KUWAIT: The criminal court yesterday ordered two ruling family members to pay a KD 2,000 fine each for illegal possession of weapons and ammunition. This ruling came in view of the new weapons' collection law that offered a grace period to hand over unlicensed weapons without penalty, before the law was put into practice. The law includes prison penalties and fines up to KD 10,000.

Secret visit

Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Minister of State for Planning and Development Hind Al-Subaih yesterday made a sudden secret inspection visit to the Hawalli labor department without being escorted by any of its ministry's senior officials. She checked work progress, went directly to the applicants' waiting room and listened to complaints of people there, said informed sources. The sources added that minister was surprised to find out that the department was understaffed compared to the number of applicants. Further, the sources said that after touring the building, Subaih visited the Manpower Public Authority where she met with Acting Director Ahmad Al-Moussa and recommended immediate measures to end staff shortages in various labor departments.

By Meshaal Al-Enezi