baseball
THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT
SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017 / SHAWWAL 1, 1438 AH
A happy Eid Al-Fitr to all
Amir condemns Makkah terror plot
Amir hopes Gulf rift heals
Demands presented
unreasonable: Doha
DOHA, June 24, (Agencies):
Qatar said Saturday that a
13-point list of demands made
by Saudi Arabia and its allies
impinged on its sovereignty
and failed to meet US expecta-
tions they be reasonable.
Meanwhile, His Highness the
Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad
Al-Jaber Al-Sabah expressed
hope Friday a rift among Arab
and Gulf countries would be
mended to pave way for secu-
rity, stability and prosperity in
the GCC countries.
His Highness the Amir ex-
pressed his hopes during phone
calls with Qatari Amir Sheikh
Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani,
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and
Deputy Supreme Commander
of UAE Armed Forces Sheikh
Mohammad bin Zayed Al-
Nahyan, and Saudi Crown
Prince, Deputy Premier and
Defense Minister Mohammad
bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.
His Highness the Amir and
the Gulf leaders discussed
developments in the region,
particularly the tension in re-
lations between Saudi Arabia,
the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt on
one side and Qatar on the other.
The four Arab governments
delivered the demands to Qatar
through Kuwait on Thursday,
more than two weeks after sev-
ering all ties with the emirate
and imposing an embargo.
The document has not been
published but has been widely
leaked and the demands are
sweeping in their scope.
They require Doha to join
Riyadh and its allies in outlaw-
ing the Muslim Brotherhood,
which it has long supported.
They also require it to close
Irans embassy and a base on
its territory operated by its ally
Turkey, as well as to shut Al-
Jazeera television.
Qatar is also required to end
all contacts with opposition
groups in the four countries
Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia
and the United Arab Emirates.
In Qatars rst response to
the demands, government com-
munications director Sheikh
Saif bin Ahmed Al-Thani said
on Saturday that they went far
beyond the four governments
stated aim of combating terror-
ism.
This blockade is not aimed
at ghting terrorism but at im-
pinging on Qatars sovereignty
and interfering in its foreign
Senators seek probe of
Yemen torture charges
WASHINGTON, June 24,
(AP): Pressure mounted Friday
on the Defense Department af-
ter multiple US senators called
for investigations into reports
that US military interrogators
worked with forces from the
United Arab Emirates who are
accused of torturing detainees
in Yemen.
John McCain, Republican
chairman of the Senate Armed
Services Committee, and the
ranking Democrat, Jack Reed,
called the reports deeply dis-
turbing.
The reports were revealed in
an investigation by The Associ-
ated Press published Thursday.
That same day, McCain and
Reed wrote a letter to Defense
Secretary Jim Mattis asking
him to conduct an immediate
review of the reported abuse
and what US forces knew.
Even the suggestion that the
United States tolerates torture
by our foreign partners com-
promises our national security
mission by undermining the
moral principle that distin-
guishes us from our enemies
our belief that all people pos-
sess basic human rights, the
senators wrote Mattis . We are
Page 39
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policy, Sheikh Saif said.
He recalled that US Sec-
retary of State Rex Tillerson
had said on Wednesday that
Washington wanted a clear list
of grievances that was reason-
able and actionable.
This list does not meet those
standards, he said.
Saudi Arabia and its allies
have put enormous pressure on
Qatar to meet their demands.
The UAE state minister for
foreign affairs, Anwar Gar-
gash, warned on Friday that
Qatar should deal seriously
with the 13 points or face di-
vorce from its neighbours.
The rift between the US Gulf
allies has been awkward for
Washington.
Tillerson has sought to me-
diate but the White House has
been more hands-off, describ-
ing the diplomatic crisis as a
family issue on Friday.
Meshal Hamad Al-Thani,
Qatars ambassador to the
United States, tweeted that the
list was meant to punish Qatar
for its independence.
Qatar was warned by one of
its most hawkish critics in the
region that unless it meets the
list of demands, Doha faces
divorce from its Gulf neigh-
bours.
Gargash said Qatar should
yield to the demands.
It would be wiser that (Qa-
tar) deal seriously with the
demands and concerns of the
neighbours or a divorce will
take place, he wrote on Twit-
ter.
The demands conrm that
the crisis is profound, Gar-
gash said, adding Qatar had
leaked the document contain-
ing the demands.
Speaking at a news confer-
ence on Saturday, Gargash
called for guarantees from
Western countries to help re-
solve the row.
If Qatar follows the path
of wisdom ... we would need a
system of guarantees and con-
trols in order to implement an
accord with Doha, he said, call-
ing for European and Ameri-
can guarantees.
Al-Jazeera, one of the larg-
est news organisations in the
world, responded to the de-
mands by saying it deplores
calls for it to be taken off air.
We in the network believe
that any call for closing down
Continued on Page 37
condent that you nd these
allegations as extremely trou-
bling as we do.
Democratic Sen Patrick Le-
ahy, Vice-Chairman of the Sen-
ate Appropriations Committee,
also called for an investigation
and noted that support for the
UAE forces could violate a law
he wrote that forbids funding to
known human rights violators.
Reports of acts of torture by
agents of a government that is
supported by the United States,
and the possibility that US mil-
itary personnel may have been
aware of it, should ring alarm
bells at the Department of De-
fense, Leahy said in a state-
ment to the AP.
The APs report detailed
a network of secret prisons
across southern Yemen where
hundreds are detained in the
hunt for al-Qaeda militants and
held without charges. Ameri-
can defense ofcials conrmed
to the AP that US forces have
interrogated some detainees in
Yemen but denied any partici-
pation in, or knowledge of, hu-
man rights abuses.
Defense ofcials told the AP
that the department had looked
Continued on Page 37
Established in 1977 / www.arabtimesonline.com
emergency number 112 NO. 16502 44 PAGES 150 FILS
See you then
Suicide bomber blows himself up
KUWAIT CITY, June 24, (Agencies): His Highness the Amir teachings of Islam and all religious and human values.
Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent Friday a ca-
ble to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz to express Kuwaits
His Highness the Amir also voiced Kuwaits support to all measures taken by
the Saudi government to maintain the Kingdoms security and to counter terrorist
plots.
strong condemnation of the terrorist scheme against the
Grand Mosque of Makkah.
In his cable, His Highness the Amir said that this terrorist plot contradicts
He also reiterated Kuwaits condemnation of all acts of terrorism and its support
to the international efforts to uproot and dry up resources of terrorists.
He also lauded Saudi role in combatting terrorism and the vigilance of its secu-
rity forces which helped derail
the terrorist plot Friday.
Amir congratulates all on Eid
His Highness the Crown
Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ah-
mad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and
His Highness the Prime Min-
KUWAIT CITY, June 24, (KUNA): His Highness the Amir The Diwan also extended its congratulations to the whole ister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak
Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah congratulated Islamic World. Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent simi-
all citizens and expatriates on Eid Al-Fitr, said the Amiri Di- lar cables to the Saudi King.
His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince A suicide bomber blew him-
wan Friday. both exchange greetings on the advent of Eid Al-Fitr.
self up near the Grand Mosque
The Amiri Diwan, on its part, congratulated His High- In his cable to His Highness the Amir, His Highness as police disrupted a plot to tar-
ness the Amir Sheikh Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince get the holiest site in Islam just
Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and His High- Sheikh Nawaf congratulated His Highness Sheikh Sabah as the fasting month of Rama-
ness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad on the advent of the blessed occasion, wishing him and the
dan ends, Saudi security forces
Al-Sabah on the occasion. Continued on Page 37 said Saturday.
The Interior Ministry said it
launched a raid around Jeddah,
as well as two areas in Makkah
itself, including the Ajyad Al-
Masa neighborhood, located
near the Grand Mosque.
There, police said they en-
gaged in a shootout at a three-
story house with a suicide
bomber, who blew himself up
and caused the building to col-
lapse. He was killed, while the
blast wounded six foreigners
and ve members of security
forces, according to the Interior
Ministrys statement. Five oth-
ers were arrested, including a
woman, it said.
Saudi state television aired
footage after the raid Friday
near the Grand Mosque, show-
ing police and rescue personnel
running through the neighbor-
hoods narrow streets. The
blast demolished the building,
its walls crushing a parked car.
Nearby structures appeared to
be peppered with shrapnel and
bullet holes.
The Interior Ministry said
the thwarted terrorist plan
would have violated all sancti-
ties by targeting the security of
the Grand Mosque, the holiest
place on Earth.
A handout picture provided by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on June 23, 2017, shows Saudi security forces inspecting the site They obeyed their evil and
of a foiled attack in the holy city of Makkah. Six foreign pilgrims were hurt in Saudi Arabia when a suicide bomber targeting Islams
corrupt self-serving schemes
holiest site of Makkah blew himself up, the Interior Ministry said. (AFP)
managed from abroad whose
aim is to destabilize the secu-
rity and stability of this blessed
country, it said.
The ministry did not name
the group involved in the
attack. The ultraconservative
Sunni kingdom battled an al-
Qaeda insurgency for years
and more recently has faced
attacks from a local branch
of the Islamic State group.
Neither group immediately
Continued on Page 37
Newswatch
KUWAIT CITY: Instructions
have been issued to the Resi-
dence Affairs Departments
to stop granting new family
visas and not to renew the
residence permit of children
(boys and girls) above 24
years who are still under the
sponsorship of their parents,
reports Al-Anba daily quot-
ing security sources.
KUNA photo
The department said the
Firemen in bid to put out a re that broke out in a building under construction in South Surra area. children will no longer be
allowed to be sponsored by
Amir praises firemen their parents once they are
24 years old and above. They
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- department, and Minister of Health Dr Jamal Al-Harbi for their have to either nd a job and
Sabah thanked reghters, policemen, and paramedics for departments high national spirit, which was clear in their co- transfer their residence permit
their courage and dedication, which resulted in controling a operation and coordination resulting in the control of the re. or leave the country.
re in an underconstruction building in South Surra area on His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- On another issue, the
Jaber Al-Sabah sent cables to the three ministers, thanking source said the mechanism
Friday.
His Highness the Amir sent cables of gratitude and appre- them for the great efforts exerted by the policemen, paramed- for health insurance for par-
ics and reghters in controling the re in the building. ents who are under the spon-
ciation to Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh
Khaled Jarrah Al-Sabah, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al- sorship of their children has
Hamad Al-Sabah sent similar cables. yet to be decided because the
and Acting Information Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah insurance companies have not
Al-Sabah, in his capacity as the person in charge of the re Continued on Page 37
received any instructions in
this regard.
However, the sources said
15 dead, over 100 missing in China landslide a mechanism will be put in
place soon to collect health
insurance fees for the elderly.
BEIJING, June 24, (AFP): Rescuers pulled 15 bodies from an The house shook, he told state broadcaster CCTV from his
avalanche of rocks that buried a mountain village in southwest hospital bed. Rocks were in the living room. My wife and I LONDON: Irans nuclear
China on Saturday as an increasingly bleak search for some 100
climbed over, took the baby, and got out. chief Ali Akbar Salehi is
people carried into the night. I have supercial injuries. Overall, Im okay. But psychologi- urging the West to change
Only three survivors a couple and their one-month-old baby cally, its hard. The entire village, with dozens of families, was course in the Middle East
have been found so far after 62 homes in Xinmo village van- in order to save the historic
attened, he said, with a bandage around his head.
ished under a mass of mud and rocks in Sichuan province. The rescue operations headquarters reported that 15 people
atomic deal, saying the mo-
Heavy rain caused the side of the mountain to collapse onto the ment of truth has arrived.
had been found dead by the late evening, according to the ofcial The accord, reached be-
riverside village in the early morning, according to authorities.
Qiao Dashi, the babys father, said he had woken up after 5:00 Xinhua news agency. tween Tehran and world
am to change his crying sons diaper when he heard a big noise The Maoxian, or Mao county, government said earlier that Continued on Page 37
coming from the back. Continued on Page 37

LOCAL
Airport to witness 65pc increase
in travellers during Eid holidays
Zakat House executes Iftar projects worth KD 350,000 in Ramadan
KUWAIT CITY, June 24,
(KUNA): Kuwait Interna-
tional Airport expects a
65.46 percent rise in peo-
ple ying abroad within
the Eid Al-Fitr holidays in
comparison to last years
gures.
During the approximately 10-
day holiday starting on Friday,
which comprises the occasion,
travellers are expected to hit the
410,400 mark, the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation deputy
chairman for aviation safety told
KUNA.
The number is a stark difference
to the 141,700 travellers recorded
in 2016, according to Emad Al-
Jelowi, during the festive occasion
which marks the end of the holy Is-
lamic lunar month of Ramadan.
Rise
A signicant factor in this years
rise in numbers is that the holiday
falls within the summer, he sug-
gested, when schools are out and
most inhabitants seek to escape the
blazing hot temperatures.
The three-day occasion given as
a public holiday could also stretch
to 10 days if a crescent is spotted on
Monday instead of Sunday dur-
ing a working week, which starts
on Sunday in the northern Gulf
Arab country.
The large volume of travellers
has caused huge delays and mal-
functions throughout the airport,
One of the Iftar projects by the Zakat House
which has a capacity of six million
passengers but currently accepts
double that amount, said the of-
cial.
It is because of this, airport of-
cials have devised several ways
to ease the burden on travelers,
including allowing them to check
in their luggage at midnight on the
same day of intended travel.
Meanwhile, Kuwaits Zakat
Worshippers pray at the Grand Mosque during the last 10 days of Ramadan.
House executed Iftar (fast-break-
ing) projects in 35 countries during
the month of Ramadan, with a cost
of KD 350,000 (about $1.14 mil-
lion).
The project, launched in 1988,
was nanced by donations from
philanthropists, mainly the dona-
tion of KD 100,000 by late Amir
Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah and philanthropist Ab-
KUNA photo
dullah Al-Othman of KD 42.5
thousand.
Zakat House was established
by an Amiri decree issued by late
Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al-
Ahmad Al-Sabah on April 4, 1982.
The Islamic body receives do-
nations from philanthropist, chari-
table organizations and an annual
funding by the government to aid
poor people everywhere.
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
2
Photo by Mohammad Morse
Addition of new teams eyed
Media panel chief commends
success of Ramadan tournament
KUWAIT CITY, June 24: Chairman of
the Media Committee of Salwa Al-Sabah
Ramadan Tournament Khalid Al-Juraid
commended the high standard of com-
petitions during the 12th edition of the
tournament.
Al-Juraid declared that all teams dis-
played high-level technical standard dur-
ing the matches because all of them were
keen about lifting the trophy that bears a
name that is very precious to our hearts.
He appreciated the concerted efforts
of the Higher Organizing Committee
chaired by Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah
Waleed Al-Bahar and Supervisor General
Colonel Khalid Aba Al-Khayl.
Al-Juraid also expressed gratitude and
appreciation for the kind sponsorship of
the tournament. He thanked the Under-
secretary of Ministry of Interior Lieuten-
ant General Mahmoud Al-Dousari for
close following up the tournament activi- One of the winners being awarded.
ties to ensure everything went well with-
out any hitch as well as for attending the ship reinstatement was based on cancel-
nal match and crowning the winners. lation of Decision No. 968/2014 by the
He commended all the audio, audiovis- Cabinet which included cancellation of
ual and print media outts for their cover- the citizenship of the Al-Barghash fam-
age of the tournament from beginning till ily and those who acquired it through de-
the end, especially KTV Sports channel. pendence.
Al-Juraid said the organizing com-
mittee is looking for further accomplish-
ments in the next edition, indicating that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Defense Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled
the preparations for the next edition will
start within the next few months. Al-Sabah met with families of martyrs
He stated that a series of meetings will and their children to honor them on the
occasion of Eid Al-Fitr.
be held to consider addition of new teams
to enlarge the scope of competitions as a The minister afrmed that the sacric-
way of boosting interest of people in the es of the heroes of Kuwait will always be
tournament. in the heart of every Kuwaiti and a source
of pride for all, insisting that it is every-
ones responsibility to uphold the concept
Citizenship issues: The Interior Min- of these sacrices for the development of
istry will soon implement the govern- the country and its protection.
ments decision to restore the citizenship
of Abdullah Al-Barghash and his family
according to the same nationality article Young and old volunteers recently re-
applied on them prior to the citizenship packaged thousands of clothes of various
withdrawal, reports Al-Rai daily quoting sizes and types which were donated by
a source. people from all parts of Lebanon as well
The source claried the nationality ar- as those piled on the shelves in front of
ticle will not change because the citizen- a shop (Eid Clothes) in Burj Abi Haider
Area of Beirut.
Company held responsible
GOC labor union official decries
number of death cases of workers
KUWAIT CITY, June 24: Deputy Chairman of Labor
Union at Gulf Oil Company Osama Shamsudeen says
the workers of the oil company are witnessing tragedies
one after the other. A number of their colleagues in the
Wafra Joint Operation Zone have died, the latest case be-
ing the death of their colleague Ghanem Al-Hajri due to
negligence of the management in providing basic human
rights treating an injury incurred by an employee while
on duty, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
During a press conference, he stressed that a life can
be saved if necessary medical procedures are taken into
consideration at the workplace.
Shamsudeen held the company fully responsible for
the increased number of death cases among its employees
due to lack of required medical facilities that should be
available as stated by the labor law. This is a clear viola-
tion of articles 83 and 86 of the private sector labor law.
He reiterated that the responsibility for the increased
number of human losses at Wafra Joint Operation Zone
in the past phase should be shouldered by the manage-
ment of the company due to its negligence and slack-
ness in availing an integrated medical unit as well as
the unavailability of equipped ambulances. Shamsudeen
afrmed that the employees are devastated especially
since one of their colleagues died when he could be
saved if necessary facilities were available.
He revealed that the employees are worried over the
recurrence of the incidents without any response from the
management of the company. He bemoaned the deterio-
ration of the situation, as the management is not paying
attention.
The insurance sector has been facing many obstacles
for years, topped by fragmentation of monitoring and
supervision due to the reluctance in establishment of an
independent body that manages all the nancial, techni-
cal and legal affairs of the insurance sector, reports Al-
Shahed daily quoting informed sources.
They revealed that Kuwait Insurance Federation has
been calling for the establishment of a specialized body
for more than ten years, as the responsibilities related to
supervision of the sector are still managed based on its
previous status for more than 50 years as a result of the
absence of a specialized body to manage it.
 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

LOCAL 3

PAAAFR accepts applications of 65 firms for cattle farms in Kabad

About 16,000 citizens to enter labor market in 2018: study

KUWAIT CITY, June 24: A study
conducted by the Systems Devel-
opment Department at the Civil
Service Commission (CSC) re-
vealed that about 16,000 citizens
will enter the labor market in 2018
compared to 15,000 this year, re-
ports Al-Anba daily.
The study added 29,000 citizens
are expected to enter the labor mar-
ket in 2030.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of
Higher Education, represented by
the Cultural Ofce in Cairo, has
announced that 200 Kuwaiti stu-
dents will be admitted to every
Egyptian university, reports Al-
Qabas daily.
In a press statement, the Cul-
tural Offce explained this step was
taken based on the ministrys plan
to benet from the experiences and
potentials of Egyptian universities
where many Kuwaitis graduated.
The correspondents at the Min-
istry of Education did not receive
their salaries before Eid Al-Fitr,
reports Al-Anba daily quoting
sources.
Sources disclosed the correspon-
dents waited until Thursday for
their salaries to be deposited into
their bank accounts but it turned
out that they waited in vain.
Sources said Director of General
Services Department Fahad Al-
Hayyan expressed his resentment
as he tried so hard to solve the
problem for two days. He asked
the concerned company to pay
the salaries of the correspondents
before the holiday like the other
employees, but his request fell on
deaf ears. He also urged the min-
istry ofcials to disburse salaries
in cash, because the banks were
already closed and will open only
after the holiday, sources added.
In the meantime, the Public Au-
thority for Agricultural Affairs and
Fish Resources (PAAAFR) has ac-
cepted the applications of 65 com-
panies that applied for cattle farms
in Kabad, reports Al-Rai daily.
Speaking to the daily, Director
General of the authority Eng Faisal
Al-Hasawi disclosed the Rehabili-
tation Committee will review the
applications and then set the date
for the draw lots to distribute 12
farms of various sizes.
The Ministry of Commerce and
Industry received several com- Photos by Mohammad Morse
plaints led by citizens who were Above: some photos from the Gabkah
cheated into buying bogus tour
packages and ight tickets offered Iranian Ambassador Enayati organizes Gabkah
by some travel agencies, reports
Al-Shahid daily quoitn sources. should only be seen as humanitarian act. He conrmed his coun- as the situation in the region necessitates all countries to cooper-
Sources conrmed the ministry By Mohammad Ghanim
Al-Seyassah Staff try supports Kuwaits efforts to end the rift as soon as possible. ate, shun conicts and stand together against anyone who at-
has formed teams tasked to in- Meanwhile, former Head of Iran-Kuwait Friendship Committee tempts to stir sedition.
spect travel agencies which offer Irans Ambassador to Kuwait Dr Ali-Reza Enayati organized Dr Abdul-Rahman Al-Awadhi afrmed that Kuwait and Irans rela- He called on Gulf countries to quickly resolve their differences
summer holiday packages to look Gabkah at the Iranian Embassy with several ambassadors, dip- tionship is deep and a major testimony to that is the participation given that it is not palatable for countries in the Gulf Cooperation
into the alleged scam and hold re- lomats and public personalities in attendance. of Kuwait in the Gabkah hosted by Enayati. Council to be divided and they are all one. He praised the ef-
sponsible all those proven to be in- In his statement, Enayati pointed out that Iran is dedicated to Al-Awadhi asserted relations between the two countries are forts of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber
volved in such unscrupulous acts. its friends and the support it gives to Qatar in the ongoing Gulf rift deeply rooted and any rift which might emerge will denitely fall Al-Sabah in resolving the ongoing rift among the GCC countries.

Maintenance works begin: Nakhi

Abdally, Kabad roads project costs KD 30m Kuwait continues to aid needy
KUWAIT CITY, June 24: Assistant Under- secretary revealed that maintenance of Kabad
secretary for Maintenance Engineering Sector
at the Ministry of Public Works Mohamed bin
Nakhi has conrmed the beginning of mainte-
nance works on Abdally and Kabad roads at a
total cost of KD 30 million, reports Al-Qabas
Road started with the internal streets in the
area, followed by the main road. He said the
maintenance works on this road will be com-
pleted within 10 months.
On the maintenance of Abdally Road, he
people in Mideast and beyond
daily. afrmed the work is underway and they are
Speaking to the daily, the assistant under- now working on several parts of the road. Weekly roundup of Kuwaits relief efforts
KUWAIT CITY, June banks, provided aid and assis-
Kuwait Today 24, (KUNA): Living up tance to those in need within the
country and abroad during the
to its status as a human- holy month of Ramadan, said the
Prayer Timings Tuesday, June 27 Sea state ................. Slight to moderate itarian center, Kuwait Chairman of the Board for the
Expected weather .................... Very hot Wave height.................................. 2-4 ft KRCS Dr Hilal Al-Sayer.
Fajr .............................................03:14
Max Temp.......................................48C Max Temp.......................................48C
is continuing to aid and
Sunrise ....................................... 04:50 Speaking to KUNA, Al-Sayer
Zohr ............................................ 11:50 Min Temp........................................33C Min Temp........................................33C relief needy people in the said that the KRCS efforts was
Wind Direction .................................NW
Asr ...............................................15:24
Maghrib ...................................... 18:51 Wind Speed .........................10-30 km/h
Wind Direction .................................NW
Wind Speed .........................10-30 km/h
Middle East and beyond mainly aimed at giving a glimpse
Isha ............................................ 20:23
Wednesday, June 28
Wednesday, June 28 throughout the just-end- of hope to poor people and the
Expected weather .................... Very hot needy during the course of the
Weather Max Temp.......................................49C Expected weather .................... Very hot ed week.
Min Temp........................................34C Sea state ................. Slight to moderate On Saturday, the Kuwait by month of Ramadan, adding that
Expected weather for the next 24
hours: Wind Direction .................................NW Wave height.................................. 1-4 ft
your side campaign distributed the assistance this year consisted of
By Night: Relatively hot with light to Wind Speed .........................08-30 km/h Max Temp.......................................49C
4,000 food baskets in Baydha distributing necessities, coupons,
moderate freshening at times north- Marine Forecast Min Temp........................................34C and foodstuff in addition to eld
westerly wind, with speed of 15-40 km/h. Wind Direction .................................NW governorate, Central Yemen, visits and other charitable activi-
Station Max Min Sea Todays
By Day: Hot with moderate to fresh Exp Rec Surf Waves
Wind Speed .........................08-30 km/h as part of its ongoing relief pro- ties.
northwesterly wind, with speed of 20-50 Ht Direction Tide times at Shuwaikh Port jects during the holy month of The efforts this year were a suc-
km/h causing rising dust. Ramadan.
South Dolphin 38 29 29 7ft SE 1st high tide: .................................22:59 cess due to KRCS cooperation
Station Max Min
Exp Rec
Umm Mudayrah 36 30 - 7ft SE 2nd high tide: ................................01:10 Baydha is currently undergoing with numerous local bodies, said
Beacon M28 - - - 7ft SE several problems, including con- KUNA photo
Kuwait City 44 31 1st low tide:...................................18:40 Al-Sayer who afrmed that such
Beacon N6 40 28 - 7ft SE
tinued violence by armed militias Distribution of food packets to Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Kuwait Airport 45 31 Qaruh Island 34 31 - 7ft SE 2nd low tide: .................................06:25 gestures helped to solidify social
Abdaly 45 26 Umm Al-Maradim37 31 - 7ft SE Sunrise: ........................................04:50 and their control over parts of the many displaced Iraqis as possible, vaccines to the cities hit by the out- bonds among the people of Kuwait.
Bubyan 44 26 Sea Island Buo - - - - - Sunset: .........................................18:51 governorate, Ahmad Salem Awad,
Jahra 44 30 Kuwaits Consul General in Irbil break of cholera. On providing aid abroad, the
Failaka Island 43 26
Salmiyah 40 31 - 7ft SE Recorded yesterday at Director-General of Transportation Dr Omar Al-Kanderi told KUNA. For her part, the public relations KRCS chairman afrmed that the
Salmiyah 40 31 4 days forecast - Marine Kuwait Airport in Baydha, said in his speech at the Meanwhile, camp ofcials and ofcial at Yemeni Al-Aman soci- society made it its mission to help
Ahmadi 43 32 Sunday, June 25 Max temp ........................................43C food distribution ceremony in Al- residents thanked the Kuwaiti gov- ety for caring for blind women Ha- people in numerous parts of the
Nuwaisib 43 28 Expected weather ....Hot+causing rising Min temp .........................................31C Zaher directorate. ernment for the continuous aid to naa Al-Ghazali expressed gratitude world during the holy month.
Wafra 45 29 dust over open areas For his part, Abdullah Al-
Salmy 42 24 Sea state ................. Moderate to rough
Max Rh .......................................... 27% ease the suffering of Iraqis who to Kuwait for its support to Yemeni Various initiatives were
Wave height.................................. 3-6 ft Min Rh ........................................... 09% Mousa, Director of nancial and ed their homes in Mosul, due to people. launched to help Syrian and Pal-
4 days forecast - Weather Max Wind.............................. N 64 km/h administrative affairs in Baydha,
Max Temp.......................................46C the ongoing military operations On Tuesday, Kuwait Red Cres- estinian refugees in Lebanon, said
Sunday, June 25 Min Temp........................................32C Total Rainfall in 24 hrs ................00 mm expressed sincere gratitude to all
Expected weather ....Hot+causing rising
against the so-called Islamic State cent Society (KRCS) distributed 45 Al-Sayer, adding that Iftar ban-
Wind Direction .................................NW Recorded yesterday at nancial backers from Kuwait and (IS). tons of food supplies to displaced
dust over open areas Wind Speed .........................20-45 km/h quets and food parcels were the
Max Temp.......................................46C Monday, June 26 South Dolphin members of the Kuwait by your On Monday, the Kuwait by Iraqis in Mosul, said an ofcial. main form of aid given to the refu-
Min Temp........................................32C Expected weather ............................Hot Min/Max/ Air Temp ....................29/38C side campaign, valuing their great your side humanitarian aid cam- KRCS coordinator, Mohammad gees.
Wind Direction .................................NW Sea state ................. Slight to moderate Min/Max Rel Hum ..................... 21/50% and genuine efforts in aiding the paign has doled out 2,015 food Al-Enezi told KUNA that deliver- He added that medical aid was
Wind Speed .........................20-45 km/h Wave height.................................. 2-4 ft Wind Direction/Wind Speed.. N/58 km/h Yemeni people and society. baskets in Yemen. ing food supplies would continue also provided to Syrian refugees in
Monday, June 26 Max Temp.......................................46C The Kuwait by your side
Expected weather ............................Hot Min Temp........................................32C
Prev Wave Dir/Max Wave Ht ......NE/3 ft In a press statement, member of in the region to enable displaced the fellow Arab country.
Max Temp.......................................46C Wind Direction .................................NW Min/Max Sea Surface Temp ............-/-C campaign has implemented a the Kuwaiti-Yemeni Relief Agen- Iraqis to overcome their dire situ- He revealed that KRCS also
Min Temp........................................32C Wind Speed .........................12-35 km/h Sea Current ...........................Upwelling number of food basket projects in cy Tawq Hussein said that the ation. provided aid to people in the oc-
Wind Direction .................................NW Tuesday, June 27 Directorate General of Civil Avia- a number of Yemeni governorates baskets were distributed to needy He afrmed that the KRCS was cupied Palestinian territories, Iraq,
Wind Speed .........................12-35 km/h Expected weather .................... Very hot tion, Meteorological Dept. some days ago, including Hadh- people in Sanaa and Amanat Al- keen on helping the displaced Ira- Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
ramaut, Taiz, and Lahj as part of Asimah governorates. qis who have ed military opera- and other countries, afrming that
deaths its permanent relief projects in the He added that this is the second tions carried out by the Iraqi forces the society will continue its efforts
Republic. batch of the food aid to the two and allies against IS in Mosul since to provide assistance locally and
Fatima Mohammad Ramadan Siyah, 74 years old, widow of Yousef Hasan Abbel, buried on Sat- On Sunday, Kuwait Red Cres- governorates, noting the rst one late 2016.
urday. Condolences: (Men) Rumaithiya, Aksa Mosque St, Huseiniyat Eqailah Al Talebeen, Opp. internationally.
cent Society (KRCS) delivered included dispersing of over 5,500 The KRCS began recently a For those who are interested in
Huseiniyat Al Sayed Mohammad Tel: 97808995, (Women) Salwa, Block 5, St 6, House 20. Dalma 1,500 food baskets to displaced
Meqyed Hajaj Al Azewmi, 76 years old, widow of Marzok Bin Merdi Al Ghowainem Al Azemi, food baskets. weeklong aid campaign targeting contributing to KRCS causes, Al-
buried on Saturday. Condolences: Mangaf, Block 1, St 150, House 6, Tel: 97222965 96011166
Iraqis living in Al-Khazer camp, He pointed out that Kuwait has around 40,000 displaced people in Sayer encouraged people to visit
66685822. Sulaiman Hamad Ali Al Qadi, 86 years old, buried on Saturday. Condolences:
on the road linking Mosul and Irbil also executed a number of pro- Mosul. the KRCS headquarter in Shuwai-
Mishref, Block 3, St 33, House 2, Tel: 25395511 25395522 99800337. on Sunday. jects for providing drinking water On Friday, Kuwait Red Cres- kh or enter the societys website to
The aid is part of the Kuwait to several areas in Yemen. Kuwait cent Society (KRCS), in coop- nd more about its efforts world-
June 24, 2017 by your side campaign to aid as has also sent medical supplies and eration with local charities and wide.
 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

LOCAL 4

MP Kandari submits queries

to finmin about PPP Authority
Al-Roumi proposes forming Code of Conduct Committee
By Abubakar A. Ibrahim He said the Public-Private Partnership Law No. 116/2014 aims to create
Arab Times Staff an appropriate investment climate to attract private capital, modern tech-
nology and knowledge through the implementation of strategic projects
KUWAIT CITY, June 24: MP Abdulkarim Al-Kandari has by the public and private sectors. He claimed the authority has been slow
submitted questions to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister despite its announcements about the launching of development projects
published in daily newspapers. He added the authority has done nothing
of Finance Anas Saleh about the Public-Private Partnership but focus on the management of the real estate market.
Authority, pointing out that the process of assigning part- He requested for the list of all projects that the authority has assigned to the
nership projects to the private sector has been slow. private sector including the start and completion dates, procedures taken from
the date of receiving a project until it is
assigned to an investor in the private
sector, period required to complete
these procedures, organizational struc-
ture of the authority, number of
employees, their positions, cases
against the authority and court rulings.
Meanwhile, MP Abdullah Al Roumi
has proposed the formation of a parlia-
mentary Code of Conduct Committee
to look into the violations or anomalies
involving MPs. He said the committee
Al-Anba daily photo
will be chaired by the oldest member. Salem Al-Hamr
The bill states the committee shall
deal with the following acts of MPs:
contravening dignity of parliamentary World without hunger ...
work, breaching membership condi-
Al-Qabas daily photo tions, abusing ones position, violating Secretary of the Board of Directors of ing, We are waiting for the solidarity of
Birthday celebration of Dr Saleh Al-Ojairi. the Constitution or parliamentary Kuwait Food Bank Salem Al-Hamr says institutions and good people so that we
bylaws, tarnishing reputation of other the food banks message is a world do not have a hungry or needy person
Veteran astronomer Dr Al-Ojairi marks 97th birthday persons or bodies, serious violation of without hunger from the country of hu- in our midst.
the parliamentary system, and breach- manity and the country of goodness, He stressed that the food bank is
In a joyous atmosphere, the 97th Dr Al-Ojairi expressed gratitude granting him an honorary doctor- ing confidentiality of sessions or meet- reports Al-Anba daily. among the rst bodies to serve the
birthday of veteran astronomer Dr to His Highness Sheikh Nasser ate and naming the observatory ings of committees. In an interview, he afrmed the keen- needy with food and morale support as
Saleh Al-Ojairi was celebrated at Al-Mohammad for participating after him. The bill stipulates that an erring MP ness of the food bank to translate the well as provide them with necessary
the Late Bargas Hamoud Al-Bar- in his birthday celebration. He He afrmed that Al-Ojairi was will be referred to the committee directives of His Highness the Amir training courses so that they can be
gas Diwaniya in Shuwaikh Resi- commended the tremendous role and still is the owner of initiatives, through a decision issued by the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad to promote hu- part of the labor market and can rely on
dential Area in the presence of his played by the Al-Bargas Family in adding that he wishes the young manitarian work. themselves.
friends and fans, reports Al-Qabas celebrating his birthday annually. generation will benet from his Parliament upon the request of the
chairman or a written request signed Al-Hamr revealed that there are Al-Hamr revealed that the garment pro-
daily. Meanwhile, former MP Ab- knowledge and expertise. 23,000 families on the list for aid, add- ject covers the needs of 5,700 families.
Dr Al-Ojairi said, Even though I dulaziz Al-Mutawa said, When In addition, Dari Bargas Al-Bar- by at least 10 members. The referral
am 97 years old, can see with one I was an MP, I had proposed to gas said the celebration of Al-Ojai- decision shall include a statement of

KU presents six projects

eye and walk on one foot, I say equip Al-Ojairis home with spe- ris birthday has become an an- the incidents attributed to the erring
Thank God. To the visitors, he cial devices to obtain information nual event based on the initiative MP. If one of the applicants is a mem-
said, This occasion is dear to me quickly. He then called me to con- of his late father Bargas Hamoud ber of the committee, he shall not be
because of your participation. rm that the state honored him by Al-Bargas. involved in its work.

Al-Ghanim congratulates HH Amir on Eid

KUWAIT CITY, June 24 (KUNA):
National Assembly Speaker Marzouq
Ali Al-Ghanim on Saturday
expressed congratulations to His
Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah
Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His
Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh
Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah, the people of Kuwait and
the expatriates on advent of Eid
Al-Fitr.
The speaker in a statement prayed
that His Almighty may safeguard
Kuwait under the leadership of His
Highness the Amir and prolong giv-
According to the bill, the com-
mittee should notify the MP in writ-
ing about the date he needs to
appear before it to hear his state-
to committee for funding
ment and then the committee shall KUWAIT CITY, June 24: Ofcials from the November last year entailing the provision
ing, security and stability. Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad submit its report to the Parliament Secretariat General and Planning Sector of of funds to support educational and devel-
He also expressed hope that His Al-Sabah on Saturday conducted within two weeks. Kuwait University held a meeting with of- opmental projects.
Highness the Amir may succeed in telephone contacts with the US The bill stipulates the following pun- cials from the National Committee on Aid Meanwhile, Kuwait University has been
his diplomatic efforts to re-establish Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and ishments: warning, non-participation in and Educational Endowment, which is to working toward signing two new contracts
GCC unity, affirming that the law- UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. parliamentary delegations both locally fund six projects of the university, reports for the supply of Arabic and English text-
makers would continue to abide by He also contacted the foreign min- and abroad for a period not exceeding Al-Qabas daily. books to the University Bookshop.
the Amirs guidelines.Speaker isters of Albania and Turkey as well six months, non-participation in the
Al-Ghanim expressed congratula- as Frederica Mogherini, the High A source said the university ofcials Informed sources said the Purchases De-
work of the Parliament and its commit- presented six projects to the committee for partment has received quotations from vari-
tions to His Highness the Prime Representative of the European tees for a period of not more than six
Minister affirming the sincere desire Union for Foreign Affairs and months while the corresponding finan- funding and the projects are deemed vital ous bookshops, companies and publishers
to continue the cooperation between Security Policy. cial privilege will be suspended within to academic activities. He added ofcials of for supply. The quotations received so far
the two authorities. He also congratu- His phone talks with the foreign this period, and dismissal from chair- the national committee have endorsed fund- are 10 for supplying Arabic books and 5
lated the citizens and the residents. officials deal with latest develop- person or rapporteur position in any ing of the projects after the presentation. He for supplying foreign books. The quotations
Meanwhile, first Deputy Prime ments on the regional and interna- standing or temporary committee until explained the meeting was the outcome of contain different prices, and selections will
Minister and Foreign Minister tional arenas. the end of the legislative round. a protocol signed between both parties in be made based on certain criteria.
 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

LOCAL 5

Over 3,000 orders for travel ban

issued in last 5 months of this yr
Many lawyers say need to review travel ban
KUWAIT CITY, June 24:
More than 3,000 orders
for travel ban were issued
in the last ve months of
this year, and only 1,650
of them have been lifted,
as per ofcial statistics of
Ministry of Justice, re-
ports Al-Rai daily.
There have been an increasing
number of complaints from citi-
KUNA photo zens and expatriates on whom
Wataniya Airways A-320 Airbus in ght travel ban has been imposed,
especially over simple nancial
Plane to fly short, medium range destination cases that do not exceed KD 1
or even KD 0.500 in some in-
Wataniya Airways receives stances. Some of them are gov-
ernment fees which are not in-
tentionally ignored, as many are
Desalination plant to produce 60m gallons
KUWAIT CITY, June 24: Un-
dersecretary of Ministry of
Electricity and Water Eng.
Mohammed Boushahri has af-
rmed that the project of the
West Doha Water Desalination
Plant using Reverse Osmosis
will produce 60 million impe-
stricts freedom without even noti-
fying the affected person.
Meanwhile, Minister of Justice
and State Minister for National As-
sembly Affairs Dr Faleh Al-Azeb
announced that he has commis-
sioned departments of execution
of judicial ruling and charges in
Ministry of Justice to prepare a
rial gallons in its rst phase,
indicating that it is one of the
important projects aimed at
enhancing the capacity of the
water network, reports Al-Rai
daily.
During a visit to the project
site, he said the activities of the
charges directed to state which do
not exceed that amount.
Dr Al-Azeb stressed that the
ministry is working on measures
that will end restrictions on move-
ment of citizens and expatriates
who fail to pay simple amounts
ordered by nal judicial rulings or
nes or governmental dues.
project so far are ongoing in
line with the contractual project
schedule.
Boushahri praised the
workers at the project site
for their efforts day and night
to complete the project on
time.
crime and they are not considered
to be ight risk.
In the spirit of achieving these
planned measures, a meeting was
held in the past between Min-
istry of Justice and Ministry of
Finance during which means for
collecting financial dues owed to
the state were discussed without

its first Airbus A-320 aircraft
KUWAIT CITY, June 24, (KUNA): Wa-
taniya Airways, one of three national carri-
ers of Kuwait, said Thursday its rst Airbus
(A-320) arrived at Kuwait International
Airport to joint its eet.
The move opens a new chapter of the
airlines operations on the local market af-
ter a ve-year hiatus, said Lana Al-Rashid,
director of the information and public rela-
tions dept. of the company.
This is a historic moment on Wataniyas
march; it is the fruit of a whole year of prep-
arations, she said in a press release, appre-
ciated the support offered by shareholders
over the last years.
Al-Rashid also thanked leaders of the
Directorate General of Civil Aviation
(DGCA), notably DGCA President Sheikh
Salman Hamoud Al Sabah, Director Gen-
eral Eng Yousef Suleiman Al-Fouzan and
Deputy Director General Emad Al-Jalawi
for facilitating the resumption of the air-
lines operation.
The new aircraft will y to short and me-
dium range destinations in the coming few
days, she added.
not aware of them because they
were not notied about them or
about the travel ban that was im-
posed on them.
Various lawyers have urged the
need to review the travel ban, espe-
cially since the law, here in Kuwait,
does not differentiate between a
travel ban over thousands of dinars
and that over a few dinars.
They suggested the travel ban
should not be imposed on those with
nancial dues less than KD 300.
They insisted that the law should
be reviewed particularly the aspect
of notication, because the ban re-
draft law for preventing restriction
of movement for citizens and expa-
triates through the travel bans im-
posed over non-payment of small
nancial dues and simple cases.
At the same time, the minister
indicated about the governments
inclination to ensure completion of
transaction in settling the nancial
dues through payment to the gov-
ernment instead of the travel ban
measure.
He said Ministry of Justice will
initially stop imposing travel bans
for nal rulings that demand pay-
ment of less than KD 100, or any
He explained that the concerned
departments will work on setting
up a draft mechanism that will de-
termine the value of nes and dues
that necessitate imposition of travel
ban. The decision to impose travel
ban on an individual will depend
on the amount owed and the nature
of the case.
Al-Azib afrmed that there will
be a mechanism which will guar-
antee collection of public dues and
execution of judiciary rulings with-
out the need to restrict travel free-
dom of citizens and expatriates as
long as they have not committed a
the need to impose travel bans.
One of the suggested means was
linking governmental transac-
tions with settling financial dues
either immediately or on install-
ment basis for huge amounts.
In addition, the ministry is also
aspiring to take steps for enabling
an individual who has given power
of attorney of any type to be able
to cancel it through the ministrys
website without the need to visit
the concerned department, and also
for issuance of marriage certi-
cates through smart cards, and the
size of the civil ID card.

Inspectors as customers

Surprise inspections
conducted on shops
KUWAIT CITY, June 24: Members of an inspection team
from the Price Control Department of Ministry of Com-
merce and Industry pretended to be customers in order to
determine if any shops are taking advantage of the current
festive season to increase the prices of their goods, reports
Al-Rai daily.
With the advent of Eid Al-Fitr celebrations, the surprise
inspections were conducted on shops that sell childrens toys
in Riggae as well as barbershops.
A total of 12 citations were issued for the violation of dis-
playing prices that are not the actual prices of various goods
and commodities. Citations were also issued against some
women spas which hiked the prices of their services in vio-
lation of the prevailing rules and regulations that govern the
sector.
After the raids, Head of the team Hamed Al-Dhufairi said,
Ministry of Commerce and Industry conducts regular mon-
itoring of shops and prices to ensure shop owners are not
manipulating the prices especially during public occasions
such as Eid.
He indicated that some barbershops increase the prices of
their services, taking advantage of the fact that their custom-
ers are under time pressure especially with the approach of
Eid.
Al-Dhufairi afrmed that Ministry of Commerce and In-
dustry is against any unauthorized increase of prices and it
will continue to issue citations against those who violate the
price list set by the ministry.
He stressed the need for the public to contact the Con-
sumer Affairs Department of the ministry through its hot-
line No. 135 to report any price manipulations, affirming
that the department will dispatch its inspection teams to
determine such reports and take further legal measures
after confirmation.

Second phase

First Ring Road upgrade

twenty-seven pc complete
By Mohammad Ghanim
Al-Seyassah Staff
KUWAIT CITY, June 24: Assistant Undersecretary
for Road Engineering at the Ministry of Public Works
Engineer Ahmad Al-Hessan disclosed the second
phase of the First Ring Road upgrade project is 27 per-
cent complete.
Engineer Al-Hassan explained the project starting
from Dasma covers Abdullah Al-Ahmad Road, Shu-
waikh and Keifan. He added the project is one of the
major road engineering works meant to fulfill the de-
velopment plan strategy toward transforming Kuwait
to an international commercial and financial hub. He
said the ongoing project is important, because road
network is a major factor in achieving the aforemen-
tioned objective.
He afrmed the highest authorities in the ministry led
by Minister of Public Works Engineer Abdul-Rahman
Al-Mutawa are fully supportive of all developmental pro-
jects executed by the ministry. He stated the ministry is
more committed to road construction projects, consider-
ing its close link with the desired development. He added
the major reason for upgrading the First Ring Road is to
enhance trafc ow, while three phases of the project is
to ensure the road can accommodate over 2,000 vehicular
movements within an hour.

Several workers in garment sector affirmed the rate of
sales in most of the markets in Kuwait has fallen by 60
percent this year compared to the same period last year,
reports Al-Anba daily.
Warehouse manager of a garment company Hussein
Abu Kubaisah declared the sale of garments in Kuwait has
fallen by no less than 55 percent over the past four years.
He attributed the situation to rise in the prices of com-
modities and products whereby meager resources of the
middle-class no longer take care of their needs.
He added that value of Egyptian pants has also fallen
and the fact that Egyptians are the second largest expatri-
ate population in Kuwait and second largest expatriates
that buy garments after Kuwaitis affect the market. He
indicated dwindling international oil market leading to
mass lay-offs is also a factor.
In his comment, marketing manager of a famous shop
corroborated the first respondent, saying low value of
Egyptian pants affects the market sales dramatically. He
affirmed reduction of over 60 percent in the rate of gar-
ment sales this year. He added there has been low patron-
age since the beginning of the year only for the month of
Ramadan when the sales improved a bit

LOCAL
Spectacular gardens at the Boulevard Mall. Ahmad Surour KUNA
Too many candidates to
hamper top job chances
UNESCO head polls soon
PARIS, June 24, (KUNA): A few months
ahead of the election of the new director
general of the United Nations Educational,
Scientic and Cultural Organization, Arab
countries failure to agree on one candidate
threatens to deprive them all of the chance to
seriously compete for the top job.
The moon-sighting committee announcing that Sunday, June 25 will be the 1st day
of Shawwal or the beginning of Eid al-Fitr, signalling the end of the holy fasting
month of Ramadan.
News in Brief
Shepherd killed: A Bangladeshi
shepherd died in Salmi area after step-
ping on a landmine believed to be a
remnant from the Iraqi invasion, says
Al-Seyassah.
Apparently, the sheep was grazing in
the area when the shepherd walked on
the mine and it went off.
Acting on information, a team of
experts from the explosives department
went to the scene with paramedics and
securitymen.
The victim was found dead in a pool
of blood. The remains were referred to
Forensics.
trapped inside the wreckage of a
Drugs with youngsters: Police have
arrested ve youngsters three male
and two female for possessing and
consuming drugs, reports Al-Shahed
daily.
The ve were arrested in Hawalli be-
cause police suspected the youth behind Hospital for treatment.
the wheel looked like he was attempt-
ing to stay away from police.
Police have seized from them nar-
cotic pills and meth drugs and referred
them to the General Department of
Among the nine candidates who applied for the post
from all over the world, there are four from the Arab
region, namely Moushira Khattab from Egypt; Hamad
bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari from Qatar; Saleh Al-Hasnawi
from Iraq and Vera El-Khoury Lacoeuilhe from Leba-
non.
Also vying for the post, Qian Tang from China; Audrey
Azoulay from France; Polad Bulbuloglu from Azerbaijan;
Pham Sanh Chau from Vietnam; and Juan Alfonso Fuentes So-
ria from Guatemala.
The presence of the four
candidates from the Arab
countries would negatively
impact Arab chances to win
the important post, Kuwaits
Delegate to the UNESCO
Meshaal Hayyat told KUNA.
Hayyat pointed out that
the Executive Board would
elect the new director gen-
eral by secret ballot during
the boards 202nd session in
October 2017.
A total of 58 board mem-
bers would participate in
choosing the new direc-
tor general including seven
from Arab countries, namely
Egypt, Qatar, Lebanon, Mo-
rocco, Algeria, Sultanate of
Oman, and Sudan, he said.
He noted that the nine
candidates were interviewed
during the 201st board ses-
sion on Wednesday and
Photo by Bassam Abu Shanab Thursday, the April 26 and
27 of 2017 about their vision
to the job.
The director-general of
UNESCO is the Organiza-
tions chief administrative
ofcer. The director-general
may be appointed initially
for a period of four years,
and may be appointed for a
further term of four years, but
shall not be eligible for reap-
Drugs Control. pointment for a subsequent
term. Hayyat viewed that
the Chinese candidate Qian
Woman insulted: A stranger is said Tang who is supported by the
to have insulted a Kuwaiti lady in her Asian group in the board, is
at in Fintas area and escaped, says
one of the most prominent
Al-Seyassah. nominees.
The lady placed a call to the Opera-
Efforts
tions Room of the Interior Ministry
saying a stranger insulted her in her He also added that the
Qatari candidate Hamad bin
at, and ran away. She provided details
of the suspect to the police. It has been Abdulaziz Al-Kawari has
circulated to checkpoints for his arrest. good chances due to his qual-
ications and the relentless
efforts he exerted to promote
Trapped in car: A motorist was himself among all UNECO
member states.
vehicle that toppled on the Fifth Ring Hayyat also pointed that
Road opposite the Avenues Mall, says France competition for the
Al-Seyassah. Acting on information, a post was not welcomed and
team of rescue men went to the scene caused unease among mem-
while remen cut the wreckage to
bers. France is the host coun-
remove the injured person and para- try of UNESCO, and there
medics referred him to the Farwaniya is a tradition that countries
hosting UN agencies should
Meanwhile, a Kuwaiti citizen was not vie for the top post of the
taken to Adan Hospital amid injuries in organization it hosts, he said.
different parts of the body after a trafc The Arab countries fail-
accident on the King Fahad Motorway. ure to stand united behind
A case was registered. one candidate have lost real
chances for Arabs to win
UNECO top posts at least in
1999, 2009 and 2013 elec-
tions.
The current Director Gen-
eral of UNECO Bulgarian
Irina Bokova hardly won the
post with a margin of three
votes in 2009 after a erce
competition with Egyp-
tian former culture minister
Farouq Hosni due to the pres-
ence of the another Arab can-
didate from Algeria.
The same scenario was
repeated in 2013 when the
competition between two
Arab candidates from Dji-
bouti and Lebanon opened
the door for Bokova to win
a second term in ofce.
The UNESCO is a special-
ized agency of the United
Nations based in Paris. Its
declared purpose is to con-
tribute to peace and security
by promoting international
collaboration through educa-
tional, scientic, and cultural
reforms in order to increase
universal respect for justice,
the rule of law, and human
rights along with fundamen-
tal freedom proclaimed in the
United Nations Charter.
DIWANIYA
A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION
Joblessness to rise
Time to mull challenges
THE State of Kuwait said the economic policy is
based on diversifying the sources of national income,
reduction of the State expenditure and eventually
not depending on oil as a sole source of national in-
come, columnist and former MP Dr Salah Al-Ateeqi
wrote for Al-Qabas daily.
But the question is: did the government succeed
in implementing what it believes in? The answer is
a big No, because this was never the case as the
consecutive governments have never adopted such a
mentality. To a large extent this has remained just a
dream and hope because the daily policies have run
contrary to this belief.
In this connection, we say the budget of scal
2017 shows that the prospective decit is likely to
be in the range of KD 6.7 billion. This decit will be
covered by the Sovereign Fund or may be through
treasury bonds to be issued by the government in the
form of Public Debt.
It is needless to say this situation entails that the
government must hasten to review all the policies
about ghting corruption. Likewise, the govern-
ment must also hasten to curb the popular resolutions
which were propounded by some MPs.
In this context, I would like to point out that fol-
lowing the last parliamentary interpellation which
was submitted by some MPs against a minister, I
had calculated the proposals that
were submitted by these MPs to
tickle the emotions of their voters
because most of these proposals
look unreasonable under the cur-
rent circumstances.
Meanwhile, we would like
to refer to what was reported by
some of oil experts that the oil
prices shall uctuate between $35
to $60 per barrel from now on un-
til 2020, while the State budget Al-Ateeqi
was calculated at the rate of $67
a barrel and this means the budget
shall suffer a decit during the next years.
As a matter of fact, handling the State budget
cannot be seen as something impossible and this has
been emphasized by all reports including the foreign
studies like the one that was compiled by Tony Blair
(the former British prime minister) and that of Mc-
Kenzie or the local reports.
Rather, the State budget remains contingent to the
creation of effective administration to deal with the
administration that is capable of handling efciently
future issues and eventually avert the provisional set-
tlements.
In other words, dealing with the budget actually
requires a rm administration that is capable of tak-
ing necessary resolutions without paying concern to
the damages that are likely to befall individuals of
this administration.
In this connection, we cite the example of some
other oil producing countries whose output is equal
to that of ours, but it is needless to say the manner
in which these countries manage their oil revenues is
totally different from that of ours.
Take for example, Norway, although this coun-
try is one of the oil producing nations, the authorities
there have taken some decisions to transfer all the oil
revenues into the countrys Sovereign Fund and the
balance now stands at an estimated at $885 billion.
This happens in a country that is free of unemploy-
ment and ination.
In the meantime, let us cite the example of Ven-
ezuela, another oil producing country. The authorities
in Venezuela spent the oil revenues to purchase loy-
alty and satisfaction of some parties in a poor manner
rife with corruption and as a result the rate of unem-
ployment has shot up to about 40 percent, while the
rate of ination has shot up to 400 percent and the
future of the country is bleak.
Apart from the above, we cite the examples of
some non-oil producing countries including China,
South Korea and Singapore because these countries
have managed to reform their situations through am-
bitious programs and achieved signicant progress
and have brightened their economies to as much as
180 degrees.
Given the above, we suggest that it is high time
for the Kuwaiti government to accept the economic
challenges and deal with these challenges by nding
alternative sources of income for the country, be-
cause we know the country over the next 10 years
shall produce about 40,000 graduates and they will
certainly need jobs.
Such being the case, we wonder, what we have affected the people more than the countries.
to do, particularly under the overstafng situations in
State ministries and institutions? It is a time bomb.
But certainly, the problem rests in the administration.
It is a humanitarian issue and we have to rise to the
challenge.
Also:
The collapse of the oil prices in the international
market has resulted in the economic elite and some
politicians talking not only about the diversication
of sources of economy, rather they have started talk-
ing about this diversication as the need of the hour
because in it rests the fate of Kuwait, its future and
the future of its citizen especially under the current
inappropriate regional circumstances, columnist Dr
Anwar Alshriaan wrote for Al-Shahed daily.
In spite of the above, members of the Supreme
Planning Council (SPC) have succeeded in trans-
forming the vision of HH the Amir into a real pro-
ject and promising dream. In other words, the council
members have realized the objective which the con-
secutive governments have failed to achieve during
the last 50 years.
In this context, we refer to the Kuwait Islands
Project which constitutes a semi economic city that
will be in a position to polarize global investments --
commercial, nancial, sports, educational, touristic,
cultural or medical.
But it is needless to say translating this dream into
a reality requires among other things concerted ef-
forts for the sake of the future of our children and
avert all factors that are likely to impede our adminis-
trative and economic progress.
In this context, we say the project has yet to fall
within the scope of the laws and Constitution, but
the thing that drew my attention in this respect, is a
statement that has been attributed to uncle Ahmed
Al-Saadoun over the project in question, particularly,
since we know Bu Abdulaziz (Al-Saadoun) fully re-
alizes that the project will be in need of new laws
and the latter will not be endorsed in the absence of
the necessary agreement between the legislative and
the executives powers and under the umbrella of the
Kuwaiti Constitution, otherwise, any argument or
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
6
criticism over the said project, shall remain in the
framework of the Diwaniyas talks.
But we should keep in mind that according to the
economic feasibility studies, the project in question
shall create hundreds of thousands of jobs and this
project will open the door for both the local and for-
eign investments capable of implementing this type
of projects at both the regional and international lev-
els.
In conclusion, I hope Bu Abdulaziz will famil-
iarize himself with the Chinese experiment in Hong
Kong where the authorities have successfully created
a different system or the so-called One State, Dual
Economic System.
As a matter of fact entire China and its sover-
eignty is subjected to one Constitution, but there are
some regions in the country which have their own
economic system, such as Hong Kong in order to let
these regions have the necessary international com-
petitive ability, otherwise, how Hong Kong, could be
transformed into an economic gate for China?
Now this gate is deemed as the key though which
China has managed to achieve tremendous economic
development during the past twenty years.
Schools and families play key roles in community
building. All studies are focused on the distribution
of social responsibility between schools and fami-
lies, Khalid Ahmad Al-Tarrah wrote for Al-Qabas
daily.
A family cannot succeed in establishing high mor-
als and benign behavior if the school does not support
the familys role in coping with social obstacles and
behavioral deviations.
At the same time, the school cannot excel in per-
forming its educational goals and preserving social
values if the family fails to participate in social build-
ing with the school, especially in view of the reality
of domestic violence which has negative repercus-
sions at social and educational levels.
Among the latest published studies on violence
in schools is a study conducted by the Department
of Social and Psychological Services at Ministry of
Education. The study was based on ofcial data con-
cerning student violence inside and outside school
walls, according to sources from Ministry of Social
Affairs and Labor and Ministry of Interior.
The number of crimes recorded in schools dur-
ing the period between September 2015 and April
2016 was 42. This ranged from beatings, thefts and
kidnappings, as well as killing and possession of nar-
cotic drugs, such that six crimes were recorded every
six days, as per a report on Al-Qabas daily on April
15, 2017. The recorded number of total behavioral
problems in private schools during the same period
amounted to 430 cases (Al-Qabas daily March 15,
2017). The study showed that the cases of violence
included verbal aggression towards teachers and stu-
dents.
Kuwaiti social researchers and specialists have
urged Ministry of Education several times to reconsid-
er the provision of sufcient number of Kuwaiti social
specialists by providing nancial incentives to attract
graduates of sociology and psychology in particular.
This is because it is difcult for expatriate teachers to
understand all aspects of social issues in families as
well as the school problems that students are facing.
The relations between peoples are not affected by
political differences between nations; the connection
of the peoples of the neighboring countries or peoples
does not spoil the communication and the good re-
lationship between peoples, whatever the differences
among countries. The peoples of the Gulf states,
without exception, are joined by the link of descent
and history, columnist Dr Areej Al-Sanan wrote for
Al-Rai daily.
We regret and fear that this conict (among the
Gulf states) will develop and lead to enmity and sev-
ering of relations, and this is what can be felt through
the social media means where people have been curs-
ing or betraying each other.
Until yesterday we were saying that we are one
family and that our Gulf is one, no matter how the
differences between the countries, and even if the dis-
pute between the neighboring countries this did not
destroy the relations between peoples or interrupted
communication, but remained interrelated, strong
and continuous.
The social relations of the people were not affect-
ed by state policies of the country but this crisis has
There is no fear of countries devastated by con-
ict coming to terms but the great fear is the relation-
ship between the components of the same people and
among the general people.
The need of the hour is to cool things down to save
the Gulf, we must hasten to dissolve our differences
by peaceful means, whatever the surrounding circum-
stances, especially as we live in a troubled waters.
We must unite as a force to fend off foreign ambi-
tions. However, the greater the number of enemies
the greater the unity of the majority, but it is a weak-
ness that makes the world laugh at the intellectual
level, which has weakened us and made our enemies
rise against us.
It is clear that some European countries such as
France, Britain and Germany will push for a change
in their tolerant image from the legal point of view
under the constant state of panic caused by indis-
criminate killing on the roads, markets and any un-
expected place, columnist Ibrahim Al-Mulai wrote
for Al-Jaridah daily.
The security is a vital issue that cannot be dis-
puted, and the repetition of the criminal action in cer-
tain countries has forced the public opinion, parties
and the extreme right-wing groups to press for more
aggressive policies against immigrants, or those of
Arab and Islamic origin, either by expelling them or
stripping them of their nationality.
It is noteworthy to mention a lot has been said by
the European ofcials in the form of hints in that di-
rection with a clear statement on Islamic terrorism,
which means that the extreme right comes to power
in those countries, it will have a great effect on the
decision-making policies of those countries.
What could be the worst scenario for Muslims
living in Europe is the continuation of indiscrimi-
nate killings, even after the fall of DAESH in Iraq
and Syria. This means the angry statements that we
hear each day will someday become the laws and will
transform the most tolerant European countries into
similar to Third World countries.
Compiled by Zaki Taleb
 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

LOCAL 7

KPC imports big amount Firemen win praise

Bank, KFSD to probe South Surra fire

of gas to meet demand
Growth rate of banks capital falls
Ed Raschen (right), to deploy to Kuwait.
Raschen to deploy to Kuwait
ALTAMONT, June 24: Ed Raschen,
assistant principal and athletic direc-
tor for Labette County High School,
is set to deploy to Kuwait for as long
as 400 days with the Kansas Army
National Guard at the end of the
month.
My orders say for 400 days, but
itll be less than that, Raschen said. I
should be back sometime in April, for
sure May, in that timeframe.
Raschen, who took over as assis-
tant principal and AD two years ago,
has served in the National Guard for
10 years and holds the rank of cap-
tain. This will be his rst deployment
overseas.
Im going in a support role, Ra-
schen said. Theres ve units from
the state of Kansas that are deployed
in that area. Kuwait is a support hub
so where Im going is a logistics area
for all those units.
Raschen missed the last month of
the 2016-17 academic year at LCHS
training in Washington, DC. Shortly
after returning from that stint, he re-
ceived word that he would deploy.
Theres so many units from this
state that are being deployed or cur-
rently deployed. I knew it was a mat-
ter of time before my number was
called, Raschen said. Im not going
with my normal unit, but they needed
slots to ll. I was one of the slots that
could plug in.
While LCHS Principal Shane
Holtzman lled in for Raschen during
the last month of the school year this
past spring, $506 will ll both the as-
sistant principal and athletic director
roles on an interim basis for 2017-18.
The district has had discussions with
candidates for an interim assistant prin-
cipal, while the athletic director respon-
sibilities will be divided between foot-
ball head coach Sean Price and boys
basketball head coach Brad Smith.
Weve done this before, and Ive
done this before logistically, Smith
said. Ill take over during the fall
when Price is coaching football, then
well switch in the winter when Im
coaching basketball.
Price was formerly the athletic di-
rector at Chetopa High School when
he was the schools football coach
prior to taking the job at Labette
County. Smith has also previously
served as the LCHS athletic director.
Weve talked about what we think
were going to do, Price said. I dont
expect anything to be too challenging
though because Raschen has done a
great job building relationships.
A veteran of the Armys 82nd Air-
borne Division himself, Price under-
stands Raschens call of duty.
I served in the military, so I un-
derstand Raschens situation. So its
an honor really, Price said. I think
its going to work really well.
For Raschen, while a deployment
is never ideal, he feels his service
overseas will provide a more fulll-
ing career with the National Guard.
Even with the disruption, as a sol-
dier having been in the Guard for 10
years, Ive had a successful career,
Raschen said. I trained for 10 years
to do something, and now I nally get
that chance. As a soldier, we all want
to feel signicant, that we put on the
uniform for a reason.
We want to hold the fort down
and do the best we can, Smith added.
Its an honor to help the school for
him and thats what were going to do.
KUWAIT CITY, June 24, (KUNA):
Deputy Board Director General of
Kuwait Credit Bank Salah Al-Mud-
hef announced commencing an in-
area designated to be the banks
main headquarters in the near fu-
ture.
He commended the major role
the Kuwait Fire Services Directo-
rate Lt Colonel Khalid Al-Mikrad
said re engines from eight cent-
ers controlled the re which broke
vestigation in coordination with the played by reghters in contain- out in a building under construction
concerned government apparatus to ing and extinguishing the re in a in South Surrah in the Ministries
determine the circumstances of the record time, and also praised the Zone, reports Al-Anba daily.
re that razed 19,000 sq/m area of presence of the State Minister for Quick response by the remen
KUWAIT CITY, June an under-construction building in Cabinet Affairs and acting Minister prevented the re from spreading to
24: Kuwaits consump- South Surra recently. of Information, Sheikh Muham- adjoining buildings.
tion of gas in the last Al-Mudhef indicated the bank mad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al- In a press statement, Al-Mikrad
ve years amounted to is directly communicating with Sabah, alongside the State Minister said the build is owned by the Cred-
Kuwait Fire Service Directorate for Housing and Services Affairs it Bank. He indicated the total area
89 billion cubic meters. (KFSD) to follow up the progres- Yasser Abul to follow up the re- of the building is 19,000 square me-
The annual consump- sion of investigation, as to the out operation at rsthand. ters and 8,000 square meters was on
tion rate is about 18 bil- source of re that consumed a huge Meanwhile, Director-General of re.
lion cubic meters. The
country had to import
11 billion cubic me-
ters to bridge the gap
between consumption
and production, re-
ports Al-Shahed daily
quoting sources.
They revealed that Kuwaits
gas production during the
same period amounted to 78
billion cubic meters, while the
annual production stands at
15.6 billion cubic meters.
The sources said Kuwait
Petroleum Corporation (KPC)
imports gas to meet the growing
consumption, as the consump-
tion currently exceeds the pro-
duction volume by about 2.2 bil-
lion cubic meters.
They affirmed that Kuwait has
about 8 percent of the worlds oil
reserves, adding that Kuwait Oil
Company (KOC) has set up
some tenders for the develop-
ment and extraction of gas.
Meanwhile, the growth rate of
capital of local banks fell to 2.5
percent at the end of last year,
reports Al-Shahed daily quoting
sources.
They explained that in 2013,
the rate had reached 8.9 percent,
amounting to KD 7.18 billion,
and then decreased to 4.8 percent
in 2014, which amounts to KD
7.25 billion. It further fell to 3.4
percent in 2015 to reach KD 7.78
billion and then continued to
decline to 2.5 percent as of the
end of 2016 to reach a capital of
KD 8.01 billion.
The sources went on to state
that the capital of local banks in
the last three years recorded a
decrease of 6.4 percent, amount-
ing to KD 830,000. Assets
increased by 9.1 percent during
the same period while deposits
increased by 11.45 percent.
Drug pills seized: Anti-
narcotics men arrested two Arab
expatriates who smuggled 12
Tramadol pills into the country
for trade purpose.
A security source said Drug
Control General Department
received information that the two
suspects had brought 12
Tramadol pills, carefully hidden
inside their clothes, from their
home country to sell.
A team of detectives were
trapped the suspects and man-
aged to arrest them in Fahaheel
area in possession of a bag con-
taining the contraband. They
confessed bringing the item from
their home country to sell to cus-
tomers here.
Meanwhile, anti-narcotics
men followed up the activities of
another Arab national and raided
his apartment where they found
1kg of the illicit drug Chemical
and 50g of Shabu based on a tip-
off. He was referred to Drug
Prosecution.

Artiste Hani Al-Tabakh underwent heart catheter sur-

gery two weeks after his appendix removal operation,
reports Al-Anba daily. Al-Tabakh is currently preparing
for his play, South Africa with producer and artiste
Abdulaziz Al-Mussalem.

News in Brief

KFSD begins courses: Kuwait Fire Service Directo-

rate (KFSD) has announced the beginning of registration
for reghting courses to be organized with the coop-
eration of Public Authority for Applied Education and
Training (PAAET).
During a press conference held at KFSD building on
Wednesday, Deputy Director General for Human Re-
sources Development Affairs Major General Khaled Al-
Tarkit stated that the department will organize four re-
ghting courses. Registration for the courses commenced
on Wednesday evening on the website of PAAET.
He thanked the organizers in PAAET for their continued
cooperation which reects in the organization of these cours-
es that contribute to the production of human resources which
are capable of serving the nation. The press conference was
attended by Director of Public Relations and Media Depart-
ment Colonel Khalil Al-Amir, Director of Fireghter Prepa-
ration Center Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Sultan Al-Ansari,
Head of Media Department Lieutenant Colonel Salman Al-
Juaidi along with PAAET ofcials including Deputy Director
General for Training Affairs Eng Tareq Al-Omairi, Director
of Admission and Registration Eng Hamoud Al-Qattan and
Director of Public Relations Fatmah Al-Azmi and Abbas Lari
from the Media Department.

LOCAL
Court Cases
Man absolved in manslaughter
Kuwaiti citizen gets jail
for cheating compatriot
By Jaber Al-Hamoud
Al-Seyassah Staff
KUWAIT CITY, June 24: The
Court of First Instance presided
over by Judge Nayef Al-Adwani
sentenced a Kuwaiti citizen to one-
year imprisonment with hard labor
and bail bond worth KD 300 after
he was convicted of duping a com-
patriot by selling him a real-estate
property that was already bought
by another per-
son.
The Public
Prosecution
charged the sus-
pect for duping
the plaintiff by
offering to sell a
property, which
was already sold
to another indi- Al-Qattan
vidual. He alleg-
edly deceived the plaintiff into
believing that the landlord asked him
to search for a buyer, and promised
to transfer the deed after payment.
He collected KD 65,000 advance
payment from the plaintiff, although
the house had been sold even before
the negotiations.
The plaintiff counsel Lawyer
Mohammad Khalil Al-Qattan filed
a lawsuit against the suspect,
accusing him of violating Penal
Code provision No. 1/231 by com-
mitting the crime.
He alleged that the suspect col-
lected an advance payment of KD
65,000 by cheque and was approved
at a local bank. However, the docu-
ments established the fact that the
property belonged to another per-
son who had earlier purchased it.
the intention to sell them.
Man not guilty: The Misdemeanor
Court acquitted a Kuwaiti man of
manslaughter in a case involving
an Asian woman he hit on the
Fahaheel Road toward Nuwaiseeb.
The Public Prosecution charged the
suspect for reckless driving that led
to crushing of the woman to death.
Lawyer Nasser Al-Khureinj
A female officer is presented a certificate.
Officers honoured
Assistant Undersecretary of
Correctional Facilities at Ministry of
Interior Major General Abdullah
Al-Muhanna honored a number of
officials of the correctional facilities.
He commended their distinguished
efforts and wished them more suc-
cess in performing their duties.
Major General Al-Muhanna said the
ministry leadership, represented by
Deputy Premier and Minister of
Interior Lieutenant General Sheikh
News in Brief
Officers reinstated: The 13 senior
police officers who were re-instated
have begun work in their respective
sectors, however, after the Eid Al-Fitr
they are expected to be distributed at
various other places following a
Ministry of Interior reshuffle which is
in the offing, reports Al-Rai daily.
It has been reported Brigadier
Abdulrahman Al-Suhail may be
appointed Director-General of
Criminal Investigation and Brigadier
Mohammad Al-Sabr Director of
Information Security.
Violation of law: An unidentified
policeman working for the Andalus
Police Station has been referred for
interrogation for beating a young man
in custody and posting a clip on
Snapchat, reports Al-Anba daily.
In the clip the policeman is seen hit-
ting the man in custody on the head
and boasting about his act.
information about the incident and
Gang fight in Jelaia: A group of
Kuwaiti youths engaged in a fierce
fight in Jelaia area due to a minor dis-
agreement, resulting in injuries to
three people.
defending the accused argued that
his client was not reckless techni-
cally. He blamed the victim for
crossing the road without precau-
tion, especially as the location was
not designated for crossing. He
reiterated the woman jumped into
the road suddenly at a wrong loca-
tion, and his client maintained the
permitted speed limit.
Marriage endorsed: The Jafari
Circuit of the Family Court
endorsed the marriage between a
Kuwaiti citizen and a French
woman which was ordained by a
religious cleric in France.
The case was filed by Lawyer
Maryam Faisal Al-Bahar on behalf
of the Kuwaiti man who wanted his
marriage to a French woman to be
endorsed in Kuwait.
Lawyer Al-Bahar explained that
her client married the woman at a
mosque in France with a dowry
worth 2,000 Euros, half of which
was to be paid later to the wife.
The reason behind the case was
that the brides father was against
the marriage. However, according
to the Personal Status law, the
approval needed for the marriage to
be valid lies on the woman if it is
not her first marriage.
Verdict annulled: The Court of
Appeals overturned the verdict
issued by a lower court which sen-
tenced a weapon dealer to three-
year imprisonment with hard labor,
and ordered him to pay a fine of
KD 1,000 over charges of posses-
sion of a firearm, hunting guns and
several rounds of ammunition with
Representing the weapons deal-
er was Lawyer Inaam Haidar
who insisted that the manner in
which her client was arrested and
searched was illegal, as it was done
within the period of amnesty issued
by the government to people who
possessed unlicensed firearms,
ammunition and explosives.
MoI photo
Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah and
Undersecretary Lieutenant General
Mahmoud Al-Dousari, appreciate the
efforts exerted in confronting the chal-
lenges at correctional facilities.
The honoring ceremony was attend-
ed by Director General of Sentences
Enforcement Major General Majid
Al-Majid, Acting Director General for
Correctional Facilities Adel Al-Ibrahim
among other officials from the correc-
tional facilities sector.
mechanism will get rid of some of the
KFSD photo
Three vehicles parked in front of a
house in Jaber Al-Ali Area were
gulped down by fire. The source
of the fire that caused a huge
material loss wasnt immediately
known. Public Relations Sector of
the General Fire Service
Department stated it received
dispatched a team of firemen to
the scene. The men managed to
control the flames and prevented
it from spreading to neighboring
structures. A case was registered
for investigation.
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
8
A picture taken on June 24, 2017 shows a cannon being shot, at the Nayef Palace in Kuwait City, signalling the end of the holy fasting month of
Ramadan. (AFP)
Precautionary, preventive steps
taken for Eid, says Al-Hashash
MoI allays fears on black traffic cameras
KUWAIT CITY, June 24,
(KUNA): The Ministry of
Interior (MoI) has taken
all precautionary and pre-
ventive measures in prep-
aration for the Eid of
Al-Fitr, director of the
ministrys Security Media
and Public Relations
Department Brigadier
Adel Al-Hashash said on
Saturday. A security plan
was set up for the Eid,
with the aim of controlling
traffic at roads and inter-
sections across the coun-
try in order to avoid con-
gestion, Al-Hashash
added in a press state-
ment.
The plan is in line with instruc-
tions by Deputy Prime Minister
and Interior Minister Sheikh
Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah that
call for harnessing all potentials
and taking all measures to fulfill
the joy of citizens and residents
during the Eid holidays, he noted.
There is coordination round the
clock among all security directorates
and concerned bodies to carry out the
plan, he affirmed. The security forces
will deal decisively with negative
behaviors like disturbance or quarrel,
he warned.
Al-Hashash appealed to parents to
care for their children, namely at
malls, markets and commercial places,
and to drivers not to use mobile phones
while driving.
He also urged people not to park at
the places allocated to the disabled,
warning that the ministry will confront
immediately anybody who violates
these rules. KFSD photos
Top: Firemen trying to put the fire at Amghara and fire-fighters batting the Jahra blaze (above).
He pointed out that the sector of
ports security affairs has a key role in
facilitating matters for passengers at
the Kuwait International Airport and Firemen control Jahra, Amghara fires
land ports across the country.
The departments plan is working A large group of firefighters are Meanwhile, firefighters have radius, the Kuwait Fire Service
on fulfilling an awareness campaign fit attempting to put out a fire at a extinguished a huge fire that Directorate said in a statement.
for the Eid holidays, he said. large metals factory dumpsite in erupted earlier on Saturday in the The fire fighters fought the fire
The plan also aims to manifest the Jahras Amghara Industrial Area, industrial district of Amghara. for nearly three hours at the
general rules so as to maintain safety west of the capital. The blazes that broke out at a dumpsite.
of citizens and residents and make Some four fire departments, large metals factory dumpsite in Minister of Commerce and
them happy during this occasion, he including Jahra, Sulaibikhat and Amghara Industrial Area, west of Industry, Acting Minister of State
made clear. Farwaniyah, are handling the fire the capital, were put out later in for Youth Affairs Khaled
Finally, Al-Hashash congratulated spread out across a 3,000 sq/km the day. Al-Roudhan and General Director
radius, the Kuwait Fire Service Four fire departments, including of the Public Authority for Industry
both Kuwaitis and expatriates on Eid
Al-Fitr, wishing the State of Kuwait Directorate said in a statement. Jahra, Sulaibikhat and Abdulkarim Taqi were present at
No further information was pro- Farwaniyah, handled the fire that the scene. The fire caused no
many returns of this occasion with vided. spread out across a 1,000 sq/m injuries. (KUNA)
further prosperity, joy and blessings,
under the wisdom of the supreme lead-
ership.
Visas for clerics: The Interior
42 health clinics stay open on Eid
Ministry is planning to set up a special
mechanism to issue visas to clerics KUWAIT CITY, June 24: As the A source said the Minister of referred for investigation and nec-
belonging to different sects, Sunni and Ministry of Health approved 42 Health Dr Jamal Al-Harbi issued a essary administrative steps be
health centers and public hospitals directive for the committee to go taken against them.
Shiite, reports Al-Rai daily.
to receive patients throughout Eid round the facilities checking He explained the inspection will
The daily added, this is to prevent
the entry of controversial people into Al-Fitr holiday, a team attached to resumption and departure from cover doctors, nurses, technicians
the Inspection Committee is ready work. and administrative staff.
the country. However, before granting
visas the files of preachers and imams to move round all sectors of the The committee will conduct He said officials will note
ministry to verify record of atten- inspection tour of hospitals and down any violation noticed, such
will be thoroughly checked.
An informed source pointed out the dance and monitor special duties health centers designated for work as escape, dereliction of duty or
during the period, reports Al-Anba during the holiday, indicating any failure to sign in and out for
problems faced by the preachers and daily. employee found missing will be duty.
clerics to enter Kuwait because it is a
common knowledge that there are
some preachers out there to abuse General Traffic Department along ring record three violations exceeding Kuwaiti, of swindling him, reports
some sects.
roads and some expressways have the speed limit in both directions, driv- Al-Rai daily.
Earlier, it was reported the Deputy aroused the concern of motorists, The complainant told police he
ing on the shoulders of the road during
Prime Minister and Interior Minister reports Al-Anba daily. unspecified hours and taking pictures met the man at a caf and while talk-
Sheikh Khalid Al-Jarrah in response to
The motorists are of the opinion that of the trucks which do not comply ing he claimed he knows many influ-
demands of some MPs and community these cameras may be taking pictures ential people in government institu-
with the speed limit and driving during
leaders had deported the Shiite cleric of the man behind the wheel if he/she tions and said he could help the man
Al-Karbalani for allegedly abusing the non-specified hours.
is using cell phones while driving, to get a driving licence.
companions of the Holy Prophet
Muhammad. (PBUH). reckless driving and not wearing the The Egyptian said he gave the man
seatbelt. Egyptian swindled: An Egyptian KD 550 to help him get the licence
However, a traffic source has man has filed a complaint with the because he is not eligible to get the
Fears allayed: Fifty black cameras poured cold water over such rumors. Ardhiya Police Station accusing an licence and the Kuwaiti kept the money
which have been installed by the The source said the black cameras unidentified person, believed to be a for himself and put off his cell phone.
 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

LOCAL/GULF 9

Doha and Moscow rivals in global gas markets

Novatek aims to topple Qatar from LNG top spot

LONDON, June 24, (RTRS): Rus-
sian gas producer Novatek aims to
topple Qatar as the worlds biggest
exporter of liquefied natural gas as
it gets closer to completing its first
LNG project, a top executive said,
batting away concerns about US
sanctions on the sector.
The countrys largest non-state gas
producer is expected to start export-
ing LNG from the first phase of the
Yamal project, situated far above the
Arctic circle, towards the end of this
year and may bring forward its final
stage by six months, CFO Mark Gy-
etvay said.
But it is the inception of Novateks
second, and Russias third, large-scale
LNG project called Arctic LNG 2 that
would transform the company, headed
by Russias richest businessman Leo-
nid Mikhelson, into a top global pro-
ducer within a decade.
We have huge ambitions to be just
as large as Qatar is as one country,
but as one company, Gyetvay said in
London on the sidelines of an energy
forum.
Qatar and Russia have long been
rivals in global gas markets. Qatars
supplies came under the spotlight in
the past month after Saudi Arabia cut
economic and diplomatic ties, in a
move ratcheting up a wider violent
and diplomatic conflict in the Mid-
dle East.
Russias energy industry, mean-
while, has been hamstrung by Europe-
an and US sanctions over its annexa-
tion of Ukraines Crimean peninsula,
with Europeans particularly sensitive
to any potential Russian gas supply
cuts in retaliation for political tensions
in the region.
In terms of LNG, Qatar is by far
the largest exporter, selling 77.2 mil-
lion tonnes of the liqueed gas and
accounting for just under 30 percent
of market share in 2016, according to
energy research group IHS and the In-
ternational Gas Union.
Russia that year was seventh with
exports of 10.8 million tonnes and a
4 percent market share. The Yamal
project, once all stages are complete,
will export an additional 16.5 mil-
lion tonnes, which would put Russia,
already the worlds largest crude oil
exporter, in third place just below Aus-
tralia.
Of progress on Yamal, Gyetvay said
the second phase would be ready in the
second half of next year while the third
could be completed by the rst half of
2019, rather than the second, as all fa-
cilities were expected to be delivered
this year.
If we do Arctic LNG 2 - well start
the process of construction in 2019 if
we make that FID (nal investment
decision) - the plan is to make sure we
have the rst LNG in the market by
2023, he said.
Mikhelson said on March 29 pro-
duction from the two projects on the
Yamal and neighbouring Gydan penin-
sula could produce more than 70 mil-
lion tonnes annually - within spitting
distance of Qatars exports.
And President Vladimir Putin told
Mikhelson a day later Russia not only
could but would become the largest
LNG exporter should the pace of de-
velopment continue.
Saudi Energy Minister Khalid
al-Falih expressed the Kingdoms
interest in participating in the Arc-
tic LNG 2 project earlier this month
although Gyetvay said it was too
early to comment on any future for-
eign investors.
Qatar already has a large investment
in Russias energy industry in the form
of the 19.5 percent stake in Russias
largest oil company, Rosneft, that it
bought last year with trading group
Glencore.
Western sanctions on Russian com-
panies including Novatek obviously
had an effect on the Yamal project,
Gyetvay said: We had to revert to the
use of Russian and Chinese nance.
But for now, he does not see further
impact even as Washington tightened
those sanctions because they concern
nancing rather than technology, which
Novatek is free to purchase from any-
where as it needs for its projects.

Qatar Airways seeks stake in

Kuwaits Ambassador to Ghana Mohammed Al-Failakawi with Shirley Botchwey.
Kuwait envoy meets Ghanian Foreign minister
Ambassador of Kuwait to Ghana Mo-
hammed Al-Failakawi met the Ghana-
ian Minister of Foreign Affairs Shirley
Botchwey at the headquarters of the
ministry in the Ghanaian capital, Ac-
cra.
During the meeting, they discussed
ways to bolster bilateral ties between
the two countries.
Ambassador Al-Failakawi, on
behalf of the Deputy Premier and
Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh
If anyone can do it, its him
Qatar ideal first diplomatic
crisis for oilman Tillerson
WASHINGTON, June 24, (AFP): The
Qatar crisis presents Rex Tillerson with
his rst challenge as Washingtons top
diplomat and an opportunity for the for-
mer oilman to use his vast network of
contacts.
But while his former life as chief of
energy giant ExxonMobil prepared Till-
erson well, he does have one potential
handicap his new boss, President
Donald Trump.
While Trump has claimed credit for
Saudi Arabias air and land blockade
of its gas-rich neighbor, Tillerson has
urged an end to the embargo and re-
stored alliances.
That differing approach could make the
secretary of states task difcult at best,
but his friends in Washington say his re-
gional experience
makes him just the
man for the job.
If anyone can
do it, its him,
says James Jef-
frey of the Wash-
ington Institute of
Near East Policy,
a former senior
diplomat who ad-
vised Tillerson at
Exxon. Tillerson
On the face of
it, the diplomatic standoff in the oil and
gas-rich Gulf has all the makings of a
US foreign policy disaster coming at the
worst possible time.
Late last month, Trump made what
appeared at the time a triumphal visit to
Riyadh to unite US friends in the region
against Iranian meddling and Islamist
extremism.
But just weeks later, on June 5, Saudi
Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United
Arab Emirates broke ties with Qatar, ac-
cusing its royal government of backing
terrorist groups.
The resulting stand-off left the countries
that host the bulk of US forces in the region
Turkey, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq at
odds with Washingtons other key allies.
And it could only strengthen the hand
of Iran, which is confronting US and
Saudi interests through covert opera-
tions and proxies in Syria, Yemen, Iraq
and Lebanon.
Trump initially appeared to revel in
the situation, praising Riyadh for stand-
ing up to ght terror nancing and ac-
cusing Qatar of supporting extremism at
a high level.
But Tillerson who has been asked
by the White House to help defuse the
situation took a different tack, and
this week appeared to be making some
progress.
On Tuesday, after the secretary of
state had cancelled a planned visit to
Mexico and spent two frustrating days
on the telephone, he issued a strong
statement.
His target was not Qatar although
KUNA photo
Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, ex-
pressed gratitude and appreciation
for the support Kuwait received
from the Republic of Ghana to win
the seat of non-permanent member
of the Security Council for 2018-
2019.
On her part, Minister Botchwey said
she is happy for Kuwaits victory, af-
rming that this victory is a proof of
the good reputation Kuwait has in the
world.
he has been clear that all countries
should do more to eradicate terror fund-
ing but Riyadh and its Emirati ally.
Tillersons spokeswoman, Heather
Nauert, told reporters that Washington
was mystied that the Saudis and
Emiratis had not released details of their
allegations against Qatar.
The more that time goes by, the
more doubt is raised about the actions
taken by Saudi Arabia and the UAE,
she said, before turning the knife.
Were Riyadhs actions really about
Qatars alleged support for terrorism,
or were they about the long simmer-
ing grievances between and among the
GCC countries? she asked.
The statement was a clear signal that,
despite Trumps rhetoric, ofcial Wash-
ington blames the Saudis for escalating
an unnecessary dispute.
It was not the first such signal
from Trumps top national security
team whose actions often struggle
to speak louder than the presidents
words.
A week earlier, Secretary of Defense
Jim Mattis signed a $12 billion deal to
sell Qatar supposedly a terror spon-
sor US-made F-15 ghter jets.
In case that wasnt a strong enough
sign, Tillerson also made what for him
was a rare appearance before reporters to
urge the Saudis to ease their embargo.
Will Saudi Arabia and the Emirates
listen to the State Department and the
Pentagon, and seek a face-saving agree-
ment with Qatar that reunites the allies?
Or will they listen to Trump, who
during a Wednesday campaign speech
praised the Saudi king for ghting with
other countries that have been funding
terrorism?
The key to re-balancing the relation-
ship will lie with Tillerson.
I think hes doing a good job, and he
knows everybody. He knows the Saudis
and the Qataris very well, said Jeffrey,
a White House advisor under former
president George W. Bush.
For Jeffrey, the mistake was to let
Riyadh think Trump had given them a
green light.
It isnt that you have two separate
policies. Trump is supporting Mattis and
Tillerson, Jeffrey argues.
Its just that Trump cant help him-
self he communicates in a different
sphere through tweets and with his sup-
porters.
Its not Trump the commander-in-
chief or the president, its Trump the
leader of a movement with its own
worldview, he said.
Its going to take a while for the Sau-
dis and the Emiratis to understand this
and not to take it to the bank, which is
what they did.
On Wednesday, a day after the strong
mystied statement, Tillerson an-
nounced that Riyadh had now indeed
drawn up a list of demands.
American in puzzling move
DALLAS, June 24,
(Agencies): Qatar
Airways wants to buy
10 percent of Ameri-
can Airlines, a move
cloaked so heav-
ily in international
trade and politics that
Americans CEO nds
it puzzling.
American has tried to con-
vince two successive US ad-
ministrations that Qatar and
two other state-owned Mid-
dle Eastern carriers get illegal
subsidies from their govern-
ments. Qatar has fought back
in the increasingly nasty dis-
pute. Now Qatar is suffering
because its nation is under
blockade by its Arab neigh-
bors, who have closed their
airspace to the carrier.
On Thursday, Qatar said it
plans to buy an initial stake of
up to 4.75 percent Americans
stock. American said Qatar CEO
Akbar Al Baker told American
CEO Doug Parker that he wants
to acquire about 10 percent of the
airlines stock, which would cost
about $2.4 billion. The two men
met secretly in early June at an
airline-industry conference in the
Mexican resort town of Cancun.
Airlines
Although the two airlines are
on opposite sides of a trade ght,
they sell seats on each others
ights and cooperate as members
of the same alliance of global
carriers.
Qatar said in a statement that
it hopes to continue that rela-
tionship. It said it sees a strong
investment opportunity in
American, and would be merely
a passive investor with no role
in Americans management or
operations.
American, the worlds biggest
airline, said Qatars bid was un-
solicited, and Parker belittled it.
We arent particularly ex-
cited about Qatars outreach,
the CEO wrote in a memo to
American employees. He said
the move was puzzling given
Americans ongoing ght over
claims that Qatar, Emirates and
Etihad Airways receive unfair
government subsidies a ght
he vowed to keep pursuing.
If anything, this development
strengthens our resolve to ensure
the US government enforces its
trade agreements regarding fair
competition with Gulf carriers,
Parker said. Earlier this month
he called competition from the
state-owned Persian Gulf carri-
ers the biggest threat he has ever
seen to US aviation.
The chilly response to Qatars
overture contrasted sharply with
the celebratory reaction last year
after US nancier Warren Buffett
a longtime critic of investing
in airlines bought big stakes
in American, Delta, United and
Southwest. Buffetts Berkshire
Hathaway Inc. is now Ameri-
cans third-biggest shareholder,
at 10 percent.
Al Baker is known for brash
moves and declarations. His fast-
growing company has bought its
way into other airlines, including
the parent of British Airways, a
close partner of American. Still,
the timing of the announcement
about his interest American
caught everyone off guard, and
not just because of the trade ght.
Squeezed
Qatar Airways is getting
squeezed in a dispute between its
national government and neigh-
boring countries led by Saudi
Arabia, which accuse Qatar
of supporting Islamic extrem-
ists. Saudi Arabia, the United
Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bah-
rain have barred Qatar Airways
ights and forced the Doha-
based carrier to alter other ight
paths to avoid ying over hostile
territory.
President Donald Trump has
accused Qatar, home to a mas-
sive and strategic US military
base, of funding terrorism. This
British Airways applies to use Qatar planes
KUNA photo
Embassy of Kuwait in Tanzania, led by Ambassador consistently supporting humanitarian and relief efforts
Jassem Al-Najem, recently organized an initiative ti-
tled Healthcare for Women and Children in Tanzania.
The event was held under the patronage of the Vice
in Tanzania. This was exemplied in a recent distribu-
tion of 200 baskets of medical necessities to the mater-
nity departments at Zakiem Hospital and Round Table
President of Tanzania Her Excellency Samia Suluhu
Hassan and in the presence of the Governor of Dar Al-
Salam Paul Makunda. Vice President Hassan afrmed
Hospital. She expressed gratitude and appreciation to
Kuwait and its citizens, as well as all charitable organi-
zations and societies for the aid offered to various sec-
that Kuwait and its charitable organizations have been tors, especially the health sector of Tanzania.
Turkish exports to Qatar triple
Qatar to reopen neighbours skies at UN meet
MONTREAL, June 24, (Agencies): presented by Qatar, but such interven- Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emir-
The United Nations aviation agency tions are rare and time-consuming be- ates (UAE), Egypt and Bahrain accuse
will hold a special hearing next Fri- cause the specialized UN agency usu- Qatar of funding terrorism, fomenting
day on Qatars request to reopen Gulf ally negotiates disputes diplomatically regional instability and cosying up to
airspace that was closed to its ights through consensus. revolutionary theocracy Iran. Qatar
during a major diplomatic dispute with ICAO cannot impose rules on states, has denied the accusations.
other Arab powers, its transport minis- but regulators from its 191-member They have sent Doha a list of 13 de-
ter said on Friday. countries almost always adopt and en- mands including closing Al Jazeera tel-
Jassim Saif Al Sulaiti told Reuters force its international aviation stand- evision, reducing ties to their regional
the Gulf state was pushing to get ards. adversary Iran and closing a Turkish
more routes for Qatar and wants the Qatar has asked ICAO to use a dis- military base in Qatar, an ofcial of one
International Civil Aviation Organiza- pute resolution mechanism in the Chi- of the four countries told Reuters.
tion (ICAO) to open international air cago Convention, a 1944 treaty that Turkey, which has long tried to
routes over Gulf waters currently man- created the agency and set rules for play the role of regional mediator, has
aged by the United Arab Emirates. international aviation. backed Qatar in the dispute but is also
The UAE is among four countries, Article 84 says that if two states can- wary of upsetting its other allies, in-
including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and not resolve a dispute related to the con- cluding Saudi Arabia.
Egypt, that have closed their airspace vention through negotiation, one can Since June 5 exports to Qatar have
to Qatar, forcing state-owned Qatar ask the council to settle it, although the amounted to $32.5 million. Of this
Airways to y longer, more expensive process is long. $12.5 million is food. This gure is
routes. It took years to resolve a dispute in three times the normal level, Tufen-
The four Arab states that imposed the late 1990s between Cuba and the kci told reporters at a Ramadan fast-
a boycott on Qatar have issued an ul- United States, which would not allow breaking dinner on Thursday evening.
timatum to Doha to close Al Jazeera Cuban carriers to y through US air- Turkey has sent more than 100
television, curb ties with Iran, shut a space on the way to Canada because of cargo planes of supplies to Qatar but
Turkish base and pay reparations. It Washingtons economic embargo on Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci has
appears compliance would be difcult Cuba, said Armand de Mestral, a pro- said it was not sustainable to maintain
with the far-reaching demands. fessor emeritus of international law at supplies through an air lift.
A decision on Friday by the Mon- McGill University. On Thursday, Turkey sent its rst
treal-headquartered ICAO to hold the Cuba was eventually allowed to re- ship carrying food to Qatar and dis-
brieng next week follows concerns sume ights with restrictions, a prec- patched a small contingent of soldiers
by Qatar Airways chief executive Ak- edent that would bolster Qatars case, and armoured vehicles there, while
bar Al-Baker, who recently suggested he said. President Tayyip Erdogan spoke with
the UN agency was not working quick- Meanwhile, Turkish exports to Qa- Saudi Arabias leaders on calming ten-
ly enough to resolve the dispute. tar have tripled from their normal lev- sion in the region.
By contrast, Al Sulaiti said he trust- els to $32.5 million since four Arab Turkey fast-tracked legislation
ed ICAO to nd a solution to the dis- countries began boycotting the Gulf on June 7 to allow more troops to be
pute, and take action very quickly. state on June 5, Turkeys Customs and deployed to a military base in Qatar
ICAOs 36-state governing council Trade Minister Bulent Tufenkci said that houses Turkish soldiers under an
can act to settle the overights row late on Thursday. agreement signed in 2014.
week, however, the State Department American stop talking about the ef- planned strikes by some of its cabin
asked Saudi Arabia and other Arab fect of the Middle East airlines, said staff next month.
countries to detail their complaints Henry Harteveldt, a travel-industry British Airways mixed eet cabin
about the small Persian Gulf monarchy analyst. crew those who work on both long
and urged a speedy end to the diplo- Americans unions, who fear job and short-haul ights are set to go
matic crisis. losses if Middle East carriers expand on strike for two weeks from July 1
A tie-up with American Airlines service to the US, reacted with appre- over sanctions on union members in-
Group Inc. could help Qatar Airways hension. Dennis Tajer, a spokesman volved in previous industrial action in
Qatars most recognized global for the Allied Pilots Association, ac- a long-running dispute about pay.
brand gain inuence with both Wall cused Qatar of asymmetric nancial A document dated June 21 showed
Street and decision-makers in Wash- warfare. that the airline had applied to Brit-
ington. This is an adversary of ours, and ains Civil Aviation Authority to use
American, Delta, United and their suddenly it has come to the front door nine Qatar registered Airbus A320 or
labor unions were unable to get the with cash that it got from its rich uncle, A321s between July 1 and July 16.
Obama administration to accept their the country that runs them, and says The application has been made on
accusations that the Middle East air- Were here to buy some property, the grounds that the lease is justified
lines receive illegal subsidies. They Tajer said. on the basis of exceptional needs ...
are now pressing their case with the Qatar has been on a global buying to enable British Airways to con-
Trump administration, leading some to spree of late, mirroring a strategy fol- tinue passenger operations in light
suspect a political motive behind Qa- lowed by a smaller Gulf rival, Abu of planned operational disruption by
tars interest in becoming an American Dhabi-based Etihad Airways. its mixed fleet cabin crew, a CAA
Airlines stockholder. Meanwhile, British Airways has document said.
Part of this is an attempt to squelch applied to use Qatar Airways planes A wet-leasing deal would mean
Americans voice as part of that fair and crew to help the airline to y all that BA pays Qatar to use its aircraft
and open skies group and to have passengers to their destinations during and crew for the two week period.

INTERNATIONAL
World News Roundup
This US Navy handout photo released on June 24 shows the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) as it transits the Pacic Ocean on June 16. Nimitz and its carrier strike group are underway on a scheduled deployment to the
Court
SC sides with immigrants
Justices rule against a
family in property case
WASHINGTON, June 24, (AP): The Supreme Court
on Friday ruled against a Wisconsin family in a prop-
erty rights case that makes it easier for government of-
cials to restrict development in environmentally sensi-
tive areas.
The 5-3 ruling involved the familys effort to sell
part of its land along the scenic St Croix River. They
planned to use the proceeds from an empty lot to pay
for improvements on a cabin that sits on adjacent land.
County ofcials had barred the sale because conser-
vation rules treat the two lots as a single property that
cant be divided.
The family claimed those rules essentially stripped
the land of its value and asked the government for com-
pensation. The government argued that its fair to view
the property as a whole and said the family is owed
nothing.
Justice Anthony Kennedy,
joining the courts four liberal
members, called the govern-
ments action a reasonable
land-use regulation meant to
preserve the river and surround-
ing land. He said the property
as a whole remains valuable
and the family could not claim
they expected to sell or develop
the lots separately given regu-
lations that existed before they
acquired the lots.
Kennedy
The case was closely watched
by property rights and business
groups that say it should be easier for landowners to
get compensation when government regulations restrict
land use. More than 100 cities and counties across the
US have similar merger restrictions that treat two ad-
jacent properties as one if they have the same owner.
At issue is the constitutional requirement that private
property cant be taken for public use without just
compensation.
The dispute began when four siblings from the Murr
family tried to sell the vacant lot in 2004 to pay for im-
provements on a rustic cabin that sits on the plot next
door. Their father had purchased the two 1.25-acre lots
separately in the 1960s and both parcels had been taxed
separately. The lots were later transferred to his chil-
dren in the 1990s.
County ofcials blocked the sale, citing 1976 regula-
tions that bar new construction on lots in the area to
prevent overcrowding and pollution. A grandfather
clause exempted existing owners, but the county said it
didnt apply to the Murrs empty lot alone since it was
connected to the familys other land.
Also:
WASHINGTON: When a lawyer advises that a plea
deal is the best option and wont result in deportation,
most immigrants facing criminal charges agree to plead
guilty.
But what if the lawyer is wrong, and deportation is
certain?
The Supreme Court ruled 6-2 Friday that immigrants
in those circumstances can have a second chance in
court and risk going to trial, even if the prosecutions
case is very strong.
The justices sided with South Korean native Jae Lee,
who has lived most of his life in the United States. Lee
pleaded guilty to drug charges in 2009 after his lawyer
mistakenly assured him he would not be deported.
In fact, Lee, who had been living in the Memphis,
Tennessee, area, pleaded guilty to the kind of serious
crime that makes deportation near-automatic for non-
citizens.
He was sentenced to a year in prison, but has been
behind bars for 7-1/2 years while ghting to withdraw
his plea and take his chances at trial, John Bursch, Lees
Supreme Court lawyer, said.
western Pacic and Indian Oceans. (AFP)
A man drives his car through high
waters in Sabine Pass, Texas after
Tropical Storm Cindy passed through
on June 22. At least one death was
blamed on Tropical Storm Cindy as it
made landfall on US soil in the Gulf
of Mexico on Thursday. The Miami-
based National Hurricane Center
reported that Cindy hit the coast of
southwestern Louisiana and eastern
Texas at around 0900 GMT, packing
winds nearing 40 miles (65 kms) per
hour. (AFP)
Cuomo McAuliffe
America
Muslim group launches app: Hoping
to get an accurate count of anti-Muslim
hate crimes in the United States, the Coun-
cil on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
on Friday launched a mobile app allowing
victims to report bias incidents.
The group launched its Making Democ-
racy Work for Everyone app a month after
it reported a 44 percent surge in the number
of hate crimes reported by US Muslims last
year. Concerned that the 260 hate crimes
CAIR learned of last year represent just
a fraction of the actual total, the group
intends the app to increase reporting.
In a moment of trauma, youre not
thinking that I need to go online and enter
something, but your phone will always be
in your hand, said Corey Saylor, who runs
the groups anti-Islamophobia efforts.
The application allows a user to le a
description of an alleged incident, which
CAIR staff will then investigate. If the
group concludes the incident was the
result religious bias, it will include it in its
reporting, and if it believes the incident was
criminal, it will share the details with local
police. (RTRS)
Pardon unlikely to spark trend: The
New York governors pardon of a World
Trade Center disaster worker ghting
deportation to Colombia after a drug
conviction is the latest example of politi-
cians trying to rescue individuals from their
immigration problems, but the mixed and
unpredictable results make it unlikely to
become a common occurrence.
Carlos Cardona had his 1990 drug
Extremism
Extremist groups come out of shadows in Quebec
Focus of counter-extremism narrows
WASHINGTON, June 24, (Agencies):
The US Department of Homeland Se-
curity on Friday announced changes to
a $10 million government grant pro-
gram, narrowing its focus around ef-
forts to combat Islamist extremism.
In an update to awards announced
in January by former president Barack
Obamas administration, the depart-
ment released a new list of grant re-
cipients and amounts, shifting money to
law enforcement ofces and away from
groups that combat US-based extrem-
ism.
Reuters reported in February that
President Donald Trumps administra-
tion wanted to revamp the program to
focus solely on Islamist extremism.
A DHS spokeswoman said the de-
partment changed the grant criteria af-
ter the release of the initial list to con-
sider whether applicants would partner
with law enforcement, had experience
implementing counter-extremism pre-
vention programs, and would be able
to continue after the awards were spent.
Top-scoring applications that were
consistent with these priorities re-
mained as awardees, while others did
not, said DHS spokeswoman Lucy
Martinez.
Three local law enforcement ofces
in California, Washington state and
Minnesota were among the new awar-
dees, receiving grants totaling $1.2 mil-
lion.
A spokesman for the Alameda Coun-
ty Sheriffs Ofce in California said
it would use the money to address ex-
tremism on all fronts, not just Islam-
ist violence. Sergeant Ray Kelly cited
violent clashes between right-wing and
conviction wiped off the books by Gov
Andrew Cuomo this week, improving the
Queens mans chances of remaining in the
US while he receives health treatments for
ailments linked to his work on the Sept 11,
2001, recovery effort.
The Brian head Fire continues to grow and has burned more than 27,700 acres
on June 23, in Brian Head, Utah. A wildre menacing a southern Utah ski town
for nearly a week ared again, doubling in size for the second night in a row and
torching more homes after residents ed the ames, ofcials said Friday. The
blaze was one of several burning in the US West as extreme heat challenges
reghters. (AP)
left-wing demonstrators that recently
erupted in the city of Berkeley as an ex-
ample of local extremism in the county.
Kelly said the ofce would use the
grant money to train ofcers to better
recognize and address signs of aliena-
tion that make young people vulnerable
to extremism, with the help of behav-
ioral health counselors who are already
on staff.
The Muslim Public Affairs Council,
a nonprot group that works to improve
public understanding and policies that
affect American Muslims, said the
Trump administration revoked its near-
ly $400,000 grant because the group
did not meet the criteria of working
with law enforcement to counter violent
extremism.
The revised list also omitted several
original awardees focused on US-based
extremism, such as Life After Hate,
which tries to steer young people away
from far-right extremism.
Christian Picciolini, a co-founder of
Life After Hate, told Reuters his group
was planning to use its $400,000 grant
to scale up its counselor network of for-
mer extremists to meet the highly in-
creased requests for our services since
Election Day.
The current administrations lack
of focus on domestic white extremist
terrorism, let alone its denial to even
acknowledge it exists, is highly trou-
bling, Picciolini wrote in an email.
Also:
COLUMBUS, Ohio: A federal judge has
rescheduled a plea hearing for an Ohio
man accused of trying to travel to Libya
to join the Islamic State group.
His case follows several other recent
instances when Democratic governors have
pardoned individuals facing deportation
for state crimes that sometimes occurred
years earlier. The pardons have come after
President Donald Trump ordered increased
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
10
Documents led in federal court
say Aaron Daniels, of Columbus, will
plead guilty to one count of attempting
to provide material support to a foreign
terrorist organization.
Authorities allege Daniels wired
$250 to an Islamic State operative in
January 2016 and told an undercover
informant he was interested in traveling
to commit violence overseas.
Daniels was taken into custody last
year at John Glenn Columbus Interna-
tional Airport after a months-long in-
vestigation.
Judge Edmond Sargus on Friday re-
scheduled Daniels plea hearing to July
6 from June 29.
Daniel faces 20 years in prison. A
message was left with his attorney seek-
ing comment.
QUEBEC CITY: Tattooed and wearing
a black T-shirt emblazoned with a wolf
paw, Patrick Beaudry admits being in
the second year of a political movement
that is perhaps more radical than others.
La Meute, a far-right group in Que-
bec of which he is a founder, does not
promote extremist or racist views, he
insists, while confessing a liking for
the French National Front of Marine
Le Pen.
His motivation, however, is unequiv-
ocal.
Our ght is with radical Islam,
Beaudry told AFP.
La Meute is not a lone actor in Que-
bec. Other groups seeking independ-
ence or opposing immigration include
Soldiers of Oden and the Federation of
Native Quebecers (FQS).
deportations, resulting in a boost of over 35
percent in his rst 100 days in ofce when
compared to the same period last year.
It did not work after Virginia Gov Terry
McAuliffe pardoned Liliana Cruz Mendez
for a minor driving offense after she was
detained by immigration agents when she
arrived May 18 for a regular check-in.
The Falls Church, Virginia, mother of two
was sent back to her native El Salvador
anyway. (AP)
US charges Gitmo detainee: A US
war court has charged an Indonesian
detainee at Guantanamo Bay in connection
with the 2002 bombing in Bali that marked
Indonesias deadliest terror strike, accord-
ing to court documents obtained Friday by
The Associated Press.
The detainee known as Hambali also
was charged in connection with an attack
on the J.W. Marriott in Jakarta in 2003.
According to rules of the US military com-
mission, a military court will later decide
whether a trial will be held.
The Oct 12, 2002, Bali resort island
attacks, which occurred near the US
consulate, killed 202 people, including
88 Australians and seven Americans. A
suicide bomber blew himself up inside a
nightclub jammed with tourists at a popular
beach, killing many instantly and forcing
others to run outside. Another suicide
bomber detonated a massive bomb loaded
in a car parked on the street in front of two
clubs. ((AP)

INTERNATIONAL
Vice President Mike Pence learns how to send a command to a satellite dish while touring the 2d Space Operations Squadron, Home of the Global Positioning System, at Schriever Air Force Base on June 23, during
Insight
Share cyber secrets
Western tech firms bow
to demands of Russia
WASHINGTON/MOSCOW, June 24, (RTRS): West-
ern technology companies, including Cisco, IBM and
SAP , are acceding to demands by Moscow for access to
closely guarded product security secrets, at a time when
Russia has been accused of a growing number of cyber
attacks on the West, a Reuters investigation has found.
Russian authorities are asking Western tech compa-
nies to allow them to review source code for security
products such as rewalls, anti-virus applications and
software containing encryption before permitting the
products to be imported and sold in the country. The re-
quests, which have increased since 2014, are ostensibly
done to ensure foreign spy agencies have not hidden any
backdoors that would allow them to burrow into Rus-
sian systems.
But those inspections also provide the Russians an op-
portunity to nd vulnerabilities in the products source
code - instructions that control the basic operations of
computer equipment - current
and former US ofcials and se-
curity experts said.
While a number of US rms
say they are playing ball to pre-
serve their entree to Russias
huge tech market, at least one
US rm, Symantec, told Reu-
ters it has stopped cooperating
with the source code reviews
over security concerns. That
halt has not been previously
reported.
Clinton
Symantec said one of the
labs inspecting its products was not independent
enough from the Russian government.
Warned
US officials say they have warned firms about the
risks of allowing the Russians to review their prod-
ucts source code, because of fears it could be used
in cyber attacks. But they say they have no legal
authority to stop the practice unless the technology
has restricted military applications or violates US
sanctions.
From their side, companies say they are under pres-
sure to acquiesce to the demands from Russian regula-
tors or risk being shut out of a lucrative market. The
companies say they only allow Russia to review their
source code in secure facilities that prevent code from
being copied or altered.
The demands are being made by Russias Federal
Security Service (FSB), which the US government
says took part in the cyber attacks on Hillary Clin-
tons 2016 presidential campaign and the 2014 hack
of 500 million Yahoo email accounts. The FSB, which
has denied involvement in both the election and Ya-
hoo hacks, doubles as a regulator charged with ap-
proving the sale of sophisticated technology products
in Russia.
The reviews are also conducted by the Federal Ser-
vice for Technical and Export Control (FSTEC), a
Russian defense agency tasked with countering cyber
espionage and protecting state secrets. Records pub-
lished by FSTEC and reviewed by Reuters show that
from 1996 to 2013, it conducted source code reviews
as part of approvals for 13 technology products from
Western companies. In the past three years alone it
carried out 28 reviews.
A Kremlin spokesman referred all questions to the
FSB. The FSB did not respond to requests for com-
ment. FSTEC said in a statement that its reviews were
in line with international practice. The US State De-
partment declined to comment.
Moscows source code requests have mushroomed
in scope since US-Russia relations went into a tailspin
following the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014,
according to eight current and former US ofcials,
four company executives, three US trade attorneys
and Russian regulatory documents.
In addition to IBM, Cisco and Germanys SAP,
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co and McAfee have also
allowed Russia to conduct source code reviews of
their products, according to people familiar with the
companies interactions with Moscow and Russian
regulatory records.
Until now, little has been known about that regula-
tory review process outside of the industry. The FSTEC
documents and interviews with those involved in the re-
views provide a rare window into the tense push-and-pull
between technology companies and governments in an
era of mounting alarm about hacking.
his visit to Colorado Springs, Colo. (AP)
Former US President George W. Bush
speaks during a conference at the US
Chamber of Commerce on June 23,
in Washington, DC. The George W.
Bush Institute hosted a conference to
address veteran issues. (AFP)
America
No intention of firing Mueller: US
President Donald Trump has no intention
of ring the special counsel investigating
charges of Russian meddling in the 2016
US election, even though he questioned the
ofcials impartiality in an interview, the
White House said on Friday.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer
told reporters that while Trump retains the
authority to dismiss special counsel Robert
Mueller, he has no intention of doing that.
Trump voiced concern in a TV interview
on Fox News on Friday about what he said
was the close relationship between former
FBI Director James Comey and Mueller,
who was named to take over the Russia
investigation after Trump red Comey.
Hes very, very good friends with
Comey, which is bothersome, Trump
told Fox News. Look, there has been no
obstruction. There has been no collusion.
There has been leaking by Comey.
Lawmakers investigating allegations of
Russian interference in the 2016 US elec-
tion have raised questions about whether
Comeys May 9 ring was an attempt by
Trump to stop the Russia probe.
While White House ofcials have
said the ring was due to concerns about
Comeys actions at the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, Trump told an interviewer
the Russia investigation was one of his
concerns in taking the action. (RTRS)
Leaders eye bipartisan deal: Con-
gressional leaders are quietly working on a
bipartisan deal to raise the US debt ceiling
within weeks, hoping to prevent the dif-
cult debt issue from snarling a budget ght
to come in September, a senior Democratic
budget writer said on Friday.
John Yarmuth, top Democrat on the US
House of Representatives Budget Commit-
tee, told Reuters there is bipartisan interest
in raising the debt limit before August.
There is talk going on, there is
leadership conversation about this, said
Yarmuth, who added that House Democrats
do not plan to demand concessions from
Republicans in exchange for supporting a
debt limit increase.
Unlike most countries, the US govern-
ment has a statutory limit on how much
money it can borrow to cover the budget
decit that results from Washington spend-
ing more than it collects in taxes. Only
Congress can raise that limit.
The Trump administration has warned
the debt limit will need to be raised in the
fall. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin last
month moved the target deadline for action to
September from October, saying tax receipts
are coming in slower than expected.
Senate Republicans remain in contact
with the administration on the issue, but
dont have further updates on their plans, a
senior aide said. (RTRS)
Some want to oust Pelosi: A dozen or
so House Democrats want Minority Leader
Nancy Pelosi to go after a dispiriting loss
in a House election in Georgia. They just
dont know how to make it happen.
We cant keep losing races and keep
the same leadership in place. You have a
HealthCare
Trump reaches out to lawmakers
5 GOP senators oppose bill
WASHINGTON, June 24, (Agencies):
Nevada Republican Dean Heller be-
came the fth GOP senator to declare
his opposition to the partys banner
legislation to scuttle much of Barack
Obamas healthcareoverhaul on Fri-
day, more than enough to sink the
measure and deliver a stinging rebuke
to President Donald Trump unless
some of them can be brought aboard.
Echoing the other four, Heller said
he opposes the measure in this form
but does not rule out backing a version
that is changed to his liking. Senate
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell,
R-Ky., has said hes willing to alter the
measure to attract support, and next
week promises plenty of back-room
bargaining as he tries pushing a nal
package through his chamber.
Nonetheless, Hellers announcement
underscores the scant margin of error
Republican leaders must deal with. Fac-
ing unanimous Democratic opposition,
McConnell can afford to lose just two
of the 52 GOP senators and still prevail.
Besides the ve whove announced
outright opposition, several other GOP
senators conservatives and moder-
ates have declined to commit to the
new overhaul. The measure resembles
legislation the House approved last
month that the nonpartisan Congres-
sional Budget Ofce said would mean
23 million additional uninsured people
within a decade and that recent poll-
ing shows is viewed favorably by only
around 1 in 4 Americans.
Heller, facing a competitive re-
election battle next year, said he was
opposing the legislation because of the
cuts it would make in Medicaid. The
federal-state program provides health-
careto the poor, disabled and many
nursing home patients.
Bill
The Senate bill would also erase the
tax penalties Obamas 2010 law im-
poses on people who dont purchase
insurance. It would allow insurers to
cover fewer benets and repeal tax
boosts on wealthier people that help -
nance the statutes expanded coverage.
The Senate legislation would phase
out extra federal money Nevada and
30 other states receive for expanding
Medicaid to additional low earners.
It would also slap annual spending
caps on the overall Medicaid program,
which since its inception in 1965 has
provided states with unlimited money
to cover eligible costs.
I cannot support a piece of legislation
that takes insurance away from tens of
millions of Americans and tens of thou-
sands of Nevadans, Heller said.
Trump has spoken favorably about
both the House-passed bill and the Sen-
ate version unveiled this week, though
he declared several times as he ramped
up his campaign for the presidency that
he would not cut Medicaid. Heller said
that to win his vote, GOP leaders would
have to protect Medicaid expansion
baseball team that keeps losing year after
year. At some point, the coach has got to
go, right? said Rep Kathleen Rice, D-New
York, on Friday.
The frustrated Democrats met in Rices
ofce a day earlier to discuss their options
as they face long odds of knocking out
the woman who has led the Democratic
caucus for nearly 15 years from minority to
majority and back, raised tens of millions
of dollars and has had multiple legislative
successes. Their action plan: Keep talking.
Consumer issues stemming from
Republicans healthcare initiative
WASHINGTON, June 24, (AP):
Republicans in full control of gov-
ernment are on the brink of histo-
ry-making changes to the nations
healthcare system. The impact for
consumers would go well beyond
Obamacare.
Former President Barack
Obamas signature law is usually
associated with subsidized insur-
ance markets like HealthCare.gov.
But the Affordable Care Act also
expanded Medicaid.
Not only would the GOP legisla-
tion scale back coverage through
the insurance markets and phase
out the Medicaid expansion, it
would also make fundamental
changes to the broader Medicaid
program. The federal-state program
covers low-income people, from
newborns to elderly nursing home
residents, from special-needs kids
to young adults caught in the opioid
epidemic.
House Republicans have passed
their healthcare bill, and Senate
GOP leaders are driving toward a
vote next week. President Donald
Trump is waiting, eager to deliver
on a campaign promise to repeal
the law.
Against fast-moving develop-
ments, a look at some major issues
for consumers.
As healthcare costs have kept
climbing, employers cut back on
coverage, and Medicaid passed
Medicare as the nations largest
public insurance program. It now
covers about 70 million people, in-
cluding children and able-bodied
adults mostly served by private
managed care plans.
The GOPs biggest Medicaid
change involves limiting future
states from the bills current cuts.
Its going to be very difcult to get
me to a yes, he said, noting that con-
servative Republican senators would
likely be reluctant to add spending
back to the measure.
Heller spoke at a news conference
in Las Vegas with Nevada Gov. Brian
Sandoval, a Republican who has also
assailed the House and Senate health-
carebills for cutting Medicaid. The
state has added 200,000 more people to
its program under the Obama overhaul.
Sandoval said the Senate bill is
something that needs to change. It
would be politically difcult for Heller
to take a different stance on the meas-
ure from the popular Sandoval.
Heller got an opponent for next year
when rst-year Democratic Rep. Jacky
Rosen announced this week she would
seek his Senate seat.
Just hours after McConnell re-
Pelosi Mueller
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
11
federal nancing. Since its incep-
tion, Medicaid has been an open-
ended entitlement, with Washing-
ton matching a share of what each
state spends. Instead, Republicans
propose a per-beneciary cap.
In addition, the GOP would phase
out added nancing that Obamas
law provided as an incentive for
states to expand the program and
cover more low-income adults.
About 11 million are covered by the
expansion.
The Congressional Budget Of-
ce estimated the House bill would
reduce federal Medicaid spending
by $834 billion over 10 years, and
the program would cover about 14
million fewer people by 2026, a 17
percent reduction.
Governors of both parties have
warned Congress that would mean
a cost shift to states that under-
mines coverage for the vulnerable.
Medicaid limits got very little at-
tention in the 2016 presidential cam-
paign. The idea was a relatively late
addition to Trumps talking points.
Indeed, candidate Trump had started
out promising no cuts to Social Secu-
rity, Medicare or Medicaid.
Economist Douglas Holtz-Eakin,
a longtime GOP adviser, says the
Republican approach is 180 de-
grees different in its economic and
budgetary philosophy, from the
course steered by Obama. The
Medicaid limit would move the na-
tion closer to putting public health-
care programs on a budget, scal
discipline that conservatives say is
long overdue.
But the human consequences
could be politically volatile. No
one wins on healthcare policy, ob-
served Holtz-Eakin.
leased the 142-page legislation on
Thursday, four conservatives said
they opposed it. They were Sens.
Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Mike Lee
of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky and
Ted Cruz of Texas.
Meanwhile, Trump made calls to
fellow Republicans in the US Sen-
ate on Friday to mobilize support for
their partys healthcare overhaul while
acknowledging the legislation is on a
very, very narrow path to passage.
White House ofcials said on Friday
that Trump has been in touch with Sen-
ate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
and made calls on Thursday and Friday
to other lawmakers.
Trumps role is expected to become
more pronounced in coming days as
the vote nears. Senate Republican lead-
ers may rely on the deal-making former
businessman to lean on conservative
senators who are balking at the bill.
Keep raising the concern that something
needs to change within the ranks of the
partys leadership.
Its about all they can do.
Right now, what Im pushing for is a
conversation within the caucus, Rice said.
A deant Pelosi told reporters Thursday
that she was very condent about the
support that she had from fellow Democrats
who now number 193. When it comes to her
detractors, Pelosi said my decision about
how long I stay is not up to them. (AP)

INTERNATIONAL
World News Roundup
People gather in a leisure centre in Swiss Cottage, north London on June 24 after the local council evacuated some 650 homes overnight. Camden Borough Council said in a statement that it housed many of the residents at
two temporary shelters while many others were provided hotel rooms, after inspectors found re safety issues in housing towers, following the inferno in a west London apartment block that killed 79. (Inset): Residents leave
the Taplow Tower residential block on the Chalcots Estate in north London on June 23 as it is evacuated because of re safety concerns. (AP/AFP)
Politics
Corbyn seek early poll
British PM defends
Brexit rights offer
BRUSSELS, June 24, (Agencies): British Prime Min-
ister Theresa May defended her offer to let millions
of EU citizens stay in Britain after Brexit as fellow
EU leaders responded coolly on Friday to her opening
move in negotiations on Britains withdrawal.
A year to the day after Britons voted narrowly for
Brexit, May admitted differences at the Brussels sum-
mit over guarantees to the 3 million EU expatriates in
Britain, but said they would be addressed in negotia-
tions begun this week.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was a
good start but not a breakthrough, to say the least. on the third day of the Royal Ascot
Summit chair Donald Tusk, a former Polish premier,
found it below expectations
and said it could leave people,
including 800,000 Poles, worse
off.
Its obvious that this is
about reducing the citizens
rights, Tusk told reporters of
his rst impression of Mays
offer. Our role in negotiations
is to reduce this risk.
May, facing the rst Euro-
pean test of her authority after
an election backre cost her a
May parliamentary majority, pushed
back, calling her proposal a fair and serious offer.
Those citizens from EU countries that have come
to the United Kingdom and whove made their lives
and homes in the United Kingdom will be able to stay,
and we will guarantee their rights in the United King-
dom, she said.
There are some differences between that and the
proposals of the European Commission, but the matter
will now go into the negotiations.
Sitting alongside new French President Emmanuel
Macron at joint news conference, Merkel said: It
became clear during the discussion last night that we
have a long path ahead of us.
And the 27, especially Germany and France, will
be well prepared, we will not allow ourselves to be
divided.
Many leaders want to see details that May prom-
ised for Monday, including the nitty-gritty of how
complex, multinational families would fare and what
judicial oversight there would be.
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel was among
the most sceptical, wary of getting a nasty cat-in-the-
bag surprise. For Poland, Deputy Foreign Minister
Konrad Szymanski said: We appreciate the effort but
the offer does not meet all the criteria the EU agreed
on as red lines.
In particular, the EU 27 want their citizens to be
able to enforce their rights in Britain through the Eu-
ropean Court of Justice, something May has ruled out.
They also dispute her attempt to potentially limit those
rights to people already living in Britain before she
triggered Brexit three months ago.
Also:
LONDON: British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn
has vowed to try to force an early general election
after Prime Minster Theresa May lost her parliamen-
tary majority, in an interview published Saturday.
Corbyns Labour Party outperformed expectations
in this months election, turning what was predicted
to be a procession for May into a disaster, severely
weakening her authority as Britain kicks off crucial
Brexit talks.
Corbyn told the left-wing newspaper the Daily Mir-
ror that it was ludicrous to believe the Conserva-
tives minority government could survive, and that his
party will challenge this government at every step
and try to force an early general election.
Diana Horn of Austin Tx, looks at her
smart phone as she wears ornate hat
horse race meeting, which is tradition-
ally known as Ladies Day, in Ascot,
England on June 22. (AP)
Obama Mawson
Britain
Police turn down offer: Police in
Scotland have turned down an offer to be
reimbursed for the policing costs for former
president Barack Obamas recent visit to
Edinburgh and St Andrews.
The authorities said in a statement
Friday that the Hunter Foundation, which
invited Obama to a charity fundraiser, of-
fered to pay the costs of the former leaders
May 26 visit his rst trip to the UK
since leaving ofce.
But the Scottish police said no. The
police noted that the charitable event raised
670,000 pounds ($852,000) for childrens
charities, money that the force says will
benet children in need across Scotland.
Assistant Chief Constable Wayne
Mawson says security arrangements for
individuals with the status of President
Obama are business as usual for Police
Scotland. (AP)
Haggarty admits 200 offenses: A for-
mer paramilitary commander turned police
informer in Northern Ireland has pleaded
guilty to 200 terrorist offenses.
In court Friday, 45-year-old Gary Hag-
garty pleaded guilty to ve murders; ve
attempted murders; 23 counts of con-
spiracy to murder; directing terrorism; and
membership of a banned organization in
incidents stretching from 1991 to 2007.
Besides the 200 pleas entered in Belfast
Crown Court, the 45-year-old admitted
responsibility for 304 minor offenses.
Authorities say Haggarty has provided
evidence against 14 former colleagues
in the Protestant-based Ulster Volunteer
Force, and also against two of his former
police handlers. (AP)
resa May (fourth left), and spectators watch a ypast by the Red Arrows to mark
UK charges man with murder: British
Britain
Fire fallout widen as residents angry, confused
Hundreds evacuated from towers
LONDON, June 24, (Agencies): The
scope of Britains re-safety crisis
broadened Saturday as London of-
cials scrambled to evacuate four public
housing towers due to concerns about
external cladding, re doors and insu-
lation around gas pipes.
Hundreds of residents hastily
packed their bags and sought emer-
gency shelter, with many angry and
confused about the chaotic situation.
Some refused to leave.
Camden Council said it decided to
evacuate the buildings on the Chalcots
Estate late Friday after re inspectors
reported that the blocks were not safe
for people to sleep in overnight. In-
spectors uncovered problems with
gas insulation and door stops, which
combined with the presence of am-
mable cladding meant residents had
to leave immediately, council leader
Georgia Gould said in a tweet.
The evacuation comes amid widen-
ing worries about the safety of high-
rise apartment blocks across Britain
following the inferno that engulfed
Grenfell Tower in west London on
June 14, killing at least 79 people.
Public attention has focused on the ex-
ternal cladding material blamed for the
rapid spread of that blaze but now it
appeared that multiple other re risks
have been identied in some blocks.
Britains government said Saturday
that cladding samples from 27 high-
rise apartment blocks in cities includ-
ing London, Manchester, Plymouth and
Portsmouth have failed re safety tests.
So far, Camden Council has been
the only local authority known to have
asked residents to leave as a precau-
tion. It said about 650 apartments were
evacuated, though initial reports had
authorities charged an unemployed man
from Wales with murder and attempted
murder Friday in connection with the van
attack on a crowd of Muslim worshippers
Britains Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (left), and Britains Prime Minister The-
Armed Forces Day in Liverpool, northern England on June 24. (AFP)
said that as many as 800 were affected.
I know some residents are angry
and upset, but I want to be very clear
that Camden Council acted to pro-
tect them, Gould said in a statement.
Grenfell changed everything, and
when told our blocks were unsafe to
remain in, we acted.
Residents including families with
babies and elderly relatives trooped
out of the buildings Friday night with
suitcases and plastic bags stuffed with
clothes as council workers guided
them to a local leisure center, where
some spent the night on inatable mat-
tresses packed into a gym. Others were
being put up in hotels and other hous-
ing projects.
Council
The council said residents would
be out of their homes for three to four
weeks while it completes re-safety from a number of organizations.
upgrades.
Many residents complained of a lack
of information and confusion. Ofcials
rst announced the evacuation of one
building, then expanded it to ve and
later reduced it to four. Some said they
learned about the evacuation on televi-
sion news before ofcials came knock-
ing on doors.
Renee Williams, 90, who has lived
in Taplow tower since 1968, told Brit-
ains Press Association: No ofcial asked Melanie Tham as she evacu-
came and told us whats going on, I
saw it on the TV so I packed an over-
night bag. Its unbelievable. I under-
stand that its for our safety but they
cant just ask us to evacuate with such
short notice. Theres no organization
and its chaos, she added.
Dozens refused to leave their homes.
Carl McDowell, 31, said he took one
near two north London mosques.
Darren Osborne spoke only to conrm
his name and will appear at the Central
Criminal Court next week. Prosecutors
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
12
look at the inatable beds offered on
the oor of the leisure center and went
back to his own apartment.
Flammable external cladding that
is widely used to provide insulation
and enhance the appearance of build-
ings has been identied as the culprit
in the Grenfell disaster. But re-safety
experts have said the blaze was prob-
ably due to a string of failures, not just
the cladding.
Police said Friday that they were
considering ling manslaughter charg-
es in the Grenfell disaster and they
were conducting a wide-ranging in-
vestigation that will look at everything
that contributed to it.
The Metropolitan Police said cladding
attached to the 24-story public housing
project during a recent renovation failed
safety tests conducted by investigators,
and that they have seized documents
We are looking at every criminal
offense from manslaughter onwards,
Detective Superintendent Fiona Mc-
Cormack told reporters. We are look-
ing at all health and safety and re
safety offenses, and we are reviewing
every company at the moment in-
volved in the building and refurbish-
ment of Grenfell Tower.
Its totally crazy. What difference
would another night have made?
ated her home on the Chalcots Estate
in north London following a snap de-
cision by the Camden Council local
authority, a few hours before midnight
Friday.
I was at my boyfriends, I received
a text message, and I had to rush back
home. They told us we had to evacuate
before midnight, Tham told AFP.
allege he carried out a premeditated attack
motivated by a hatred of Muslims and
extreme political views and that he acted
deliberately to maim, injure and terrify.
Makram Ali, a 51-year-old Bangladeshi
immigrant, died in the attack. The father of
six appeared to suffer a medical problem
moments before the collision, but an initial
post-mortem examination found he died
from multiple injuries. (AP)
FB bids to fight extremism: US social
media giant Facebook launched a campaign
in Britain on Friday to counter the spread
of online extremism following warnings
from Prime Minister Theresa May after
four terror attacks in three months.
Facebook said it would seek to educate
charities and other organisations on how to
ght hate speech, in the wake of recent ter-
ror attacks in Belgium, Britain and France.
The Online Civil Courage Initiative
(OCCI) will act as a forum for charities
and other nonprot organisations to share
their experiences of extremism and develop
best practices to tackle the issue, both on
and ofine.
There are already OCCI schemes in
France and Germany.
Earlier this year, Group of Seven
(G7) leaders had urged online giants like
Facebook and Google to do more to curb
extremist content online. (AFP)

INTERNATIONAL
Migrants
EU leaders back Libya
States refusing returns
face visa restrictions
BRUSSELS, June 24, (Agencies): The European
Union (EU) states decided on Friday to restrict visas
for foreign countries that refuse to take back their na-
tionals who have no right of asylum in Europe.
The EU is cracking down on immigration follow-
ing a spike in arrivals across the Mediterranean since
2014.
Italy is now the main gateway to the bloc and most
of those reaching European shores after boarding
smugglers boats in Africa are considered illegal la-
bour migrants.
Some countries, including Bangladesh and Nigeria,
are often reluctant to readmit their citizens and the EU
has recently doubled down on efforts to expedite such
returns.
During a two-day meeting in Brussels, the blocs
28 leaders agreed to use all
possible levers, including ...
reassessing visa policy towards
third countries.
We can use visas to con-
vince them to take returns,
said a senior EU diplomat, add-
ing the move would, among
other things, target the ruling
elites of these countries as they
can afford trips to Europe.
German Chancellor Angela
Merkel said the EUs trade
Merkel agreements with African coun-
tries should also be part of the effort.
EU states remain at loggerheads over how to handle
refugees who make it into the bloc, yet they have de-
cided to gloss over the issue after two years of divisive
feuds.
Meanwhile, EU countries have fallen far short of
their duty to an African economic development fund
designed to help discourage mass migration to Eu-
rope, Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker charged
Friday.
Juncker reprimanded EU member states at a sum-
mit in Brussels for having pledged only 200 million
euros of the 1.8 billion euros ($2 billion) they are ex-
pected to contribute to the trust fund launched in 2015.
Member states are not delivering at a sufcient de-
gree when it comes to pledges and commitments to the
African Trust Fund, Juncker told a press conference
ending the summit of 28 leaders.
This is not acceptable and I urge colleagues to do
more, Juncker said.
During a summit with their African counterparts in
Malta in November 2015, EU leaders agreed to set up
a trust fund underpinned by 1.8 billion euros from the
common EU budget.
Member states are supposed to match that amount,
but since then they have only pledged 200 million eu-
ros and disbursed just 89 million euros, according to
commission gures.
Increased
The Commission increased its share to 2.6 billion
euros in the interim to make up part of the shortfall.
The fund is meant to help nance development
projects and so ease the poverty driving migrants to
Europe, which faces the biggest migration crisis since
World War II.
Juncker has also lashed member states for failing
to live up to their obligation to admit their share of
asylum seekers, who have overwhelmed Greece and
Italy since 2015.
The two-year plan is to relocate 160,000 Syrians
and others eeing war and persecution by September.
Until now, only around 20,000 have been relocated to
other member states.
The European Commission, executive of the 28-na-
tion EU, earlier this month launched legal action
against Hungary and Poland for refusing to take any
asylum seekers and against the Czech Republic for ef-
fectively dropping out of the plan.
The move starts a long process that could result in
nes.
In related news, EU leaders pledged Friday to boost
their support for conict-ravaged Libya as the number
of people eeing Africa on crowded, unsafe boats for
better lives in Europe continues to rise.
European Council President Donald Tusk said the
central Mediterranean Sea route to Italy for unauthorized
migrants remains critical in terms of irregular arrivals.
While it is true that we are taking many of the right
steps, the only result that really matters to us is to put
a denitive end to this tragic situation, Tusk said on
the second day of two-day EU summit in Brussels,.
To help prevent people from setting out for Europe
in unseaworthy boats, the leaders committed to step
up their backing of the Libyan coast guard by provid-
ing more training and equipment.
The United Nations migration agency estimates that
around 70,000 people have arrived in Italy from Libya
so far this year, compared with around 56,000 during the
same period last year. Almost 1,900 have died trying to
make the perilous Mediterranean crossing in 2017.
Challenge
Loss of life and continuing migratory ows of
primarily economic migrants on the Central Mediter-
ranean route is a structural challenge and remains an
issue of urgent and serious concern, the leaders said
in their nal summit statement.
The EU and its member states will have to restore
control to avoid a worsening humanitarian crisis.
But human rights group Amnesty International says
Libyas coast guard is returning the people it plucks
from the sea to a country where they face detention
and possibly torture or rape.
EU leaders are increasing the capacity of the
Libyan coast guard while turning a blind eye to the
inherent, grave, risks of such cooperation, Iverna
McGowan, head of Amnestys European ofce, said.
Libya is also appealing for help to secure its porous
southern border, which is some 4,000 kms (2,500)
miles long.
The leader of Libyas unity government, Fayez Sar-
raj, has been in Brussels lobbying the Europeans and
the NATO military alliance for help and money.
As the number of migrants rises, the economic and
social fabric of southern Libya is placed under very
signicant strain, he told reporters on Wednesday.
EU leaders, meanwhile, want to replicate with
Libya a migration-deterrence deal it has with Turkey.
Despite legal and human rights concerns about the
EU-Turkey agreement, it has reduced drastically the
number of people crossing the Aegean Sea to Greece.
Meanwhile, sFrances interior minister said ruled out
creating a help center for migrants in the increasingly
tense port city of Calais, and said that the death of a truck
driver blamed on migrants is also a humanitarian issue.
Rejecting demands from some humanitarian
groups, Gerard Collomb said he feared that a help
center would lure migrants back to the port city. Thou-
sands of migrants were forced out of a makeshift camp
in Calais in October.
An aerial view of light show and rework with a brig with scarlet sails, right, oating on the Neva River during the Scarlet Sails festivities marking school graduation in
St Petersburg, Russia on early June 24. The city landmark, weathercock in the form of a ship xed atop a spire of the Admiralty building is in the foreground. This week
graduation ceremonies and celebrations are held all over Russia as students of elementary and high schools and military academies nished their education. (AP)
A horse rears in the crowd during the
traditional San Juan (Saint John) fes-
tival in the town of Ciutadella, on the
Balearic Island of Menorca, on the
eve of Saint Johns day on June 23.
During the islands San Juan festival,
held each year on June 23 and 24, Mi-
norcan race horses gallop and prance
on their hind legs through the streets
of Ciutadella to honor the towns pa-
tron saint. As the caixers (horse rid-
ers) ride together in a parade, specta-
tors attempt to pat the horses chests
to get good luck. (AFP)
Ferrand Macron
Europe
Ferrand elected: Former French
minister Richard Ferrand, who has been
ghting accusations of improper nancial
dealings during most of his few weeks in
ofce, was elected on Saturday to lead
President Emmanuel Macrons lawmak-
ers in parliament
I thank the deputies for their condence
... We have a strong obligation to succeed.
The French people no longer want inten-
tions, they want results, Ferrand said in a
statement.
Some 306 deputies voted for Ferrand
and two abstained.
Macrons year-old Republic on the
Move party (LREM) won a huge parlia-
mentary majority on June 18 that boasts
scores of lawmakers never before elected
unprecedented in France and central
to his promise to clean up the countrys
politics.
Ferrand, 54, a former Socialist who
became one of Macrons key early backers,
will bring his experience and authority to
the newcomers who were gathering for a
two-day training seminar at the National
Assembly.
Richard Ferrand is the only one who
can do the job, a LREM deputy told
Reuters. (RTRS)
companies that evaded more than 8 million
Belgium convicts princesses: A Bel-
gian court convicted eight Emirati royals
on Friday of human trafcking and degrad-
ing treatment of their servants at a Brussels
hotel, reports said.
The court handed Sheikha Hamda
Al-Nahyan and seven of her daughters
each a suspended 15-month jail term and a
165,000-euro ($185,000) ne, Belga news
agency said.
The princesses were prosecuted over
the treatment of 23 women, many of them
African, who worked for the family from
2007-2008 at what was then the prestigious
Conrad hotel in Brussels.
The family rented out an entire oor of
the hotel and allegedly paid sub-standard
wages to the women, who were without
working or residency documents.
The women worked long hours, with
some sleeping on mattresses laid outside
the room of the princess they served. They
were not allowed to leave the royals oor
of the hotel, Belga said, citing the investi-
gation. (AFP)
Man tied to group financing IS: Spains
Interior Ministry says police have arrested
a man allegedly involved in a network of
Danish companies that nanced and recruited
militants for the Islamic State group.
A ministry statement Friday said the
suspect, a Danish national of Moroccan
Diplomacy
Macron, eastern Europeans try to mend fences
Emmangela show reasserts alliance
BRUSSELS, June 24, (Agencies): Em-
manuel Macron and Angela Merkel
used the French presidents rst Brus-
sels summit Friday to deliver an un-
mistakeable message: their countries
intend to lead the EUs post-Brexit
revival.
The Franco-German power couple
held an unusual joint press conference
after meeting their 26 European Union
counterparts, against a backdrop of
their respective ags and the blocs
blue banner with yellow stars.
When France and Germany speak
with one voice, Europe can move for-
ward, newcomer Macron told a room
almost lled to bursting point with re-
porters as he stood alongside the Ger-
man chancellor.
There can be no pertinent solu-
tion if it is not a pertinent solution for
France and Germany, the 39-year-old
centre-right leader.
Despite her more pragmatic tone,
the message from 62-year-old Merkel
was the same.
This press conference shows that
we are resolved to jointly nd solu-
tions to problems, she said.
The joint press conference came
exactly a year after Britains shock
referendum vote to become the rst
country to leave the European Union,
which prompted dire predictions of the
break-up of the bloc.
But Europe has jumped on the band-
wagon of Macrons stunning election
victory over French far-right leader
Marine Le Pen to trumpet a newfound
optimism after years of austerity and
crisis despite Brexit.
At the heart of that is the idea that
Macron may be able to repair the tradi-
tional engine behind European inte-
gration -- the post-war alliance of Paris
and Berlin after centuries of conict.
The French and German leaders --
variously dubbed Merkron, Mackerel
and Emmangela in the style of celebrity
couple nicknames -- said they intended to
use that engine to get moving.
Macron insisted that the decision
of the two leaders to appear together
was more than just a piece of political
posturing.
It is more than a symbol, it is a true
work ethic, he said.
Merkel and Macron insisted on
their unity on a host of issues includ-
ing plans to boost Europes defence
capabilities, with the continent unable
to rely on Britain or the United States
under Donald Trump.
They also proclaimed their togeth-
erness on climate change-- especially
origin, worked with a network of least 24
IS combatants from Denmark, Germany
euros in taxes to nance the IS. It gave no
details on which companies were involved.
A would-be immigrant is helped by Spanish Red Cross members in the port of
Tarifa following their rescue by salvage vessels off the Strait of Gibraltar coast
on June 23. Eighty-eight Moroccans have been rescued in the waters off the
Strait of Gibraltar, 16 by the Salvamar Arcturus (based in Tarifa) and 72 by the
Salvamar Guardamar C. Arenal (based in Tenerife). Twenty were minors. (AFP)
after Trump pulled out of the Paris
climate deal -- counter-terrorism and
trade issues.
However they were careful to avoid
going into the details of delicate sub-
jects like the reform of the eurozone,
a pet project of Macron who wants it
to have its own parliament and nance
minister.
We dont announce in advance
things that we cant hold to, said the
ever-sensible chancellor, when asked
if they would nally commit to con-
crete proposals after German elections
in September.
The pair also both took a cautious
stance on British Prime Minister The-
resa Mays offer on the rights of EU
citizens living in Britain after Brexit.
But in one area, Macron may have
found that his summit honeymoon was
over almost before it started.
His EU colleagues poured cold water
on his proposal to hand Brussels more
powers to control Chinese investments in
strategic European industries.
Fairer trade is preferable than the
law of the jungle, Macron told the
press conference as he defended his
plans.
Meanwhile, Macron and four east-
ern European Union leaders sought to
smooth relations on Friday after pub-
licly trading barbs over jobs and demo-
cratic values.
Power
Macron, in power for little more
than a month, has vowed to protect
French workers from what he sees as
social dumping, in which compa-
nies employ cheaper labour, and unfair
competition from the poorer eastern
European states.
Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the
Czech Republic say they should be
allowed to compete on lower prices
just as more developed western EU na-
tions compete on quality products and
know-how to catch up after decades
of communist stagnation.
Along with looming negotiations on
the EUs next multi-year joint budget
that runs from 2021, this dispute is
shaping up as one of the most conten-
tious issues facing the bloc, exacerbat-
ing an east-west rift as it seeks unity to
tackle Brexit.
But meeting on the sidelines of an
EU summit, Macron and the leaders of
the east European states known to-
gether as the Visegrad four agreed to
set up an expert-level group to try to
narrow differences over rules for so-
called posted workers.
Police say the group recruited at least 10
and Spain.
The man was arrested in Spains north
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
13
At the Visegrad meeting this morning
we established which issues we disagree
on and where we will continue to talk
to better understand each others con-
straints, Macron told a joint news con-
ference with Merkel on Friday.
There are issues where Id like to
advance together, the posted workers
directive being one... I believe we need
a profound reform of the balance. I will
do it with respect for our partners.
EU states are divided on rules under
which, say, a Bulgarian truck driver
or a Lithuanian bricklayer can work
in France for a limited time for the
eastern European wage, usually below
the minimum level guaranteed in the
West.
I pointed out to Emmanuel Macron
today how low wages are in the Czech
Republic compared to France, and that
French rms can also do more to raise
(their) wages, Czech Prime Minister
Bohuslav Sobotka said.
We will start with the directive on
posted workers.
A diplomatic source said the ve
leaders had agreed to meet again in
September.
The Visegrad four have also clashed
with France on the treatment of refu-
gees and migrants from outside the
EU, and were infuriated by Macrons
open criticism of the track record of
Warsaw and Budapest on democracy
and rule of law.
But Macron received strong support
from Merkel, Europes most power-
ful leader, who said on Friday she be-
lieved they were obliged to speak out
when common EU values were being
damaged.
Macron has previously said he
would seek sanctions on Poland,
whose nationalist-minded government
has angered the EU with moves to im-
pose stricter state control over judges
and public media and with its refusal
to take in any refugees.
Earlier this week Macron told the
Visegrad four not to treat the EU as
a supermarket and said they would
face consequences if they failed to re-
spect EU rules and values.
He drew scorn from Hungarys
Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who put
Macrons comments down to his rela-
tive youth. The French leader is 39.
On Friday Orban struck a more con-
ciliatory note.
As far as I can see, we identied
the issues where pragmatic coopera-
tion and agreement can be achieved
on the basis of mutual respect, he told
reporters.
African enclave of Melilla in an operation
coordinated with Danish police. (AP)
Russia threatens Telegram app:
Russias state communications watchdog
threatened Friday to ban the Telegram
messaging app, saying the company behind
the service had failed to submit company
details for registration.
In a message on its website, the Roskom-
nadzor agency warned that time is running
out for Telegram to comply with the law.
Otherwise Telegram must be blocked in
Russia, it said.
The free instant messaging app lets
people exchange messages, photos and
videos in groups of up to 5,000 people. It
has attracted about 100 million users since
its launch in 2013.
In an unusual move, the agencys chief,
Alexander Zharov, addressed Telegrams se-
cretive Russian chief executive, Pavel Durov.
I publicly call on the Telegram team
and personally Pavel Durov: carry out the
Russian law! Zharov wrote, adding: The
choice is yours.
The watchdog said it had been sending
messages to the company practically every
day asking it to send company information
for Roskomnadzors register.
Durov, who has previously refused to
bow to government regulation that would
compromise the privacy of users, called the
threat paradoxical on one of his social
media accounts. (AFP)

INTERNATIONAL
World News Roundup
Mideast
Key step toward reform
Jordan to cut marry
the victim clause
AMMAN, Jordan, June 24, (AP): A pregnant
15-year-old who had been raped by a brother-in-law
decided to marry her attacker, hoping this would
shield her from other male relatives who might kill
her in the name of family honor.
A young woman was taken into protective cus-
tody after being stabbed 17 times by a brother who
accused her of bringing shame to the family for
running away from an abusive husband.
Jail, forced marriage or the risk of getting killed
by family members these are some of the harsh
choices still faced by victims of abuse or sexual vio-
lence in Jordan.
In a key step toward reform, the kingdom is now
poised to abolish a provision
that exempts a rapist from
punishment if he marries his
victim. Jordans parliament is
expected to do so in a special
session sometime after the end
of the Muslim fasting month
of Ramadan next week.
Womens rights advocates
say repealing Article 308
would be a victory, but that
more work lies ahead in a so-
Al-Duradi ciety with deeply rooted cus-
toms of patriarchy and a legal
system that often goes easy on the male perpetrators.
Its about the patriarchal mentality in a society
that never punishes the man or shames him for any-
thing, said Asma Khader, a lawyer and activist.
The marry the rapist provision has been re-
pealed in Egypt and Morocco, but remains on the
books in Tunisia, Lebanon, Syria, Libya, Kuwait,
Iraq, Bahrain, Algeria and the Palestinian territories,
according to the international group Human Rights
Watch.
Judge Jehad al-Duradi, who handles sexual vi-
olence cases at Jordans main criminal court, said
women who agree to marry their attackers often act
out of desperation.
The judge cited the case of the 15-year-old who
was raped by her sisters husband. At the pregnant
teens request, the judge approved a marriage be-
tween the rapist and his victim.
Expelled
The rapist escaped punishment and expelled his
new wife from his home on the day of the wedding,
leaving her to fend for herself and her child, the
judge said.
Several other Jordanian laws allow lenient treat-
ment of those who kill or assault women.
One provision lightens punishment if a man kills
his wife or another female relative for allegedly hav-
ing sex outside marriage. Another article says a con-
victed killer could receive as little as a year in prison
if he acts in a state of great fury resulting from an
unlawful and dangerous act by the victim.
If the victims family drops a complaint, even that
one-year minimum can be cut in half. Some perpe-
trators in Jordan have been jailed for as little as six
months for killing a daughter or sister.
Al-Duradi said Jordanian courts have imposed
harsher punishment for such crimes in recent years;
no convicted killer has received a sentence of less
than 10 years in prison since 2010.
The text of the law hasnt changed, but the inter-
pretation has, the judge said.
Jordans main criminal court heard 182 rape cases
in 2015 and 168 in 2016. It also dealt with 39 slay-
ings of women in 2015, including nine labeled hon-
or crimes. In 2016, there were 36 killings, including
eight honor cases.
The actual numbers are believed to be higher,
with many assaults going unreported, said Samar
Muhareb, director of a legal aid group. Communi-
ties prefer to handle such crimes in tribal arbitration
to avoid public shame. Whenever we see informal
justice, its at the expense of women, Muhareb said.
Meanwhile, Jordanian authorities often detain at-
risk women.
A decision on protective custody can be made by
a provincial governor, without court approval. De-
tention typically continues until the womans family
promises not to harm her, or until she nds a man to
marry her.
Fidaa, 25, has repeatedly ended up in prison, fol-
lowing a chain of events that began with her divorc-
ing an abusive husband when she was just 15 years
old.
Divorce
Angered by the divorce, one of her brothers
stabbed and seriously wounded her.
The brother was sentenced to ve years in prison,
but the then-teen also ended up behind bars. Desper-
ate to get out of protective custody, she married a
27-year-old man, only to be forced into prostitution.
Her new husband threatened to alert her brother to
her whereabouts if she refused to work as a prosti-
tute, Fidaa said in an interview at the Juweida wom-
ens prison on the outskirts of the Jordanian capital,
Amman.
Fidaa, a petite woman with dark hair and a quiet
demeanor, complied for three years. She eventually
managed to leave her husband with help from the
polices family protection unit. Ten years after her
rst detention, Fidaa is back in prison.
She was arrested in January, during a police raid
of a brothel where she said she had found refuge af-
ter befriending some of the women there. Fidaa has
been cleared of prostitution charges, but is again un-
able to leave detention without a sponsor.
If my brothers know about what happened, they
will slaughter me, said Fidaa, who only gave her
rst name for fear of repercussions. Sadeq al-Omari,
a senior ofcial in the prison system, said protec-
tive custody is often the only solution, adding that
the right to life is more important than the right to
freedom.
Plans to set up shelters with police protection have
not materialized so far, he said.
In the meantime, authorities imprison the female
victim rather than potential perpetrators because
there are too many male relatives who might hurt
her, he said. Should I put 20 people in prison for
one persons protection? al-Omari said.
Legislator Wafa Bani Mustafa said change begins
with legal reform. If we can change the law so that
its no longer a solution to get rid of the girl this way,
we can encourage families to treat their daughters as
victims, not as a source of shame, he said. If we
cancel the legal umbrella, society will follow.
Iranian Protesters unveil a digital countdown showing 8411 days until Israel is destroyed at the Palestine Sq during an annual pro-Palestinian rally marking Al-
Quds (Jerusalem) Day in Tehran, Iran, on June 23. Iran held rallies across the country, with protesters condemning Israels occupation of Palestinian territories and
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
(left), shakes hands with his Leba-
nese counterpart Gibran Bassil (right),
in Beirut, Lebanon, on June 23. Wang
is in Lebanon to meet with Lebanese
ofcials as part of regional tour. (AP)
Rouhani Akcan
Mideast
Syrian held for sex trafficking: A Syr-
ian national accused of operating one of the
largest sex trafcking rings in Lebanon has
been released on bail, a judicial source told
AFP on Friday.
The Mount Lebanon Criminal Court,
headed by Judge Faisal Haidar, decided to
release Imad Rihawi on bail for 20 million
Lebanese pounds, or just over $13,000, the
source said.
The source specied that Rihawi was
released on Thursday and that the charges
against him were still being upheld.
For years, Rihawi had managed Chez
Maurice and Silver, two of the most infamous
brothels in Maameltein, a coastal town
known as Lebanons red light district.
Prostitution is illegal in Lebanon, and po-
lice shuttered both locations in April 2016 in
one of the most high-prole busts the country
has seen. At least 75 women mostly Syr-
ian were freed.
People in Lebanon were shocked by the
horrifying ordeal, as well as by accusations
that police forces were complicit and that a
gynaecologist had carried out at least 200
abortions on the trapped women. (AFP)
Iran holds anti-Israel rallies: Iran
staged anti-Israel rallies across the country on
Friday, with protesters condemning Israels
occupation of Palestinian territories and
chanting Death to Israel as the powerful
Revolutionary Guard displayed its ballistic
missiles, including the type used this week
in Syria.
Marchers in Tehran headed from various
points of the city toward the Friday prayer
ceremony at Tehran University campus
grounds. Protesters burned the Israeli and the
American ag, as well as efgies of Israeli
leaders.
President Hassan Rouhani and other Ira-
nian ofcials, including Parliament Speaker
Ali Larijani, attended the demonstration.
State media reported that similar rallies were
underway in other cities and towns in Iran.
The anti-Israel rallies are an annual event
marking al-Quds Day, a historic Arabic name
for Jerusalem. Iran sees it as an occasion
to express support for the Palestinians and
emphasize the importance of Jerusalem for
Muslims.
Iran doesnt recognize Israel and staunchly
backs militant groups that are opposed to it,
including the Palestinian Hamas that runs the
Gaza Strip and the Lebanese Shiite militant
Hezbollah group.
Rouhani told reporters that the rally was
Irans response to the US violations of the
rights of people of Iran after the Senate last
week approved new sanctions on Tehran over
its missile program, something Congress is
expected to decide on soon.
chanting Death to Israel. (AP)
Turkey
Turkey bans gay, transgender march
ISTANBUL, June 24, (Agencies): Is-
tanbuls governor has banned a gay and
transgender pride march which was due
to take place in the city on Sunday, citing
security concerns after threats from an
ultra-nationalist group.
It will be the second year running that
Istanbuls LGBT march, described in the
past as the biggest in the Muslim world,
has been blocked by city authorities.
For several years, Pride Week in Is-
tanbul attracted tens of thousands of
participants, making it one of largest
gatherings celebrating gay, lesbian and
transgender rights and diversity in the
Muslim world.
That changed suddenly two years ago,
when authorities, citing security con-
cerns, banned gay and transgender pride
events and chased away shocked par-
ticipants assembling at central Taksim
Square with tear gas and water cannons.
The reversal, activists say, coincides
with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
shedding his reformist past, taking an in-
creasingly authoritarian line and raising
Islams prole in the ofcially-secular
country. In his early years in ofce, Er-
dogan then prime minister had
worked to advance minority rights as
part of efforts to join the European Un-
ion. Unlike other Muslim countries,
homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey.
However, lesbian, gay, transgender ac-
tivists say they lack legal protections
and face widespread social stigma in the
nation that is heavily inuenced by con-
servative and religious values.
The Pride Week events and parade,
held in Istanbul since 2003, allowed the
LGBTI community to try and break the
stigma and assert rights, including de-
mands for explicit bans on discrimina-
tion on the basis of sexual orientation
and gender identity.
The fact that the existing politi-
cal power is not making the necessary
changes in the constitution, and the fact
that they have discourse against us might
encourage people who are already (trans)
phobic, said Seyhan Arman, a 37-year-
Rohani, in remarks carried by the ofcial
IRNA news agency, said Israel supports ter-
rorists in the region. (AP)
Five electrocuted in Turkey: Five peo-
ple, including three children, died Friday after
Medics assist a person who was electrocuted at a water park in the town of Akyazi,
in Sakarya province, northwest Turkey, on June 23. Turkish media say ve people
have been electrocuted at a water park pool, including two teens and a 12-year-old.
The private Dogan news agency said Friday the three youngsters were caught up
in an electrical current in the pool at the park. The parks manager and his son were
killed when they dived into the pool to try and save the children. (AP)
Security concerns
old transgender woman and performer.
Deniz Sapka, a transgender woman
originally from the southeastern Turkish
province of Hakkari, is concerned about
the lack of legal protection for her com-
munity.
The State is not developing new poli-
tics on this and there is no legislation on
our fundamental rights and freedoms.
Generally the working life is problem-
atic, said the 27-year-old who works
in the non-prot sector. Sapka is not
her real surname but an alias she uses to
avoid recognition by family members.
Up to 100,000 people took part in a
march in 2014, making it one of the larg-
est LGBTI Pride events in a Muslim
nation. The following year, authorities
banned parades in a surprise move citing
public order and dispersed the crowds.
Converge
In 2016, the events were again banned
amid a spate of deadly attacks blamed on
the Islamic State group or Kurdish mili-
tants. Still, LGBTI activists tried to con-
verge on Taksim leading to skirmishes
with police.
Organizers believe that the celebra-
tions in 2015 and 2016 were banned be-
cause they coincided with Islams holy
month of Ramadan. Turkeys LGTBI
community is braced for another con-
frontation with police on Trans Parade
March scheduled for Sunday. The day
coincides with the Muslim Eid holiday
and also comes as Turkey is under a state
of emergency following last years failed
coup attempt, which allows authorities to
ban public gatherings.
(The bans are) a reection of the in-
creasingly conservative and majoritarian
policies of the government, said Murat
Koylu, of the Ankara-based Koas GL, a
group promoting LGTBI rights.
Last year an ultra-nationalist and con-
servative group, the Alperen Ocaklari,
threatened to attack the celebrations
if authorities did not ban them. The
group, which is linked to Turkeys ultra-
nationalist Great Unity Party repeated
being electrocuted at a water park in western
Turkey, reports said.
The manager of the park in the town of
Akyazi and his son jumped into the water
in an effort to save the children, who were
caught in an electrical current, the private
Dogan news agency reported.
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
14
the threat this week despite an on-going
court case against them brought by the
LGTBI community. Activists believe
authorities are using security as an ex-
cuse to ban the parades instead of taking
measures to deal with the threats instead.
The post-coup state of emergency has
aggravated conditions for LGBTI indi-
viduals. The emergency powers have
been used to sack more than 100,000
people from government jobs among
them thousands of academics including
a large number of whom were minority
rights defenders.
The academics are people who
worked on Kurdish (minority) rights, on
womens issues and the LGBTI rights,
Koylu said. This has had a devastating
effect. It has left the community without
a voice.
In its annual human rights report on
Turkey, the US State Department said
Turkeys government took insufcient
steps to protect minority groups, includ-
ing LGBTI individuals from threats, dis-
crimination and violence.
Police harassment of LGBTI per-
sons, particularly transgender sex work-
ers, remained common, the report said.
The Turkish government insists that
there is no discrimination against indi-
viduals based on their sexual orienta-
tion, and that existing laws barring dis-
crimination on the basis of gender, race,
ethnicity or religion protect all citizens.
It also insists that perpetrators of hate
crimes are prosecuted. The violence
against us has existed since the day we
were born. It starts in the family, it con-
tinues at the university, in the working
life, said Sapka, who describes life as a
LGBTI individual in Turkey as an uphill
battle. We are people who have always
experienced a state of emergency. We
experience it from our birth.
Meanwhile, the German government
on Friday strongly rejected criticism
from a religious authority overseen by
the Turkish government of a new liberal
mosque in Berlin where all Muslims can
pray together.
But the men also became trapped in the
current and were electrocuted.
It was not immediately clear what had
caused the tragedy but the state-run Anadolu
news agency reported a probe had been
launched.
Hasan Akcan, Akyazis mayor, said
the park had received a license in 2012 as
a swimming pool and amusement centre,
adding that what happened was saddening,
according to Anadolu. (AFP)
UN rejects Israeli accusations: The
United Nations on Friday rejected Israeli
claims that Lebanese Hezbollah militants
were establishing observation posts along the
border under the cover of an environmental
NGO.
The Israeli military on Thursday pub-
lished pictures of a building near the Israeli-
Lebanese border supposedly controlled
by an organisation called Green Without
Borders.
The UN peacekeeping mission UNIFIL re-
ported that Green Without Borders members
have planted trees in the area, but it has not
observed any unauthorized armed persons
at the locations or found any basis to report
a violation of resolution 1701, said UN
spokeswoman Eri Kaneko.
Israels ambassador to the UN, Danny
Danon, had sent a letter of protest to the
Security Council with images of the al-
leged observation posts and maps locating
them.
Dannon described the activities as a dan-
gerous provocation and said Hezbollah was
carrying out reconnaissance activities near the
Blue Line border demarcation while posing
as a civilian organisation. (AFP)

INTERNATIONAL
Koreas
S. Koreans rally against THAAD
China, US agree aim
of denuclearization
BEIJING, June 24, (Agencies): China and the United
States agreed that efforts to denuclearize the Korean
Peninsula should be complete, veriable and irre-
versible, Chinese state media said on Saturday, re-
porting the results of high level talks in Washington
this week.
Both sides reafrm that they will strive for the
complete, veriable and irreversible denuclearization
of the Korean Peninsula, a consensus document re-
leased by the ofcial Xinhua news agency said.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had said on
Thursday that the United States pressed China to ramp
up economic and political pressure on North Korea,
during his meeting with top
Chinese diplomats and defense
chiefs.
Chinas top diplomat Yang
Jiechi and General Fang Feng-
hui met Tillerson and Defense
Secretary Jim Mattis during the
talks. Yang later met with US
President Donald Trump in the
White House, where they also
discussed North Korea, Xinhua
reported.
The consensus document
Tillerson also highlighted the need to
fully and strictly hold to UN Security Council resolu-
tions and push for dialogue and negotiation, which has
long been Chinas position on the issue.
Military-to-military exchanges should also be up-
graded and mechanisms of notication established in
order to cut the risks of judgement errors between
the Chinese and US militaries, the statement also said.
Chinese state media described the talks, the rst of
their kind with the Trump administration, as an up-
grade in dialogue mechanisms between China and the
United States, following on from President Xi Jipings
meeting with Trump in Florida in April.
Xi and Trump are next expected to meet again in
Hamburg during the G20 Summit next month.
A day last weeks talks, President Donald Trump
said Chinas efforts to use its leverage with North
Korea had failed, raising fresh doubts about his ad-
ministrations strategy for countering the threat from
North Korea.
The death of American university student Otto
Warmbier earlier this week, after his release from 17
months of imprisonment in Pyongyang, further com-
plicated Trumps approach to North Korea.
China, North Koreas main trading partner, has
been accused of not fully enforcing existing UN sanc-
tions on its neighbour, and has resisted some tougher
measures.
Washington has considered further secondary
sanctions against Chinese banks and other rms do-
ing business with North Korea, which China opposes.
anniversary of Hong Kong handover
S. Koreans protest US THAAD: Thousands of pro-
testers marched near the US embassy in Seoul on Sat-
urday, accusing President Donald Trump of forcing
South Korea to deploy a controversial American mis-
sile defence system opposed by China.
The protest came as South Koreas new president
Moon Jae-In heads to Washington next week for his
rst summit with Trump amid soaring tensions over
Pyongyangs nuclear ambitions.
Around 4,000 people participated in the demon-
stration, the largest since South Korea and the United
States agreed to deploy the system, known as Termi-
nal High-Altitude Area Defence (THAAD).
Protesters carried placards that read: Trump stop
forcing (South Korea) to deploy THAAD and No
THAAD, No Trump.
The crowd included residents from the southeastern
county of Seongju where the system is being deployed
who say it poses health and environmental hazards
and argue that its presence could make them a priority
target for North Korea.
THAAD was approved by Moons ousted predeces-
sor, conservative president Park Geun-Hye, who then
steamrollered the project through a hasty environmen-
tal review during her last months in ofce as she be-
came ensnared in a massive corruption scandal.
Call for NKorean Oly participation: South Korea
President Moon Jae-in said Saturday he hopes to see
North Korean athletes at next years Winter Olympics
in South Korea to ease tensions over the Norths nu-
clear program.
Moon made the comments during the opening cer-
emony of the world taekwondo championships in the
South Korean town of Muju, where a North Korean
delegation led by International Olympic Committee
member Chang Ung was also present.
The championships, which will feature a perfor-
mance by the North Korean taekwondo demonstration
team, mark the rst sports exchange between the Ko-
reas since the liberal Moon took ofce in May.
Moon has expressed a desire to use the Feb 9-25
Pyeongchang Olympics to reach out to North Korea,
with relations between the two at their lowest point in
decades. During his stay in the South, Chang is ex-
pected to meet South Korean ofcials to discuss coop-
eration at the Winter Olympics..
N. Korean soldier defects: A North Korean soldier
defected to the South after crossing the heavily forti-
ed border, a defence ministry spokesman said Satur-
day, the second soldier to defect this month.
There was no exchange of re between the two
sides when the North Korean soldier, a private, smug-
gled himself across the border to the south, the Yon-
hap report said.
His defection came after another North Korean sol-
dier walked across the tense border on June 13.
On June 18, a North Korean civilian swam across
a river to defect to the South, with styrofoam pieces
strapped to both shoulders to stay aoat.
Early this month, two of four crew members of a
North Korean shing boat which drifted to the South
refused to return home. They were allowed resettle.
Mongolians will vote for a new presi-
Parks friend gets 3 years: A South Korean court
has sentenced a longtime friend of ousted President
Park Geun-hye to three years in prison for using her
presidential ties to unlawfully get her daughter into a
prestigious Seoul university.
The Seoul Central District Court on Friday said Choi
Soon-sil committed so many illegal activities as she
pressured Ewha Womans University to grant admission
and then provide academic favors to her daughter despite
Chung Yoo-ras questionable qualications.
Choi is being tried separately over more serious charg-
es, including allegations that she colluded with Park to
take tens of millions of dollars from the countrys largest
companies in bribes and through extortion.
Smoke billows from burning houses after Philippine airforce attack plane dropped bomb on Muslim militants position during an aerial bombinmg in Marawi on June
24, one month after the conict began on May 23. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Marawi and the entire southern region of Mindanao,
unleashing an offensive to crush what he said was an attempt by the jihadist group to establish a province in the area. (AFP)
Believers worship in front of the 20
feet tall bronze statue of Guan Gong,
a Chinese God of War, in Hong
Kong on June 24, to mark the 20th
to China. Guan Gong, who is the
historical gure of general Guan Yu,
is widely regarded as a symbol of
loyalty and integrity. (AP)
Asia
Female Japan politician quits: A fe-
male Japanese politician has resigned after an
audio tape emerged of her violently attacking
a male secretary, and reportedly threatening
to crush his head with a lead pipe.
Mayuko Toyota, a 42-year-old Harvard
graduate and up-and-coming member of
the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),
can be heard screaming at the unnamed
aide, saying he should die as she mocked
his thinning hair.
Her 55-year-old secretary can be heard
repeatedly apologising and begging the
lawmaker to stop kicking and beating him.
Dont damage my reputation anymore,
Toyota screams, apparently in response to a
mistake she claims the man had made.
Major Japanese media, including public
broadcaster NHK, named Toyota as the
woman heard on the tape. No one picked
up the phone at her ofce on Friday.
The secretary recorded the exchange,
which took place last month inside a car
that he was driving, according to a weekly
magazine that was given the tape and
uploaded on YouTube. (AFP)
China tightens online controls: Three
popular Chinese internet services have been
ordered to stop streaming video after censors
complained it contained improper comments
on sensitive issues. The move prompted a
sell-off in the US-traded shares of Sina Corp
and its microblog service, Sina Weibo.
Thursdays announcement adds to ef-
forts by President Xi Jinpings government
to tighten media control ahead of a Com-
munist Party congress late this year. Xi is
due to be appointed to a second ve-year
term as party leader.
Video streamed by users of Sina Weibo,
AcFun and Phoenix New Medias ifeng.
com contained negative comments about
unspecied sensitive issues, the State
Administration of Press, Publication, Radio
Film and Television said. It ordered them
to stop the services.
Communist leaders promote internet use for
business and education but try to block access
to material deemed subversive or obscene.
Beijing has been especially wary of
social media since they were used by
organizers of the Arab Spring protests that
spread across the Middle East in 2010 and
led to the downfall of the Egyptian and
Tunisian governments. (AP)
Crisis overshadow Mongolian poll:
dent on Monday in a race pitting a horse
salesman against a former judo star and a
nationalist wanting to get more from the
vast landlocked countrys mineral wealth.
The three candidates are seeking to suc-
ceed Tsakhia Elbegdorj of the Democratic
Party who has served the maximum of two
four-year terms. While the nation of 3 mil-
lion had been an oasis of democratic stabil-
ity since the end of communist rule nearly
three decades ago, its politics have grown
increasingly fractious amid an economic
crisis and accusations of corruption among
the ruling class.
Speaker of the parliament and horse dealer
Miyegombo Enkhbold is representing the
Extremism
Australia to send spy planes to help Manila fight militants
IS funded siege: Philippines
MARAWI, Philippines, June 24,
(Agencies): The Islamic State group
helped fund the monthlong siege of a
southern Philippine city through a Ma-
laysian militant who was reportedly
killed by troops, the Philippine military
chief said Friday.
Gen Eduardo Ano told The Associ-
ated Press that Malaysian Mahmud
bin Ahmad reportedly channeled more
than $600,000 from the IS group to
acquire rearms, food and other sup-
plies for the attack in Marawi. Money
believed to be from illegal drugs also
funded the uprising, he said.
Mahmud was wounded in the ght-
ing last month and reportedly died on
June 7, he said. A local militant leader,
Omarkhayam Maute, also is believed
to have been killed in the early days of
intense ghting and troops were look-
ing for their remains to validate the
intelligence the military had received.
Troops are seeking the help of vil-
lagers to pinpoint the spot where Mah-
mud was reportedly buried, Ano said.
In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian police
chief Khalid Abu Bakar acknowledged
that Mahmud was in Marawi ghting
with insurgents but said he believed the
militant is still alive. Malaysian author-
ities are trying to determine the number
of Malaysians who joined the siege but
said at least four may have been killed
in clashes.
Two other rebel leaders, top Filipino
militant suspect Isnilon Hapilon and
Mautes brother, Abdullah, were still
ghting in Marawi, Ano said.
A former Malaysian university pro-
fessor who became radicalized and
received training in Afghanistan, Mah-
mud appeared in a video showing mili-
tant leaders planning the Marawi siege
in a hideout, a sign of his key role in the
uprising. The AP obtained a copy of
the video, which was seized by troops
May 23.
A month ago, about 500 local mili-
tants, along with some foreign ghters,
stormed into Marawi, a bastion of the
Islamic faith in the south of the pre-
dominantly Roman Catholic nation.
Troops since then have killed about
280 gunmen, recovered nearly 300 as-
sault rearms and regained control of
85 buildings. Many of the taller build-
ings were used as sniper posts to slow
down the advance of government forc-
es, the military said.
Fighting
At least 69 soldiers and police and
26 civilians have died in the ghting.
Only four villages in Marawi remain in
the hands of the militants, out of the 19
of 96 villages across the lakeside city
of 200,000 people that the black ag-
waving militants had occupied.
They are constricted in a very small
area. Theyre pinned down, Ano said.
He said three boatloads of gunmen who
tried to join the militants were blasted
by navy gunboats three days ago in
Lake Lanao, which borders Marawi.
Ano said the battle was taking longer
because the militants were using civil-
Mongolian Peoples Party, which won a
landslide victory in legislative elections last
year. He faces off against judo champion and
business tycoon Khaltmaa Batulgaa of the
Democratic Party, with Sainkhuu Ganbaatar
of the Mongolian Peoples Revolutionary
Party rounding out the eld.
Its unclear whether Ganbaatar will be
eligible to run after a video surfaced of
him accepting a campaign donation from a
South Korean citizen.
Sandwiched between Russia and China,
ians as human shields.
We can just bomb them away or use
napalm bombs to burn everything, but
then, we will not be any different from
them if we do that, he said.
The audacious attack by the heavily
armed militants and their ability to hold
on to large sections of a city for weeks
surprised the government and sparked
fears among Southeast Asian countries
that the Islamic State group was mov-
ing to gain a foothold in the region.
Facing his worst crisis, President
Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial
law in the south to deal with the Mara-
wi siege.
Powerful clans and warlords, along
with insurgencies, have effectively
weakened law enforcement in large
areas of the countrys south, making it
easier for militants to take over an area
and hold it, said Sidney Jones, director
of the Institute for Policy Analysis of
Conict in Jakarta, Indonesia.
I do think that martial law doesnt selves against possible clan wars and
solve the problem and I think military
strikes, especially airstrikes, dont
solve the problem, Jones said. Its
a much broader problem that needs a
strategic solution.
Meanwhile, one of Americas most
wanted terrorists may have escaped a
ve-week battle with Islamist militants
in a southern Philippine city, which
began with a raid to capture him, the
military said Saturday.
Leader
Isnilon Hapilon, a veteran Filipino
militant said to be the leader of the
Islamic State (IS) group in Southeast
Asia, has not been seen in the battle
zone in Marawi City, said Lieutenant
General Carlito Galvez, head of the
militarys Western Mindanao Com-
mand.
An attempt by government troops to
arrest Hapilon in Marawi on May 23
triggered a rampage by Islamist mili-
tants ying black IS ags and backed
by some foreign ghters who seized
parts of the mainly Muslim city.
He (Hapilon) has not been seen in
the area. We have some reports that he
was already able to slip somewhere but
as of now we are still conrming the re-
ports, Galvez said in an interview with
DZBB radio station.
Asked if Hapilon was on the run, he
said: Yes, yes because reportedly he
suffered a lot of casualties. Majority of
his group, more than half, were casual-
ties.
Hapilon was indicted in Washington
for his involvement in the 2001 kidnap-
ping of three Americans in the Philip-
pines, and has a $5-million bounty on
his head from the US government,
which has his name on its most want-
ed terror list.
He leads a faction of the Philippine
militant group Abu Sayyaf that has
pledged allegiance to IS.
Security analysts say he has been would help tackle extremism across
recognised by IS as its amir, or lead-
er, in Southeast Asia, a region where
the group wants to establish a caliphate.
Toyota Elbegdorj
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
15
The military says Hapilons group
had joined forces with another armed
militancy, the Maute Group, to launch
the Marawi siege, now in its second
month.
On Saturday, security forces contin-
ued intense air raids and artillery re on
pockets of Marawi still occupied by the
militants, while troops fought house-
to-house gunbattles.
We have gained substantial
ground, said Galvez, the military
commander.
But military spokesman Brigadier
General Restituto Padilla said he expects
the ghting to continue for a while.
Suicidal
These people are suicidal. Our as-
sessment is that they will really ght to
the end, Padilla said, also on DZBB.
He said the militants are seeking
shelter in bunkers and tunnels built
by Marawi residents to protect them-
unrest related to a Muslim insurgency
in Mindanao.
Nearly 300 militants and 67 govern-
ment troops have been killed in the
ghting, according to ofcial gures.
Galvez said there are strong indica-
tions that two or three of the Maute
brothers among the key players in
the siege had been killed, including
Omarkhayam Maute, believed to be the
groups top leader.
Also:
MARAWI CITY/SYDNEY: Australia
agreed on Friday to send two surveil-
lance planes to help the Philippines
tackle Islamist rebels, as jets and ar-
tillery pounded militant positions in
a southern town held for more than a
month by Islamic State loyalists.
The Philippines accepted the offer
of two AP-3C Orion aircraft for re-
connaissance to pinpoint locations of
Maute group ghters holed up for a
fth week in Marawi, a town the rebels
have declared as their own Islamic ter-
ritory.
The regional threat from terrorism,
in particular from DAESH and foreign
ghters, is a direct threat to Australia
and our interests, Australian Defence
Minister Marise Payne said in a state-
ment, referring to Islamic State by an
Arabic acronym.
Australias help comes as fears grow
that the Maute and its afliates have
much stronger designs on parts of the
southern Philippines than previously
imagined, evidenced by their prepara-
tions and combat capability during the
weeks of ghting.
The threat is heightened by losses
suffered by Islamic State in Syria and
Iraq, and intelligence reports that it is
building alliances and seeking new pas-
tures from which to project its agenda.
Gilbert Gapay, an Philippine military
spokesman, said the surveillance planes
Mindanao, an island of 22 million peo-
ple, where separatists, pirates and kidnap
gangs have thrived for decades.
resource-rich Mongolia has been roiled by
nancial upheaval and the increasing draw
of Chinas economic and political inuence
that competes with its ties with the demo-
cratic West, especially the United States.
This election looks orchestrated from
the very beginning, with nomination of
candidates in a very strange way, said
Sumati Luvsandendev, director of the
liberal-leaning Mongolian think tank the
Sant Maral Foundation. I have never seen
an election like it. (AP)

INTERNATIONAL
World News Roundup
Indian Muslims offer prayers during heavy raining on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan outside the Tipu Sultan mosque, ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr, in Kolkata
on June 23. Eid al-Fitr, the biggest festive Mulslim event, marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. (AFP)
Asia
Obama starts Indonesia holiday
Myanmar frees 67
more child soldiers
YANGON, June 24, (Agencies): Myanmars military
released 67 child soldiers on Friday, its rst discharge
this year as part of a slow process to end decades of
forced recruitment of underage ghters that began un-
der the former junta.
There are no concrete gures on how many chil-
dren are still among the estimated 500,000 troops that
serve in Myanmars military or the ethnic rebel armies
it battles in the countrys border regions.
The states army has released almost 850 children
and young people from its ranks since signing a pact
with the United Nations in 2012, the year after the for-
mer junta ceded power ending a brutal 50-year reign.
Recruitment of underage ghters has also slowed
while Myanmars young civilian government is work-
ing to help underage recruits
reintegrate into society.
It is much more difcult to
recruit a child today than it was
four years ago, said Bertrand
Bainvel, UNICEFs Myanmar
representative, citing the mili-
tarys efforts to strengthen age
checks and centralise recruit-
ment.
But experts say children re-
main at risk as new underage
Bainvel
recruits continue to trickle into
the military and ethnic armed groups waging insur-
gencies against the state.
Recruiters from the army and their middlemen still
scour public spaces like parks and stations in major
cities like Yangon and Mandalay looking for vulner-
able boys they can tempt or force into service.
Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby were
Obama kicks off holiday in Indonesia: Barack
Obama kicked off a 10-day family holiday in Indo-
nesia that will take in Bali and Jakarta, the city where
he spent part of his childhood, ofcials said Saturday.
The casually dressed former president arrived in the
resort island of Bali with his wife Michelle and their
two daughters, a local military commander said.
They arrived late last night and went straight to the
hotel in Ubud, a local military commander, I Gede
Widiyana, told AFP.
Obama woke up early and did some exercise in the
lush green riverside resort, Widiyana said, but it was
not known how the family would spend their time in
the quiet and artsy Ubud area.
lawmakers and senior government ofcials
East Timor holds 2 foreigners: Authorities in East
Timor arrested two foreign inmates who escaped from
a prison in neighboring Indonesias resort island of
Bali and plan to return them, police said.
Bulgarian Dimitar Nikolov Iliev, 43, and Indian
Sayed Mohammed Said, 31, were among four for-
eign inmates who escaped Monday from the Kerobo-
kan penitentiary in Bali provincial capital, Denpasar,
through a 50-by-70-centimeter (20-by-28-inch) hole
found under the walls that connects to a 15-meter-
long (49-foot-long) water tunnel heading toward a
main street.
The two men were recaptured by East Timor mari-
time police on Thursday near a port in the capital city
of Dili, said East Timor police chief Julio da Costa
Hornay.
Voting underway in PNG: Voting began in Papua
New Guinea elections Saturday with the Pacic na-
tions leader urging peaceful polling to show it has
come of age, as he seeks another term to x an
economy under siege.
Peter ONeills Peoples National Congress won
the last election in 2012, and he has campaigned on
delivering key infrastructure and providing free edu-
cation and health to a country that remains mired in
poverty.
He also points to more stability in a sprawling
crime-ridden land where elections have been marred
by violence in the past.
I appeal to all our citizens to peacefully cast their
votes, said the prime minister, with more than 3,000
candidates from over 40 political parties jostling for
support.
Pakistani residents carry an injured
man after a twin blasts at a market in
Parachinas, capital of Kurram tribal
district, on June 23. (AFP)
Africa
Security for ex-Gitmo inmates: Gha-
nas government on Friday sought to reas-
sure the public that two former Guantanamo
prisoners living in the West African nation
remained under supervision, a day after a
court ruled their arrival was unconstitutional
without parliaments approval.
Ghanas Information Ministry said the
government will comply with the Supreme
Court ruling and seek approval for the
Yemeni mens continued stay. Parliament
has three months to act.
The men have been comporting them-
selves well since their arrival in Ghana, the
ministry said in a statement.
Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and
held at the US base in Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba, as enemy combatants, accused of
training with al-Qaeda and ghting with the
Taliban. They had been cleared for release
in 2009, but the United States wont send
Guantanamo prisoners to Yemen because
of instability there and ofcials had to nd
another country to accept them.
Former Ghana President John Dramani
Mahama has said the two Yemenis were
taken in by his country in January 2016 after
a direct request by the US and did not pose a
security threat. (AP)
No visa privilege: Former presidents,
in Ghana will no longer have special privi-
leges for private travel to the United States,
Washingtons envoy has said.
Until now, such individuals were able to
take advantage of protocol services where
they did not have to physically appear at the
US embassy to obtain a visa.
But on Thursday, US Ambassador Robert
Jackson told members of parliament that
the process had changed, sources in the
legislature said.
If you are travelling for tourism or
business that is not related to government
business, you will be required to make a
personal appearance, even with former
presidents, he said.
There are no exceptions. (AFP)
Botswana ex-prez Masire dies: Sir
Ketumile Masire, Botswanas second post-
independence leader who is largely credited
with being the architect of the countrys
famed stability, has died, an aide said Fri-
day. He was 91.
One of Africas most respected elder
statesmen, he was known for leading re-
gional peace efforts in Mozambique, Kenya
and Lesotho.
In recent years, he was heavily involved
in efforts to bring peace to Mozambique,
which descended into violence in 2013, pit-
ting Renamo rebels against the government.
Masire passed away in a hospital in Bot-
swanas capital Gaborone late on Thursday,
according to his senior private secretary
Fraser Tlhoiwe.
He died peacefully at Bokamoso private
hospital surrounded by his family at 10:10
Subcontinent
US special envoy quits
Pakistan attacks kill 85
PESHAWAR, Pakistan, June 24,
(Agencies): The death toll from twin
blasts in the northwestern town of
Parachinar climbed to 67 overnight,
bringing the overall death toll from
three separate attacks in Pakistan on
Friday to 85, with several others in
critical condition, ofcials said.
Shahid Khan, a government of-
cial in Parachinar, conrmed the toll
Saturday, saying residents who had
been preparing to celebrate the end
of Ramadan were now in mourning.
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a Sunni extremist
group, claimed the twin bombings at
a crowded market in the Shiite-dom-
inated town, linking them to sectarian
ghting in Syria.
Dr Sabir Hussain, an ofcial at a
government-run hospital in Parachi-
nar, said they had received 261 vic-
tims of the twin blasts, with 62 listed
in critical condition.
Another 14 people were killed Fri-
day in a suicide car bombing near the
ofce of the provincial police chief in
the southwestern city of Quetta, po-
lice spokesman Shahzada Farhat said.
That attack was claimed by a breaka-
way Taleban faction and the Islamic
State group. Gunmen in the port city
of Karachi attacked police ofcers at
a roadside restaurant, killing four of
them before eeing, senior police of-
cer Asif Ahmed said.
Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, a military
spokesman, linked the attacks to al-
leged militant sanctuaries in neighbor-
ing Afghanistan and promised greater
border security. The two countries
often accuse each other of turning a
blind eye to militants.
Security forces raided a militant
hideout in the northwestern city of Pe-
shawar before dawn Saturday, trigger-
ing a shootout in which three Pakistani
Taliban were killed and two police
ofcers were wounded, senior police
ofcial Sajjad Khan said. He said the
militants were making bombs that
likely would have been used to target
holiday festivities.
Khan said the identity of the slain
militants was not immediately known.
But intelligence ofcials said one
of the men has been identied as a
wanted militant commander linked to
the IS group. They spoke on condition
of anonymity because they were not
authorized to release the information.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif con-
demned the attacks, which came just
days before Eid-al-Fitr, the Muslim
holiday that marks the end of the fast-
ing month of Ramadan.
Washingtons special envoy to Af-
pm on 22 June 2017, Tlhoiwe said in a
statement.
Masire had been hospitalised for surgery
on June 16, his family said. Despite being
admitted to intensive care, he was thought to
be in stable condition.
Nigeria sends in troops: Nigerias
Mahama Masire
ghanistan and Pakistan stepped down
on Friday, just as the United States
is preparing to send thousands more
troops to the region.
A senior State Department ofcial
told AFP that acting special repre-
sentative Laurel Miller left the post
without a replacement being named.
State Department spokeswoman
Heather Nauert said Miller is return-
ing to a position at the Rand Corpo-
ration and that Secretary of State Rex
Tillerson has not yet decided what to
do with post.
The ofce was created when US
ofcials decided that the conicts in
Afghanistan and Pakistan are inextri-
cably linked and ought to be dealt with
together.
President Donald Trump came to
ofce planning to slash diplomatic
spending and Tillerson plans to cut
several special envoy roles.
A police ofcer was beaten to death
by an angry mob outside a mosque in
Indian-administered Kashmir, police
said Friday, as tensions in the volatile
disputed region ran high.
Witnesses said the mob attacked Mo-
hammad Ayub Pandith late Thursday
after he red his pistol when confronted
by worshippers at the mosque in the
main city of Srinagar who suspected
him of being a government spy.
Violence between government
forces and civilians has spiked in re-
cent months in the Himalayan region,
where many oppose Indian rule.
A police statement said Pandith, a
deputy superintendent with the secu-
rity wing of the state police, had been
attacked and beaten to death by a
mob.
group said on Twitter.
Sri Lankan doctors ended a three-
day strike following talks with the
government, their professional asso-
ciation said Saturday, ending a crisis
that had reportedly left tens of thou-
sands of patients at state-run hospitals
stranded.
The Government Medical Ofcers
Association (GMOA), the islands
biggest trade union of doctors, had
stopped work on Thursday to demand
the government close down a private
medical college established in 2008,
protesting its allegedly poor standards
of education.
The shutdown left tens of thousands
of mostly poor people who seek free
medical care at state-run hospitals
unable to access treatment until the
GMOA called off the strike on Sat-
urday afternoon following talks with
President Maithripala Sirisena.
President Ian Khama has declared three
days of national mourning for the late
leader, ahead of his burial on Thursday in
Kanye, southwest of Gaborone. (AFP)
Hint at Fujimori pardon: Perus presi-
acting president Yemi Osinbajo has ordered
troops in to keep the peace in the restive
state of Taraba after deadly clashes between
herders and farmers.
The vice-president, standing in for Presi-
dent Muhammadu Buhari, who is on inde-
nite medical leave, said Thursday the extra
military battalions and police reinforcements
had been sent.
Police say 18 people were killed in unrest
between the Mambilla and Fulani groups in
the central state earlier this week but others
put the death toll at more than 100. (AFP)
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
16
Lat/Am
Venezuelans rally in anger: Venezue-
lan demonstrators blocked streets Friday in
protests over the death of a young man shot
by police during an anti-government rally
the night before.
Blowing horns and banging pots, protes-
tors massed on streets in Caracas and other
cities, causing trafc jams.
The 22-year-old man, recent nursing
graduate David Vallenilla, was shot dead
Thursday during a protest near an air force
base in Caracas, ofcials and opposition
leaders said.
He was the 75th person killed in nearly
three months of unrest against President
Nicolas Maduro.
Maduro, coward, murderer of students,
yelled some of the
protestors in Caracas.
This is a protest
against the brutality
with which they are
murdering our young
people, said one
demonstrator, Rina
Torres.
Interior Minister
Nestor Reverol admit-
ted that the man was
shot by a military
police ofcer after Maduro
media published videos of the killing.
Maduro had insisted in a news confer-
ence on Thursday that police were only
allowed to use water cannon and tear gas
not bullets or shot cartridges against
protestors.
Near-daily protests against Maduro be-
gan April 1, with demonstrators demanding
his removal and new elections. (AFP)
Mine explosion kills 2: An explosion
at a central Colombian coal mine killed
at least two people Friday, as rescuers
scrambled to nd another 11 who are still
missing, authorities said, updating earlier
gures.
The blast occurred at a coal mine in the
town of Cucunuba in Cundinamarca state,
some 90 kilometers (55 miles) north of
Bogota, at about 2130 GMT.
President Juan Manuel Santos, who is
wrapping up an ofcial visit to France, in
Twitter message expressed his solidarity
with the victims.
Ofcials said they do not know what
caused the explosion which also injured
one person. (AFP)
Fireworks explosion kills 1: One
person was killed and nine more suffered
injuries when reworks being carried in
a pickup truck exploded Friday in central
Mexico.
The blast happened during a reli-
gious pilgrimage in the town of Cerrito
Tixmadeje, the government of the State of
Mexico said. Its statement added that the
pyrotechnic material was being transported
without the proper safety measures.
It said the fatality was a 52-year-old
man, and those injured had rst-, second-
and third-degree burns.
Mexican media outlets published im-
ages of the damaged truck and wounded
people being taken away by ambulance and
helicopter. (AP)
Mexico rejects Trump claim: Mexico
may have a problem with violence, but
its government says it is not the second
most violent country in the world, as US
President Donald Trump has claimed on
Twitter.
The Mexican foreign ministry pointed
instead to places like Honduras, Venezuela,
Belize, Colombia and Brazil as countries
with higher murder rates, in a statement
released late Thursday.
Trump had posted earlier: Mexico was
just ranked the second deadliest country in
the world, after only Syria. Drug trade is
largely the cause.
We will He appeared to be referring
to a May 9 report from the London-
based International Institute for Strategic
Studies, which said that Mexicos 2016
murder rate was second only to Syrias.
(AFP)
ELN rebels free 2 Dutch: Colombias
Marxist ELN rebel group said on Friday it
has freed two Dutch journalists captured
this week in the northeast of the Andean
country.
The reporters, Derk Johannes Bolt, 62,
a television journalist, and Eugenio Ernest
Marie Follender, 58, a cameraman, have
been released in perfect conditions, the
Bolt and Follender were seized in El
Tarra in Norte de Santander on Monday.
The 2,000-strong ELN frequently
kidnaps Colombians and foreigners, many
of whom work in oil operations, for ransom
and political leverage.
The ELN, the second-largest rebel group
after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia (FARC), is in talks with the
government to put an end to more than ve
decades of war. (RTRS)
Bachelet asks forgiveness: President
Michelle Bachelet asked for forgiveness
from Chiles indigenous Mapuche people
on Friday for errors and horrors com-
mitted by the state and announced plans to
give them more power and resources.
In the midst of growing tension between
the Mapuche and loggers and farmers
in Chiles south-central provinces, the
center-left president said she would send a
project to Congress creating an Indigenous
Peoples Ministry.
Cash would be dedicated to building
roads and providing drinking water in
remote areas, as well as programs to more
rapidly transfer land to indigenous people
that they claim as their ancestral home, she
said. (RTRS)
dent has hinted he may pardon jailed ex-
leader Alberto Fujimori but denied any
backroom deal with the party that controls
Congress, led by the former strongmans
daughter.
Fujimori, president from 1990 to 2000,
is serving a 25-year sentence for human
rights abuses and corruption in special
housing set up at a police headquarters in a
suburb of Lima.
Now 78, Fujimori has suffered a series
of health setbacks that has seen him in and
out of hospital. (AFP)

INTERNATIONAL
World News Roundup
People look on during a drone safety and awareness demonstration on June 22, in regards to humanitarian
drone corridor testing under the UNICEF-funded Humanitarian Drone Corridor testing project, in the hard-to-
reach rural Chanthunthu Village Health Clinic in Kasungu. The government of Malawi, with assistance from
UNICEF, is pilot testing the use of drones for humanitarian purposes in Kasungu District to see how the drones
can be used for transporting blood and mucus samples for TB and HIV tests from hard to reach health centres
Space
Bulgaria launches satellite
India rocket carries 31
small sats into space
NEW DELHI, June 24, (Agencies): India fired a
rocket carrying 31 small satellites into space on
Friday, several of them for European countries, in a
boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modis ambition
to project the country as a global low-cost provider of
services in space.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
launched a 712 kg Cartosat-2 satellite for earth obser-
vation and 30 other tiny satellites from Sriharikota in
the southern state of Andhra
Pradesh at 9.29 am
(0359GMT).
The rocket is carrying satel-
lites from India and 14 other
countries, including Austria,
Belgium, Latvia, Lithuania and
Slovakia, as part of an interna-
tional commercial arrangement
by the state-run Indian Space
Research Organisation. (ISRO)
The satellites will be used
for communications, weather
Modi
forecasting and monitoring
crops.
Congratulations to ISRO on its 40th successful
Polar satellite launch ... You make us proud! Modi
tweeted.
Modis government has been promoting the space
programme as a showcase of low-cost technology.
In 2014, India sent an orbiter to Mars at a cost of
$74 million, a fraction of the $671 million the US
space agency NASA spent on its MAVEN Mars mis-
sion.
We reached Mars on a budget less than that of a
Hollywood film, Modi said this week.
For all its success, the Indian space programme has
a tiny share of the global market.
In 2015, the global space industry was valued at
$323 billion, according to a Space Foundation report,
and India accounted for just 0.6 percent of that busi-
ness.
Bulgarias satellite launched: Bulgarias first
geostationary communications satellite has been
launched into space, operator Bulsatcom said in a
statement on Saturday.
The BulgariaSat-1 satellite, which will provide
television and communication services to Europe and
North Africa, was launched by SpaceX from NASAs
Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 1910 GMT on
Friday.
The satellite could be also used in force majeure
situations - accidents due to natural disasters - such as
earthquakes, storms and floods when land-based net-
works are not operational.
because there is no liberal air or conserva-
New orbiters for Europes Galileo: The European
Space Agency signed a contract with a German-
British consortium Thursday to build eight more satel-
lites for its Galileo satnav system, an alternative to
Americas GPS, the agency said Thursday.
The deal was signed at the International Paris Air
Show with German company OHB as the prime con-
tractor, and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd in charge
of navigation systems.
The ESA signed on behalf of the European
Commission, which owns and funds the system.
Grizzly bear removed from list:
Astronomer Nelson dies at 73: Jerry Nelson, an
astronomer who designed advanced telescopes that
help scientists glimpse far reaches of the universe, has
died in California. He was 73.
The University of California, Santa Cruz, where
Nelson was a professor emeritus of astronomy and
astrophysics, said he died June 10 at his home. No
cause was given.
Nelsons design using dozens of segmented mirrors
rather than a single large one was the basis for the
Keck Observatorys twin 10-meter telescopes on
Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano in Hawaii.
A Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket carrying a
communications satellite that will pro-
vide television broadcast and data
communications services over south-
east Europe lifts off from pad 39A at
the Kennedy Space Center in Cape
Canaveral, Florida on June 23. (AP)
Discovery
US mayors may shape policy: With
the Trump administrations withdrawal
from the Paris climate accords, national
policy on climate change will emerge from
US cities working to reduce emissions and
become more resilient to rising sea levels,
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said
at the annual US Conferences of Mayors
meeting in Miami Beach.
The conference supported the Paris
agreement, and according to preliminary
results released Saturday morning from an
ongoing nationwide survey, the vast major-
ity of US mayors want to work together
and with the private sector to respond to
climate change.
Theres near unanimity in this confer-
ence that climate change is real and that
humans contribute to it. There may be a
little bit of a disagreement about how actu-
ally to deal with it, said Landrieu, who
will replace Oklahoma City Mayor Mick
Cornett as conference president this week-
end. (AP)
Save the planet: Former California
governor Arnold Schwarzenegger urged
people from both ends of the political
spectrum to join a crusade to save the
planet, after a Friday meeting with French
President Emmanuel Macron.
It is absolutely imperative that we not
make it a political issue, he said.
This is not the right versus the left
tive air. We all breathe the same air.
There is no liberal water or conserva-
tive water, we all drink the same water,
the star of The Terminator movies
said.
Just a few weeks after US President
Donald Trump announced he was pulling
America out of the Paris Climate accord,
Schwarzenegger said all countries had to
work together in order to protect the envi-
ronment. (AFP)
Grizzly bears native to Yellowstone
National Park and the surrounding area are
being removed from the endangered spe-
cies list, the US government said Thursday,
calling efforts to replenish the population a
major success.
Conservation groups were however
quick to criticize the move, saying drop-
ping federal protections would again put
grizzly bears at risk.
The grizzly bear was first placed on the
endangered species list in 1975, when the
population was down to 136.
Now, in the greater Yellowstone eco-
and village clinic to central laboratories in the country to big hospitals where they will be quickly tested and
returned to the rural health facilities. The drones will also be used for imaging in disaster areas, which are
impassable to humans, to determine the extent of damage by floods and how victims can be assisted, as well
as boosting telephone and internet network connectivity. (AFP)
Environment
Afghan women in bid to curb pollution in India
Refugees plastic waste warriors
NEW DELHI, June 24, (RTRS): Farah
Naz is used to attracting scathing
remarks and disapproving looks from
neighbours in her Afghan refugee
community as she leaves for work
each day.
They tell her she is not a good
woman, what she is doing is shame-
ful and that her rightful place is inside
her south Delhi home caring for her
sick husband and five children.
But after fleeing the Taleban five
years ago where she was drenched
in kerosene and almost burnt alive, her
husband was ordered killed, and her
children were threatened with kidnap
the 32-year-old refugee woman is
past caring what people think.
She is on her way to becoming a
business woman.
I had no choice but to work, and
now I am proud, said Naz. I am
feeding my family and changing the
view of women in my community, but
most importantly I am doing a job
which is showing that refugees also
can do something good.
Naz is one of five Afghan refugee
women who are not only battling tradi-
tional gender roles by going out to
work, but who have also become
unlikely warriors in the Indian capi-
tals fight to curb plastic waste pollu-
tion.
Task
The task is immense and 10 hands
will not solve it. But this project is
gaining international support for its
twin roles of addressing Indias chron-
ic waste problem and empowering
refugee women who often flounder in
their adopted homelands.
Employed under Project Patradya
an initiative led by Delhi University
students the Afghan women pro-
duce and supply edible bowls, cups
and cutlery to cafes and ice-cream
parlours as an alternative to non-bio-
degradable plastic ones.
Made from millet and wheat flour,
the biscuit-like tableware is gaining
popularity in the West as a sustainable,
environment-friendly option to dispos-
able plastic utensils, and those behind
the initiative believe India is an
untapped market.
We wanted to create a social enter-
prise model which was not only look-
ing at improving the environment but
also had a business plan that could
employ excluded communities such as
refugees, said 20-year-old commerce
student Nishchay Hans.
Hans is one of more than 40 stu-
dents at Kirori Mal College (KMC)
who are part of Enactus, a charity that
supports young people across the
world work with poor communities
and build sustainable, eco-friendly
system covering parts of Wyoming,
Montana and Idaho, there are 700 bears,
meeting the standard for delisting.
(AFP)
Live Asian carp discovered: A live
Asian carp has been discovered in a
Chicago waterway about nine miles from
Lake Michigan well beyond an electric
barrier network designed to prevent the
invasive fish that have infested the
Solar energy powers clean water,
biz opportunities for the refugees
DAR ES SALAAM, June 24,
(RTRS): Sadick Thenest remem-
bers how his 8-year-old daughter
had a narrow brush with death two
years ago, when she contracted
cholera after drinking contaminated
water.
She was so gaunt, weak and
had terrible diarrhoea, said the
refugee from Burundi. A slight
delay in rushing her to hospital
would have meant something else
but with Gods grace she sur-
vived.
The father of four, aged 35, is
among thousands of refugees
grappling with frequent outbreaks
of waterborne diseases in the
crowded Nyarugusu camp in west-
ern Tanzania, due to poor sanita-
tion.
Living in a refugee camp is a
constant struggle. You either stick
to health rules or contract diseas-
es, he told the Thomson Reuters
Foundation by phone.
The health risks in Nyarugusu
camp home to around 100,000
refugees, mainly from Burundi and
Democratic Republic of Congo
have grown due to an influx of
people this year, amid spikes in the
political instability afflicting both
countries.
But Thenest, who came to the
camp two years ago at the height of
political tensions in Burundi, has
learned how to protect his family
from bouts of diarrhoeal diseases
a major cause of death in chil-
dren under five.
I always ensure that my children
use clean and safe water, he said.
I have instructed them to wash
their hands with soap after using a
toilet.
Thenest, who works as a techni-
businesses.
Their projects range from creating
mobile salons for unemployed hair-
dressers in Ghana to working with
villagers in Malaysia to build home
stays all with the aim of eventually
handing over the businesses to com-
munities to run themselves.
With New Delhi generating around
650 metric tonnes (650,000 kg) of
plastic waste daily, only 60 percent of
which is recycled, KMC students
honed in on plastic pollution as a seri-
ous and neglected social problem.
They found disposable plastic
plates, bowls, cups and utensils make
up much of the plastic waste in Delhis
Cornett Arnie
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
18
cian with international engineering
charity Water Mission, said the
health situation in the camp is
improving as more people get
access to clean water from a
recently installed solar-powered
water treatment facility.
As part of a broader initiative to
help refugees access clean energy
and sanitation, Water Mission is
installing more such plants in three
refugee camps in western
Tanzania.
The $5.3 million project, fund-
ed by the Denmark-based Poul
Due Jensen Foundation, is
expected to provide safe water
for some 250,000 refugees in
Nyarugusu, Nduta and Mtendeli
camps.
Benjamin Filskov, Water
Missions country director, said
huge investment in solar technol-
ogies by the organisation would
help communities access clean
and safe water, and contribute
towards achieving the worlds
development goals.
According to Water Mission, the
Tanzania project aims to pump 100
percent of the water using solar
power, with diesel generators as
back up.
A recent shipment of 780 solar
panels to Tanzania will produce
226,000 watts of power and pro-
vide a continuous supply of safe
water to keep children in good
health, it said in a statement.
With rising use of renewable
energy, refugee communities in
Africa and the Middle East are
increasingly embracing solar power
to help build their economic resil-
ience, reduce deforestation and
prevent violence against women
and girls.
burgeoning landfills, where it can take
up to up to 1,000 years to decompose
and leak pollutants into the soil and
water.
Most of the litter and pollution
affecting oceans also derives from
plastics. This has dire consequences
for marine species, which in turn is
harmful for those further up the food
chain, including humans, who con-
sume the contaminated fish.
During their months of research, the
students visited Delhi cafes and con-
sulted restaurateurs, bakers and cus-
tomers eventually settling on the
idea of edible tableware as an alterna-
tive to use-and-throw utensils.
Mississippi River system from reaching the
Great Lakes, officials said Friday.
The silver carp was 28 inches long and
weighed about 8 pounds, officials with the
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating
Committee said.
It was caught Thursday by a commercial
fisherman under contract with the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources about 2
miles below the below the T.J. OBrien
Lock and Dam in the Calumet River, on
Chicagos south side. (AP)
 Fest spotlights unconventional storytelling

Karlovy Vary showcases stories of social turmoil

LOS ANGELES, June 24, (RTRS): The lineup at this years Karlovy
Vary International Film Festival reects lmmakers grappling with
new levels of complexity in social issues ranging from Europes refu-
gee crisis to escalating tensions in autocratic states.
Aside from its leading role in showcasing the freshest work from
Eastern and Central Europe, as seen not just in pics in the Ofcial
Selection but also in the East of the West section, the fest spotlights
unconventional storytelling that has rolled in from India, Azerbaijan
and Kosovo.
Europes moral, legal and political challenges in dealing with refu-
gees from conict states has fueled many directors visions in the past
year, says Karel Och, KVIFFs artistic director.
Film
The Birds Are Singing in Kigali, meanwhile, reps the new vi-
sion of past Karlovy Vary winners Joanna Kos-Krauze and Krzysztof
Krauze (My Nikifor), which was completed by Krauzes widow after
his 2014 death. Its focus on a personal story of grief set in the after-
math of the Rwandan genocide makes for a delicate mix of politics
and drama.
The Georgian-German-French world premiere, Khibula, by past
winner George Ovashvili (Corn Island), also takes on a region in
turmoil, following the trek of the rst democratically elected president
of Georgia into the mountains as he ees a military coup.
Documentary White World According to Daliborek, top, and c-
tional feature More both deal with complex social issues.
ka Tyrpakova, features compelling work from 12 lmmakers, includ-
ing 10 world premieres.
The collections past pics have gone on to shape audience percep-
tions far beyond the region, Tyrpakova notes.
There were quite a few really successful lms festival-wise, she
says, citing Georgias The House of Others by Rusudan Glurjidze,
which traveled to a host of fests and collected a dozen awards.
Last years East of the West opener, Hungarian black comedy Kills
on Wheels, later won at the Thessaloniki Film Festival for both lm
and actors, while the Estonian debut The Days That Confused won
a special mention at Karlovy Vary before moving on to several other
fest scores.

Presenting lmmakers reacting to social and political issues in an
artistic way is a primary goal of the fest, he adds. This is reected in
the lms competing for the Crystal Globe grand prize.
Karlovy Varys goal to present the most current outstanding exam-
ples of modern lmmaking innovation in storytelling was a factor in
choosing lms such as More, the complex directorial debut feature
from Turkish actor Onur Saylak. The psychological study of a 14-year-
old boy helping his father with his side business, smuggling refugees
from the Mideast across the Aegean Sea, certainly speaks to our times,
says Och.
Another main competition feature, The Line, the Slovak-Ukrain-
ian entry by Peter Bebjak, is one of eight world premieres and a story
that takes on the dilemma of surviving while making a living crossing
international and personal boundaries.
Challenging
We have discovered some challenging and inventive lms, say
Och, who travels the globe along with key members of the Karlovy
Vary fest throughout the year, seeking undiscovered talent.
The fests closely watched East of the West section, headed by Len-
Karlovy Varys docu section, this year screening Czech director-
provocateur Vit Klusaks portrait of a neo-Nazi, The White World
According to Daliborek, also punches above its weight. Last year, the
section served as a launchpad for Alma Harels follow-up to Bombay
Beach, the sketch of three deeply conicted couples, LoveTrue.
This year, Klusaks lm is one of three world premieres, along with
Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle by Gustavo Salmeron and An-
other News Story by Orban Wallace. The British documentary, a de-
but for director Wallace, turns the camera lens on journalists sent to the
Mediterranean to cover the humanitarian tragedy.

Variety
Features

Models present creations by Louis Vuitton during the Mens Fashion Week for the Spring/Summer 2018 collection in Paris. (AFP) See Page 22

Film

LOS ANGELES: Michael

A quasi-musical on wheels
Bloomberg hasnt been mayor of

Driver fusion of music & action

New York City for three and a half
years, but the connections he and
his team made at City Hall are still
coming into play especially in
the release of From the Ashes, the NEW YORK, June 24, (Agencies): In the jagged So its tting that the movie was essentially born heists.
environmental documentary that is
the rst feature lm to be produced grooves and quivering violins of the Jon Spencer Blues from a single song. Its the start of the lm, too: Bell- One mentioned that he was superstitious enough that
by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Explosion song Bellbottoms, a young Edgar Wright bottoms kicks off the high-octane opera that is Baby if a truly awful song came on the radio, the gig was
The company partnered on Mi- heard a movie. Driver. off. The offensive song to him was Guns N Roses
When Wright rst started fanatically listening to the I denitely get a kick out of it, said Jon Spencer. Knockin on Heavens Door cover, but the hex
SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

chael Bonglios lm with Radical

Media, the production company
that worked with the Bloomberg
administration on projects includ-
ing the Made in NY program.
From the Ashes premiered at the
Tribeca Film Festival, which the
mayors ofce was instrumental in
founding. The documentary, which
airs on National Geographic June
25, is being promoted with screen-
ings in partnership with an interna-
tional network of city mayors, as
well as with short-form content for
social media. (RTRS)
LOS ANGELES: Wonder
Woman continues to be a box
ofce force.
In less than three weeks of
wide release, Wonder Woman
has earned $601.6 million. The
breakdown, after Wednesday
nights totals were counted, now
stand at $289.2 million domestic,
and $312.4 million overseas.
This comes after Wonder
Woman shattered expectations to
earn $103.3 million in North Amer-
ica during its opening weekend.
The movie has shown impressive
holds since then, dropping only 43%
during its second weekend, and a
staggering 29.5% in its third frame.
Wonder Woman is also the
rare movie this summer that has
been able to post a relatively equal
split between US and international
earnings. Film such as Pirates of
the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No
Tales, and the upcoming Trans-
formers: The Last Knight are lean-
ing heavily on the international box
ofce, especially China. (RTRS)
dan, which this year is expected to
MUMBAI: Bollywood bad boy Sal-
man Khans latest movie opened
in Indian cinemas Friday but lm
analysts are sceptical it will have
the same box ofce success as his
previous Eid blockbusters.
It is something of a tradition in
the Hindi lm industry for Khan
to star in the big release of the Eid
holiday to mark the end of Rama-
lead track off the bands Orange album in 1995, the
British writer-director had a vision that has culminated,
more than two decades later, with his new lm, Baby
Driver.
The idea for this movie is as old as Orange
Wright said in an interview. I was either 20 or 21 and
I had just moved to London. I was working on my rst
movie I ever made. I was completely broke. I think I
had a cassette of Orange that I had copied off of some-
one else, maybe my brother. I listened to Bellbottoms
all the time. I just started to visualize this car chase. Id
think, This would be the perfect car chase song in a
movie, but whats the movie?
Baby Driver, it turned out, was the movie, but
it took years for Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot
Fuzz) to nd the story that matched his initial inspira-
tion. Eventually he hit on his protagonist: an uncom-
monly young, fresh-faced getaway driver (Ansel El-
gort) who obsessively syncs his life and his car chases
to the music of his iPod. The movie wouldnt just tie
together song and cinema; it would be about the fusion
of music and action.
While not exactly a musical, Baby Driver (which
opened Wednesday) was built on top of its soundtrack,
starting with Bellbottoms. Martha and the Vandel-
las Nowhere to Run plays during a tight squeeze. A
hair-raising escape is set to the Damneds Neat, Neat,
Neat. Things happen on the beat.
Wright had to secure his soundtracks rights before
shooting; many of the songs, like the Blues Explo-
sion one, were cleared years ago. Actors received their
scripts with a thumb drive of music attached.
Its something about trying to assign order to life by
soundtracking your every move, said Wright. Its that
thing when everything breaks right and its the right
song and the right moment. Its something that a lot of
people do on a sort of everyday level, but what if you
put it together with an extremely high pressured job,
like being a getaway driver for a very dangerous gang?
fall on Monday.
Last years Sultan broke
opening weekend records and
currently sits fth in the all-time
list of highest-grossing Hindi
language lms worldwide, two
places behind his 2015 Eid release
Bajrangi Bhaijaan.
However this years Tube-
light, a drama set during the 1962 Bloomberg
Edgar is sort of a very Blues Explosion kind of di- song in Baby Driver comes from a tune Jamie Foxx
rector sort of post-modern, post-genre, everything is actually detests: the Eagles Hotel California.
kind of amped up. Who better to use a Blues Explosion At a 2010 event at the Los Angeles Film Festival,
song and that particular Blues Explosion song? moderator J.J. Abrams showed the Mint Royale video.
Its an especially high-prole role in one of the sum- While it played, he leaned over to Wright and said,
mers best-reviewed releases not to mention one of This would make a great movie. Wright replied: Im
the seasons few refreshingly original tales for a way ahead of you.
band that has for decades proudly lived in the under- The Worlds End, Wrights 2013 apocalyptic re-
ground. Spencer, who also wrote a song for Hot Fuzz, union movie, got pushed ahead of Baby Driver. Then
even makes a cameo late in the lm. came years writing and developing Marvels Ant-
Man. Shortly before production was to begin, he and
Popular
the studio parted ways over creative differences, a pain-
The New York blues- and irony-infused post-punk ful end to a big-budget passion project of Wrights.
trio of Spencer, Judah Bauer and Russell Simins Wright acknowledges it was a heartbreaking experi-
were a garage-rock forerunner to the White Stripes
ence but there was a quick U-turn. Maybe the day
and others, whose most popular days were in the after I left the other movie, literally one of the rst
90s. Theyve long drawn the interest of other artists; emails I got from (production company) Working Title
Beck, Moby and GZA have all remixed them. Mike just said Baby Driver next? recalled Wright. Thats
Mills, the 20th Century Women director, designed all it said.
some of their cover art and directed a music video. So Baby Driver was in that way a homecoming for
David Michods recent satire, War Machine, Wright: a return to a movie he could control and to a
used one of their songs. For Baby Driver, Danger
song thats been in his head most of his adult life.
Mouse, Big Boi and Run the Jewels made their ver- The lightbulb moment was listening to that song,
sion of Bellbottoms. said Wright. The fact that 22 years later it exists in
We didnt have any hits, but if we were to have had the lm and Bellbottoms is the rst track, its dream
a hit, this was our hit, said Spencer. Its our most stuff for me.
Blues Explosion song and its from our most popular With movies like Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz,
album. We were a working band. We werent on a late- and his latest, Baby Driver, lmmaker Edgar Wright
night show until like two or three years ago. has forged his own path through the modern cinema
Wrights idea underwent many iterations. He tested a landscape with his own original voice. Thats no easy
version of it in a 2002 music video for the Mint Royales task. Along the way, like any artist, he has stumbled,
Blue Song. I thought: What a waste. I just burned off whether learning the value of an abundance of coverage
a great idea on this music video, said Wright. Ironi- on his rst lm, A Fistful of Fingers, or making the
cally, years later, it became a way of post-dating the heartbreaking decision to walk on Ant-Man due to
idea. creative differences with Marvel.
But Wright decided to keep at it. He estimates he Unsurprisingly, and even with dedicated production
wrote the script around 2010, when he started talking partners, maintaining that original voice has been a
to ex-convicts for research, peppering them with ques- challenge throughout. But Wright nds inspiration in
tions about what, if anything, they listened to during others who have managed it with aplomb.
India-China war, is unlikely to do lease on Sept 8. The lm marks the collide during one monsoon night.
quite as well, according to movie directing debut of Akshat Verma, Success is vital for both
critic and Bollywood trade analyst who wrote Aamir Khan Produc- Cinestaan and Khan. Cinestaans
Taran Adarsh. (AFP) tions 2011 hit Delhi Belly. rst venture into production,
The Kaalakaandi ensemble cast 2016s Mirzya, was a critical
is led by Saif Ali Khan and features and commercial disaster. And
LOS ANGELES: India and UK Kunal Roy Kapoor, Vijay Raaz Khan is coming off a string of box
based Cinestaan Film Company has and Amyra Dastur. Set in Mum- ofce failures, the last one, 2017s
boarded Kaalakaandi, a co-pro- bais underbelly, the lm is a dark Rangoon made a painful dent in
duction with Indias Flying Unicorn comedy about six characters from Viacom 18 Motion Pictures bal-
Khan Entertainment that Cinestaan will re- different walks of life whose paths ance sheet. (RTRS)

NEWS/FEATURES
People & Places
Film
Riveting, resonant docu
Nobody Speak tests
freedom of information
By Owen Gleiberman
IyounAmendment
America, the cutting-edge meaning of the First
that its about protecting the speech
dont like often gets tested by the outer limits of
sleaze. Larry Flynt, the publisher of Hustler, became a
First Amendment poster boy because the magazine he
was selling was so offensively shabby and low-mind-
ed. (Thats what made it a more dening stress test
for free-speech rights than, say, Playboy.) In our era,
the rough equivalent of Jerry Falwells 1984 defama-
tion suit against Hustler, which ultimately went to the
Supreme Court (Falwell lost, 8-0), may be Hulk Ho-
gans invasion-of-privacy suit against Gawker. It was
about a celebrity tape, and things dont get much
sleazier than that. But the stark difference in outcome,
as captured by Brian Knappen-
bergers riveting and resonant
documentary Nobody Speak:
Trials of the Free Press, il-
lustrates how our priorities as a
culture are shifting, and not for
the better.
Nobody Speak isnt just
about the Gawker case. It casts
a wider net, interweaving several
key tales of how the forces of our
time namely, private money
Hogan and President Trump are now
trying to squash the essential
power of the press. What the lm offers is evidence of a
pattern, the shadows of a disturbing trend that add up to a
warning: If we, as a society, dont push back against the
chipping away of the freedom of information, its only
going to get worse, until it eats us alive.
The decimation of Gawker is Exhibit A, and Knap-
penberger is eager to fasten onto the larger implica-
tions of the case. Nobody Speak is 95 minutes long,
and its entire rst hour hour is devoted to chronicling,
in dramatic detail, the 2016 trial that pitted Hogan,
the former WWF superstar (who, by that point, was
well past his prime as a wrestler), against Gawker, the
news-and-gossip website that specialized in serving
up the kind of inside information often petty, but
not always about the egotistic foibles of showbiz,
politics, and media that respectable journalism prided
itself on leaving out.
Famous
Gawker, of course, was as famous for its tone as
its content; it specialized in a brand of high-handed
blood-sport ippancy that seemed to fuse the spirits
of Hedda Hopper, Oscar Wilde, Spy magazine, and a
particularly vengeful hanging judge. (Gawker didnt
just kick you when you were down; it kicked you with
a lip-licking grin.) As the movie reveals, Nick Denton,
the British founder and editor of Gawker, created a
kind of attack-dog karma that came back to haunt him.
Yet what got the site in legal trouble was simply the
fact that it posted excerpts from the Hulk Hogan tape:
the murky home video that depicted Hogan (nee Terry
Bollea) intimacy with Heather Clem, the wife of his best
friend, a radio host known as Bubba the Love Sponge.
Hogans attorney led a federal injunction against Gawk-
er to get the tape taken down, and when Gawker refused
to comply, they became the bulls-eye of a lawsuit.
The suit seemed to be based on the sheer embar-
rassment the situation caused Hogan, but the trial,
as it plays out in Nobody Speak, is a carnival of
contradiction. It was held in Hogans backyard of St
Petersburg, Florida, setting up Denton and his team
as snooty decadent New Yorkers tossing spitballs at
the heartland. (The judge, Pamela A.M. Campbell,
opened the trial with a blanket condemnation of the
elitist media.) And Hogans arguments appeared to be
shaky at best, since hed actually talked up the tape
himself, exploiting it for his own publicity purposes
on venues like The Howard Stern Show.
Yet Hogan claimed that when he did so, it was only
in the guise of a ctional character. He said, in essence:
Im not a roaring, handle-bar-mustached dyspeptic
goon who slams bodies and uses heads as chairs! I
just play one on TV! He claimed that Gawker, by
contrast, was guilty of invading the privacy of Terry
Bollea, a good citizen who was completely separate
from Hulk Hogan. Few would dispute that wrestling is
about creating a blowhard alter ego. Yet legally speak-
ing, this was a borderline crackpot defense, though
one made for an age in which people were about to
elect the host of The Apprentice as president.
Present
The other supremely dicey aspect of the Gawker
trial is that Denton and his team were never allowed
to present evidence to support their most powerful ar-
gument: that the real reason Hogan wanted to wipe
the tape off the map is that sections of it featured him
making homophobic comments and using the N-word
(multiple times). It was those sections, rather than the
activity that Gawker (barely) showed, that he feared
would destroy his career and reputation. And thats
why he wanted the tape suppressed.
When the judgment nally came down, Hogan was
awarded $140 million in damages, enough to bankrupt
Gawker out of existence. Tellingly, Hogan had with-
drawn the aspect of the suit that hinged on emotional
distress, which meant that the payment for damages
would no longer be covered by Gawkers insurance.
And that, as it turned out, was the point: The whole
lawsuit or, at least, Hogans side of it had been
bankrolled by Peter Thiel, the Silicon Valley billion-
aire, Ayn Rand freak, and Trump supporter who was a
sworn enemy of Gawker. Back in 2007, the site outed
Thiel as gay, and it had also run a number of scathing
items about the nancial condition of several of his
companies. He wanted his revenge.
It must be said that Peter Thiel had every right to
lend his full nancial support to Hulk Hogan; No-
body Speak is too cavalier about calling him on the
carpet for it. The true threatening miscarriage of jus-
tice in the Gawker trial was simply the insane amount
of money levied against Gawker, which exceeded
even the penalties in wrongful-death suits. It was the
jury system and the anti-media demagoguery of the
Trump era that was out of control and off the rails.
That said, a trend is undeniable: Americas bil-
lionaires have begun to use their resources to shape
justice, media, information, reality. And that certainly
includes President Trump, who we see numerous clips
of threatening to ratchet up the nations libel laws. The
nal section of Nobody Speak follows the Las Ve-
gas Review-Journal, the paper of record for Nevada,
and how it got purchased (in secret) by the billionaire
right-wing casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, who was
sick of reading scandalous tales of his business prac-
tices. The story of how the papers reporters had to
employ their muckraking skills just to uncover who
their new owner was in doing so, nearly all of them
lost their jobs makes for a valiant, if painful, chap-
ter in American newspaper journalism. (RTRS)
Left to right: Actors Freida Pinto, Connie Britton and Karen Gillan pose for a portrait during day two of the 2017 Maui Film Festival at Wailea in Wailea, Hawaii. (AFP)
This April 1, 2017 image provided by
David Handschuh shows broadcast
reporter Gabe Pressman, 93, during
the Inner Circle show in New York.
Pressman, an intrepid, Emmy-win-
ning journalist who still relished going
to work at the age of 93, died early
Friday at a Manhattan hospital. (AP)
Howard Lopez
Variety
LOS ANGELES: The role of women in the
industry, and the representation of female
experience seem unavoidable in the dis-
course on Southeast Asian cinema. Mouly
Surya, whose Marlina, the Murderer in
Four Acts, will unspool in Directors
Fortnight at Cannes, is not a working in
a vacuum. In fact, such directors as Nia
Dinata, Nan Achnas, Kamila Andini
and female producers including Christine
Hakim, Shanty Harmayn, Mira Les-
mana, Sheila Timothy and in recent years,
Meiske Taurisia, all wield their inuence
in an industry lled with opportunity.
Actress Hakim produced lms by Garin
Nugroho and Achnas, and helped propel
Silat ghter Iko Uwais from total obscurity
to fame through Merantau. Through
her company Miles Films, Lesmana has
produced Riri Rizas entire repertoire, in-
cluding the runaway hit Rainbow Troops.
She also nurtured the careers of Edwin
(Postcards From the Zoo) and Taurisia.
The latter, who started as a costume de-
signer on Rizas Three Days to Forever,
has produced all of Edwins lms starting
with his experimental shorts. (RTRS)
NEW YORK: Ron Howard is taking com-
mand of the Han Solo Star Wars spinoff
after the surprise departure of directors Phil
Lord and Christopher Miller.
Lucaslm announced their replacement
director Thursday, two days after Lord and
Miller left the project over creative differ-
ences. Howard gives the reeling production
a veteran hand in the wake of Lord and
Millers exit in the midst of shooting.
Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucas-
lm, said lming will resume July 10. The
untitled lm, which stars Alden Ehrenreich
as a young Han Solo, is about three-quarters
of the way through production. It has several
weeks of shooting left, along with reshoots.
Howard has shepherded Oscar winners
like A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13. including Tonka, that allegedly are languishing in a former breeding facility con-
But his recent lms, including the Da
Vinci Code sequel Inferno and In the In the federal lawsuit, PETA is seeking to transfer Tonka and 10 other chimpan-
Heart of the Sea, have struggled at the box
Film
Actors comments latest in celebrity anger
Depp apologizes for assassin joke
NEW YORK, June 24, (Agencies):
Johnny Depp apologized Friday for
joking about assassinating Donald
Trump during an appearance at a large
festival in Britain, the latest example
of artists using violent imagery when
dealing with the president.
When was the last time an actor
assassinated a president? Depp asked
the crowd at Glastonbury Festival, in
reference to the death of Abraham Lin-
coln by John Wilkes Booth in 1865.
The 54-year-old Pirates of the Car-
ibbean star then added: I want to
clarify, I am not an actor. I lie for a liv-
ing. However, it has been awhile and
maybe it is time.
Depp said in a statement Friday that
he did not intend any malice and was
trying to be amusing.
I apologize for the bad joke I at-
tempted last night in poor taste about
President Trump, the statement said.
It did not come out as intended, and
I intended no malice. I was only trying
to amuse, not to harm anyone.
White House spokesman Sean Spic-
er said Friday the lack of outrage
over Depps comments was a little
troubling.
The president has made it clear that
we should denounce violence in all of
its forms. And if we are going to hold
to that standard than we should agree
that that standard be universally called
out, he said.
That message was undercut when
an adviser to Trumps campaign who
called for Hillary Clinton to be shot
visited the White House just hours be-
fore Spicer spoke to the media.
Al Baldasaro, who advised Trump
on veterans issues, said last summer
that he believed Clinton committed
treason for putting American lives at
risk while secretary of state. He then
said anyone that commits treason
should be shot.
On the Depp comments, the Se-
cret Service in a statement that it was
ofce. (AP)
LOS ANGELES: Documentary short 4.1
Actor Alan Cumming speaks while holding a photograph of himself with Tonka,
his chimpanzee co-star from the 1997 lm Buddy during an announcement on
June 23, in Los Angeles with PETA on a legal claim to transfer 11 chimpanzees,
ned to cramped cages in an apparent violation of the Endangered Species Act.
zees from the Missiouri Primate Foundation to accredited sanctuaries. (AFP)
aware of the comments in question.
For security reasons, we cannot dis-
cuss specically nor in general terms
the means and methods of how we per-
form our protective responsibilities.
Depp was at the festival Thursday to
introduce a screening of his 2004 lm,
The Libertine.
He seemed to know his comments
were going to get him into trouble,
prefacing his remarks with, By the
way, this is going to be in the press.
It will be horrible. Depps remarks
came eight days after a gunman opened
re on Republican lawmakers as they
practiced for a charity baseball game.
Violence
Depps remarks come weeks after
The Public Theater in New York was
criticized for its production of Julius
Caesar that portrayed a Trump-like
dictator in a business suit with a long tie
who gets knifed to death onstage. The
theater said it never advocates violence
as a solution to political problems.
The show followed condemnation
for comedian Kathy Grifn, who lost
her job co-hosting CNNs New Years
Eve special and had all her upcoming
comedy shows canceled after posing
for a photograph in which she gripped
a likeness of the presidents severed,
bloody head. Pop star Madonna also
was criticized for saying at a rally that
she had thought an awful lot about
blowing up the White House.
Musicians have also gone after the
president, with a Snoop Doggs video
of him shooting a Trump-lookalike
clown and Moby putting out a video
in which Trump resembles a Nazi-like
Iron Man who takes over the world
with a missile-ring machine shaped
like a swastika and dollar symbol.
Trumps election has not quieted
many in the arts community who as-
sailed the candidate, with Robert
De Niro saying hed like to punch
Trump in the face, Carly Simon re-
Miles by Daphne Matziaraki from
UC Berkeley won the special jury prize
Thursday from British Academy of Film
and Television Arts Los Angeles Student
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
20
purposing her song Youre So Vain
into an anti-Trump anthem and sing-
er-rapper Will.i.ams damning video
GRABm by the ....
Other presidents have found them-
selves the target of celebrity ire, in-
cluding George W. Bush, who was
attacked by the Dixie Chicks and by
Kanye West, who famously said Bush
doesnt care about black people.
President Trump has condemned
violence in all forms and its sad that
others like Johnny Depp have not fol-
lowed his lead, said Trumps spokes-
woman Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
I hope that some of Mr Depps col-
leagues will speak out against this type
of rhetoric as strongly as they would if
his comments were directed to a Dem-
ocrat elected ofcial.
Depp is the latest of a string of en-
tertainment industry gures to make
controversial statements about Trump.
Also:
LOS ANGELES: During an interview
at the Variety Studio in Cannes Lions,
the actor Ian McKellen had harsh
words for President Donald Trump if
he fails to follow through as seems
to be the case on a campaign prom-
ise to protect the rights of the LGBT
community.
Asked about the administrations at-
tempts to roll back gay and transgender
protections, McKellen said, If what
youre saying is true, its appalling and
quite unnecessary and very un-Ameri-
can. The gay rights movement began in
America. It began in San Francisco, it
began in Stonewall, the city where Don-
ald Trump was born and thrived.
The White House has refused to
acknowledge June as Pride Month. In
March, Trump quietly rolled back an
Obama-era rule, Fair Pay and Safe
Workplaces Executive Order. Many
argue that the move leaves female and
LGBT employees of federal contrac-
tors venerable to discrimination.
Film Awards in a gala ceremony at the
Theatre at Ace Hotel. The docu short was
nominated for an Oscar earlier this year.
BAFTA Los Angeles rst-ever student
lm award for animation presented by
Laika generated a tie between Alicja Jasina
of USC for Once Upon a Line and Kal
Athannassov, John McDonald, and Echo
Wu from Ringling College of Art & Design
for The Wishgranter. The prize for live
action was awarded to Jimmy Keyrouz
from Columbia for Nocturne in Black.
Matziaraki was also presented with the doc
student lm award for 4.1 Miles. (RTRS)
LOS ANGELES: Jennifer Lopez will
star in and produce the romantic comedy
Second Act for STXlms as part of the
companys efforts to focus on female-
driven movies.
STXlms touted the movie as being in
the vein of Working Girl and Maid in
Manhattan. Lopez will portray a big box
store employee who reinvents her life and
her lifestyle, which gets her the chance to
prove to Madison Avenue that street smarts
are as valuable as a college degree.
There are so many things I love about this
project and script, said Lopez. People try to
put women to sleep at a certain age. Second
Act is a story that empowers the every
woman to do more, to be more, and not limit
their dreams. I am thrilled to partner with
STX as they continue to create and empower
the female audience. (RTRS)

NEWS/FEATURES
Music
Silence not healthy
In Argentina, soothing
music cures the soul
BUENOS AIRES, June 24, (Agencies): Picture a hos-
pital: the bustle of harried doctors and nurses, time
dragging for lonely patients, and the pervasive sadness
of a place for the sick and dying.
And suddenly, theres music live, classical mu-
sic, the sounds of masters like Johannes Brahms and
Giuseppe Verdi to make it all a bit more bearable.
These unannounced ash
concerts are staged by an or-
ganization called Music for the
Soul, and on this particular day
at Alvarez Hospital in Buenos
Aires the artists are 70 musi-
cians, a choir, two sopranos
and a tenor.
They perform for free, and
most of the time with fellow
musicians they meet for the
rst time right then and there.
The network was created in
Verdi Argentina ve years ago and
now operates in 10 countries across three continents.
It is made up of professionals from prestigious or-
chestras who donate their time and passion to share
the soothing power of music.
The organization boasts more than 2,000 perform-
ers and has given some 300 concerts in a format that
has inspired similar programs in Uruguay, Chile, Bo-
livia, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, Italy, France and Is-
rael.
The force behind it all was a young orchestra utist
named Eugenia Rubio, who died of cancer at the age
of 24. She asked colleagues to play for her as doctors
tried to keep her comfortable in the nal months of
her life.
Eugenia was my partner, and although this idea
was born of suffering, we realized that music is a
magic channel that allows people to forget their pain,
their loneliness, their incapacity, said Jorge Bergero,
founder of the project and cellist for the orchestra of
the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires.
Carry
After Rubio died, we decided to carry on with 10
musicians and today there are more than 2,000 of us,
he said.
The organizations web page allows musicians to
volunteer and hospitals to request concerts. The only
pre-requisite is that the musicians be professionals.
The musicians come because they want to. They
do not get paid. No one is looking at their watch, said
Bergero.
Concerts are held on Mondays, the day that orches-
tras usually have off.
The musical scores are sent via email, and the mu-
sicians meet each other right before the show. They
rehearse right there on the spot.
I come to sing out of selshness because it helps
my spirit as well. It is my best therapy, said Soledad
de la Rosa, a soprano.
In the main lobby of the hospital in a lower middle
class neighborhood, applause and shouts of bravo!
ring out with the last notes of Verdis La Traviata.
The idea is not to disturb the routine of the hospital
but that is a tough task when the walls are reverber-
ating with the lively sounds of Brahms Hungarian
Dances.
Some nd it irritating but most people are fasci-
nated.
I had never heard an orchestra, says a lady named
Liliana, lming what she can for her sister, who is in a
bed three oors up.
The staircases are prime places to watch the concert
in the lobby and they ll quickly, with many of the
spectators wearing medical garb.
Music has a healing effect because it is related to
spirituality, and in patients who are approaching the
end of their lives it allows them to reconnect with joy,
happiness and emotion. It is absolutely therapeutic,
said Ana Maria Soriano, director of palliative care in
the hospitals cancer ward.
Out of nowhere, a patient asks permission to sing
and surprises everybody. Claudia Llovet is a soprano
who came to the hospital for treatment and knows all
about how music helps ght sickness.
Recognize
I used to sing to my mother when she had Alz-
heimers. She did not recognize me anymore, and this
was the only way for her to connect with me, said
Llovet.
When the concert ends, eight musicians and two
singers head off through the hallways of the hospital
to hold smaller performances in patients rooms.
Doctors get ustered when people with violins and
double basses barge in. But the hospital management
is OK with it all.
Play another, please, says a man named Daniel.
He is 68 years old and has been an invalid for two. It
is a joy for the soul. Classical music is better than any
kind of medicine.
Further back in the room a young woman leans
down toward her sick grandmother and together they
make as if they were dancing to the music of Verdi.
It touches me to see how this affects the patients.
For a short while, they stop thinking about their ill-
ness and focus on the music, which lls the heart with
happiness, said Laura Cordero, the director of the
hospital.
Then, as if an invisible conductor waved an imagi-
nary baton, the intimate concert ends and with a sigh a
nurse says, we are a hospital again.
Also:
LOS ANGELES: On Sunday during BET Awards
Weekend, One Church LA and BET join forces to
launch Celebration of Gospel Live on the main stage
of BETX in and near the Los Angeles Convention
Center. A city-wide gospel experience, the four-hour
event brings praise and worship to the BET Experi-
ence. Doors open at 10:45am, and the event begins
at 11:15am.
Hosted by One Church LA husband-and-wife pas-
tors Toure Roberts and Sarah Jakes Roberts, the
four-hour-long event features performances from
Major, Tasha Cobbs, Jonathan McReynolds,
Mali Music, and Israel Houghton. In addition,
One Church LA dance ministry One Movement
will present a special presentation choreographed
by A-list choreographer, TV personality, director,
singer, actress, dancer, and congregation member
Laurieann Gibson, who has worked with Lady
Gaga, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj and others.
About Celebration of Gospel Live, Toure com-
ments, Were very thankful to BET for granting One
Church LA an unbelievable platform to share our mes-
sage during BET Weekend. Were making the most
of this incredible opportunity with an unforgettable
experience.
Singer Lorde performs on the Other Stage at the Glastonbury music festival at Worthy Farm, in Somerset, England on June 23. (AP)
Romy Madley Croft of The xx performs
on the Pyramid stage at the Glaston-
bury Festival of Music and Performing
Arts on Worthy Farm near the village
of Pilton in Somerset, south-west
England on June 23. (AFP)
Earle Lambert
Variety
NEW YORK: The New York Philharmonics
outgoing music director Alan Gilbert was
named Friday to lead the NDR Elbphilharmo-
nie Orchestra in Hamburg, whose ambitions
are rising with a landmark new building.
Gilbert, whose eight-year tenure at the
pre-eminent US orchestra has been marked
by explorations of new work and growing
global outreach, will become chief conduc-
tor of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra
later this year, it said.
The announcement comes months after
the opening of the Elbphilharmonie, a
glassy, acoustically cutting-edge concert
house on the Elbe River with sweeping
views of Germanys second largest city.
With a roof that resembles waves, the
Elphie has raised hopes of becoming a
modern cultural symbol of Germany akin
to the Sydney Opera House. (AFP)
NASHVILLE, Tenn: Alt-country rocker
Steve Earle and country star Miranda
Lambert shared writing credit on one
of Lamberts biggest hits from her debut
album in 2005, but the two never actually
got into a writers room until more than a
decade later.
Lambert wrote the song Kerosene,
the album title track, which led to her rst
Grammy nomination. But she later decided
it sounded too similar to a song penned by
Earle, so she gave him credit.
I hate telling her this, but I would have
never done anything about it, said the
62-year-old Grammy-winning songwriter
known for songs like Copperhead Road.
Its a gift from Miranda the way I see it.
But that connection and a chance meet-
ing between the two at a beauty salon
lead Earle to decide it was nally time to
do a proper co-write with one of country
musics biggest stars. (AP)
LOS ANGELES: Queen and Adam
Lambert took the stage at Jimmy Kimmel
Live! on Thursday night (June 22) for
their rst live appearance in the United
States since 2014.
The band fronted by the American Idol
season-eight runner-up, which is set to start
a US tour in Phoenix on Friday night (June
23), kickstarted the summer trek with a short
set in Hollywood that included a preview of a
new original song, TwoFux.
This one is dedicated to Freddie him-
self, Lambert shouted from the stage to
cheers at the mention of the late Freddie
Mercurys name.
True to form, The song captures the
operatic feel of Queens music as Lambert
sings, No one gets me like myself / Ive
Music
London tower block charity single tops charts
UKs Radiohead take aim at May
GLASTONBURY, England, June 24,
(RTRS): Britains Radiohead returned
to Glastonburys Pyramid Stage on
Friday, 20 years after a legendary per-
formance at the festival, with a set that
mocked Prime Minister Theresa Mays
election campaign and pulled songs
from nearly all of their albums.
The band from Oxfordshire, Eng-
land, rst headlined in 1997, one of the
wettest years in the festivals history,
when they lifted a sodden crowd with
music from their album OK Com-
puter.
Featuring songs about alienation,
capitalism and modern technology,
the bands third album sounds oddly
prescient in a politically divided and
anxious Britain in 2017.
Fans expected OK Computer to
feature heavily in the set on Friday, the
same day a version of the album was
re-released, including tracks that did
not make the cut 20 years ago, called
OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997
2017.
The band opened with Daydream-
ing from last years A Moon Shaped
Pool, followed by Lucky, the rst
of a host of OK Computer tracks that
included Exit Music (For a Film),
Let Down, Paranoid Android and
Karma Police.
Singer Thom Yorke changed the
lyric at the end of the song Myxoma-
tosis to strong and stable, apparent-
ly mocking a slogan that May repeated
many times in her campaign.
See you later Theresa; Shut the
door on the way out, Yorke said, in
one of his few addresses to the crowd.
May has yet to form a stable govern-
ment in Britain, more than two weeks
after an inconclusive national election.
Radioheads two-hour show went
down well with fans, but left some
newcomers underwhelmed, evidenced
by a steady stream of people heading
off to other stages.
Tom Martin, a 30-year old from
Cork, Ireland, was not disappointed by
a band he had long followed. It was
the best gig Ive ever seen, he said.
Earlier in the day, English duo Roy-
al Blood drew a huge Pyramid Stage
crowd for a masterclass in straight,
hard rock as their second album How
Did We Get So Dark? went straight to
the top of the charts.
Lead singer and guitarist Mike Kerr,
who formed the band with drummer
been this way since I was 12, and declares
he has the magic of OCD. Brian May
also adds a classic solo. (RTRS)
Volunteer members of Musica Para el Alma (Music for the Soul) perform for pa-
tients at the Alvarez Hospital in Buenos Aires on June 12. Musica Para el Alma
is a project born in Argentina involving members of symphonic orchestras and
choirs interested in helping people by sharing their music in hospitals, special
education schools, nursing homes and different public institutions. (AFP)
Ben Thatcher in 2013, said playing
the main stage at the worlds biggest
greeneld festival was life-changing,
terrifying and ridiculous.
The festival started with a minute of
silence on Friday morning in memory
of recent terror attacks and the devas-
tating Grenfell Tower re before Haci-
enda Classical eased revellers into the
rst day of music.
Peter Hook, the bass player from
Manchester bands Joy Division and
New Order, led the crowd in reecting
on our hopes and our prayers for life,
love and freedom, the things we are
here to celebrate.
Other performers on the main stage
at Worthy Farm in south-west Eng-
land, included 81-year-old Kris Krist-
offerson and English indie band the xx.
A charity single released to raise
money for survivors of the Grenfell
Tower block re reached the top spot
in the British charts on Friday after
selling more than 170,000 copies.
The track is a cover of Simon &
Garfunkels Bridge Over Trou-
bled Water by 50 artists including
Stormzy, Emeli Sande, Robbie Wil-
liams and Paloma Faith.
It was released one week after the avoided the red carpet, and, wearing
re in west London on Wednesday and a cap and sporting ginger-brown hair
had the biggest sales of any single this
decade on its rst day, selling 120,000
copies, the Ofcial Charts Company
said in a statement.
Second-fastest
The single was the second-fastest
selling one of the year, after Ed Sheer-
ans Shape of You.
Seventy-nine people are presumed
to have died in the blaze at Grenfell
Tower, a council-owned apartment
complex built in 1974 and refurbished
last year.
The video for the single featured the
aftermath of the blaze, including re-
ghters in tears as they left the build-
ing and horried bystanders.
The song starts with an emotional
rap by Stormzy. those featured in the series) and col-
I dont know where to begin so Ill leagues with whom they worked
start by saying I refuse to forget you/I
refuse to be silenced/I refuse to neglect
you, the grime star sings.
Proceeds from sales of the song and
extra donations will go to Artists for
Grenfell, which was set up to support
survivors and victims families.
LOS ANGELES: The Grammy Museum
will honor 16-time Grammy winner
David Foster at its third annual Gala,
taking place Sept. 19 at The Novo in Los
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
21
The song was organised by music
mogul Simon Cowell.
Also on Friday the English Football
Association said that around 1.25
million (1.4 million euros, $1.6 mil-
lion) in proceeds expected from the
Community Shield game in August
between Chelsea and Arsenal would
go to survivors of the re.
Two great London clubs will come
together to play at the citys most fa-
mous stadium just a few miles from
Kensington, FA chairman Greg
Clarke said in a statement.
They will be united in their passion
for football, grief at this tragic loss and
support for their community, he said.
Also:
LOS ANGELES: The tip sheet was rela-
tively short for the premiere of HBOs
The Deant Ones at Los Angeles
Paramount Studios on Thursday night
(June 22), but betting a fete honor-
ing Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine
and the four-part documentary about
their lives directed by Allen Hughes
it had power. Among the rap and
rock royalty in attendance: Kendrick
Lamar, Trent Reznor, Puff Daddy,
Pharrell Williams, Jared Leto, and,
in a rare appearance, Eminem, who
and beard, took a seat in the Paramount
Theatre behind his longtime collabora-
tor Dr Dre.
Also making the scene was Inter-
scope Geffen A&M chairman John
Janick and Apples Robert Kondrck,
the latter curiously wearing a Capitol
Records T-shirt. (DJ Khaled appeared
to have missed the festivities because
social media duties beckoned fair
enough since his new album, Grateful,
was ofcially released at midnight.)
The story of the Dre, trailblazing
rapper, and Iovine, the music man-
turned-executive, both moguls in
their own right today, is told primarily
through those artists (Bruce Springs-
teen, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, Bono,
and Snoop Dogg are just a few of
Iovine, starting as an engineer in New
York City, which segued into studio
sessions and production credits with
Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen;
and Dre as a edgling DJ and rapper,
who made history with L.A.s own
N.W.A.
Angeles. Foster will receive the Archi-
tects of Sound Award in recognition of
his contributions to music, which include
Grammys for his work with Whitney
Houston, Barbra Streisand, Earth,
Wind & Fire, Michael Buble and more.
The benefit will support the Museums
newly expanded music education pro-
grams, which were integrated with those
of its sister organization, the Grammy
Foundation, earlier this year.
We are thrilled to be celebrating such
an inuential talent and powerhouse music
gure as David Foster for our rst major
fundraising event since integrating the
Grammy Museum and Grammy Founda-
tion, said Scott Goldman, who was
recently named the museums executive
director. (RTRS)
PARIS: Harry Potter star Emma
Watson spent Thursday hiding copies of
Margaret Atwoods classic novel The
Handmaids Tale across Paris to promote
feminism.
Im hiding copies all over Paris! the
actor best known for playing Hermione
Granger said on Twitter.
Atwoods 1985 novel which has
now been turned into a hit television series
starring Elisabeth Moss of Mad Men
fame is about a dystopian world where
women are reduced to being the child-bear-
ing slaves of male masters. (AFP)
 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

NEWS/FEATURES 22

People & Places

PARIS a guy thing

Dries Van
Noten
Berluti
Berluti

Christian Dada

Cerrutis saleable show

Sports meet fashion

PARIS, June 24, (AP): Its rare that an event can upstage a
top Paris Fashion Week show taking place in the French capi-
tals ornate Grand Palais.
But guests arriving at the Cerruti display witnessed one
and ocked to take in a major aquatic spectacle happening Issey Miyake
on and below the gilded Alexandre III bridge as Paris tried
to woo Olympic ofcials in its bid to host the 2024 Summer
Olympics. Above and below: Models display crea-
Here are the highlights of Fridays spring-summer 2018 tions by Berluti, Issey Miyake, Dries
menswear collections at Paris Fashion Week. Van Noten, Christian Dada and Louis
Fashionistas gathered around cheering crowds Friday as Vuitton during the Mens Fashion Week
synchronized divers plunged off diving boards on Paris fa- for the Spring/Summer 2018 collection
in Paris on June 23. (AFP)
mous Alexandre III bridge, twisting in the air before splash-
ing into the cool water.
To boost the citys 2024 Summer Olympics bid, Paris cre-
ated an ephemeral Olympic swimming pool in the River Seine.
Its an incredible distraction, said Flaunt magazine fash- roof of the art deco museum onto a
ion editor Long Nguyen, spectating. Paris is a global capital huge 16-metre high (52-foot) scaf-
for fashion, wouldnt it be great if it were the same for sports folded catwalk that wound its way
and athletics? down around its monumental facade
High-divers plunged, while trampoline athletes somer- and fountains. (AFP)
saulted inside the Petit Palais art museum. Runners raced on
a oating track as the City of Light turned some of its world- LONDON: Leading shoe and designer
famous landmarks over to sports for two days in the hopes of clothing labels including Nike and
wowing the International Olympic Committee. Puma have made progress in tackling
forced labour in their leather supply
Cerruti Issey Miyake chains but could do more to address
Chief Creative Ofcer Jason Basmajian the issue at tanneries and ranches pro-
of Cerruti 1881 brings as much a business ap- viding hides, according to a study.
proach to his fashion designs as an artistic one. It raised particular concern over
Fridays saleable collection was a case in point. Chinas largest shoe retailer, Belle In-
While the 49 looks didnt break any molds ternational, which failed to provide any
information on its leather supply chain
barring the odd gold tuxedo they were el- in a survey and made no commitments
egant, masculine and highly wearable. for improvements.
Loose suits with baggy, sometimes Bermu- The survey of ve footwear and
da, shorts and wide-pleated pants dened the ve luxury clothes brands was done
pared down aesthetic rendered crisper by the by KnowTheChain, a resource for
shows bright white medical lighting. Slicked back hair, businesses and investors wanting to ad-
round shades, belt straps hanging from the waist and tassels dress forced labour within their supply
Fashion

accessorized these styles alongside large wide-toed leather chains.

shoes or sneakers. It said information from the 10
This display was very much tailored for a masculine man companies generally revealed very
whos not interested in modern menswears amboyant ex- little on how apart from auditing
cesses. suppliers they addressed forced
Despite this, Basmajian was not afraid of using color. labour risks in countries which produce
Yellow-green, coral, pale peach, navy, burnt caramel, cream hides, process leather and manufacture
and dusty ultramarine all made it into Cerrutis menswear leather goods.
But it singled out Adidas for
fashions but they were always handled with restrain. praise, saying the German sportswear
Berluti sports of surng, windsurng, trek- manufacturer had trained tanneries in
Louis king and hiking. Taiwan and China on how to deal with
Chicago Bulls NBA star Dwyane Wade and his actress Vuitton All of which challenges Jones mod- forced labour risks, and was taking
wife Gabrielle Union joined fashion power couple model els were dressed to bravely confront in steps to address risks at hide suppliers
Natalia Vodianova and husband, LVMH luxury group heir, Christian Dada socks and sandals. in Brazil and Paraguay.
Antoine Arnault at Berlutis splashy evening fashion show. The sportwear heavy collection Belle, which sells both its own
Inside the storied stone courtyard of Paris former mint, guests seemed to be out to combine wetsuit brands and international brands, could
basked in the last rays of sunlight and hobnobbed with the stars Issey Miyake and business suit, with a shiny, not immediately be reached for com-
before Fridays last major show got off to its tardy start. rainsoaked windcheater sheen to much ment.
Mens, and some womens, styles (on models of both sex- of Jones creations which included a Poor working conditions in leather
es) fused effortlessly in the color-rich and saleable display. crocodile skin cardigan, and imaginary supply chains have been well document-
But this collection remained rmly masculine in its un- Hawaiian patterns turning up on his ed over the years, with evidence from
fussy shapes, boxy silhouettes and simple color palette of Aloha-inuenced shirts. countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh,
sienna, blue gray, stone and white. Jawing dropping as so many and India revealing abusive practices
besocked sandals were, the most including child labour, the study said.
Gently pleated pants baggy and loose on the hip spectacular sight of the day was the set It noted that workers at shoe
touched on one of the seasons trends and provided the of the Rick Owens show outside the factories in China - the worlds largest
collections leitmotif: a thick colored waistband that bisected Palais de Tokyo museum. footwear producer - had reported being
the body. The Los Angeles avant gardist sent forced to work overtime. Punishments
Issey Miyake out his goth army of models from the for those who refused included having
allowances docked or demotion.
The study said forced labour was a
embarrassing uncles appeared in three hanna began the rehabilitation of the Drake which may yet mark the ofcial signicant problem on cattle ranches in
Variety major menswear shows, with no less
than Louis Vuitton giving them its
look regarded as a sartorial abomina-
tion when she was spotted in black
catwalk coming out of the socks-
and-sandals trend.
Brazil, the worlds largest hide-produc-
ing country, with young men ending up
imprimatur. slide sandals and socks in April. Jones said his inspiration for the in debt bondage after being brought to
Its British designer Kim Jones sent The horror had hardly subsided show came from his reading of the plantations by labour brokers.
PARIS: Sandals with socks are no out nearly 20 models in his Hawaii- when the second most famous Kar- Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands We believe that all companies
longer a fashion faux pas worthy of a themed show in sandals and socks. dashian, model Kendall Jenner, turned I Have Not Visited and Never Will. in our case study either source or
ogging. In fact, they are positively the Pigalle followed suit with Nike san- up on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Someone gave me the book... and I potentially source hides from Brazil
way to go if Paris catwalks Thursday dals while Ami went one step beyond Festival in high-heeled sandals and realised Id been to about all of them, and/or produce leather goods in China,
are any indication. into total taboo territory with white twinkly transparent socks in May. he said. thus are exposed to countries where we
The dorky look previously conned socks and sandals. Vuitton commissioned a song for But Hawaii was his principal source, know forced labour risks are the great-
to superannuated boy scouts and Singer turned fashion maven Ri- its show from the Canadian rapper he said, specically its extreme Rihanna Jenner est, the report said. (RTRS)

Summer of Slime: DIY goo takes over tweens lives
ST PETERSBURG, Florida, June 24,
(AP): Call this The Summer of Slime.
The slime trend is probably hap-
pening right now in your home, if you
live with a tween girl. Or maybe its
on your phone, in endless video loops
that crackle and pop on Instagram and
YouTube.
For Boomers and Gen X-ers who
arent aware, slime is like modern-day
Silly Putty. Or Play-Doh. But instead
of being able to copy newsprint on the
gooey substance (remember news-
print?) or sculpt a grubby, avocado-
green animal that resembles a Picasso
nightmares, 21st century slime is slick
and pretty. Its DIY and social media
ready.
Its bright and uffy, crunchy and
glittery. Like unicorn poop would be,
if unicorns existed and pooped.
Its just really soothing to touch
and stuff, observes Stella Templin, a
13-year-old from Northampton, Mas-
sachusetts. And the noises it makes
are really, really satisfying.
Full disclosure: this reporter
A yer of the event.
click
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There are no fees. This is a genuine
You get to be little scientific, little creative at the same time
purchased a 4-oz jelly jar of Cherry
Bomb Slime from Stella who, with a
friend, has a slime-making business
that sells the concoctions for $8 each.
Yes, they are slime-trepreneurs.
More on that in a minute. Lets
back up and explain these blobs that
have taken America by storm. Its
mostly girls who make it, video it and
sell it.
Slime is easy to create with a bit
of a mad-scientist feel to the process.
Sure, theres pre-made slime, but
theres not much excitement in that.
Glue, baking soda and contact lens
solution are all it takes to make satis-
fyingly stretchy slime. Some recipes
call for Borax (although concerns over
chemical burns have led some goo-
makers to substitute other ingredi-
ents), shaving cream or Tide laundry
detergent.
The optimal slime is not too wet,
not too sticky, stretchy and malleable.
When squooshed by hand, it emits sat-
isfying pops and bubbles, sounds that
are part of the allure. Some fans watch
Events
public service.
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as National Breast Cancer Aware-
videos of people playing with slime
because they nd the noises relaxing.
Satisfying
The videos are satisfying because
they help people calm down, said
Alyssa Jagan, a 15-year-old from To-
ronto, whose Instagram slime videos
have hundreds of thousands of views.
Especially people with anxiety. My
followers have said it helps them
sleep.
Elmers, the venerable childhood
glue, has pages of slime recipes on its
website. Colored slime, glitter slime,
galaxy slime. Large, jumbo and extra-
large slime. It also has a helpful FAQ
on slime, with pressing questions such
as Is there any way to revive old,
hardened slime? (Try adding water
and kneading with your hands) and
Can slime be used on furniture or
walls? (Absolutely not.)
It takes one bottle of Elmers
glue to make one batch of slime, and
many consumers are making multiple
batches or extra-large batches of
slime so demand in glue is up
A yer of the event.
Cancer online support group: If
ber ghting with this deadly disease,
come join our online support group.
Best way of dealing with this disease
is providing support and share our ex-
of things which even doctors cant tell
so be member of this website and start
sharing your experiences which may
help others. October is recognized
signicantly since the slime trend took
off, Elmers spokeswoman Caitlin
Watkins wrote in an email.
Because of the increased demand,
the Elmers team boosted production
of various glues. Many parents feel
the need to purchase glue in gallon
jugs online because of shortages in
brick-and-mortar stores.
At least one teacher reports that
tubs of glue have been stolen from
schools for at-home slime-making.
Its really the most basic science
recipe that you can have. You can put
basic ingredients together and you
get to be a little scientic and a little
creative at the same time, and I think
people enjoy that, said Amy Ander-
son, a blogger at Mod Podge Rocks,
who is planning on showcasing slime
recipes this summer.
The goo has become something of a
cottage industry for tweens who want
to earn a bit of pocket money, or at
least cover the cost of supplies. Alyssa
has an Etsy store, and Stella and her
friend sell on another site.
ness Month (NBCAM). The primary
purpose is to promote self examina-
tion and screening mammography as
the most effective way to save lives by
detecting breast cancer at early stage.
For more information visit: http://
ghtingwithcancer.webs.com/
Latest
Indian Embassy notice: Indian
nationals are issued Emergency Cer-
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
In this June 21, 2017 photo, Astrid
Rubens demonstrates the elasticity
of homemade slime in her kitchen
in St Paul, Minnesota. (AP)
Slime has been one of our top
search items since last October, said
A yer of the event.
ticates (EC) to facilitate their one-
way travel to India due to urgency or
deportation, under the circumstances
of loss of passport or non-retrieval
of passport from their sponsors in
Kuwait. Since it is illegal to hold two
travel documents in India at the same
time, the concerned passport has to
be cancelled before an Emergency
Certicate (EC) is issued to an Indian
national. At times, Indian nation-
als who are either detained or due
23
Dayna Isom Johnson, a trend expert
at Etsy.
Slime can be annoying to parents,
which could be part of its lure, as
well.
Stellas mom, Naomi Shulman,
says that a batch of pink-dyed slime
has left streaks in the familys upstairs
bathroom sink that might not come
out.
Its also a way to connect with
others. Slime is tailor-made for social
media because its so pretty espe-
cially when it contains rainbow-col-
ored beads or shimmery blue glitter.
Since March 1, Elmers has re-
ceived nearly 200,000 social media
mentions about slime. And Alyssa,
the 15-year-old in Canada, has
nearly 650,000 fans on Instagram,
all because of her slime videos.
Her book, Ultimate Slime: DIY
Tutorials for Crunchy Slime, Fluffy
Slime, Fishbowl Slime, and 50
Other Oddly Satisfying Recipes-
-Totally Borax Free! comes out in
November.
for deportation may not have their
passports with them. They apply
for travel documents (Emergency
Certicate) either directly or through
Kuwait Police. In such cases, ECs are
issued to them after cancelling their
passports. However, in certain cases,
they recover their passports later
and travel on those passports which
already stand cancelled in data
Continued on Page 25

FB wants to nudge you into meaningful online groups
SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, (Agencies): At
Facebook, mere sharing is getting old. Find-
ing deeper meaning in online communities is
the next big thing.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg is no longer satised
with just connecting the world so that people
can pass around baby pictures and live video
or fake news and hate symbols. So the
Facebook founder wants to bring more mean-
ing to its nearly 2 billion users by shepherding
them into online groups that bring together
people with common passions, problems and
ambitions.
Much like the creation of Facebook itself
arguably the largest social-engineering project
in history that shift could have broad and
unanticipated consequences. Facebook will
apply the same powerful computer algorithms
that make its service so compelling to the task
of nudging people to consider groups theyll
nd equally appealing.
If successful, that would also encourage
people to spend more time on Facebook,
which could boost the companys prots.
While Facebook doesnt currently place ads
in its groups, it said it cant speak to future
plans. Advertising is virtually Facebooks
only source of revenue ; it brought in almost
$27 billion dollars in 2016, 57 percent more
than the previous year.
The shift comes as Facebook continues to
grapple with the darker side of connecting the
world, from terrorist recruitment to videos of
murder and suicides to propaganda intended
to disrupt elections around the world. For
Zuckerberg, using his social network to build
Literature
Ahmad al-Lahham, a Syrian storyteller, reads from his storybook in a Damascus coffeehouse on June 19. (AFP)
Gripping tales lure Syrians to Damascus cafe
DAMASCUS, June 24, (AFP): With a
slender sword in one hand and an antique
storybook in the other, Ahmad al-Lahham
captivates a packed Damascus coffeehouse
with tales of ancient kingdoms and brave
conquerers.
Every evening, the 58-year-old heads to
the cosy Nawfara cafe in the Old City of
Syrias war-torn capital to perform as a tradi-
tional Arabic storyteller or hakawati.
He sheds his furniture makers outt and
dons a bright red Ottoman-style cap, or tar-
boosh, reading out handwritten stories from
the curling, yellowing pages of an old book.
This occupation is steadily going extinct.
I am the only hakawati left in the Old City,
he says. If I stop, there will be no storytell-
ers left.
Lahham, who also goes by the stage name
Abu Sami, settles into an ornately-carved
wooden chair on a raised platform overlook-
ing the cafe, where young men sip tea and
smoke on bubbling water pipes.
Clearing his throat, he opens with a well-
known tale of 13th-century ruler Baibars
before moving on to the heroic antics of
Antarah Ibn Shaddad, a pre-Islamic knight.
He says such tales of courage and conquest
have become much more popular, at the
expense of traditional poems or romantic
stories, since Syrias war erupted in 2011.
We went through a period where we
wouldnt come out much, but the owner of
this coffee shop insisted that hakawatis con-
tinue to tell stories even if he and I were
the only ones left, Lahham says.
But today, as you can see, the situation is
much better, and dozens of people wait for
me every night.
The storytelling nights usually happen
once a week but during the Muslim holy
month of Ramadan, which ends this week-
end, the show is daily.
Listeners pack the cafe in the shadow
of the famed Ummayad mosque late in the
Facebook offers Indian women tools to protect privacy
community and bring the world closer
together two phrases from Facebooks
newly updated mission statement is a big
part of the answer.
When you think of the social structure of
the world, we are probably one of the larger
institutions that can help empower people
to build communities, Zuckerberg said in a
recent interview at the companys ofces in
Menlo Park, California. There, I think we
have a real opportunity to help make a differ-
ence.
Zuckerberg outlined his latest vision at
a communities summit held Thursday in
Chicago. Its the companys rst gathering
for the people who run millions of groups on
Facebook, a feature the company rolled out
years ago to little fanfare. Facebook is also
rolling out new administrative tools intended
to simplify the task of screening members
and managing communities in hopes that will
encourage people to create and cultivate more
groups.
Collections
Facebook groups are ad hoc collections of
people united by a single interest; they offer
ways to chat and organize events. Originally
conceived as a way for friends and family to
communicate privately, groups have evolved
to encompass hobbies, medical conditions,
military service, pets, parenthood and just
about anything else you could think of.
To Zuckerberg, now 33, the effort to foster
meaningful communities reects his recent in-
terest in ways Facebook can make the world a
less divisive place, one that emerged following
We come to forget
evening after breaking their fast.
Many stay until the early hours of the
morning to enjoy some sustenance before the
fast resumes at dawn.
Reaching
Damascus residents have grown ac-
customed to regular rocket and mortar re
from rebel-held districts on the edges of the
capital, with occasional rounds even reaching
the Old City.
But those fronts have calmed since a May
deal that saw opposition ghters withdraw
from several neighbourhoods, along with a
separate agreement on de-escalation zones
including one in a rebel stronghold just
outside the capital.
Even so, the war is never far away, and
listeners at Nawfara say the hakawati nights
help them escape it, even if just for a few
hours.
Were living every little part of the crisis
everywhere we go. Every media outlet broad-
casts tragedies. So we come to the coffee
shops to forget the hakawatis tales help
us do that, 49-year-old Mohammad Duyub
says.
A regular at Nawfara for over 20 years,
he occupies a prime seat in the corner of the
cafe, a ribbon of smoke curling up from his
water pipe as he watches the storyteller.
His performance takes us back to the past
to escape the reality were living, he says.
The hakawati gives us space to breathe.
Mohammad Jaafar, 57, closes his eyes and
focuses on Abu Samis booming voice.
Since Ramadan started, Ive made sure
to follow the story of Sultan Baibars because
its exciting and beautiful. It reminds us of
the powerful history that were proud of
compared to our current situation, he says.
Nawfaras wood-panelled walls and ceil-
ing are decorated with Damascene mosaics
which, its owner says, date back to the 17th
century.
One wall features rows of framed pho-
the fractious 2016 presidential election.
He has previously talked about the need to a psychologist at the University of North
bring people together in both a lengthy mani-
festo published earlier this year and during his
commencement address at Harvard University
last month.
Thats the theory. Practice is something
else.
Data-driven to its core, Facebook has quan-
tied meaning so it can be sure people are
getting more of it. And what Facebook aims to
maximize is the time people spend in its online
groups. Whenever someone spends at least 30
minutes a week in a group, Facebook classies
it as meaningful. The company estimates that lls some space that would otherwise feel
that 130 million of its users are in such groups;
it aims to boost that to over a billion by 2022.
Facebook has already been tweaking its al-
gorithms to recommend more groups to users.
Those changes have increased the number of
people in meaningful groups by 50 percent
over the past six months, Zuckerberg said a
testament to the power of algorithms on human
behavior.
Of course, anything that keeps people
coming back to Facebook also gives it more
opportunities to learn about their interests and
other personal details that help it sell advertis-
ing, according to analysts.
Its really simple economics: If users are
spending time on Facebook, theyre seeing
more ads, said eMarketer analyst Debra
Williamson. Increasing user engagement is a
necessity for Facebook.
Virtual communities can ll a fundamental
need we have for a sense of belonging, much
tographs of historical gures who feature
in Abu Samis tales as well as a simple
portrait of an elderly man in a red tarboosh
and white robe.
The Arabic caption reads: Abdelhamid
al-Hawari, the rst hakawati of Damascus,
born 1885.
But the art of public storytelling is on the
decline, says Wassim Abdalhay.
The 32-year-old was once a full-time
hakawati but nancial woes forced him to
take a day job at a local power station.
During Ramadan, he performs each
evening at a luxurious downtown restaurant
under the stage name Abu Shadi, sporting
loose black pants, a white cap and his own
thick storybook.
Before the crisis, there was a huge group
of us who would travel to Gulf countries and
perform Damascene folklore. But because of
the situation, we werent able to travel so
we focused on preserving the tradition here,
Abdalhay tells AFP.
Were currently suffering a hakawati
shortage. I could count those that are left in
the country on one hand.
Also:
LONDON: Dressed in a long black gown
and holding a wand, George Massingham
is keen for everyone to know he is a Harry
Potter super fan.
If he isnt doing Professor Severus
Snape, the mysterious potions master at
Hogwarts School, the 27-year-old likes
to dress in some other costume relating
to J.K. Rowlings fantastical world of
witches and wizards.
Massingham said of his colleagues: They
dont react as much now as they used to.
They just sort of go oh, youre wearing that
again.
Monday marks 20 years since the release
of Harry Potter and the Philosophers
Stone, the rst of seven Potter books in
a series that sold 450 million copies in 79
like eating or sleeping, said Anita Blanchard,
Carolina at Charlotte whos studied them for
20 years.
Her research has also shown that online
communities can make people less intoler-
ant of opposing viewpoints. They get you
out of your own clothes and make connec-
tions across the U.S., making you realize
you can get along with people with different
beliefs, she said.
For Sarah Giberman, an artist and parent
who lives in Arlington, Texas, a meaningful
group is one that serves a need in your life,
vacant.
I spend a lot more time on Facebook
because of the groups than I would otherwise,
she said. Especially with the current sociopo-
litical climate, Im not comfortable being very
open in my regular newsfeed.
Also:
NEW DELHI: Facebook has introduced
new security features for women using the
social media platform in India, including the
ability to prevent strangers from download-
ing their prole pictures, the company said
Thursday.
Research by the social media giant found
that some Indian women were reluctant to
show their faces in their prole pictures, fear-
ing the images could be misused.
In response, Facebook teamed up with local
activists to develop two tools that offer women
greater control over their proles and help
keep them safe online, wrote product man-
languages and sparked a $7 billion movie
franchise.
Massingham is not the only super fan.
Tracey Nicol-Lewis, 43, and her 15-year-old
son Brenden like to dress up in Hogwarts
uniform for trips to the supermarket in Car-
diff, Wales.
Nicol-Lewis obsession with Rowlings
world of wizards started when her husband
gave her one of the books, Goblet of Fire,
shortly before he died.
We kind of clung to that, she said.
She has since spent around 40,000 pounds
($50,600) on all things Harry Potter, put-
ting together a collection of 2,506 pieces of
memorabilia.
South Wales prop-maker Victoria Ma-
clean, 37, has a similarly large collection of
Potter memorabilia decorating her home in
Cardiff.
She has a wizard-themed toilet, and her
mothers ashes sit in a glass jar replica of
Wolfsbane Potion a magical substance
from the Potter series that stops werewolves
being dangerous.
People are going to look at it and think
Im a complete freak, said Maclean, who
named her children Harry and Daniel after
British actor Daniel Radcliffe, who plays the
wizard in the movie franchise.
For 29-year-old Luke Williams, the link to
Radcliffe is even stronger. His dark hair, thin
nose, brown eyes and even his voice bear a
striking resemblance to Radcliffe, who rst
starred as Harry in the 2001 lm version of
The Philosophers Stone.
Plans to do a graphic design course were
scrapped as Williams embarked on a 15-
year career as a Potter impersonator. It has
taken him around the world to parties, book
launches and shows. But he longs for a dif-
ferent kind of attention.
The girls still squeal when Harry Potter
walks down the road ... but Id rather be a
Brad Pitt lookalike, Williams said.
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
24
ager Aarati Soman on the companys blog.
The rst safeguard identied by a small
shield and blue border on the image pre-
vents strangers from downloading, sharing or
tagging themselves in someone elses prole
picture, or taking a screen shot of the image.
The second overlays an additional design
on the image that research shows dissuades
people from making a copy of the image, So-
man added.
LOS ANGELES: Facebook will launch an app
later this year that will provide inuencers
on its platform the ability to better manage
content on its platform.
The announcement was made Friday at
Vidcon, where the company has elevated its
presence at the annual conference in order
to court content creators smaller than media
companies but with greater needs than average
Facebook users.
The app will feature a Live Creator Kit
that enables inuencers to more effectively
manage live broadcasts by adding intros and
outros, custom stickers and frames. The kit
will also facilitate communication among
the community of users following the in-
uencer, and serve up user data to optimize
future broadcasts. Anyone already using
Facebooks Mentions app will be automati-
cally added to new app.
Were building an app dedicated to you,
said Daniel Danker, product management
director, at Facebook. We see amazing
creativity from creators on Facebook every
day.
IT
Targeting ad
Google to stop
scanning Gmail
LOS ANGELES, June 24, (RTRS): No,
Google wont stop reading your emails.
And you may not actually want it to.
The search giant introduced a sig-
nicant change to the way it treats
its users emails Friday, announcing
that it will stop scanning the emails of
Gmail users to personalize advertising
later this year.
With that step, Google is getting rid
of one of its most controversial adver-
tising features. Ever since Google rst
introduced its free Gmail email service
some 13 years ago, it has been analyzing
the text of emails to personalize adver-
tising displayed both within Gmail and
elsewhere. Privacy advocates and con-
cerned users alike have long criticized
this as a far-reaching intrusion, but most
other free email services have been do-
ing the same or at least reserved the
rights to do so for years.
On Friday, Google announced that
it would stop personalizing advertising
based on emails in part to more closely
align its free Gmail service with the paid
email service it is offering to companies
through its G Suite service, which was
formerly known as Google Apps.
Google Cloud SVP Diane Greene said
in a blog post that more than 3 million
companies pay to use Google as their
email provider. Google has never used
these corporate accounts for ad person-
alization. By phasing out the practice for
free Gmail accounts, Google is likely
looking to ease any remaining concerns
from prospective G Suite customers.
Does this mean that Google will stop
looking at your email? Not exactly. The
company has also long been scanning
Gmail accounts for other reasons, and
in fact increased product personaliza-
tion based on the emails you get over
the years.
Delayed
The Google app on your phone, for
example, knows when your next ight
is leaving, and whether or not it has
been delayed, based on emails you get
from airlines and travel booking sites.
Similarly, Google Calendar has begun
to automatically add restaurant reserva-
tions and similar events to your sched-
ule based on the emails you are getting.
Google also has for some time automati-
cally scanned emails for links to poten-
tially fraudulent sites, as well as to lter
out spam.
All of this leads to an important ques-
tion: Is this kind of automated scanning
actually the same as someone reading
your email? The answer to that may be
more complicated than it sounds. Com-
puters looking for certain keywords
clearly arent the same as humans man-
ually reading each and every email.
However, as articial intelligence
(AI) advances, computers get a lot
smarter and can better make sense of the
emails in your inbox. Google has been
investing heavily in AI, and one of the
areas where it is using these new types
of technologies is email.
Case in point: The company recently
introduced a new feature dubbed Smart
Reply for Gmails mobile apps. Smart
Reply uses neural networks comput-
er algorithms designed to process infor-
mation similarly to the human brain
to gure out the main intent of an email,
and then suggest short and adequate
responses. Its an incredibly useful fea-
ture, it works surprisingly well and it
clearly requires for Googles computers
to read your email.
In the end, consumers need to decide
whether they want to trade privacy for
convenience and give Google access to
their data to power these kinds of fea-
tures and removing something like
ad personalization from the equation
may actually help Google to get more
buy-in from consumers.

Kurdish designers bring fight with IS to Paris catwalk
PARIS, June 24, (AFP): Dilan Lurr and his
sister Lezan often ask themselves where
would they be now if their parents had not
left Iraq when they were children.
Would they be fighting against
Islamic State like their cousins back in
Kirkuk?
What is almost certain they would not be
showing their rst collection at Paris fash-
ion week sandwiched in Fridays schedule
between storied brands such as Berluti and
Commes des Garcons.
But the brother and sister who were
brought up in Sweden have far from forgot-
ten the historically Kurdish city they left
behind at age nine and four.
They started their Namacheko mens-
wear label in 2015 as a way of expressing
our thoughts about our background, said
28-year-old Dilan.
We grew up in a very free space in
Sweden, where we could study and dream.
Our parents are religious but they have
always been very liberal with us.
But imagine how horrible is it if even
in your dreams you cannot be free, he told
AFP.
You always think where would I be
right now if we had stayed in Kirkuk, he
Lifestyle
Breaking barrier
Meal program
bridges divide
PHILADELPHIA, June 24, (AP): On
the menu, the avor proles seemed in-
congruous: Chinese dumplings, and a
Mexican chicken dish featuring an edible
weed.
But when dinner was served, the
guests seated and plates bearing foods
of three different cultures shared, it all
made sense.
The meal was part of Breaking
Bread; Breaking Barriers, a yearlong
program that brings people of different
backgrounds together for a meal featur-
ing their cultural favorites, bridging dif-
ferences one plate at a time.
People cooking and eating together
happens every day, but it doesnt often
happen across our social boundaries,
said Anuj Gupta, general manager of
Reading Terminal Market, the historic
and sprawling indoor market and home
to the program. Its an incredibly pow-
erful tool to cut through whatever social
barriers you want to erect.
Jews and Muslims have shared Jewish
apple cake and baklava as part of the pro-
gram. Members of the African-American
and Korean communities have come to-
gether to compare fried chicken recipes.
During the most recent gathering, resi-
dents of the citys Chinese and Mexican
communities enjoyed dinner with mem-
bers of the Philadelphia Mummers Asso-
ciation, a 10,000-strong civic association
behind the citys annual New Years Day
parade.
For much of their history, Mummers
groups included only white men. Women
werent allowed in the parade until a
few decades ago. The tradition is also a
family legacy, with many clubs based in
southern Philadelphia.
Tainted
While the 2017 parade was contro-
versy-free, past parades were tainted by
performances dubbed racist or culturally
insensitive. The Mummers have tried to
diversity, creating a division in 2015 spe-
cically for ethnic groups.
Before the meal, Chef Alice Ye taught
Mummer Jay Polakoff how to make
Chinese dumplings as the other diners
watched. Someone noted that Polakoffs
seemed a little, well, misshapen.
Gathered at tables, the 40 community
members shared details about the cultur-
al backgrounds and favorite foods. In one
grouping, the diners of Irish, German,
Polish, Mexican, Cambodian and Italian
descents talked about a dumpling be-
ing a universal food, with multiple cul-
tures having a version: pierogi, ravioli,
empanadas, kreplach. The conversation
owed thanks to a facilitator from the
Philadelphia Commission on Human Re-
lations.
They also reected on how food re-
lated to friends and family.
One of the neatest ways to promote
friendship is to share your ethnic food,
something youre so proud of, said Car-
ol Wong, an educator of Chinese descent.
Everyone agreed.
In Mexico, its all about food, said
Ivette Compean, who moved to the US
from Mexico six months ago. Theyre
always feeding you. Its how they tell us
they love us.
Breaking Bread; Breaking Barriers
was created with an $85,000 grant from
the nonprot John S. and James L Knight
Foundation. Gupta said he was inspired
to seek the funding after reading sociolo-
gist Elijah Andersons The Cosmopoli-
tan Canopy/Race and Civility in Every-
day Life.
Anderson, who lives in Philadelphia
and taught at the University of Pennsyl-
vania, found there are certain places in cit-
ies where people of different cultures and
backgrounds unite without conict. Read-
ing Terminal Market a bustling home to
butchers and shmongers, sandwich stalls
and Amish farmers was one of them.
Its a place of refuge and conver-
gence, old and young, black and white,
coming together and feeling good around
issues of food, Anderson said. Its
a place where people get along even
though we know there are fault lines. Its
a beautiful thing. Its inspiring.
said of the city which was only saved from
falling into IS hands by the swift interven-
tion of Kurdish peshmerga ghters.
More than mere fashion, the Lurrs
rst collection is a subtle meditation on
their lives between Sweden and Kirkuk,
whose mixed population is about to vote
on whether it will join Iraqs increasingly
independent Kurdish autonomous region.
We talk a lot with our cousins there
and they think it is mind-blowing how we
live, said Dilan, who like his sister studied
engineering before coming to fashion
through art.
We travelled between Sweden, Belgium
and Paris to work on the collection and
they cannot believe how we go from one
country to another as if we were just taking
a bus.
Modelled
Their cousin Heresh, who modelled for
them in a video Dilan shot in the aming
oilelds that surround Kirkuk, is now ght-
ing IS on the frontline.
We feel our great freedom when we
speak with our cousins, Dilan said.
When we went to the frontline we were
amazed to see so many older men from
their 50s onwards with their bellies and
Fashion
Dubai-based fashion designer Aiisha Ramadan is seen on June 10, 2017 at her studio in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AFP)
Ramadan earns prime spot on fashion calendar
DUBAI, June 24, (AFP): From Dolce &
Gabbana to Michael Kors, major brands are
catering to lucrative Gulf markets during
the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which
is earning its own slot on the global fashion
calendar.
With Muslim spending on clothing on the
rise, mainstream labels are courting the dir-
ham, dinar and riyal in a region home to some
of the worlds biggest buyers of fashion.
High-end and fast-fashion brands in the United
States, Europe and Asia have made an aggressive
push to break into the Gulf, where demand for
modest wear is skyrocketing, fuelled in part by
the rise of social media inuencers and Muslim
lifestyle and beauty vloggers.
Holidays have long been high seasons for
retailers around the world and Ramadan, a
month of fasting from dawn to sunset aimed
at reection and modesty, is no longer the
exception.
The market for the abaya, a long, loose robe
worn over clothes, in particular peaks during
the holy month, according to Dubai-based
designer Aiisha Ramadan, as women strive to
avoid outt repeats at all costs.
But while attention to clientele interested
in modest wear has been a long time coming,
some say the move has brought the good, the
bad and the offensive to shelves across the
Gulf.
Muslim spending worldwide on clothing
and shoes is projected to reach $500 billion
(449 billion euros) by 2019, according to
Tamara Hostal, the head of fashion marketing
at design school ESMOD Dubai.
Ramadan has turned into a de facto micro-
season in the Middle East, with fashion brands
click
Latest
Continued from Page 23
available with immigration authorities in
India. These passports are immediately seized
by Immigration authorities in India. This
results in much harassment and inconvenience
Cousin on frontline
everything were ghting. But these guys
do not run when ISIS comes. They know
the drill. Some of them have been ghting
since the 1970s.
You imagine these super t, highly-
trained peshmergas but in reality there are
a lot of fathers and grandfathers who are
out there for three days and then home for
a week.
Cleverly disguised peshmerga jackets
white rather than regulation olive green
popped up in the Lurrs Paris show
itself a labour of love.
We begged and borrowed to put this
show on. No one has been paid, said Dilan
after the showing.
The Lurrs are at pains to point out that
Namachekos cashmere and silk creations
are more an expression of their own per-
sonal journey as they adapted to Sweden
and it adapted to us.
Lezan told of how when she arrived in
Sweden she was sent to a church kinder-
garten rather than a state one by her pious
parents where my favourite storybook
became the Bible.
I was the only Muslim there yet I loved
its stories. My parents were very happy
about it and even read it to me. They were
High-end brands cater to lucrative Gulf markets
releasing capsule collections exclusive to the
region through May and June.
DKNY launched a Middle East-exclusive
Ramadan line in 2014, and other labels have
since jumped on the bandwagon: Dolce &
Gabbana, CH Carolina Herrera, Michael Kors,
Tommy Hilger, Zara, Mango, Uniqlo and
Nike, among others.
Campaign
Dolce & Gabbana lmed a widely pub-
licised 2016 campaign for their abaya robe
and hijab headscarf lines entirely in Dubai
where the need to be Ramadan ready is turn-
ing into a commercial, cultural and complex
phenomenon.
Instagram is ooded with #ootd (outt of
the day) posts and the pages of Vogue Arabia
lled with how to curate a wardrobe of festive,
and generally modest, attire.
Most popular in Ramadan are evening
dresses, particularly in bright colours, for
the iftar meal to break the fast. Like the long
abaya robe, the maxi dress also provides
designers with a versatile canvas for a diverse
clientele.
Aiisha Ramadan, who has dressed American
singers Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera
Aiisha Ramadan at her studio in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AFP)
Fashion designers Dilan (left), and Lezan
Lurr pose during the Mens Fashion Week
for the Spring and Summer 2018 collection in
Paris on June 23. (AFP)
and Zendaya, is both a creator and wearer of
abayas and maxis.
International brands are making a smart
move by moving into the home of the Arab
woman with kaftans and abayas, Ramadan
said at her atelier in the UAE emirate of
Sharjah.
There are so many options. You have the
ready-to-wear, which draws in clients looking
for a casual, everyday wardrobe.
Then you have the haute couture abayas,
which attract the client looking to stand out,
said Ramadan, herself wearing a deep pink
kaftan and a gold necklace with Arabic cal-
ligraphy.
As long as it respects our culture, its a
beautiful thing. of identity and international marketing.
The three-day Eid al-Fitr holiday marking
the end of Ramadan is an occasion to go all-
out for style-savvy, and image-conscious, Arab
customers, and some designers are releasing
separate lines for the occasion.
US-Venezuelan designer Carolina Herrera
in May unveiled a Ramadan line exclusively
for the Gulf, featuring four styles of abayas
with her trademark polka dot and bow motifs.
The houses ready-couture line is separately
releasing a Fall/Winter collection exclusive to
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
25
very open and liberal with us, within
limits.
Despite their preoccupations with exile
and belonging, Dilan said there are few
overtly Kurdish inuences on their clothes,
although there are touches for those with
the eyes to see.
I dont want the collection to be Middle
Eastern but we added small touches and
references. Some people see it, others
dont.
But the Kurdish experience is clearly
there in the Lucio Fontana slashes in the
backs of some coats exposing the suffer-
ing and melancholy inside, Dilan said.
Nevertheless, the siblings refuse to be
called refugees, saying their parents chose
to move to Sweden in 1997 for a better life.
The Kurds were then being ruthlessly
persecuted by the Iraqi dictator Saddam
Hussein.
In fact, their father, a goldsmith, had to
bribe ofcials to remain in Kirkuk as many
other Kurds were forced out in the 1990s
so Saddam could tighten his grip on its
oilelds.
We were not running for our lives. But
yes, it denitely wasnt a great time to be
Kurdish, Dilan said.
the region in preparation for Eid likely to
fall early next week with long dresses in
black, red lace and mimosa yellow that can be
buttoned up or down for every woman.
This is a novel market. We are still col-
lecting feedback on our rst collection, but
generally the client here wont pay for simple
or what would be seen as plain designs, said
Dania Fakhry, regional marketing manager for
retailer CH Carolina Herrera.
They appreciate design, even if its not for
them. If they like it, they buy it.
Trend
But the trend has its critics among some
industry insiders who stand at the crossroads
In gold and silver Dior sunglasses on a
warm Dubai evening, one of the regions so-
cial media inuencers an observant Muslim
and self-professed fashion victim spoke
out against the commercialisation without
understanding of her culture.
You cant just slap a pair of sleeves on a
collection and drop the hem and voila, a col-
lection for Ramadan, she said dismissively,
requesting anonymity for professional reasons.
Frankly, its just offensive.
But others hold that cultural and religious
traditions inevitably spill beyond their origins.
The abaya started as a tradition, as a form
of modesty, said Aiisha Ramadan.
Culturally, its moved beyond religion, and
beyond plain black in terms of design, she
added.
I think its just a matter of time before we
see women in the West incorporating abayas
into their wardrobes.
to these Indian travelers, whose passports are
seized. They are also liable to pay penalties as
per the law.
Indian Embassy advises all Indian nationals
that if an EC is issued to anyone of them, that
implies that his/her passport has been cancelled
and that he/she should travel only on the EC
issued to him/her.
Bangladesh embassy notice: The
Continued on Page 26
 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

26

Travellers have more choice, greater convenience

Etihad ups Middle East, N. Africa capacity to meet demand

ABU DHABI, UAE, June 24: Etihad from June 26, rising to a daily service August 1 and September 10. Additional Dammam ights:
Airways is increasing capacity between on July 9. The capacity increase to the In Morocco, the daily Casablanca Flight No. Origin Departs Destination Arrives Frequency Aircraft
its Abu Dhabi hub and key markets largest city in the Kingdoms Eastern services will be upgraded from an EY321 Abu Dhabi 08:40 Dammam 09:05 Mon, Wed, Fri
of Amman, Beirut, Cairo, Casablanca Province will raise frequency on the Airbus A330-300 to A340-600 aircraft (from June 26 to July 8) Airbus 320
and Rabat to cater to the peak June route to four daily services year-round. between August 1 and September 10.
Daily (from July 9)
September travel period, while With the Amman route already And frequency to Moroccos capital
additional services to Dammam will be upgraded to a Boeing 787 on each of city of Rabat will increase from two to
year-round. the current daily services, an additional three ights a week with a new Sunday EY322 Dammam 10:10 Abu Dhabi 12:30 Mon, Wed, Fri (from Airbus 320
Extra ights and the deployment of daily early morning ight serving the service operating between August 6 and June 26 to July 8)
bigger aircraft in the Middle East and Jordanian capital will operate between September 3. Daily (from July 9)
North Africa will provide local guests June 25 and September 30. Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Additional ights: Amman ights between June 25 and September 30:
with more choice and greater conve- Four extra ights will be introduced Chief Executive Ofcer, said: As we EY511 Abu Dhabi 00:55 Amman 03:05 Daily Airbus 320
nience travelling during the holiday on the Beirut route on Mondays, build up to the peak travel season and EY512 Amman 04:10 Abu Dhabi 08:10 DailyAirbus 320
season. Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays well into the holiday period, we are de-
Details are:- Dammam: 4th new between August 1 and September 10, lighted to provide our local guests more Additional Beirut ights between August 1 and September 10:
daily ight; Amman: 2nd new daily taking frequency up from seven to 11 choice with additional ights between EY533 Abu Dhabi 14:40 Beirut 17:55 Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun Airbus 320
ight; Beirut: 4 new ights a week and services a week. Effective August 1, Abu Dhabi and some of our key markets EY534 Beirut 18:55 Abu Dhabi 23:55 Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun Airbus 320
introduction of Boeing 787; Cairo: 5th seven of the ights to Lebanons capital across the Middle East and North Africa. Additional Cairo ights between August 1 and September 10:
new daily ight; Casablanca: aircraft city will operate with the state-of-the-art By further aligning our capacity with EY647 Abu Dhabi 11:50 Cairo 13:40 Daily Airbus 320
upgrade to Airbus A340; Rabat: one Boeing 787 featuring 299 seats. demand during the busy upcoming EY648 Cairo 14:50 Abu Dhabi 20:30 Daily Airbus 320
extra weekly ight. Egypts capital Cairo, one of Etihad months, the extra services will help
Additional ights to Rabat between August 6 and September 3:
Dammam in the Kingdom of Saudi Airways most popular North African facilitate our guests travel to and from
Arabia will initially be served with an destinations, will have an additional these cities and our popular connecting EY615 Abu Dhabi 10:40 Rabat 16:15 Sun Airbus 330-300
additional three morning ights a week seven midday ights a week, taking fre- destinations in the GCC, Asia, Australia EY616 Rabat 19:10 Abu Dhabi 05:50 * Sun Airbus 330-300
on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays quency up to ve daily services between and the Indian Subcontinent. Note: All departures and arrivals are listed in local time.

Promotes healthier lifestyle across community

KIB sponsors Snatch charity campaign

Ms Basma Barakat, winner of Win up to 75 Gold Bars and Be A Gold Bul-
lionaire campaign at Malabar Gold & Diamonds, receives the prize 100gm
gold bar from Lukman, Branch Head, Malabar Gold & Diamonds in the
presence of Abdul Rouf, Sales Manager, Malabar Gold & Diamonds.
Be A Gold Bullionnaire
Lucky winners celebrate winning
gold bars with Malabar campaign
KUWAIT CITY, June 24: Malabar
Gold & Diamonds, one among the
BIG 5 global jewellery retailers an-
nounced the rst 12 lucky winners of
their ongoing Campaign Win up to
75 Gold Bars & Be A Gold Bullion-
naire. 12 lucky winners have won
100 gram gold bars each. As in previ-
ous years, Malabar Gold & Diamonds
summer offers got very good response
from their customers. This time the
company gives their customers an
exclusive chance to win up to 75
gold bars with the purchase of gold
and diamond jewelry. With every
purchase of gold jewelry worth KD
40, customers get a chance to enter
rafe draws to win up to 75 gold bars
in total weighing 100 gram gold each.
Those who buy diamond jewelry
worth KD 40 will get 2 rafe coupons,
doubling their chances to win. Adding
to the above, customers also get free 1
gram gold coin on diamond jewellery
purchase of KD 250 and above.
We are glad that our custom-
weight-lifting exercises, with a special
ers have wholeheartedly welcomed
the summer promotion as we could
see the increased footfalls at our
showrooms. The school vacation have
started and the people are planning
their vacation to their home country
and our customers are making use of
this amazing opportunity to buy gold
and diamond jewellery to gift them-
selves as well as their loved ones
said Shamlal Ahamed, Managing
Director International Operations,
Malabar Gold & Diamonds.
To add more glitter to this season,
they have also unveiled the latest
collection of jewellery in gold,
diamonds and precious gems to
suit the tastes of their multicultural
and multinational customers. This
holiday season, Malabar Gold &
Diamonds provides customers with
the most attractive offers, denitely
not worth a miss. Their mesmerizing
collection and exclusive offers can
be availed in all outlets of Malabar
Gold & Diamonds in GCC.
KUWAIT CITY, June 24: As part of
its commitment towards supporting hu-
manitarian initiatives and promoting a
healthier lifestyle, Kuwait International
Bank (KIB) recently sponsored the 3rd
charity campaign organized by Flare
Fitness, entitled Snatch For a Cause.
Taking place throughout the Holy
Month of Ramadan in partnership with
Kuwait Food Bank and a number of
other local partners, the campaign was
aimed at supporting children in need
within the local community.
As part of the larger campaign, a
charity sports event was held at the
clubs main premises. Over 300 partici-
pants of all ages and from both genders
came together to compete in various
focus on snatch lifts. Participants were
able to channel sheer physical strength
and determination for the benet of A photo from the event
their community, as with every 20kg
of weight lifted, one dinar was donated
to the Kuwait Food Bank. The charity
campaign also featured a special iftar
meal for those in need, which saw the
participation of a large number of young
volunteers from across the community.
Within this context, Nawaf Najia,
Manager of the Corporate Communica-
tions Unit at KIB, said: We are very
proud to have taken part in this unique
and exciting tness charity event, which
not only promotes a healthier lifestyle
across the community in a fun, engag-
ing social context, but also supports
children in need of specialized medical
treatment.
Najia added that KIB is always keen
on promoting a greater sense of health
consciousness across the local commu-
nity, and for that reason, we continu-
ously seek opportunities that allow us
to better the lives of different segments EAG staff volunteers gather for the Road to Happiness initiative at site on Reem Island.
across the community.
As part of its leading social respon- EAG volunteers host Road to Happiness Iftar
sibility program, KIB organized a wide
range of humanitarian and community-
based initiatives and activities during Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) hosted last week its mutual understanding among cultures and people in
Ramadan. Additionally, the Bank is Road to Happiness initiative for the fifth consecu- the UAE, bringing the spirit of giving during the holy
committed to raising awareness about tive year. Dozens of EAG executives and staff vol- month of Ramadan.
unteered in the Tafseer Camp on Reem Island in Boxes of dates were also given out last week to 1,800
health programs and various local sports Abu Dhabi to distribute more than 3,000 Iftar meals workers at Abu Dhabi International Airport as part of a
activities, particularly those that support to labourers. planned Sharing Day event in collaboration with Emir-
different segments across the local The event, organised by the Sports and Social Com- ates Red Crescent, the Groups long-term strategic hu-
community. mittee, aligned itself with the values of tolerance and manitarian partner.

Zain launches BOLT Customer contact center available 24/7

KFH voluntary team
Increase Good Deeds in Ramadan
KFH distributes breakfast meals
KUWAIT CITY, June 24: Kuwait
Finance House (KFH) continued its
Feed a Fasting Person campaign by
distributing breakfast meals in Hawalli
in collaboration with the Ministry of
Youth and Hawalli Governorate.
This comes as part of the banks Ra-
madan program Increase Good Deeds
in Ramadan 3 that reinforce the rm
commitment towards social responsi-
bility.
KFH voluntary team distributes
breakfast meals at places that are
teeming with fasting people such as
Nayef Palace, Souq Al Mubarakeya
click
General
Continued from Page 25
Embassy of the Peoples Republica
of Bangladesh in Kuwait will follow
the following ofce hours during the
Holy month of Ramadan. Sunday to
Thursday 09:30 am to 3:30 pm; Fri-
day and Saturday Weekly holidays.
working days between (9-11 am)
in addition to other places in Ku-
wait. KFHs efforts in Ramadan un-
derline the banks role in the eld of
social responsibility, and contributes
in strengthening the social ties. KFH
voluntary team prepares and distrib-
utes over 600 meals daily until end of
Ramadan.
KFHs Ramadan program includes
various social and humanitarian events
and activities stemming from the
banks endeavors to solidify its com-
mitment towards the society, while
supporting all social and humanitarian
initiatives.
Chess coaching, round robin:
Registrations are open for chess
coaching and the summer round robin
Challenger Series. Send your name
Civil ID no., mobile number, age,
rating to saviosgomes@gmail.com
with CCR in the e-mail subject. No
entry fee.
Invitation to Grand Mosque: The
Visits Department is pleased to invite
you to visit the Grand Mosque, which
is one of Kuwaits most treasured
religious and cultural landmarks to
discover the beauty of Islamic arts
and architecture. Free guided tours
are available all year round on ofcial
for 1st time in Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, June 24: Zain, the
leading telecommunications company
in Kuwait, announced the launch of
BOLT for the rst time in the country,
offering the latest superfast CAT11 net-
work technology on its most advanced
nationwide network. Zains introduction
of this revolutionary technology comes
as part of the companys developmental
strategy, through which it seeks to keep
up with the latest innovations witnessed
by the Telecommunications and Infor-
mation Technology sector around the
world. The company is committed to
offer the most advanced technologies to
its customer base, considered the largest
in Kuwait. Zain customers can now en-
joy the advanced CAT11 network tech-
nology with the all-new BOLT router,
which is offered for Free with unlimited
Internet through the KD 16 plan, for
KD 1.5 only with 2 TB through the KD
13 plan, or for KD 4 only with 1 TB
through the KD 10 plan.
Zain is keen on introducing the lat-
est and most innovative services and
solutions in the market to elevate its
customers experience and offer them
convenience while meeting their unique
lifestyles. The company is also commit-
ted to introducing them with the latest
and most competitive offerings, and will
always aim at providing a superior ex-
perience on its most advanced network.
The introduction of this offer
highlights Zains eagerness in keeping
pace with the ongoing changes of needs
and wants of its customers. With this
latest announcement, Zain strengthens
its leading position in providing special
services and offerings designed for
heavy data users.
Gulf Bank extends best wishes for Eid
KUWAIT CITY, June 24: On this
blessed occasion of Eid Al-Fitr, Gulf
Bank would like to convey its sincere
congratulations and best wishes to the
Amir of the State of Kuwait, His High-
ness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah; His Highness the Crown
Prince, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad
Al-Jaber Al-Sabah; and His Highness
the Prime Minister, Sheikh Jaber Al-
Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and to
the people of Kuwait.
As per the approved guidelines set
by the Kuwait Banking Association
(KBA), Gulf Bank would like to an-
nounce its Branches and Head Ofce
closures depending on the date of
Eid. If Ramadan is 29 days, the Bank
will be closed from Sunday, June 25
to Tuesday, June 27, 2017, and will
resume its regular working hours on
Wednesday, June 28, 2017. In the case
of Ramadan being 30 days, the Banks
branches and the Head Ofce will be
closed from Sunday, June 25, 2017
to Thursday, June 29, 2017 and will
resume its regular working hours on
the Sunday, July 2, 2017.
However, several of the Banks
branches and banking business units
will be working on a limited scale on
Thursday, June 29, 2017. The branches
are: Mubarak Al Kabeer, Fahaheel 1,
Jahra 1, Salmiya Co-op, Farwaniya
1 and Hawally. The banking units
that will operate are Trade Finance,
Treasury Operations, Consumer Loans
, CPU Unit, SWIFT Unit and the Con-
and (5-7 pm), within a special tour
program designed to cater to the needs
of different age groups. The program
is as follows:
Reception; Auditorium show; (ac-
cording to age group); Touring the
Mosque; Q & A; Art workshops; (ac-
cording to age group between 5 and
18 years old); Snack break; Distribu-
tion of the Grand Mosque publications
and souvenirs; End of tour.
According to these age groups:
Age group: 5 to 9 years old: Morn-
Extends warm wishes
AUB offers its services during Eid
KUWAIT CITY, June 24: On the oc-
casion of Eid Al-Fitr, Ahli United
Bank (AUB) congratulates and ex-
tends its warm wishes to His Highness
the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-
Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Crown
Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-
Jaber Al-Sabah, the government, the
citizens of Kuwait and all residents
across the country, and conveys its
readiness to serve its customers during
the Eid Al-Fitr holidays.
AUB announced in a press release:
If Eid Al-Fitr is announced on Sun-
day, June 25, 2017, all branches will
be closed from the rst day of Eid, and
work will resume on Wednesday, June
28, 2017. If Ramadan is completed
in 30 days, then the Banks branches
will be closed from Sunday, June 25,
sumer Banking Operations.
In addition, the Banks clients will
continue to be served round-the-clock
through its dedicated Customer Con-
tact Center, which is reachable by dial-
ing 1805805. Moreover, Gulf Banks
Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs)
will be available during Eid holidays
from 10:00 am till 3:30 pm in Jabriya,
ing: 60 visitors max; Evening: 20; 10
to 15 years: Morning: 100 visitors
max; Evening: 45; 16 and above:
Morning: 140 visitors max, Evening:
105:
Tour language: Arabic- English-
French; Arabic (English upon prior
request); Arabic- English- French;
Arabic (English upon prior request);
Arabic- English- French: Arabic (Eng-
lish upon prior request)
Rules and Regulations:
Please arrive in time for your visit.
2017 to resume work on Sunday, July
2, 2017, with the exception of the fol-
lowing branches which will be open to
customers on Thursday, June 29, 2017:
Main Branch, Fahaheel, Farwaniya,
Ghazali, Hawalli, Jahra and Salmiya.
In a related context, AUB recon-
rmed that all their customers will be
able to conduct their banking services
through the Banks electronic chan-
nels, including mobile and internet
banking and its 24/7 telebanking Hay-
akom service on 1812000.
Furthermore, customers can also use
the Banks website, www.ahliunited.
com.kw for more information, and
also conduct their nancial transac-
tions through the Banks ATMs which
are conveniently positioned across all
districts in Kuwait.
Adan, Fahaheel, and South Surra. Cli-
ents can also access the Banks online
portal, (www.e-gulfbank.com) to nd
out more about the latest products and
services; or to download the Mobile
Banking Apps (App store/Android)
to monitor accounts and conduct self-
service banking transactions, or view
its social media channels.
All visitors are kindly required to
abide by the mosques dress code.
Male visitors should wear long pants.
Shorts and sleeveless shirts are not
allowed. Female visitors: should wear
head cover and long loose clothing
(available at the mosque).
Foods and drinks are not allowed
inside the prayer halls.
For school visits, teachers are re-
sponsible for their students and are
Continued on Page 27
 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

27

h o
By Jacqueline Bigar
Happy birthday for Sunday, June 25,
2017: This year you often want to relate to
others more openly and with greater sensi-
tivity. Your inclination to want to fix situa-
tions and help people emerges. Be careful,
as your fix might not be what the person
in question wants. If you are single, you
could meet someone who fulfills many of
your fantasies. Though this relationship
might not be forever, you will experience a
lot of passion. If you are attached, the two of
you often spend hours laughing together.
Curb a tendency to spend a lot and break the
budget. LEO gets uncomfortable around
you, as you seem to see right through him or
her.
The Stars Show the Kind of Day Youll
Have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average;
2-So-so; 1-Difficult
r o
an equal level. Use caution around someone
who seems angry or upset. Tonight: All
smiles.
This Week: Close relating makes you
feel good.
Aquarius - (Jan 20 - Feb 18)
aware of a partners or friends effort to get
**** Clear out a project that you have
been putting off for quite some time. You do
not need to push yourself so hard. You can
squeeze in a few hours to read the Sunday
paper and make some Sunday calls. You
could hear some startling news. Tonight:
Invite a friend to join you.
This Week: Go along with another per-
sons request.
Pisces - (Feb 19 - Mar 20)
**** A loved one or new romantic inter-
s c
Aries - (Mar 21 - Apr 19)
**** Stay close to home if you can. More
might be going on behind the scenes than
you realize. A family member could become
explosive or angry out of the blue. Also be
communication through Wednesday.
you to think along his or her terms. Tonight:
Lighten up the moment.
This Week: Your creativity defines a
project.
Taurus - (Apr 20 - May 20)
*** Make calls before confirming plans,
as an unexpected invitation could come
forward. You also might want to adjust your
plans. You have a lot of energy, so dont
worry if your plans take on a hectic tone. A
friend is likely to disappoint you at the last
cially if the results could be costly. Tap into
your creativity to find a way to bypass a
problem. The solution might be so obvious
that you will laugh that you hadnt seen it
before. Make plans to meet a friend at a
favorite spot. Tonight: Dinner out.
This Week: You are the center of all
Cancer - (June 21 - July 22)
**** You feel as if you have enough
energy to do nearly anything today. When a
family member challenges you to a race or
some other fun contest, you probably will
say yes. News from a distance might not
be as clear as youd like. Tonight: Treat a
loved one to a favorite meal.
This Week: Details prove important
through Thursday.
o p e
Make plans if you want, or invite a friend
over. Tonight: Be in the moment. Scorpio - (Oct 23 - Nov 21)
This Week: Your upbeat personality
helps others open up. **** Your imagination is a tremendous
resource; use it to jazz up your plans. Invite
Virgo - (Aug 23 - Sept 22): a friend to take off with you and visit a
favorite countryside spot. Others might opt
**** Getting together with friends could to go to the movies or an art show. By
start as a brunch and go on all day long. Get escaping the here and now, youll refresh
into the moment and enjoy it. A friend
might upset you by getting very heated
your outlook. Tonight: Be noticed.
This Week: Expect to be the lead actor
about an issue that you find irrelevant. Try though Tuesday night.
to detach from the situation, if possible.
Tonight: Chill out at home. Sagittarius - (Nov 22 - Dec 21)
This Week: You go from feeling down to
feeling empowered in the next few days. **** A loved one will entice you to join
him or her. This person could be unusually
Libra - (Sept 23 - Oct 22) serious, that is, until the two of you are
alone. Suddenly, you might see another side
**** A request or an invitation pushes of this persons personality. Given a few
you out the door. You have a lot of energy minutes, youll be swapping jokes. Tonight:

Capricorn - (Dec 22 - Jan 19)

**** Defer to a loved one who often goes
along with your ideas and plans. Allow this
person to have the same experience as you.
The two of you need to relate more often on
est could delight you in the morning. This
person has a lot to share and loves having
you as his or her audience. You could be a
little loose when handling funds, so make
sure you can afford to be less careful.
Tonight: Dinner for two.
This Week: Dive into work Monday.
minute. Tonight: Make it early.
This Week: You seem to want to be
home most of the week.
Gemini - (May 21 - June 20)
*** Try not to be too impulsive, espe-
Leo - (July 23 - Aug 22)
*** If youre feeling lazy, embrace it.
Stay close to home, curl up with a good
book, and do not allow anyone to push or
talk you into doing something. You likely
will feel energized by late in the afternoon.
and might opt to spend some time at a fun
happening. Check in with an older relative
In the limelight.
This Week: Take off early in the week.
or friend. This person appreciates your
attention, so make an effort to visit more
often. Tonight: Till the wee hours.
This Week: Create more of what you
Born today: Author George Orwell (1903),
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor
want. (1954), singer/songwriter Carly Simon (1945)

home decor indoor gardening beauty tips taste buds

decoupage design tabletop
Supplies: Table, metallic paint, paint brush, metal-
lic glaze, wallpaper, decoupage glue spray sealant
Method: Decoupage a lovely design on a thrift
store table. Paint the table with two coats of metallic
paint. Cover with metallic glaze for extra shine. Let
dry. Cut a scrap of wallpaper to cover the tabletop.
Coat the top with decoupage glue. Position the pa-
per, pressing carefully to remove any air bubbles.
Cover with multiple layers of glue. Let each coat
dry before applying the next. Finish with a spray
sealant.
fiber optic grass
Botanical name: Isolepis cernua aka Scirpus cer-
nuus
Fiber Optic Grass is a fountain-like ornamental
grass with small, silvery white owers at the tips. Its
resemblance to ber optic wire lends its common
names, including Live Wire Grass.
Light: Bright light to full sun
Water: Keep the soil moist or wet at all times.
Native to marshlands, this is one plant you cant
overwater.
Temperature: Average to warm room tempera-
tures (65-80F/18-27C) year-round.
Soil: Peat moss-based potting mix
Fertilizer: Feed monthly spring through fall with
a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half.
rose water to tighten skin
Rose water is a cleanser and can help remove the
dirt clogging the pores of the skin. It also has an as-
tringent action which means it tightens the skin; this
helps it to give rmness and reduce the pufness
under the eyes. Mix 2 teaspoons of rose water with
3-4 drops of glycerine and half a teaspoon of lemon
juice. Apply this mixture to your face using cotton
ball every night before you go to bed.
Or you can also make a face pack by mixing in
a teaspoon of rose water into a mixture of 1 tea-
spoon each of curd and honey. Add this mixture
into a mashed ripe banana; apply the pack to your
face and after 20 minutes, wash it with cool water.
leftover turkey taco soup
Ingredients: 1 tbsp canola oil; 1-1/2 cups frozen
whole kernel corn; 1 can (16 oz each) reduced
sodium pinto beans, drained, rinsed; 1 can (10 oz
each) diced tomatoes & green chilies, drained; 1
pkg (1.25 oz each) 30% less sodium taco season-
ing mix; 1 pkg (32 oz each) reduced-sodium chick-
en broth; 2-1/2 cups chopped cooked turkey
Method: Heat oil in large saucepan over medi-
um-high heat; add corn and cook 2 to 3 minutes
or until thawed. Add beans, drained tomatoes and
taco seasoning; stir to combine. Add broth. Cov-
er and bring to a boil over high heat. Add turkey;
reduce heat to medium and simmer 10 minutes.
Serve with sour cream and/or cheese, if desired.

Dear Abby
Woman takes hands-off
approach to blind dates
By Abigail Van Buren
Dear Abby: Im a single 38-year-old woman. I havent been
in a relationship in more than 10 years because of school, work
and kids. Lately, since I graduated, I have been on a string of
blind dates. Men seem to want to hold my hand, touch my hair,
stroke my arm, etc. right away. When I say I dont like it, they
say they are just being affectionate because they like me.
Im a cerebral person. I have fallen in love with men who are
not conventionally attractive because they appealed to me intel- Souhridavedi Salmiya hosted Iftar get together at T. Yesudasan (Vicar, Kuwait St Peters MarThoma and delivered the speech about Ramadan. Parima-
lectually. I have rejected handsome men NCIM Hall, Salmiya. The event was chaired by George Parish), Prof Moideenkutty (Calicut University), Na- nam Manoj (Secretary) rendered the welcome speech
because we werent intellectually com- Pious (President). Sakir Hussien (KIG Vice-President) vas M.A. (Vice-President KIG Salmiya Area), Vishu and Shibili (Convener) thanked one and all for their
patible. Until I feel some sort of rapport, I delivered key note address about Ramadan. Rev V. Nadeesh, Daniel and Subir K.I. shared their greetings presence.
might as well be asexual. I am not turned
on, and I do NOT want to be touched.
My dates, my friends and my family
say this means Im not ready for a rela-
tionship. What do you think? Is it unrea-
sonable to want to feel a connection with
someone before exchanging touches?
Whats the likelihood of success in court-
ing when everyone keeps their hands to
whats on today emergency number 112
Civil ID info: 1889988
Abigail Van Buren themselves in the beginning? Site for checking travel ban www.kuwaitcourts.gov.kw/mojweb/NGeneral/Main.jsp
No touchy, please
Dear no touchy: Im not sure I agree with your
friends and family. A date may get the impression that Bangladesh Embassy closure: The net or visit www.tiescenter.net. ofce any evening 5-8pm. No 16, Street 9, Block 11, Salwa. Urdu
youre not ready because the way you are delivering Embassy of the Peoples Republic of Worship services on Thursdays at 5.35
your message may come across as rejection. Try tell- Bangladesh in Kuwait will remain closed pm at St. Pauls Church, Ahmadi and on
on the occasion of Holy Eid Al-Fitr as fol- Bridge game: Bridge tournament is IPC Islamic Courses: Say: O my Fridays at 5.45 pm at Diwaniya of NECK
ing them exactly what you told me, that unless you feel being held every Sunday and Wednes- Lord, let me grow in knowledge. IPC is
an intellectual connection, being touched makes you lows: Campus, Kuwait City. Please contact Fr
uncomfortable. Most men appreciate a woman who If Ramadan continue for 29 days the day at 20:00 hours, played at the Gradu- offering Islamic courses in English (for Harrison Chinnakumar for English and
expresses herself clearly about what she likes as well holiday will be from Sunday 25/06/2017 ates Club, next to Kuwait Engineering ladies only). Muslims and non-Muslims Urdu Congregations and his phone num-
as what she doesnt. to Tuesday 27/06/2017 and the Embas- Society. Interested Bridge pairs or in- are welcome. bers are 66396539 or 239859292 and
sy will reopen on 28/06/2017. dividual players please contact Mo- 1. Tilawa Surah Ar-Rad and Surah email address: chaplain@stpaulskuwait.
If Ramadan continues for 30 days the hammed Merchant, Tel: 24815622, Ibrahim Sundays at 5:30-7:00 pm; 2. com. For Chinese congregation, please
Dear Abby: Several times now, my mother-in-law has given 24841158, 99612287. Principles of Tafsir (part 2) - Sundays at
me cleaning supplies as gifts. Im trying to decide how to inter- Embassy will remain closed from Sun- contact Zhu Peijin and her number is
day 25/06/2017 to Thursday 29/06/2017 7:00-8:30 pm; 3. Tajweed 3 - Tuesday, 99551783 and email address is: greeno-
pret the gesture.
and reopen on Sunday 02/07/2017. at 5:30-7:00 pm; 4. Jesus in Surah Mari- livettc@hotmail.com
Is she hinting that she thinks our house is poorly kept? Is it Football coaching workshops: In- am (part 2) - Tuesdays at 7:00-8:30 pm.
that she enjoys buying new cleaning supplies and would also This is for information of all concerned. terested in Coaching/professional devel-
like to receive them as gifts? Or could it be a passive-aggressive Instructor: Sr Zeinab Hassan Ashry
dig at my decision to work full-time when she thinks I should be opment? Place: IPC - Women Section Al-Raw- Redeemed Christian Church: The
staying home keeping house? My husband and I share domestic TIES Center events: TIES Center an- This weekend Everton Academy, Bay- dah, Area 3, Street 30, House 12, opp Redeemed Christian Church of God
responsibilities roughly evenly, and HES never received such nounces following events Tajweed and an will be welcoming three top coaches 4th Ring Road. Email: ipc_sch@yahoo. (HOD Parish) worship in English.
gifts. Recitation: Learn and practice the art of from Glasgow Celtic F.C., the Scottish com, Telephone: 22512257. Celebration Service: Friday 9 am 11
reciting the Holy Quran (tajweed). The in- Premier League Champions, including am; Divine encounter: Sunday, 6:30 pm
Mother-in-law gifts
structor will also answer questions related their International Academy Manager, 8:30 pm; Digging Deep (Bible studies):
Dear mother-in-law gifts: Not knowing your moth- Tony Massie. St Pauls Church activities: English Tuesday, 6:30 pm 8:30 pm; Night vigil
er-in-law, I cant guess at her motive for choosing the to the meaning of the Arabic words and
gifts shes giving you. If you want a straight answer to verses. Every Sunday & Tuesday @ 10 They will be delivering a certied Celtic Worship Services on Fridays at 10.30 am every last Friday of the month from 10
your question, you will have to nd the courage to get 11:30am; every Monday @ 5-6:30pm. Coach Education program on Saturday, and on Sundays at 6.30 pm at St Pauls pm.
it straight from the horses mouth. She may buy in bulk The TIES Center is the social and edu- 6-8pm, Sunday, 6-8pm and Monday, 8- Church in Ahmadi. The Friday English Venue: New Mishref. For more infor-
and have supplies to spare. cational hub for English Speaking expats 9.30pm. Certicates will only be award- Service has got separate sessions for mation and direction please call 9927-
However, a gift is thoughtful, and these products in Kuwait. For more information, please ed to coaches attending all 3 sessions. Children and Youth. Chinese Worship 6603, 6557-7482. Email: rccghouseof-
may come in handy. So be pleasant and appreciative call 25231015 or e-mail info@tiescenter. Places are limited - register at Bayan Services on Fridays at 10.30 am at House davidq8@gmail.com
when you thank her for them.

Villa No. 67, Street 413, Block 4, Shuhada Date: July 1 to Aug 24; Timings: 4:00
Dear Abby: Im 25. My boyfriend and I are planning to Area, Kuwait. Phone: (+965) 25231015, to 6:30 pm; Venue: Indian Community
move in together. He lives eight hours away, so it means Ill be
moving out of state. click E-mail: info@tiescenter.net. School, Junior Branch; Salmiya, Kuwait.
I dread telling my parents because they havent met him yet, July 1
and his work schedule hasnt allowed him to make the trip up
here. (He cant drive at night.) The last time he was here was Latest IMA summer classes: Indian Muslim General
early in our relationship, and he thought it was too soon to meet Association (IMA) announces its much
my parents. Would a video chat introduction be all right? Any Continued from Page 26 awaited Summer Islamic classes this year Share your story with Amricani:
advice is welcome. immediately after Eid ul Fitr. Do you or any of your family members,
Moving on in the Midwest required to cooperate with the staff mem- The classes were launched in 1994 when it acquaintances or friends happen to have
bers of the Grand Mosque. was widely felt by the parents that there was a story with the American Missionary
Dear moving on: First impressions are important.
A video chat would be better than nothing, I suppose. Photography is allowed inside the Grand a need to impart fuller knowledge to students hospital in Kuwait (Mustashfa Lemraicani)
However, out of respect for your parents as well as re- Mosque (please note that disrespectful when compared to that imparted in their during the years from 1914-1967, the of-
spect for you, he should MAKE the time to meet them poses are strictly prohibited). regular schools cial period of offering medical services in
in person preferably before you move in with him. If you would like to book a tour, please This year IMA (Indian Muslim Associa- Kuwait?
contact us: tion, Kuwait) with the coordination of IPC, Please share with us your story or your
Tel: 22980813/ 22980815/ 22980812 opens the doors of its well-known 2-month memory during those old days by writing the
To my Muslim readers: It is time for the breaking of long, Summer Islamic Classes program event and sending it to the following email
the Ramadan fast. Happy Eid al-Fitr, everyone. Email: gmvisits@gmail.com
Fax: 22473708 to students in Kuwait from LKG up to 12th address: Mystory@darmuseum.org.kw
standard. Offering a syllabus with a wide Notes: 1. Please send your story only to
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also Little princess Aamina Imran, turns range of Islamic subjects such as Quran read- the above mentioned email. Story shared in
June 29 to one-year-old on June 26. May God
known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by ing/understanding/memorization, Prophets Instagram, Facebook or Twitter will not be
her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby TIES Eid Open House: Stop by the bless you with a prosperous future. Life and Day to day Jurisprudence. Apart considered.
at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los TIES Center to congratulate friends for the Best wishes and love from papa, mama, from this, teachers work on Personality 2. Please write your story or memory
Angeles, CA 90069. occasion of Eid Al-Fitr. Enjoy a variety of grand parents, aunties, uncles and Development of the students and also engage and sign it with your full name, and your
refreshments, games and crafts. Children cousins Abdullah, Osama, Ali, Umar, them in various activities including eld contact number.
(Source: Universal Uclick) will enjoy special indoor activities. Hassan, Mohsin, Talha and sisters Fati- visits. Competitions are held on Islamic Quiz,
Thursday, June 29 at 5:00 pm-8:00 pm, ma, Ayesha, Meeqat. Recitation of Quran and Elocution Continued on Page 28
 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

28

Couch slouch
Downward canceled by ABC

Colbert appears on Russia TV

& jokes about presidential run
LOS ANGELES, June 24, (RTRS): Stephen
Colbert made an appearance on Russian TV,
where he appeared to jokingly mull a presiden-
tial run.
In a video released Friday, Colbert appeared
on Evening Urgant, a late-night style talk
show that airs on Russias Channel 1. The
back and forth between Colbert and host Ivan
Urgant took place partly in Russian, partly in
English.
In the interview, Colbert and Urgant played
a Russian roulette-style game.
Colbert said, To the beautiful and friendly
Russian people, I have no idea why no mem-
bers of the Trump administration can remem-
ber meeting you. Colbert then ate a pickle.
After Urgant took the game, Colbert asked,
By the way, can I announce something? He
then continued, Im here in Russia I am
here to announce that I am considering a run
for president in 2020, and I thought it would
be better to cut out the middle man and just tell
the Russians myself. If anyone would like to
work on my campaign in an unofcial capac-
ity, please, just come let me know.
Colbert and Urgant said A strong America,
a strong Russia.
In todays roundup, Heather Graham gets
a part in Law & Order True Crime: The
Menendez Murders, and HBO Films releases
a rst look at Peter Dinklage in My Dinner
with Herve.
Heather Graham, Elizabeth Reaser,
and Larry Cedar have been cast in Law &
Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders.
Graham will play Judalon Smyth, a sexy, emo-
tionally fragile woman who is having an affair
with Dr Oziel. Reaser will play Deputy Dis-
trict Attorney Pam Bozanich, who is assigned
to the murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez.
Cedar will play Milton Andersen, Kittys
older brother. The series, which depicts the
infamous murder trial of the infamous siblings,
will air Tuesdays at 10 pm on NBC starting
Sept 26. Edie Falco, Julianne Nicholson,
Anthony Edwards, and Sam Jaeger have
been previously cast in the show.
Emily Rudd is set to play the title role in
Olive Forever, a pilot from Universal Cable
Productions. Rudds character Olive is a high
school student, con artist, cat burglar, and
chameleon who deep down is just a foster
kid looking for a home. Olive Forever is
executive produced by Brian Dufeld, Nicki
Cortese, Brian Robbins, Matt Kaplan, and
Brett Bouttier. Matt Shakman will direct
and executive produce. Rudd is represented
by CAA, Luber Roklin Entertainment and
Jackoway Tyerman.
ABC has canceled half-hour comedy
Downward Dog. Co-creator Samm Hodges
tweeted news of the cancellation Friday.
Got the very surprising news today that
ABC is not moving forward with Downward
Dog, Hodges wrote. They loved it creatively
and really wanted to make more but couldnt
nd a nancial path to do so.
Hodges added that producers are com-
mitted to nding a new home for the series
and that the last two episodes of the shows
eight-episode run will air Tuesday, beginning
at 10 pm.
A representative for ABC conrmed the
cancellation.
Downward Dog starred Allison Tolman
as Nan, a woman navigating relationship
and professional changes. The show promi-
nently featured Nans dog Martin talking to
the camera and narrating the story from his
perspective.
Tolman thanked fans for their support of the
show, posting a message on Twitter saying,
To all #downwarddog fans, simply put we
wouldnt be us without you. Thanks for getting
us. Bark bark.
In her review of the show for Variety, Sonia
Saraiya wrote of the shows talking-dog nar-
rator, Downward Dog grafts this schtick
onto what is otherwise a mumblecore relation-
ship comedy, with an apparent eye towards
sincerity. And in giving Martin a personality,
the show settles on a mopey, selsh little cretin
who observes, matter-of-factly, that he really Flyers from the events.
has to dominate his owner, Nan (Tolman),
to get what he wants out of their relationship.
It becomes difcult to not root against Martin I knew I had found a diamond in pile of rocks
(voiced by Samm Hodges) just so that Nan can
get a few minutes of peace.
Downward Dog was produced by ABC
Studios. Executive producers were Michael
Killen, Hodges, Jimmy Miller, Sam Hansen,
Indian slum boy dances way to NY ballet school
Kathy Dzubiek, Kat Likkel, and John
Hoberg. MUMBAI, India, June 24, (AP): The son of a let and urged him to train.
welder from this citys slums had a dream few Within 2-1/2 years, Shah had nailed his
Indians dared to dream to dance with the pointe, pirouette and arabesque, which is
Its been 12 years since Tom Cruise lec- New York City Ballet. unheard of, Maor said.
tured Matt Lauer about antidepressants and In a few months, that dream may be a little I knew I had found a diamond in a pile of
psychiatry during a now-infamous interview. bit closer as 15-year-old Amiruddin Shah rocks, said the teacher, acknowledging that
To commemorate that notorious interaction, begins four years of training at the prestigious his pupil now needs to be challenged by
Andy Cohen, host of What Happens Live American Ballet Theatres Jacqueline Ken- more teachers. Maor bought Shah ballet shoes
With Andy Cohen, recreated the cringe-wor- nedy Onassis School. and dance clothes and helped him and another
thy scene with Lauer as the lead of Cruise. I never thought I would become a ballet young dancer, 21-year-old Manish Chauhan,
Before recreating the scene for Clubhouse dancer, Shah said, though he knew from the win scholarships in June to New Yorks Jof-
Playhouse, Lauer emphasized, I like Tom age of 6 that he loved to move with music. frey Ballet School. But they could not secure
Cruise. We have a good relationship. We have India is not on the ballet map, and I want to U.S. visas in time.
a good friendship. It was just one little mo- take India to an even higher level. Shah and Chauhan were then offered
ment, okay? Shah began studying ballet less than three scholarships at the Oregon Ballet Theater
Lauer wore a Tom Cruise wig and Cohen years ago when Israeli-American instructor starting in December. Shah attended for
acted as the Today host as they took turns Yehuda Maor was invited by the Danceworx three months, while Chauhan is still training
reading lines from the interview in front of a Academy to teach in India a country with in Portland.
green screen: Matt, Matt, Matt...youre blig. no special ballet academies. Now, Shah is trying to raise funds for four
Thats the opposite of glib, Lauer faintly Maor happened to catch Shah doing cart- years of travel and tuition with the Ameri-
whispered. wheels and backips as part of the Danceworx can Ballet Theatre in New York. They have
jazz and contemporary dance program for enough for his rst year, beginning in August,
underprivileged students. but have set up a website to accept donations
Once again, Killjoys arrives in the nick
of time. I had no idea about ballet, Shah recalled. for three more years in the U.S.
He had been dancing freestyle whenever he Shah said he is eager to stay in a dormitory
This delightful summer series, which begins
its third season June 30, completes one of my got the chance sometimes he was invited and be in a proper ballet school.
to weddings to perform, sometimes he just I am so excited, but slightly scared, too,
favorite 2017 programming blocks. For the
next month or two, Friday nights on Syfy will goofed around with friends. said Shah, who speaks basic English but used
Maor was impressed with how Shah moved In this June 13, 2017 photo, 15-year-old Hindi in an interview with The Associated
consist of Killjoys, followed by Dark Mat-
ter and Wynonna Earp. All three are enjoy- and asked to see the bottom of Shahs feet. He ballet dancer Amiruddin Shah performs at Press. How would I interact with people?
discovered the boy had perfect arches for bal- a show in Mumbai, India. (AP) New York is very crowded.
able in their own ways (check out my recent
enthusiastic recommendation for all things
Earp), and together they supply a whole lot story (optional). convicted Indians in Kuwaiti Jails are arrested on
of quip-intensive, well-crafted genre fun. Your story will be part of a new book to be drug-related cases. The recent cases of death and
Killjoys tells the story of bounty hunters published by DAI. captives of Indian drug abusers is a threatening
in a distant galaxy, and if you are my kind of
person, in order to check it out, all you need to
click I am condent that your contributions will
be an essential part of the history of Amricani.
news. To defend and to campaign against such
social crisis by protecting individuals as well as
hear is this phrase: space bounty hunters. Share with us! the society has become obligatory. In this cur-
Lucky for us, Killjoys, which is a co- General rent situation, Kuwait India Fraternity Forum is
production with Canadas SPACE, uses that conducting campaign by distributing handouts,
KIFF anti-drugs campaign: As part of the conducting counseling, seminars etc. to educate
premise to create believable worlds, give Continued from Page 27 Fraternity fest, Kuwait India Fraternity Forum
shading to solid characters and nuanced the Indians living in Kuwait informed President
(KIFF) is conducting Anti-Drugs Campaign Saifudheen Nalakath in a press release. For more
relationships, and tell smart stories that touch among Indians living in Kuwait. According to the
3. It will be great if you send us your per- details contact: 55062071 or email at kiffkuwait@
on matters of politics, culture, co-existence, available statistics of Indian Embassy, 60% of the gmail.com.
and love. sonal photos or those of the place related to the

tv highlights
Cinema
Cinema programme from last day of Ramadan to Wednesday 28/06/2017

Tisbah Ala Khair (Arabic Film) The Mummy Fanar 4 12:30 (No Fri) 16:45, 19:30 Plaza 18:45 Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am
15:30, 18:15, 21:00, 23:45 Ajial 3 11:30 (No Fri) Ajial 4 15:30, 18:30, 21:30 Journey to Space 3D 10:30 am
Sharqia 1 11:30 (No Fri) Sharqia 1 16:30
Marina 2 11:30 (No Fri) 00:15 04:30 pm
Sharqia 3 13:00 (No Fri) Sharqia 2 19:45, 00:45 Mr Frog
14:00, 16:30, 19:00, Flying Monsters 3D 11:30 am
17:45, 22:30 Muhalab 3 12:00 (No Fri) Khammis & Jumma
21:45, 00:30 Fanar 1 11:45 (No Fri) 09:30 pm
Muhalab 2 15:15, 20:00, 22:00 17:00, 22:15 (Horoob Ejbary) Arabic Film
Avenues 2 11:45 (No Fri) 19:15 A Beautiful Planet 3D 12:30 pm, 02:30 pm,
Fanar 2 11:45 (No Fri) Fanar 5 12:30 (No Fri)
14:15, 22:15 Sharqia 3 15:00, 19:45, 00:30 Fanar 3 12:45 (No Fri) 05:30 pm, 08:30 pm
16:30, 18:30, 20:30, 17:45, 20:00, 22:15, 00:45
Avenues 5 14:00, 19:00 Muhalab 2 12:30 (No Fri) 14:45, 16:45 Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 01:30 pm
22:30, 00:30 Marina 3 11:30 (No Fri)
Avenues 7 21:30, 00:30 17:15, 00:05 Avenues 7 11:30 (No Fri) Humpback Whales 3D 03:30 pm, 06:30 pm
Marina 1 12:30 (No Fri) 13:45, 16:00, 18:15,
Avenues 9 18:30 Fanar 1 13:45 13:30, 15:30, 17:30, 19:30 Secret Ocean 3D 07:30 pm
17:15, 22:15 20:30, 22:45, 01:00
Avenues 3 12:00 (No Fri) Avenues 11 13:30, 16:15, 22:00 Marina 1 14:30 360 2 12:30 (No Fri)
Avenues 2 17:00, 01:00
360 4 11:30 (No Fri) Avenues 4 14:45, 19:30, 00:15 14:30, 16:30, 18:30, 20:30 Wednesday
14:00, 16:00, 18:00, Avenues 5 11:45 (No Fri)
20:00, 22:00, 00:05 14:15, 19:00, 21:45, 00:30 Avenues 10 12:45 (No Fri) 360 7 11:30 (No Fri) Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am
00:45 Bairaq 2 12:30 (No Fri)
Avenues 4 12:45 (No Fri) 360 10 12:00 (No Fri) 15:30, 18:15, 21:00, 23:45 Flying Monsters 3D 10:30 am
16:45 (No Mon) 360 7 13:45, 16:30, 19:15, 14:30, 16:30
17:30, 22:15 17:00 05:30 pm
Avenues 6 12:00 (No Fri) 22:00, 00:45
Avenues 8 12:45 (No Fri) 360 12 12:15 (No Fri) A Beautiful Planet 3D 11:30 am
14:15, 16:30, 18:45,
15:15, 18:15, 21:00, 23:45 360 9 11:30 (No Fri) Deep 06:30 pm, 09:30 pm
14:45, 18:45, 20:45 21:15, 23:30
360 6 12:15 (No Fri) 360 15 11:30 (No Fri) 16:00, 00:45 Avenues 8 16:45 Humpback Whales 3D 12:30 pm
Avenues 11 00:45 Al-Kout 2 12:30 (No Fri) Avenues 11 11:30 (No Fri)
14:15, 16:15, 18:15, 19:45, 00:45 Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 07:30 pm
360 1 13:15 (No Fri) 15:15, 18:00 360 4 17:00
20:15, 22:15, 00:15 Al-Kout 1 11:30 (No Fri) Journey to Space 3D 08:30 pm
15:30, 17:45, 20:00, Bairaq 3 14:45, 19:15 Plaza 12:00 (No Fri)
360 8 13:00 (No Fri) 14:00, 16:30, 19:15,
15:00, 17:00, 19:00,
22:15, 00:30
22:00, 00:45 14:00 Thursday
360 2 01:15
Bairaq 1 12:30 (No Fri) Duvvada Jagannadham (DJ) Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am
21:00, 23:00, 01:00 Vanamagan (Tamil Film)
360 9 14:00, 18:45, 20:45, 22:45
360 5 11:30 (No Fri)
15:00, 19:45, 00:30 (Telugu Film) A Beautiful Planet 3D 10:30 am
360 10 14:45, 22:45, 01:00 Muhalab 1 15:30 Ajial 2 16:45, 22:00
Al-Kout 4 11:45 (No Fri) Laila 12:15 (No Fri) 07:30 pm
360 14 12:00 (No Fri)
13:45, 15:45, 17:45, Flying Monsters 3D 11:30 am
14:15, 16:30, 18:45, Anbanavan Asarathavan 06:30 pm, 09:30 pm
19:45, 21:45, 00:05 21:00, 23:15 How to find us Adangathavan (Tamil Film) Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 12:30 pm
Bairaq 3 12:45 (No Fri) 360 15 14:30, 22:30
17:15, 21:45, 23:45 Al-Kout 3 12:00 (No Fri) 1. 360 Zahraa Area, South Surra, 6th Ring Road, corner of Ajial 2 19:30 Journey to Space 3D 05:30 pm
Laila 14:45, 22:15 King Faisal Highway Humpback Whales 3D 08:30 pm
14:30, 20:00, 22:15, 00:30
2. Ajial Ajial Complex, Fahaheel
Lakshyam (Malayalam Film)
Transformers: The Last Knight Bairaq 1 17:30, 22:15
Ajial 3 16:45, 19:15, 21:45 Friday
Laila 00:15 3. Al Bairaq Between Jaber Al Ali East & Al Agalia West
Sharqia 1 13:30, 21:30, 00:30 4. Al Fanar Al Fanar Complex, Salem Al Mubarak Street, near A Beautiful Planet 3D 02:30 pm, 06:30 pm,
Ajial 2 12:00 (No Fri)
Muhalab 1 12:15 (No Fri)
14:15, 00:45 Sultan Center, Salmiya IMAX Journey to Space 3D
09:30 pm
03:30 pm
21:15, 00:15 5. Al Kout Al-Kout Complex, at the end of the Coastal Road, Imax film programme at The Scientific
Fanar 1 16:15, 21:15, 00:15 Tubelight (Hindi Film) Fahaheel Center Humpback Whales 3D 04:30 pm
Fanar 5 14:45 Secret Ocean 3D 05:30 pm
Sharqia 1 18:45 6. Al Muhalab Al Muhalab Complex, Behind Hawally Clinic, Hawally
Marina 1 19:15, 00:15
7. Al Sharqiya Arabian Gulf Street, Souq Sharq, near the Amiri Hospital
Sunday Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 07:30 pm
Avenues 2 19:15 Muhalab 1 18:30 Flying Monsters 3D 08:30 pm
Fanar 2 13:45 8. Laila Gallery Salem Al Mubarak Street, near Sultan Center, Salmiya Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am
Avenues 5 21:45 Flying Monsters 3D 10:30 am
Avenues 8 22:45 Fanar 3 18:45, 21:30, 00:15 9. Marina Marina Mall, Between Salem Al Mubarak Street & Saturday
Avenues 1 13:00 (No Fri) Arabian Gulf Street, Salmiya 07:30 pm
Avenues 9 12:30 (No Fri) A Beautiful Planet 3D 11:30 am Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am
15:30, 21:30, 00:30 15:45, 18:30, 21:15, 00:05 10. Metro Metro Complex, Farwaniya, near Crowne Plaza Hotel & Flying Monsters 3D 10:30 am
360 2 22:30 06:30 pm, 09:30 pm
Avenues 11 19:00 Farwaniya Garden 05:30 pm, 07:30 pm
Journey to Space 3D 12:30 pm
360 5 13:45, 16:45, 19:45, 22:45 360 3 12:00 (No Fri) 11. Plaza Salem Al Mubarak Street, near Sultan Center, Salmiya
Humpback Whales 3D 05:30 pm A Beautiful Planet 3D 11:30 am
360 10 19:45 14:45, 17:45, 20:45, 23:30 12. The Avenues The Avenues Mall, Al Reggai near Al Rai, 5th Ring 03:30 pm, 08:30 pm
Bairaq 2 18:30 Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 08:30 pm
360 11 11:30 (No Fri) Road & Ghazali Road Intersection Journey to Space 3D 12:30 pm, 06:30 pm,
14:30, 17:30, 20:30, 23:30 Plaza 16:00, 21:45 Monday 09:30 pm
NB: Friday no show before 1:30 pm
360 13 12:30 (No Fri) Ajial 1 13:00 (No Fri) Humpback Whales 3D 01:30 pm
16:00, 18:45, 21:30, 00:15
Regular show KD3:000; 3D-Digital KD3.500; VIP show Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am
15:30, 18:30, 21:30, 00:30 KD6.000. On Monday, price is KD1.500 except Digital movies. A Beautiful Planet 3D 10:30 am Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 02:30 pm
360 15 16:45 Ajial 3 14:00 Secret Ocean 3D 04:30 pm
Cinescape cinema movies inquiries and Fax Back hotline 1803456 05:30 pm, 07:30 pm
Al-Kout 2 20:45, 23:45 Humpback Whales 3D 11:30 am Notes: All lms are in Arabic.
Al-Kout 3 17:00
Pirates Of The Caribbean: 13. The Scientific Center IMAX Opp Holiday Inn, Salmiya, Gulf Road For English, headsets are avail-
Dead Men Tell No Tales 09:30 pm
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 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
HEALTH 29

Weekly romp could help ageing minds

Hints of some steps that may boost brain health in old age
WASHINGTON, June 24, (Agencies): Are you
seeking steps to keep your brain healthy in old
age?
There are no proven ways to stave off mental
decline or dementia, but a new report says there
are hints that exercise, controlling blood pres-
sure and some forms of brain training might
offer help.
Without proof, the government should not
begin a public health campaign pushing strate-
gies for aging brain health, the National Acad-
emies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine
said in a report released recently.
But the public should be told the evidence is
encouraging, though inconclusive, the report
concluded. That way, people can use the infor-
mation in deciding whether to invest time and
money on different interventions.
The three highlighted strategies do no
harm, said neuroscientist Alan Leshner, chair-
man of the National Academies committee. At
least two of them are really good for you even
if the brain link doesnt pan out.
Scientists know that risky changes in the
brain begin decades before symptoms of Al-
zheimers and other dementias become appar-
ent, suggesting theres a window when people
might bolster their cognitive health. But the re-
port says Americans face a bewildering array
of products and strategies promoted for brain
health despite little if any rigorous science to
back them up.
The National Institute on Aging asked the
prestigious National Academies to review the
eld. The committee said three interventions
should be more closely studied to prove if they
really can help:
Getting high blood pressure under control,
especially in middle age. People with hyperten-
sion need treatment anyway to prevent heart
disease and strokes.
Increased physical activity. Similar to
the blood pressure advice, whats good for the
heart has long been deemed good for the brain.
Cholera cases could jump to 300,000 by September: UN
Saudi crown prince donates $66 mn to fight Yemen cholera
DUBAI, June 24, (Agencies): Saudi Ara-
bias crown prince has donated $66.7 mil-
lion to combat a cholera epidemic in Ye-
men, where a Saudi-led coalition is ghting
in a war blamed for causing a humanitarian
disaster.
The donation by Prince Mohammed bin
Salman went to the United Nations Chil-
drens Fund and the World Health Organ-
isation (WHO), as requested by the organ-
isations, a statement by the Saudi ministry
of culture and information said.
It would help them respond effectively to
the cholera situation in Yemen, through a
combination of water, sanitation and health-
care activities, it said.
The number of suspected cases of the
disease, which is caused by the contami-
Cognitive training, specic techniques
aimed at enhancing reasoning, problem solving,
memory and speed of mental processing. While
immediate task performance may improve, the
committee said its not clear whether theres
lasting, meaningful benet.
This is not merely brain games on your
computer, Leshner said. The committee isnt
backing those costly computer-based programs.
Indeed, the government ned one brain training
company last year for misleading consumers.
Instead, the best study to date included train-
ing done in groups, providing social engage-
ment too. And cognitively stimulating activities
include such things as learning a new language,
the report noted.
nation of water or food by faeces, reached take military action in Yemen.
179,548 by June 20, with 1,205 deaths, ac- The exiled Yemeni government of
cording to the WHO. President Abad-Rabboo Mansour Hadi,
UN humanitarian chief Stephen OBrien backed by the Saudi-led coalition, is try-
has described the cholera outbreak as a ing to roll back gains made by the Iran-
man-made catastrophe caused by the aligned Houthi group which controls most
warring sides in Yemens civil war and their of northern Yemen, including the capital
international backers. Sanaa.
The country has suffered an economic A cholera outbreak in war-ravaged Ye-
collapse in two years of ghting which has men will probably have infected more than
left 19 million people in need of humanitar- 300,000 people by September, up sharply
ian aid. from the current tally of nearly 193,000 cas-
The conict has killed more than 10,000 es, the United Nations said Friday.
people, displaced more than 3 million and Probably at the end of August we will
ruined much of its infrastructure. reach 300,000 cases, UN childrens agen-
As defence minister, Prince Mohammed cy (UNICEF) spokeswoman Meritxell Re-
is regarded by diplomats and analysts as a lano told reporters in Geneva during a con-
prime mover behind the Saudi decision to ference call.
Since generally keeping intellectually active regular sex for over-50s should help too.
appears to be good for you, do that, Leshner ad- The British study published in the Journals
vised, and if youre considering a commercial pro- of Gerontology this week tested 28 men and
gram, ask the company to see studies backing it. 45 women aged between 50 and 83 for a range
The Alzheimers Association had been await- of cognitive abilities and asked if they had sex
ing the recommendations, and agreed that more weekly, monthly or never.
research is needed to determine what the opti- People who engaged in sexual activity at least
mal interventions should be, said chief medi- once a week scored highly on verbal uency
cal ofcer Maria Carrillo. In the meantime, we and visuospatial ability in which participants
recommend that people challenge their brains to were asked to copy a complex design and draw
maintain brain health. a clock face from memory.
It is possible that increasing frequency of
sexual activity may correspond to better cog-
The benets of doing crossword puzzles or nition, said the study by the universities of
learning languages have long been touted to Coventry and Oxford, which builds on research
stave off mental decline. Now a new study says suggesting that more sex improves mental
Since the outbreak was declared in April,
an estimated 1,265 people have died, she
said.
The number of cases continue to in-
crease, Relano said, adding that all of the
21 governorates in Yemen, the Arab worlds
poorest country, have been affected.
She said children had been hit hard by
the outbreak, accounting for half of the reg-
istered cases to date. But only a quarter of
the people who have died so far were chil-
dren.
Cholera is a highly contagious bacterial
infection spread through contaminated food
or water.
Although the disease is easily treatable,
doing so in conict-torn Yemen has proved
particularly difcult.
sharpness in general.
People dont like to think that older people
have sex, Hayley Wright, the lead researcher
from Coventry University, said in a statement.
But we need to challenge this conception at
a societal level and look at what impact sexual
activity can have on those aged 50 and over,
she said.
The study said further research could look
at how biological elements, such as dopamine
and oxytocin, could inuence the relationship
between sexual activity and brain function to
explain their ndings.
The ndings have important implications
for the maintenance of intimate relationships in
later life, it concluded.

A boycott by four Arab nations will not
halt Qatar Airways growth or plans to
accept delivery of new aircraft, it said on
Monday, adding it was seeing demand
return after an initial downturn.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emir-
ates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with
Qatar on June 5 in the worst diplomatic
crisis in the region in years.
The crisis has seen those countries
close their airspace to Qatar Airways,
forcing it to y longer routes and thereby
adding costs.
Qatar Airways sticks to fleet
There has been monetary impact, try affected by the crisis.
Chief Executive Akbar al Baker said in All these countries have families on
an interview onboard one of Qatar Air- either side of the borders, they have rel-
ways 777 jets at the Paris Airshow on atives, children, investments. Eventually
Monday. people will realise that the move they
We have had a lot of cancellations, have done against my country was ill-
especially to the four countries that did thought out and ill-advised and that life
this illegal blockade, but we have found has to come back to normal, he said.
new markets and this is our growth strat- Qatar is talking with the United Na-
egy, he said, adding passengers were tions aviation agency, ICAO, about the
returning to the carrier after initially be- airspace rights dispute, and Al Baker
ing deterred when the boycott started. said he was disappointed with their ac-
He said Qatar was not the only coun- tions thus far. (RTRS)
Turkey urges banks to lower rates
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim
has said banks should ease interest
rates or the government will take meas-
ures, state-run Anadolu news agency
reported, as Ankara seeks to boost eco-
nomic activity.
I am making the last call before the
train leaves: either you adopt a reason-
able interest rate or we will take meas-
ures, Anadolu cited Yildirim as telling
a meeting of the Istanbul Chamber of
Industry on Wednesday evening.
Our bankers should not regard this
as a threat. We have instruments at our
disposal, he added, without specifying
to what he was referring.
President Tayyip Erdogan has de-
scribed himself as an enemy of in-
terest rates and repeatedly called on
banks to lower lending costs to spur the
economy.
Earlier this month, the central bank
kept its main interest rates steady, in
line with market expectations, as it looks
to balance double-digit ination with Er-
dogans calls for cheaper credit. (RTRS)

Market Movements 24-06-2017

Business
Change Closing pts Change Closing pts
AUSTRALIA - All Ordinaries +12.30 5,754.60 GERMANY - DAX -60.59 12,733.41
JAPAN - Nikkei +22.16 20,132.67 FRANCE - CAC 40 -15.81 5,266.12
S. KOREA - KRX 100 +18.59 4,828.01 EUROPE - Euro Stoxx 50 -12.08 3,543.68
PHILIPPINES - All Shares -20.29 4,679.29
INDIA - Sensex -152.53 31,138.21
HONG KONG - Hang Seng -4.48 25,670.05

Telecom operators receive 4G wireless frequencies

Egypt court ruling revives row over ergot fungus in wheat imports
CAIRO, June 24, (RTRS): A court that
ordered the suspension of Egypts food
inspection system based its ruling in
part on the quarantine services right to
ban grain imports with any trace of the
ergot fungus, raising the possibility the
controversial rule could be restored.
The governments new food inspec-
tion system simplied trade after a
nearly year-long row over the quaran-
tine services zero-tolerance approach
to ergot. Traders had said they could
not guarantee zero trace and boycot-
ted tenders, effectively shutting off the
worlds biggest wheat importer from
the grain trade.
The new inspection regime,
launched this year, applied a more
common global standard, allowing
0.05 percent of ergot in shipments and
helping regular state grain tenders to
proceed.
But an Egyptian court this month
ordered that the new system be sus-
pended, although the government said
it would appeal that decision and keep
its inspection system in place as it did
so.
The courts written verdict, seen by
Reuters on Thursday, said the new sys-
tem resulted in a breach of the (im-
port) requirements stipulated by the
Agriculture Ministrys quarantine ser-
vice, which banned the entry of wheat
shipments containing pests that are
prohibited from entering the country,
including the fungus ergot.
This opens the possibility that the
quarantine service could restore its
zero-tolerance rule. However, for now,
the government has not empowered
the quarantine service to do so.
Inspection
After last years trade row, Egypt
moved the inspection process away
from the quarantine service to the
Trade Ministrys General Organiza-
tion for Export and Import Control
(GOEIC).
The Agriculture Ministry said last
week it would not return inspection
authority to its quarantine service.
A group of quarantine inspectors
had challenged the new system in
court, arguing it illegally handed in-
spections to a body ill-equipped to
oversee the process, allowing imports
to enter with hazardous contaminants
harmful to animals and plants.
Lawyers who raised the case said the
government was obliged to suspend its
new inspection system during an ap-
peal, a process that could take months.
On Thursday, Egypts state grain
buyer GASC holds its latest interna-
tional purchase tender for wheat. Re-
sults are expected the same day.
GASC has managed to continue
purchasing grains despite the court
ruling in part because the government
has insisted it would not revert to a ban
on ergot. That position is now compli-
cated by the courts ruling.
Meanwhile, the lowest offer at a
purchase tender held by Egypts state
grain buyer GASC on Thursday was
at $190.88 per tonne free-on-board
(FOB) for 55,000 tonnes of Ukrainian
wheat, traders said.
The lowest offer after accounting
for shipping costs was presented by
Cerealcom for 60,000 tonnes of Rus-
sian wheat at $207.09 per tonne.
Results are expected to be an-
nounced later on Thursday.
GASC is seeking an unspecied
amount of wheat from global suppliers
for shipment for July 25-Aug 5.
The tender came the same day a
court verdict to suspend the countrys
food inspection system revealed the
ruling, made verbally this month, was
partly based on allowing for a ban on
the grain fungus ergot reviving the
possibility that the controversial zero
tolerance policy could return.
Also:
CAIRO: Egypts telecoms opera-
tors received the wireless frequencies
needed to deliver 4G mobile broad-
band networks on Wednesday, a key
step in the long-delayed introduction
of high-speed telecoms services.
Egypt sold four 4G licences in 2016
as part of a long-awaited plan to re-
form the telecoms sector and raise dol-
lars for stretched government nances.
The authority has sent a letter as-
signing the frequencies to telecommu-
nications companies today, an ofcial
at the National Telecom Regulatory
Authority told Reuters.
The countrys three mobile opera-
tors Vodafone Egypt, Orange, and
Etisalat acquired licences.
Orange Egypt agreed to a provision
that half the licence fee be paid in dol-
lars.
The companies will redistribute the
frequencies in preparation for offering
the service commercially in the market
within two months, said the ofcial
on condition of anonymity.
Egypts state-owned landline mo-
nopoly Telecom Egypt said in July
2016 it would offer 4G services within
a year of obtaining frequencies.
billion Egyptian pounds ($716.5 mil-
CAIRO: Egypt announced the close
of its local wheat harvest on Tuesday,
having bought 3.4 million tonnes of
wheat from farmers, Supply Minister
Ali Moselhy said, just short of the
governments target of 3.5-4 million.
Egypt, the worlds largest importer
of wheat, reformed its local procure-
ment process this year to end wide-
spread fraud and smuggling of the
grain from abroad that had inated its
collection gures in years past, costing
the country millions of dollars.
Grain industry experts and lawmak-
ers who led an investigation into the
fraud last year have said upward of 2
million tonnes of Egypts reported 5
million may have existed only on pa-
per.
Egypt this year scrapped the sub-
sidy it traditionally pays farmers and
instead pegged the local buying price
to world market prices for the grain,
a measure that traders have said re-
moved the incentive for smuggling but
left the country with a lower procure-
ment gure.
The government paid farmers 13
lion) in total for their wheat, Moselhy
said in a statement.
Egypt also purchased 350,000
tonnes of durum wheat from farmers
which it will sell to local pasta fac-
tories, a supply ministry spokesman
said.
That is separate from the 3.4 mil-
lion tonnes, which, along with its state
purchase tenders for imports, supplies
a massive subsidised bread programme
relied on by tens of millions of Egyp-
tians.
Egypts wheat harvest typically runs
from April through July, but Mosel-
hy said the government will reopen
a small number of collection points
in six provinces during the rst two
weeks of July to buy any quantities of
wheat that remain.

Prices down 20 pct this year

Oil below $45 per barrel
Kuwaiti expert predicts global
oil prices at $45-55 per barrel
By Kamel Al-Harami oil producers lose money over
Independent Oil Analyst their current high production level
with the current oil prices of below
W hat is the bottom level? Is it
below $40 or could it be
anyones guess?
$45. However, this is not likely to
be the case, as they know for sure
that the oil prices will jump back to
With the oil prices tumbling by
more than 20 percent this year, it
$45 and above due to the interven-
tion of OPEC sooner or later. They
Kuwait oil prices rise 54 cents per barrel
represents the worst performance seem to have more confidence in
since 1997. This current trend of the actions of OPEC to save them KUWAIT CITY, June 24,
the downward pressure on the oil from any future bankruptcies.
prices will not end in the absence (KUNA): International oil
The lack of full commitment by
of a prompt response from OPEC OPEC members to the OPECs prices are forecast to re-
and non-OPEC countries in the decision and the increased produc- main in the vicinity of $45
coming days tion by Nigeria and Libya did con-
due to long and 55 until the market re-
tribute to the decline in oil prices.
holidays in Like we stated last week, a miracle gains stability and equilib-
major oil pro- is needed to rectify this decline. rium, a Kuwaiti oil expert
ducing coun- OPEC must come together again believes.
tries. and agree on the new limits to the
The decline Market balance can be restored
production cuts. Saudi Arabia may by means of increasing more
in oil prices have to take on a bigger cut in
started imme- order to reduce the huge surplus global oil stock withdrawals in a
diately after and stabilize the oil prices hope- way that could send oil prices into
OPEC made fully before the end of this year. future recovery, Mohammad Al-
the announce- The increase in shale oil produc- Shatti said to KUNA.
ment to Harami tion must be tackled but the chal- Oil producers strategy aiming at
extend the lenge will take a long time. allowing market dynamics to bring
production cuts for another six So for the time being, we have the world oil market back to earlier
months, without realizing that it need- to live with the low oil prices, and balance has contributed to curtailing
ed some tangible support of increased consequently work on lower shale oil production, he said.
production cuts by more than 1.8 incomes and heavier deficits in the However, this plan has failed to
million barrels in order to accelerate budgets of oil producing countries. notch up the ultimate goal of rebal-
the rate of reduction in surplus oil in
the international oil market. ancing the oil market mainly due to
There is no quick way to stop Email: naftikuwaiti@yahoo. the reluctance of OPEC and non-
the decline unless the USA shale com OPEC producers to cut oil output,
the oil expert regretted.
The recent agreement by OPEC

bottomline
the
KUWAIT CITY: Kuwaits statistics
ofce reported the following May
consumer price data on Tuesday.
Kuwait Consumer
Ination 05/17 04/17 05/16
pct change
month/month 0.1 -0.1 0.0
pct change
year/year 2.7 2.6 2.8
Note: Prices of food and beverages, which
account for more than 18 percent of the basket,
edged up 0.1 percent from a year earlier.
Housing costs, which account for nearly
29 percent of consumer expenses, rose 4.3
percent. (RTRS)
CAIRO: Egypts President Abdel
Fattah al-Sisi ratied a stamp duty on
stock exchange transactions for both
buyers and sellers at 1.25 Egyptian
pounds per 1,000 for the taxs rst
year, a decree published in the ofcial
gazette on Thursday showed.
Sisi also approved an extension of
a freeze on capital gains tax for three
years. The country originally imposed
a 10-percent tax on capital gains in July
2014 as part of efforts to replenish de-
pleted state coffers. But its suspended
the tax a year later under pressure from
investors for a period of two years.
Thursdays decree extends that freeze
for another three years. (RTRS)
DUBAI: Irans crude oil production
has surpassed 3.8 million barrels
per day (bpd), Oil Minister Bijan
Zanganeh was quoted as saying on
Saturday, adding that Tehran expects
output to reach 4 million bpd by
March 2018.
Oil production has exceeded 3.8
million barrels. The countrys oil out-
put will reach 4 million barrels by the
end of the year, Zanganeh told Fars
news agency, referring to the Iranian
year which ends on March 20. (RTRS)
pects to begin offering mobile services
DOHA: Qatars nance minister
told US Treasury Secretary Steven
Mnuchin during a trip to Washington
last week that Qatar was committed
to maintaining stability around its
exports of liqueed natural gas to the
global energy market, according to
a statement by Qatars government
communication ofce.
They discussed Qatars efforts to
counter terror nancing ... and Qatars
commitment to maintaining stability
around its exports to the global energy
market, the statement said. (RTRS)
BEIRUT: Lebanons Blom Bank said
on Monday it had completed its acqui-
sition of HSBC Bank Middle East
Limited Lebanon, a wholly owned
subsidiary of HSBC Holdings. Blom
said in November it would acquire
the assets in the rst half of this year
subject to central bank approval.
Blom said in a statement it would
retain HSBC staff. Terms of the acqui-
sition were not disclosed.
HSBC had been in Lebanon since
1946 and has three branches in Dora,
Ras Beirut and St Georges Bay. Blom
said in November HSBC had about
$953 million in assets in Lebanon as
of June 30 last year. (RTRS)
safety hazards.
CAIRO: Egypts state-owned landline
monopoly Telecom Egypt will secure
a loan of up to 13 billion Egyptian
pounds ($720.22 million) to improve
infrastructure and mobile internet
services, Chief Executive Ahmed El
Beheiry told Reuters on Thursday.
The board approved the loan condi-
tions on Wednesday, and El Beheiry
said it would be paid back over eight
years. Telecom Egypt was the rst
company to buy a 4G licence from the
government in August last year for
7.08 billion Egyptian pounds, and ex-
justs the weight placed on a drill bit and
in September. (RTRS)
Big sale in Luxury Bazaar
For six years in a row Al Fatina Group
has been organizing Kuwaits Luxury
Bazaar where all your favorite re-
nowned international brands meet
under one roof.
Luxury Bazaar is one of the biggest
Outlet Bazaars in Kuwait for all fash-
ion lovers and it takes place season-
ally in one of Kuwaits most famous
ballrooms: Salwa Al Sabah Ballroom
in Marina Hotel.
Move to save big money on drilling
Big Oil set to harvest big data
NEW YORK, June 24, (RTRS): In
todays US shale elds, tiny sensors
attached to production gear harvest
data on everything from pumping
pressure to the heat and rotational
speed of drill bits boring into the
rocky earth.
The sensors are leading Big Oils
mining of so-called big data, with some
rms envisioning billions of dollars in
savings over time by avoiding outages,
managing supplies and identifying
plications for this.
The industry has long used sophisti-
cated technologies to nd oil and gas.
But only recently have oil rms pooled
data from across the company for wider
operating efciencies one of many
cost-cutting efforts spurred by the two-
year downturn in crude oil prices.
ConocoPhillips says that sensors
scattered across its well elds helped
it halve the time it once took to drill
new wells in Eagle Ford shale basin of
South Texas.
By comparing data from hundreds of
sensors, its program automatically ad-
oil and gas unit sell sensor-equipped
its speed, accelerating the extraction of
This year, the Bazaar will be tak-
ing place at Salwa Al Sabah Ballroom
from June 20-25 and will cater to all
your fashion needs! Shop as a fam-
ily for menswear, womenswear and
children!
All your favorite international
brands will be on Sale at up to 90%
off! This massive Sale will allow you
to prepare for your summer shopping
as you go through a huge variety of
oil, said Matt Fox, ConocoPhillips
executive vice-president for strategy,
exploration and technology.
It is just one application, but if ap-
plied to the more than 3,000 wells Con-
ocoPhillips hopes to drill in the Texas
basin, those small sensors could lead to
billions and billions of dollars in sav-
ings, Fox said in an interview.
We started using data analytics
in our Eagle Ford business, he said.
And everywhere we look there are ap-
tant, Mathew said.
Systems
The cost and complexity of such
systems vary widely. Oil giants such as
ConocoPhillips buy a mix of off-the-
shelf and custom programs, along with
data repositories. The Houston-based
producers employees use Tibco Soft-
ware Incs Spotre data visualization
package to analyze information from
well sites.
Tibco declined to discuss its pricing.
Services firms including Schlum-
berger NV and General Electric Co
gear, data repositories and software
summer collections at outstanding
prices!
The Luxury Bazaar will contain in-
ternational brands for men, women
and children such as: Al Fatinas
variety of French and Italian brands
Hugo Boss Ted Baker United
Colors of Benetton Maison Mar-
giela Dsquared2 La Martina
Bebe US Polo Assn Etam
Bugatti and many more!
to improve producers decision-
making.
Back when oil traded at more than
$100 a barrel before the price crash
in 2014 data analysis was an after-
thought for most oil rms, said Binu
Mathew, who oversees digital products
at GE Oil & Gas.
Now with prices at about $43 a
barrel after recovering from a low of
about $26 in early 2016 the ef-
ciency aspect is far, far more impor-
The price of Kuwaiti oil barrel
A survey by Ernst & Young last year
examined 75 large oil and gas compa-
nies and found that 68 percent of them
had invested more than $100 million
each in data analytics during the past
two years. Nearly three quarters of
those rms planned to allocate between
6 and 10 percent of their capital bud-
gets to digital technology, the survey
found.
Effectively mining large data sets
could lead to supplanting workers
with articial intelligence and machine
learning systems, according to rms
selling and buying data-driven technol-
ogy.
and non-OPEC countries to cut pro-
duction as part of a fresh blueprint to
restore market equilibrium has actu-
ally led to the recovery of oil prices,
Al-Shatti added.
Rebalance
But, slowness in market rebalance
since the oil output cut deal was put
in place is primarily attributed to a
hike in OPEC exports to the US mar-
ket, sending oil markets into a state
of concern, he pointed out.
During a meeting last month,
OPEC ofcials agreed to protract the
oil output accord, pushing the dead-
line to March of 2018.
In November, OPEC along with
10 non-OPEC members, including
Russia, struck a deal to limit oil out-
put by 1.8 million bpd in an effort
to restore stability in the global oil
market.
The price of Kuwaiti oil barrel rose
54 cents to reach $41.77 per barrel
on Friday, compared with $41.23 pb
on Thursday, said Kuwait Petroleum
Corporation (KPC) on Saturday. Oil
prices in international markets went
up yesterday affected by the drop in
the US dollars exchange rate.
Brent crude oil rose 32 cents
reaching $45.54 per barrel upon set-
tlement and West Texas Crude went
up 27 cents to reach $43.01 pb.
dropped 66 cents to reach $41.23
per barrel on Thursday, compared to
$41.89 pb on Wednesday, said Ku-
wait Petroleum Corporation (KPC)
on Friday.
Oil prices rose in international
markets yesterday as the Joint OPEC
and Non-OPEC Ministerial Moni-
toring Committee announced that
the rate for limiting oil production in
May was 106 percent.
Meanwhile, Brent crude oil went
up 40 cents to reach $45.22 pb upon
settlement and US crude oil rose 21
cents reaching $42.74 pb.
 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

BUSINESS 31

major US banks would withstand recession: Fed Canada inflation low

The largest US banks would with-
stand a severe recession and still
be able to lend to American house-
holds and businesses, the Federal
Reserve announced Thursday.
The results of the first part of
the central banks so-called stress
tests showed 34 major lenders
were on solid capital footing, the
Fed said.
The tests are conducted under
the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial
reform laws, which Congress
enacted in the wake of the 2008
global financial crisis and which
President Donald Trump has
vowed to scale back.
This years results show that,
even during a severe recession,
our large banks would remain well
capitalized, Fed Governor Jerome
Powell said in a statement.
This would allow them to lend
throughout the economic cycle,
and support households and busi-
nesses when times are tough.
The results portrayed a picture of
increasing resilience in the banking
sector, with the 34 participating
firms having added $750 billion in
common equity capital since 2009.
The most severe hypothetical
scenario imposed by the Fed sup-
posed a global economic down-
turn even worse than the recent
Great Recession.
US unemployment would rise to
10 percent, accompanied by a 35
percent drop in commercial real
estate prices and pressures on
corporate loan markets as well.
In this scenario, loan losses
would amount to $383 billion over
nine quarters. The ratio of capital,
which allows lenders to absorb
losses, to risk-weighted assets
would drop from 12.5 percent to
9.2 percent. (AFP)
Canadians paid 1.3 percent
more for goods and services
in May than a year ago, as
gasoline prices rose more
slowly and falling food costs
near-bottomed out, statistics
showed Friday.
The figures compared
with a 1.6 percent uptick in
prices in April.
Prices were up in six of
eight categories charted by
Statistics Canada, with the
shelter and transportation
indexes contributing most to
the year-on-year rise in the
Consumer Price Index.
The cost of buying a
home, a passenger vehicle,
fresh vegetables and res-
taurant meals were all up in
May. Airfares also cost
more, while video equip-
ment prices fell, the gov-
ernment agency said.
(AFP)

Outlook from fixed-income strategists hasnt changed

US Treasury market not following Feds lead yet

BENGALURU, June 24, (RTRS): US
Treasury yields are forecast to climb
over the coming year, but the outlook
from fixed-income strategists hasnt
changed much in the past three
months, in the latest sign that opti-
mism about a global inflation pickup
has at best plateaued.
The latest Reuters poll of over 60
strategists at bond dealers and
research institutions, taken June
19-22, suggests yield rises over the
next year will at best track the Federal
Reserves current intended rate-
increase path.
Since the last poll, the Fed has
raised the federal funds rate once
more, this month. But market convic-
tion on the likelihood of a another rise
as soon as September has fallen back,
along with inflation expectations.
Rather than steepen as would nor-
mally be the case as inflation picks up,
the US yield curve has flattened, a
move generally seen by financial mar-
kets in this stage of an economic cycle
as a harbinger of potential trouble
ahead.
But global stock markets have been
buoyant.
While the poll forecasts no major
changes to the spread between two-
year and 10-year notes from three
months ago, the spread between five-
year notes and 30-year bonds is the
narrowest in nearly a decade, when the
financial crisis was gathering pace.
This has coincided with an extended
period where economic data have been
coming in consistently weaker than
economists forecasts, providing scant
evidence the economy is poised to
break out of a roughly 2 percent steady
trend growth rate.
At the same time, many have dialed
down expectations that the Trump
administration will be able to get dra-
matic tax cuts through the US
Congress, and calls are getting louder
for the Fed to consider a pause.
The fact the Fed hiked rates in June
and continued to signal further hikes to
come certainly has the makings of a
policy error, wrote Matthew
Hornbach, global head of interest
strategy at Morgan Stanley, in a
research note.
But we think its more than just
that. In the context of weaker US data,
10-year yields looked and continue to
look attractive relative to other devel-
oped market sovereign 10-year bond
yields.
Natural demand for Treasuries
when investors globally are looking
for a safe place to park their money -
but that still pays a yield - is also
likely to keep yield rises restrained,
especially if stock markets slip from
record highs.
Some consensus expectations for
sovereign yields, notably for UK gilts,
have shifted lower from where they
were just three months ago, suggesting
that a burst of imported inflation from
the plunge in the pound wont be sus-
tained.
The outlook for the British economy
one year after Britons voted to leave
the European Union has darkened,
with households now getting squeezed
as prices rise faster than their pay.
But even fixed-income strategists as
a group appear to be conflicted
between sticking to subdued bond
yields and their own assessment of the
Feds policy path when asked directly
about it.
A majority of respondents who
answered an extra question said they
were confident the Fed will follow
through broadly on its plans to raise
rates, rating the central banks latest
inflation outlook as just about right.
Taken together, the responses sug-
gest the risk is not that inflation expec-
tations will take off and the Fed will
need to do more, but that it may be
forced to be even more gradual.
If they go too fast, then the end
result of that is actually that the market
is going to take a more bearish view,
said Elwin De Groot, senior market
economist at Rabobank, explaining
how the bond market is pushing
against the Fed, as it has done for most
of the period since the financial crisis.
The latest Reuters poll median puts
the US 10-year Treasury yield at 2.90
percent in a year, the same forecast as
made in the March poll.
That year-ahead forecast is similar
to what was predicted in December
2014, when the Fed had just begun
winding down its quantitative easing
programme.
Since then, the Fed has shut down
the programme and has raised the
funds rate by 100 basis points. This is
a measure both of how chastened fore-
casters have become since then on
their predictions for a normalization
of the yield curve as well as ongoing
plentiful investor demand for
Treasuries.
The spread between 10-year
Treasuries and much lower-yielding
German bunds over the forecast period
is predicted to hold roughly steady at
around 210 basis points compared
with just three months ago.
That reflects an ongoing divergence
between the policies being pursued by
the worlds two largest central banks
one tightening and the other pur-
chasing tens of billions of bonds a
month and suggests no imminent
changes to either one.

Global stocks at record highs

Five top world markets
themes in coming week
LONDON, June 24, (RTRS):
Following are five big themes
likely to dominate the thinking
of investors and traders in the
coming week, and the Reuters
stories related to them.
1: Halftime scores
The first half of the year is
drawing to a close, and its safe to
say it has been an eventful six
months. On the political front,
Donald Trump was sworn in as
US president, Emmanuel Macron
swept to victory in Frances presi-
dential election, and Britains
general election delivered an
equally surprising hung parlia-
ment. In markets, the global refla-
tion trade that was supposed to
accelerate the switch out of safe-
haven assets such as bonds into
risky assets like stocks unraveled.
The Fed raised rates twice, but
traders doubt Yellen and co. will
do much more. US, UK, German
and world stocks are at record
highs, volatility at historic lows
and the corporate earnings growth
outlook is holding up well. But
yield curves are the flattest since
before the US election last year,
oil is down 20 percent in just two
months, and inflation expecta-
tions around the world are falling.
The next six months promise to
be equally eventful, and it would
be a brave person to predict with
any certainty which way markets
will go.
2: Inflation vacation
Central bankers head to the
Portuguese resort town of Sintra
next week with oil prices, infla-
tion expectations and bond yields
also on a retreat. The outlook for
global growth has improved sig-
nificantly since representatives
of the European Central Bank,
the US Federal Reserve, the
Bank of Japan and the Bank of
England met a year ago, but the
elephant in the room remains
inflation. The Fed is ploughing
on with rate rises regardless, but
markets are starting to rethink
how fast and how far it can go in
this hiking cycle. The ECB has
to start tapering soon as it runs
out of bonds to buy, but is stick-
ing to a cautious line. Even the
Bank of Japan is trying to con-
vince people it has a credible exit
strategy without giving too much
away. The Bank of England has
an altogether different problem
with inflation. Despite the eco-
nomic shock of its impending
divorce from the European
Union, some of its cohort are
calling for a hike in rates to stem
sharply rising inflation born out
of a drop in the pound.
Policy ponder: central banks
head for the Portuguese hills
German bond scarcity a key
factor in ECB QE extension
debate
Who might move next? The
Bank of Englands rate-setters in
focus
3: Oils not well
The only sector playing spoil-
sport in this years cheery global
rally across stocks is energy.
Down 11 percent so far this year
and dragged lower by the slide in
oil, energy stocks are significant
laggards and the only major sec-
tor in the red for the year. Global
shares, as measured by the MSCI
AC World index are up nearly 11
percent this year, while the top
performer tech is up more
than 22 percent. The weakness in
oil has implications for global
inflation expectations and, more
importantly for asset prices, on
the path for central banks nor-
malisation of monetary policy.
Stubbornly low inflation will put
further pressure on already-flag-
ging reflation trades and in the
past week investors appear to
have begun shifting allocations
accordingly.
A year after Brexit vote,
European and UK shares diverge
Oil market flashes warning
about stock levels in 2018: Kemp
Global stocks: sector per-
formance
4: Ball of confusion
The fallout of the past weeks
shift in Bank of England policy-
makers voting intentions is
unlikely to fade any time soon.
Whatever the details of the
mixed messages coming from
Governor Carney and chief
economist Andy Haldane this
week, Haldane and the others
have taken a major step that has
markets speculating on a rise in
interest rates within the next six
months and sterling stabilising as
a result. What if the market
decides it simply doesnt believe
a hike is plausible? The latest of
a round of surveys on sentiment
among British business and con-
sumers over the next week are
not likely to show an economy
primed for higher interest pay-
ments. And then there is the
question of whether Prime
Minister Theresa May can win
next Thursdays vote on her gov-
ernments programme. If not,
another election could follow
and the pound could be back in
the firing line.
Markets one year after
Brexit vote: it all comes down to
the pound
Sterling weakness strength-
ens case for UK rate rise
5: Just how radical?
Members of South Africas
ruling African National Congress
(ANC) will gather on June 30 to
kick off their National Policy
Conference, aimed at reviewing
past policies and sketching out
the way forward. Expected to
take centre stage is the Radical
Economic Transformation plan.
President Jacob Zuma has
pledged to redistribute wealth in
the economy still largely held
by a white minority to poor
black people. But with few con-
crete policies on how this will be
achieved, Zuma has been criti-
cised by his opponents for beat-
ing the populist drum. Questions
over Zumas stewardship have
intensified since Africas most
industrialised economy fell into
recession, saw its credit rating
downgraded and has been rocked
by political turmoil and more
recently a row over the indepen-
dence of its central bank. Zuma
who may also face a motion of
no confidence has been facing
mounting calls to resign ahead of
a December meeting where his
successor as party leader will be
chosen. And onlookers expect
economic policy discussions
may just take a backseat to suc-
cession politics this week.
South Africas top court
OKs secret Zuma no-confidence
ballot, but wont order one
Africas finance minister:
Need to protect central bank
independence.
Trump administration authorizes
surveillance drone sales to India
$2bln deal still subject to approval from Congress
India initiated its request to buy 22 Guardian MQ-9B unmanned aircraft for
WASHINGTON, June 24, (AP): The Trump administra-
tion has authorized the sale of unarmed surveillance maritime surveillance last year. The deal is estimated to be worth about $2 billion.
The offer is still subject to congressional approval.
drones to India, the manufacturer said Friday, as the two The green light from the administration marks a further deepening in defense
nations leaders prepare for their first face-to-face meet- ties as Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets with President Donald Trump
ing. at the White House on Monday.
Modis two-day visit to Washington,
which starts Sunday, takes place amid
uncertainty over the relationship
because of differences on trade and
other issues.
So far in his presidency, Trump has
focused on outreach to China, Indias
strategic rival, as he looks to Beijing to
rein in North Korea. But Washington
and New Delhi share concerns about
Chinas rise as a military power.
India reportedly wants the drones
for surveillance of the Indian Ocean
waters that Chinas navy increas-
ingly traverses after establishing its
first overseas base in the Horn of
Africa nation of Djibouti. Indias
archrival Pakistan would also likely be
opposed to the drone sale.
We are pleased that the US govern-
ment has cleared the way for the sale
of the MQ-9B Guardian to the Indian
government, Linden Blue, CEO of
the manufacturer, General Atomics
Aeronautical Systems, said in a state-
ment. Blue added that it would sig-
nificantly enhance Indias sovereign
maritime domain awareness in the
Indo-Pacific.
A congressional staffer familiar with
the matter confirmed the administration
has approved the sale. The staffer was
not authorized to discuss the potential
deal and requested anonymity.
David McKeeby, spokesman for the
A light show illuminates Wilshire Grand Center to celebrate its grand opening on June 23, in Los Angeles. The
73-story, 1,100-foot-high structure is the tallest building west of the Mississippi. (AP) State Department bureau of political-
military affairs, said it does not com-
ment on proposed defense sales before
Start of a long and costly process Congress is formally notified.
A senior White House official said
Friday that the US is interested in pro-
Whole Foods, Amazon need more time viding India the kind of high technology
it provides to its closest allies and
defense partners. That is important to the
strategic partnership and for cooperation
LOS ANGELES, June 24, houses located strategically Foods. in areas like the Indian Ocean, and also
(RTRS): If Amazon.com Inc throughout the United States. As of Amazons fulfillment expenses creates US jobs, said the official, who
hopes to revolutionize grocery 2016, the company had about 100 jumped 31 percent in 2016 - a bit requested anonymity to brief reporters
delivery, then its bid to buy Whole million square feet of space in its faster than in prior years and fast- on the preparations for Modis visit.
Foods Market Inc for $13.7 bil- fulfillment and data centers, some er than its retail sales growth - to India does not have a formal alli-
lion will be just the start of a long of it outfitted with state-of-the-art $17.6 billion, according to its ance with the US, but defense ties have
and costly process. robotics to boost efficiency. annual regulatory filing. intensified in recent years with joint
drills between the two militaries and
The e-commerce giant would Facilities for distributing fresh Industry experts estimate the defense sales. The South Asian nation,
need to add a large network of food are far more complicated company would have to add a which has traditionally bought most of
specialized grocery distribution than ordinary warehouses. A sin- dozen or more grocery warehous- its defense equipment from Russia, is
warehouses, former AmazonFresh gle facility can need a half dozen es, particularly if it wanted to sup- looking to upgrade its capabilities.
employees and logistics experts or more temperature settings to ply Whole Food stores in addition Since 2008, India has signed more
said. This is something Wal-Mart house products from Popsicles to to homes. The cost to do that is than $15 billion in US defense con-
Stores Inc and other competitors berries. Some require certification unclear. tracts, including for C-130J and C-17
transport aircraft, P-8I maritime patrol
have already done. Whole Foods, from the U.S. Food and Drug They said Amazon would likely aircraft, Harpoon missiles and Apache
with a relatively small distribution Administration, and extra care continue to rely on United Natural and Chinook helicopters.
footprint of its own, does little to must be taken to keep shelves Foods Inc to supply Whole Foods Ashley Tellis, an expert on South
change the picture for Amazon, clean and prevent pests from con- with hard-to-source products, but Asia at the Carnegie Endowment for
they said. taminating food. would probably aim to cut costs International Peace, said the US deci-
Amazon has a little more than 3 and handle more of the distribu- sion to offer the Guardian aircraft to
million square feet of U.S. ware- Inventory tion for conventional items. India is significant as the US has a
Whole Foods has over 1 million standing policy of declining export of
housing dedicated to its existing Even using Whole Foods stores such advanced drones other than to
AmazonFresh and Prime Pantry square feet of warehouse space to provide food for delivering to allies involved in combined operations
grocery programs - a tenth of the for distribution to its markets, and nearby urban shoppers would with US forces.
warehouse space Wal-Mart has a chunk of its inventory goes have hard limits, since many out- Much bureaucratic china within
for specialized food distribution, straight from suppliers to stores, lets lack the floor space to handle the US government had to be broken
according to logistics consulting MWPVL said. thousands of online orders. to get to this decision, he said.
Its a peanut. Its nothing, There could still be pushback from
firm MWPVL International Inc. Its a space issue for stuff com- Congress. While there is bipartisan
AmazonFresh really was for MWPVL President Marc Wulfraat ing through. Its a labor issue for support for closer US-India security
lack of a better word an after- said of Whole Foods distribution. people tripping over each other, ties, some lawmakers remain wary of
thought, said Brittain Ladd, who If Amazon wants to become a said Tom Furphy, former vice the export of US drone technology to
until March was a senior manager dominant grocery company in a president of consumables and non-allies. Modi, a Hindu nationalist,
for the grocery delivery program, short period of time, then there AmazonFresh, and now chief will be making his fourth visit to the
which launched in 2007. would be an investment required, executive of Consumer Equity US since he took office in 2014. He
One key to Amazons success in and it would be big. Partners. There would also be a forged a strong relationship with
President Barack Obama, and on his
general retail sales has been its Amazon, which did not return risk that the quality starts to go last visit in June 2016, he addressed
speed in delivering products to requests for comment, has not down because the e-commerce Congress and described the US as an
consumers, facilitated by ware- detailed its plans for Whole orders are getting better product. indispensable partner.
 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

BUSINESS 32

Burgan Bank names winners of Youth Account draw

Burgan Bank recently announced
the names of the three lucky win-
ners of its Youth Account Quar-
terly draw. First place winner,
Abdullah Ayed Alshammari, took
home a cash prize of KD 1,000,
while second and third place win-
ners, Fesal Adel Almweenee And
Hussain Ali Saad, each received
a remarkable gift of an unlimited
access voucher to Grand Cin-
emas for one year.
Customers transferring their
Student allowances to the bank
will automatically be enrolled into
the draw and with every KD 20 in
their Youth account they will get
one chance to enter the quarterly
draw.
The Youth Account draw was
re-launched in response to the in-
creasing market demand for high-
ly innovative offerings which pro-
vide a higher incentive of winning
for young individuals, between
the ages of 15-25, who seek to at-
tain a successful future.
There is no KD limit to open
an account, and no minimum
balance required to maintain it.
Furthermore, account holders will
receive free prepaid MasterCard
and an ATM card which entitles
them to discounts at selected
merchants along with an exclu-
sive discount at Grand Cinemas
Theatres in Al Hamra Mall and
The Gate Mall.
To receive regular updates
about Burgan Banks promo-
tions, customers can follow the
designated Instagram page @
BurganBankKuwait. For more in-
formation customers are required
to visit their nearest Burgan Bank
branch or call 1804080, or visit
the banks website on www.bur-
gan.com.

Al Nahar Plus, an authorized agent

for Samsung (Mobile and Acces-
sories), held the annual Iftar for the
employees of the company and
their families on the occasion of
the holy month of Ramadan at the
Jumeirah Hotel and Resort.
Amer Hindi, General Manager
of the company, welcomed the
attendees and praised the efforts
and accomplishments achieved
by the company recently which
included the opening of three
service centers in Sharq, Salmiya
and Fahaheel. The ceremony
included a number of competitions
and awards.
Kamel Shalabi the Technical
Support Manager and Ahmed
Al Shuwaikh the Sales Manager
honored the best employees in all
departments.
Al Nahar Plus group

Alayoub: We are proud of our leading role in supporting volunteerism and charitable acts

Ooredoo concludes month of volunteer activities

KUWAIT CITY, June 24: Ooredoo, Kuwaits fastest network,
concluded its Ramadan program of activities, which included
internal initiatives targeting staff members as well as external
initiatives targeting different society segments. These initiatives
come in line with the companys social responsibility strategy
during the Holy Month.
Commenting on this in a statement, Ooredoo Kuwaits Se-
nior Director of Corporate Communications Mijbil Alayoub
said: Were proud of all the participants and their willingness
to give selessly, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
Were also very our leading role in supporting volunteerism and
charitable acts in this holy month.
Ooredoo is relaunched its Volunteer Program, following the
great success it achieved upon the ofcial launch of the program
last two year. This program was launched in cooperation with
Spread the Passion, a local non-prot organization which aims at
encouraging youth to be more engaged in voluntarily programs.
The accompanying training program is intended to continue for
a whole month and includes workshops, training camp.
In addition, Ooredoo will continue to distribute Iftar meals
during the Holy Month of Ramadan through a distribution
centre outside its head ofce and in its Iftar tent, in addition
to a special truck that will deliver meals to areas populated by
underserved communities. The meal distribution drive is fully
operated by Ooredoos volunteer program members, after the
great success of the program in the last two years.
The upper management at Ooredoo regularly participate
in the activities, in addition to staff from the companys
different departments and divisions. Welcoming the Holy
Month of Ramadan, Ooredoo organized a special Graish
meal for its staff at Ooredoos headquarters in Al Soor
Street. The Graish meal was a way to welcome the Holy
Month with its employees and to revive the old Kuwaiti cus- Photos from Ooredoos Ramadan activities
toms and heritage. All employees gather on this occasion
to have one last meal before Ramadan together, greet each number of key initiatives, such as meal distribution in the iftar happy occasion. riching the community. A similar event was held for the parents,
other and exchange best wishes. tent in addition to the volunteer truck. Ooredoo staff also partici- Ooredoo also held an Iftar feast for the on-call medical staff children and staff of the Kuwait Centre for Down Syndrome.
Connecting with its staff, Ooredoo held its Ramadan ghabga, pated in a number of workshops and visits to hospital wards and and security personnel in Yarmouk area last week. The event Supporting volunteer work among Ooredoos top priorities
a fun-lled event with a traditional Kuwaiti theme under the other charitable initiatives throughout the month. took place in the Yarmouk Health Center and was attended by through its CSR strategy. The company has recently signed a
title Sanduq Embayyat, which was attended by the Chairman The company also aims to hold a series of Girgian celebra- the mayor of Yamrouk, Abdulaziz Al-Meshari. The event was memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of State for
and CEO of Ooredoo Group Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, tions to bring the joy to kids hearts several locations, includ- held in collaboration with the Yarmouk Co-Operative Society Youth Affairs, to support youth projects and initiatives, making
the CEO and General Manager of Ooredoo Kuwait Sheikh Mo- ing the Guardians of the Disabled Association, Kuwait Centre and Yarmouk Health Center, and Yarmouk Healthy City initia- it the rst telecom provider in Kuwait to sign such a high-level
hammed bin Abdullah Al-Thani along with executive manag- for Down Syndrome, in addition to care centres. Ooredoo also tive. agreement. Ooredoo is continuously working with the Ministry
ers and department heads. held a special gergiaan celebration with the Kuwaiti band Sons The event reects Ooredoos core values of caring and con- to enrich youth experience in a variety of elds, with a focus on
Throughout the holy month, Ooredoo involved its staff in a of Yusuf, where hundreds of children attended to celebrate the necting, and stems from the companys deep-rooted belief in en- volunteerism.

Quarterly draw winner will be announced on July 13

Few days left to enter Al Danahs KD 500,000 draw

KUWAIT CITY, June 24: Gulf Bank
has announced that June 30 is the last
date for customers to open an Al Danah
account or deposit more, as to increase
their chances of winning the 3rd Quar-
terly draw for the KD 500,000 prize.
Furthermore, Al Danahs 2nd Quar-
terly draw winner for the KD 250,000
prize will be announced on July 13,
while the 3rd Quarterly Draw for the
prize of KD 500,000 will be held on
Sept 28. The nal Al Danah draw for
1 million Kuwaiti Dinars will be held
on Jan 11, 2018 whereby the Al Danah
Millionaire will be announced. Eligible
customers will also enter the daily draw
offering two KD 1,000 prizes, which are
drawn each working day.
To participate in the Al Danah draws,
customers must have an Al Danah ac-
count containing at least KD 200. Cus-
tomers can open a new Al Danah account
at any one of the 56 Gulf Bank branches
in Kuwait. Those who already have an
account can enhance their chances of
winning the upcoming draws by increas-
ing and maintaining their deposits.
Gulf Bank encourages you to in-
crease your chances by depositing more
into your Al Danah account, immedi-
ately from any local bank, using the
new ePay (Self-Pay) service, which is
available on Gulf Banks Online and
Mobile Banking. Customers can also
make deposits through Gulf Banks
ITMs machines which are located in the
Jabriya, Al Adan, Fahaheel and South
Surra branches.
Five reasons why the Al Danah ac-
count is the best: Kuwaits single big-
gest yearly cash prize of KD 1 million
and the largest international bank prize
according to Guinness World Records;
Kuwaits biggest quarterly cash prizes,
up to KD 500,000; Two winners of KD
1,000 every working day; The most
chances to win; Only Bank that transfers
your chances to win from the previous
year to the current year
Only Al Danah Makes Millionaires.
For further information about the
Al Danah account, visit one of Gulf
Banks 56 branches, or call Gulf Banks
Customer Contact Center on 1805805.
General information about Gulf Banks
products and services, can also be found
at the Banks website at www.e-gulf-
bank.com. Al-Danah draw logo

BUSINESS
Switzerlands nancial markets au-
thority said Friday that it has taken
action in two separate cases of in-
sider trading and market manipu-
lation, seizing millions of Swiss
francs of illegal prots and banning
three traders from the industry.
The authority, FINMA, said 1.4
million francs in ill-gotten prots
were seized from a former corpo-
rate board member who repeat-
edly and systematically outed
the ban on using non-public in-
Stocks flying, oil crying as 2017 hits halfway
LONDON, June 24,
(RTRS): World stocks
could be about to record
their best start to a year
since 1998, when global
markets were recovering
from the Asian crisis, while
oil and the dollar are fac-
ing their worst rst-half in
years.
It has been a six months
marked, rst, by the crumbling
of so-called Trump trades that
were premised on US President
Donald Trumps pledges of
multi-trillion dollar spending.
The second feature has been a
political and growth outlook shift
in Europe which has lured inves-
tors back to the continent.
16-17 percent gains in emerging
markets and Europe on a dollar-
adjusted basis have boosted world
stocks around 10 percent so far this
year.
Oil on the other hand is 2017s
worst performer, despite almost 2
million barrels-per-day of OPEC
supply cuts.
Undercut by high output from
shale and some producers such as
Nigeria, Brent crude futures have
slumped 20 percent in their big-
gest rst-half drop since 1997. The
price moves have rekindled memo-
ries of the 50 percent rout seen in
the second half of 2014.
But equities have held up well
despite a hefty tech share selloff
earlier in June and a run of softer
US economic data which hint at
slowing price growth and a ma-
jor setback for the Trumpfla-
tion trades in vogue at the start
of 2017.
Despite two Federal Reserve rate
hikes already this year, the dollar
Delays push up costs
UK nuclear plant to cost
consumers billions more
LONDON, June 24, (AFP):
A highly-controversial UK
government deal for the new
Hinkley Point nuclear power
plant will cost British ener-
gy consumers billions more
pounds than forecast, the
countrys National Audit Of-
ce said Friday.
The Department for
Business, Energy and In-
dustrial Strategys deal for
Hinkley Point C has locked
consumers into a risky and
expensive project with un-
certain strategic and eco-
nomic benefits, the NAO
said in a report.
Under the project, UK en-
ergy users will have sums
added to their bills for a pe-
riod of 35 years.
The NAO said the com-
bined cost of such payments
is set to surge to 30 billion
($38 billion, 34 billion eu-
ros).
Delays
Delays have pushed back
the nuclear power plants
construction, and the expect-
ed cost of top-up payments
under the Hinkley Point Cs
contract... has increased from
6 billion to 30 billion, the
report said.
It will not be known for
decades whether Hinkley
Point C will be value for
money. This will depend on
whether the current contrac-
tual arrangements endure,
along with external factors,
in particular, future fossil
fuel prices, the costs of al-
ternative low-carbon gener-
ation, and developments in
energy technology and the
wider electricity system, it
added.
Amyas Morse, head of
the National Audit Office,
said time will tell whether
the deal represents value for
money, but we cannot say
the Department has maxi-
Swiss take action over insider trading
formation to trade in shares of
premier Swiss companies be-
tween 2013 and 2016.
It marks the rst time that FIN-
MA, applying broader authority
granted to it in 2013, has sanc-
tioned an individual who is not a
banker, insurer or asset manager.
FINMA did not specify the com-
panies or individuals involved,
citing legal restrictions, and said
the Swiss attorney-generals
ofce has started criminal pro-
Eurozone seen growing 2 pct this year, best run in a decade
has fallen 4.5 percent against the
worlds other top currencies -- its
worst start to a year since 2006.
From a global perspective it is
increasing the appetite for risky as-
sets, said ABN Amros chief in-
vestment ofcer Didier Duret.
Duret also noted the defeat for
far-right, anti-establishment par-
ties in French and Dutch elections,
as well as a synchronised recovery
in world growth. The euro zone is
seen growing 2 percent this year,
its best run in a decade, while latest
data shows consumer condence at
a 16-year high.
In Brexit-bound Britain, which
has just been through a messy elec-
tion, the pound has dropped 3 per-
cent against the euro, whereas UK
government bonds and the FTSE
100 have risen 2.4 and 6.4 percent
respectively.
Emerging markets too have en-
joyed a trade and growth bounce.
There is a growing recogni-
tion we are seeing accumulative
stability, with lower volatility
and lower correlation between
assets and this is constructive
for creating momentum for equi-
ties, Duret said.
While US stocks have returned
almost 10 percent year-to-date,
many investors reckon European
stocks offer better value - funds
polled by Reuters every month
have just upped euro zone equity
exposure to a nine-month high.
Previously there were lots of
reasons not to invest in Europe.
Now Europe is growing faster than
the US, said Pictet Asset Man-
agements chief strategist Luca
Paolini, who prefers European and
emerging stocks.
The past week has seen biggest
US equity outows in ve weeks.
Emerging markets have
shrugged off the US rate rises and
mised the chances that it
will be.
The contract for a French-
Chinese consortium to build
Britains first nuclear plant
in a generation was signed
in September after a string
of controversies threatened
to scupper the huge deal.
The British government
had delayed agreement over
concerns about Chinas
involvement, while there
were also questions about
how the French state-owned
power giant EDF would
fund the construction of
Hinkley Point.
Go-ahead
But Britain nally gave
the go-ahead last September
for the 18 billion complex,
which is expected to provide
seven percent of the coun-
trys power needs.
Beijings state-run China
General Nuclear Corpora-
tion is set to nance 6.0
billion of the cost of the Hin-
kley Point plant, with French
state-owned power giant EDF
providing the remaining 12
billion.
Critics have focused on
an electricity price guar-
antee to be paid to EDF of
92.5 for every megawatt
hour of power produced
by Hinkley for the next
35 years, rising with infla-
tion, despite falling energy
prices.
The project is meanwhile
strongly opposed by envi-
ronmentalists, who urged
the government to focus
on renewable sources like
wind and solar power to
meet Britains future en-
ergy needs especially
since a massive earthquake
and tsunami ravaged Ja-
pans northeast coast and
triggered a meltdown at the
Fukushima nuclear power
plant in 2011.
ceedings. It declined to conrm
or deny Swiss media reports that
identied the individual as Hans
Ziegler, a former board member
of industrial groups Schmolz +
Bickenbach and Oerlikon.
The other case involved a small
proprietary trading company that
was operating without a license and
altered the market by making large
orders in Swiss blue-chip shares
that were not executed between
2011 and 2015, FINMA said. (AP)
Policy ponder: cbanks head for the Portuguese hills
LONDON, June 24, (RTRS): The
cool shade of the hills above
Lisbon will offer leading central
bankers an escape from the sum-
mer heat in the coming week, but
there is little they can do to get
away from their differing mon-
etary policy conundrums.
As the global nancial crisis
slowly fades from the rear-view
mirror, the worlds biggest central
banks are struggling to decide
how and when and what speed
they can begin returning their
monetary policy settings to some-
thing like normality.
The highlight of the European
Central Banks Forum on Central
Banking in Sintra the old geta-
way of Portuguese monarchs is
likely to be Wednesdays panel
discussion including the heads of
the European, British, Japanese
and Canadian central banks.
For the ECB, the main issue
over the next few months, after
giving up its bias towards more
rates cuts earlier this month, is
whether to extend or start wind-
ing down its bond-buying pro-
gramme.
With eurozone growth picking
up and ination slowly moving in
the right direction, as price data
at the end of the week may show,
the oil and tech tumbles. While
emerging equities are the top per-
formers, bonds in emerging market
currencies have returned almost 10
percent in dollar terms, while hard
currency sovereign debt is up 6
percent.
At the end of last year, every-
one was long dollar but suddenly
people realised the dollar was get-
ting weaker. Usually when that
happens its very good for EM as-
Putin launches deep-water phase of TurkStream
Russian President Vladimir Putin (second right), anked by Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller (right), visits the pipe lay-
ing vessel Pioneering Spirit in the Black Sea near Anapa, Russia, on June 23. The president has inspected the
work on the Turkish Stream gas pipeline project. (AP)
Macron awaits first ratings review
French yields near 7-month low
LONDON, June 24, (RTRS):
French benchmark government
bond yields held near a seven-
month low on Friday on hopes of a
credit outlook upgrade at Frances
rst ratings review since Emmanu-
el Macron won the presidency and
a large parliamentary majority.
One of the big three ratings
rms, Moodys, is set to publish
its review for its Aa2 rating with a
stable outlook after European mar-
kets close.
Macron has pledged to tackle
unemployment, seen as one of the
main hurdles for Frances ailing
economy. Through various labour
reforms he aims to cut the jobless
rate to levels not seen for more
than two decades by the end of his
term.
Moodys said on Monday that
the parliamentary majority won on
Sunday for Macrons En Marche!
eased that path to reform, which is
At the 11th hour, the Italian gov-
ernment has vowed to rescue two
troubled Venetian banks with the
aid of a retail bank, plus billions of
taxpayers cash. The government
was due to meet over the weekend
to devise the rescue framework for
Banca Popolare di Vicenza and
Veneto Banca, the nance minis-
try said in a statement Friday night.
Both banks face bankruptcy and
European authorities say it is for
Rome, not Brussels, to deal with
the idea of extending the pro-
gramme will be anathema to the
banks more hawkish members,
Germany in particular.
The 2.3 trillion euro pro-
gramme, designed to revive ina-
tion, is set to run until the end of
2017, and a gradual withdrawal
known as tapering would carry it
well into next year.
On top of the economic argu-
ments over whether to extend the
programme, there is a technical
problem: the growing scarcity of
German government bonds avail-
able for the ECB to buy.
Sources with direct knowledge
of the discussion told Reuters this
will be a key consideration for the
bank when it discusses the bond-
buying programme.
Data from Germanys Ifo eco-
nomic institute on Monday is ex-
pected to show only a slight fall in
business morale this month from
last months record high, which
may strengthen the resolve of
those opposed to yet more mon-
ey printing by the central bank.
Our base case is that in Sep-
tember the ECB will announce a
reduction of monthly purchases,
starting in January 2018, Credit
Suisse analysts said in a weekly
note to investors.
sets, said Francois Savary, CIO of
Swiss investment manager Prime
Partners.
There is likely room for more
gains in the coming year, given the
sector has underperformed for ve
years, he added.
Russian equities, heavily oil-
reliant and a star of late 2016, have
lost 17 percent but energy importer
Turkeys stock index has risen 30
percent, despite ination, domestic
Russian president lauds Turkeys support
credit positive for the rating.
In France, a positive rating also welcomed Macrons parlia-
change by Moodys would be
premature, but a move (on the) ...
outlook seems possible given the
better GDP growth outlook and
subsiding political risks, Com-
merzbank rates strategist Chris-
toph Rieger said.
Frances 10-year bond yield was
at on the day at 0.6 percent on
Friday, near a seven-month low of
0.578 percent hit nine days ago.
At about 34 basis points, the gap
to the benchmark German equiva-
lent was around the lowest since
November.
Other euro zone bond yields
were little changed on the day.
Ratings agency S&Ps chief
economist said this month that
it is likely to raise its 1.5 percent
growth forecast for France.
S&P is not scheduled to review
its AA (stable) rating for France
Rome out to rescue two troubled banks
their liquidation, involving selling
off their good assets and transfer-
ring toxic assets to a bad bank,
essentially nanced by Rome.
Italy will stage the rescue
along with some support from
the countrys biggest retail bank
Intesa Sanpaolo.
Whereas the latter has put a
symbolic euro on the table, the cost
to the Italian state will be around 10
billion euros ($11 billion).
The development comes amid
The Bank of England, mean-
while, is caught between rising
ination and a 30-year high in
factory orders on the one hand
and weak wages, political insta-
bility and the complex process of
extricating the country from the
European Union on the other.
The Bank voted 5-3 last week
to keep borrowing costs un-
changed a closer outcome than
expected and on Wednesday
its chief economist surprised in-
vestors by saying he was close to
voting for a rate hike, too.
Part of the reason for the nar-
row split is ination has hit its
highest level in nearly four years,
pushed up by the slump in the
value of the pound since the
Brexit vote.
Overall, analysts seem uncon-
vinced that the Bank will vote in
favour of increasing borrowing
costs anytime soon.
We nd it hard to see why the
BoE as a committee will risk a
rate hike as the country heads
into the Brexit negotiations in an
environment of high political and
economic instability, Credit Sui-
sse wrote.
While the Bank of England and
European Central Bank wrestle
with their policy problems, how-
political risks and policy wobbles.
The Mexican peso is the worlds
top performing currency, up 14
percent on the dollar, as faith
wanes in Trumps ability to imple-
ment anti-trade and anti-immigra-
tion pledges.
Perhaps the biggest surprise
has been Polands zloty which
has surged more than 10 percent
against the dollar, outstripping the
euros 5.8 percent rise.
until October, but Fitch - which
mentary majority this week - will
reassess its rating at the end of next
month.
(Macrons) labour reforms are
going to be a key determinant of
whether we see upward pressure ...
in terms of Frances rating, Rabo-
bank strategist Richard McGuire
said.
There is certainly a lot of posi-
tive sentiment. That is all hope
rather that reality and I suspect
(ratings) agencies would want to
see some of that reality before they
make a move.
Moodys is also due to review
its Aaa rating for Germany and
its Caa3 rating for Greece on Fri-
day. DZ Bank analysts are call-
ing for an upgrade to Caa2 for
Greece after the country secured
a debt deal with creditors this
month.
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
33
deep concern within the 19-mem-
ber eurozone at the parlous state
of some Italian banks with Rome
still to resolve the problem of piles
of risky loans sitting on the books
of some of them. In its statement,
the ministry said the government
would be meeting over the week-
end to adopt necessary measures
to ensure banking activity is fully
operational, with protection for all
current account holders, deposits
and senior shares. (AFP)
ever, spare a thought for the
Bank of Japan and its bond-buy-
ing hangover.
After years of snapping up
bonds in a bid to revive ination,
the BoJ holds assets equivalent
to more than 90 percent of the
countrys gross domestic prod-
uct.
And still ination remains far
below its 2 percent target rate, as
a raft of data due out on Friday
are expected to show.
Nevertheless, with the econ-
omy showing signs of recovery,
talk is emerging about how the
BoJ can begin preparing an exit
strategy.
It faces a tricky balancing act: It
must convince the markets it has
a game plan, but if it reveals too
much too quickly, investors could
dump their bonds, sending yields
sharply higher and destabilising
the market.
The Bank of Canada, mean-
while, shocked markets recently
when it raised the prospect of
hiking rates sooner than had pre-
viously been anticipated.
But data on Friday showed the
countrys ination rate cooled
more than expected in May, re-
ducing the odds of an early rate
rise.
Brazils real has been one of
the worst-performing currencies,
down 5 percent in 2017 due to
fresh corruption scandals that have
hit the country.
The question for the next six
months is how far the positive
European momentum should go,
said ABNs Duret. And can China
control its slowdown. Can it con-
tinue to achieve a perfect soft land-
ing?
MOSCOW, June 24, (AFP): Russian
President Vladimir Putin on Friday
launched the deep-water phase of the
TurkStream gas pipeline project, call-
ing Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan
from a ship off the Black Sea coast.
TurkStream will deliver Russian gas
to Turkey and is eventually intended to
serve the European Union.
Go! Putin said, pressing a button
on the Pioneering Spirit pipelaying
ship, the worlds largest construction
vessel, to formally launch the work,
accompanied by Gazprom energy gi-
ants chief Alexei Miller.
The Kremlin strongman also phoned
Erdogan from the ship in an effusively
friendly exchange covered at length by
Russias state Rossiya 24 channel.
The work has already started. I want
to thank you once more and congratu-
late you on this, Putin said. Speaking
on a white dial phone, Putin praised the
speedy progress of the project, attributing
this to backing from Erdogan.
Where in our country it takes years,
Im not exaggerating, on various admin-
istrative agreements, with Turkey we do
this in a few months, Putin said.
Undoubtedly this happens directly
with your personal support.
Russia rst oated the project
in 2014 after the European Union
blocked plans for a pipeline under the
Black Sea to Bulgaria, at the height of
the Ukraine crisis.
Then a diplomatic crisis in Novem-
ber 2015 over Turkeys shooting down
of a Russian bomber on the Turkish-
Syrian border delayed the project,
which was revived when bilateral rela-
tions were mended last year.
Russian television also covered
from Turkey Erdogan speaking to Pu-
tin from the airport of the town of Kay-
seri, sitting in a leather armchair.
The two leaders spoke for around 15
minutes and then agreed to speak again
later, while Erdogan said Spasibo, or
thank you, twice, Russian television
reported.
The Turkstream project will see the
construction of two lines, each capable of
carrying 15.75 billion cubic metres of gas
per year. The rst is due to be completed
in 2018 and the second in 2019.
The idea is not just to supply gas to
Turkey but also to turn it into a transit
country for Russian gas heading to the
European Union, replacing Ukraine.
If our partners want this, we are
ready to supply gas via Turkey to
southern and southeastern Europe. We
see that our partners have an interest in
this, Putin told Erdogan at the launch,
quoted by the Kremlin website.
Russia also plans Nord Stream 2, a
twin pipeline under the Baltic Sea to
Germany, but the project has been de-
layed due to opposition from countries
including Poland.

BUSINESS
tourism tops Barcelona locals concern: poll
Tourism has become the main
issue of concern for Barcelonas
residents ahead of unemployment,
according to a survey published
Friday by the city hall of the popu-
lar seaside resort.
Rising rental prices, noise and
crowds jostling for space in the
streets, the disappearance of tra-
ditional, every-day stores have all
become irritants for those who still
live in the central districts of the
Mediterranean city, which gets mil-
Eurozone set to grow, with some wobbles
LONDON, June 24,
(RTRS): Evidence built
on Friday that the sturdy
improvement in euro zone
economic growth touted
by the European Central
Bank is in place albeit
with some wobbles.
Cruising speed, not acceleration,
Morgan Stanley economists said.
Surveys of purchasing managers
plans in the euro zone, Germany and
France all indicated steady growth, if
not perhaps as much as some econo-
mists had expected.
The broadest of the managers sur-
veys IHS Markits June ash pur-
chasing managers composite index for
the euro zone dipped to 55.7 from
56.8 in May.
This was lower than anyone in a
Reuters economists poll had predict-
ed, but still way above 50, the level
Markit says divides expansion from
contraction.
Businesses experienced the strong-
est quarter in six years, Bert Colijn,
ING senior economist for the euro
zone, said in a note. With just a week
to go in this quarter, all signs are point-
ing towards a strong (growth) read-
ing.
At the country level, the most sig-
nicant development may have been
Frances manufacturing PMI, which
rose far more than expected to 55, ris-
ing back after a dip in May possibly
because the political risks around the
presidential and legislative have gone.
Companies also took on workers at
the fastest pace in nearly 10 years, a
sub-index showed, giving Frances
new president, Emmanuel Macron, an
early economic present.
Overall, however, the PMIs showed
something of a tailing off of activity
primarily in services even if that
Majors eye ambitions growth
Planemakers alter sales
pitch to ramp up profit
PARIS, June 24, (RTRS): Airbus
and Boeing leave this weeks Par-
is Airshow with plans for ambi-
tious growth in aviation services,
as attening demand for new jets
and pressure to raise prot mar-
gins encourages planemakers to
deepen their exposure to airline
operations.
The two largest planemakers
set out their stalls at the worlds
biggest air show in a series of an-
nouncements that could set them
in competition with some of their
suppliers and even some of the
airlines that have ordered jets in
recent years.
The overlap reects the com-
plexity of the aviation market as
it matures, leaving a large eet
of aircraft to service or upgrade
and tens of thousands of people
to train - all services that could
in turn become tools to help sell
even more jets.
Many customers are now
looking for xed cost per ight
hour with assured outcomes on
part availability. It is the (airline)
CFOs dream to get costs out and
management risks under a third
party, Stan Deal, head of Boe-
ings newly created global ser-
vices division, told Reuters.
The future state we want to
get to is that we can support every
element of a day of operations on
the airplane.
For years, air shows were all
about moving the metal, win-
ning as many orders as possible.
Orders are still buzzing, but
higher-margin services have taken
a prime time slot for the rst time
with a volley of announcements
from each company.
Would you imagine having
Plane spotters take pictures and videos of an Airbus A380 as it
takes off during the International Paris Air Show in Le Bourget near
Paris on June 23. (AFP)
lions of visitors every year.
According to the survey, tour-
ism in this 1.6-million-strong city
was considered a problem by 19
percent of the 800 people polled,
overtaking unemployment and
working conditions which came
in at 12.4 percent and had since
2009 always been the top concern.
This isnt a problem of tourist
phobia, people in Barcelona like
to travel and appreciate people
visiting, said Deputy Mayor Ge-
Businesses experienced the strongest quarter in six years: economist
was within the context of expansion.
Germanys composite index, for ex-
ample, was down 1.3 points from
a six-year high to a still solid 56.1.
The business data came on the heels
of Thursdays buoyant euro zone con-
sumer sentiment report.
Here again, the news was rela-
tive. The actual number was minus
1.3 points, meaning that sentiment is
negative.
But that is usually the case with the
euro zone. So the fact that there was a
jump from -3.3 points in May to the
highest level in 16 years was seen as
a bullish sign.
It all points to labour market wage
growth and private consumption,
Berenberg economist Florian Hense
said. Other data on Friday, however,
showed that the euro zone economy is
not without its risks.
Italy, the currency blocs third larg-
est economy, reported a sharp fall in
industrial sales and orders in April.
The data, which matched industrial
output gures released earlier in the
month showing a surprise decline,
suggests a poor start to the second
quarter after 0.4 percent growth in the
rst.
Considered by many economists to
be the weak link in the euro zone re-
vival, Italy is facing an election next
year at the latest, where the anti-euro,
anti-establishment 5-Star Movement
is currently seen making gains.
The International Monetary Fund
projects Italys economy to grow 1.3
percent this year because of the gen-
eral euro zone growth picture, but to
slow next year.
Weak productivity and low aggre-
gate investment remain key challenges
for faster growth, held back by struc-
tural weaknesses, high public debt,
and impaired bank balance sheets,
the IMF said this month in its latest
report.
your Mercedes car without the
associated services? It makes no
sense, said Laurent Martinez,
head of Services by Airbus.
We are denitely the best
placed to serve our aircraft be-
cause we know the aircraft nose to
tail, he told Reuters.
Boeings newest division starts
up on July 1 with a mandate to
roughly triple Boeings commer-
cial and defence services to $50
billion in 10-15 years. The exist-
ing commercial unit will also keep
its own services sales team to sup-
port the effort.
Airbus said the worldwide af-
termarket services business for
jetliners will double to $3.2 tril-
lion over the next 20 years.
The overall services market is
worth an estimated $100 billion a
year: almost as much as building
and selling jets but yielding fatter
margins.
We are denitely on a major
growth plan, Martinez told Reu-
ters. In 2017, we will see double-
digit growth.
Both companies are ready to
look at modest acquisitions to
expand their services businesses.
I would characterise them as
bolt-on acquisitions to acceler-
ate our position in the market,
Deal said. Competitors include
the major maintenance and repair
organisations (MRO) such as Air
France Industrie and Lufthansa
Technik, though there are partner-
ships with such rms too.
The market is growing fast .
... We see more and more airlines
that are concentrating on their
core business and want to have all
their operations subcontracted,
Martinez said.
rardo Pisarello.
Its about a concrete malaise
caused by overcrowding in certain
districts.
Last year, nine million tourists
spent at least one night in Barce-
lonas hotels.
But according to the city hall,
this gure shoots up to 30 million if
other rental options such as Airbnb
lets are taken into account, as well
as those who stay in the suburbs.
(AFP)
Europe faces huge challenge to develop new fighter jet
PARIS, June 24, (RTRS): Europe
is embarking on an expensive and
politically charged effort to devel-
op a new combat jet that will shape
the future of the European ghter
industry and its three existing pro-
grammes: Euroghter, Frances
Rafale and Swedens Gripen.
Two people with direct knowl-
edge of the matter told Reuters
early talks had started on whether
and how European countries could
co-operate on a new sixth-gener-
ation ghter, which could involve
a combination of manned and un-
manned systems.
Though complicated by Brit-
ains decision to leave the Europe-
an Union, business executives and
politicians at the Paris Airshow
this week said US President Don-
ald Trumps cooler stance towards
Europe had given the effort some
fresh momentum.
But they warned of massive hur-
dles, including bickering among
European states and companies,
the troubled history of past joint
projects such as the A400M mili-
tary transport plane, and the sheer
cost of developing advanced mili-
tary aircraft.
Any project is likely to cost far
more than the 10 billion-plus euros
sunk into the Euroghter, the last
joint ghter built, at a time when
Europe is grappling with other ex-
pensive problems such as increased
Islamist militancy and the inux of
well over a million migrants from
the Middle East and Africa.
Yet EU politicians are deter-
Temer says Brazil working to safeguard Amazon forest
Norway cuts forest protection payments to Brazil
OSLO, June 24, (RTRS): Norway told
visiting Brazilian President Michel Te-
mer on Friday that it would slash its
payments to help safeguard the Ama-
zon rainforest in 2017 by more than
half to about $35 million because of a
rise in forest destruction.
Rich from producing oil and gas,
Norway has invested more than $1.1
billion in an Amazon Fund since 2008
to help Brazil protect the forests, which
are under threat from logging and their
conversion to farmland.
I expressed concern that defor-
estation has risen somewhat (in recent
years after past successes), Prime
Minister Erna Solberg told reporters
after talks with Temer, who is visiting
Oslo to promote investment in Brazil
after a trip to Moscow.
Temer said Brazil was working to
protect the Amazon, for example, by
expanding national parks. Brazil is
one of the biggest, if not the biggest, en-
vironmental reserves in the world, he
said. Norways Environment Ministry
said payments, under a performance-
based plan to reward forest protection,
were likely to be about $35 million in
2017, around $65 million less than the
previous year when fewer forests were
destroyed.
This should not in any way be un-
derstood as a weakening of our com-
mitment to the partnership, Environ-
ment Minister Vidar Helgesen said in
a statement. On the contrary, we stand
by our commitments, and if deforesta-
tion is brought back down, our pay-
ments will go back up.
Norway paid about 1 billion Norwe-
gian crowns ($118 million) a year to
Brazil from 2011-15, when Brazil suc-
cessfully slowed forest losses.
Fords China move casts new cloud on Mexican carmaking
MEXICO CITY, June 24, (RTRS): A
second U-turn this year by Ford Motor
Co in Mexico has raised the specter of
Chinese competition for local carmak-
ing, adding to pressure on the industry
after repeated threats by US President
Donald Trump to saddle it with punitive
tariffs.
Ford announced on Tuesday it would
move some production of its Focus
small car to China instead of Mexico,
a step that follows the US automakers
January cancellation of a planned $1.8
billion plant in the central state of San
Luis Potosi.
The scrapping of the Ford plant was
a bitter blow, coming after US President
Donald Trump had blamed the country
for hollowing out US manufacturing
on the campaign trail, and threatened
to impose hefty tariffs on cars made in
Mexico.
Moodys raises Greeces bond rating after bailout
Credit ratings agency Moodys
on Friday raised Greeces long-
term issuer rating to Caa2 from
Caa3 after eurozone govern-
ments extended a credit lifeline to
the country.
Moodys also changed its out-
look to positive, up from stable
previously, saying it saw signs
that the heavily indebted countrys
economy was stabilising.
It pointed to a mid-June agree-
ment reached by Greeces credi-
mined to increase cooperation on
defence and security in the face of
a more assertive Russian military,
and they are wary of effectively
leaving the ghter jet market to the
United States.
Its the same with food. Some a bigger concept of future com-
things you have to be able to do
yourself, Monika Hohlmeier, a
German member of the European
Parliament and chair of the parlia-
ments Sky & Space Intergroup,
told Reuters during a visit to the
A400M at the air show. will see France involved in that be-
Russia is also working on a new
ghter jet that would be smarter,
faster, and could y further and
higher, the head of its MiG avia-
tion rm told Reuters on Friday.
Germany, which has begun early
work on a next-generation ghter,
last month asked the United States
for a classied brieng on the US
F-35 stealth ghter built by Lock-
heed Martin Corp, as it prepares
for a more intense look at ghter
options after the Sept 24 election.
The F-35, which showed off
its moves during its premiere at
the Paris show, is being bought
in Europe by Britain, Italy, the
Netherlands, Denmark, Norway
and Turkey. Belgium, Finland,
Switzerland and Spain have also
expressed interest.
Buying the F-35 would help im-
prove Germanys ability to ght
with key allies, but could prove
politically difcult in a country
with strong labour unions eager to
safeguard jobs.
Corporate rivalries add another
Crown Prince Haakon of Norway (left), and King Harald of Norway, (right), pose with Brazilian President Michel
Temer as he is welcomed to the Royal Palace in Oslo, Norway, on June 23. Temer praised Norways nancial
contribution to the fund aimed at reducing deforestation, This contribution has enabled us to make a more effective
impact to avoiding deforestation, Temer said, according to NTB, although rainforests are being cut down at the
fastest rate in nearly a decade, according to ofcial Brazilian gures. (AP)
Norway has been the biggest foreign
donor to protect tropical forests from
Brazil to Indonesia, partly because they
are big natural stores of greenhouse
gases and help to slow climate change.
Brazils deforestation climbed to
8,000 sq kms (3,088 square miles) in
2016 about the size of Greeces Med-
iterranean island of Crete from 6,200
Demand for small cars in US is waning
Since then, rhetoric from the Trump
administration has become more concil-
iatory, and Mexico and the United States
have expressed condence that the rene-
gotiation of the NAFTA trade deal, ex-
pected to begin in August, could benet
both nations.
But the loss of the Focus business is
an unwelcome reminder of competition
Mexico faces from Asia at a time Chi-
nas auto exports and the quality of its
cars are rising.
For a long time, the quality of ve-
hicles coming out of China was not to
global standards. There was a gap in
quality that (favored) Mexico but
that is closing, said Philippe Houchois,
an analyst covering the auto industry at
investment bank Jefferies. That is prob-
ably a threat to Mexico.
In the past decade, global automakers
have invested heavily in Chinese facto-
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
tors to relaunch an aid plan to the
country, which had been blocked
for months due to disagreements
between eurozone countries
especially Germany and the
International Monetary Fund.
The move reduces the spectre
of a short-term crisis, after eu-
rozone governments agreed to
give Greece a new credit lifeline
of some 8.5 billion euros ($9.5 bil-
lion).
Moodys said it expected
level of complexity.
We are already working on the
Next Generation Weapon System,
which has been initiated by Ger-
many but with strong interest from
Spain and other nations, as part of
tor of the German Aerospace In-
bat systems including unmanned
aircraft, Fernando Alonso, head
of military aircraft at Airbus, told
a brieng ahead of the Paris Air-
show.
And I very much hope that we
A400M signalled his commitment
cause it is clearly very much in all
our interest to see a common solu-
tion, he added.
Airbus represents Germany and
Spain in the maturing Euroghter
programme, which also includes
Britain through BAE Systems and
Italy via Leonardo.
France, however, dropped out
of that project early on due to dis-
agreements over the sharing out of
work, with its Dassault Aviation
going on to develop the Rafale
ghter jet.
Airbus is pressing Dassault to
join in this time instead of forcing
Britain to choose a preferred conti-
nental partner.
It is also unclear what role, if
any, Swedens SAAB might play.
SAAB builds the Gripen ghter,
which is in use in Sweden, South
Africa and Hungary, among oth-
ers.
One French diplomat said it
was clear no one European nation
could develop a new combat jet in
the current environment. Those
in 2015. Recent losses, however, are far
below the 19,000 sq kms recorded in
2005, Brazilian satellite data show.
Solberg reafrmed a 2015 agreement
to extend the forest pact until 2020. I
see no reason to renegotiate that agree-
ment, she said.
Outside Solbergs ofce, about 40
people protested against Temer with
ries to make them capable of building
cars at quality levels that make the grade
in developed markets.
Fords decision to shift Focus pro-
duction for the United States market to
China from Mexico shows automakers
have increasing exibility to choose be-
tween the two countries to supply niche
vehicles to American consumers or other
markets.
Demand for small cars in the United
States is waning and General Motors Co
faces a similar situation to Fords with its
Chevrolet Cruze compact.
Were GM to go down the same path
with the Cruze and shift its production
out of US factories, it could give more
work to its Mexican plants but might
also bring its Chinese operations in
Shenyang or Yantai into play.
The Cruze is a global product that
is built in multiple GM plants around
34
Greeces debt ratio to stabilise
this year at 179 percent of GDP,
adding that growth should return
to the economy this year and
next.
Greece returned to growth in
the rst quarter of 2017, with a 0.4
percent increase in GDP, accord-
ing to gures revised upwards in
early June.
It is too early to conclude that
economic growth will be durable,
Moodys said. (AFP)
days are over. Period, the diplo-
mat said.
Even the United States F-35
was developed with funds from
Britain and other countries.
Volker Thum, managing direc-
dustries Association, said Franco-
German cooperation was a key
driver for the urgently needed
agreement on the project. He said
new President Emmanuel Ma-
crons arrival at the air show on an
to European cooperation.
Airbuss Alonso said this month
that upgrades and modernisation
would keep the Euroghter y-
ing into the 2040s, and possibly
longer, but older warplanes like
the pan-European Tornado and
Spains F/A-18s would soon need
to be replaced, with buyers likely
to want the latest technology and
capabilities.
Given the costs and timescale
involved, aerospace analyst Rich-
ard Aboulaa said the need to get
started on an indigenous home-
grown alternative to the F-35 was
one of the biggest defence issues
facing Europe.
But Brexit and disagreements
among remaining EU members
made him sceptical. The odds are
they probably wont get their act
together, he said, citing historical
angst about military issues in Ger-
many, Europes largest economy,
and Britains increasing focus on
US ties.
banners featuring slogans such as stop
rainforest destruction.
Were here to show that people
in Norway are extremely concerned
by the rise in deforestation, Lars Lo-
evold, head of the Rainforest Founda-
tion Norway, told Reuters. He also said
that Temer should do more for indig-
enous people.
the world, including the US, said GM
spokesman Pat Morrissey. Our general
philosophy is that we like to build where
we sell.
Studies show Mexican manufactur-
ing is competitive, and business lead-
ers believe that NAFTA talks between
Mexico, the United States and Canada
could ultimately yield tougher regional
content rules for the region that benet
local investment.
Ford said its decision balanced cheap-
er Chinese labor rates against pricier
shipping, but that in the end an already-
planned ret of its Chinese factory saved
it some $500 million over retooling both
that facility and its Hermosillo plant in
Mexico.
The volatile state of US-Mexican trade
relations also carries big risks if Trump
renews his threats to impose 35-percent
tariffs on cars made in Mexico.
 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

BUSINESS 35

Mexico raises rates Name: Kuwait Sharia Bloomberg Todays Todays closing Prev closing % 1-week 3-month YTD 12-month 24-month
Index name ticker value as of value value change change change change change change
Mexicos central bank raised its benchmark interest rate to Compatible Indices Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Composite AMIC June 22, 2017 175.35 175.91 -0.32% -0.07% -5.54% 5.08% 16.91% -2.44%
a new eight-year high Thursday, seeking to rein in inflation. Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Kuwait Only AMIC June 22, 2017 168.20 168.26 -0.04% 0.23% -4.59% 5.26% 15.42% -3.83%
It raised the key rate for Latin Americas second-larg- Providers: Al Madar Finance & Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Active
Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Banking Sector
AMIC
AMIC
June 22, 2017
June 22, 2017
83.89
259.61
84.10
259.17
-0.24%
0.17%
0.50%
0.93%
-17.15%
-13.68%
5.70%
-2.45%
23.86%
9.72%
-9.75%
-17.14%
est economy a quarter-point, to seven percent the Investment Co.
Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Investment Sector AMIC June 22, 2017 51.22 51.86 -1.23% -1.03% -14.17% 9.02% 10.36% -17.81%
highest level since February 2009, when the interna- Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Insurance Sector AMIC June 22, 2017 23.08 23.29 -0.90% -0.90% -3.42% 46.36% 47.52% -16.25%
Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Real Estate Sector AMIC June 22, 2017 49.27 49.29 -0.03% -0.40% -8.63% 1.08% 8.35% -10.03%
tional financial crisis was at its height. Description: Index of Sharia Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Industrial Sector AMIC June 22, 2017 143.55 142.40 0.81% -0.75% -5.58% 18.44% 21.73% 1.57%
Mexicos inflation rate is also at an eight-year high Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Services Sector AMIC June 22, 2017 230.06 231.31 -0.54% 0.75% 9.69% 16.53% 30.37% 17.67%
Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Food Sector AMIC June 22, 2017 357.49 357.41 0.02% -2.02% -2.75% -5.96% -3.07% -14.20%
6.16 percent. The central bank is keen to bring it back compatible companies traded on Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Islamic Sector AMIC June 22, 2017 132.04 132.84 -0.60% -0.67% -11.92% 2.35% 17.90% -7.91%
below the target ceiling of four percent. The bank also Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Non Kuwaiti Sector AMIC June 22, 2017 459.43 483.22 -4.92% -4.90% -19.64% 3.63% 61.71% 52.10%
faces pressure to keep pace with rate rises in the United the KSE Kuwait Stock Exchange Index - Price KWSEIDX June 22, 2017 6,772.09 6,765.01 0.10% -0.57% -3.85% 17.81% 25.20% 9.09%
S&P 500 SPX June 21, 2017 2,435.61 2,437.03 -0.06% -0.09% 3.82% 8.79% 16.60% 15.43%
States, where the Federal Reserve raised its key rate DJ Islamic Index. DJIM June 21, 2017 3,298.34 3,289.03 0.28% 0.63% 5.98% 13.48% 15.75% 10.47%
last week by a quarter-point, to 1.0-1.25 percent. (AFP) Website: www.almadar-fi.com

Chinas Geely buys stake in Proton

Chinese regulator inspects
loans to major firms: Wanda
BEIJING, June 24, (Agencies):
Chinas banking regulator has
ordered an inspection of poten-
tially risky loans to major Chinese
companies that have invested
heavily overseas, one of the firms
under scrutiny said on Friday.
Dalian Wanda Group said other
domestic companies caught up in
the review include AC Milan
owner Rossoneri Sport Investment
Lux, Club Meds Fosun Group
and HNA Group.
The China Banking Regulatory
Commission (CBRC) ordered banks
this month to carry out credit and
risk analysis at the firms that
engaged in ferocious overseas
investment and had relatively large
bank exposure, Wanda said, con-
firming an earlier report in Chinese
business magazine Caixin.
Regulatory departments will
arrange on-site inspections of rel-
evant enterprises, Wanda said on
its official Weibo account.
The Chinese conglomerate
anticipates investigators will
check for possible risks but
added that authorities have not
made any risk judgements yet.
Wandas statement came a day
after shares in its film unit were
suspended from trading in
Shenzhen following a heavy fall
sparked by rumours that banks
would dump the companys bonds,
which it denounced as vicious
speculation on the internet. Its
shares resumed trading Friday.
When asked about the probe,
HNA Group told AFP it was in a
sound financial and operational
situation, while Fosun did not
immediately respond to a request
for comment.
Rossoneri could not be reached.
A spokesperson for the CBRC
would not confirm the inspection
but said the regulator would
release a statement.
In response to the reports, the
Industrial and Commercial Bank
of China said it was conducting
routine loan checks which did
not mean it would reduce credit to
those firms, state broadcaster
CCTV quoted the bank as saying.
ICBC also said it had not sold
their bonds.
Beijing has encouraged Chinese
companies to invest overseas to
open up new markets.
Many firms obliged, pouring
billions into overseas purchases to
such an extent that Chinese
authorities became worried over
capital flight and bad loans.
The government has since
reversed course, denouncing irra-
tional investment abroad and put-
ting restrictions on fund outflows
as well as curbing lending prac-
tices as policymakers fret about
the countrys soaring debt.
Wanda bought AMC
Entertainment Holdings owner
of US-based cinema chain AMC
Theatres for $2.6 billion in
2012 and last year acquired
Legendary Entertainment for $3.5
billion.
But it had to abort a deal to buy
the operator of the Golden Globe
awards in a $1 billion deal follow-
ing reports that it was sunk by a
Chinese clampdown on overseas
investments.
However, the crackdown did
not prevent AC Milan being sold
to Rossoneri Sport Investment
Lux in April in a 740 million-euro
($830 million) deal which saw the
Chinese-led consortium take a
99.9 percent stake in the Italian
club.
Fosun, which has interests in
property, finance, pharmaceuti-
cals, steel and entertainment, has
been aggressively buying assets in
Europe and North America.
In 2015 it took over the French
holiday resorts group Club Med.
HNA has also been on a spend-
ing spree in recent months, includ-
ing increasing its stake in German
lender Deutsche Bank and buying
an $8-billion holding in Rio de
Janeiros airport.
Also:
KUALA LUMPUR: The Chinese
owner of Swedens Volvo Cars
will inject $40 million into
Malaysias Proton as part of its
purchase of a key stake in the
automaker, an executive of the
Malaysian company said Friday.
Geely Holding Group is also
paying $65 million for 51 percent
of Proton-owned British sports car
maker Lotus.
Geely and Proton earlier signed
the final agreement to acquire 49.9
percent of Proton, in a deal
announced in March that gives the
Chinese company a platform to
expand in Southeast Asia, where
non-Japanese brands have strug-
gled.
Geely will bring its Boyue SUV
platform, estimated to cost 290
million ringgit ($67.6 million) to
Malaysia as part of its acquisition,
DRB-HICOM group managing
director Syed Faisal Albar told a
news conference.
Chinas May imports from North
Korea hit third lowest on record
Beijing blue chips end at 18-month high
BEIJING, June 24,
(RTRS): Chinas imports
of North Korean goods in
May fell by more than 30
percent from a year ago,
data showed on Friday, the
latest sign that Chinas ban
on coal purchases from the
isolated country continues
to curb trade between the
two neighbours.
The worlds second-largest
economy bought goods worth
$123.8 million in May from North
Korea, down 31 percent from a
year ago and third lowest on
records going back to June 2014,
according to data from Chinas
General Administration of
Customs.
The total was up from $99.3
million in April, the lowest on
record. The second weakest total
was registered in March.
The data indicates that Chinas
halt of North Korean coal imports
on Feb 26 has crimped
Pyongyangs ability to raise hard Indian non-executive Chairman of the Board and Independent Director of Infosys R. Seshasayee (left), addresses
currency through exports. share holders while CEO Vishal Sikka looks on at the start of the 36th Annual General Meeting of Infosys in
Chinas iron ore imports from Bangalore on June 24. (AFP)
North Korea in May, at 233,508
tonnes and worth $13.4 million Meanwhile, China stocks rose inclusion process starting June Wanda Group and Fosun
accounted for 11 percent of the on Friday to end the week higher, 2018. slumped on news the banking
total for the month. on signs tight liquidity is easing Analysts expected the inclu- regulator had ordered checks on
Chinese exports to North
and with sentiment lifted by sion to be a significant boost to offshore loans to several acquisi-
Korea in May rose to $319.8 mil- MSCIs decision to include Chinas stock market in the long tive Chinese firms which have
lion, up 11 percent from April mainland shares in a key index. run and pave the way for global been snapping up assets over-
and a third higher than in the
The blue-chip CSI300 index capital inflows into Chinas seas, including Wanda, Fosun,
same month last year. settled up 0.9 percent at 3,622.88 A-shares. HNA Group and Zhejiang
The data came a day after the
United States pressed China points, the highest close in 18 Tight liquidity conditions have Luosen.
again to exert more economic months, while the Shanghai also eased, traders said, with the These shares, including Wanda
and diplomatic pressure on North Composite Index added 0.3 per- government recently loosening Film Holding, and Fosun
cent to 3,157.87 points. its tight grip on credit regula- Pharmaceutical stabilised on
Korea to help rein in its nuclear
and missile programs during a For the week, CSI300 jumped tions. Friday, after the companies said
round of high-level talks in 3.0 percent, posting the best The central bank also moved to operations were normal, while
Washington. week in 2017, while the SSEC maintain stability in the financial Chinese lender ICBC said the
On Friday, a US official told rose 1.1 percent. markets at particular times, loan assessment was routine.
Reuters that North Korea had The US index provider said on including providing funds via For the week, banking and
Tuesday it would add 222 China- open market operations ahead of consumers stocks were among
carried out another test of a
rocket engine believed to be listed stocks, many of them big- the mid-year macro prudential the top performing sectors, as
part of its programme to devel- cap blue chips, to its Emerging assessment. they would represent the biggest
op an intercontinental ballistic Markets Index (EMI), tracked by On Thursday, shares related to weightings of China stocks in the
missile. around $1.6 trillion, with the Chinese conglomerates Dalian MSCI EMI.

investment funds

Funds Fund Manager Valuation

Net Asset Prev NAV Valued date
Prev NAV Dated Currency Funds Fund Manager
Net Asset Prev NAV Valuation
Prev NAV Dated Valued date Currency
Value (NAV) Value (NAV)

National Bank of Kuwait Global Investment House

Money Market Funds
Watani KD Money Market Fund II NBK Capital Weekly May 30, 2017 KD 1.026 1.026 May 23, 2017 Index Funds GCC Large Cap Index Fund Global Weekly June 15, 2017 KD 1.137 1.140 June 8, 2017
Watani USD Money Market Fund NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly May 30, 2017 USD 10.216 10.210 May 23, 2017 Equity Funds Al-Mamoun Fund A Global Weekly June 15, 2017 KD 0.633 0.633 June 8, 2017
Watani KD Money Market Fund (Acc Al-Mamoun Fund B Global Weekly June 15, 2017 KD 0.633 0.633 June 8, 2017
to Islamic Shariah principles) II NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly May 30, 2017 KD 1.025 1.024 May 23, 2017 GCC Large Cap Fund Global Bi-weekly June 15, 2017 USD 143.120 143.790 June 6, 2017
Watani USD Money Market Fund (Acc Global Saudi Equity Fund Global Bi-weekly June 15, 2017 SAR 205.630 208.330 June 6, 2017
to Islamic Shariah principles) II NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly May 30, 2017 USD 10.078 10.070 May 23, 2017 Sectoral Funds EPADI Fund Global Weekly June 15, 2017 USD 102.290 103.830 June 6, 2017
NBK Kuwait Equity Fund Watani Investment Co. Weekly May 25, 2017 KD 0.637 0.644 May 18, 2017 Islamic Funds Global GCC Islamic Fund Global Weekly June 15, 2017 USD 97.230 97.030 June 6, 2017
Gulf Equity Investment Fund Watani Investment Co. Weekly May 25, 2017 USD 11.056 11.080 May 18, 2017 Al-Durra Islamic Fund Global Monthly June 15, 2017 KD 1.177 1.172 June 8, 2017

Gulf Bank Kuwait Finance & Investment Co (KFIC)
Al Wasm Fund KFIC Weekly June 7, 2017 KD 0.402 0.420 March 16, 2017
Al Bashaer GCC Equity Fund Kwt. Fin. & Inv. Co. & Gulf Fin. House Monthly May 31, 2017 USD 6.945 6.973 April 30, 2017
Al Bashaer GCC Equity Fund KFIC Monthly May 31, 2017 USD 6.940 7.073 Feb 28, 2017
Coast Fund Coast Investment & Dev. Co. Monthly May 5, 2017 KD 0.648 0.666 March 28, 2017
Sanaya Dow Jones Kuwait Index Fund Industrial & Financial Investment Co. Weekly Jan 26, 2017 KD 0.561 0.561 Dec 30, 2016
Markaz Capital Preservation Program 1 Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD 0.912 0.917 Dec 31, 2016 KAMCO
Markaz Capital Preservation Program 2 Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD 0.942 0.945 Dec 31, 2016 KAMCO Investment Fund KAMCO Monthly April 30, 2017 KD 1.066 1.065 Jan 31, 2017
Markaz Gulf Real Estate Fund Bi-annual May 31, 2017 KD 1.413 1.007 April 30, 2017 KAMCO GCC Opportunities Fund KAMCO Monthly July 31, 2016 USD 115.890 114.380 Feb 29, 2016
KAMCO MENA Plus Fixed Income Fund KAMCO March 31, 2017 USD 11.840 12.551 Jan 31, 2017
Al Ahli Bank KAMCO Real Estate Yield Fund KAMCO April 30, 2017 USD 10.220 10.320 March 31, 2017
Al Ahli Gulf Fund Al Ahli Bank Monthly May 31, 2017 KD 0.875 0.901 April 30, 2017 Kuwait Education Fund KAMCO Quartely Sept 30, 2016 KD 1.457
Al Ahli Kuwaiti Fund Al Ahli Bank Monthly May 31, 2017 KD 0.806 0.802 April 30, 2017
Wafra International Investment Co.
Burgan Bank Wafra Equity Fund Wafra Co. Monthly May 31, 2017 KD 0.884 0.891 April 30, 2017
Burgan Equity Fund Burgan Bank Monthly May 28, 2017 KD 1.758 1.772 April 23, 2017 Wafra Bond Fund Wafra Co. Monthly May 31, 2017 KD 1.042 1.037 March 30, 2017
Masaref Investment Fund ISKAN Weekly May 31, 2017 KD 0.819 0.817 April 30, 2017
Fajir Islamic Fund Wafra Co. Monthly May 31, 2017 KD 0.663 0.659 April 30, 2017
Boubyan Bank
Boubyan KD Money Market Fund Boubyan Bank Weekly June 6, 2017 KD 1.063 1.062 May 2, 2017
Boubyan KD Money Market Fund II Boubyan Bank Weekly June 6, 2017 KD 1.009 1.008 May 2, 2017 Shuaa Capital Co.
Emirates Gateway Fund Shuaa Capital Weekly Feb 7, 2017 AED 15.110 15.070 Jan 31, 2017
The Arab Gateway Fund Shuaa Capital Weekly Feb 7, 2017 USD 28.160 29.040 Jan 31, 2017

Boubyan Capital Investment Co.
Boubyan USD Liquidity Fund Boubyan Capital Investment Co June 6, 2017 USD 10.210 10.200 May 2, 2017 Al Aman Investment
Boubyan Multi-Asset Holding Fund Boubyan Bank April 30, 2017 USD 10.530 10.530 April 25, 2017 Al Aman Islamic Fund Al Aman Investment Weekly April 30, 2017 KD 0.341 0.342 Dec 31, 2016

Kuwait Investment Co. Tharwa Investment Co.
Local Fund Al Raed Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly June 8, 2017 KD 0.982 0.994 June 1, 2017 Tharwa Investment Fund Tharwa Investment Co Weekly June 8, 2017 KD 1.391 1.391 May 5, 2017
Kuwait Investment Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly May 31, 2017 KD 0.702 0.688 April 30, 2017 Tharwa Arab Investment Fund Tharwa Investment Co Bi-weekly July 31, 2016 USD 1.977 2.251 June 30, 2016
Al Hilal Fund Kuwait Investment Co Monthly May 31, 2017 KD 0.540 0.540 April 30, 2017 Tharwa World Fund Tharwa Investment Co Monthly March 31, 2016 USD 1.024 0.986 March 15, 2016
Al Atheer Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly May 31, 2017 KD 1.083 1.095 April 30, 2017 Tharwa Islamic Fund Tharwa Investment Co Monthly June 8, 2017 KD 0.586 0.573 May 5, 2017
International Global Bond Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly June 7, 2017 USD 25.130 25.030 May 24, 2017
Diversified Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly June 7, 2017 USD 19.700 19.490 May 24, 2017
European Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly May 31, 2017 Euro 21.780 21.530 April 28, 2017
Bank Al-Bilad
Al Seef Fund Bank Al-Bilad Daily June 4, 2017 KD 0.412 0.400 May 21, 2017
Pacific Equity Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly June 7, 2017 USD 31.240 30.580 May 24, 2017

North American Equity Fund Kuwait Investment Co Tw. Monthly May 31, 2017 USD 18.340 18.370 April 28, 2017
Commercial International Bank
National Investment Co. (NIC) CIB Money Market Fund (Osoul) CI Asset Management Weekly June 19, 2017 EGP 293.190 292.830 June 15, 2017
Al-Wataniya Fund NIC Monthly May 31, 2017 KD 0.599 0.604 April 30, 2017 CIB II Equity (Isthethmar) CI Asset Management Weekly June 19, 2017 EGP 147.960 149.310 June 15, 2017
Al-Darij Fund NIC Monthly May 31, 2017 KD 0.351 0.353 April 30, 2017 CIB and Faisal Islamic Al Aman CI Asset Management Weekly June 19, 2017 EGP 81.850 82.910 June 15, 2017
Mawarid Fund NIC Monthly May 31, 2017 KD 0.495 0.506 April 30, 2017 Hemaya CI Asset Management Weekly June 1, 2017 EGP 176.390 172.900 May 2, 2017
Zajil Fund NIC Monthly May 31, 2017 KD 0.748 0.752 April 30, 2017 Thabat CI Asset Management Weekly June 19, 2017 EGP 123.760 173.160 June 15, 2017
Al Mada Investment Fund NIC Weekly May 31, 2017 USD 0.759 0.766 April 30, 2017 Takamol CI Asset Management Weekly June 19, 2017 EGP 141.510 142.170 June 15, 2017
Misr El Mostakbel CI Asset Management Weekly June 18, 2017 EGP 25.080 25.390 June 12, 2017

Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz)
Mumtaz Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly June 15, 2017 KD 3.930 3.912 May 18, 2017 Noor Financial Investment Co.
MIDAF Kuwait Financial Center Weekly June 15, 2017 KD 3.013 2.993 May 18, 2017 Noor Islamic Fund Noor Financial Investment Co Monthly Feb 29, 2016 KD 0.613 0.645 Dec 31, 2015
Islamic Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly June 15, 2017 KD 1.543 1.547 May 18, 2017
Markaz Arabian Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly Nov 10, 2016 KD 2.990 2.920 Nov 3, 2016 Al Zumorroda Investment Co.
FORSA Financial Fund Kuwait Financial Center Monthly April 30, 2017 KD 0.938 0.954 March 31, 2017 Zumorroda GCC Fund Al Zumorroda Investment Co Monthly Jan 31, 2016 KD 0.481 0.543 Dec 31, 2015
Real Estate Fund Kuwait Financial Center Monthly April 30, 2017 KD 1.413 1.415 March 31, 2017
Markaz Fixed Income Fund Kuwait Financial Center Monthly June 15, 2017 USD 11.570 11.570 May 18, 2017
Mawazeen International Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly March 26, 2017 USD 9.050 9.140 March 19, 2017 KFH Capital Investment Co.
Markaz MENA Islamic Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly June 15, 2017 USD 10.530 10.660 May 18, 2017 Muthanna Islamic Index Fund (MUDX) KFH Capital Investment Company Daily Feb 28, 2017 KD 0.357 0.354 Jan 31, 2017
Muthanna GCC Islamic Banks Fund KFH Capital Investment Company Daily Feb 28, 2017 KD 0.683 0.673 Jan 31, 2017
Baitak GCC Fund KFH Capital Investment Company Weekly Feb 28, 2017 KD 0.916 0.957 Jan 31, 2017
Kuwait & Middle East Financial & Inv. Co.
Al Rouyah Fund KMEFIC Monthly April 30, 2017 KD 1.371 1.386 March 31, 2017
Gulf Gate Fund KMEFIC Monthly Oct 31, 2016 KD 0.944 0.918 Sept 30, 2016 CapCorp Investment Co.
CapCorp Local Fund CapCorp Investment Company Weekly May 31, 2017 KD 0.906 0.926 March 30, 2017
 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

BUSINESS 36

drones a huge game changer for aviation

Drones are no longer aviations
next big thing. They are a big
thing right now, as evidenced by
the drones of all shapes and sizes
showcased at the Paris Air Show.
And their proliferation begs
a vital question: how can the in-
dustry make sure that swarms of
new ying machines dont endan-
ger each other, other users of the
skies and people on the ground
as they do everything from patrol-
ling trafc to even delivering your
burger and fries?
In an Associated Press inter-
view Tuesday at the Paris show,
the head of the US Federal Avia-
tion Administration called the
drone revolution a huge game-
changer for the aviation industry,
similar to powered ight or jet
engines.
The growth of this industry and
how its evolving is something that
all of us in aviation need to pay a
lot of attention to, said Michael
Huerta. As FAA administrator, he into and out of Londons Heath- exactly how many drones are tion they should broadcast and at
is responsible for the safety of the row Airport reported drones ying in the skies at any one time and what frequency.
worlds largest aerospace system so close that they could tell what their precise locations, possibly by Identication is probably one
and oversees a $16 billion budget color they were. equipping them with technologies of our highest priorities right now,
and 47,000 employees. Huerta said the FAA wants to similar to the transponders aboard he said.
One of the hurdles to growth strike a balance between safety planes that show air trafc control- Automated systems that could
is how to safely squeeze drones regulation and allowing the indus- lers and other planes where they prevent drones from crashing
into already crowded commercial try to keep innovating and devel- are. Huerta said meetings that into each other and other objects
skies. The risk of drones crashing oping. started in Washington this week hold great promise, he added.
into commercial ights is apparent That means that theres a cer- will bring together industry people At the same time, we have to
from previous near-misses. Twice tain amount of guring it out as we to agree on standards for what have our fail-safes to ensure
in November and once in October, go along, he told the AP. technology drones should use to what happens when those sys-
pilots ying Airbus A320 airliners A priority is rst to establish identify themselves, what informa- tems dont work. (AP)

Commodities Weekly
Energy, housing stocks lift Wall
Gold hits one-week high

Crude prices heading for Street; dollar weakens on data

biggest H1 dip since 90s
LONDON, June 24, (RTRS): Oil
traded at on Friday, hovering
near a 10-month low in US pric-
es hit earlier this week, and re-
mained on course for its biggest
rst-half decline in almost two
decades as production cuts have
failed to reduce oversupply.
Brent crude futures were
down 8 cents at $45.14 a barrel
at 13:37 GMT. US West Texas
Intermediate (WTI) crude fu-
tures traded at $42.64 a barrel,
down 10 cents.
Oil prices have fallen about
20 percent this year despite an
effort led by the Organization of
the Petroleum Exporting Coun-
tries to cut production by 1.8
million barrels per day (bpd).
That puts the market on course
for its biggest rst-half percentage
fall since the late 1990s, when ris-
ing output and the Asian nancial
crisis led to sharp losses.
It is doubtful whether the end
of the downward spiral ... has
already been reached. After all,
there is still no end to the bear-
ish news that could continue to
drive short-term investors from
the market, wrote analysts at
Commerzbank, referring to ris-
ing Nigerian exports.
Others disagree and see oil re-
turning to $50 a barrel on some
of the more bullish signals in the
market.
Frank Schallenberger, head of
commodity research at LBBW in
Stuttgart, said he expects prices
to rise by the end of the year on
higher demand as well as OPEC
and non-OPEC production cuts.
Falling
Tamas Varga, senior analyst
at London brokerage PVM Oil
Associates, pointed to falling
crude inventories in the United
States as a fundamental factor
that could support prices.
Earlier this week, the US En-
ergy Information Administration
said crude inventories declined
by 2.7 million barrels last week,
exceeding analyst expectations
for a 2.1-million-barrel drop.
At the heart of the glut is that
efforts to reduce production by
OPEC suppliers, as well as Rus-
sia, have been met by soaring
output from the United States
and OPEC members Libya and
Nigeria, which are exempt from
the cuts.
Thanks to shale drillers, US
oil production has risen more
than 10 percent in the past year
to 9.35 million bpd, close to the
level of top exporter Saudi Ara-
bia.
Meanwhile, gold prices
climbed to one-week highs on
Russell rebalance boosts trading volume
Friday, boosted by a lower dol- NEW YORK, June 24,
lar and economic and political
uncertainty around the world, (Agencies): World stocks
but the prospect of further inter- advanced on Friday to Wall St Week Ahead
est rate rises in the United States end the week with a slight
limited gains. gain as a drop in the dollar
Spot gold was up 0.6 percent
helped boost slumping oil
US stocks in ninth year of bull run
at $1,257.1 an ounce at 13:20
GMT after earlier touching a prices.
session high at $1,258.81. US
gold futures rose 0.7 percent to
$1,257.9. However, gold is little
The dollar fell against a basket of
major currencies as preliminary data
on US factory and services activities
Oils drop could dent Q2 earnings
changed from last week. in June fell short of analyst forecasts, NEW YORK, June 24, (RTRS): there is speculation among Wall percent for the quarter.
The broad story is the tug stoking doubts about US economic Heading into second-quarter earn- Street analysts about whether a Expectations for the sector will
of war between the Fed, which growth for the rest of 2017. ings season, investors are look- correction is due. probably have to come down for
seems determined to push on Overall, the market is saying it ing for a continuation of strong Earnings expectations have the second half of the year if low oil
with monetary tightening and re- would be nice to have a little more US company results to justify high dropped for 10 of 11 industry prices persist, said David Joy, chief
ducing its balance sheet and po- strength in the energy sector but the stock valuations, now trading near groups since early April, with only market strategist at Ameriprise Fi-
their loftiest levels since 2004. industrials looking better than they nancial in Boston.
litical uncertainty, said Danske economy is doing OK without it, said However, drilling a hole into that did then. Energy has been the weakest
Bank analyst Jens Pederson. David Joy, chief market strategist at hopeful scenario is the current bear The benchmark S&P 500 stock performing sector so far this year,
Allegations of ties to Rus- Ameriprise Financial in Boston. market in oil prices and an economy index as a whole is expected to with the S&P energy index down
sia have cast a shadow over US The climb in crude helped lift en- showing signs of growth below the deliver 7.9 percent prot growth, near 15 percent.
President Donald Trumps rst ergy stocks on Wall Street, with the pace expected earlier in the year. down from 15.3 percent in the rst The drop in oil prices notwith-
ve months in ofce, North Korea group up 0.8 percent. A lot of the expectation for a re- quarter, and below the 10.2 percent standing, some analysts have cau-
testing a rocket engine and Brexit The US dollar briey managed to covery in earnings is predicated on forecast in April, Thomson Reuters tioned that Wall Street has been too
negotiations are all fuelling con- recoup some of its declines after eco- oil prices being around $47-$50 a data shows. optimistic about overall earnings.
cern about global stability. nomic data showed new US single- barrel, said Hugh Johnson, chief On Thursday, Nike will be the Michael Purves, chief global
family home sales rose in May and the investment ofcer of Hugh Johnson rst Dow component to report earn- strategist at Weeden & Co, cut his
Advisors LLC in Albany, New York. ings for the most recent quarter. 2017 S&P 500 earnings estimates
Tensions median sales price surged to an all-
time high. The PHLX housing index So if you dont get those numbers, The season heats up in the second from $127 to $116, below the
Political noise out of Wash- advanced 0.6 percent. you dont get the strong earnings week of July. $131.51 consensus, as economic
ington regarding Trumps ties The slide in energy prices in recent the stock market needs. This is not Technology earnings are seen growth and ination are not as high
with Russia is unlikely to pro- weeks has worsened the outlook for trivial stuff. It creates a lot of uncer- posting double-digit growth, helped as expected.
vide lasting support to gold ination, creating a problem for the tainty and volatility in forecasts. by gains in semiconductor com- In fact, the Citigroup US eco-
while an escalation of the geopo- worlds major central banks as they at- US crude futures have been pres- panies, and nancials are close nomic surprise index, a gauge of
litical tensions with North Korea tempt to normalize interest rates after sured lower by a supply glut. Theyve behind with estimated 8.1-percent economic data compared to expec-
is a bullish wild card, Julius averaged over $48 per barrel so far prot growth. tations, this month fell near a six-
years of ultra-loose policy. this quarter, but traded around $43 While lower energy prices can year low.
Baer analysts said in a note. The pan-European FTSEuro- on Friday and are down more than help some sectors such as indus- An Atlanta Federal Reserve
Facing higher interest rates rst 300 index lost 0.28 percent and 20 percent from February, when they trials and transports, as well as model recently forecast second-
and a stronger dollar, we still see MSCIs gauge of stocks across the hit an 18-month high. boosting consumer sentiment, high quarter economic growth coming in
gold prices weakening towards globe gained 0.19 percent to close out US stocks are in the ninth year of expectations for energy earnings at a 2.9-percent annualized pace,
$1,200 per ounce over the com- the week up 0.2 percent. a bull run which has been fueled of growth mean any stumble will be down from a previous 3.2 percent.
ing months. The dollar index fell 0.34 per- late by bets on pro-growth policies felt broadly. Another hurdle for earnings growth:
Gold is often used by inves- cent, with the euro up 0.41 percent to from US President Donald Trump. Energy sector prots are seen declining corporate buybacks.
tors as a hedge against political $1.1196. However, with the timetable for re- up a whopping 683 percent from a For the rst quarter of 2017, that
and nancial uncertainty. But it The dollar had hit a one-month high forms stretching further into the fu- year ago, when many companies rate fell to 14.8 percent of compa-
doesnt earn interest, dividends on Tuesday following comments with ture, earnings are seen as a critical posted losses, according to Thom- nies, and there are indications of
a hawkish tone from Fed ofcials, in- support for stock prices. son Reuters data. Without energy, even less support in the second
or coupons and it costs money With indexes near record highs, prot growth estimates drop to 4.8 quarter, he said.
to insure and store. A rising US cluding New York Fed President Wil-
liam Dudley and Boston Fed President
currency makes dollar-denom- Eric Rosengren. But it has been stuck
inated metals more expensive ing yield curve. changed hands on US exchanges, The S&P nancial index, fell 0.47
in a tight range since and is up slightly The healthcare rally faded on Friday well above the 7.2 billion average for percent, with pressure from banking
for holders of other currencies, on the week.
which potentially could subdue as investors tried to decipher whether a the last 20 sessions. stocks after the stress test results and
Earlier on Friday, St Louis Fed
demand. Senate Republican bill to replace Oba- Oil prices edged up Friday after ahead of the second part of their test
President James Bullard said the cen-
The Feds rate rise on June 14 tral bank should wait on any further macare, released Thursday, would gain hitting their lowest point since Au- due on Wednesday.
saw investors sell gold. Holdings rate increases until ination is reliably enough support to pass. gust earlier in the week, but showed
The sector closed down 0.1 per- an almost 20 percent year-to-date Europe
of the largest gold-backed ex- heading to the Feds 2-percent target.
change-traded-fund (ETF), New Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester cent, clawing back some losses after drop as production cuts have failed to Europes main stock markets
Yorks SPDR Gold Trust , have said failure to hike US rates could mean it dropped sharply late in the session reduce oversupply. and Wall Street stumbled Friday on
fallen to 27.456 million ounces missing ination and employment goals when Republican Senator Dean Hel- Even after Fridays gains, the en- disappointing economic data head-
that could cause a recession. ler became the fth US Republican ergy sector posted its worst weekly ing into the weekend while London
from 27.875 million ounces on marked a year since Brexit with an-
senator to say he would not support decline since September.
June 13. US a healthcare bill unveiled by his party The Dow Jones Industrial Aver- other pale session.
On the technical side, the rst on Thursday. The sector still closed age closed down 2.53 points, or 0.01 European stock markets are on the
upside barrier comes in around US stocks ended higher on Friday
after a last-minute trading spike and 3.6 percent higher for the week. percent, to 21,394.76, the S&P 500 back foot, with a host of eurozone PMI
$1,260 near the 55-day moving Trading volume jumped just be- gained 3.8 points, or 0.16 percent, to surveys ... providing a somewhat cau-
average. That is followed by a technology sector gain offset weak-
ness in nancial stocks and sent the fore the close due to FTSE Russells 2,438.3 and the Nasdaq Composite tious assessment, said analyst Joshua
the 21-day moving average at Nasdaq higher, giving it a weekly gain completion of the annual refresh of added 28.57 points, or 0.46 percent, Mahony at trading rm IG.
around $1,264, while the 100- for the rst time in three weeks. its benchmarks. to 6,265.25. Shares in London saw a fourth
day moving average at $1,249 The energy sector rebounded and n- The effect is going to be focused For the week, the Dow added 0.05 straight day of losses a year to the day
provides strong support. ished the strongest of the S&Ps 11 sec- on small-caps but theres an echo of percent, the S&P rose 0.21 percent after Britain shocked its neighbours
Elsewhere, silver gained 1.1 tors with a 0.8 percent rise as oil prices that in large caps, said Don Towns- and the Nasdaq gained 1.84 percent. by voting to leave the European Un-
percent to $16.71 an ounce, came back from multi-month lows. wick, Director of Equity Strategy at Big technology stocks, includ- ion, with the FTSE 100 index of lead-
platinum climbed 0.3 percent to Bank stocks ended lower even after Conning & Co in Hartford, Connecti- ing Apple, Facebook and Microsoft, ing shares losing 0.2 percent.
$924.2 an ounce and palladium they passed their annual stress test as cut who noted that most rebalance- were the S&P 500s biggest boosts Key gures around 1600 GMT
rose 0.8 percent to $877.2. some results were weaker than expect- related trading is around the close. on the day and sent up the tech sector London - FTSE 100: Down 0.2
ed and investors focused on a atten- More than 10.4 billion shares 0.7 percent. percent at 7,424.13 points (close)

exchange rates June 22

US dollar Sterling pound Euro Japanese yen Swiss franc Canadian dollar Swedish krona Saudi riyal UAE dirham Bahraini dinar Omani riyal
Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer
BEC Buy .300200 .301950 .301950 .383063 .382063 .382063 .336095 .336094 .336094 .002679 .026790 .026790 .307100 .308099 .308099 .223388 .221387 .221387 .030710 .307117 .307117 .080047 .805467 .805467 .081411 .813661 .813661 .799606 .799106 .799106 .783839 .778339 .778339
Sell .304600 .304300 .304300 .393063 .391663 .391663 .345095 .343194 .343194 .002850 .028590 .028590 .318100 .315099 .315099 .232388 .231387 .231387 .031810 .357117 .357117 .081347 .811867 .811867 .083111 .828821 .828821 .808106 .807606 .807606 .780519 .789339 .789339
Muzaini Sell .302900 .304100 .304100 .389550 .389550 .343180 .343180 .002763 .002763 .315780 .315780 .230900 .230900 .081147 .081147 .082850 .082850 .808020 .808020 .790281 .790281
Dollarco Sell .304400 .304400 .304400 .391610 .391610 .391610 .342150 .342150 .342150 .002745 .002745 .002745 .313810 .313810 .313810 .226990 .226990 .226990 .081227 .081227 .081227 .082931 .082931 .082931 .808820 .808820 .808820
Commercial Bank Buy .301000 .301950 .301950 .385000 .384699 .384699 .336000 .336674 .336674 .002748 .002748 .311000 .311974 .311974 .227000 .228336 .228336 .034729 .034729 .079000 .080577 .080577 .082203 .082271 .082271 .800883 .802135 .802135 .785133 .785594 .785594
Sell .305800 .305550 .305550 .394000 .389286 .389286 .345000 .340688 .340688 .002774 .002774 .320000 .315692 .315692 .234000 .231057 .231057 .035143 .035143 .083000 .081537 .081537 .083029 .083252 .083252 .808932 .811693 .811693 .793024 .794955 .794955
Gulf Bank Buy .302700 .302700 .302700 .038230 .038230 .038230 .033600 .033600 .033600 .000274 .000274 .000274 .031080 .031080 .031080 .022772 .022772 .022772 .003478 .003478 .003478 .008058 .008058 .008058 .008223 .008223 .008223 .079875 .079875 .079875 .078492 .078492 .078492
Sell .304800 .304800 .304800 .039012 .039012 .039012 .034277 .034277 .034277 .000278 .000278 .000278 .031717 .031717 .031717 .023236 .023236 .023236 .003518 .003518 .003518 .008168 .008168 .008168 .008325 .008325 .008325 .081019 .081019 .081019 .079573 .079573 .079573
NBK Buy .303250 .303250 .390500 .390500 .333780 .333780 .002708 .002708 .306020 .306020 .218030 .218030 .034390 .034390 .080720 .080720 .082440 .082440 .080297 .080297 .786500 .786500
Sell .305600 .305600 .401380 .401380 .343620 .343620 .002788 .002788 .315870 .315870 .045910 .045910 .034980 .034980 .081430 .081430 .083120 .083120 .080993 .080993 .793090 .793090
Burgan Bank Buy .301700 .301700 .379577 .379577 .331617 .331617 .002693 .002693 .306276 .306276 .224697 .224697 .341938 .341938 .079149 .079149 .809162 .809162 .786925 .786925 .771094 .771094
Sell .305800 .305800 .400426 .400426 .349851 .349851 .002841 .002841 .323139 .323139 .237036 .237036 .360703 .360703 .083686 .083686 .853504 .853504 .832026 .832026 .815244 .815244
ABK Buy .300600 .303100 .303100 .380260 .383670 .383670 .334870 .337870 .337870 .027446 .027446 .312100 .312100 .228690 .228690 .034490 .034490 .079290 .080000 .080000 .082203 .081950 .081950 .795990 .795990 .782410 .782410
Sell .306700 .305200 .305200 .390580 .388350 .388350 .344270 .342300 .342300 .027784 .027784 .316410 .316410 .231330 .231330 .035840 .035840 .082010 .081530 .081530 .083029 .083320 .083320 .811090 .811090 .795280 .795280
KFH Buy .300990 .301700 .301700 .371121 .376522 .376522 .323775 .329064 .329064 .002681 .002681 .305671 .305671 .224041 .224041 .034572 .034572 .080146 .080373 .080373 .081840 .082074 .082074 .794041 .799603 .799603 .766260 .783517 .783517
Sell .306520 .304800 .304800 .407120 .398739 .398739 .357341 .347716 .347716 .002835 .002835 .321881 .321881 .233338 .233338 .035267 .035267 .081914 .081422 .081422 .083646 .083142 .083142 .816698 .808886 .808886 .793146 .792387 .792387
KBE Sell .304300 .304300 .380900 .380900 .332100 .332100 .082810 .082810 .806500 .806500
Danish krone Indian rupee Pakistani rupee Sri Lanka rupee Bangladesh taka Philippine peso Australian dollar Hong Kong dollar Singapore dollar Jordanian dinar Egyptian pound
Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer
BEC Buy .041735 .417347 .417347 .004275 .046612 .046612 .002714 .028670 .028670 .001608 .019479 .019479 .003385 .037303 .037303 .006030 .056860 .056860 .221302 .219301 .219301 .037117 .036434 .036434 .214630 .215629 .215629 .423764 .423349 .423349 .013995 .016303 .016303
Sell .043735 .467347 .467347 .004963 .047372 .047372 .003004 .028990 .028990 .002188 .019890 .019890 .003959 .037743 .037743 .006330 .061530 .061530 .233302 .232301 .232301 .039867 .039534 .039534 .224630 .221629 .221629 .432764 .430849 .430849 .019903 .017142 .017142
Muzaini Sell .004730 .004730 .002898 .002898 .001986 .001986 .003763 .003763 .006146 .006146 .038994 .038994 .221080 .221080 .428910 .428910 .019700 .016737 .016737
Dollarco Sell .004760 .004737 .004737 .003050 .002916 .002916 .002270 .002014 .002014 .004000 .003819 .003819 .006350 .006158 .006158 .433500 .431140 .431140 .020000 .017031 .017031
Commercial Bank Buy .045511 .045511 .000400 .002000 .005000 .227000 .227527 .227527 .038736 .038736 .218486 .218486 .420000 .012000
Sell .046053 .046053 .006500 .004759 .004759 .002921 .002921 .003500 .002003 .002003 .003794 .003794 .007900 .006195 .006195 .236000 .230238 .230238 .039198 .039198 .221089 .221089 .436000 .431688 .431688 .020000 .017419 .017419
Gulf Bank Buy .004554 .004554 .004554 .022824 .022824 .022824 .003860 .003860 .003860 .021885 .021885 .021885
Sell .004613 .004613 .004613 .000480 .000480 .000480 .000294 .000294 .000294 .000202 .000202 .000202 .000382 .000382 .000382 .000623 .000623 .000623 .023124 .023124 .023124 .003938 .003938 .003938 .022133 .022133 .022133 .043282 .043282 .043282 .001714 .001714 .001714
NBK Buy .045070 .045070 .004690 .004690 .001940 .001940 .005930 .005930 .222040 .222040 .217140 .217140 .042546 .042546 .016610 .016610
Sell .045910 .045910 .004731 .004731 .002950 .002950 .002020 .002020 .006110 .006110 .230730 .230730 .219840 .219840 .043286 .043286 .017780 .017780
Burgan Bank Buy .447841 .447841 .046091 .046091 .028267 .028267 .019415 .019415 .036660 .036660 .059870 .059870 .225160 .225160 .215322 .215322 .418061 .418061 .015754 .015754
Sell .472469 .472469 .048907 .048907 .030008 .030008 .020540 .020540 .038947 .038947 .063517 .063517 .237591 .237591 .227191 .227191 .442094 .442094 .017985 .017985
ABK Buy .045090 .045090 .045090 .045090 .228470 .228470 .038760 .038760 .219040 .219040 .426230 .426230
Sell .047290 .047290 .047290 .047290 .004668 .004668 .002119 .002119 .006648 .006648 .231670 .231670 .039210 .039210 .221570 .221570 .433470 .433470 .018190 .018190
KFH Buy .045227 .045227 .004632 .004632 .002858 .002858 .001970 .001970 .003691 .003691 .006001 .006001 .221648 .221648 .216846 .216846 .424364 .424364 .001654 .001654
Sell .046253 .046253 .004790 .004790 .002931 .002931 .002011 .002011 .003824 .003824 .006251 .006251 .236245 .236245 .222348 .222348 .430295 .430295 .016834 .016834
KBE Sell .004694 .004694 .004694 .004694 .001984 .001984 .003778 .003778 .006060 .006060 .016990 .016990
Cyprus pound Yemeni riyal Thai baht South African rand Korean won Syrian pound Iranian Riyal Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Indonesian rupiah New Zealand dollar
Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer Cash Draft Transfer
BEC Buy .000989 .011636 .011636 .008585 .008507 .008507 .017675 .000261 .001290 .004991 .004991 .000084 .000156 .001863 .001863 .067137 .661723 .661723 .000018 .000176 .000176 .213285 .211284 .211284
Sell .001069 .012635 .012635 .009135 .008922 .008922 .026175 .000276 .001510 .007191 .007191 .000085 .000258 .002063 .002063 .073137 .731723 .731723 .000024 .000246 .000246 .222785 .222284 .222284
Muzaini Sell .001222 .001222 .008991 .008991 .002169 .002169 .002026 .002026 .068879 .068879
Dollarco Sell .695000 .168730 .168730 .009000 .009820 .009820 .000750 .002425 .002425 .069800 .069775 .069775
Gulf Bank Buy .021752 .021752 .021752
Sell .002415 .002415 .002415 .000020 .000020 .000020 .022204 .022204 .022204
ABK Buy .218390 .218390
Sell .222010 .222010
KFH Buy .001196 .001196 .008762 .008762 .000197 .000197 .070132 .070132
Sell .000123 .000123 .009122 .009122 .000206 .000206 .072246 .072246
KBE Sell .001550 .001550 .002395 .002395

travellers cheques US dollar Sterling Euro local gold Gold 999 kg Gold 999 10 tola Gold ounce Gold gm 22k Gold gm 21k Gold gm 18k 100 gm 999 10 gm 999
BEC .3043000 .3916634 .3431946 BEC All rates in KD per unit of
Commercial Bank .3055500 .3892860 .3406880 Muzaini Exchange 12,488.420 1,476.315 398.880 11.460 10.940 9.380 131.71
.3048000 .3901200 .3427700
foreign currency
Gulf Bank
Al-Ahli Bank .3052000 .3883500 .3423000

INTERNATIONAL
Iraqi forces free hundreds of civilians in Mosul
MOSUL, Iraq, June 24, (RTRS): Iraqi
forces opened exit routes for hundreds
of civilians to ee the Old City of
Mosul on Saturday as they battled to
retake the quarter from Islamic State
militants mounting a last stand in what
was the de facto capital of their self-
declared caliphate.
US-trained urban warfare units were
channelling their onslaught along two
perpendicular streets that converge in
the heart of the Old City, aiming to
isolate the jihadist insurgents in four
pockets.
The week-old battle in the Old City
is turning into the deadliest of the
eight-month US-backed campaign to
take back the northern city, which fell
to the militants in June 2014.
Amir congratulates
Continued from Page 1
Kuwaiti people everlasting joy and
prosperity.
His Highness the Crown Prince re-
ceived cable from His Highness the
Amir Sheikh Sabah who expressed
similar sentiment to His Highness
Sheikh Nawaf.
Meanwhile, his Highness the Crown
Prince Sheikh Nawaf exchanged other
greeting cables of with Speaker of
the National Assembly Marzouq Al-
Ghanim, Chief of the Kuwait National
Guard (KNG) Sheikh Salem Al-Ali
Al-Sabah, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Abdul-
lah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy
Chief of the KNG Sheikh Meshal Al-
Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His High-
ness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad
Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, His Highness
the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-
Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, First
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-
Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, senior
state ofcials, sheikhs, ministers,
members of the diplomatic corps, in
addition to citizens and residents.
Meanwhile, the Crescent Sighting
Authority announced on Saturday that
Eid Al-Fitr falls tomorrow on Sunday.
Eid Al-Fitr marks end of the fasting
month of Ramadan, during which the
faithful fast from dusk to dawn.
The Ministry of Interior has an-
nounced special security precautions
during the Eid to ensure that people
would celebrate the occasion happily
and safely.
Qatar has ofcially declared that Eid
Al-Fitr begins tomorrow.
Amir praises
Continued from Page 1
The re ghters contained the re
after battling the blazes for hours in
South Surra, one of the countrys resi-
dential districts.
A source at the re department told
KUNA that the blazes that broke out
at the building for Kuwait Credit Bank
inicted material losses. (KUNA)
Amir condemns
Continued from Page 1
claimed involvement, though IS sym-
pathizers online have urged more at-
tacks as an offensive in Iraq slowly
squeezes the extremists out of Mosul
and their de facto capital of Raqqa in
Syria comes under daily bombing from
a US-led coalition.
The disrupted attack comes at a
sensitive time in Saudi Arabia. King
Salman earlier this week short-cir-
cuited the kingdoms succession by
making his son, Defense Minister Mo-
hammed bin Salman, rst in line to the
throne.
The newly appointed 31-year-old
crown prince is the architect of Saudi
Arabias stalemated war in Yemen
against Shiite rebels. He has also of-
fered aggressive comments about the
kingdom confronting Shiite power
Iran.
Irans Foreign Ministry on Saturday
condemned the Makkah plot and said
it remains willing to work with other
countries in confronting terrorism.
As the Interior Ministry announced
the raid, over 1 million Muslim faith-
ful prayed at the Prophets Mosque in
Madinah to mark the end of Ramadan.
In July 2016, a suicide bombing there
killed four members of Saudi Arabias
security forces.
Millions of Muslims from around
the world visit the mosque, the buri-
al site of the Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH), every year as part of their
pilgrimage. The same day in July, sep-
arate suicide bomb attacks targeted a
Shiite mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia
and near the US Consulate in Jeddah.
The Grand Mosque has been the tar-
get of militants before, in part because
it represents a symbol of the ruling
Al Saud familys clout in the Islamic
world. The Saudi monarch bears the
title of Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques.
In 1979, some 250 militants seized
the mosque and held it for two weeks
as they demanded the royal family ab-
dicate the throne. When Saudi troops
stormed the mosque, the ofcial death
toll was 229, including extremists and
soldiers.
Britain condemned as evil the
foiled attack on the Grand Mosque,
calling on nations to cooperate on de-
feating terrorism.
On the attempt, which was an-
nounced early on Saturday, British
Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson said,
terrorism respects no country and no
religion.
We all stand together in confront-
ing it and together we will prevail, he
said.
The planned attack involved six
people, one of whom blew himself up
after being surrounded by Saudi secu-
A Reuters correspondent saw a young
girl with facial injuries walking dazed
and shocked across the frontline out of
heavily-populated district with a group
of neighbors. All her family was killed
when their house collapsed, they said.
The United Nations voiced alarm on
Saturday at the rising death toll among
civilians in the ghting, saying as
many as 12 were killed and hundreds
injured on Friday.
Fighting is very intense in the Old
City and civilians are at extreme, al-
most unimaginable risk. There are re-
ports that thousands, maybe even tens
of thousands, of people are being held
as human shields (by Islamic State),
Lise Grande, the UN humanitarian co-
ordinator in Iraq, said in a statement.
US-led coalition air strike
kills IS financier in Syria
WASHINGTON, June 24,
(Agencies): The US-led co-
alition has killed an Islamic
State nancial facilitator in
an air strike in Syria, of-
cials said Friday.
Fawaz Muhammad Jubayr al-
Rawi was killed in the June 16 strike
in Albu Kamal in eastern Syria, the
coalition said in a statement.
Rawi was a Syrian native and an
experienced terrorist nancial facili-
tator who had moved millions of dol-
lars for the jihadists.
He owned a currency exchange in
Albu Kamal, which he used along
with a network of global nancial con-
tacts to move money into and out of
ISIS-controlled territory and across
borders, the statement read, using an
alternate acronym for IS.
Albu Kamal sits on the border be-
tween Iraq and Syria and has also reg-
ularly been targeted in air strikes.
The US Department of the Treasury
imposed sanctions on al-Rawi and his
company in December.
Meanwhile, the US military coali-
tion ghting the Islamic State would
welcome a concerted effort by the Syr-
ian government or its Iranian-backed
partner forces to defeat IS in its re-
maining strongholds in eastern Syria,
a US spokesman said Friday.
Army Col Ryan Dillon, spokesman
for the coalition, told reporters at the
Pentagon that the US goal is to defeat
IS wherever it exists. If others, includ-
ing the Syrian government and its Ira-
nian and Russian allies, want to ght
the extremists as well, then we abso-
lutely have no problem with that, he
said, speaking from Baghdad.
If it looks like they are making a
concerted effort to move into ISIS-held
areas, and if they show that they can do
that, that is not a bad sign, Dillon said,
referring to forces of Syrian President
Bashar Assad. We are here to ght ISIS
as a coalition, but if others want to ght
ISIS and defeat them, then we absolutely
have no problem with that.
Washington severed diplomatic re-
lations with Syria during the Obama
administration, which insisted that
Assad must go. More recently,
Assad has strengthened his position,
regaining key territory from weakened
opposition forces.
The battlespace in Syria is getting
more crowded and complex as IS-held
territory shrinks, raising questions
about how the various parties will
interact or avoid one another. Syrian
government troops, for example, have
rity forces.
The Kingdom of Bahrain con-
demned in the strongest terms the vi-
cious terrorist plot that targeted the se-
curity of the Grand Mosque in Makkah
as well as worshipers, stressing that the
despicable act of terrorism is contrary
to all religious, moral and humanitar-
ian values.
In a press statement carried by the
Bahrain News Agency (BNA), Bah-
rain expressed its sincere appreciation
of the great role of Saudi Arabia under
the wise leadership of the Custodian of
the Two Holy Mosques King Salman
bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in providing all
the comforts and tranquility for wor-
shippers, visitors and pilgrims.
It also lauded the outstanding efforts
of the security men in thwarting the
cowardly terror plot and afrmed that
it stands fully with Saudi Arabia in its
leadership role to consolidate and en-
hance security and peace in the region
and across the world.
Bahrain said that it also fully sup-
ports all the actions and measures by
Saudi Arabia to eliminate terrorist or-
ganisations.
It reiterated its rm position in re-
jecting terrorism and stressed the need
for closer international cooperation to
eliminate the phenomenon that threat-
ens all nations and peoples without
discrimination and to rid the world of
the serious scourge and all those who
support and nance it.
The Organization of Islamic Coop-
eration (OIC) strongly condemned the
foiled terrorist plot targeting the holy
city of Makkah and the Saudi coastal
city of Jeddah.
In a press statement, the OIC Sec-
retary General Yusuf Al-Othaimain
lauded Saudi security personnel vigi-
lance which helped derail the vicious
UN voices alarm at rising death toll
Hundreds of civilians, including chil-
dren, are being shot.
Iraqi authorities are hoping to de-
clare victory in the northern Iraqi city
in the Muslim Eid holiday, which
marks the end of the fasting month of
Ramadan, during the next few days.
Helicopter gunships were assisting
the ground thrust, ring at insurgent
emplacements in the Old City, a Re-
uters correspondent reported from a
location near the frontlines.
The government advance was carv-
ing out escape corridors for civilians
marooned behind Islamic State lines.
There was a steady trickle of eeing
families on Saturday, some with in-
jured and malnourished children. My
baby only had bread and water for the
Syrian govt says frees 672 prisoners
Air strike may have killed IS leader
Baghdadi successor likely Saddam-era officer
BAGHDAD, June 24, (RTRS): If
Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-
Baghdadi is conrmed dead, he is
likely to be succeeded by one of his
top two lieutenants, both of whom
were Iraqi army ofcers under late
dictator Saddam Hussein.
Experts on Islamist groups see
no clear successor but regard Iyad
al-Obaidi and Ayad al-Jumaili as
the leading contenders, though
neither would be likely to assume
Baghdadis title of caliph, or over-
all commander of Muslims.
Russias defence ministry said
last week Baghdadi may have
been killed in an air strike in Syria
and Interfax news agency quoted a
senior Russian parliamentarian on
Friday as saying the likelihood that
he had been killed was close to 100
percent.
But armed groups ghting in the
region and many regional ofcials
are sceptical about the reports.
We dont have any concrete evi-
dence on whether or not hes dead
either, US Army Colonel Ryan Dil-
lon, spokesman for the internation-
al coalition battling Islamic State,
told a Pentagon brieng.
Obaidi, who is in his 50s, has
been serving as war minister. Ju-
maili, in his late 40s, is head of the
groups Amniya security agency. In
April Iraqi state TV said Jumaili had
been killed, but that was not con-
rmed.
reached the Iraqi border in an area
where IS leaders have been gathering.
The area is far from the main battle
lines of Syrias civil war.
The US so far has shunned any
cooperation with Assad and has part-
nered instead with local Arab and
Kurdish forces in ghting IS. Those
local forces, which the US calls the
Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF,
are currently ghting to recapture the
extremists self-declared capital of
Raqqa.
Last weekend, for the rst time, the
US shot down a Syrian ghter jet that
had dropped bombs near the SDF. Two
other times this month the US has shot
down Iranian-made drones in southern
Syria that were deemed to pose a threat
to US and partner forces.
Key remaining IS territory includes
the cities of Deir el-Zour and Abu Ka-
mal, along the Euphrates River Valley.
Dillon said that as Syrian govern-
terrorist plot to destabilize the Saudi
Kingdom.
Al-Othaimain expressed, the pan-
Muslim organizations solidarity with
the Saudi government and people and
its support to all measures they may
take to counter the threat of terrorism.
Demands presented
Continued from Page 1
Al-Jazeera is nothing but an attempt
to silence the freedom of expression
in the region and to suppress peoples
right to information, said the broad-
caster.
In the other ofcial response out of
Qatar, its Human Rights Committee
said the demands represented gross
violations of basic rights.
Qatar is a member of the Gulf Coop-
eration Council with Bahrain, Kuwait,
Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
As well as cutting diplomatic ties,
Qatars neighbours closed their air-
space to Qatari carriers and blocked
the emirates only land border, vital
for its food imports.
Qatar is home to the largest US base
in the region, Al-Udeid, and Bahrain is
home to the Fifth Fleet of the United
States Navy.
Tillerson has urged a diplomatic so-
lution, and Washington has been push-
ing for a clear list of grievances that
are reasonable and actionable.
His spokeswoman Heather Nauert
said Tuesday the United States was
mystied that Saudi Arabia and its area since the Wenchuan earthquake,
Gulf allies had failed to present details
justifying their embargo on Qatar.
US President Donald Trump, how-
ever, has made statements siding with
Saudi Arabia in the crisis.
past eight days, one mother said.
At least 100 civilians reached the
safety of a government-held area west
of the Old City in one 20-minute pe-
riod, tired, scared and hungry. Soldiers
gave them food and water.
More than 100,000 civilians, of
whom half are believed to be children,
remain trapped in the crumbling old
houses of the Old City, with little food,
water or medical treatment.
The urban-warfare forces were lead-
ing the campaign to clear the Sunni Is-
lamist militants from the maze of Old
City alleyways, moving on foot house-
to-house in locations too cramped for
the use of armoured combat vehicles.
French journalist Veronique Robert
has died in Paris after being wounded
Both joined the Sunni Salast in-
surgency in Iraq in 2003, following
the US-led invasion which Saddam
and empowered Iraqs Shiite ma-
jority.
They have been Baghdadis top
aides since air strikes in 2016 killed
his then deputy Abu Ali al-Anbari,
his Chechen war minister Abu
Omar al-Shishani and his Syrian
chief propagandist, Abu Moham-
mad al-Adnani.
Jumaili recognises Obaidi as his an advisory body to the caliph. But
senior but there is no clear succes-
sor and, depending on conditions,
it can be either of the two (who suc-
ceeds Baghdadi), said Hisham al-
Hashimi, who advises several Mid-
dle East governments on IS affairs.
Baghdadi awarded himself the ti-
tle of caliph the chief Muslim civil
and religious ruler, regarded as the
successor of the Prophet Moham-
mad in 2014. Obaidi or Jumaili
would be unlikely to become caliph
because they lack religious stand-
ing and Islamic State has lost much
of its territory.
They dont belong to the Proph-
et Mohammads lineage. The group
has no longer a land to rule or sieged capital there, Raqqa.
Ardh al-Tamkeen. And none is
well versed in Islamic theology,
said Fadhel Abu Ragheef, another
Iraqi expert on the extremist group.
A caliph has to have an Ardh
al-Tamkeen, which he rules in ac-
cordance with Islamic law. Failing
ment forces move toward Abu Kamal,
if they want to ght ISIS in Abu Ka-
mal and they have the capacity to do
so, then that would be welcomed. We
as a coalition are not in the land-grab
business. We are in the killing-ISIS
business. That is what we want to do,
and if the Syrian regime wants to do
that and theyre going to put forth a
concerted effort and show that they
are doing just that in Abu Kamal or
Deir el-Zour or elsewhere, that means
that we dont have to do that in those
places.
Also:
BEIRUT: Syrias government said on
Saturday it released 672 prisoners who
had promised to accept the states au-
thority, a move it said was aimed at
bolstering a reconciliation process.
Reconciliation is the term the gov-
ernment uses for local deals with reb-
els for them to either disarm and accept
British Foreign Secretary Boris
Johnson said Friday that any condi-
tions placed on Qatar should be mea-
sured and realistic.
15 dead,
Continued from Page 1
six people died and 112 people were
missing. Xinhua had reported that
more than 120 were buried.
The landslide blocked a 2-km (one-
mile) stretch of river and 1.6 km of
road, according to state media.
As night fell, authorities shone
lamps onto the rubble while rescuers
wore lights on their helmets as they
sifted through the rocks, aided by
sniffer dogs, according to photos from ry said more heavy rain was expected
the ofcial Xinhua news agency.
During the day, rescuers and local
residents used ropes to move a boul-
der while others lifted rocks with their
bare hands, according to videos broad-
cast by the Maoxian government and
CCTV.
Nearly 2,000 police, soldiers and ci-
vilians were taking part in the rescue.
Bulldozers and excavators that were
used earlier in the day stopped their
work due to bad lighting as night fell,
according to CCTV.
No sign of the village could be seen
in aerial footage, which showed a grim
and grey rock-strewn landscape cover-
ing the area where it once existed by
a river.
Its the biggest landslide in this
al-Qaeda militants that the US believes
said Wang Yongbo, one of the ofcials
in charge of rescue efforts, referring to
the disaster that killed 87,000 people in
2008 in a town in Sichuan.
Local police captain Chen Tiebo
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
in an explosion in Mosul earlier this
week, her employer France Televi-
sions said on Saturday.
The mine explosion killed Iraqi
journalist Bakhtiyar Haddad and
French journalist Stephane Villeneuve
while another freelance reporter suf-
fered minor injuries.
Aid organisations and Iraqi authori-
ties say Islamic State was trying to
prevent civilians from leaving so as to
use them as human shields. Hundreds
of civilians eeing the Old City have
been killed in the past three weeks.
A US-led international coalition is
providing ground and air support in
the eight-month-old campaign to seize
Mosul, the largest city the militants
came to control in a shock offensive
that, the successor will just be rec-
ognised as the emir, said Hashimi.
Emir is Arabic for prince, and is
a title that jihadists often use to de-
scribe their leaders.
By contrast, Baghdadi, born as
Ibrahim Awad al-Samarrai in 1971,
comes from a family of preachers and
studied Islamic law in Baghdad.
The appointment of the new
leader would require the approval
of an eight-member shoura council,
under the jurisdiction of the Yemeni
its members would be unlikely to
meet for security reasons so would
make their opinion known through
couriers.
Six members of the council are
Iraqis, one Jordanian and one Sau-
di, and all are veterans of the Sunni
salast insurgency.
A ninth member, the groups
Bahraini chief cleric, Turki al-Binali,
was killed in an air strike in Syria on
May 31.
In Washington, two US intelligence
ofcials said they believed Islamic
State had moved most of its leaders
Yemenis at an Emirati base in Eritrea,
to al-Mayadin in Syriaa Euphrates
Valley, southeast of the groups be-
Among the operations moved
to al-Mayadin, about 80 kms (50
miles) west of the Iraqi border,
were its online propaganda opera-
tion and its limited command and
control of attacks in Europe and
elsewhere, they said.
its rule or to leave with small arms for
other insurgent areas.
They have been released after prom-
ising not to do anything against the
nations security or stability, Justice
Minister Hisham al-Shaar was quoted
as saying by the ofcial SANA news
agency.
He said most of the prisoners were
from Damascus but there were oth-
ers from across Syria, indicating the
release was not linked to a particular
deal regarding one rebel-held area.
SANA did not report what the freed
detainees had been put in prison for,
but some of those released told Reuters
they were arrested for actions they
took against the government.
Syrias opposition says reconcili-
ation deals are forced on areas after
prolonged sieges and intense bombard-
ment. The United Nations has warned
they may be used to force people from
their homes.
said the heavy rains that hit the region
in recent days had triggered the land-
slide.
There are several tonnes of rock
over the village, he told CCTV.
Its a seismic area here. Theres not
a lot of vegetation, Chen said.
Trees can help absorb excess rain
and prevent landslides.
Tao Jian, director of the local weath-
er service, told CCTV that the 2008
earthquake had weakened the moun-
tain and that even a small amount of
rain could provoke a geological catas-
trophe.
President Xi Jinping called for
rescuers to spare no effort in their
search for survivors and prevent more
disasters, state media said.
Chinas national weather observato-
in parts of Sichuan and other south-
western provinces.
More than 100 people living close to
the landslide were being evacuated on
Saturday night, Xinhua reported.
Senators seek
Continued from Page 1
into reports of torture and concluded
that its personnel were not involved or
aware of any abuse. The American of-
cials conrmed that the US provides
questions to the Emiratis and receives
transcripts of their interrogations. The
ofcials said the US also provides in-
formation to the UAE on suspected
should be picked up or questioned.
Yemeni Brig Gen Farag Salem al-Bah-
sani, commander of the Mukalla-based
2nd Military District, told the AP that
many of those men were later arrested.
37
in Iraq and neighbouring Syria three
years ago.
US-supported Iraqi government of-
fensives have wrested back several im-
portant urban centres in the countrys
west and north from Islamic State over
the past 18 months.
Military analysts said Baghdads cam-
paign to recover Mosul gathered pace
after Islamic State blew up the 850-year-
old al-Nuri mosque with its famous lean-
ing minaret on Wednesday.
The mosques destruction, while
condemned by Iraqi and UN authori-
ties as another cultural crime by the
jihadists, gave troops more freedom to
press their onslaught as they no longer
had to worry about damaging the an-
cient site.
Im troubled by the Pentagons le-
galistic responses to these reports that
US ofcials worked in facilities where
torture was widespread, Democratic
Sen Ron Wyden said in a statement.
US allies have an obligation not to
torture and the bar for the US is higher
than torture is OK if we dont see it.
The American Civil Liberties Union
also said Friday that it had led a Free-
dom of Information Act request for US
records related to the interrogations.
The 18 lock-ups are run by the UAE
and by Yemeni forces it created, ac-
cording to accounts from former de-
tainees, families of prisoners, civil
rights lawyers and Yemeni military
ofcials. At the Riyan airport in the
southern Yemeni city of Mukalla,
former inmates described shipping
containers smeared with feces and
crammed with blindfolded detainees.
They said they were beaten, roasted
alive on a spit and sexually assaulted,
among other abuse. One witness, who
is a member of a Yemeni security
force, said American forces were at
times only yards (meters) away.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Af-
fairs said in a statement Friday that the
allegations are completely untrue
and a political game by Yemeni mi-
litias to discredit a Saudi-led coalition
that includes the UAE. It says it does
not run or oversee any prisons in Ye-
men, and that any such facilities are
legitimate authorities.
Most of the clandestine sites are run
by either the Hadramawt Elite or Secu-
rity Belt, Yemeni forces that were cre-
ated, trained and nanced by the UAE.
Ofcially, they are under the authority
of Yemens internationally recognized
government, but multiple Yemeni gov-
ernment ofcials told the AP they have
no control over them and they answer
to the Emiratis.
At least three of the prisons, how-
ever, are directly run by the Emirates,
along with a fourth prison housing
according to four senior Yemeni gov-
ernment and military ofcials, former
detainees and families of prisoners.
Newswatch
Continued from Page 1
powers in Vienna in July 2015,
saw Iran drastically curb its nu-
clear activities. In return, nucle-
ar-related Western and UN sanc-
tions were lifted.
But writing in Fridays
Guardian newspaper, Salehi,
head of Irans Atomic Energy
Organisation, said negotiating
agreements with Western pow-
ers had been a mixed experi-
ence for Tehran. (AFP)
DUBAI: Iranian security forces
have arrested members of a
group linked to Islamic State
which had planned bombings
and suicide attacks in religious
centres, state television reported
on Saturday.
Intelligence Ministry agents
were able to arrest a group
linked to DAESH (Islamic state)
that intended to carry out ter-
ror operations in religious cities
..., and (seized) explosive and
suicide attack equipment, the
television said. It did not say
how many militants were held.
(RTRS)
CAIRO: Egyptian President
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ratied a
treaty that hands over two Red
Sea islands to Saudi Arabia in
a deal that had sparked protests
and a police crackdown, the cab-
inet said Saturday.
Sisi ratied the maritime bor-
der treaty days after parliament
approved the deal, which has
been the subject of a confusing
legal battle with one court an-
nulling the treaty and another
upholding it. (AFP)
CAIRO: Egyptian police said on
Saturday they foiled a church
bombing by arresting a cell in-
cluding the would-be attackers,
two months after suicide bomb-
ers killed dozens of church goers
in two attacks.
Six members of the extrem-
ist cell including two suicide
bombers planning the attack on
an Alexandria church were ar-
rested in the Mediterranean city,
the interior ministry said in a
statement. (AFP)
LONDON: Britains parliament
shut down external access to e-
mail accounts on Saturday fol-
lowing a cyberattack.
A House of Commons
spokeswoman said that the
Houses of Parliament have dis-
covered unauthorised attempts
to access parliamentary user ac-
counts. (AFP)
 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

LEISURE 38

Shermans Lagoon By J.P. Toomey

N E W Y O R K T I M E S CROSSWORD

Camera named
for a queen

Mutts By Patrick McDonnell

Hagar The Horrible By Chris Browne

Beetle Bailey By Mort Walker

Scratch pad

odds n ends
BERLIN: Germany was bracing
for panda mania as furry ambas-
sadors arrive from China on Sat-
urday, destined for a new life as
stars of Berlins premier zoo.
The pair, named Meng Meng
and Jiao Qing, will be jetting in
Garfield By Jim Davis on a special Lufthansa cargo
plane, accompanied by two
Chinese panda specialists, the
Berlin Zoos chief vet and a
tonne of bamboo.
Berlins mayor, Chinas am-
bassador to Germany and a
gaggle of journalists will greet
the VIPs as LH8415 pulls to a
stop on the tarmac of Schoen-
efeld airport.
After just over a weeks accli-
matisation, they will be unveiled
to the public by no less than
Chancellor Angela Merkel and
Chinese President Xi Jinping,
most likely two days before the
G20 summit of world leaders
hosted by Germany.
Famed for its panda diplo-
Baby Blues By Rick Kirkman & Jerry Scott macy, China has dispatched its
national treasure to only about
a dozen countries as a symbol
of close relations.
Export giants Germany and
China have nurtured increas-
ingly close economic ties, and
over the last year they have
also taken on the leading role in
championing free trade as Don-
ald Trump shifts the US away
from market liberalisation with
his America First push.
The Chinese see the pan-
das as Chinese brand ambas-
sadors. China obviously has an
image problem in Europe and
giving pandas is a very smart
and easy way to win hearts,
said Bernhard Bartsch from the
Conceptis Sudoku Challenger A lion family with a cub born on April 15, are pictured inside the new enclosure La
Bertelsmann Foundation think
tank in Berlin. (AFP)

The grid must be so completed that every row, column Terre des Lions on June 23, at the Zooparc of Beauval. (AFP)
TOKYO: The baby panda, who
and 3x3 box has every digit from 1 to 9 inclusive has become an overnight ce-
lebrity in Japan, is a girl.
DIRECTIONS:
Fill each square
contract bridge Tokyos Ueno Zoo said Fri-
day the panda, born June 12,
was ruled a female by examin-
with a number, one By Steve Becker ing experts. The still nameless
through nine. cub has been doing well, drink-
ing mother ShinShins milk.
Horizontal Giant panda cubs gradu-
squares should ally get black markings on their
add to totals on ears, eyes and paws, and the
right. spots were starting to show.
Vertical squares The zoo released a photo
that showed a pinkish mouse-
should add to like creature with some dark
totals on bottom. spots on its body. Earlier video
Diagonal showed the mother gently cra-
squares through dling the cub and apparently
center should add giving it breastmilk.
Yesterdays solution The nearly 18-cm (7-inch)
to total in upper
panda wont be in public view for
and lower right. months. But the zoo is already
drawing crowds in this nation
THERE MAY BE that has an acute weakness for
MORE THAN ONE kawaii, or cute, things.
SOLUTION. And Japanese media have
been feeding practically daily
reports on the little panda as
Todays Challenge well as footage of children get-
Time 7 Minutes ting excited at the zoo. The pub-
Answer to yesterdays puzzle 48 Seconds lic is being solicited to give her
Your Working a name.
Time __ Minutes In 2012, the last cub born at
the zoo, also ShinShins, sur-
__ Seconds vived only six days. (AP)

Word by Word

Walls Jodran
Walls have ears.
Leljodran athaan.

Numbers

7591 Seven thousand five hundred

ninety one
Sabat alaf wa khamso maah
wa wahed wa tesoun
 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

SPORTS 39

MLB Scoreboard

WASHINGTON, June 24, (Agencies):

Results from the MLB games on Fri-
Colorado 010 000 0001
Los Angeles 130 100 01x6 11 0
3 1
Yankees edge Rangers after
thrilling Darvish-Tanaka duel
day: Freeland, Dunn (7), Lyles (8) and
NY Mets 11 San Francisco 4 T.Murphy; A.Wood, Maeda (7), Mor-
LA Dodgers 6 Colorado 1 row (8), Romo (9) and A.Barnes. W_A.
San Diego 1 Detroit 0 Wood 8-0. L_Freeland 8-5. HRs_Los
Seattle 13 Houston 3 Angeles, Puig.
Philadelphia 6 Arizona 1 New York 160 003 10011 20 0
Pittsburgh 4 St Louis 3 San Francisco100 003 000 48 0
Kansas City 5 Toronto 4 Lugo, Sewald (6), Blevins (7), Goed-
Oakland 3 Chicago W Sox 0 del (8), Reed (9) and dArnaud; Blach,
Atlanta
Tampa Bay
5 Milwaukee
15 Baltimore
4
5
Gearrin (4), Okert (6), Osich (7), Mel-
ancon (9) and Hundley. W_Lugo 2-1. Stanton hits 19th HR as Marlins blank Cubs 2-0
Miami 2 Chicago Cubs 0 L_Blach 4-5. HRs_New York, Ces-
Boston 9 LA Angels 4 pedes, Duda.
Minnesota
Washington
5 Cleveland 0
6 Cincinnati (10 inns) 5
MLB Leaders
American League
NEW YORK, June 24,
NY Yankees 2 Texas (10 inns) 1 BATTING: Garcia, Chicago, .341; (AP): Ronald Torreyes hit
MLB Standings Dickerson, Tampa Bay, .330; Judge,
American League New York, .329; Bogaerts, Boston, a game-winning single with
Eastern Division
W L PCT GB
.325; Altuve, Houston, .323; Ramirez,
Cleveland, .320; Castro, New York,
two outs in the 10th inning
NY Yankees 40 31 .563 - .316; Smoak, Toronto, .306; Correa, after midnight, lifting the
Boston 41 32 .562 - Houston, .303; Hosmer, Kansas City,
Tampa Bay 40 36 .526 2-1/2 .300; 1 tied at .296. New York Yankees over
Toronto 35 38 .479 6 RUNS: Judge, New York, 63;
Baltimore 35 38 .479 6 Dickerson, Tampa Bay, 54; Springer, the Texas Rangers 2-1 in
Central Division
W L PCT GB
Houston, 54; Castro, New York, 52;
Gardner, New York, 49; Correa, Hou-
Major League baseball on
Cleveland 39 33 .542 - ston, 48; Altuve, Houston, 47; Ramirez, a rainy Friday night for
Minnesota 37 34 .521 1-1/2 Cleveland, 47; 5 tied at 46.
Kansas City 36 36 .500 3 RBI: Cruz, Seattle, 58; Judge, New just their second win in 10
Chicago White Sox32 40 .444
Detroit 32 41 .438 7-1/2
7 York, 57; Morrison, Tampa Bay, 54;
Sano, Minnesota, 52; Garcia, Chicago,
games.
Western Division 51; Pujols, Los Angeles, 51; Upton, De- Brett Gardner lined a tying home
W L PCT GB troit, 49; 4 tied at 48. run with one out in the New York
Houston 50 25 .667 - HITS: Dickerson, Tampa Bay, 96;
Seattle 39 37 .513 11-1/2 Garcia, Chicago, 92; Castro, New York, ninth off closer Matt Bush. After
LA Angels 38 39 .494 13 91; Altuve, Houston, 89; Bogaerts, Chasen Shreve (2-1) escaped a
Texas 36 37 .493 13 Boston, 89; Ramirez, Cleveland, 86; bases-loaded jam in the top of the
Oakland 32 42 .432 17-1/2 Abreu, Chicago, 84; Andrus, Texas,
National League 83; Judge, New York, 83; Hosmer, 10th, Torreyes kept the Yankees
Eastern Division Kansas City, 82; 1 tied at 81. atop the AL East
W L PCT GB DOUBLES: Betts, Boston, 24; Low-
Washington 44 29 .603 - rie, Oakland, 23; Ramirez, Cleveland, Yu Darvish and Masahiro Tanaka
Atlanta 35 38 .479 9 23; Schoop, Baltimore, 22; Altuve, kept it scoreless into the late innings
Miami 33 39 .458 10-1/2 Houston, 20; Dickerson, Tampa Bay, in the rst major league meeting be-
NY Mets 32 41 .438 12 20; Lindor, Cleveland, 20; Bogaerts,
Philadelphia 24 48 .333 19-1/2 Boston, 19; 5 tied at 18. tween the Japanese pitching stars.
Central Division TRIPLES: Bogaerts, Boston, 4; Gary Sanchez, whose passed ball
W L PCT GB Castellanos, Detroit, 4; Ramirez,
Milwaukee 40 36 .526 - Cleveland, 4; Sanchez, Chicago, 4; 7 gave Texas a 1-0 lead in the ninth,
Chicago Cubs 37 36 .507 1-1/2 tied at 3. singled with one out in the 10th off
Pittsburgh 34 40 .459 5 HOME RUNS: Judge, New York, Bush (2-3). A single by Didi Grego-
St. Louis 33 39 .458 5 25; Morrison, Tampa Bay, 22; Spring-
Cincinnati 30 42 .417 8 er, Houston, 21; Smoak, Toronto, 20; rius put runners at the corners and
Western Division Davis, Oakland, 19; Gallo, Texas, 19; after Chris Carter struck out, Tor-
W L PCT GB Moustakas, Kansas City, 19; Sano, reyes lined a single to center eld.
LA Dodgers 49 26 .653 - Minnesota, 18; 4 tied at 17.
Arizona 46 28 .622 2-1/2 STOLEN BASES: Maybin, Los Marlins 2, Cubs 0
Colorado 47 29 .618 2-1/2 Angeles, 22; Andrus, Texas, 18; Masahiro Tanaka #19 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning at
San Diego 30 44 .405 18-1/2 DeShields, Texas, 17; Dyson, Seattle, In Miami, Giancarlo Stanton hit Yankee Stadium on June 23, in the Bronx borough of New York City. (AFP)
San Francisco 27 49 .355 22-1/2 17; Cain, Kansas City, 14; Buxton, Min- his 19th home run and Jose Urena
MLB Linescores nesota, 13; Simmons, Los Angeles, 13;
American League Altuve, Houston, 12; Betts, Boston, 12; scattered ve hits over six innings as
Los Angeles 000 100 3004 10 0 Pillar, Toronto, 11; 4 tied at 10. Miami topped defending champion
Boston 300 202 02x9 10 1
Meyer, Paredes (4), Street (7),
PITCHING: Vargas, Kansas City,
10-3; Keuchel, Houston, 9-0; Sale,
Chicago.
Christian Yelich added a sacri-
S. Koreans shine at taekwondo world chamship
Alvarez (8) and Maldonado; Porcello, Boston, 9-3; Santana, Minnesota, 9-4;
Hembree (7), Kelly (8), Boyer (9) and Carrasco, Cleveland, 8-3; Berrios, Min- ce y for the Marlins, who won SEOUL, June 24, (AFP): The on Sunday. three, will take on Thailands
Leon. W_Porcello 4-9. L_Meyer 3-4. nesota, 7-1; Bundy, Baltimore, 7-6; 2017 Taekwondo World Cham- Kim, ranked sixth in the world Ramnarong Sawekwiharee, in
HRs_Boston, Leon, Ramirez. Pineda, New York, 7-3; Sabathia, New for the second time this week with
Minnesota 040 000 1005 9 2 York, 7-2; Stroman, Toronto, 7-4; 13 no more than three hits. Stanton had pionship opened in South Korea and bronze medal winner at the the other last four showdown.
Cleveland 000 000 0000 4 1 tied at 6. two hits and Dee Gordon the other Saturday with local stars giving 2016 Rio Olympics, opened by Sim Jae-young made it to the
Mejia, Duffey (6), Rogers (8), ERA: Keuchel, Houston, 1.67; Var- the home crowd plenty to cheer defeating Kitso True Molaodi of last four of the womens section
Hildenberger (9) and J.Castro; Bauer, gas, Kansas City, 2.27; McCullers, for Miami, which got only two hits
Logan (7), Armstrong (8) and R.Perez. Houston, 2.58; Sale, Boston, 2.85; in a 2-1 win over Washington on about. Botswana 15-2, then Japans where she will ght Andrea Ram-
W_Mejia 2-3. L_Bauer 6-6. HRs_Min- Santana, Minnesota, 2.97; Carrasco, In the city of Muju, about 240 Ryuta Matsui 29-3 before beat- irez of Colombia while Thailands
nesota, Polanco. Cleveland, 2.99; Darvish, Texas, 3.12; kms (149 miles) south of Seoul, ing Hassan Haider of the United Napaporn Charanawat and
Baltimore 020 201 0005 11 2
Tampa Bay 414 050 10x15 11 0
Fulmer, Detroit, 3.29; Severino, New
York, 3.30; Sabathia, New York, 3.47;
BASEBALL Kim Tae-hun, chasing a third Kingdom. Truong Thi Kim Tuyen of Viet-
Jimenez, Asher (3), M.Castro (5), 1 tied at 3.56.
consecutive title, made it to the His quarter-nal victory came nam meet in the other semi-nal.
ODay (8) and W.Castillo, C.Joseph; STRIKEOUTS: Sale, Boston, 146; last four in the mens under-54kg against Deniz Dagdelen of Tur- This event, which features all
Archer, Pruitt (7) and Norris, Sucre. W_ Archer, Tampa Bay, 126; Darvish, Wednesday. class as did Sim Jae-young in the key and was won 27-7 to earn eight gold medal winners from
Archer 6-4. L_Jimenez 2-3. Sv_Pruitt Texas, 109; Estrada, Toronto, 96; Sev- Urena (6-2) won his fth straight womens under-46 kg category. a semi-nal with Italian outsider the 2016 Rio Olympics, is the
(1). HRs_Tampa Bay, Morrison, Peter- erino, New York, 95; Bauer, Cleveland, decision. A.J. Ramos pitched the The semi-nal and the nal of Vito DellAquila. 23rd edition of the world cham-
son, Norris. 93; Porcello, Boston, 93; Carrasco,
Texas 000 000 001 01 4 0 Cleveland, 89; McCullers, Houston, 89; ninth for his 11th save in 12 chances. both categories will take place Irans Armin Hadipour, ranked pionships and runs until June 30.
New York 000 000 001 12 7 1 Quintana, Chicago, 88; 1 tied at 86. Javier Baez and Ian Happ each
(10 innings) National League had two hits for the Cubs. John
Darvish, Scheppers (8), Bush BATTING: Zimmerman, Washing- Cubs Anthony Rizzo that sidelined out in the bottom half against Ryan
(9) and Lucroy; Tanaka, Chapman ton, .348; Murphy, Washington, .344; Lackey (5-8) gave up just three hits
(9), Green (10), Shreve (10) and Posey, San Francisco, .344; Gold- and two runs one earned in six in- the catcher for two games. Tepera, took third on a wild pitch,
G.Sanchez. W_Shreve 2-1. L_Bush schmidt, Arizona, .332; Peralta, Ari-
nings, yet still fell to 1-5 in his last Twins 5, Indians 0 and Brandon Moss walked with two
2-3. HRs_New York, Gardner. zona, .331; Blackmon, Colorado, .327; outs.
Oakland 200 010 0003 5 0 Ozuna, Miami, .325; Kemp, Atlanta, seven starts. In Cleveland, Adalberto Mejia
Chicago 000 000 0000 7 0 .320; Cozart, Cincinnati, .320; Harper,
Red Sox 9, Angels 4 combined with three relievers on a Phillies 6, Diamondbacks 1
Cotton, Madson (7), Doolittle (8), Washington, .308; 1 tied at .308.
Casilla (9) and Maxwell; Pelfrey, Beck RUNS: Goldschmidt, Arizona, 66; In Boston, Hanley Ramirez and four-hitter, leading Minnesota in a In Phoenix, Mark Leiter Jr. held
(5), Jennings (6), Swarzak (8), Holm- Blackmon, Colorado, 62; Harper, matchup of the top two teams in the the Arizona Diamondbacks to three
berg (9) and K.Smith. W_Cotton 5-7. Washington, 57; Seager, Los Ange- Sandy Leon hit two-run homers and
L_Pelfrey 3-6. Sv_Casilla (12). HRs_ les, 56; Votto, Cincinnati, 53; Thames, the Red Sox won on the night they AL Central. hits over six scoreless innings, and
Oakland, Joyce, Davis. Milwaukee, 50; Bryant, Chicago, 48;
retired David Ortizs number. Mejia (2-3) held Cleveland to two Maikel Franco and Tommy Joseph
Toronto 000 200 0024 11 1 Inciarte, Atlanta, 48; Murphy, Washing- hits in ve innings, but had to work both homered to lead Philadelphia.
Kansas City 000 000 1045 9 0 ton, 48; Zimmerman, Washington, 48; It was the 250th career home run
J.Happ, D.Barnes (7), Tepera (8), 1 tied at 47. for Ramirez, a good friend of Ortiz around ve walks and two errors. Leiter (1-0) struck out ve with a
Loup (9), Grilli (9) and Martin; Junis, RBI: Goldschmidt, Arizona, 64;
who was also born in the Dominican The left-hander got out of bases- walk for his rst major league win
Moylan (7), Alexander (8), Soria (9) Lamb, Arizona, 61; Arenado, Colo-
and S.Perez. W_Soria 4-2. L_Loup rado, 59; Zimmerman, Washington, Republic. Leon nished with three loaded jams in the second and fourth in his rst major league start after 12
2-1. 57; Blackmon, Colorado, 56; Harper, hits and four RBIs. and stranded nine Indians runners on relief appearances. He bested Dia-
Houston 100 110 0003 10 1 Washington, 56; Reynolds, Colorado, base. mondbacks starter Patrick Corbin
Seattle 016 200 31x13 16 0 56; Ozuna, Miami, 53; Votto, Cincin- The homers helped provide a nice
Musgrove, Guduan (4), Hoyt (6), nati, 53; 2 tied at 51. cushion for Rick Porcello (4-9), Cleveland was coming off a 7-1 (6-7), who held the Phillies to a run
Sipp (8) and B.McCann; F.Hernandez, HITS: Blackmon, Colorado, 99;
who gave up four runs and struck road trip, including a four-game and eight hits for 6 2/3 innings.
Gallardo (7) and Zunino. W_F.Hernan- Inciarte, Atlanta, 96; Murphy, Wash- Philadelphia won its second
dez 3-2. L_Musgrove 4-7. Sv_Gallardo ington, 93; LeMahieu, Colorado, 91; out eight in 6 1/3 innings to earn sweep at Target Field last weekend
(1). HRs_Houston, Altuve, Bregman. Ozuna, Miami, 90; Arenado, Colorado, the victory. It was the 13th straight that gave the Indians rst place in straight after ve straight losses,
Seattle, Seager, Zunino, Gamel. 88; Goldschmidt, Arizona, 88; Zimmer- the division. The Twins are now 1 three from being swept in a series
Interleague man, Washington, 87; Gordon, Miami, start Porcello has gone at least six
Detroit 000 000 0000 3 0 84; Markakis, Atlanta, 82; 1 tied at 80. innings. 1/2 back. with Arizona at home last week.
San Diego 010 000 00x1 2 0 DOUBLES: Arenado, Colorado, Tyler Duffey, Taylor Rogers and Miami Marlins Giancarlo Stanton Mariners 13, Astros 3
Fulmer, Greene (8) and Avila, 27; Herrera, Philadelphia, 25; Murphy, Rays 15, Orioles 5 Trevor Hildenberger combined to hits a home run during the third
J.McCann; Perdomo, Buchter (7), Washington, 21; Kemp, Atlanta, 20;
In St Petersburg, Florida, Evan pitch the nal four innings. inning of a baseball game against In Seattle, Felix Hernandez
Hand (8), Maurer (9) and Hedges. W_ Shaw, Milwaukee, 20; Zimmerman,
Perdomo 2-4. L_Fulmer 6-6. Sv_Mau- Washington, 20; Drury, Arizona, 19; Longoria and Shane Peterson drove the Chicago Cubs on June 23, in pitched six solid innings in his rst
rer (14). Goldschmidt, Arizona, 19; Phillips, At- Nationals 6, Reds 5, 10 Innings Miami. (AP) start in nearly two months and was
National League lanta, 19; Seager, Los Angeles, 19; 1
in four runs apiece to back the pitch-
ing of Chris Archer and lead surging In Washington, Bryce Harper sin- backed by home runs from Mike Zu-
Chicago 000 000 0000 6 1 tied at 18. up shaking his hand following the nino, Ben Gamel and Kyle Seager as
Miami 001 001 00x2 3 0 TRIPLES: Blackmon, Colorado, 10; Tampa Bay past Baltimore. gled in the winning run in the 10th rst pitch to Adam Engel.
Lackey, Grimm (7), Duensing (8) Cozart, Cincinnati, 5; Hamilton, Cincin- Peterson and Derek Norris hit inning, Brian Goodwin homered Seattle beat Houston.
and Montero; Urena, Barraclough (7), nati, 5; Arenado, Colorado, 4; Broxton, Braves 5, Brewers 4 A day after climbing over .500 for
Phelps (8), Ramos (9) and Realmuto. Milwaukee, 4; Fowler, St Louis, 4; Gal- two-run homers off Ubaldo Jimenez twice and Washington got a solid
W_Urena 6-2. L_Lackey 5-8. Sv_Ra- vis, Philadelphia, 4; Gordon, Miami, 4; (2-3) as Orioles pitchers allowed at performance from its bullpen. In Atlanta, Mike Foltynewicz won the rst time this season, the Mari-
mos (11). HRs_Miami, Stanton. Peraza, Cincinnati, 4; Turner, Wash-
least ve runs for the 20th consecu- Anthony Rendon and Daniel Mur- his fourth straight decision at home, ners continued their June surge with
Milwaukee 000 100 1204 7 2 ington, 4; 9 tied at 3.
Atlanta 200 020 10x5 8 0 HOME RUNS: Bellinger, Los Ange- tive game, tying a major league re- phy also homered for the Nationals, shortstop Dansby Swanson made a their sixth straight win thanks to an
Nelson, Suter (6), Torres (8) and les, 22; Ozuna, Miami, 20; Schebler, cord set by the 1924 Philadelphia who trailed 5-2 in the sixth before pair of outstanding defensive plays offense that knocked out Houston
Pina; Foltynewicz, Motte (6), Freeman Cincinnati, 20; Thames, Milwaukee, coming back to deal the Reds their starter Joe Musgrove (4-7) early.
(7), J.Ramirez (8), Vizcaino (9) and 20; Votto, Cincinnati, 20; Bruce, New Phillies. in the ninth inning and Atlanta won
Flowers. W_Foltynewicz 5-5. L_Nelson York, 19; Stanton, Miami, 19; Zimmer- Longoria had a two-run single 12th loss in 13 games. for the sixth time in seven games. Jarrod Dysons RBI double in the
5-4. Sv_Vizcaino (1). HRs_Milwaukee, man, Washington, 19; 4 tied at 18. during Tampa Bays four-run rst Trea Turner singled off Raisel Ig- Foltynewicz (5-5) gave up one second got Seattle started, but it was
Broxton. Atlanta, Phillips. STOLEN BASES: Hamilton, Cincin- a six-run third inning that blew the
Cincinnati 401 000 000 05 9 0 nati, 31; Gordon, Miami, 28; Turner, inning, and Peterson and Norris lesias (2-2) with one out in the 10th run, four hits and three walks in ve
Washington 100 102 100 16 13 0 Washington, 28; Nunez, San Fran- both went deep in the third to chase and took third on a single by Good- innings with nine strikeouts, im- game open.
(10 innings) cisco, 17; Peraza, Cincinnati, 15; Villar, win before Harper hit a liner that proving to 4-0 with a 2.17 ERA in Danny Valencias two-run single
L.Castillo, Lorenzen (6), W.Peralta Milwaukee, 14; Goldschmidt, Arizona, Jimenez, who yielded nine runs,
(7), Storen (7), B.Wood (8), Cingrani 13; Broxton, Milwaukee, 11; Pollock, seven hits and four walks in 2 1/3 struck the right-eld wall on one his last ve starts at SunTrust Park. dribbled past the diving attempt of
(8), Brice (9), R.Iglesias (10) and Me- Arizona, 11; 3 tied at 10. innings. bounce. Brandon Phillips homered and Alex Bregman and two batters later
soraco, Barnhart; Strasburg, Grace PITCHING: Kershaw, Los Angeles, Zunino hit a three-run shot for his
(6), Treinen (7), Romero (9), Albers 10-2; Senzatela, Colorado, 9-3; Free- Padres 1, Tigers 0 Athletics 3, White Sox 0 drove in two runs, and Arodys Viz-
(10) and Wieters. W_Albers 3-1. L_R. land, Colorado, 8-5; Greinke, Arizona, caino earned his rst save since last 10th home run of the season.
Iglesias 2-2. HRs_Cincinnati, Gennett. 8-4; Scherzer, Washington, 8-5; Stras- In San diego, Luis Perdomo In Chicago, Khris Davis and Matt June 26.
Washington, Goodwin 2, Rendon, Mur- burg, Washington, 8-2; Wood, Los An- Joyce homered and Jharel Cotton Mets 11, Giants 4
pitched two-hit ball over six innings
phy. geles, 8-0; 6 tied at 7.
and Austin Hedges had an RBI dou- pitched three-hit ball into the sixth Pirates 4, Cardinals 3 In San Francisco, Yoenis Ces-
Pittsburgh 010 100 0114 5 0 ERA: Scherzer, Washington, 2.09;
St Louis 020 000 1003 6 1 Kershaw, Los Angeles, 2.61; Martinez, ble as San Diego handed Detroit its inning before leaving with a blister In St. Louis, Josh Bell and John pedes had three hits including a
Taillon, Hudson (7), Nicasio (7), St Louis, 2.87; Ray, Arizona, 2.88; An- seventh straight loss. on his right thumb as Oakland beat Jaso homered as Pittsburgh snapped two-run homer and Lucas Duda had
Rivero (8) and Stewart, E.Diaz; Wain- derson, Milwaukee, 2.92; Gonzalez, three hits including a solo blast to
wright, Rosenthal (8), Cecil (8), Oh (9) Washington, 2.96; Leake, St Louis, Pedromo (2-4) outworked De- Chicago. a seven-game skid in Busch Sta-
and Fryer. W_Rivero 3-1. L_Oh 1-4. 3.03; Nova, Pittsburgh, 3.06; Greinke, troits Michael Fulmer and did not Davis hit a two-run homer in the dium. help the Mets snap a four-game los-
HRs_Pittsburgh, Bell, Jaso. St Louis, Arizona, 3.14; Lynn, St Louis, 3.33; 1 allow a hit until the fth. Perdomo rst. Joyce connected leading off Jaso, who entered as part of a ing streak.
Martinez, DeJong. tied at 3.43.
Philadelphia 100 000 0146 12 0 STRIKEOUTS: Scherzer, Washing- struck out six and walked ve in his the fth against Mike Pelfrey (3-6) double switch in the eighth inning, Along with Cespedes and Duda,
Arizona 000 000 0101 6 1 ton, 145; Kershaw, Los Angeles, 115; rst scoreless outing of the season. and the Athletics picked up the win drove a 3-2 pitch from Seung Hwan Asdrubal Cabrera, Wilmer Flores
Leiter Jr, Neshek (7), Benoit (8), Ray, Arizona, 114; Samardzija, San Oh (1-4) over the wall in right-cent- and Michael Conforto all had three
Neris (9) and Rupp; Corbin, R.De La Francisco, 112; Greinke, Arizona, 111; Hedges doubled to the right-cent- coming off four-game sweep by
Rosa (7), J.De La Rosa (8), McFarland Martinez, St Louis, 111; Strasburg, er gap in the second to drive bome Houston. er to break a 3-3 tie in the ninth. hits for New York, which had lost
(9) and Iannetta. W_Leiter Jr 1-0. L_ Washington, 109; deGrom, New York, Cory Spangenberg, who reached Cotton (5-7) and four reliev- Jameson Taillon threw 104 pitch- seven of eight.
Corbin 6-7. HRs_Philadelphia, Franco, 106; Lester, Chicago, 93; Nelson, Mil-
Joseph. waukee, 93; 1 tied at 90. base three times against Fulmer (6- ers combined on Oaklands second es in six innings, both highs since The Giants have lost 10 of their
6). shutout of the season. coming back from testicular cancer last 11 games, 12 of their last 14 and
It was Hedges rst at-bat since Cotton gave up a leadoff single to surgery on June 12. Only one of the 19 of their last 24.
four hits the Pirates righty allowed After being held to ve runs over
Gree Bay push to host NFL draft a collision at home plate with the Kevan Smith and left after he came
left the ineld. their last three games, the Mets
Royals 5, Blue Jays 4 broke out their hitting slump, com-
bining for 20 hits. All but one Mets
Jets owner nominated as In Kansas City, Missouri, Whit
Merrield hit a two-run, two-out
starter (Jose Reyes) had at least one
hit and all but two (Reyes and Ca-
double that capped a four-run rally brera) drove in at least one run.
US ambassador to the UK in the ninth inning as Kansas City
reached .500 for the rst time since Dodgers 6, Rockies 1
April. In Los Angeles, Yasiel Puig
NEW YORK, June 24, (RTRS): New in his brothers absence. With their 10th win in 12 games, homered and left-hander Alex
York Jets owner Woody Johnson has the Royals improved to 36-36. They Wood kept his record perfect as the
been nominated by President Donald were 6-6 before play on April 20, streaking Dodgers defeated the NL
Trump to serve as US ambassador to Green Bay, by far the smallest market
the United Kingdom. in the NFL, is pushing to host an upcom- then went on a nine-game losing West rival Rockies for their eighth
The White House formally made the ing draft. Philadelphia hosted the NFL streak that night and dropped as low consecutive victory.
announcement and if Johnson is con- Draft in April and the event drew over as 10-20, seven games out of rst The Dodgers have won 14 of their
rmed by the US Senate, his younger 250,000 people in a three-day span. place. They trail AL Central-leading last 15 games and have scored at
brother, Christopher Johnson, will as- Brad Toll, president and CEO of Cleveland by three games. least six runs in seven consecutive
sume the role of chairman and CEO of the Green Bay Convention and Visi- Toronto took a 2-1 lead into the games.
the Jets, the team announced. tors Bureau, is condent the city could ninth and extended it when Josh Wood (8-0) allowed one run in six
Christopher Johnson, 58, is a minor- manage a Philadelphia-sized crowd Justin Upton #8 of the Detroit Tigers gets back to rst base ahead of the Donaldson and Justin Smoak hit innings. He gave up only three hits
ity owner and lives in New York. He with enough working space and hotel tag of Wil Myers #4 of the San Diego Padres during the second inning of a RBI singles off Joakim Soria (4-2). and walked two, retiring his last 10
will oversee the day-to-day operations accommodations. baseball game at PETCO Park on June 23, in San Diego, California. (AFP) Salvador Perez doubled with one batters
 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

SPORTS 40

In the presence of executive management, political and sporting figures

Zain concludes Diamond Sponsorship of Al-Roudhan Football Tournament 38

KUWAIT CITY, June 24: Zain, the
leading telecommunications com-
pany in Kuwait, announced its par-
ticipation in the concluding cere-
mony of the 38th edition of the Al
Roudhan Ramadan Football
Tournament and the final match
held at Martyr Fahad Al Ahmad
Hall in Daiya Area. Zain was the
Diamond sponsor of the tourna-
ment, which was held under the
patronage of H.H. the Amir Sheikh
Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al
Sabah. The tournaments title was
claimed by Team Ahmad Al Roumi
during the final match against
Team BMW.
The concluding ceremony saw
the attendance of Kuwait National
Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al
Ghanim; HH the Amirs represen-
tative H.E. Minister of State for
Cabinet Affairs and Acting Minister
of Information, Sheikh Mohammed
Abdullah Mubarak Al Sabah;
Nasser Al Roudhan; Hawalli
Governor Sheikh Ahmad Al Nawaf
Al Sabah; Zain Kuwait CEO,
Eaman Al Roudhan; Director of Al
Roudhan Tournaments
Organizational Committee,
Abdullah Al Roudhan; together
with several ministers, members of
parliament, and Kuwaiti political
and sporting figures.
Zains support of the Al Roudhan
Tournament for the second consec-
utive year is linked to it being the
most prominent sports and youth
Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah and Kuwait National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem with Zain Kuwait CEO Eaman Al-Roudhan
and sport personalities during the Al Roudhan Futsal Tournament closing ceremony.
event in Kuwait and the region dur-
ing the Holy Month of Ramadan.
The fact that it has also been orga-
nized under the patronage of HH
the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad
Al Jaber Al Sabah over the last five
years is also of significant impor-
tance. Supporting Kuwaiti sports
will remain a strategic priority for
Zain, and as a leading private sector
company in the country, the com-
pany commits to remain at the fore-
front of supporting and encourag-
ing Kuwaiti youth and sports.
Every year, Kuwaiti audiences
look forward to the Al Roudhan
Tournament, with Zain representa-
tives being present at the event
throughout, where they interacted
with the attending audiences
through various competitions,
activities, and entertainment pro-
grams. The company also distrib-
uted valuable prizes and held daily
challenges and competitions on its
official social media channels. In
addition, Zain organized a Gergiaan
activity where it distributed gifts
and candy while hosting a tradi-
tional performance. The company
also participated in a special friend-
ly match between ministers and
members of the parliament, which
was held under the patronage of
His Highness the Prime Minister,
Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al Hamad
Al Sabah.
Al Roudhan Tournament fea-
tures international football legends
and this year it hosted Wales and
Manchester United legend Ryan
Giggs, Spain and Barcelona legend
Andrs Iniesta, Spain and former
Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas,
as well as Egypt and Al Ahli legend
Mohammed Abutrika.
Zains support of this unique event
is in line with the companys interest
in uplifting youth and sports develop-
ment in Kuwait. Zain also remains
enthusiastic about organizing social
and humanitarian initiatives during
Ramadan, which extend to voluntary,
cultural, religious, sports, and recre-
ational activities.

Hamilton takes
Azerbaijan pole
Bottas, Ferrari duo in 2nd row
BAKU, June 24, (AFP):
Lewis Hamilton snatched
pole position for Sundays
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
after eclipsing Mercedes
team-mate Valtteri Bottas
with a phenomenal final
qualifying lap on Saturday.
The three-time world champion
starts ahead of Bottas with Ferrari
duo Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian
Vettel, the championship leader,
occupying the second row of the
grid.
Hamilton claimed the 66th pole of
his career, pulling clear of Brazilian
great Ayrton Senna and leaving the
Briton just two shy of Michael
Schumachers record of 68.
His quickest lap of 1min
40.593sec came in the final seconds
of the session following a red-
flagged stoppage which turned the
finale into a 3min 30sec showdown.
The 32-year-old bounced back
from a frustrating practice outing on
Friday to clinch his fifth pole in
eight races this season as Mercedes
locked out the front row.
Hamilton, who was quickest
around the Baku street circuit by
half a second, could match
Schumachers mark at next months
British Grand Prix if he can also
take pole in Austria in a fortnight.
That was one of the most excit-
ing laps I have had all year, said an
ecstatic Hamilton. A lot of pressure
as weve been struggling with get-
ting temperature into the tyres I
was just praying it was enough.
I am so pumped thats how
qualifying should be. It is going to
be a long hard race, but its the best
place to start.
Bottas, who had been fastest in
Q3 until Hamiltons stunning final
lap, admitted he was disappointed.
The lap, in the end, wasnt quite
perfect, I was struggling the front
left temperature and Lewis then did
his lap! Its disappointing, but sec-
ond place is not bad.
Hamilton is 12 points behind
Vettel in the championship after
seven races.
Max Verstappen was fifth for Red
Bull ahead of the two Force Indias
of Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon,
Canadian teenager Lance Stroll who
was eighth ahead of his Williams
team-mate Felipe Massa and
Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who
crashed his Red Bull to engage the

Pole position winner Mercedes
British driver Lewis Hamilton cele-
brates after the qualifying session
for the Formula One Azerbaijan
Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit
in Baku on June 24. (AFP)
Azerbaijan GPGrid
BAKU, June 24, (AFP): The starting
grid for Sundays Azerbaijan Grand
Prix after qualifying on Saturday in
Baku:
1st row
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes)
Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes)
2nd row
Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari)
Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari)
3rd row
Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)
Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India)
4th row
Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India)
Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams)
5th row
Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams)
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull)
6th row
Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso)
Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas)
7th row
Nico Hlkenberg (GER/Renault)
Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber)
8th row
Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Toro Rosso)
Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas-
Ferrari)
9th row
Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber)
Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren)
10th row
Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren)
Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault)
MOTOR RACING
red flag and create the final drama.
The session began in steamy heat
in the late afternoon with shadows
stretching to ensure cooler patches
on a track that was measured at 50
degrees Celsius as the action started.
The air temperature was 28 degrees.
Jolyon Palmer was unable to take
part after his Renault caught fire due
to a fuel leak during the morning
final practice, but approached the
stewards for permission to take part
in Sundays race.
He is likely to start from the back
of the grid, or the pit lane, where he
will be accompanied by the two
McLarens of Fernando Alonso and
Stoffel Vandoorne, the pair having
(Top and above): Photos taken during the final match of Al-Roudhan Futsal Tournament.
accumulated 75 penalty points for
replacement parts for their Honda
engines.
Alonso was handed 40 places Kiwis win 5th straight vs Oracle
and his team-mate 35, problems
that were a long way from
Hamiltons mind as he set the pace
with his best lap of the weekend in
1:42.384 in the early stages of Q1,
New Zealand extend lead over US in Americas Cup final
HAMILTON, Bermuda, June 24,
trimming that to 1:41.983.
(RTRS): Emirates Team New Zealand
The luckless Alonso failed to make
the cut to Q2 for the first time this sea-
son, and he was eliminated along with
turned up the heat on Americas Cup
holders Oracle Team USA on
Griffin and Paul opt for free agency
Romain Grosjean of Haas, Marcus Saturday, taking a 4-0 lead in the first-
to-seven final in the first race of the LOS ANGELES, June 24, (AFP): ed to follow Griffin into NBA free expected to be pursued by the San
Ericsson of Sauber and Vandoorne. Forward Blake Griffin has opted out agency next week but the moves Antonio Spurs, while Oklahoma
Ericssons team-mate Pascal day.
of his contract with the Los Angeles were expected and there is a good City could make a pitch for Griffin.
After five days with no racing, both
Wehrlein squeezed through to Q2, Clippers and will become an unre- chance both will remain with the Five-time all-star Griffin averaged
outpacing Alonso by 0.017 seconds, stricted free agent next week, the Clippers. 21.6 points and 8.1 rebounds last
a bold effort by the Sauber man. SAILING US media reported Friday. Paul, who averaged 18.1 points season, but has been plagued by
The two Mercedes men were soon Point guard Chris Paul is expect- and 9.2 assists per game, is injuries over the past three seasons.
quickest again in Q2, clear confir-
mation that Hamilton and Mercedes crews have been working to improve was a fraction of a second over the line At one stage comeback specialist finish, flying into the line on their
had found an overnight transforma- the performance of their space-age at the start, picking up a penalty which Spithill managed to get a lead over his space-age 50-foot catamaran in front
tion in their car. foiling catamarans, with the pressure left his crew chasing their opponents rival Peter Burling, but he was out- of a packed grandstand in the purpose-
Bottas topped the first runs in Q3 on the US crew to match the superior
to the first mark. duelled on Bermudas Great Sound built Americas Cup Village.
ahead of Hamilton, who made an speed shown by the Kiwis in their first Although the New Zealanders got and gave the advantage when the Spithill, who was wearing a ban-
error in the final sector, with races. away, the defending champions recov- Oracle boat infringed the Kiwi cat dage on his wrist after injuring it dur-
Verstappen third, but the Briton But despite the preparations, things
ered well and fought their way back into and incurred another penalty. ing a hard weeks training, was upbeat
saved his best for last to deny the started badly for the US team on the race, finding the speed which had The New Zealanders then streaked about the teams chances of getting
Finn. Saturday as skipper Jimmy Spithill evaded them in previous encounters. away and built a convincing lead to the back into the competition.

SPORTS
Thompson, Blake win 100m at Jamaican championships
From left: Winner Yohan Blake races against Odean Skeen and Tyquendo
Tracey in the seminal of the mens 100m at the Jamaica National Senior
Championship in Kingston on June 23. (AFP)
John H. Nemechek, driver of the #8 FireAlarmServiceInc/RomcoEquip-
mentCo Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR
Camping World Trucks Series M&Ms 200 at Iowa Speedway on June 23 in
Newton, Iowa. (AFP)
Sauter finishes 2nd, Jones in 3rd
Nemechek wins 2nd straight
NASCAR World Truck victory
NEWTON, June 24, (AP): John Hunter
Nemechek raced to his second straight
NASCAR Camping World Truck vic-
tory, taking the lead with his six laps
left Friday night at Iowa Speedway.
Nemechek took four new tires dur-
ing the nal caution. The gamble paid
off, as he passed leader Johnny Sauter
soon after a restart.
The 20-year-old Nemechek raced
to his fth career victory, driving the
No. 8 Chevrolet for his father, former
NASCAR Cup driver Joe Nemechek.
He won last week at Gateway in Madi-
son, Illinois.
Sauter, the series leader, led 72 laps.
But his teams choice to stay out on
old tires at the end of the race cost him
dearly.
Brandon Jones was third, followed by
Grant Ennger and Christopher Bell.
CAR RACING
Bell led a race-high 99 laps, but he
dropped to 12th after pitting under
caution for new tires just before the
nal stage.
Though Sauter and Bell had the
two most dominant trucks of the race,
Nemechek and his team mastered the
late-race strategy that is typically cru-
cial on Iowas short oval which has
gotten rougher and bumpier over the
years.
Chase Briscoe, who had nished
second in back-to-back races, passed
Sauter with 18 laps left and seemed as-
sured of his rst career win if the race
stayed caution free.
It didnt, because Matt Crafton got
clipped and sent into the wall just a
few laps later.
The drivers on the lead lap were then
faced with a choice. Sauters team chose
to stay on the track and hope that his tires
had enough left to hold off the eld.
Briscoe also fell back on the nal
restart. He nished seventh.
Noah Gragson, who was sixth, won
the pole for the second time this sea-
son and led for just 16 laps before Bell
slipped past him. Bell went on to claim
his fourth stage win of the season.
Bell continued to dominate in the
second stage, maintaining a strong lead
over Briscoe.
Dream performance as Srikanth sets up Chen final
SYDNEY, June 24, (AFP): Indias
Kidambi Srikanth blew away Chi-
nas Shi Yuqi with a dream perfor-
mance to set up an Australian Open
nal against Olympic champion
Chen Long on Saturday.
The 11th-ranked Srikanth beat
Shi, the world number four, 21-10,
21-14 in just 37 minutes to reach his
third successive Superseries nal.
Chinas Chen gave himself a shot
at his rst Superseries title this year
by ghting off South Korean veteran
Lee Hyun-Il 26-24, 15-21, 21-17 in
68 minutes.
The womens nal on Sunday will
be an all-Japanese affair between
Akane Yamaguchi and Nozomi
Okuhara.
Okuhara made her rst Super-
series nal in over a year, wearing
down Chinas Sun Yu 21-18, 18-21,
21-14, while Yamaguchi played a
Whyte claims 400m hurdles; Knibb breaks natl record in womens discus throw
Korir wins 1st title
Kipruto set to step up
steeplechase ladder
NAIROBI, June 24, (AFP): Kenyas
Olympic 3,000 metres steeple-
chase champion Conseslus Kipruto
feels victory at this years world
championships in London would
cement his place as one of the dis-
tance greats.
The 22-year-old, twice gold
medallist in 2013 in Moscow and
in Beijing in 2015, said hes ready
to step up the ladder as the next
dominant after compatriot and
four-time world champion Ezekiel
Kemboi.
This time I want to change the
way I have been running at the
world championships, said Kip-
ruto, after his victory at the Kenyan
national trials at the Nyayo National
stadium on Saturday.
Having won the Olympics, I now
have the course. I want to be is a
world champion and the take the
mantle from Kemboi.
Kipruto will however have the
2007 world champion Brimin Kip-
ruto to contend with in London
after the resurgent 2008 Olympic
champion fought his way to qual-
ify for his seventh career champi-
onship in London with a second-
place finish.
Two-time Diamond League win-
ner Jairus Kipchoge Birech nished
third in 8:20.01 to complete the
three-man line-up.
American National Collegiate
800-metre champion Emmanuel
Korir upset a strong eld to win his
rst Kenyan title in an impressive
time of 1:43.86.
Korir nished well clear of the
Shanghai Diamond League win-
ner Kipyegon Bett and fellow US-
based Michael Saruni, who took
second and third place respectively
in 1:44.04 and 1:44.61.
National champion Ferguson
Rotich was relegated into fourth,
but was included in the world
championship squad by virtue of
being the 2016 Diamond League
champion.
Okuhara wears down Sun; Yamaguchi shocks Tai
brilliant counter-attacking game to
shock Taiwanese top seed Tai Tzu
Ying 21-19, 21-12.
Srikanth, who won last weeks In-
donesia Open and also reached the
Singapore Open nal in May, gave
a masterclass in net play and decep-
tion to blitz Shi.
Yes, its a dream performance,
Srikanth said. I played a World
Superseries nal (Singapore Open)
after two years, and then to play the
next two nals is a dream for sure.
BADMINTON
I was in control of the whole
match, I didnt give him any easy
points at the start. Its just that I had
to stay there and not give him easy
points. I was in control at the net.
In the other mens semi-nal, Lee
KINGSTON, Jamaica, June 24,
(AFP): Elaine Thompson lowered
her world-leading time in the 100
meters at the Jamaican Track and
Field Championships Friday, while
former world champ Yohan Blake
roared to his fastest time in ve
years.
Thompson clocked a 10.71 sec-
onds to win the womens 100m
and Blake did likewise in the mens
100m with a blazing time of 9.90
seconds.
On a cool evening at Kingstons
iconic National Stadium, the two
provided the star power with the ab-
sence of Jamaican Olympic heroes
Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-
Pryce.
Blake is making a comeback af-
ter several years on the sidelines
Gatlin upstages rising star
Coleman at US World trials
SACRAMENTO, June
24, (AFP): Justin Gat-
lin stormed to victory in
the 100m at the US world
championship trials on Fri-
day, upstaging rising star
Christian Coleman and set-
ting up the prospect of one
nal duel with Usain Bolt.
The 35-year-old Gatlin turned
on the gas in the nal 20 meters at
Sacramentos Hornet Stadium to
reel in Coleman for a convincing
win in 9.95sec.
It was just a ghting moment,
Gatlin said of his victory.
It wasnt the spectacular time that
youve seen me run in the past couple
of years. But it was a time that I needed
to ght.
I had to make sure I was right there
with him at the end and try and hold on
with experience.
Coleman, 21, had been tipped as the
likeliest US rival to Bolt at Augusts
World Championships after clocking
the fastest time in the world this year, a
blistering 9.82sec.
But Coleman who hours earlier
had inked a seven-gure sponsorship
deal with Nike was put rmly in his
place by the veteran Gatlin, nishing
in 9.98sec. Christopher Belcher was
third in 10.06sec.
ATHLETICS
Asked if he felt Gatlin still had it,
Coleman replied: He never lost it!
I was just honored to be in the
race and Im looking forward to many
more, Coleman said.
Gatlin meanwhile was left delighted
after clinching his ticket to London
and another potential showdown with
Bolt.
It feels great, said Gatlin, who has
registered only one victory over Bolt
in his career.
In the womens 100m, Tori Bowie
swept to a comfortable win in 10.94
ahead of Deajah Stevens and Ariana
Washington. Allyson Felix, the reign-
ing world 400m champion, nished in
last place.
Meanwhile in the mens triple jump,
reigning Olympic and world champion
Christian Taylor who only needed
to turn up in Sacramento this week to
cash in a wildcard place intention-
ally fouled on his only leap of the com-
petition.
Taylor, who is based in the Nether-
lands, defended his decision not to ef-
fectively compete.
Its unfortunate, Taylor said. Ev- nal, it saw Leeper smash jailed South
ery time I want to come out to the track
I want to compete and put on a show.
But this time I have to be smart. I have
to focus on being healthy.
In the womens high jump, teenager
Vashti Cunningham, the world indoor
champion and daughter of former NFL
star Randall Cunningham, posted a
jump of 1.99m to win and clinch her
place in London.
pinned Chen to the lines and kept
things tight until he chose his mo-
ment to attack.
Chens usually airtight defence
was frequently pierced as he strug-
gled to read the lines of Lees attack.
The Korean dominated the Olym-
pic champion
but failed to con-
vert any of four
game points in
the opener. He
took the second
game and had
his chances in the
third until a late
surge by Chen
proved too much.
Im quite
Srikanth
satised with
my performance this tournament.
I feel less pressure now as an inde-
pendent player, thats why my per-
with injuries. His time was his fast-
est since 2012 when he ran 9.69
seconds in Lausanne.
Julian Forte was second in 10.04
seconds after
running a ca-
reer best 9.99
seconds in the
semi-nals,
while Senoj-Jay
Givans booked
his rst spot
on a senior na-
tional team by
placing third in
10.05 seconds. Thompson
Blake said he has been encour-
aged by his training partner Bolt.
Every time I run, I am getting
better and better and I just want to
maintain this form going into the
Olympic medalists wins womens 100 meters
Justin Gatlin (left), reacts as he defeats Christian Coleman (center), in the mens 100m nal at the US Track and
Field Championships on June 23 in Sacramento, California. Mike Rodgers (right), nished sixth. (AP)
In the opening heats of the womens
100m hurdles, world record holder Keni
Harrison impressed with 12.54sec, the
fastest time in the world this season.
The 24-year-old is desperate to
make up for the bitter disappointment
of last year, when she missed out on
the Olympics after nishing sixth at
the trials in Oregon.
Friday was Harrisons rst race
since breaking her hand at a meeting in
Doha last month.
I wanted to come out here and put a
good number down, said Harrison, who
ran with a metal pin in her left hand.
A few weeks after missing out
on a place to Rio last year, Harri-
son smashed Yordanka Donkovas
28-year-old world record, clocking
12.20sec at a meeting in London.
American women have achieved re-
markable dominance in the 100m hur-
dles in recent years and in 2016 com-
pleted a clean sweep of medals in Rio.
Brianna Rollins, the gold medallist
in Rio, is not competing in Sacramento
following a one-year ban for missing
three drug tests.
Paralympic athlete Blake Leeper
broke Oscar Pistoriuss record for the
T43 400 meters at the US world cham-
pionship trials on Friday.
Leeper, a 27-year-old born without
lower legs, competed in the mens
400m semi-nals wearing carbon ber
prosthetic blades, nishing seventh in
45.25sec.
Although the time was not good
enough to advance him to Saturdays
African blade runner Pistoriuss
mark of 45.39 set in Daegu, South Ko-
rea in August 2011.
I really wanted to come forth and
make the nals, Leeper said.
Looking at the bigger picture, I
made seminals and broke the world
record today. It is hard to believe. To
run 45.5 and 45.25 to break the world
record, I am excited for the future.
formances have improved in recent
times, Lee said.
In the womens semi-nals, Ya-
maguchi went for winners and never
let off her pace against Tai, the world
number one.
Tai stayed level through the rst
game but Yamaguchi got lucky on her
rst game point -- the shuttle catching
the tape and tumbling into Tais court
-- and the Japanese consolidated her
lead with solid play in the second.
Okuhara has lost four straight
matches to her compatriot Yamagu-
chi, but she was hopeful of turning it
around in Sundays nal.
After the Rio Olympics, I had an
injury and it has taken time to recov-
er, Okuhara said.
My condition is better now. I
face Akane again. Last week I lost
to her but I want to challenge her to-
morrow.
World Championships. Every day
Usain encourages me at training,
he said.
Asked if there was any athlete
that he feared on the track Blake
said, there is no one to fear, I train
with the fastest man ever; whats
there to fear? I feel really good, and
I am condent again and riding this
wave of euphoria.
ATHLETICS
He admitted however that it was
difcult to get back to this level of
tness and condence after a series
of injuries.
I was mentally scarred but my
management team worked hard
with me and look here we are.
Complaining could end dreams
US Olympic doctor faces trial
for sexual abuse of athletes
MASON, US, June 24, (AFP):
A former doctor to gymnasts
from successive US Olympic
teams is to stand trial on charg-
es that he sexually assaulted
female athletes, one of whom
was only 11, over almost two
decades.
A Michigan court on Friday
said Larry Nassar will face 17
counts of criminal sexual con-
duct, a ruling that followed
three days of hearings during
which six of his accusers testi-
fied.
The 53-year-old, a member of
USA Gymnastics from 1996 to
2015, maintained a practice at
Michigan State University before
he was red last year.
He denies abusing his position
to assault young girls.
At Fridays final hearing,
Judge Donald Allen Jr watched
video of a police interview in
which Nassar claimed the acts
that one alleged victim consid-
ered assault were in fact medi-
cal treatment.
The recording helped corrobo-
rate some statements made by
Nassars accusers, and that the
doctors words helped establish
enough cause to take the case to
trial, the judge said.
Prosecutor Angela Povilaitis
Former Michigan State University
and USA Gymnastics doctor Larry
Nassar (right), with defense attor-
neys Shannon Smith (left), at the
55th District Court where Judge
Donald Allen Jr bound him over
on June 23 in Mason, Michigan to
stand trial on 12 counts of rst-de-
gree criminal sexual conduct. (AFP)
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
41
Thompson just missed equaling
her personal best as she lowered her
time form the 10.78 seconds. She
streaked away from the eld with
the veteran Simone Facey taking
second in 11.04 seconds and Jura
Levy third in 11.06 seconds.
Rhonda Whyte created the big-
gest upset of the evening as she
stormed over the last three hurdles
to win the 400m hurdles in a career
best time of 54.29 seconds.
There were no major surprises in
the mens and womens 400m rst
round heats with all the top guns ad-
vancing to Saturdays semi-nals.
Kellion Knibb broke the national
record in the womens discus throw
for the third time this year after she
threw 62.73m on her second at-
tempt of the contest.
had recounted victims testi-
mony in graphic detail, saying
Nassar would digitally penetrate
the womens vaginas, without
gloves, under the guise of medi-
cal care.
One girl, identified only as
Victim A, was 11 years old at
the time of the alleged abuse
and is now 16, the prosecutor
said, adding that at least two
victims claimed Nassar dis-
played signs of arousal during
the abuse.
One of those who testied was
Rachael Denhollander, 32, who
has publicly revealed her iden-
tity in accusing Nassar of sexu-
ally abusing her when she was 15
years old.
She described that the defen-
dant had a visible erection during
those appointments, Povilaitis
said of Denhollanders testimo-
ny.
GYMNASTICS
He convinced these girls that
this was some type of legitimate
treatment, the prosecutor said of
the accused.
Why would they question this
gymnastics god?
Nassar served as the US gym-
nastics teams doctor through
four Olympic Games.
Law enforcement ofcials have
accused him of using his position
with the governing body that sets
rules and selects US Olympic
gymnasts to sexually assault doz-
ens of athletes and other patients
over decades.
Ex-athletes accusing Nassar of
crimes say he was empowered by
an environment in elite gymnastics
where complaints or signs of injury
could jeopardize Olympic dreams.
The president of USA Gymnas-
tics, Steve Penny, resigned in March
after repeatedly being urged to quit
for allegedly being slow to notify
authorities about sexual abuse alle-
gations in the organization.
Nassar has pleaded not guilty
to the charges against him, in-
cluding child pornography, and
remains in jail pending trial.
A federal trial on the child por-
nography charges is scheduled
for August, with state trials fol-
lowing later in the year.
 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017

SPORTS 42

Vinales manages fourth row

Dutch Grand Prix Grids

Zarco thrilled at maiden pole

ASSEN, Netherlands, June 24, (AFP):
Yamaha Tech3s French Moto GP
rookie Johann Zarco edged four-time
champion Marc Marquez in nal qual-
ifying to claim his maiden MotoGP
pole on Saturday for the Dutch Grand
Prix in Assen.
Hondas Marquez and Ducatis
Danilo Petrucci will keep Zarco com-
pany on the front row with world
championship leader Maverick Vina-
les only managing to make the fourth
row.
Reigning Moto2 titleholder Zarco,
at only his eighth attempt, becomes the
rst Frenchman since Olivier Jacque in
Germany 15 years ago to set off from
pole in the world championships top
category.
Its a fantastic feeling to see your
name at the top of the sheet times,
beamed Zarco.
Im thrilled and I know that I must
make the most of this opportunity to
make the podium. Thats my goal.
The 26-year-old coped best with
a wet circuit and windy conditions to
shade Marquez by .065sec and Petruc-
ci by .385s.
Marquez said: Today was one of
those days when you have to take some
risks because you need to be there.
Toward the end of the session, a
dry line started to form and we were
able to be faster and faster
At the very end I missed the chance
to do another lap when I took the ag
by a couple of seconds. But okay,
were on the front row, which was the
main target for today.
Rossi said he was disappointed at
missing out on the front row, but was
heartened by how competitive his bike
had been adding: Its very important
for the race to start from within the
top-5.
Im in fourth and thats a good
place and it was also a positive day be-
cause I was always competitive from
this morning.
The veteran Italian, who was treated
in hospital last month for chest and
stomach injuries suffered in a training
crash, said he felt good with the bike.
MOTOR CYCLING
He suggested the weather could play
a key factor in the race outcome
Here in Assen its always a big sur-
prise. We hope for either a full dry or a
full wet race.
Vinales had a qualifying experience
to forget, his 11th spot a full 2.125s
adrift of the surprise pole-sitter all the
more disappointing as he posted the
fastest time in practice.
But at least the Spaniard made it
through to second qualifying, unlike
three time former MotoGP titleholder
Jorge Lorenzo who trailed in 21st to
leave him languishing on the penulti-
mate row on Sundays grid.
In the race for the 2017 world cham-
pionship Vinales leads on 111 points
from Dovizioso (104) and Marquez
(88).
Zarco, sixth with 75 points, is seek-
ing to become the rst French MotoGP
winner since Regis Laconi in 1999,
with none of his fellow countrymen
ever wearing the MotoGP crown.
In Zarcos former hunting ground
Moto2, pole was claimed by title lead-
er Franco Morbidelli, who will start
alongside fellow Kalex teammates
Takaaki Nakagami and Thomas Luthi
joining him on the front row.
Jorge Martin is on pole in Moto3,
the Spaniard joined by home hope Bo
Bendsneyder and Nicolo Bulega at the
head of the grid.
ASSEN, Netherlands, June 24,
(AFP): Starting grids for Sundays
Dutch MotoGP after qualifying in
Assen on Saturday:
MotoGP
1st row
1 Johann Zarco (FRA/Yama-
ha Tech3) 1min 46.141sec, 2.
Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) at
0.065sec, 3. Danilo Petrucci (ITA/
Ducati Pramac) 0.385
2nd row
4. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yama-
ha) 0.564, 5. Scott Redding (GBR/
Ducati Pramac) 1.433, 6. Jonas
Folger (GER/Yamaha Tech3)
1.522
3rd row
7. Alvaro Bautista (ESP/Ducati
Aspar) 1.671, 8. Cal Crutchlow
(GBR/LCR Honda) 1.901, 9. An-
drea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 1.938
4th row
10. Sam Lowes (GBR/Aprilia
Gresini) 1.987, 11. Maverick Vina-
les (ESP/Yamaha) 2.125, 12. Dani
Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 3.482
Selected
7th row
21. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Ducati)
Moto2
1st row
1. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Kalex)
1:38.468, 2. Takaaki Nakagami
(JPN/Kalex) at 0.101, 3. Thomas
Lthi (SUI/Kalex) 0.115
2nd row
4. Miguel Oliveira (POR/KTM)
0.147, 5. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/
Kalex) 0.428, 6. Xavier Simeon
(BEL/Kalex) 0.463
3rd row
7. Mattia Pasini (ITA/Kalex)
0.466, 8. Alex Marquez (ESP/
Kalex) 0.470, 9. Marcel Schrotter
(GER/Suter) 0.497
1st row
Moto3
1. Jorge Martin (ESP/Honda)
1:57.595, 2. Bo Bendsneyder
(NED/KTM) at 0.829, 3. Nicolo
Bulega (ITA/KTM) 1.713
2nd row
4. Nakarin Atiratphuvapat (THA/
Honda) 2.461, 5. Marco Bezzec-
chi (ITA/Mahindra) 2.594, 6. Aron
Canet (ESP/Honda) 2.965
3rd row
7. Joan Mir (ESP/Honda) 3.078,
8. Tony Arbolino (ITA/Honda)
3.118, 9. Manuel Pagliani (ITA.
Mahindra) 3.231

Roy bizarre exit turns T20 Proteas way

South Africa fight back to level T20 series

Some of the winners display their medals
Successful conclusion of activities at Hunting and Equestrian Club
The Hunting and Equestrian Club Al-Hazaa and Supervisor Khaled
of Kuwait concluded the Late Hadi
Haif Al-Huwaila Summer Activi-
Al-Tayyar.
In the tournaments football -
ties Tournament, which was spon- nals, Al-Nashama team defeated
sored by MP Dr Mohammed Al- Al-Jamal team with a score of 6-2.
Huwaila. The winning teams were awarded
The tournament included football, with medals by Salem Al Huwaila.
tennis and swimming competitions. Secretary-General of Hunting
The closing ceremony witnessed and Equestrian Club Ahmad Abdul
the presence of Salem Al-Huwaila, lauded the intense competition wit-
the Secretary-General of Hunt- nessed among all the participating
ing and Equestrian Club Ahmad teams.
Abdul, Director of the club Hazaa He appreciated the mutual coop-
Dallas hold Dynamo in Texas Derby
Moor, Giovinco star as Toronto blank NE
TORONTO, June 24, (Agencies): regular-season and playoff action.
Drew Moor scored early and Sebastian MLS leading Toronto (10-2-5) has
Giovinco struck late as Toronto FC won seven straight at home. New Eng-
overcame a tight schedule turnaround land (5-7-5) is 0-6-3 on the road.
to beat the New England Revolution FC Dallas 1, Dynamo 1
2-0 on Friday night. In Houston, Maximiliano Urruti
Toronto was coming off a 1-1 draw scored in the 59th minute to earn FC
Wednesday night in Montreal in the Dallas a draw with Houston in the Tex-
as Derby.
SOCCER Urruti scored his ninth goal of the
season and 10th goal in his last 16
rst leg of the Canadian Championship games. Michael Barrios got behind the
nal. The Revs had been off since a 2-1 defense for a through ball and passed it
home loss to Chicago on Saturday. back to the top of the box for Urrutis
Moors 11th-minute goal looked to deected shot.
be enough, with Toronto goalkeeper FC Dallas (6-3-7) has won six of the
Alex Bono preserving the win with a last 10 games with three draws in-
save on Teal Bunburys header in the cluding 0-0 on May 28 against Hou-
88th minute. But Giovinco added an ston (7-6-4).
insurance goal deep into stoppage time, Erick Torres opened the scoring in
bringing down a high ball before beat- the 19th minute with his 11th goal.
ing a defender and banging a left-foot- Adolfo Machado chipped the defense
ed shot home for his 50th goal in MLS with a long ball and Torres won a one-
eration of the teams for ensuring the
success of the tournament.
On his part, Salem Al-Huwaila
said the tournament was held in
memory of the late Hadi Al-Huwaila
during the holy month of Ramadan.
He thanked the support and
cooperation of the Hunting and
Equestrian Club, and appreciated
the beautiful way the tournament
was organized.
In conclusion, Al-Huwaila con-
gratulated the winning teams.
one-one battle at the edge of the box for
a sliding shot inside the far post.
Proceeds from Augusts FA Com-
munity Shield match between Premier
League winners Chelsea and FA Cup
winners Arsenal will be donated to the
victims of last weeks Grenfell Tower
Fire in London, the English Football
Association has said.
Seventy nine people were killed
and thousands more were affected in
last weeks tragic apartment re and
footballs national governing body
estimates that 1.25 million could be
raised towards helping the victims.
Whilst only a football match, we
hope that in some small way through
the Community Shield we can help,
FA chairman Greg Clarke said on the
organisations website (www.thefa.
com).
TAUNTON, United Kingdom, June 24, (AFP): Jason Roys
bizarre dismissal turned the second Twenty20 internationals
South Africas way as the Proteas won by just three runs at
Taunton.
The narrow victory at Somersets headquarters saw South
Africa level the three-match series at 1-1 as bounced back from
a nine-wicket defeat by England at Southampton two days ear-
lier to set-up a winner-takes-all clash in Cardiff on Sunday.
England were on course for an unbeatable 2-0 lead while
Roy (67) and Jonny Bairstow (47) shared a second-wicket
stand of 110.
But when Roy was given out obstructing the eld the
rst time this had happened in a T20 international the in-
nings fell away.
Englands cause was not helped by batting second under
increasingly dark skies in a match that started at 16:00 GMT
despite a lack of oodlights on the ground, although home
skipper Eoin Morgan did eld rst after winning the toss.
A target of 12 off the last over became four off the last ball
after Liam Dawson hit Andile Phehlukwayo for a boundary.
But he could not repeat the trick and South Africa had a
morale-boosting victory to follow their rst-round exit at the
50-over Champions Trophy, with this win achieved despite the
absence of coach Russell Domingo, who had own home after
his mother was involved in a trafc accident.
Durban-born Roy, dropped from Englands Champions
Trophy semi-nal loss to Pakistan after a run of low scores,
was in superb form.
He struck nine fours and went to his fty with a six against
spinner Tabraiz Shamsi.
CRICKET
Bairstow fell rst, chipping man-of-the-match Chris Morris
(two for 18) to mid-on.
And then came the turning point.
Roy veered dramatically off a straight course, with the result
he placed himself between the incoming throw from Phehluk-
wayo, which hit him on the heel, and the stumps.
South Africa appealed and, after on-eld umpires Rob Bai-
ley and Michael Gough referred the decision, Roy was given
out by TV umpire Tim Robinson, the former England opening
batsman.
Roy was clearly aghast but Morgan insisted it had been a
50-50 call.
Everyone in the changing room thought it could go either
way, so its not massively controversial, Morgan told report-
ers.
You can see why the umpires gave him out.
But England all-rounder Ben Stokes, who was given out ob-
structing the eld in a one-day international against Australia
at Lords two years ago when he reacted to a shy at the stumps
from bowler, Mitchell Starc by sticking out a glove, was un-
impressed.
Cant believe that @JasonRoy20 was given out in that
manner today, Stokes, rested from this match, tweeted before
continuing embarrassment is the only word that can be associ-
ated with the decision.
South Africa captain AB de Villiers, insisted, however: We
were in the right to ask the question of the umpires.
Its not an easy decision and its never nice to get out like
that.
England still had batting to come after Roys exit.
But Somerset old boy Jos Buttler, now at Lancashire, was
yorked by Phehlukwayo for 10 and Morgan (six) was well
caught in the gloom by de Villiers.
England, who had been 133 for two at the start of the 16th
over, lost four wickets for 34 runs before nishing on 171 for
six.
Earlier, Cape Town-born Tom Curran, a Surrey team-mate
of Roy, marked his England debut with an impressive three for
33 in his maximum allowed four overs.
South Africas AB De Villiers hits a 6 over the stands dur-
ing the second T20 blast match at the Cooper Associates
County Ground, Taunton, England on June 23. (AP)
England vs South Africa Scoreboard
TAUNTON, United Kingdom, June 24, (AFP): Completed
scoreboard in the second Twenty20 international be-
tween England and South Africa at Taunton:
SOUTH AFRICA
J. Smuts c Plunkett b Dawson .....................................45
R. Hendricks b Curran ...................................................7
M. Mosehle c Buttler b Plunkett ...................................15
AB de Villiers c Morgan b Willey..................................46
D. Miller c Buttler b Plunkett ..........................................8
F. Behardien lbw b Jordan...........................................32
C. Morris c Roy b Curran .............................................12
A. Phehlukwayo b Curran ..............................................0
M. Morkel not out ...........................................................4
Extras (w5) ....................................................................5
Total (8 wkts, 20 overs)..............................................174
Did not bat: T Shamsi
Fall of wickets: 1-25 (Hendricks), 2-57 (Mosehle), 3-96
(Smuts), 4-113 (Miller), 5-127 (De Villiers), 6-157 (Mor-
ris), 7-164 (Phehlukwayo), 8-170 (Behardien)
Bowling: Willey 4-0-29-1; Jordan 4-0-38-1 (4w); Cur-
ran 4-0-33-3; Plunkett 4-0-36-2 (1w); Dawson 4-0-38-1
ENGLAND
J. Roy obstructing the eld .......................................... 67
S. Billings c Miller b Morris .......................................... ..3
J. Bairstow c Behardien b Morris ................................. 47
L. Livingstone run out (Morkel/Mosehle/Phehlukwayo) 16
J. Buttler b Phehlukwayo ............................................. 10
E. Morgan c de Villiers b Paterson .............................. ..6
L. Dawson not out........................................................ ..7
L. Plunkett not out........................................................ ..0
Extras (b4, lb5, w5, nb1).............................................. 15
Total (6 wkts, 20 overs)..............................................171
Did not bat: D Willey, C Jordan, L Plunkett, T Curran
Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Billings), 2-125 (Bairstow), 3-133
(Roy), 4-153 (Buttler), 5-162 (Morgan), 6-167 (Living-
stone)
Bowling: Morkel 4-0-43-0 (1nb); Morris 4-0-18-2 (1w);
Paterson 4-0-32-1 (4w); Phehlukwayo 4-0-34-1; Smuts
1-0-11-0; Shamsi 3-0-24-0;
Result: South Africa won by three runs
Man-of-the-match: Chris Morris (RSA)
Toss: England
Umpires: Michael Gough (ENG), Rob Bailey (ENG)
TV umpire: Tim Robinson (ENG)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
Remaining Fixture
June 25: 3rd T20, Cardiff
Previous Result
June 21: England won by nine wickets

SPORTS
Eight-time champion Federer to face Zverev
HALLE, Germany, June 24, (Agencies): Top seed Roger Federer will challenge
for a ninth Halle Open title against Alexander Zverev after reaching the Wimble-
don warm-up event nal with a 6-4 7-6(5) win over rising Russian talent Karen
Khachanov on Saturday.
The 18-times grand-slam champion, who captured the Australian Open, Indian
Wells and Miami titles this year, skipped the entire claycourt season to improve
Croatias Marin Cilic celebrates
winning his mens singles seminal
tennis match against Luxembourgs
Gilles Muller at the ATP Aegon
Championships tennis tournament
at Queens Club in west London on
June 24. (AFP)
Germany eye semis
Loew set to add
to strong record
SOCHI, Russia, June 24,
(AFP): Joachim Loew can
maintain his proud decade-long
record of steering Germany to
the semifinals at major tourna-
ments with a draw against
Cameroon on Sunday enough
to reach the last four of the
Confederations Cup.
Since Loew took charge as
head coach after Germany fin-
ished third at the 2006 World
Cup on home soil, the team has
always reached the semifinals
at either European champion-
ships or World Cup finals.
The world champions take
on Cameroons Indomitable
Lions at Sochis Fisht Stadium
on Sunday while Chile play
Australia in Moscow in the
final round of Group B games.
Germany are second to Chile
in the table
only by a
single goal
with both
teams on
four points
w h i l e
Cameroon
a n d
Australia
have a So well has she been playing that it
point each.
Loew
While
Germany need a point in Sochi,
Cameroon must win by two
clear goals to progress.
A draw would be enough
for us to go through, but it
would be good to win the group
so wed play our semifinal in
Sochi, said Loew. Im plan-
ning a few changes in a position
or two, some will get a break to
allow fresh faces to come in.
Germany have won two of
Germany vs Cameroon beIN
SPORTS 1 HD, 11HD
18:00 local
Chile vs Australia beIN SPORTS
12HD
18:00 local
the three previous meetings and
there was a 2-2 draw when the
teams last met in a pre-World
Cup friendly in 2014.
A year before the World
Cup, Loew took the gamble of
leaving all of his World Cup-
winning stars at home to blood
fringe players.
The move has paid off with
forward Lars Stindl scoring in
both Mondays 3-2 win over
Australia and Thursdays 1-1
draw with Chile leaving him as
the Confed Cups top-scorer.
Loews young side has so far
been convincing in Russia.
They dominated Australia
for the first hour in Sochi, then
weathered a Socceroos fight
back, while in Kazan against
Chile they showed guts in fight-
ing back after conceding an
early goal.
Loew opted to make no
changes against Chile the
first time a German coach has
done that in an international
since 1995 saying he wanted
his team to tough it out.
With first-choice shot-stopper
Manuel Neuer recovering from
foot surgery, Loew is expected
to again rotate his goalkeeper
with Paris Saint-Germains
Kevin Trapp set to start.
Cameroon coach Hugo
Broos fielded the same starting
line-up for both their opening
2-0 defeat to Chile and
Thursdays disappointing 1-1
draw with Australia.
The Belgian is expected to
call up the same again against
the world champions.
Australia face Chile at
Moscows Spartak Stadium
with a draw good enough for
the Copa America champions
while the Socceroos need a win
by three clear goals to reach the
last four.
Kvitova reaches 1st grass final since Wimbledon 2014
his chances of winning a record eighth
title at the All England Club.
He will now face 20-year-old
Zverev in a rematch of last years
semi-nal, which the German won.
Zverev booked his second successive
nal spot when he beat Frenchman
Richard Gasquet 4-6 6-4 6-3.
Gasquet, a two-time Wimbledon
semi-nalist, grabbed the rst set
against Zverev with a break at 5-4.
But he quickly fell behind in the sec-
ond as Zverev, a nalist last year, who
has already won three titles in 2017,
charged to a 4-2 lead and held on to
take the set.
The world number 12 booked his
nal spot after breaking at 3-3 and n-
ishing the Frenchman off with another
break to set up the showdown with
Federer.
Despite a shock exit from Stuttgart
on his comeback last week, Federer
has improved in Halle and has not lost
a set.
I thought it was extremely close,
especially that second set, Federer,
who has never won a tournament nine
times, told reporters.
Im still just very happy how I was
able to close it out in the (tie-)breaker,
said the 35-year-old.
He and Khachanov, 21, traded
breaks in the rst two games but
Federer grabbed a second one to re-
store his advantage and clinch the rst
set on his second set point.
The Swiss lured the youngster to the
net on several occasions, including at
4-4 in the second set when the Russian
TENNIS
dumped a forehand volley into the net
to give Federer two break points.
But instead of serving out the set,
the top seed was broken again and the
Russian even held two set points at 6-5
before the world number ve recov-
ered and forced a tiebreak.
He converted his rst match point to
reach an 11th Halle nal.
Petra Kvitova took a big step for-
wards to convincing herself that she
can make a full recovery when she
reached the nal of the Aegon Classic
by outplaying her exhausted friend and
Czech compatriot Lucie Safarova.
The twice former Wimbledon cham-
pion showed few signs of the appalling
knife injuries to her playing hand in a
thoroughly one-sided victory by 6-1
1-0 retired, which happened when Sa-
farova, who had had two huge matches
in the previous three days, pulled out
with a thigh strain.
It is only Kvitovas second tour-
nament since the seven-month hole
which was torn from her career, and
this was only her sixth match, yet she
has reached her rst grass court nal
since her 2014 Wimbledon triumph.
has become even more signicant that
this tournament is a Wimbledon warm-
up event, for Kivitova is already begin-
ning to suggest she can again do well
at the grass court Grand Slam starting
in nine days time.
Its tough to play against a friend
like Lucie, Kvitova said. Its hard to
think about yourself and not your op-
ponent. I am sorry for her and hope she
soon gets a bit better.
Im pleased with how I am playing.
I love playing nals, I like big match-
es, and Ive missed it over the last six
months. So this is quite a dream.
Kvitova had never lost any of her
nine WTA Tour encounters with Safa-
rova, and this one had a sense of inevi-
tability about it from the start.
She won her opening service game
to love, took 14 of the rst 15 points,
and kept the rallies ultra-short by strik-
ing winners freely, especially with her
hard-to-read at-hit forehand.
Safarova had to battle like a trooper
to reach this stage, saving match points
against both Dominika Cibulkova, the
third seed, and Daria Gavrilova, the
ninth seed from Australia, and by the
end of a rst set lasting only 26 min-
utes it was clear her resources were
seriously depleted.
After dropping her serve in the
opening game of the second set, she
decided to call it off. She had won only
12 points.
That left Kvitova due to play Sun-
days nal against either Garbine
Muguruza, the former French Open
champion who is seeking a repeat of
her 2015 achievement in reaching a
Wimbledon nal, or Ashleigh Barty,
the 21-year-old unseeded Australian
who beat the twice former nalist Bar-
bora Strycova, another Czech en route
to the last four.
Croatias Marin Cilic reached his
third Queens Club nal as the world
number seven won the battle of the big
servers to beat Gilles Muller 6-3, 5-7,
6-4 on Saturday.
Roger Federer from Switzerland returns a ball to Karen Khachanov (not in
picture) from Russia at the Gerry Weber Open tennis tournament in Halle,
western Germany on June 24. (AFP)
All Blacks maul Lions
All Blacks Beauden Barrett is tackled by Sam Warburton and Conor Murray (left), during the rst test between the British and Irish Lions and the All Blacks
Aussies stagger to shaky win, Ireland sweep Japan
AUCKLAND, June 24,
(Agencies): New Zealand
winger Rieko Ioane scored
two tries as the All Blacks
faced down a spirited Brit-
ish and Irish Lions chal-
lenge 30-15 at Eden Park on
Saturday to take a 1-0 lead
in the three-test series.
The world champions produced a
performance of real grit and charac-
ter to subdue a Lions surge around
halftime before racing away to ex-
tend their winning streak at their
spiritual home to 38 tests going
back to 1994.
Hooker Codie Taylor also crossed
for the home side, while yhalf
Beauden Barrett had a perfect even-
ing from the kicking tee with three
penalties and three conversions.
The tourists scored the best try of the
night through anker Sean OBrien and
got a late consolation effort from re-
placement scrumhalf Rhys Webb with
Owen Farrell chipping in with a penalty
and a conversion.
four minutes after the break spoke of the
The Lions made enough linebreaks
to head to next weeks second test in
Wellington condent they can score
against the All Blacks but know they
will have to cut down on the errors if
they want to win a rst series in New
Zealand since 1971.
The rst of the linebreaks could have
secured the Lions the opening try in the
rst two minutes but winger Elliot Daly
was bundled into touch after centre Jon-
athan Davies had stormed through the
All Blacks mideld.
Barrett scored the rst three points
from a penalty after 14 minutes, though,
and four minutes later the All Blacks
caught the Lions napping with a quick
tap from a second.
The home side moved the ball quick-
ly down the line to Taylor out on the
wing and the hooker picked it off his
boot laces to score.
Barrett sent the conversion sailing
through the posts and the All Blacks
were 10-0 in front, their nerves settled
and any hopes the tourists had of catch-
ing them cold gone.
Farrell and Barrett traded penalties and when Williams spilt the ball on his
around the half hour mark before the
Lions wrested back the momentum
with a try from the least promising of wing
circumstances.
Fullback Liam Williams was forced
to run the ball out of defence but the
eld opened up for him and he was able win
to ofoad to Davies, who exchanged
passes with Daly before getting the
ball to OBrien for the anker to touch roared back with 14 uninterrupted points
down.
It was a breathtaking riposte to those maining.
who doubted the ability of the tourists
at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand on June 24. (AP)
(Left): Irelands y-half Paddy Jackson tackles against Japans lock Uwe
Helu during their rugby union test match in Tokyo on June 24. (Right):
Andries Van Schalkwyk of Italy is tackled by Lopeti Timani of Australia dur-
ing the international rugby match between Australia and Italy at Suncorp
Stadium in Brisbane on June 24. (AFP)
to create try-scoring chances and even Wallaby to score multiple tries in three pean
though Farrell missed the conversion, successive matches.
the Lions went in at halftime 13-8 down It was one of the only positives for
but with heads held high. Michael Cheikas side, who were cruis-
Another searing break down the left ing at 28-13 in the 45th minute
suffering an apparent loss of condence
condence now surging through the Li- as their scrum disintegrated in front of a
ons and when the All Blacks were penal- modest crowd of 22,000.
ised close to the line, they elected to kick A string of abysmal handling errors
for the corner. set the slide in motion, with scrumhalf
The rst chants of Lions! Lions! Will Genia sending a long pass sailing
Lions! echoed around the ground but over Foleys head as the yhalf streamed
an effective counter-shove from the All down the left ank, unmarked and gun-
Blacks prevented the pushover try and ning for the try-line in the 56th minute.
the hosts worked their way out of trou- Winger Dane Haylett-Petty then
ble. gifted a try to the Azzurri eight minutes
The All Blacks had lost fullback Ben later, spilling a high cross-kick
Smith and centre Ryan Crotty to injury half Tommaso Allan at the right corner
in the rst half but it was the strategic to allow fullback Edoardo Padovani to
swap of both props after 50 minutes that scamper over.
triggered the next score. Ireland overpowered Japan
The Lions pack simply disintegrated to nish with a perfect record on their
at a scrum on their own 22 and Read three-game summer tour.
picked up to feed the backline with Io- Joe Schmidts second-string side
ane touching down in the corner in the looked on course to rack up 50 points for
55th minute. the third successive match as the visitors
Referee Jaco Peyper checked that ran in four rst-half tries in Tokyo.
Read had not knocked on and Barrett Despite wilting in the heat as the
added the extras to give the All Blacks game went on, Ireland had enough
a 20-8 lead, which he extended with his cushion to keep the Japanese comfort-
third penalty on the hour mark. ably at arms length in a dress rehearsal
The Lions kept coming but the All for their 2019 World Cup pool clash.
Blacks now looked to be in the groove The signs were ominous for Japans
Brave Blossoms when Garry Ringrose
own 10-metre line 10 minutes from raced clear to score under the posts and
time, Ioane outpaced Daly down the left anker Josh van der Flier wriggled over
to score his third try in three tests. in the corner in the rst 10 minutes.
An unconvincing Australia suffered Bulldozing tries from Kieran Marmi-
a huge scare against Italy before scor- on and stand-in skipper Rhys Ruddock
ing two late tries to secure a shaky 40-27 further stretched the lead for Ireland,
in Brisbane. the bulk of whose regular players are which they lost eight of 12 Tests.
The Wallabies led 28-13 early in on British and Irish Lions duty in New
the second half at Lang Park, but Italy Zealand.
Japans sole glimmer of hope had
to trail by a point with three minutes re- been Kotaro Matsushimas swashbuck-
ling try on 24 minutes but after trailing
Flyhalf Bernard Foley thwarted the 28-8 at half-time, the next World Cup
comeback with a jinking run and try in hosts offered signicantly more resist-
the 77th minute before replacement back ance after the interval.
Reece Hodge made the result certain Akihito Yamada tiptoed down the
with a brilliant dash down the left touch- wing to register Japans second try,
line to cross at the nal hooter. while Ireland narrowly avoided going
Australia rebounded from their sur- scoreless in the second half thanks to
prise 24-19 loss to Scotland last week replacement anker Sean Reidys late
but the laboured win over 15th-ranked effort.
Italy will do little for their condence Fly-half Paddy Jackson unerringly
ahead of bigger tests against world converted all ve tries for Ireland, who
champions New Zealand in the Rugby crushed Japan 50-22 last weekend and
Championship. also broke the 50-point mark against
It probably shows where were at a the United States in their opening tour
little bit, probably down on condence game in New Jersey.
a little bit in that game, said Wallabies We knew after last week Japan
captain Stephen Moore, reinstated as would bring a new level of intensity and
starting hooker after being relegated to test us, said Ruddock.
the bench against Fiji and Scotland. Wales players had to overcome a
It probably showed in our attack ... debilitating virus sweeping their camp
Weve got a big, big couple of months to beat Samoa, coach Robin McBryde
ahead to work on before we play New revealed Saturday.
Zealand. More than 10 players were said to
Israel Folau scored two tries in the have been stricken by the bug in the
rst half, adding to his doubles against lead up to their 19-17 win on a muddy
Fiji and Scotland, and became the rst pitch in Apila.
ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017
43
Several players, including captain
Jamie Roberts were sick on the sideline
at half-time in the match.
Steffan Evans two second-half tries
and three penalties by Sam Davies se-
cured the win to give Wales back-to-
back victories after beating Tonga 24-6
the previous week.
Samoas points came from tries to
Alapati Leiua and Manu Leiataua and
the boot of y-half Tusi Pisi.
With the bulk of the Wales squad in
New Zealand on duty with the British
and Irish lions, the starting XV against
Samoa contained just 151 caps of which
92 belonged to captain and centre Rob-
erts.
RUGBY
Fiji held off a late Scotland ghtback
to secure a 27-22 victory in a June inter-
national test at Suva on Saturday, bring-
ing the tourists down to earth after their
upset of Australia last week.
It was a second victory over Euro-
opposition in a week for the Fiji-
ans after they edged Italy last Saturday
and came courtesy of tries from Peceli
Yato and Henry Seniloli as well as ve
before penalties and a conversion from yhalf
Ben Volavola.
The Scots, weakened by the ab-
sence of ve players on British and
Irish Lions duty, scored tries through
Ross Ford, Ruaridh Jackson and Fraser
Brown. Flyhalf Jackson also kicked a
penalty and two conversions.
Hooker Ford, who won his 110th
cap to better Chris Patersons tally and
claim the Scottish record, crossed in the
rst half with his replacement Brown
by y- crashing over four minutes from time to
give the visitors hopes of a late come-
back.
Three yellow cards in the rst half,
35-13 two for Fiji and one for the Scots, set
the tone for a hardfought battle played
out in humid conditions in the capital of
the Pacic island nation.
Scotland also beat the Italians in their
rst June international in Singapore two
weeks ago.
South Africa ground out a 35-12 vic-
of a tory Saturday to beat France at Ellis
Park in Johannesburg for the rst time
and complete a 3-0 Test series white-
wash.
Les Bleus, who won the four previ-
ous clashes with the Springboks at the
ground, fell behind after six minutes
and never looked likely to snap a losing
streak on this tour.
Victory in a match that never scaled
great heights continued a South African
revival after a calamitous last season in
Winning the rst two matches of the
series has reignited public support for
the Springboks with a 55,820 crowd
creating an electric atmosphere.
South Africa were skippered by lock
Eben Etzebeth for the rst time after the
late withdrawal of No.8 Warren White-
ley due to a groin injury.
Flanker Jean-Luc du Preez replaced
Whiteley with Jaco Kriel coming into
the team off the bench.
Etzebeth said: What an unbeliev-
able day it was for me and the whole
team. This whole three weeks was un-
believable.
The crowd that was here tonight, all
the support back home. We just want to
thank everyone for this massive day and
this great three weeks.
(The buildup) was not tough at all. I
think if you put on a Springbok jersey,
you want to win every game. That is
exactly what we wanted to do tonight.
We are really happy and so excited
for the squad and looking forward to the
Rugby Championship.
France captain and hooker Guilhem
Guirado said: Tonight, three games,
three Tests, three times (almost) the
same score very bad for the French
team.
 ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2017 44
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Ronaldo hits milestone as Portugal rout NZ

The victorious Late Ahmad Al-Roumi players display their medals as they celebrate with the championship trophy.
Al-Roumi, Al-Yousef rule Rawdhan Futsal Tournament
The Late Ahmad Al-Roumi team were declared winners
of the 38th edition of the Late Abdullah Meshari Al-Raw-
dhan Futsal Tournament 2017, after they defeated the
BMW team in the nals. The team of Late Khaled Al-
Yousef emerged as tournament champions in the ama-
teurs category. His Highness the Amirs representative
and the patron of the tournament the State Minister
for Cabinet Affairs and acting Minister of Information
Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah presented the cham-
pionship trophies to the senior and amateur winning
teams of the tournament. He also honored the sponsors
of the tournament.
The nal day of the matches witnessed distinguished
atmosphere as usual. A huge crowd of fans converged
to watch the closing ceremony of the 38th Late Abdullah
Meshari Al-Rawdhan Futsal Tournament 2017, and the
extinguishing of its ame to ensure further success of
the tournament, which has been gaining popularity with
every new edition both regionally and internationally.
In the nal match of senior category between the
teams of BMW and the Late Ahmad Al-Roumi, the de-
fensive style of football dominated the performance. The
rst half witnessed very few attacks despite the great
efforts exerted by BMW team to break the late Ahmad
Al-Roumi teams defense.
The second half of the match was more active with
attacks from both sides. However, no side was able to
score a goal during normal time, which led to penalty
shootouts in which the late Ahmadi Al-Roumi won with
a score of 6-5.
The overall best player of the tournament award went
to the Brazilian footballer Pachino from the BMW team.
The overall best goalkeeper award went to Mahmoud
Taqi from the Late Ahmad Al-Roumi team. The ideal
team award went to the Kuwait International Bank team.
The amateurs category also witnessed remarkable
performance from the winning team the late Sheikh
Khaled Al-Yousef team, which managed to defeat the
late Dhari Al-Othman team by an impressive score of
6-0. Both teams showcased high skills and performance
but the late Sheikh Khaled Al-Yousef team appeared to
be better in their quest for goals.
Present during the honoring event was the National
Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim, Honorary
Chairperson of the tournament Hawally Governor ret.
General Ahmad Al-Nawaf, Advisor in the Ofce of the
Crown Prince Nasser Al-Roudhan and Secretary Gen-
eral of the Cabinet Abdullatif Al-Roudhan.
Also present was the Chief Executive Ofcer of Zain
Telecommunications Company, Kuwait Eaman Al-
Roudhan, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee
for Delivery and Legacy Nasser Al-Khater and Treasurer
of Kuwait Sports Club Khaled Al-Ghanim.
See Also Page 40
Lozano heads Mexico into semis, Russia out
SAINT PETERSBURG,
June 24, (Agencies): Cris-
tiano Ronaldo scored his
75th international goal as
Portugal trounced New Zea-
land 4-0 in Saint Petersburg
on Saturday to advance to
the semi-nals of the Con-
federations Cup.
The Real Madrid star struck from
the penalty spot on 33 minutes to re
the European champions in front be-
fore Bernardo Silva turned in a sec-
Germany vs Cameroon beIN SPORTS 1 HD,
11HD
18:00 local
Chile vs Australia beIN SPORTS 12HD
18:00 local
ond goal four minutes later.
Andre Silva added a third on 80 min-
utes before Nani completed the rout in
stoppage time to ensure Portugal pro-
gressed to last four as winners of Group
A, nishing above Mexico on goal dif-
ference.
Copa America holders Chile lead
Germany on goal difference ahead of
the nal round of matches in Group B,
although Australia and Cameroon still
harbour outside qualication hopes.
Santos elded an attacking line-up
packed with experience and resisted the
temptation to rest Ronaldo with Portugal
still requiring a point to qualify and vy-
ing with Mexico and Russia for top spot.
But the Portugal captain made no
mistake after Danilo was wrestled to the
ground in the area by a combination of
Tom Doyle and Tommy Smith follow-
ing a corner.
Ronaldo buried the resultant penalty
beyond Stefanovic to draw level with
former Hungary great Sandor Kocsis
and within nine goals of the legendary
Ferenc Puskas European record of 84 at
international level.
Portugal swiftly doubled their lead
when Eliseus dangerous low cross
from the left was forced home by Silva,
although there was brief concern for
the new Manchester City signing as he
landed awkwardly on his ankle.
Santos withdrew Ronaldo on 67
minutes with the semi-nals in mind,
and his replacement Nani struck within
moments of his introduction only for
Stefanovic to brilliantly tip behind his
deected shot.
Silva nally provided Portugal with
further breathing space 10 minutes from
time as the AC Milan-bound striker ran
Russias Georgii Dzhikiia (left), and
Mexicos Javier Hernandez (right),
challenge for the ball during the
Confederations Cup Group A soc-
cer match between Mexico and
Russia, at the Kazan Arena, Rus-
sia on June 24. (AP)
at the Kiwi defence before drilling into
the roof of the net.
Former Manchester United winger
Nani then drilled in a fourth in injury
time, with Portugal now having lost just
one of their last 23 competitive xtures.
Mexico forward Hirving Lozano took
advantage of an awful mix-up in the
Russian defence to score an extraordi-
nary goal which gave his side a 2-1 win
and knocked the Confederations Cup
hosts out of the tournament.
Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev
completely mis-read the situation after
Hector Herrera sent a looping clearance
80 metres downeld from the edge of
the Mexican area seven minutes into
the second half. The ball bounced once
about 25 metres from the Russian goal
and, as Akinfeev and his defence dallied,
Lozano nipped in to head the ball over
the goalkeeper from the edge of the area
to send the CONCACAF champions
into the semi-nals.
Russia had raised the hopes of their
fans by taking a rst-half lead through
Alexander Samedov but were quickly
pegged back by Nestor Araujos equal-
iser on the half hour.
Russias early exit from was another
setback for next years World Cup hosts
who also went out of last years Euro-
pean Championship at the group stage,
when they failed to win a game and were
regarded by many as the worst team in
the tournament.
Russias afternoon was completed
in the 68th minute after Yury Zhirkov
was sent off for elbowing and they were
only saved further embarrassment by the
video assistant referee who disallowed a
third Mexican goal for offside.
The video replay was also used in the
17th minute after Russian forward Fe-
dor Smolov went down in the box after
he appeared to come into contact with
Araujo but the referee ruled against a
penalty.

New Zealand hammer Sri Lanka

India too strong for England in WC opener

LONDON, June 24, (AFP):
India beat hosts England by
35 runs on the opening day
of the 2017 Womens World
Cup at Derby on Saturday.
India piled up an imposing
281 for three in their 50 overs
thanks to fties from Smriti
Mandhana (90) and Punam
Raut (86), who put on 144
for the rst wicket, as well as
71 from skipper Mithali Raj.
Only reigning world
champions Australia had
previously made a success
of chasing a bigger target
in a womens one-day in-
ternational. England just
about kept themselves in the
hunt and were still in with a
chance thanks to Fran Wil-
sons maiden fty at 229 for
six in the 44th over.
But her departure for 81
one of four run-outs in the in-
nings left the lower order
of England, now a team of
full-time professionals, with
too much to do.
Three-times champions
England, whove won the
previous two World Cups
staged in their own country,
were eventually bowled out
for 246.
It was a brilliant opening
partnership between Smriti
and Punam, said the assured
Raj, who was seen reading
a book before she came into
bat wearing a oppy hat rath-
er than the now ubiquitous
helmet.
After I batted, I realised
that the wicket didnt have
much assistance for the
bowlers, and that the spin-
ners, in particular, will have
to bowl in the right areas.
England captain Heather
Knight, who opted to eld
rst after winning the toss,
added: I thought the wicket
would do a bit more, but to be

CRICKET
honest, we didnt put the ball
in the right areas.
We bowled too short
and let them get away. We
backed ourselves to chase it
down but lost wickets and
struggled.
India took the game away
from us with the bat. It was
an exciting match but Im re-
ally disappointed to end up
on the losing side.
Meanwhile Saturdays
other match saw 2000 cham-
pions New Zealand hammer
Sri Lanka by nine wickets at
Bristol.
Holly Huddleston took
ve for 35 as Sri Lanka were
held to a meagre 188 for nine
before White Ferns captain
Suzie Bates scored the rst
century of this World Cup,
an unbeaten 106, as her side
cruised to victory with more
than 12 overs to spare.

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