliate with this ideology. The source pointed out that some of those accused in terrorist cells who are currently on trial were found to be communicating with juveniles to deceive them, and inciting them with messages via social networking sites with phrases such as ‘The beautiful ‘houris’ are waiting for you… Leave the social networking sites and hurry to heaven’.

Recruit
The source indicated that those accused in the terrorist cells sought to recruit students and juveniles to believe in their terrorist ideas and assist them in their criminal plans to harm the state. The source concluded that many of the juvenile students refused to submit to the terrorist cells and quickly informed their families about them and the parents informed the Ministry of Interior. The source stressed the need for parents to monitor their children, follow what they publish on social media sites, discover any criminal deviation, and be careful of everything prohibited by the law, stressing the danger of neglecting to monitor their children.

Banned
An informed source said that the Public Prosecution investigated 51 State Security cases last year, 2023, including cases of incitement and calls to join criminal and banned terrorist groups, and other cases, and it is expected that juvenile cases will contribute to an increase in the percentage of these cases during the current year, 2024. The source pointed out that investigations are still continuing to search for any crime, whether committed by juveniles or others, and to carry out preemptive strikes to control security and arrest anyone who tries to transgress the law. The source stressed that there were summonses made by the Ministry of the Interior for juveniles who were observed being followed on many social media sites and clips of suspicious people inciting to join terrorist groups. After questioning them, it turned out that these juveniles were sympathetic to them but had no terrorist affiliations or tendencies, and their summoning was out of caution and more accurate knowledge.

KUWAIT: The Criminal Court sentenced two Egyptian brothers to imprisonment for two and a half years for fraudulently usurping KD 11,000 from a Kuwaiti citizen’s account. They were accused of hacking into the consumer protection database of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and exploiting it to steal money from Kuwaiti citizens and expatriates via WhatsApp after claiming to be calling from the Consumer Protection Department. (Arab Times)

KUWAIT: In a recent advisory issued by the Meteorological Department, citizens are urged to brace themselves for inclement weather conditions looming over the nation. The department has warned of sporadic rain, occasionally accompanied by thunderstorms, along with brisk winds expected to exceed speeds of 50 kilometers per hour. These weather patterns may lead to reduced visibility in certain areas and could result in sea waves surging to heights surpassing 7 feet.

The duration of this weather warning has been set for 12 hours, commencing at 09:00 this morning and extending until 21:00 this evening. It is advised for residents to exercise caution and stay updated with the latest developments regarding the weather situation. Take necessary precautions and stay indoors whenever possible to ensure personal safety amidst these challenging weather conditions.