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Arab Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Arab Times
40 Years Same Price: Kuwait's Timeless 100-Fils Falafel Sandwich
KUWAIT CITY, Jun 2: In a country of gleaming towers and booming oil revenues, a humble 100-fils falafel sandwich continues to quietly tell a story of compassion, dignity, and policy with purpose. Since 1984, a decree No. 44/1984 was issued in Kuwait under the direction of the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, not for oil, infrastructure, or defense, but for falafel. The Amir's directive mandated that the price of a falafel sandwich remain fixed at 100 fils (about $0.33), ensuring that the nation's poorest residents would always have access to an affordable, filling meal. At first glance, a falafel sandwich may seem insignificant in the wider scope of economic policy. But for tens of thousands of low-wage earners in Kuwait, many earning less than two dinars a day, that sandwich can mean the difference between hunger and sustenance. These workers, who often juggle the burdens of rent, remittances, and survival, rely on such basic food items to get through each day. While some eateries have slightly reduced the size of the falafel or the sandwich over the years to maintain margins, the price tag remains unchanged. And this is not by chance. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through its Customer Protection Department, continues to actively enforce the 1984 decree. Inspectors routinely visit restaurants to verify compliance and have issued numerous fines to violators attempting to raise prices. "The law is still enforced," one inspector told Arab Times. 'If anyone sees a restaurant charging more, they should report it. We will take action.' More than just a cheap meal, the 100-fils falafel represents Kuwait's social conscience—an enduring symbol of a leadership philosophy that prioritized the basic dignity of all residents, regardless of income. In a time when global food prices are rising sharply, Kuwait's unwavering commitment to this modest sandwich offers a rare and powerful example of policy rooted in humanity. Bread (Khubz) at 50 Fils: State-Baked and Subsidized Another cornerstone of Kuwait's food strategy is bread, produced largely by the Kuwait Flour Mills & Bakeries Company (KFMB)—a state-owned enterprise. KFMB supplies Arabic bread (khubz) and other bakery items at prices unchanged for decades. A packet of five khubz still costs just 50 fils, with the government subsidizing flour to ensure bakeries can maintain low prices without sacrificing quality. Ration Cards and Essential Commodities Beyond bakeries and sandwich stands, Kuwait's subsidy net extends to household staples. Rice, sugar, flour, powdered milk, lentils, cooking oil, and infant formula are distributed to Kuwaiti families via a ration card system, ensuring affordability even during periods of international food price spikes. In 2023 alone, the government allocated KD 386 million for subsidies, 37.5% of which went toward basic food items. This proactive financial commitment reflects the state's desire to cushion citizens from the inflationary effects of global shipping bottlenecks, conflict-driven shortages, and currency fluctuations. Inflation Bites—But Not Without a Fight Despite these efforts, 2024 has seen food prices in Kuwait rise by 25–30% for many imported goods, according to local market reports. The increase has been largely attributed to rising freight costs and global instability. To counteract unjustified pricing, Kuwait's Ministry of Commerce and Industry has taken a hardline stance: suppliers are prohibited from raising prices on essential food items without prior approval, and cooperative societies are required to maintain standard pricing levels across the board. 'We're seeing price controls not just as emergency measures but as part of a larger philosophy,' said a representative from a local co-op union. 'The idea is to protect both citizens and long-term economic stability.' A Social Model Worth Noticing While some may argue that such policies aren't scalable or sustainable elsewhere, Kuwait's approach offers a unique model of resilience through regulation. Anecdotal evidence even suggests some school cafeteria staples have seen price increases of just 50 fils over the past 15 years, underscoring a national culture of moderation in food pricing. At a time when other nations are struggling to keep supermarket shelves affordable, Kuwait is preserving a decades-old promise: that a meal—or at least a sandwich—will always be within reach of every pocket.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A small plane crashed into a San Diego neighborhood, killing multiple people and leaving a trail of torched debris. Here's how the tragedy unfolded
In the stillness of night, a quiet, tree-lined street in a San Diego neighborhood was plunged into chaos when a plane clipped a power line and crashed – turning cars into fireballs and sending residents fleeing in a haze of smoke and confusion. The pilot of the plane, a Cessna 550 business jet, had just told air traffic controllers that although the weather wasn't good they would continue with landing, according to air traffic control audio recorded by 'I just want to see what I'm in for here,' the pilot told a controller when asking about weather conditions at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. The controller reported poor conditions – visibility of a half mile and a cloud ceiling of 200 feet. 'All right, that doesn't sound great but we'll give it a go,' the pilot responded. Roughly half an hour after that exchange, the plane crashed. There was no sign of any problem, and no emergency was declared. Six people were onboard the flight, officials said, and when asked if anyone on the plane survived, San Diego Fire Assistant Chief Dan Eddy answered: 'I don't know on that point, but no, I don't believe so.' At least two people were confirmed dead, according to the San Diego Police Department. Eight people in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood – a military housing community – were injured, including two treated for minor injuries at the scene and six others who received medical attention, police said. Responding fire crews and police officers sprinted through thick fog in a race against the encroaching flames. After hitting the power line the plane slammed into a home and left a trail of debris along the street, spilling fuel that sparked a chain of fires. Firefighters went door to door, urgently evacuating residents – parents clutching infants, families half-asleep. One resident told CNN affiliate KFMB they were jolted awake by a thunderous boom, looked outside, and saw a 'fireball going down the street.' As his wife grabbed their dogs and children, he ran to help evacuate the family whose home was directly struck by the plane. 'I ended up grabbing two of the kids over the fence, took them over to the neighbors, came back, we grabbed the ladder, got the wife out, got the two dogs out, got the husband out.' Another resident told KFMB the moment he opened his door, he saw his neighbor's car explode. 'First thing I do is run upstairs, grab my children, my wife and I'm in my underwear. I just walk out,' he said. 'We ended up helping a few neighbors get out. That's all that we could do' The destruction stretched for at least a quarter mile down the residential street, where several cars caught fire and others several blocks away from the main crash site were damaged. 'I woke up to what I thought was an earthquake,' a nearby neighbor told CNN affiliate KCBS/KCAL. 'My kids woke up as well, they looked out the window and started screaming. My whole front area was on fire. We were trapped in our home and couldn't get out.' Later Thursday, as the full scale of damage came into view, officials inspected the skeleton of a home, ravaged by the plane's impact, which gouged a hole in its side and crushed the roof onto a car beneath. The thick stench of jet fuel hung in the air as crews combed the wreckage for possible clues to the cause of the crash. Between the charred remains of vehicles laid a yellow body bag, a somber reminder of the tragedy's toll. It's a 'miracle' none of the fatalities involved residents in the neighborhood, Eddy, the assistant fire chief, said. 'When I was coming on scene, I did not expect that same outcome as I got here,' he said. 'I don't know exactly how they got out, but I do know that neighbors helped them get out, and that's the beauty of what I love in this neighborhood. Military looking out for one another. They did exactly what they did to try to help each other.' Music agency Sound Talent Group said three of its employees, including David Shapiro, one of its co-founders, died in the crash, the Associated Press reported Thursday. The agency did not name the two other employees who died. CNN reached out to Sound Talent Group for more information. Shapiro represented some of the most well-known international hard rock, punk and indie bands. 'We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dave Shapiro and his two colleagues,' a spokesperson for the National Independent Talent Organization, a trade organization that represents independent talent agencies and managers across the country, told CNN in a statement. 'Dave was a visionary in the music industry,' the statement said. Shapiro, who had a pilot's license, owned the aircraft under a company named 'Daviator LLC,' according to FAA records. Scott Wahl, San Diego police chief, said he was struggling to describe the scene his crews encountered when they arrived. 'I can't quite put words to describe what this scene looked like but with the jet fuel running down the streets and everything on fire all at once, it was pretty horrific to see,' he said during a news conference. Footage from the immediate aftermath captured mothers and fathers clutching children on their hips, running through the mist of water dousing the flames, while frightened dogs scrambled alongside them. The San Diego Humane Society has taken in 36 pets, including dogs, at least one cat, 5 geckos and a 20 gallon fish tank for emergency boarding from families impacted by the crash, it said on social media. The organization's medical team gave several animals decontamination baths to clean off jet fuel. The National Transportation Safety Board is on scene documenting the crash site and plans to recover the airplane to a secure location on Saturday, said Eliott Simpson, a senior aviation accident investigator. This aircraft likely has a flight data recorder and possibly a cockpit voice recorder, he said. The jet departed from Teterboro, New Jersey, Wednesday night at about 11:15 p.m., making a fuel stop in Wichita, Kansas, before crashing, according to Simpson. A preliminary report will be published on the NTSB website in about two weeks and a final report will be released in about 12-18 months. 'I feel for the families of those on the plane and what they're going through right now,' Eddy said during Thursday's news conference. 'It's tragic to see [the wreckage] … whether you're involved or not, just normal citizens that are here, they're going to remember this the rest of their lives.' CNN's Chelsea Bailey, Aaron Cooper, Pete Muntean, Stephanie Elam, and Matthew J. Friedman contributed to this report.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
Three dead and nine missing after boat capsizes near San Diego
Three people are dead and at least nine more are missing after a small boat overturned in the Pacific Ocean off the coast near San Diego, California, local officials have said. The US Coast Guard said on X it was searching for survivors from Monday's incident off Del Mar, which is 15 miles (24km) north of San Diego. At least 18 people were on board the panga-style fishing boat, which overturned near Torrey Pines State Beach, according to the San Diego-based CBS News affiliate KFMB. At least two children were among those on board, KFMB reported. The BBC has contact the San Diego Sheriff's Department and the US Coast Guard for comment. Jorge Sanchez, the deputy chief of the Encinitas Fire Department, said it was a "mass casualty incident". He also said in an interview at the scene that the immigration status of those on board was "not known at the moment".
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
3 dead, 9 missing after boat capsizes off San Diego beach
At least three people were killed when a small boat capsized Monday morning off the coast of San Diego, officials said. At least nine others were missing as rescue and recovery operations got underway. The panga-style fishing boat overturned near Torrey Pines State Beach with at least 18 people on board, the San Diego-based CBS News affiliate KFMB reported, citing local authorities. Among them were at least two children, according to the station, which also reported that four people were hospitalized in the aftermath of the incident. Earlier, the U.S. Coast Guard said officers were searching for nine missing people off the coast of Del Mar, near Torrey Pines State Beach, on Monday morning after receiving a report of an overturned vessel. The San Diego County Sheriff's Office said its deputies were assisting. The sheriff told KFMB that no one had been detained in connection with the incident. Video published by the station showed the empty boat near the shoreline at Torrey Pines State Beach, while lifeguards patrolled the water and law enforcement vehicles parked on the sand. A Coast Guard helicopter surveyed the area from above. In addition to sheriff's deputies and the Coast Guard, officials with the Encinitas Fire Department and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol were also at the scene, KFMB reported. A spokesperson for the fire department told the station it was "too early to know whether the individuals on board were undocumented immigrants." Jorge Sanchez, the deputy fire chief, also said in an interview at the scene that the immigration status of those on board was "not known at the moment." Sanchez said multiple people were found on the beach after the boat overturned, and confirmed it was considered a "mass casualty incident." CBS News contacted the San Diego Sheriff's Office for more information. Refinery fire in California's Bay Area prompts warnings Man runs over officer after son was shot, killed in Ohio First jurors seated in Sean "Diddy" Combs sex trafficking trial
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
Three dead and nine missing after boat capsizes near San Diego
Three people are dead and at least nine more are missing after a small boat overturned in the Pacific Ocean off the coast near San Diego, California, local officials have said. The US Coast Guard said on X it was searching for survivors from Monday's incident off Del Mar, which is 15 miles (24km) north of San Diego. At least 18 people were on board the panga-style fishing boat, which overturned near Torrey Pines State Beach, according to the San Diego-based CBS News affiliate KFMB. At least two children were among those on board, KFMB reported. The BBC has contact the San Diego Sheriff's Department and the US Coast Guard for comment. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.
