MPs demand Iran apology for offending HH the Amir

40 Pages·2016·6.64 MB·English

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THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016 SHAWWAL 23,1437 AH www.kuwaittimes.net
Alghanim UK plans £344m Farewell Philae: Cain hits better
employees spread expansion for Earth severs than he pitches
2 21 29 20
financial literacy London link with silent as Giants beat
among students City Airport comet probe Reds 9-7
MPs demand Iran apology
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for offending HH the Amir
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By B Izzak
IS bombing kills 44 in Syrian city
Saudis, Kuwait
KUWAIT: A number of MPs yesterday strongly criticized
file complaint at Iran over remarks aired by Fars news agency deemed
insulting to HH the Amir, who a day earlier criticized Iran
UN against Iran in a speech at the Arab summit. MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji
said the government must summon the Iranian ambassa-
dor to officially protest the abusive statements by the
NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia and Kuwait late on
Iranian news agency and demand an official apology.
Tuesday presented a complaint to UN Secretary
He said that if Iran does not
General Ban Ki-moon regarding repeated transgres-
send an apology, the govern-
sions and assaults committed by Iranian military
ment should recall the Kuwaiti
boats over the waters of the submerged area adja-
ambassador from Tehran and
cent to the area divided between Saudi Arabia and
take other diplomatic meas-
Kuwait. The permanent missions of Saudi Arabia and
ures, especially since the insult
Kuwait to the UN, in the complaint, informed Ban of
was directed at the head of
the Iranian assaults over the waters of the Divided
state. Turaiji said the National
Submerged Area, on which Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Assembly will not accept Iran’s
solely have exclusive sovereign rights to explore and
continuous interference in
benefit from its natural wealth.
Kuwait’s internal affairs and is Abdulhameed Dashti
According to the document, the latest incident of
expecting an urgent move by
these infringements was committed by one vessel
the government. If nothing happens, the Assembly may
and two armed speedboats displaying the Iranian
call for an emergency session to debate actions to take or
flag. Each boat had three armed individuals
the Assembly bureau may hold a meeting in the presence
onboard, as this infringement took place at 13:35 on
of the prime minister and other ministers.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016, while another infringe-
MP Mohammad Al-Jabri called on the government to
ment of an Iranian Hendijan 1401 vessel took place
issue a clear response against those who undermine the
at 07:32 on Thursday, April 21, 2016.
Amir. MP Ahmad Al-Azemi also strongly condemned Iran
These two vessels and two boats approached the
for its abuse of HH the Amir and insisted that Kuwait
Al-Dorra well No. 3 (D3) in the Al-Dorra field (coordi-
should not accept Iran’s interference in its internal affairs
nates 63 58 28 North, 16 06 49 East) existing inside
and should reject Iran’s terror acts.
Continued on Page 13 QAMISHLI, Syria: Residents gather at the site of a bomb attack in this northeastern city yesterday. — AFP (See Page 13) Continued on Page 13
Govt accepts plan to impose
health insurance on visitors
By A Saleh wastage. Saleh said that imposing a comprehensive
health policy for visitors to Kuwait will guarantee lesser
KUWAIT: MP Khalil Al-Saleh said his proposal to impose squandering and preserve public funds, besides limit-
fees for health services presented to expats who come ing the chaos in presenting treatment and activating
to the country on a visit visa, that he submitted at the the role of the private sector.
start of the last parliamentary term, has been accepted He said the proposal commits the sponsor who
by the government although it was opposed by the for- applies for a visa for an expat to attach a health policy,
eign ministry when it was discussed at the parliamen- and based on that, the visitor receives health service in
tary health committee on May 23, 2016. private hospitals while in the country. He said his pro-
He said the government was convinced that the pro- posal is similar to what is available in the region, stipu-
posal is correct and a first step towards reducing the lating that those who wish to visit to produce a health
pressure on government hospitals and stop medicine insurance policy to receive the service free of charge.
Clinton makes history with
nomination for president
Obama steps up to bat for ex-rival
PHILADELPHIA: US President Barack Obama was to step
Scientific onto the Democratic convention stage yesterday to
champion former political foe Hillary Clinton, defend his
own legacy and bury Donald Trump’s chances of reach-
Center CEO ing the White House. Clinton on Tuesday became the first
woman to win the presidential nomination of a major US
political party, teeing up the November showdown with
Mutawa dies
Republican Trump. Democrats had “put the biggest
crack” yet in the glass ceiling for women, she said in a
video message to the convention.
But Trump launched a pre-emptive attack at an incen-
KUWAIT: Kuwait Scientific Center, one of the bodies
diary press conference, contemptuously putting down
of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of
Obama as a “disaster” and making a provocative call for
Sciences, announced the death of its CEO and
Russia to hack Clinton’s email. It came only hours before
Chairman Mijbel Suleiman Al-Mutawa yesterday fol-
Obama was to take the stage at the Democratic National
lowing a sudden heart attack. He was 62 years old.
Convention to make the case that America’s first black
The Scientific Center’s Public Relations and
president should be followed by its first female president.
Marketing Manager
Nawaf Al-Rudaini said Delegates earlier heard a deeply personal testimonial
the center was saddened from former president Bill Clinton, who described a great
by the death of Mutawa, friend, wife and mother who suffers the slings and arrows
especially since he was at of politics to be “the best darn change-maker” Americans
work on Tuesday with his could hope for. The current commander-in-chief was like-
usual vibrancy. ly to offer a harder edge. Expect Obama to “focus on how
Rudaini said Mutawa, secretary Clinton has the judgment, the toughness, and
who was head of the the intellect to succeed him in the Oval Office,” said White
center since its establish- House spokesman Eric Schultz.
ment in 2000, was In the twilight of his second term, Obama faces ever-
known for his politeness dwindling opportunities to address the nation, mold his
Mijbel Al-Mutawa and encouraging legacy and influence the 2016 race. But yesterday, the
Kuwaiti youth in order to 44th president had a prime-time chance when he
create a generation able to take over future respon- appeared before thousands of delegates in Philadelphia
sibilities and enhance the scientific and knowledge and tens of millions of viewers at home. The White House
level in Kuwait. He said efforts of Mutawa and his said Obama has been working on his speech for weeks.
outstanding administrative skill enabled the center Yet this touchstone presidential moment has been a
to cover its operating expenses from its own rev- decade or more in the making. The address bookends
enues, to be the only center of its kind in the world Obama’s career-launching address to the Democratic
to make this achievement. He added the Scientific convention in 2004, his contentious 2008 primary battle
Center did not only place itself on the map of Kuwait with Clinton and his eight years in office.
and the Middle East, but it also left a mark on the Aides said Obama was to make a familiar case for what
world map as an advanced scientific center during has been achieved during his two terms, highlighting
the reign of Mutawa. — KUNA America’s recovery from the Great Recession.
Continued on Page 13
THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016
L O C A L
KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Djibouti’s National Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah meets with Djibouti’s
Assembly Speaker Mohamed Ali Houmed, in presence of Speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanem. National Assembly Speaker Mohamed Ali Houmed. — Amiri Diwan and KUNA photos
Amir meets Djiboutian lawmaker
KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Houmed and the accompanying delegation. The meeting was Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah as well. Sabah Al-Khaled, while His Highness the Crown Prince met
Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace yesterday Speaker of the attended by Amiri Diwan Advisor Mohammad Daifallah Sharar Earlier yesterday, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Ghanem, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled and Deputy Prime Minister
National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanem who was accompanied and head of the honorary delegation MP Ahmad Lari. The visiting Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received His Highness the Crown Prince and Interior Minister and Acting Defense Minister Sheikh
by visiting Djibouti’s National Assembly Speaker Mohamed Ali official had earlier met Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Ghanem and Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. — KUNA
Kuwait ranked 34th in Global
Competitiveness Index: Minister
KUWAIT: The State of Kuwait that the Ministers’ Council has
has won the 34th place of the assigned Kuwait Direct
Global Competitiveness Index, Investment Promotion Authority
said Minister of Education and (KDIPA), in collaboration with
Minister of Higher Education General Secretariat of the
Dr Bader Al-Essa. In a state- Supreme Council for Planning
ment on Tuesday, the minister and Development, and Kuwait
added that Kuwait made National Competitiveness
progress after moving from Committee, to reach unified per-
the 40th place to the 34th in ceptions on competitiveness
the competitiveness rankings, reports and improve business
referring to an international environment in the country.He
praise of Kuwait’s improve- underlined the importance of
Minister of Education and
ment in education system. taking part in international
Minister of Higher
He noted that the report of evaluations constantly to know
Education Dr Bader Al-Essa
the Global Competitiveness strengths and weaknesses so as
Index 2015/16 is an annual to improve education process
assessment of the factors which contribute to and meet requirements as well as cooperate
enhancing production and development in with international institutions and organiza-
the economies of the countries in the world. tions working in this field.
The result of index is a comprehensive read- He affirmed the importance of benefiting
ing which has links to many institutions, he said, from practical experiments of Arab and for-
indicating that the ministry’s responsibility is to eign countries in the field of TQM in raising
know factors behind the decline in the quality of educational system efficiency and its quality
education through taking a number of meas- in accordance with the report’s recommenda-
ures to improve education in Kuwait. He noted tions. — KUNA
Western Sydney University
allocates eight seats
for Kuwaiti students
Ambassador, Governor discuss investments Alghanim Industries employees volunteering at AAG.
Alghanim Industries employees spread
CANBERRA: Western Sydney University has the Western Australian Governor. During the
allocated eight seats in human medicine meeting, Sanderson reiterated keenness on
financial literacy among 4,806 students
major yearly to Kuwaiti students, head of the boosting ties with Kuwait, for mutual benefit.
Kuwait Cultural Office in Australia Dr Fahad The press release said the two sides had
Al-Ajmi announced yesterday. addressed various issues of common concern,
Ajmi met with the university president focusing on the Kuwaiti oil and food invest- Through INJAZ-Kuwait programs
Barney Glover and other officials where they ments in the region.
signed the agreement to assign eight seats Bader noted that Kuwait is among
for Kuwaiti students staring from this year Australia’s top 20 trade partners. The envoy KUWAIT: With the end of the 2015/2016 school
until five years, the office said in a statement. stressed the importance of the Western year, Alghanim Industries, one of the largest pri-
Ajmi praised the partnership between the Australian city of Perth for Kuwait, mainly for vate companies in the region, announced the
cultural office and the university especially investments reasons. The Kuwait Foreign number of its employees who volunteered in the
that this number of students is unprecedent- Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) different programs of INJAZ-Kuwait. Alghanim
ed compared with foreign students. has various activities there. Industries was the biggest contributor of volun-
Meanwhile, Glover expressed happiness for In addition, the Livestock Shipping teers for INJAZ-Kuwait this year, with 263
the strengthening of relations between the Services company is based in the city, Bader employees volunteering 1,382 hours of their
office and the university, expressing the uni- said, noting that Kuwait tops the list of time to work with students across different pro-
versity’s keenness to support the Kuwaiti stu- Middle Eastern importers of Australian sheep, grams offered by INJAZ-Kuwait, in which 4,806
dents’ career while they are pursuing their according to Australian official data. students participated from middle school, high
education there. Western Sydney University, Moreover, there are 170 Kuwaitis studying school, and university levels.
is an Australian multi-campus university. It engineering in Perth. With this contribution, Alghanim Industries
was founded in 1989, and is currently ranked has more than doubled its goal of equipping
among the top 400 in the world in the 2014 Bolstering ties 2,000 students per school year with the neces-
QS World University Rankings and 19th in Separately, Bader and the Speaker of the sary skills that will directly improve their career
Australia in 2015. Western Australian Legislative Assembly prospects, following the commitment made by
Michael Sutherland held a meeting in the City the CEO of Alghanim Industries, and the Alghanim Industries CEO INJAZ-Kuwait CEO Rana Al-Nibari
Investments of Perth, discussing means to bolster ties. Chairman of INJAZ-Kuwait, Omar Kutayba Omar Kutayba Alghanim
In other news, Kuwait’s oil and food invest- According to a statement by the Kuwaiti Alghanim. The World Economic Forum’s Regional countries, increases our responsibility as a lead- tive partnership, where it exerts all effort to sup-
ments in Western Australia were the focus of embassy, the two officials touched on issues Business Council for MENA, which was chaired ing company in the region. We value the role port us and encourages all of its employees to
talks Kuwait’s Ambassador Najib of regional and international importance. by Alghanim, invited business leaders and education plays in developing the economy, and volunteer with us to guide and educate the stu-
Abdulrahman Al-Bader discussed with Kerry Ambassador Bader conveyed greetings of organizations to join a collaborative effort to in finding creative solutions for the challenges dents. We are pleased by our relationship with
Sanderson, the region’s governor. Following Kuwait’s National Assembly Speaker Marzouq making 100,000 youth job-ready by 2017. Part of we face today. Alghanim Industries is proud to Alghanim Industries, and look forward to having
the meeting with Sanderson at the presiden- Al-Ghanem to the Australian lawmaker. the New Vision for Arab Employment Initiative, be one of the largest supporters of INJAZ- more of these fruitful partnerships with other
tial palace, Al-Bader said that it was part of Meanwhile, Sutherland expressed Australia’s partner companies will introduce incremental Kuwait, an organization that has been spreading companies in the private sector.”
the efforts to promote bilateral ties in all utter commitment to develop relations with corporate initiatives for skill development, fos- financial literacy among school and university INJAZ-Kuwait is a nonprofit organization
fields, according to a press release by the Kuwait. Sutherland took Ambassador Bader on tering entrepreneurship and connecting talent students for years.” committed to preparing and empowering youth
Kuwaiti embassy. He added that he had con- a tour of the historical building of the Western to markets. Alghanim Industries was one of nine in Kuwait to succeed in the global economy.
veyed greetings of the Kuwaiti leadership to Australia Legislative Assembly. — KUNA founding partners of the initiative. Kuwait’s future INJAZ - Kuwait provides K-12 students with
CEO of INJAZ-Kuwait, Rana Al-Nibari said: “We hands-on learning in entrepreneurship, work
Spirit of volunteerism at INJAZ-Kuwait appreciate the continuous par- readiness, and financial literacy. Alghanim
Commenting on this achievement, Omar ticipation and support of our partners in the pri- Industries supports its efforts to provide Kuwait’s
Kutayba Alghanim said: “I am proud of Alghanim vate. It reaffirms INJAZ’s stance in investing in youth with the skills they need to build success-
Industries’ employees and their spirit of volun- Kuwait’s future by spreading financial literacy ful careers in the future. For the past five years,
teerism that helped us achieve these great and educating the country’s youth in entrepre- Alghanim Industries employees have con-
results. With the help of our employees, we were neurial and business culture. Alghanim tributed the most volunteers relative to other
able to spread financial literacy to 4,806 stu- Industries is a perfect example of this construc- companies supporting INJAZ-Kuwait.
dents from different educational levels and we
aim to continue our contributions through vol-
unteering during the next school year.”
He added: “Our support stems from our
awareness of the challenges we face in the
region. Youth unemployment rates and an edu-
cation gap, resulting from wars in Middle Eastern
Kuwait University to open 13 clinics
KUWAIT: The Kuwait University (KU) is plan- press release on yesterday. This is part of a services, Fares said. He referred cooperation
ning to open 13 clinics at its many locations to strategy to provide requirements of public and the Ministry of Health saying that an
offer medical services to students and the and preventive safety in the university, mak- ambulance station has been opened at the uni-
academic community in general. The ing it easier for ambulances to reach destina- versity in Khaldya, as a first stage. Other ones
University Secretary General Dr Mohammad tion in case of emergency, he added. will follow in affiliate buildings in Kaifan and
CANBERRA: Head of Kuwait Cultural Office in Australia Dr Fahad Al-Ajmi (right) is
Abdulatif Al-Fares made the statement in a The clinic will offer first aid assistance and Shuwaikh. — KUNA
seen during the signing ceremony. — KUNA
THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016
L O C A L
New medicine highly effective
against viral hepatitis: MoH
KUWAIT: The Ministry of sixth internationally to use this
Health announced yesterday new medicine for patients with
the use of a new immunity viral hepatitis.
medicine for patients suffering In a related notion, the min-
from viral hepatitis with a 99 istry is making appropriate
percent favorable response to plans to launch an awareness
treatment. The new medicine is health campaign today on the
being administered to 300 disease of viral hepatitis, in
Kuwaiti patients with hepatitis time for celebrating World
C, said Dr Ahmad Al-Fadhli, a Hepatitis Day (July 28). The
specialist in liver disease and campaign will involve airing
Gastroenterology at the min- Dr Ahmad Al-Fadhli messages on the ministry’s
istry, in a statement issued by YouTube channel, social net-
the ministry. He urged Kuwaiti patients with work sites, and through SMS. There will also
hepatitis C to seek the advice of their health be a panel discussion about viral hepatitis
providers to determine if they could be suit- tomorrow at the Shaab Al-Bahri medical
able to be treated with the new medicine. center focusing on wiping out this disease
Kuwait is the first country regionally and the by 2030. — KUNA
Al-Ahmadi refinery’s gas
project passes inspections
KUWAIT: A project to build a new Tail Gas to 43 thousand barrels. Moreover, he also
Treatment system in Al-Ahmadi refinery at pointed out that work on a number of proj-
a cost of more than KD 15 million has ects dealing with gas production and stor-
passed all inspection tests, Deputy Acting age in the refinery is to start soon.
KUWAIT: Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah heads the fifth meet-
Director General of Al-Ahmadi refinery Meanwhile, engineer Shujaa Al-Ajmi
ing of the Public Authority for Youth. — KUNA
Fahad Al-Daihani said yesterday. said that the Tail Gas Treatment system is
Sheikh Salman attributes youth
One of the refinery’s key accomplish- amongst the most pivotal environmental
ments this year is to bring that project to projects to be completed this year, adding
fruition, Al-Daihani noted during the 10th that new gas production lines are being
meeting of Al-Ahmadi refinery employees, studied. The annual meeting brings togeth- strategy to leadership support
saying that one of the factories affiliated er all employees and engineers of Al-
with Al-Ahmadi refinery has ramped up its Ahmadi refinery to address any concerns or
production from 40 thousand barrels daily issues they may have. — KUNA
KUWAIT: Minister of Information and Minister of that the meeting yielded the final draft of a underscored the need for youth to eschew all
State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah vision that aims to cater to the needs of the forms of violence and extremism.
Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah yesterday conveyed youth, helping them to better contribute to the In addition, PAY official Jassim Al-Rubayan
his gratitude for the country’s leadership for development and growth of the nation. noted that the new strategy will be carried out in
their support of the youth, calling them the Meanwhile, PAY General Manager conjunction with state institutions and govern-
future of the nation. Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi noted that “the inces- ment bodies, adding that the youth were the
Sheikh Salman, who is presiding over the fifth sant support given to us by the country’s leader- ones who forged this strategy by way of voicing
meeting of the Public Authority for Youth (PAY), ship has facilitated the works of PAY and the their opinions in a number of workshops and
said that support from the country’s leadership implementation of this new strategy.” seminars held over the years. The meeting, which
will bolster PAY’s vision and plans for the youth. Furthermore, Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic was attended by officials from across the coun-
He also announced that PAY’s new strategy will Affairs official Waleed Al-Ammar said that the try’s government spectrum, highlighted the fact
be unveiled on August 11, coinciding with new strategy aims to instill national values in that support of the youth is needed to ensure a
‘International Youth Day.’ Moreover, he noted youth, in addition to various virtues, as he more prosperous and better tomorrow. — KUNA
KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Mohammad Khaled Al-
Khoder meets the Peninsula Shield Forces (PSF) Commander Major-General Hassan
bin Hamza Al-Shehri. — KUNA
Chief of Staff, Peninsula
Shield Forces commander
discuss cooperation
KUWAIT: These handout photos released by the Interior Ministry yesterday show a number of people arrested during a police crackdown in Salmiya.
KUWAIT: Military cooperation featured and keenness to promote them, the
Scores arrested in Salmiya crackdown
high on the agenda of talks held yesterday Ministry of Defense Directorate of Moral
between Kuwait’s Army Chief of Staff Guidance and Public Relations said in a
Lieutenant General Mohammad Khaled Al- press release.
Khoder and the Peninsula Shield Forces They also discussed issues of common By Hanan Al-Saadoun enquired about 687 persons, 10 were arrested for Also, 43 traffic citations were issued, two vehicles
(PSF) Commander Major-General Hassan concern. The meeting was attended by suspicion of having drugs, 10 were wanted for were impounded and two others were caught.
bin Hamza Al-Shehri. Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant General KUWAIT: Hawally police carried out a security civil cases, five had expired residency permits, 16 Separately, Hawally firemen put out a fire that
During the meeting with the PSF dele- Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nawaf Al-Sabah, and campaign in Salmiya during which 71 wanted others were in violation of residency permits, five broke out in a vehicle in Jabriya co-op society’s
gation, Khoder lauded the deep-rooted ties Army Commander Major General Sheikh persons and violators were arrested. Police were absconding and 25 did not carry their IDs. parking lot. No injuries were reported.
among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Khalid Al-Saleh Al-Sabah. — KUNA
Municipality continues
its intensive
inspection campaigns
By Meshaal Al-Enezi and agencies shops, the statement added. The state-
ment asserted keenness of the regulato-
KUWAIT: Kuwait Municipality con- ry bodies to monitor any violation and
firmed yesterday it was continuing its apply the law on all violators.
intensive inspection campaigns for vari- In other news, Kuwait Municipality
ous activities in the governorates under released a statement in response to sev-
the slogan ‘Your Health Matters’ which eral complaints about speed bumps’
include food, restaurants, cooperative painting, in which it clarified that put-
societies, markets and malls. ting paintings on speed bumps is not its
The municipality said in a press responsibility, adding that this job calls A fireman puts out a fire in a car in Jabriya yesterday.
statement that the irregularities under other ministries. The Municipal
Kuwait tackles climate change at
removal department of the capital gov- Council had received many complaints
ernorate in coordinating with Public on that regard, which made some
Hygiene and Road Works Department members send questions to the execu-
APA Standing Committee meeting
carried out a wide-scale inspection tive apparatus at the municipality.
campaign which resulted in lifting and Meanwhile, Kuwait Municipality’s
removing 45 irregularities that included legal and technical teams held meet-
metal barriers, plastic cones and elec- ings with fines’ collecting team at the ISLAMABAD: A Kuwaiti delegation discussed delegation, told KUNA that Kuwait is an active that APA should develop a mechanism to bind its
tronic gates. The emergency team in the Public Prosecution. The two sides dis- measures to control climate change in a meeting member of APA and attends all its meetings. member states to ensure the implementation of
Ahmadi Municipality also carried out a cussed the mechanism to implement a with Chairman Senate of Pakistan Raza Rabbani During the current session of the Standing the proposals approved by APA. He expressed his
wide-scale inspection campaign in project that helps enforce final court yesterday. The meeting was held on the sidelines Committee meeting, many countries have come up hopes that APA would follow a procedure to imple-
Fahaheel industrial zones, including orders pertaining with municipality- of a two-day Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) with number of ideas to increase cooperation ment the resolutions passed by the association to
shops, restaurants and advertising related cases. meeting of standing committee on Economic among the Asian states. Dr Khalil Abdullah stressed increase its significance. — KUNA
and Sustainable Development Affairs in Pakistan’s
Illegal residents’ situation federal capital Islamabad.
In an interview after the meeting, the Kuwait
delegation head MP Hmoud Mohammad Al-
in Kuwait improving: Official
Hamdan told that matters of mutual interest
were discussed during the meeting. “We thanked
KUWAIT: The situation of illegal resi- On the other hand, efforts carried out the Senate of Pakistan for hosting the meeting
dents in Kuwait is improving and the by the apparatus had resulted in some and expressed appreciation to their efforts for
government will look into further meas- 8,000 illegal residents revealing their regional cooperation in Asia,” said Hamdan.
ures to better serve this sector of society, original citizenships, said the official, The MP further said we discussed the issue of
an official said yesterday. adding that those individuals were also climate change and environmental issues that
In a speech to the conference on the given facilities to improve their living have a negative impact on the population. The
UN Convention against Torture in standards in Kuwait. Chairman Senate extended his greetings to the
Geneva, Head of the status adjustment He noted that there was a special law Emir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-
Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. He extended an invita-
department in the Central Apparatus for which enabled children of Kuwaiti mothers
tion to the Speaker of the state of Kuwait,
Illegal Residents Affairs Colonel to acquire citizenship, adding that on the
Marzouq Ali al-Ghanem to visit Pakistan.
Mohammad Al-Wohaib said that the legislative level, a draft law had been pre-
Hamdan said that “Pakistan is an important
apparatus was further working on pared to grant around 4,000 people the
Muslim country that has close ties to the Gulf
improving the situation of stateless peo- Kuwaiti citizenship this year. Kuwait is keen
states and we want to have benefits from its
ple, noting that his country was consid- on boosting and protecting human rights
experiences in number of fields including tech-
ering granting the citizenship to a num- and it is willing to join all international con-
nology and nuclear science.” Kuwaiti MP Dr Khalil
ber of illegal residents, according to a ventions and accords aimed at achieving
Abdullah Apple, who is also a member of Kuwait
press release by the Apparatus. these goals, said Wuhaib. — KUNA
ISLAMABAD: The Kuwaiti delegation meets with Chairman Senate of Pakistan Raza Rabbani. — KUNA
THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016
LO C A L
In Brief
Ministry confirms
Kuwait condemns
AP chief welcomes
French Church attack blackout in Jahra
Yemen talks ultimatum
KUWAIT:Kuwait on Tuesday strongly condemned the KUWAIT: Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) said a
terrorist attack against a Church in the French south- NOUAKCHOTT: President of the Arab Parliament Ahmad technical failure caused electricity blackout in Al-Jahra
ern suburbs of Rouen, Normandy, where a priest was Al-Jarwan welcomed on Tuesday the ultimatum by the Area Tuesday, and technicians were working on restoring
killed by the attackers. “This heinous crime, which is State of Kuwait to the Yemeni parties so as to end the UN- power. A technical failure happened in one of the major
rejected by all faiths and laws, affirms anew how these brokered peace negotiations. Following the conclusion of power stations thus losing 31 megawatts affecting the
terrorist groups target the security of mankind and the 27th Arab League Summit, Jarwan said in a statement commercial area in Jahra, Dr Meshaan Al-Otaibi, MEW
stability of the world,” a foreign ministry source said in that Kuwait and His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- spokesman and Assistant Undersecretary for Planning
a statement. Kuwait, he affirmed, was in full solidarity Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah have exerted all possible efforts and Training. Otaibi, in a statement, said work was under-
with France’s battle against these terrorist groups and so as to render the talks a success. “Kuwait has been host- way to restore electricity as soon as possible. He said
supported the Paris government’s measures to main- ing the talks for a long time,” he said. “The Yemeni parties mobile generators were brought to provide electricity in
tain the country’s security and stability. — KUNA will be responsible for the failure of the talks.” — KUNA vital areas. — KUNA
o f t h e d a y
KUWAIT: Skyscrapers in Al-Watiyah, a main suburb in Al-Qiblah district of Kuwait City. — KUNA
Pearl Diving Trip
kicks off today
KUWAIT:The 28th Pearl Diving Trip kicks
off today with the ‘Dasha’ ceremony, to be
held at the Kuwait Sea Sports Club (KSSC)
in Salmiya starting from 8:30 am. The voy-
age, which is held through August 4, 2016,
is organized under the patronage of His
Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad
Al- Jaber Al-Sabah. At least 193 youth men
are participating in the trip on board of 13
diving ships, presented by His Highness the KUWAIT: Kuwait Red Crescent Society’s Secretary General Maha Al-Barjas Kuwait Red Crescent Society workers offer aid locally.
Amir as well as the late Amir Sheikh Jaber participates in the ‘Donate a Toy’ campaign. — KUNA
Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. KSSC
Chairman Major General Fahad Al-Fahad ‘Donate a Toy’
commended the participants, saying that
their perseverance to brave the extreme
weather conditions and participate in the campaign concludes
KSSC Chairman Major General heritage-revival trip reflects the true mettle
Fahad Al-Fahad of Kuwait’s youth.
KRCS stresses cooperation with private sector
KUWAIT:Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS), in collab- Mariam Al-Adsani stressed the society’s cooperation
oration with Fantasy World, concluded the ‘Donate a with the private sector in charity work. KRCS is continu-
Toy’ campaign that was kicked off at the beginning of ing to support social and charity works especially dur-
the Holy month of Ramadan. KRCS Secretary General ing the holy month of Ramadan, Adsani said. KRCS, with
Maha Al-Barjas told the press yesterday that donations support of the private sector, have helped more than
made during this campaign will be delivered to children 3,000 families during the last holy month of Ramadan,
of misfortunate families listed on the KRCS’ records. she added. The aid included clothes, blankets, school
The ‘Donate a toy’ campaign has deeper meaning tools and food stuff, in addition to iftar meals, Eid Al-
that just collecting toys for underprivileged kids, it tick- Adha clothes and coolers. The society is working to
les morals and emotions and it teaches fortunate chil- keep up with the latest humanitarian developments in
dren concepts of “voluntarism” and “social responsibili- the local arena, stressing importance of delivering help
Head of Kuwait Red Crescent Society’s
ty.” Separately, Head of KRCS’ local aid department to needy people all over the world. — KUNA
local aid department Mariam Al-Adsani.
KUWAIT: The National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) was honored by Capital Governor Thabet Al-Muhanna for organizing its 20th annual social program during
this year’s holy month of Ramadan.
THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016
LO C A L
KUWAIT: (From left) Yousef Al-Ibrahim, Khalid Mahdi, and Khaled Al-Hashash attend the press conference.
— Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat
Knowledge Transfer, SME
exhibition held in February
Event to enhance knowledge economy system in Kuwait
By Faten Omar parties to achieve the desired goals through the national
expo. “I hope that through this exhibition, we can deliver
KUWAIT:The General Secretariat of the Supreme Council knowledge, creative goods and investment opportunities
for Planning and Development (GSSCPD) held a press con- and present them directly to young Kuwaitis, investors and
ference yesterday to announce a national exhibition under initiators to start economic and commercial activities in
the auspices of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Kuwait,” he pointed out.
Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The Knowledge Transfer and
Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) expo takes place on Youth projects
February 20-22, 2017. Yousef Al-Ibrahim, Advisor at the Amiri Diwan, said that
Khaled Mahdi, Secretary-General of the GSSCPD, said the Diwan was the first supporter of the project, pointing
that the expo is applying the recommendations of the out that His Highness’ orders are to support youth projects
‘Contemporary Functions of States from a Knowledge that reflect on the private sector and initiatives. “The Amiri
Economy Perspective’ national conference which was Diwan has supported the knowledge economy conference
held under the auspices of the Amir in February, which before, because we believe that the knowledge-based
shows the seriousness of the government in supporting economy can propel the Kuwaiti economy to advanced
and enhancing the knowledge economy system in stages quickly,” he said.
Kuwait by increasing institutional and community aware- Khalid Al-Hashash, Head of Kuwait Center for
ness and involvement of the private sector in financing, Knowledge, added that the exhibition focuses on four sec-
implementation, management of activities and knowl- tors - energy (include all related industries, especially
edge projects. renewable energy and gas), information and communica-
He noted that the idea of the expo is to transfer knowl- tion technology, light industry and finally public health
edge through small and medium enterprises, as the devel- and beauty. He said that the expo aims to attract more
opment plan aims to enable the private sector to lead than 300 international companies operating in the above
development through partnership between the public and sectors from 15 countries from Asia, America and Europe.
private sectors represented in the partnership body or The Knowledge Transfer Expo is an annual knowledge
through privatization of some sectors of the state by the economy flagship event. Each year, a new theme is chosen
Supreme Council, or through the body to encourage direct that focuses on a specific knowledge economy applica-
investment, as well as the development of small and medi- tions in the business world. This year, the expo provides a
um enterprises. one-stop marketplace featuring a full range of knowledge-
Mahdi stressed the importance of enhancing the knowl- based business opportunities and solutions for small- and
edge-based economy that makes a platform to connect all medium-sized enterprises.
THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016
FROM THE ARABIC PRESS
Crime
Al-Anbaa
R e p o r t
Humanity law
Woman accused of polygamy
KUWAIT: The Hawally prosecutor received a complaint by
an expatriate who said his wife is married to another man.
He said that he married a divorced Egyptian woman and
By Dr Nermin Al-Houti
agreed to keep her children in the house. He also agreed to
keep their marriage secret so that her ex-husband does not
take the children. He said that his wife changed her behav- Away from the laws that give the state the
ior and kept leaving the house frequently, so he followed right to demand all the money owed by the
her, until the woman’s son dropped a bombshell when he citizen for the distinguished and subsidized
said his mother was still married to his father when she services including electricity and water, today we
married him and that she forged the marriage contract have a stand that holds the humanitarian spirit.
claiming she was divorced and took a large dowry.
Before the arrival of Ramadan, we had a prece-
Detectives are investigating.
dent set and a public opinion issue when the
municipality cut power to some violators. With the
spirit of humanity, power was restored to those
Drug dealers arrested
who were affected.
Acting Director of Drug Control General Department
Then MPs and officials began discussing how
(DCGD) Colonel Waleed Al-Duraei sent two Indians to
to find ways and mechanisms to force citizens and
the prosecution for possessing 3.5 kg of marijuana. Tips
expats to pay government dues, because this is a
were received by Duraei about an Indian (30) who
became well-known in the drug trade, so an undercov-
er agent was sent to him to buy 500 gm of marijuana Why should the children and
near the suspect’s house in Fahaheel, and the arrest
was made during the exchange. When police went to the elderly bear the
his house, they found another kilogram. He told police
Al-Jarida
he bought the drugs from an Indian woman and led punishment of power cuts?
police to her house, where 2.5 kg of the substance was
Cape Town, eight South African hotels
found. She said she brought the weed with her a few
months ago with the intention to trade. legitimate right of the state and cannot be disput-
in top US travel Magazine’s best of lists
ed, yet our words today are directed to the minis-
ter of electricity and water, because he is the deci-
Dual nationality
Higher than Rome, below Florence sion maker, and we should agree that paying is
A citizen was charged with having dual nationality and
something that cannot be argued with, except
driving while intoxicated. A security source said Nuwaiseeb
the method.
customs officers noticed a motorist was behaving abnor-
KUWAIT: Cape Town has come in 10th out of the world’s top 15 Tongabezi Lodge in Zambia 36th, and Mombo Camp and Little Our complaint today is rather an appeal to not
mally, so he was searched, and they found an ID of a Gulf
cities named in the 2016 Travel and Leisure magazine awards, and Mombo in Botswana 29th. cut power during summer. There are some cases
citizen although he gave officers his Kuwaiti passport.
Investigations are underway. is the top city in Africa and the Middle East. Among the world’s In the Best Safari Lodges in Africa Category, South Africa was where people are complaining against the way the
top 100 hotels, South Africa had eight. way ahead. Said T&L, “South African properties made up about
Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) sent its
These were the Cape Grace (at 97), Singita Kruger National two-thirds of the list, with a full four lodges - andBeyond
demands.
Park (95), Madikwe Safari Lodge tied 84th (with La Casa Que Kirkman’s Kamp, Lion Sands Game Reserve, Singita Sabi Sand, and
Kidnap charges A woman said she was surprised by a message
Canta, Mexico), the Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa (75), La Residence Londolozi - located in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve area, border-
Authorities are investigating the claims of a citizen that in Franschhoek (70), Lion Sands Game Reserve (60), Singita Sabi ing renowned Kruger National Park.” received on her phone warning about a power cut
she was kidnapped by a taxi driver, who categorically Sand (18), Londolozi (13). Singita’s Grumeti in Tanzania came 11th, — (Source: www.sapeople.com) within one week from the date of the message if
denied her accusation. A security source said the she does not pay the due amount.
woman called police to tell them a Pakistani driver had Your Excellency the minister, Kuwait is facing an
kidnapped her, and was refusing to stop while driving extreme heat wave, and there are amounts owed by
on Fahaheel Expressway towards Ahmadi. A police some who cannot pay, while some families are not
patrol then stopped the taxi in Sabah Al-Salem. in Kuwait. Our question to you is: Why should the
Policemen took the two to Nugra police station, where children and the elderly bear the punishment of
the Pakistani driver was surprised by the accusation
power cuts? Why is an ultimatum not sent, bearing
and denied it. He said she claimed the kidnapping after
in mind that the majority of those who complained
a dispute over the fare. Investigations are ongoing.
were not given prior warning.
From the daughter of Kuwait to the decision
Man beats own mother maker, the Minister of Electricity and Water - I will
not argue over the right of the government, being
Sulaibiya detectives are working hard to arrest a man
among those citizens who demand protection of
who beat his mother in her house. The woman called
public funds, but ask you to have a rather different
police and told them what happened, so they went to
method or postpone it. If there is no other way to
the house, but the son had already escaped. As soon as
recover the state’s right from citizens, have the
the patrol car returned to the station, a call came from
power cuts by the start of October.
the same woman, saying her daughter had swallowed
— Translated by Kuwait Times
pills to commit suicide. Police and paramedics rushed KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait (CBK) organized a sign language course for employees at CBK Academy
back and transferred the girl to hospital. — Al-Anbaa in Faiha, in order to enable staff members to interact with clients with hearing disabilities.
An old-fashioned ‘Nadafah’ craftsman teasing cotton to stuff it in furniture. A modern day ‘Nadafah’ shop.
Al-Nadafah: Revival of
old cotton-teasing craft
KUWAIT: ‘Al-Nadafah’ has
reclaimed its spot as a cultural
craft that can be practiced in
modern-day Kuwait. A long
stick is used to manually beat or
tease the cotton or wool, later
used as stuffing for pillows, mat-
tresses or furniture. Nowadays,
the long stick is replaced with a
teasing machine and the cotton
is replaced with sponge. ‘Al-
Nadafah’ offers a different feel
to the furniture, which is why
some people still prefer the
hand-made to the machine-
made. — KUNA
Inside a modern day ‘Nadafah’ shop. Modern day ‘Nadafah’ craftsmen stuffing furniture with cotton.
THURSDAY, JULY28, 2016
Kremlin denies
The conflicts that have plagued India for decades interference in US
presidential campaign
Page 11 Page 9
NORMANDY: Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray Mayor Hubert Wulfranc, center left, delivers his speech to the media in front of city hall a day after an hostage taking left a priest dead in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. — AP
France aims to ease religious fears
Church attack highlights major security failings
PARIS: French President Francois Hollande yesterday sought to The jihadists’ aim is to provoke violent revenge attacks that will
head off religious tensions and defuse criticism over security fail- create a religious war in our country,” wrote the daily.
ings after jihadists killed an elderly Catholic priest in his church. Dalil Boubakeur, the head of France’s Muslim community,
Hollande met with top religious leaders as a violence-weary voiced his “deep grief” at the attack which he described as a “blas-
France mourned Tuesday’s attack, which came less than two phemous sacrilege which goes against all the teachings of our
weeks after the Bastille Day truck massacre that killed 84 people religion”. Following the meeting with Hollande he urged
in the southern city of Nice. stepped-up security at places of worship. “We deeply desire that
France’s large Catholic community was in shock after two our places of worship are the subject of greater (security) focus, a
men stormed into a church in the northern town of Saint- sustained focus,” he said.
Etienne-du-Rouvray during morning mass and slit the 86-year- Hollande also met his defence and security chiefs, who tried
old priest’s throat at the altar. Another man was left seriously to find new ways to reassure a jittery population as his govern-
injured in the attack. One of the attackers was identified as ment comes under fire from the opposition over the repeated
French jihadist Adel Kermiche, 19, who was awaiting trial on ter- attacks, some nine months ahead of a presidential election.
ror charges and had been fitted with an electronic tag despite Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian said the 10,000-member
calls from the prosecutor for him not to be released. “We are Sentinelle military force-deployed after an attack in January 2015
stunned, because we did not know it was dangerous to be a — would be spread out more in areas outside Paris. Interior
priest these days in France,” said Pierre Amar, a priest from Minister Bernard Cazeneuve vowed that events taking place
Versailles near Paris. across the country over the summer months, in which the majori-
Residents of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray were struggling to ty of French people flock to holiday spots, would take place
come to terms with the bloodshed in their small town, so far under tight security. He said local government officials should
from France’s tourist hubs. They made their way to a makeshift cancel events “if conditions do not allow for optimal security”.
memorial to lay flowers, candles and messages of peace-a ritual
that has become chillingly familiar from Brussels and Paris to Nice ‘Where are the police?’
and Munich, all cities that have been struck by attackers inspired The government, already under pressure after the Nice attack,
by the Islamic State group. faced more questions over security weaknesses after it emerged
one of the church attackers was known to anti-terror investiga-
‘A war of religions’ tors. Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said Kermiche twice tried to
Kermiche and his accomplice entered the centuries-old stone travel to Syria under a false identity. After his latest arrest in
church of Saint Etienne, taking hostage the priest, Jacques Turkey in May 2015, he was held in custody until March this year
Hamel, three nuns and two worshippers. One nun managed to when he was released and fitted with the electronic bracelet.
flee and alert police. The two jihadists were gunned down by He was allowed him to leave his house on weekdays
police after leaving the church, marching three hostages in front between 8:30 am and 12:30 pm, Molins said. Le Monde report-
of them, shouting “Allahu akbar” (God is greatest). ed that he had spent time in a psychiatric unit, showing signs
Prime Minister Manuel Valls has warned that the goal of the of psychological problems reported in many of the attackers
attack, claimed by Islamic State jihadists, was to “set the French inspired from afar by IS. “It should not be possible for some-
people against each other, attack religion in order to start a war one awaiting trial on charges of having links to terrorism to be
of religions”. In an editorial, Le Monde newspaper recalled a key released” on house arrest, said the deputy chief of France’s
strategy of IS, to eradicate the so-called “grey zone” in which police union, Frederic Lagache. Mohammed Karabila, who
Muslims live peacefully alongside other religions, making it so heads the regional council of Muslim worship for Haute
uncomfortable for them to do so that they are forced to join Normandie, where the church attack took place, asked simply:
ranks with the jihadists. “France comes under attack because it is “How could a person wearing an electronic bracelet carry out
made up of one of the biggest Muslim communities in Europe. an attack? Where are the police?” — AFP
France Priest attacker was
‘Syria obsessed time-bomb’
SAINT-ETIENNE-DU-ROUVRAY: One of the assailants who he fled the family home once again and was ultimately
slit the throat of an elderly French priest had dreamed of traced to Turkey where he was detained on May 13 last
going to Syria and threatened to attack churches-but sel- year.
dom visited his local mosque, neighbors said. Adel He was arrested on his return to France and remanded
Kermiche, 19, had been known to the French authorities in custody before being released on bail subject to a cur-
before Tuesday’s shock church attack in a Normandy town few as he awaited trial for links to terrorism. “We knew he
and was described by one acquaintance as a “time bomb”. wanted to go to Syria,” said a 60-year-old neighbor of the
Kermiche and another unidentified man stormed the assailant’s family, who added that he “never saw him go to
centuries-old stone church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, the mosque” that the family attended. “He never spoke to
taking priest Jacques Hamel hostage along with three us,” said the neighbor. “The last time I saw him was on
nuns and two worshippers before slitting the elderly cler- Friday. He was playing football in his garden.”
ic’s throat. He lived in his parents’ modest home-less than Sister Danielle, a nun who managed to escape the
two kilometers from the church-where he spent much of hostage situation and alert police, described how the
the day under curfew, fitted with an electronic tag while attackers made Hamel kneel at the altar in his white
awaiting trial for alleged links to terror. A family member vestments. “In the church everyone was shouting ‘stop,
had raised the alarm after Kermiche went missing des- you don’t know what you’re doing’. But they didn’t stop.
tined for war-torn Syria in March 2015. They forced him (Hamel) to get down on his knees. He
German authorities arrested him shortly afterwards as tried to struggle, he tried,” she told RMC radio. “They
he attempted to transit the country using his brother’s recorded it. They did something like a sermon around
identity. He was returned to France where he was the altar in Arabic,” she added. Danielle then fled the
detained on March 23 last year for “criminal association in church in a daring escape after which she was able to
connection with terrorism” and preparing a terrorist act. call police. Three other hostages escaped unharmed
He was released on bail but banned from leaving the while one worshipper had severe knife injuries to his
Seine-Maritime region of northern France. Six weeks later throat. ‘Hyperactive child’ — AFP
THURSDAY, JULY28, 2016
I N T E R N AT ION A L
Bahrain cleric on trial for money laundering
DUBAI: Bahrain’s top Shiite cleric went Qassim, considered the spiritual Mirza Al-Obaidli, are also on trial in the authorities have cordoned off. The their Western allies, Bahrain’s rulers
on trial yesterday on charges of illegal leader of the majority Shiite community same case. move against Qassim prompted criti- have made no concessions to the Shiite
fund raising and money laundering, in Bahrain, allegedly kept other The three defendants did not appear cism from Bahrain’s Western allies as opposition and have intensified a crack-
judicial sources said, just weeks after amounts in cash to avoid legal controls, in court for the hearing, held amid tight well as its foe Iran, which the kingdom down on critics.
the Sunni-ruled kingdom revoked his said the statement, accusing him of hid- security, witnesses said. The next hear- accuses of fuelling unrest among its This month, a court ordered the dis-
citizenship. Sheikh Isa Qassim is ing the source of the money. ing will be on August 14. On June 20, Shiite community. solution of the kingdom’s main Shiite
accused of collecting funds illegally and Authorities also accused him of pur- Bahrain said it had revoked Qassim’s cit- Bahrain has been shaken by unrest opposition bloc, Al-Wefaq, which was
has deposited more than $10 million in chasing properties worth more than izenship, accusing him of sowing sectar- since security forces crushed Shiite-led the largest group in parliament before
his private bank accounts, attorney gen- one million dinar ($2.65 million) in an ian divisions. Since then dozens of protests demanding a constitutional its lawmakers resigned en masse in
eral Haroun Al-Zayani said in a state- attempt to legitimize the funds. Two of Shiites have staged a sit-in outside his monarchy and an elected prime minis- protest at the crushing of demonstra-
ment on the official BNA news agency. his aides, Sheikh Hussein Mahrus and home in the village of Diraz, which ter in 2011. Despite repeated calls from tions. — AFP
Hamas member said to be
behind rabbi attack killed
House hit and demolished by anti-tank missiles
SURIF, Palestinian Territories; Israeli forces “After extensive research, we found the hide- access to the site by Israeli soldiers. The Israeli
fired anti-tank missiles at a house in the West out of the terrorist who killed Michael Mark,” army reported three arrests over the course of
Bank after a shootout overnight, killing a Hamas Colonel Roman Gofman, commander of the the investigation that began after the July 1
member accused of a deadly attack on a rabbi, brigade that led the operation, said in a video attack that killed the rabbi. It called them part of
authorities said yesterday. Several other people distributed by the military. “We besieged the a cell “affiliated with Hamas”, the Islamist move-
were arrested in the hours-long raid in the vil- house and exchanges of fire took place after he ment that runs the Gaza Strip and which has a
lage of Surif, near Hebron. opened fire at the soldiers. We responded and strong presence in parts of the West Bank, par-
Military footage showed a house being hit the terrorist was killed in battle. His house was ticularly Hebron.
with an anti-tank missile then further demol- destroyed on him.”
ished with an earthmover. The military said sol- Soldiers carried away Fakih’s body and arrest- Flashpoint city
diers surrounded the house where the Hamas ed three people, who were led away with their The July 1 attack saw a car targeted by gun-
member was hiding out and exchanged fire with eyes covered and loaded into military vehicles, fire south of Hebron, leading to a crash that
him. Afterwards, the house was struck with anti- an AFP photographer witnessed. The official killed Mark and wounded three family members.
tank missiles and the militant’s body was found Palestinian news agency reported five people It was among a series of attacks in the Hebron
inside. He was identified as Mohamed Fakih, 29, were arrested and said several villagers were area at the time, including a June 30 stabbing by
and Hamas hailed him as a “martyr”. injured, with Palestinian ambulances denied a Palestinian in the Jewish settlement of Kiryat
Arba that killed a 13-year-old girl. Hebron is the
scene of frequent tensions in the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict. Several hundred Israeli set-
tlers live in the heart of the city under heavy mil-
itary guard among around 200,000 Palestinians.
Fakih had served time in Israeli jail for links
to the Islamic Jihad movement and joined
Hamas while in prison, according to Israel’s
Shin Bet security service. It issued a statement
saying a Palestinian security official was arrest-
ed earlier this month on suspicion of driving
ISTANBUL: Women walk at a shopping street. — AP
Fakih to the scene of the rabbi attack. Fakih’s
brother and cousin were also held on suspicion Turkey PM warns that post
of helping him to hide after the attack, the
statement added. coup crackdown not over
Hamas said in a statement it “hails the Al-
Qassam martyr Mohamed Fakih, who was mar-
tyred after a gun battle that lasted more than ANKARA: Turkey’s prime minister warned was with Erdogan on the coup night.
seven hours with occupation forces in Surif.” The yesterday that the crackdown following a Turkey yesterday issued arrest warrants for
Al-Qassam Brigades are Hamas’s armed wing. failed coup was not over, as authorities 47 former staff of the once pro-Gulen
issued arrest warrants for dozens of former Zaman newspaper suspected of links to the
Violence in the Palestinian territories and Israel
newspaper staff. A senior minister also reclusive cleric. An official who declined to
since October has killed at least 218 Palestinians,
revealed that a major army shake-up had be named said the swoop covered “execu-
34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a
been planned just before the putsch-sug- tives and some staff including columnists”,
Sudanese, according to an AFP count. Most of
gesting elements in the military made the describing Zaman as the “flagship media
the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife,
dramatic move because they knew they organization” of the Gulen-led movement.
gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli
were about to be purged. In March, Zaman and its English-language
SURIF: Palestinian inspect the house that was severely damaged in an exchange of fire authorities. Others were shot dead during Since the attempted power grab on the sister newspaper Today’s Zaman were tak-
between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians during an operation to find the men accused of mur- protests and clashes, while some were killed in night of July 15, more than 15,000 people en over by state-appointed administrators
dering an Israeli rabbi earlier this month. — AFP Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip. — AFP have been detained and more than 8,000 and it has since taken a strongly pro-gov-
of them remain in custody, according to ernment line.
the latest interior ministry figures. “The Several former staff are believed to have
Palestinian medics caught
investigation is continuing, there are peo- since left Turkey. The official insisted the
ple who are being searched for. There could warrants were not related to what individ-
be new apprehensions, arrests and deten- ual columnists had previously said or writ-
in the turmoil of conflict tions,” Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told Sky ten. But “prominent employees of Zaman
News, according to the network’s transla- are likely to have intimate knowledge of
tion of his remarks. “The process is not the Gulen network and as such could bene-
completed yet,” he said. fit the investigation”, the official explained.
DAHRIYA, Palestinian Territories: shots were fired at a car carrying a have been accused of bias and of rarely concerned about his religion. In the attempted coup, renegade sol- Earlier in the week, Turkey issued another
When a Palestinian doctor stopped family of Israeli settlers south of the abandoning wounded people from “I have never faced hostility from diers sought to topple President Recep 42 arrest warrants for journalists which
to help a family of Israelis targeted flashpoint West Bank city of Hebron, the other side. One stark example the people calling me,” Wander Tayyip Erdogan but were stopped by London-based rights group Amnesty
in a West Bank shooting, it was causing a crash that killed the of this is in Jerusalem. said. “I have only found apprecia- crowds of civilians and loyalist security International described as a “draconian
hailed as a rare moment of com- father. He said he stopped to help The Israeli government does not tion from the people in need. (But) I forces. At least 270 people were killed on clampdown on freedom of expression”.
passion in a bitter conflict. Ten even though he knew from the car’s formally draw a distinction have had issues in the past going both sides. Turkey blames the botched Sixteen of those 42 have so far been
months of violence between number plate that the passengers between predominantly Jewish into certain neighborhoods and putsch on US-based preacher Fethullah detained, according to state-run news
Israelis and Palestinians have deep- could be Israeli settlers. “I am not a west Jerusalem and Palestinian- coming out of certain neighbor- Gulen, who strongly denies the accusations agency Anadolu.
ened suspicions between the two hero,” Shroukh told AFP. “I followed dominated east Jerusalem, which hoods.” and demands that the United States resist
sides, with doctors and medics say- my religion, my conscience and my Israel occupied in 1967 and later Violence since last October has calls for his extradition. But Yildirim said New military shake-up
ing they come under greater scruti- profession. It is a humanitarian mis- annexed. But the Israeli medical killed 217 Palestinians and 34 Turkey was “determined” to secure his A large-scale shake-up of the Turkish
ny at times of increased tensions. sion to stop and help.” service Magen David Adom (MDA) Israelis, with Israeli authorities say- removal. “We shared all the details with armed forces is expected to be announced
Some Israeli and Palestinian medics says it will only enter parts of east ing that most of the Palestinians them and, from this point on, the task falls when the country’s Supreme Military
say they have been attacked while Stark example Jerusalem with a police escort for killed were carrying out knife, gun on the shoulders of the US government,” Council meets today. With 143 generals and
working, but all insist that politics He said doctors “make an oath security reasons-which can lead to or car-ramming attacks. Palestinian the prime minister said. more than 3,000 soldiers arrested on suspi-
is far from their minds when they to help an enemy before a friend”. delays of more than 30 minutes in medics say they are regularly pre- cion of coup links, there are gaping holes in
respond to a medical emergency. Shroukh said he has received mes- people receiving vital treatment, vented from reaching wounded ‘Planned purge’ the command structure which will have to
Ali Shroukh, who lives in the sages of congratulations from some medics say. In their absence, people by Israeli soldiers, and AFP Energy Minister Berat Albayrak, who is be filled. Tens of thousands of Turkish civil-
town of Dahriya in the Israeli-occu- around the world, including from the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS) journalists have witnessed soldiers Erdogan’s son-in-law, said Turkish authori- ians have also lost their jobs since July 15.
pied West Bank, said he did not Palestinian and Israeli doctors, tries to fill the gap, while MDA first threatening medics. A video that ties had been planning a major purge of Erdogan is set to visit Russia on August 9 to
think twice when he rushed to assist praising him for putting politics responders who live in east circulated last year showed Israeli the military and other institutions to repair ties harmed by the downing of a
the Israeli shooting victims, and aside. But keeping politics out of Jerusalem or volunteers from the forces firing pepper spray at PRCS remove Gulen-linked elements ahead of Russian warplane by Turkish jets last year, in
rejected the label “hero”. Shroukh the medical profession, like most United Hatzalah group also rush to medics during a dispute amid the coup attempt. He suggested parts of an apparent shift in diplomatic strategy.
was on his way to Al-Aqsa mosque things in the Israeli-Palestinian con- the scene, often on motorbikes, to clashes in the West Bank. Last year, the armed forces had wanted to act against “We will see more developed relations and
in Jerusalem to pray on July 1 when flict, is near impossible. Medics provide first aid until ambulances an Israeli woman claimed that PRCS the government as they knew they were that is what needs to take place,” Yildirim
arrive. Palestinian Ramzi Batesh, medics refused to treat members of about to be expelled. said of ties with Russia. The EU meanwhile
who works for United Hatzalah, said her family after an attack near a set- “They were going to take really impor- appointed a new ambassador to Turkey and
Syria regime strikes kills the rescue group established an east tlement in the West Bank in which tant steps to remove Gulenist officers and repeated warnings that Ankara must
Jerusalem branch of the originally her husband and son died. generals from the armed forces. We were respect democracy and human rights for
16 in rebel-held Aleppo Jewish organization because the already working on this,” said Albayrak, who ties to prosper. — AFP
time gap was leading to lives lost. A fine line
The Israeli government accused
BEIRUT: Syrian government air city. “Our armed forces... cut all the Medics threatened PRCS of failing to remain neutral, Turkey’s Justice Minister denies
strikes and artillery fire killed at supply routes and crossings used
Responders in east Jerusalem with wide Israeli media coverage
least 16 civilians yesterday in by terrorists to bring mercenaries, coup detainee torture claims
are all Palestinians, except for condemning the medics. However
rebel-held neighborhoods in the weapons and ammunition into
Jewish volunteer Josh Wander. He an internal probe by the
east of Aleppo city, a monitor eastern neighborhoods of
said he has had stones thrown at International Committee of the Red
said. The Britain-based Syrian Aleppo,” the army said in a state- ANKARA: Turkey’s justice minister detainees were checked by doctors after
him as he raced to provide care Cross later rejected the claim that
Observatory for Human Rights ment carried by official media. Monday denied claims by a human rights the detention and during custody, in line
while wearing his yarmulke skull its Palestinian affiliate refused to
said seven people had been killed It added that “in order to stop group saying that suspected plotters of with detention regulations,” the state-
cap, but that those in need are treat Jewish victims. — AFP
in the Sakhur neighborhood and the bloodshed” fighters were the July 15 coup have been subjected to ment said. The ministry added that con-
another seven in Al-Ansari district. being offered the opportunity to torture in detention. Bekir Bozdag, minis- trary to Amnesty claims that Turkey lacks
Two more were killed in the lay down their arms, “settle their ter of justice, said on his Twitter account, an institution which monitors detention
Sukari and Bustan Al-Qasr neigh- situations” and remain in or leave “There has not been any torture or conditions, Turkey’s Human Rights and
borhoods, the monitor said, Aleppo. A day earlier the military assault of detainees in custody,” in Equality Institution is continuing to fulfill
adding that the toll could rise said it had sent text messages to response to allegations by Amnesty its duties.
because people were still trapped residents and fighters in Aleppo International. Bozdag added, “The claims The deadly coup attempt began late
under the rubble. The renewed urging rebels to lay down their of torture and assault make up a package July 15 when rogue elements of the
strikes came as Syria’s army offi- weapons and identifying “safe misinformation campaign formed by Turkish military tried to overthrow the
cially announced it had surround- passages” for civilians wishing to members of the Fetullah Terrorist country’s democratically elected govern-
ed the rebel-held east of the city. leave. Once Syria’s economic pow- Organization/Parallel State Structure ment, killing at least 246 people and
Opposition neighborhoods of erhouse, Aleppo has been rough- (FETO/PYD), one which is untrue and dis- injuring more than 2,100 others. The gov-
Aleppo have been effectively ly divided between rebel control torted.” The group said Sunday that it had ernment said the attempted coup was
besieged since July 7, when gov- in the east and government con- evidence the detainees have been tor- organized by followers of US based
ernment troops advanced to trol in the west since mid-2012. tured as well as beaten and even raped. preacher Fetullah Gulen. Gulen is
within firing range of the sole More than 280,000 people have Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry issued accused of a long-running campaign to
remaining supply route into the been killed in Syria since the con- a statement saying that Turkey is a con- overthrow the state through infiltrating
east. They have continued to flict began in March 2011 with stitutional state, and that it meets nation- Turkish institutions, particularly the mili-
advance, seizing the road itself anti-government protests that al and international criteria on human tary, police, and judiciary, forming a par-
and at least one rebel-held neigh- were met with a regime crack- DAHRIYA, Palestinian Territories : Palestinian doctor, Ali Shroukh, rights law even amid a state of emer- allel state. - Report courtesy of Turkish
borhood in the north-west of the down. — AFP walks down the stairs at his private clinic on July 11, 2016 in the gency. “The health conditions of the Embassy of Kuwait
southern West Bank village . — AFP
THURSDAY, JULY28, 2016
I N T E R N AT ION A L
Venezuela Govt seeking ban on oppn over recall ‘fraud’
CARACAS: The Venezuelan government tures requesting a recall vote. The oppo- Off to farm porary. It comes after Maduro gave his around 7.5 million. Maduro’s camp has
asked electoral authorities Tuesday to sition has denied such charges, accusing Venezuela has sunk into crisis as glob- military sweeping powers over food pro- plenty of ways to stall. Besides seeking to
ban the opposition coalition seeking to the authorities of stalling. Tuesday was al prices for its main export, oil, have col- duction and distribution earlier this have MUD declared illegal, Maduro’s allies
oust President Nicolas Maduro in a recall the final day for the National Electoral lapsed. The economy is set to contract month. Maduro blames Venezuela’s crisis have filed more than 8,000 legal chal-
vote, accusing them of massive fraud. Council (CNE) to rule whether the oppo- eight percent this year, its third year of on an “economic war” waged by wealthy lenges to the referendum drive with pros-
Ratcheting up the tension in a country sition successfully collected at least recession, a UN panel forecast Tuesday. elites unhappy with his rule. Opponents ecutors and the Supreme Court.
pushed to the brink of collapse by an 200,000 valid signatures, the first stage of Food and medicine shortages, hyperinfla- say the failure of his own socialist policies
economic crisis, Maduro’s camp hit back the long and winding recall procedures. tion, looting, lynching and mounting is to blame. Protests loom
with a vengeance on the same day the Near the end of the day, the CNE said chaos are fueling growing discontent Venezuela’s economic tailspin is
opposition was hoping to get a green it would only meet Monday to examine with Maduro, who has declared a state of Waiting game threatening Maduro and the leftist “revo-
light to go ahead with its bid to hold a its auditors’ report on the petition. It did emergency. A recent poll found 64 percent of lution” launched in 1999 by his late pred-
recall referendum. “We have just asked not say when it would announce its rul- His labor ministry used emergency Venezuelans would vote to remove ecessor and mentor, Hugo Chavez. The
for the cancellation of the registration of ing. “The electoral authority will not powers Tuesday to issue a resolution Maduro in a referendum. But time is not opposition’s referendum push comes
the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), accept pressure,” it said in a statement. “It declaring that private companies must on the opposition’s side. Even if the CNE after it won legislative elections in
for being involved in the worst vote fraud is acting in strict compliance with the send their employees to work on govern- validates the initial recall petition, the December, only to find its power stymied
in the country’s history,” said Jorge law.” Maduro’s opponents are racing to ment agriculture programs aimed at opposition will still have to collect anoth- by a Supreme Court it condemns as a
Rodriguez, Maduro’s designated aide to complete the process by January 10, the curbing food shortages. Firms whose er four million signatures, or 20 percent of Maduro lapdog. Opposition leaders have
monitor the recall process. cutoff to trigger new elections. After that workers are drafted into the programs the electorate, in just three days. If those called nationwide demonstrations for
He accused the opposition of includ- date-four years into the president’s six- will not have to pay their wages, but will signatures are accepted, it would force a Wednesday to pressure the government.
ing the names of thousands of dead peo- year term-a successful recall vote would have to cover their social security contri- recall referendum. To win it, Maduro’s But electoral authorities warned they
ple, convicts and minors in a petition simply transfer power to Maduro’s hand- butions. No timeframe was given for the opponents would need more votes than would halt the referendum process in the
submitted in May with 1.8 million signa- picked vice president. resolution, which was described as tem- he won the election with in 2013 — event of violence. — AFP
Kremlin denies interference
in US presidential campaign
Obama doesn’t rule out possibility
MOSCOW: The Kremlin yesterday denied
Moscow was interfering in the US election cam-
paign after President Barack Obama refused to
rule out that Russia could be trying to sway the
vote in favor of Donald Trump. Hillary Clinton’s
campaign has blamed Russia for an embarrass-
ing leak of emails from the Democratic National
Committee, propelling the Kremlin to the heart
of American political debate as tensions
between Moscow and Washington linger
months before the US presidential elections.
“President Putin has repeatedly said that
Russia has never interfered and does not inter-
fere in internal affairs, especially in the electoral
processes of other countries,” Kremlin
spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. The
PHILADELPHIA: Former President Bill Clinton speaks during the second day session Kremlin spokesman had earlier dismissed as
of the Democratic National Convention. — AP “absurd” claims that Russia was involved in the
hacking of emails that were released by
Bill Clinton tells a love story WikiLeaks. “Moscow has carefully avoided any
actions, any words that could be interpreted as
to make his case for Hillary direct or indirect influence on the electoral
process,” Peskov said. “If you talk about some
suspicions regarding our country, then you need
PHILADELPHIA: There have been millions native.” Rather, Bill Clinton focused nearly
at the very least to be precise and concrete,”
of words, decades of video and reams of exclusively on his wife’s achievements and
Peskov added.
commentary devoted to the story of Bill how she’d influenced him. “I have lived a
Russian political analysts say that the Kremlin PHILADELPHIA: A delegate wears a hat with a bubble-head doll of Democratic Presidential can-
and Hillary Clinton. It’s been dissected, long full blessed life. It really took off when
has always preferred to work with Republican didate Sec Hillary Clinton during the first day of the Democratic National Convention. — AP
defended and decried at kitchen tables and I met and fell in love with that girl in the
politicians but play down Russia’s actual influ-
on cable news, in tabloids and classrooms. spring of 1971,” he said. But it wasn’t only
ence on the vote’s outcome. “The Kremlin has Working with Clinton French television. He was speaking after Clinton
But on Tuesday night, as millions of voters Clinton who broke a glass ceiling on
traditionally considered that a Republican Trump has made no secret of his admiration compared Putin’s meddling in Ukraine to
watched and with the political stakes as Tuesday when she became the first female
administration is more convenient because it is for President Putin, leading some to suggest the aggression by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, drawing
high as they’ve ever been, the former presi- nominee of a major party. Should she win
more pragmatic,” independent analyst Nikolai Kremlin strongman was working to help propel scorn from the Kremlin.
dent tried to make sense of it all and make on Election Day, her husband will step into
Petrov told AFP. “It does not strive to interfere in the real estate billionaire into the White House. Analysts say that Trump’s calls to revamp US-
the case for his wife, the newly minted a singular role in American history: first
internal affairs, in the fight for human rights. In In December last year, Putin praised Trump as “a Russia relations are in the Kremlin’s interests
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary gentleman.
this sense it is easier to negotiate with the very striking man, unquestionably talented”. “It’s and have added weight to its preference for the
Clinton. “In the spring of 1971, I met a girl,” The potential new title is perhaps the
Republicans.” Petrov added that Moscow’s ability not up to us to judge his virtues, that is up to US Republican candidate. Asked about his attitude
he began. strangest twist in a political career known
to influence the US election campaign was limit- voters, but he is the absolute leader of the presi- to Trump last month, Putin said: “Mr Trump has
The former president’s tenth address to for its second acts. After health scares and
ed, however, saying it was “not a situation in dential race,” Putin said. Trump responded by said that he is ready for a full-scale revival of
a Democratic convention was by far his political missteps, the Comeback Kid, as he
which Russia could play an active role.” In an hailing Putin as a “strong leader, a powerful Russian-American relations. What’s wrong with
most personal, a 42-minute tour through was known in his first presidential race,
interview with NBC News set to air Wednesday, leader”. Trump wrote on Twitter Wednesday that that? We welcome that.
wedding proposals and Halloween parties, could come back to Washington one last
Obama said that “anything was possible” follow- Putin had called him a “genius”. ” WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, speaking
the deaths of parents and movie time. In 2012, he acted as a powerful val-
ing suggestions that Russia could have been Although the Kremlin has more experience Tuesday on CNN, refused to confirm or deny
marathons. Perhaps their worst moments - idator for President Barack Obama, electri-
behind the hack. Obama told NBC he could not working with Clinton, who served as US that Russia was the source of the emails his
the Monica Lewinsky scandal, impeach- fying the room as the party’s “explainer-in-
speak about the precise motive for the hack or Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013 and was organization leaked. “We like to create maxi-
ment and legal battles that followed - were chief.”
subsequent leak but was aware of Trump’s posi- US First Lady for eight years, it would find Trump mum ambiguity as to who our sources are,”
conspicuously omitted though hinted at. Nearly 70, Bill Clinton is a bit frailer, a
tive comments about the Russian leadership. “easier to negotiate with,” according to Petrov. Assange said. “Perhaps one day the source or
“She’ll never quit on you,” he said. “She nev- touch shakier, though aides and friends say
“What we do know is that the Russians hack our Putin and Clinton have a history of directing sources will step forward and that might be an
er quit on me.” his famous memory remains sharp. Some
systems. Not just government systems, but pri- jabs at each other, with the Kremlin strongman interesting moment. Some people will have egg
Instead, Bill Clinton cast himself as a pas- say his administration’s legacy has been
vate systems,” Obama said. calling Clinton “weak” in a 2014 interview on on their faces.” — AFP
senger in his wife’s life, reshaping the story repudiated by his own party, which shifted
of much of their decades in politics. The goal left during Obama’s time in office. “God
was to make Clinton, perhaps the most bless him, Bill even looks old now,” said Sanders loyalists warn of
famous female politician in the world, yet a Republican strategist Alex Castellanos. “He’s
public figure her aides claim remains not the once and future king, he’s the once
unknown, relatable to voters. He cast her as and past king.” But no one doubts that Bill
split after Clinton victory
a liberal heroine of her own story, who Clinton still wants to be at the center of the
fought for education reform, health care, civ- action. While aides have said he will not get
il rights, the disabled, 9/11 first responders a Cabinet post or a seat in the Situation
and economically depressed rural areas. Room should his wife win, Clinton has
“She’s the best darn change-maker I’ve ever made clear that her closest adviser will PHILADELPHIA: Bernie Sanders loyalists warned to disrupt Clinton’s moment as the first woman na parking lot. Police and the Secret Service
met in my entire life,” he said. “This woman remain involved with her administration, that the Democratic Party could rupture over the to be nominated for president by a major US immediately arrested four protesters, who will
has never been satisfied with the status quo saying he’d likely have a role in managing nomination of Hillary Clinton after a volatile political party. be charged with entering a restricted area.
on anything. She always wants to move the the nation’s economy. night that saw a large group of Sanders dele- “We all have this unrealistic dream that Protests continued into the night as Sanders
ball forward. That is just who she is.” They remain a “two for one” package, as gates and supporters exit the party’s national democracy is alive in America,” said Debra Dilks, supporters and an anti-police brutality group
Bill Clinton famously said during his first convention to stage a sit-in at a nearby media of Boonville, Missouri, who spoke as a protest joined together. Later, another protester set an
Glass ceiling presidential race. But on Tuesday night, he tent. They rejected Sanders’ call for unity even broke up near Philadelphia’s City Hall. She said Israeli flag on fire as people chanted, “long live
He dismissed the multiple views of his hinted, just barely, that Clinton perhaps is after the Vermont senator took the symbolic she wasn’t sure she would even vote in the intifada.” Others then came together for a
wife, telling delegates and the nation: “One finally getting her part of the deal. “I mar- step of declaring Clinton the winner of the state- November. “Hillary didn’t get the nomination. candlelight vigil. Earlier in the day, activists held
is real, the other is made up.” He never once ried my best friend,” he said. “And I really by-state delegate count inside the convention in The nomination was stolen,” Dilks said. a midday rally at City Hall, and then made their
mentioned GOP nominee Donald Trump by hoped that she choosing me and rejecting Philadelphia. way down Broad Street to the convention site.
name, dismissing Republican attacks on my own advice to pursue her own career “I suspect we are witnessing an event that Protests and walk-outs By early evening, a large crowd had formed out-
Clinton as “made up” and a “cartoon alter- was a decision she’d never regret.” — AP will fundamentally change American politics,” At the media tent protest, some had their side the subway station closest to the arena. The
said Cory James, 22, a college student from Flint, mouths taped shut, while a few others sponta- crowd consisted of an assortment of protesters
Michigan, who expects the Democratic Party to neously sang, “This land is our land.” They said espousing a variety of causes, but mostly
Make Hillary likable again: break apart over Clinton’s victory. Thousands of they were holding a peaceful protest to com- Sanders supporters and other Clinton foes on
activists have taken to the streets during the plain about being shut out by the Democratic the left.
Party seeks Clinton recast convention this week to voice support for Party. In the streets outside, Sanders supporters “I think people were hoping we could sway
Sanders, a liberal US senator, and his progressive who had spent the day protesting began facing the delegates and show that there really is a
agenda. The “Bernie or bust” brigades that have off with police. They started scaling 8-foot walls movement here,” said Alexis Holmes, a school
PHILADELPHIA: When Hillary Clinton first realizes there aren’t some magic words you marched across the sun-warped city threatened that blocked off the secure zone around the are- janitor from Carbondale, Illinois, who has been
ran for president in 2008 she was badly can say to earn that trust overnight.” protesting in the city since Sunday. The long-
stung by a backhanded compliment from Speaker after speaker at the convention standing bitterness between Sanders’ support-
rival Barack Obama, who called her “likable took the stage on Monday and Tuesday to ers and Clinton’s seemed to grow worse over the
enough” before going on to win the offer testimonials on her behalf, including past few days after a trove of hacked emails
Democratic nomination and the White her husband, former President Bill Clinton, showed that officials at the Democratic National
House. Eight years later, with her party’s who filled his prime-time speech on Committee played favorites during the primaries
nomination to succeed Obama firmly in Tuesday with anecdotes and private and worked to undermine Sanders’ campaign.
hand, the question of her likability, trust- moments shared by America’s best-known Sanders had urged supporters Monday to fall in
worthiness and honesty still hangs over her political couple. line behind Clinton for the good of the country.
bid to become America’s first woman presi- Gay basketball player Jason Collins told of But many were not swayed. Engineer Chris
dent, this time in a Nov. 8 election against the support she offered when he went pub- Scully, of Troy, New York, said he opposes Clinton
Republican Donald Trump. lic with his homosexuality; a grandmother because of her war record as US secretary of
The Democratic National Convention in described how her daughter’s battle with state. He carried a “Jill Before Hill” sign Tuesday at
Philadelphia this week is, in part, an effort drug addiction inspired Clinton to address a demonstration at City Hall, in a nod to Green
to reintroduce her to American voters, more the drug crisis. A parade of others offered Party candidate Jill Stein. As Scully spoke, a pass-
than half of whom view her unfavorably, behind-the-scenes glimpses of the former er-by called out: “That’s a vote for Trump!”
according to Reuters/Ipsos polling. The criti- first lady, US senator and secretary of state, In a separate protest against police brutality
cisms have dogged her for years: She can describing how she drove through a blizzard and racial injustice, about 500 people marched
appear stiff in front of crowds, struggling to to attend a funeral, planned birthday parties down Broad Street to City Hall. Protest leader
show off the compassion her supporters say and visited survivors of the Sept 11, 2001, Erica Mines told the crowd that it was an “anti-
she shares in private and leaving some vot- attacks. Clinton’s personal image, which has police rally” and a “black and brown resistance
ers with the impression she is not giving fluctuated during her 25 years in the public march” and instructed all white people to move
straight answers to tough questions. eye, slumped after a divisive Democratic pri- to the back. March participant Tiara Willis, of
Clinton recognizes the problem, aides say. mary, a lingering controversy over her use of Philadelphia, said she subscribes to the slogan
“She knows that she has work to do to earn a private email system while serving as the PHILADELPHIA: Former Democratic Presidential candidate, Sen Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, walks off “I’m with her ... I guess.” She said she would not
people’s trust,” said Jennifer Palmieri, top US diplomat, and repeated Republican the stage after speaking to delegates during the first day of the Democratic National back Trump and called Clinton, “the lesser of
Clinton’s communications director. “She also attacks on “crooked Hillary.” — Reuters Convention. — AP two evils.” — AP
THURSDAY, JULY28, 2016
I N T E R N AT ION A L
Top pope aide probed for Australia child sex abuse
SYDNEY: Vatican finance chief George it had obtained eight police statements had grown up and worked. They also The commission has spoken to almost on claims of abuse by other clergy. Pell
Pell is being investigated by Australian from complainants, witnesses and family include allegations that Pell was naked in 5,000 survivors and heard harrowing was ordained in Rome in 1966 before
police over child sexual abuse allega- members helping the police investiga- front of three young boys believed to be allegations of child abuse involving returning to Australia in 1971 and rising
tions, a report by the national broadcast- tion. But the 75-year-old strongly denied aged eight to 10 in a Torquay surf club places of worship, orphanages, commu- to become the nation’s top Catholic offi-
er said yesterday, as the leading Catholic the allegations in a statement to the changing room in summer 1986-87. nity groups and schools. Pell previously cial. He left for the Vatican in 2014 after
cleric denounced the claims as “totally ABC, saying “claims that he has sexually told the commission he was not aware of being hand-picked by Pope Francis to
untrue”. abused anyone, in any place, at any time Widespread allegations offences that had occurred in Victoria, make the church’s finances more trans-
The new allegations against Pell in his life are totally untrue and com- The national Royal Commission into where pedophile priests abused dozens parent. Francis has approved the cre-
being probed by police in Victoria state pletely wrong”. Institutional Responses to Child Sexual of children in the 1970s and 1980s. He ation of an internal church tribunal to
span two decades, the Australian A Victoria police spokeswoman told Abuse in Australia was established in has also denied allegations raised during punish bishops who cover up sex abuse
Broadcasting Corporation reported. They AFP they would not be making any com- 2012 after a decade of growing pressure the commission that he tried to bribe a by priests, but networks of abuse sur-
came just months after the cardinal ment. Victoria police Chief Commissioner to investigate widespread allegations of victim of the now-jailed pedophile priest vivors are sceptical that much will
admitted he “mucked up” in dealing with Graham Ashton said in June police were pedophilia. The police investigation into Gerald Ridsdale-with whom he once change. Other countries where alleged
pedophile priests in the state. looking into allegations against Pell. The Pell-which the ABC said has lasted more shared church accommodation-to keep or confirmed cases of sexual abuse have
When he was the Catholic Archbishop allegations include claims from two men, than a year and involves allegations from him quiet. come to light include Austria, Belgium,
of Sydney in 2002 Pell was accused of now in their 40s, who said they were Ballarat, Torquay and Melbourne-is part While consistently denying any Canada, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, the
historic sex abuse claims but was later groped by Pell in summer 1978-79 at of a wider probe into complaints that wrongdoing, the high-flyer has admitted Netherlands, Poland and the United
cleared of any wrongdoing. The ABC said Eureka pool in Ballarat, where the cleric emerge from the royal commission. he “should have done more” to follow up States. — AFP
IS magazine describes
bomber preparations
BERLIN: The online magazine of the Islamic
State group has described how a 27-year-old
Syrian asylum-seeker who blew himself up at a
bar in the southern German town of Ansbach
spent months planning the attack, once even
hiding his home-made bomb in his room
moments before a police raid. The weekly Al-
Nabaa magazine’s report, published late
Tuesday, added that Mohammad Daleel had
fought both in Iraq and Syria with a branch of
al-Qaida and the IS group before arriving in
Germany as an asylum-seeker two years ago.
Daleel died and 15 people were wounded
when the bomb exploded in a wine bar Sunday
night after he wasn’t allowed entry to a nearby
open-air concert because he didn’t have a tick-
et. The Ansbach attack was the last one of four AFINSA: This file photo taken on May 12, 2006 shows member of the police standing
attacks in the country in the span of a week, guard outside the offices of Afinsa, one of two companies accused of selling overval-
two of which have been claimed by the Islamic ued and fake stamps to 350,000 small investors in a gigantic pyramid scheme, 12
State extremist group. The attacks have left May 2006. — AFP
Germany on edge and Chancellor Angela Eleven jailed in one of
Merkel’s policies of welcoming refugees under
renewed criticism.
Spain’s biggest frauds
Background checks
Conservative lawmakers have called for an
ANSBACH: Refugees from Syria stand near the site of the attack and hold up a sign reading ‘we increased police presence, better surveillance
MADRID: Spain’s top criminal court said rare stamps were actually of little value in
are Muslims and not terrorists’. — AP and background checks of migrants and new
yesterday it had sentenced 11 former exec- the collectors market, initial investors were
strategies to deport criminal asylum seekers
utives of stamp firm Afinsa to up to 12 only paid thanks to the cashflow received
Pope heads to festival under more easily. Al Nabaa’s Arabic-language years in jail for their role in a vast scam that by other newer customers, in a classic Ponzi
report on the attacker said he initially fought
ruined thousands of savers. The Madrid- scheme.
against government forces with Al-Qaida’s
the shadow of church attack based Audiencia Nacional also ordered six By 2006 when authorities started inves-
branch in Syria before pledging alliance to IS
of the accused to pay 2.57 billion Euros tigating the scam, Afinsa had accumulated
in 2013. He also helped the group with its
($2.8 billion) in compensation for the losses 2.57 billion Euros in liabilities. According to
propaganda efforts, setting up pro-IS
KRAKOW: Pope Francis heads to Poland yester- Marcin Przeciszewski, head of Catholic incurred by investors-including former the court, the investors were largely mid-
accounts online. In Germany he started mak-
day for an international Catholic youth festival to Information Agency KAI, as groups of faithful Afinsa president Juan Antonio Cano, who dle-class people, “who in many cases lost
ing the bomb, a process that took him three
preach charity and openness to migrants, a mis- gathered Tuesday to pray for the fallen French was sentenced to 12 years and ten months the savings they were keeping for retire-
months, Al Nabaa wrote.
sion made tougher by a jihadist murder of a priest. One 20-year old French pilgrim, who gave in prison. ment or for crisis situations.” In one case
priest in France. The Argentine pontiff is flying in her name as Elisabeth, said: “I think we are all It added that German police once raided his The court said the scam, which saw reported by the El Pais daily in May 2006,
to meet youngsters from across the world at a mourning to some extent, it’s inevitable. “This asylum shelter in an unrelated case and Afinsa sell low quality and sometimes fake nearly half of the 2,300 inhabitants of the
week-long faith extravaganza dubbed “the has to be the WYD (World Youth Day) of hope”. A searched Daleel’s room without noticing the stamps for highly inflated prices to more village of Dosbarrios, a farming community
Catholic Woodstock”, but is expected to tackle group of French pilgrims gathered in Krakow for bomb that he hid moments before the raid. The than 190,000 people in Spain and Portugal in the heart of the country, lost their sav-
Poland’s rightwing government over refugee prayer on Tuesday night. IS group earlier claimed the Ansbach attack, from 1998 to 2006, was “one of the biggest ings. Apart from Cano, who was found
rights before he joins the festivities. “The best answer to violence is love, peace publishing a video it said of Daleel pledging frauds our courts ever experienced.” The guilty of aggravated fraud and criminal
The brutal killing of an elderly priest during and prayer,” said one of the young pilgrims, allegiance to the group and vowing that company promised to buy back people’s insolvency, the other former executives
mass in France on Tuesday, in an attack claimed Pierre Darme, as some of his friends prayed with Germany’s people “won’t be able to sleep
stamps after these supposedly rose in val- received prison sentences ranging from
by the Islamic State group, cast a shadow over their eyes closed. The pope will likely have to peacefully anymore.” It appears to be the same
ue, which would see their clients recoup two years and three months to 11 years.
the gathering of the hundreds of thousands of work overtime to win hearts and minds in the video as the one found by German investiga-
their initial investment plus interest, the They were also ordered to pay fines total-
pilgrims gathered in Krakow and increased con- homeland of Polish pope John Paul II. The charis- tors on the suicide bomber’s phone. Daleel
court said. But given that the reportedly ing more than 72 million Euros. — AFP
cerns over security. A string of recent terror matic saint, hailed for his role in toppling unsuccessfully applied for asylum in Germany
attacks targeting civilians in Europe appears to Communism, sponsored conservative Catholic and was awaiting deportation, German author-
have dampened turnout however. Around movements-a legacy which sits uncomfortably ities said. Poles stage sit-in
200,000 pilgrims attended the opening mass on with the Argentine pontiff’s attempts to nur- The unprecedented bloodshed in Germany
Tuesday, security sources told AFP, while organis- ture a more flexible, compassionate Church. began July 18, when a 17-year-old from
ers had originally expected around half a million. “Polish Catholics probably aren’t going to be Afghanistan wielding an ax attacked people on against reforms
The assassination of the French priest has also welcoming the pope they really want, but giv- a train near Wuerzburg, wounding five people
complicated Francis’ desire to champion en their current social and political situation, before he was shot to death by police. The
migrants and emboldening Polish Prime Minister they may be getting exactly the one they Islamic State group claimed responsibility. The
Beata Szydlo and her rightwing government need,” Vatican expert John Allen wrote on the deadliest attack came Friday night in Munich. WARSAW: Outside the Polish prime minis- Car honks, victory signs, selfies-even swear
who have refused to take in refugees for security Cruxnow.com website. The German-born, 18-year-old son of Iranian ter’s office, on an elegant tree-lined words. “One time, these Spaniards called
reasons. In an apparent swipe at the anti- refugees went on a shooting spree and killed avenue, a makeshift village of government out: ‘We’re with you, we wish we could do
migrant US Republican presidential candidate ‘Testing time’ nine people. The youth had obsessively opponents has sprung up to condemn the the same at home,’” recalls Jerzy Gogol,
Donald Trump, Francis also sent a video message As Europe struggles to cope with the biggest researched mass shootings, and authorities said reforms to the country’s top court, changes who is one of the collective’s coordinators
yesterday to Hispanic faithful in Brownsville, wave of asylum-seekers since World War II, the attack does not appear to be linked to they see as a “violation of democracy”. For and proudly wears his “I love KOD” badge.
Texas, on the Mexican border. “Always look to the Francis has repeatedly called for the protection Islamic extremists. nearly 150 days, dozens of members of the Milowy said nearby residents have even
future, don’t let anyone throw up walls in your of the downtrodden and persecuted, seeking to On Sunday, a 21-year-old Syrian used a Committee for the Defence of Democracy been dropping off food for them. “One
lives,” he said. set an example by sheltering Syrian Muslim fami- machete to kill a 45-year-old Polish woman in (KOD) have camped out here in tents with woman brings excellent soup every day,”
Francis, 79, will meet Polish President Andrzej lies in Rome. But Poland has refused to take part the southern city of Reutlingen. Authorities said improvised kitchenettes and colorful ban- said Aleksandra Juziuk, a 71-year-old pen-
Duda in Krakow’s Wawel Castle, before retiring in an EU deal to share the burden of migrants
assailant and victim knew each other from ners, taking turns manning the fort to keep sioner who came down from northern
for a closed door question-and-answer session arriving in Italy and Greece by boat. “Francis is
working in the same restaurant, and the inci- the sit-in going. Their source of discontent Poland to join the protest. She is proud of
with the country’s bishops. The pope, who expected to face a testing time,” wrote
dent was not related to terrorism. Despite the lies in the reforms of the Constitutional belonging to KOD, which she calls the
voiced “pain and horror” at the “barbaric killing” Christopher Lamb in Catholic weekly newspaper
fact that not all the cases were terror-related, Court that the conservative Law and Justice country’s “second social movement after
of the priest, is likely to slam religious violence The Tablet.
they have caused concerns about the govern- (PiS) party pushed through soon after Solidarity”-which she also joined a quarter
and the persecution of Christians while warning Many of Poland’s bishops are “at odds with
ment’s migration policy that saw more than 1 sweeping to power late last year. century ago. Juziuk may be able to spend
Europe not to succumb to xenophobia. Poland is the direction of his papacy,” particularly Francis’
million people enter Germany last year. The changes to the top court’s decision- 12 straight hours at the village, but others,
on high security alert, deploying over 40,000 push to open church doors to traditional “sin-
making rules, which according to the like lawyer Jerzy, have work commitments
personnel for the visit. Authorities also charged ners” such as single mothers and divorced peo-
‘Halt to Muslim immigration’ opposition were intended to paralyze the to factor in. Still, he tries to come help out
an Iraqi man Monday with possessing trace ple who have remarried. The off-the-record
A senior figure in the nationalist Alternative institution, have notably alarmed the for at least three hours a day.
amounts of explosive material. True to character, meeting with church leaders will give the pontiff
for Germany party, which has no seats in the European Union and triggered several
Francis is refusing to bow to security concerns, a chance to call on dissident bishops to reconsid-
national parliament but saw its popularity surge demonstrations across the country. The Giant calendar
and will take to the road in his open-top pope- er their attitudes. At the heart of the visit will be
after last year’s migrant influx, suggested yester- KOD activists have been occupying the The volunteers have at their disposal
mobile for some stages of his trip. a meeting with Holocaust survivors at the former
day that there should be “a halt to immigration three tents along a 100-meter stretch of the piles of provisions stashed inside the tents
Nazi death camp Auschwitz, where Francis will
for Muslims to Germany” until all asylum-seek- avenue outside Warsaw’s large Lazienski like an Aladdin’s cave: water bottles, coffee,
‘All mourning’ pray for the camp’s 1.1 million mostly Jewish vic-
ers currently in the country have been regis- Park since March. They set up the makeshift tea, sweets, newspapers, gadgets.
“World Youth Day is a great celebration and tims, before the five-day trip winds up with the
we hope the attack in France will not ruin it,” said customary papal vigil and mass. — AFP tered, checked and had their applications village in response to the government’s Concerned about their visibility, the volun-
processed. “For security reasons, we can no refusal to publish a March 9 judgment by teers feed the KOD social media accounts
longer afford to allow yet more Muslims to the Constitutional Court that would strike with a steady flow of updates. Every day
immigrate to Germany without control,” down the changes. they post a photo of the giant calendar
Alexander Gauland, a deputy party leader, said showing how many days have passed since
in a statement. “There are terrorists among the ‘Democracy is being violated’ the March 9 judgment.
Muslims who immigrated illegally and their “The government refuses to publish the Kijowski said the makeshift village has
number is rising constantly.” rulings of the constitutional court. And yet authorization from Warsaw mayor Hanna
The Interior Ministry rejected the notion that that’s its job,” said Mateusz Kijowski, who Gronkiewicz-Waltz, who belongs to the lib-
Germany is still seeing uncontrolled migration. founded the KOD civic movement to eral Civil Platform (PO) opposition. But a
Spokesman Johannes Dimroth said that “for oppose what critics see as an attempt by couple of police officers still make daily
some time” all new arrivals have been registered the PiS to marginalize the court. rounds to check that all the papers are in
and checked against security databases. “As for “Democracy is being violated. Only global order, for which Juziuk is grateful: “We
the concrete question of whether you can act public awareness will help us,” he told AFP. thank the police for carrying out controls.
differently according specifically to a person’s Their sit-in is peaceful. Volunteers They keep us safe.”
religion, as I understand it that simply would be engage passersby in discussion, distribute Just a couple of meters away is the tent
incompatible with our understanding of free- pamphlets, gather petition signatures. of another group, Citizens of Poland, which
dom of religion,” he said. “We’re firmly against any kind of aggressive KOD considers “more radical” because of
German train operator Deutsche Bahn said rebellion. We’re protesting with smiles,” said some of their tactics, like protesting before
yesterday that following the attacks it would KOD activist Slawomir Milowy. “We cherish parliament when it is forbidden. “We’re ordi-
invest heavily in increased security and hire the freedom we won 26 years ago too nary citizens. We distinguish ourselves from
hundreds of security staff to control trains and much to have it taken away from us now,” KOD but we still support their actions,”
train stations across the country. The city of he told AFP, referring to the events of 1989, member Tadeusz Jakrzewski told AFP. “Here,
Munich said it is re-evaluating its security con- when the freedom-fighting Solidarity trade there’s no hierarchy, we all have the same
cept for the annual Oktoberfest and is consider- union negotiated a peaceful end to com- position.” Their tent is more bare boned,
KRAKOW: A group of folk dancers rehearse prior to the arrival of Pope Francis at the military ing banning all backpacks from the popular munism in Poland. Passersby have equipped only with essentials like water
airport. — AP beer fest. — AP responded every which way to the sit-in: bottles, cots and warm clothes. — AFP