Category: News

It looks like the camera ban was just a rumor since Kuwait Times have posted a retraction! [Link]

On Saturday, November 20, 2010 the Kuwait Times published an article titled ‘Multi ministry camera ban frustrates artists’ in which incorrect information was provided. The newspaper regrets failing to verify the information. The article wrongly stated that a ban on DSLR cameras was implemented by the Ministries of Information, Social Affairs and Finance. This information is false. In a follow up investigation, it was proved that no such ban has been issued. We regret this error and deeply apologize for any inconvenience caused.

We apologize for any inconvenience? After having the world mock us based on their article they apologize for the inconvenienced caused? I would really hope the government fines them or gives them some form of punishment for all the bad publicity they gave Kuwait with their article.

It’s 28 minutes long but it’s worth watching. This law is just unbelievable, I can’t believe this is actually being enforced. You can’t take photos at the old markets, you can’t take pictures of the Kuwait Towers, you can’t take pictures at the Scientific Center, you can’t take pictures of anything anymore. [Video]

Update: Arab Times finally have written about this [Link]

It seems the ministry has banned the use of DSLR cameras (pictured above) in public places, streets and malls. You can take pictures with regular camera’s and camera phones but not with DSLR’s? That’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard.

I mean seriously whats the difference between a DSLR and Point & Shoot? Both can take pictures and both can have zoom lenses. Why ban the use of DSLR’s in public and not Point & Shoot cameras? I am not saying they should ban P&S cameras I’m just trying to highlight how ridiculous this new law is.

Maybe if someone from the ministry takes a few moments to go to flickr.com and search for the word Kuwait they can see exactly the kind of talented work they will be killing with this law. Maybe then they will realize how big a mistake this is.

You can read more about this on Kuwait Times [Here]

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 2: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has activated decision No. 614/1967 which allows foreigners, who enter Kuwait on tourist visas and stay in five-star hotels, to consume alcohol, reports Al-Shahed daily. Sources said alcohol will be served in specially allocated places and the guests will not be allowed to drink in public places. MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaei reacted to the report, saying “it is either a joke or certain parties are testing waters to see if the idea will work.” Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Al-Tabtabaei said “the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has denied all such reports and added that it did not issue any such circular in 1977.” [Source]

Kuwait Times predicted this 3 years ago [Link]

According to Forbes, two out of the Top 10 online newspapers in MENA are Kuwait based. Al Watan came in at #2 and Al Rai at #8. The next local newspaper comes in far behind at #39 which is Al Anba. Both Arab Times and Kuwait Times didn’t make the Top 50.

1- Youm Al Sabea – Egypt
2- Al Watan Newspaper – Kuwait
3- Chorouk – Algeria
4- El Heddaf – Algeria
5- Al Riyadh – Saudi Arabia
6- El Khabar – Algeria
7- Gulf News – United Arab Emirates
8- Al Rai Newspaper – Kuwait
9- Ennahar – Algeria
10- Al Ghad – Jordan

For the full top 50 list and more information here is the [Link]

via Jad

KUWAIT: The national holiday celebrations next year will be completely foamless, reported Al-Qabas. The Environmental Public Authority (EPA) recently announced that an agreement was reached to ban the use or import of foam sprays in the country. The move is an attempt to control the chaotic use of the substance that has experienced an increase in popularity these past few years. “The EPA has reached an agreement with the Interior Ministry, the Kuwait Municipality and the Ministry of Health to ban the substance for being a serious health risk,” said the Director of the Industrial Environment Department at the EPA, Mohammad Al-Enizy. The substance has been accused of causing allergic reactions to the eyes and skin in addition to containing carcinogen material. “A detailed report was sent to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to stop importing or selling foam sprays in the country,” Al-Enizy added. [Source]

This was in the papers a few days ago, not sure how I missed it. I guess I am now looking forward to national holiday celebrations.

Thanks Mike

Saw this article in Arab Times today and thought it was worth sharing.

I just read about this on Autoblog and thought it was a pretty cool idea and one they should apply here in Kuwait as well.

Police in Abu Dhabi take traffic violations very seriously, and they’re reportedly adding a new tool to their arsenal – public shaming. After the evening news bulletin, videos will be shown of various traffic offenses along with the fines and penalties they incur. They have already lined up 30 such video violations and plan to run the series for a month.

It would be cooler though if the show was more like the popular reality American TV show COPS. [Link]

Did anyone feel an earthquake around 2:25PM?

Update: Looks like an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7 hit near a city called Kazerun in Southern Iran. More information [Here]

Great news which you can read over [Here]

I’m more interested in the Reuters photo used in the article which I’ve posted above. I thought Reuters was against photoshopped images yet the one above looks fake. It looks like someone took all the skyscrapers in Kuwait and then shoved them next to each other… but I could be wrong.

I know being 40 isn’t like being #1 or in the top 10 or top 20 but it’s still an accomplishment since Kuwait according to Newsweek is the best Arab country in the world. The results were based on Education, Health, Quality of Life, Economic Dynamism and Political Environment. Kuwait came in 24th place for Quality of Life while it loss mostly in the Education category coming in 76th place. That’s not good news. Lebanon on the other hand didn’t even make the list! Now that’s embarrassing. [Link]

Thanks Ahmed

This really doesn’t make much sense to me. [Link]

Thanks instant cravings

Two years back I posted about the possibility of Kuwait building nuclear plants, well it looks like they’re going to be building four! I just hope they don’t put the guy in charge of the sewage treatment plants to handle the nuclear power plants. [Link]

Kuwaitis are consuming almost more water than the country can produce.

An estimated 1.5 million cubic meters of water was being consumed daily in Kuwait, dangerously close to country’s maximum production capacity at, the business news site Arabian Business reported.

According to the report Kuwait, which produces nearly all of its water from desalination plants, produces just 1.51 million cubic meters of water a year.

Looks like next year we are going to have water cuts in addition to the power cuts. [Link]

Thanks Burhan

Spotted this bus on my way into work this morning. Turns out there was a building under construction that was lifting some metal beams via a crane but the beams crossed over the main road where a Citybus was passing by.

On a similar subject some of you might not be aware of this but the employees of KPTC, the public blue buses are on strike because they’re protesting a KD50 salary cut. [News]