KUWAIT CITY: Calculations indicate that the holy month of Ramadan would most probably start next Monday, Aug 1, and there is no forecast of dusty weather for the month of fast, meteorologist Dr Saleh Al-Ujairi told KUNA on Monday. Al-Ujairi pointed out that the new crescent is actually born on Saturday, but would only be visible on Sunday evening.

While the crescent would be visible for 19 minutes in Kuwait, and between 21 and 26 minutes in other Gulf countries, it would be visible for over an hour in some non-Islamic countries in other parts of the world. Al-Ujairi said this Ramadan would be 29 days only, and would be very hot in the beginning, but would gradually cool down and we would see some humidity towards the end. The holy month of Ramadan is a month of fasting for Muslims across the world. The beginning of the fast is announced upon the actual sighting of the crescent, and not based on lunar calculations only. It is a month of great boon in the Islamic faith, and fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. (KUNA)

Ramadan Commodities Fair launched
The cooperative societies have greatly contributed to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor’s efforts to prevent price hikes, especially now that the holy month of Ramadan is just around the corner, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily quoting Undersecretary Mohammad Al-Kandari. Speaking at the launching of the Ramadan Commodities Fair in Adan and Qusour Cooperative Society recently, Al-Kandari revealed the special discounts on basic commodities offered by the cooperatives have gone a long way in thwarting the attempt of some greedy traders to take advantage of the occasion to gain higher profits at the expense of the consumers.

He advised the citizens to buy all the things they need for Ramadan as early as now to avoid the rush, but he cautioned them against hoarding because the scarcity of supply might prompt the traders to raise prices. On the other hand, Head of the Cooperative Societies Union Dr Hussein Al-Duwaihis said discussions on the request of some traders to increase the prices of certain commodities was postponed until the end of Ramadan to ease the financial burdens of consumers.