Category: Kuwait

Speaking of a smoking ban…

A group of young students surprised shoppers at one of Kuwait’s most frequented malls by shouting anti-smoking slogans and carrying posters asking smokers to stub out their cigarettes.

The stunt, unprecedented in Kuwait where smoking is a major issue, was meant to embarrass those who flouted the law that bans smoking in malls and other closed places, Shuaa Al Qadhi, the head of public relations, said.

Several of the shoppers and people at the mall felt uneasy when they saw the young girls and boys urging them to put out their cigarettes and they complied, she said, local daily Al Qabas reported on Tuesday.

Smoking has been banned in closed areas in Kuwait since 1994, but the rule is often broken.

A field study has found that a cigarette is lit every 58 seconds at Kuwait International Airport and that 20 per cent of grown ups and 11 per cent of teenagers regularly smoke in Kuwait, the daily said. [Source]

Did anyone take pictures or shoot any video of this?

Arabic messages represent 1.2% of all public tweets [Source]
Kuwait has the most number of tweets in the Arab world [Source]

via @nibaq

inister of Public Works and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Dr. Fadhil Safar stressd here on Monday the need to take the necessary requirements and regulations to prohibit smoking and the hubbly bubbly, known as “shisha,” in public places, restaurants and cafes.

The minister told KUNA while attending the 12th meeting of the Higher Committee for planning in Kuwait Municipality that smoking and shisha constitute negative aspects of civilization and harmful to public health.

For his part, head of the follow-up office of the Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Abdul Karim Al-Zaid said that the committee commissioned the Technical Office of the Minister of State for Municipal Affairs to study the possibility of banning shisha at once.

He said the High Commission had reviewed and discussed the report and recommended a joint coordination between the Technical Office and the Legal Department for taking necessary action and to stiffen sanctions on such phenomenon. [Source]

I’m not sure if they’re talking about a complete ban on shishas or what exactly. The article says they want to ban shishas in “public places, restaurants and cafes” and to me that sounds like a complete ban which I think would be a bit extreme. On the other hand it would make a lot more sense if they want to ban shishas from “indoor” public places, restaurants and cafes. Personally I would rather they focus on banning indoor smoking first since to me that’s a bigger issue and in any case, by banning indoor smoking it would basically also ban indoor shishas.

According to K’S PATH, thats a picture of Sulaibikhat beach here in Kuwait, home to mangroves, flamingoes and many bird species. Sucks. [Link]

via LWDLIK

Update: Below are before and after pictures. According to K’s PATH they manually collected approximately 2 tonnes waste from this stretch itself in a single clean-up operation of 4 hours. There’s still lots to do to protect this fragile habitat and they’ll be back at Sulaibikhat to clean it up on Fri Jan 6th, Fri Jan 13th and Fri Jan 20th. For more information or if you’re interested in volunteering, click [Here]

According to the Lurkerz blog the PS Vita is now available in Kuwait in Rihab complex. According to his post the PS Vita (Wifi+3G) with two games is being sold for KD230 and KD180 without any games. For more information check out his post [Here]

I have no idea what this game is but I hope it involves driving down the Gulf Road with an uzi chasing down assholes. [Link]

I’m a huge fan of BoConcept so I found this news very disappointing. It seems they weren’t doing so well in Kuwait and so they’ve decided to close down their store and leave Kuwait by February. They were my favorite furniture store and it sucks that they’re closing.

Thanks Patrick

Decathlon, the giant French sporting good chain is coming to Kuwait and opening up in place of Virgin Megastore at Marina Mall.

Chili’s Too (the mini version of the Chili’s restaurant) is opening in Salhiya right behind Fauchon. They have another branch further down the street at Discovery Mall so I wonder if that one will close once this one opens up.

Thanks Patrick

Just heard that Virgin Megastore is going to be closing down by end of January. I’m not sure if they’re reopening somewhere else but their closure definitely isn’t a surprise. Their book collection is small, their music section is smaller and their movie section practically non existent. Still, it would be sad to see it go.

Thanks EEK! | Photo by Bashar

Update: Projekt Cyan just got me more information regarding the closure of Virgin. Firstly they won’t be relocating, they’re shutting down their Kuwait operation for good. Secondly, they’re also closing down the Moa, Pre Natal and Piazza Itala stores, all of which are located adjacent to Virgin. They’re instead going to group the 4 store spaces together and open up Decathlon which is a huge French sports equipment store.

People, when you stop seeing water and just see bread, thats when you should get the hint and stop trying to feed the fish. They don’t want your food, they would rather be swimming in clean clear water.

Thanks Mishal

Not sure what this is exactly but I’m all for street performers at the Marina Crescent walk path. [YouTube]

KFC in Kentucky broke the world record for the largest sized serving of fried chicken. Previously the record was held by Kuwait. [Link]

According to this article on Al Watan it looks like tints might be legalized. 30% tints would be allowed on all cars and all windows except for the front windshield.

I hope this happens since I love tints and I heart Huper Optik. I can’t imagine driving in the summer without a car tint anymore since a good tint makes HUGE difference. [Link]

Thanks Othman

According to a reader Go Sport at Avenues are now selling MMA gear. They’re currently carrying two brands which are Venum and Bad boy. Personally, I’m still holding out for a store that carries TapOut and Affliction gear.

Thanks Omar