Category: News

Bye bye Iraqi Airways. Should be interesting to see if this means Kuwait won’t get anything from Iraq. [Article]

I love it how Kuwait always makes it to the most random lists. This time Kuwait is ranked #5 on CNN’s top 10 most shocking moments in the World Cup.

5. France v Kuwait, 1982

France were coasting to victory in this group game in Valladolid, Spain. Leading 3-1 and with the clock ticking, Alain Giresse burst through unchallenged to add a fourth goal.

However, the Kuwaitis claimed they stopped playing because they had heard a whistle, and TV replays clearly picked up the sound of a whistle, presumably blown by somebody in the crowd.

This infuriated Kuwaiti FA president Prince Fahid, who promptly stormed onto the pitch and demanded that his players walked off in protest. Inexplicably, Russian referee Miroslav Stupar bowed to the Kuwaiti protest and chalked off a totally legitimate goal.

To make the situation even more bizarre, France defender Maxime Bossis then went on to score his only international goal in 76 matches to revert the scoreline to its rightful position with just a minute remaining. [CNN Article]

I’ve already mentioned before that I think thats actually one of the coolest moments in the World Cup but I can see how some people might see it otherwise. You can watch a summary of the match in question narrated by Sean Connery by clicking [Here]

Great photos from the Boston Globe. [Link]

There is an article on CNN about Kuwait and obesity in which they’re blaming obesity on fast food joints and the fact that there is little to do in Kuwait but eat. I personally would have to disagree with that idea since blaming fast food joints and the lack of activities is the easy thing to do.

Fast food joints are everywhere in every country and the only way they play a role in obesity is if you go and eat there. Its people who make the decision to go with fast food when other healthier choices are available. If I can quit junk food ANYONE can quit junk food. I also disagree with the lack of activities part since other than clubbing and pubbing there are a ton of activities to do. Now if it was 1994 then yeah I might agree with that but today there are way more things to do then back then (we only had ice skating!).

Eat healthier people and keep reading Fahad’s post. Here is a link to the CNN article [Link]

Just saw these pictures taken in Saudi Arabia. Looks like they had some serious flooding because of the rain. [Link]

Update: The pictures above are from yesterday. You can see more pictures, videos and even read up on it via a Saudi blog dedicated to the torrential rains [Here]

The video below on the other hand is from last year and it shows a dramatic rescue of a woman from a car that was just about to get swept away by a flood. [YouTube]

Amazing first-person shooter view footage of Dutch marines boarding and capturing a hijacked container ship. [YouTube]

via

Naif al-Mutawa the creator of The 99 is currently featured on the front page of CNN US edition. Not only that but President Obama “singled him out for special praise for promoting international understanding”. Now that’s pretty cool. Check out the article [Here]

Update: Here is the video in which Obama talks about him

[YouTube]

This is an interesting article that was released today in the Times Online. Basically Kuwait is seeking $1.2 billion in compensation from Iraq because during the Gulf War Saddam stole 10 planes and millions of dollars worth of parts. Iraq kept telling Kuwait they didn’t have any money but then went and ordered $6 billion worth of planes from Boeing. [Link]

Thanks Dymatize

Update: Below is a picture a reader recently took while in Iraq. Thats the current state of the Iraqi Airways.

Thanks Keith

Last night I posted about the second fire at the Animal Friends shelter and I now just gotthis email which they sent out on their mailing list that contains more information on the fire and on how you can help:

There has been a second much more devastating fire at Animal Friends. This fire was in the main building and 39 animals perished. Several more are struggling to hold on.

Two fire investigations have shown that the fires were caused by a surge of electricity from the main lines. After the first fire, an inspection of the shelter elecrical system was conducted and smoke detectors and fire extinguishers were puchased and donated enmasse. Despite these precautions, a massive surge occured to the now weakened main electrical lines. All staff were sleeping nearby when the fire started. The fire was not discovered until aerosol cans near the source of the fire began to explode. At this point, the fire was fully involved and too dangerous for anyone but the fire department to fight. Our shelter staff acted herroically to save as many animals as possible, and the fire rescue team also showed great courage as they entered the building to release the dogs from their firey prisons while the fire was still burning. Despite these acts of bravery, at least ten animals died in the fire and many were so badly injured that the arriving shelter staff had to work frantically and desperately to triage them and provide euthanasia where necessary. Thus far, the fire has cost the lives of 8 dogs and 31 cats.

One whole section of the shelter is completely destroyed the entire building will require extensive repairs from smoke and fire damage. Animal Friends and the animals we care for have never needed your help more. Animal Friends simply will not survive without help from all of you. Below is a list of things we need in order of priority.

1. CASH! The rebuilding is going to cost KD50,000. Please donate what you can, hold small fundraisers and get as many people involved as possible. Checks should be made payable to: Ayeshah Waleed Al-Humaidhi and below is our bank information for a direct transfer. If you need further information please call 97377867 or e-mail [email protected].

Bank Name: Bank of Kuwait and the Middle East (BKME)
Branch: South Surra
Name: Ayeshah Waleed Al-Humaidhi
Address Line 1: P.O.Box 71, Safat 13001
Address Line 2: Kuwait
Account: 42043311
SWIFT: BKMEKWKW

2. Foster Homes. We have no shelter and currently have the animals housed at the Royal Animal Hospital and in outdoor enclosures at the shelter. These are obviously temporary fixes. The construction is going to take about 3 months and we are appealing to all of you to house an animal until it can be adopted or returned to the rebuilt shelter. If you are able to foster an animal please call 66187301 or e-mail [email protected].

3. Volunteers. We need help with clean-up and helping care for the animals. We need to salvage anything and everything we can from the building before the demolition starts. This weekend, Friday-Saturday (26-27) are going to be huge clean-up days. Your help would be hugely appreciated. The map will be uploaded to the website shortly.

4. In Kind Donations. We will be putting together an extensive list of items we need in the next few days and will send it out to the list as well as post to our website.

Thank you in advance for your help and support and we hope to rise out of the ashes bigger and better.

Turns out the cops busted the largest marijuana farm in Kuwait which funnily some guy was just growing casually in his front yard. If anyone knows the exact address please post it below! [Link]

via iLSuL6ana and Ansam

The headline is taken from an Arab Times article. I had previously read that one person had died because of the celebrations but it seems the actual number is eleven. That’s really terrible… [Link]

Thanks Loza

Yesterday a skyscraper in Kuwait City caught on fire at around 3PM. Judging by the video it seems the short building to the right of the skyscraper caught fire first and that contributed to the skyscraper catching fire. [YouTube]

Thanks mabkw!

Update: Below is a picture taken from q8blackmarket.com showing the small building on fire.

I found the winning photo for the World Press Photo of the Year disappointing, but the one above, which came first under the General News category was my favorite of the bunch. Check out all the winners [Here]

I just found out CNN has some 360° Videos. Basically you view a video and during the video you can turn around 360° and look up and down. If you want to try it out here is one shot in Haiti after the earthquake. It feels like you’re walking around over there. [Video]

Supposedly 3 passengers on a flight from Mumbai to Kuwait didn’t have any seats to sit in and were made to stand for the whole flight. Kuwait Airways is denying this incident took place. Now I am not sure how reliable this news is since according to the news agency that reported this, Kuwait is located in Africa? Very weird. [Link]