Amiri envoy delivers letter to Qatar

Transcription

1 tennis Page 44 THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT Established in 1977 / WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 2017 / SHAWWAL 11, 1438 AH emergency number 112 NO PAGES 150 FILS Amir congratulates Trump on Independence Day KUNA photo His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Dr Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah and his accompanying delegation. Present during the meeting were HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and also Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs, Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah. KUWAIT CITY, July 4, (KUNA): His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a congratulatory cable Tuesday to American President Donald Trump on his country s 241st independence anniversary. His Highness the Amir praised the distinguished historical and strategic ties between the two countries and lauded efforts to extend bilateral cooperation. His Highness the Amir wished President Trump and his country all progress and prosperity during the Fourth of July celebrations. His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah also sent Continued on Page 37 Trump defends ban ruling NEW YORK, July 4, (RTRS): The administration of US President Donald Trump opposed opening the door to grandparents from six Muslim-majority countries on Monday, arguing in a court filing that the government s interpretation of how to implement its temporary travel ban is based on US immigration law. The US Supreme Court in a ruling last Monday revived parts of Trump s March 6 executive order that banned people from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, which had been blocked by lower courts. The highest court let the ban go forward with a limited scope, saying that it cannot apply to anyone with credible bona fide relationship with a US person or entity. Trump said the measure was necessary to prevent terrorist attacks. But opponents, including states and refugee advocacy groups, sued to stop it, disputing its security rationale and saying it discriminates against Muslims. After the Supreme Court ruling, the government said that a bona fide relationship means close family members only: parents, spouses, siblings and children. Continued on Page 37 Opinion Nero politics burning Qatar By Ahmed Al-Jarallah Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times IT IS not possible to cover the Sun with a sieve. The Qatari leadership should understand this fact as it keeps on procrastinating and prolonging the crisis by depending on feeble arguments; such as, the demands made by four countries (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Egypt) are considered interference in the internal affairs and sovereignty of Qatar. In reality, the demands are based on documented facts and cogent evidence of Qatar s interference in the internal affairs of not only the four countries, but also the movement witnessed in Kuwait about four years ago. Furthermore, there are thousands of communications linking Doha with the terrorist group s headquarters in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Egypt; after the bloody fall of Mohammad Morsi during the June 30 revolution, when Qatar, through the Muslim Brotherhood Group engaged in destabilizing Egypt s security and transmitting the cancer of terrorism to it. The four countries demands are aimed at protecting their internal security, given that the interference of Qatar is no longer a secret in terms of supporting terrorist groups in Bahrain and the eastern part of Saudi Arabia. This is in addition to its conspiracies against the United Arab Emirates, let alone the fact that it opened the horizon for Al-Jazeera satellite channel to incite members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Egypt. How could Qatar permit itself to interfere in the affairs of all these countries on one hand; and on the other hand, prohibit its supposedly friend countries to face the harm caused by cheap politics? The entire international arena, starting with the UN Security Continued on Page 37 ahmed@aljarallah.com Follow me on: ahmedaljarallah@gmail.com US$/KD /20 Euro/KD Yen/KD British /KD KSE pts at closing July 4 See Page 35 Dow pts at closing July 3 Nasdaq pts at closing July 3 FTSE pts at closing Nikkei pts at closing Gold 1, per oz (London) NYMEX crude $47.09 per barrel Brent crude $49.68 per barrel 3-month $ LIBOR rate % Amiri envoy delivers letter to Qatar KUNA photo HH the Amir envoy, advisor at Amiri Diwan, Yousef Al-Fulaij after delivering a letter to Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-thani. DAESH hold shrinks in Iraq, Syria Fierce fighting in last stand MOSUL/BEIRUT, July 4, (Agencies): Western-backed forces edged into the final redoubts of the two capitals of Islamic State s self-declared caliphate in Iraq and Syria on Tuesday, hampered by fierce resistance from the militants and the presence of human shields. Iraqi commanders have predicted final victory in Mosul this week after a grinding eight-month assault on the once two-millionstrong city pushed Islamic State into a rectangle no more than 300 by 500 metres beside the Tigris river. In Raqqa, Islamic State s headquarters in northern Syria from where it plotted attacks around the world, US-backed militia were fighting inside the historic Old City after coalition air strikes breached its walls in two places. Victory over the hardline militants in both cities would mark the effective end of the three-year-old caliphate, although a few towns and large rural areas of Iraq and Syria remain under their control. But their centres are a maze of narrow alleyways packed with civilians and planted with multiple explosive devices by the militants, who are also using drones and suicide bombings. The presence of civilians has affected the troops advance a lot, said a commander in Mosul from the Rapid Response Division, an elite Interior Ministry unit, estimating there were 10,000 civilians, including some Egypt extends emergency CAIRO/ISMAILIA, Egypt, July 4, (RTRS): Egypt s parliament on Tuesday approved an extension of a nationwide state of emergency until the end of September as a police officer and two conscripts were killed by a roadside bomb in the Sinai where Egypt faces an Islamist insurgency. Parliament unanimously approved a threemonth state of emergency in April, giving the authorities greater powers to crack down on what it called enemies of the state after two church bombings killed at least 45 people. The extension by a further three months, ordered by President Abdel Fattah el-sisi, means the state of emergency will last at least until the end of September, Ali Abdelaal, Speaker of the House of Representatives, said. The reasons for which the state of emergency was declared are still in place and therefore Continued on Page 5 brought in as human shields. Iraqi commanders called in air strikes on targets just 50 metres away from them and fighting got close enough at one point for the militants to throw a hand grenade at the troops. The directions from the commanderin-chief of the armed forces are to advance slowly to preserve civilians lives and this is what we are doing, the officer said on Iraqi state TV without being named. The US-led international coalition supporting the Iraqi military and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighting Islamic State in Raqqa said it had been forced to bomb the Old City s ancient wall because the militants were controlling the existing breaches. SDF fighters would have been channelled through these locations and were extremely vulnerable as they were targeted with vehicle-borne IEDs (car bombs) and indirect fire as well as direct fire from heavy machineguns, rocket-propelled grenades and snipers as they tried to breach the Old City, it said. The assault on Raqqa, which began last month, was going to plan, though Islamic State s use of motion sensor-triggered mines and drones that drop bombs had slowed down operations a little, an SDF spokesperson said by telephone. SDF fighters had seized an ancient palace, Qasr al-banat, in the eastern part of the Old A Federal Police Rapid Response Force fighter walks inside a building at Mosul s main hospital complex after it was retaken by Iraqi forces during fighting against Islamic State militants, in Mosul, Iraq, on July 4. (AP) City, an SDF statement said. On Thursday, Iraqi forces retook Mosul s mediaeval Grand al-nuri mosque from where Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al- Baghdadi declared the caliphate, prompting Prime Minister Haider al-abadi to declare an end to what he called a state of falsehood. Baghdadi is believed to be hiding near the Iraq-Syrian border, according to US and Iraqi military sources and the number of Islamic State militants fighting in Mosul and Raqqa has dwindled from thousands to hundreds. Iraqi authorities are planning a week of nationwide celebrations to mark the end of the offensive and Abadi is expected to visit Mosul to formally declare victory. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Mosul and Raqqa, which have been devastated by the fighting, creating the challenges of rebuilding and preventing revenge attacks on suspected Islamic State sympathisers that could sow the seeds of a new ultra-hardline movement. An Iraqi commander said Tuesday that Islamic State militants are in a fight to the death as Iraqi forces close in on their last foothold in the northern city of Mosul. Gen Abdel Ghani al-asadi, the head of Iraq s special forces, said Iraqi forces are Continued on Page 5 Newswatch KUWAIT CITY: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Tuesday sent a cable of condolences to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud over the martyrdom of a Saudi security man and injury of three others in a terrorist attack in Al-Qatif in the Eastern Region. In the cable, His Highness the Amir voiced Kuwait s sharp condemnation of this heinous terrorist attack that targeted innocents and aimed Continued on Page 37 Tillerson calls Cairo DOHA, July 4, (Agencies): His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah s envoy, advisor at Amiri Diwan Khaled Yousef Al-Fulaij on Tuesday delivered a letter from His Highness the Amir to Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. Sheikh Tamim and French President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, emphasized the need to resolve the Gulf crisis through dialogue and diplomatic means. They have also expressed full support to the Kuwaiti mediation led by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah. These remarks were made by the two leaders during a phone conversation received by the Amir of Qatar from the French President Monday, the Qatari News Agency (QNA) reported. They have also discussed bilateral relations and joint efforts to combat terrorism and dry up its financial resources. Tillerson calls Cairo US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke by telephone with Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry on Monday to discuss the Qatar crisis, Egypt s foreign ministry said in a statement. The statement did not give any details of the call. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic and commercial ties with Qatar in June, accusing it of supporting terrorism, meddling in their affairs and cosying up to Iran, all of which Doha denies. The foreign ministers from the four countries will meet in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss Qatar. They threatened further sanctions if Qatar did not comply with a list of 13 demands presented through Kuwait 10 days ago, which Qatar rejected. Kuwait has been acting as a mediator since the beginning of the crisis. Qatar said Tuesday that the demands made by Arab nations in a Gulf diplomatic crisis were impossible to meet, as a deadline was fast approaching for the emirate to respond. Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani told a press conference in Doha that the list of demands from countries isolating Qatar is unrealistic and is not actionable. It s not about terrorism, it s talking about shutting down the freedom of speech, he said at a joint press conference after talks with German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt who accuse Qatar of supporting extremism gave Doha an extra 48 hours to meet their demands after an initial 10-day deadline expired on Sunday. The demands included Doha ending support for the Muslim Brotherhood, closing broadcaster Al- Jazeera, downgrading diplomatic ties with Iran and shutting down a Turkish military base in the emirate. Contents undisclosed Sheikh Mohammed handed an official response on Monday to Kuwait, which is mediating in the dispute, but its contents have not been disclosed. He refused to give any further details on Tuesday, but said Doha was looking for a solution to the month-long crisis based on dialogue. The state of Qatar has adopted a very constructive attitude since the beginning of the crisis. We are tying to act mature and discuss the matter. The four countries cut diplomatic and transport links with Qatar a month ago and have suggested further sanctions could be imposed if Doha does not comply. Foreign ministers from the four countries are to meet in Egypt on Wednesday to discuss the diplomatic crisis, the worst to hit the region in years. Qatar, which denies any support for extremists, has said it will not bow to pressure and that the demands seem designed to be rejected. The country is the world s leading producer of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and on Tuesday the head of state-owned Qatar Petroleum said it was planning a significant production increase over the next several years. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi told a press conference that the emirate intends to be producing 100 million tonnes of natural gas a year by 2024, up 30 percent from current levels. This new project will strengthen Qatar s leading position, Kaabi said. We will remain the leader of LNG for a very long time. Some officials have suggested if Qatar does not Continued on Page 37

2 LOCAL 2 Audience of His Highness the Crown Prince Left-right: some of the officials received by HH the Crown Prince. KUNA photos His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received on Tuesday at Bayan Palace Governor of Hawalli General Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawwaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and Governor of Al-Asima General Thabet Mohammad Al-Muhanna. His Highness the Crown Prince also received Chairman of the Supreme Advisory Committee to work on completing the application of Sharia law Dr Mohammad Al-Tabtabei as he offered His Highness a collection of the committee s special Islamic publications and achievements. (KUNA) Al-Deqbasi calls to boost joint Arab action to tackle challenges Kuwait stresses necessity of unifying Arab visions CAIRO, July 4, (KUNA): Member of Kuwait s National Assembly and Arab Parliament Ali Al-Deqbasi called on Monday for stepping up Arab joint action to counter challenges and threats to Arab security. In a statement to KUNA on the sidelines of a meeting of the Arab KUNA photo Kuwaiti MP Ali Al-Deqbasi (center) during the Arab Parliament s Foreign Affairs, Political and National Security Committee meeting. Sheikh Talal leaves for London to complete med treatment Outstanding teachers to receive bonus in 2 weeks KUWAIT CITY, July 4: Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohammad Al-Fares has confirmed that teachers who got outstanding and excellent job performance ratings will receive their bonus within two weeks, reports Al-Anba daily quoting sources. Also, sources told the daily that Al-Fares discussed in a long meeting with assistant undersecretaries recently the preparations for the coming school year. Sources disclosed the minister asked each assistant undersecretary to present his plan for the school year. Former chairman of Kuwait Football Association Sheikh Talal Al-Fahad recently left Kuwait for London to complete the third stage of medical examinations and treatment, reports Al-Nahar daily. In a video clip posted on his Instagram page, Sheikh Talal said, Parliament s Foreign Affairs, Political and National Security Committee, Al-Deqbasi noted that the committee has discussed boosting Arab cooperation to live up to Arab people s expectations and to overcome the impending threats to the region as well as to fight poverty, hunger and diseases. He pointed out that the members have also tackled efforts to close To my family, friends and loved ones, may Allah Almighty accept your act of worship! Happy Eid! By the grace of Allah Almighty, I will leave for London to complete the third stage of medical examinations and treatment. He had travelled to London last December for the first stage of medical treatment and returned in March. He thereafter went again in March for the second stage of treatment and returned in May. Arab ranks and to iron out differences. Al-Deqbasi voiced concerns about the current situation in the Arab region, stressing the need for doubling efforts to ease tension and unite Arab countries. He also lauded Kuwait activism and cooperation with the international parliamentarian organizations to stand up to the Israeli violations of international law and illegal practices against Palestinian people and territories. Meanwhile, Kuwaiti Lawmaker Khaled Al-Otaibi on Monday affirmed the necessity of unifying Arab visions to remove obstacles in order to meet aspirations of Arab nations. Speaking to KUNA on the sidelines of the Arab Parliament s Financial and Economic Committee meeting, Al-Otaibi, also an MP of AP, said there are some economic, legal and legislative obstacles that should be removed. Such topics were discussed by the conferees during the meeting, he added. The meeting touched upon the proposals of the Arab investment projects as well as reviewed a report on the latest developments pertaining to the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) and ways to accelerate the implementation of its executive program, he noted. He revealed that the committee would review the Arab economic developments, through the 2016 unified Arab economic report, and how to benefit from proposals of a symposium on the Arab economic integration held last April. KUNA photo Kuwaiti MP Khaled Al-Otaibi during the Arab Parliament s Financial and Economic Committee meeting in Cairo. Al-Roudhan tops among new ministers KAC to receive $500 mln from Iraq Airways in next few months KUWAIT CITY, July 4: Ministry of Finance and Kuwait Airways Corporation have been coordinating efforts toward receiving $500 million from Iraq Airways. The sum is scheduled to be transferred in the next few months, reports Al-Qabas daily. A source said payment could be made in a single tranche or two, although final agreement is yet to be made in that regard. He noted the parties opted for full payment of the debt and agreed on out of court settlement, and withdrawing cases filed against Iraq Airways based on the destruction of Kuwait Airways fleet during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in He explained the initial agreement for Iraq Airways to pay $300 million cash and convert the remaining $200 million to capital base for establishing Kuwait-Iraq Airways as a joint venture has been canceled. The proposed venture was aborted along the line, so the parties have agreed to pay the entire debt in cash, the source noted. Minister of Commerce and Industry, and State Minister for Youth Affairs Khalid Al-Roudhan has topped among other newly appointed ministers in an opinion poll titled Who is the best among the newly appointed ministers? which was conducted by a journalist Madhi Al-Khamees, reports Al-Nahar daily. In response, Minister Al-Roudhan declared that the confidence of the 63 percent votes he obtained from the 45,000 respondents is an indication of the collective success of the entire Cabinet. He affirmed that individual actions cannot achieve any success as only collective actions of all ministers can do so. The minister stressed that such a win exemplifies the government s vision which encourages teamwork and cooperation among all officials. News in Brief Over 31K working in govt agencies : Statistics of the second quarter of 2017, issued by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), concerning employees of the government sector reveal that there are 341,386 citizens and expatriates working in various government agencies, reports Al-Nahar daily. These employees are distributed in 47 government bodies and agencies. Ministry of Education tops the list with a total of 111,794 employees. Kuwaiti banking sector tops: The Kuwaiti banking sector topped its counterparts in GCC countries in terms of coverage ratio of non-performing loans whereby the ratio of financial allocations to cover the non-performing loans to the total loans reached 258 percent, reports Al-Shahed daily. The Central Bank of Kuwait is continuing its efforts to organize the local liquidity levels through direct interference in organizing the local banking sector and by accepting time deposits or CDs from local banks and issuing bonds. The Saudi banking sector came second with 174 percent, followed by the Omani in third place with 144 percent. The Bahraini banking sector was fourth with percent while the Emirati banking sector was fifth with percent. The banking sector of Qatar had a ratio of percent. Updating joint action essential : Kuwait s MP Ali Al-Deqbasi stressed Tuesday the importance of enhancing and updating the mechanism of joint Arab action in order to attain the aspirations and ambitions of Arab people. It is also important to restore Arab solidarity and meet people s ambitions in accomplishing further economic, humanitarian, sports, educational, and media objectives, in addition to protecting Arab societies, and interests, Al-Deqbasi told KUNA at conclusion of Arab Parliament s Foreign Affairs, Political, and National Security Committee s meetings at Arab Parliament (AP). The Kuwaiti lawmaker, who is also an AP member, also pointed out the massive economic challenges currently facing the Arab nation, in addition to the outbreak of diseases, poverty, and famine in several Arab countries.

3 LOCAL 3 His Highness the Crown Prince receives NUKS officials His Highness the Crown Prince (center), with the NUKS officials. KUNA photo His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received on Tuesday at Bayan Palace presidents and members of the National Union of Kuwaiti Students (NUKS) branches in UK, Ireland, Egypt, Canada and Australia. His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah urged the students to exert further educational effort to better serve their nation and contribute to its progress and prosperity.the political leadership offers great care to the Kuwaiti students and always provide them with all the facilities they need, His Highness the Crown Prince said. They offered His Highness the Crown Prince memorial gifts. The meeting was attended by Undersecretary of His Highness the Crown Prince s Diwan for Local Affairs Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Abdullah Al-Sbabah. (KUNA) Kuwait wraps up aid campaign in Yemen Wataniya Airways to launch 1st flight to Georgia on July 11 KUWAIT CITY, July 4, (KUNA): Kuwait s Wataniya Airways will run its first flight to the Georgian capital Tbilisi on July 11th, with an average of three trips per week. Wataniya Airways will also operate flights to the Azeri capital Baku and Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, starting July 12th and 13th, respectively, head of Wataniya s public relations department Lana Al-Rashaid told KUNA. She revealed that 10 new destinations will be added to Wataniya s itinerary after proper procedures are completed, encouraging travelers to book their tickets through travel agencies or online. The Wataniya Airways official added that the airline has set out a plan of providing top notch service to all travelers, who will be well looked after onboard their flights. A Kuwaiti aid campaign on Monday distributed 6,209 food baskets to more than Kuwait Today Al-Rashaid Prayer Timings Fajr... 03:19 Sunrise... 04:53 Zohr... 11:52 Asr... 15:26 Maghrib...18:51 Isha... 20:23 Weather Expected weather for the next 24 hours: By Night: Relatively hot with light to moderate south easterly wind changing to light variable wind, with speed of km/h. By Day: Very hot with light variable wind changing to light to moderate south easterly wind, with speed of km/h.. Station Max Min Exp Rec Kuwait City Kuwait Airport Abdaly Bubyan Jahra Failaka Island Salmiya Ahmadi Nuwaisib Wafra Salmy days forecast - Weather Wednesday, July 5 Expected weather... Very hot Max Temp...49 C Min Temp...29 C Wind Direction...NW-VRB Wind Speed km/h Thursday, July 6 Expected weather...very hot + and some high clouds will appear Max Temp...49 C Min Temp...31 C Wind Direction...NW-VRB Wind Speed km/h Friday, July 7 Expected weather... Very hot Max Temp...50 C Min Temp...31 C Wind Direction...NW-SE Wind Speed km/h Saturday, July 8 Expected weather... Very hot + causing rising dust over open areas Max Temp...50 C Min Temp...31 C Wind Direction...SE Wind Speed km/h Marine Forecast Station Max Min Sea Today s Exp Rec Surf Waves Ht Direction South Dolphin ft NW Umm Mudayrah ft NW Beacon M ft NW Beacon N ft NW Qaruh Island ft NW 43,000 people in Yemen, which capped off an aid package for the war-torn nation. Tawfik Mohammad, a member of the Yemeni-Kuwaiti Relief Authority, said that the endeavor to dole out more than 6,000 food parcels in the impoverished nation s northwestern Sadah province was unprecedented, read a press release by the Kuwait is By Your Side campaign. It is imperative to eliminate all obstacles that could encumber business in the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA), a Kuwaiti MP said on Tuesday. Speaking to KUNA, Khaled Al-Otaibi, a member of the Arab Parliament s Economic and Financial Committee, said that decisions made during previous Arab development summits have yet to come to fruition, which represents a shortcoming. He pointed out that structural flaws in Arab production has stalled trade development, adding that the just-concluded meeting of the committee yielded its agenda for the upcoming term. Al-Otaibi also added that the meeting tackled various issues to be referred to the Arab Parliament s forthcoming session on Wednesday. Umm Al-Maradim ft NW Sea Island Buo Salmiya ft NW 4 days forecast - Marine Wednesday, July 5 Expected weather... Very hot Sea state...slight to moderate Wave height ft Max Temp...49 C Min Temp...29 C Wind Direction... NW-VRB Wind Speed km/h Thursday, July 6 Expected weather... Very hot + and some high clouds will appear Sea state...slight to moderate Wave height ft Max Temp...49 C Min Temp...31 C Wind Direction... NW-VRB Wind Speed km/h Friday, July 7 Expected weather... Very hot Sea state...slight to moderate Wave height ft Max Temp...50 C Min Temp...31 C Wind Direction...NW-SE Wind Speed km/h Saturday, July 8 Expected weather... Very hot + causing rising dust over open areas Sea state...moderate to rough at times Wave height ft Max Temp...50 C Min Temp...31 C Wind Direction...SE Wind Speed km/h Tide times at Shuwaikh Port 1st high tide:...08:10 2nd high tide:...21:25 1st low tide:...15:16 2nd low tide:...02:36 Sunrise:...04:53 Sunset:...18:51 Recorded yesterday at Kuwait Airport Max temp...48 C Min temp...28 C Max Rh...43% Min Rh...07% Max Wind... SE 39 km/h Total Rainfall in 24 hrs...0 mm Recorded yesterday at South Dolphin Min/Max/ Air Temp...31/37 C Min/Max Rel Hum...23/79% Wind Direction/Wind Speed... SE/33 km/h Prev Wave Dir/Max Wave Ht... N/2 ft Min/Max Sea Surface Temp...-/- C Sea Current... Downdraft Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Meteorological Dept. deaths Ayda Saad Abdul Razaak Al-Sharhan, 77 years old, widow of Yousef Rashed Hamada, buried on Tuesday. Condolences: (Men) Nuzha, Block 3, Damascus Street, Diwan Hamada, Tel: (Women) Qasisiya, Block 9, Yousef Abdul Wahab Al Adsani Street, House 38, Tel: Abdul Rahman Abdullah Isa Al-Emran, 70 years old, buried on Tuesday. Condolences: (Men) Rawda, Block 5, Barodo Street, House 5, Tel: (Women) Khaldiya, Block 3, Street 34, House 11. Maryam Jasem Mohammad Majki, 73 years old, widow of Abdul Aziz Husein Majki, buried on Tuesday. Condolences: (Men) Dasma, Huseiniyat Sayed Emran, Tel: (Women) Diwan Dr Al- Zalzalah. Zakiya Abdul Reda Hasan Al-Mutawa, 75 years old, widow of Fathel Abbas Husein Al- Oth, buried on Tuesday. Condolences: (Men) Mansouriya, Huseiniyat Al-Aemah (former Al-Hazeem) Block 1, Street 14, House 51 Tel / (Women) Qadisiya, Block 8, Street 88, House 12, Tel: / Husein Ahmad Karam Ali, 86 years old, buried on Tuesday. Condolences: Salwa, Huseiniyat Al-Imam Al-Husein, Block 1, Al Mutanabi Street, House 27, Tel: / July 4, 2017 Kuwait supports FAO efforts to eliminate hunger, poverty Team to participate in ministerial confab on security of water ROME, July 4, (KUNA): Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Minister of Municipal Affairs Mohammad Al-Jabri stressed Tuesday Kuwait s firm support to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and its efforts to eliminate hunger and poverty in the world. Al-Jabri said, during the 40th Session FAO Conference in Rome, that Kuwait renewed its confidence in the international organization and its goals in fighting poverty and hunger. KUNA photo Oman s Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi and his accompanying delegation left Kuwait on Tuesday afternoon following a short visit. He was seen off at Kuwait International Airport by His Highness the Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. (KUNA) KUNA photo KUNA s senior official Abdulhamid Malak and his accompanying delegation visiting the agency s office in Paris. KUNA s senior official visits Paris office KUNA s Deputy Director General for Administrative and Financial Affairs and Communications Abdulhamid Malak on Tuesday visited the agency s offi ce in Paris. KUNA s senior official and his accompanying delegation inspected workflow in the offi ce in order to increase its efficiency and speed in covering news and events. Malak stressed the important role made by the office in Paris in covering daily events in France, calling for commitment to criteria of professionalism, transparency and credibility. Malak s accompanying delegation includes Deputy Chief- Kuwait also supported the organization s policies towards achieving the goals of the 2030 Global Agenda for Sustainable Development. Al-Jabri also expressed hope to develop Kuwait s cooperation with FAO, through signing an imminent partnership agreement for agricultural development, which will contribute to enhancing Kuwait s food and nutrition security and develop the technical capabilities of human and natural resources. Representative of Kuwait announced at this conference Kuwait s preliminary approval of two projects of the partnership program between Kuwait and the organization, mainly DNA project for agriculture and the project of agricultural waste recycling. Climate change, agriculture and food security conference theme getting great interest from Kuwait, which is seriously affected by climate change, especially fisheries, due to the high temperature of our regional waters and environmental pollution, he said. Despite the progress made in the food and agricultural sectors, the sector still need modern technical support from FAO and member countries with expertise, especially in the development of Kuwait water and fisheries resources and water treatment for agricultural and human purposes, he said. The Kuwaiti delegation, headed by Minister Al-Jabri, will participate in the Ministerial Conference on scarcity of water in the near East and North Africa region, in the presence of Ambassador Sheikh Ali Al-Khalid Al-Sabah, the General Director of the General Authority for Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs Faisal Al-Hasawi, and Permanent Representative to FAO Yousef Juhail. Goal Earlier, in an inaugural speech, Italy s Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said that reaching zero hunger determined by the international community as a new ambitious goal for the 2030 agenda of the sustainable development is considered a main condition for equality and justice. He called for renewed and extraordinary efforts particularly pointing to the influx of migrants into the European Union (EU) country s shores. Gentiloni affirmed that peace is also a goal and a condition to achieve the 17 SDGs to eradicate hunger in the world as there is a close relationship between conflicts and the growing malnutrition across the globe. He stated that conflict has caused 10 food crises out of 13 in different regions. He emphasized Italy s support for FAO s efforts alongside the World Food Program (WFP) and the Rome-based International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), appealing to the rest of Europe to share Italy s burdens because of mass immigration. In a letter by Pope Francis read by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope said he was following international activity and wanted to cooperate to direct it towards a real eradication of hunger and malnutrition, not just simple development or theoretical goals. The Pope stressed the importance of recognition that all people have the right to get enough food. Pope Francis told FAO conference that the international community should acknowledge hunger and malnutrition are not natural or structural phenomena. He said we are dealing with a complex mechanism that mainly burdens the most vulnerable, who are not only excluded from the processes of production, but frequently obliged Editor for Arabic News Bulletin Essam Al-Ghanim, Deputy and hope. He noted that wars, acts of to leave their lands in search of refuge Chief-Editor for Local News Bulletin Talal Al-Kandari, Deputy not the result of determinism. terrorism and forced displacement are Chief-Editor for Communications and Information Technolal Jose Graziano da Silva said I wish I Meanwhile, FAO s Director-Generogy Adel Al-Sammak and Head could announce here today some good of the Information and Research news regarding the global fight against Department Khalda Al-Nofal. hunger but, unfortunately, it is not the (KUNA) case.

4 LOCAL 4 MP eyes annual competition to promote Quran and Sunnah Queries sent about damages caused by Conocarpus trees By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff Honored Batch 9 graduates with an official pose for a group photo. PIFSS honors Batch 9 graduates of Training & Qualification Program Lawmakers issued some recommendations: Al-Tabtabaei Concerted efforts vital to counter Islamophobia CAIRO, July 4, (KUNA): Kuwaiti lawmaker Waleed Al-Tabtabaei on Tuesday called for concerted efforts in order to combat the phenomenon of Islamophobia. Speaking to KUNA after a meeting of the Arab Parliament s Economic and Financial Committee, Al-Tabtabaei said the lawmakers discussed several steps and issued some recommendations to combat ideas of those who connect terrorism with Islam, mainly The Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS) honored Batch 9 graduates of the Training and Qualification Program for fresh Kuwaiti graduates of information systems and technology. The program was held in collaboration with the IBM International Company. Speaking at the honoring ceremony, Director General of the institution Hamad Al-Humaidhi declared that the program aims at ensuring information technology is at the disposal of citizens who are qualified and committed to guaranteeing information security. He said information revolution has led to accumulation of human knowledge quicker than anybody could imagine especially scientific and technological knowledge. in Europe. The recommendations include holding dialogue with the European Parliament to show tolerance values, rights of minorities and other provisions stipulated in the Arab legislations based on Islam, he told KUNA. Al-Tabtabaei, also a member of AP, affirmed that terrorist operations committed by the so-called Islamic State and other terrorist groups contribute to distorting the tolerant image of Islam. Some topics were tackled during the meeting of human rights, and legal and legislative affairs committee, he noted. Earlier today, Khaled Al-Otaibi, a member of the Arab Parliament s Economic and Financial Committee, told KUNA that decisions made during previous Arab development summits have yet to come to fruition, which represents a shortcoming. KUWAIT CITY, July 4: MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaei on Tuesday submitted a proposal to organize an annual competition called, Kuwait Grand Award for Memorizers of Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim (books on the traditions of Prophet Mohammad PBUH) under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and supervision of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs. Al-Tabtabaei pointed out in his proposal that the Holy Quran and Sunnah (sayings of Prophets Peace be Upon Them) are integrated, indicating the Sunnah is an interpretation of the Quran. He believes the annual competition is a good way of inculcating the Sunnah in the minds of children and to encourage them to follow and protect it. He added, We will promote the Quran and Sunnah through this annual competition similar to the Grand Kuwait International Prize for Memorizing, Reading and Reciting the Holy Quran. Meanwhile, MP Osama Al-Shaheen has forwarded questions to State Minister for Municipality Affairs Mohamed Al-Jabri about the damages caused by Conocarpus trees. He said the Farmers Union had earlier released statements on the damages caused by Conocarpus trees which the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Affairs (PAAAFR) has opted to plant instead of trees which suit the harsh weather conditions in the country. He wants to know the reason behind planting Conocarpus trees instead of local trees along the streets and public places, procedures followed in selecting trees which will be planted in public areas, and why the authority has remained silent over studies proving that Conocarpus trees could damages adjacent structures. He also urged the authority to stop planting harmful trees and to replace them with local trees. Al-Anba daily photos Top: Abdul-Imam Abdullah and Ghadah Abdul-Razzak in one of the scenes in Ardh Jau, and (above) with Hassan Yousef in the drama series Qudhaat Odhomra Creators of Nawaiya prep 2nd part Not wrong to present life models in any artistic work: Abdul Imam KUWAIT CITY, July 4: Kuwaiti artiste Abdul Imam Abdullah said it is not shameful nor wrong to present life models in any artistic work, reports Al-Anba daily. Abdullah made the statement to the daily after a period of silence amidst the criticisms he faced for participating in the Egyptian Ramadan series entitled, Ard Jau (Land Air), along with Ghadah Abdul Razzak. His detractors accused him of distorting the image of the Gulf man. He stressed that he chooses his roles well, but spiteful and envious people despise the success of others so they spread baseless rumors. The creators of TV serial Nawaiya (Intentions) are now preparing the second part of the series after the first part was highly successful. The second part is written by Neuf Al-Mudaf starring Suad Abdullah, and directed by Mounir Zoubi and produced by the Sabah Pictures. The serial features a number of outstanding artists, including the talented artiste Sulaiman Al- Yassin, Intisar Al-Sharrah, Fatima Al-Safi, Amal Al-Awadhi, Fahad Al-Abd Al-Mohsen and Abdullah Al-Tararwa. A serial Nawaiya was initially named Shatush a beautiful story conveyed to us in a dramatic manner how the disparity in the class level affects people in the interrelations they weave in their daily lives or in the long term, in addition to the issue of social networking sites and how they managed to enter our lives.

5 LOCAL 5 Report reveals salaries in govt sector have gone up by KD 1.5b Paychecks constitute 22 pc of total expenditure Baskets of mullet fish (meid) waiting to be auctioned. Auction only after Asr prayers Ample supply of mullet fish in country: Al-Suyan By Abdulnasser Al-Aslami Al-Seyassah Staff Fierce fighting Continued from Page 1 just 250 meters (yards) from the Tigris River after retaking the city s main hospital compound the day before. He said the militants are increasingly resorting to suicide bombings, and he expects the fighting to get even heavier as they are pushed closer to the river. Iraqi forces slowed their advance on Tuesday through the last streets in Mosul controlled by Islamic State where militants and civilians are packed in densely together, a commander said. While Iraqi commanders predicted final victory in Mosul this week, USbacked Syrian Democratic Forces announced they had begun an assault on Islamic State s Syrian redoubt in the Old City of Raqqa. The Iraqi military has pushed insurgents into a shrinking rectangle no more than 300 by 500 metres beside the Tigris river in Mosul; but the resistance has been fierce. The Rapid Response Division, an elite Interior Ministry unit, called in air strikes just 50 metres away from their targets, and the fighting got close enough at one point for the militants to toss a hand grenade at the troops. It was from the pulpit of Mosul s medieval Grand al-nuri Mosque that, three years ago, leader Abu Bakr al-baghdadi declared a caliphate over parts of Iraq and Syria. Forces retook the mosque on Thursday, prompting Prime Minister Haider al-abadi to declare an end to the group s state of falsehood. The number of Islamic State militants fighting in Mosul, by far the biggest city it has ever controlled, has dwindled from thousands at the start of the US-backed offensive more than eight months ago to a couple of hundred now, according to the Iraqi military. A commander from the Rapid Response Division estimated more than 10,000 civilians remained trapped inside the area under militant control, including KUWAIT CITY, July 4: Chairman of Kuwait Fishermen Union Dhahar Al-Suyan has affirmed that there is an increase in supply of mullet fish (meid) amid the increase in demand for fish in the country. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Al- Suyan indicated the interest of consumers to buy fresh mullet fish in the mornings as was the case before. However, concerned state authorities are preventing sale until the auction time which is in the afternoon after Asr prayers. He revealed that mullet and sabour fish in the past were sold all day long in the yards without waiting to be auctioned, but the new regulation prohibits this, insisting on selling all fish in the auction after Asr prayers. Al-Suyan said consumers are wondering why the sale of fish is delayed to the auction after Asr prayers when fish are available in plenty in the yard of the fish market and they had gotten used to buying fish especially mullet fish any time they wanted. He affirmed that the areas where mullet fishing was allowed are east of Auha, Miskan, Failaka, and Boubyan islands mostly in eastern areas of the country where mullet fish are available in plenty. Al-Suyan called for allowing fishing in Kuwaiti Bay under supervision of Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) just like before. people brought from other areas as human shields. They are trapped with little food, water or medicine amid the Old City s maze of narrow alleyways, according to residents who have managed to escape. The presence of civilians has affected the troops advance a lot. The directions from the commander-in-chief of the armed forces are to advance slowly to preserve civilians lives and this is what we are doing, the officer said on state TV without being named. The area is small but the advance today is very good, relatively. He said the progress had also been slowed by a high number of improvised explosives planted in streets and buildings. A US-led international coalition is providing air and ground support to the offensive, which Iraq s army and counter-terrorism service are also fighting in a multi-pronged attack. With Mosul gone, the group s territory in Iraq will be limited to a few areas west and south of the city where some tens of thousands of civilians live. In neighbouring Syria, a US-backed coalition force said it had fired on two small sections of the historic Rafiqah Wall in the Old City of Raqqa, allowing them to overcome Islamic State defences. The portions targeted were 25-metre sections and will help preserve the remainder of the overall 2,500-meter wall, the coalition said in a statement. Iraqi authorities are planning a week of nationwide celebrations, to mark the end of the offensive, and Abadi is expected to visit Mosul to formally declare victory. With its territory shrinking fast, Islamic State has been stepping up suicide attacks in the parts of Mosul taken by Iraqi forces and elsewhere, including a camp for displaced people west of Baghdad on Sunday. Thousands of people have already fled the Old City this week, joining about 900,000 others, about half the city s prewar population, who have been displaced over months of grinding warfare. KUWAIT CITY, July 4: A report prepared by the technical team of the parliament s Budgets and Final Accounts Committee has revealed an expenditure increase of KD 3,343,767,305 from the government s budget allocated for the fiscal year of 2017/2018 compared to the final accounts for the fiscal year of 2015/2016, reports Al-Rai daily. The report, which was prepared based on the request of the committee s rapporteur MP Riyadh Al-Adsani, indicated that the total amount spent on salaries in the government sector, and contracts of the petroleum national company, subsidiaries and independent bodies for the current fiscal year 2017/2018 was KD 10,247,983,864, which is an increase of KD 1,693,367,569 (equivalent to almost $5 billion) compared to the 2015/2016 fiscal year. According to the report, these figures mean the salaries in the government sector and affiliated sectors have increased by almost KD1.5 billion. This does not take into account the pensions for retirees provided by the Public Institution of Social Security, the national manpower financial aid given by Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, and the students financial aid. The report concluded by revealing that salaries constitute 22 percent of the total government expenditure with an increase of about 2 percent compared to the last fiscal year. The estimated expenditure of the oil sector from the current budget has increased to KD 850 million compared to actual expenditure of the same kind in the last fiscal year. In his statement, MP Al-Adsani indicated that the economy index of the country and the financial data in the hands of the oversight bodies affirm that there are huge financial deviations in the data of the financial analyses of the government sector. These are not in line with the budgetary principles and the country s economic situation, especially amid the current low oil prices. He highlighted the fact that it has become necessary to strive towards increasing public revenues especially with the huge expenditure in provision of salaries. He added that matter should not be temporarily resolved, for instance by cutting subsidies and increasing charges of services which end up hurting families incomes especially of those with low income earners. Al-Adsani stressed, It is time to prepare a realistic applicable plan, which should be followed by a serious and futuristic perspective without squeezing the pockets of the people of Kuwait or increasing the charges of services offered to them. There should also be cooperation among various government bodies as well as coordination with Ministry of Finance in terms of spending. He indicated that, Nonadherence to the budget s constriction has hampered with several issues due to deficit in some budget items, misappropriation of funds and other violations in this regard. Masoud Al-Barazani poses with consuls of various Arab nations. Al-Barazani meets consuls of Kuwait, other Arab countries Head of Kurdistan region in Iraq, Masoud Al-Barazani, discussed with consuls of seven Arab countries including Kuwait, the future of Nineveh Governorate after crushing the so-called Islamic State (DAESH) in Mosul. A press statement from the regional leadership of Kurdistan revealed Al-Barazani met the consuls of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan and Palestine to talk about the latest developments in Iraq and the region. The statement added that the Arab diplomatic delegation congratulated Peshmerga forces for their victory over DAESH in the war against terrorism. Al-Barazani affirmed the battle is about to end, but the end of DAESH in Mosul does not mean the end of terrorism, stressing the importance of getting rid of all factors which led to the emergence and spread of terrorism. He elaborated on the decision of the people of Kurdistan to conduct a referendum on Sept 25 this year, indicating that Kurdistan s independence aims to foil attempts to revive confl icts and disputes in the region. The Iraqi Kurdistan region will hold a referendum to decide its destiny amid Iraqi and international calls to preserve unity on the land of Iraq and its people. Director of Public Relations and Media in the MoH Meshal Al-Enezi (center), with representatives of newspapers See Page 9 Egypt extends Continued from Page 1 it must be extended, Abdelaal told lawmakers. Apart from the three killed, 10 other policemen were wounded by the roadside explosion in the restive Sinai Peninsula, security and medical sources told Reuters. The blast hit an armoured vehicle as it drove by in the south of Arish, capital of North Sinai province, killing a lieutenant colonel of the central security forces and two of his men, the sources said. State television confirmed an officer and two conscripts had been killed but did not mention any wounded. There was no immediate comment from the interior ministry. Egypt is fighting an Islamist insurgency led by Islamic State in North Sinai, where hundreds of soldiers and police have been killed since 2013 when the military ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi after mass protests. Islamic State has also increasingly carried out attacks in the mainland on security forces and Coptic Christian civilians in recent months, killing around 100 Copts since December. The security sources said Islamic State fighters were most likely behind the attack and had detonated the bomb remotely as the armoured vehicle drove by. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

6 LOCAL 6 DIWANIYA A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION KUNA photo His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace Tuesday members of the Kuwait Trade Union Federation (KTUF). The meeting was attended by head of His Highness the Prime Minister s Diwan Sheikha Etimad Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. (KUNA) Cabinet s nod awaited to hike calls, services rates Some co-ops flouting prices: ministry KUWAIT CITY, July 4: The State Ministry for Services is waiting for the Cabinet and Ministry of Finance to approve the proposal to increase fees for international calls and some services offered by the ministry, reports Al-Anba daily quoting a reliable source. KUNA photo Kuwait s Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah and Serbian Minister of Culture Vladan Vuko Savljevic shaking hands after signing MoU for bilateral cooperation. News in Brief Artiste no more: Kuwait has lost one of the prominent artistes, Ahmed Al-Amer, the father of martyr Wafaa Al-Amer after a long struggle with illness, reports Annahar daily. The father of five was born in He worked as radio director and began his career as a monologist and then as actor and director on the radio. He also produced the second feature film The Silence directed by Hashim Mohammed starring Hayat Al Fahad. He also co-founded the Kuwaiti Theater Troupe. Ex-MP hospitalized: Former MP Abdullah Al-Naibari has been referred to the intensive care unit of the Amiri hospital, reports Al-Qabas daily. According to health sources Al- Naibari was rushed to the hospital after he complained of chest pain. His condition is believed to be stable. House on fire: Fire broke out in a According to the source, the services covered by the proposed fee increase include installation of telephones, caller ID, temporary and permanent disconnection. The source explained the ministry decided to increase the fees for ordinary, silver, bronze and gold lines after noticing they were manipulated by some employees. The source added the decision covers as well the licenses for machines, jet ski and marine-related matters under the jurisdiction of the ministry. Meanwhile, Ministry of Commerce and Industry has summoned officials in charge of three cooperative societies for investigations over claims that the three cooperative societies had increased the prices of vegetables and fruits compared to the cooperative societies in other areas, says Al-Seyassah. According to sources, the ministry s inspectors referred a report to the ministry along with evidences about the violation committed by the three cooperative societies in increasing the price without justification. Report They affirmed that the ministry will peruse the report it has received and will take legal actions against any cooperative society that intentionally hiked the prices of its commodities without any legal grounds. In another development, the Ministry of Finance recently issued a circular to ministries and State authorities, reiterating its call for using electronic stamps in all transactions and to stop using paper stamps before the end of this month, reports Al-Anba daily. In the circular, the Ministry of Finance pointed out that several ministries and governmental authorities including the ministries of Health, Interior and Justice are not using electronic stamps. The deadline for halting usage of paper stamps will be on Aug 1, A joint parliamentary report released by the Agriculture, Irrigation, Food Security, Animal Wealth, Economic and Local Administration committees in the Egyptian Parliament included an expression of gratitude for the KD 100,000 grant from Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), reports Al-Rai daily quoting a source from the Egyptian Parliament. Speaking to the daily, the source disclosed the grant will be used to finance the model organic agriculture technology project in the oil fields in North Sinai Governorate. He also expressed appreciation for the continuous support of KFAED and its positive impact on the implementation of local development projects. house in Farwaniya area. No casualties or major material losses were reported. In a press statement issued by Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD), the Public Relations and Media Department of KFSD revealed that firefighters from Farwaniya and Ardiya fire stations rushed to the location after the Control Room of KFSD received information about the house on fire in Farwaniya area. The firefighters extinguished the fire within a short time. The damages caused by the fire were small. Investigations have been launched to determine the cause of the fire. Present at the scene of the incident were officers from Ministry of Interior and paramedics. Hunt for two: Police are looking for two young women who appear in a video clip inside a car mixing energy drinks with gin, reports Al-Rai daily. The video clip has gone viral on the social media and police are said to have managed to identify one of the women. DAESH remnants remain threat Mosul a lesson for deviants THE military campaign to liberate Mosul in Iraq has been successful and ended in the collapse of the socalled State of Islamic Khelafat in Iraq, columnist, Professor at Kuwait University Political Science Department and former MP Dr Hassan Abdullah Jowhar wrote for Al-Jarida daily Tuesday. The Islamic State (IS) or the so-called DAESH was initially founded in Iraq before any other country and now this devilish plant has been uprooted. The Iraqis as an army and people through their victory against DAESH have not only purged their territories of this terrorist existence which was supported by mercenaries from everywhere on our planet, but through this victory have rendered distinguished services to both the Arab and Muslim worlds and the entire world. In other words, the curtain has fallen down of this ugly and fearful mask of the black legend that had been blown out of proportion at all levels the black legend and the alleged Khelafat along with its Ex- Communication Ideology and its criminal and brutal practices against humanity. The liberation of Mosul and the surmounting of the alleged State of DAESH came at an exorbitant cost paid by the Iraqis with the blood of their young martyrs in addition to the loss of their properties. The Iraqis fought DAESH alone while the world remained a mere spectator. Some countries in the world were even supporting DAESH. Not just that, some parties are staying away as the Iraqis celebrate the significant victory in question. Moreover, some parties are weeping because DAESH has been defeated in Iraq. Apart from the above, we found that some other parties still casting doubts on the victory, while others still wait to see what will happen in Iraq following the downfall of DAESH and breaking of its backbone in Iraq, particularly since we know that this organization is currently dying in Syria, blocked in Libya Jowhar almost defeated in Yemen. This faction has received a painful blow in the Sinai of Egypt and this means this faction will disappear sooner than later. As a matter of fact, the black experiment of DAESH through its brutal crimes and practices had shocked the world. We suggest this experiment should be subjected to deep study and scientific analysis because in spite of this organization s defeat (militarily) on the ground, it is needless to say the thought shall survive among its followers and sleeper cells and this means it is likely to resume its terrorist activities through individual operations from any other country. In other words, this organization is likely to target other countries which are politically fragile and victims of security vacuum in Asia and Africa and this means efforts to fight this blight must continue and these efforts should be besetting with vigilance and precaution during the coming days. Apart from the above, we suggest reviewing the grounds behind the appearance of DAESH and similar other extremist organizations and their spread among the youth, represent something very significant, particularly since we know that the associations and the repercussions of the so-called Arab Spring and the collapse of the political infrastructure in some of the Arab countries, could be deemed as one of the major reasons behind the appearance of the terrorist organizations. This is in addition to the fact the despotic and dictatorial regimes which were involved in corruption, backwardness and absence of freedoms can be held responsible for the appearance of these organizations. Meanwhile, we have observed that the black experiment of DAESH show some government and intellectual currents including some clerics had directly and indirectly exploited the extremist and deviate organizations for the sake of liquidating some political calculations with their opponents States or currents. Hence we suggest the Mosul experiment should constitute a lesson to be learnt by many people in order to avert the repetition of the same for the sake of the safety of the peoples and the survival of the nations. Also: I think anyone who closely follows up the course of the crisis between the boycott countries the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Kingdom of Bahrain and Egypt on one hand and Qatar on the other, will certainly observe the true desire of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad to heal the rift in the Gulf and solve the problem, columnist Abdurrahman Al-Awwad wrote for Al-Sabah daily Tuesday. In spite of the end of the grace period that was given by the boycott States to Qatar, HH the Amir, has requested these countries to extend period to 48 hours to receive the Qatari response to the demands put forward by the boycott countries and to give time for the good offices of HH the Amir to continue to find a way to narrow the differences between the two parties and achieve reconciliation. Here we don t like to tickle the emotions of any party or play on the strings of courtesy, but it is needless to say there are some who don t care for reconciliation between the two parties and there are others who prefer to remain as spectators in the hope of seeing these conflicts aggravating. But HH the Amir has set the best and unique example by his attempts for the sake of love, peace, tolerance, convergence and solidarity between the two parties. In other words, HH the Amir has spared no efforts to achieve reconciliation among them and this was evident through his insistence and determination to boost unity within the ranks and end all differences among them. This happens although HH the Amir is always busy with the affairs of his country. Given the above, HH the Amir rightly deserves the title of the Leader of Humanity. He deserves more than that because he is the leader of peace, the leader of love and the leader of solidarity. We seize the opportunity and wish prosperity for HH the Amir in terms of performing his pertinent task. In the meantime, we hope that the conflicting parties will end their disputes soon. In 1492, the concept of the world changed forever after the voyage of Christopher Columbus and the discovery of the American continent. It signified the discovery of a new world following restriction to the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa, Jassem Al- Rumaidhi wrote for Al-Nahar daily. The discovery led to large-scale exchange of animals, plants, culture, persons, infectious diseases and ideas between the native Americans and those from European countries, or between the new and ancient worlds. The terminology was used for the first time in a book titled Columbus Exchange written by an American historian Alfred Crosby in He was trying to explain the bio-geographic secret of the easy success of the Europeans in what is called the New Europeans North and South Americans, and Australia. Prior to the voyage, the ancient world did not know some plants, animals and diseases that came from the new world. Some of them are avocado, pepper, cashew, cocoa, beans, cotton, corn, papaya, pineapple, potato, strawberry, vanilla and tomato. It is a widespread wrong belief that the English word tomato originated from an Arabic word. In reality, Arabs knew tomato after its spread in the West following the discovery of the new world, just like many other plants. In summary, marriage of cultures and civilizations is beneficial and destructive at the same time. This is because things that are beneficial and destructive to an individual and nation could be obtained through such a marriage. We urge people to pick what can help build the country and religion, and drop the bad things, especially since the world has become like a small village due to ease in communication. The book titled Martyrs of Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque are Alive has been written in a noble and unique style using a noble pen by the distinguished educator and the mighty professor Sultan Hamoud Al- Matrouk. It is about the martyrs of Kuwait whose pure souls ascended to their Creator in the month of fasting in 2015 while in the state of prostration to Allah, Abdulmohsen Yousef Jamal wrote for Al-Qabas daily. The book contains images of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who rushed to the mosque after learning of the explosion. He came to the mosque without any care of the dangers that surrounded the place which was exploded by a malicious terrorist. The book explains the arrival of His Highness the Amir and how he was informed about the dangers of entering the mosque. However, the Amir refused to follow those warning, making his now-famous statement Those are my sons. This statement will remain in the history of Kuwait and the history of humanity. These words, echoed by human beings everywhere, are proof of the humanity of Kuwait, its ruler and its people. The author describes the incident and the related events. He presented biographies of each of the martyrs in order to remember them and for their memories to serve as an inspiration for the people of Kuwait and their generations throughout history. We express our deep gratitude to our distinguished professor Abu Bashar Sultan Hamoud Al-Matrouk for this humane masterpiece, which was crafted in a wonderful way. He has preserved a part of Kuwait s history, the sacrifice of its martyrs and the position of its humanitarian leader, as well as the rally of the people of Kuwait in solace with the families of the martyrs. Where is the bill on the so-called salary alternative strategy? Will it really be implemented if it were available? I doubt that very much. Will it solve the problem associated with salaries to which the government is yet to proffer a solution for several years now, Mishref Aqab wrote for Al-Shahed daily. We have been hearing about formation of committees to deal with negative aspects related to the salaries and wages schedule as well as the fiscal allowances at the government level for a very long time, but it is unfortunate that nothing has been done in that regard yet. Why didn t the government take necessary decisions at the right time and then decided to form a committee after a long time? The government sometimes claims paucity of funds, while saying at other times that the situation is perfect with excess funds, but fails to solve the salary problem. Will the salary alternative strategy solve the problem? I doubt it. Is it reasonable for a tiny country like Kuwait, which produces three million barrels of oil per day and has a population around 4 million, to be increasing salaries at about 25 percent and 12.5 percent for employees and retirees respectively? The crises facing humanity are not confined only to politics. The triangle of economy, media and politics needs to be understood. When you have a sound economy and influential media, it is natural that your policies will have an impact on the policies of others and that everyone gets their rights, Dr Turki Al-Azmi wrote for Al-Rai daily. What we see around us in the region is purely an economic conflict. The powerful forces are looking for control and dominance over our natural resources. Thus, with the distribution of roles on the basis of this common denominator, we end up becoming the losers. At local level, the passion of many of our people is to improve their financial situation and get rich by any means. Spare a moment on the social media; you will feel that the war is coming; compatriots are interested in outshining each other to a level that the channels have started to serve specific agendas. Each one is allocated a reward that differs from one person to another. This is only an intro and an overview of what is going on around us as well as the nature of the times we live in. However, the subject that I would like to ask is limited to the culprit or should I say the negligent side that has created the state in which we are living in. Is it the government or the parliament or we citizens? Information society is considered an economic and social system exploiting knowledge and information as the basic foundation. This issue pushes some people toward dividing the world based on knowledge, into knowledge and inventor society as against society that consumes the products of knowledge, Dr Ali Al- Za abie wrote for Al-Shahed daily. Despite commitment to knowledge is not a new phenomenon, it progresses along with human progression in various facets of life. The areas of human progression include scientific, industrial and cultural aspects. The need for progression increased significantly after the industrial revolution, seeing the associated massive developments in various areas and fields. Since the 90s, the world has been witness to fruitful and serious discussions concerning the best way of dealing with the advent of communication and information technology, especially as recent development indicates a new future at the level of material achievements and technological growth. Compiled by Zaki Taleb

7 LOCAL 7 Sunset at Al-Subbiya beach Jaber AbdulKhaliq KUNA Other Voices Kuwait lives in hearts Memories of Abu Nicola By Ahmad Al-Sarraf Our Lebanese friend, Abu Nicola, who has worked in Kuwait for many years, made good friendships, taught his children in Kuwaiti schools and received good treatment in the country s hospitals. Abu Nicola had to leave Kuwait when the country was invaded by Saddam Hussein s army, but returned after the liberation, worked for a while and returned to Lebanon after his retirement. Commenting on the recent attack on expatriate residents, Abu Nicola says, whenever he picks up a newspaper or a magazine, he sifts through the pages quickly and when he comes across any news about Kuwait, he leaves everything and takes time to read it in detail. Kuwait has been on his mind and conscience for thirty-five years, during which he acquired his identity and his family. He had the privilege of gaining vast experiences and he loved the country so much, that he even named his daughter Dana after the precious pearls of Kuwait. She and her sisters made friends with a lot of Kuwaitis and people of other nationalities. Mitri (Abu Nicola) says during their stay in Kuwait he remembers several nice incidents, including the day when his daughter Dana complained of severe pain in her ear. Since he was not in Kuwait at that time, his wife took the daughter to their Kuwaiti neighbor Masoumah to take her to a government clinic because his family doctor did not work on Fridays. Masoumah obliged and took Dana to the clinic in Daiya. At the clinic, Masoumah registered Dana under the name of her father Abdulrahman to overcome any complication. News in Brief Heart kills kid: A Kuwaiti child (oneyear old) suffered a convulsion and passed away in Jahra Hospital, says Al-Seyassah. Apparently, the father noticed the condition of his child and rushed him to a neighboring clinic where doctors examined him and said the heart had stopped. The child was declared dead after he had been referred via ambulance to the Intensive Care Unit of Jahra. Criminal Evidences Men were notified and the body was referred to Forensics to determine the cause of death. Poet threatened: Police are looking for an unidentified person for threatening to kill a poet, identified only as G.H., reports Al-Anba daily. The suspect is said to have sent the poet the picture of a Kalashnikov rifle via the Snapchat. The message has been handed over to the e-crimes department of the Ministry of Al-Sarraf The daughter and the mother visited the doctor on duty that was Iraqi. He checked Dana and alleviated her pain and brought back the smile on the girl s face. Dana began talking with the doctor and mentioned the arrival of Santa Claus and the gifts he will bring for her. The mention of Santa surprised the doctor and he was obviously unhappy. He protested to the mother, Masoumah who is Muslim, for teaching her children alien beliefs and traditions. How Santa enters your house with gifts?, he asked her. Masoumah found a way out and told the doctor she was influenced by her friends at a foreign school and promised to keep an eye on the child. This happened as the real mother watched in silence because her main concern was the pain of her daughter and was not in a mood to get involved in controversies. When they came out of the clinic, Masoumah said to Dana: Oh, Dana, you have a big tongue, what do you want Santa Claus for? However, after realizing what she had just said, she changed the topic and said to Dana s mother, I wonder if this man is a physician or a preacher. The reason why I write this is because many people who worked among us have left Kuwait forever. Their hearts are filled either with agony for leaving the place they loved or wasting their time in a place where they were not respected as a human being. It is therefore our responsibility to make the stay of expatriates among us more pleasant so that they keep with them the good memories of Kuwaitis and Kuwait. habibi.enta1@gmail.com Interior. Fire in building: Firemen evacuated 80 tenants and extinguished a fire that broke out in the sixth floor of a building in Hawalli area. The cause of fire wasn t immediately known, says Al-Seyassah. A fire source said the Fire Operations Room received information about the incident and deployed a team of firemen accompanied by securitymen and paramedics to the scene. The officers successfully evacuated the building and put out the fire without recording any human casualty. A case was registered to determine the cause of fire. 5 sheep stolen: Police are looking for unidentified person for stealing 5 sheep from the livestock pen of a Kuwaiti, reports Al-Anba daily. Kuwait reiterates commitment to protection of human rights KUWAIT CITY, July 4, (Agencies): Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah underlined on Tuesday Kuwait s firm commitment to human rights principles and laws, saying that discrimination has no place in the country. As he received the Chief of the International Organization for Migration s (IOM) mission in Kuwait Iman Ereiqat, Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah said that the Ministry of Interior (MoI) enjoys a close rapport with the UN and other global human rights organizations, read a statement by MoI. Meanwhile, Ereiqat noted that Kuwait s support of the IOM and the country s humanitarian deeds were appreciated, the statement added. Elsewhere, Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah met with Tunisia s Ambassador to Kuwait Ahmad bin Saghir, as talks centered on Kuwait s special ties with the North African nation. Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and State Minister for Economic Affairs Hind Al-Sabeeh revealed that the number of people with special needs who receive monthly allowances is 16,778, reports Al-Wasat daily. She also revealed that the number of cases related to individuals who claim disability reached 240, adding that these individuals have been referred to Public Prosecution over suspicious on forgery. Minister Al-Sabeeh went on to say the number of cases filed against the Public Authority for the Disabled reached 1,096, and 45 verdicts have been issued against the authority for giving out disability certificates or proof of disability certificates and for changing level of disability. In response to a question presented by MP Omar Al-Tabtabaie, the minister affirmed that people suffering from Alzheimer s disease fall under the category of people with special needs, as per the clause of physical disability in Law No. 8/2010. The Islam Presentation Committee (IPC) is keen on introducing Islam, as well as the traditions and customs of the Kuwaiti Muslim society to more than 750,000 non-muslims residing in the country, reports Al-Rai daily quoting IPC Director Eng Abdulaziz Al-Duaij. Al-Duaij stressed the success of IPC is manifested in the large number of converts who became clergymen in their countries. He affirmed the committee s approach is moderate as it is done through wise and 16,778 people with special needs receive allowance KUNA photo Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah receives Chief of IOM in Kuwait Iman Ereiqat. positive manner of preaching. Role distorted : MP Dr Waleed Al-Tabtabaei has expressed surprise at the campaign that has been launched to distort the role of Kuwaitis in supporting the rights of the Syrians, reports Al-Rai daily. Al-Tabtabaei said the campaign is aimed at tarnishing his reputation because the campaigners portray him as supporter of armed struggle and other illegal issues. At the same time, Al-Tabtabaei Child beaten, phone stolen Fake cop steals KD 1,000 from Iranian By Munaif Nayef Al-Seyassah Staff KUWAIT CITY, July 4: A person disguised as a securityman and driving a Prado intercepted an Iranian expatriate, assaulted him and stole KD 1,000. He fled the scene immediately after the incident. The victim lodged a complaint with officers at the Sulaibiya police station and said the accused, who had with him a pair of handcuffs, ordered him to show his identification document. The accused then dragged him to the Prado, stole the aforementioned sum, and fled the scene. A case was registered. Child s phone stolen: Police are looking for a Kuwaiti citizen in his 20s who beat a juvenile in Quosur area and stole his mobile, and later sold the device to a shop in Mangaf area. A security source said father of the juvenile accompanied his son to the area police station and reported the incident. An Asian expatriate answered when the officers called the line, and he confirmed working at a mobile phone shop. He explained a citizen had sold the phone to him, and provided his details. In the meantime, owner of the shop was summoned to the police station and asked to bring civil ID copy of the suspect. A case was registered against him. Meanwhile, a Kuwaiti citizen filed a case against a person who broke the glass of his vehicle in Shaab area and stole KD 300. Fingerprint was lifted to trail the suspect. Man assaults wife: A Kuwaiti lady accused a female compatriot of verbally abusing her in Rumaithiya area, reports Al-Seyassah daily. The complainant told officers at the Rumaithiya police station that a 40-year old Kuwaiti lady she knows had verbally abused her on the road in front of passersby. The accused reportedly declined invitation to the police station for questioning. Meanwhile, a Lebanese lady lodged a complaint against her husband in Hawalli police station and accused him of beating her. She presented medical report to support her claim. stressed he was one of the first persons to confront the Al-Nusra Front and DAESH and reject their ideologies. A masked Tunisian claimed on one of the satellite channels that I had provided his extremist group in Syria with weapons, Al-Tabtabaei said. He added the Tunisian denied the authenticity of the interview and said the interview is a fake and that he did it under duress. Teacher sacked: One of the university professors has been terminated from work because he was allegedly delivering lectures when he was abnormal, reports Al-Shahed daily. It has been reported no one complained about the professor in the belief he was sick or was suffering from psychological problems. However, when the students could take it no more they complained and when the administration opened an investigation into the complaint, it was found he was delivering lectures under the influence of alcohol.

8 LOCAL 8 Any expat caught collecting donations faces deportation 60-year-old Egyptian deported for molesting children KUWAIT CITY, July 4: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor said any expatriate who is caught collecting donations without the approval of the concerned authorities, will be deported from the country, reports Al-Shahed daily. The daily added, the citizens who are caught for the same offence will have security restriction slapped on them. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor is said to have shared its Fire drill at Khaitan health center Top and above: Pictures taken during the drill. Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD) carried out a drill exercise at Manahi Al-Osaimi Health Center in Khaitan area recently. The drill was aimed at determining the preparedness of the center for dealing with emergency situations as well as for training employees on the evacuation procedures. The evacuation process did not concern in this regard with the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs especially after it was discovered some mosques collected donations illegally. Sources added in spite of laws and regulations being in place, illegal donations continue in the name of sending relief to affected areas, construction of mosques and wells, etc. The Ministry pointed out a committee has been formed comprising personnel from the ministries of Social Affairs and Labor, Awqaf and Interior and the Kuwait Municipality. The committee is expected to begin work in all governorates particularly by monitoring mosques and industrial areas which are outside the scope of monitoring role. Child molester: Police have arrested and deported an unidentified Egyptian who is believed to be in his 60s for molesting children inside a commercial complex in Farwaniya, reports Al-Rai daily. A security source said the man was arrested after the security guards of the complex suspected him because they saw him talking to the children and taking them to isolated spots and molesting them. The guards then checked the CCTV footage and when they were convinced of his acts, they provided the footage to the police. When police arrested the man, he denied the allegations but when he was shown the CCTV footage, he admitted to the charge. Since no complaints had been filed by the families of the children, the authorities decided to deport him. exceed four minutes. The drill exercise was conducted by firefighters from Farwaniya Fire Station Division C led by Lieutenant Colonel Khaled Kanaan. Bedoun electrocuted in pool Customs seizes drug pills at airport By Munaif Nayef Al-Seyassah staff KUWAIT CITY, July 4: Customs officers at Kuwait airport arrested an Arab expatriate who tried to smuggle into the country 200 Tramadol pills carefully hidden inside small medicine containers. A security source said the officers aroused suspicion of the Arab while checking his luggage upon arrival from an unnamed Arab country. He was found in possession of 200 Tramadol pills concealed in medicine containers, which he intended to sell to customers here. Meanwhile, officers from the Public Security Sector apprehended a citizen in Farwaniya area in possession of illicit pills Capti, Shabu and tools for administering drugs. He was referred with the items to the General Department for Drug Control. Also, security operatives arrested a Kuwaiti citizen in Salmiya area under the influence of drugs. The suspect who was found sleeping on the ground kept repeating unintelligible words on his arrest. He was referred to concerned authorities. Bedoun killed: A 15-year old Bedoun was electrocuted while swimming in a pool at a livestock pen in Jahra area. The victim was killed by electric shock when power cable made contact with the pool. A security source said the Operations Room of the Interior Ministry deployed a team of rescue men to the scene after receiving report about the incident. The lifeless body of the youth was seen floating in the pool upon their arrival. Criminal Evidences Men arrived at the scene and necessary measures were taken to refer the body to Forensics. A case was registered. Massage parlours: The Joint Committee of the Council of Ministers, in cooperation with the Vice Squad of the Ministry of Interior launched campaigns in six health institutes that offer massage services in contradiction of religious and social values and arrested 25 Asian cross-dressers and transvestites, reports Al-Anba daily. The daily quoting security sources said these massage parlors were put under surveillance by the Committee for a considerable period of time. The committee learned the parlors were employing homosexuals and lesbians who were engaging in physiotherapy and providing massage for between KD 10 and 15 depending on the quality of the service. The campaigns started at 10:00 pm last Friday and ended at 04:00 am on Saturday. Swindler held: Police have arrested a GCC citizen for swindling three young women by promising to marry them and robbing them of KD 40,000, reports Al-Rai daily. According to security sources the suspect befriended the three women on different occasions in the social media and claimed his aged father was facing hard times financially. Through one of the women, he managed to get a bank loan of KD 20,000, second helped with KD 15,000 and the third KD 5,000. They discovered that they had been cheated when he not only ignored to answer their calls but started blackmailing them. The women then filed complaints at Sa ad Al-Abdulla, Jahra, and Farwaniya Police Stations. The fraudster is said to have admitted to committing the crimes. He also said he spent all the money on pleasure. Drunkard caught: The Mubarak Al-Kabir police have arrested a Kuwaiti for consuming alcohol, reports Al-Rai daily. In a strange incident, the drunkard at a traffic light near one of the intersections between Al-Qurain and Mubarak al-kabir got out of his car carrying a sharp tool and tried to remove the car plate number of the car of an Asian. The Asian tried to move but when the Kuwaiti threatened him, he called the Operations Room of the Interior Ministry. Police found the Kuwaiti was high on alcohol. He has been detained at a police station. Court Cases News in Brief Fight in hospital: A doctor with a male nurse engaged two officers working at the Public Relations Department of Sabah Hospital in a quarrel when the doctor prevented them from using a restroom designated for doctors, says Al-Seyassah. A security source said the two officers were denied access to the restroom by the Kuwaiti doctor and incited an argument, which later developed to exchange of blows between the two parties. Passersby are said to have settled the issue before the arrival of security operatives. Members of the feuding parties were taken to Shuwaikh police, and a case was registered for investigation. Woman assaulted: Police have arrested a bedoun for assaulting a former female artiste and TV presenter inside a stable, reports Al-Anba daily. A security source said the arrest came after the woman called the Operations Room of the Interior Ministry. When police rushed to the spot, they Man absolved in fraud Court acquits police officers accused of beating citizen By Jaber Al-Hamoud Al-Seyassah Staff KUWAIT CITY, July 4: The Misdemeanor Court acquitted three police officers who were accused of insulting and beating a citizen when issuing a traffic citation against him. The court instead ordered the citizen to pay a fine of KD 500 for offending and attacking securitymen while they were performing their duty. According to the case file, a traffic officer was on routine patrol when he spotted the citizen driving his vehicle recklessly. The officer stopped the motorist for issuing a citation over the traffic violation. However, the motorist, during discussions Al-Khabbaz with the officer, punched the officer on his face when the latter issued the traffic citation. The officer immediately called for reinforcement. The officer of the first reinforcement patrol attempted to calm the raging citizen when he arrived at the scene. When the second reinforcement team of two police officers came by, the citizen pulled out a knife from his pocket and tried to attack the arresting officer. He was stopped by the other officers but one of the officers was unfortunately injured in the process. A medical report was later obtained which confirmed the injury. The officers managed to control the citizen and they took him to police station where he was detained for investigations. The citizen then lodged a complaint against the officers, accusing them of offending him and beating him during the arrest. The officers were referred to court. The defense counsel Lawyer Zayed Al-Khabbaz who represented the officers insisted that the statements of the plaintiff were contradicting and not in line with the reality of the incident as per the incident report. Man absolved: The Court of Appeals has nullified the verdict of First Instance Court that sentenced a Kuwaiti man to one year in prison with hard labor on the accusation of falsifying KD 4,740 cheque (the value of perfume and incense sales). The appellate court thereby acquitted the suspect and cleared him of all charges. Earlier, the Public Prosecution Department accused the suspect of falsifying an official document to deceive people by signing a cheque without authorization from the company owner. The man, an ex-convict who just completed a five-year prison term for theft, flawlessly signed the cheque with bad intention and made it valid for withdrawal at a local bank in favor of a commercial company, said the prosecution officer. In his defense, Lawyer Esmat Al-Kharboutli argued the law was applied in error due to misleading information and insufficient circumstantial evidence. She affirmed her client was wrongly accused since he didn t benefit from it. She urged the court to strike out the case to declare her client innocent. Case adjourned: The Criminal Court has adjourned to October 3 the hearing of the testimonies of witnesses in the case filed against former MPs Musallam Al-Barrak, Mubarak Al-Walaan and Salem Al-Namlan, and activist Abbas Al- Sha abi who are accused of offending the king of Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The Public Prosecution had charged them with the spread of false news concerning the internal situation of the country with the aim of harming the national welfare of the country. It accused Musallam Al-Barrak of falsely claiming during an interview in a French satellite TV channel that there are about 3,500 military officers from Jordan in the country. All suspects were also accused of participating in an unlicensed gathering and disobeying police orders to disperse. All the suspects had denied the charges leveled against them. Weapons found buried in the Mutla a desert. Ammo delays construction project By Abdulnasser Al-Aslami Al-Seyassah Staff A large quantity of explosives, weapons and hand grenades was discovered buried at the site of the South Mutla a Housing Project. According to the Head of South Mutla a Volunteering Residents Committee Khalid Al-Enezi, the China Gezhouba Group Company Limited is responsible for the infrastructure design, construction and maintenance of the South Mutla a Housing City. During digging operations at the site by the workers of the company, a number of explosives, weapons and hand grenades were discovered underground at different depths. Ministry of Interior was immediately notified about the discovery of the weapons. Operations at the site have been suspended until Ministry of Interior takes necessary measures in this regard and grants permission to resume the operations after confirming absence of danger to the lives of the laborers working at the site. This will delay the implementation of the project and create a problem for the concerned company. Considering the above, Al-Enezi urged the concerned authorities to take necessary actions urgently to clear the area of all types of explosives and weapons so that the lives of the employees are not at risk and the company can resume operations without further delay. discovered the bedoun was wanted by law and had been sentenced to six months imprisonment in another crime and was also wanted by law in a case of arson. The complainant is said to have submitted a medical report to substantiate her claim. In the meantime, police are investigating the relationship between the bedoun and the artiste and what she was doing at the stable at the time of assault. Stuck at border: Technical error in the computer at the Salmi border checkpoint resulted in vehicular traffic as the activities were brought to a standstill for a period, but officers endeavored to resolve the problem within one hour, says Al-Seyassah. In reaction to photos circulated by bloggers on social media regarding the incident that brought the activities of Salmi checkpoint to a halt for almost an hour, a security source told Al-Seyassah the error was fixed within one hour to facilitate procedures for passengers.

9 LOCAL/GULF 9 1,300 people die in two months Cholera epidemic in Yemen serious threat to Hajj pilgrims KUWAIT CITY, July 4: Health experts from the Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK (ABH), a national Hajj specific organisation, express their grave concern of the rapidly spreading cholera outbreak in Yemen which has exceeded 200,000 suspected cases, increasing at an average of 5,000 a day. The world is now facing the worst cholera outbreak ever. In just two months, due to this cholera outbreak, more than 1,300 people have died a substantial number of them being children and the death toll is expected to rise. The Hajj pilgrimage is round the corner and pilgrims from Yemen will be joining over 2 million pilgrims from around the world in Makkah, Saudi Arabia in order to perform their pilgrimage in few weeks time. Health experts from ABH strongly urge the prospective Hajj/Umrah pilgrims and the relevant health authorities around the world to take this issue seriously and make every effort in order to not only to protect the pilgrims, but also to eliminate the risk of the spread of these deadly infectious diseases worldwide, once the pilgrims return back to their countries. It is extremely vital that the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO) regarding measures for the prevention of cholera should be strictly implemented. Every effort should be made towards health education and good food hygiene practice. Prospective Hajj pilgrims should be reminded of basic hygienic behaviours, including the necessity of systematic hand-washing with soap after defecation and before handling food or eating, as well as safe preparation and preservation of food. Electronic media and media should be involved in disseminating health education messages. All the concerned authorities are also strongly urged to contribute towards the social mobilization of this awareness campaign. Hajj pilgrims have always been at high risk of contracting infectious diseases including meningitis, MERS Coronavirus due to their close proximity with millions of people from around the world. Prolonged contact with infected individuals within confined space eg sneezing and coughing on someone or sharing an affected person s used utensil, facilitates the spread of deadly infectious diseases, which are transmitted by direct person-to-person contact via droplets of nasal or throat secretions as well as blood and body fluids of infected individuals, warn health experts from Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK. The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has launched a $500 million fund for science, technology and innovation. The IDB board members approved the establishment of the fund in their meeting in the Saudi city of Jeddah today. In statements to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the IDB Board Chairman Bandar Al-Hajjar noted that the fund would finance scientific programs and the application of scientific innovations in development projects in member states. He added the fund aims to foster innovation and scientific advancement in the member states. Qatar, isolated by its neighbours plans to boost gas output by 30% Firemen evacuated 80 tenants and extinguished a fi re that broke out in the sixth fl oor of a building in Hawalli area. The cause of fi re wasn t immediately known. See Page 8 Most do not have security solution Smart devices hit by malware more than double this year DUBAI, July 4: The total number of malware samples targeting smart devices has reached more than 7,000, with over half of these emerging in 2017, according Kaspersky Lab s researchers. With over 6 billion smart devices being used across the globe, people are increasingly being put at risk from malware targeting their connected lives. Smart devices such as smartwatches, smart TVs, routers, and cameras are connecting to each other and building the growing Internet of Things (IoT) phenomenon, a network of devices equipped with embedded technology that allows them to interact with each other or the external environment. Because of the large number and variety of devices, the IoT has become an attractive target for cybercriminals. By successfully hacking IoT devices criminals are able to spy on people, blackmail them, and even discreetly make them their partners in crime. What s worse, botnets such as Mirai and Hajime have indicated that the threat is on the rise. Kaspersky Lab s experts have conducted research into IoT malware to examine how serious the risk is. They have set up honeypots artificial networks, which simulate the networks of different IoT devices (routers, connected cameras etc.) to observe malware attempting to attack their virtual devices. They did not have to wait long attacks using known and previously unknown malicious samples started almost immediately after the honeypot was set up. Most of the attacks registered by the company s experts targeted digital video recorders or IP cameras (63%), and 20% of hits were against network devices, including routers, and DSL modems, etc. About 1% of targets were people s most common devices, like printers and smart home devices. China (17%), Vietnam (15%), and Russia (8%) emerged as the top-3 countries with attacked IoT devices, each presenting a large number of the infected machines. Brazil, Turkey and Taiwan all at 7%, follow. To date during this ongoing experiment, researchers have been able to collect information about more than seven thousand malware samples designed specifically to hack connected devices. According to experts, the reason behind the rise is simple: the IoT is fragile and exposed in the face of cybercriminals. The vast majority of smart devices are running operating systems based on Linux, making attacks on them easier because criminals can write generic malicious code that targets a huge number of devices simultaneously. What makes the issue dangerous is its potential reach. According to industry experts, there are already more than 6 billion smart devices across the globe. Most of them do not even have a security solution and their manufacturers usually do not produce any security updates or new firmware. This means there are millions and millions of potentially vulnerable devices or maybe even devices that have been already compromised. The issue of smart device security is serious, and one that we should all be aware of. Last year showed that it is not just possible to target connected devices, but that this is a very real threat. We have seen a huge increase in IoT malware samples, but the potential is even greater. Apparently, high competition in the market of DDoS attacks is pushing attackers to search for new resources that will help them make increasingly powerful attacks. Botnet Mirai demonstrated that smart devices can give cybercriminals what they need, with the number of devices they can target now reaching billions. Various analysts have predicted that by 2020, this could grow to billion devices, said Vladimir Kuskov, security expert, Kaspersky Lab. In order to protect your devices, Kaspersky Lab security experts advise the following: If you don t need to, do not access your device from an external network Disable all network services you don t need to use the device If there is a standard or universal password that cannot be changed, or the preset account cannot be deactivated, disable the network services in which they are used, or close access to external networks Before using the device, change the default password, and set a new one Regularly update the device s firmware to the latest version if possible. To learn more about IoT attacks, please read the blog post available at Securelist.com. QP says plans legal action against ADNOC DOHA, July 4, (Agencies): Energy-rich Qatar said Tuesday it plans to increase natural gas production by 30 percent over the next several years, as it faces pressure from its neighbours in a diplomatic crisis. State-owned Qatar Petroleum said it would go ahead with the output boost regardless of whether or not Saudi Arabia and its allies maintain a sweeping embargo they imposed last month. The company s head, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, said the emirate intends to raise production to 100 million tonnes a year by 2024 by doubling the size of a project in the world s largest gas field. We will increase our energy production capacity from 77 million tonnes per annum to 100 million tonnes per annum, which represents a 30 per cent increase which will start five to seven years from now, he told reporters. Qatar is already the world s biggest producer of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Kaabi said the decision to expand production by the equivalent of six million barrels of oil per day would cement the country s position as a world leader in the gas industry. Qatar Petroleum had already said in April that it was lifting a self-imposed ban on development in the huge offshore North Field, which it shares with Iran and where the additional output will come from. The timing of the latest announcement is likely to be seen as as much political as economic as Qatar is locked in the Gulf s worst diplomatic crisis in years. On Monday, the emirate gave its response to a 13-point list of demands its neighbours made for lifting their sanctions. Kaabi said Qatar wanted the production increase to be carried out through a joint venture with international companies. But he added that the emirate would still go ahead with it even if Saudi Arabia and its allies made good on their threat to sanction any international firm working with Qatar if it failed to meet their demands. We have absolutely no fear of having the embargo in place, he said. Regarding the... possibility of embargo countries asking some of the international companies or contractors not to work with us, we absolutely do not have any issue with that. The companies that choose not to work with us that s fine, that s their choice. If we run out of companies that will join us... if there are no companies willing to work with us, we will go to 100 million, 100 percent. One of the richest countries in the world, Qatar s vast wealth has largely been built on gas production. In 1997, when its first shipment of LNG sailed to Japan, Qatar s exports were valued at around $5 billion. That figure had reached $125 billion by 2014, according to trade data site the Observatory of Economic Complexity. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) said on Tuesday it has told Qatar Petroleum that there was no force majeure imposed on condensate shipments from Doha, and that it will deal with two remaining contracted cargoes. ADNOC has made arrangements to handle the two remaining cargos in question, and has communicated to Qatar Petroleum that no state of force majeure exists, an ADNOC spokesman told Reuters. Qatar Petroleum supplies AD- NOC with condensate, a very light crude oil which is a by-product of gas production, under oneyear contracts that began in June 2016, the spokesman said. Photos from the orientation proghrame Dr Ajmi says higher education life wonderful KU holds orientation seminar for new students KUWAIT CITY, July 4: Under the patronage of the Dean of Student Affairs at Kuwait University Dr Ali Yusuf Al-Nami, the university branch of the National Union of Kuwaiti Students (NUKS), in collaboration with the Department of Academic Guidance affiliated to the Student Affairs Deanship, organized an orientation and guidance exhibition and a meeting with the new students. Assistant Dean for Student Activities at the Deanship of Student Affairs Dr Thiqil Al-Ajmi welcomed the students and congratulated them of receiving admission in Kuwait University. He described the life of higher education as wonderful, as students have been looking forward to reaching that new stage of academic life, which is considered as a bridge that leads to another social life. Present at the exhibition were representatives of the Office of Academic Guidance and other departments affiliated to the Deanship of Student Affairs. They promote communication and deepen the relations between the students and concerned personnel of the Office of Academic Guidance. They provide necessary information to the students concerning their academic course and follow up on their academic needs. During the meeting, the concerned officials explained the rules and regulations governing student life Ministry plans 38 conferences, 20 workshops MoH sets aside KD 2.1m to hold confabs By Marwa Al-Bahrawi Al-Seyassah Staff KUWAIT CITY, July 4: Director of Public Relations and Media in the Ministry of Health Meshal Al-Enezi revealed the sector has set aside KD 2.1 million in the current fi scal year s budget to organize conferences and workshops. Al-Enezi made the disclosure at a recent meeting with the representatives of newspapers and other media outfi ts in the country. He said the ministry is planning to organize 38 conferences and 20 workshops within the fi scal year, and each of them may gulp about KD 50,000 (KD 15,000 below the previous years ) while a workshop may cost KD 10,000. He seized the opportunity to announce an unprecedented idea by which headquarters of the Public Relations and Media Department will be connected to all public relations offices in the hospitals and other departments in the coming weeks. He stated training courses will be organized inside and outside the ministry to improve staff performance and boost their skills. in the university, which the students should familiarize themselves with. Citizens bemoaned that KD 50 million has been blown away by the flying gravel, as they feel Ministry of Public Works did very little to solve the flying gravel crisis on the roads of the country, reports Al- Shahed daily. They lamented about the negligence and lack of monitoring on the execution of road projects despite promises made by Minister of Public Works Abdulrahman Al-Mutawa to deal with this crisis appropriately. They explained that Ministry of Finance had allocated KD 50 million for the maintenance of roads but the Road Maintenance Sector failed to fix the affected roads. In fact, the number of affected roads has doubled after last winter season, which has led to recurrence of loose gravels on Kuwaiti roads. They insisted that any delays in carrying out urgent maintenance of the affected roads will complicate the problem as the country will incur huge losses. They stressed the need to hold accountable the contractors responsible for repairing the affected roads as well as referring the negligent officials of the ministry to investigations. QP s chief executive said earlier that the company plans to take legal action against ADNOC after the latter invoked a force majeure clause on condensate shipments. Kaabi said Qatar Petroleum will not shut the Dolphin pipeline that delivers natural gas to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but if the crisis with Gulf states escalated Qatari authorities would have the right to do so. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain severed diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar, the world s top seller of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), accusing it of supporting terrorism. Doha denies the accusation. The four Arab states will meet on Wednesday to discuss whether to end the crisis or impose further sanctions on Qatar. Furthermore, Qatar s Central Bank said on Tuesday it had sold 1 billion riyals ($275 million) of Treasury bills in its monthly auction, with yields rising sharply from the previous month s sale. It sold 500 million riyals of three-month bills at a yield of 2.05 percent, 300 million riyals of six-month at 2.22 percent and 200 million riyals of nine-month at 2.50 percent. At the previous sale, the central bank sold 690 million riyals of bills: 300 million riyals of threemonth at 1.85 percent, 200 million riyals of six-month at 2.05 percent, and 190 million riyals of nine-month at 2.18 percent. A central bank source had told Reuters early this week that the bill auction was being suspended this month. There was no immediate explanation of why plans apparently changed.

10 INTERNATIONAL 10 World News Roundup Independence Day Music honors heroes Trump tweets provocative partisan song for 4th of July WASHINGTON, July 4, (Agencies): Americans celebrate Independence Day on Tuesday, and to mark the occasion President Donald Trump tweeted a partisan video clip of a church choir singing a song based on his campaign slogan. Make America great again / Lift the torch of freedom all across the land / Step into the future joining hand in hand / And make America great again, sings the choir of the First Baptist Church, a megachurch in Dallas, Texas. The 2:15 Trump clip was taken from Saturday s Celebrate Freedom Rally at the Kennedy Center in the US capital. Your music honors our heroes more eloquently than words could ever do, Trump said at the rally. The church is led by pro- Trump supporter Robert Jeffress, who was at the event. Christian conservatives living in deep red states like Texas are among Trump s staunchest supporters. At least one self-described evangelical Christian took exception with the song. Pledging allegiance to God and to America in the same breath, melding together the kingdom of God and self, they pray a blasphemous prayer to a red, white and blue Jesus, said Jonathan Aigner, a Methodist director of music ministries. Writing in Patheos, a website discussing faith issues, Aigner dismissed Jeffress as a presidential lapdog, and decried how tragically this prayer cancels out the prayer of Jesus himself. Meanwhile, Americans were celebrating their country s birthday Tuesday with big-time fireworks, small-town parades and the quirky spectacle of competitive hot dog eating, marking a day of shared traditions in a nation that has grappled with divides this past year. In New York, throngs were expected to watch the annual Macy s fireworks blowout and the Nathan s Famous frankfurter-chomping contest on Coney Island on July Fourth. In Washington, President Donald Trump is observing his first Independence Day in office by hosting a White House picnic for military families, followed by a fireworks viewing event for military families and staffers. In Boston, one of 14 original copies of the Declaration of Independence will be displayed at a museum, and hundreds of thousands of people are expected at the city s fireworks show. Organizers of Chicago s Independence Day celebration are expecting such large crowds that the city s Navy Pier is opening at 10 a.m., nearly 12 hours before fireworks begin. Meanwhile, more than 15,000 new citizens were to be sworn in during more than 65 Independence Day-themed naturalization ceremonies across the country. For all the pomp and celebration, July 4 arrives with Americans deeply split over the nation s direction, after last year s presidential election and political clashes over immigration, health care and other issues in the early months of Trump s Republican administration. And in an era of concerns about security, the Independence Day celebrations are mixed with precautions. The New York Police Department planned to station 100 vehicles to block intersections and 20 sand-filled sanitation trucks to fortify viewing areas for the Macy s fireworks show. Heavily armed counterterrorism units will mingle among spectators, officers will have portable radiation detection devices and bombsniffing dogs, and officers will be stationed on rooftops to look out for any sign of trouble. Children sing along during a rehearsal for the annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on the Esplanade on July 3, in Boston. (AP) America Gun law change illegal : A Miami judge on Monday struck down as unconstitutional an amendment to Florida s stand your ground gun law on the use of lethal force in cases of self-defense, in a victory for gun control advocates and prosecutors. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Milton Hirsch ruled on procedural grounds, saying the change to the law by the state legislature was illegal and had to be done rather by the Florida Supreme Court. As passed in 2005, the law gave people in Florida the right to use lethal force to defend themselves if they felt their lives were under threat. It was up to the defendants to prove they were acting in self defense. The law was at the center of a case that drew national attention when a neighborhood watchman named George Zimmerman shot and killed an unarmed black teen named Trayvon Martin during an altercation in Zimmerman was acquitted at trial on self defense grounds. Under the amendment to the law, which was passed in May, a preliminary hearing must be held at which it became the responsibility of prosecutors to disprove defendants claims of self defense -- not the other way round, as it had been. And if the prosecutors failed, there would be no trial. Prosecutors argued that under the amended law they basically had to try cases twice. In his 14-page ruling the judge said this amendment meant effectively that some defendants would never go to trial. The amendment to the law had been backed by the America s powerful gun lobby, the National Rifle Association. (AFP) Facebook fights gag order: Facebook Inc is challenging a gag order from a US court that is preventing the company from talking about three government search warrants that it said pose a threat to freedom of speech, according to court documents. Facebook said it wants to notify three users about the search warrants seeking their communications and information and also give those users an opportunity to object to the warrants, according to a filing in a Washington, D.C., appeals court seen by Reuters. We believe there are important First Amendment concerns with this case, including the government s refusal to let us notify three people of broad requests for their account information in connection with public events, Facebook said in a statement on Monday. The First Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees certain rights including freedom of speech. William Miller, a spokesman for U.S. prosecutors, declined to comment. Facebook decided to challenge the gag order around the three warrants because free speech was at stake and because the events underlying the government s investigation were generally known to the public already, Facebook said in the undated court document. The precise nature of the government s investigation is not known. One document in the case said the timing of proceedings coincides with charges against people who protested President Donald Trump s inauguration in January. More than 200 people were arrested in Washington the day Trump was sworn in. Masked activists threw rocks at police, and multiple vehicles were set on fire. Tech firms comply with thousands of requests for user data annually made by governments around the world, but in extraordinary circumstances, companies such as Microsoft Corp and Twitter Inc have challenged government secrecy orders. (RTRS)

11 INTERNATIONAL 11 New Jersey Gov Chris Christie addresses the media as he announces that state parks will reopen after New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney, D-West Deptford, New Jersey, and New Jersey Democrat Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, D-Secaucus, N. J, announced an agreement to end the New Jersey budget impasse and its effects on parks and services on July 3 in Trenton, N. J. (AP) Secrecy Cloak of secrecy US tightening security on nuclear inspections Hagel WASHINGTON, Junly 4, (AP): The Pentagon has thrown a cloak of secrecy over assessments of the safety and security of its nuclear weapons operations, a part of the military with a history of periodic inspection failures and bouts of low morale. Overall results of routine inspections at nuclear weapons bases, such as a pass-fail grade, had previously been publicly available. They are now off-limits. The change goes beyond the standard practice of withholding detailed information on the inspections. The stated reason for the change is to prevent adversaries from learning too much about US nuclear weapons vulnerabilities. Navy Capt. Greg Hicks, spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the added layer of secrecy was deemed necessary. We are comfortable with the secrecy, Hicks said Monday, adding that it helps ensure that as long as nuclear weapons exist, the US will maintain a safe, secure, and effective nuclear stockpile. Critics question the lockdown of information. The whole thing smells bad, said Steven Aftergood, a government secrecy expert with the Federation of American Scientists. They re acting like they have something to hide, and it s not national security secrets. I think the new policy fails to distinguish between protecting valid secrets and shielding incompetence, he added. Clearly, nuclear weapons technology secrets should be protected. But negligence or misconduct in handling nuclear weapons should not be insulated from public accountability. The decision to conceal results from inspections of how nuclear weapons are operated, maintained and guarded follows a secret recommendation generated by in-depth Pentagon reviews of problems with the weapons, workers and facilities making up the nation s nuclear force. Reviews But the problems that prompted the reviews three years ago weren t created by releasing inspection results. The problems were actual shortcomings in the nuclear force, including occasional poor performance, security lapses and flawed training, driven in part by underspending and weak leadership. The overall results of such inspections, minus security-sensitive details, used to be publicly available. They provided the initial basis for Associated Press reporting in on missteps by the Air Force nuclear missile corps. The AP documented security lapses, leadership and training failures, morale problems and other issues, prompting the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to order an in-depth study by an independent group. The review, published in November 2014, found deeply rooted problems and recommended remedies still in the works. In parallel, Hagel ordered what he called an internal review of the nuclear problems. Its findings and recommendation are secret. Without commenting on the decision to classify inspection grades, Hagel said in an exchange that excessive government secrecy is dangerous. Trust and confidence of the people is the coin of the realm for leaders and nations, Hagel wrote to the AP. That requires an openness even on sensitive issues. Certain specifics must always stay classified for national security reasons but should be classified only when absolutely necessary. When you close down information channels and stop the flow of information you invite questions, distrust and investigations. Of the two reviews conducted in 2014, the secret report is the one that contains the recommendation to further restrict release of inspection results, according to several officials, including Joseph W. Kirschbaum, director of defense capabilities and management at the Government Accountability Office, the congressional watchdog. US President Donald Trump waves as he arrives on Air Force One on July 3 at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, en route to Washington as he returns from Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. (AP) America US, Russia diplomats meet: The United States and Russia worked Monday to restore a key diplomatic channel between the two clashing nations, days before President Donald Trump planned to hold his first face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, under immense scrutiny in the US over his contacts with Trump campaign associates, met in Washington with Undersecretary of State Thomas Shannon for a meeting that focused partly on preparations for the highly anticipated presidential tete-a-tete. Trump and Putin are to sit down on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit taking place Friday and Saturday in Germany. Yet Shannon and Kislyak also used their meeting to discuss the possibility of a new meeting between Shannon and Russia s deputy foreign minister, Sergey Ryabkov, the State Department said, a move that would signal the two powers were again focused on trying to establish a functioning relationship. It was unclear after their lunchtime meeting if and when such a meeting would take place. Ryabkov and Shannon had been slated to host an ongoing series of discussions aimed at addressing irritants that have thwarted efforts to get the US-Russia relationship back on track. The goal was to resolve smaller issues first in hopes of restoring a base level of trust that could clear the way for broader discussions about Syria, Ukraine and other global crises. But Moscow nixed the second session last month to protest new Trump administration sanctions over Russia s actions in Ukraine.(AP) GOP Wagner won t run: Republican US Rep Ann Wagner of Missouri on Monday said she s not running for Democratic US Sen Claire McCaskill s seat in 2018, leaving the GOP field open for what likely will be a highly competitive race. Wagner said in a statement that she s instead opting to defend her suburban St Louis US House seat. While I am grateful for the incredible support and encouragement I have received from across Missouri to run for United States Senate, I am announcing today my intention to run for re-election to the United States House of Representatives in 2018, Wagner said, adding that there is no greater honor than representing a place and people that I love. Wagner s announcement creates an opening for other Republican candidates eyeing a US Senate race that s already drawing national interest McCaskill is among 10 Senate Democrats running in 2018 in states won by President Donald Trump. Several high-profile Republicans have been publicly pushing for Republican Attorney General Josh Hawley to run, although he hasn t yet said whether he ll enter the race. Former Sen. John Danforth and prominent donor David Humphreys Politics New Jersey gov signs $34.7 bn budget bill Christie ends 3-day shutdown were among several high-profile Republicans who in April released a public letter encouraging him. Hawley also has allies within the Missouri Republican Party, which is headed by Chairman Todd Graves. Graves led Hawley s transition team as he prepared to take office after the November election. (AP) Speaker didn t want suicide : The driving force in Texas behind a bathroom Mueller probe could draw focus to Russian crime ops WASHINGTON, July 4, (AP): The US government has long warned that Russian organized crime posed a threat to democratic institutions, including criminally linked oligarchs who might collude with the Russian government to undermine business competition. Those concerns, ever-present if not necessarily top priorities, are front and center once more. An ongoing special counsel investigation is drawing attention to Russian efforts to meddle in democratic processes, the type of skullduggery that in the past has relied on hired hackers and outside criminals. It s not clear how much the probe by former FBI Director Robert Mueller will center on the criminal underbelly of Moscow, but he s already picked some lawyers with experience fighting organized crime. And as the team looks for any financial entanglements of Trump associates and relationships with Russian officials, its focus could land again on the intertwining of Russia s criminal operatives and its intelligence services. Russian organized crime has manifested itself over the decades in more conventional forms of money laundering, credit card fraud and black market sales. Justice Department prosecutors have repeatedly racked up convictions for those offenses. In recent years, though, the bond between Russian intelligence agencies and criminal networks has been TRENTON, July 4, (Agencies): New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on Tuesday signed a budget bill ending a partial government shutdown that became an embarrassment for him when he was photographed lounging on a beach that had been closed to the public for the holiday weekend. Christie ended the three-day shutdown by signing a $34.7 billion budget measure that included reshaping the state s largest health insurer, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, which covers 3.8 million people in the state. Christie said all state parks and beaches would be open on Tuesday for the Fourth of July holiday and state offices would be open as usual on Wednesday. He said he was happy a resolution had been reached on the budget impasse, but saddened it came three days late. This bill is a long overdue significant reform that will have a lasting impact on New Jersey residents, he said before signing it into law. New Jersey State Senate President Steve Sweeney told a news conference: None of this was easy. Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto said the agreement to end the partial government shutdown was reached after long talks in crisis mode on Monday with Horizon and state legislators. Christie was ridiculed after a newspaper captured photos of the Republican governor and his family sunbathing on a beach that had been closed to the public over the holiday weekend due to the budget standoff. New Jersey s state parks closed on Saturday, forcing many to alter their holiday weekend plans. More than 30,000 state workers were on furlough on Monday. In Maine, the state police, parks and offices responsible for collecting revenue all planned to work through the shutdown, the state s first since But the majority of its 12,000 state employees will be furloughed. Members of Maine s State Employees Association rallied outside the State House to demand a budget deal from lawmakers and Republican Governor Paul LePage. About 10 U.S. states still do not have budgets for the fiscal year that began on July 1, including Illinois, which is in its third year without an enacted budget. While states have mostly recovered since the recession, their revenue growth has not always kept pace with the national economy. In some states without full budgets, including Connecticut and Pennsylvania, lowerthan-anticipated income tax collections exacerbated budget gaps and led to disputes over how to close them. In related story, Gov Chris Christie, by his own admission, entered lameduck territory on Tuesday, signing his final budget after a bruising three-day state government shutdown that included a viral photo of him lounging on a state beach that was closed to the public because of a budget impasse. The two-term Republican governor sounded an unapologetic tone over the aerial photos snapped by NJ.com that showed him at the state governor s residence at Island Beach State Park. The pictures sparked a global reaction: countless memes featuring a Photoshopped cutout of Christie in a beach chair, headlines on international news sites and a full-scale media blitz from Christie s spokesman. If they had flown that plane over that beach and I was sitting next to a 25-yearold blonde in that beach chair next to me that s a story, he said. I wasn t sitting next to a 25-year-old blonde. I was sitting next to my wife of 31 years. The photos are part of a bruising finale for the term-limited governor, who had been a regular on late-night TV and a Republican superstar after Superstorm Sandy hammered his state in Christie s job approval in New Jersey Wagner McCaskill especially alarming to American law enforcement officials, blending motives of espionage with more old-fashioned greed. In March, for instance, two hired hackers were charged along with two officers of Russia s Federal Security Service in a cyberattack on Yahoo Inc in It s too early to know how Russian criminal networks might fit into the election meddling investigation, but central to the probe are devastating breaches of Democratic accounts, including those of the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton s campaign chairman. US authorities have blamed those hacks on Russian intelligence services working to discredit Clinton and help Trump but have said the overall effort involved thirdparty intermediaries and paid Internet trolls. Former law enforcement officials say Russian organized crime has been a concern for at least a couple of decades, though not necessarily the most pressing demand given finite resources and budget constraints. The threat is diffuse and complex, and Russia s historic lack of cooperation has complicated efforts to apprehend suspects. And the responsibility for combatting the problem often falls across different divisions of the FBI and the Justice Department, depending on whether it s a criminal or national security offense a sometimes-blurry boundary. has sunk to 15 percent, tumbling after the convictions of three former aides in a scheme to deliberately cause traffic jams at the George Washington Bridge, his failed presidential run and his backing of President Donald Trump. He s become such a political liability in New Jersey that his top deputy, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, running to succeed him, hammered him over the beach photos: Beyond words, she said. People in New Jersey and beyond seized on what many saw as a let-themeat-cake gesture by the state s chief executive. Taxpayers can t use the parks and other public sites they pay for, but he and his family can hang out at a beach that no one else can use? asked Mary Jackson, a Freehold resident. Doesn t he realize how that looks, how people will see it as a slap in the face? Christie acknowledged his lame-duck status on Tuesday after the budget signing but predicted that if Guadagno wins he still might have some influence with lawmakers but less if Democrat Phil Murphy wins. The Legislature is expected to leave Trenton to campaign since all 120 seats are up this year. bill pushed back Monday after the Republican House speaker was quoted as saying he didn t want a suicide on his hands over efforts to restrict which restrooms transgender people can use. LGBT rights groups and other opponents, meanwhile, praised House Speaker Joe Straus over comments published in The New Yorker that signaled a moral opposition to a bathroom bill alongside his repeated condemnation of the measure as bad for the Texas economy. (AP)

12 INTERNATIONAL 12 World News Roundup Designer Charlie Bloom puts finishing touches to her garden Colour Box during the press day for the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in East Molesey, on the western edge of London on July 3. The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show runs from July 4 until July 9. (Inset): A visitor takes a picture of the Elements of Life garden. (AP) Extremism Committed to ideology Teen gets 16 years over a bomb plot LONDON, July 4, (Agencies): A British teenage Islamist was on Monday jailed for a minimum of 16 years for plotting a bomb attack at an Elton John concert in London on the 9/11 anniversary. Judge Michael Topolski at London s Old Bailey said Haroon Syed, 19, was committed to carrying out an act of mass murder as he handed down the life sentence with a minimum 16- year term. Syed, from west London, admitted in April that he was preparing terrorist acts between April and September last year, considering targets such as London shopping destination Oxford Street and John s concert in Hyde Park on the 15th anniversary of the attacks on the United States. Around 50,000 attended the central London concert, which also featured a performance by British ska band Madness. The court earlier heard that Syed had become influenced by members of Al-Muhajiroun (ALM), a banned group linked to radical preacher Anjem Choudary. You were not lured, you were not enticed, you were Syed not entrapped, said the judge. You became deeply committed to the ideology of a brutal and barbaric organisation, he added. Syed admitted trying to get a machine gun, handguns, suicide vest and bomb, London s Metropolitan Police said following his guilty plea. When he couldn t raise any finance through loan applications, settled on trying to source a bomb, with a special request for it to be packed with nails so he could detonate it in a crowded place. He told a Security Service fake contact that he needed a machine gun and an explosive vest so after some damage with machine gun do martyrdom... that s what I m planning to do. You have to find out the price for the machine gun, any gun. On August 30 last year, he said: I might put the bomb in the train and then I m going to jump out so the bomb explodes on the train. He arranged to buy a custom-made bomb and asked his contact to make sure it contained lots of nails. I was thinking of Oxford Street... If I go to prison, I go to prison. If I die, I die, you understand, he said. His search for potential locations included John s concert. When he was arrested on September 8, he told police his phone password was ISIS, an acronym for the Islamic State jihadist group. Syed s brother, Nadir Syed, 23, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 15 years last year after being found guilty of plotting to carry out a beheading of a serviceman around Remembrance Sunday in Defense lawyers said Syed had been vulnerable to radicalization, especially after the arrest of his elder brother Nadir. Nadir Syed was sentenced last year to a minimum of 15 years in prison for plotting an Islamic State group-inspired beheading to coincide with Remembrance Sunday war commemorations. Ireland s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar (left), greets Canada s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his arrival at Farmleigh House in Dublin on July 4. (AFP) Trump Britain MacKinlay Britain, US turning inward : Britain and the United States are turning inward, Canada s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a press conference with his Irish counterpart on Tuesday in which both leaders took swipes at their heavyweight neighbours. Trudeau also said during a visit to Dublin that there were clear disagreements with the United States ahead of the G20 summit this week, where US President Donald Trump is expected to attend. The choices made by the United States on trade and climate change are at odds with the majority of G20 countries, or even all the other G20 countries, he said after talks with Ireland s Leo Varadkar. (AFP) Lawmaker pleads not guilty: A lawmaker from British Prime Minister Theresa May s minority ruling Conservative Party, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges of making false declarations over his spending in a 2015 election. Craig MacKinlay, who beat leading Brexit figure Nigel Farage in the parliamentary election for the South Thanet in southeastern England in 2015, is accused of making false claims about his spending during the campaign. Despite the ongoing case against him, he won the seat again in this year s June election. (RTRS) Student held over cyberattacks: An 18-year-old student in northwestern England has been charged in a series of cyberattacks on the websites of nearly a dozen multinational firms. Jack Chappell is accused of supplying software that crashes websites by flooding them with data and with running a helpdesk for cyber criminals. West Midlands Police said in a statement that Chappell allegedly attacked the websites of T-Mobile, EE, Vodafone, O2, BBC, BT, Amazon, Netflix, Virgin Media and the National Crime Agency. (AP) Britain Right to keep focus on debts UK to present EU Repeal Bill LONDON, July 4, (RTRS): Legislation to begin the process of transferring European Union law into British law will be presented to parliament next week, Prime Minister Theresa May s spokesman said on Tuesday. The spokesman said Brexit minister David Davis had given colleagues an update on the Repeal Bill, which will shift EU legislation into British law as part of the Brexit process, at a weekly meeting of May s top team of ministers. He said the legislation, which is the start of the legislative process for Brexit, is expected to be tabled next week, the spokesman told reporters. Tens of thousands of EU-related laws have made their way onto the British statute book during more than 40 years of membership of the bloc and unpicking that complex legislative web is likely to take many years. The repeal bill, which the government says will help achieve a smooth transition as Britain leaves the EU, will transpose EU law and repeal the 1972 European Communities Act which formalises Britain s EU membership. It will also give parliament the power to change existing laws to make sure they work after Brexit. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Theresa May supports her finance minister Philip Hammond s decision to focus on dealing with the country s debts, May s spokesman said on Tuesday, amid growing political pressure to relax constraints on public sector pay. On Monday, Hammond defended the country s strict cap on public sector pay, after senior members of the ruling Conservative Party had questioned whether it should be loosened. Little has changed for baby: The president of the United States has offered to help. The pope is willing to have the Vatican hospital take him in. Some 1.3 million pounds ($1.68 million) have been raised to help him leave Britain for treatment. But little has changed Tuesday for Charlie Gard, a terminally-ill British infant Sinn Fein leader Michelle O Neill (center), gives a statement to the press at Stormont Castle in Belfast on July 3 as talks continue to form a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland. (AFP) The chancellor was setting out a clear argument for the UK continuing to deal with its debts in a responsible way while also acknowledging the hard work and the sacrifice the British people have made to help us get the deficit down... The prime minister agrees with him, May s spokesman said. In another news, Britain s communities minister Sajid Javid on Monday welcomed the resignation of the leader of a local council in the London borough where a fatal tower block fire killed at least 80 people, saying he would work with their replacement. Criticised The leader of Kensington and Chelsea council Nicholas Paget-Brown resigned last week after he was criticised for the organisation s handling of the response to the Grenfell Tower fire, which spread rapidly through a social housing tower block in the middle of the night. It is... vital that we put in place long term support for the longer term recovery. It was right that the leader of the Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea took the decision to move on, Javid told lawmakers. I look forward to working with the new leader of the council, and I will look at every option to ensure that everyone affected by this tragedy has the long term support they need. Meanwhile, the British government on Monday gave squabbling leaders of Northern Ireland s main parties more time to revive the province s powersharing executive after last Thursday s deadline passed without a deal. Britain s Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire, who has been facilitating the talks, told parliament that a deal remains achievable but warned the hiatus cannot simply continue for much longer. The power-sharing government is a cornerstone of Northern Ireland s peace process and has been dominated by unionists. A collapse of trust led to the withdrawal of the Irish republican Sinn Fein party, which triggered a March 2 snap election in which the conservative, pro-british Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) finished only narrowly ahead of them. After three months of negotiations, agreement has yet to be reached between the two main parties, who between them hold 55 seats in the 90-seat local assembly. Without a deal, the province would likely revert to direct rule from London as a second snap election would run the risk of further polarisation of the divided electorate. I continue to believe that a deal remains achievable, and if agreement is reached, I will bring forward legislation to enable an executive to be formed possibly as early as this week, but time is short, said Brokenshire. The 1998 Good Friday Agreement forged a peace process that ended three decades of violent conflict in the province, with responsibility for health, education, justice and the province s economy handed over to the local government. In London, British Prime Minister Theresa May s party struck a deal with the DUP last week that will afford her Conservatives a slim parliamentary majority. suffering from a rare genetic disease that has left him severely brain damaged. The child is at the center of a global crusade to have him treated in the United States with a trial therapy. Hospital specialists have said the experimental therapy won t help. Three British courts have ruled it s in Charlie s best interests to be allowed to die with dignity. Parents Chris Gard and Connie Yates are spending time with their son before his life-support is turned off. (AP) Bomber s family launches bid: The family of a Libyan man convicted of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing is launching a fresh effort to posthumously clear his name. Relatives of Abdelbaset al-megrahi say he was wrongly convicted of the airliner bombing, which killed 270 people. The family s lawyer, Aamer Anwar, handed a dossier of evidence to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission in Glasgow on Tuesday. The commission will decide whether to hand the case to an appeals court. Al-Megrahi was convicted in 2001 of blowing up Pan Am Flight 103 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie on Dec. 21, 1988, killing all 259 people aboard and 11 on the ground. (AP)

13 INTERNATIONAL 13 Migrants Austria eyes border controls Migrant infl ux to Europe hits 100K GENEVA, July 4, (Agencies): More than 100,000 migrants have made the perilous Mediterranean crossing to Europe this year, the UN said Tuesday, amid mounting tensions among EU nations on how to tackle the crisis. Nearly 2,250 people have died in 2017 attempting the sea crossing from North Africa, the UN s International Organization for Migration (IOM) added. Italy has taken in nearly 85 percent of the arrivals -- most of them sub-saharan Africans crossing from Libya -- and has pleaded for help from other European Union nations, saying it is struggling to cope. The reception of rescued migrants cannot be seen as an issue only for Italy, but a matter for Europe as a whole, IOM chief William Lacy Swing said, appealing for the rest of the EU to show more solidarity. On Sunday, Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti called on EU neighbours to open their ports to rescue ships picking up migrants in the Mediterranean, Swing after issuing a drastic threat to close its own ports to the boats. But France rejected that idea, with an aide to Minniti s counterpart Gerard Collomb telling AFP this would only encourage more migrants to set sail. EU interior ministers are due to meet in Estonia s capital Tallinn on Thursday to discuss the migrant crisis -- the continent s worst since World War II -- in a bid to defuse a long-running row over spreading asylum seekers across the bloc. The EU put in place a policy in 2015 to distribute around 160,000 asylum-seekers across different countries. But only about 20,000 have been relocated from Italy and Greece under the scheme, while Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic have flatly refused to take part. Ministers meeting in Tallinn will also discuss proposals for a code of conduct for charities operating rescue boats in the Mediterranean, a plan announced by France, Germany and Italy on Monday. Separately, foreign ministers from European and African countries affected by the crisis will meet in Rome on Thursday with representatives of the EU and UN as part of a diplomatic push to stem the influx. In an interview with France s Figaro newspaper, European migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos called on Tuesday for EU countries to speed up deportations of failed asylum seekers to ease the pressure, but warned this needed cooperation from their home countries. The UN figures released Tuesday showed that between January 1 and July 3, more than 85,000 migrants landed in Italy, nearly 9,300 arrived in Greece, nearly 6,500 in Spain and over 270 in Cyprus. We are under enormous pressure, Italy s Minniti said in an interview with Il Messaggero over the weekend, while the country s Red Cross warned that the situation in overcrowded reception centres was becoming critical. The UN s refugee agency also weighed in, warning that Italy cannot continue absorbing tens of thousands of migrants on its own. This is not sustainable. We need to have other countries joining Italy and sharing that responsibility, said Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR special envoy for the central Mediterranean. Europeans vow more help: France,Germany and the European Union pledged more money Monday for Libya s coast guard and more support for Italy to cope with a surge of migrant arrivals from Africa. The U.N. refugee agency, meanwhile, reported that more and more people lured to Libya with the hope of finding jobs there end up trying to reach Europe. The intensified European effort comes after the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, on Saturday decried an unfolding tragedy in Italy over the weekend with 12,600 migrants and refugees pouring onto its shores. Grandi noted that more than 2,000 people have lost their lives on the Libya-to-Italy sea route this year. Officials appeared to be bracing for prospects of an accelerated flow of migrants as the Mediterranean weather warms, making often-perilous maritime journeys more attractive. We are only at the beginning of the summer, and without swift collective action, we can only expect more tragedies at sea, Grandi, who is Italian, said in a statement. Like many others in his office in recent months, Grandi repeated calls for an urgent distribution system for incoming migrants and refugees, and additional legal pathways to admission. On Monday, the EU migration commissioner and the German, French and Italian interior ministers promised extra money and training for the Libyan coast guard and efforts to reinforce Libya s largely lawless southern border that people smugglers exploit. No further details, including how much more money was pledged, were immediately provided. Italy summons Austrian ambassador: Italy s foreign ministry summoned the Austrian ambassador on Tuesday after Vienna said it was considering introducing border controls to block migrants from passing between the two countries. The ministry said the move followed the declarations of the Austrian government concerning the deployment of troops to the Brenner Pass on the border. Vienna s defence minister was quoted Monday saying his country would very soon impose border checks and deploy soldiers on its frontier with Italy if the influx of migrants across the Mediterranean does not slow. I expect that very soon border controls will be activated and that an assistance deployment (by the military) will be requested, Hans Peter Doskozil told the online edition of the Krone daily. He was cited as saying that this move was indispensable if the inflow into Italy does not ease. The newspaper said that 750 soldiers were available and that four armoured vehicles had already been sent to the area over the weekend. Austria introduced checks on its eastern border with Hungary in 2015 and has readied physical measures such as barriers on its Italian border to the south-west, including at the famous Brenner Pass. More than 85,000 migrants and refugees have arrived in Italy by sea this year, the UN refugee agency has said. More than 2,000 others have died or gone missing on the perilous crossing. The comments from the centre-left Doskozil come ahead of early elections in Austria in October when the anti-immigration far-right is forecast to do well and potentially emerge as the biggest party. French President Emmanuel Macron walks through the Galerie des Bustes (Busts Gallery) to access the Versailles Palace s hemicycle for a special congress gathering both houses of parliament (National Assembly and Senate) in the palace of Versailles, outside Paris on July 3. (AFP) Russia s President Vladimir Putin (2nd-left), welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping (4th-right), during their meeting on July 4, at the Kremlin in Moscow, as part of Jinping s two-day visit to Moscow. (AFP) Putin and Xi talk trade, N. Korea at Kremlin Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el- Sisi (left), and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban hold a joint press conference following their talks in the Parliament building in Budapest, Hungary on July 3. (AP) Europe Spain breaks up prostitution ring: Police have broken up a Bulgarian gang that sought the total control of prostitution in the upscale beach resort of Marbella on southern Spain s Costa del Sol, Spanish police said Tuesday. The operation, carried out in cooperation with Bulgarian police and the European Union police agency Europol, led to the arrests of 34 suspected members of the gang and the liberation of 13 victims who were forced to prostitute themselves, police said in a statement. The gang is suspected of recruiting young women in deprived areas of Bulgaria, the EU s poorest country, and bringing them to Spain where they are forced to work as prostitutes in the streets of Puerto Banus, a luxury marina and casino complex near Marbella. If they refused they were violently attacked and their family members in Bulgaria were threatened with harm, the statement said. (AFP) Survivor wins journalism prize: A French journalist who survived a landmine blast in Iraq that killed three of his colleagues last month was awarded France s highest journalism prize Tuesday. The jury of the Albert Londres prize praised Samuel Forey of the Figaro newspaper for the tenderness and humanity of his coverage of the battle for Mosul. Forey, 36, was slightly wounded in the explosion a fortnight ago that claimed the lives of three fellow journalists: Veronique Robert of Stephan Villeneuve of France, and Kurdish reporter Bakhtiyar Haddad. He had been covering Iraqi and Kurdish attempts to take the city from the Islamic State group since last autumn. The Franco-British reporter David Germany BERLIN, July 4, (Agencies): Germany is a big target of spying and cyber attacks by foreign governments such as Turkey, Russia and China, a government report said on Tuesday, warning of ticking time bombs that could sabotage critical infrastructure. Industrial espionage costs German industry billions of euros each year, with small- and medium-sized businesses often the biggest losers, the BfV domestic intelligence agency said in its 339-page annual report. The report mapped out a range of security threats, including Islamist militancy and increased far-right violence, but highlighted the growing incidence of cyber espionage. It cited a noticeable increase in spying by Turkey s MIT foreign intelligence agency in Germany in 2016, following the failed July 15 coup in Turkey, and said Russia was seeking to influence a parliamentary election on Sept 24. The consequences for our country range from weakened negotiating positions to high material costs and economic damage all the way to impairment of national sovereignty, it said. Key targets were the Foreign Ministry and its overseas offices, the Finance and Economics ministries, the Chancellery and the German military. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the government was working closely with industry to better protect German firms, with the most affected sectors being the weapons, space and aerospace and car industries, as well as research institutes. Cyber attacks could not only lead to losses of information, but also, through delayed-action malware, trigger silent, ticking digital time bombs that could manipulate data and sabotage equipment, especially critical infrastructure, the report said. It said that the Sandworm malware, which computer experts have linked to Russia, had actively targeted government sites, the NATO military alliance, utilities and telecommunications Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met Tuesday against a backdrop of mounting tensions over North Korea ahead of G20 summit talks with US President Donald Trump. The sit-down in Moscow is meant to focus on bolstering trade ties between the two partners, with deals worth billions of dollars expected to be signed. But the talks were also expected to discuss North Korea after Pyongyang claimed the launch of its fi rst inter-continental ballistic missile, and Trump urged China to end this nonsense once and for all. Economic questions are always at the centre of our attention but we are also engaged in coordinating our efforts on the international arena, Putin told Xi at the start of the talks. It is their third offi cial meeting this year. Xi in turn praised the special character of China s ties with Russia. He called the two nations good neighbours, faithful friends and reliable partners in comments translated into Russian. Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported earlier that Putin and Xi agreed to jointly push for a proper settlement of the peninsula issue via dialogue and negotiation at a closed Kremlin meeting Monday evening on the eve of the official talks. (AFP) More terror attacks likely: intel chief Germany espionage target Forey Thompson firms in recent years. Russia, China and Iran were the main countries spying on Germany, albeit for different reasons, it said. Russia had a keen interest in the removal of economic sanctions imposed by the European Union for Moscow s actions in Ukraine, and the Russian hacker group APT 28, also known as Fancy Bear and believed to be statecontrolled, continued to attack German political targets, the report said. Russia was also using so-called Internet trolls to influence public opinion and push pro-russian views, the report said, citing a sharp increase in propaganda and disinformation campaigns using social and Russianbacked media. Iran was focused mainly on Israeli or pro-jewish targets and political opponents of Tehran s clerical rulers. Meanwhile, Germany is girding itself for possible cyber attacks on next week s G20 summit in Hamburg, by hacker groups or cells linked to foreign governments, its top cyber official told Reuters. Also: BERLIN: The head of Germany s domestic intelligence agency is warning that more terror attacks by Islamic extremists in Germany are likely. Hans-Georg Maassen said Tuesday that further attacks by single persons or terror commando groups must be expected. He and German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere were presenting the annual report by Germany s domestic intelligence agency. De Maiziere told reporters some 680 extremists are considered potentially dangerous enough to carry out an attack. Although Tunisian Anis Amri had been under surveillance, he was able to hijack a truck in December and drive it into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and wounding dozens the first mass-casualty Islamic extremist attack in Germany. Thomson picked up the inaugural Albert Londres book prize for his investigation into what drives French, Belgian and Tunisian jihadis. (AFP) 1 dies, 6 hurt in France: One person was shot dead and six others injured, two seriously, when a gunman opened fire in the southern French city of Toulouse late Monday, a local source said. Local press reported that a gunman on a scooter opened fire at around 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) in the La Reynerie district of Toulouse. No possibilities are ruled out, but there is at this stage no indication of any terrorist element connected to the incident, the official added. The favoured theory is that the shooting was a revenge killing, a source close to the enquiry said. Local officials, meanwhile, said extra security had been deployed to the area. Last year La Reynerie district, in the southwest of Toulouse, was the scene of two shooting incidents, both believed to be a settling of scores. In one incident last July a Russian man of Chechen origin was shot dead by an unknown gunman on a scooter. (AFP) Juncker slams EU parliament: European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker launched a blistering attack Tuesday on a nearly empty European Parliament, sparking bitter exchanges with the head of the EU s only directly elected institution. Juncker, known for his sharp wit, was angry to find only a handful of MEPs present at the assembly in Strasbourg Juncker to hear a report on Malta s just-completed EU presidency. But his remarks drew a sharp response from parliament head Antonio Tajani, who said his colleague was out of order and should mind his tongue. The European Parliament is ridiculous, totally ridiculous, Juncker told the chamber, which seats 751 deputies. I salute those who made the effort to turn up but the fact that only about 30 deputies are here for this debate clearly shows that parliament is not serious! he said. Tajani interrupted from the podium: You can criticise the parliament but it is not the Commission which controls parliament. It is parliament which controls the Commission! Juncker retorted: There are only a few members in the plenary to control the Commission. You are ridiculous! Mr President, I ask you, please use different language. We are not ridiculous, Tajani said. Juncker begged to differ and signed off with a blunt admonition : I will never again attend a meeting of this kind. It is a courtesy for the head of the country holding the EU s rotating presidency, in this case Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, to present parliament with a report on their work during the country s sixmonth leadership. Juncker, a former long-serving Luxembourg premier, became head of the Commission in 2014 promising a more political approach. He also has a reputation for sometimes undiplomatic language which tends to amuse and infuriate in equal measure. Italy s Tajani became president of the parliament in January and served as EU transport commissioner from 2010 to (AFP) Putin, Trump to meet Friday: Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold a first meeting with US leader Donald Trump on Friday on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg, the Kremlin said Tuesday. It has been agreed for July 7, top Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies, without giving further details. The much-hyped maiden encounter between the two leaders comes as Trump s camp is under intense scrutiny over any links to the Kremlin. Ties between Washington and Moscow plunged to their lowest point since the Cold War after the Kremlin s seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in Trump repeatedly pledged to work to improve ties with Russia during his presidential campaign, lavishing praise on strongman leader Putin. (AFP) Kosovar to do community work: A court on Monday sentenced an Albanian citizen who flew a flag of the Islamic State group at a crossroads in the Kosovo capital to 180 hours of community labor. The person, identified only as QM, was arrested in September last year when he and two minors put the IS flag on a street in Pristina. The Kosovo court s verdict said the action means a public call or urging others to go to Syria and Iraq and join a terror organization. In a separate case prosecutors have accused a citizen, identified as R.A., of frightening the population, of trying to destabilize and destroy political, constitutional, economic and social structures of different states and then create the Islamic State in their territory, a statement said Monday. The person used Facebook and YouTube to post videos calling on Muslims to commit terror acts against the Kosovo government and foreign embassies in Kosovo. Those charges are punishable by up to five years in jail if proved. (AP) Poland wants Trump s assurance: Poland s government would like visiting President Donald Trump to make assurances this week that the presence of US and NATO troops in Poland will continue as long as the region s security is threatened by Russia, the foreign minister said Monday. Trump is to deliver a speech in Warsaw during a brief visit Thursday. The visit comes before Trump attends a G-20 summit in Germany, where he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. Poland and other nations in the region that were under Moscow s dominance in the communist era are concerned for their security because of Russia s increased military activity, some of it close to their borders. Minister Witold Waszczykowski told reporters that Poland would like to hear Trump s assurances that the recently installed rotational presence of thousands of US and NATO troops in Poland will continue. The deployments were decided by NATO and by the US administration under former president, Barack Obama. We would like to hear that as long as the threat continues we will be supported by the US and NATO troops, Waszczykowski said. (AP)

14 INTERNATIONAL 14 World News Roundup Israel Indian Jews excited Modi begins 1st ever Israel visit TEL AVIV, Israel, July 4, (Agencies): India s prime minister, Narendra Modi, has landed in Israel for a high-profile visit aimed at celebrating 25 years of diplomatic relations and strengthening his country s already warm ties with the Jewish state. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greeted Modi at Israel s international airport on Tuesday and will accompany the Indian leader throughout the three-day visit. Israeli officials say the warm treatment goes well beyond diplomatic protocol and reflects the importance of the visit. During the Cold War, India didn t have open relations with Israel, leaning heavily in favor of the Palestinians. But over the past quarter century, the countries have developed close ties in high-tech and defense. Modi will hold talks with Netanyahu, tech companies and the local community of Indian Jews. His schedule doesn t include any meetings with Palestinian officials. Meanwhile, at a curry house Ashtivker in central Israel, a poster welcoming Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets patrons even before they encounter the rich scent of spices wafting from the kitchen. Modi s three-day visit beginning Tuesday the first ever of an Indian premier to Israel is a landmark moment for the Jewish state, a country seeking the friendship of powerful allies and customers for its advanced military equipment. But for members of the small Jewish Indian community in Israel, the trip is a cause of genuine excitement and a unique opportunity to increase their visibility. There s not a single (Indian) household that s not talking about it. This is all people are talking about, said Elazar Ashtivker, owner of the Maharaja restaurant in the city of Ramla, south of Tel Aviv. It s historic, he said. The fast-talking 33-year-old s parents, who were born in India, opened the restaurant in its first incarnation in the 1980s because they felt the community was in decline. Initially, the restaurant served the Indian community nearly exclusively. But in the 1990s the trend of Israelis travelling to Asia after completing their military service became wildly popular, and many returned home with a taste for the Maharaja s spicy delicacies. The restaurant serves what Ashtivker calls mainstream Indian food but also sells peppers, vegetables and imported spices. The wording on the poster is in the colours of the Indian flag and invites members of the Indian community, in Hebrew and English, to a July 5 meeting with Modi in Tel Aviv. There s a lot of excitement, Ashtivker said. Everyone has signed up and everyone is going. If you looked for Indians in Israel on the 5th you won t find any. They ll all be at the convention centre, he said with a laugh. Estimates put the number of Jews of Indian origin in Israel at about 100,000, according to Eliaz Dandeker, a historian and author documenting the community. Even those of Indian origin born in Israel maintain a deep connection to their ancestral homeland, said Dandeker, including through music, cinema, food and cultural events. Events in Israel have featured appearances by Indian actors. Jews made their way to India over the course of the last 3,000 years, and by and large have not suffered religious and racist persecution in the country. They began coming to Israel en masse in the late 1940s and early 1950s for religious and other reasons. Many of them settled in rural communities to become farmers, while others moved to peripheral towns throughout the country. In the first years following the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, many Indian immigrants abandoned their names and traditions as part of the era s melting pot ideal. Generation There s more openness today to Indian culture, the 34-year-old Dandeker said. The younger generations want to know more. In his spice shop near the Maharaja, Shaul Divekar, who emigrated from India as a child, scoops red lentils from a sack into a plastic bag, chatting from behind his counter with two customers. The conversation fluctuates between the goods that arrived from India and the prime minister who is about to. Divekar proudly notes he is in charge of one of the seven buses taking Indian Israelis from Ramla to Wednesday s meeting with Modi. He s special, Divekar said of Hindu nationalist Modi, a Bollywood music video playing on a laptop behind the cash register. He likes Jews, proudly offers a tall bearded man in his 30s standing nearby the Indian DVD collection in Divekar s store, his Hebrew heavy with an Indian accent. Dandeker, the historian, notes that Jewish Indians in Israel have been called the invisible Jews since they are neither Ashkenazis from Europe nor Sephardis from Africa and the Middle East. While members of the community have reached prominence in Israel in fields including medicine and the military, a lot of them don t stress their origins. And with many of them having changed their last names to sound more Israeli, it s hard to spot them, said Dandeker. Modi s visit and its potential to generate interest among Israelis in Indian culture could help raise the profile of the Indian community. We expect it to help advance our community, said Ashtivker, the restaurateur. We re a small community here and don t really stand out. Meanwhile, Israel s main opposition Labour party was on Tuesday holding a leadership primary election as the faction that once dominated the country s politics faced dwindling relevance. More than 50,000 party members could choose between seven candidates, including current chairman Isaac Herzog, in polling stations open nationwide between GMT. If none of the candidates secure 40 percent of the votes, the two with the most would face off for the second and final vote on July 10. The vote was originally set to take place on Monday, but it was postponed by a day to avoid clashing with a Tel Aviv concert by US singer Britney Spears. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center right), greets his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi (center left), during an official ceremoney at Ben-Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv on July 4. Modi is the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel, the result of growing ties that have led to billions of dollars in defence deals. (AFP) In this July 3 photo, thousands of supporters holding a 1,111-meter long national flag follow Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of Turkey s main opposition Republican People s Party, as he walks on the 19th day of his 425-kilometer (265-mile) March for Justice in Kocaeli, Turkey. Kilicdaroglu and supporters are marching from the capital Ankara to an Istanbul prison to protest the conviction of one of his party s lawmakers.(ap) Ketteneh Mideast King Mohammed Jordan soldier says he fired: A Jordanian soldier charged with killing three US Army Green Berets told a military court Tuesday that he opened fire because he thought fellow Jordanian troops had come under attack. The US military trainers were killed when their convoy came under fire at the gate of an air base in Jordan in November. First Sgt Marik al-tuwayha took the stand in his murder trial Tuesday, saying he felt no resentment toward Americans and that he had joked and chatted with the US trainers in the past. (AP) Fire at refinery extinguished: Iran s firefighters on Monday managed to put out fire broke out at a refinery in the town of Abadan. Six firefighters were wounded while extinguishing the fire, which broke out when a maintenance team tried to cut water and gas pipes, said Fars News Agency. Two of the injured have serious conditions and were taken to a hospital in Al Ahwaz, while two others were admitted to Abadan hospital, the agency said. (KUNA) Second deadly fire kills 1: Lebanese medics and the official news agency say a huge fire has broken out in a Syrian refugee settlement in the Bekaa Valley, killing one person and injuring 21. It was the second such deadly fire to hit refugee encampments in eastern Lebanon amid soaring temperatures. On Sunday, a fire ripped through another settlement near Qab Elias town, killing one person. George Ketteneh, of Lebanon s Red Cross, says the fire early Tuesday in the nearby Tal Sarhoun camp killed a young girl and wounded 21 others, including seven who were in critical condition. (AP) Police start to withdraw from cities: Moroccan security forces have begun with- Turkey Thousands march from Ankara to Istanbul Opposition leader launches court appeal ISTANBUL, July 4, (RTRS): Turkey s main opposition leader launched a European court appeal on Tuesday over an April vote that granted President Tayyip Erdogan sweeping powers, stepping up his challenge to the government as he led a 425 km (265 mile) protest march. Erdogan accuses the protesters, marching from Ankara to Istanbul, of acting together with terrorist groups, referring to Kurdish militants and followers of a US-based cleric who Ankara says was behind last year s coup. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, head of the main opposition Republican People s Party (CHP), hit back on Tuesday, defending his justice march and accusing the government of creating a oneparty state in the wake of the failed putsch on July 15. On the 20th day of his march, triggered by the jailing of a CHP deputy on spying charges, Kilicdaroglu signed an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights against the election board s decision to accept unstamped ballots in the April 16 referendum. Turkey has rapidly turned into a (one-)party state. Pretty much all state institutions have become branches of a political party, he told reporters. This is causing profound harm to our democratic, parliamentary system. Kilicdaroglu, 68, wearing a white shirt and a baseball cap with the word justice printed on it, then set out on the latest leg of the march from the city of Izmit, around 100 km (60 miles) along the coast to the east of central Istanbul. The protest has gained momentum as it passes through northwest Turkey s countryside and representatives of the pro-kurdish HDP, parliament s third largest party, joined the march on Monday near the jail of its former coleader Figen Yuksekdag. There are deep divisions among opposition parties but Yuksekdag, stripped of her parliamentary status in February, issued a statement from her cell on Monday calling for them to put those differences aside. drawing from the restive northern cities of Al-Hoceima and Imzouren, which have been rocked by weeks of social unrest, officials and residents said. We must set up the shattered scales of justice again and fight for this together, she wrote, saying justice had hit rock bottom with the jailing of 11 HDP lawmakers and around 100 mayors. The party rejects charges of ties to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, designated a terrorist group by Ankara and its Western allies, which launched an insurgency in 1984 in which more than 40,000 people have been killed. As the protesters advance, Erdogan has stepped up his attacks on the march, saying the CHP was longer acting as a political opposition. We can see that they have reached the point of acting together with terror groups and those powers which provoke them against our country, he said in a speech to officials from his ruling AK Party on Saturday. The path which you are taking is the one of Qandil, the one of Pennsylvania, he said, referring to the northern Iraqi mountains where the PKK is based and the US state where Erdogan s allyturned-foe Fethullah Gulen lives. Kilicdaroglu launched his march in Ankara on June 15 after Enis Berberoglu was jailed for 25 years for espionage, becoming the first lawmaker from the party imprisoned in a government crackdown in the wake of the attempted coup. Trial Since the purge began, more than 50,000 people have been jailed pending trial, 150,000 have been suspended or dismissed from their jobs. Ankara has also shut down 130 media outlets and some 160 journalists are in prison, according to union data. In April a referendum was held on constitutional changes that sharply widened Erdogan s presidential authority and the proposals won 51.4 percent approval in a vote, which has triggered opposition challenges including the latest CHP move. Opposition parties have said the poll was deeply flawed and European election observers said the decision to A gradual pullback from both cities began on Monday at the request of King Mohammed VI, the governor of Al- Hoceima province, Fouad Chourak, told Relatives and friends wait to welcome a group of newly-arrived immigrants from Canada and USA at the Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv on July 4. According to Nefesh B Nefesh, the Israeli Immigration Authority, some 200 Jews from North America arrived in Israel on July 4. (AFP) allow unstamped ballot papers to be counted had removed a main safeguard against voting fraud. Meanwhile, the captain of a Turkish freighter said on Monday that the Greek coast guard had fired on his vessel after he refused an order to dock at a port on the Greek island of Rhodes. Turkey said the action was disproportionate and showed no regard for human life. There is no justification... for firing on an unarmed commercial ship carrying freight between two Turkish ports, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Our sole consolation is that nobody was killed or injured as a result of the incident. Sami Kalkavan, captain of the M/V ACT, told the broadcaster CNN Turk that the Greek coast guard had ordered him to dock in Rhodes, which is some 15 miles (24 kms) from the Turkish coast, for inspection. He said that when he had failed to comply, the coast guard had opened fire, putting 16 bullet holes in his ship. The coast guard asked for the ship to be docked at the port at Rhodes immediately, and we did not accept this. They wanted to check (the ship), and we didn t accept that, he said. They said they would fire if we didn t stop they did what they said, Kalkavan said, without indicating why he had not wanted the ship to be inspected. He said there was no risk of water intake from the bullet holes. Friction between Turkey and Greece is not uncommon, given territorial disputes and Ankara s anger with Athens for failing to hand over Turkish soldiers who fled after an abortive coup last year. The neighbours came close to war in 1996 over islets known as Imia in Greek and Kardak in Turkish. The Greek coast guard said it had fired warning shots as it was trying to inspect the ship s cargo after receiving an anonymous call that it was carrying narcotics. The vessel did not cooperate and subsequently moved back to Turkish waters, it said in its statement. reporters. A resident of Al-Hoceima, who spoke to AFP by telephone Tuesday, confirmed the pullback. Policemen have withdrawn from the central square in Al-Hoceima, the resident said. Only a few policemen in civilian clothes are left. (AFP) Militants kill security forces: Kurdish militants killed a soldier, village guard and three workers in attacks in three separate provinces in southeastern Turkey on Monday, officials said. Militants from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) killed one Turkish soldier when they detonated a hidden explosive device in the Cukurca district of Hakkari province, officials from the Hakkari governor s office said. The militants detonated another explosive device in the Caldiran district of Van province, wounding two village guards, officials said. They said one of the wounded guards had died in the hospital following the attack. Separately, PKK militants attacked workers carrying out roadside work on a road for a military base in the Uludere district of the southeastern province of Sirnak, killing two workers and wounding another five, security sources said. (RTRS)

15 INTERNATIONAL 15 North Korea Heavy move: Trump North Korea tests fi rst intercontinental missile SEOUL, July 4, (RTRS): North Korea said on Tuesday it successfully test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time, which flew a trajectory that experts said could allow a weapon to hit the US state of Alaska. The launch came days before leaders from the Group of 20 nations were due to discuss steps to rein in North Korea s weapons programme, which it has pursued in defiance of UN Security Council sanctions. The launch, which North Korea s state media said was ordered and supervised by leader Kim Jong Un, sent the rocket 933 km (580 miles) reaching an altitude of 2,802 km over a flight time of 39 minutes. North Korea has said it wants to develop a missile mounted with a nuclear warhead capable of striking the US mainland. To do that it would need an ICBM with a range of 8,000 km (4,800 miles) or more, a warhead small enough to be mounted on it and technology to ensure its stable re-entry into Abe the atmosphere. Some analysts said the flight details on Tuesday suggested the new missile had a range of more than 8,000 km, underscoring major advances in its programme. Other analysts said they believed its range was not so far. Officials from South Korea, Japan and the United States said the missile landed in the sea in Japan s Exclusive Economic Zone after being launched on a high trajectory from near an airfield northwest of the North s capital, Pyongyang. The test launch was conducted at the sharpest angle possible and did not have any negative effect on neighbouring countries, North Korea s state media said in a statement. Missiles The North said its missiles were now capable of striking anywhere in the world. It appears the test was successful. If launched on a standard angle, the missile could have a range of more than 8,000 km, said Kim Dong-yub, a military expert at Kyungnam University s Institute of Far Eastern Studies in Seoul. But we have to see more details of the new missile to determine if North Korea has acquired ICBM technology. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who convened a national security council meeting, said earlier the missile was believed to be an intermediate-range type, but the military was looking into the possibility it was an ICBM. US President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter: North Korea has just launched another missile. Does this guy have anything better to do with his life? in an apparent reference to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Hard to believe South Korea and Japan will put up with this much longer. Perhaps China will put a heavy move on North Korea and end this nonsense once and for all!, Trump said in a series of tweets. Stock markets in both South Korea and Japan fell, with the Kospi ending down 0.6 percent and Japan s Nikkei share average ending down 0.1 percent. Japan s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he would ask the presidents of China and Russia to play more constructive roles in efforts to stop Pyongyang s arms programme. Leaders of the world will gather at the G20 meeting. I would like to strongly call for solidarity of the international community on the North Korean issue, Abe told reporters. Japan said on Monday the United States, South Korea and Japan would have a trilateral summit on North Korea at the G20. Chinese President Xi Jinping will also be at the July 7-8 meeting in Hamburg, Germany. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang called for calm and restraint, and reiterated China s opposition to North Korea s violation of UN resolutions on missile tests. Responding to Trump s tweet, Geng said China had for a long time been working hard to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. China s contribution is obvious to all. China s role is indispensable, he told a daily news briefing. China would continue to work hard and also hoped other parties would work hard too, Geng said. We hope all sides can meet each other half way. North Korea says it needs to develop its weapons in the face of what it sees as US aggression. Tests It has conducted five nuclear tests, two since the beginning of last year, and numerous missile tests over the past year. It often times its tests to show its defiance and to raise the stakes when it sees regional powers getting ready for talks or sanctions, analysts say. The launch took place hours before the Independence Day celebrations in the United States. North Korea has in the past fired missiles around this time. Despite the unprecedented pace of tests since the start of last year, analysts have said they believed North Korea was years away from having a nucleartipped ICBM capable of hitting the United States. North Korea is also trying to develop intermediaterange missiles capable of hitting US bases in the Pacific. The last North Korean launches before Tuesday were of land-to-sea cruise missiles on June 8. David Wright, co-director of the Global Security Program at the US-based Union of Concerned Scientists, said the assessments of the Tuesday flight time and distance suggested the missile might was launched on a very highly lofted trajectory of more than 2,800 km. The same missile could reach a maximum range of roughly 6,700 km on a standard trajectory, Wright said in a blog post. That range would not be enough to reach the lower 48 states or the large islands of Hawaii, but would allow it to reach all of Alaska, he said. South Korea s Moon said on Monday North Korea now faced its last opportunity to engage in talks with the outside world. North Korea has conducted four ballistic missile tests since Moon took office in May, vowing to use dialogue as well as pressure to bring Pyongyang s nuclear and missile programmes under control. This week, North Korea was a major topic in phone calls between Trump and the leaders of China and Japan, both of whom reaffirmed their commitment to a denuclearised Korean Peninsula. Trump has recently suggested he was running out of patience with China s efforts to pressure North Korea. This picture taken and released on July 4, by North Korea s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (second right), inspecting the test-fire of the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 At least 56 people have been killed and another 22 reported missing as heavy rains continue to pummel southern China, flooding towns, cutting off power and halting traffic, China s Ministry of Civil Affairs said Tuesday. As much as 48.6 centimeters (19 inches) of rain has been dumped on several cities since Thursday, including the scenic resort city of Guilin in the Guangxi region, the ministry said. More than 11 million people in 11 southern provinces were affected by floods, landslides and hailstorms, the ministry said. Rivers have broken their banks, inundating surrounding communities. The ministry said water levels in major rivers and lakes in the southern province of Hunan have surged to alarming levels, and that the collapse of levees forced large-scale evacuations. Meanwhile, the Chinese government has disbursed 700 million yuan ($103 million) in emergency aid to four provinces in the south and east to at an undisclosed location. North Korea declared it had successfully tested its first intercontinental ballistic missile a watershed moment in its push to develop a nuclear weapon capable of hitting the mainland United States. (AFP) This picture taken on July 3, shows a man using an improvised flotation device to move through floodwaters on a flooded street in Liuzhou, Guangxi province. (AFP) South China rain, floods kill 56 Britain s Princess Anne (center right), and Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong (center left), visit the Forbidden City in Beijing on June 4. (AP) Asia Doubts over inability to travel: A friend of imprisoned Chinese Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo doubts the government s claims that the ailing dissident is too sick to leave the country, in part because of a video in which Liu is described as being in acceptable condition. Whether Liu is able to travel is a key question in any negotiations for his possible release from a Chinese hospital. The US and European Union have been calling on Beijing to allow China s most famous political prisoner to choose where he wants to be treated for late-stage liver cancer. Shang Baojun, Liu s former lawyer, has said Chinese officials have told Liu s family members that his health was too poor to allow him to travel. However, Liu s friend, political dissident Hu Jia, said Monday a video that emerged on YouTube over the weekend appeared to indicate that Liu was in stable condition. Medical experts were seen saying that Liu s treatment plan was going smoothly. Currently, his situation is acceptable, an unidentified male doctor in a white coat was seen saying in the video, which did not include any images of Liu and was dated Wednesday. A separate photo that s been circulating online showed Liu holding a bowl and being spoon-fed by his wife, Liu Xia. He did not appear to be hooked up to life-support. Based on the videos and the photo, we know for sure that his conditions have not deteriorated, Hu said. There s no question that Liu Xiaobo can travel. William Fingleton, spokesman for the European Union delegation in China, said EU diplomats met with a Chinese vice minister of justice on Friday regarding Liu s treatment. Fingleton did not provide details on the discussion. In a statement released later Friday, the EU s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogh- Japan help them deal with widespread flooding, the ministry of civil affairs said on Tuesday. The ministry said the aid would be sent to Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan and Guizhou provinces, to be spent on helping those who have lost their homes or family members in the floods. The government has already sent 3,300 tents, 30,000 quilts and 24,000 camp beds to help displaced people in the four provinces, the ministry added. (Agencies) Abe vows to reflect on poll results LDP vulnerable after loss TOKYO, July 4, (RTRS): A stunning defeat for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe s ruling party at the hands of a novice political group in the capital has revealed the fragility of his support and shown that voters can desert him if there is a credible alternative. Abe surged back to power in 2012, pledging to revive the stale economy and bolster defence. He has led his ruling bloc to three more landslide victories in national polls since then. But those victories were less robust than met the eye, since record or nearrecord low voter turnout allowed Abe s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to rack up seats with support from a quarter or less of eligible voters. On Sunday, the party got a chilling glimpse of just how vulnerable it could be if a viable opposition force emerges to attract unhappy voters. That reminder could encourage rivals in Abe s own party to challenge him in a leadership race next year if his slumping poll ratings fail to recover. Election Popular Governor Yuriko Koike s novice Tokyo Citizens First party and its allies including the LDP s national-level coalition partner won a landslide victory, taking 79 seats in Sunday s election for the 127-member Tokyo Metropolitan assembly. The LDP got 23 seats, its worst ever result in the capital and less than half its prevote presence. The vote was a referendum on the first year in office of Koike, a mediasavvy former LDP lawmaker and defence minister who defied the party s old boy network to run on a reformist platform and become the first female governor of the metropolis. But it was also a stinging rebuke to Abe s administration, battered by suspicions of scandal over favouritism for Liu Xia a friend s business and verbal gaffes by his cabinet ministers. Worse than the scandals and missteps, however, was the perception among many voters that Abe and his powerful Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga have grown haughty and dismissive of criticism given the ruling bloc s super-majorities in both houses of parliament, a weak and fragmented opposition and no serious challengers in his party. Politicians Arrogance, complacency, fragility summed up a headline in the Nikkei business daily on Tuesday, ingredients politicians and pundits agreed were key causes of the LDP defeat. It doesn t have anything to do with policy, said Gerry Curtis, professor emeritus at New York s Columbia University. It s all about the arrogance of Abe and Suga and the sense that they are riding roughshod... to break unstated rules of the game. Abe heads to Hamburg on Wednesday for a Group of 20 summit where leaders are likely to discuss North Korea s nuclear and missile programmes a topic that could play to Abe s strengths at home, where he is known for his tough line towards Pyongyang. North Korea said on Tuesday it had successfully test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile that could strike anywhere in the world. In an interview with the Mainichi newspaper published on Tuesday, Abe said he would reflect deeply on the Tokyo poll results. But he also said there would be no change to his plan to have the LDP present a proposal to revise the post-war, pacifist constitution to an extra session of parliament in the autumn to meet his target of amending the US-drafted charter by erini, urged China to immediately grant Liu parole on humanitarian grounds, citing Liu s deteriorating health. (AP) S pore PM says no evidence: At the end of an extraordinary two-day parliamentary debate on Tuesday, Singapore s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong declared that it had found no evidence that he had abused his power in a dispute with his siblings over their late father s house. Even the opposition is not accusing the government of abuse of power, Lee said in an emotional speech, his voice quavering and eyes tearing up as he rued the breakdown in relations with his brother and sister. Since mid-june, Singaporeans have been riveted by a public battle between the heirs of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore s long-serving first prime minister who died in March 2015, over whether to demolish the old family home or let the government decide whether it should become a heritage site. Before his death, Lee had made it public that he wanted the humbly furnished home near the bustling Orchard Road shopping district to be demolished rather than turned into some kind of museum. He stated that in his last will, part of which was released by the prime minister s younger brother last month. But the prime minister has said there were deeply troubling circumstances over how the will was drawn up. The prime minister s brother and sister, Lee Hsien Lee Yang and Lee Wei Ling, accuse him of being disingenuous and abusing his power by using a government committee to look at options for the house. They both want the house to be demolished once Lee Wei Ling ceases to live there, in accordance with their father s will. The prime minister, who recused himself from the committee, has said that while he personally favours honouring his father s wishes the government should ultimately decide what should be done. It was the accusations of abuse of power that prompted Lee to call a special sitting of parliament to clear the air over an issue that some people say has tarnished Singapore s image. He removed the Party Whip allowing lawmakers from the ruling People s Action Party (PAP) to question their own cabinet regardless of the party line. The PAP controls 83 of the 89 elected seats in parliament. Lee reiterated that he was against suing his brother and sister, Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Wei Ling, for defamation. Such action, he said, would risk dragging out the affair and further damage his parents name. This is not a soap opera, Lee said at the end of his concluding speech. We must all get back to work. (RTRS) Japan typhoon grounds flights: A typhoon slammed into Japan on Tuesday, grounding dozens of flights, injuring at least three people and prompting authorities to issue evacuation warnings on fears of landslides and floods. Typhoon Nanmadol made landfall in Nagasaki on the southwestern main island of Kyushu, packing winds of up to 144 kms (89 miles) per hour, Japan s meteorological agency said. At least 47 domestic flights were cancelled, affecting around 3,000 passengers, airline companies said, as transport across Kyushu temporarily came to a standstill Tuesday. Public broadcaster NHK said at least three people were injured in storm-related accidents. The storm was moving east at a speed of 55 kph and was expected to cut across eastern Japan, including areas surrounding Tokyo, late Tuesday or early Wednesday while losing strength, the agency said. Television footage from NHK and a report in the Asahi newspaper showed a downed power pole, collapsed scaffolding and an overturned truck. Local officials issued evacuation advisories that affected more than 20,000 people, news reports said. Big storms regularly strike Japan, with 22 people killed when Typhoon Lionrock pounded the country last September. (AFP) China dismisses concerns: China said on Monday its navy had the right to pass though a strait that connects the Sea of Japan with the Pacific Ocean, dismissing Japanese misgivings after a Chinese warship entered the area. Japan s foreign ministry expressed concerns on Sunday over a Chinese information gathering ship entering Japanese waters while sailing along the Tsugaru Strait. The Tsugaru Strait is a non-territorial strait and therefore, international ships such as naval ships have the rights of navigation, China s defence ministry said in a statement on its website. The activities of China s warship are in line with international laws and Japan has ulterior motives with its accusations and hyping up of the situation. China and Japan have long had disputes over maritime issues, such as claims over islands in the East China Sea and South China Sea. (RTRS) China probes bus funding: Chines authorities have launched an investigation into the fundraising practises of a firm behind a much-hyped futuristic bus that was supposed to glide over traffic jams but never got off the ground. Footage of a prototype of the trafficstraddling vehicle driving down a short track in northern Hebei province while two cars drove underneath attracted global attention in August last year. But many doubted the project s feasibility and Chinese media questioned its sources of financing. Beijing police on Sunday said the project s investor, the online lending firm Huaying Kailai, was being investigated in connection with illegal fundraising. The police statement said 32 people, including a person surnamed Bai, have been detained. Documents with the Beijing government show that Huaying s founder, surnamed Bai, owns 90 percent of the company manufacturing the straddling bus, TEB Tech. The police said it was seeking to recover the funds involved in this case and protect investors legal rights and interests. But police did not provide further details about the allegations. The electric vehicle, first proposed in 2010, needed at least two lanes to operate and an additional lane to allow traffic to pass, according to TEB. The bus was designed to carry up to 1,400 passengers at a top speed of 60 kms per hour (37 miles per hour), TEB has said although videos only showed it moving slowly. Chinese media say the project is being shelved. (AFP)

16 INTERNATIONAL 16 World News Roundup Subcontinent Home US drone kills 4 Lanka ends Tamil port occupation COLOMBO, July 4, (Agencies): Sri Lanka s military said Tuesday it has ended its occupation of a major fishing harbour after 27 years and allowed Tamil civilians in the former war zone to take back their land. Security forces withdrew from the Mayliddy harbour in the Jaffna peninsula on Monday, bowing to the long-standing demands of fishermen and their families from the minority Tamil community who have been living in camps for displaced people since June Accordingly, 187 families... are able to return to their original lands and resume their fishing livelihood after an absence of nearly 30 years, the army said in a statement. Sri Lanka s 37-year-long Tamil separatist war ended in 2009, but government forces still maintain a large presence in the former conflict zones and keep a close watch on the local Tamil population. The military, which is dominated by the island s Sinhalese majority, also runs hotels, transport services and other enterprises in competition with local Tamil businesses. The UN has been pressing Rajapakse Colombo to step up reconciliation efforts and reduce the military s presence in former war zones, including the Jaffna peninsula, the heartland of minority Tamils. Tamil rebels fighting for a separate homeland for the ethnic minority were defeated in a final military push after decades of conflict. Sri Lanka faced international censure during the regime of former president Mahinda Rajapakse, who refused to investigate allegations that up to 40,000 minority Tamil civilians perished in the final stages of the war. Drone strike kills 4: An Afghan official says a US drone strike has killed four Islamic State militants, including a senior commander. Waheedullah Kalimzai, the governor of the eastern Kunar province, said the strike on Monday killed Hazrat Gul and three other fighters in a mountainous area controlled by the militants. He said authorities learned of the deaths from intelligence reports. An Islamic State affiliate drawn largely from disgruntled former Taleban fighters operates in eastern Afghanistan, where it has clashed with Afghan forces as well as the more established Taleban. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, a senior police official was killed by a bomb planted in his car in Kabul, according to Basir Mujahid, a police spokesman. Modi tea stall tourist shrine : Now it is rusting hulk in a small town railway station, but Indian authorities want the stall where Prime Minister Narendra Modi sold tea with his father to become a global tourist magnet. The nationalist leader spoke often during his election campaign of his humble roots as a chai wallah s son and the authorities plan a $15 million project to spruce up those roots in his hometown of Vadnagar. Looking into the historic importance of the stall, we have decided to modernize it, Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said as he announced the project in the town in the western state of Gujarat. We want to restore the tea stall and develop it as a tourist spot. This is being done to put Vadnagar on the world tourism map, Sharma said in comments reported Tuesday. The tin sheet stall is currently unused and unloved on a Vadnagar railway station platform. Most of it is covered with rust. One of six children, Modi, now 66, is said to have spent much of his childhood helping his father Damodardas Mulchand Modi who died in Bangladesh find missing critic: A prominent critic of the Bangladesh government has been found safe a day after his family reported him missing, sparking fears he had been abducted, police said Tuesday. Farhad Mazhar, a well-known poet, writer and dissident, was found by police travelling on a coach around 200 kms (120 miles) from the capital Dhaka, where he lives. It is not clear what he was doing there, but police deputy inspector general Didar Ahmed told reporters it did not look like a case of abduction. Bangladesh s elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) began a trace of Mazhar s mobile phone after his wife said Monday she had received a call from him saying he was being taken away and feared for his life. She also told police she had received a ransom demand of 3.5 million taka ($43,300) for her husband. CCTV footage of Mazhar s neighbourhood in Dhaka showed him walking away with a man early Monday morning. Death toll in oil tanker fire hits 205: The death toll from an oil tanker explosion in central Pakistan last month has risen to at least 205 people, government officials said Monday, as more victims succumbed to their injuries. The tanker overturned on a main highway from Karachi to Lahore while carrying some 40,000 litres of fuel on June 25. It exploded minutes later as crowds from a nearby village gathered to scavenge for fuel, despite warnings by the driver as well as motorway police to stay away. The death toll from the tanker fire incident is now 205 after the expiry of more injured people, senior local administration Rao Tasleem in Bahawalpur, the nearest city, told AFP. Maldives prez loses majority: Maldives President Abdulla Yameen lost his majority in parliament after opposition lawmakers defected and launched a new attempt to unseat an ally accused of ignoring allegations of corruption, mismanagement and rights abuses, officials said. An exiled former leader called on Yameen to resign on Tuesday after 10 lawmakers from the president s own party joined opposition lawmakers in launching an impeachment motion against his close ally, Speaker of Parliament Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed The 10 defections saw Yameen lose his 48-seat majority in the 85-seat parliament, with a four-party opposition coalition now holding 45 seats. The reason for the defections was not immediately known. The largely Muslim island chain, which has a population of 400,000, has a reputation as a tourist paradise but has been mired in political unrest for years. Saudi Arabian royal Al-Waleed Bin Talal bin Abdulaziz al Saud (left), and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake leave after a meeting in Colombo on July 4. Saudi Arabian royal Al-Waleed Bin Talal bin Abdulaziz al Saud is on a short visit to hold talks with Sri Lankan leaders. (AFP) Bangladeshi workers take part in a search and rescue operation at a destroyed garment factory in Gazipur on July 4, after a boiler explosion at the complex on the outskirts of Dhaka. (AFP) Bangladesh factory blast death toll rises to 10 The death toll from a blast at a Bangladesh garment factory has risen to 10 after two victims died in hospital, authorities said Tuesday, warning there could be more casualties. Dozens of workers were inside the factory on the outskirts of Dhaka when the boiler exploded on Monday evening, causing a section of the sixstorey building to collapse. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (right), and Vice-President Leni Robredo (left), prepare to take their seats during the 70th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Air Force at Clark Freeport Zone on July 4, in Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines. (AP) Asia Implant sparks class action suit: A major Australian class action suit on behalf of more than 700 women was launched against global health-care giant Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday over an implant they claim causes serious side-effects including chronic pain. The lawsuit followed the establishment of an Australian parliamentary inquiry earlier this year over the mesh implanted through surgery to fix pelvic floor damage and treat urinary incontinence and prolapse. Similar legal action has also been taken in the United States and Britain. Johnson & Johnson faces 55,800 plaintiffs in pelvic mesh cases in the US alone, with the number of pending product liability lawsuits continues to increase for the products by its unit Ethicon, the firm said in a report to the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Shine Lawyers, which is representing the claimants in the Federal Court, allege that up to 8,000 women in Australia were believed to be impacted by the implants. Australian women have had their lives changed forever by these products, Shine Lawyers Special Counsel Rebecca Jancauskas said in a statement. (AFP) Bird strike grounds flight: Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia X said on Tuesday a flight from Australia to Malaysia was diverted and forced to land in Brisbane because an engine was damaged during take-off by what was thought to be a bird strike. AirAsia X Flight D7207 was carrying 345 passengers and 14 crew when it took off from the Gold Coast tourist hub in northern Queensland state en route to Kuala Lumpur late on Monday, it said. There were no reports of any injuries in The explosion, which occurred when most workers were off for the Eid holidays, is the latest disaster to hit the country s $30-billion garment industry. In April 2013, the nine-storey Rana Plaza factory complex collapsed, killing more than 1,100 people in one of the world s worst industrial disasters. We were meant to open the factory today after the Eid holiday so we Philippines Right decision: Duterte SC backs martial law MANILA, Philippines, July 4, (AFP): The Philippines Supreme Court on Tuesday endorsed President Rodrigo Duterte s enforcement of martial law across the southern third of the country, which he said was necessary to defeat Islamic State group-backed militants. Duterte imposed military rule across the insurgency-wracked region of Mindanao on May 23, hours after hundreds of gunmen waving black IS flags occupied parts of Marawi city and triggered deadly clashes that are yet to end. Opposition lawmakers questioned why a region of 20 million people had to go under military rule when fighters just struck Marawi, urging the Supreme Court to strike it down for its utter lack of sufficient factual basis. An overwhelming majority of the justices dismissed that petition, Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te told reporters, but he did not give reasons for their decision. Duterte stressed Tuesday he had made the right decision, saying martial law should have been declared a long time ago when militants began bombings, kidnappings and beheadings across Mindanao. For as long as there is one terrorist there in Marawi, this (threat) will not stop, he told reporters, warning of a potential spillover to other areas. Militants continue to occupy parts of Marawi, the Islamic heartland of the mainly Catholic country, despite a US-backed military offensive there that has claimed more than 460 lives the incident and AirAsia X did not respond immediately to a request for comment. AirAsia said in a statement on its official Twitter account the flight was diverted after experiencing a suspected bird strike to its starboard engine shortly after takeoff. Two bird remains were found on the Suu Kyi Jancauskas were checking the equipment yesterday, said operations director Mesba Faruqui. If it had happened today, God forbid, there might have been more casualties. The plant in the Gazipur industrial district is owned by textiles manufacturer Multifabs, which makes clothing for brands including Littlewoods and Aldi, according to its website. (AFP) and displaced nearly 400,000 people. Duterte said when he declared martial law the militants had attacked Marawi as part of a plan to establish a province for IS in the southern Philippines, which has endured decades of deadly conflict involving communist and Muslim separatist rebels. In their court petition, opposition lawmakers warned martial law would open the door to repression and atrocities seen during the 20-year rule of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos that ended with a People Power revolution in During the Marcos dictatorship, thousands of suspected communist and Muslim insurgents, as well as his critics, were jailed, tortured or killed, according to historians. When Duterte announced martial law, he praised Marcos s version while vowing his own would be harsh. Duterte also warned martial law could be extended beyond 60 days and expanded across the country if he felt it necessary. I urge you to remain steadfast and alert as martial law in Mindanao will remain in effect to counter the persistent threat of terrorism and insurgency, he told troops. As part of his martial law measures, Duterte allowed security forces to detain suspects for up to three days without prior court orders. The government has detained 66 people using these powers for their links to the Marawi conflict, including the parents of brothers who are key militant leaders. runway, it said. (RTRS) Myanmar urged to protect free speech: The European Union on Monday urged Myanmar to protect journalists from intimidation, arrest or prosecution after several cases of reporters running into trouble with the law, including three detained by the army last week. The three reporters were accused of breaching the colonial-era Unlawful Associations Act after covering the burning of drugs by the rebel Ta ang National Liberation Army to mark International Day Against Drug Abuse. Journalists and rights groups say that over a year since democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi s National League for Democracy came to power, the gains made in press freedom since the end of decades of strict military rule risk being reversed. (RTRS) Gujarat upgrades Women leading revamp of slums AHMEDABAD, India, July 4, (RTRS): When Ramilaben Arvind studied the plan to move out of her one-room home in a congested slum into a modern apartment for no extra cost in India s Ahmedabad city, she immediately agreed. But first she had to get 67 other Modi families to say yes. Arvind, head of the slum s community organisation, had to convince residents to let their homes be demolished, to move elsewhere for two years, and trust that city officials and the developer would deliver flats at the same location at no cost. It was difficult not everyone trusted the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation or the builder. Or me, she said, standing in the apartment she moved into two months ago. I had to spend a lot of time with each one of them, begging, pleading, even threatening. I even told them: if you don t get the home as promised, you can take my home. Arvind s home is among the more than 3,500 slum homes in Ahmedabad that have been redeveloped as part of a state programme to upgrade cities. A further 4,000 slum homes are being redeveloped through a partnership of the city, builders and the community. While previous programmes to upgrade slums generally entailed relocating unwilling residents to often badly built housing on the outskirts of the city, the 2010 policy encouraged in-situ redevelopment or rehousing residents in the same spot. Policies Slum rehabilitation policies have failed elsewhere because developers and residents could not agree terms. Ahmedabad has succeeded by involving slum residents and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and by increasing the area that developers can build, allowing taller, denser buildings, part of which can be sold at market rates to recover costs. Ahmedabad city has a long history of working with NGOs on slum projects, so it is only natural that they are involving them in this, said Chirayu Bhatt at the Center for Environmental Planning and Technology. Now, even developers are engaging with NGOs, and that is instrumental in moving these projects forward. About a third of India s 1.25 billion population lives in cities, with the numbers rising every year as tens of thousands of people leave villages to seek better prospects. Up to 37 million households a quarter of the country s urban population live in informal housing including slums because of a critical shortage of affordable housing. India has a shortage of about 20 million urban homes, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made affordable housing a priority, setting a 2022 target for Housing for All. Goal Upgrading slums would help meet that goal, but developers elsewhere have balked at terms, or residents have held back, fearful they may lose their homes. Involving non-profit organisations has worked for Ahmedabad, the economic hub of western Gujarat state. We were involved right from the start, coordinating with city officials and developers, and making sure residents had a say, said Bharati Bhonsale, a programme manager at Mahila Housing Trust (MHT), a non-profit focused on women. Because residents already knew us and trusted us, the process was far quicker and easier, she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. MHT sees women residents as essential to enabling upgrades and redevelopment. It trains a woman like Arvind in each slum to be a community leader, educating her on issues and rights, on dealing with city officials and completing paperwork. Women are the most affected by the housing situation, by the lack of facilities, so they are more invested in any process that can lead to better housing, said Bhonsale. When the process involves just adding facilities, women will say yes even without consulting their husbands. When it involves a demolition, a temporary relocation the men make the decision, but it s the women who convince them to say yes. The new apartments that Arvind and her neighbours moved into are 28 square metre (300 sq ft) each, comprising two rooms, a toilet and a kitchenette.

17 INTERNATIONAL 17 Lat/Am Mexican artist Cuevas dead Venezuela opposition sets a symbolic vote on constitution CARACAS, Venezuela, July 4, (Agencies): Venezuela s opposition said Monday it will hold a symbolic referendum to give voters the opportunity to reject President Nicolas Maduro s plans to rewrite the constitution. The plan announced by National Assembly President Julio Borges is a dramatic escalation of the opposition s effort to fight Maduro s proposal. Borges said that the vote would be held July 16 two weeks before Maduro is asking Venezuelans to Ortega go to the polls to choose delegates for a special assembly to overhaul the charter. We want the people to decide, Borges told a crowd of opposition leaders gathered in eastern Caracas. Today we re united in a single bloc to defend our constitution. Protests against Maduro have swept across Venezuela the past three months, leaving at least 80 people dead and hundreds more jailed or injured, and the opposition-controlled legislature has embraced an agenda of civil disobedience. Meanwhile, Venezuela s chief prosecutor faced a court hearing Tuesday over alleged misconduct in what her allies say is punishment for challenging the government over the country s deadly political crisis. Luisa Ortega, 59, is the most senior figure to defy President Nicolas Maduro as he fends off opposition efforts to remove him from power in the volatile oilexporting nation. Her stand has raised the prospect of a split in the government camp that could tip the balance in a power struggle. Mexican artist Cuevas dead: Mexican artist Jose Luis Cuevas, a leader of a movement that broke with the nationalist muralists of the 1920s and 30s, died Monday aged 83, the government said. On Twitter, President Enrique Pena Nieto said Cuevas would be forever remembered as synonymous with freedom, creation and universality. In both painting and sculpture, Cuevas rebelled against the muralists who came to prominence after the Mexican Revolution, such as Diego Rivera, who in their work stressed Mexico s workers, indigenous people and farmers. Cuevas was a leader of the so-called Breakaway Generation. His first solo exhibit was in 1959 in Buenos Aires, where he became good friends with the novelist Jose Luis Borges. Costa Rica, Nicaragua battle: The International Court of Justice has begun hearings in a maritime and land boundary dispute between Costa Rica and Nicaragua involving their Pacific and Caribbean borders. Costa Rica started presenting its case Monday, asking the UN s highest court to define the borders between the two countries off both their eastern and western shores. Nicaragua starts presenting its case Thursday at the court, based in The Hague, Netherlands. The countries have been arguing for years notably over construction work near the remote mouth of the San Juan River that marks their Caribbean border. The UN court ruled in 2015 that Nicaragua violated Costa Rica s territorial sovereignty by establishing a military camp and digging channels on a small chunk of land there. Another Temer ally held: Police in Brazil arrested a close ally of President Michel Temer on Monday on suspicion of obstruction of justice for allegedly trying to block plea bargain deals that could further sink the country s scandalplagued administration. Geddel Vieira Lima was a minister for legislative affairs until November, when he was forced to resign after another minister accused him of influence peddling. He has been a close friend of Temer s for decades and is implicated in a series of corruption scandals. Federal prosecutors said in a statement that Lima tried to silence former lower house Speaker Eduardo Cunha and broker Lucio Funaro, who worked as fundraisers for Temer s centrist Brazilian Democratic Movement Party. Prosecutors accuse Lima of paying hush money. Inmates who escaped from the Las Gaviotas Male Juvenile Detention Centre during a riot are seen on the roof of a nearby warehouse in Guatemala City on July 3. Two inmates of the juvenile correctional facility died after a mutiny, according to the Social Welfare Secretariat of the Presidency, the institution in charge of the centre. (AFP) Africa Bashir plans Russia trip: Sudan s President Omar al-bashir will visit Moscow for the first time in August following an invitation from his Russian counterpart to discuss regional and international issues, the foreign minister said Monday. The announcement of Bashir s Russia visit comes days before the United States is expected to announce if it will permanently lift a 20-year trade embargo on Khartoum. President Bashir will visit Russia in the second half of August following an invitation from President Vladimir Putin, Sudan s Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said in a statement. The visit aims to enhance bilateral relations in the areas of economy, commerce and politics, he said. Russia has been a key supporter of Sudan in the UN Security Council and other international organisations, and there has been continuous cooperation between the two countries at all levels, Ghandour said. Meanwhile, war crimes judges will Thursday hand down an eagerly anticipated ruling on whether South Africa flouted international law by failing to arrest Sudanese President Omar al- Bashir in 2015, wanted for genocide in Darfur. The landmark decision will serve as a blueprint for future cooperation between countries and the International Criminal Court, experts say. (AFP) Leader sells cows to fund AU: As the African Union struggles to get members to pay dues, Zimbabwe s President Robert Mugabe took the bull by the horns and sold his own cattle for a sizeable donation to the body. Mugabe handed over $1 million (880,000 euros) at the start of the AU s bi-annual summit in Addis Ababa, after auctioning off 300 of his own cattle, as well as those belonging to some Mugabe Bashir of his supporters. The gift was a bid to show his resolve for making the AU self-supporting as the tricky questioning of financing tops the agenda. As an African and a farmer, the donation of cattle came naturally to me, given that our continent is rich in cattle and cattle are held as a store of wealth, said Mugabe, who has led Zimbabwe since its independence from white minority rule in (AFP) 14 missing in Ghana: Rescuers in Ghana are racing against time to find 14 missing miners trapped after an illegal pit collapsed in the country s south officials said Monday. Police said they are still searching for survivors in Prestea-Nsuta, a town in Ghana s Western Region, after an abandoned mine caved in on Sunday. We can t confirm if they are dead or not, Nsuta District Police Commander Superintendent Atsu Dzinaku told AFP. They were coming out to find some food to eat, on coming (up) they heard a noise inside, then the pit caved in, Dzinaku said, adding that five miners made it out of the collapse safely. So those coming up, they were lucky but those down...they were trapped. We are expecting they are still there. We have not retrieved any of them. (AFP) 8 UN workers seized: The United Nations says unknown gunmen seized eight foreign and local contractors outside a civilian protection site in South Sudan s capital before releasing them two days later. The abduction highlights the insecurity in the East African nation as civil war moves well into its fourth year. The UN mission in South Sudan says the employees of a private company contracted to a non-governmental organization were seized Friday in Juba while drilling for water and were released unharmed Sunday. Four of the eight employees were foreigners; the UN did not give their nationalities. The UN says the release followed negotiations led by South Sudan s security services. (AP) Massive China project: The UN deputy secretary-general on Monday urged African leaders to take advantage of a massive Chinese government infrastructure project that has made the United States and others uneasy that Beijing is using it to gain political influence. In her speech to heads of state at an African Union summit, Amina Mohammed praised China s Belt and Road initiative, which aims to build a new Silk Road of ports, railways and roads to expand trade across Asia, Africa and Europe. China s largest-ever foreign initiative calls for global partners to invest more in Africa s infrastructure. China in 2009 surpassed the United States as Africa s top trade partner. This is an opportunity not just to provide alternatives to silencing the guns for our people but one that will keep our assets, both human and natural, on the continent building our tomorrow today, said Mohammed, a former Nigerian government minister. (AP)

18 INTERNATIONAL 18 World News Roundup In this April 10, 2017 fi le photo, Troika, a self-driving robot made by LG Electronics, moves around for visitors at the Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea. (Inset): In this fi le photo, Yu Kyungman (left), LG Electronics lead engineer for the team that developed the cleaning robot, follows an LG Electronics cleaning robot at the Incheon International Airport. (AP) Tech Troika fast learner Robots to aid tourists, clean S. Korea airport INCHEON, South Korea, July 4, (AP): Robots will start roaming South Korea s largest airport this summer, helping travelers find their boarding gates and keep its floors clean as the country prepares for its first Winter Olympics game. Starting this month, Troika, a self-driving robot made by LG Electronics, will rove the Incheon International Airport, telling travelers how long it takes to get to boarding gates and escorting them to their flights. A jumbo cleaning robot will help cleaning staff swab the wide expanses of floors in the airport west of Seoul. Troika, about the size of a young teen, is equipped with a rectangular display on its front that looks like a giant smartphone screen and can show flight information, an airport map and weather data. Its partly rounded head has a flat touchscreen face that displays blinking or smiling eyes or information. The guiding bot responds to its name. Travelers can insert their tickets into its scanner to get flight information, and Troika will then ask if they want to be escorted to their gates, warn- Kim ing laggards to Please stay closer so I can see you. Troika s debut piqued the interest of many in the airport. Heads swiveled and children approached with curiosity as the 140-cm (4 foot 6 inch) robot with its white body and black screens glided through the terminal. Robotics is gaining ground in South Korea, where many big businesses are automating factory production lines. South Korean researchers have won awards in international robot competitions. In 2015, South Korea s Team KAIST beat the US and Japan to win the DARPA Robotics Challenge with a humanoid that completed tasks without losing balance. But South Korea has been slow to introduce human-like robots or interactive robots in public places like hotels or stores, unlike its neighboring Japan where Softbank s humanoid Pepper is no stranger. Believe Incheon International Airport Corp believes it is the first to introduce such service-oriented robots in a South Korean public space. Another state-owned airport operator, Korea Airports Corp, which operates 15 international airports in South Korea but not Incheon airport, also has teamed up with local companies to introduce air-purifying robots to measure air quality and clean terminals. Incheon International Airport Corp. said in a statement that it does not expect the robots to replace human workers, but just to help, especially with overnight shifts and physically demanding tasks. Future plans include deploying robots to advise travelers about items that are banned on flights, serve food in airport lounges and carry cargo. South Korea expects the robots to burnish its reputation as a technology leader when the country hosts the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. But its maker LG is still working out the kinks. Troika can recognize its location inside the airport terminal and navigate around passers-by and obstacles, said Kim Hyoungrock, the chief research engineer at LG Electronics who oversaw the robot s development. It s meant to be a fast learner: By July, Troika will be speaking English, Korean, Chinese and Japanese, Kim said. However the robot can only perform a few simple tasks it has been programmed to carry out. During a recent test run it failed to recognize some voice commands, such as when Amethyst Ma of San Jose, California, asked how she and her kids could catch a bus to the city. Still, such machines could be quite useful for overseas travelers, Ma said. It s becoming common in a lot of public places so that s why I came to it right away, she said. It s a source of information, especially if we don t speak the local language. In this image taken from video footage run by China s CCTV via AP Video, a Long March 5 rocket lifts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern China s Hainan province on July 2. Authorities say the Long March-5 Y2 launched had an abnormality during the fl ight after what appeared to be a successful liftoff. The failure of the Long March 5 rocket deals a rare setback to China s highly successful space program, one that will almost certainly delay plans to send a spacecraft to bring back samples from the moon later this year, along with other upcoming missions. Chinese characters at both reads Long March-5 Y2 rocket life off. (AP) Blackburn Discovery Escobedo Frogs flourished after dinos: A massive asteroid strike that wiped out the dinosaurs millions of years ago created room for frogs to colonize the Earth, said a study Monday that shows how frogs became among the most diverse vertebrates in the world. As many as 10 types of frogs are believed to have survived the mass extinction some 66 million years ago, which erased three-quarters of life on Earth, said the report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Of these survivors, just three major kinds of frogs went on to diversify and populate the planet. Some 6,700 known frog species exist today. Nearly nine in percent of modern frogs can trace their roots back to these three lineages of hardy ancestors. Frogs have been around for well over 200 million years, but this study shows it wasn t until the extinction of the dinosaurs that we had this burst of frog diversity that resulted in the vast majority of frogs we see today, said study co-author David Blackburn, associate curator of amphibians and reptiles at the Florida Museum of Natural History. This finding was totally unexpected. Until now, scientists believed that most modern frog species emerged at a steady pace between 66 million and 150 million years ago. But the latest research shows frogs burst onto the scene more like an explosion, as the tiny amphibians swept into habitats left vacant by other creatures. For the study, researchers in China and the United States compiled the largest set of frog genetic data ever evaluated. Genetic samples were taken from 156 frog species and combined with previously published data on 145 more species. Past studies looked at five to 12 genes, while the current one examined variations in 95 genes, offering a much more detailed Space Lunar robot put to test on Mount Etna Galileo failing clocks woes ID d PARIS, July 4, (Agencies): Investigators have uncovered the problems behind the failure of atomic clocks onboard satellites belonging to the beleaguered Galileo satnav system, the European Commission said Monday. For months, the European Space Agency which runs the programme has been investigating the reasons behind failing clocks onboard some of the 18 navigation satellites it has launched for Galileo, Europe s alternative to America s GPS system. Each Galileo satellite has four ultraaccurate atomic timekeepers, two that use rubidium and two hydrogen maser. But a satellite needs just one working clock for the satnav to work the rest are spares. Three rubidium and six hydrogen maser clocks were not working, with one satellite sporting two failed timekeepers. The main causes of the malfunctions have been identified and measures have been put in place to reduce the possibility of further malfunctions of the satellites already in space, commission spokeswoman Lucia Caudet said. ESA found after an investigation that its rubidium clocks had a faulty component that could cause a short circuit, according to European sources. The investigation also found that operations involving hydrogen maser clocks need to be controlled and closely monitored, the same sources said. The agency has taken measures to correct both sets of problems, the sources added, with the agency set to replace the faulty component in rubidium clocks on satellites not yet in orbit and improve hydrogen maser clocks as well. The supply of the first Galileo services has not and will not be affected by the malfunctioning of the atomic clocks or by other corrective measures, Caudet said, and that the malfunctions have not affected service performance. The Galileo system went live in December last year, providing initial services with a weak signal, having taken 17 years at more than triple the original budget. The civilian-controlled service is seen as strategically important for Europe, which relies on two military-run rivals GPS and Russia s GLONASS. look at how individual species relate to one another. Researchers also studied fossil records to determine when different kinds of frogs likely diverged from one another. Researchers found evidence of not one China rocket failure likely to set back next space missions 0BEIJING, July 4, (AP): The failure of China s Long March 5 rocket deals a rare setback to China s highly successful space program that could delay plans to bring back moon samples and offer rival India a chance to move ahead in the space rankings. Experts say the still unexplained mishap shows that for all its triumphs, China s space program is not immune to the tremendous diffi culties and risks involved in working with such cutting-edge technology. China s approach has been slow and prudent, trying to avoid this kind of failure, even though they knew it was going to occur sooner or later, Joan Johnson-Freese, an expert on China s space program at the US Naval War College, wrote in an . Authorities say the Long March 5 Y2 that took off Sunday in the second launch of a Long March 5 rocket, suffered an abnormality during the fl ight after what appeared to be a successful liftoff from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in the southern island province of Hainan. The incident is under investigation and the authorities have yet to comment on possible causes, or any knock-on effects on the program as a whole. In a testimony to the high respect China s program now commands, the but three explosions of new frog species, on different continents, and all concentrated in the aftermath of the mass die-off of most dinosaurs and many other species about 66 million years ago, said the report. Two of the three surviving lineages Handout undated photograph distributed by the Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) showing human remains from noble Aztecs who lived in today s Colhuacatonco neighborhood --now in the Historical Center of Mexico City. (AFP) failure drew widespread commentary in the space community, including from SpaceX founder and chief executive Elon Musk, who tweeted Sunday: Sorry to hear about China launch failure today. I know how painful that is to the people who designed & built it. Nicknamed Chubby 5 for its massive, 5-meter (16-foot) girth, the Long March-5 is China s largest and most brawny launch vehicle, capable of carrying 25 tons of payload into lowearth orbit and 14 tons to the more distant geostationary transfer orbit in which a satellite orbits constantly above a fi xed position on the earth s surface That s more than double that of the Long March 7, the backbone of the Chinese launching fl eet, making it the linchpin for launch duties requiring such massive heft such as interplanetary travel. First among those is the mission slated for November by the Chang e 5 probe to land a rover on the moon before returning to Earth with samples the fi rst time that has been done since China s most technically demanding mission to date, it had been put off before because of funding and then technology, Johnson- Freese said. ESA boasts that Galileo has the most accurate atomic clocks ever used for geolocalisation. Similar to traditional clocks relying on the tick of a pendulum, atomic timekeepers also count regular oscillations, in this case switches between energy states of atoms stimulated by heat or light. Also: MOUNT ETNA, Italy: A robot wheels across a rocky, windswept landscape that looks like the surface of some distant planet from a science fiction film. But it is not in outer space, it s on the slopes of Europe s most active volcano. Mount Etna, in Sicily, is a test bed for the approximately three-foot high, fourwheeled machine ahead of a future mission to the moon. It is being conducted by the German Aerospace Centre, the agency which runs Germany s space programme. The programme has enlisted experts from Germany, Britain, the United States and Italy to research ROBEX (Robotic Exploration of Extreme Environments) with the aim of improving robotic equipment that will be used in space. This is aimed at simulating a future, hypothetical landing mission on the moon or Mars and they use a lot of robots which are there to transport and install different instruments, said Boris Behncke, a volcanologist from the National Vulcanology Institute in Catania, near Mount Etna. Microhylidae and Natatanura came out of Africa. The third, Hyloidea, spread throughout what became South America. (AFP) Dwelling for Aztec survivors: Archeologists in Mexico said Monday they have unearthed what they believe was a dwelling where upper class Aztecs who resisted the Spanish conquest tried to preserve their customs and traditions. The structure, where Aztecs were also buried, is part of an old neighborhood in Mexico City called Colhuacatonco, famous for being a place where the Aztecs resisted the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, the National Institute of Anthropology said in a statement. The new find buttresses the argument that Colhuacatonco put up passive resistance after the fall of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire, said Maria de la Luz Escobedo, the archeologist in charge of the project. It is very likely that first and second generation descendants of Tenochtitlan people quietly carried out the burials of seven people (three adults and four children aged one to eight) using the traditions of their ancestors, she was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the anthropology institute. (AFP)

19 Film Australia Day a powerful, multi-character drama Tunisia s Ben Attia to direct new ISIS-themed drama LOS ANGELES, July 4, (RTRS): Tunisian auteur Mohamed Ben Attia, whose first feature Hedi won best debut and best actor honors at the 2016 Berlin Film Festival, is set to shoot a timely drama titled Weldi, about a Tunisian father coming to terms with his son joining ISIS. Paris-based Luxbox has come on board to handle world sales outside France. Shooting is expected to start in October in Tunisia on Weldi, which like Hedi is being produced by Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha s Nomadis Images, with Belgium s Dardenne brothers as coproducers through their Les Films du Fleuve shingle. France s BAC Films has boarded as the film s French distributor. Further financing is being provided by the Tunisian Ministry of Culture, France s Aide aux Cinemas du Monde fund, and the Doha Film Institute. Bouchocha said she is hoping to close a TV pre-sale on the pic soon. In his first interview about Weldi, Ben Attia said that the film s main character is an ordinary man whose whole life has been dedicated to his work and to his son. Although he must grapple with his son s choice to become an Islamic militant, the film is not about ISIS, nor about the reasons that lead our youth to leave, Ben Attia said. Rather, it s about the meaning of being a father. Ben Attia said that while he was prepping Hedi, which centers on a young man liberated from family and societal obligations by a freespirited woman in post-arab Spring Tunisia, he was struck by a radio report on a father who had left to look for his son in Syria. At the time, Tunisian youths joining ISIS had started to become a common occurrence - nearly banal, Ben Attia said. But what moved me in his story was the end or disappearance of his paternity. Casting for Weldi is underway. Ben Attia said that, as with Hedi, he would mostly choose non-professional actors or even people who are not related to cinema. An ambitious and powerful, if necessarily convenient, multicharacter drama in the mold of 2006 Oscar-winner Crash, Australia Day is a meditation on cultural diversity and the questioning of national identity. As such, it holds a mirror up to contemporary Australian society and offers those unfamiliar with its tensions a relatively factual dramatic experience. Festivals would do well to find a berth for the film, and distributors around the world would offer audiences the opportunity to learn about a darker facet of life in the Lucky Country. Australia Day is the nation s sometimes controversial national celebration. Marking the start of European settlement, it has evolved to represent everything from chest-pumping nationalism to citizenship ceremonies to a reflection of the impact that settlement has had on Australia s indigenous population. These facets of the day s activities form the subtext of the busy screenplay. In a lower-working-class Brisbane suburb, three teenagers are independently running for their lives. Fourteen-year-old Aboriginal April Tucker (Miah Madden) has just crawled out of a wrecked car she and her sister Katee, who died in the crash, stole to escape their abusive father. Seventeen-year-old Persian boy Sami Ghaznavi (Elias Anton) has been mistakenly fingered for drugging and raping a white girl, Chloe (Isabelle Cornish), and has been abducted by her vengeful older brother Dean (Sean Keenan). Also fleeing is 19-year-old Chinese woman Lan (Jenny Wu), whose parents back home had enrolled her in an English course that turned out to be a sham and landed her in a brothel against her will. Each story ducks and weaves its way to intertwining climaxes. April is being pursued by Sonya Mackenzie (Shari Sebbens), a career cop of indigenous heritage who s familiar with her case and both frustrated and now guilty at her inability to get the girls away from their dad. Mackenzie, in turn, is being warned off the case by Det. Sgt Mitchell Collyer (Matthew le Nevez). There s friction between Dean and his younger brother Jason over what to do with Sami, even as Lan is scooped up off the street by beleaguered and increasingly desperate fourth-generation cattle farmer Terry Friedman (Aussie institution Bryan Brown). Variety Features WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 2017 LOS ANGELES: War for the Planet of the Apes could see an opening in the $55 million to $65 million range, according to early industry tracking. That s in about the same range as the two previous installments in the rebooted franchise s Rise of the Planet of the Apes opened to $54.8 million domestic, while 2014 s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes made $72.6 million during its first weekend. The two movies combined have earned nearly $1.2 billion worldwide. Dawn leaned more on the international market, which accounted for over $500 million of its total take. That s a trend that s played out in recent years that War is likely to follow. The latest Apes movie is entering a summer season that has not been too kind to franchise sequels. Movies including Pirates of the Caribbean and Transformers have had to bank heavily on overseas markets like China to compensate for their big budgets. But, unlike those two movies, War has been generally well-reviewed, which could help it build more positive buzz. (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: Disney s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales opened at No. 1 in Japan over the July 1-2 weekend the best start for a foreign film so far this year. Bowing on 989 screens on the first day of the month, when tickets are discounted at theaters across the country, the fifth installment in the Pirates series earned $9.25 million on 771,516 admissions. That was nearly the same number of admissions as for the previous installment, 2011 s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which finished with $78 million in Japan. At No. 2 was Toho s Mumon The Land of Stealth, Yoshihiro Nakamura s period actioner. Starring Satoshi Ohno of mega-band Arashi, the film notched $4.3 million on 404,500 admissions. With Arashi fans driving the box office, the film is expected to finish near the $25-million mark. (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: In accepting their Crystal Globes at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival on Monday for the remarkable collaboration that produced a dozen films over 21 years, screenwriter Paul Laverty joked that he s not sure how much director Ken Loach has understood him all this time. The strong Glasgow accent is something Laverty shares with some of Loach s characters in Sweet Sixteen, one of their first outings and a tough, tender comingof-age story about teens facing miserable odds in life. When the film won the This image released by A24 shows Rooney Mara in a scene from the film A Ghost Story. (AP) Film Ellipsis improvised, quickly shot drama Ghost Story casts a bizarre spell By Jake Coyle fatal, off-screen car crash interrupts the picturesque, suburban lives of a young married couple A in David Lowery s A Ghost Story, marooning the deceased husband musician (Casey Affleck) in a kind of purgatory as a watchful, mostly benign ghost. The movie is, inevitably, the one where Casey Affleck spends most of the movie with a bedsheet over his head. With two holes for eyes, he resembles a lastminute Halloween costume. Such a simple, sheeted specter as Hollywood ghosts go is tantamount to a radical deviation from prevailing orthodoxy. There s no CGI. Nobody gets slimed. A shirtless Patrick Swayze doesn t make a single pot. No, the most audacious display of cinematic extreme in A Ghost Story is a scene where the ghost watches his widowed wife (Rooney Mara), in a fit of grief and hunger, eat pie. For five minutes. A Ghost Story may sound like a punchline. Such is the curse of movies with covered-up movie stars and marathon pie-eating scenes. But it s an exceedingly earnest, meditative movie about big ideas the nature of time, life s impermanence that goes well beyond the intentionally dime-store costume design. It s an often transfixing, frequently unsatisfying fable that blends the fantastical with the banal in a way that the naturalistic/surrealistic Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weeresethakul might if someone were to hand him a bedsheet. Lowery shot the film secretly in between making Disney movies: after directing the rebooted Pete s Dragon and before developing a new Peter Pan. It was designed like an audacious indie experiment, made with little expectation of triumph, that reteamed the stars (Affleck, Mara) of Lowery s lyrical outlaw romance Ain t Them Bodies Saints. And A Ghost Story, with fragmented scenes and leaps through time, does have the electric feel of something made off the radar and without a net. The early scenes between the couple known only as M (her) and C (him) have a cosmic backdrop, interspersed with shots of the sky at night, the humming of a quivering score of violins and the lush sunlight of Texas golden hour. A strange noise wakes them at night, and Lowery lingers on the couple as they hold each other in Ohno bed, kiss softly and drift back to sleep. But on a beautiful, buzzing morning, we find the husband slumped against the wheel outside their home. In the morgue, Lowery holds his shot on the body after the wife and doctors depart. A few moments later, the sheet-covered body sits up, walks down the hall, opts not to step into the light, and meanders his way home. His purpose is far from clear, even to himself. He patiently, stoically observes his wife s grief. Time moves slowly and then in giant leaps. She eventually moves out, but he stays. A family moves in. Years pass. It s the lost ghost an increasingly sad figure, even without facial expression who s haunted. When he looks out the window, he sees another ghost in the neighboring house. They communicate telepathically, with subtitles for us mortals. It can t even remember why it s there. Increasingly grand jumps through time follow, beyond the house s destruction and back to the pioneer family who first rested there. Flashbacks The question at the center of A Ghost Story is: What endures? And if nothing does, what s it all for? The centerpiece scene, one of the flashbacks, is a party at their house where one friend (the actor and musician Will Oldham) delivers a dark and searing monologue where he declares that everything you ve ever stood for, everything you ve made will go. Children will die. The pages of books will burn. A Ghost Story makes a gentle peace with its own futility. It, too, will one day perish, and it s perhaps fitting to contemplate such inevitable ends at this particular moviegoing moment when cinema often feels like a wayward ghost of itself. It s possible to admire A Ghost Story for its pursuit of something profound, while being totally unmoved by it. Just as with Ain t Them Bodies Saints, there s a layer of calculated artifice that is draped like a bedsheet over the whole enterprise. Little of it hits with any feeling, and the long pie-eating (or not) shots only allow time to ponder the filmmaker s designs, which are always front and center. A Ghost Story is what it says it is, and it may well haunt you. It won t scare you; it doesn t even say boo. But glowing light and ghostly soulfulness linger on like Loach screenplay prize at Cannes in 2002, Laverty said, British critics complained they couldn t understand a word of the dialogue and had to resort to reading the French subtitles. (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: The estate of J.R.R. Tolkien has settled an $80 million lawsuit against Warner Bros a quiet, scratching presence that won t leave you. A Ghost Story, an A24 release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for brief language and a disturbing image. Running time: 87 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four. Before Sunrise goes Down Under in the modest yet affecting Ellipsis, during which two strangers discover the wonders of nocturnal Sydney and a little bit about each other. This improvised, quickly shot drama reps the feature film debut of David Wenham, working with executive producer Robert Connolly, who gave the actor his first short directing assignment in 2013 s Tim Winton s The Turning. Their reputations Wenham was featured in The Lord of the Rings franchise and 300 will get the film on the festival circuit, though theatrical will prove elusive. While crossing an intersection with their heads buried in their mobile phone screens in Sydney s bustling Central Business District, Jasper (Benedict Samuel) literally careens into Viv (Emily Barclay). Her phone shatters and he offers to pay for the damage, though the shopkeeper they find can t promise a fix until eight the next morning. Cut to some time together between these likable strangers. Turns out Viv s on her way out of the country to join the man to whom she s engaged, which underscores the fleeting nature of their encounter. And Jasper? He seems to be just a nice guy, inherently trustworthy and up for an adventure on a warm December night. The wanderings lead to encounters with a parade of affable and multicultural eccentrics (Sydney has lots of those), perhaps the most memorable of whom are a mismatched but oddly appropriate pair of sex shop workers (Rome Duncan, Paul Anderson) in a 24-hour Kings Cross establishment. I m just a front-line humble porn peddler love preacher in a crazy, twisted world, proclaims one, and this is as good a motto for the easygoing Australian culture as any. Ellipsis won t set the world on fire and wasn t conceived to. Wenham saw it as an experiment in collaborative performance, workshopping it with his leads in three days and shooting in just seven in and around his own downtown neighborhood. (Agencies) over the licensing of online games, slot machines and other gamblingrelated merchandise based on the author s books The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The settlement by the Tolkien estate and book publisher HarperCollins with the Time Warner Inc unit, New Line Cinema and Saul Zaentz Co, which hold various marketing rights, was disclosed in a court filing on Friday in Los Angeles. It also resolves counterclaims by Warner Bros and Zaentz. Terms were not disclosed. The parties are pleased that they have amicably resolved this matter and look forward to working together in the future, Warner Bros spokesman Paul McGuire said in a statement on Monday. (RTRS)

20 NEWS/FEATURES 20 People & Places Music Hadley quits Spandau Ballet Montreal Fest stacks deck with music icons LOS ANGELES, July 4, (RTRS): The Festival International de Jazz de Montreal is in the midst of celebrating its 38th year, and now enjoys the status of a summer destination for music lovers of all stripes. Running from June 28 through July 8, the fest will host more than 500 concerts featuring thousands of musicians in a variety of contexts and venues. While the indoor, ticketed shows are a splendid cross-section of jazz, blues, rock, and pop music, more than two-thirds of the events are on outdoor stages and free to all. Family-friendly without sacrificing the quality of performers, this year s festival has already showcased veteran jazz heroes Charles Lloyd and Jack DeJohnette, rock icon Bob Dylan, bluesmen Buddy Guy and Charlie Musselwhite, and electro-funk pioneers the Thievery Corporation. Balancing the festival program between solid local musicians, respected Canadian stalwarts (like singersongwriter Ron Sexsmith) and internationally acclaimed artists, the surplus of talent Dylan performing here is impressive. And while socially conscious musicians like up-and-coming trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire are well represented, a group of protesters supporting Black Lives Matter took over one of the outdoor stages on Sunday afternoon chanting Jazz Is Black, and objecting to last week s killing of a Haitian man, Pierre Coriolan, by Montreal police. Still, the emphasis on quality music was not deterred. Drummer Jack DeJohnette was feted with the festival s Miles Davis Award and, celebrating his 75th birthday, performed with his jazz-rock supergroup Hudson, featuring guitarist John Scofield, keyboard wizard John Medeski, and bassist Larry Grenadier. On the same bill, saxophonist Charles Lloyd dazzled the crowd with his own group of allstars including pianist Jason Moran, bassist Reuben Rogers, and drummer extraordinaire Eric Harland. Serenaded Mega-troubadour Bob Dylan was in and out of the Bell Centre in less than two hours, said nothing to the crowd, but still serenaded the appreciative Canadian audience with a selected array of old hits, recent compositions from his album Tempest, and several selections from the Great American Songbook including vintage compositions Autumn Leaves and That Old Black Magic. Elsewhere, celebrated jazz band the Bad Plus, in some of their last gigs with pianist Ethan Iverson, played three nights in a row at Le Gesu first as a trio, then with saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, and finally with guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel. Local pianist John Roney took on an imposing task by recreating Keith Jarrett s legendary 1975 performance, the Koln Concert, and succeeded greatly performing solo without a net. Saxophonist Donny McCaslin is still riding the wave after having performed on David Bowie s Blackstar album, and he performed a thrilling, late night set at Le Gesu. Bursting with energy, McCaslin s fusion band even played two Bowie tunes, Lazarus and Look Back in Anger. The Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir made a standout appearance Sunday night at the Maison Symphonique de Montreal, treating local fans with a spirited farewell show to vaunted choir director Trevor Payne. American recording artists Thievery Corporation, celebrating 20 years of music-making and a new album The Temple of I & I, got people up on their feet with their distinctive funk-dub-reggae hybrid. Showcasing several different singers and hip-hoppers, the band did especially well bringing out Boston-based rapper Mr. Lif. Proceedings Besides the live shows, award ceremonies and late-night jams, the festival also brings a cinematic angle to the proceedings: Sunday night s La La Land concert at the cavernous Wilfrid-Pelletier of Place des Arts, for example. Another crowd-pleasing success for the festival, the Damien Chazelle-directed film played in its entirety, while all of the music was performed by the Orchestre Metropolitain, conducted by Erik Ochsner. With an accompanying jazz ensemble playing alongside, it was quite a sight totaling around 80 musicians on the massive stage. Elsewhere in the visual program were also screenings of the short, animated film on the life of Montreal piano legend Oscar Peterson; a John Coltrane documentary, Chasing Trane narrated by Denzel Washington; and a new documentary on the softspoken guitar legend Bill Frisell, who also appeared at the festival for the 20th time. Playing in quiet tandem with bassist Thomas Morgan, the duo showcased material from their new album Small Town, including a hypnotic version of Goldfinger, and a plaintive Moon River for an encore. With another week to go, the festival anticipates good things from prog-rock rulers King Crimson, saxophonists Joshua Redman and Ravi Coltrane, singer Lizz Wright, soulman Charles Bradley, Melissa Etheridge, the O Jays, the Four Tops, and many more. Also: LONDON: Frontman Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet has announced that he has left the popular British electronic pop band. In an announcement on Twitter, Hadley said he will no longer be performing with the band in the future. Hadley offered no explanation for his departure but his announcement was followed by a statement from the rest of the group s members that they had decided to move on as a band. Much to our frustration, Tony had made it clear in September 2016 that he didn t want to work with the band anymore. This has not changed and 2015 was the last time we were able to perform or work with him, the group said on its website. Spandau Ballet, best known for their music in the 1980s, including hits True, Gold and Through the Barricades, has a history of tension between members. Most of their best-known songs were written by guitarist Gary Kemp, who received a larger cut of royalties than the other four members of the band. Hadley, Keeble and Norman lost a court battle in 1999 to claim some of those royalties. By 2009, the band had reunited to perform a soldout tour across Britain and Ireland. Indian Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan (left), and Anushka Sharma pose for a photograph during a promotional event for the forthcoming Hindi fi lm Jab Harry Met Sejal written and directed by Imtiaz Ali (center), in Mumbai on July 3. (AFP) Ryan Variety Jamaican singer Sean Paul performs during the Byblos International Festival, north of the Lebanese capital on July 3. (AFP) Menounos LOS ANGELES: Stevie Ryan, who rose to fame with her YouTube series Little Loca, has died. She was 33. The actress was discovered in her home on Saturday and pronounced dead at the scene. The Los Angeles County coroner s office has ruled her death a suicide by hanging. Ryan recently co-hosted Mentally Ch(ill), a podcast about depression. In last week s episode, she revealed that her grandfather had died on Thursday. Ryan also took to social media to grieve his death, writing, My dream man who I will only see in my dreams. I ll meet you in Percebo, soon. I love you my Papa. The YouTube personality, whose channel has 49,000 subscribers and millions of views, also used the video platform to share celebrity impressions. She also parodied pop culture figures on the VH1 sketch series Stevie TV, which was canceled after its second season. (RTRS) NEW YORK: Actor Donal Logue is asking for the public s help in locating his teenage daughter, who was last seen a week ago in New York City. The star of Fox s Gotham writes on Facebook that the net had been flung far and wide since 16-year-old Jade Logue disappeared. Logue says he has the New York Police Department, FBI and others involved. He asks that whoever may be with Jade to just drop her off. He says she ll be taken back with hugs and no questions asked. Jade Logue was last seen in Brooklyn on June 26. She is transgender and was previously known as Arlo Logue. (AP) ROME: Paolo Villaggio, a comic actor whose invented workplace characters interpreted Italians foibles, died Monday in Rome at 84. His children said Villaggio had been debilitated by complications of diabetes for some time. Music DJ Khaled scores another No. 1 album 4:44 boosts Tidal streaming site NEW YORK, July 4, (AFP): Jay-Z s upstart Tidal streaming service has enjoyed a surge of interest after the rap mogul released his latest album exclusively on the platform. Tidal which Jay-Z acquired in 2015 but trails far behind streaming leader Spotify as well as Apple Music has seen a jump in downloads coinciding with the release of Jay-Z s 4:44 album on Friday. Tidal on Friday and Saturday was the most downloaded app for iphones in the United States, jumping 163 places from Thursday, according to tracking service App Annie. It stood at number six on Monday, behind app stalwarts such as Instagram. 4:44, the first album in four years by the rapper who has devoted much of his energy to his business empire, came out to favorable reviews and a major buzz online over his unusually introspective lyricism. On the album, he apologizes to his wife, pop superstar Beyonce, for infidelity and reveals that his mother is a lesbian who struggled in the closet. Jay-Z chose to release 4:44 exclusively on Tidal, with the album promoted by telecom provider Sprint, which recently bought a one-third stake in the platform amid the rapid growth of streaming worldwide. Jay-Z has not revealed whether the album will remain a Tidal exclusive. Other stars including Beyonce who released their albums through Tidal eventually made them available for download on Apple s itunes or on rival streaming platforms. Tidal, a Norwegian company, said last year that it had three million subscribers, although a media report questioned the figure. It is a fraction of the 50 million paying subscribers of Sweden-based Spotify, which said last month that an additional 90 million people used its Widely popular in Italy, Villaggio expressed his comic qualities through slapstick, satire and irony. Fellow comic actor Roberto Benigni free tier. The exclusive arrangement has brought uncanny moments. When Jay- Z s album was released, social media was abuzz with loaded lyrics which he supposedly made against fellow rapper Kanye West and his wife Kim Kardashian. The lyrics turned out to be the musical equivalent of fake news with Jay-Z taking West to task but more lightly. Some social media users acknowledged they could not access the album to verify for themselves. DJ Khaled, long a prominent behind-the-scenes force in hip-hop, has achieved a second number-one album with his latest star-studded work. The 41-year-old Miami rapper s Grateful debuted at the top of the Billboard album chart for US sales for the week through Thursday. The album features cameos from a who s who of top names in music including Rihanna, Drake, Chance the Rapper, Beyonce and her husband Jay-Z who released his own new album Friday. Success Much of Grateful is full of braggadocio verses with DJ Khaled and other major names boasting of their success. But the single Shining took on a new meaning as Beyonce sings of all of this winning, despite her controversial failure to win the latest Grammy for Album of the Year. DJ Khaled has been a producer to stars but achieved his first numberone album on his own a year ago with Major Key, with his profile growing thanks to his avid use on Snapchat, the social media platform that specializes in temporary videos. His latest album triumph comes after an embarrassment in June as he played a major festival, Electric Daisy says Villaggio s iconic character, accountant Ugo Fantozzi, represented us all. Villaggio invented the Fantozzi character, first in a book, then as the main character in British fi lm director Ken Loach (right), and Scottish lawyer and scriptwriter Paul Laverty pose for a picture after receiving the Crystal Globe Award for the Outstanding Artistic Contribution to the World of Cinema during the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) in Karlovy Vary on July 3. (AFP) Carnival in Las Vegas, where his set was marred by sound problems. Born Khaled Mohamed Khaled to Palestinian immigrant parents, DJ Khaled is one of the most prominent Muslims in Western music although he rarely discusses his faith in his music. Among other highlights on the Billboard chart released late Sunday, late pop icon Prince s classic Purple Rain re-entered at number four after his label put out a remastered version to mark what would have been his 59th birthday. Paul McCartney has reached a settlement over copyright to the Beatles catalog, avoiding a legal battle that could have had wide ramifications for the music business. McCartney filed a lawsuit in January in a US court to secure rights from Sony ATV Music Publishing in the wake of a British judicial ruling that shook up the industry. Michael Jacobs, a lawyer for Mc- Cartney, late last week informed a judge that the two sides have resolved this matter by entering into a confidential settlement agreement. Jacobs asked Edgardo Ramos, a federal judge in New York, to dismiss the lawsuit. Representatives declined further comment. The case revolves around the US Copyright Act of 1976 which aimed to strengthen the hand of songwriters whose relationship with music publishers, who hold rights and distribute royalties, has been notoriously rocky. Under the act, songwriters could reclaim copyright from music publishers 35 years after they gave them away or 56 years for songs from before While US law is often seen as the gold standard in the entertainment industry, a British court took a different approach in December. 10 films. (AP) LOS ANGELES: Maria Menounos issued a long statement on Instagram, following the announcement Monday morning that she will step down as host of E! News after battling a brain tumor. Menounos told People Magazine that she was diagnosed with a tumor in April, and is still recovering from the seven-hour surgery that successfully removed almost all of the tumor. This comes as her mother, Litsa Menounos, is battling brain cancer. I want you all to know that I m OK! Menounos wrote. Seriously I m recovering well and should be as good as new very very soon! (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: A drug dealer who beat a Hollywood studio executive to death after discovering the victim was having an affair with his wife was convicted of manslaughter on Monday. The nine-woman, three-man jury at took less than an hour to find John Lenzie Creech guilty of voluntary manslaughter over the death Gavin Smith, a 57-year-old married father-of-three, in a Los Angeles suburb in Smith s remains were found in a shallow grave in the Angeles National Forest in the Antelope Valley two-and-a-half years after he disappeared. (AFP)

21 Antonio Grimaldi NEWS/FEATURES 21 Chanel Fashion PARIS: Christian Dior feted its 70th birthday at Paris Couture Week Monday in style with an accomplished, star-filled show that mapped the iconic house s journey across the world. It was an unabashed, encyclopedic celebration of femininity in all its guises for Maria Grazia Chiuri the house s first female designer. Dior Dior breathed a sigh of relief that it didn t rain on Chiuri s first outdoor presentation and her best show to date. But the unexpected rays of sun caused their own set of problems for the myriad VIP guests that included singer Celine Dion and actresses Jennifer Lawrence, Natalie Portman and Kirsten Dunst. They sweltered alongside the forestlike show decor of verdant grass, exotic trees, huge wooden elephants, crocodiles and eagles at the Invalides venue. I m going to stand in the shade as it s just too hot, model Karlie Kloss explained as she raced away momentarily for the refuge of a tree from her front row seat. Meanwhile, actor Robert Pattinson a Dior brand ambassador mingled with guests in the cool of the shade cast surreally by a gargantuan atlas, hoisted up above the show foliage. The starting point of Chiuri s empowering, feminist display was a 1953 Atlas etching of five continents discovered in the Dior archives, which mapped the house s global expansion. Chiuri took Monsieur Dior s own words that a collection should represent all types of women in all countries and gave them renewed legitimacy as the house s first female head. Clash of the Titans actress Gemma Arterton, who attended the fall-winter show, credited Chiuri Dior s first ever female designer for pushing the Parisian brand in a pro-female direction. Schiaparelli Elsa Schiaparelli has famously blurred the lines between fashion and art. Designer Bertrand Guyon took the iconic Parisian couturier s passion for painting Monday to produce a diaphanous collection of couture gowns that fluttered by guests at Paris Place Vendome. With hints of the 1930s draping styles and high necks that defined the late Schiaparelli s heyday, Guyon placed allusions to Cubism and Surrealism at the heart of the show. A flame red heart made of silk ruffles adored the waist of a voluminous, layered black tulle bustier gown. A white tuxedo jacket sported an embroidery of a sparkling eye and motifs of moons at different stages of shadow sparkled on a bodice. A dragonfly belt clasp gave a silk bustier dress in ochre Hyun Mi Nielsen Above and below: Models display creations by Chanel, Christian Dior, Iris Van Herpen, Antonio Grimaldi, Hyun Mi Nielsen, Ralph and Russo and Giambattista Valli during the 2017 Fall/ Winter Haute Couture Collection in Paris on July 3. (AFP) Ralph and Russo a magical quality. It wasn t just nostalgia, though, in the 36-gown collection. Guyon added some stylish contemporary twists. Ralph & Russo In a white shoulderless halterneck, actress Zendaya joined Fast and Furious star Michelle Rodriguez in a Iris Van Herpen silken teal coat dress to add star power to the Ralph & Russo front row. It was perhaps a welcome boost to a collection that was hard to pin down. Ralph and Russo Tamara Ralph s designs are a red carpet favorite and no doubt some looks, like an asymmetrical pastel plum satin gown that unfurled around the Christian Dior bust, will be a big hit. But the collection which moved between varying pastel shades seemed to lack focus at times. Big Ottoman-style cone hats, strapped under the chin, defined many of the shimmering gowns doused with lashings of embroideries and sequins. Then, there were the feathers. Iris Van Herpen Celebrating 10 years at the helm of her fashion house, lauded conceptual couture designer Iris Van Herpen took a watery trip down memory lane for her Chanel PARIS Chanel Giambattista Valli mesmerizing, aquatic couture spectacle. The near-illusionist backdrop had guests reaching for their cameras. Van Herpen has a penchant for the dramatic and Monday s show did not disappoint: Musicians were encased inside a water-filled tank with instruments to accompany the collection. The water theme dripped out into the surreal, brooding couture creations that revisited the Dutch wunderkind s signature fusion of organic forms with technology and mechanics. White gowns, constructed of tendrils or fibers, provoked myriad interpretations evoking simultaneously the lines of a sound wave, the rippling sea or the gills of a fish Ṗopstar and Christian Dior former French first lady Carla Bruni serenaded VIP guests at AmfAR s fundraising dinner and auction at Paris Petit Palais to raise money for the global fight against HIV and AIDS. Bruni sang her new song Enjoy the Silence, as well as a soulful rendition of The Rolling Stones Miss You, before the energetic auction began Sunday night. Chaumet The Artist star Berenice Bejo, Spanish actress Rossy de Palma and Harry Potter star Clemence Poesy were among guests at jeweler Chaumet s circusthemed gala Sunday night that aims to promote its upcoming high jewelry line. VIP guests were picked up outside Chaumet s Place Vendome headquarters by a vintage 1936 bus and jerkily driven to a secret location, slurping champagne. There were gasps of wonder as the bus pulled up to the Musee des Arts Forains, a littleknown private museum near the Seine River that houses a collection of funfair objects. (AP)

22 22 In this June 29, 2017 photo El Rey, a customized 1963 Chevrolet Impala by Albert de Alba, Sr, is displayed during an exhibition titled The High Art of Riding Low at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. (AP) The interior view of Jesse Valadez s Gypsy Rose, a customized 1964 Chevrolet Impala. (AP) Gypsy Rose Pinata by Justin Favela is displayed. (AP) Travel A new genre of contemporary art Lowrider art merges with museum works at LA exhibit LOS ANGELES, July 4, (AP): Lowrider cars these days are far more than tricked-out automobiles with gravity-challenged rear suspensions and ear-rattling exhaust systems that seem to cry out for local cops to ticket the drivers. In their finest format, they have morphed into museum-quality works of art, appearing in shows around the world from Paris Louvre to Washington s Smithsonian. But while museumgoers have learned to appreciate these creatures that sprang from the garages of American teenagers in the years after World War II, lowrider historian Denise Sandoval says the eye-popping, airbrushed paintings, plush interiors and chrome-plated wheels and engines that have come to define them have quietly fomented something more a new genre of contemporary art. It s a genre Sandoval hopes to expose to a wider audience through The High Art of Riding Low, a wide-ranging exhibition of lowriderinspired fine art including paintings, sculptures, serigraphs, photographs, drawings and, of course, automobiles created by the world s most accomplished Chicano artists. The show, which opened Monday and runs until next June, is the third lowrider exhibition that Sandoval, a Chicano Studies professor at California State University, Northridge, has curated at Los Angeles Petersen Automotive Museum since Like previous shows, it features its share of some of the finest lowrider cars created, among them Jesse Valadez s Gypsy Rose, which was encased in glass for display on Washington s National Mall earlier this year when it was inducted into the US Historic Vehicle Register. The long, sleek Chevrolet is bathed in bright pink and covered with intricately painted roses running from front tire to taillight. Radiate Other cars in the L.A. exhibit radiate a rainbow of colors, including some with murals of beautiful women, landscapes and skeletons representing Dia de Muertos, the Latino holiday honoring loved ones who have died. But placed right alongside these V-8-powered treasures are dozens of paintings and other museum works created by such prominent gallery artists as Gilbert Magu Lujan and Frank Romero, who form half of the contemporary art world s Los Four, the first Chicano artists group to have a showing at a major institution, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, in Basically we re focused on looking at the lowrider car as both artistic inspiration and art object, says Sandoval, explaining how this show differs from earlier ones. We re taking artists from the museum gallery world and merging them with lowrider artists. So we re bringing these two worlds together. It s an effort perhaps best exemplified by the contrast found upon first coming face-to-face with the late Valadez s stunningly colorful, intricately detailed Gypsy Rose, parked just outside the gallery hall s entrance, and then entering the hall itself to see the other works. That car is like the ultimate zero of lowriding. You know what I mean? It all starts with Gypsy Rose, says lowrider and artist Albert de Alba Sr., whose El Rey, three-time winner of Lowrider Car of the Year, is also on display. Inside the gallery, it all continues with a variety of stunning works in various media. There is Lujan s acclaimed Journey to Aztlan painting showing a lowrider cruising across California s desert toward the mythical land of the Aztec people. Nearby is another large acrylic-on-canvas work, this one by Jaime Germs Zacarias and paying tribute to Lujan as it shows the late artist s own lowrider car ascending toward the heavens as it s driven by a friendly dog, a character Lujan featured frequently in his work. Display The actual car, a 1950 Chevy coupe that Lujan named Our Family Car because it really was, is also on display. Seeing it up close allows a view of its contrasting scenes of Aztec-style paintings throughout and the multicolored flames embellishing its sides. The result makes the car appear as a hybrid lowrider-hot rod, something Sandoval says the artist was going for. The Gypsy Rose is also paid tribute to, by mixed-media artist Justin Favela s colorful, lifesized piñata replica constructed from paper and suspended from the ceiling. Other paintings, drawings, photographs and serigraphs show lowrider street scenes from around the US Southwest, illustrating what Sandoval has long maintained: that while places from Espanola, New Mexico, to East Los Angeles have claimed to be the birthplace of lowriding, it appears to have sprung up spontaneously across the Southwest during the post-war years. Caught up in the second-generation of that lowriding culture was de Alba, son of a lowrider who learned his airbrush painting skills from his father and applied them to the 1963 Chevrolet Impala he named El Rey. The sparkling, candy-apple-red lowrider with its gleaming chrome wheels, gold engine, etched chrome silver manifold and its stunning murals under the hood and trunk lid is one of the show s signature pieces. Although El Rey has been displayed in Japan and Germany, the modest de Alba, who customizes cars for a living, says even he was caught off-guard to learn it would appear alongside works by some of the most prominent contemporary artists. That, to me, was mind-blowing, he said. I was like, Wait a minute. And they go, It s an art form, and you re an artist. It was a very humbling experience. This May 11, 2017 photo shows The Iron Man sculpture of a hockey player next to the Prudential Center where the New Jersey Devils hockey team plays in Newark. In the background, signs can be seen for Dinosaur Bar-B-Cue BBQ and for Rock Plaza Lofts luxury apartments. (AP) A band performs in Military Park in Newark, NJ. (AP) NEWARK, N.J., July 4, (AP): Tourism in Newark? You might not think of it as a destination, but boosters say Newark is ready for visitors as part of a comeback. A company called Have You Met Newark? has taken more than 2,000 visitors on walking tours and bar crawls. Tour company founder Emily Manz points out everything from Nasto s ice cream parlor, made famous in an episode of The Sopranos, to a church, St Stephan s, that appeared in the movie War of the Worlds. The Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau has started taking travel writers to see attractions like the Newark Museum and the Ironbound, a neighborhood known for Portuguese and Spanish restaurants and shops. And in August, the 100 Things to Do Before You Die series will publish a Newark guidebook written by Lauren Craig, who fell in love with Newark while attending Rutgers Law School and calls herself the city s glambassador. But this summer also marks 50 years since riots scarred the city. The perception of Newark being unfriendly, dangerous, dirty is something that has been ingrained in people for many, many years, Craig said. I fight against that every day. Rebirth Officials point to a massive brick building, vacant since the Hahne department store closed in 1987, as a symbol of Newark s rebirth. The Hahne building reopened this year with apartments (one-bedrooms rent for Everybody loves a comeback story 50 yrs after riots, Newark ready for visitors click Alcoholics Anonymous: If you know someone who can t stop drinking and would like to help them please check us out and we promise to try to help at $2,000 monthly) and businesses, including a Whole Foods. Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson plans a restaurant there. An arts incubator, Express Newark, hosts workshops and exhibits onsite, including a jazz history show organized by Rutgers University s Institute of Jazz Studies. On a recent day, another downtown gem, Military Park, was busy with kids riding a carousel, a jazz band playing and the afterwork crowd mingling at a trendy park eatery, BURG. I ve been waiting for this, said Jeremy Johnson, executive director of Newark Arts, as he surveyed the scene in the park. No one is asking me if the National Guard is going to protect them when they come to Newark. They asked me that 20 years ago. So this is the dream. Destination Newark has a lot to offer: New Jersey Devils hockey games and more at the Prudential Center, concerts and shows at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Newark International Airport, among America s 20 busiest airports. Newark Penn Station is also just 20 minutes from Manhattan via PATH, NJ Transit or Amtrak trains. That makes Newark a viable lodging option for visitors to New York City. Downtown Newark hotels include the historic Robert Treat, which has hosted four US presidents; the Hilton at Newark Penn Station, popular with airline crews; and the Indigo boutique hotel. Rates for a July Sunday night at the Newark Indigo were $136 compared with $209 at the Indigo in There are no fees. This is a genuine public service. Drinking problem?: Friends of Bill W. are available to help. Totally confidential. rohsecretary@gmail.com Narcotics Anonymous: NA can help with This May 11, 2017 photo shows Ferry Street in the Ironbound district of Newark, NJ, a Portuguese neighborhood. (AP) A jazz exhibition in Newark, NJ, with Ella Fitzgerald performing on video next to the gown she was wearing. (AP) Manhattan. Treasures at the Newark Museum, a 10-minute walk from Newark Penn Station, include an 1885 mansion called the Ballantine House, a room of paintings by Joseph Stella, a Tibetan altar visited by the Dalai Lama and impressive collections of Native American and African- American art. I go there as much as I can, said Hrag Vartanian of Brooklyn, New York, editor-in-chief of online arts publication Hyperallergic.com. But it s amazing to me how many people have never heard of the Newark Museum. Before hopping the train back to New York, Vartanian heads to the Ironbound, where dining options range from old-school bacalhau at Seabra s Marisqueira to tapas with a hipster vibe at Mompou. Prominently The Ballantine House and the Ironbound are featured in Craig s 100 Things to Do in Newark Before You Die book, too. On a recent day, she also took a visitor to the Off the Hanger boutique, where Newark Vs Everybody T-shirts are prominently displayed; the Jimenez Tobacco cigar lounge and bar; Casa D Paco, an Ironbound restaurant; and Gateway Project Spaces, an art gallery adjacent to Newark Penn Station. At one point on Craig s whirlwind tour, a taxi driver disputed the idea that Newark was ready for tourists. I beg to differ, Craig said politely, then said to a guest, You see what I m fighting against? Of course, problems persist. Newark s population declined from 400,000 in the 1960s to 280,000 today. Thirty percent of residents live in poverty. Crime remains a top concern, though it s decreasing: Newark is statistically safer than Washington, DC, Atlanta and Memphis, Tennessee. But Newark s decline in the last half of the 20th century wasn t isolated. Aaron moved back in 2016 and believes a renaissance is underway, saying: Everybody loves a comeback story. addiction problems. Totally confidential: English/Arabic. This image provided by Reedy Press Cancer online support group: If you are shows the cover of 100 Things To Do in Cancer patient or family member fighting with Newark Before You Die by Lauren Craig, this deadly disease, come join our online support group. Best way of dealing with this who describes herself as the glambassador of Newark. The book will be published in August. (AP) Continued on Page 25

23 23 Texture, quality of ingredients give products higher profile Vegan ice cream is nice cream thanks to creamier bases NEW YORK, July 4, (AP): Nice cream: It s what they call vegan ice cream. But with creamier bases and more interesting flavors, it s not just for vegans anymore. Dairy-free ice cream options have come a long way thanks in part to meat-eating folk looking to avoid dairy or just make healthier choices without defaulting to sorbet, the usual substitute. Though banana is a popular base for vegan ice cream, so are nut butters, rice, soy and even hemp milk. Whatever the base, the texture and quality of ingredients are giving the products a higher profile, both in scoop shops and on grocery shelves. I love, love, love ice cream but I can t eat it every day, you know, said meat-eater Alexis Druyan, 24, on a recent stop at Chloe s Soft Serve Fruit Co, a scoop shop in Manhattan s bustling Union Square. If I want to be healthy, I definitely come here for dessert. The Instagram-worthy neon light banana on Chloe s wall says it all: Started by a fro-yo addict looking for a healthier choice, the shop uses only fruit, water and a touch of organic cane sugar to blend up creamy frozen treats like dark chocolate and pumpkin. Chloe s opened its first shop in 2010, and now sells frozen pops in supermarkets and to hospitals, schools and hotels. The vegan thought process and connotation has changed over the last seven years, said Michael Sloan, CEO and co-founder of Chloe s. When we first opened and something was vegan, it couldn t be good, and now I think we ve helped explain that food can be delicious and oh, by the way, it s vegan. We used to hide that we were vegan or say it just for the vegans who wanted to see it was for vegans. Now we promote that it s vegan. Offerings While all Chloe s offerings are vegan, Ben Van Leeuwen serves up dairy and non-dairy ice cream at five shops in New York and three in Los Angeles and business is booming. Our customers asked for it. From day one we didn t want the vegan ice cream to be an afterthought or a supplement to our regular menu, he said of his Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream. We applied the same commitment to using the best quality ingredients and using little or no stabilizers. We make the vegan ice cream with house-made raw cashew In this June 21, 2017 photo, three flavors of vegan ice cream (from left) Planet Earth, Matcha Green Tea and Toasted Coconut Brownie Sundae are on display at a Van Leeuwen shop in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP) and almond, organic coconut cream, raw cocoa butter from Ecuador, raw extra virgin coconut oil and organic cane sugar. Van Leeuwen s vegan flavors come in classic and exotic varieties, including a bright blue Planet Earth, made with almond, spirulina and matcha tea cake. In upstate New York, C.A. Lane recalls darker days of vegan ice cream. She blogs as the Duchess of Vegan after transitioning 15 years ago from vegetarian to vegan. It s changed so much, she said. When I started, most of the ice cream options were mostly soy based and I ve always had a little bit of a stomach issue with soy. That was always a bit of a stumbling block, but I ate a lot of Tofutti Cuties, the ice cream sandwiches that helped launch vegan ice cream treats. Within the last decade, Lane said, we ve started to see more companies emerging, more startups, and a lot of companies that already existed starting to offer alternatives to soy. Gaming All-night gaming marathons to end for some Chinese kids Young gamers face King of Glory playing time limits BEIJING, July 4, (AFP): All-night gaming marathons will soon end for some Chinese kids: internet giant Tencent began limiting daily playing times on its smartphone smash hit King of Glory on Tuesday to ensure children s healthy development. Young players will be restricted to one or two hours on the mobile online multiplayer battle game, which boasts 80 million daily users, as concerns grow in China that long periods online are posing a serious threat to the country s youth. Tencent, which ranks first in the world for gaming revenue, said in a statement that King of Glory was supposed to bring joy... but excessive gaming brings joy to neither players nor their parents. Some 24 million young people in China are estimated to be internet addicts. State media reported in April that a 17-year-old gamer in southern Guangdong province suffered a type of stroke after spending 40 consecutive hours playing King of Glory. The game became the world s highest grossing game this year, with an estimated first-quarter revenue of around 6 billion yuan ($883 million), according to Xinhua state news agency. Permitted Users 12 years of age and younger are now limited to one hour of play a day, and will not be permitted to sign in after 9pm, Tencent said in a statement over the weekend. The move goes into effect Tuesday. Users between 12 and 18 years of age are limited to two hours per day. According to the company, which called its new controls the three broad axes, those who play beyond the allotted time period will be In this photo taken on June 1, 2017, a tourists poses while walking on a glass-bottomed skywalk, certified as the world s longest, at the Ordovician Park in Wansheng. Suspended more than 120 metres (400 feet) above a gaping chasm, the world s longest cantilevered glass skywalk is delighting and terrifying visitors in China. The V-shaped walkway stretches almost 70 metres from a sheer cliff face in southwest Chongqing, offering intrepid tourists a vertigo-inducing view of the ground some 123 metres below. No more than 30 people are allowed on the skywalk at any one time. While some pause to pose for photos, others find it all a little too much to cope with, and grip the handrail with both hands as they inch along the walkway. The structure at the Ordovician park in Wansheng, which is held up by thick cables, was certified earlier this year by Guinness World Records as being the longest of its type anywhere on the planet. Similar glass-bottomed constructions have become popular attractions at scenic parks in China. Last year, a 430-metre-long, 300-metre-high glass bridge opened in central Hunan province. It temporarily closed after being overwhelmed by crowds. (AFP) forced to go offline. Tencent will also place caps on the amount of money that underage users can spend on the platform, so as to rein in minors irrational consumption. Additional measures implemented earlier this year include a real-name authentication system and software that enables parents to place electronic locks on the game. Users on the Weibo social network, however, were sceptical that avid gamers would be deterred. What s the point, one commenter said. Most elementary schoolers are already using their parents accounts. Those little devils will just steal their parents ID cards to register, another chimed in. And soon there will be a big black market for adultage accounts! Addiction China, which became the first country to declare internet addiction a clinical disorder in 2008, introduced draft legislation this February that would ban minors from playing online games between midnight and 8am. But in the current absence of clear regulations to guard against mobile gaming addiction, Tencent said, we have decided to take the lead... and dispel parents concerns. We also call on parents to spend more time with their children, to allow them to feel more the warmth of growing up. In recent years, some Chinese parents began sending their children to intensive internet addiction rehabilitation centres known for their military-style tactics. The draft regulation aimed to curtail the more extreme methods employed at these centres, such as electroshock therapy and beatings.

24 24 Bank sponsors graduation projects KIB supports students at College of Engineering & Petroleum KUWAIT CITY, July 4: In line with its efforts to offer moral and financial support to youth and their initiatives, Kuwait International Bank (KIB) took part in the 32nd Engineering Projects Exhibition organized by the College of Engineering and Petroleum at Kuwait University, which was held under the patronage of HE Minister of Commerce and Industry and Acting Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Khalid Al-Rodan. Under the umbrella of its participation, the Bank had sponsored a number of graduation projects spearheaded by students taking part in the exhibition, which took place over the course of two days at Al-Baraka Ballroom at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Nawaf Najia, Manager of the Corporate Communications Unit at KIB, said: Supporting engineering students by sponsoring their graduation projects every year comes in line with our encompassing program of initiatives specifically targeting youth. We are also committed to sponsoring their projects and adopting their ideas and innovations whenever possible. This stems from our A photo from the event belief that youth are the most vital resource this country has, and that is why youth empowerment continues to be one of the pillars of our social responsibility program. This year, KIB selected a number of graduation projects from the College of Engineering and Petroleum. One of these projects was spearheaded by engineering students Fajr Jamal Jasem, Amina Naser Alqonor, Fatima Fadel Akbar and Tasneem Ali Ardah, and focuses on digital farming. The project worked on creating a solar-powered control system for large-scale farms, allowing anyone to control irrigation from a smartphone. The second project was developed by engineering students Duha Sabah Al-Masoud, Altaf Ghirir Al-Adwani, Heba Fouad Akbar and Mona Ghazi Al-Enezi. The project aims to create a system that allows people to find parking spaces through an online reservation service. KIB s sponsorship also included a project developed by engineering students Maryam Mustafa Al-Qallaf, Shahad Khalid Al-Otaibi, Mariam Jassim Al-Muhaini and Fatima Saud Abdulaziz. The project focuses on creating solar powered navigational devices that don t require internet. Additionally, the Bank sponsored a project that uses 3D printing technology in construction, developed by engineering students Dana Abdul Latif Al-Saie, Asmaa Mohammed Al-Ajmi, Najud Abdulaziz Al-Kandari, Ghadeer Sarhan Al-Enezi and Nora Saleh Al-Muwaisri. The project focuses on creating a device that converts conceptual designs into real buildings through 3D printing technology, regardless of design complexity. One of the projects that KIB also supported was spearheaded by engineering students Asma Ali AlHamdan, Bashayer Bader Al-Mutawa, Munira Ahmed Al-Rabah and Sarah Jassim Ali. The project focuses on a device that can detect the early presence of diabetes, and while also reducing a patient s exposure to needles. Another project was developed by engineering students Rawan Waleed Almohammed Ali, Amina Khalid Al-Muhanna, Zahra Abdul Ridha AlQattan and Fatma Yousef Al-Khabaz. The project aims to create two devices, one stationary and one mobile, working together using GPS to locate the holder of the mobile device. KIB s sponsorship also included a project which focuses on innovative methods to measure blood sugar without requiring a blood sample, developed by engineering students Nada Khalid Al-Rashidi, Reem Talal Al-Enezi and Shahad Asaad Al-Khattlan. One of the projects selected by KIB was also the Hot Dry Air Diffusion (HDAD) for heavy oil recovery, spearheaded by engineering students Laila Adnan Abdullah, Anfal Nasser Qurban and Sharifa Abdulsamad Alshatti. The project focuses on developing a new method for quantifying extracted oil through less expensive and safer means by injecting hot dry air into the ground. Yet another project was the Effect of nanoparticles on heat loss during steam injection, a project developed by engineering students Amal Mahdi Al-Enezi, Shahad Mahmoud Al-Kandari and Mariam Ibrahim Al-Bati Botiban. The project aims to reduce costs and solve the issue of heat loss during the process of oil extraction. KIB s sponsorship also included the Water knockout vessel project, which was developed by engineering students Jarrah Adib Al-Ali, Abdulaziz Ahmed Al-Qaoud and Mohammed Khalid Al-Mekhaiter. The project focuses on increasing capacity for the oil separator system, mainly used to separate the water produced from the oil wells before it enters the main separator in the assembly center. Additionally, the Bank sponsored the Hot Dry Air (HDAF) project, developed by engineering students Laila Abdullah, Shereefa Alshatti, and Anqal Qereyan, and focuses on achieving a more environmentally friendly method of oil extraction through pumping hot dry air into the ground. Eaman Al Roudhan with Marzouq Al Ghanim and Sheikh Mohammed Al Abdullah during Zain s honoring at the concluding ceremony of Al Roudhan tournament. Zain s team with children at one of the hospitals Zain volunteers during the distribution of Machla boxes Zain officials with Security Personnel at Kuwait Airport Zain volunteers with Jaber Al Ali mosque officials One of Zain s Iftar halls Telecom firm concludes CSSR drive with numerous social initiatives Zain Ramadan campaign brings message of peace, unity KUWAIT CITY, July 4: Zain, the leading telecommunications company in Kuwait, concluded its annual CSSR campaign during the Holy Month of Ramadan, carrying along with it the message of peace, happiness, and closeness. The company successfully held numerous social and humanitarian initiatives as part of its continuous commitment to add a positive value within the community. Zain s annual Corporate Sustainability and Social Responsibility (CSSR) campaign during the Holy Month of Ramadan stems from a number of values that convey a positive impact within several fields, including social, charitable, humanitarian, spiritual, sporting, recreational, and other fields that are of importance to the many segments of the Kuwaiti society. Through its Ramadan CSSR campaign, Zain strengthened its strategic partnerships with various leading Kuwaiti organizations from both the public and private sectors, including Zakat House, Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS), the Ministry of Interior (MOI), the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, hospitals of Al Sabah Medical Area, the Women s Cultural and Social Society, Al Najat Charitable Society, the Kuwait Food Bank, as well as other leading entities. Machla boxes and Iftar halls Every year, Zain launches its Ramadan CSSR campaign with the Machla Boxes initiative, where the company s volunteers deliver essential food supplies (Machla Boxes) to underprivileged families in Kuwait. Zain s own team of volunteers packed the boxes containing essential food supplies at the company s main headquarters and delivered them to needy families who are in need of support during the month of fasting. The distribution covered multiple areas of Al Jahra governorate, as well as Zakat House and Kuwait Red Crescent Society. As soon as the Holy Month started, Zain launched its annual Iftar Al Saem initiative to provide fasting individuals with Iftar meals. The company distributed daily meals throughout the Holy Month in two different halls in Jileeb Al Shuyoukh and Khaitan. The Iftar meal banquets were supervised by Zain s volunteers, and were spread in two main halls in Kuwait as part of a strategy to cover the most populated areas of Kuwait in order to assure the maximum amount of individuals Iftar needs are covered. Hosting Ramadan Iftar gatherings Zain hosted an Iftar gathering for the Department of Airport security to share the blessings of Ramadan with them in recognition of the efforts they exert during the Holy Month. Zain s team visited Kuwait International Airport to share the Iftar meal it hosted with the personnel on duty in their place of operation as a gesture of gratitude and appreciation to those men who dedicate their time and efforts to the safety and protection of Kuwait. Zain also shared the Ramadan Iftar meal with its Contact Center (107) agents to recognize the efforts they exerted during the Holy Month of Ramadan. The event witnessed the attendance of Zain Kuwait s Chief Executive Officer Eaman Al Roudhan along with Chiefs and Directors from across the company s divisions, who were keen on recognizing and highlighting the tireless efforts and hard work of contact center agents, especially those who work around the clock all week long to provide the highest standards of customer service to Kuwait s largest family of subscribers. Visiting care centers and hospitals Zain shared the joys and the blessings of the Holy Month and the tradition of Girgeaan with orphans, the elderly, and people with special needs, by visiting the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor s Care Centers. Zain s team, consisting of staff and volunteers, participated in distributing gifts and Girgeaan candy to orphaned children, the elderly, and people with special needs in an atmosphere filled with joy and happiness. The company believes the Holy Month of Ramadan is a special time of the year, and it is always keen on sharing the blessings of this time with those who are less fortunate in the community. Zain also shared the joys of the tradition of Girgeaan with children and patients in a number of the biggest hospitals in Kuwait. The company s team visited the hospitals during this blessed time of year to distribute gifts and Girgeaan to children, their parents, as well as the medical staff who take care of them to celebrate the occasion in a family atmosphere full of joy and happiness. Zain s team, including staff and volunteers, distributed gifts and Girgeaan candy to children in a number of Kuwait s biggest and most prominent hospitals including Zain Hospital, Al Amiri Hospital, Al Razi Hospital, Ibn Sina Hospital, and NBK Hospital. Ya Baghi Al Khair Aqbel Zain launched its charitable initiative Ya Baghi Al Khair Aqbel for the second year running, where the company will donate 500 Fils to a charitable organization for every paid bill during the month of Ramadan. During Ramadan of last year, Zain donated over KD 45,000 on behalf of its customers for humanitarian causes. The donation came as part of its charitable initiative Ya Baghi Al Khair Aqbel, and came in collaboration with Sheikh Abdullah Al Nouri Charity Association, where the donations were utilized to build a number of water wells at distant locations in Somalia and Kyrgyzstan with the aim of providing clean and safe drinking water to underprivileged families. This year, Zain will also donate 500 Fils (half a KD) for every bill paid by customers anytime during the Holy Month of Ramadan through one of Zain s electronic or direct channels, including Zain s website, Zain s smartphone app, any of Zain s Quickpay machines, and the company s main branches available throughout the country. The collected donations will be delivered to a charitable organization in Kuwait to support philanthropic projects as well as improve the living conditions of needy families. Gergiaan celebration Zain shared the joys of Gergiaan in collaboration with Al Amal club for children with cancer and blood disorders. The event, hosted at the Women s Cultural and Social Society headquarters at Khalidiya, witnessed the attendance of a large number of Zain volunteers, members of the Women s Cultural Society, as well as by artist Homoud Al Khudur and actor Shabaan Abbas. Zain s volunteers delighted the children and their families by distributing Girgeaan and gifts while also organizing many other fun activities including a magic show, traditional dancing, and a face painting session. Humanitarian partnership During Ramadan, Zain was a humanitarian partner of the Abshiro Bil Khair campaign launched by Al Najat Charitable Society. The campaign, aimed at supporting underprivileged families and students in Kuwait, received overwhelming success of over KD 4 million of donations collected in just 12 hours. Through its humanitarian partnership, Zain invited its customers to contribute and donate to the campaign by sending over a million SMS messages containing a link to the official donation portal to its customer base, considered the largest in Kuwait. The company also communicated the campaign to over 670K followers on its official social media channels. Al Najat Charitable Society launched its charitable campaign entitled Abshiro Bil Khair in Mall 360, where a large projection screen displayed the online donations progress in real time. The campaign lasted for 12 straight hours, and resulted in an overwhelming amount of KD 4 million of donations collected in such a short period of time. A part of the donations will be utilized to support the essential needs of underprivileged families in Kuwait on a monthly basis throughout a full year, while the other part will be utilized to pay the tuition fees of underprivileged students in Kuwait on a monthly basis throughout a full year. Prayer essentials Zain shared the spiritual blessings of the Last 10 Days of the Holy Month of Ramadan by providing prayer essentials at a number of Kuwait s biggest mosques to foster an even more spiritual environment during the Holy Month. The company was keen to provide comfort to worshippers performing their Qiyam prayers during the last 10 days of Ramadan at a number of Kuwait s biggest mosques, most notably Jaber Al Ali Mosque in Shuhada Area. Zain s volunteers distributed the prayer essentials, mainly prayer chairs, as well as cold beverages and snacks to provide worshippers with more comfortable circumstances during the hot weather conditions. Eid breakfast meals Zain shared the joys of Eid with needy laborers and underprivileged individuals by distributing Eid breakfast meals as part of the company s strategic partnership with the Kuwait Food Bank. Zain distributed 2,000 breakfast meals after Eid prayers to needy laborers and underprivileged individuals in a number of Kuwait s largest mosques. The initiative was supervised by the Kuwait Food Bank who assured the quality of the meals and distributed enough quantities to those who are less fortunate during Eid. Football tournament Before the arrival of the Holy Month, Zain announced its Diamond Sponsorship of the 38th edition of Al Roudhan Ramadan Football Tournament for the second year running. The event came under the patronage of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Zain s support of Al Roudhan Tournament is linked to it being the most prominent sports and youth event in Kuwait and the region during the Holy Month of Ramadan. Every year, Kuwaiti audiences look forward to the tournament, with Zain representatives being present at the event throughout, where they interacted with the attending audiences through various competitions, activities, and entertainment programs. The company also distributed 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 traditional performance.

25 25 Destinations Massive and intimidating West Virginia peaks draw experienced climbers, novices By Michael Virtanen The pale ridge rises like the ragged fin of a prehistoric fish in a rolling green sea of low forested mountains in eastern West Virginia. Massive and intimidating, the craggy landscape of Seneca Rocks draws serious rock climbers from Washington, Pittsburgh and elsewhere to its fiercely vertical routes. The mountaintop, which can be reached without technical climbing gear, once hosted American combat troops training to fight in Italy s Apennine Range during World War II. Despite its daunting appearance, guides say this is a good place to introduce novices to a challenging but manageable ascent. It lends itself to mellow climbing, said Adam Happensack, who led a threesome of mixed skill levels to the summit recently. It s like the coolest exposure you ll get for this grade of climbing. From the Monongahela National Forest Discovery Center terrace, through a binocular scope, you can watch climbers nearly a half-mile (nearly a kilometer) away ascend the west face. The peak rises 900 feet (274 meters) above a fork of the Potomac River below. Visitors can splash in the river, hike forest trails and stay in campgrounds or an old motel. The nearby hamlet has two combination general stores and restaurants. Seneca Rocks viewed from the ground spears the sky with its gray quartzite, but becomes more intimate and breathtaking on the way to the top. You hear the birds and soft thrum of the wind through the hardwood click Continued from Page 22 disease is providing support and share our experience with each other. There are lot of things which even doctors can t tell so be member of this website and start sharing your experiences which may help others. October is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). The primary purpose is to promote self examination and screening mammography as the most effective way to save lives by detecting breast cancer at early stage. For more information visit: forest, and occasional yells from climbers to partners belaying them on safety ropes. Happensack led climbing partner Phil Brown and me up a seven-pitch patchwork of easy routes to the top, including the Skyline Traverse. Many handholds and steps were obvious jugs of rock. No pitches were rated higher than 5.4 in the Yosemite Decimal System for technical climbing that ranges from 5.1 to nearly impossible One well-known feature is that traverse with little more than a few steps around a rock column into a three-sided chimney with obvious holds. However, the first moves require stepping over about a 100-foot (30-meter) drop. It s like the scariest thing a beginner can get into, said Happensack, who has taken many first-timers up the route. He cautioned that those initial footholds are worn and slippery from decades of boots and climbing shoes. It took me a long, slow, breathless minute to follow him: testing the leaning traverse across the space, trying to grip the narrow crack on one side and fumble toward something to hold on the other with arms spread wide; trusting that the slightly smooth step below wouldn t simply slide you into space. The safety rope attached to my climbing harness was somewhat reassuring. Protection This is what climbers call exposure where there would be a high risk of injury or even death from a false step without protection. You have to trust the rope and go. Brown, who followed me, has climbed for a decade in the Adirondacks and did this In this June 25, 2017 photo, climber Phil Brown rappels down from Old Man s Route on the west face of Seneca Rocks in West Virginia. (AP) traverse once before. Wow, he said, when he joined us at the top of the chimney where Happensack belayed him. Cool. The next day Brown led me up Old Man s Route. Rated only 5.3 for difficulty, it consists mostly of what looks like a giant stairway along the cliff face ending in a 50-foot (15-meter) vertical corner to the summit ledge. At the base, 33-year-old Lindsey Enterline, pregnant with her first child, prepared to do it with a friend. A climber for seven years and a runner, her obstetrician told her to keep doing what she was doing but not start anything new. She d chosen the easy route instead of the harder climb her husband and other friends from Hershey, Pennsylvania, took on. I ve done the route before, and it s one that I won t fall sideways or do the traverse, she said. I just make sure it s safe. And you have to have cool trust in the people you re climbing with. Another young woman, on her first climb, mounted the corner farther up, kept on a tight rope by the experienced partner who coached her on finding holds. She ascended with only one or two hesitations. She d fallen farther down the mountain, but was caught on the rope and kept climbing. I had a moment, she said with a smile. With no trail to walk down, Seneca Rocks climbs end in rappelling on ropes threaded through a device on your harness that creates friction and slows the descent. That was scarier than the climb up, the novice said. Other sites that draw climbers to the state include the New River Gorge and Summersville Lake, where cliffs lean out over the water not far from the gorge. (AP) If You Go... Seneca Rocks, West Virginia: recarea/?recid=7051. Located about 170 miles (275 kilometers) from Washington DC, about 375 miles (600 kilometers) from New York City and about 200 miles (320 kilometers) from Pittsburgh. Latest Indian Embassy notice: Indian nationals are issued Emergency Certificates (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 Certificate (EC) is issued to an Indian national. At times, Indian nationals who are either detained or due for deportation may not have their passports with them. They apply for travel documents (Emergency Certificate) 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 available with immigration authorities in India. These passports are immediately seized by Immigration authorities in India. This results in much harassment and inconvenience 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. 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 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 Kuwait s most treasured religious and cultural landmarks to discover the beauty of Islamic arts and architecture. Free guided tours are available all year round on official working days between (9-11 am) 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; (according to age group); Touring the Mosque; Q & A; Art workshops; (according to age group between 5 and 18 years old); Snack break; Distribution of the Grand Mosque publications and souvenirs; End of tour. According to these age groups: Age group: 5 to 9 years old: Morning: 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 (English upon prior request) Rules and Regulations: Please arrive in time for your visit. All visitors are kindly required to abide by the mosque s 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 responsible for their students and are required to cooperate with the staff members of the Grand Mosque. Photography is allowed inside the Grand Mosque (please note that disrespectful poses are strictly prohibited). If you would like to book a tour, please contact us: Tel: / / gmvisits@gmail.com Fax: General Share your story with Amricani: Do you Continued on Page 27 In this June 14, 2017 photo, Mount Katahdin, the highest peak in Maine, is visible from some locations within the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. (AP) By Patrick Whittle In a rural corner of Maine that s so remote even Mainers call it the willy-wags, there s a new place for camping, hiking and birding. But it comes with a dash of political intrigue. Maine s new Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is now welcoming guests for its first full summer as a monument. The monument was designated by President Barack Obama late last summer in a move that has caused controversy for almost a year. But it s now open to the public, and it s more than 87,000 acres (35,000 hectares) of forested wilderness in far northern Maine. The land is home to bears, moose, eagles and breathtaking views of Mount Katahdin, the highest peak in the state. Much of the site remains undeveloped, and a visit is a rustic experience. Here s a guide to what awaits at Katahdin Woods and Waters, and what the future might have in store. Location The monument is a parcel of mountains, rivers and dense forest that is adjacent to Baxter State Park, the home of Mount Katahdin. It s an addition to a landscape that has beckoned adventurers and wilderness lovers since long before Henry David Thoreau famously tried to climb Mount Katahdin in The site is located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) up the road from Millinocket, a former mill town of about 4,500 people that serves as a base of operations for many northern Maine tourists. Millinocket has hotels, gas, grocery stores and other worldly amenities that are tough to find in the Maine wilderness. Katahdin welcomes guests to enjoy camping, hiking and birding Maine s new monument offers rustic adventures Guides and outfitters are available for hire in the area and present a popular way to get help touring the monument, Baxter State Park and Maine s North Woods. Hiking and getting outdoors Infrastructure on the monument grounds is under development, but there are some hiking trails already established. Trailheads can lead hikers on a multitude of short and long hikes on Katahdin Loop Road and Messer Pond Road. The National Park Service recommends getting to know Katahdin Woods and Waters with a drive around Katahdin Loop Road first. It s a 17-mile (27-kilometer) loop that provides access to trailheads. Go slowly and watch for moose and logging trucks; the drive should In this Aug 27, 2014 file photo, hikers make their way down Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park in Maine. (AP) take about an hour and a half. Canoeing and kayaking are also possible, as are fishing and mountain biking. In the winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing will take hold. Whatever you do, if you do it in the summer, bring bug spray and be on the lookout for ticks. Camping Campsites are available in the form of leanto shelters and huts. They are currently free, and you get what you pay for. The park service has said plans are in the works that could include more developed campsites, but for now, things are rustic. The park service isn t allowing camping in non-designated areas at the moment, and campsites and shelters are available on a firstcome, first-served basis. Birding The Katahdin area is also well regarded by bird lovers as a birding hotspot, with species ranging from the three-toed woodpecker to the bald eagle. The monument has habitat for birds of prey, waterfowl and all manner of small bird species. The bay-breasted warbler, spruce grouse and gray jay are all birds that live in the area that can be tricky to spot in New England. Northern harrier hawks and broad-winged hawks roam the sky. People would come from all over just for the bird species, said Anita Mueller, a birder on the monument grounds who recently spotted a purple martin. Wildlife The land is home to the state s two signature large forest mammals, bear and moose. Both animals can be elusive especially bears, which try to avoid humans and attempts to view them in the wild are best attempted with a Maine guide. Unfortunately, moose aren t so elusive when they re lollygagging in traffic, which is why motorists are advised to go slowly, especially when night begins to fall. Collisions with moose are typically bad for all involved. Hunting is permitted with a Maine license on lands east of the East Brand of the Penobscot River. The future The creation of the monument came at the end of a long, contentious public process, and whether it should retain monument status remains a subject of debate. President Donald Trump used an executive order this year to review more than two dozen national monuments, and Katahdin was on the list. U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke visited the monument last month, and signaled that he s in favor of keeping it. Zinke said clearly, it s beautiful and everyone wants public access while taking in a view of Mount Katahdin. But Maine Gov. Paul LePage is a vocal critic of the monument, which he has called a mosquito area. He said in late June that he favors making it a working forest as opposed to preserving it and leaving it alone. It s unknown when the Trump administration will make decisions about which monuments to cut, but for now, Katahdin is open and welcoming guests to the back of beyond in Maine. (AP) If You Go... Katahdin woods and waters: nps.gov/kaww/index.htm. Located about 320 miles (515 kilometers) from Boston and 125 miles (200 kilometers) from Acadia National Park in Maine. From Interstate 95, Exit 244 (Medway) or Exit 264 (Sherman) to Route 11.

26 26 Airline committed to connecting more people to more places Qatar Airways accelerates expansion with Prague, Sohar launch KUWAIT CITY, July 4: Qatar Airways, the 2017 Airline of the Year as awarded by Skytrax, today confirmed the expedited launch of two new destinations by the end of August 2017, with several more announcements to follow shortly. Joining Qatar Airways global network, which spans six continents, are: Sohar, Sultanate of Oman, which will launch on 8 August; and Prague, Czech Republic, which will launch on Aug 21. The airline has confirmed the start of its new service between Doha and Sohar with three-weekly flights beginning Aug 8, while the service between Doha and Prague will operate on a daily basis from 21 August. Both destinations will be operated by Qatar Airways Airbus A320 aircraft. Qatar Airways recently launched a direct daily service to Dublin, Republic of Ireland, as part of its rapid global expansion strategy, with Bank congratulates Kuwaiti graduates AUB sponsors local students graduation ceremonies across Egyptian universities KUWAIT CITY, July 4: Ahli United Bank (AUB) has sponsored the graduation ceremony for Kuwaiti undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students who completed their studies in Egyptian Universities for the academic year Held in Cairo, under the patronage of His Excellency Dr Mohammed Al-Fares, Minister of Education and Higher Education, MP Mohammed Al- Howeily, Head of Education Committee at the Kuwaiti National Assembly, His Excellency Mohammed Al-Doweikh, Kuwait s Ambassador in Cairo, Dr Ahmad Al-Mutairi, Head of Cultural Office in the Kuwaiti Embassy in Cairo, Dr Mariam Al-Mathkour, Cultural Attaché in the Kuwaiti Embassy in Cairo and representing AUB Ahmed Ramzi, Relationship Manager Private Banking & Wealth Management. On this occasion, His Excellency Dr Mohammed Al-Fares honored AUB in recognition of the Bank s efforts in supporting Kuwaiti students. Moreover, Dr Ahmed Al-Mutairi praised the Bank s service to Nice, France, commencing 4 July, and flights to Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, on July 17. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker said: Having recently been named Airline of the Year at His Excellency Dr Mohammed Al-Fares honoring AUB. management for its underlying commitment towards sharing Kuwait s joy in the future of their students. To mark this occasion, the Bank declared in a press release: AUB congratulates those Kuwaiti students who have graduated from Egyptian universities, and wishes them the very best of luck in their future working lives. The Bank is proud to sponsor such a momentous occasion in students lives, and reassures them of its continued support wherever they are in Kuwait or abroad. The Bank added, This sponsorship is in line with the Bank s overall approach towards social responsibility, namely encouraging the potential of national students by supporting their education process as they represent the foundation of the country s future success. For more information on Ahli United Bank s products and services, customers are invited to visit any of the Bank s branches or call the customer service Hayakum on , or log on to the Bank s website com.kw. Your dream trip with Al-Tijari Rewards and prizes await Al-Tijari cardholders via summer campaign KUWAIT CITY, July 4: Within its ongoing endeavors to reward its customers by launching innovative campaigns and programs that offer them chances to win distinctive prizes throughout the year, particularly during the holiday s season, the Commercial Bank of Kuwait (CBK) announced the launch of its summer promotional campaign under the caption Your Dream Trip with Al-Tijari. Speaking on the details of this campaign, Ms Sahar Al-Rumaih GM Corporate Credit Division & Acting GM Retail Banking Division said that this campaign comes within the Bank s efforts to reward its cardholders and was organized in cooperation with Royal Caribbean International, one of the best cruise planners to Europe and Caribbean on the largest cruise ship in the world. Ms Sahar Al-Rumaih went on explaining that the Bank will hold the draw to announce 6 winners during the period from July to September 2017 ie two winners a month. As for the cruise which the lucky winners will win, it includes business class airline tickets to Barcelona in Spain or Florida in USA along with accommodation in a 5 star hotel before starting the cruise. Ms Al- Sahar Rumaih added that the winners will enjoy an allexpenses paid cruise and each winner may have one companion during the cruise trip. As for the draw eligibility, she explained that every KD 10 spent for paying the value of purchases by using the credit or prepaid cards in Kuwait will give the customer one chance to enter the draw and 3 chances when spending the same amount by using the credit or prepaid cards or even debit cards to pay for purchases and shopping outside Kuwait. Further, the campaign will start in the beginning of July 2017 and last till the end of September 2017 where the first draw will be held in August 2017, added Al-Rumaih. Al-Tijari cards offer their holders a number of privileges & benefits and are the best travel companion as credit cardholders 15 pct discount Al Tijaria Elite enjoy special offer at Zafran KUWAIT CITY, July 4: The Commercial Real Estate Company has recently signed an agreement with Zafran Indian Bistro restaurant which is located in Light Restaurants Complex Mahboula, to offer 15% discount to all elite card holders. Zafran Indian Bistro is an award-winning contemporary Indian restaurant that offers North West Indian cuisine. Led by a team of highly-skilled and experienced chefs, Zafran s wide range of dishes are all made from fresh, high-quality ingredients and seasoned with home-ground spices. The specially designed menu is crafted with care and promises to delight its guest with the best of Indian cuisine capturing delicious and unforgettable flavors of the region. Al Tijaria Elite card was designed by the company to add value to its client s services, enjoy special offers and discounts from outlets and restaurants located in various Al Tijaria properties such as Al Tijaria Tower, Symphony Style Hotel & Mall, Light Restaurants complex and other residential and commercial properties. The Elite card application is available for download on both the android and ios platforms and provides details of all the registered partners and the exclusive discounts they have to offer. enjoy free travel insurance apart from the concierge service in and outside Kuwait in addition to Al-Tijari Offers program that provides discounts with renowned restaurants and retailers & stores in Kuwait. Commercial Bank of Kuwait always endeavors to cater for its customers needs as a token of appreciation of their constant trust and loyalty. Qatar Airways plane the prestigious 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards, it is now our turn as an airline to give back to all of our passengers and supporters around the world. Qatar Airways announcement today comes at a time when we are accelerating our global expansion plans by expediting the launch of these two new destinations. Qatar Airways is committed to connecting more people to more places, through our five-star hub, Hamad International Airport, while supporting our global message of Going Places Together. Other new destinations planned for the remainder of this year and 2018 include Canberra, Australia; Chiang Mai, Thailand.; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; San Francisco, US; and Santiago, Chile. A total of 25 new destination launches will take place throughout The new Prague and Sohar routes will be served by an Airbus A320 aircraft featuring 12 seats in Business Class and 132 seats in Economy Class. Passengers can use any transfer time to take advantage of the many activities and services available at Hamad International Airport, from the free Wi-Fi, airside swimming pool 4-week internship program held at financial institutions in Germany Gulf Bank Ajyal trainees complete int l task KUWAIT CITY, July 4: As part of its Ajyal Graduate Development Program, Gulf Bank recently selected its top three participants to complete a four-week internship and field training program at several leading financial institutions in Frankfurt, Germany. The Ajyal Graduate Development Program was developed by Gulf Bank, in cooperation with Institute of Banking Studies (IBS), to nurture young Kuwaiti talent early in their career to develop them into holistic bankers and prepare them for future leadership positions at the Bank. This is the third class to graduate from the Ajyal Program. The Ajyal training took place at the following financial institutions: MISR Bank-Europe, KT Bank AG, and ICF Bank AG. The topics covered throughout the four-week program included Trading Global Markets, Frankfort Stock Exchange and Financial Management. One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to the Kuwaiti Consulate in Frankfurt. Commenting on this achievement, Mrs Salma Al-Hajjaj, General Manager of Human Resources at Gulf Bank said: The Gulf Bank Ajyal program is a world-class program that works to develop the skills of young Kuwaitis. Through Ajyal we are helping to shape the future of Banking in Kuwait by building a cadre of well-rounded, highly trained, and motivated banking professionals. Mrs Al- Hajjaj added: The aim of this internship abroad was to provide our three top Ajyal students with an international banking experience to enrich their knowledge and understanding of global financial markets and the banking industry. This type of exposure provides a different perspectives and a unique learning opportunity. We strongly believe that these types of opportunities contribute to professional and personal development. We thank our banking partners in Germany for providing such a rich experience for our top Ajyal students. The selection process for the Ajyal participants is based on specific criteria. The criteria is Kuwaiti employees who have worked at the Bank for no less than one year, but no more than three years can apply online. After the initial screening, the candidates must successfully complete a series of assessment tests, starting with language proficiencies, followed by numerical and analytical ability, psychometrics, and group discussions. Each stage of selection is based on elimination and only those who successfully complete each stage advance onwards. The final step is an interview with a panel of Gulf Bank executives who select a group of 20 candidates. For further details about Gulf Bank initiatives, please visit the bank s website: or its social media accounts. Bank supports Kuwait s youth, education sector ABK participates in College of Engineering Design expo KUWAIT CITY, July 4: Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK) recently participated in the 32nd College of Engineering s Design Exhibition at Kuwait University (KU), which was held on July 3 and 4, 2017 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. ABK reinforced its active role in supporting Kuwait s youth and the education sector by sponsoring three different projects exhibited by graduating students. The Bank s Corporate Communications team attended the and play areas for children, through to the multiple quiet areas in which passengers can relax, as well as the amazing array of duty free shopping and dining options. Qatar Airways received a number of accolades this year, including Airline of the Year by the prestigious 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards, which was held at the Paris Air Show. This is the fourth time that Qatar Airways has been given this global recognition as the world s best airline. In addition to being voted Best Airline by travellers from around the world, Qatar s national carrier also won a raft of other major awards at the ceremony, including Best Airline in the Middle East, World s Best Business Class and World s Best First Class Airline Lounge. The award-winning airline also recently revealed the first Boeing 777 equipped with the airline s new and unique seat design, Qsuite, at Le Bourget Airport, during the Paris Air Ajyal participants visiting the Kuwaiti Consulate in Frankfurt. exhibition and viewed the different projects as the students presented their work. ABK is committed to supporting students and encouraging them to maximize their potential. The Bank strongly believes that the role these students will play in the future of Kuwait is invaluable and it is a duty to support them through the most critical phases of their education and to show them the options they have, in terms Hotel marks World Sea Turtle Day Show Since its official debut, Qsuite has already been featured on the Doha-London Heathrow route, and will be followed by service to Paris and New York, with the airline s fleet retrofitted at the rate of one plane per month. Flights Schedules: Doha Sohar Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Doha (DOH) to Sohar (OHS) QR 1132 departs 13:20 arrives 16:10 Sohar (OHS) to Doha (DOH) QR1133 departs 17:10 arrives 18:05 Doha Prague Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday Doha (DOH) to Prague (PRG) QR 289 departs 02:30 arrives 07:40 Prague (PRG) to Doha (DOH) QR 290 departs 09:25 arrives 16:25 Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday Doha (DOH) to Prague (PRG) QR 291 departs 08:00 arrives 13:10 Prague (PRG) to Doha (DOH) QR 292 departs 17:10 arrives 00:10 +1 ABK Corporate Communications team with KU s College of Engineering students at the Design Exhibition. of career choice. The Bank continuously supports students through the ABK Academy, which focuses on developing students banking skills and equips them with the necessary training to prepare them for the work place. For more information on Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait please visit www. eahli.com or contact an ABK a customer service agent via Ahlan Ahli at Jumeirah rehabilitates 40 turtles to Arabian Gulf DUBAI, July 4: The Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project (DTRP) has collaborated with the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo in Dubai Mall and released 40 endangered sea turtles into the Arabian Gulf next to Jumeirah Al Naseem to celebrate World Sea Turtle Day. For the past three years, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo in Dubai Mall has supported the DTRP and this year raised awareness of the project by hosting five of the turtles as part of their rehabilitation process. The four juvenile hawksbills and one amputee juvenile green turtle named Jane were displayed in a large exhibit to raise awareness about the plight of the sea turtles in the region and also to promote the project via literature around the exhibit. In support of the project and research, Dubai Mall Aquarium then purchased five satellite tags for the turtles to enable the team to track their progress in the wild. Warren Baverstock, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah s Aquarium Operations Manager, said: The exhibit at Dubai Mall, which highlights DTRP s rehabilitation efforts is designed to educate the many visitors to Dubai Mall on the plight of these turtles. After a month rehabilitation period, the turtles were returned to the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah aquarium, fitted with a satellite tag and then released back into the Arabian Gulf. Their movements can now be monitored and followed on Facebook. All sea turtles displayed were rescued by the DTRP based at Burj Al A photo from the event. Arab Jumeirah and Madinat Jumeirah. The project is run in conjunction with the Wildlife Protection Office and is the only one of its kind in the Middle East and Red Sea region. Essential veterinary services are provided by Dubai Falcon Clinic and Central Veterinary Research Laboratory. The aim of the exhibition is to educate visitors about turtles, their habitats and global conservation efforts in the fight against extinction. The day-to-day running of the DTRP and the animal husbandry is managed by Burj Al Arab s dedicated aquarium team. A rare olive ridley sea turtle called Barnacle recently checked out of Jumeirah Al Naseem s turtle rehabilitation lagoon with more than 70 critically endangered hawksbill turtles who headed back home into the waters of the Arabian Gulf. Children from the Dubai British School purchased a special satellite tag for Barnacle which will enable them to track her progress online. The kids were invited to the release learn more about the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project (DTRP) and wave the turtles off from the beach by Jumeirah Al Naseem. More than 1,300 sea turtles have been successfully returned to the sea over the past ten years since the project s inception. The turtles have all been rescued from the shores of the UAE and nursed back to health by the DTRP one of the longest standing corporate social responsibility initiatives in the region and the only project of its kind in the Middle East and Red Sea region.

27 27 h o r o s c o p e By Jacqueline Bigar Happy birthday for Wednesday, July 5, 2017: This year you put a lot of effort into various facets of your daily life. You could decide to achieve a long-term goal. You ll infuse more excitement into your life simply by changing your work hours. If you are single, the time to meet Mr. or Ms. Right will come after mid-october, when you could meet someone who gives you a case of the butterflies. If you are attached, the two of you enter a period where you act like new lovers. Enjoy your time together. SAGITTARIUS has very dynamic ideas that could be applicable to your life. The Stars Show the Kind of Day You ll Have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult Capricorn - (Dec 22 - Jan 19) **** Take a break from the hectic pace you have been keeping. If an associate, partner or loved one expresses a desire to pitch in or take the lead, let him or her. Allowing this experience will be good for both of you. Be more present in a discussion. Tonight: Say yes to an offer. Aquarius - (Jan 20 - Feb 18) ***** Take a risk and move forward. You need to handle a personal matter as directly as possible. A meeting or discussion with a friend is likely to point you in a new, more successful direction. Follow this person s lead, and you ll be a lot happier. Tonight: As you like it. Pisces - (Feb 19 - Mar 20) **** Others look to you to take the lead. If you want to take the reins, do. Your initial reaction will provide a good barometer for assessing what you should do and why. Know that you are in the unique position of following through on an important wish. Tonight: Count on a late night. Aries - (Mar 21 - Apr 19) ***** Whoever or whatever baffled or bored you yesterday could prove to be your muse today, which adds to your creativity. Brainstorm away. Encourage others to play devil s advocate. Your imagination draws on your experience. Tonight: Let a loved one express his or her caring. Taurus - (Apr 20 - May 20) ***** One-on-one relating will delight you; however, it also might slow you down when it comes to dealing with a domestic matter. You ll want to get some feedback. A friend or associate has an odd way of showing his or her support. Tonight: Run some errands on the way home. Gemini - (May 21 - June 20) **** Keep reaching out to others. Someone close to you might be too chatty in your opinion. You ll try to settle him or her down in order to complete certain projects. An older relative or higher-up has an unusual approach to a difficult situation. Tonight: Get together with a pal. Cancer - (June 21 - July 22) **** You are a whirlwind of energy. A conversation about funds needs to happen, whether you are speaking to a boss or planning a vacation. Imagine what you want, and live up to your expectations. A discussion allows greater understanding. Tonight: Follow your instincts. Leo - (July 23 - Aug 22) ***** Your enthusiasm is hard to sit on. Your creativity adds extra pizzazz to whatever you do, but it might make a project more time-consuming. Weigh the pros and cons of producing a higher-quality product and having less free time. Tonight: Don t justify taking a break. Virgo - (Aug 23 - Sept 22): *** Note the possibility of a discrepancy between what you say and what you are thinking. If there is a way to merge the two, do that. Otherwise, others might get confused. Listen to news from an associate carefully. Avoid a knee-jerk reaction. Tonight: Read between the lines. Libra - (Sept 23 - Oct 22) **** Manage your schedule with an eye to effectiveness, and see what works best for the majority. You could be surprised by what you are hearing. Be nurturing and help others become more enthusiastic about an idea. Tonight: Head out the door and drop by your favorite spot. Scorpio - (Oct 23 - Nov 21) **** You could be overwhelmed by everything you need to handle. Your sense of humor takes over at a certain point, and the task at hand becomes a lot easier. Make an important call, perhaps to an expert or confidant; you need solid facts. Tonight: Do some shopping on the way home. Sagittarius - (Nov 22 - Dec 21) ***** You might feel as if you are playing the lead role in an action movie. You ll tackle nearly any project, conversation or interaction with ease and skill. You could have a desire to go off on an adventure, but you ll want to get as much done as possible first. Tonight: Take a walk. Born today: Singer/songwriter Huey Lewis (1950), actress Edie Falco (1963), singer/songwriter Joseph Lewis Thomas (1973) home decor indoor gardening beauty tips taste buds reach high zamioculcas zamiifolia cheese zucchini patties Amplify the height of your small space to make it look and feel bigger. Paint the ceiling a bright, crisp shade of white to reflect light and feel airy overhead. Hang curtains above the molding or at the ceiling so windows appear taller, and dangle chandeliers or lanterns over seating groups to draw the focus up. In this tight living room, everything reaches to the stars, such as the bookcases and the elongated candlesticks on the mantel, which creates the illusion that the room is grander than its proportions. Dear Abby Twins disagree over plan to go with separate ways Zamioculcas (Common name Zanzibar Gem ) is a genus of flowering plant in the family Araceae, containing the single species Zamioculcas zamiifolia. It is a tropical perennial plant native to eastern Africa, from Kenya south to northeastern South Africa The botanical name derives from the superficial similarity of its foliage to that of the cycad genus Zamia. Botanical synonyms include Caladium zamiaefolium, Zamioculcas loddigesii and Z. lanceolata. It is sometimes known by the trivial names ZZ plant, aroid palm, fat boy, and eternity plant. Eating cheese after a meal may help prevent cavities and may promote enamel remineralization. It s the casein, a milk protein, that s in cheese (and milk and yogurt) along with calcium and phosphate that are at work here, making enamel stronger. Ingredients: 2 cups grated zucchini, 2 eggs, beaten, 1/4 cup chopped onion, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, salt to taste, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil Directions: In a medium bowl, combine the zucchini, eggs, onion, flour, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and salt. Stir well enough to distribute ingredients evenly. Heat a small amount of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Drop zucchini mixture by heaping tablespoonfuls, and cook for a few minutes on each side until golden. By Abigail Van Buren Dear Abby: My twin sister and I are juniors in high school and starting to plan to apply to colleges. It has always been assumed that we would go to the same college and be roommates. My sister still wants it this way. I, however, think it s finally time for some separation. We ve been roommates our whole lives and shared a bed until we were 14, when Mom finally let us get twin beds for our room. My sister was hurt and upset when I told her I prefer that we go to separate colleges, and she took it personally. It is nothing personal. I love her with all my heart. I would just like to finally be an individual after us having always being known as the twins. Our mom agrees with my sister and tells me stories about friends of hers whose kids ended up with roommates from hell. Please give me your opinion. Also, Abigail Van Buren please give me advice on how to make my sister understand that this is nothing against her. Twin sister Dear twin sister: My mother and my aunt were identical twins. Like you, they shared a room and slept in the same bed for many years. Their parents dressed them alike and gave them names that were mirror images (Pauline Esther and Esther Pauline). Like you, my aunt yearned to be an individual. My mother loved the attention that being a twin brought. This created serious conflict for them later in life. You deserve the chance to spread your wings and be your own person. If you do, you will grow from the experience, and so will your sister. You should not have to sell her on this, but explain it to your sister that way. Your mother should be GLAD that you are independent. Dear Abby: I am a mother of two, and I m afraid the baby s dad is with me only for them. He pays no attention to me unless he has something to complain about. When he does, he says hurtful things that make me cry and then he tells the kids to call me a crybaby. It s almost as if he is trying to turn them against me. I want a relationship with him. I want love and attention, but I don t know how to get it. Please help! Not wanted in the East Dear not wanted: What your partner is doing is unhealthy not only for you, but also for your children. He is emotionally abusing you, while at the same time encouraging those children to disrespect you and minimize your feelings. For your sake and theirs you must not allow this to continue. If you do, they will think the abuse is normal behavior and perpetuate it in their own relationships when they are older. Offer your partner the option of couples counseling to repair your relationship. If he refuses, go without him. If you do, I promise you will find it enlightening. Please do not procrastinate, because his verbal abuse could escalate. Dear Abby: Is there a way to respond to individuals who use swear words often and loudly in a public place such as a restaurant? Hearing the F-word used by people at the next table ruins my enjoyment of my meal. Offended in the West Dear offended: I don t advise you to approach the offenders. If you have a complaint, direct it to the manager of the restaurant, who can then inform the F-worders they are disturbing other patrons and to please keep it down. And if they don t, ask to change tables and sit in a quieter section of the restaurant. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA (Source: Universal Uclick) what s on today emergency click Site for checking travel ban Bridge game: Bridge tournament is being held every Sunday and Wednesday at 20:00 hours, played at the Graduates Club, next to Kuwait Engineering Society. Interested Bridge pairs or individual players please contact Mohammed Merchant, Tel: , , Islamic classes in French: The Enlightenment into Islam is offering Islamic Classes in French for ladies. Timings 4:30 to 7 pm. Every Wednesday. Please register at the office (Women s Section), 2nd fl oor. For more information please contact us. Telephone , , , Fax (attention Enlightenment into Islam) Father s Love Int l Ministries: General Continued from Page 25 or any of your family members, acquaintances or friends happen to have a story with the American Missionary hospital in Kuwait (Mustashfa Lemraicani) during the years from , the official period of offering medical services in Kuwait? Please share with us your story or your memory during those old days by writing Have you had a challenging week? Want to hear something different for a change? Something positive and energizing? At FLIM, you will find all this and much more... Love, laugher, life and liberty. You will find a community of God-loving believers, who come every Friday, Saturday, Monday and Wednesday to praise and worship together. There always a word of blessing and edification for everyone who comes to the Father s House. So, don t be left out! Come join the family! You will be restored, received, renewed and greatly rewarded! Father s Love Encounter Service on Friday at 11:00 am to 2:00 pm African service on Saturday at 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Empowerment Services on Monday at 6:30 pm 8:30 pm Tamil Service on Wednesday at 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm the event and sending it to the following address: Mystory@darmuseum.org. kw Notes: 1. Please send your story only to the above mentioned . Story shared in Instagram, Facebook or Twitter will not be considered. 2. Please write your story or memory and sign it with your full name, and your contact number. 3. It will be great if you send us your personal photos or those of the place related to the story (optional). Your story will be part of a new book to be published by DAI. I am confident that your contributions will be an essential part of the history of Amricani. Share with us! Flyers of the event. Please call , , KTCC activities: Worship service every Wednesday 7:00-9:00 pm at North Tent, NECK. Children s Bible School every Wednesday 7 to 9 pm at Activity Building, NECK. Overnight prayer every 1st Thursday from 10 pm 4:00 am at Diwaniya, NECK. Communion Service every 3rd Wednesday. The Following meeting are held at our KTCC Prayer House: 1) Children Bible School Teacher s Prayer 1st Saturday 7 to 9 pm. 2) Children s Prayer 2nd Friday 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. 3) Bible Study every 2nd and 4th Sunday at 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm. KIFF anti-drugs campaign: As part of the Fraternity fest, Kuwait India Fraternity Forum (KIFF) is conducting Anti-Drugs Campaign among Indians living in Kuwait. According to the available statistics of Indian Embassy, 60% of the convicted Indians in Kuwaiti Jails are arrested on drug-related cases. The recent cases of death and captives of Indian drug abusers is a threatening news. To defend and to campaign against such social crisis by protecting individuals as well as the society has become obligatory. In this current situation, Kuwait India Fraternity Forum is conducting campaign by distributing handouts, conducting counseling, seminars etc. to educate the Indians living in Kuwait informed President Saifudheen Nalakath in a press release. For more details contact: number 112 Civil ID info: ) ISOM Batch 1 Class Tuesdays 7 to 9 pm and Batch 2 Class Fridays 4 to 6 pm. 5) Choir Practice Mondays 6 to 8 pm. 6) Men s Fellowship 4th Friday 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. 7) Women s Prayer (Abbasiya) 3rd Sunday 6:30 to 8:30 pm and (Salmiya) 4th Tuesday 6:30 to 8:30 pm. 8) Fasting Prayer every 3rd Friday from 12:00 Noon 3:30 pm. 9) Cottage Prayers every 2nd and 4th Week. 10) Baptism Service every 4th Friday. Welcome to all Tamil known people to participate in our regular activities to worship the Lord in our own mother tongue and be blessed! For details or for any prayer needs contact Tel No: / or at kiffkuwait@gmail. com. NYF offers free yoga classes: NYF Kuwait offers free yoga, breathing, meditation and reiki classes by a well-experienced female yoga teacher for all age groups. Classes are given on the basis of different health problems, stress and other problems by different techniques. Contact: AWL registration: If you would like to join the American Women s League (AWL), please call or or kuwaitawl@yahoo.com. All American women and wives of Americans are welcomed.

28 28 Reflection to debut in Japan Fox Sports exec fired over allegations of misconduct LOS ANGELES, July 4, (RTRS): Jamie Horowitz has been ousted from Fox Sports, where he was president of national networks. Jamie Horowitz is no longer with FOX Sports effective immediately, a Fox Sports spokesperson said in a statement. There is no further comment at this time. A source confirmed to Variety that Fox Sports is investigating sexual harassment claims against Horowitz. In a memo to Fox Sports employees announcing Horowitz s departure, Fox Sports president and COO Eric Shanks wrote, Everyone at FOX Sports, no matter what role we play, or what business, function or show we contribute to should act with respect and adhere to professional conduct at all times. These values are non-negotiable. Shanks added that he will assume Horowitz s responsibilities including programming, scheduling, and marketing for cable channels Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2 until a replacement is named. Horowitz, meanwhile, has hired attorney Patty Glaser, who issued a statement Monday: The way Jamie has been treated by Fox is appalling. At no point in his tenure was there any mention by his superiors or human resources of any misconduct or an inability to adhere to professional conduct. Jamie was hired by Fox to do a job, a job that until today he has performed in an exemplary fashion. Any slanderous accusations to the contrary will be vigorously defended. Fox Sports, meanwhile, has retained O Melveny & Myers Daniel Petrocelli, one of the nation s most high-profile litigators, to represent the company in the matter involving Horowitz. Mr. Horowitz s termination was fully warranted and his lawyer s accusations are ill-informed and misguided, Petrocelli said in a statement. Fox Sports parent 21st Century Fox has been under pressure to adopt a zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment in the wake of scandals that led to the firings of late Fox News president Roger Ailes and popular Fox News host Bill O Reilly. Last week, Fox s bid to take over U.K. media company Sky was dealt a major blow when the British government said that regulators would need to take a closer look at the deal before it could go forward. In a separate but related report, British media regulator Ofcom said, We have received a number of submissions asserting that conduct at Fox News would render Sky unfit to hold a broadcast license in the event of a merger, adding, The allegations that have been put to us about sexual harassment at Fox News are of an extremely serious and disturbing nature. Horowitz, a former ESPN executive, joined Fox Sports in 2015 to lead Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2. He arrived at Fox Sports fresh off a tumultuous tenure at NBC News that lasted only two months. Joining NBC News in September, 2014 to revitalize then-struggling morning show Today, Horowitz was then fired that November. Horowitz reportedly clashed with then-nbc News president Deborah Turness, who declared in a memo that Horowitz was not the right fit. During his time at ESPN, Horowitz built a Couch slouch reputation for developing provocative sports programs. There he oversaw budgets and production for shows such as Olbermann, SportsNation and Colin s New Football Show. Horwitz carried that approach over to Fox Sports, where he has recruited veteran ESPN opinion-show hosts such as Skip Bayless, Colin Cowherd, and Jason Whitlock. American Idol is set to return this season on ABC, but the network that was its previous home isn t keeping its voice down. Fox is developing a new singing competition from Israeli producer and distributor Armoza Formats, Variety has learned. Although no series order has yet been finalized, development has accelerated since May, when ABC closed a deal to bring American Idol back to television just two seasons after Fox canceled the long-running franchise. The Armoza project is a variation on classic shiny-floor singing competitions, one in which the show s four finalists are selected in the premiere episode. New contestants then challenge the finalists each week to steal one of the four slots. The winner is named in the season finale. Armoza made its first sale of the format in April, in France with production company Satisfaction. The show has been being shopped internationally under the title The Final Four, but will not air in the U.S. under that name so as to avoid confusion with the NCAA men s and women s college basketball tournaments. The still-untitled series could be the first show developed under new alternative programming chief Rob Wade, who joined the network in February, to make it to air. American Idol ended a 15-season run on Fox in 2016, with the network canceling the show after watching it suffer ratings declines and slip from its perch as television s highest-rated series, a position it held for eight consecutive seasons, beginning in Also: LOS ANGELES: New animated superhero series The Reflection, executive produced by Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee, is set to debut July 22 on Japanese public broadcaster NHK. The TV series consists of 12 episodes, and will air on NHK late Saturday nights. The series follows the fight between superhero Xon and villain I-Guy, who are among those found to have gained special powers following a global disaster called the Reflection. The director is Hiroshi Nagahama, who has a big fan base in the animation world and who directed animated TV series Mushishi and The Flowers of Evil and the film Detroit Metal City. Leading British music producer Trevor Horn is handling sound for the series, and Yoshihiko Umakoshi of the animated TV series Heartcatch Precure! is the character designer. Studio Deen is handling the animation production. In the cast, well-known voice actor Shinichiro Miki ( Pokemon ) plays the part of Xon. Voice actor Satoshi Mikami, who plays the Japanese-dubbed version of Sherlock Holmes in Elementary, plays I-Guy. tv highlights In this photograph taken on July 2, 2017 Afghan puppeteer Seema (right), holds new Sesame Street Muppet Zeerak as she performs with colleague Mansoora Shirzad, holding Muppet Zari during a recording at a television studio in Kabul. (AFP) New character aims to inspire children, parents Afghanistan s Sesame Street gets brother muppet KABUL, July 4, (AFP): Zeerak the bespectacled orange muppet is the latest innovation from Sesame Street in Afghanistan: a children s TV character who reveres his educated older sister, brought on to screens to show a new generation that a woman s place is beyond the home. Producers are betting the new character a four-year-old boy dressed in a traditional shalwar kameez and a waistcoast embroidered in Afghan national colours will inspire millions of children and their parents to see the value in education. Zeerak s big sister Zari, introduced last year with great fanfare as the first Afghan muppet to join internationally cherished characters such as Big Bird and Elmo, has already proved a success on the local version of Sesame Street, known as Baghch-e- Simsim. Massood Sanjer, head of Tolo TV which airs the show, believes introducing a boy, who adores and wants to emulate his schoolgoing, older sibling, will indirectly teach the kids to love their sisters in a conservative, gender-segregated nation which traditionally has invested more in its sons. Baghch-e-Simsim is the only programme on Afghan television dedicated to children and has a remarkable reach a recent survey showed some 80 percent of children and parents with access to television watch the show. Sanjer believes the show can, from an early age, underline the importance of educated women in Afghan society, but also show boys that a good education benefits everyone. People kids and parents, who have access to TV are watching and know the brand of the character. So it is a very good sign that people love to learn and it is great to use media as an education tool for kids, he told AFP. That message still needs to be hammered home in many parts of Afghanistan nearly 16 years after the end of the Taliban s repressive regime. Barely A report published last year by the National Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Center showed that just 66 percent of boys and 37 percent of girls aged can read and write, while barely 45.5 percent of Afghans attend primary school, and 27 percent secondary school. The broadcaster is utilising everything it can to help change attitudes the new muppet Zeerak s name means smart in Dari and Pashto, Afghanistan s two official languages. And even his trendy, black-rimmed glasses were chosen for a reason. Producer Wajiha Saidy explains that wearing spectacles is seen as shameful for Afghan youngsters, so they wanted to address the issue and show it to be normal. Across its global iterations, Sesame Street has made a point of inclusivity with its cast. Earlier this year the American version debuted a character with autism, while in South Africa the programme features a HIVpositive muppet. Last week it courted controversy in the US after tweeting a group image of some of its stars to reflect a rainbow in support of LGBT Pride Month. Sesame Street is proud to support families of all shapes, sizes, and colors, the official account said. In Afghanistan, the show s attention to equality extends to its casting, with two talented female puppeteers, Sima and Mansour, lending their voices to Zari and Zeerak. Zari is by far the favourite character on the show in Afghanistan, according to the study commissioned by Tolo which surveyed some 1,500 children and their parents. Just 60 percent of Afghanistan has access to television, but Baghch-e-Simsim is also broadcast on the radio across 44 FM stations, says Anwar Jamilli, who runs the audio progammes. The producers also organise small mobile theatres that travel to kindergartens in rural areas, with Jamilli estimating that they reached nearly 20,000 children last year. He says the show s focus on friendship and sharing brings a dose of happiness to children living with the ever-present threat of violence. This is very new for Afghan children, he says. Cinema Cinema programme from Thursday 29/06/2017 to Wednesday 05/07/2017 The Mummy Sharqia 1 11:45 (No Fri) 22:30, 00:45 Muhalab 1 16:30, 21:30 Fanar 1 16:30, 21:45 Fanar 5 12:30 (No Fri) 14:45, 00:30 Marina 2 11:30 (No Fri) 16:15 Marina 3 22:45, 01:00 Avenues 2 22:15 Avenues 5 16:45, 00:45 Avenues 6 11:30 (No Fri) 16:30, 18:45, 21:15, 23:30 Avenues 11 01: : :00, 22:45, 01: :15 (No Fri) 15:30, 17:45, 20:00, 22:15, 00: :45, 00:45 Al-Kout 2 00:05 Al-Kout 3 Bairaq 1 01:00 Bairaq 2 16:30 Laila 22:30 11:30 (No Fri) 16:45, 22:00 Tubelight (Hindi Film) Sharqia 1 14:00, 19:45 Muhalab 1 13:45, 18:45 Fanar 2 13:45 Fanar 3 21:30, 00:30 Avenues 1 13:00 (No Fri) 15:45, 18:30, 21:15, 00:05 Avenues 5 14:00, 19:00 Avenues 10 15: : :00 (No Fri) 14:45, 17:45, 20:45, 23: :45 (No Fri) 15: :15 (No Fri) 17:15 Bairaq 2 13:45, 18:45 Plaza 16:00, 18:45, 21:45 Ajial 1 16:15, 19:00, 21:45 Ajial 3 15:30, 18:15, 21:00 Transformers: The Last Knight Sharqia 1 16:45 Muhalab 1 23:45 Fanar 1 13:30, 18:45, 00:05 Marina 1 23:45 Marina 2 21:15 Avenues 9 12:30 (No Fri) 15:30, 21:30, 00: :30 (No Fri) 14:30, 17:30, 20:30, 23: :30 (No Fri) 15:30, 18:30, 21:30, 00:30 Al-Kout 3 13:45, 19:00, 00:15 Despicable Me 3 Sharqia 2 12:00 (No Fri) 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00 Muhalab 3 11:30 (No Fri) 13:30, 15:30, 17:30, 19:30 Fanar 1 11:30 (No Fri) Fanar 4 12:00 (No Fri) 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00 Marina 3 12:45 (No Fri) 14:45, 16:45, 18:45, 20:45 Avenues 2 11:30 (No Fri) 13:30, 15:30, 17:30 Avenues 4 12:45 (No Fri) 19:30 Avenues 8 11:45 (No Fri) 13:45, 15:45, 17:45, 19:45, 21:45 Avenues 11 12:30 (No Fri) 14:30, 16:30, 18:30, 20: :30 (No Fri) 13:30, 15:30, 17:30, 19:30, 21:30, 23: :00, 18: :45 (Thu, Sat) 14:45, 16:45, 18: :45 (No Fri) 13:45, 15:45, 20:00 Al-Kout 1 Bairaq 1 11:45 (No Fri) 13:45, 15:45, 17:45, 19:45 13:00 (No Fri) 15:00, 17:00, 19:00, 21:00, 23:00 Bairaq 2 11:45 (No Fri) Laila 18:30 Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Sharqia 2 22:00, 00:45 Sharqia 3 17:00 Muhalab 3 21:30, 00:15 Fanar 3 13:30, 16:15, 18:45 Fanar 4 22:00, 00:45 Marina 2 13:45, 18:30, 00:15 Avenues 2 19:30, 00:30 Avenues 5 Avenues 6 13:45 Avenues 7 21:30 Avenues 8 23:45 Avenues 9 18:30 Avenues 11 22: : : :00 11:30 (No Fri) 22: :15 (No Fri) 15:15, 18:15, 21:00, 23: :00 Al-Kout 1 21:45, 00:30 Al-Kout 2 15:45 Al-Kout 4 13:30 Bairaq 2 21:30, 00:15 Laila 15:45 Tisbah Ala Khair (Arabic Film) Sharqia 3 12:30 (No Fri) 15:00, 19:45, 00:30 Muhalab 1 11:45 (No Fri) Muhalab 2 12:30 (No Fri) 17:15, 22:00 Fanar 2 11:45 (No Fri) 16:30, 18:30, 20:30, 22:30, 00:45 Marina 1 12:15 (No Fri) Avenues 3 17:00, 21:45 12:00 (No Fri) 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00, 22:00, 00:05 Avenues 4 17:30, 00: :15, 20:15, 22:15, 00: :00 (No Fri) 15:00, 17:00, 19:00, 21:00, 23:00, 01: :30 (No Fri) 20:45, 22:45 Al-Kout 2 Al-Kout 4 Bairaq 3 Laila 20:30 How to find us 13:45 (Fri) 11:30 (No Fri) 16:30, 18:45, 20:45, 22:45, 00:45 13:15 (No Fri) 18:00, 22:45, 00:45 Khammis & Jumma (Horoob Ejbary) Arabic Film Sharqia 3 21:45 Muhalab 2 14:30, 19:15, 00:05 Fanar 5 19:00, 21:45 Marina 1 14:15, 19:00 Avenues 4 14:45, 21:30 Avenues 10 12:15 (No Fri) 18:00, 20:45, 23: :00 (No Fri) 15: :30, 19:15, 22:00, 00: : :45, 23: Zahra a Area, South Surra, 6th Ring Road, corner of King Faisal Highway 2. Ajial Ajial Complex, Fahaheel 3. Al Bairaq Between Jaber Al Ali East & Al Agalia West 4. Al Fanar Al Fanar Complex, Salem Al Mubarak Street, near Sultan Center, Salmiya 5. Al Kout Al-Kout Complex, at the end of the Coastal Road, Fahaheel 6. Al Muhalab Al Muhalab Complex, Behind Hawally Clinic, Hawally 7. Al Sharqiya Arabian Gulf Street, Souq Sharq, near the Amiri Hospital 8. Laila Gallery Salem Al Mubarak Street, near Sultan Center, Salmiya 9. Marina Marina Mall, Between Salem Al Mubarak Street & Arabian Gulf Street, Salmiya 10. Metro Metro Complex, Farwaniya, near Crowne Plaza Hotel & Farwaniya Garden 11. Plaza Salem Al Mubarak Street, near Sultan Center, Salmiya 12. The Avenues The Avenues Mall, Al Reggai near Al Rai, 5th Ring Road & Ghazali Road Intersection NB: Friday no show before 1:30 pm Regular show KD3:000; 3D-Digital KD3.500; VIP show KD On Monday, price is KD1.500 except Digital movies. Cinescape cinema movies inquiries and Fax Back hotline The Scientific Center IMAX Opp Holiday Inn, Salmiya, Gulf Road 14. Grand Al-Hamra Grand Al-Hamra, tel: , cinemas.com 15. Grand Gate Grand Gate, tel: , Al-Kout 2 13:00 (No Fri) 18:30, 21:15 Bairaq 3 15:15, 20:00 Mr Frog Fanar 3 11:30 (No Fri) Fanar 5 17:00 Avenues 7 13:30, 17: :30, 20:30 Overdrive Avenues 7 11:30 (No Fri) 15:30, 19:30, 00: :00 (Thu, Sat) 15:00 (Thu, Fri, Sat) 17:00 (No Mon) 19:00, 21:00, 23:00, 01: :30 (No Fri) Puthan Panam (Malayalam Film) Ajial 2 15:30, 18:30 Anbanavan Asarathavan Adangathavan (Tamil Film) Ajial 2 21:30 Vanamagan (Tamil Film) Ajial 4 15:45 Duvvada Jagannadham (DJ) (Telugu Film) Ajial 4 18:30 Lakshyam (Malayalam Film) Ajial 4 21:15 IMAX Imax film programme at The Scientific Center Sunday Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am Flying Monsters 3D 10:30 am 07:30 pm A Beautiful Planet 3D 11:30 am 06:30 pm, 09:30 pm Journey to Space 3D 12:30 pm Humpback Whales 3D 05:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 08:30 pm Monday Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am A Beautiful Planet 3D 10:30 am 05:30 pm, 07:30 pm Humpback Whales 3D 11:30 am 09:30 pm Flying Monsters 3D 12:30 pm, 06:30 pm Journey to Space 3D 08:30 pm Tuesday Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am Journey to Space 3D 10:30 am 04:30 pm Flying Monsters 3D 11:30 am 09:30 pm A Beautiful Planet 3D 12:30 pm, 02:30 pm, 05:30 pm, 08:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 01:30 pm Humpback Whales 3D 03:30 pm, 06:30 pm Secret Ocean 3D 07:30 pm Wednesday Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am Flying Monsters 3D 10:30 am 05:30 pm A Beautiful Planet 3D 11:30 am 06:30 pm, 09:30 pm Humpback Whales 3D 12:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 07:30 pm Journey to Space 3D 08:30 pm Thursday Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am A Beautiful Planet 3D 10:30 am 07:30 pm Flying Monsters 3D 11:30 am 06:30 pm, 09:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 12:30 pm Journey to Space 3D 05:30 pm Humpback Whales 3D 08:30 pm Friday A Beautiful Planet 3D 02:30 pm, 06:30 pm, 09:30 pm Journey to Space 3D 03:30 pm Humpback Whales 3D 04:30 pm Secret Ocean 3D 05:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 07:30 pm Flying Monsters 3D 08:30 pm Saturday Showtime Available for Groups 09:30 am Flying Monsters 3D 10:30 am 05:30 pm, 07:30 pm A Beautiful Planet 3D 11:30 am 03:30 pm, 08:30 pm Journey to Space 3D 12:30 pm, 06:30 pm, 09:30 pm Humpback Whales 3D 01:30 pm Kenya: Animal Kingdom 3D 02:30 pm Secret Ocean 3D 04:30 pm Notes: All films are in Arabic. For English, headsets are available upon request. Film schedule is subject to changes without notice. For information call or visit

29 HEALTH 29 UK ministers want post-brexit drug regulation deal with EU Some Cubans choose dose of private medicine despite price In this June 8, 2017 photo podiatrist Serafin Barca attends to a patient in his clinic in Havana, Cuba. (AP) HAVANA, July 4, (Agencies): For a dollar, Cuban podiatrist Serafin Barca will spend a half hour cutting the corns off a senior citizen s foot, or nearly an hour removing a stubborn wart. The 80-year-old is among the last private medical workers in communist Cuba, which prides itself on its free, universal state health care and which has barred the creation of new private medical practices since 1963 the year Barca graduated in his specialty after four years of study. Barca is busy from morning until night treating patients frustrated with the inefficiency of the state system. The service is of higher quality, Barca said. If you get a patient and you don t treat them well... you don t get them back. Some Cubans believe that allowing more private practices would improve services and help ease the state s burden, allowing it to concentrate on more complicated surgeries and treatments that require sophisticated technology. A growing number of Cubans in recent years have begun to complain about the quality of free medical services, which many say has been affected by doctors leaving on international health missions or moving to countries such as the US in search of higher salaries and a better quality of life. Martha Garcia, a 72-year-old retiree, has been visiting Barca for her foot problems for more than a decade. I could go to the Policlinico, but I don t get the help I need when I ve gone because they say they don t have the necessary equipment, she said of a free health clinic in Havana. She envisions private practices for optometrists, physiotherapists and others. This would allow the state to take charge of more complex things, she said. Cuba continued to allow private medical practices for the first few years after the 1959 revolution. But as the country veered toward socialism and the health system was nationalized, about half of Cuba s doctors poured out of the country, leaving only about 5,000. The revolutionary government poured resources into health care, and there are now 70,000 doctors many of whom serve on medical missions in other countries, which have become a significant source of income for the government. Only a handful of private practitioners remain because no new ones have been allowed in more than half a century. President Raul Castro has allowed the legal privatization of businesses ranging from cafeterias to masonries to hair salons, but professionals including doctors and engineers, lawyers and architects have not been given the same opportunity. For now, there are no signs state authorities will expand that liberalization to the medical field, considered strategic by the government. Officials have tried to raise awareness among Cubans about the value of its medical services, though. Posters at clinics across the island tell patients of the costs the government is paying: a consultation is $1, an X-ray nearly $4, an MRI $32 and a gallbladder surgery $36 costs dramatically lower than in most nations due in part to the low salaries for medi- MIAMI, July 4, (AFP): People who develop shingles a reactivation of the chicken pox virus which commonly affects older people may face a ballooning risk of heart attack or stroke, South Korean researchers said Monday. Their study found that people with shingles saw an overall 41 percent higher risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attack or stroke, when compared to an agematched control group that did not develop shingles. The risk of stroke was 35 percent higher and heart attack 59 percent higher, said the report published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The riskiest period was the first cal workers, but still significant to Cubans, who on average make the equivalent of about $20 to $30 a month. Still, a few Cubans prefer paying for private treatment. Among them is Mayra Hernandez, a 55-year-old hotel worker who said getting treated by Barca is worth paying for the bus trip to his office and the fee he charges. Also: LONDON: The British government sought to reassure drug companies and biotech firms on Monday by calling for Virus commonly affects older people Shingles boosts risk of heart attack, stroke year after infection, and the dangers appeared to decline after that. Researchers also found the risk for stroke was highest in those under 40 years old. The study was based on a medical database of 519,880 patients whose records were tracked from Researchers are unclear why shingles would boost the risk of cardiovascular problems, and said more study is needed. While these findings require further study into the mechanism that causes shingles patients to have an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, it is important that physicians treating these patients make them aware of their increased risk, said study author Sung-Han Kim, a continued co-operation with the European Union over drug regulation after Brexit. Drugmakers, which overwhelmingly favoured remaining in the EU, account for 25 percent of all UK business research spending and companies have warned that Brexit threatens uncertainty, added complexity and potential drug approval delays. Jeremy Hunt, the health minister, and Greg Clark, the business minister, wrote a letter to the Financial Times outlining how Britain and the physician in the department of infectious diseases at Asan Medical Center in Seoul. Nearly one in three people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The infection, which may cause blisters, rash and shooting pain, can affect anyone who has had chicken pox. Shingles is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It can be spread through direct contact with the rash, but not by air. A vaccine against shingles is available and is recommended for people 60 and older, according to the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. EU could work together. The letter said the government s priority was to protect patient safety, maintain Britain s role as a centre for research and promote public health globally. The ministers said there were numerous examples where the partnership between Britain and the EU had helped patients, including the licensing of 130 products for rare diseases. We will look to continue to work closely with the European Medicines Agency (EMA), they said.

30 Egypt passes budget Kuwait oil price up VW resumes Iran exports Egypt s parliament on Tuesday passed the state budget for the fiscal year beginning in July, sticking with its budget deficit target of 9.1 percent amid a fiscal belt tightening by the government that is part of a broad programme of economic reforms. The government cut fuel subsidies last week, hiking prices by up to 50 percent as part of the reforms tied to a three-year $12 billion International Monetary Fund loan agreement aimed at tightening government finances and attracting foreign investors. The IMF is expected to disburse a second loan installment of $1.25 billion within the coming few weeks. Egypt is struggling to revive its economy since a 2011 uprising drove away tourists and foreign investors two major sources of foreign currency. (RTRS) The price of Kuwaiti oil went up by $1.83 to $46.10 per barrel Monday compared to $44.27 pb last Friday, said Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) Tuesday. At the global scale, the price went up due to indications regarding the decrease in US oil production. However, gains might be restricted due to news on OPEC intentions to increase production. The price of the Brent crude went up by 91 cents to $49.68 per barrel, the same case with the American light crude, which went up by $1.03 to $47.07 pb. Meanwhile, OPEC daily basket price stood at $45.63 per barrel (pb) on Friday after climbing 27 cents, compared with $44.36 pb last Wednesday, said the international organization Monday. (KUNA) Volkswagen will start exporting cars to Iran next month, returning to the resurgent Iranian market after more than 17 years in a move that may help the German carmaker reduce its reliance on volatile markets such as China and Brazil. Volkswagen (VW) has signed an agreement with Iran s Mammut Khodro which will import VW brand models Tiguan and Passat via eight dealerships, focusing on the greater Tehran area, VW said on Tuesday. Europe s largest automotive group is seeking to tap new overseas markets as it grapples with billions of euros in costs stemming from an emissions scandal while pushing a strategic shift to electric cars and new mobility services. (RTRS) Market Movements Change Closing pts AUSTRALIA - All Ordinaries , Change Closing pts INDIA - Sensex , JAPAN - Nikkei , PHILIPPINES - All Shares , S. KOREA - KRX , HONG KONG - Hang Seng , GERMANY - DAX , EUROPE - Euro Stoxx , Business Non-oil economy to gain slightly: forecast UAE growth set to moderate in 2017 amid oil cuts By National Bank of Kuwait Real GDP in the UAE is expected to moderate in 2017 as crude production is lowered, in compliance with the agreement among OPEC members to cut crude supply. Whilst the oil sector is projected to act as a laggard on overall growth, the non-oil sector is set to continue to propel forward and offset a contracting oil sector. Subsequently, we foresee real GDP moderating from an estimated 2.4 percent in 2016 to 2.2 percent in Growth in the oil economy is expected to be limited in the medium-to-long term on the back of planned production cuts. In May, OPEC and a group of non-opec nations agreed to extend a six-month output cut that was scheduled to end in June, to at least the end of the first quarter of 2018, in a bid to prop up oil prices. As a result, real oil GDP is expected to decline by around 1 percent in 2017, before rising by 2.6 percent in 2018 as production is gradually restored to its pre-production cut levels. The non-oil economy is forecast to gain some ground in 2017 and maintain that strong momentum in 2018, as the construction and tourism sectors (some of the biggest contributors to non-oil GDP growth) remain buoyant. The construction sector will be supported by easing fiscal consolidation as well as higher Dubai Expo 2020 related infrastructure investments. The non-oil economy is also set to be supported by the residential real estate sector, which after witnessing almost two years of slowing growth is showings signs of stabilization. We anticipate a jump in real non-oil growth from around 2.6 percent in 2016 to 3.6 percent and 4.5 percent in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The latest data on the UAE s Markit Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), a good gauge of non-oil sector growth, also show that non-oil sector activity is set to remain solid in the near-to-medium term. The headline PMI slipped in May, but still remained fairly solid at 54.3, as stable local economic conditions helped offset some of the softness in global demand. Much of the non-oil economy s momentum continued to be fuelled by Dubai s hospitality and construction sectors. The number of passengers passing through Dubai International Airport remains near record highs. In the bottomline April, this number stood at 7.6 million passengers, up a healthy 9.2 percent year-on-year (y/y). Despite an ongoing decline in average daily room rates at hotels in Dubai over the past year, demand for hotel rooms remains solid as reflected in the average occupancy rate. According to Ernst & Young s latest MENA Hotel Benchmark Survey, occupancy rates among hotels in Dubai averaged 88 percent in April (the highest in the MENA region). Dubai s construction sector is also a major contributor to non-oil growth. Construction activity is expected to hold strong, especially as Dubai prepares for the Expo 2020 event. Projects include the construction of buildings, metro expansions, roads and bridges. The construction sector is also set to benefit from plans to foster the UAE s Vision 2021 and long-term strategy to establish a post-oil knowledge economy via the UAE Strategy for the Future blueprint. The strategy aims to bolster the nation s non-oil economy and enhance its economic diversification. The resilience in Dubai s non-oil economy is reflected in the Emirates NBD Dubai Economy Tracker Index (DET). The DET is a forward-looking index similar to the PMI which tracks non-oil activity in Dubai. It has gradually been regaining its momentum amid improvements in the travel & tourism and wholesale & retail trade segments. Dubai s residential property prices continued to stabilize, following almost two years of decline amid tighter regulations, higher housing supply and risk aversion. According to Asteco s quarterly indexes, prices of apartments and villas in 1Q17 appeared steady, though they are down by 3.0 percent y/y and 1.3 percent y/y, respectively. We expect the stabilization period to continue at least until the end of 2017, after which we may see residential price growth pick up on the back of stronger demand. The value of real estate transactions continues to trend lower, while growth in the number of transactions accelerated somewhat recently, which may be indicative of signs of strength in the more affordable housing segment. Inflation in the consumer price index (CPI) softened recently, after retreating from 3.0 percent y/y in March to 2.2 percent y/y in April, as housing inflation (which weighs more heavily in the index) continued to trend lower and as food costs declined. We expect CPI inflation to gradually edge higher in the second half of 2017 and average around 2.5 percent for the year, as a recovery in oil prices pushes inflation in the transport segment up, as housing inflation gathers pace and amid tax hikes planned for selected consumer goods in 4Q17. Fiscal deficit forecast to narrow in 2017 and return to a surplus in 2018 We expect the fiscal deficit to narrow in 2017 thanks to more prudent public spending and higher revenues. We estimate the fiscal deficit widened to 3.6 percent of GDP in 2016 after having slipped into a deficit for the first time in six years in 2015 on the drop in oil prices. But with global oil markets recovering and a more prudent fiscal policy in place, the deficit is seen narrowing to 1.8 percent in 2017 and returning to a slight surplus of 0.6 percent in Thanks to the UAE government s abundant financial reserves that hover above 200 percent of GDP, fiscal deficits have been manageable. In effect, this has helped both Dubai and Abu Dhabi maintain high levels of public spending, particularly on infrastructure projects. In Dubai, infrastructure spending is set to accelerate in the runup to the Expo 2020 event. Nonetheless, the major emirates have embarked on some fiscal adjustment and reform, including the establishment of the Federal Tax Authority (FTA), subsidy cuts and the introduction of fees and taxes on selected goods and services. According to official reports, Abu Dhabi has cut back or delayed spending on a number of projects designated as low-priority. Efforts have also been made to rely more heavily on the private sector for implementation of some projects. The newly established FTA recently announced that it would impose a 100 percent tax on tobacco and energy drinks and a 50 percent levy on carbonated drinks from 4Q17. Furthermore, it increasingly looks like the UAE will be one of the first GCC nations to implement a value-added tax (VAT). The first phase of implementation, scheduled for the beginning of 2018, will include UAE companies with annual revenues greater than $1 million (Dh 3.75 million). At 5 percent, the VAT is expected to generate around $3.3 billion (Dh 12 billion) in tax revenues or around 1 percent of GDP. In an attempt to preserve foreign assets, the UAE has also tapped into international debt markets to plug its budget gap. In April 2016, Abu Dhabi issued $5 billion in sovereign bonds, the first issuance since Moody s recently affirmed the UAE s Aa2 credit rating and upgraded its outlook from negative to stable, citing an effective public policy response to the lower oil price environment and improved economic growth prospects. The main credit default swaps (CDS), which are deemed to be good bellwethers of a sovereign s level of risk, fell to new lows following Moody s announcement. As of mid- June, the CDS on five-year Dubai and Abu Dhabi government debt stood at 130 and 52 basis points, respectively. With investors globally in search for yield amid a low global rate environment, the recent credit affirmation and outlook upgrade should be a further boon to the UAE bond market. The surplus in the current account balance is projected to expand for the first time in four years in 2017, as oil export earnings recover and non-oil export growth gathers pace. We foresee the current account surplus rising from a sixyear low of around 4.8 percent of GDP in 2016 to a projected 5.1 percent in Non-oil export growth may continue to be affected by a stronger dirham. The stronger dollar has led to an appreciation in the dirham s trade-weighted index, increasing the cost of exports and making it a more expensive place to visit and invest in. Trade with Asian markets has been most affected by the stronger dirham, as their currencies weakened against a stronger US dollar. Tourism, however, has been less affected, given that a majority of tourists are from the GCC, and so has investment in real estate, which depends far more on UAE nationals. As a result, the gains in the tourism and real estate sectors are expected to more than offset the costs of a stronger dollar. This should help keep non-oil export growth ebullient. Banking liquidity recovers on stronger oil revenues Following almost two years of moderation, lending activity appears to have plateaued in early 2Q17 on the back of improvements in the real estate and construction sectors. In April, lending growth came in at a modest 5.3 percent y/y. Growth in bank deposits continues to trend upward. At the end of 2016, it surpassed lending growth for the first time in almost two years, thanks to higher oil export receipts, which have helped replenish government deposits. After deposit growth logged in a healthy pace of 7.1 percent y/y in April, the loan-to-deposit ratio subsequently eased further to 99.4 percent during the same period. Growth in the broad money supply (M2) is gradually edging higher, mainly in tandem with stronger deposit growth. Latest data showed growth in this segment jumping from 4.4 percent y/y in March to an over-two-year high of 5.9 percent y/y in April. The three-month and one-month interbank rates have continued to rise amid key policy rate hikes. In June, the UAE Central Bank hiked its key policy rate, the repo rate, by 25 bps for the second time this year to 1.50 percent, in tandem with a 25 bps hike in the US Fed rate. Equities have been mostly steady in 2017 The key equity markets in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have been trending sideways for the most part of Lacking any major catalysts of their own, the markets will continue to be led by international markets and oil prices. Saudi Aramco and France s Total HAMBURG: Only two trading houses submitted offers in the tender from Iraq s state grains board to buy at least 50,000 tonnes of hard wheat which closed on Monday, European traders said. The lowest offer was $ a tonne c&f free out for wheat sourced from Australia, traders said. It is thought no purchase has yet been made in the tender, they said. Ten or more trading houses have generally participated in past international tenders from Iraq. The worry about payment and other conditions remains too high and there is expectation in the market that the tender will be cancelled, one trader said. There has been uncertainty about Iraq s grain buying strategy after the country s trade ministry said in April it would negotiate more direct contracts for the import of rice and wheat after failures to secure them through international tenders. (RTRS) DUBAI: Egypt s state-owned Sugar and Integrated Industries Company (ESIIC) bought 50,000 tonnes of raw sugar in a tender, traders said on Monday. The sugar was purchased from Tereos at $349 a tonne for arrival in November. (RTRS) DUBAI: Etihad Airways hub Abu Dhabi International Airport expects a slowdown in the pace of passenger growth this year, the acting chief executive of operator Abu Dhabi Airports said on Monday. The United Arab Emirates second busiest commercial airport expects to handle around 25 million passengers in 2017 compared with 24.5 million in the previous year, Abdul Majeed al-khoori told Reuters by phone. That would represent growth of around 2 percent compared with 5.1 percent in (RTRS) DUBAI: Passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world s top airport for international passenger numbers, rose by 1.9 percent to 6.85 million in May from a year earlier, operator Dubai Airports said on Monday. About million passengers used the airport from January to May, up 6.7 per cent from 34.6 million in the same period in 2016, it said. South America was the fastest growing region in May, up 60 percent, followed by routes to Eastern Europe which posted a year-on-year growth of 15.5 percent, while Asia showed a growth of 9.7 percent. Freight volumes at DXB rose 2.6 percent to 226,916 tonnes in May from a year earlier. (RTRS) DUBAI: Dubai-based Souq.com, the Middle East s biggest online retailer, says its sale to Amazon has been completed. Souq.com said on Monday that users now could log into their website using their Amazon account. A Souq.com statement said the firms now would work on the next phase of the integration to bring more products and offerings to the region s customers even faster. (AP) DUBAI: Abu Dhabi-listed Dana Gas has rescheduled a telephone call with holders of its outstanding $700 million of sukuk to this Thursday at 4:00 pm United Arab Emirates time (1200 GMT), the company said on Monday. The call would outline the broad terms of the company s proposal to restructure its Islamic bonds. Dana is claiming it must exchange the instruments for new ones at lower profit rates because they are no longer lawful following changes in Islamic finance. The company had originally scheduled the call for June 21, but on that day it decided to postpone the call because, it said, a media article had mischaracterised the event. Previously, it said, it made several approaches to an ad hoc committee of creditors to arrange a call but each invitation was declined. (RTRS) LAGOS: Etisalat Nigeria Chairman Hakeem Belo-Osagie has resigned after talks to renegotiate a $1.2 billion loan collapsed and prompted a major foreign shareholder to exit the telecoms company, two company sources told Reuters. Etisalat Nigeria is the biggest foreign-owned victim of dollar shortages plaguing the country due to lower oil prices and economic recession, leaving the company struggling to make repayments to lenders and suppliers. (RTRS) study to build mixed-feed cracker KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia, July 4, (RTRS): Saudi Aramco and France s Total are considering building a mixed-feed cracker and derivatives in Jubail, near their joint refining complex, industry sources said. The cracker is expected to have a capacity of 1,500 kilotonnes per year (KTA) (1.5 million tonnes per year), said a source familiar with the plans, who described them as at an initial stage. The feedstock would partially come from SATORP, the existing Aramco-Total joint refining venture, and from Sadara, a joint venture between Aramco and Dow Chemical, also in Jubail. Sadara operates a mixed-feed cracker, the first in Saudi Arabia. The idea of the cracker has been raised before. In 2010, an executive from Total Petrochemicals, a unit of Total, said it could be the largest possible, typically 1,500 KTA of ethylene and 500 KTA of propylene, plus derivatives. It is a greenfield project, they have launched the bidding for the feasibility study, said one of the sources, adding the study did not include a refinery expansion. He estimated the cost of the project known as Amiral to be around $3 billion, while another source said the cost of the cracker and other downstream units was expected to be around $5 billion. Despite having massive natural gas reserves, Saudi Arabia is short of gas supplies as the majority of its gas reserves are associated with oil, said energy consultant Sadad al- Husseini, a former senior executive at Aramco. Saudi Arabia is currently restricting oil output as part of an in- Project will cost between $3 bln and $5 bln Preliminary $2 bln deal reached Total to build 3 petchem plants in Iran ternational agreement. There remains of course the potential for more gas discoveries as the kingdom s shale gas exploration programme gathers momentum, he said, adding the availability of ethane would be key to the overall economics of the project. Saudi Aramco plans to double its gas production in a decade, including shale that will add around 2-3 billion standard cubic feet to the mix. But the kingdom is encouraging the petrochemicals industry to include more liquid feedstock to diversify and become less vulnerable to price fluctuations. For instance, Aramco plans to develop a project with Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) with a new technology that converts crude oil to chemicals by limiting extensive refining. A second source said SATORP had issued a tender for pre-feed engineering and design to upgrade its production of aromatics, with an award of that contract seen by the second quarter of Saudi Aramco declined to comment, while a spokeswoman for Total said the company was still interested in developing petrochemicals units downstream of SATORP s refinery, which already produces some petrochemicals products: paraxylene, benzene and propylene. It is consistent with our strategy of investing in our major integrated refining and chemicals platform and capitalizing on advantaged feedstock, the Total spokeswoman said, LONDON, July 4, (RTRS): Total and Iran have reached a preliminary agreement to build three petrochemical plants in a deal that if fi nalised could see the French oil major investing up to $2 billion in Iran, an Iranian oil industry official said on Tuesday. In the latest talks, the two sides have reached agreement for construction of petrochemical plants with the total capacity of 2.2 million tonnes of petrochemical and polymer products per year, the managing director of Iran s National Petrochemical Company (NPC) was quoted as saying by the oil ministy s news agency SHANA. We predict that Total would invest $1.5 to $2 billion in Iran s petrochemical industry if we reach final agreement, Marzieh Shahdaei added. A spokesman for Total said: Total and Iran s National Petrochemical Company are currently working on an in-depth study of an ethanebased petrochemical project whose fi gures (Capex especially) have to be fine-tuned. The preliminary deal on the petrochemical plants follows Monday s agreement by Total to go ahead with the phase 11 development project for Iran s South Pars offshore gas fi eld, the fi rst major Western energy investment in the Islamic Republic since the lifting of sanctions against it. Total s Chief Executive Patrick Pouyanne said after the signing of the South Pars deal that it would open the door for more business with Tehran. South Pars is part of the world s largest gas fi eld which is shared with neighbouring Qatar where development of the deposit known as the North Field has made the tiny Gulf state the world s biggest producer of liquefied natural gas. Total is active in both Iran and Qatar as well as the UAE, which together with its bigger neighbour Saudi Arabia is in dispute with Qatar over its close ties with Iran. Total s CEO told Reuters last month the petrochemical plants project in Iran was less advanced than South Pars 11 because Total would need to fund that project with loans from banks while South Pars could be developed with its own funds. Iranian deputy oil minister, Amir Hossein Zamaninia said on Monday that Iran and Total have held positive talks to cooperate in petrochemicals but added that the deal was not final. adding: the main issue is the gas feedstock allocation. The two companies have already been operating the 400,000 barrels per day SATORP refinery integrated with petrochemical production and have considered expanding petrochemicals output for several years. In 2015, Total said partners would need to solve the issue of obtaining natural gas supplies before moving on to detailed studies of the project. In February last year, a Total executive said the two companies were considering expanding the refining capacity of the project by 10 percent. Saudi Aramco owns 62.5 percent of SATORP and Total 37.5 percent.

31 BUSINESS 31 court backs John s franchise Microsoft plans layoffs in sales force shake-up A company that owns 10 Jimmy John s sandwich shops in the Twin Cities was within its rights to fi re six union workers who circulated posters critical of the company s sick-leave policy, a federal appeals court ruled Monday. The full 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a three-judge appeals panel, which had affirmed a National Labor Relations Board ruling in favor of the workers, who were part of a unionization drive by the Industrial Workers of the World at shops owned by MikLin Enterprises. The full appeals court concluded that the poster attack was so disloyal that it wasn t protected by federal labor law. The posters were timed to the fl u season in early They protested the company s policy against workers calling in sick without fi nding replacements to take their shifts, and accused the company of putting the health of its customers at risk. (AP) Microsoft is planning layoffs as it refocuses its sales force on making the software colossus a pivotal part of businesses relying on cloud computing, according to media reports. While many reports forecast the changes would result in thousands of job cuts, Microsoft on Monday only confirmed to AFP that changes were on the way. Microsoft is implementing changes to better serve our customers and partners, a Microsoft spokesperson told AFP. Tech news website GeekWire published what it indicated were excerpts from the Microsoft memo, which referred to an enormous business opportunity helping its customers with digital transformations. Chief Executive Satya Nadella has sought to reduce the tech giant s focus on software, shifting to cloud computing and business services. From large multinationals to small and medium businesses to non-profits all over the world, organizations are using Microsoft s cloud platforms to power their digital transformation, Nadella said when the company reported its earnings for the first three months of this year. Microsoft reported revenue gains in cloud and business service operations, which offset a drop in personal computing, which includes the Windows operating system that once made up its core business. Microsoft said revenue from its Intelligent Cloud rose 11 percent from a year earlier to $6.8 billion. Microsoft said its Office commercial products and cloud services revenue increased seven percent. (AFP) DETROIT, July 4, (AP): Unemployment is down, consumer confidence is up, and gas prices and interest rates are still low. Even so, US auto sales fell 3 percent last month. It was the sixth straight monthly decline as sales dropped off last year s record pace. For the first six months, car and truck sales fell 2.1 percent, the first such decrease since the financial crisis in But auto executives and industry analysts say it s no cause for panic. Sales are still strong and aren t expected to plunge anytime soon. Plus, buyers are still loading out trucks and SUVs with high-priced options, and that s likely to boost earnings, at least in Detroit. Sales are falling largely because people who delayed car and truck purchases in the years since the Great Recession have bought new ones, says Jessica Caldwell, executive director of analysis for Edmunds.com. We re kind of at the point where we don t have a boost from that, she says. Also, auto companies are cutting lease deals as used-car values fall, curtailing another incentive to buy. And people with lower credit scores are feeling the pinch from lenders tightening standards a bit, sending many into the used car market, Caldwell says. In June, Ford, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler and Hyundai all reported sales drops. Fiat Chrysler sales were down 7.4 percent, while Ford said its sales declined 5 percent. GM was off 4.8 percent and Korean automaker Hyundai posted a hefty 19.3 percent decrease. Nissan, Toyota and Honda each reported small increases on Monday, but they weren t large enough to offset declines in Detroit. Volkswagen brand sales rose 15 percent over depressed numbers from last June. Autotrader senior analyst Michelle Krebs says the small first-half dip is not an indication of broader economic troubles. She doesn t expect a big recovery in the second half of the year, but also doesn t see a huge decline, predicting full-year sales from between 16.8 million to 17.3 million. That s still below last year s record of million. We think the second half could be a little bit stronger than the first half was, says Krebs, who expects 2016 still to be the fifth-best year on record. We don t see any imbalances that suggest anything is going to collapse. US buyers continued a trend they ve been following for years, purchasing SUVs and trucks and shunning cars. Car sales fell 13 percent in June while trucks and SUVs rose 4 percent, according to Autodata Corp. Trucks and SUVs accounted for 63 percent of sales last Gas prices and interest rates still low US auto sales continued to slow in June US shale gas drillers begin to turn a corner after dismal 16 month. Just five years ago they were less than half. Sales of Toyota s Camry, normally the top-selling non-pickup truck in the US, fell nearly 10 percent. But Ford s F-Series pickup, the top-selling vehicle in America, rose nearly 10 percent. Slowing car sales are good for consumers who are looking to buy a car, says Caldwell. Dealer inventories are growing before production cuts take effect and discounts are rising, so now is the time to buy. Even with the sales decline, auto prices remain high, according to J.D. Power and LMC Automotive. The average vehicle sold for $31,720 in June, a record for the month, surpassing the old record of $31,073 set last year. But some automakers are having to raise discounts and sell more vehicles to rental car companies to keep their sales numbers up. NEW YORK, July 4, (AP): Pennsylvania s moribund drilling industry, which has struggled with persistently low prices and a dearth of infrastructure to get its product to market, is showing signs of life. Natural gas producers drilled 397 shale wells through the first six months of 2017, more than twice the number they sank in the same period last year. About 20 additional drilling rigs are exploring for natural gas. Fracking crews are suddenly in short supply. While the pace remains much slower than it was during the industry s boom years earlier this decade, when a drilling frenzy transformed sleepy towns and rural areas into economic hotbeds, 2017 has produced a modest rebound and hope of better days ahead in the Marcellus Shale, the nation s largest natural gas field. There s a cautious optimism out there right now, said David Spigelmyer, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, a trade group. One big reason is that natural gas prices have recovered from 20-year lows, nearly doubling since last year, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Drillers had been battered by several years of rock-bottom prices caused by oversupply and inadequate pipeline capacity. The low prices were good for consumers, and businesses and manufacturers that use gas, but they cost energy companies billions and prompted some of them to stop drilling altogether. Houston-based Southwestern Energy Co, one of the most active producers in the Marcellus, drilled only two wells through the first six months of That has ramped up to 38 so far this year. Markedly better prices, thus more cash flow and more capability to invest, said Jack Bergeron, Southwestern s senior vice president of operations. Drillers have also been encouraged by the development of big pipeline projects like Rover, Mariner 2, Atlantic Sunrise and PennEast that will provide access to key markets. Power companies, meanwhile, are rushing to build new plants to take advantage of cheap Marcellus gas, providing another outlet. The nascent turnaround hasn t extended to all corners of the vast gas field. Drillers are narrowly focusing their efforts on areas with the richest deposits of shale gas, in Pennsylvania s extreme southwest and northeast. Three counties Washington, Greene and Susquehanna account for more than 60 percent of the wells drilled so far this year. Other counties remain quiet. We re in the first inning of a nineinning game, said Spigelmyer, who has long complained that Pennsylvania s regulatory climate hinders growth and now worries about surging competition for investment dollars from the Permian Basin in Texas. The average incentive spend per vehicle in June was $3,661 in June, also a record for the month. Even spending on trucks and SUVs is up about $350 from last year, J.D. Power and LMC estimated. The general manager of the Honda division in the US, Jeff Conrad, conceded that the competition is stiff. He said Honda posted an increase against a sea of competitors clinging to market share via heavy incentives and fleet sales. The shift toward cars is good news for companies that rely heavily on pickup trucks and SUVs such as Ford, GM and Fiat Chrysler. Mark LaNeve, Ford s vice president of sales, said even though Ford s retail sales to individual customers were down 1 percent in the first half of the year, its revenue will be up because of strong sales of loaded-out pickup trucks. Trump to promote US natgas exports in Russia s backyard Washington wants to help EU by shipping LNG WASHINGTON, July 4, (RTRS): President Donald Trump will use fast-growing supplies of US natural gas as a political tool when he meets in Warsaw on Thursday with leaders of a dozen countries that are captive to Russia for their energy needs. In recent years, Moscow has cut off gas shipments during pricing disputes with neighboring countries in winter months. Exports from the United States would help reduce their dependence on Russia. Trump will tell the group that Washington wants to help allies by making it as easy as possible for US companies to ship more liquefied natural gas (LNG) to central and eastern Europe, the White House said. Trump will attend the Three Seas summit so named because several of its members surround the Adriatic, Baltic and Black Seas before the Group of 20 leading economies meet in Germany, where he is slated to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time. Among the aims of the Three Seas project is to expand regional energy infrastructure, including LNG import terminals and gas pipelines. Members of the initiative include Poland, Austria, Hungary and Russia s neighbors Latvia and Estonia. Trump s presence will give the project a lift, said James Jones, a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander. Increased US gas exports to the region would help weaken the impact of Russia using energy as a weapon or bargaining chip, said Jones. I think the United States can show itself as a benevolent country by exporting energy and by helping countries that don t have adequate supplies become more self-sufficient and less dependent and less threatened, he said. Trump s Russia policy is still taking shape, a process made awkward by investigations into intelligence GCC markets monthly report KAMCO Research File photo shows a natural gas drilling site in the Susquehanna County township of New Milford, Panama. Natural gas producers drilled more than twice as many shale wells in the fi rst half of 2017 compared to the same period last year. One big reason is that natural gas prices have recovered from 20-year lows, nearly doubling since last year. Three counties, Washington, Greene and Susquehanna, account for more than 60 percent of the wells drilled so far this year. (AP) findings that Russia tried to meddle in the 2016 US presidential race. Russia denies the allegations and Trump says his team did not collude with Moscow. Lawmakers in Trump s Republican Party, many of whom want to see him take a hard line on Russia because of its interference in the election and in crises in Ukraine and Syria, support using gas exports for political leverage. It undermines the strategies of Putin and other strong men who are trying to use the light switch as an element of strategic offense, said Senator Cory Gardner, a Republican from Colorado who is on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Kremlin relies on oil and gas revenue to finance the state budget, so taking market share would hurt Moscow. In many ways, the LNG exports by the US is the most threatening US policy to Russia, said Michal Baranowski, director of the Warsaw office of think-tank the German Marshall Fund. The US is expected to become the world s third-largest exporter of LNG in 2020, just four years after starting up its first export terminal. US exporters have sold most of that gas in longterm contracts, but there are still some volumes on offer, and more export projects on the drawing board. Cheniere Energy Inc, which opened the first US LNG export terminal in 2016, delivered its first cargo to Poland in June. Five more terminals are expected to be online by Tellurian Inc has proposed a project with a price tag of as much as $16 billion that it hopes to complete by 2022, in time to compete for long-term contracts to supply Poland that expire the same year and are held by Russian gas giant Gazprom. We would like to be a supplier that competes for that market, Tellurian Chief Executive Meg Gentle told Reuters. A global glut in supply may, however, limit US LNG export growth, regardless of Trump s support. The glut has depressed prices and made it difficult for LNG exporters to turn a profit, said Adam Sieminski, an energy analyst with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Russia has the advantage in Europe due to its proximity and pipeline connections. Qatar exchange witnesses fourth month of decline Continued from Monday Qatar exchange witnessed the fourth consecutive month of decline in June-17 as bearish pressure owing to Ramadan was exacerbated by Qatar s ongoing diplomatic issues with the other GCC countries that pushed the QE20 index to a 17-month low level of 8, points. Nevertheless, the index recovered 2.9% on the last day of trading and regained the 9,000 mark to close at 9, points recording a monthly decline of 8.8%. The decline during the month was broad-based as seen from the 6.8% decline for the Qatar All Share Index which closed the month at 2,581.2 points. The decline during June-17 has also pushed down QE indices to the lowest in the GCC in terms of YTD- 17 returns that stood at 13.5% for the QE 20 Index and 10.0% for the QE All Share Index. In terms of sector performance, only the Real Estate sector witnessed positive returns during the month recording a gain of 5.7% solely led by 15.2% gain in shares of Ezdan Holding, the biggest stock in the sector, while the remaining three real estate stocks declined during the month. Shares of the property firm has been seeing a rout after the company s management announced its decision to delist the company. However, after declining as much as QAR per share in early June-17, the shares rebounded after the company s board said that the company will prepare a statement of the fair value per share to be presented to shareholders at a subsequent meeting. Post the announcement, there has been speculations that the said fair value could end being higher than the price at which the company is currently trading. On the other hand, the Telecom index recorded the steepest decline of 10.4% followed by Banks & Financial Services at 10.3% and the Industrials index at 8.7%. Both Telecom stocks declined during the month with Ooredoo falling 11.9% while shares of Vodafone Qatar declined by 2.2%. The decline in the Banks & Financial Services sector came on the back of a sector wide weakness led by concerns relating to the diplomatic situation. Ahli Bank was the only stock that recorded positive gains of 7.8%, while Dlala Brokerage and Islamic Holding Group saw double digit declines of 24.5% and 21.1%, respectively. Among the major banks, shares of QNB declined the most falling by 13.6% followed by -9.5% for Qatar Islamic Bank and -8.85% for Qatar International Islamic Bank. The banking system for the country is sound with low NPL to total loans ratio and sound capital adequacy ration, however, risk liquidity pressures could increase if the government decides to use deposits with domestic banks for funding its deficits. In a related development, Qatar s 5-year CDS rose sharply during June-17 rising to a 16-month high level, in addition to one of the sharpest decline in the exchange rate of Qatari Riyal. The pressure on the country s banking sector comes as smaller banks Masraf Al Rayan, Barwa Bank and International Bank of Qatar are pushing ahead to create the country s secondlargest through a three-way merger. Trading activity during the month was positive due to heavy selling pressure. Total monthly volume increased by 8% to reach 249 mn shares as compared to 231 mn shares during the previous month, while value traded increased by a slightly higher 10.6% to reach QAR 6.6 bn as compared to QAR 5.9 bn during the previous month, indicating higher trades in large-cap stocks. QNB topped the monthly value chart with QAR 1.04 bn worth of trades followed by Masraf Al Rayan ( QAT 594 mn) and Vodafone Qatar (QAR 440 mn). Bahrain Bourse The Bahrain All Share Index declined for the third consecutive month, albeit marginally by 0.7% during June-17 to close at 1,310.0 points. The index stayed afloat for most part of the month but sank especially during the last few trading sessions by almost 1.1% to close the month in the red. Nevertheless, gains recording during the first quarter of the year has enabled the index to stay in the green zone in terms of YTD-17 returns that stood at 7.3%, the second highest in the GCC after Kuwait. In terms of sector performance, the Industrial index topped the chart recording a gain of 7.8% solely led by gain in shares of Aluminum Bahrain. The Insurance Index surged 1.6% on the back of gain in shares of Bahrain National Holding, the only stock that traded in the sector. The Commercial Banks index remained almost flat with marginal gains of 0.2% after decline in shares of NBB (-2.2%), AlKhaleeji Bank (-9.9%) and Al Salam Bank (-1%) were completely offset by gain recorded by AUB (+1.5%) and BBK (+1%). In a related news, Gulf International Bank, which is owned by GCC governments and provides financial products and investment services, said it has been granted a conventional retail banking license in Bahrain by the Kingdom s central bank. It would operate a digital banking platform in Bahrain from 2018 under the Meem brand. On the decliners side, the Services index sank 4.8% during the month led by decline in shares of BMMI (- 2.5%) and Batelco (-10.4%)partially offset by 1.7% gain in shares of Seef Properties. Trading activity during June-17 remained thin, in line with the rest of the GCC markets. Total volume of shares declined by more than a third to reach an 8-month low level of 39 mn shares as compared to 61 mn shares during the previous month. Value traded also declined at almost the same pace to reach BHD 9.0 mn as compared to BHD 14 mn during May-17, once again the lowest since Oct-16. Monthly average volume and value also declined despite the holidays to reach 2.2 mn shares and BHD 0.5 mn, respectively. The monthly gainers chart was topped by Inovest which recorded a gain of 18.2% although trades in the stock was minimal at BHD 35 thousand. Aluminum Bahrain recorded the second-largest gain for the month at 8.1% followed by Bahrain National Holding Co. and Ithmaar Bank with gains of 4.9% and 3.6%, respectively. On the decliners side, Batelco topped the list with a decline of 10.4% followed by AlKhaleeji Commercial Bank and GFH with monthly declines of 9.9% and 9.2%, respectively. The latter declined after it withdrew from talks to buy Dubai s Shuaa Capital after both the parties failed to reach common acquisition terms. GFH said that it would continue to seek strategic opportunities. The monthly market breadth was skewed towards decliners that included 10 companies as against 8 gainers. Shares of 22 companies remained unchanged. In terms of monthly volume, Arab Banking Corp. topped the list with 7.2 mn shares changing hands during the month followed by Aluminum Bahrain at 6.7 mn shares and Ahli United Bank with 6 mn shares. On the monthly value chart, Aluminum Bahrain topped the list with BHD 2.9 mn worth of shares changing hands during the month followed by Ahli United Bank and Arab Banking Corp with BHD 1.6 mn and BHD 0.8 mn in trades, respectively. Muscat Securities Market Oman continued to slide for the fourth consecutive month witnessing the second biggest decline in the GCC in June-17. The MSM 30 index reached 5,118.3 points, the lowest level in the past 17 months, after receding 5.6% during the month. This was also the biggest monthly decline in 19-months that came on the back of decline in all the sectoral indices. The index trend remained downward for almost the whole of the month, gaining on merely two out of the sixteen trading sessions, pushing YTD- 17 decline to 11.5%. The monthly performance chart also reflected the selling pressure with merely one monthly gainer (Voltamp Energy) and 23 decliners. In terms of sector performance, the Services index recorded the steepest decline of 6.2% followed by the Financial and the Industrial indices with declines of 4.8% and 2.4%, respectively. All the stocks that traded in the services sector declined during the month, primarily the Telecom stocks. Shares of Ooredoo Declined by 9.3%, while Omantel shares declined by 8.5% during the month. The Financial Services sector also witnessed a broad-based decline with all the stocks closing the month in the red. Al Anwar Holding witnessed the steepest decline of 23% followed by 8.2% decline in shares of Al Madina Investment Company. Shares of Al Anwar Holding declined after the company s AGM in which the company s board approved a cash dividend of 10% and bonus shares of 14.3%. Banking stocks also declined during June-17 with shares of Bank Muscat receding 7.4% followed by HSBC Bank Oman ( 6.1%) and NBO ( 4.9%). In a related news, Alizz Islamic Bank expressed interest in merging with United Finance Company aiming to take the advantage of a growing demand for Islamic banking products in Oman coupled with opportunities in the leasing sector. Furthermore, Fitch Ratings affirmed the long-term issuer default ratings on six Omani banks and has kept a Stable rating on these banks. The agency said that it believes that the government has the financial flexibility and the willingness to support its domestic banking system despite the oil related weakness. The support is also partly due to the high contagion risk related to few banks and high concentration as well as due to the importance of the banking system in building the local economy. In the Industrial sector, Voltamp Energy was the only stock which recorded a monthly gain of 8.6% while all the other stocks in the sector ended the red zone. Shares of Al Anwar Ceramic Tiles receded the most by 8.4% followed by Al Maha Ceramics and Raysut Cement recording declines of 6.9% and 6.4%, respectively. The monthly trading activity also declined, in line with the rest of the GCC markets. Monthly volume traded more than halved month-onmonth to reach 115 mn shares in the regular market, while monthly value traded declined by a third to reach OMR 29 mn. Bank Muscat topped the monthly value traded chart with shares worth OMR 8.1 mn changing hands during the month. Ooredoo followed with OMR 4.5 mn worth of trades followed by Raysut Cement at OMR 3.0 mn. Bank Muscat also topped the monthly volume chart with 21 mn shares traded during the month followed by Al Madina Investment Company and Al Madina Takaful with 20.8 mn and 16.6 mn shares, respectively.

32 BUSINESS 32 Burgan Bank holds Al Thuraya draw GIB gains A flyer of Burgan Bank s Al-Thuraya Account monthly draw winner. Burgan Bank, the second largest in terms of assets, announced today Sheikh Duaij Al Sabah as the lucky winner of the Al Thuraya Salary Account monthly draw. The winner was presented with a Nissan Patrol SUV. The draw rewards new and existing customers who transfer their salary to Burgan Bank by offering them a chance to win a Nissan Patrol SUV every month. With every KD 10 available in the account, the customer receives one chance to enter the draw. The Al Thuraya account holders have the option to hold money in Kuwaiti Dinar and any other major currencies and can access other account-related services such as standing orders, loans and credit cards and much more. Customers wishing to open the Al Thuraya account can do so by simply visiting the nearest Burgan Bank branch and obtain all the necessary details, or simply call the bank s call center on For further information, customers can also visit the bank s website on com. Gulf International Bank (GIB) said on Wednesday it had been granted a retail banking licence in Bahrain by the kingdom s central bank for its digital venture called Meem. GIB is licenced by Bahrain s central bank, headquartered in Bahrain and owned by the governments of the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries, with Saudi Arabia s Public Investment Fund the principle shareholder with a 97.2 percent stake. (RTRS) S&P Pan Arab index ends flat despite Qatar s fall MENA region markets mixed in June KUWAIT CITY, July 4: Kuwait Financial Centre Markaz recently released its Monthly Market Research report. In this report, Markaz examines and analyzes the performance of equity markets in the MENA region as well as the global equity markets for the month of June The report stated that the performance of MENA markets were mixed in the month of June. S&P Pan Arab index ended flat at 0.6% dragged lower by Qatar while supported by the rise in the Saudi stocks. Saudi Arabia s Tadawul index soared 8.1% in June after the announcement from MSCI on its possible inclusion in the emerging markets index by the mid of Egypt and Dubai bourses gained 1.7% and 1.8% respectively. Dubai s index benefitted from the gains in Emaar properties after the company announced its plans to sell of 30% of its real estate business in the market. Jolted by the geopolitical crisis, Qatar s main index shed 8.1% in the month of June making it the worst performing index across the MENA region. The index plummeted by 13.5% YTD, as an estimated USD 35 bn has been pulled out of Qatar stock market mainly by the GCC investors. Oman s Muscat all share index was another poor performer from the MENA region. The index lost 5.6% in the month of June, as investors were worried on the dampened economic growth prospects. Weak sentiments because of falling oil prices weighed on Kuwait weighted and price index that fell by 1.3% and 0.3% respectively. Value traded in June reflected the poor sentiments in the market, with volume traded increasing by 9% while the turnover in the market declined by 13%. All MENA markets, barring Abu Dhabi and Dubai, witnessed fall in liquidity. Bahrain and Kuwait bourses evidenced 45.6% and 31.7% decline in value traded. Liquidity declines are common in the MENA bourses, especially due to poor trading activity in the month of Ramadan. In terms of valuation, P/E of Morocco (19.6x), Saudi Arabia (15.1x), and Kuwait (13.9x) indices were at premium, while the markets of Dubai and Bahrain trading at 9.5x and 9.3x were relatively cheap among MENA markets. Performance of blue chips was mixed in June. Saudi Arabian blue chips witnessed stellar performance in the month of June. NCB (26.7%), Saudi Electric Company (12.1%) and STC (12%) were the top performers. Surprisingly, Ezdan holding from Qatar was among the top performers in June gaining 15.2% with speculative trading about the buyout of shares at market prices pushed the prices upward. Qatari stocks were among the worst performing blue chips in GCC. QNB, Ooreedo and Masraf Al Rayan share prices plunged by 32.8%, 18.7% and 10.8% respectively. Qatar crisis causing a GCC crisis On June 05, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain severed ties with Doha, accusing the Qatari government of promoting instability in the region. The four Arab countries announced that they would close air and sea transport connections with Qatar, which is the world s top exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Also, the three GCC countriesksa, UAE and Bahrainhave blocked their nationals from travelling to Qatar, while giving Qataris two weeks to leave their nations. Kuwait s mediation efforts would play a crucial role in bringing the concerned nations to the table and resolve the issues by devising a win-win strategy for the conflicting parties and the Middle East. Oil Market Review IPE Brent crude tumbled 15.7% from the start of 2017 making it the worst performing first half for oil after IPE Brent fell by 4.8% in June as Libya and Nigeria continued to pump in more oil into the market. Inventory levels in the Asian markets, especially Malaysia and Singapore have spiked to all time high in Supply has also been on the rise from non-opec producers such as the US, Canada and Brazil adding to the supply glut. Honored employees with the KFH executives Ceremony held to honor employees KFH recognizes CIBFS holders KUWAIT CITY, July 4: Kuwait Finance House (KFH) held a ceremony to honor a batch of its employees who successfully completed Certified Islamic Banking and Financial Services program CIBFS. This emanates from KFH endeavors to recognize its human resources while continually training them and providing them with the necessary skills. Present at the ceremony were several high-ranking officials from the bank led by Group Chief Retail and Private Banking Officer Waleed Mandani, Group General Manager Retail Banking Fadi Chalouhi, Executive Manager Talent Management, Imad Mirza along with a number of executives. Mirza said that the CIBFS certificates obtained by 10 KFH employees are approved internally from the Institute of Banking Studies (IBS) and externally from the General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI) based in Bahrain. He added that this program is tailored and developed to provide good knowledge on Islamic banking and its scientific applications as per the requirements of the advanced Islamic finance industry, indicating this contributes to raise the bar of the employees, hone their skills and qualify them to come up with innovative solutions to optimally perform all banking transactions, while overcoming the workplace hurdles and challenges. He explained that the program conducted for a period of 3 months; 186 hours. It ran in two phases. The first phase is the training program with different subjects and topics tackled. The second phase is 12 hours for a case study. The program encompassed several axes including international sharia standards, sharia supervisory mechanisms, economic fundamentals of Islamic financial services, basics of accounting and financial analysis, basics of risk management, banking credit basics, financial institutions organizational structure and basics of Islamic economy. KFH was established in Kuwait in 1977 and is enlisted in the Kuwait Stock Exchange. KFH Group is a global pioneer in the field of Islamic banking services, where it offers a wide array of Islamic products and services, not to mention a high standard of innovation and client service. KFH manages its operations in the GCC, Asia, and Europe through over 480 branches, including KFH- Turkey, in order to offer services for the bank s clients in Turkey, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Germany, Jordan, and Dubai. KFH s mission is to achieve highest levels of excellence and innovation in the field of client service, while developing common interest for all those concerned with the financial institution. KFH s vision is to spearhead the global development in Islamic financial services, and to upgrade the bank into the level of becoming the most sustainable profitable Islamic bank in the world. KFH s values include cementing leadership through all its businesses, including leadership in the Islamic banking services worldwide, through innovation and in client service and the development of its employees. In addition, KFH is committed to all its procedures, and to setting up long-life partnerships with the concerned authorities. Our cargo business continues to expand: CEO Kumar Saudia Cargo appoints Caesars Cargo Company as General Sales Agent in Kuwait KUWAIT CITY, July 4: Saudia Cargo has appointed Caesars Cargo Company as their General Sales Agent (GSA) for the cargo operations in Kuwait. Caesars Cargo Company established in 2007 as a subsidiary of Caesars Travel Group has grown over the years and now representing the cargo operations of many leading airlines such as Gulf Air Falcon Cargo, Air Arabia Cargo, Pegasus Cargo and Atlas Cargo. Moreover, they have two agent offices in Al Dajeej and Jaleeb for directly dealing with the clients. As our cargo business continues to expand, so does our reputation. As one of the world s major players in the cargo aviation market, Saudia Cargo is known for their efficiency and reliability, offering secure and convenient connections through their local and international hubs. Following a competitive tender process where we were able to demonstrate our depth of knowledge and professionalism, we were delighted to win the Saudia Cargo business. Being strategically located in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudia Cargo is uniquely positioned to provide a bridge between East and West via their hubs, thus giving us increased flexibility to use their capacity efficiently and move your cargo with minimal ground handling time, said by P.N.J. Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Caesars Travel Group. Taha Almaimani Manager, GSA & Commercial Agreements of Saudia Cargo, said, It is important to have a local partner, who shares a common vision and has an experienced team of professionals with deep knowledge and extensive network into the local market. Upon assigning Caesars Cargo Company as our GSA, Saudia Cargo is looking forward to offering customers a great cargo experience with a reliable, fast, and safe freight product. Air freight services are currently used all over the world, with many global businesses turning to using air freight services to transport their goods from one side of the country to another. This has become so easy during these days as there are now airports all over the world; this is why it is so reliable to turn to using air freight services, as they are able to transport your goods to any place in the world. Most of the commercial carriers and their dedicated freighters are playing a key role in the cargo business at this moment. Commenting on Caesars Cargo s appointment as GSA, Mazen A Saudia Cargo plane Saba-Regional Director, Menat of Saudia Cargo, said: With their considerable experience of Kuwait market and long-established reputation, we believe Caesars Cargo Company is the right partner to help drive our business forward and deliver on our ambitious growth targets in Kuwait airfreight market. Caesars Travel Group and its subsidiary, Caesars Cargo Company has been a forerunner in the cargo industry with a touch point in every vertical of the industry since its inception in Kuwait. Caesars Cargo Company by signing this GSA assignment of Saudia Cargo for Kuwait is a reflection of our commitment to become the Kuwait s leading Cargo Operator, giving our customers a myriad of services under one roof. At Caesars Travel Group, we always go with the pulses of our customer s taste which is our mission. The increase in moving cargo shipments to various countries has become very easy as we have the infrastructure with various leading airlines representing as cargo GSA under Caesars Cargo Company, commented by Unni Krishnan, Manager-Business Development of Caesars Cargo Company. Regulators intervene to salvage Etisalat Nigeria from collapse LAGOS, July 4, (RTRS): Nigeria s central bank and its telecoms industry regulator have intervened to save the country s fourth largest telecoms firm from collapse after talks with local banks to renegotiate a $1.2 billion loan failed, a regulatory source said on Tuesday. Etisalat Nigeria is the biggest foreign-owned victim of dollar shortages plaguing the country due to lower oil prices and economic recession, leaving the company struggling to make repayments to lenders and suppliers. The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) said Etisalat Nigeria and its creditors have reached a resolution on key issues on the indebtedness and that a transition process was continuing on mutually agreed terms. It said the resolution would ensure that Etisalat Nigeria was maintained as a going concern regardless of changes in the company s shareholders. As a result the company has appointed the central bank s deputy governor Joseph Nnanna as chairman, Boye Olusanya as chief executive and Funke Ighodaro as chief financial officer, Etisalat Nigeria s vice president for regulatory affairs, Ibrahim Dikko, told Reuters. The regulatory source said the central bank had provided assurances to lenders but had not invested any funds, adding that the company s minority owner, Abu Dhabi s Etisalat, has indicated it may pull out of Nigeria following the debt crisis but has not made a decision on the use of its brand in the country. On June 23 the central bank said Abu Dhabi state investment fund Mubadala, which had a 40 percent stake in Etisalat Nigeria, had already pulled out of the company and the debt negotiations. The 13 lenders involved in the $1.2 billion loan deal arranged for Etisalat four years ago, have been under pressure to avoid loan-loss provisions and were pushing to finalise a restructuring before half-yearly audits due in June. With central bank involvement, the lenders could get some foreberance on provisions pending when the debt crisis is resolved or the company is sold to new investors, the regulatory source said.

33 BUSINESS 33 UK finmin defends public pay cap EU approves bailout of Italy s Monte dei Paschi British finance minister Philip Hammond on Monday defended the country s strict cap on public sector pay, which is a target of the opposition Labour Party and has been questioned by some senior members of the ruling Conservative Party. Hammond and Prime Minister Theresa May are under pressure to loosen the seven year-old cap which limits public sector pay increases to 1 percent a year at a time when inflation is about to hit 3 percent soon. Hammond said in a speech to business leaders that he recognised public weariness with the push to fix Britain s public finances, but he signalled no immediate change of course. Our policy on public sector pay has always been designed to strike the right balance of between being fair to our public servants, and fair to those who pay for them, Hammond said. That approach has not changed; and we continually assess that balance. Earlier on Monday, a spokesman for May said the government would respond to recommendations on pay increases for teachers, police and some other public sector workers later this year. In his speech to the Confederation of British Industry, Hammond said he would stick to his plan to eradicate Britain s budget deficit by (RTRS) The EU competition commission has approved a 5.4 billion euro bailout of Italy s troubled Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS), the world s oldest bank, as part of a major overhaul. The decision, announced in a statement Tuesday, comes days after Brussels accepted that Italy could inject up to 17 billion euros ($19 billion) to break up two insolvent Venetian banks. Public bailouts were supposed to be a thing of the past after the eurozone created a banking union with specifically designed rules to keep taxpayers from having to bail the banks out. Founded in Siena in 1472, BMPS has been in deep trouble since the eurozone debt crisis and will now be owned by the Italian state, which has ended up with a 70 percent stake. EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said the capital injection had been approved, noting it would help BMPS meet capital needs if economic conditions worsen unexpectedly. The bailout is part of a rescue that the EU approved last month after BMPS failed to raise capital on the markets last year. In exchange for the lifeline, Italy must accept a drastic EUapproved restructuring plan for BMPS that reports say involves up to 6,000 job cuts out of a total of 25,000. (AFP) Move part of wider overhaul of tax regulation EU lawmakers pass new rules to tackle MNCs tax avoidance BRUSSELS, July 4, (RTRS): The European Parliament on Tuesday passed a directive requiring big multinationals to report tax and financial data separately in all countries where they operate, a measure aimed at tackling tax avoidance and profit shifting to countries with lower taxes. The new rules are part of a wider overhaul of tax regulation spurred by the so-called Panama Papers and other revelations of widespread tax avoidance by companies and wealthy individuals. They do, however, still need approval from the EU member states in coming months, and would then have to be enacted into national law in each country within a year. EU countries lose between 50 and 70 billion euros in revenues every year because of tax avoidance, the vice president of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, told lawmakers. The new measure would require firms with activities in the EU and an annual turnover of at least 750 million euros ($850 million) to disclose data such as profits, revenues, taxes paid and number of employees for each country where they operate. Currently, multinationals disclose their operations in one consolidated report. Tax-dodging schemes often hinge on the transfer of taxable profits from the higher-tax states where they are made to countries with lower taxation or none at all. Tax-saving schemes used by Apple, Amazon, Google, Starbucks and other companies have raised public pressure for EU-wide rules to close these loopholes. The original legislative proposal made by the European Commission required country-by-country disclosures only for operations in EU states and in tax havens, although there is no common EU list of such jurisdictions. The European Parliament changed the proposed rules to extend the reporting requirement to all countries where firms operate. To protect Europe s competitiveness, the conservative and liberal groups in the EU legislature successfully pushed for companies to be allowed to apply for limitedperiod exemptions from disclosing There was a lot of blood Making Ivanka shoes: Long hours, low pay and abuse GANZHOU, China, July 4, (AP): A worker with blood dripping from his head marked a low point in the tense, grinding life at a southeastern China factory used by Ivanka Trump and other fashion brands. An angry manager had hit him with the sharp end of a high-heeled shoe. Workers from the factory, including one current and two former employees who spoke to The Associated Press, reported overtime that stretched past midnight, steep production quotas and crude verbal abuse at Ganzhou Huajian International Shoe City Co. They said beatings were not unheard of, but the shoe attack, which all three say they witnessed last year, was violent enough to stand out. He was bleeding right from the middle of the head, the current worker said. There was a lot of blood. He went to the factory s nurse station, passing by me, said a second man, who said he quit his job at Huajian because of the long hours and low pay. The three workers are the first people with direct knowledge of conditions at the Ganzhou factory to speak with the media. All three spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity, for fear of retribution or arrest. Last month, three men investigating conditions at the Huajian Group factory in Ganzhou were detained, accused of illegally using secret recording devices to steal commercial secrets. They, like one of the three men AP spoke with, worked with China Labor Watch, a New York group that has been investigating Ivanka Trump s Chinese suppliers for more than a year. The group said the men were released on bail Wednesday, the final day of their legally mandated 30- day detention period limit. Worst Li Qiang, founder of China Labor Watch, describes Huajian s Ganzhou factory as among the worst he has seen in nearly two decades investigating labor abuses. His group says pay can be as low as a dollar an hour, in violation of China s labor laws. According to China Labor Watch investigators, until recently, workers might get only two days off or less per month. China Labor Watch said the company forced workers to sign fake pay stubs with inflated salary numbers and threatened to fire workers if they didn t fill in questionnaires about working conditions with pre-approved answers. Workers also said the company pressured people not to speak with outsiders about conditions at the factory. In comments to the AP, the Huajian Group declined to respond to specific questions, but broadly denied all allegations, calling them completely not true to the facts, taken out of context, exaggerated. The company said it operates lawfully and that China Labor Watch invented so-called facts by illegal means of buying undercover work, which has already affected the enterprise s normal business seriously and affected the survival and employment of tens of thousands of staff. The company noted its significant contribution to the economy and to society, particularly through its employment of disabled people. Before taking on an official role as adviser to her father, Ivanka Trump stepped back from day-today management of her brand, but she has retained her ownership interest. In Washington on Tuesday, she spoke at a ceremony unveiling the annual US Trafficking in Persons Report, in which China was demoted to the lowest ranking over its human trafficking record. She said the report is clarion call into action in defense of the vulnerable and the exploited. Commented She has not commented, however, on the detentions or the reports of poor working conditions at one of her brand s suppliers. Her spokeswoman declined to comment for this story. Abigail Klem, president of the Ivanka Trump brand, said the integrity of our supply chain is a top priority and we take all allegations very seriously. The company says its products have not been made in the factory since March, but China Labor Watch said it had an April production schedule indicating that nearly 1,000 pairs of Ivanka Trump shoes were due in May. In the past, some brands have used China Labor Watch s reports as a tool to help keep their supply chains clean. Walt Disney Co, for example, investigated and ultimately decided to sever its relationship with at least one supplier following reports of poor conditions, and sought to improve labor practices at others. China Labor Watch outlined its findings in letters sent in June to Ivanka Trump at the White House and to other brands. So far, the group says it has gotten no response. The group said it also sent Ivanka Trump a video taken inside the factory in May. That video included a clip in which a manager threatened to rough up a worker who had apparently arranged shoes in the wrong order. If I see them messed up again, the manager yells, I ll beat you right here. The video has not been released to the public, but it was shown to AP at China Labor Watch s office in New York. Marc Fisher, which has made shoes for Ivanka Trump and Easy Spirit at the Ganzhou factory, has said it would look into the allegations. G-III Apparel Group, which produces shoes for Karl Lagerfeld, said it had not received a letter but fully supports the independent monitoring of global supply chains. When workplace safety and fairness issues are brought to our attention, we take them very seriously and work with our partners to resolve them, G-III spokesman Chris Giglio said in an . Dutch govt to rethink plan to curb foreign takeover attempts information that is commercially sensitive. But the bill does not specify what would be considered sensitive. The anti-corruption group Transparency International called the exemption a massive loophole that could undermine the Macron govt unveils reform plan; eyes tax cuts, less public spending new legislation, and another campaign group, Oxfam, said lawmakers were bowing to big business. German conservative legislator We are dancing on a volcano People walk past the new bus shuttle, launched by Keolis, Navya and the Stif in the business district of La Defense in the northwestern suburbs of Paris on July 3. (AFP) ECB pushback comforts eurozone bonds LONDON, July 4, (RTRS): Borrowing costs across the euro area fell on Tuesday as signs that some ECB policymakers are having doubts about signalling a move away from an ultraeasy monetary policy stance this month brought a degree of comfort to a battered bond market. Officials at the central bank have been unnerved by a rise in the euro and in government bond yields since European Central Bank President Mario Draghi opened the door a week ago to policy tweaks. Wary of weakening the economic recovery, some rate-setters have become nervous about dropping a long-standing pledge to expand or extend the ECB s 2.3 trillion-euro bond-buying scheme if necessary to reach its inflation target of near 2 percent. The ECB s chief economist, Peter Praet, said on Tuesday a continued recovery in euro zone inflation was crucially contingent on low borrowing costs and, in turn, on an easy monetary policy from the ECB. Policy tweaks are expected to be discussed when the ECB meets on July 20. The story does provide support to bond markets, said Rainer Guntermann, rates strategist at Commerzbank. AMSTERDAM, July 4, (RTRS): The Dutch government signalled on Tuesday it would rethink a plan to delay or prevent unwanted takeovers of Dutch companies by foreign firms partly over concerns about its possible impact on the investment climate in the country. In a letter to parliament ahead of a vote on proposals offering Dutch firms more protection from takeovers, Economic Affairs Minister Henk Kamp said his proposal might conflict with European law as well as discourage foreign investors. The plan, which envisages a oneyear grace period in which companies could refuse integrating with a foreign buyer, should be seen as still under construction, Kamp added. Parliament had been expected to reject the Kamp plan in its current form, though a majority of lawmakers is likely to back a more general motion asking the government to research other options to protect Dutch companies. The political jockeying follows recent attempts by US companies to buy Dutch paint maker Akzo Nobel and Anglo-Dutch multinational Unilever. Both advances were made public in the run-up to a Dutch parliamentary election in which anti-immigration and nationalist themes predominated. Kamp s shift on Tuesday comes less than a week after parliament also passed a motion telling the incoming government to drop a 20 percent cap placed on bonuses in the financial industry. The cap had been blamed by the Dutch Employers Association VNO-NCW for the failure of the Netherlands to capture much But ultimately, the day of reckoning is moving closer for the ECB, and it will have to starting talking more tangibly about tapering. Euro zone government bond yields fell 1-3 basis points, pulling back from recent highs. In Germany, the bloc s benchmark bond issuer, two-year bond yields fell 3 bps to a one-week low of minus 0.61 percent. News that North Korea has testlaunched what it said was a new intercontinental ballistic missile supported safe-haven bonds, although trade was subdued due to the July 4 holiday in the United States. Dropped The yield on Germany s 10-year Bund dropped to 0.45 percent at one stage. Though it rose again, it was still down 2 bps on the day at 0.48 percent, and off 3-1/2 month highs hit on Monday. But they remain more than 20 basis points above where they stood a week ago - before Draghi s comments sparked a sharp selloff that accelerated after hawkish comments from British and Canadian central bankers in subsequent days. The general tone of central bank remarks has fuelled a perception that, Brexit business relocation of operations leaving Britain after the country s vote to leave the European Union despite Amsterdam figuring prominently on lists of cities likely to benefit. VNO director Hans de Boer told Reuters in an ed response that the bonus cap had sent the wrong message to investors... and is causing us to miss out on jobs and tax revenues that we could really use. Kamp s anti-takeover plan was opposed by his own conservative VVD party during a debate last week. Of course our companies deserve protection, but they already have it, said VVD MP Aukje de Vries. For what problem is this a solution, and isn t the medicine worse than the cure? she said. Investor groups also opposed the Markus Ferber said the clause was necessary to prevent companies handing away business secrets to the competition on a silver platter. PARIS, July 4, (AFP): French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe unveiled an ambitious programme of tax cuts and reduced public spending on Tuesday designed to boost corporate investment and end the country s reliance on state borrowing. Philippe put spurring entrepreneurship at the heart of his first policy speech to the National Assembly after presidential and parliamentary elections in May and June. Businesses must want to set up and develop on our territory rather than elsewhere, Philippe told lawmakers, announcing that corporate tax would be cut from 33 percent to 25 percent in the next five years. Tackling France s chronic overspending was a priority, he said, warning that the public debt now totalled 2.1 trillion euros, nearly the equivalent of an entire year s economic output. We are dancing on a volcano that is rumbling ever louder, Philippe told the newly elected National Assembly, saying that public spending would be cut and the public deficit would be brought below 3.0 of GDP this year. France cannot remain the champion both of public spending and taxes, he said. Almost all of the measures confirmed election promises from 39-year-old cen- trist President Emmanuel Macron who was elected France s youngest ever president in May after promising to modernise the country. Philippe has already outlined one of the government s biggest economic reforms: an overhaul of France s rigid labour law which will enable companies to negotiate working terms and conditions with their employees. The measure faces resistance from leftist opponents. The powerful CGT trade union has already called for street protests and strikes in September. The government will face little difficulty in passing legislation in the lower house of parliament where candidates from Macron s new Republic on the Move (REM) party won more than 300 out of 577 seats in last month s election. after a decade of ultra-loose monetary policy, major central banks are seeking to normalise rates and wean markets off a reliance on cheap money without derailing the economic recovery. However, Australia s central bank stuck to a neutral stance on the economy and interest rates on Tuesday. Sweden s central bank said it did not expect more policy easing but did not rule out a further rate cut, given inflation concerns. One way of interpreting the recent central bank comments is to look at rates, which are still at extraordinarily low levels, and look at growth, which is stronger, and say those emergency levels of rates no longer look appropriate, said Nick Gartside, International CIO of fixed income at JPMorgan Asset Management. This is a transition from policy being extra easy to just easy and that can be... hard for central banks to communicate. Elsewhere, Greece s 10-year borrowing costs dropped further towards the 5 percent mark at which sources told Reuters the country will return to bond markets. The yield on the Greek 10-year government bond fell 7 basis points to 5.35 percent, the lowest level since December plan, including the International Corporate Governance Network, which represents investors holding $26 trillion in assets. We believe the negative consequences would... entrench ineffective company managers and disenfranchise institutional investors, the ICGN wrote in a letter to Kamp last month. The VVD, which is expected to lead a new government under Prime Minister Mark Rutte, is currently in coalition-building talks with the Christian Democrat and centrist D66 parties. Both favour some new anti-takeover protections. The Dutch debate coincides with wider concerns in Europe over a more protectionist stance on trade taken by US President Donald Trump, who attends a summit of the G-20 largest economies in Hamburg, Germany, later this week. Rightwing The upper-house Senate, where rightwing Republicans hold a majority, will be trickier. Philippe said Tuesday that the government would also honour other campaign pledges including introducing a new national service for young people and making dental and eye care free on the health system. Other measures including raising the price of cigarettes progressively to 10 euros from their current level of 7 euros to fight smoking-related diseases, the biggest cause of preventable deaths in France. Macron, France s youngest president at just 39, gave a state of the union address to both houses of parliament on Monday, a novelty which he intends to turn into an annual event to present his vision for the country. He said he was not aiming for mere reforms but a transformation of the political system and the economy. He faced mixed reviews for his inaugural address. The French press noted his determination to restore the prestige of the office of the all-powerful presidency and said he appeared keen to stay above the political fray. Macron is leaving the difficult work to Philippe, wrote commentator Paul-Henri du Limbert in the rightleaning Le Figaro newspaper. But Macron s style he has used the former royal palace in Versailles twice since taking office and has given only one media interview has also seen him criticised by some for being aloof, monarchical or even pharaonic. On Tuesday, he visited a military base in the northwest of the country, where he embarked for a four-hour trip on the nuclear submarine The Terrible.

34 BUSINESS 34 Macau bans ATM withdrawals Authorities in Macau said withdrawals using China s state-backed UnionPay card would be suspended at automated teller machines without the latest know your customer technology from Tuesday. The announcement from Macau s monetary authority is the latest in a series of measures being rapidly implemented in the administrative region of Macau as the Chinese territory ramps up scrutiny on capital outflows from the mainland. In May, authorities unveiled security measures including facial recognition at ATM machines which require users of China s UnionPay to provide identification. (RTRS) Name: Kuwait Sharia Compatible Indices Providers: Al Madar Finance & Investment Co. Description: Index of Sharia compatible companies traded on the KSE Website: Bloomberg Today s Today s 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 Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Composite AMIC July 4, % -1.88% -4.85% 3.10% 15.13% -3.25% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Kuwait Only AMIC July 4, % -2.22% -4.21% 2.92% 13.28% -4.98% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Active AMIC July 4, % -3.88% % 1.60% 17.72% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Banking Sector AMIC July 4, % -2.38% -9.45% -4.78% 7.60% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Investment Sector AMIC July 4, % -4.77% % 3.82% 2.53% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Insurance Sector AMIC July 4, % % -9.95% 30.61% 29.06% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Real Estate Sector AMIC July 4, % -2.80% % -1.76% 6.11% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Industrial Sector AMIC July 4, % -1.26% -5.38% 16.94% 22.55% 3.42% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Services Sector AMIC July 4, % -2.01% 6.98% 14.19% 27.40% 17.15% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Food Sector AMIC July 4, % -2.14% -4.60% -7.97% -4.40% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Islamic Sector AMIC July 4, % -2.13% -8.89% 0.17% 15.65% -9.72% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Non Kuwaiti Sector AMIC July 4, % 4.01% % 7.78% 68.10% 60.79% Kuwait Stock Exchange Index - Price KWSEIDX July 4, , , % -1.97% -5.96% 15.50% 23.18% 7.39% S&P 500 SPX July 3, , , % -0.38% 2.92% 8.49% 15.50% 16.92% DJ Islamic Index. DJIM July 3, , , % -1.08% 4.40% 12.22% 14.00% 11.62% NT to keep stake in Port of Darwin Australia holds rates as economy remains soft SYDNEY, July 4, (Agencies): Australia s Central Bank held interest rates at a record low Tuesday as the economy endures a soft patch while wage growth stutters, shunning indications of a move to tighter monetary policy elsewhere. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has sat on the sidelines since August, having cut borrowing costs 300 basis points since November 2011 to support the economy as an unprecedented mining investment boom ends. The board judged that holding the stance of monetary policy unchanged at this meeting would be consistent with sustainable growth in the economy and achieving the inflation target over time, RBA governor Philip Lowe said in a statement. The RBA s neutral stance disappointed analysts, who had tipped a more hawkish outlook in line with other recent statements from central banks in Canada and Britain. The Australian dollar slipped almost half a US cent to US$ I think they are just acknowledging that they see the risks as balanced, JP Morgan economist Henry St John said, citing an improving labour market and varied housing market conditions across the country. Our view is that (going forward) we might see some further deterioration in the activity data, and that would cause them to shift to a more dovish stance. Weakest While Australia marked 26 years without a recession after the economy grew 0.3 percent onquarter in January-March, the 1.7 percent annual rate of expansion was the weakest since The country is also experiencing slow growth in wages and household income, underemployment and high levels of household debt, fuelling speculation that rates will remain unchanged for some months. Lowe acknowledged the slowdown in economic growth but said it was partly reflecting temporary factors. The Australian economy is expected to strengthen gradually, with the transition to lower levels of mining investment following the mining investment boom almost complete, he said. A booming housing market, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, has also made a further cut in rates appear less likely, economists said, while macro-prudential tools have been used to tighten lending, particularly to investors. There was nothing in today s statement to shift our view that rates will stay on hold for some time, Commonwealth Bank of Australia economist Kristina Clifton said in a note. She added that while economic growth was expected to lift by 2018, a sizable part of it would come from higher liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, which is not expected to generate much employment or inflation. The RBA also said in May that increases in underlying inflation which strips out volatile items over the next year or two would be quite gradual because of low wages growth. We need to see the RBA lift these inflation forecasts materially before rate rises are back on the table anytime soon, Clifton added. Also: SYDNEY: Australia s Northern Territory government said on Tuesday it will retain a 20 percent stake in the strategic Port of Darwin that it leased to China s Landbridge Group Co in The tropical port is a sensitive diplomatic and physical asset, given Landbridge is said to have links with China s military, and the area is also used for military exercises involving US forces. Darwin has hosted a contingent of 1,250 US Marines since 2011, part of former president Barack Obama s strategic pivot to Asia to counter a rising China. The Northern Territory government had been holding a 20 percent share in the port while Landbridge searched for an Australian partner to take it over, in line with the 2015 lease arrangements. On Tuesday, the territory s government said it would keep that stake permanently and pay Landbridge only a nominal fee of A$100 ($76.33). The NT government will not be required to refund any of the $506 million lease purchase price to retain the 20 percent stake, the territory s chief minister, Michael Gunner, said in a statement. Gunner said the territory would earn no income from its stake, nor contribute to the port s operating costs. A source close to the process said Landbridge had been unable to find a buyer. Abe expected to agree EU-Japan trade deal on Thursday Brussels BRUSSELS, July 4, (Agencies): The European Union (EU) and Japan expect to commit to signing a free trade deal on Thursday, the EU said, in what both see as a push back against a feared US turn toward protectionism under US President Donald Trump. Confirming on Tuesday that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would meet heads of EU institutions in Brussels on the eve of a G20 summit with Trump and other world leaders in Germany, the European Council said: Leaders are expected to announce a political agreement on the EU-Japan free trade agreement. That would be short of a final accord ironing out all the commercial intricacies between two of the world s biggest economies and EU officials said on Tuesday that some key issues still needed to be settled before Thursday s EU-Japan summit. However, confirming Abe s attendance is a sign of confidence that a deal will be ready for his signature and also puts pressure on trade negotiators to secure at least outline agreements on opening up each other s markets, including in the trickiest areas such as Japanese cars and European farm produce. Both sides, having seen Trump pull back from free trade relationships, are keen to show they remain committed to removing barriers they say hamper growth. It is important for us to wave the flag of free trade in response to global moves toward protectionism by quickly concluding the free trade agreement with Europe, Abe told ministers at a meeting on Tuesday about the EU negotiations. This agreement is also important for our growth strategy. We will negotiate with all our energy until the very end to achieve the best deal for Japan. Abe will meet European Council President Donald Tusk, who speaks for the 28 EU national leaders, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the bloc s executive head. Juncker s Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom was in Japan at the weekend and said after her talks that she was quite confident that a broad agreement could be announced on Thursday. EU officials had said that Abe would only visit Brussels if both Japan PM to meet European leaders on eve of G20 summit Men stand near an electronic stock board showing Japan s Nikkei 225 index at a securities firm in Tokyo on July 4. Australian shares jumped Tuesday as investors awaited the central bank s interest rate decision while other Asian shares were mixed Tuesday ahead of a US trading holiday. (AP) sides were certain that the political agreement would be signed. Malmstrom said: You can do good, fair, transparent and sustainable trade agreements where you win and I win, and not the American view, which seems to be, You lose and I win. Abe, Tusk and Juncker will go on to Hamburg on Friday for the G20 summit. The host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is expected to lead calls for Trump to keep trade open. He pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with Japan and 10 other states on his first day in office in January. US-EU talks on a trade pact called TTIP have been in limbo since then. Volker Treier, head of the foreign trade unit of Germany s DIHK Chambers of Commerce, said on Tuesday that the state of world affairs was such that a trade war with the United States could not be ruled out. Japan and the EU launched their bilateral negotiations in 2013 but have been struggling to achieve breakthroughs in key areas, such as Japan scrapping tariffs on EU cheese and wine and Europe giving greater access for Japanese cars and car parts. Although Japan and the EU account for about a third of global GDP, their trade relationship has room to grow also by a third according to EU officials, who see a deal boosting the EU economy by 0.8 percent and Japan s by 0.3 percent long-term. Japan and the EU have been working to reach an accord before a summit of the Group of 20 industrial nations later this week in Hamburg, Germany and to send a message in support of free trade, countering a US backlash against broad trade pacts. Based on the ministerial talks we had on June 30 and July 1, we are currently continuing tough negotiations, Kishida said. Although we cannot be too optimistic about the prospect of the talks, I strongly hope to strike a basic agreement on Japan-EU EPA this time around as I head into the talks. I will work up until the last minute so that we can achieve the best results for our national interest, he said, noting there were sensitivities on both sides. Cecilia Malmstrom, said Monday that she believes a deal can be reached later this week. The hope is to announce a deal when Japan s prime minister meets EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday ahead of a summit of the Group of 20 industrial nations in Germany. The Japanese don t agree with some of the key technical issues (in the deal) which are fundamental for the EU, especially those referred to investment, Malmstrom said in a speech to a conference in Madrid. She did not go into detail. Japanese officials have said the main sticking points are over ending tariffs on imports of cheese and autos. A deal would require finessing Japan s protections for its dairy farmers, whose home market is protected by tariffs of up to 40 percent on processed cheese. It s unclear just what the potential for compromise might be. Australia and New Zealand, the biggest exporters of cheese and other dairy products to Japan, fought hard to persuade Tokyo to gradually open its market over a 15-year period during negotiations for a Pacific Rim trade pact, the Trans-Pacific Partnership. investment funds Funds Fund Manager Valuation Valued date Currency Net Asset Prev NAV Prev NAV Dated Value (NAV) National Bank of Kuwait Money Market Funds Watani KD Money Market Fund II NBK Capital Weekly June 20, 2017 KD May 30, 2017 Watani USD Money Market Fund NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly June 20, 2017 USD May 30, 2017 Watani KD Money Market Fund (Acc to Islamic Shariah principles) II NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly June 20, 2017 KD May 30, 2017 Watani USD Money Market Fund (Acc to Islamic Shariah principles) II NBK Global Asset Management Co. Ltd. Weekly June 20, 2017 USD May 30, 2017 NBK Kuwait Equity Fund Watani Investment Co. Weekly June 15, 2017 KD May 25, 2017 Gulf Equity Investment Fund Watani Investment Co. Weekly June 15, 2017 USD May 25, 2017 Gulf Bank Al Basha er GCC Equity Fund Kwt. Fin. & Inv. Co. & Gulf Fin. House Monthly June 15, 2017 USD April 30, 2017 Coast Fund Coast Investment & Dev. Co. Monthly May 5, 2017 KD March 28, 2017 Sanaya Dow Jones Kuwait Index Fund Industrial & Financial Investment Co. Weekly Jan 26, 2017 KD Dec 30, 2016 Markaz Capital Preservation Program 1 Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD Dec 31, 2016 Markaz Capital Preservation Program 2 Monthly Feb 28, 2017 KD Dec 31, 2016 Markaz Gulf Real Estate Fund Bi-annual May 31, 2017 KD April 30, 2017 Al Ahli Bank Al Ahli Gulf Fund Al Ahli Bank Monthly May 31, 2017 KD April 30, 2017 Al Ahli Kuwaiti Fund Al Ahli Bank Monthly May 31, 2017 KD April 30, 2017 Burgan Bank Burgan Equity Fund Burgan Bank Monthly May 28, 2017 KD April 23, 2017 Boubyan Bank Boubyan KD Money Market Fund Boubyan Bank Weekly June 20, 2017 KD June 6, 2017 Boubyan KD Money Market Fund II Boubyan Bank Weekly June 20, 2017 KD June 6, 2017 Boubyan Capital Investment Co. Boubyan USD Liquidity Fund Boubyan Capital Investment Co June 20, 2017 USD June 6, 2017 Boubyan Multi-Asset Holding Fund Boubyan Bank April 30, 2017 USD April 25, 2017 Kuwait Investment Co. Local Fund Al Raed Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly June 30, 2017 KD June 22, 2017 Kuwait Investment Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly June 29, 2017 KD May 31, 2017 Al Hilal Fund Kuwait Investment Co Monthly June 26, 2017 KD May 31, 2017 Al Atheer Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly June 30, 2017 KD May 31, 2017 International Global Bond Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly June 28, 2017 USD June 21, 2017 Diversified Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly June 28, 2017 USD June 21, 2017 European Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly May 31, 2017 Euro April 28, 2017 Pacific Equity Fund Kuwait Investment Co Weekly June 28, 2017 USD June 21, 2017 North American Equity Fund Kuwait Investment Co Tw. Monthly May 31, 2017 USD April 28, 2017 National Investment Co. (NIC) Al-Wataniya Fund NIC Monthly May 31, 2017 KD April 30, 2017 Al-Darij Fund NIC Monthly May 31, 2017 KD April 30, 2017 Mawarid Fund NIC Monthly May 31, 2017 KD April 30, 2017 Zajil Fund NIC Monthly May 31, 2017 KD April 30, 2017 Al Mada Investment Fund NIC Weekly May 31, 2017 USD April 30, 2017 Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) Mumtaz Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly June 22, 2017 KD June 15, 2017 MIDAF Kuwait Financial Center Weekly June 22, 2017 KD June 15, 2017 Islamic Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly June 22, 2017 KD June 15, 2017 Markaz Arabian Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly Nov 10, 2016 KD Nov 3, 2016 FORSA Financial Fund Kuwait Financial Center Monthly April 30, 2017 KD March 31, 2017 Real Estate Fund Kuwait Financial Center Monthly April 30, 2017 KD March 31, 2017 Markaz Fixed Income Fund Kuwait Financial Center Monthly June 22, 2017 USD June 15, 2017 Mawazeen International Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly March 26, 2017 USD March 19, 2017 Markaz MENA Islamic Fund Kuwait Financial Center Weekly June 15, 2017 USD May 18, 2017 Kuwait & Middle East Financial & Inv. Co. Al Rou yah Fund KMEFIC Monthly April 30, 2017 KD March 31, 2017 Gulf Gate Fund KMEFIC Monthly Oct 31, 2016 KD Sept 30, 2016 Funds Fund Manager Valuation Valued date Currency Net Asset Prev NAV Prev NAV Dated Value (NAV) Global Investment House Index Funds GCC Large Cap Index Fund Global Weekly June 22, 2017 KD June 15, 2017 Equity Funds Al-Mamoun Fund A Global Weekly June 22, 2017 KD June 15, 2017 Al-Mamoun Fund B Global Weekly June 22, 2017 KD June 15, 2017 GCC Large Cap Fund Global Bi-weekly June 20, 2017 USD June 15, 2017 Global Saudi Equity Fund Global Bi-weekly June 20, 2017 SAR June 15, 2017 Sectoral Funds EPADI Fund Global Weekly June 20, 2017 USD June 15, 2017 Islamic Funds Global GCC Islamic Fund Global Weekly June 20, 2017 USD June 15, 2017 Al-Durra Islamic Fund Global Monthly June 22, 2017 KD June 15, 2017 Kuwait Finance & Investment Co (KFIC) Al Wasm Fund KFIC Weekly June 7, 2017 KD March 16, 2017 Al Basha er GCC Equity Fund KFIC Monthly May 31, 2017 USD Feb 28, 2017 KAMCO KAMCO Investment Fund KAMCO Monthly April 30, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 KAMCO GCC Opportunities Fund KAMCO Monthly July 31, 2016 USD Feb 29, 2016 KAMCO MENA Plus Fixed Income Fund KAMCO March 31, 2017 USD Jan 31, 2017 KAMCO Real Estate Yield Fund KAMCO April 30, 2017 USD March 31, 2017 Kuwait Education Fund KAMCO Quartely Sept 30, 2016 KD Wafra International Investment Co. Wafra Equity Fund Wafra Co. Monthly May 31, 2017 KD April 30, 2017 Wafra Bond Fund Wafra Co. Monthly May 31, 2017 KD March 30, 2017 Masaref Investment Fund ISKAN Weekly May 31, 2017 KD April 30, 2017 Fajir Islamic Fund Wafra Co. Monthly May 31, 2017 KD April 30, 2017 Shuaa Capital Co. Emirates Gateway Fund Shuaa Capital Weekly Feb 7, 2017 AED Jan 31, 2017 The Arab Gateway Fund Shuaa Capital Weekly Feb 7, 2017 USD Jan 31, 2017 Al Aman Investment Al Aman Islamic Fund Al Aman Investment Weekly April 30, 2017 KD Dec 31, 2016 Tharwa Investment Co. Tharwa Investment Fund Tharwa Investment Co Weekly June 8, 2017 KD May 5, 2017 Tharwa Arab Investment Fund Tharwa Investment Co Bi-weekly July 31, 2016 USD June 30, 2016 Tharwa World Fund Tharwa Investment Co Monthly March 31, 2016 USD March 15, 2016 Tharwa Islamic Fund Tharwa Investment Co Monthly June 8, 2017 KD May 5, 2017 Bank Al-Bilad Al Seef Fund Bank Al-Bilad Daily June 4, 2017 KD May 21, 2017 Commercial International Bank CIB Money Market Fund (Osoul) CI Asset Management Weekly July 3, 2017 EGP June 19, 2017 CIB II Equity (Isthethmar) CI Asset Management Weekly July 3, 2017 EGP June 19, 2017 CIB and Faisal Islamic Al Aman CI Asset Management Weekly July 3, 2017 EGP June 19, 2017 Hemaya CI Asset Management Weekly July 2, 2017 EGP June 1, 2017 Thabat CI Asset Management Weekly July 3, 2017 EGP June 19, 2017 Takamol CI Asset Management Weekly July 3, 2017 EGP June 19, 2017 Misr El Mostakbel CI Asset Management Weekly July 2, 2017 EGP June 18, 2017 Noor Financial Investment Co. Noor Islamic Fund Noor Financial Investment Co Monthly Feb 29, 2016 KD Dec 31, 2015 Al Zumorroda Investment Co. Zumorroda GCC Fund Al Zumorroda Investment Co Monthly Jan 31, 2016 KD Dec 31, 2015 KFH Capital Investment Co. Muthanna Islamic Index Fund (MUDX) KFH Capital Investment Company Daily Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Muthanna GCC Islamic Banks Fund KFH Capital Investment Company Daily Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 Baitak GCC Fund KFH Capital Investment Company Weekly Feb 28, 2017 KD Jan 31, 2017 CapCorp Investment Co. CapCorp Local Fund CapCorp Investment Company Weekly May 31, 2017 KD March 30, 2017

35 BUSINESS 35 Morocco needs more studies on reform Morocco s surprise delay in announcing its proposed currency liberalisation came only because the government needed further studies of the plan, Prime Minister Saadeddine El Othmani said, dismissing speculation that it ran into significant problems. Last week, Morocco s central bank postponed for a few days its planned announcement of the first phase of liberalising the dirham, a key reform backed by the International Monetary Fund. The central back gave no reason for the delay. In a weekend interview on Morocco s two public television channels, Othmani said he met with Finance Minister Mohammed Boussaid and central bank Governor Abdellatif Jouahri to discuss the move to a flexible currency regime and the decision will be made at the right time. The dirham s value is now fixed by a peg that is weighted 60 percent to the euro and 40 percent to the dollar. The first stage of reform will let the currency trade in a narrow range, which will widen over the course of up to 15 years. According to one source with knowledge of the process, the delay was caused by last-minute fine tuning, although neither the central bank nor the government has said exactly how long the announcement will be delayed. (RTRS) Kuwait index bounces, volume little changed Americana jumps 99 fils; Ooredoo slips By John Mathews Arab Times Staff KUWAIT CITY, July 4: Kuwait stocks rebounded on Tuesday stemming the four-day decline. The bourse bounced pts to 6, points helped by renewed buying in select counters even as the trading remained anemic owing to lack of new catalysts. The KSX 15 benchmark rose 6.77 pts to pts taking the year s gains to 23 points while weighted index edged 1.85 pts higher. The volume turnover meanwhile fell slightly million shares changed hands down 2.6 percent from the day before. Barring one all sectors closed in the green turf. Oil and gas outshone the rest with 4.46 percent surge whereas consumer services fell 0.59 pct, the biggest loser of the day. Volume wise, financial services notched the highest market share of 29.8 percent market share and banks stood close behind with 28 pct contribution. In the individual shares, Kuwait Food Co (Americana) rebounded from Monday s steep losses with a 99 fils jump while Humansoft Holding, the highest priced stock of the bourse, soared 260 fils to KD NAPESCO climbed 63 fils to KD extending last session s gains. Zain fell 2 fils to 409 fils after trading 2.4 million shares and Ooredoo dropped 18 fils to KD fils. Kuwait Telecommunications Co (VIVA) gained 19 fils trimming the year s losses to 126 fils and Agility dipped 14 fils to 804 fils with a volume of 1.8 million. National Bank of Kuwait took in 2 fils partly recouping Monday s fall whereas Gulf Bank inched 1 fil higher. The bank has posted a 6.7 pct increase in first quarter profit in to KD 9.36 million from KWD 8.77 million in Q1 of The market opened weak and edged lower in early trade. The main index scraped the day s lowest level of 6565 points and headed north thereafter. It scaled the day s highest level of 6, pts almost half way into the session and retreated slightly in the second half before closing with strong gains. Top gainers of the day, Burgan Well Drilling Co and Contracting and Marine Services Co jumped 20 pct each to close at 72 fils and 75.6 fils respectively whereas KFIC slid 18.6 percent, the steepest decliner of the day. AUB topped the volume with 4.8 million shares. Reflecting the day s gains, the winners outnumbered the losers. 59 stocks advanced whereas 40 closed lower. Of the 121 counters active on Tuesday, 59 closed flat deals worth KD 9.8 million were transacted a 15.6 pct risen in value from the day before National Industries Group dialed up 2 fils whereas Gulf Cable slipped 8 fils to 407 fils. Heavy Engineering and Shipbuilding Co fell 5 fils to 201 fils while Contracting and Marine Services Co was up 12.6 fils at 75.6 fils. Equipment Holding Co edged 1 fil up to 49 fils. Jazeera Airways slipped 7 fils to 465 fils while Metal and Recycling Co stood pat at 88 fils with razor thin trading. Boubyan Petrochemical Co rose 4 fils to 574 fils and Kuwait Cable Vision Co inched 1 fil higher. Mezzan Holding was down 14 fils at 911 fils. Climbed Automated Systems Co climbed 10 fils and Kuwait National Cinema vaulted 232 fils to KD The company s profits swelled 26.17% in the first quarter of 2017 to KD 3.23 mln in from KD 2.56 million in the same period last year. Burgan Well Drilling Co gained 12 fils and AWJ Holding held ground at 76 fils. Eyas For Higher and Technical Education sank 66 fils and Al Rai Media Group eased 1 fil to 120 fils. Yiaco Medical climbed 24 fils to 184 fils. In the banking sector, Al Mutahed dropped 10 fils to 390 fils extending previous session s losses while Kuwait International Bank and Boubyan Bank paused at 245 fils and 405 fils respectively. Commercial Bank took in 2 fils and Burgan Bank was up 3 fils at 334 fils. Warba Bank inched 1 fil higher to 253 fils whereas Al Ahli Bank was not traded during the session. KIPCO dialed up 1 fil and KA- MCO trimmed a marginal 0.5 fil to close at 80 fils. The company s profits surged by 111.6% in the first quarter of 2017 to KD 285,990. National Investment Co edged 0.7 fil higher to fils and Coast Investment Co gave up gave up 0.9 fil before settling at 39.1 fils. International Financial Advisors trimmed 0.6 fil and and Securities House Co closed 0.5 fil in red. Bayan Investment Co took in 0.5 fils and Osoul Investment closed flat at 59 fils. Ektittab Holding and Sokouk Holding were up 0.5 fil each and Aayan fell 0.4 fil to 39 fils. Noor Financial Investment Co and Tamdeen Investment Co were unchanged at 50 fils and 300 fils respectively whereas Al Imtiaz inched 1 fil higher to 159 fils. Ahleia Insurance Co slid 50 fils to 430 fils whereas Kuwait Insurance Co added 10 fils before closing at 260 fils. Warba Insurance co climbd 15.4 fils. National Real Estate Co fell 5 fils to 109 fils and United Real Estate Co stood pat at 84.9 fils. Mabanee Co clipped 1 fil and Mazaya Holding dialed up 2 fils. Ream jumped 30 fils to 310 fils and The market has been trending lower so far during the week and has slid 124 points in last three sessions. It had shed 26 points during whole of June and is trading 15.5 pct higher year-to-date. KSE, with 188 listed companies, is the second largest bourse in the region. In the bourse related news, Kuwait Finance and Investment (KFIC) rebounded to post a net profit of KD 146,350 in the first three months of 2017, from KD 255,510 loss in first quarter of Operating income grew 76% year-on-year to reach KD 1.65 million. Aayan Real Estate has recorded a percent jump in its profits to KD 536,890 for the first quarter of 2017 from same period in the year before. During 2016, the profit saw a 1.5% uptick to KD 2.75 million in 2016 from the previous year. Ooredoo Kuwait has posted 26.6 pct jump in profits during the first quarter of 2017 to KD million from KD million in same period last year. It had recorded a growth of 75% in profits to KD million during Mowasat Healthcare has registered a a 40.2% increase in net profits in the first quarter of 2017, to reach KD 1.92 million as compared to KD 1.37 million in the year before period. Al Ahleia Insurance s first quarter net profit dropped by 14.5% in the first to KD 2.88 million from KD 3.37 million in Q1 of Operational income dipped 39.6 pct to KD 1.58 million National Ranges Company s (Mayadeen) losses shrank by 18.2 pct in the first quarter of 2017 to KD 642,620 from about KWD 785,610 in same period of Mideast Stocks Most of regional markets sag Saudi pulls back, banks hit hard DUBAI, July 4, (RTRS): Most major Middle Eastern stock markets fell on Tuesday as Saudi Arabian blue chips were hit by a major wave of profittaking and Qatar fell before a diplomatic deadline set by other Gulf Arab states. In late June, before a one-week Eid-al Fitr holiday, the Saudi market surged after index compiler MSCI said it would consider upgrading Riyadh to emerging market status and economic reformer HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman was promoted to the post of crown prince. But many fund managers consider Riyadh close to fully valued, leaving it open to profit-taking. On Tuesday, the index fell 2.6 percent, its biggest drop since last October, in thin trading volume. ing accelerated towards the close. A purchasing managers survey released on Tuesday showed Saudi business conditions remained tough, with growth of the non-oil private sector slowing to an eight-month low in June. Banking stocks, which were among the top gainers in late June, were the biggest losers on Tuesday. National Commercial Bank, the largest lender, plunged 7.9 percent. Miner Ma aden slipped 4.9 percent. Falling stocks outnumbered gainers by more than two to one. Wafa Insurance rose 2.6 percent after the central bank said it would let the company accept new subscribers in vehicle insurance, lifting a suspension on this activity. Qatar s stock market rose in early trade but the index closed 0.5 percent lower in moderate volume. Foreign investors, who had been net buyers of stocks for the last several days, were roughly neutral, exchange data showed. A deadline set by the four Arab states imposing sanctions on Qatar was to expire late on Tuesday, and there was no clear sign that Doha was willing to acquiesce in enough of their demands to avoid further economic sanctions. However, some fund managers do not think the additional sanctions would be crippling for Qatar s economy, while they believe there is value in the market after its 10 percent plunge in the past month. Qatar National Bank, the biggest bank, sank 3.1 percent on Tuesday. But companies linked to Qatari gas production were strong as the chief executive of Qatar Petroleum outlined plans to raise output and capacity in coming years. Gulf International Services, the most heavily traded stock, surged 4.0 percent and Qatar Gas Transport (Nakilat) soared its 10 percent daily limit. Dubai s index fell 0.3 percent as blue chip Emaar Properties slid 1.3 percent. GFH Financial, the most heavily traded stock, rose sharply in early trade after saying it had obtained approval from the central bank of Bahrain to buy back up to 5 percent of its issued treasury shares. But it closed 0.9 percent lower; the stock had already surged 6.3 percent on Monday. Builder Arabtec soared 10.6 percent after saying it had won a 353 million dirham ($96 million) contract to build the United Arab Emirates pavilion at the Expo 2020 world s fair in Dubai a vote of confidence in the company by authorities in Abu Dhabi. Saudi Arabia The index lost 2.6 percent to 7,300 points. Dubai The index fell 0.3 percent to 3,415. Abu Dhabi The index dropped 0.5 percent to 4,392. Qatar The index slipped 0.5 percent to 8,896 points. Egypt The index dropped 0.7 percent to 13,335 points. Kuwait The index rose 1.1 percent to 6,639 points. Bahrain The index edged up 0.1 percent to 1,317 points. Oman The index rose 0.2 percent to 5,098 points.

36 new EU court blow for Uber over French taxi case Uber suffered a new setback in Europe on Tuesday when an EU court adviser said France was entitled to charge local managers of the US ride-hailing app firm with running an illegal taxi service. Uber played down the non-binding opinion from an advocate general at the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ), saying it applied only to a service using unlicensed drivers known as UberPOP which it had already discontinued in France. Judges will make a final ruling later this year. However, they generally follow the advice of their advocates general and the comments come two months after another opinion, which rejected Uber s argument that it was only a digital platform and so subject to less regulation than a transport firm. The European court battles are being fought as Uber struggles with last month s departure of its cofounder and chief executive Travis Kalanick following a string of scandals that have battered one of the global stars of the US tech industry. The latest case before the ECJ was referred to it by a French court in Lille and concerns a 2014 French law on taxis and chauffeured services which makes it a criminal offence to organise illegal taxi services and sets restrictions on the use of software to find customers in the street. Uber had argued that it was not a taxi company and that the criminal fines imposed on two of its French managers were not valid because the French taxi law infringed EU rules under which limitations on digital services in the bloc require prior approval from Brussels. Advocate General Maciej Szpunar, who also provided the opinion in the Spanish case in May, disagreed and upheld France s right to prohibit and punish illegal transport activities like UberPOP without seeking EU approval of its law. Member states may prohibit and punish, as a matter of criminal law, the illegal exercise of transport activities in the context of the Uber- POP service, without notifying the Commission of the draft law in advance, he said in statement. Uber said it now only operates in France with licensed cab drivers, as it does in many of its main European markets. Uber was fined 800,000 euros ($908,000) last year and two of its executives were also fined for running an illegal taxi service with UberPOP. The case is currently being appealed and an outcome is expected at the end of the year. Notably, Szpunar also said that member states remained free to punish illegal transport activities provided by intermediaries such as Uber without asking for Brussels green light regardless of whether Uber was considered a transport or an information society service. (RTRS) BUSINESS 36 Equities tumble, crude steadies after flying start to second half Oil ends gaining streak as traders book profi ts LONDON, July 4, (Agencies): World shares pulled back and bonds and gold regained favour on Tuesday as a long-range ballistic missile test by North Korea and July 4 holidays for US markets dampened risk appetite. Asian shares were pushed lower and South Korea s won slid to a 16- week low after the North s missile landed in Japanese territorial waters amid assertions from Pyongyang that it could now strike anywhere in the world. Europe saw a modest drop too as the pressure to lock in profit after Monday s biggest jump in over two months outweighed a recovery during the day of commodity stocks as oil thrust upwards again after an overnight wobble. Traditional safety plays fared well amid the caution. The Japanese yen and gold were both higher, as were European bonds and Treasuries, which have been clobbered by recent signs that the era of emergency stimulus and ultra low interest rates might be coming to an end. The ECB s chief economist said healthier inflation remained crucially contingent on very easy financing conditions, while Sweden s central bank sounded reassuringly cautious even as it hinted at tighter policy going forward, That took the wind out of the Swedish crown, which had been the best performing global currency over the last week. The Australian dollar also took a tumble as its central bank steered clear of rate hike talk at its latest meeting. Credit Agricole FX strategist Manuel Oliveri said the Swedish Riksbank s move showed how wary central banks remained about their currencies, while the day s other main focus was North Korea s posturing. North Korea is continuing to provoke, he said. Although markets were now used to these kind of events, he added: It is a bit more important as it came ahead of the G20 meeting this week. Leaders from the Group of 20 nations are due to discuss steps to rein in Pyongyang s weapons programmes when they meet in Germany. US President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter: North Korea has just launched another missile. Does this guy have anything better to do with his life? This was an apparent reference to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. With the market quiet in the absence of US trading, the dollar mainly drifted. MSCI s widely-tracked emerging equity index saw its sharpest one-day drop in nearly three weeks and most Asian currencies were weaker. The won is now down 3 percent over the last two weeks, the Indonesian rupiah has erased weeks of gains in the last two days and the Philippine peso is stuck near multi-year lows. MSCI s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan ended down 0.6 percent. Japan s Nikkei surrendered gains to end 0.1 percent down, South Korea s KOSPI closed 0.6 percent lower, though Hong Kong was hardest hit by the regional jitters as it slumped as much as 2 percent at one point. Tokyo, reacting to the North s missile test, strongly protested what it called Pyongyang s clear violation of UN resolutions. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he would ask the presidents of China and Russia to play more constructive roles in efforts to stop Pyongyang s arms programme. Commodity markets also saw a shift. Gold was shining at $1,224 an ounce while oil managed to steady near $50 a barrel although it still looked on course for its first dip in nine sessions which have amounted to its longest run of gains since February US crude was flat at $47.00 a barrel while global benchmark Brent dropped fractionally to $49.64 as traders cashed in some gains from a 3.7 percent leap its biggest in one day since December 2016 on Monday. UK A rally in Worldpay shares to a record high was not enough to offset a broad-based decline among British shares on Wednesday, after a strong start to the second half for the UK s top share index. Britain s blue-chip FTSE 100 index ended down 0.3 percent at 7, points, having broken a four-day losing streak in the previous session. Mid caps declined 0.1 percent. Tuesday saw banking stocks ease 0.8 percent, following strong gains in the previous session. Oil stocks ended flat as oil prices stabilised near $50 a barrel on signs that US crude production may be slowing. Shares in BP fell 0.3 percent. HSBC and Standard Chartered were 1.1 percent and 0.6 percent lower. Results helped shares in grocer Sainsbury edge around 0.3 percent higher. Britain s second-largest supermarket said sales growth accelerated in its latest quarter, helped by inflation and warm weather. Europe A spate of dealmaking news swept European stocks on Tuesday, with Worldpay soaring after bid approaches, helping mitigate a broad based pull back from the previous session s strong gains. The pan-european STOXX 600 fell 0.3 percent, in line with a dip in euro zone stocks and Britain s FTSE index. On Monday, European shares had their strongest day since April 24, when Emmanuel Macron won the first round of France s presidential election. The closure of the US market for the July 4 national holiday also meant volumes were lower than usual. Today is a consolidation day after gains yesterday, as we don t have a US market, said Angelo Meda, head of equities at Banor Capital. But dealmaking was back with a vengeance as a key driver of individual share moves. Payments company Worldpay shares soared 27.7 percent to a record high after it received rival takeover approaches from credit card tech firm Vantiv and JPMorgan. This came after Danish rival Nets said on Monday it had received offers. Nets and another German rival Wirecard rose more than 4 percent. EDP was a top gainer, up 1.6 percent after Spain s Gas Natural was re[ported to have approached the Portuguese utility for a $40 billion merger which would create Europe s fourth biggest utility by market capitalisation. Gas Natural shares fell 0.6 percent. EDP denied negotiations were taking place. Shares in French rival EDF also dropped 4 percent after HSBC downgraded the stock to reduce. Clariant shares gained 3 percent after two activist investors upped their stake in the Swiss chemicals firm in opposition to a planned merger with US firm Huntsman. Asia Asian markets reversed early gains Tuesday to sit mostly down in the afternoon as a sell-off in technology shares overshadowed a record close on Wall Street and a rally in energy firms. With big-name firms such as Apple and Google parent Alphabet suffering in recent weeks, their Asian counterparts are also feeling the pinch. In Hong Kong internet giant Tencent sank more than four and speaker-maker AAC Technologies dived 2.4 percent, while Tokyo-listed Sony lost 1.7 percent and Sharp dived 1.9 percent. Samsung Electronics retreated 0.5 percent in Seoul. And those fed through to broader markets, while traders have also been spooked by news that North Korea had tested its first missile that could reach the United States. Tokyo ended down 0.1 percent, Seoul slipped 0.6 percent and Singapore gave back 0.5 percent and Taipei 0.6 percent. Shanghai was off 0.4 percent. Hong Kong plunged 1.5 percent, with Kenny Wen, a strategist at Sun Hung Kai Financial in Hong Kong, telling Bloomberg News: Many investors were betting 25,500 was the supporting level for the Hang Seng Index and have bought lots of futures on it. However, Sydney ended 1.8 percent higher after a more than two percent dive in the previous two days and as Australia s central bank held off raising interest rates. However, refiner Idemitsu Kosan plunged more than 11 percent in Japan after saying it plans to raise up to $1.2 billion in a share sale despite opposition from its founding family to a merger with rival Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. Showa Shell soared more than seven percent. In Sydney, Woodside Petroleum and Rio Tinto jumped. Key figures around 0820 GMT: Tokyo Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.1 percent at 20, (close) Hong Kong Hang Seng: DOWN 1.5 percent at 25, (close) Shanghai Composite: DOWN 0.4 percent at 3, (close) Dollar/yen: DOWN at yen from yen Oil Brent oil prices gained slightly on Tuesday, stabilising near $50 a barrel on tentative signs that a persistent rise in US crude production may be slowing. The international benchmark gained 15 cents to $49.83 per barrel by 1409 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were trading up 18 cents at $47.25 a barrel. Brent futures have risen for nine days in a row, the longest stretch of gains since July Both contracts traded lower earlier in the session as many traders closed positions ahead of the US Independence Day holiday on July 4, while Brent also faced technical resistance as it approached $50, traders said. Despite this, the market s outlook has shifted somewhat. Late May and most of June were overwhelmingly bearish as US output rose and doubts grew over the ability of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to hold back enough production to tighten the market. But sentiment began to shift towards the end of June, when data showed a dip in US oil output and a slight fall in drilling for new production. Gold Gold prices rebounded from sevenweek lows on Tuesday after North Korea fired a missile into Japanese waters, raising geopolitical tensions and boosting bullion s safe-haven appeal. North Korea said it successfully testlaunched an intercontinental ballistic missile, days before leaders from the Group of 20 nations are due to discuss steps to rein in Pyongyang s weapons programmes. Gold is typically seen as a store of value and therefore a safe-haven investment in times of economic and political uncertainty, when investors tend to sell riskier assets such as stocks. World shares, oil and bond yields pulled back on Tuesday as North Korea s long-range missile test and July 4 holidays for US markets curbed investor appetite for risk. Spot gold was up 0.3 percent at $1, an ounce by 1345 GMT, while US gold futures climbed 0.3 percent to $1, an ounce. The market is turning to gold over the conflict in North Korea, Danske Bank senior analyst Jens Pedersen said. But the market isn t pricing in a further deterioration in relations because this conflict has been going on for a while. LONDON: Sainsbury s, Britain s second biggest supermarket group, saw sales growth accelerate in its latest quarter, as it benefited from revamped food ranges and held down prices of staple goods despite rising inflation. The group, which purchased Argosowner Home Retail last year, cautioned trading conditions remained tough, however. Sainsbury s and major rivals market leader Tesco, Asda and Morrisons are grappling with the rapid growth of discounters Aldi and Lidl and having to cope with more expensive food imports due to a fall in the value of sterling since Britain voted to leave the European Union. The market is competitive and we continue to manage cost price pressures closely, CEO Mike Coupe said on Tuesday. But he said Sainsbury s strategy of building a distinctive food offer ranging from own-brand basics to specialist free from and organic lines; growing its general merchandise and clothing businesses; and bearing down on costs, was working. Our strategy is delivering and we are well placed to navigate the external environment. Shares in Sainsbury s rose up to 3 percent. (RTRS) MADRID: Shares in Santander, Spain s largest bank, traded lower on Tuesday after it announced the details of a 7.1 billion-euro ($8.1-billion) capital increase to fund its takeover of failing lender Banco Popular. The bank said late Monday that it will sell about 1.5 billion shares at 4.85 euros each, a percent discount to the closing price on Monday, to support the acquisition of Banco Popular. The subscription period will begin on Thursday and run until July 20, it added. Santander said last month it would raise funds to shore up its balance sheet after it took over compatriot Banco Popular for one euro in a deal brokered by European regulators to avert a looming failure of the troubled lender. (AFP) OSLO: Norway s sovereign wealth fund has acquired a 49-percent stake in an office and retail building in Washington D.C. for $190.8 million, in a joint venture with real estate partner Oxford Properties Group, the fund said on Tuesday. It was the second joint transaction with Oxford Properties in as many days. The seller of the property was 1101 New York Holdings LLC, a company owned by W.R. Berkley Corporation and Property Group Partners, the fund added. At the end of the first quarter the Norwegian fund had invested 2.5 percent of its assets in unlisted real estate. It has properties in London, Paris and New York, among other cities. (RTRS) LONDON: The Subway franchise of sandwich restaurants plans to open a further 500 outlets in the UK and Ireland over the next three years, creating about 5,000 jobs, as it seeks to capitalise on a growing appetite for cheap food on the go. Subway, which sells a wide range of freshly made submarine sandwiches, as well as salads, said on Tuesday it was targeting 3,000 stores by 2020, up from 2,500 currently. The expansion plans are in response to consumer demand, it said. Britain s food-to-go market is forecast to be worth nearly 22 billion pounds ($29 billion) by 2021, up from 16.1 billion pounds in 2016, according to industry research group IGD. Other major food-to-go specialists in the UK include Pret A Manger and Greggs. Subway is owned by US-based Doctor s Associates Inc, but its stores are all owned and operated by a network of franchisees. (RTRS) LONDON: Shares in British card payments processor Worldpay rocketed Tuesday by almost a quarter after revealing separate takeover approaches from US peer Vantiv and banking giant JP Morgan Chase. The announcement which gave no indication of price sent Worldpay s stock soaring percent to pence, scoring the top spot on London s receding FTSE 100 index. Following the surge in the share price on Tuesday, the company s stock market capitalisation stands at more than 8.0 billion ($10.4 billion, 9.1 billion euros). The board of Worldpay Group plc notes the recent press speculation concerning Worldpay and Worldpay share price movement and confirms that it has received preliminary approaches from Vantiv, Inc and JPMorgan Chase Bank in relation to the potential acquisition of the entire issued, and to be issued, share capital of Worldpay, it said in a brief statement. (AFP) MOSCOW: Russia will start supplying gas to China through a new pipeline by the end of 2019, state gas giant Gazprom said Tuesday, as part of a mammoth $400-billion deal. Today a deal was signed... about the date of the start of gas deliveries through the Power of Siberia pipeline. It is December 20, 2019, Gazprom boss Alexei Miller told journalists. After a decade of negotiations, Russia inked a mammoth 30-year deal in May 2014 to supply its key eastern neighbour with natural gas through a pipeline for the first time. Construction began in September 2014 on the 4,000-kilometre (2,500- mile) Power of Siberia pipeline to connect Yakutia s gas fields with the Sea of Japan (East Sea) and also with the Chinese border. (AFP) BUENOS AIRES: Argentina has banned scandal-racked Brazilian builder Odebrecht SA from bidding on public works projects for 12 months, a government spokesman said on Monday, citing corruption cases facing the company in South America and elsewhere. The move could cut Odebrecht out of a series of government-financed infrastructure jobs scheduled in Argentina as the country heads into a key mid-term election in October. Odebrecht, which admitted in a settlement with US and Brazilian prosecutors to paying bribes across 12 countries to win contracts, including $35 million in Argentina, can continue to operate current projects, the spokesman for the Interior Ministry said in a telephone interview. For one year they are prohibited from taking out the certificate used to bid on public works, the spokesman said, adding that a resolution would be published in the official Gazette confirming the measure in the next few days. (RTRS) bottomline the US dollar BEC Muzaini Dollarco Commercial Bank Gulf Bank NBK Burgan Bank ABK KFH KBE Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy BEC Muzaini Dollarco Commercial Bank Gulf Bank NBK Burgan Bank ABK KFH KBE Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy Danish krone Cyprus pound BEC Muzaini Dollarco Gulf Bank ABK KFH KBE BEC Commercial Bank Gulf Bank Al-Ahli Bank BEC Muzaini Exchange Buy Buy Buy Buy US dollar Gold 999 kg 12, Gold tola 1, Gold ounce Gold gm 22k Gold gm 21k Gold gm 18k gm gm Sterling pound Indian rupee Yemeni riyal Euro Pakistani rupee Thai baht Japanese yen Sri Lanka rupee South African rand Swiss franc Bangladesh taka Korean won Canadian dollar Philippine peso Syrian pound Swedish krona Australian dollar Iranian Riyal Saudi riyal Hong Kong dollar Lebanese pound UAE dirham Singapore dollar Malaysian ringgit Bahraini dinar Jordanian dinar Indonesian rupiah Omani riyal Egyptian pound New Zealand dollar All rates in KD per unit of foreign currency travellers cheques local gold Sterling exchange rates July 4 Euro

37 INTERNATIONAL 37 Amir congratulates Continued from Page 1 similar cables. Meanwhile, the Speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq Ali Al- Ghanim sent on Tuesday cables of congratulation to US Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan, President of the Senate Mike Pence, and President pro tempore of the Senate Orrin Hatch on the 241st anniversary of US Independence Day. Nero politics Continued from Page 1 Council up to the regional organizations, in addition to major countries, are all insisting that Qatar should stop supporting terrorism. This has been conveyed to the Qatari officials, both directly and indirectly. The Qatari leadership, which has been taken by the illusion of challenging by following the concept dissent and you will be known, has yet to be convinced that betting on Iran is not more than a phantom. The agreements announced daily, or the visit of its minister of culture to the grave of Khomeini, are not less than exposed provocation of GCC nations. In fact, it is provocation of the entire Arab world which is suffering from bloodshed induced by Iran from the Atlantic Sea to the Arabian Gulf. In addition, to seek military help from Turkey in order to create artificial security will never be beneficial and will never protect the regime from any move or populace revolution once the people of Qatar see the facts that billions of dollars are being squandered to fund terrorist groups and sow hostility between people of the Gulf region. The leadership in Doha should face the reality, no matter how bitter it is. They should refrain from deceiving citizens that the severance of relations, or better put, the sanction will have no effect. Here are the reactors being exposed, either through banking transactions with riyals or big companies that have been abandoning uncompleted and pending 2022 Mundial projects. This is a massive catastrophe that will affect Qatar which procrastinated too much in implementing agreements with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), especially in areas related to being a good neighbor to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, as well as building a bridge to link Manama with Doha. However, it appears that lack of fulfilling agreements has become the hallmark of Qatar, not only in its relationship with the Arabs but the entire world as well. The ultimatum given to Doha would have opened a scope for solution if it only realized initially that it will not benefit from any form of aggravation. It has no alternative but seize the opportunity to repent from sins of the past, because it has blindfolded itself with bad policies. It would have maintained membership of the Gulf House considering the whole world unanimously agree on the latter s steadfastness and unity that has greater benefit for the relationship of the international community with the region. What does it gain by maintaining such a position? Do Qatari leaders believe that interference in Somalia, Yemen, Libya, Iraq and Syria which it has destroyed will enable it to impose its preferred system of governance on these countries? Did it not learn from lessons of the past six years when it brought destruction and isolation to itself? Is it Nero politics whose people saw conflagration and destruction in sisterly and friendly countries while they appeared to be saying, I am after the flood!? Amiri envoy Continued from Page 1 cooperate Riyadh and its allies could tell foreign companies to choose between doing business with them or with Doha. Kaabi said Qatar wanted the production increase to be carried out through a joint venture with international companies but that Doha could go it alone if necessary. We have absolutely no fear of having the embargo in place, he said. If there are no companies willing to work with us we will go to 100 million (tonnes), 100 percent. Riyadh and its allies have also accused Doha of being too close to their regional arch-rival Iran, which shares an enormous gas field with Qatar in the Gulf. The crisis has raised concerns of growing instability in the region, home to some of the world s largest energy exporters and key Western allies who host US military bases. Qatar s gas riches have transformed it in recent years into one of the world s wealthiest countries, a major international investor and a regional player that will host the 2022 football World Cup. Qatar has also pursued a more independent foreign policy than many of its neighbours, who tend to follow the lead of regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia. UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-nahyan said Tuesday it was premature to discuss what further action might be taken against Qatar. Any measures that are taken will be within the framework of international law, Sheikh Abdullah said at a press conference in Abu Dhabi with Gabriel, who was on a regional tour. Any independent state has the right to take measures against any party, Sheikh Abdullah said, urging Doha to listen to the voice of reason and wisdom. The UN Security Council has told Qatar to sort out its differences with its Gulf neighbors, China s ambassador said Monday, indicating the top UN body would not get involved in the dispute. Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani met with Security Council members on Friday to discuss the rupture in ties with Fifth round of Kazakh Syria talks focuses on safe zones Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt. Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi, who holds the council presidency this month, said the best way would be (that) the countries concerned work out a solution through dialogue and through consultations among themselves, because we don t see any other alternative to that. Whatever the countries can do to mend the fences and to get back to good neighborly relations, that would certainly be welcomed by China, said Liu. Al-Jazeera reported that the foreign minister had asked Security Council members to urge Saudi-led nations to lift restrictions on the use of airspace and other transportation links with Qatar. Also: ADDIS ABABA: Eritrea s ambassador to the African Union said on Tuesday that Qatar must mediate with neighbouring Djibouti over the two countries disputed border. The Gulf nation brokered a peace deal between the two countries in 2010 over the disputed Red Sea region of Doumeira, which has been the site of disagreements and clashes between Eritrea and Djibouti for decades. Qatari troops withdrew from the contested border last month when the Horn of Africa nations signalled their support for Saudi Arabia after it accused Doha Ex-French judge to probe Syria crimes Smoke billows as an Iraqi woman flees the Old City of Mosul on July 3, during the government forces ongoing offensive to retake the city from Islamic State (IS) group fighters. Iraqi forces have been closing in on the Old City in west Mosul for months, but the terrain combined with a large civilian population has made for an extremely difficult fight. (AFP) Trump defends Continued from Page 1 Grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins from the six countries would still be banned. Mosul residents caught in crossfire Desperate civilians flee last IS pocket MOSUL, Iraq, July 4, (RTRS): Shop-owner Adnan dragged himself from the rubble two days in a row after the houses he was sheltering in were bombed, one after the other, in the US-led campaign to uproot the last Islamic State militants from Mosul. Daesh (Islamic State) forced us out of our home, so we moved to a relative s house nearby. Yesterday the house was bombed, he said after the army evacuated him on Monday. We moved to my cousin s house and this morning it was also bombed. Adnan, who has shrapnel lodged in his skull from an earlier mortar attack, said he survived, with others, by hiding in the houses underground cellars. Thousands of people in the last patch of Mosul still controlled by the insurgents have been huddling for weeks in similar conditions, with little food and no electricity. They fear being bombed if they remain in place and being shot by snipers if they try to flee. Iraqi forces have pushed Islamic State into a shrinking rectangle no more than 300 by 500 metres beside the Tigris river, but slowed their advance on Tuesday out of caution for an estimated 10,000 civilians trapped there alongside the militants. Residents have been caught in the crossfire and often intentionally targeted by Islamic State since the offensive began more of supporting Islamic terrorism. Djibouti claims Eritrean troops moved into the disputed territory for one day after the Qatari withdrawal, raising fears of an armed confrontation such as the one that broke out in While Djibouti has called on the AU to demarcate the border to avoid a resurgence of conflict, Eritrea s ambassador to the AU Araia Desta told AFP Qatar was the original negotiator of the peace deal, and so it is up to that country to settle this latest dispute. So far as Djibouti is concerned, we know Qatar is the mediator, Desta said. The AU has sought to play an active role in tackling dispute, with chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat asking both countries to exercise calm and restraint and announcing he would send the body s commissioner for peace and security to Eritrea. A previous fact-finding mission was allowed into Djibouti, but Faki said Eritrea denied permission for them to access its territory. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 4, (Agencies): Powerbrokers Russia, Iran and Turkey on Tuesday focused on shoring up a plan for safe zones in Syria at a fifth round of talks they are pushing in Kazakhstan to help end the six-year conflict. Moscow and Tehran, which back Syrian President Bashar al- Assad, and rebel supporter Ankara agreed in May to establish four de-escalation zones in the war-torn country in a potential breakthrough towards calming a war that has claimed an estimated 320,000 lives. But while fighting dropped off in the weeks after the deal, it has ratcheted up in some areas since, and the key international players have yet to finalise the boundaries of the zones or determine who will police them. Russia s chief negotiator at the talks, Alexander Lavrentiev, told journalists in Kazakhstan s capital Astana that these issues were under discussion and that an agreement has not yet been reached. The two days of meetings, which include representatives of the Syrian regime and rebels, is set to conclude Wednesday with a session attended by all participants. United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura was also dashing between delegations. Boundaries The deal in May roughly laid out the areas where rebels and government forces should halt hostilities, including air strikes, for six months, but Russia, Turkey and Iran have failed to meet a June 4 deadline to set exact boundaries for the zones. More than 2.5 million people are believed to live in the four areas, which include rebel-held Idlib province, northern parts of Homs province, Eastern Ghouta near Damascus and areas of southern Syria. A major sticking point still seems to be deciding which countries will ensure security in which areas, with Turkey and Iran reportedly wrangling to bolster their influence. The Astana talks received a boost Monday after the Syrian army unilaterally announced a halt to fighting until midnight on July 6 in the southern Daraa, Quneitra and Sweida provinces, which together cover one of the zones. Daraa had seen the fiercest fighting in the areas envisioned as safe zones in recent weeks. But an AFP correspondent said air strikes pummelled the key oppositionheld town of Douma in a rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta just outside Damascus on Tuesday for the first time since the de-escalation zones were announced in May. A medical source told AFP a woman and a child were killed in the raid, a toll confirmed by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which also said that 10 others were badly wounded. The Observatory, a Britain-based monitor that relies on a network of sources inside Syria for its information, said the raids were carried out by Syrian warplanes. While Damascus has voiced its support for the de-escalation zones, rebel factions have been far more pessimistic and have slammed any Iranian involvement in the plan. Russia has argued the agreement will help focus attacks against extremist groups such as Fateh al-sham, previously known as the Al-Nusra Front, and the Islamic State group, which are not parties to the troubled truce between the government and rebels. Syria s conflict evolved from a bloody crackdown on protests in 2011 to a devastating war that has drawn in world powers, including Russia and a US-led international coalition. Moscow has pushed the talks in Astana since the start of the year as it seeks to pacify Syria after its gamechanging military intervention on the side of Assad. The talks in Astana are intended to complement broader political negotiations the United Nations is backing in Geneva, which are due to restart in mid-july. The West has largely been kept on the sidelines of the Astana talks, but Stuart Jones, the top US diplomat for the Middle East, was attending as an observer. Also: UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary- General Antonio Guterres appointed a French legal expert and former judge on Monday to head the US investigative body that will help document and prosecute the most serious violations of international law in Syria, including possible war crimes and crimes against humanity. US spokesman Stephane Dujarric announced the appointment of Catherine Marchi-Uhel who has been serving as the ombudsperson for the Security Council committee monitoring sanctions against the Islamic State extremist group and al-qaeda. She was previously a judge in France and an international judge with the US mission in Kosovo and at the Cambodia court prosecuting leaders of the Khmer Rouge. She also served as senior legal officer at the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and worked in legal positions at the French foreign ministry. The 193-member General Assembly voted last December over strenuous objections from Syria and close ally Russia to establish a new body to closely coordinate with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which was established by the Geneva-based US Human Rights Council. The commission said The government s definition, hews closely to the categorical determinations articulated by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act, Department of Justice lawyers argued in court papers on Monday. The government s filing came after the State of Hawaii last week went to US District Judge Derrick Watson in Honolulu, who originally ruled to block the ban, to seek clarification of the Supreme Court s ruling, arguing the government s definition of bona fide relationship was too narrow. The government said Hawaii, and refugee organizations that filed a friend of the court brief in support of the state, were seeking to apply broader, free-hand rules. The refugee organizations had argued that their work to resettle refugees, a process that can take years of work in coordination with the US government, qualifies as a bona fide relationship with a US entity. Any refugees with such a relationship should be exempt from the three-month ban on refugees included in the executive order, according to the Supreme Court ruling. But the government said workers with offers of employment with a US company and international students are fundamentally different than refugees receiving help from US resettlement agencies. than eight months ago. Thousands have been killed and around 900,000 around half of Mosul s pre-war population have been displaced. Those in the historic Old City, the offensive s final target, have been besieged and under fire for longer than those in any other part of Mosul, and the toll is apparent. Emerging Children are emerging bone thin and severely dehydrated, elderly people are collapsing en route. In many cases there is nothing to eat besides boiled wheat. At a mustering point less than a kilometre from the frontline, residents rattled off the latest prices of basic goods which they said had become prohibitively expensive in the past three months: a kilogram of lentils for 60,000 Iraqi dinars ($51), rice for 25,000 and flour for 22,000. Mohammed Taher, a young man from the Makawi area of the Old City, said Russian-speaking IS fighters spread out across the neighbourhood had impeded civilian movement. It was a prison, he said. Five days ago they locked the door on us. They said, Don t come out, die inside. But the army came and freed us. A European medic at a field hospital said he has seen more severe trauma cases among civilians fleeing the fighting in the past week than he had in 20 years of service back home. From the mustering point, camouflaged army lorries carry the evacuees across the Tigris river to a security screening centre in the shadow of the Nineveh Oberoi Hotel, a former five-star hotel which Islamic State once used to house foreign fighters and suicide bombers. More than 4,000 people have passed through that screening centre since mid-may, said Lieutenant Colonel Khalid al-jabouri, who runs the site. In that time, security forces have detained around 400 suspected IS members, he said. They are wanted so they cross with the civilians like they are one of them, he told Reuters. In order to relieve our country from these pigs, we have to check every person who comes and goes. Jabouri pointed out two middle-aged men who intelligence officers had pulled aside from among several dozen others for suspected links to Islamic State. One wore a traditional white robe and black headdress, the other had a shaved head and a bandage on one leg. That person is a Daesh member, he said, pointing at the second man. He crossed without papers but he is Daesh. He crossed wounded or pretending to be wounded. The number of Islamic State militants fighting in Mosul, by far the biggest city it has ever controlled, has dwindled from thousands at the start of the US-backed offensive to a couple of hundred now, according to the Iraqi military. last year that war crimes are rampant in Syria. The International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, established under US auspices, is mandated to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyze evidence of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights violations and abuses and prepare files in order to facilitate and expedite fair and independent criminal proceedings in the future. The General Assembly asked the secretary-general to arrange for the speedy establishment of the independent body, but it took Guterres, who took office on Jan 1, six months to announce an appointment. The investigative body will initially be funded by voluntary contributions. The assembly has urged all US member states, especially parties to the conflict, to cooperate with it. A refugee s relationship with the agency flows from the government, not from an independent relationship between the refugee and the resettlement agency, the government said in its brief. Indeed, resettlement agencies typically do not have any direct contact with the refugees they assure before their arrival in the United States. Using the organization s interpretation would make the refugee provisions in the executive order largely meaningless, the government said. US refugee resettlement is continuing as normal until July 6, the State Department has said, around when the 50,000 cap for the fiscal year set by Trump s executive order is likely to be reached. Late on Thursday, before the ban went into effect, the government reversed its position on fiancés, saying they could also qualify for exceptions. The court filing described a 72-hour scramble to coordinate among multiple government agencies, and issue detailed guidance on how to implement the Supreme Court s ruling. The roll out of the narrowed version of the ban was more subdued on Friday compared to in January when Trump first signed a more expansive version of the order, sparking protests and chaos at airports around the country and the world. Newswatch Continued from Page 1 at disrupting security and stability in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His Highness the Amir expressed sympathy with the Kingdom, and supported all measures taken by Saudi authorities to fight terrorism and safeguard the Kingdom s security and stability. His Highness the Amir also reiterated Kuwait s rejection of terrorism in all its manifestations and forms, wishing speedy recovery of the injured and security of the kingdom and its people. Two other cables of condolences were sent by 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. (KUNA) ANKARA: The United States is set to lift a ban on carrying large electronic devices, such as laptops, in the cabin of US-bound flights from Turkey s main international airport, Turkish Transport Minister Ahmet Arslan said on Tuesday. Arslan was quoted by state-run news agency Anadolu as saying the ban would be lifted on July 5 following a visit by a US delegation. (AFP) DUBAI: Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) expects the in-cabin ban on laptops and other large electronics on direct flights to the United States to be lifted by July 19, state news agency SPA reported on Tuesday. The airline is working with the country s civil aviation authority, GACA, to implement new security measures for US-bound flights announced by the US Department of Homeland Security last week, according to the report. Saudia flies to the United States from airports in Jeddah and Riyadh. (RTRS) ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates: At Abu Dhabi International Airport, travelers bound for the United States on Tuesday enjoyed something many others flying out of the Middle East can t walking onto an airplane with their laptop. But what has changed in Abu Dhabi remains unclear as the laptop ban still affects nine other regional airports, including the world s busiest for international travel in nearby Dubai. Dubai-based Emirates is now trying to change that, while the CEO of Turkish Airlines said Istanbul could be off the list as soon as Wednesday. (AP) TEHRAN: Iran will be allowed to set up temporary consulates in Saudi Arabia during the hajj pilgrimage despite the absence of diplomatic ties between the two rivals, the foreign ministry in Tehran said Tuesday. Some officials from the foreign ministry s consular section will be deployed to Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah to provide consular services to Iranian pilgrims during the hajj, spokesman Bahram Ghasemi was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency.(afp) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: A Bahraini human rights group says a female rights activist has been detained for the second time in two months amid a crackdown on dissent in the Gulf island kingdom. The London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy said on Tuesday that Ebtisam al- Sayegh was taken into custody by masked, armed police shortly before midnight the previous day. (AP) PHILADELPHIA: Federal agents at Philadelphia International Airport have seized more than $93,000 in undeclared cash from a family boarding a flight to Qatar. US Customs and Border Protection officers say the unreported currency was concealed June 27 on the bodies of the man, his wife and their adult child. International travelers can carry as much currency as they want in and out of the country but must declare their cash if it totals more than $10,000. Officials said the man, who was traveling with his wife and five children, told authorities he only had $12,000. (AP) TORONTO: The Canadian government is going to apologize and give millions of dollars to a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner who pleaded guilty to killing a US soldier in Afghanistan when he was 15, with Canada s Supreme Court later ruling that officials had interrogated him under oppressive circumstances. An official familiar with the deal said Tuesday that Omar Khadr will receive 10.5 million Canadian dollars (US$8 million). The official was not authorized to discuss the deal publicly before the announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity. (AP) PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron s government sailed through a vote of confidence on Tuesday, with 370 MPs in the 577-seat National Assembly voting in favour, to 67 against and 129 abstaining. The vote was held after Prime Minister Edouard Philippe unveiled the government s cost-cutting, pro-business agenda to the assembly, where Macron s party has a comfortable majority. (AFP)

38 LEISURE Sherman s Lagoon By J.P. Toomey N E W Y O R K T I M E S CROSSWORD 38 Rod at a meat roast Beverage often served with a miniature umbrella Mutts By Patrick McDonnell Hagar The Horrible By Chris Browne Drinkers utensils Beetle Bailey By Mort Walker Garfield By Jim Davis Baby Blues By Rick Kirkman & Jerry Scott Conceptis Sudoku The grid must be so completed that every row, column and 3x3 box has every digit from 1 to 9 inclusive Answer to yesterday s puzzle Challenger DIRECTIONS: Fill each square with a number, one through nine. Horizontal squares should add to totals on right. Vertical squares should add to totals on bottom. Diagonal squares through center should add to total in upper and lower right. THERE MAY BE MORE THAN ONE SOLUTION. Today s Challenge Time 2 Minutes 47 Seconds Your Working Time Minutes Seconds Word by Word Yesterday s solution This handout photo taken on July 1, 2017 and released on July 4 by the Tokyo Zoological Park Society shows the 19-day-old female panda cub of giant panda Shin Shin at Tokyo s Ueno Zoo. (AFP) contract bridge By Steve Becker Scratch pad odds n ends TOKYO: Japan s panda-obsessed public got their latest fi x of cute Tuesday as a Tokyo zoo released footage of its 20-dayold helpless cub, who has ballooned in size since its birth last month. The tiny panda, still without a name, was the fi rst to be born at Tokyo s Ueno Zoo in fi ve years to the delight of animal lovers and local businesses, sparking panda fever in the capital. Distinctively pink and hairless, the animals typically weigh around 100 grams (three-anda-half ounces) at birth small enough to fi t in the palm of a human hand. It can be diffi cult to determine their sex but the zoo confi rmed last month that the newborn was a girl based on pictures sent to a research centre in the shy animal s native China. At two days old, she weighed just 147 grammes (5.2 oz) and measured 14.3 centimetres (5.6 inches) in length, but zoo offi cials have since said she is growing well. Footage shows the cub resting comfortably on a blanket Sunday as caretakers conducted a regular health check, with the cub now weighing in at grammes and measuring 23.4 centimetres. The tiny baby also looks increasingly more panda-like, with the trademark black colour around her eyes, ears and feet becoming clearer. (AFP) VIENNA: Emergency workers in Austria had an egg-stremely unusual operation on Tuesday removing an estimated 7,000 chickens which were blocking a busy motorway. The birds unexpected break for freedom came after the lorry transporting them lost its load on the A1 autobahn near Linz in the north of the country. Boxes containing dead and injured animals were strewn over a 160-metre (-yard) stretch (of road) while thousands of chickens ran onto the motorway on both sides, police said. The incident closed the motorway towards the capital Vienna during the busy morning rush hour and caused long traffic jams in the other direction as drivers slowed down to look. (AFP) OKLAHOMA CITY: Oklahoma City s zoo is celebrating the 50th birthday of one of its most popular residents: a Sumatran orangutan named Toba. The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden says Toba is its longest-living mammal and the oldest zoo-born orangutan in North America. She was born at a Berlin zoo in 1967 and arrived in Oklahoma City in Oklahoma City zoo primates coordinator Laura Bottaro says Sumatran orangutans in the wild typically live about 25 years. (AP) Hope Amal Without hope the heart would break. Lawla al amal lanfatar al fouad. Numbers 7598 Seven thousand five hundred ninety eight Sabat alaf wa khamso maah wa thaman wa tesoun

39 SPORTS 39 IOC s Bach expresses support for Moon s overture Pyeongchang Olympics are icy path to warmer Korean relations SEOUL, South Korea, July 4, (AP): Tears and hugs after North and South Korean women won the 1991 team table tennis world championships. A standing ovation when athletes from the two Koreas marched together to open the 2000 Sydney Olympics. A selfie taken by a South Korean gymnast with her North Korean opponent that went viral at last year s Rio de Janeiro Games. Seven months ahead of the Pyeongchang Olympics, South Korea s new liberal President Moon Jae-in hopes the first Winter Games on Korean soil could produce more of these feel-good sparks of seeming reconciliation and pave the way for deep engagement to ease the rivals 72-year standoff. In a good development for Moon, IOC President Thomas Bach on Monday expressed his support for Moon s overture while North Korea recently allowed its taekwondo demonstration team to perform in the South in the Koreas first sports exchanges since OLYMPICS Moon s May 10 inauguration. But there is also plenty of skepticism about Moon s efforts because of a serious escalation in North Korean nuclear and missile arsenals North Korea on Tuesday test-fired a missile likely capable of striking Alaska and a weak North Korean winter sports program that sent only two athletes to the 2010 Vancouver Games and none to the 2014 Sochi Games. Sydney and Rio were both Summer Olympics. North Korea s only IOC member, Chang Ung, said last week that cooperation on the Pyeongchang Games could prove hard considering the shortage of time and difficult politics. What follows is an examination of South Korea s attempt to make North Korea a key part of the Olympics set for Feb Moon s plan During a speech at the world taekwondo championship in the South that drew Chang and North Korean athletes, Moon appealed for North Korea s Olympic participation while talking about the power of sports and citing the historic pingpong diplomacy between the United States and China in the 1970s. I think (North Korea s Olympic attendance) would greatly contribute in realizing Olympic values, which are about bringing humanity together and promoting world peace, Moon said during the event s opening ceremony on June 24. Moon has previously said he wants North Korean athletes to visit the South by crossing over the heavily fortified land border between the Koreas a deeply symbolic event that would excite frenzied media coverage. He has also proposed holding a pre-olympic celebratory event at the North s scenic Diamond Mountain, where the two Koreas once ran a tourism program. Moon s sports minister, Do Jonghwan, told lawmakers recently that South Korea was also studying a joint women s ice hockey team with North Korea for the Pyeongchang Games. Other ideas: using a recently built North Korean ski resort as a training site and adding North Korea to the Olympic torch relay route. During their meeting at Moon s presidential palace in Seoul on Monday, Bach said he actively supports Moon s push for Korean peace and said it s in accordance with the Olympic spirit, according to Moon s office. But some of the measures floated by the Moon government require formal IOC approvals, and Pyeongchang organizers say nothing has been officially determined yet. Chang suggested it may be too late to try to field a single Olympic team, saying it took five to six months or 22 rounds of inter-korean talks before fielding a single women s table tennis team in He also questioned how much sports could impact relations between the Koreas. Did table tennis improve relations between the United States and China? Pingpong was able to work as a catalyst because a political foundation had already been created. The world was saying pingpong made things work, but that wasn t the case, Chang told South Korean reporters last week. Politics are always above sports. The sports obstacles North Korea is not strong in winter sports. The only North Korean athletes who are thought to have a realistic shot at Broad backs new skipper Root to go to the next level LONDON, July 4, (AFP): England fast bowler Stuart Broad believes captaincy will take star batsman Joe Root s game to the next level. Root was named was named as the successor to Alastair Cook as long ago as February, but Thursday s series opener against South Africa at Lord s will be the Yorkshireman s Broad first match as England Test captain. Test captaincy appears to have boosted the performances of such leading current batsmen as India s Virat Kohli, Australia s Steve Smith and New Zealand s Kane Williamson, with Broad confident it will inspire Root to greater heights rather be too heavy a burden for the 26-year-old. Joe s not had a huge amount of captaincy experience because he played for England from a young age making the 2018 Olympics are a North Korean pairs figure skating team. Even if they qualify, it will mean less than 10 North Koreans two athletes plus coaches and officials would come to Pyeongchang. This small squad or no athletes at all could make it difficult to create a mood of reconciliation. Still, South Korean officials are looking at other ways to get North Korea involved. Pyeongchang s organizing committee said it s discussing with South Korean government officials whether to ask the IOC and other international sports bodies to give North Korea special entries if no North Korean athletes qualify for the Olympics. South Korea is also reviewing whether to hold out-of-competition matches during the Olympics that would allow North Korean athletes to compete, according to Moon s Unification Ministry. The South s organizing committee said special entries and extra games have not been allowed at past Winter Games. Bach The nuclear obstacles Relations between the Koreas are dismal as the North pursues its nuclear ambitions. Since taking power in late 2011, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has conducted three atomic test explosions and ordered a raft of ballistic-missile launches as part of his stated goal of building nuclear missiles capable of reaching the continental United States. Moon s conservative predecessors responded by suspending major aid shipments and cross-border cooperation projects. Moon has pledged to improve ties and promised to use the Pyeongchang Games to ease cross-border animosities. But any big North Korean weapon test close to the Pyeongchang Games could trigger strong anti-north sentiments both at home and abroad and make it hard for Moon to press ahead with his overtures. What s most important is that North Korea not act in a way that earns President Moon criticism when he makes a gesture of reconciliation, said Jung Moon-hyun, a sports science professor at Chungnam National University in South Korea. Sports diplomacy At the height of the Cold War, sports were another battlefield between the Koreas. North Korea boycotted the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Olympics, both held in Seoul. But sports exchanges briefly flourished in the early 1990s before a nuclear crisis erupted. This cooperation included the North-South women s table tennis team championship over China in 1991, and a unified world youth boys soccer team that reached the quarterfinals later that year. These were the last unified Korean sports teams, but the rivals found other ways to cooperate. After the leaders of North and South Korea met for landmark summit talks in Pyongyang in June 2000, athletes from the Koreas walked behind a blue-and-white unification flag for the first time at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Summer Games. This happened at other major international sports events, but the practice stopped after the 2007 Asian Winter Games in Chuangchun, China. Despite terrible political ties amid the nuclear standoff, cross-border sports exchanges between the Koreas did not disappear entirely. North Korea attended the 2014 Asian Games held in Incheon, South Korea. At the close of the games, three top Pyongyang officials made a surprise visit and held the Koreas highest-level face-to-face talks in five years. This spring, North Korea s women s ice hockey team came to the South to take part in the group rounds of the world championships, while the South s national women s soccer team traveled to the North for an Asian Cup qualifying match. One of the feel-good highlights of the Rio Games last year came when a 17-year-old South Korean gymnast named Lee Eun-ju took a selfie with North Korea s Hong Un Jong as they trained for competition. The photo captured global headlines, and Bach described it as a great gesture. It s far from certain whether Pyeongchang will have any similar gestures. but he s learned the game at the top level, Broad told Sky Sports News at Lord s on Tuesday. Meanwhile, players turned up for training Tuesday ahead of the Australia A tour of South Africa, despite the threat to boycott the trip because of CRICKET a bitter pay dispute. After months of negotiations the players and Cricket Australia (CA) have failed to reach agreement on a new pay deal, leaving 230 players unemployed since the end of June when their contracts expired. The Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) executive Alistair Nicholson said a significant breakthrough in the stand-off was needed by Friday for the South Africa tour to proceed. Nevertheless, players were sticking to their schedule and reported for training with coach Jason Gillespie in Brisbane for the tour which is due to start on July 12. Paralympics leadership denied vote by IOC on 2024 host city LONDON, July 4, (AP): The host city for the 2024 Paralympics will be selected without the Paralympic leadership having a say in whether Los Angeles or Paris is chosen. The host city for the 2024 Paralympics will be selected without the Paralympic leadership having a say in McIlroy strokes world No. 2 Hideki ahead of Irish Open PORTSTEWART, United Kingdom, July 4, (AFP): Rory McIlroy has singled out world number two Hideki Matsuyama for special praise ahead of this week s Irish Open at Portstewart. Matsuyama is the highest ranked player in this Irish field and two spots higher than McIlroy, who was bumped back to number three by the Japanese star after the US Open and then to number four by Jordan Spieth, who climbed to number three on the back of his GOLF dramatic play-off victory in last month s Travelers Championship. Matsuyama, the highest-placed Japanese golfer in the history of the world rankings, is making his debut in the $7 million event as well as his first ever journey to Ireland. Strangely, his image is missing from any of the promotional banners and posters lining the streets of the virtual twin towns of Portstewart and Portrush. However, that has not diminished McIlroy s glowing respect for Matsuyama. When you look at what he has achieved, not just last year and already this year, but over the past few years it is impressive how he goes about his business, said McIlroy. He is a very hard worker and anytime you are on the practice range he always seems to always be there and it is the same scenario when you are on the practice putting green. He is very diligent around his practice as he works very hard at it. The thing I also like about Hideki is that he is aggressive as you only have to look at some of the shots he hits and the pins he will take in during competition. So, all aspects of his game are very strong and he is very impressive. As tournament host, Northern Ireland s McIlroy has worked hard behind the scenes for three years now twisting the arm of his fellow PGA Tour colleagues in seeking their attendance at the Irish Open but he seemed to have little trouble encouraging the recent runner-up in the US Open. I do not speak Japanese all that well but then I heard he was interested in playing some links golf ahead of The Open, so when I heard that we got in touch with his management team saying that would love to have him compete at Portstewart and we would do anything to help in getting him to the tournament, said McIlroy. He is the second-best player in the world right now and went so close a few weeks back to winning the US Open. When he got himself into contention at Erin Hills I was sort of pulling for him as it would have been great to have a reigning Major champion in the Irish Open field. Matsuyama has won four times on the PGA Tour including this year s successful defence of the Phoenix Open. It was the end of last year Matsuyama stamped his enormous potential winning four of five events on his home Japan Tour starting with a first Japan Open title. A week after capturing the Japan Open he won the WGC HSBC Champions in Shanghai to move to number six in the world. Matsuyama then stormed to a seven stroke success in the Taiheiyo Masters. In early December he went on to claim the Tiger Woods hosted Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas for a fourth victory in five starts. whether Los Angeles or Paris is chosen. It s the consequence of the International Paralympic Committee electing a new president in early September and the winner not immediately and automatically replacing outgoing leader Philip Craven as an International In this June 14, 2000 fi le photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il (right), and South Korean President Kim Dae-jung raise their arms together before signing a joint declaration at the end of the second day of a three-day summit in Pyongyang. (AP) Olympic Committee member. In an agreement that was extended last year, the city selected by the IOC to host the Olympics is also obliged to stage the Paralympics shortly afterward. A decision will be made next week on whether the 2028 host is also selected at the September meeting in Peru, with the IOC keen to avoid making a loser of either Paris or LA given the strength of the bids. The IOC confirmed to The Associated Press there will be no representative from the IPC voting in Lima on Sept. 13. PARALYMPIC Four candidates are in the running to replace Craven as IPC president at a vote on Sept. 8 in Abu Dhabi: Patrick Jarvis, Andrew Parsons, John Petersson and Haidi Zhang. Sir Phil Craven will no longer be an IOC member once his mandate within the IPC ends, the IOC said. It does not mean however that his successor will automatically become an IOC member. His potential candidature will have to be proposed to the IOC members election commission which is charged with preparing profiles and proposing candidates in order to achieve a diverse and He s very impressive, says Rory balanced membership of the IOC. The commission submits a report to the IOC executive board which is the competent body to propose a candidature to the session. The session alone is competent to elect any IOC member. The IPC has been pushing to retain its vote, with Craven telling the AP that something has to be worked out. Parsons, the IPC vice president vying for the top job, called it unfortunate. It is purely a timing issue, the Craven Brazilian added. This is understood and cannot be avoided. The Paris and LA bids declined to comment on the Paralympic leadership not participating in the vote. Both cities will present their projects to IOC members next Tuesday in Lausanne, Switzerland. The full IOC membership, still including Craven, will then decide whether to ratify the board s request to award the 2024 and 2028 Summer Games at the September meeting. In this fi le photo, Rory McIlroy tees off on the 18th hole during the fi nal round of play at the Travelers Championship golf tournament on June 25, in Cromwell, Conn. (AP) Lakers ink Ball to 4-year rookie contract Durant agrees 2-yr deal with Warriors WASHINGTON, July 4, (RTRS): Golden State Warriors star forward Kevin Durant will agree to a two-year deal worth approximately $53 million, ESPN reported Monday. Durant, who is an unrestricted free agent, will have a player option on the second year, according to the report. The 2017 NBA Finals MVP would be taking a pay cut of approximately $9 million had he elected to secure a max deal of $34 million. He declined his player option of $27.7 million to become a free agent with the intended purpose of allowing Golden State to retain the BASKETBALL rights to Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston. The Los Angeles Lakers officially signed No. 2 overall pick Lonzo Ball to a four-year rookie contract. Terms of the deal were not released, but the 19-year-old point guard is expected to receive $33.4 million, assuming the Lakers offered him the full 120 percent of the league s slot value for the No. 2 pick as the maximum allowable. Free agent guard George Hill met with Lakers officials about a possible deal. The Lakers and Hill have significant mutual interest on pursuing a short-term deal that would allow Hill, 31, and Ball to play together, league sources told ESPN s Adrian Wojnarowski and RAMONA SHELBURNE. New York Knicks All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony may now be open to waiving his no-trade clause to join the Houston Rockets or Cleveland Cavaliers. The arrival of All-Star Chris Paul to team up with James Harden jumped Houston into contention for Anthony and established his interest in join- Kenya in frantic prep for World U-18 championship NAIROBI, July 4, (AFP): Kenya is in the midst of a frantic eleventh hour effort to be ready to stage the IAAF World under-18 athletics championship next week. No less than 1,400 athletes from 130 countries are expected to arrive in Nairobi for the fourday competition, which is the fi nal meet of the World U18 competition. On Tuesday the athletes village at Kenyatta University was declared ready, but the organising committee acknowledged a lot of work still needed to be done to complete the main competition venue, the Moi International ing the Rockets, league sources told ESPN s Adrian Wojnarowski. In this June 12, 2017 photo, Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (left), passes against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James during the fi rst half of Game 5 of basketball s NBA Finals in Oakland, California. (AP) Sports Centre in Kasarani, Nairobi. We are undergoing a big test as the organising committee, and as the people of Kenya, to make sure we stage the best athletics championships ever, the World U18 Championship chief executive offi cer Mwangi Muthee said. There is a lot of clean-up work to be done to the running track, which needs to be lane-marked, and the workers are busy laying on the tartan [all weather surface] on the warm-up track. But we hope to be ready when the athletes begin to have the feel of the stadium on Saturday. The Cavaliers continue to remain a preferred destination for Anthony because of the presence of LeBron James. Derrick Rose could be on the move in a reported sign-and-trade deal that would send him to the Milwaukee Bucks and kick-start a rebuild for the New York Knicks. Rose, 28, met with the Bucks on Wednesday, when ESPN reported a deal for the former MVP point guard could be imminent. The Bucks are looking for a backup to pair with NBA rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon. Chauncey Billups said he was no longer under consideration for a frontoffice position with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Billups, a five-time All-Star who played 17 seasons in the NBA, discussed the position with the team twice since what was described as a mutual parting with general manager David Griffin.

40 SPORTS 40 Class-leading technology and connectivity includes latest MyLink infotainment system Chevrolet Alghanim announces the arrival of 2018 Trailblazer KUWAIT CITY, July 4: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer brings together superior levels of refinement, styling, comfort and technology with class-leading performance and drivability to meet the versatile needs of increasingly discerning drivers. The midsize sport utility vehicle is ready to take its driver anywhere by offering off-road capabilities combined with premium ride and handling dynamics. Redesigned exterior and interior On the outside, the new Trailblazer s more angular lines exude a refined toughness, while retaining strong proportions that underline its go-anywhere capability. Most notable of these features are the front grille, bumper and lamps that come with daytime running lights, giving a unique light signature to the model. Inside, the Trailblazer boasts a newly designed dashboard and front console with a contemporary feel, enhanced by soft-touch materials and contrast stitching. The full seven-seater s theater-style seating allows second- and third-row occupants a better allaround view, while individually controlled air-conditioning ensures maximum comfort in the summer months. A dynamic, refined SUV on the move The new Trailblazer comes with a 3.6L engine tuned to offer better performance and improved fuel economy, which produces 275 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque. Complementing the improved engine is a tougher, more rigid chassis and fully boxed frame, which are designed to improve ride stability and drive comfort through unparalleled driver control. Additionally, the new Trailblazer features Electric Power Steering (EPS) that makes steering effort lighter in the city and at parking speeds. This is achieved by reducing power assist proportionately as speed builds, so the driver gets a properly weighted steering feel at highway speeds. Over long distances, this technology makes up the track gradient and reduces judder generated by the imbalance of the wheels. To ensure the ride is as quiet as it is refined, the Trailblazer benefits from a new wind noise package that was developed with newly redesigned door, window and windshield seals; front door glass that is 10 percent thicker; and a new aerodynamic headlamp design. As a result, the Trailblazer is 8 percent quieter on the road than its predecessor. Premium features Safety remains Chevrolet s number one priority. The new Trailblazer comes with a host of active and passive safety features that include the Traction Control System (TCS), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Panic Brake Assist (PBA), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Hill Descent Control (HDC), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Anti-Rolling Protection and Trailer Sway Control. This is in addition to front airbags for the driver and passenger. Other technological features which can be found on the Trailblazer include Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Front Parking Assist, and the Tire Pressure Monitoring System. It also features the remote-start function, a useful feature in the region s hot climate. The engine can be started using the key fob, allowing the cabin to be cooled sufficiently before occupants enter the vehicle. Recognizing the importance of connectivity to today s drivers, the new Trailblazer is fitted with new technologies usually found in the premium segment, such as Apple CarPlay. This allows the driver or passengers to project a simplified version of their smartphone screen onto the car s color touchscreen. Complemented by Siri Eyes Free and voice recognition software, the driver can The new 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer Gabart beats veterans in trans-atlantic race Young skipper crosses the French port in 8 days NEW YORK, July 4, (AFP): Francois Gabart aboard the high-tech Macif has seized victory among the four trimarans that were racing across the Atlantic from the French coast. The Bridge 2017 Centennial race of the huge sailing ships commemorates the Gabart first landing in France of US troops during World War I in June Gabart made the crossing from the French port of Saint-Nazaire in eight days and 31 minutes a full 11 hours and 18 minutes ahead of around-theworld record holder Francis Joyon, at the helm of the Idec. The 34-year-old Gabart sailed his Macif under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge into New York on Monday at 1:31 pm local time (1730 GMT), while Joyon arrived just after midnight (0400 GMT Tuesday). Gabart, Joyon and two other French skippers Thomas Coville, the around-the-world solo record holder aboard the Sodebo, and Yves Le Blevec skippering the Actual departed Saint-Nazaire on June 25 along with the Queen Mary 2, the flagship of the Cunard line. The multi-hulled crafts measure 32 YACHTING meters (105 feet) long, and each has a crew of six. The race with the giant QM2 oceanliner was only symbolic, as the cruise ship easily bested the yachts by steaming into New York at sunrise on Saturday. The route from Europe to the Americas does not favor sailboats, since the prevailing winds blow against them, and the racers reported especially weak winds in their trip across the Atlantic. The Macif, which was launched in mid-2015, was the sleekest and most modern of the trimarans in the race. He said he remains especially intent on beating Coville s solo round-theworld record. Coville, aboard the Sodebo, arrived Tuesday at 5:18 am (0918 GMT) after eight days and 16 hours at sea. He was forced to slow down after one of his crew members, identified as Thierry Briend, was struck by a wave and suffered a head injury when he was at the ship s helm on Sunday. The injury was not severe enough to require Briend s evacuation by helicopter. Instead he was immobilized aboard the vessel, and rushed to a hospital as soon as the yacht docked in New York. French skipper Francois Gabart s team, Macif Ultim, sails in front of the Statue of Liberty on July 3, in New York. (AFP) Performance improved between 1.8 & 4.5% Testosterone a signifi cant boost for women athletes PARIS, July 4, (AFP): Women runners born with high testosterone levels enjoy a significant competitive advantage, said a study Tuesday that could reignite debate on the future participation of athletes whose gender was questioned. The study, jointly sponsored by the sporting agency seeking to ban athletes with hyperandrogenism, comes three weeks before the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) must present expert evidence on the actual degree of advantage women could gain. Hyperandrogenism is a condition that causes high natural levels of the male hormone, testosterone, in women. Without proof, IAAF regulations excluding women with hyperandrogenism from competition are set to lapse. Track stars such as South Africa s Caster Semenya and India s Dutee Chand both endured banishment for failing so-called gender tests. The new study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, was funded by the IAAF and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). One of the authors, Stephane Bermon, is an IAAF consultant and a member of its working group on hyperandrogenic athletes. The other, Pierre-Yves Garnier, is director of the IAAF s health and science department. He returned to work in January after a three-month suspension in a probe linked to Russian athletics doping. Their research relied on blood data from male and female athletes who competed in the World Championships in 2011 and 2013 more than 2,100 samples in all. It found that women with high natural testosterone levels performed better in the 400-metre sprint, 400 m hurdles, and 800 m middle-distance events than women with low levels. They also outperformed them at pole-vaulting and hammer throw. Depending on the event, performance improved by between 1.8 and 4.5 percent, the paper said. This link, concluded the authors, should be taken into account when the eligibility of women with hyperandrogenism to compete in the female category of competition is discussed. The study is an observational study that cannot determine conclusively that higher testosterone is what causes the performance boost, merely that an increase in one is associated with an increase in the other. Testosterone, which can also be injected as a performance-enhancer, increases muscle mass and boosts physical strength. The issue of hyperandrogenism is controversial because it has pitted principles of fair competition against the rights of women born with a condition they have no control over. New Trailblazer interior New Trailblazer 3.61 engine continues inside, with subtle applications of Gloss Carbon Fibre trim as well as Alcantara, on the rim of the Project 8 Sport Steering Wheel, instrument binnacle and door cards. The eight-speed Quickshift transmission can either be operated by aluminium paddle shifters behind the steering wheel or by a central Pistolshift lever another first for XE. Project 8 is also the first Jaguar to feature a dedicated Track Mode, which tailors driveline and stability control systems for circuit use, and sharpens both throttle and steering responses for ultimate precision and driver feedback. Project 8 will be available in two specifications at launch. The standard four-seat model features Jaguar s latest front Performance seats with magnesium frames, plus a more heavily contoured rear squab to maximise support. The optional two-seat Track Pack includes lightweight front Carbon Fibre Racing Seats with Four-Point Harnesses fixed to a Harness Retention Hoop in place of the rear seat. All Project 8s give verbal commands ensuring his or her hands never have to leave the steering wheel. World-class quality The new Trailblazer boasts an improved interior and exterior, reduced cabin and engine noise, and enhanced technology and safety features, while maintaining the SUV s serious off-road capability, aligning it with the successful trucks offered by Chevrolet. From the beginning, the team was given a clear mission to put our customers at the center of everything we do so they set out to make the new Trailblazer a segment leader in the region. To ensure world-class quality, significant improvements were made to GM s manufacturing plant in Rayong, Thailand. This includes, process improvements, additional automation, tighter process controls, improved design robustness, increased error proofing, in-depth Program Quality Readiness Reviews, and a true passion for quality across the entire team. As a result of these improvements, the facility was awarded Global Certification becoming one of GM s top plants worldwide. Chevrolet Complete Care All 2018 Trailblazer owners will receive a new level of customer experience courtesy of Chevrolet Complete Care. The comprehensive aftersales package promises additional value with competitive and transparent maintenance pricing; one-hour servicing; 2 days advanced booking; a regional 3-year/100,000-km warranty; and 4 years of regional 24x7 roadside assistance. Significant SVO enhancements made to award-winning XE The new Jaguar XE SV Project 8 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, July 4: Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) has revealed the most powerful, agile and extreme performance Jaguar road car ever the 322kmph, 600PS XE SV Project 8 sedan. The second Collector s Edition by SVO, following the successful F- TYPE Project 7 of 2014, Project 8 is a hand-built four-door sedan with supercar performance designed to thrill driving enthusiasts, with an extraordinary combination of explosive power, dynamic agility and all-wheeldrive traction. To ensure exclusivity, no more than 300 examples will be created, each assembled at SVO s Technical Centre in Coventry. John Edwards, Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations Managing Director, said: SVO s raison d être is to produce halo vehicles that push the boundaries in terms of luxury, performance and all-terrain capability. Project 8 is a great example of what happens when enthusiastic designers, engineers and manufacturing specialists are given the opportunity to create an extreme performance sports car without compromise. Project 8 will be assembled by hand in the new SVO Technical Centre, and we re confident that our enthusiastic and demanding clients will love driving Project 8 as much we do! Project 8 exclusively features the most highly tuned version of Jaguar Land Rover s 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 petrol powertrain. The 600PS power unit, which has a Titanium Variable Active Exhaust, is complemented by Jaguar s All- Wheel Drive (AWD) system and motorsport-derived aerodynamics to deliver a 322kmph top speed and 0-100kmph in 3.7sec*, making Project 8 the fastest accelerating Jaguar yet. Fundamental to the performance of the most track-focused car SVO has ever produced, Project 8 features a number of purposeful modifications to the award-winning XE s lightweight aluminium body panels, including: Carbon Fibre Bumper with enhanced Cooling Ducts, vented Carbon Fibre Bonnet, flared bodywork covering 20-inch forged aluminium alloy wheels, adjustable Front Splitter, Flat Underbody, rear Carbon Fibre Bumper, rear Diffuser and adjustable Rear Aerodynamic Wing. Project 8 will be the lightest V8 sedan in the Jaguar range. To ensure optimum performance on road or track, Project 8 endows the XE s double-wishbone front and Integral Link rear suspension with stiffer springs and manually adjustable Continuously Variable Dampers (giving a 15mm lower ride height for track use), debuts a new Carbon Ceramic Braking system, an industry-first use of Formula 1-style silicon nitride ceramic wheel bearings on a road car, and incorporates a rear Electronic Active Differential (EAD) with oil cooler a first for XE. The high-performance theme The new Jaguar XE SV Project 8 will be built in left-hand drive configuration only. Full details of Project 8 are now online at including eight body colour choices three eye-catching standard colours: Fuji White, Narvik Black and Caldera Red, plus five enhanced SVO Design options incorporating colours and finishes from the SVO Premium Palette: Valencia Orange, Velocity Blue, Meribel White, Verbier Silver and Corris Grey (satin matte). Project 8 owners will also be able to personalise their car by opting for further colours and finishes from the SVO Premium Palette range, which includes 19 colours in tri-coat, tinted clear coat, pearlescent, ChromaFlairTM and satin matte finishes. Race-inspired decal packs, accentuating Project 8 s high-performance attributes, are also available. The Jaguar XE SV Project 8 will make its world debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex, UK, which runs from June 29 July 2. Project 8 will make its dynamic world debut on the famous Goodwood Hill on Friday June 30.

41 SPORTS 41 Capitals going through a salary-cap nightmare Signings, trades shift balance of power across the NHL WASHINGTON, July 4, (AP): After building up to a playoff run that ended in the second round yet again, the Washington Capitals are going through a salary-cap nightmare usually reserved for Stanley Cup champions. The same struggles that led to the deconstruction of the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings over the years is affecting the Capitals, though those teams have a pile of Stanley Cup rings to ease the pain. Now Washington is expected to take a step back next season as the balance of power shifts in the Eastern Conference and across the league. We maxed it out, both player-wise and salary-wise, Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said Monday. It s no different than the teams that have won in the past. We have the same kind of hangover, but we haven t won a championship and we re dealing with it now. The twotime Presidents Trophy-winning Capitals and the two-time Cup McLellan champion Pittsburgh Penguins will be younger and the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes almost certainly better and that s just the Metropolitan Division. Elsewhere in the East, the Montreal Canadiens are reloading with the addition of longtime Washington defenseman Karl Alzner and the acquisition of forward Jonathan Drouin, as the Toronto Maple Leafs take another step toward being a championship contender by adding veteran winger Patrick Marleau to their young core. The five-year ICE HOCKEY plan changes every day, Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello said. Out West, the Dallas Stars could be one of the favorites to reach the final after bringing in goaltender Ben Bishop, defenseman Marc Methot, center Martin Hanzal and winger Alexander Radulov and given the Chicago Blackhawks movement toward future cost certainty. Don t expect the Stars to be out of the playoffs any time soon. We like what we have on paper, but in the end the goal for us is to be a contender every year, to get in the playoffs every year, Dallas GM Jim Nill said. This game can humble you pretty quick, and it s a tough league. It s a league where turnover is the norm. There were six new playoff teams last season who missed in and that season five teams that missed the year before. There are plenty of candidates for that in , including Dallas and Winnipeg in the West and Carolina, Tampa Bay, Florida, Philadelphia and the New York Islanders in the East. The Hurricanes got a couple of Blackhawks castoffs goaltender Scott Darling and defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk and signed Justin Williams, who has won the Cup three times and was playoff MVP in Carolina, there s no question, they haven t made the playoffs since 2009, so that s a long time, said Williams, who returned to the Hurricanes on a $9 million, two-year deal. We re done losing and it s time to climb the ladder and get relevant. The Rangers will be more relevant next season after signing defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk for $26.6 million and re-signing Brendan Smith for $17 million over the next four years. Minnesota Twins Eduardo Escobar scrambles to get back fi rst after hitting a line drive in the eighth inning of a baseball game against Los Angeles Angels on July 3, in Minneapolis. The Twins won, 9-5. (AP) Raburn hits winning run as MLB Scoreboard WASHINGTON, July 4, (Agencies): Results from the MLB games on Monday: Kansas City 3 Seattle 1 Chic Sox 7 Oakland 2 Colorado 5 Cincinnati 3 Minnesota 9 LA Angels 5 American League Eastern Division W L PCT GB Baltimore Boston NY Yankees Tampa Bay /2 Baltimore /2 Toronto /2 Central Division W L PCT GB Cleveland Kansas City /2 Minnesota /2 Chic Sox /2 Detroit Western Division W L PCT GB Houston LA Angels Seattle /2 Texas Oakland American League Tampa Bay Toronto New York x6 8 1 Stroman, Loup (6), D.Barnes (7), Tepera (8), Bolsinger (8) and Maile; Tanaka, Betances (8), A.Chapman (9) and G.Sanchez. W- Tanaka 7-7. L-Stroman 8-5. Los Angeles Minnesota x Meyer, Petit (6), Bedrosian (7), Hernandez (8) and Maldonado; Ad.Mejia, Duffey (8), Kintzler (9) and Castro. W-Ad.Mejia 4-3. L-Meyer 3-5. HRs-Los Angeles, Maldonado, Valbuena. Minnesota, Mauer, Kepler. Boston Texas (11 innings) Porcello, M.Barnes (7), Scott (8), Kelly (8), Kimbrel (9), Hembree (10) and Leon; M.Perez, Barnette (6), Grilli (8), Bush (9), Leclerc (10), Frieri (11) and Lucroy. W-Hembree 1-2. L- Frieri 0-1. HRs-Texas, Napoli, Gomez, Odor. Kansas City Seattle Kennedy, Moylan (7), Feliz (8), Soria (9) and S.Perez; A.Moore, Pazos (9) and Zunino. W-Kennedy 3-6. L-A.Moore 1-1. Sv-Soria (1). HRs-Kansas City, Gordon, Moustakas. Chicago Oakland Rodon, Swarzak (7), Jennings (8) and K.Smith; Cotton, Hendriks (6), Brady (7), Axford (9) and Phegley. W-Rodon 1-1. L- Cotton 5-8. American League BATTING: Judge, New York,.330; Altuve, Houston,.326; Ramirez, Cleveland,.325; Dickerson, Tampa Bay,.321; Correa, Houston,.319; Garcia, Chicago,.318; Bogaerts, Boston,.314; Castro, New York,.313; Reddick, Houston,.309; Hosmer, Kansas City,.307; 1 tied at.306. RUNS: Judge, New York, 72; Springer, Houston, 64; Dickerson, Tampa Bay, 60; Ramirez, Cleveland, 59; Betts, Boston, 56; Correa, Houston, 56; Gardner, New York, 56; Altuve, Houston, 53; Castro, New York, 52; Davis, Oakland, 51; 8 tied at 50. RBI: Judge, New York, 62; Cano, Seattle, 60; Sano, Minnesota, 60; Cruz, Seattle, 59; Correa, Houston, 58; Davis, Oakland, 57; Morrison, Tampa Bay, 57; Abreu, Chicago, 55; Souza Jr, Tampa Bay, 53; 4 tied at 52. HITS: Dickerson, Tampa Bay, 104; Altuve, Houston, 101; Ramirez, Cleveland, 99; Andrus, Texas, 98; Abreu, Chicago, 95; Bogaerts, Boston, 95; Correa, Houston, 95; Hosmer, Kansas City, 95; Judge, New York, 93; 3 tied at 92. DOUBLES: Betts, Boston, 27; Lowrie, Oakland, 26; Ramirez, Cleveland, 26; Altuve, Houston, 23; Lindor, Cleveland, 23; Schoop, Baltimore, 23; Abreu, Chicago, 22; Dickerson, Tampa Bay, 21; Gurriel, Houston, 21; Pillar, Toronto, 21; 3 tied at 20. TRIPLES: Castellanos, Detroit, 5; Bogaerts, Boston, 4; Merrifi eld, Kansas City, 4; Ramirez, Cleveland, 4; Sanchez, Chicago, 4; 6 tied at 3. HOME RUNS: Judge, New York, 27; Morrison, Tampa Bay, 24; Springer, Houston, 24; Davis, Oakland, 23; Moustakas, Kansas City, 22; Smoak, Toronto, 22; Gallo, Texas, 21; Sano, Minnesota, 20; Healy, Oakland, 19; 6 tied at 17. STOLEN BASES: Maybin, Los Angeles, 24; Andrus, Texas, 20; Dyson, Seattle, 19; DeShields, Texas, 18; Altuve, Houston, 16; Betts, Boston, 15; Cain, Kansas City, 15; Buxton, Minnesota, 14; Simmons, Los Angeles, 13; 2 tied at 11. PITCHING: Vargas, Kansas City, 12-3; Sale, Boston, 11-3; Santana, Minnesota, 10-5; Carrasco, Cleveland, 9-3; Keuchel, Houston, 9-0; Bundy, Baltimore, 8-7; Pineda, New York, 8-4; Pomeranz, Boston, 8-4; Stroman, Toronto, 8-5; 10 tied at 7. ERA: Vargas, Kansas City, 2.22; Sale, Boston, 2.61; McCullers, Houston, 2.69; Santana, Minnesota, 3.07; Darvish, Texas, 3.11; Fulmer, Detroit, 3.19; Stroman, Toronto, 3.42; Carrasco, Cleveland, 3.50; Severino, New York, 3.52; Montgomery, New York, 3.62; 1 tied at STRIKEOUTS: Sale, Boston, 166; Archer, Tampa Bay, 131; Darvish, Texas, 115; Severino, New York, 114; Estrada, Toronto, 105; Kluber, Cleveland, 105; Carrasco, Cleveland, 103; McCullers, Houston, 103; Porcello, Boston, 99; Quintana, Chicago, 99; 1 tied at 98. MLB Standings MLB Linescores MLB Leaders Boston 7 Texas (11 innings) 5 St Louis 14 Miami 6 Philadelphia 4 Pittsburgh 0 NY Yankees 6 Toronto 3 Washington 3 NY Mets 2 Milwaukee 8 Baltimore 1 National League Eastern Division W L PCT GB Washington Atlanta NY Mets /2 Miami Philadelphia Central Division W L PCT GB Milwaukee Chicago Cubs /2 St Louis /2 Pittsburgh Cincinnati /2 Western Division W L PCT GB LA Dodgers Arizona /2 Colorado /2 San Diego San Francisco Interleague Baltimore Milwaukee x Miley, Yacabonis (2), O Day (6), Hart (7), Bleier (8) and W.Castillo; Suter, Hughes (7), Blazek (8) and Pina. W-Suter 1-1. L-Miley 3-7. National League New York Washington Matz, Blevins (8), Sewald (8), Edgin (9), Salas (9) and d Arnaud, R.Rivera; Strasburg, Grace (8), Blanton (8), Solis (9), Albers (9) and Wieters. W-Albers 4-1. L-Sewald 0-3. HRs- New York, Granderson. Washington, Taylor. Pittsburgh Philadelphia x4 7 1 Nova, LeBlanc (7) and Cervelli; Nola, Benoit (8), Neris (9) and Rupp. W-Nola 6-5. L- Nova 8-6. HRs-Philadelphia, Franco, Galvis. Miami St Louis x Locke, Tazawa (3), McGowan (5), Wittgren (7), J.Garcia (8) and Realmuto; Wainwright, Weaver (6), Lyons (7), Bowman (8), Tuivailala (9) and Molina, Fryer. W-Wainwright 9-5. L-Locke 0-5. HRs-St Louis, Voit. Cincinnati Colorado x L.Castillo, Cingrani (6), Storen (7), Wood (8) and Barnhart; Hoffman, McGee (8), Holland (9) and Wolters. W_Hoffman 5-1. L_L. Castillo 0-1. Sv_Holland (27). HRs_Cincinnati, Gennett, Votto. Colorado, Blackmon, Tapia. National League BATTING: Posey, San Francisco,.339; Murphy, Washington,.333; Zimmerman, Washington,.330; Cozart, Cincinnati,.322; Harper, Washington,.318; Votto, Cincinnati,.317; Goldschmidt, Arizona,.316; Ozuna, Miami,.316; Peralta, Arizona,.316; Blackmon, Colorado,.313; 1 tied at.307. RUNS: Goldschmidt, Arizona, 71; Blackmon, Colorado, 65; Harper, Washington, 63; Votto, Cincinnati, 60; Seager, Los Angeles, 57; Murphy, Washington, 54; Thames, Milwaukee, 53; Turner, Washington, 53; 4 tied at 52. RBI: Goldschmidt, Arizona, 66; Lamb, Arizona, 65; Arenado, Colorado, 62; Harper, Washington, 62; Zimmerman, Washington, 62; Reynolds, Colorado, 61; Shaw, Milwaukee, 60; Ozuna, Miami, 59; Votto, Cincinnati, 59; 2 tied at 58. HITS: Blackmon, Colorado, 106; Inciarte, Atlanta, 106; Murphy, Washington, 101; Arenado, Colorado, 98; LeMahieu, Colorado, 98; Ozuna, Miami, 97; Goldschmidt, Arizona, 93; Zimmerman, Washington, 93; Votto, Cincinnati, 92; Harper, Washington, 91; 1 tied at 89. DOUBLES: Arenado, Colorado, 27; Herrera, Philadelphia, 26; Murphy, Washington, 25; Duvall, Cincinnati, 23; Owings, Arizona, 22; Zimmerman, Washington, 22; Drury, Arizona, 21; Kemp, Atlanta, 21; Seager, Los Angeles, 21; 2 tied at 20. TRIPLES: Blackmon, Colorado, 10; Arenado, Colorado, 5; Cozart, Cincinnati, 5; Hamilton, Cincinnati, 5; 8 tied at 4. HOME RUNS: Bellinger, Los Angeles, 24; Votto, Cincinnati, 23; Ozuna, Miami, 22; Stanton, Miami, 21; Thames, Milwaukee, 21; Bruce, New York, 20; Harper, Washington, 20; Schebler, Cincinnati, 20; 5 tied at 19. STOLEN BASES: Turner, Washington, 35; Hamilton, Cincinnati, 33; Gordon, Miami, 29; Nunez, San Francisco, 17; Peraza, Cincinnati, 15; Villar, Milwaukee, 15; Broxton, Milwaukee, 14; Goldschmidt, Arizona, 13; 3 tied at 11. PITCHING: Kershaw, Los Angeles, 12-2; Greinke, Arizona, 10-4; Scherzer, Washington, 10-5; Davies, Milwaukee, 9-4; Senzatela, Colorado, 9-3; Strasburg, Washington, 9-2; Wood, Los Angeles, 9-0; 6 tied at 8. ERA: Scherzer, Washington, 1.94; Kershaw, Los Angeles, 2.32; Gonzalez, Washington, 2.77; Anderson, Milwaukee, 2.89; Leake, St Louis, 2.97; Greinke, Arizona, 3.05; Ray, Arizona, 3.06; Martinez, St Louis, 3.15; Nova, Pittsburgh, 3.24; Strasburg, Washington, 3.28; 1 tied at STRIKEOUTS: Scherzer, Washington, 163; Kershaw, Los Angeles, 135; Ray, Arizona, 128; Strasburg, Washington, 128; degrom, New York, 125; Greinke, Arizona, 124; Martinez, St Louis, 124; Samardzija, San Francisco, 122; 3 tied at 104. Nationals outlast Mets 3-2 Tanaka helps Yankees beat skidding Blue Jays WASHINGTON, July 4, (AP): Ryan Raburn drove in the game-winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as the Washington Nationals survived another bullpen collapse for a 3-2 victory over the New York Mets on Monday night. Curtis Granderson tied the game with a two-out, two-run homer off Nationals reliever Matt Albers (4-1). Granderson s heroics came after Michael Taylor s two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth broke a scoreless tie. Matt Wieters opened the ninth with a walk against Paul Sewald (0-3), moved to second following a sacrifice bunt and took third on Adam Lind s deep fly ball. Following Stephen Drew s walk, Raburn s slow, looping liner to left field off Fernando Salas fell in front of a diving Yoenis Cespedes, scoring Wieters. Nationals left fielder Brian Goodwin kept the game scoreless in the top of the eighth by throwing out Brandon Nimmo trying to score from second on Jose Reyes base hit. Rockies 5, Reds 3 In Denver, Rookie Raimel Tapia finished a single shy of the cycle, Charlie Blackmon lined a solo shot after it was announced he would participate in the All-Star Home Run Derby. Tapia s homer in the sixth broke a tie game as the Rockies returned home following a forgetful 1-8 trip. Right-hander Jeff Hoffman (5-1) nearly collected as many hits at the plate (two) as he surrendered on the mound (four). He went seven effective innings, with his only hiccup back-toback homers to Scooter Gennett and Joey Votto in the sixth. Hoffman s run-scoring double in the second was his first major league RBI. Hoffman turned the ball over to the bullpen, where Jake McGee pitched the eighth and recently named All-Star Greg Holland threw a perfect ninth for his 27th save in 28 chances. Luis Castillo (0-1) went innings and allowed four runs. He also struck out eight. Brewers 8, Orioles 1 In Milwaukee, Travis Shaw started the rout with a go-ahead single in a four-run first inning, then left after he was hit on a hand by a pitch during the Brewers win over the Orioles. Backed by 7-0 lead in the second, Brent Suter (1-1) struck out eight over six innings, allowing an unearned run and four hits all singles. The 27-year-old left hander made his second big league start, pitching in place of Chase Anderson, on the disabled list because of a left oblique strain. Wade Miley (3-7) gave up seven runs, seven hits and two walks in 1-2/3 innings, raising his ERA to 5.20 from He is 1-4 with an ERA in his last six starts. Phillies 4, Pirates 0 In Philadelphia, Aaron Nola struck out eight in seven splendid innings, Freddy Galvis and Maikel Franco hit two-run homers and the Phillies beat the Pirates. Nola (6-5) allowed four hits and none until Jordy Mercer lined a double down the left-field line with two outs in the fifth. Joaquin Benoit and Hector Neris completed the four-hitter. Galvis hit a shot estimated at 417 feet into the second deck in right field to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead in the first off Ivan Nova (8-6). After Galvis reached on a bunt sin- gle his next time up, Franco ripped a liner out to left to make it 4-0 in the third. Nova gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings. He allowed more than three earned runs for only the fourth time in 17 starts. Yankees 6, Blue Jays 3 In New York, Masahiro Tanaka pitched seven sharp innings for his second straight win following a long slump, helping the Yankees beat the skidding Blue Jays. Hours after announcing they ll both compete in the Home Run Derby next week, All-Star sluggers Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez sparked New York s offense. Consecutive singles by those Baby Bombers in the first BASEBALL helped the Yankees scratch out two runs against Marcus Stroman. Judge s leadoff single and Sanchez s double set up a four-run eighth that included Chase Headley s two-run double off Ryan Tepera. Headley was hit by a pitch to force home a run in the first and finished with three RBIs. Jacoby Ellsbury drew a bases-loaded walk from Stroman (8-5), who grew up on Long Island about 55 miles from Yankee Stadium. Last-place Toronto has dropped five straight and nine of 11. Tanaka (7-7) turned in his third consecutive strong outing, a big positive for the banged-up Yankees as they chase AL East-leading Boston. Second-place New York won for only the sixth time in 20 games. Cardinals 14, Marlins 6 In St Louis, Rookie Luke Voit hit his first major league homer and drove in four runs, Tommy Pham reached base five times and the Cardinals beat the Marlins. St Louis scored four runs in the first inning and seven in the third on the way to an 11-0 lead. Voit added a two-run homer in the eighth in the Cardinals fifth win in six games. Adam Wainwright (9-5) picked up his second successive win and also drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single. The Marlins have lost five of six. Miami starter Jeff Locke (0-5) gave up 11 hits and 11 earned runs in 2-2/3 innings. Red Sox 7, Rangers 5 In Arlington, Texas, Andrew Benintendi blooped a two-run single over a drawn-in infield in the 11th inning and the Red Sox beat the Rangers for their AL-best fifth straight victory. Boston needed extra innings after Mike Napoli led off the Rangers ninth with a homer off All-Star closer Craig New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka throws to fi rst for a putout during the seventh inning in a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in New York on July 3. (AP) 101-year-old sprinter sets age group record, to compete again BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, July 4, (AP): A 101-year-old runner from Louisiana who took up sprinting a year ago has set a senior woman s record in the 100-yard dash for her age group, and adds she s got one more race in her yet. Clocked in seconds, Julia Hawkins established the record in the 100-yard dash for women 100 and older last month at the National Senior Games in Birmingham, Alabama, The Advocate reported. She also competed in the 50-yard dash, besting competitors as young as 90 in seconds while picking up the nickname Hurricane Hawkins, according to the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, paper. Hawkins plans to run once more, at the USA Track and Field Masters Outdoor Championships set for July at the track stadium of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Hawkins began her competitive athletic career at age 75, entering as a bicyclist in national and state senior games. A graduate of LSU, she had given herself a bicycle as a wedding present when she married her college sweetheart. The couple eventually settled in Baton Rouge, where they raised four children. To train for her cycling events, the 5-foot-tall (1.52-meter) Hawkins would ride a 6-mile (10-kilometer) course daily Kimbrel, who had blown only one of his previous 24 save opportunities. With runners at second and third with one out in the 11th against Ernesto Frieri (0-1), the Rangers intentionally walked Dustin Pedroia, who already had three hits and four RBIs. Benintendi, who had entered the game as a pinch hitter in the ninth, then hit a ball that landed just beyond the infield dirt in short left. Twins 9, Angels 5 In Minneapolis, Max Kepler tied a career high with four hits, including a home run, Adalberto Mejia earned his third straight win and the Twins beat the Angels. Joe Mauer also homered and Miguel Sano had three hits for Minnesota, which won for just the third time in nine games. Mejia (4-3) allowed nine hits and three earned runs in seven innings. Freddy Galvis #13 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a two-run home run in the bottom of the fi rst inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park on July 3, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (AFP) around her neighborhood. She took home a bronze medal at her fi rst National Senior Games, in San Antonio, Texas, before winning gold medals at the games in Tucson, Arizona, and Orlando, Florida. But the 2001 National Senior Games in Baton Rouge signaled the end of her cycling career. There wasn t a single woman around in the meet, she explained. So I quit. It s no fun. Her athletic renaissance began at the urging of her children, who Hawkins entered her in the sprint event at the Louisiana Senior Olympic Games. Hawkins said she had never considered running competitively. That amazed me, she says. I never even tried it. They thought I could. And I could. Her training regimen eschews sprinting and weights for tending bonsai trees and continuing to bicycle around her neighborhood. At this age, you re not getting better. You re getting worse, she said. You only have so many 100-yard dashes left. You have to save them. He s given up five earned runs in 22-1/3 innings over his past four starts after allowing eight in a June 12 start. His ERA has dropped from 5.53 to 4.32 in that span. Royals 3, Mariners 1 In Seattle, Ian Kennedy allowed one run pitching into the seventh inning, Mike Moustakas and Alex Gordon both hit solo home runs, and the Royals beat the Mariners. Kennedy (3-6) won his third straight decision with one of his best performances of the season. The lone run scored on a wild pitch as Kansas City handed Seattle its fifth straight loss at home. Moustakas led off the second inning with his 23rd home run of the season and gave the Royals a 2-0 lead against Seattle starter Andrew Moore. Gordon s home run came with two outs in the fifth, a pitch he broke his bat on but was still able to get it over the wall in right just beyond the leap of Mitch Haniger. It was Gordon s fifth homer and second in the past three games. White Sox 7, Athletics 2 In Oakland, California, Todd Frazier doubled twice and drove in two runs to back Carlos Rodon s first win of the season, and the White Sox beat the slumping Athletics. Melky Cabrera added three hits and an RBI, Willy Garcia doubled twice while Matt Davidson had an RBI double to break out of a personal slump and help Chicago to its fifth win in seven games. One week after getting swept by the A s at home, the White Sox jumped on Oakland starter Jharel Cotton early and got strong pitching from Rodon and two relievers to make it hold up before a crowd of 40,019 the largest to watch a baseball game at the Coliseum in nearly 12 years.

42 SPORTS Asian Sports Press Union needs a lot of work Al-Sahli nominated to run for ASPU president Kuwaiti journalist Sattam Al-Sahli Dwyer & Leroux live out American dream WASHINGTON, July 4, (AP): Dom Dwyer and Sydney Leroux are the quintessential American success story. Born abroad, each came to the United States and dreamed of playing for the national soccer team. Along the way they also found each other. This weekend, Dwyer scored in his international debut, a 2-1 exhibition victory over Ghana, just 3ó months after he became a US citizen. Leroux, who holds dual citizenship, made her national team debut in 2011 Dwyer and earned winner s medals at the 2012 Olympics and 2015 Women s World Cup. Dwyer and Leroux are the first husband-and-wife duo to each score for the US national soccer team. I think it s the coolest thing. The fact is that both of us weren t born here: We followed the American Dream, Leroux said. The couple has a nine-month old son, Cassius, who was decked out in his own US jersey to watch daddy s debut from the family s home in the Kansas City area. Leroux also plays for FC Kansas City of the National Women s Soccer League, while her husband plays for Major League Soccer s Sporting Kansas City. I m very proud of Sydney and what she s achieved and still achieving in the national team, and I ve got quite a few caps to catch up to her and a few goals, too, but hopefully I can live up to it, Dwyer said. Born in England, Dwyer came to America as a college student, playing at Tyler Junior College in Texas before transferring to South Florida for the 2011 season. He was the 16th overall pick for Sporting Kansas City in the 2012 MLS draft. He has 60 goals in 133 competitive matches for Sporting KC. SOCCER Dwyer met Leroux in 2013 and they were married in early The two cleverly announced they d tied the knot on Valentine s Day that year, holding hands and wearing their jerseys: No. 2 for her and No. 14 for him under the name Dwyer. While the couple was starting a family, Dwyer was also working toward a personal goal: In March he became a US citizen. It was the first step toward playing for the national team, a dream that came true in East Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday when the 26-year-old striker scored in the 19th minute and celebrated with a double back flip. It s been a long road to get here, and I really wanted to show the fans and show the country I m very passionate about this country, and I m very honored to play for this team, and hopefully it s something we can build on, he said. KUWAIT CITY, July 4: The Kuwaiti sports journalist Sattam Al-Sahli has been nominated by Kuwait Journalists Association (KJA) for the position of the President of Asian Sports Press Union (ASPU), the elections of which will be held in October Al-Sahli is the head of the sports section of Al-Seyassah Newspaper as well as Chairman of the Media Committee of Kuwait Football Association and Secretary of the Sports Media Committee of KJA. After serving as a member of the executive office, Al-Sahli has been chosen by KJA to serve in the Asian union. In a recent press statement, Al-Sahli expressed gratitude to the Board of Directors of KJA and his colleagues in the Sports Media Committee of KJA for their confidence in him and their support of his candidacy in the elections. He affirmed his aspiration to continue the process of administrative reform within the system of the continental union. Al-Sahli explained that the Asian Sports Press Union needs a lot of work in the coming period for ensuring improvement on all levels as well as for it to remain as a huge media beacon and play an important role for promoting journalism in the Asian continent. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Sports Media Committee of KJA and Secretary of the Sports Section of Al-Nahar Newspaper Marzouq Al-Ajmi expressed happiness that his colleague Sattam Al-Sahli will be one among the contenders for the presidency of the Asian Sports Press Union, affirming that Al-Sahli has the potential to take up this heavy responsibility in a distinctive and sophisticated manner and restore the status of the union. He said he is confident that the Gulf and Asian countries will support his colleague Al-Sahli, adding that he hopes Al-Sahli will succeed. Everton s Lennon returns to action WASHINGTON, July 4, (Agencies): Everton midfielder Aaron Lennon has returned to action in pre-season training after missing the latter stages of the last campaign to recover from a stressrelated illness. Lennon, 30, last played for the Premier League club in February and Everton released a statement supporting the player and saying he was receive care and treatment for the illness. The former Tottenham Hotspur winger received widespread support from players, pundits and fans all around the world and was expected to make a full recovery. Lennon was pictured training with his team mates as they begin preparations for their first pre-season match against Gor Mahia FC on July 13. Swansea City midfielder Ki Sungyueng will miss the start of the Premier League campaign due to a knee injury, the Welsh club have confirmed. The South Korea captain sustained the injury during last month s 3-2 win at Qatar in their 2018 World Cup qualifier and underwent a minor operation after returning to his country. There is no set timeline for the 28-year-old s recovery. European Soccer Roundup LONDON, England, July 4, (Agencies): Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette underwent a medical at Arsenal on Tuesday with a view to a 44 million pounds ($56.91 million) move, British media reported. The deal should be completed before Arsene Wenger s squad flies to Australia on Sunday and will be for a club-record fee, beating the 42.5 million pounds Arsenal paid Real Madrid for Mesut Ozil in Lacazette s arrival is Wenger s first piece of significant business in the transfer window and follows the promise from chief-executive Ivan Gazidis last week that top quality summer signings would arrive this summer. Arsenal are now likely to end their widely reported interest in Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe. Lacazette s signing could also mean the departure from Arsenal of another French international, Olivier Giroud, who struggled to hold down a first-team place last season. For Lacazette, 26, the move to London represents a return to the ground where he began his professional career seven years ago, playing for Lyon against Celtic in an Emirates Cup match. Since then he has developed into one of Europe s most prolific strikers, scoring 129 goals in 275 games for his hometown club. Beginning his career as a winger, Lacazette has scored at least 22 goals each season since converting to a striker in 2013 and last season netted 37 times in 45 matches. His 28-goal Ligue 1 tally was bettered only by Edinson Cavan s 35 for Paris St-Germain. Sevilla are set to lose captain Vicente Iborra to Leicester City after the Spanish side announced on Tuesday they had agreed to sell the midfielder to the former Premier League champions for a reported 14 million euros ($15.8 million). Iborra, 29, has spent the last four years with Sevilla since joining from Levante in 2013, scoring 30 goals in 172 games and winning three successive Europa League titles and qualifying the team for the Champions League in the last two campaigns. The club said Iborra would travel to Leicester to undergo a medical before signing his contract and returning to publicly bid farewell to Sevilla, who were knocked out of the Champions League by the Foxes at the last 16 stage. French defender Florian Lejeune has signed a fiveyear deal to join Newcastle United, the Premier League club said Tuesday. The 26-year-old central defender from La Liga club Eibar is Magpies manager Rafael Benitez s second summer signing, for a reported 8.7 million pounds (9.9 million euros). Earlier in the summer Benitez signed Chelsea winger Christian Atsu, who helped Newcastle win promotion back to the Premier League during a loan spell last season. Huddersfield Town has signed Tom Ince from English Championship side Derby County on a three-year contract, the Premier League newcomers said on Tuesday. The 25-year-old winger, who joined Derby in 2015 after a successful loan spell, previously played in the top-flight for Crystal Palace and Hull City. Everybody in England knows that Tom has high quality; he has been one of the best players in the Sky Bet Championship for many years now, Huddersfield manager David Wagner said in a statement. Gustavo leaves Wolfsburg for Marseille Lacazette has Arsenal medical Lacazette Brazil defensive midfielder Luiz Gustavo has joined France s Olympique Marseille with immediate effect after four years at VfL Wolfsburg, the clubs said on Tuesday. Gustavo, who had started his Bundesliga career at Hoffenheim in 2007, was part of Bayern Munich s treble-winning season that included the Champions League in He then joined the Wolves, which won the German Cup again in 2015 while also finishing runners-up in the Bundesliga. His current move cost a reported 10 million euros ($11.35 million). Even if saying goodbye is hard, during the summer break my wish to try something new in a different country and a different league matured, the Brazilian said. Borussia Moenchengladbach signed Germany defender Matthias Ginter from Bundesliga rival Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday for a reported fee of 17 million euros ($19.3 million), which would make him the club s most expensive signing. We ve won a great player for Borussia, one we ve fought for a long time, Gladbach sporting director Max Eberl said. Matthias is a world champion and Confederations Cup-winner, has played in the Champions League and last year he played 42 competitive games for Dortmund. He will be an important foundation for us and a help for the even younger players. Argentina midfielder Ever Banega has started his second stint with Spanish club Sevilla after signing a three-year contract. Banega returns to Sevilla after one season at Inter Milan, where he scored six goals but made only 28 appearances. The 29-year-old Banega helped Sevilla win back-toback Europa League titles in 2015 and I spent two spectacular years here, achieving important things and the fans value that, Banega said on Monday after signing his contract. I also place a lot of value on the fact that the club always left its door open to me. Banega joins new coach and countryman Eduardo Berizzo at Sevilla. Spain international Vitolo has an agreement to spend the first half of next season on loan at Las Palmas if his move from Sevilla to Atletico Madrid is finalised, the Canary Island club said on Tuesday. According to reports in the Spanish media Atletico are close to agreeing a 40 million euro ($45 million) move for the forward, who began his career at Las Palmas before joining Sevilla in Atletico are unable to register new players until January while they serve a transfer ban for the illegal transfer of minors. Las Palmas sporting director Toni Cruz told reporters on Tuesday at the presentation of new coach Manolo Marquez that the club s president Miguel Angel Ramirez had met Atletico director general Miguel Angel Gil Marin in the Spanish capital to discuss the arrangement. Attacking midfielder Benjamin Corgnet and striker Nuno Da Costa signed Tuesday for Strasbourg, the French League 1 newcomers seeking to sharpen their strike force. Corgnet, 30, signed for three years on a free transfer from Saint-Etienne where he had fallen out of favour with coach Christophe Galtier last season and was restricted to few first team starts. Da Costa, 26, from Cape Verde, is brought in on a four-year deal from second division side Valenciennes where he made his mark as a top scorer. His role is to bolster the attack following the departure of Strasbourg s top two strikers last season, Khalid Boutaib and Baptiste Guilaume. Ex-France striker Djibril Cisse has come out of retirement to sign a one-year deal with third division Swiss club Yverdon-Sport, club president Mario Di Pietrantonio announced Tuesday. The 35-year-old Cisse, who played for France at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups and won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, has not played professionally since announcing his retirement in 2015 while at French Ligue 1 club Bastia. 42

43 SPORTS 43 EPL set to increase financial dominance Competitiveness sets Premier League apart MUMBAI, July 4, (RTRS): The sheer competitiveness of the Premier League makes it extremely attractive for broadcasters and gives its clubs the financial might to lure top talent from around the world, a former league executive has told Reuters. The English Premier League signed a jaw-dropping billion pounds ($6.66 billion) domestic TV rights deal in 2015 for three seasons starting , significantly increasing its financial dominance over rival leagues. English champions Chelsea earned million pounds from the Premier League, while bottom side Sunderland were paid more than Leicester City received as the 2016 title winners thanks to the new contract. Broadcasters are rational, commercial organisations and pay what they feel is right, Nic Coward, who worked as the Premier League s general secretary for more than four years from 2011, said in an interview. Coward I am sure the Premier League will continue to do what it can to make sure its content is as compelling, competitive and (essential) as it ever has been. The way in which the commercial world then responds to that is by the rights fees they will pay. Leicester, who were 5,000-1 outsiders at the start of the season, showcased the intense competition in the English top flight with their success, by proving that any side was capable of beating another on any given day. Coward, who works as a consultant for India s Pro Kabaddi League, believes the fair distribution of broadcast revenues allows all 20 clubs in the league to attract top talent. The strength of the league was further underlined by attendances at stadiums, Coward said. Great players in a seriously atmospheric stadium and putting on a great show; that s the Premier League s business model, he said. You then have 20 clubs in the Premier League who are in the top levels of buying power of talent around the world. That has got to be a very good Soccer Roundup SHANGHAI, July 4, (Agencies): The Chinese FA launched an investigation into a match where a fourth official was reportedly attacked following a controversial draw that triggered claims of match-fixing. Baoding Rongda were leading 2-1 when the referee awarded visitors Wuhan Zall a penalty during seven minutes of stoppage time at the end of Saturday s fixture in China s second division. The spotkick was converted and the match ended 2-2. Angry fans pelted the match officials with debris as they were escorted by security personnel from the pitch at the end, reported staterun newspaper the Beijing News. Baoding chairman Meng Yongli burst into tears at a chaotic postmatch press conference, alleging his side had been cheated out of the win. The Beijing News reported that fourth official Yang Kaizi was beaten up in his dressing room, but the newspaper did not say who was responsible for the attack. Meng gathered reporters on the pitch to announce he was pulling the team out of the league, before quitting as chairman hours later citing personal reasons. Baoding, from near Beijing, subsequently apologised and said the club had no intention of leaving the competition. The Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced an investigation into the controversy. CFA is taking this seriously and will treat everyone involved sternly based on facts and regulations, it said in a statement. We would like the club to express its opinion in a calm manner. In the meantime we call on the fans to remain rational and restrained. thing for the league. Competitive balance, that s what the Premier League delivers and that s the Premier League s strength. While Spanish clubs have many of the world s leading players, including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, La Liga has often been criticised for a lack of competition. Barcelona and Real Madrid have won all but one league title between them in the last 15 seasons, with Atletico Madrid emerging winners in the season, which most critics blame on a wide gulf in resources. Under the previous model, every La Liga club had to negotiate individual TV deals, which created a very unequal share of revenue. But a bill was passed in 2015 to ensure a collective sale of TV rights both domestically and overseas. Great credit to the leadership of La SOCCER Liga, who over the last maybe threefour years have gone through the process with the clubs of moving from individual selling of broadcasting rights, which created a very skewed or unequal revenue share of the total broadcast revenue pie, Coward said. So La Liga s distribution difference (between the top and bottom club)... is down to the smallest it has ever been. I think it s down to just below 4:1. I remember talking about it being 10:1 and 12:1. I know La Liga s aspiration would be to be as competitive throughout the entire league as the Premier League. That s got to be its ambition. La Liga has also had to deal with negative headlines surrounding fraud cases for its leading players in Spain. Ronaldo, Portugal s all-time leading scorer, was the latest in a long line of global stars -- among them Barcelona s Messi and Neymar -- to be caught up in cases concerning tax or transfers. It was, however, difficult to say what impact the cases would have on the La Liga, said Coward, adding that the Premier League was absolutely committed and made a concerted effort that these issues do not happen. The test of time will be what the attending fans and the viewing fans reaction to that is, Coward said. Shin gets nod as new SKorea coach Ref beaten as draw sparks match-fix claim Chile soccer fans react during the last quarter of the Confederations Cup fi nal soccer match between Chile and Germany, as they watch the game on a screen set up in the street in Santiago, Chile, on July 2. Germany won 1-0. (AP) Sagan disqualified from Tour for Cavendish elbow France s Arnaud Demare crosses the fi nish line to win the fourth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over kilometers (129 miles) with start in Mondorf-les-Bains, Luxembourg, and finish in Vittel, France, July 4. (AP) The state People s Daily newspaper on Tuesday hit out at Meng and Baoding, accusing them of damaging the reputation of Chinese football. Former under-20 boss Shin Tae- Yong was given the task of rescuing South Korea s teetering World Cup qualifying campaign when he was named as the country s new national team boss on Tuesday. Shin replaces Uli Stielike, 62, South Korea s longest-serving coach, who was axed last month after a shock defeat to Qatar left them in danger of missing direct qualification to Russia South Korea are seeking to reach their ninth consecutive World Cup, a run which includes making the semi-finals on home soil in The Taeguk Warriors 3-2 defeat to Qatar -- the first in 32 years against that country -- followed earlier losses to China and Iran and left them clinging to the last direct qualifying spot in Group A with two games to go. Shin, 46, is a former midfielder for Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma and Brisbane Roar, where he had a brief stint as assistant coach before graduating to become manager of the K- League Classic club in He has a reputation as a troubleshooter and led the national U23s ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics, after his predecessor left in 2015 with cancer. Shin took the helm of South Korea s U20 team last November after a series of defeats, and steered them to the quarter-finals of this year s U20 World Cup on home soil. We believe that Shin would be able to boost morale among players quickly and lead them to win the remaining qualifying matches, Kim Ho-Gon, the head of the Korean Football Association s technical committee, told reporters. Having served in the national teams before, he knows the current team members very well and has excellent communication skills, Kim said. Shin will lead the team through the 2018 World Cup if they qualify, Kim added. Three-time J.League-winning coach Hajime Moriyasu has resigned from his position at the helm of Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the club announced on Tuesday. Moriyasu steered Hiroshima to the Japanese league title in 2012, his first season in charge, before successfully defending it the following season and winning again in The 48-year-old former Japan midfielder has overseen a disappointing campaign so far, with Sanfrecce slipping to 17th in the 18-team standings following a 4-3 loss to Urawa Red Diamonds at the weekend. The defeat was the club s fourth in a row in the league. Basking in international glory, the German football federation said Tuesday that the number of players registered in the country had broken through the seven-million mark. The federation said 7,043,964 men and women were registered members, an increase of 74,500 from the same time last year. The growth, in a country of almost 83 million people, is largely attributed to the success of Germany s international teams. The men s team are reigning World Cup champions and have just won the Confederations Cup in Russia, while the under-21 side were crowned European champions on Friday. The German women s team are Olympic and European champions. Swansea City manager Paul Clement is keen to make the most of the pre-season training of his Premier League club, which began on Monday. Clement had no time for preparation last season as he joined Swansea in January with the club languishing at the bottom of the league table. He led them to four wins in their last five matches to secure a 15th placed finish. It s the start of five weeks of vital preparation time - something I didn t have when I first arrived at the club in January, Clement was cited as saying on the club s website. ( We finished the season playing really well, Clement added. VITTEL, France, July 4, (AFP): World champion Peter Sagan was sensationally kicked off the Tour de France for elbowing Mark Cavendish in a hectic sprint finish to Any repeat will trigger action Vettel escapes further sanction for Baku rage LONDON, July 4, (RTRS): Ferrari s Formula One championship leader Sebastian Vettel will not face any further sanction for his road rage collision with Lewis Hamilton at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the governing FIA said. The German, four times world champion, had been given a 10-second stop-and-go penalty during the race for angrily banging wheels with his Mercedes rival while they were behind the safety car. He had risked a heavy fine, disqualification from the Baku results or even a race ban after the International Automobile Federation decided last week to review the causes of the incident. Vettel, who turned 30 on Monday, attended a meeting at the FIA s Paris headquarters with Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene. The driver admitted full responsibility, pledged to make a public apology and also committed to devote personal time over the next 12 months to educational activities across a variety of FIA championships and events. The governing body said that in light of these developments, FIA President Jean Todt decided that on this occasion the matter should be closed. He also instructed that Vettel should not endorse any road safety activities until the end of the year. Todt, a former Ferrari boss, recognised that top-level sport was an intense environment where passions ran high and noted also that the Italian team were aligned with the values and objectives of the FIA. However, it is the role of top Demare wins fourth stage Germany s John Degenkolb (left background), Britain s Mark Cavendish (center), and Britain s Ben Swift crash during the sprint of the fourth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over kilometers (129 miles) with start in Mondorf-les-Bains, Luxembourg, and finish in Vittel, France, on July 4. (AP) sportsmen to deal with that pressure calmly and to conduct themselves in a manner that not only respects the regulations of the sport but which befits the elevated status they enjoy, he said. Sportsmen must be cognisant of the impact their behaviour can have on those who look up to them. They are heroes and role models and to millions of fans worldwide and must conduct themselves accordingly. Todt said any repetition of such behaviour would lead to Vettel, who already has nine penalty points on his Formula One licence and is just three away from a race ban, being immediately referred to the FIA s International Tribunal. The collision in Baku on June 25 MOTOR RACING divided opinion within the sport. The German ultimately finished fourth, a place ahead of Hamilton, and some commentators suggested he had got off lightly. Hamilton had led from pole and was keeping a distance to the safety car, which was about to return to the pits, when Vettel hit the rear of his Mercedes. The German, who accused his rival of brake testing him by suddenly slowing, pulled alongside and waved his fists before banging wheels. The race was halted soon after. When it resumed, Hamilton had to pit to fix a loose headrest, losing what had looked like a nailed-on victory. Afterwards, the Briton called Vettel a disgrace. Tuesday s fourth stage. British sprint great Cavendish was taken to hospital by ambulance with shoulder and finger injuries after crashing to the ground when Sagan shoved him into the metal safey barriers 100 metres from the finish of the 207.5km stage from Mondorfles-Bains to Vittel. We ve decided to disqualify Peter Sagan from the Tour de France 2017 as he endangered some of his colleagues seriously in the final metres of the sprint which happened in Vittel, said the president of the race commission, Philippe Marien. We will apply article of the rules of the UCI... in which case commissaires (the race jury) can decide to enforce a judgement to disqualify a rider. Cavendish had earlier demanded an explanation from Sagan for the elbow that could end the Briton s Tour, if like in 2014 he has suffered a broken collarbone. Cavendish, 31, was following the wheel of eventual stage winner Arnaud Demare of France when Sagan jutted out an elbow, knocking the Briton into the barriers where he came crashing CYCLING down to the ground. The 30-time Tour stage winner was treated by medical staff before crossing the finish line with a bloodied and bandaged hand. When he left for hospital, he was also wearing a sling. Injury-wise I m going to go and get it checked out, he told a scrum of reporters outside his Dimension Data team bus. I will definitely need stitches in this finger, it s bleeding a lot. But Cavendish said Sagan had to explain his actions. I was just following Demare round, and then Sagan just came over, he added. I get on with Peter well but I don t get it. If he came across it s one thing, but the elbow? I m not a fan of him putting his elbow in like that. I get on with Peter, a crash is a crash, but I d just like to know about the elbow. Cavendish s sports director at Dimension Data Roger Hammond told journalists: If I was Sagan, I d apologise for that. Fellow sprinter Andre Greipel of Germany accused Sagan of doing the same thing to him the previous day. Yesterday it was the same thing in the intermediate sprint, he (Sagan) gave an elbow to Andre, Greipel s Lotto-Soudal team manager Marc Sergeant told Eurosport. Cavendish s was the second of two crashes in the final kilometre as riders jostled for position to contest the sprint finish. With Slovak Sagan disqualified, Norway s Alexander Kristoff came second and Greipel third. Reigning champion Chris Froome retained second place, 12 seconds behind his Sky team-mate Thomas, with Australian Michael Matthews third on the same time as Froome.

44 PRIME TIME wednesday (all times are kuwait local) 06:00 red sox vs rangers... bein sports 12 hd 07:30 georgia vs portugal/soccer... bein sports 6 hd 08:00 radwanska vs jankovic/tennis.. bein sports 8 hd 09:00 dolgopolov vs federer/tennis.. bein sports 10 hd 10:00 pliskova vs rodinav/tennis... bein sports 9 hd 12:15 germany vs netherland/soccer... bein sports 6 hd 14:05 tour de france/cycling... bein sports 7 hd 18:00 zawraa vs nafat/soccer... bein sports 1 hd 44 Sports Latest sports scores at Federer, Djokovic get free passes Kerber advances LONDON, July 4, (AFP): Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic barely had to break sweat to make winning starts at Wimbledon as their injury-hit opponents retired hurt from their first round matches on Tuesday. Federer is chasing a record eighth Wimbledon title and he was already well on top at the start of his 19th All England Club campaign when Alexandr Dolgopolov was forced to quit with an ankle injury. The world number three raced into a TENNIS 6-3, 3-0 in 43 minutes on Centre Court before the Ukrainian limped off. Federer, who hit his 10,000th career ace in the eighth game of the first set, will face either Dusan Lajovic of Serbia or Greek qualifier Stefanos Tsitsipas for a place in the last 32. It feels great to be back on Centre Court, said Federer, who recorded his 85th match win at Wimbledon, passing the mark he shared with Jimmy Connors. Having unexpectedly won the Australian Open in January before taking the clay-court season off to rest, Federer, making a record-equalling 70th Grand Slam appearance, is the favourite to take the Wimbledon crown for the first time since Everybody s got a chance to win Wimbledon and for me it s no different. I already achieved my dream to be back here healthy. Now we ll see how far I can go, Federer said. Djokovic, a three-time Wimbledon champion, was leading 6-3, 2-0 when Slovakian world number 47 Martin Klizan retired after just 40 minutes on Denmark s Caroline Wozniacki celebrates after winning her women s Singles Match against Hungary s Timea Babos on day two at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on July 4. (AP) Canada s Milos Raonic returns against Germany s Jan-Lennard Struff during their men s singles fi rst round match on the second day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London on July 4, (AFP) Centre Court due to a calf problem. The 30-year-old Serb will face Adam Pavlasek of the Czech Republic for a place in the last 32. It was the kind of trouble-free first round Djokovic would have been hoping for after the most turbulent period of his career, the 12-time major winner losing in the Australian Open second round and the French Open quarterfinals. He had issues walking on to court. I tried to focus on my game plan, I was serving well and when it mattered I made a break, said Djokovic, who is aiming to win a first Grand Slam title since last year s French Open. It was great to be back on Centre Court. It s the cradle of tennis history, but you never like to end a match this way. With defending champion Serena Williams sidelined while she prepares to give birth to her first child, the race to win the women s title is the most wide open in a generation. World number one Angelique Kerber, the 2016 Australian and US Open winner, is among the favourites after reaching last year s final, which she lost to Serena. The German has failed to maintain that form this season and her poor run culminated in an embarrassing French Open first round loss to Ekaterina Makarova last month. But the top seed showed glimpses of her best form as she saw off American qualifier Irina Falconi 6-4, 6-4 in 87 minutes on Centre Court. I m happy to be back, but this year is completely different for me. I m just happy I m through the first round, Kerber said. Milos Raonic advanced to the second round with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) win against Jan-Lennard Struff. Big-serving Raonic became the first Canadian man to make a Grand Slam final with his impressive Wimbledon run 12 months ago before losing the title match to Andy Murray. Argentina s Juan Martin Del Potro, a semi-finalist in 2013, defeated Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 as the 29th seed moved towards a potential third round classic against Djokovic. Australia s Bernard Tomic said he had lost his respect for tennis following his lacklustre 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 loss to Mischa Zverev. I don t know why but I felt a little bit bored out there, to be completely honest, Tomic said. French 22nd seed Richard Gasquet slumped to a 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 loss against Spain s David Ferrer. India wants to hold U-20 WC NEW DELHI, July 4, (AFP): India put itself forward Tuesday to host the Under-20 World Cup in 2019, as the country prepares to stage its first international football tournament later this year. Praful Patel, the All India Football Federation president, said the competition in two years would be the next logical step for the development of football in India. India is to host the Under-17 World Cup in October. SOCCER The Indian Super League, now expanded to 10 teams, has increased the popularity of football, especially among the Indian youth. With India hosting the FIFA U-17 World Cup India We feel hosting the U-20 World Cup would be the best way to sustain the footballing momentum in India, Patel said in a statement. The Under-20 World Cup was held this year in South Korea, so FIFA may be reluctant to see it go to Asia a second straight time. But the announcement added that India has made an expression of interest to the global body. 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