KUWAIT: Efforts are currently being exerted to carry out a major consumer awareness campaign aimed at reducing wastage of State subsidies by rationalizing the consumption of subsidized food supplies, electricity and water; in addition to raising the citizens’ awareness on the importance of preserving the State’s resources, reports Al-Anba daily. Chairman of the Consumer Protection Development Committee and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Consumer Protection Association Mishal Al-Mana confirmed in a statement to the daily that the Consumer Protection Development Committee, which was formed by the Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdullah Al- Joaan through Resolution No. 20/2024, reports directly to the minister, agreed during its meeting to conduct this campaign.

The National Consumer Awareness Committee had earlier submitted the proposal to carry out the campaign to the minister. According to Al-Mana, the campaign will be with the participation of several concerned ministries like Commerce, Information, Health and Social Affairs, and other government agencies. He said the committee is keen on achieving economic, environmental, and social goals; explaining that the economic goal is reducing the cost of State subsidies. He explained that the citizens should obtain only the necessary food supplies and dispensing those do not reduces the cost for the State.

KUWAIT: A recent power outage in parts of the Nozha and Mansouriya areas has exacerbated Kuwait’s ongoing electricity crisis. The outage, which lasted for several hours, was caused by the malfunctioning of the main transfer station, Abdullah Al-Salem “M”. Despite the relatively mild summer conditions, representatives and experts are raising alarms about the country’s energy infrastructure.

Dr. Badr Al-Mulla, a prominent representative, expressed concern over the outage occurring before the peak season of high electricity loads. He criticized the government’s lack of a clear strategy to address the issue and called for urgent action, including public discussions on the electricity problem.

MP Abdul Wahab Al-Issa highlighted the inadequacy of the Gulf connection in meeting Kuwait’s energy demands. He warned of escalating deficits, projecting significant shortfalls in the coming years.

Other representatives, including Abdul Karim Al-Kandari and Falah Al-Hajri, emphasized the need for exceptional measures to prevent further power failures. Al-Kandari called for improved government accountability, citing delays in implementing electricity production projects.

Al-Jarida, a local newspaper, previously warned of an impending electricity crisis due to urban expansion and population growth. The high temperatures in summer, exceeding 50 degrees Celsius, exacerbate the situation, leading to increased demand for cooling and air conditioning.

In response to the crisis, Representative Abdullah Al-Mudhaf urged the government to present an urgent plan to address the deteriorating situation. Meanwhile, Dr. Falah Al-Hajri proposed ending the school year early to reduce energy consumption, particularly in schools with no students or educational activities.

As Kuwait braces for the summer season, stakeholders are calling for coordinated efforts to mitigate the risks posed by the electricity crisis. Urgent action is needed to ensure the reliability and sustainability of the country’s energy supply.

KUWAIT: During the first quarter of 2024, the purchases of gold by citizens and residents of Kuwait experienced a decline, primarily fueled by a decrease in acquisitions of bullion. According to quarterly data from the World Gold Council, purchases of the precious metal dropped by approximately 2.44%, equating to a reduction of 100 kilograms compared to the same period last year. However, purchases of gold jewelry and ornaments remained consistent.

Specifically, data revealed that citizens and residents of Kuwait bought a total of 4 tons of jewelry, ornaments, and bullion during the period from January to March 2024, down from 4.1 tons recorded during the same period in 2023.

While purchases of bullion stabilized at 3 tons, the acquisition of bullion decreased by 10% during the first quarter of 2024, amounting to only 1 ton compared to 1.1 tons in the corresponding period of 2023.

The World Gold Council also highlighted a broader trend in the Middle East region, noting a 15% decrease in demand for gold bullion and coins, totaling 25.6 tons in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year. Despite this decline, demand in the region remained above the 5-year average by 35%.

Meanwhile, investment demand for gold bullion and coins in Turkey surged by 50% every quarter, reaching 44 tons in the first quarter of 2024. However, demand witnessed a 12% annual decline compared to the previous year.

In Saudi Arabia, gold demand rose by 5% annually to 3.8 tons in the first quarter of 2024, with a slight quarterly increase compared to the last quarter of 2023. Conversely, the Emirates experienced a 10% decline in demand for bullion and coins, attributed to investor caution amidst high gold prices, despite ongoing interest in safe-haven assets.

KUWAIT: Tragedy struck in the Salmi area as a Syrian national lost his life in a fatal accident involving his vehicle, according to a security source speaking to Al-Rai.

The Ministry of Interior’s operations received a distressing report from a concerned citizen regarding a person who had been run over and trapped in the Salmi area. Responding to the call, security personnel, accompanied by medical emergency responders, rushed to the reported location.

Upon arrival, authorities discovered the victim trapped beneath the tires of a car. Despite concerted efforts by the responders, they were unable to save the victim, who was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene.

The security source revealed that the victim, identified as being of Syrian nationality, was engaged in repairing his vehicle when the tragic incident occurred. The investigation unveiled that the car unexpectedly rolled over him while he was underneath, leading to fatal injuries.

Authorities have registered the incident as a case of accidental death caused by being run over. This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety precautions, especially during vehicle maintenance activities.

KUWAIT: In a tragic incident, an Egyptian worker lost his life after a fall from the roof of a building under construction in the Salmiya area. The unfortunate event occurred while the worker was engaged in his duties.

Upon receiving the report, security and forensic teams swiftly arrived at the scene to conduct a thorough examination. Subsequently, the investigating officer ordered the removal of the deceased’s body, which was then transferred to the forensic medicine department for further analysis.

Following protocol, authorities took the contractor responsible for the construction into custody. A case has been registered related to the fatal fall from a height, as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident continue.

KUWAIT: The Meteorological Department has issued a weather forecast for today, Tuesday, indicating a mix of hot, partly cloudy to cloudy conditions throughout the day. Light to moderate southeasterly to southerly winds are expected, occasionally reaching speeds of 15-55 km/hour. There is also a possibility of scattered rain, at times accompanied by thunder, along with potential dust in certain areas.

As night falls, the weather is predicted to remain moderate with partly cloudy to cloudy skies. Winds will continue to blow from the southeast to the south at speeds ranging from 12 to 42 km/hour. Similar to daytime conditions, there is a chance of scattered rain, occasionally accompanied by thunderstorms.

The anticipated maximum temperature for the day is forecasted to reach 31 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is expected to be around 25 degrees Celsius. Residents are advised to stay updated on weather alerts and take necessary precautions accordingly.