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1 baseball Page 39 THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT Established in 1977 / SUNDAY, JULY 9, 2017 / SHAWWAL 15, 1438 AH emergency number 112 NO PAGES 150 FILS MATTIS AFFIRMS US-QATAR COOPERATION... TILLERSON DUE SAUDI, ALLIES THREATEN FURTHER STEPS QATAR AGAIN DENIES ACCUSATIONS British FM says progress possible KUWAIT CITY, July 8, (Agencies): British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Saturday progress could be made to heal a rift between Qatar and other Arab states, although a solution was unlikely to be found immediately. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Bahrain have cut diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar over accusations it was financing terrorism. My impression is progress can be made and there is a way forward, Johnson said in a televised interview released to media after meeting senior government figures in Kuwait which is attempting to mediate between the two sides. Amir condoles over Saudi attack victims KUWAIT CITY, July 8, (Agencies): His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Friday sent a cable of condolences to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud over the martyrdom of a Saudi security man and injuries to six others in a terrorist attack in Al- Qatif in Saudi Arabia. In the cable, His Highness the Amir voiced Kuwait s sharp condemnation of this heinous terrorist attack that targeted innocents and aimed 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. Earlier on Thursday, Saudi Arabia s Ministry of Interior announced the martyrdom of a security man and injuries to six others when a patrol was attacked in a district in Al- Qatif province, east of the country. National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim on Friday sent a cable of condolences to the Chairman of the Saudi Shura Council (Consultative Assembly) Dr Abdullah bin Mohammad Al Sheikh over the death of a security man in a terrorist attack in Qatif province. Al-Ghanim expressed strong condemnation of the terrorist attack, reiterating solidarity with the Kingdom and support to the measures it might take to protect its security and stability. He also reaffirmed the need to intensify regional and international coordination and cooperation to combat all forms of terrorism. The Speaker prayed Allah Almighty to bless the soul of the martyr, wishing the wounded speedy recovery. Meanwhile, an attack on a Saudi police patrol Saturday wounded two officers in the Shiite-majority eastern province of Qatif, authorities said, in the third attack in the area in one week. The patrol was targeted by an explosive projectile when passing by a building under construction in the Al-Naserah district in Qatif, the interior ministry said in a statement published on the official SPA news agency. Two policeman were wounded and transferred to nearby hospitals. Authorities are treating the attack as a terrorist crime, the statement said. The attack occurred in the same area where a police corporal was killed in a bombing targeting a patrol on Thursday. Another policeman had been killed and three others wounded in a bombing in Qatif on Tuesday morning. Three people, including a police officer, were also killed last month in bombings in Qatif, where most of Sunni-ruled Continued on Page 37 Twenty-three soldiers killed Amir offers condolences over Egypt attack victims KUWAIT CITY, July 8, (Agencies): His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Friday sent a cable of condolences to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-sisi over the victims of a terrorist attack in Rafah City in North Sinai. In the cable, His Highness the Amir voiced Kuwait s sharp condemnation of this heinous terrorist attack that targeted innocents and aimed at disrupting security and stability in Egypt. 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 Egypt 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. National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim also sent a cable of condolences to his Egyptian counterpart Ali Abdelal over the victims of the terrorist attack in North Sinai in Egypt. In the cable, the Speaker condemned the attack as a heinous criminal terrorist attack, and voiced full solidarity with the Egyptian people. Al-Ghanim also expressed full support to all measures taken by Egyptian authorities to uphold the country s security and stability. Egypt s Interior Ministry said on Saturday its forces had killed 14 gunmen in Ismalia province, adding that they were linked to the recent attacks against the security forces in Northern Sinai. At least 23 Egyptian soldiers were killed when suicide car bombs tore through two military checkpoints in North Continued on Page 37 Kuwait welcomes UK support for mediation But I m not going to pretend to you now that it is necessarily overnight or this is going to be done in the next couple of days, he said. Johnson, who held meetings on Friday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is due to travel to Qatar later on Saturday for meetings with its Amir and prime minister. We think the blockade was unwelcome and we hope there will be a de-escalation, Johnson said. US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis reaffirmed America s strategic security partnership with Qatar on Thursday, the Pentagon said, amid a diplomatic crisis in the Gulf. KUNA photo A handout picture released by Kuwait s news agency KUNA on July 8, 2017, shows the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah (center right), meeting his British counterpart Boris Johnson (center left), in Kuwait City. Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) take position inside a house in the Maidan district in Mosul s Old City on July 4, during the ongoing offensive to retake the city from Islamic State (IS) group fighters. The decaying bodies of foreign jihadists are piling up among the ruins of Mosul where the last dozens of Islamic State group fighters are mounting a desperate last stand. (AFP) Iraq meters away from final victory Mosul militants vow fight to death It was also announced that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will travel to Kuwait the key mediator in the crisis on July 10 to discuss the row. Mattis, who spoke with his Qatari counterpart Khaled bin Mohammed al-attiyah by phone, discussed the status of operations against the Islamic State group. Qatar hosts a vital US-led command center at the Al-Udeid air base, where the anti-is coalition launches raids against the jihadists. Secretary Mattis and Minister al-attiyah affirmed their commitment to continued US- Qatar cooperation and deepening their strategic partnership, a Pentagon readout of the conversation stated. Saudi Arabia is leading a four-country blockade of Qatar in the region s biggest crisis in years. Mattis stressed the importance of de-escalating tensions so all partners in the Gulf region can focus on next steps in meeting common goals, the readout stated. Tillerson due in Kuwait The Trump administration is being drawn further into the crisis engulfing Qatar and many of its Gulf Arab neighbors, a diplomatic tussle that it wanted to avoid. Despite numerous US appeals for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt to resolve their issues with Qatar on their own, the State Department said Thursday that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson would visit the region next week in a bid to mediate a solution. Spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Tillerson would visit Kuwait, which has been trying to broker an agreement, on Monday after stops in Ukraine and Turkey. She said Tillerson would meet with Kuwaiti officials, but his presence in the region leaves open the possibility that he may try to shuttle between the neighboring countries to forge a resolution. The US has been supporting Kuwait s mediation efforts, but Tillerson s trip will mark a new level of US involvement in trying to broker a resolution. Earlier Thursday, Nauert warned that the crisis over Qatar may not be quickly resolved. We ve become increasingly concerned that that dispute is at an impasse at this point, she said. We believe that this could potentially drag on for weeks; it could drag on for months; it could possibly even intensify. She didn t specify what type of escalation the US fears. But she said Tillerson remains in close contact with the countries involved. Further steps eyed Four Arab countries isolating Qatar vowed Friday to take additional steps against the energy rich Gulf state after it refused to accept their demands over allegations that it supports extremist ideology. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain accused Qatar in a joint statement carried on Gulf state media of thwarting all efforts aimed at resolving the rift and said it intends to continue its policy aimed at destabilizing security of the region. They vowed to take all necessary political, economic and legal measures against Qatar in a timely manner. They did not specify what those steps could include, though officials have previously suggested they could intensify efforts to isolate MOSUL/ERBIL, Iraq, July 8, (Agencies): Islamic State militants vowed to fight to the Newswatch MP urges government to death in Mosul on Saturday as Iraqi military commanders said they would take full control of UNITED NATIONS: A follow gasoline price cuts the city from the insurgents at global treaty banning nuclear any moment. weapons was adopted at the Dozens of Iraqi soldiers celebrated amid the rubble on the Arab Times Staff thority into a ruthless execution- United Nations on Friday despite opposition from nuclear By Abubakar A. Ibrahim 122 which transformed the au- powers Britain, France and er, crushing speculators without banks of the Tigris river without the United States which said KUWAIT CITY, July 8: Some realizing that they are the main waiting for a formal victory declaration, some dancing to music dealing with international seoline prices and we are waiting must be imposed on those who it disregards the reality of Gulf countries have reduced gas- engine of transactions. Sanctions blaring out from a truck and firing machineguns into the air, a Korea. curity threats such as North for Kuwait to take a similar step manipulate the prices of goods, Reuters correspondent said. The treaty was adopted in order to restore the prices as not those who create business, by a vote of 122 in favor they were a year ago, says MP he added. The mood was less festive, with one country NATO Waleed Al-Tabtabaei. Addressing members of the however, among some of the member The Netherlands In a press statement, Al-Tabtabaei disclosed the Sultanate of process of submitting amend- authority, he said, We are in the nearly one million Mosul residents displaced by months of Singapore abstained. Oman and United Arab Emirates ments to your law and we hope voting against, while combat, many of whom are None of the nine countries decided to reduce gasoline prices you will cooperate with us to living in camps outside the city that possess nuclear weapons the United States, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia intends to take the same step because the laws and regulations come up with the best formula, with little respite from the blazing summer heat. Russia, Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, soon. He hopes Kuwait will follow suit. not necessarily fit into small mar- suitable for advanced markets do If there is no rebuilding North Korea and Israel and people don t return to took part in the negotiations Meanwhile, MP Ahmed Nabil kets like ours. their homes and regain their or the vote. Al-Fadel has criticized the Capital Market Authority Law, as- Talal Al-Jalal has stressed the In another development, MP belongings, what is the meaning of liberation? Mohammed country to have suffered Even Japan the only serting that a small and vague need to address the irregularities highlighted by lawmakers to Haji Ahmed, 43, a clothing atomic attacks, in 1945 article turned a beautiful law into boycotted the talks as did trader, told Reuters in the Hassan Sham camp to the east of UN Secretary General the law was designed to regulate something like hell. He argued avoid clashes in the next legislative round and the expected flood most NATO countries. Mosul. Antonio Guterres welcomed the adoption of the tors to reach the highest possible money markets and attract inves- of interpellations. He said the Earlier on Saturday, a military government is under a parliamentary microscope this summer, so spokesman said the insurgents trading rate. However, this good Qatar economically. Continued on Page 37 Continued on Page 37 objective was marred by Article Continued on Page 37 Continued on Page 37

2 LOCAL 2 Ministry keen to ensure transactions of expats completed within short period MoH gets nod to extend contracts with PSC for registration of subscribers KUWAIT CITY, July 8: Ministry of Health has obtained the approval of all concerned authorities to extend the contract with the Public Services Company (PSC) for registration of subscribers who want to pay for health insurance and special health cards, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting an informed source. He said the ministry submitted a request to the Central Tenders Committee (CTC) before the contract ends this month, affirming the keenness of the ministry to ensure the transactions of expatriates are completed within a short period without facing any hindrances or falling into financial and legal violations. The source stressed that this is important considering the messy situation witnessed about a month ago, especially in Jabriya and Sabah areas when Minister of Health Dr. Jamal Al-Harbi had canceled the contract with the company that handles health insurance services. He explained that the officials of the ministry recently held a series of meetings with those of the Public Services Company. These meetings ended in an Kuwait s labor minister, ILO regional officer discuss boosting cooperation Al-Sabeeh visits ILO s regional office in Beirut agreement for the company to provide services based on certain clauses and conditions of the contract. The source did not reveal any details of the agreement reached between both parties. However, he assured that the issue of long queues and congestion at the health insurance registration centers will soon become a thing of the past. BEIRUT, July 8, (ILO News): Kuwait s Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Al-Sabeeh met with ILO Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat, Deputy Regional Director Frank Hagemann, and other officials from the ILO Regional Office in Beirut. During the 5 July meeting, the minister and ILO officials discussed the possibility of strengthening cooperation and further developing national capacity to mainstream decent work in social and economic KUNA photo KUNA s Abdulhamid Malak in a group photo while meeting with AFP s Emmanuel Hoog. Kuwait News Agency launches click photography contest KUNA interested in utilizing AFP s Iris system PARIS, July 8, (KUNA): Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) is interested in utilizing the French Press Agency s (AFP) Iris news system as part of the two sides efforts to enhance cooperation on all possible levels, said a top official at the Kuwaiti agency. During a meeting with President and CEO of AFP Emmanuel Hoog late Thursday, Deputy Director for Administrative Affairs at Kuwait News Agency Abdulhamid Malak told KUNA that both sides were eager to boost the level of collaboration to meet the current media and journalistic demands. The three-day visit by the KUNA delegation focused on getting acquainted with AFP s Iris system in order to use it at the Kuwaiti agency. On his part, Hoog affirmed that AFP would provide all necessary assistance to KUNA to help develop ties, adding that offering the Iris system was in line with agreements signed by KUNA and AFP in the past. Launched in fall 2008, Iris links news to the source: produce news stories, photos, videos, graphics, and video graphics from one multimedia editorial system. It also develops the technological value associated with delivered content: ease multimedia integration and adaptation, search engine optimization, multimedia consultation for journalists and Internet users, and other services. Meanwhile, KUNA will launch click photography contest Sunday to allow amateur and professional photographers to add their photos to the agency s website. Participants can apply and send their information including full name, phone number, and , by clicking on the click logo on KUNA s official website. The pictures must be in (jpg-jpeg) format, of middle to high quality and do not exceed 24 mega pixel. They should also be taken in Kuwait no more than a year ago and preferably being horizontal. Participating works should show beauty aspects of Kuwait and the country s culture and history, with a comment added to tell the story behind the picture. It is also required that pictures would not be digitally modified, and had not been previously published in local or international media and exhibitions, except for being published on the photographer s own social media account. Photographers are allowed to edit the picture s brightness and colors and they can also turn colored photos into black and white ones, while adding the original one along with their modified work. Participants must be 21 years old and above. They do not own the right or request money for publishing their work. Photos published on KUNA s website can also be used by other media under KUNA s name. policies. Minister Al-Sabeeh expressed her appreciation of the longstanding partnership between Kuwait and the ILO and of the various projects the ILO has implemented in Kuwait, as well as her hope that cooperation with the ILO and other UN agencies would increase. Regional Director Dr Jaradat emphasized the important role that Kuwait plays in the regional and global arena, and lauded the progress and reforms that have been implemented in Kuwait under the leadership of Minister Al-Sabeeh, in line with national policies and, more recently, the Kuwait Vision Kuwait and the ILO Kuwait s voluntary contributions to the ILO which have amounted to $4.5 million since 2009 have gone towards funding the work of the ILO Regional Office for Arab States in promoting decent work and social justice in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Most recently, Kuwaiti funds were pledged to finance the ILO-supported establishment of the Palestinian Social Security Corporation (PSSC). The corporation will administer the first comprehensive Palestinian social security system for private sector workers. Through its country office in Kuwait, the ILO supports the government, and worker and employer organizations, in a number of areas including labour law, labour migration, and realization of international labour standards and improving labour governance with a focus on labour inspection. ILO technical assistance to Kuwait presently supports the restructuring of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour to address national priorities including migration and human trafficking. The GCC member state has the longest experience in tripartite participation among the Arab States, with long-standing national tripartite consultative bodies. It has been an ILO member state since 1961 and has ratified 19 ILO Conventions, including seven of eight Fundamental Conventions. Background According to Kuwait s Central Statistical Bureau, in 2016 the country had a population of about 4.1 million, 70 per cent of whom were nonnationals. Kuwaitization of the labour force, particularly through encouraging the employment of nationals in the private sector instead of the current heavy reliance on foreign labour, is a key priority for the government. Kuwait unveiled in January its Vision 2035, which aims to transform the country into a regional financial and cultural hub through strategic development projects, focusing largely on increasing direct foreign investment and developing the petrochemicals industry. UN agencies, including the ILO, are working with partners in Kuwait to support national implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. KUNA photo Kuwait s Awqaf Minister Al-Jabri while meeting Secretary General of the Islamic Center in Rome Abdullah Radwan. KUNA photo Minister Al-Jabri while meeting with Director General of FAO Jose Graziano da Silva. FAO eyes Kuwait support for its mission in UNSC Masjid of Rome, Islamic center bolster dialogue among cultures ROME, July 8, (KUNA): The Islamic Cultural Center and the Masjid of Rome play an important role in bolstering dialogue amongst cultures, Kuwait s Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Mohammad Al-Jabri said Saturday. Al-Jabri s statement came during his visits to the Mosque and Islamic center on the sideline of his participation in the Food and Agriculture Organization s (FAO) conference held in Rome. On his part, the Secretary General of the Islamic Center Abdullah Radwan told KUNA that the center was keen on portraying true Islamic values, affirming that it also was eager to bolster dialogue with people from all cultural backgrounds. He revealed that the center offers service to some 1.5 million Muslims in Italy, adding that the facility also provides information and data on Islam for thousands of visitors. Meanwhile, Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Jose Graziano da Silva congratulated Kuwait s Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Mohammad Al-Jabri on Kuwait s winning of non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council. This came during the Director General s meeting with Minister Al-Jabri on the sidelines of the 40th session of the FAO General Conference. In statements to KUNA, Minister Al-Jabri noted that da Silva said that FAO regards Kuwait s winning of UNSC seat as a strong impetus for the international organization s mission to enhance world food security and eradicate hunger. Kuwait s election in the UN Security Council is a sign of Kuwait s reputable international standing and the world appreciation of its wise leadership and its generous contribution to the humanitarian and development work as well as to its efforts to promote dialogue and peaceful interaction to retain regional and international stability, Al-Jabri quoted da Silva as saying. For his part, Al-Jabri reiterated Kuwait s confidence and support to FAO efforts in the world development. He stressed Kuwait s backing to FAO efforts in helping people in the conflict zones. He disclosed that the meeting focused in particular on the mutual desire to accelerate the opening of the first FAO partnership and communication bureau in Kuwait. He pointed out that Kuwait is keen on expanding cooperation with FAO for training national agricultural cadres. On June 2nd, Kuwait was elected as a non-permanent member in the UNSC for two-year term beginning in January 2018, gaining votes of 188 members out of 192. News in Brief Acting PM thanks Egypt, KSA, UAE, Bahrain: Kuwait s Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah thanked Egypt, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain for lauding His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah s efforts to maintain Arab national security and pan-arab relations. This expression of gratitude was made by Sheikh Sabah Khaled during a phone call with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Thursday, the Egyptian news agency (MENA) reported. For his part, Shoukry briefed Sheikh Sabah Khaled on the deliberations and outcome of the meeting of the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain held in Cairo on Wednesday. (KUNA) KRCS to launch childrens volunteer event: Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) announced that Monday marks the beginning of a youth volunteer campaign, with over 100 citizens and residents children joining the club. KRCS Director of Youth and Volunteering and Department, Dr Musaed Al-Enezi told KUNA on Saturday that the club s program, which ends on August 10, aims to promote in the youngsters the love to work voluntarily and develop their giving spirit to serve humanity. Al-Enezi added that this program, which receives children from the age five to 12 years, would assist the young volunteers to develop and establish their skills in order to be capable to react in various situations and depend on themselves. Moreover, he pointed out that the program also helps the youngsters to understand the community s needs and to boost their teamwork spirit, with the cooperation of their families. The young volunteers, if they maintain the voluntary work, could be KRCS future members and would partake in different events made by the society, after they reach 18 years old, he added. Al-Enezi urged the community to support these kind of activities and encourage youngsters to participate in them. (KUNA)

3 LOCAL 3 Above: KRCS volunteers distributing relief aid to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. KUNA photos KRCS reaffirms keenness on helping Palestinian refugees Weekly roundup of Kuwait s relief efforts KRCS volunteers distribute humanitarian aid. Move to boost strategic ties Chinese delegation set to visit Kuwait on Monday Kuwait Today Prayer Timings Fajr... 03:21 Sunrise... 04:55 Zohr... 11:53 Asr... 15:27 Maghrib...18:51 Isha... 20:22 Weather Expected weather for the next 24 hours: By Night: Relatively hot and relatively humid over coastal areas with light to moderate south easterly wind, with speed of km/h with a chance for fog forming at night. By Day: Hot and Relatively humid specially over coastal areas with light to moderate freshening at times south easterly winds, with speed of km/h and some scattered clouds will appear. Station Max Min Exp Rec Kuwait City Kuwait Airport Abdaly Bubyan Jahra Failaka Island Salmiyah Ahmadi Nuwaisib Wafra Salmy days forecast - Weather Sunday, July 09 Expected weather...hot and relatively humid over coastal areas Max Temp...44C Min Temp...29C Wind Direction... S-SE Wind Speed km/h Monday, July 10 Expected weather...hot and relatively humid specially over coastal areas Max Temp...46C Min Temp...31C Wind Direction...SE Wind Speed km/h Tuesday, July 11 Expected weather... Very hot + causing rising dust Max Temp...52C Min Temp...33C Wind Direction...NW Wind Speed km/h Wednesday, July 12 Expected weather...very hot and dusty, dust will subside gradually Max Temp...49C Min Temp...35C Wind Direction...NW 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 KUWAIT CITY, July 8, (KUNA): A Chinese delegation intends to visit Kuwait next Monday in an attempt to look into means to bolster strategic ties, said a Kuwaiti diplomat on the visit that would last for four days. Speaking on the visit, Kuwaiti Ambassador to China Sameeh Johar Hayat told KUNA Saturday that both sides were eager to boost relations on all possible domains. The visit will contribute to the development of ties and will hopefully add to the Kuwaiti leadership s vision to turn Kuwait into an international commercial and economic hub. The (Kuwait 2035) and China s (Road and Belt Initiative) have much in common, said the Ambassador who indicated that the upcoming Kuwaiti- Chinese meetings on July 10 will focus on finding links between the two plans and connecting the dots. He said that the Chinese delegation will be informed about the latest progressions in several Kuwaiti development projects, looking into ways to provide Chinese expertise and experience. Qaruh Island ft NW Umm Al-Maradem ft NW Sea Island Buoy Salmiyah ft NW 4 days forecast - Marine Sunday, July 09 Expected weather...hot and relatively humid over coastal areas Sea state...slight to moderate, rough at times Wave height ft Max Temp...44C Min Temp...29C Wind Direction... S-SE Wind Speed km/h Monday, July 10 Expected weather...hot and relatively humid specially over coastal areas Sea state... Slight to moderate Wave height ft Max Temp...46C Min Temp...31C Wind Direction...SE Wind Speed km/h Tuesday, July 11 Expected weather... Very hot + causing rising dust Sea state...slight to moderate becoming rought later Wave height ft Max Temp...52C Min Temp...33C Wind Direction...NW Wind Speed km/h Wednesday, July 12 Expected weather... Very hot and dusty and dust will subside Sea state... Moderate to rough Wave height ft Max Temp...49C Min Temp...35C Wind Direction...NW Wind Speed km/h Tide times at Shuwaikh Port 1st high tide:...10:42 2nd high tide:...00:56 1st low tide:...18:34 2nd low tide:...05:47 Sunrise:...04:55 Sunset:...18:51 Recorded yesterday at Kuwait Airport Max temp...49c Min temp...31c Max Rh... 59% Min Rh... 07% Max Wind... S 36 km/h Total Rainfall in 24 hrs...0 mm Recorded yesterday at South Dolphin Min/Max/ Air Temp...34/40C Min/Max Rel Hum... 18/65% Wind Direction/Wind Speed...SE/37 km/h Prev Wave Dir/Max Wave Ht...SW/1 ft Min/Max Sea Surface Temp...-/- C Sea Current...Upwelling Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Meteorological Dept. deaths Humoud Rashed Mohammad Al-Hadiya, 36 years old, buried on Saturday. Condolences: (Men) Fenaitees, Block 1, Street 41, House 407, Tel: (Women) Salwa, Block 10, Street 12, House 6, Tel: ; Shareefa Abdul Rahman Abdullah Al-Kandari, wife of Mohammad Sultan Al-Ali, 61 years old, buried on Saturday. Condolences: (Men) Shaab, Diwan Al-Kanadra, Tel: (Women) Mubarak Al-Kabeer, Block 3, Street 23, House 11, Tel: ; Ali Husein Ali Bin Zaid, 70 years old, buried on Saturday. Condolences: (Men) Mansouriya, Al-Huseiniya Al-Abasiya, Tel: (Women) Rumaithiya, Block 8, Street 85, House 5, Tel: ; Yousef Abdullah Yousef Al-Rebeiah, 76 years old, buried on ÌSaturday. Condolences: (Men) Bayan, Block 9, Avenue 13, Street 1, House 3, Tel: / (Women) Sabah Al-Salem, Block 4, Street 6, House 6, Tel: / Haya Mohammad Nanahi Hamad Al-Reesh, widow of Juma Khamis Bouerki, 61 years old, to be buried on Sunday after Asr prayers. Condolences: (Men) Yarmouk, Block 4, Street 3, Avenue 1, House 11, Diwab Al-Reesh, Tel: (Women) Mubarak Abdullah Al-Jaber, Block 2, Street 202, House 61, Tel: Nasser Saleh Nasser Al- Salmi, 69 years old, to be buried on Sunday at 90:00 am. Condolences: (Men) Shamiya, Block 8, Street 89, House 14, Diwan Al-Lahew, Tel: (Women) Bayan, Block 7, Street 1, avenue 8, House 5, Tel: Mohammad Rakan Nafal-Abu Fas, 19 years old, buried on Saturday. Condolences: Naseem, Block 1, Street 17, Tel: / July 8, 2017 KUWAIT CITY, July 8, (KUNA): Living up to its status as a humanitarian center, Kuwait continued its relief work and campaigns to all those in need in the Middle East and beyond throughout the justended week. Last Saturday, in northern Lebanon, the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) reaffirmed keenness on helping Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. The needs of the Palestinian refugees are enormous and much efforts need to be exerted, KRCS s Secretary-General Maha Al-Barjas told KUNA after a meeting with officials of the Palestinian Red Crescent in Lebanon. The meeting was held in Al-Beddawi camp for Palestinian refugees north of the Lebanon. Al-Barjas noted that Kuwait s relief efforts are extended to the Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, as well as to Lebanese families. The KRCS will support the Palestinian counterpart to provide the urgent medical needs of the Palestinian refugees, she said. Over the coming two month, the KRCS will offer bread to 2,000 Palestinian and Syrian refugee families in Lebanon, as part of a project the society launched in 2011, she added. On his part, Director-General of the Palestinian society, Dr Samer Shehada voiced optimism over cooperation with the KRCS, lauding the latter s leading role for helping the refugees and the needy. Focussed The meeting focussed on the framework of working together in Lebanon, to help refugees in the country, he added. The two sides also discussed supporting the five hospitals the Palestinian society administers in different parts of the country. They have concluded an initial agreement on the form of backing over the coming period. Lebanon hosts up to 400,000 Palestinian refugees at 12 camps. On Friday, the KRCS and the Qatar Red Crescent Society(QRCS) signed two agreements to provide drinking water for the Syrian refugees, and to help those who are suffering renal disease in east Lebanon s Bekaa. On Monday in Riyadh, a Kuwaiti aid campaign distributed 6,209 food baskets to more than 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. KRCS chief Maha Al-Barjas. KRCS Chief Maha Al-Barjas visiting Al-Beddawi camp for Palestinian refugees in north Lebanon. Above: KRCS provides medical assistance, relief aid to Syrian refugees in Lebanon. He added that a number of similar projects are impending, all of which are geared towards the province s neediest people. The Kuwaiti aid campaign provided urgent relief for the Yemeni people, running the gamut from nutritional and educational assistance to healthcare aid. On Thursday, institutions from across the Palestinian national spectrum joined forces for 13 agreements worth USD three million, financed by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED). Speaking to KUNA, Rabhi Al- Sheikh, the deputy head of a Palestinian office tasked with reconstructing the Gaza Strip, said that the agreements hammered out by 13 institutions from across Palestinian territories, entail projects to rebuild Gaza through a $3 million grant provided by Kuwait. Contributed He noted that Kuwait has contributed a sum of $200 million for reconstruction efforts, of which $75 million has been allocated for the residential sector. Meanwhile, Palestinian Minister of Public Works and Housing Mofeed Al-Hasayneh, on the sidelines of a ceremony where the agreement was signed, thanked Kuwait for the country s support of the Palestinian people. He divulged that a sum of $500,000 will be earmarked for the agricultural sector, which is now in tatters due to the war. Egypt, Norway and the Palestinian territories convened an international conference on reconstructing Gaza in October 2014, to respond to the needs of the Palestinian people in the aftermath of Israel s military offensive. Also Thursday in Yemen, KRCS will continue to provide medical, relief and development-related humanitarian aid to Yemen in cooperation with local bodies with recent repairs to water desalination and medical facility centres, its Secretary- General said. Surgeries After meeting Yemen s Ambassador to Kuwait Ali Saffaa, KRCS s Al-Barjas said that after concluding the two projects, the organization is setting up a camp for surgeries that can accommodate up to 200 cases. The project follows a similar initiative that has already resulted in the successful completion of a large number of orthopedic, brain, nerve and ophthalmologist operations. The organization has also handed out electrical generators to hospitals across the southwestern city of Taiz, wheelchairs and crutches to around 750 Yemenis along with food and cholera medicine distributed across Yemeni governorates. On his part, the Yemeni ambassador hailed these initiatives, saying they stem from honest and brotherly feelings. Meanwhile, on Friday, the humanitarian efforts exerted by KRCS to aid Syrian refugees inside Syria and Turkey are still ongoing in cooperation with humanitarian relief organizations, a KRCS official affirmed. The the Kuwaiti humanitarian body has opened, in cooperation with the Turkish-based IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), a plant in Atme village, northern Syria, to manufacture medical gauze, Al-Barjas stated to KUNA, noting that the plant is one of a kind and provides free gauze to field medical centers in Syria. Obviously, KRCS and IHH have realized the importance of providing medical gauze inside Syria due to its current scarcity in that country, Al-Barjas noted, commending IHH s efforts in launching that vital plant and cooperation in supervising it as well. Furthermore, KRCS has also implemented, in collaboration with QRCS, a cooperation deal on sending 10 mobile medical clinics to Syria for the internally displaced persons and families hailing from Aleppo city, she mentioned, adding that the clinics were fully equipped with medical sets, instruments, and pharmacies. The mobile clinics also included medical examination tents that covered vast geographic areas in Idlib and Aleppo, KRCS chief said, noting that the tents helped in treating around 17,000 patients. KRCS has also began to cooperate with its Qatari counterpart in backing Al-Amal Hospital in Rehanli, Turkey to treat sick Syrian refugees, Al-Barjas said, noting that the hospital is part of KRCS humanitarian projects for the Syrian refugees. The Kuwaiti humanitarian body has also backed an orphanage in Gaziantep, Turkey to qualify orphans and empower them to integrate in their society, she said. Currently, KRCS is working in several arenas through development projects and programs geared towards rehabilitation and empowerment to help conflict-stricken societies restore their ordinary life and social integration, Al-Barjas mentioned.

4 LOCAL 4 Govt drafting some laws which will meet aspirations of citizens Rights panel preps inquiry report tied to inmates in prison KUWAIT CITY, July 8: Minister of Justice and State Minister for National Assembly Affairs Dr. Faleh Al-Azeb says the government is currently drafting some citizen-centered laws, which will meet aspirations of citizens, reports Al-Qabas daily. The minister affirmed that the government is committed to ensuring quick conclusion of the bills, without considering summer time as a resting period. He revealed that His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah enjoined the ministers to cooperate in responding to observations as well as technical and legal inquiries from the lawmakers, adding that the ministers were mandated to take necessary steps to cooperate for the sake of the nation. Dr Al-Azeb stressed that the ministers will respond to observations from the lawmakers with all seriousness and transparency deserved, so each of the questions will be forwarded to the concerned officials. He said the government will not take hints of grilling against His Highness the Prime Minister with levity, and will accord them with necessary seriousness. Dr Al-Azeb assured that the ministers will respond adequately to the allegations of violations in government departments, if any, indicating that the government is working relentlessly to settle crisis between both authorities and eliminate corruption. Meanwhile, Chairman of Parliament s Human Rights Committee MP Adel Al-Damkhi said, The committee has prepared the inquiry report on the level of adherence to the international agreements concerning inmates in prison. The report contains results of the inquiry as well as recommendations for improving the image of Kuwait in the aspect of human rights, reports Al-Nahar daily. He revealed that the committee Request presented by the corporation to be discussed Panel probing ex-kac chief s resignation set to meet Al-Saleh KUWAIT CITY, July 8: The committee in charge of investigating the resignation of the former chairman of Board of Directors of Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) Rasha Al- Roumi will hold a meeting on Tuesday with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Anas Al-Saleh to ask him about the request presented by KAC for allocation of KD 600 million, and the government s stance in that regard, reports Al-Rai daily. According to parliamentary also discussed the issue related to martyrs wives on whom the naturalization conditions apply, adding that the committee will seek audience with Ministry of Interior to further discuss this issue. Meanwhile, a member of the committee MP Mohammad Hayef stressed that the committee studied the complaints lodged by several Bedoun holders of fake passports due to the pressure imposed on them by some establishments. MP Hayef said, The procedures implemented by the Central System for Remedying the Status of Illegal Residents (CSRSIR) are tyrannical. The government should settle the issues faced by Bedoun residents before going to the international conference for human rights. He indicated that the committee will send a request to Ministry of Interior and the head of CSRSIR Saleh Al-Fadhala, inviting them to attend a meeting to be held this Thursday, adding that the meeting will be aimed at preparing a comprehensive solution for the Bedoun issue. In the meantime, Ministry of Electricity and Water has issued a number of reshuffling decisions in sources, the inquiry process is ongoing as per schedule. The committee first met Al- Roumi to ask her questions concerning the points she specified in her resignation letter. The committee then met Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and State Minister for Economic Affairs Hind Al- Sabeeh, followed by officials from Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA). They affirmed that DGCA was asked about the points mentioned in Al-Roumi s resignation the distribution network sector, reports Al-Shahed daily. Director of Office of the Assistant Undersecretary for Power Stations Faraj Al-Saeed has been assigned as the Director of Electrical Wiring Department in the sector, replacing Khaled Al Rashed who was transferred to the Program Planning and Monitoring Department in the sector. Undersecretary of Ministry of Electricity and Water Eng Mohammad Bushahri also issued a decision to transfer the audit head of air-conditioning systems in the electrical wiring department Adel Al-Rowaih to the mechanical works department in the design and supervision division of the technical services sector, while the previous head of that department will now work as the audit head of the air conditioning systems. The head of electrical works division in the design and supervision department of the technical services sector Iman Ismail has been assigned to work as head of the inspection department in the inspection department and measurement devices. Eng Bushahri also transferred letter, which were related to giving special privileges to some private companies among other issues, as well as the observations of the State Audit Bureau on KAC s budget throughout the last three years. The sources said, the committee, in order to prepare its fi nal report on this issue, will meet Al- Roumi again in order to receive responses for the information provided by Minister Hind Al- Sabeeh, officials of DGCA and the statements of Minister Anas Al-Saleh. Abdullah Al-Askar to the Emergency Department of Farwaniya Governorate and seconded Abdullah Gholoum to Jabriya Emergency Network Department. Meanwhile, ministerial committees affiliated to the Council of Ministers have completed the initial study on the government agencies that should be privatized, reports Al-Anba daily. The daily quoting a source added the study is likely to be presented to the Cabinet early August to specify the next line of action regarding the final decision to determine which of the agencies will be privatized first. As per preliminary indices, the committees may have slated nine agencies for privatization, including Shuwaikh Port, Kuwait Public Transport Company (KPTC) and Public Utilities Company, the source noted. He stressed the committees have since decided to privatize some assets including stable line of the services ministry, in addition to the power station at North Shuaiba, Kuwait Aviation Services Company (KASCO), the main plants, government press, and Kuwait Touristic Company. The two Kuwaiti athletes display Kuwaiti flag after their win. Kuwaiti athletes win gold, bronze medals Kuwaiti athletes Abdulaziz Al-Mandeel and Yaqoub Al-Youha won gold and bronze medals in the 110m hurdles race on the third day of the 22nd Asian Athletics Championship being held in Bhubaneswar, India. In a press statement, head of Kuwaiti athletic delegation Saif Al- Dousari said the achievement of the team reflects the level of their preparedness and their commitment, as well as persistence to achieve positive results in the championship. He dedicated the achievements to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the people of Kuwait. The 22nd Asian Athletics Championship kicked off on July 6 and will continue until July 9. Volume of local products in GCC hits $2.80 trn Personal credit facilities take up biggest share, shows study KUWAIT CITY, July 8: According to a study carried out by Al-Shahed newspaper, personal credit facilities takes up the biggest share of credit provided by local banks to economic sectors with 41.5 percent, reports Al- Shahed daily. The real estate sector was second with 22.5 percent followed by trade with 9.33 percent and then construction sector with 6.04 percent. The industry sector was fourth with 5.37 percent, followed by financial sectors excluding banking with 3.88 percent. The oil and gas sector was the last with 3.84 percent. The study showed that the credit facilities provided to various economic sectors reached KD 34.8 billion last April with an increase of 1.6 percent from the KD 34.3 billion recorded at the end of As of 2014 ending, the volume of local products in Arab countries, including the GCC states, valued at $2.80 trillion. The figure dropped to $2.45 trillion at the end of 2016 but recent study indicates it ll regain strength to around $2.64 trillion at the end of the current year, reports Al- Shahed daily. The study revealed the total volume of GCC local products reached $1.64 trillion in 2014 and dwindled to $1.39 in It further slumped to $1.37 trillion in It is noteworthy the GCC countries covered 55.9 percent of the total local products within the Arab world. Breakdown of the study showed Saudi Arabia tops other countries in the Arabian Gulf by $637.7 billion in terms of local products, followed by United Arab Emirates with $375 billion and Qatar with $156.6 billion, while Kuwait is on the fourth spot with $110.4 billion and covering 8 percent of GCC local products. Oman is fifth with $59.6 billion and Bahrain at the base of the table with $31.8 billion. Oct 6, 2016

5 LOCAL 5 CTC approves purchase of medical equipment for Jaber Hospital Naji reveals PAHW has floated five investment opportunities KUWAIT CITY, July 8: Deputy Director General for Investment and Private Sector Projects at Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) Hadeel Bin Naji revealed that the authority has floated five investment opportunities - three in Jaber Al-Ahmad City and two in Sabah Al-Ahmad City, reports Aljarida daily. She indicated that the period of mobilization by companies for these projects will continue until August 24 when the tender will then be awarded to the winning company. Bin Naji stressed that the housing issue is the focus of the authority, which is exerting maximum efforts to reduce the waiting period and find radical solutions to meet the challenges and housing needs. She affirmed that the investment sector is working on offering promising opportunities in the new cities in a flexible and effective manner by involving the private sector, as the environment today is more suitable for investment. Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Jamal Al-Harbi said the Central Tenders Committee (CTC) has approved the proposed purchase of medical equipment for Jaber Hospital at a total cost of KD60 million, reports Al-Jarida daily. In a press statement, Al-Harbi disclosed the State Audit Bureau (SAB) is now reviewing the proposal and its approval will pave way for the purchase of the equipment for the hospital to be operational soon. He said about 50 executives are undergoing training to work in the field of modern administration, indicating the hospital s operation will be done in stages first will be the opening of the Health Department and outpatient clinics, followed by the non-surgical wards and then the centers for various specializations like cardiology, brain and nerves. Al-Essa launches biting attack on output of educational sector Center has 5 instructors for 5,000 students Furthermore, Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohammad Al-Fares vehemently denied the rumor that investigation on the fake academic certificates has been halted, reports Al- Anba daily. While stressing the rumor is baseless, Al-Fares asserted that he will not allow the lack of political or parliamentary pressure to address the issue. KUNA photos Photo shows the old city of Hebron and the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron which is listed on the World Heritage List. NCCAL values decision Adding Al-Khalil Old Town to Heritage List victory: Kuwait PARIS, July 8, (KUNA): Kuwait s permanent representative to UNES- CO Dr Mishal Hayat said the Arab Group succeeded in adding the Palestinian Al-Khalil Old Town and Ibrahimi Mosque to UN cultural agency s World Heritage List, considering the move an international victory. Hayat, speaking to KUNA, said the vote on the Arab draft resolution which was presented by Palestine took place behind closeddoors during a meeting in Poland. Adding Al-Khalil and Ibrahimi Mosque is an international reaction on the Israeli claims that the Mosque be included in the Jewish cultural heritage, he said. The Old Town in Al-Khalil, which is in the West Bank, is the fourth Palestinian cultural site to be included in UNESCO s World Heritage List. The first three were the Old Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Pilgrims path. Hayat commended the role played by the members of a committee, which included Kuwait, Lebanon and Tunisia, that contributed to the addition of Al-Khalil. Members of UNESCO s World Heritage Committee voted 12-3 with six absentions, to add the Old Town of Al-Khalil. Meanwhile, Kuwait National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) has valued the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declaring of Al-Khalil Old Town as an endangered world heritage site, and adding it to the World Heritage List. The old city has now become an internationally protected heritage site that enjoys an exceptional global value where the historic Ibrahimi mosque, named after Prophet Ibrahim, is still situated in the heart of the city, NCCAL Secretariat General said in a statement. The city also well-known for its unique ancient sites and several vintage industrial, and agricultural occupations, it said, stressing the importance of listing Al-Khalil as an endangered world heritage site. In the 41st session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Poland today, the UNESCO voted 12 to three, with six abstentions, in which the Committee simultaneously added the site of Al-Khalil to the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Old Town in Al-Khalil, which is in the West Bank, is the fourth Palestinian cultural site to be included in UNESCO s World Heritage List. The first three were the Old Jerusalem, Bethlehem and News in Brief Amir cables Solomon Islands: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent Friday a cable to Governor- General of the Solomon Islands Frank Kabui, congratulating him on his country s national day. 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 sent similar cables. (KUNA) Speaker cables Islands: Speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanim congratulated Friday Speaker of the Solomon Islands National Parliament Ajilon Nasiu on the advent of his country s national day. (KUNA) Pilgrims to submit certificate: The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Kuwait has informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the health conditions specified by Saudi s Health Ministry for those visiting the Kingdom for Umrah, Hajj or any other purpose, reports Al-Anba daily quoting sources. Sources revealed the conditions include requiring the visitor to View of a passage in old town. Pilgrims path. Furthermore, The Arab League on Saturday welcomed the UNES- CO addition of the Al-Khalil, also known as Hebron, on the World Heritage List. In a statement, the League s Secretary General Ahmad Abul-Gheit congratulated the Palestinian leadership, government and people on the UNESCO historical decision, based on a proposal by the Arab group in the organization, and supported by some member states. He also commended the intensive efforts by the Palestinian diplomacy, and the supporter countries, to secure the issuance of the listing decision. The recent decision that follows a previous one on Jerusalem some months ago, is a new international acknowledgment on the rights of the Palestinian people, he said. According to the Arab League Chief, any measures to be taken by the Israeli occupation authorities in Hebron are illegal, especially what is related to their moves to change the identity of the Old City or the Ibrahimi Mosque. The statement noted that the city hosts only hundreds of Jewish settlers, but tens of thousands of Arabs. On his part, Chairman of the Arab Parliament Dr Meshaal Al-Salmi welcomed the UNESCO decision on Hebron, highly appreciating the organization and the countries that supported the move. Al-Salmi noted that the decision shows the rising international support to the Palestinian rights in their land and sanctities. See Also Pages 14 & 18 submit a vaccination certificate showing that he took meningitis vaccine at least 10 days before the visit to Saudi Arabia. Sources said the health authority in Kuwait must confirm completion of the vaccination process as a condition for obtaining a visa to the Kingdom. Dashti blessed with baby girl: The young Kuwaiti actor Ibrahim Dashti has been blessed with a baby girl, reports Al-Anba daily. On his official Instagram account, he posted a picture of him carrying his newborn baby, with the comment, Thanks to Allah, I have a new girl baby. Her name is Bebe. 25 Kuwaitis released: The Thai authorities in Pattaya have released 25 Kuwaitis all believed to be between 18 and 25 years old for renting and driving motorcycles without licence, reports Al-Rai daily. A diplomatic source at the Kuwaiti embassy in Thailand the Kuwaitis were arrested and taken to a police station and released after signing a pledge to respect the laws of the land which forbid driving any vehicle without a licence. KUWAIT CITY, July 8: Political Science Professor Shamla an Al-Essa has launched a scathing attack on the output of the educational sector, asserting the graduates of Kuwait University are in a certain valley while the local labor market requirement is in another valley, reports Al-Shahid daily. In his interview with the daily, Al-Essa underscored the need for a thorough review of the curricula as well as the qualifications and performance of teachers in pre-university stages as they seem to be busy earning rather than paying attention to the needs of students. He accused the government of intervening in the admission and registration policies of the university to satisfy some MPs. He also claimed that the Faculty of Sharia is the worst because it is controlled by political agendas. Meanwhile, Director of Practical Education Center at the Faculty of Education in Kuwait University Dr Khalid Al-Moharib said the big number of student trainees in the center is a problem as it has only five instructors for around 5,000 students, reports Al- Qabas daily. In his interview with the daily, Al-Moharib pointed out the instructors find it difficult to handle the work load as they are also required to conduct field visits to follow up the work. He said the center intends to request for additional instructors as the university has suspended the recruitment of new instructors for quite some time now. He disclosed the faculty had earlier suggested delegation of training staff the heads of departments and technical instructors, considering there are more than 300 department heads and technical instructors to supervise 1,000 students. Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohammad Al-Fares has confirmed that the ministry, through the educational districts, signed contracts directly with companies for the maintenance of schools, reports Al-Anba daily. The minister explained this step was taken to avoid delays in carrying out maintenance works, as they are pressed for time due to the need to complete maintenance works before the start of the new school year. In addition, the ministry on Thursday bid farewell to 169 teachers and administrative workers who were referred for retirement as they have been in service for 34 years. Moreover, the ministry will soon finalize the interview of applicants to supervisory posts and the results will be announced next month. The Ministry of Education intends to lay down a new mechanism for choosing outstanding teachers and schools annually during World Teachers Day, reports Al-Anba daily quoting sources. Sources revealed Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Development and Activities Faisal Al- Maqseed has submitted a proposal to amend the conditions and regulations for the selection of outstanding teachers and schools to ensure everyone is treated equally and none of them is deprived of their rights. Sources said a committee will be formed soon to carry out these tasks under the leadership of Assistant Undersecretary for Public Education Affairs Fatma Al-Kandari with members from public and private educational sectors. Sources added the committee will start working in academic year 2017/2018. Sources also confirmed that the selection mechanism and criteria will be submitted to Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohammad Al- Fares and Undersecretary Dr Haitham Al-Athari for approval. The State Audit Bureau (SAB) has registered a number of irregularities in residential buildings rented by the Education Ministry for the accommodation of female teachers, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting educational sources. Sources said the bureau discovered that many apartments in the rented buildings are empty while only one teacher lives in each apartment. Sources added the bureau also highlighted the ministry s failure to take legal procedures to protect its rights whenever the landlords of rented buildings do not abide by the contracts, particularly the stipulations on maintenance works. Kuwaiti folklore group performing Ghazi Qalaf KUNA

6 LOCAL 6 DIWANIYA A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION KMA chief honoured Head of the Kuwait Medical Association (KMA) Dr Mohammad Al- Mutairi, has been elected by acclamation as chairman of the Supreme Council of the Arab Medical Union (AMU). Dr Mohammad Al-Mutairi with other doctors from Arab countries. KD 90m fines due from contractors KUNA photo Kuwait s uncontested election for the post took place during the council s general assembly hosted by the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, Al-Mutairi told KUNA on Friday. The choice reflects Kuwait s status and the distinct role of the Kuwaiti political leadership on the foreign scene, he added. Al-Mutairi previously held the post of the assistant secretary general of the AMU. (KUNA) Privatization program is on track, to provide jobs MoI photo Scaffolds and cement slabs set up in desert areas to slaughter sheep. Call to remove illegal abattoirs Residents of Ahmadi Governorate have urged Kuwait Municipality to act fast in stopping the widespread messy unlicensed slaughterhouses in Wafra Desert Area from where rotten meat are distributed due to the absence of government monitoring, reports Al-Seyassah daily quoting informed sources. They explained that the residents have been complaining about marginal workers who have been contravening law by setting up their own slaughterhouses (slabs) without taking into account the regulations and necessary hygiene MoD sets office at site Buried arms remain a threat LONDON, July 8, (Agencies): Kuwait is proceeding with the implementation of its privatization program as a strategic goal over the coming years to provide thousands of new jobs for the Kuwaiti people. Head of the Kuwait technical agency for the privatization program Sheikh Fahd Salim Al-Sabah made the statement to KUNA on Saturday on the sidelines of his current visit to London. He added that tens of thousands will be entering the labor market over the coming two decades, making it hard for the government to find them jobs in the public sector. Sheikh Fahd Al-Sabah urged the Kuwaiti youth to opt for working in the private sector with no delay, saying it will give them the chance to fulfil their expectations and promote their skills and capabilities. He referred to fears by some young men of working in the private sector, despite the legislations preserving their rights against any potential abuse by investors or employers. He stressed in that respect that the government and the National Assembly stand by the side of the Kuwaiti ambitious youth, and defend their rights. According to Sheikh Fahd Al-Sabah, the government aims from the privatization program to create jobs for thousands of the Kuwaiti youth and achieve economic growth as well as reducing the operational costs of the state. Last year, the technical agency for the privatization program conducted an overall survey for the major government sectors that can be privatized, he said. He added that they have drawn up a plan to privatize the sectors over 25 years to come. Steps Such steps are based on the privatization law, making benefit from experience of other countries, he said. He also called for amending the law so that instead of transferring ownership totally from the public to the private sector, the latter can be involved in administration or leasing. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Works Undersecretary Eng Awatef Al-Ghunaim has affirmed that the ministry is keen on collecting fines from contractors who delayed the implementation of projects, reports Al-Anba daily. Speaking to the daily, Al-Ghunaim explained the process of collecting fines includes fees for selling processed sewage to a number of authorities affiliated to the ministry; indicating the total amount which will be collected from contractors is about KD 90 million. In another development, the Parliament and government have agreed on reducing the age of housewives who receive social aid from 55 to 50 years old, reports Al-Shahid daily quoting a parliamentary source. According to the source, the proposed amendments to the law will be discussed by the concerned parliamentary committee soon in order to take a decision which satisfies all parties. The source disclosed that the government thinks reducing the age to 40 will be an additional burden on the national budget. conditions set by Kuwait Municipality. The marginal workers are now seen in droves along Wafra Road, specifically at kilo-mark 6. The sources went on to explain that these workers operate like mafia in their manner of establishing livestock pens from where they sell sheep and slaughter them in open places. They also process the meat for sale without minimum hygienic consideration for the tools they use while the butchers may not comprehend the health status of the animals they slaughter. KUWAIT CITY, July 8: The Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) has given representatives of the Ministry of Defense a permanent office at the site of its South Mutla a project, reports Al-Shahed daily. The daily added, this is done to facilitate the work of the ministry personnel should the workers encounter problems with ordnance and explosives left behind by the retreating Iraqi army in PAHW spokesman, Ibrahim Al-Nashi said the discovery of some quantities of ammunition and grenades during the digging operations at the site recently did not surprise the contractor. He also said one of the terms of the contract calls for caution on the part of the contractor while carrying out digging works. He added that PAHW coordinates with the Ministry of Defense in this regard and has carried out a full sweep of the site before the start of the work. However, ammunition may still lay buried at a certain depth according to the contractor. Sheikh Fahd Mischief-mongers keep away Salvation only in Gulf unity WHILE HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad (we pray to Almighty Allah to protect him), the government of Kuwait and most Kuwaitis are committed to remain neutral in the current conflict among some members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, we have observed how some political activists are supporting some of the parties to the conflict, columnist Dr Ali Al-Zuabi wrote for Al-Shahed daily. These activists by their attitudes do not actually take into account Kuwait s neutral tendency which is aimed at protecting the unity of the member States, because God forbid any disunity shall make the Council very weak in the face of political turmoil and insecurity which currently prevails in some of the neighboring countries. This shall make everyone an easy prey for both the regional and international powers. Those who believe they can benefit from the current Gulf/Gulf dispute including politicians, analysts, the print media, e-newspapers and other news services and the social media activists can be seen as selfish people. They are captives of their own tendencies and unfortunately aren t able to understand the dangers they are likely to face in the region following God forbid the collapse of the GCC unity, because these people have proved they are ignorant. Not just that, these people have ignored the need for the formation of a new regional coalition in the face of new regional and foreign powers which have sprouted all around and are currently striving to dominate the most important part of the world the Arabian Gulf. Such being the case, those who believe that they at the moment will benefit by supporting the parties to the dispute in the current GCC crisis are striving to fan the flames of fire and sow hatred among the Gulf countries but will definitely find themselves among the slaves of non-arab regional powers (foreign powers) the powers which actually pay no attention to our progress, evolution and security. In Kuwait, unfortunately, the so-called Gulf Rice (money) is distributed every way to buy the consciences of Dr Al-Zuabi some people and drag the State of Kuwait into this struggle although our country is not part of it. This is something against the opinion and the desire of the leader of the nation HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad we pray to Almighty Allah to protect and take care of him. This intrusion shall expose Kuwait to unjustifiable criticism and insults from various parties to the relevant struggle due to what is being done by some Kuwaiti opportunists who have dragged the country into this issue in contradiction of the official attitude of the Kuwaiti leadership. Such being the case, we call on the concerned authorities in the country to show no leniency to these violations because the attitudes of the relevant political adolescents constitute a significant danger for the country, particularly since we know that these adolescents pay no attention to anything except collecting rice from whichever state possible. Ironically, some people who have dubbed the GCC assistance to the Arab Republic of Egypt as Gulf Rice are shamelessly eating the same Gulf Rice. In conclusion, I pray to Almighty Allah to purify the atmospheres of the Gulf nation and help the Arabian Gulf region resume its march as unified GCC organization. I also pray to Almighty Allah to solve all the problems currently facing the GCC countries which are involved in the crisis in question and resume their normal relations. Likewise, we hope those who are striving to benefit from the current GCC crisis will find themselves sitting and moaning in a dark corner because they paid no heed to fraternal bonds which link the GCC member States but ignored the fact that our unity is the safety valve capable of protecting us from every prospective foreign danger. Also: The relationship between the Zionists under the Likud party and the White House during the reign of former US president Barack Obama had reached its lowest levels, columnist Sultan Ibrahim Al-Khalaf wrote for Al-Anba daily. Not just that, we venture to say this relationship reached a dead end and this could be attributed to the conclusion of the nuclear deal between Obama s administration and the Iranian regime. This development angered Israel and we found the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visiting the US Congress to urge the members to nullify the deal ignoring the fact that this constituted a gross challenge to president Barack Obama. However, this estrangement resulted in the retreat of the Zionist influence on the then US administration and the latter had during the last few months of Obama s presidential term dealt another blow to Netanyahu when the US in the UN Security Council condemned the Zionist settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territories. But this tense relationship between the US and Israel has now been transformed into a mutual understanding between the administration of Donald Trump and the Israeli government. Trump received Netanyahu at the White House after this estrangement and during a meeting with him Trump sympathized with Israel and showed his dissatisfaction for the nuclear deal between Washington and Tehran. Unfortunately, this convergence between Trump and Netanyahu will not be in favor of our Gulf region and this is evident when we look at the current rift in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) following Trump s visit to Riyadh and his call for convergence between the Arab countries and the Zionist state for the sake of encountering the Iranian regime whose Revolutionary Guard currently move freely in Syria and near the state of the Zionist occupation. Given the above, it would be wrong to trust the policy of Trump in the Arab region, because this businessman strives only to support the US treasury and provide a lot of job opportunities to the Americans inside the United States. Having said that the experience of Trump in foreign policy is nil and this shall keep him subjected directly to the influence of the Zionist lobby. As a matter of fact, we are not the only people who were dissatisfied the Europeans too had started feeling the danger about the role that is likely to be played by Trump in dismantling the European Union (EU) because of his separatist tendency. Not just that, we saw how the Canadians objected to Trump s racist tendencies against the Muslims and considered and felt that was the reason for promoting hatred against the Muslims. Apart from the above, we saw how a big segment of the Americans felt Trump was not eligible to be president of the United States of America in view of his negative decisions relate to the country s immigration and economic policies. This is in addition to his attitude towards the Climate Change Agreement or the so-called Paris climate accord in addition to his decision to nullify the Health Care Act, and his dependence on tweets to convey messages to his supporters instead of the media because he feels very sensitive towards the media. Not just that, Trump is reckless with the US media because this media has found some weaknesses in his election platform and the media sees Trump s behavior doesn t qualify him to be president of a superpower like the United States of America. However, as long as the Europeans currently are pessimistic and have warned against the Trump policy which is one of turmoil, then this means we the Arabs in general and the Gulf countries in particular must be more cautious in dealing with him more than the Europeans. We must be aware that the policy pursued by Trump pays no attention to our interests, particularly following the resumption of close ties with the racist Israelis and the extremist Likud party which is currently striving to benefit from Trump s presence in the White House and use him against the Arab interests. The talk about drugs is multidimensional, depending on the nature of the problem, its manifestations and its disastrous consequences on the individual, society and the state, columnist, Professor at Kuwait University s Political Science Department and former MP Dr Hassan Jowhar wrote for Al-Jaridah daily Tuesday. This problem may itself be considered a disgrace. The drug victims are members of a small, conservative society. Personal privacy and reputation must be taken into account. Finally, most of the narcotics lack accurate data and statistics, including confidential information. In addition to these social and technical constraints, the criminal aspect of the drug cases has escalated to draw more victims, especially the youth. The narcotics include dozens of types of traditional and new toxins. The effects of drugs vary between addiction, infectious diseases, and damage to the entire brain cells. The response to drugs requires joint efforts not only at the level of official institutions, but also in coordination with civil society institutions and individuals who fight this scourge with the help of their own private potentials. Apart from courtesies based on the principle or slogan on the war on drugs, we must recognize that the drugs victims are found among schools students particularly in the middle stages, security institutions themselves, in addition to workers in the health sector and therapeutic institutions. The drug trafficking gangs are active in these educational, security and health systems! The entry of drugs via the maritime and land borders, as evidenced raises questions about the durability and safety of borders and the degree of credit to those who guard them. The lack of enforcement of the sentences, especially the execution of those convicted for this crime, and the spread of drugs inside prisons and penal institutions add insult to injury. These are the signs of weaknesses and security breaches in the face of this destructive menace. Finally, the size and level of local abuse are very shocking. This includes children under the age of 10 and those in the age group of over 70 years, although the largest segment is from 18 to 30 years old! This shock is compounded by the fact that the number of drug abusers in Kuwait has exceeded 70, the vast majority of whom are citizens. This figure will undermine the social and political security in a small country with a total population of 1 million. These concise comparisons clearly suggest that the war on drugs has so far been benefitting the evil front, and this in itself gives serious conclusion that the drug crime system may be more influential than the government itself, an ominous sign of danger to the country. Since the invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi forces in 1990, the Gulf region has never witnessed any crisis that could shake Arab and Gulf conscience and left painful and sad feelings in the minds of citizens until the current situation whereby three GCC countries and Egypt cut ties with Qatar, Nasser Khamees Al- Mutairi wrote for Al-Nahar daily. This is complicated by the strong historical relations that bind the governments and people of the GCC countries. At this crucial period when sad feelings becloud the people of the GCC countries, all eyes are focused on Kuwait. Minds and hopes are hanging on His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Everybody is waiting for the diplomatic leader and peacemaking Sheikh to make commendable and wise moves to mend fences within the Gulf big house. All Kuwaitis have the right to be proud of belonging to a politically stable nation in terms of foreign relations. This is happening due to our leadership that occupies high status regionally and internationally, and enjoys the confidence and respect of all. May Allah preserve our dear Kuwait and protect our precious Amir. I don t think there is any Kuwaiti who does not know the stance adopted by Kuwait in the current Gulf crisis, which may lead to dire consequences God forbid if the split is not mended as soon as possible, columnist Talal Al-Saeed wrote for Al- Seyassah daily. It is necessary to eliminate all residue of dispute if the crisis is resolved. The strife escalated because analysts aren t good at predicting the consequences of crises for the reason that their profession entails flattery while fanning the flames of crises to intensify contention for cheap gain. It is important that Kuwaiti leadership has taken a clear, positive and neutral stance in the crisis in an attempt to resolve the rift as soon as possible. Add to this, Kuwait s perspective is appreciated by all parties and stakeholders especially as HH the Amir of Kuwait continues his tremendous efforts to settle the crisis. Compiled by Zaki Taleb

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8 LOCAL 8 Extremist ideology taking advantage of young people Duty of true citizens to work with govt to eliminate terrorism KUNA photo Kuwait s Ministry of Electricity and Water Undersecretary, Mohammad Hajji Boushehari heads Kuwait s delegation in the 9th session of Arab Ministerial Council for Water. 98 percent of workers in MEW citizens 74.9 pc of Kuwaitis working in govt sector KUWAIT CITY, July 8: Kuwaitis account for 74.9 percent of employees in the government sector. Kuwaiti women cover 45 percent of all the positions while 25 percent are occupied by expatriate women, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting a recent governmental statistic. The statistic indicates that the highest number of Kuwaiti employees works in the Ministry of Electricity and Water with 18,762 of them accounting for 98 percent of employees, while 1,430 expatriate employees cover the remaining two percent. About 13,000 Kuwaiti employees cover 94 percent of employees at Ministry of Public Works, while 527 of them work at the Kuwait Credit Bank. The remaining 35 employees are expatriates. KUWAIT CITY, July 8: During a forum titled The impact of extremist radical thought in GCC states organized on Friday in Andalus area by the Gulf People s Committee with the aim of combating extremism, the speakers at the forum stressed the need for concerted efforts of governments and civil society institutions in GCC countries to counter extremist ideology and terrorism in a manner that will expose the disadvantages of adopting such perverted thought, reports Al-Qabas daily. They said the Muslim Brotherhood Group had set up change acad- Ministry of Health has 26,000 Kuwaiti employees, constituting 29 percent of the entire workforce, most of who are administrative employees. In contrary, there are 36,000 expatriate employees who are responsible for primary healthcare. About 11,000 Kuwaitis work at Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, constituting 67 percent of the entire workforce. emies to spread ideas and slogans for misleading young people into creating chaos in countries to overthrow their regimes. In this regard, Dr Fahad Al- Shulaimi explained that extremist ideology is taking advantage of young people, due to which terrorism must be dealt with seriously in order to eliminate it. The announcement of the launch of Gulf People s Committee to combat extremism is widely accepted by the people of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This is the best evidence of a common desire to eliminate terrorism. He said it was the duty of true citizens to work side-by-side with the government to eliminate terrorism and extremism, especially considering the great danger posed by the change academies of the Muslim Brotherhood Group which want to overthrow the system of government in the regional countries. Dr Shulaimi added, This will not be allowed and we will never allow that to happen. On his part, Mohammed Al- Yasin said terrorism has several reasons, topped by politicization of religious discourse for achieving personal, tribal and sectarian interests as well as lack of concern for the young people. He stressed, As a society, we must realize that we have become expendable and unproductive people, which has made us need everything from abroad. This has created a lot of free time for our youths. In addition, Eyad Al-Mutawa said terrorism has an economic and social cost that comes from the presence of extreme thought among a family member, and leads to the disintegration of the family and differences among its members. KUNA photo Former Lebanese President Michel Suleiman during an exclusive interview with Kuwait News Agency. Ex-president calls for reactivating charter Former Lebanese president Michel Suleiman called for reactivating the charter of Arab League of Joint Action after 70 years of establishment. Suleiman, in an exclusive interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), said the charter needed to be renewed to ensure capability of the Arab League in restoring its role in resolving crises experienced in the region. The former president said political and strategic policies, technological developments and globalization, emerging regional and international blocs all require the reactivation of the role of the Arab League. Authority monitoring employers PAM to ensure workers receive their wages, other entitlements He noted that most of the crises facing Arab countries now are results from the absence of a unified Arab vision on many issues. Peace process in the Middle East, poverty, unemployment, violence and terrorism are priorities that need to be solved by the League, said Suleiman. Charter of the League of Arab States was signed on March 22, 1945 by delegations from member states. It coordinates tasks among member states, discuss issues of mutual concern and resolve disputes among them. By Fares Al-Abadan Al-Seyassah Staff KUWAIT CITY, July 8: Deputy Director General of Public Authority for Manpower Abdullah Al-Mutawtah affirmed that the authority will follow up workers who protest in demand for their rights, and will ensure they receive their wages and other entitlements. However, Al-Mutawtah did not say anything to indicate the readiness of the authority to prevent the deportation of the concerned workers due to their demand for their rights. He made the abovementioned statement in reaction to the information circulating on social media that Ministry of Interior has deported some workers due to a protest they organized in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh to demand for their salaries which their employer company had not paid. Al-Mutawtah reiterated the authority is monitoring employers and will take legal actions against them to protect the rights of employees. He explained the authority is working in line with law No. 109/2013 that established it, as well as implementing the labor law No. 6/2010 and relevant decisions.

9 LOCAL 9 MoI photo Chief of General Staff of Kuwaiti Armed Forces Lieutenant General Mohammed Khaled Al-Khader visited the Ali Al-Sabah Military Academy to oversee the process of registration of new military cadets. He was accompanied by his deputy Lieutenant General Abdullah Al-Nawaf. They were welcomed by the academy s commander, Major General Bader Al-Awadhi. During their tour of the academy, they were offered a brief explanation about the registration procedure which has been facilitated for the applicants joining batch No. 22, which is for cadet officers and graduates from higher learning institutions, and batch No. 47 for cadet officers. Bachelors in residential areas targeted Major campaign to remove encroachments begins today Staff, head at loggerheads Man acquitted in huge case of cash swindling By Jaber Al-Hamoud Al-Seyassah Staff and Agencies KUWAIT CITY, July 8: The Misdemeanor Court acquitted a Kuwaiti citizen who was accused of swindling a compatriot and deceiving him into investing KD 450,000 in a nonexistent project in London. The Public Prosecution had filed charges against the suspect, accusing him of deceiving the victim into investing in the London project in return for huge profits. However, the defense counsel Lawyer Abdulmohsen Al Qattan affirmed that the complainant had Court Cases/Crime Al-Qattan agreed with his client to invest in a commercial project in London after his client had presented him the large profit to be derived from it. He said the investment was based on trust between them as in other commercial projects between the two, thus there was no incriminating evidence that his client had deceived the complainant. Payment nullified: The Court of First Instance presided over by Judge Bader Al-Wazzan nullified the payment of legal fees evaluation order above KD 1,800, and ordered the respondent to the petition to bear the expenses. Counsel to the petitioning company Lawyer Mohammad Khalil Al-Qattan declared the order against which his client petitioned was made News in Brief in a civil-commercial case at the Court of First Instance. He faulted the previous verdict, saying it was not in order and should be considered as if it never existed, adding that the previous court did not explore the necessary procedures, because the declaration was wrong. Staff, head at odds: The differences, disagreements and lack of cooperation between the employees of one of the departments of Ministry of Justice and the department head forced the employees to submit a letter of no-confidence to the ministry officials, especially after she lodged a complaint against some of them at a police station, reports Al-Rai daily. In their letter to the ministry officials, 20 employees of the real-estate registration department at one of the courts explained the reasons that led them to file the complaint against their department head. The matter was handled through an administrative channel, which should be followed in such cases, to file a judicial lawsuit. The employees accused the head of their department of not being professional, as she signed exit reports for some of the employees during official working hours, claiming that this matter is contrary to the truth, and can be proven through official papers and transactions. The employees revealed that the department head went to the police station to sue a number of employees of her department and wasted their time in cases. The department eventually became the most frequently-visited place by detectives and lawyers to influence the will of some employees to testify in favor of the head of the department at the police station. By Abdulnasser Al-Aslami Al-Seyassah Staff KUWAIT CITY, July 8: Kuwait Municipality announced through its Twitter account that it will launch an intensive campaign next Sunday on northwest of Sulaibikhat and Jaber Al-Ahmad areas to remove encroachments on state properties such as bakalas in private residential areas, diwaniyas, iron or wooden walls that obstruct vision, and any violating structures including tents. A number of followers urged Kuwait Municipality to launch Bedoun held for stealing cars, selling to garages in scrapyard KUWAIT CITY, July 8: Police have arrested a bedoun for stealing cars and selling them to owners of garages in Amghara, reports Al-Anba daily. The daily added, the suspect was arrested after an expatriate called the Operations Room of the Interior Ministry and complained about the theft of his car which he had apparently left unattended with the engine on. Police patrols were informed about the theft and given the description and details about the car and the suspect was arrested before he reached Amghara. During interrogation the bedoun admitted to stealing the car. He also said this is not the first theft he had committed and admitted to selling a car worth KD 3,000 for just KD 500. He said the buyers were fully aware that they were buying stolen cars, which they dismantled and sold the parts. The daily did not give more details. Residents complain: Residents in Block Nine, Salem Al-Mubarak Street, Salmiya have complained about the three storey telecommunications tower in the area as it allegedly causes headaches and epilepsy, reports Al-Seyassah daily. In their complaint to the daily, the residents pointed out that the tower touches the flats and low buildings around it. They claimed some people residing in the area have been suffering from chronic headache and a number of children had epileptic attacks due to waves emanating from the tower. They urged the concerned officials at Kuwait Municipality and Municipal Council to look into the situation, indicating the tower owned by a telecommunications company is located in Thuwaini Building, just a few meters away from the houses so its electrical and magnetic waves penetrate the nearby houses. They pointed out the Municipality has prohibited the installation of all types of telecommunication towers on rooftops, especially in buildings used as kindergartens or any educational activity, as well as public and private hospitals. They said the Municipality used to require presentation of license prior to installation of towers even if there are no houses or apartments nearby. They added a permit must be obtained while the such campaigns in all areas because a number of them are filled with such encroachments especially by bachelors living in private residential areas in Khaitan. The municipality affirmed in its account that neighbors should lodge a complaint to the nearest police station and then to the municipality if they know of any private houses that offer accommodation to bachelors. One of the followers protested the move to launch such a campaign in Sulaibikhat and Jaber Al-Ahmad areas, claiming about rampant encroachments in Fahad Al-Ahmad area. He lamented about large number of trees in Block 2 which is very disturbing and obstructs vision, besides being fertile land for fire eruptions in the area. Another follower revealed about widespread comeback of car parking sheds and walls after they were removed using bulldozers few months back. He said some of these structures block alleys leading to service facilities between houses in Sulaibikhat area. Telecom tower causes headache, epilepsy: residents owners are also required to show the location and height of the tower. Moreover, the Municipal Council had earlier reported receiving complaints about these towers because of the harmful waves emanating from them. Don t issue visas : The Acting Director-General of the General Department for Residence Affairs Major-General Abdullah Al-Hajri, has issued a circular not to issue Visa Article No. 20 to people of Madagascar (domestic workers), reports Al-Anba daily. The circular refers to a letter No /13 issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attached to which is a memo issued by the Embassy of Madagascar in the Saudi capital Riyadh on the employment of domestic workers. The daily added, the suspension The Director-General of the Kuwait Fire Services Directorate (KFSD) Lt General Khaled Al-Markrad, said the fire which erupted at the Credit Bank in last week of the holy month of Ramdan was not a case of arson but was caused by a flying spark from welding works, reports Al-Jarida daily. Al-Makrad pointed out the KFSD used the CCTV footage of the State Security building opposite to the site of the fire to come to the conclusion of the fire. However, a detailed reported is expected to be issued soon. Essa Al-Othman Mosque in Al-Khaldiya area Lamia Al-Farsi KUNA of Visa under Article No. 20 comes at the request of the government of Madagascar which has decided against sending domestic workers to the Gulf states. Dying for love: A young man who is believed to be in his 20s has been admitted to the intensive care unit of the Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 20s after he jumped from the balcony of the house of his girlfriend in Hawalli in a vain attempt to end his life, reports Al-Rai daily. A security source said this happened when the girl s father refused to allow the young man to marry his daughter. He went to the girl s house carrying a Kalashnikov rifle allegedly to frighten the father, but instead attempted to end his life. He will be interrogated when his condition gets better. Don t want babies : A Kuwaiti who mercilessly beat his wife because she was taking contraceptives without his knowledge has been admitted to the Farwaniya Hospital, reports Al-Anba daily. The man told police the wife wanted to postpone pregnancy because she is still young and not ready to give birth. A case has been registered at the area police station. Liquor in car: Customs officers at the Nuwaiseeb border post recently foiled an attempt by a GCC citizen to smuggle five bottles of imported booze into the country, reports Al- Shahed daily. The bottles were hidden in a secret compartment in his car. The contraband and the smuggler have been referred to the authorities. Home vandalized: A Kuwaiti citizen and his sister filed a case against their cousin, accusing him of trespassing into their house in Salmiya area and vandalizing it, says Al-Seyassah. According to security sources, the siblings went to Salmiya Police Station and reported to securitymen that their cousin broke the main gate at night, sneaked into their house and vandalized it before running away. Investigations have been launched to find and arrest the suspect. Meanwhile, a Kuwaiti citizen filed a theft case against an unknown individual who stole his Camry vehicle which was parked in front of his house in Fahad Al- Ahmad area. He provided securitymen with description of his vehicle. Investigations are underway to find the vehicle and the thief. In addition, a Kuwaiti citizen filed a theft case against an unknown individual who stole electrical equipment worth more than KD 1,000 from his farm in Abdali area. Pakistani robbed: A Pakistani expatriate accused an employee of a local bank of stealing KD 1,000 from his bank account, says Al-Seyassah. According to security sources, the Pakistani expatriate went to a police station in Ahmadi Governorate and explained to securitymen that he went to the bank to deposit KD 500 in his account. The employee asked him for his civil ID card, his debit card and the secret pin number (as alleged by the Pakistani expatriate). After depositing the amount, he took only his civil ID card and forgot the debit card. After ten days, when he realized his debit card was missing, he went to the bank and checked his balance to discover KD 1,000 was withdrawn in three batches. A case was registered and referred to the Public Prosecution for investigations. Drifter dies on stolen car Driver commits suicide in his sponsor s house By Munaif Nayef Al-Seyassah Staff KUWAIT CITY, July 8: An Asian expatriate committed suicide by hanging inside his sponsor s house in Saad Al-Abdullah area. According to security sources, when the Operations Room of Ministry of Interior received information from a Kuwaiti citizen about finding his driver hanging from the ceiling with a rope noosed around his neck inside a room in his house, securitymen and paramedics rushed to the location. They pulled down the body and checked it to discover the driver had died. The corpse was referred to the Forensics Department. A case was registered and investigations have been launched to determine the cause of the suicide. Drifter killed: A youth, who had stolen a vehicle and driven it recklessly on Ahmadi Stables Road, died when the vehicle crashed into a lamppost. According to security sources, when the Operations Room of Ministry of Interior received information about the accident, patrol officers rushed to the location to discover the youth, who was not more than 20 years of age and possibly a Kuwaiti citizen, had died. When securitymen checked the details of the vehicle, they discovered it was reported as stolen. The corpse of the deceased was referred to the Forensics Department and a case was registered. Meanwhile, two motorists miraculously survived when their vehicles collided and toppled. Securitymen took necessary action. Death probed: The remains of a Kuwaiti man who died inside a flat in Salmiya area were referred to Forensics by Criminal Evidences Men to investigate the cause of death. A security source said the citizen born in 1979 was found dead inside his flat in Salmiya area under mysterious circumstances but detectives could not trace any crime at the scene, and there was no sign of assault on the body. A case was registered and investigation is ongoing to resolve mystery surrounding his death.

10 INTERNATIONAL 10 World News Roundup A Dallas Police Department officer plays Taps at a blue light ceremony in front of City Hall in downtown Dallas on July 7. The ceremony was organized to remember the five law enforcement officers killed in a sniper attack at a Black Lives Matter demonstration in downtown Dallas on July 7. (Inset): The San Antonio Police Department s Honor Guard prepares to the casket from the hearse to the horse-drawn carriage during the funeral for police officer Miguel Moreno, in San Antonio. Moreno died of wounds suffered when he and his partner were shot by a man they intended to question about a vehicle break-in last week. (AP) Guantanamo Ex-inmate gets apology, millions Travel feud cancels 9/11, USS Cole case hearings MIAMI, July 8, (AP): A US military judge on Friday put pretrial hearings in the Sept 11 terrorism case at Guantanamo Bay on an indefinite hold amid a dispute with officials over the way he travels to the remote courtroom. Army Col James Pohl says that as a judge he must be kept separate from participants in proceedings against the accused Sept 11 plotters. For years, that included taking a Coast Guard speedboat across Guantanamo Bay from the airport to the court on the US base in Cuba. Others involved in the case take a ferry. The commander of the detention center, Navy Rear Adm. Edward man, abruptly changed base policy on June 23 so that the judge would no longer have access to the boat. A week later, Pohl ruled the new policy would cause him and his staff to be improperly commingled with other participants in the trial by military commission. He issued an order that put further hearings on hold until the issue is resolved. Prosecutors asked him to reconsider and suggested he could ride in a private van on the ferry. Pohl rejected that argument in the order Friday. In abating the proceedings, the Com- Pohl mission exercised its inherent authority to take steps it deemed necessary to ensure a fair trial, he wrote in a brief ruling before canceling a five-day pretrial scheduled to start July 17. Another judge, Air Force Col. Vance Spath, issued a similar order Friday putting a hold on the case of a prisoner charged in the 2000 attack on the USS Cole because of the new transportation policy, said Rick Kammen, the lead defense counsel in that case. It s not clear what prompted man to change the boat policy, but a spokesman, Navy Cmdr. John Robinson, issued a statement suggesting the judge s use of the vessel was deemed inappropriate. The new policy strengthens oversight and prevents the misuse of transportation resources as well as the perception of their misuse, he said, declining to elaborate. The result is another delay for a case that has been hobbled by repeated setbacks and delays since the May 2012 arraignment and for years before that by a political battle over whether to try the five defendants in a federal court in the US or by a military commission at Guantanamo. A trial date has not been set for the men, who include Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, who has portrayed himself as the architect of the Sept. 11, 2001, attack. Pohl has previously rejected requests by defense lawyers to abate proceedings over issues that have included health concerns about the defendants and what the attorneys have claimed are a series of efforts to undermine their ability to defend men who could get the death penalty if convicted of charges that include murder in violation of the law of war and terrorism. A former Guantanamo Bay prisoner who pleaded guilty to killing a US soldier in Afghanistan received an apology and a multimilliondollar payment from the Canadian government after a court ruling said his rights were abused. A government statement Friday said details of the settlement with Omar Khadr were confidential, but an official familiar with the deal said previously that it was for 10.5 million Canadian dollars ($8 million). A different official confirmed the money had been given to Khadr. Both insisted on speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the deal publicly. The government and Khadr s lawyers negotiated the deal last month based on a 2010 Supreme Court of Canada ruling that Canadian officials violated his rights at Guantanamo. On behalf of the government of Canada, we wish to apologize to Khadr for any role Canadian officials may have played in relation to his ordeal abroad and any resulting harm, said a statement from Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale and Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland. The Canadian-born Khadr was 15 when he was captured by US troops following a firefight at a suspected al-qaeda compound in Afghanistan that resulted in the death of an American special forces medic, US Army Sgt First Class Christopher Speer. Khadr, who was suspected of throwing the grenade that killed Speer, was taken to Guantanamo and ultimately charged with war crimes by a military commission. Refugee finally in US Hawaii bid to narrow travel ban rejected SAN FRANCISCO, July 8, (Agencies): A US appeals court on Friday rejected Hawaii s request to issue an emergency order blocking parts of President Donald Trump s temporary travel ban while the state sought clarification over what groups of people would be barred from travel. The US Supreme Court last month let the ban on travel from six Muslim-majority countries go forward with a limited scope, saying it could not apply to anyone with a credible bona fide relationship with a US person or entity. The Trump administration then decided that spouses, parents, children, fiancés and siblings would be exempt from the ban, while grandparents and other family members traveling from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen would be barred. Trump said the measure was necessary to prevent attacks. However, opponents including states and refugee advocacy groups sued to stop it, disputing its security rationale and saying it discriminated against Muslims. A Honolulu judge this week rejected Hawaii s request to clarify the Supreme Court ruling and narrow the government s implementation of the America Immigration Right to record police in public: A federal appeals court in Philadelphia has joined five other circuits in finding that citizens have a First Amendment right to videotape police in public. The US 3rd Circuit on Friday joined what it called the growing consensus that the public can photograph or record police without retaliation. US Judge Thomas L. Ambro stressed that the US Constitution grants citizens the right to information about how our public servants operate in public. He acknowledged the pressure faced by police but said bystander recordings since at least the Rodney King beating by Los Angeles police in 1991 have both exposed police misconduct and exonerated officers from errant charges. Such recordings, he said, provide different perspectives than the images captured by police dashboard and body cameras. Cellphone recordings in the years since King s violent arrest was videotaped by a bystander have repeatedly captured shootings of motorists, suspects and others by police, fueling a national conversation around policing and minority communities, activists say. (AP) No bond for ex-panamanian president: A US federal judge in Florida has denied bond for a former Panamanian president who is fighting efforts to send him back to his home country to face political espionage charges. US Magistrate Edwin Torres made his ruling Friday. The order points out that Ricardo Martinelli s significant wealth and foreign connections make him a serious flight risk. Martinelli was arrested in Miami last month on an extradition warrant from Panama. A final extradition hearing is set for July 25. The former president failed to show up at a December 2015 court hearing in Panama on charges that include illegally monitoring phone and other conversations of at least 150 people with an extensive surveillance system he created with public funds. He denies any wrongdoing and is seeking asylum. (AP) Attendant breaks bottle over man s head: A flight attendant broke a wine bottle over the head of a man who lunged for an exit door and fought with other passengers during a Delta Air Lines flight from Seattle to Beijing, but it didn t faze him, an FBI agent wrote in charging papers filed Friday. Joseph Daniel Hudek IV, 23, of Tampa, Florida, appeared in US District Court, wearing a beige jail uniform and sporting a scrape or bruise below his right eye. He was arrested Thursday night after causing the disturbance that forced the plane to return to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, authorities said. Hudek did not speak during the hearing. His attorney, Robert Flennaugh II, declined to comment. (AP) ban. Hawaii appealed to the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, saying in a filing on Friday that the appeals court has the power to narrow the travel ban while it decides how to interpret the Supreme Court s ruling. A three-judge 9th Circuit panel on Friday rejected that argument and said it did not have jurisdiction to hear Hawaii s appeal. The 9th Circuit said the Honolulu judge could issue an injunction against the government in the future, if he believed it misapplied the Supreme Court s ruling to a particular person harmed by the travel ban. But the judge did not have the authority to simply clarify the Supreme Court s instructions now, the appeals court said. Meanwhile, Ali Said fled war-torn Somalia two decades ago after his right leg was blown off by a grenade. Last year, the father of seven was shot in his other leg by robbers while living in a Kenyan refugee camp. Said rolled his wheelchair up to a desk in an office hours after arriving in California from Kenya, saying he felt unbelievably lucky: He and his family are among the last refugees allowed into the United States before the Trump administration s latest travel ban rules kick in. Until this moment, in this interview, I still don t believe that I m in the United States, Said told The Associated Press through a translator Thursday at the International Rescue Committee s office in San Diego, smiling while his two sons hung at the back of his wheelchair. So during the flight, we all were saying that we are in a dream and it s not true yet until we finally landed at LAX, and we all said to each other: Yeah, we re finally here. We made it, he said. The US refugee program will be suspended Wednesday when a cap of 50,000 refugee admissions for the fiscal year the lowest in a decade was expected to be reached, according to the US State Department. Once the cap is hit, only refugees who have a relationship with an immediate family member or ties to a business in the United States will be eligible for admission during the 120-day suspension, State Department guidelines say.

11 INTERNATIONAL 11 Members of Oregon s House of Representatives meet during the last day of the 2017 legislative session on July 7. Under a bill the House passed on Friday, government-funded healthcare will be accessible for more than 14,000 children in Oregon who were brought to the United States illegally. The Senate approved the bill earlier, and Gov. Kate Brown is expected to sign it. (AP) Voting Election integrity hot button Offi cials gather amid uproar over voter data INDIANAPOLIS, July 8, (AP): State election officials from across the US are gathering this weekend amid an uproar over a White House commission investigating allegations of voter fraud and heightened concern about Russian attempts to interfere with last fall s election. That s drawn an unusual spotlight to the gathering of the National Association of Secretaries of State, which kicked-off Friday in Indianapolis and will host officials from 37 states. Security of election systems is sure to be a major point of discussion and will be the subject of a series of closed-door meetings Saturday. The Department of Homeland Security last fall said hackers believed to be Russian agents targeted voter registration systems in more than 20 states. A leaked National Security Agency document from May said Russian military intelligence had attempted to hack into voter registration software used in eight states. There is no indication so far that voting or ballot counting was affected, but officials are concerned that the Russians may have gained knowledge Trump that could help them disrupt future elections. Election integrity will be another hot button. The conference lands one week after the commission investigating President Donald Trump s allegations of election fraud requested voter information from all 50 states, drawing blowback from Republicans and Democrats alike. The request seeks dates of birth, partial Social Security numbers, addresses, voting histories, military service and other information about every voter in the country. Trump has repeatedly stated without proof that he believes millions of fraudulent ballots were cast in the November election, when he carried the Electoral College but lost the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton. The commission was launched to investigate those claims and is being chaired by Vice President Mike Pence and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who sent the request. A spokeswoman said Kobach, a Republican, will not attend the weekend conference. What remains unclear is what exactly the hodgepodge of data will be used for. Pence spokesman Marc Lotter said the commission will look for potential irregularities in voter registrations and advise states on how they can improve their practices. Also: DES MOINES, Iowa: An Iowa woman charged with voting twice for Donald Trump last fall pleaded guilty to election misconduct and is scheduled to be sentenced next month. In exchange Terri Lynn Rote s guilty plea to the felony charge, prosecutors agreed to drop a perjury charge, court records show. Judge Michael Huppert accepted her plea on June 27 and set sentencing for Aug. 15. Rote is a registered Republican and a Trump supporter. She was arrested on Oct 21 after showing up at a Polk County election satellite office in Des Moines and tried to cast a second ballot for the November election. She told police that she believed Trump s claims that the election was rigged and thought that her first ballot would be changed to a vote for Hillary Clinton. Trump easily beat Clinton in Iowa to carry the state s six electoral votes in the Nov 8 election. In this July 3 photo provided by Jolene Jackinsky, former US president Barack Obama holds Jackinsky s 6-month-old baby girl at a waiting area at Anchorage International Airport, in Anchorage, Alaska. (AP) Malvaney America Royce Bid to eliminate some agencies: The Trump administration aims to further tighten its grip on spending, issuing a memo Friday that calls for eliminating some federal agencies and cutting government jobs as part of the upcoming fiscal 2019 budget. Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney wrote in the memo to agency and department heads that the goal is ensuring that the federal government spends precious taxpayer dollars only on worthwhile policies. He added that the 2019 budget would be a comprehensive plan to reduce the number of government workers and merge or terminate federal agencies as requested by an executive order signed in March by President Donald Trump. (AP) VA makes public action: The Department of Veterans Affairs is posting a weekly list of disciplinary actions taken against its employees, part of an overhaul effort pushed by President Donald Trump. VA Secretary David Shulkin said Friday the effort is aimed at improving accountability at the struggling department after Trump signed a bill last month to make it easier to fire, suspend or demote department employees. The VA is the first government agency to make employee disciplinary data public. Veterans and taxpayers have a right to know what we re doing to hold our employees accountable and make our personnel actions transparent, Shulkin said. This additional step will continue to shine a light on the actions we re taking to reform the culture at VA. (AP) More sanctions on Russia : A senior HealthCare West Virginia senator under pressure Medicaid cut worries nursing home FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, July 8, (AP): Amy Bernard and her brother kept their mother out of a nursing home as long as they could, until Parkinson s and dementia took their toll and she was seriously injured in a fall. Bernard is happy with her mother s nursing home care, but it comes at a steep price: $7,000 per month, an amount that would be way beyond the older woman s means if not for Medicaid, which picks up $3,000 of the tab. Which is why Bernard and many other Americans like her are watching the healthcare debate on Capitol Hill with trepidation. The Senate Republicans plan to repeal and replace president Barack Obama s Affordable Care Act would cut projected Medicaid spending over the next decade by 25 percent. Supporters of the bill say nursing home subsidies would not suffer significant cuts, but opponents say they are inevitable. The uncertainty is frustrating to those who rely on them. In the case of Bernard s 83-yearold mother, retired teacher Franceen Golditch, the $4,000 that she receives each month from her pension and Social Security goes almost entirely to the nursing home. Without Medicaid supplementing, I don t know what would happen, said Bernard, a self-employed graphic artist in Boynton Beach, Florida. She added: I have a house and kids to support myself. I honestly have no answer. While the federal-state Medicaid program is most often associated with poor children and single mothers, almost two-thirds of its spending goes US Republican lawmaker filed legislation on Friday that would sanction Russia for its violations of a decades-old arms control agreement, calling them a threat to global stability. to the elderly and the disabled, even though they make up just 1 in 4 recipients. The reason: Well over half the nation s 1.3 million senior citizens in nursing homes receive Medicaid. The burden is expected to balloon as the 74 million surviving baby boomers those born between 1946 and 1964 get older. They are 52 to 71 now. In part because of the Medicaid cuts, the GOP bill lacks the votes to pass in the Senate, which is expected to take up the measure again after Congress weeklong July Fourth recess. The bill would cut Medicaid s projected budget over the next 10 years by a combined $772 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. That would decrease the amount projected to be spent federally on Medicaid during that time to about $4.2 trillion. Patients Even with those cuts, nursing home patients would continue to receive significant assistance because federal Medicaid spending would grow by 20 percent over the next decade from its current level, said Zach Hunter, a spokesman for the GOP-led House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which helped write the House version of the bill. Meanwhile, he said, federal regulations would be eased, giving states more flexibility to tailor their programs. The proposed changes are an important step towards strengthening the Medicaid program and ensuring vital funds go to the most vulnerable, Hunter said. He said the bill makes provisions, for example, for possible Washington and Moscow have long questioned each other s commitment to the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which banned nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and Hall at Atrium Village on July 7, in Owings Mills, Maryland. Cardin took questions from senior citizens concerned about the impact of the proposed Republican healthcare bill. (AFP) medical advances such as drugs for Alzheimer s or other diseases of the aged. Joe Baker, president of the Medicare Rights Center, an advocacy group that opposes the bill, said substantial cuts eventually would hurt those who rely on nursing home assistance. You can t say you are going to save a lot of money on kids and pregnant women because there isn t a lot of money there to save, Baker said. Look at the population that is costing you a lot and, frankly, that is older adults and older adults who are 85- plus. Medicare, the federal health insurance program that primarily covers people 65 and older, does not cover long-term nursing home care. Meanwhile, West Virginia s Republican senator, Shelley Moore Capito, is under pressure from those in her state opposed to Medicaid cuts in the Senate GOP health care bill. West Virginia has one of the country s lowest median incomes. It s home to some of the worst rates of drug overdose deaths, smoking, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and disabilities. Around 3 in 10 West Virginians are on Medicaid, making it the state most dependent on the health insurance program for the poor, disabled and nursing home residents. Capito says she cares deeply about healthcare but that changes and reforms to Medicaid are necessary. One of the few Republicans opposed to the bill as written, Capito says she wants to protect the state s Medicaid expansion and keep other programs helping her constituents. cruise missiles with a range of 500-5,500 km (300-3,400 miles). Representative Ed Royce, chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement that Russia President Vladimir Putin has disregarded Russia s obligations under the INF Treaty for years. (RTRS) Alaska mom, baby meet Obama: An Alaska mother is cherishing cellphone photos she snapped of her wide-eyed 6-monthold baby in the arms of former president Barack Obama. Jolene Jackinsky was at Anchorage International Airport on Monday looking for an airline when she ended up in a waiting area for private flights where a man she thought looked like Obama was sitting. As I got closer, I thought: Oh my God, it is Obama, she recalled Friday from Newhalen, a small Alaska village where she s vacationing. Obama then walked up to her and asked Who is this pretty girl? They chatted about how fast children grow while Obama carried baby Giselle. Jackinsky took a few photos of a smiling Obama carrying Giselle, who was wearing a straw hat with a white ribbon. (AP)

12 INTERNATIONAL 12 World News Roundup Left to right: US President Donald Trump, China s President Xi Jinping, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Argentina s President Mauricio Macri and Australia s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull turn around for photographers at the start of the fi rst working session of the G20 meeting in Hamburg, northern Germany on July 7. Leaders of the world s top economies gather from July 7 to 8, in Germany for likely the stormiest G20 summit in years, with disagreements ranging from wars to climate change and global trade. (AFP) Health Summit He could be treated Hospital to re-examine terminally ill boy case LONDON, July 8, (Agencies): The British hospital treating a terminally ill baby boy said on Friday it would examine claims that he could be treated after US President Donald Trump and Pope Francis drew international attention to the case. The hospital had been due to withdraw life support for Charlie Gard after his parents lost appeals in British courts and the European Court of Human Rights to have him undergo experimental treatment. Two international hospitals and their researchers have communicated to us as late as the last 24 hours that they have fresh evidence about their proposed experimental treatment, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children said in a statement. We believe, in common with Charlie s parents, it is right to explore this evidence, it said. The hospital said it had itself applied to a court in Britain for a fresh hearing in the case of Charlie Gard in light of claims of new evidence relating to potential treatment Pope Francis of his condition. This is not an issue about money or resources, but absolutely about what is right for Charlie, it said. The hospital said its doctors had explored every medical treatment and that further treatment would be unjustified... and would prolong Charlie s suffering. Our view has not changed, it added. We believe it is right to seek the High Court s view in light of the claimed new evidence. Case The case is expected to be heard on Monday, according to a High Court listing. The parents of the 10-month-old baby, who suffers from brain damage, have been fighting to take him to the United States to be treated for his extremely rare form of mitochondrial disease. The courts had ruled that keeping the baby on life support would only prolong his suffering as there was no hope of his recovering from the disease, which causes progressive muscle weakness, including in key organs such as the heart. Pope Francis on Sunday expressed his support for the baby s parents and said he hoped doctors would allow them to care for their child until the end. A Vatican-run hospital in Rome then offered to treat Gard. Trump also waded into the debate on Monday, tweeting that the United States would be delighted to help. Mother Connie Yates maintains her son is not in pain or suffering and that the support from the Pope and the President has given us hope. Also: LONDON: Britain s Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Eli Lilly and Co in a patent dispute with generic drug-maker Actavis over Lilly s Alimta cancer treatment. The court announced Friday that Actavis products infringe Eli Lilly s patent in Britain, France, Italy and Spain. The decision by UK s top court upholds a 2015 ruling by the Court of Appeal in London. The court says it will publish the full judgment on Wednesday. Alimta is one of Eli Lilly s best-selling drugs, and the Indianapolis-based company has sought to protect it against generic competition. Michael J. Harrington, senior vice president and general counsel for Lilly, said that while we do not yet know the court s reasoning, we are pleased with the UK Supreme Court s key conclusions. US President Donald Trump (right), and Russia s President Vladimir Putin shake hands as they hold a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany on July 7. (AFP) Britain Transitional Brexit deal sought: Britain should negotiate a transitional Brexit deal that replicates its membership of EU structures as closely as possible, its finance minister said on Friday, acknowledging the country cannot stay in the single market or customs union. Philip Hammond welcomed corporate input into the discussion on managing Brexit, a day after the CBI employers group said Britain should stay in the EU s single market as it works out new ties with the bloc after Brexit in I m glad that the business community is exercising a voice in this discussion. I think that is helpful, he said, adding: I do not believe it is either legally or politically possible to say in the customs union and in the single market.. Hammond, speaking on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Hamburg, said his preference was for Britain to negotiate a transitional structure that takes it out of the single market and customs union but in the transition phase replicates as much as possible of the existing arrangements. The aim would be to minimise the shock to business. Britain could negotiate new trade agreements with countries outside the EU, but this would involve implementation periods over time. In the near term, London needed to work out a transitional deal with the EU. (RTRS) Thatcher statue plan blocked: British Prime Minister Theresa May called for plans to put up a statue of Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher outside the British parliament to go ahead despite concerns it could be targeted by vandals. I understand there are a number of issues that have been raised around the statue, the Conservative leader told the BBC on Friday. There should be no suggestion that the threat of vandalism should stop a statue of Margaret Thatcher from being put up, said May, who has dismissed parallels with her fearsome predecessor. The plan is to put up the 300,000 (339,000 euros, $388,0000) bronze statue on Parliament Square next to political greats such as wartime prime minister Winston Churchill and Indian independence icon Mahatma Gandhi. Thatcher, who was Conservative prime minister between 1979 and 1990, died in 2013 aged 87, leaving a divisive legacy that has attracted vandals in the past. In 2002, a protester decapitated an Italian marble statue of Thatcher in London s Guildhall Library. Following her death, graffiti went up around London including one mural reading Burn in Hell Maggie. Responding to a planning application for Thatcher s statue to be put up in Parliament Square, a conservation group said a principle of leaving a 10-year gap between the death of a subject and the installation of a statue should be adhered to. (AFP) Failings hampered rescue: The firefighters who battled an inferno at a London apartment block that killed at least 80 people last month were hindered by equipment failings including the lack of a high ladder, the BBC reported on Saturday. More than 200 firefighters and 40 engines were sent to the 24-storey Grenfell Tower on June 14, rescuing 65 people from the devastated building. But the BBC said there were radio problems and a shortage of extended duration breathing apparatus, which allow firefighters to work for longer. A high ladder, which US president climate exit acknowledged Trump wins key concessions at G20 HAMBURG, July 8, (AFP): US President Donald Trump won key concessions on climate and trade Saturday from world leaders at the most fractious G20 summit to date, in exchange for preserving the unity of the club of major industrialised and emerging economies. In a final statement agreed by all 20 economies, 19 members including Russia, China and the European Union acknowledged Trump s decision to go his own way on taking the US out of the 2015 Paris climate accord. But they also accommodated Washington s wish to work closely with other countries to help them access and use fossil fuels more cleanly and efficiently. While renewing a key anti-protectionist pledge, the communique for the first time underlined the right of countries to protect their markets with legitimate trade defence instruments. Such wording gives room for Trump to push on with his America First policy. Carried on a wave of public fury over deindustrialisation in vast areas of the United States, Trump had promised to Buy American and Hire American. Stance But that stance had set him against many of America s allies, who warned Trump against an isolationist path. Nevertheless, the wording of the final agreement marked the group of top economies decision to finally close ranks despite bitter differences. Just behind the tightly secured G20 summit venue, charred road barricades, trashed shops and stones, debris and shattered glass bore testimony to an anarchic night, when police commandoes with semi-automatic weapons detained militants who hurled rocks from rooftops. The clashes had blocked US First Lady Melania Trump at her residence on Friday, forcing her to miss a tour of Hamburg harbour, and for G20 organisers to completely alter a programme for spouses of visiting leaders. On Saturday, thousands of anti-riot cops were on standby and helicopters hovered overhead, as some 70,000 people were on the march again, according to organisers. Within the summit walls, meetings have also been anything but harmonious. All eyes were also on Trump s diplomatic waltz during the billionaire s first outing to the summit. His most eagerly awaited encounter was a head-to-head with Russia s strongman President Vladimir Putin their first which lasted two and a quarter hours on Friday. A day after Trump slammed Moscow s actions in Ukraine and Syria, Trump eyes swift UK trade deal, says his state visit to go ahead HAMBURG, July 8, (AFP): US President Donald Trump said Saturday his controversial state visit to Britain will go ahead, adding that he was hoping for a very powerful trade deal with London very, very quickly. As he met with British Prime Minister Theresa May at the G20 summit in Germany, Trump predicted that trade would be a very big factor between the two nations. There is no country that could possibly be closer than our countries, he said. We are working on a trade deal a very, very big deal, a very powerful deal, great for both countries, and I think we ll have that done very, very quickly. The president said he had brought with him all of our trade people including Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. Any negotiations for such an accord would further drive a wedge between Britain and the European Union, which has warned London against striking any separate agreement before its divorce from the bloc is complete. Back home, May has come under fire for seeking to curry favour with Trump and came in for heavy criticism in January for inviting him for a state visit just seven days after he the two men had a robust and lengthy exchange about allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 US election, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said. But Tillerson, who was present at the marathon meeting, also said the two alpha-male leaders connected very quickly with very clear positive chemistry. Trump said Saturday that the tete-a-tete was tremendous. Further driving a wedge between the UK and the European Union, Trump met Saturday with British Prime Minister Theresa May and said he was looking forward to a very powerful trade deal very, very quickly. His comments came despite the EU warning London against negotiating any separate agreement before Britain s divorce from the bloc is complete. But Trump faced another thorny meeting later, when he was to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. North Korea s first inter-continental ballistic missile test is expected to top the discussions, with Trump warning Thursday that Pyongyang s military sabre-rattling would bear consequences. Hammond May took office. But questions about the trip arose after it got no mention in Queen Elizabeth II s annual speech to parliament in June when it is customary for the monarch to list upcoming state visits. Asked if the visit would still go ahead, Trump said it would. I will be going to London, he said. Asked when, he said: We ll work that out. The US leader said he had developed a very special relationship with May, who hot-footed to Washington just days after the president s inauguration in the hope of securing the promise of future trade ties once the UK leaves the European Union. But the planned state visit has received huge criticism at home, with a petition against it attracting more than 1.8 million signatures. Thousands of protesters rallied outside parliament in February as MPs debated the visit, with some lawmakers calling for it to be downgraded from the regal affair represented by a state visit, to a regular visit. Since visiting Washington, May has suffered a chastening general election in which her Conservative Party surprisingly lost its outright majority in parliament, hanging on as leader thanks to a deal with small Northern Ireland party the DUP. Trump had also said he is considering a severe response to its very, very bad behaviour. Ahead of the talks with Xi, Tillerson said the US would continue to press China to do more to rein in Pyongyang. Our engagement is unchanged with China and our expectations are unchanged. We have not given up hope, he added. In related news, world leaders meeting for a summit in Germany have agreed every aspect of a joint statement apart from the section on climate where the United States is pushing for a reference to fossil fuels, European Union officials said on Saturday. The officials said aides had worked until 2 am to finalise a communique for the Group of 20, overcoming differences on trade after US officials agreed to language on fighting protectionism. The outcome is good. We have a communique. There is one issue left, which is on climate, but I am hopeful we can find a compromise, said one EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity. We have all the fundamentals. might have given the fire crews a better chance of stopping the blaze from engulfing the building, did not arrive for more than 30 minutes. Crews also cited problems with water pressure, the BBC said, although water firm Thames Water told the broadcaster that any suggestion there was low pressure or that Thames Water did not supply enough water to fire services during this appalling tragedy is categorically false. (RTRS)

13 INTERNATIONAL 13 Migrants Admit fixed number Be less cynical in anti-trafficking: Tusk HAMBURG, July 8, (Agencies): EU President Donald Tusk on Friday called on G20 leaders to be less cynical in the fight against human trafficking, urging countries to back a proposal that would levy UN sanctions against migrant smugglers. Leaders of the world s top 20 economies, including US President Donald Trump, are in Hamburg for a twoday G20 summit, where climate change and trade are expected to be the main topics but migration will also be discussed. We should try to convince our partners to be more active, more positive, less cynical, more determined, when it comes to our common fight against smugglers and the whole dirty business in Libya, Tusk said during a press conference in Hamburg. Europe has this week been struggling with proposals on how to deal with a renewed influx of migrants that has forced Italy to accept around 85,000 of the 100,000 people who have arrived this year. Most are sub-saharan Africans crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Libya, a journey that has claimed more than Tusk 2,200 lives so far this year, UN figures show. Last year, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) recorded 335,000 migrants heading northwards out of Niger, some heading for Algeria, but most going to Libya in hope of either finding work there or boarding a boat to Europe. Agadez, a remote town in Niger on the edge of the Sahara, has become the smuggling capital of Africa, where traffickers prey on would-be migrants headed for Europe. A trip usually costs between 200,000 to one million CFA francs (300-1,500 euros/$340-$1,700) per person for a journey smugglers claim will end up in Europe, but often goes no further than Agadez or Libya. According to Tusk, the illegal business generates $1.6 billion in Libya alone, which he said allows smugglers to control parts of the country and cooperate with terrorists which serves to undermine Libya s stability. Propose This is why I will propose to all the G20 leaders to pursue targeted UN sanctions against smugglers, particularly asset freezes and travel bans, he said. It is the very minimum that can be done at the global level, but unfortunately I have to say that today we do not have the full support even for that minimum, Tusk said. If we do not get it, it will be a sad proof of the hypocrisy of some of the G20 members. According to an official involved in the G20 talks, the idea of sanctions has found good support but also opposition from Russia and China. The leaders will discuss migration on Saturday, the official said. The massive influx of migrants has revived fears of a return to the European Union s migrant crisis of 2015, when hundreds of thousands of people arrived on the continent in search of a better life. Meanwhile, former Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi, the head of the ruling Democratic Party, on Friday said Italy should allow only a fixed number of migrants into the country as it grapples with a wave of people arriving by sea from North Africa. There has to be a fixed number of arrivals. We should not feel guilty if we are not able to welcome everyone, Renzi said in a video posted on his party s website. We have to save everyone, but we are not able to welcome everyone into Italy, he said. Italy has been struggling to cope with an influx of migrants, mostly sub-saharan Africans, crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Libya, a journey that has so far claimed more than 2,200 lives this year, UN figures show. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the country has accepted around 85,000 of the 100,000 people who have arrived this year. The arrivals have revived fears of a return to the European Union s migrant crisis of 2015, when hundreds of thousands of people reached the continent in search of a better life. Tensions The massive wave has also exacerbated tensions with neighbouring Austria, which this week threatened to send troops to its border with Italy to stop migrants entering. Italy does not have unlimited capacity to welcome migrants, Italy s Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said in Hamburg on Friday. I cannot come to terms with the fact that there are rescue operations in international (waters) and a uniquely national welcome. On Thursday, EU interior ministers backed an urgent European Commission plan to help crisis-hit Italy, which earmarks 35 million euros ($40 million) in aid for Rome as well as proposals for working with Libya and other countries to stem the flow of migrants. Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti, back in Rome after the EU meeting in Estonia s capital Tallinn, said he would firmly reiterate his push for other European countries to open their ports to rescue ships at a meeting in Warsaw at the EU s border agency Frontex next week. In Hamburg, Renzi also warned that countries which fail to help with the migrant crisis will suffer the consequences in upcoming European Union budget negotiations. Government data released Thursday showed that Italy has received 73,000 asylum applications since the start of the year an increase of 46 percent compared with the first six months of In related news, thirty-five migrants, including seven children, were feared drowned after their inflatable craft sank on Saturday off the Libyan coast, the coastguard said. Eighty-five migrants, including 18 women, were rescued with the help of fishermen who alerted the coastguard, said Issa al-zarrouk, a coastguard official in Garabulli, 60 kms (40 miles) east of Tripoli. Meanwhile, a Cyprus police spokesman says 85 Syrian migrants who arrived by boat to the island s northwestern coast have now been taken to a reception center. Police spokesman Michalis Ioannou said Saturday the boat that brought the 64 men, nine women and 12 children to Cyprus set sail from Antalya, Turkey. He said it had been sailing for three days and was spotted eight miles (13 kms) off the coast before landing near the village of Pomos on Friday. Ioannou said that seven men have been taken into custody because they had been deported from Cyprus in the past. A straggler fi ghting bull of Jose Escolar cattle breeder runs among participants on the second day of the San Fermin bull run festival in Pamplona, northern Spain on July 8. Each day at 8:00 am hundreds of people race with six bulls, charging along a winding, metre (more than half a mile) course through narrow streets to the city s bull ring, where the animals are killed in a bullfi ght or corrida, during this festival, immortalised in Ernest Hemingway s 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises and dating back to medieval times and also featuring religious processions, folk dancing, concerts and round-the-clock drinking. (AFP) Ekaterina of Hanover (left), and Prince Ernst August of Hanover leave after their church wedding ceremony in Hanover, central Germany, on July 8. Prince Ernst August of Hanover did not give in to the injunctions of his father and married his fi ancee Ekaterina Malysheva, a fashion designer of Russian origin. (AFP) Merkel Europe Navalny Muslim leaders begin tour: Dozens of religious leaders boarded a bus on the Champs Elysees in Paris on Saturday to kick off a European tour of the sites of recent Islamist attacks to remember the victims and condemn violence. Imams from countries including France, Belgium, Britain and Tunisia were joined by representatives of other religious communities at the spot where French policeman Xavier Jugele was shot dead in April. Tour stops will include Berlin where organisers say they hope to meet Chancellor Angela Merkel Brussels and Nice, with a return to Paris for July 14, the first anniversary of the Nice truck attack. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the Nice attack when a truck killed 86 people celebrating Bastille Day on the seafront and a truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin last December that killed 12. The Imam of Drancy and French writer Marek Halter were behind the initiative of the current tour. (RTRS) US tourist beaten to death: Greek police said Saturday that they had made eight arrests, including six Serbian nationals, after an American tourist was beaten to death in a bar on the island of Zante. Police said they detained the Serbians after viewing CCTV footage, having already arrested a Greek barman and a British bouncer of Serbian origin after a violent altercation Thursday night in the popular resort of Lagana. The eight are suspected of fatally battering Bakari Henderson, a 22-year-old Afro- American who was with a group of friends, following an argument. A police source told AFP that both groups had been drinking heavily. Greek media reported that the parents of the victim, who suffered serious head injuries and was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital, were expected to arrive on Zante later Saturday. Alcohol-related violence also led to the 2011 death in Lagana of a 19-year-old British tourist following a fight with two Greek taxi drivers. Three years earlier, two bar workers fatally beat an Australian tourist on the island of Mykonos. (AFP) 8 bodies recovered: Rescuers said Saturday that they had recovered the bodies of eight people missing after an apartment Cyprus Turkey blames Greek Cypriots Talks collapse without deal CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland, July 7, (Agencies): Marathon talks aimed at ending Cyprus s drawn-out conflict collapsed Friday without a deal, despite an 11th-hour bid by the UN chief to rescue them. Cyprus is one of the world s longestrunning political crises and the talks that began in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana on June 28 had been billed as the best chance to end the island s 40-year division. One of the biggest areas of disagreement was the future of Turkey s troop presence on the island and its security guarantee for Turkish Cypriots. The failure to reach a deal follows more than two years of UN-backed efforts to reunify the island. I am deeply sorry to inform you that despite the very strong commitment and engagement of all the delegations and the different parties... the Conference on Cyprus was closed without an agreement being reached, said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and later occupied its northern third in response to an Athens-inspired coup seeking union with Greece. Guterres had been upbeat when he first joined the talks late last week, urging the two sides to seize a historic opportunity to reach a comprehensive settlement. Stalemate But the tone quickly soured and the UN chief flew back to Switzerland early Thursday in a bid to try to end the stalemate that had set in. He held a full day of back-to-back meetings with President Nicos Anastasiades, the Greek Cypriot leader, and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Mustafa Akinci, as well as the foreign and European affairs ministers from so-called guarantor powers Greece, Turkey and Britain. But after pushing negotiations into Friday, just hours before he was set to leave for the G20 summit in Hamburg, a drawn-looking Guterres was forced to acknowledge the talks ended without a block collapsed near the Italian city of Naples. Firefighters and volunteers have been sifting through the rubble since early Friday after two floors of the four-storey block in the town of Torre Annunziata collapsed at around 6:30 am (04:30 GMT). The last body was found early Saturday after teams searched through the night, often using their bare hands. Local media reports said the victims included the municipal architect in charge of security checks for public and private buildings in the area of some 40,000 inhabitants at the foot of Mount Vesuvius. His wife and 27-year-old son were also killed in the collapse, which occurred in the part of the building where bedrooms were Firefighters search amid rubble of a collapsed apartment in Torre Annunziata, near Naples, Italy, on July 8. Italian fi refi ghters say eight bodies have been pulled from the rubble of a fi ve-story apartment building that partially collapsed in a seaside town south of Naples. The work of digging through the debris for victims ended Saturday morning, more than 24 hours after the residential building along a railway line suddenly collapsed. (AP) result. Shortly before his announcement, a source close to the negotiations told AFP the talks had become heated: There was people yelling, a lot of emotions. Guterres, who had previously said the conference would be open-ended, said it had become clear there was no point continuing. It was obvious that there was still a significant distance between the delegations on a certain number of issues, and a deal was not possible, he said. The Greek Cypriots said the talks failed due to the Turkish side s insistence on keeping troops on the island. Unfortunately, no breakthrough was made... due to the insistence of the Turkish side to continue with... the Turkish intervention rights in Cyprus as well as the illegal presence of Turkish troops on the island, said government spokesman Nikos Christodoulides. Stumbled Turkey maintains more than 35,000 troops in the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Several previous peace drives have stumbled over their presence, with Greek Cypriots demanding a total withdrawal of what they say is an occupying force and minority Turkish Cypriots fearful of ethnic violence in the event of a pullout. Any deal reached would have had to be put to voters on both sides of the island. A Greek diplomatic source said Turkey s insistence on a residual troop presence and no review of its security guarantee for 15 years was simply unsaleable to Greek Cypriots. This position could not be accepted in a referendum, the source said. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim blamed the Greek Cypriots for the failure of the talks. The southern Greek Cypriot side unfortunately did not show an expected constructive attitude, said Yildirim. Turkey will use all of its rights under international law to protect the rights of our brothers and sisters (in northern Cyprus), he added. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Greece s insistence on no troop presence and an immediate end to its guarantor status would have been unacceptable to Turkish Cypriots. Guterres stressed that while the conference had proved fruitless, that doesn t mean that other initiatives cannot be developed in order to address the Cyprus problem. Brief UN mediator Espen Barth Eide is to brief the Security Council on the outcome of the talks on July 19. That briefing comes ahead of a vote, scheduled for July 24, on the future of the UN peacekeeping force deployed on the island since With peacekeeping forces around the world under threat from US budget cuts and reunification efforts now in disarray, its future at least in its present form is now in question. The Cyprus government spokesman put a brave face on the future. The end result was in no way positive but this is not the end of the road, Christodoulides said. But Turkey, which had said from the outset that the Crans-Montana conference would be the last, said its collapse spelled the end of the UN-backed talks. This outcome shows that within the UN s Good Offices mission s parameters a resolution cannot be found. There is no meaning left in continuing within these parameters, Cavusoglu said. In related story, even the most hardboiled Cypriots expressed pangs of disappointment Friday after the collapse of the latest round of talks aimed at reunifying their ethnically split island nation. But many Cyprus residents on both sides of the divide have become almost inured to such bad news after decades of failed United Nations-sponsored peace talks. Now our voices need to be louder, more convincing, activist Tina Adamidou, who has participated in nightly peace demonstrations at the UN-controlled buffer zone that cuts across the country s capital, said. We need to show that as Cypriots we are united. located. A couple with two children, aged 8 and 14, were also killed, along with a 65-year-old woman who lived alone. (AFP) Navalny freed from jail: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny walked free on Friday after 25 days in jail for organising unauthorised protests against President Vladimir Putin s rule. Today at 9:00 am (06:00 GMT) Alexei Navalny was taken from the cell block to the Moscow central district police department and they have now let him out of there, his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh wrote on Twitter. The 41-year-old Kremlin critic was sentenced to 25 days in police cells for organising a day of protests on June 12 against official corruption and Putin s rule that saw more than 1,700 protesters detained nationwide. A crowd of some 50 journalists and supporters as well as four members of pro-kremlin groups were waiting on Friday outside the detention centre where Navalny had been held. After his release, Navalny vowed to continue his fight undeterred. He told journalists outside his anti-corruption foundation that he plans to fight, to search and to find, and not to give up. I am very happy to be back at the office, he said. Of course we won t cede to pressure and we will conquer them all in the nearest future. Navalny has declared his aim to stand for president in elections in 2018 and eradicate the country s rampant official corruption. He is already travelling around the country promoting his bid. (AFP)

14 INTERNATIONAL 14 World News Roundup Middle East Affront to history Israelis outraged by UNESCO decision JERUSALEM, July 8, (AP): The UN cultural agency on Friday declared the old city in the West Bank town of Hebron as a Palestinian world heritage site, a decision that outraged Israeli officials who say the move negated the deep Jewish ties to the biblical town and its ancient shrine. The move was the latest chapter in Israel s contentious relationship with UNESCO, an agency it accuses of being an anti-israeli tool that makes decisions out of political considerations. While the Palestinians welcomed the action, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it another delusional decision by UNESCO. Both Jews and Muslims revere the same site in Hebron as the traditional burial place of the biblical patriarchs and matriarchs Jews call it the Tomb of the Patriarchs, while for Muslims it is the Ibrahimi Mosque. The 12-3 vote, with six abstentions, came on a secret ballot at an annual UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in Krakow, Poland. The proposal came from the Palestinian side. Israel contended that its historic links to Hebron were ignored and its ambassador to UNESCO Haley left the session. UNESCO spokeswoman Lucia Iglesias confirmed that Hebron s old city was put on the agency s World Heritage list and on the list of sites in danger. She would not elaborate, saying the exact wording would be decided later. The decision obliges the World Heritage committee to review its status annually. This is a historical development because it stressed that Hebron and the Ibrahimi Mosque historically belong to the Palestinian people, said Palestinian Minister of Tourism Rula Maayah. Resolution But Israel s Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely said UNESCO s automatic Arab majority succeeded in passing the proposed resolution that attempts to appropriate the national symbols of the Jewish people. She added: This is a badge of shame for UNESCO, who time after time chooses to stand on the side of lies. Netanyahu expressed outrage that UNESCO determined the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron is a Palestinian site, meaning not Jewish, and that the site is in danger. Not a Jewish site?! he asked sarcastically. Who is buried there? Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca and Leah our patriarchs and matriarchs! Netanyahu pointed to extremists blowing up religious sites in the Middle East and said, It is only in those places where Israel is, such as Hebron, that freedom of religion for all is ensured. Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said the vote does no one any good and causes much harm. It represents an affront to history. It undermines the trust that is needed for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process to be successful. And it further discredits an already highly questionable UN agency, she said in a statement. She had sent a letter to two senior UN officials before the vote, urging them to withhold the designation from UNESCO, according to the US Mission to the UN Hebron is part of the West Bank, a territory captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. The international community considers it to be occupied. Palestinians claim the West Bank is an integral part of a future independent state, a position that is widely backed internationally. Israel says the territory s fate, along with other core issues like security, should be resolved in negotiations. In the meantime, Israel has built dozens of settlements in the West Bank housing about 400,000 Israelis. The Palestinians and most of the world consider these to be illegal obstacles to peace. Israel says the future of the settlements also must be decided through talks. Hebron is especially contentious. Several hundred ultranationalist settlers live in heavily guarded enclaves in the city, amid about 170,000 Palestinians. There is frequent friction between the two populations. Many viewed Friday s UNESCO decision as the latest example of an ingrained anti-israel bias at the UN and its institutions, where Israel and its allies are outnumbered by Arab countries and their supporters. Although their rocky relationship goes back decades, recent resolutions by UNESCO also drew outrage in Israel for diminishing the deep Jewish ties to Jerusalem. Suspended In September, Israel suspended cooperation with UNESCO after it adopted a resolution that Israel says denies the deep historic Jewish connection to holy sites in Jerusalem. The UNESCO resolution, titled Occupied Palestine and sponsored by several Arab countries, used only the Islamic name for a sacred hilltop compound in Jerusalem. The compound is the holiest site in Judaism and the third-holiest in Islam, after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett, who heads Israel s national UNESCO committee, said after Friday s vote that Israel will not resume its cooperation with UNESCO so long as it remains a political tool, rather than professional organization. In a statement, Netanyahu said he would cut another $1 million from the membership money Israel sends to the UN and use it to establish a Museum of the Heritage of the Jewish People in Hebron and Kiryat Arba and Hebron and for other heritage projects related to Hebron. Yitzhak Reiter of the independent Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research said UNESCO s decision would allow the Palestinians to score points in negotiations over the future of West Bank territory, since they could claim that UNESCO has sided with them. It also could bolster their efforts to fight what they believe are Israeli attempts to take over disputed religious sites in the Holy Land. Israel strongly rejects Palestinian claims it is trying to change the status quo in either Hebron or in Jerusalem s Old City. They want to make sure that there will be an international forum to monitor the situation in Hebron and the Cave of the Patriarchs that will prevent Israel from future transgressions or overstepping its current presence in the city, Reiter said. Hebron has a long history of violence. In 1929, Arabs killed 67 Jews in a rampage still seared into Israeli minds. In 1994, an Israeli settler shot and killed 29 Palestinian worshippers at the holy site before he was beaten to death. See Also Page 18 Turkey s main opposition Republican People s Party Kemal Kilicdaroglu (right), shakes hands with a supporter as they march with others during the 24th day of the March for Justice in Istanbul on July 8. Kilicdaroglu and his supporters are marching from the Turkish capital Ankara to an Istanbul prison to protest the conviction of one of his party s lawmakers. (AFP) A picture taken from the Rafah border of the southern Gaza Strip with Egypt shows smoke billowing in Egypt s North Sinai on July 8. Twenty-six Egyptian soldiers were killed or wounded on July 7, in attacks on checkpoints in the Sinai Peninsula where the Islamic State group is conducting an insurgency, the military said. (AFP) Hafter Mideast Turkes Iran stops Saudi boat: Iranian revolutionary guards intercepted Friday a Saudi boat for allegedly violating Iranian territorial waters, and arrested four persons on board, Fars news agency reported. The boat sailed from the Saudi port of Darin and was stopped by the revolutionary guards in waters of Bushehr, Fars quoted what it called an informed source as saying. It said the four persons who were on board the boat were currently questioned. The agency did not give further details over the circumstances of the interception of the boat or the condition of the sailors. (KUNA) Fighting rages in Benghazi: East Libyan forces have lost at least 12 men, with 35 wounded, in fighting that raged in Benghazi despite a declaration of victory by their commander, medical and military officials said on Friday. Forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar s Libyan National Army (LNA) are trying to sweep up the last pockets of resistance in Sabri, the final neighbourhood in which rival armed groups still hold territory after a three-year battle for control of the city. The battle for Benghazi between Haftar s LNA and an array of Islamist militants and other fighters has been part of a broader conflict since Libya slipped into turmoil following the 2011 fall of strongman Muammar Gaddafi. On Wednesday evening, Haftar announced the end of the campaign in a televised speech. But two days later clashes were continuing in a handful of streets in Sabri. LNA forces said they had stopped using heavy artillery to reduce the risk of friendly fire casualties because of the restricted area in which they were fighting. Milad al-zwai, a spokesman for special forces who are at the forefront of the fighting, said they had freed 10 prisoners held by their opponents as they pushed forward in Sabri. At least five of the LNA s opponents were killed and 11 arrested, including six Libyans, four Egyptians and a Tunisian, LNA officials said. Haftar launched his Operation Dignity campaign in May 2014, slowly gaining the upper hand against Islamist militants and former rebels who fought Gaddafi in the Turkey Kemal enters Istanbul in march for justice Syrian refugee raped, murdered in Turkey ANKARA, July 8, (AFP): A Syrian refugee in Turkey was raped and bludgeoned to death by rock-wielding attackers just days before she was due to give birth, and her 10-month-old baby strangled, in a brutal double murder that has sparked outrage. Turkish authorities have detained two men who reportedly confessed to what officials have branded a barbaric attack in a country that is home to nearly three million refugees from the Syrian conflict. The suspects broke into the woman s home and grabbed her and her baby boy, taking them to a forest in the western city of Sakarya where villagers found their bodies on Thursday, Dogan news agency reported. The two men worked at a factory with the victim s husband who they had argued with a few days earlier, Dogan reported. The young woman was due to give birth on Friday. Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya condemned the barbarity of the attack. Women s rights organisation We Will Stop Femicide Platform called on Twitter for the heaviest punishment for the killers. The gruesome attack came after racist hashtags went viral on Twitter in Turkey including #SuriyelilerEvine- Donsun (Syrians should go home) and #SuriyelilerSinirdisiEdilsin (Syrians should be deported). Kaya hit back at the campaign: Those who target our Syrian brothers and sisters with provocations and manipulations are no different to the cruel Syrian regime. Sakarya mayor Zeki Tocoglu vowed on Twitter that the perpetrators of the brutal massacre would be punished. Earlier this week, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu was forced to respond to media reports and postings blaming Syrians for an alleged escalation in crime in Turkey. He dismissed the claims, saying the annual rate of Syrians involved in crimes between 2014 and 2017 was just over one percent. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said any Syrian refugees involved in crimes would be deported. But he pointed to the very valuable 2011 uprising. Haftar is aligned with a government and parliament in eastern Libya. He has rejected a UN-backed government based and well-educated Syrians in Turkey, including many who had careers in neighbouring Syria before fleeing the six-year conflict. The murders also come amid increasing levels of violence against women in Turkey. Figures from We Will Stop Femicide showed that last year 328 women were killed compared with 121 in 2011 and 210 in In its latest report, the group said 35 women were killed in June. Meanwhile, Thousands of people joined Turkey s main opposition party in Istanbul on Friday on a march for justice, begun three weeks ago to protest the jailing of one of its lawmakers, as it wound its way into the city. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the People s Republican Party (CHP), has been walking since June 15 without party insignia, carrying a sign bearing the word justice in Turkish. Analysis Some analysts have said Kilicdaroglu s 450-kms (280 mile) trek from Ankara to Istanbul is a significant challenge to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but the Turkish strongman has regarded it with disdain. Kilicdaroglu began the march after Enis Berberoglu, a former journalist turned CHP lawmaker, was sentenced to 25 years in jail on charges of leaking classified information to a newspaper. Today we enter Istanbul and we are extremely happy, Kilicdaroglu said. I am at peace because without anyone being injured, we have accomplished walking a long road. Together on July 9, our search for justice will continue. Every day, more people have joined the CHP leader, including women s rights groups, on the march, which is due to end on July 9 with a mass rally outside Berberoglu s prison in the Istanbul district of Maltepe. This march has three important goals: firstly, Kilicdaroglu marks his status as a leader. Secondly, the CHP is connecting with the people again... and finally it unites the Turkish people, marcher Issa Agacik told AFP. Kilicdaroglu s spokesman said some 45,000 people followed the CHP leader on Friday with chants of rights, law, in the capital, Tripoli, as he has gradually strengthened his position on the ground. (RTRS) A group of Christian foreigners pray in front of an Icon of Virgin Mary painted on Israel s controversial separation barrier, which divides the West Bank from Jerusalem, on July 7, in the biblical West Bank town of Bethlehem. Every Friday, since 2004, groups of Christians pray for Israel s controversial wall to fall and for peace in Holy Land. (AFP) justice. Most marchers carried signs with the word justice or wore red or white T-shirts and hats emblazoned with the word. Onlookers praised the march and those walking, some coming out of factories to show support. In a statement to AFP, Kilicdaroglu said he was walking for all Turkish victims of injustice. About 50,000 people have been arrested under Turkey s state of emergency, imposed after last July s failed coup, and another 100,000 have lost their jobs, including teachers, judges, soldiers and police officers. But Erdogan has accused Kilicdaroglu s party of siding with terrorism. However authorities have not impeded the walk s progress, with police providing security for the march every day. Kilicdaroglu has claimed that Erdogan is the July 20 coup plotter, referring to the date when the president declared a state of emergency, and said Berberoglu s arrest was the last straw. But in June, Erdogan appeared to warn Kilicdaroglu he could face legal troubles over the march, telling the CHP leader he must respect the judiciary s decisions. Furthermore, the jailed co-leader of Turkey s third largest political party refused to attend court on Friday because officers wanted to handcuff him on the way to the hearing. Selahattin Demirtas, co-chairman of the pro-kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), is in jail in Edirne in northwest Turkey but his hearing was being held in Ankara. Demirtas and the party s former coleader, Figen Yuksekdag, have been imprisoned with nine other HDP lawmakers on accusations of links to Kurdish separatists. They were first detained in November, causing alarm in Europe and concern over the use of the state of emergency put in place after last year s failed coup. There are multiple cases against Demirtas. In this case, he is accused of public humiliation of the Turkish government, the judiciary, the military or law enforcement agency. The charge is based on one of his social media postings, the HDP said. Dy. PM critize Dutch refusal: Turkey s deputy prime minister has accused the Netherlands of infringing on the rights of Turkish citizens after Dutch authorities said he was not welcome to deliver a speech there. Deputy Prime Minister Tugrul Turkes had intended to travel to the town of Apeldoorn to commemorate the anniversary of the failed coup in Turkey a year ago. He says members of the local Turkish community had invited him to deliver a speech. Turkes on Friday condemned Dutch authorities for intervening against the democratic rights and free will of our people who live there and contribute to (the Dutch) economy. An earlier row between Turkey and the Netherlands erupted in March after Dutch authorities refused to allow Turkish officials to hold campaign rallies there ahead of a referendum increasing the president s powers. Protests erupted in the harbour city of Rotterdam as Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya was escorted out of The Netherlands, with riot police eventually moving in to break up the demonstration, using dogs, horses and water cannon. Relations between the two countries remain frosty with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte telling BNR public radio on Thursday he was still incredibly angry with Turkey because of the chaos it caused in Rotterdam. (Agencies)

15 INTERNATIONAL 15 Houses and a road are seen submerged in muddy water after a huge landslide caused by heavy rains hit the Ono district in Hita, Oita prefecture, southwestern Japan on July 6. Troops worked to rescue hundreds of people stranded by flooding in southern Japan. (Inset): The picture taken on July 7 shows soldiers helping a local resident isolated following heavy flooding in Asakura, Fukuoka prefecture. (AP/AFP) More heavy rains forecast for Japan as death toll rises to 16 Japanese rescue crews took advantage of a break in the weather on Saturday to search for survivors of torrential rain, fl oods and landslides, as the death toll from several days of freak weather rose to 16, the NHK state broadcaster reported. Authorities warned of more downpours over the weekend, compounding the misery that the summer storms have brought to southwest Japan since Wednesday. Some neighbourhoods have been devastated by flooding and landslides, and rescue workers and residents have been picking their way through expanses of broken, water-logged trees, branches and mud. All the mud and debris is making the clean-up effort difficult, said Susumu Higuchi, a resident of Asakura. The city was pounded by more than 600 mm (24 inches) of rain in the 24 hours to 5 am (2000 GMT) on Saturday, according to Japan s weather agency. Heavy machinery was working to clear almost knee-deep mud from streets while nearby, an uprooted tree was tangled in cables from an electricity power pole. A police dog was hunting for victims in fl ooded homes, many now clogged with debris. The weather agency said 150 mm of rain was forecast to fall in industrialised Northern Kyushu in the 24 hours to 6 am on Sunday. Some places have seen more rain in a matter of hours than they usually get in the whole month of July. (RTRS) China North Korea Shelve differences in meet US warplanes fly over disputed Sea BEIJING, July 8, (Agencies): US warplanes have flown over the disputed South China Sea, the US Air Force said Friday, a move aimed at asserting freedom of navigation rights in the hotly-contested area. The flights come as both US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend the G-20 meeting in Hamburg. A US B1-B bomber and two F-15 fighters with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force departed Guam s Andersen Air Force Base and flew over the neighbouring East China Sea late on Thursday, the US Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs office said. This is the first time US Xi Pacific Command-directed B-1B Lancers have conducted combined training with JASDF fighters at night, the statement read. When the bilateral operations concluded, the B-1Bs proceeded to the South China Sea before returning to Andersen Air Force Base, the statement read. It was not immediately clear when or if a second US B1-B bomber joined for the South China Sea leg of the operation. The mission demonstrates how the US will continue to exercise the rights of freedom of navigation anywhere international law allows, the US statement read. Flying and training at night with our allies in a safe, effective manner is an important capability shared between the US and Japan, said Major Ryan Simpson, Pacific Air Forces chief of bomber operations. The joint military flight demonstrates US-Japanese solidarity... to defend against provocative and destabilizing actions in the Pacific theater, the statement added. Beijing claims nearly all of the South China Sea, parts of which are also claimed by Taiwan and Southeast Asian nations including the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam. China has rapidly built reefs in the area into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes. China also lays claim to tiny islands in the East China Sea between Japan and the Korean peninsula, and between Japan and Taiwan. Both freedom of navigation and freedom of flight over the East and South China Seas were indisputable, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a regular press briefing in Beijing on Friday. China always respects freedom of flight, he said. Meanwhile, China and Britain need to seek common ground while shelving differences and respect each other s core interests, Chinese President Xi Jinping told British Prime Minister Theresa May, following a recent dispute over Hong Kong. China said last month a joint declaration with Britain over Hong Kong, which laid the blueprint over how the city would be ruled after its return to China in 1997, was a historical document that no longer had any practical significance. In response, Britain said the declaration remained in force and was a legally valid treaty to which it was committed to upholding. China says no foreign country has a right to get involved with Hong Kong as it is an internal affair for China, and has also reacted angrily to six-monthly reports the British government gives to Parliament about Hong Kong. In this photo provided by South Korea Defense Ministry, US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers (bottom left and third from top), fly with South Korean and US fighter jets over the Korean Peninsula, South Korea on July 8. Two US bombers flew to the Korean Peninsula to join fighter jets from South Korea and Japan for a practice bombing run as part of a training mission in response to North Korea s ballistic missile and nuclear programs, officials said Friday. (AP) Battulga Asia Liu Docs visit ill Liu: German and US doctors visited China s cancer-stricken Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo on Saturday, the hospital where he is receiving treatment said in a statement. After listening to a detailed medical history of the patient and receiving a report on his diagnosis and treatment, the medical experts examined the patient in the sickroom, according to an update on the website of First Hospital of China Medical University, in the northeastern city of Shenyang. The American and German specialists have fully endorsed the treatment program and measures by the group of national experts it said. China has faced international pressure to let Liu travel abroad for treatment since he was transferred from prison to the Shenyang hospital after he was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer more than a month ago. (AFP) Labor activist sentenced: Veteran Chinese labor activist Liu Xiaoming has been sentenced to 4-ó years in prison on the charge of inciting subversion of state power after he published his personal account of the bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, rights groups reported Friday. Liu was sentenced by a court in the southern city of Guangzhou after having already spent more than two years in deten- THAAD missile defense test eyed as tensions mount US bombers drill near DMZ SEOUL, July 8, (Agencies): US bombers carried out a rare live fire drill in South Korea Saturday, flying close to the DMZ in a show of force after Pyongyang s latest missile test, the South s defence ministry said. The exercise by two B-1B Lancers, flown from Andersen Air Base in Guam, was part of a 10-hour mission with South Korean and Japanese fighter jets in response to a series of increasingly escalatory actions by North Korea including the intercontinental ballistic missile on Tuesday, US Pacific Air Forces said. South Korea s Yonhap news agency said the long-range heavy bombers flew close to the tense and heavily militarised land border with the North before turning back. The exercise aimed to sternly respond to the series of North Korea s ballistic missile launches, the South s air force said in a statement. Four US and South Korean jet fighters joined the live fire drill, which was conducted at a range in Yeongwol County, some 80 kms (50 miles) south of the inter-korean border, the South s air force said. The long-range heavy aircraft each dropped a 2,000-pound (900-kilogram) laser-guided bunker-busting smart bomb, Yonhap said. The US statement said the B-1Bs released inert weapons at the Pilsung Range. The drill simulated the two US bombers destroying enemy ballistic missile batteries and South Korean jets mounting precision strikes against underground enemy command posts, the South s air force said. Through this drill, the South Korean and US air forces demonstrated strong determination to thoroughly punish the enemy for its provocative acts, and showed off their capability to pulverise enemy command posts, it said. Lieutenant General Thomas Bergeson, US Forces Korea deputy commander, said the mission demonstrated the allies remain prepared to use the full range of capabilities to defend and to preserve the security of the Korean peninsula and region. Integrated En route back to Guam, the B-1Bs flew and integrated with Japanese fighter jets over the East China Sea, US Pacific Air Forces said in a press statement. The US-Japan alliance and the relationship between our militaries are stronger than they have ever been, said Lieutenant General Jerry P. Martinez, US Forces Japan commander. We continue to train with our Japanese allies to ensure we are ready to defend ourselves from attack, he said. North Korea on Tuesday test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile for tion, Amnesty International said. He was taken into custody in May 2015, five days after publishing his account of the events of 1989 on an overseas website. A Guangzhou court docket listed a sentencing hearing on the subversion charge scheduled for Friday but gave no name or other details. Calls to the court rang unanswered. The same charge was leveled against Female soldiers of Chinese People s Liberation Army (PLA) demonstrate their skills during an open day of Stonecutter Island naval base in Hong Kong on July 8, to mark the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong handover to China. China s sole operating aircraft carrier arrived on its fi rst port call to Hong Kong on Friday as part of efforts to stir patriotism amid commemorations of the city s handover from British to Chinese rule 20 years ago. (AP) the first time, an apparent game-changer in its confrontation with Washington over its nuclear and missile programmes. In response, US and South Korean soldiers fired ballistic missiles simultaneously in a drill Wednesday, simulating an attack on the North s leadership as a strong message of warning, the South s military said at the time. The US Missile Defense Agency said Friday it would soon test an anti-ballistic missile system in Alaska, days after the North demonstrated its arsenal was capable of striking parts of Alaska with the ICBM test. Meanwhile, the United States plans to carry out a new test of its THAAD missile defense system against an intermediate-range ballistic missile in the coming days, two US officials told Reuters on Friday, as tensions with North Korea climb. Despite being planned months ago, the US missile defense test will gain significance in the wake of North Korea s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on July 4 that has heightened concerns about the threat from Pyongyang. The test will be the first of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) to defend against a simulated attack by an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), one of the officials said. The THAAD interceptors will be fired from Alaska. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2009 and is now suffering from late-stage liver cancer. Liu Xiaoming s sentencing illustrates China s determination to pursue a relentless crackdown on lawyers, rights activists and workers advocates outside the direct control of the ruling Communist Party. (AP) Battulga wins Mongolian poll: Populist former martial arts star and businessman Khaltmaa Battulga has won Mongolia s presidential run-off election, according to voter data from the General Election Commission released on Saturday. The poll was seen as a referendum on the government s economic recovery plans and the role of southern neighbour China in the landlocked but resource-rich country known as the birthplace of Mongol emperor Genghis Khan. Battulga, of the opposition Democratic Party, won with 50.6 percent of the vote on a 60.9 percent turnout, giving him the majority needed to overcome his opponent, parliament speaker Miyeegombo Enkhbold of the ruling Mongolian People s Party. Election officials are still, however, waiting on a final count of votes from abroad. The election campaign was marred by political mudslinging from all sides and the public perception that none of the candidates were fit for the job, according to Luvsanvandan Sumati, the head of polling group the Sant Maral Foundation. (RTRS)

16 INTERNATIONAL 16 World News Roundup Asia Trump s biz partner queried Duterte will likely extend martial law MANILA, Philippines, July 8, (Agencies): President Rodrigo Duterte said Friday he will likely extend 60 days of martial law he imposed in the southern Philippines to deal with a deadly siege of a city by militants allied with the Islamic State group because the situation remains critical. Duterte said he would only lift martial rule, which is to expire in about two weeks, if the military and police tell him the danger posed by the militants has abated. The Supreme Court upheld his martial law declaration on Tuesday in a legal boost to the military offensive he ordered to quell the Marawi city siege. Duterte has said the offensive is winding down and could end soon in Marawi, which was attacked by hundreds of gunmen waving IS-style black flags on May 23. But scores of gunmen are still holding hostages and continuing to fight in four areas of the lakeside city, a bastion of the Islamic faith in the south. Asked if he plans to lift martial law this month, Duterte said he consulted the military and police and was told the situation remains critical. He said he would rely on their Duterte advice because they are the ones keeping this republic healthy and alive. If they say there is no more danger and everything is OK, then that is the time that we will lift martial law, Duterte said. Carrying an assault rifle and wearing a military camouflage uniform, Duterte attempted but failed to fly to Marawi to visit troops Friday due to bad weather. It was his second aborted trip to the predominantly Islamic city, large areas of which resemble a smoldering war zone amid intense fighting and military airstrikes. Fighting I should show my face there, Duterte said, adding he wants to visit during the fighting to demonstrate his desire to protect the republic. Security officials hope the crisis will end before Duterte delivers his annual state of the nation address on July 24, but Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has said he will let commanders set the pace of the battle to avoid adding pressure that could endanger troops. Meanwhile, Snipers in high-rise buildings are the main problem facing Philippine forces battling to crush pro-islamic State fighters who have occupied a southern city for more than a month, a military spokesman said Saturday. Lieutenant Colonel Jo-ar Herrera said this was the reason the government was using air strikes against the militants despite the massive damage it may cause in the city of Marawi. If we do not use air strikes, we will incur more casualties of our troops, he told reporters in Marawi, which was overrun by hundreds of militants on May 23. Despite more than a month of fighting with hundreds of government troops, militants flying the black flag of the Islamic State group are still entrenched in parts of the city. Power outages after quake: Large parts of the central Philippines remained without power days after a 6.5-magnitude quake shook the region and killed two people, authorities said Saturday. Power plant facilities in the central island of Leyte, which provide electricity for the island and neighbouring regions, sustained damage when the quake struck on Thursday, an energy department statement said. The geothermal plants, near the quake s epicentre, were damaged by both the tremors and resulting landslides, the department said. Leyte, home to some 1.75 million people, bore the brunt of the quake, recording two deaths and 72 injuries. Much of Leyte and the surrounding islands of Samar and Bohol were without power on Saturday as repairs were still being conducted, energy undersecretary Wimpy Fuentabella said. In three to 10 days, we will see a tremendous improvement in ensuring that there will be basic electrical service available, he said on ABS-CBN television. Vegetable seller Cheryl Anne Acidera, 25, in the Leyte city of Tacloban, recalled running out of her school in terror when the quake struck. Trump s business partner summoned: US President Donald Trump s Indonesian business partner has been questioned by police over alleged threats against a public prosecutor, officials said Friday. Hary Tanoesoedibjo, a media and property mogul who is building two Trump Organization hotel projects, was summoned as a suspect Friday after an investigation was issued against him in June, a police spokesman said. The 51-year-old business tycoon and politician is being named a suspect after police charged him with violating the electronic information and transaction law. Today is actually the second time we have summoned Hary Tanoesoedibjo. We have summoned him before but at that time his lawyer said he couldn t show up, national police spokesman Setyo Wasisto said. The billionaire was reported to police by an attorney named Yulianto, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. Yulianto claimed Tanoesoedibyo had threatened him via text messages in January The attorney was handling a graft case which involved Mobile-8 Telecom, a telecommunication company owned by Tanoesoedibyo. Call for citizenship: The UN s top official for refugee affairs said Friday that granting citizenship to members of Myanmar s Muslim Rohingya minority is crucial for achieving peace in the country s western state of Rakhine, but economic development is also necessary. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi spoke in Bangkok after an official visit to Myanmar. The Rohingya face severe discrimination in Buddhist-majority Myanmar and were the targets of violence in Rakhine in 2012 that killed hundreds and drove about 140,000 people predominantly Rohingya from their homes to displacement camps, where most remain. The Rohingya have long been denied citizenship, freedom of movement and basic rights in Myanmar, where they are often seen as illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh, although many have lived in the area for generations. Buddhist devotees visit the Uppatasanti Pagoda during celebrations of the Full Moon day of Warso, the fourth month of Myanmar calendar on July 8, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. July 8 in 2017 marks the anniversary of Buddha s fi rst sermon on the Four Noble Truths and also marks the beginning of Buddhist Lent, a three-month period when monks return to their monasteries to study Buddha s teachings. (AP) Indian Kashmiri children stand next to graffiti that reads War till Victory during a curfew in Srinagar on July 8. India imposed a widespread curfew, cut off all internet services and deployed thousands of troops in Kashmir as the volatile Himalayan region marked the anniversary of a hugely popular rebel leader s death. (AFP) This handout photo taken on July 7 by the defence wing of India s Press Information Bureau (PIB) shows Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (right), the current commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces, exchanging mementos with Indian General Bipin Rawat, chief of the army staff, in Gaya. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is on an official visit to India and is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on July 14. (AFP) Subcontinent Purge of British names up: Indian authorities are moving to strip Mumbai s railway stations of their British names, an official said Friday, as leaders seek to purge the city of remnants of its colonial past. Elphinstone Road station named after a British-era governor officially became Prabhadevi station this week, after a local Hindu deity, and ministers say more changes are in the works. We are working to rename railway stations as per locally known names instead of older names, Diwakar Raote, transport minister for the Maharashtra state government, told AFP. Raote is a member of Shiv Sena, a local Hindu nationalist party which pushed through the renaming of India s financial capital from the British name Bombay to the local Marathi name Mumbai in It is currently the junior partner in a coalition with the India s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Maharashtra, of which Mumbai is the capital, and has long campaigned for colonial monikers to be scrapped. In 1996 it was instrumental in changing the name of Mumbai s main railway station, built in the 1880s, from Victoria Terminus to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus after a 17th century Hindu warrior king. I have demanded that Currey Road station be named Lalbaugh, Sandhurst Road station as Dongri, Reay Road as Ghodapdeo, Cotton Green as Kalachowki, Mumbai Central as Nana Chowk, Grant Road as Gaondevi, etc, the Press Trust of India news agency quoted politician Arvind Sawant as saying. (AFP) Pakistan welcomes UN sanctions: India Clashes as residents defy curfew Kashmir in lockdown SRINAGAR, India, July 8, (AP): Residents in Indian-controlled Kashmir clashed with government forces Saturday as they defied a stringent curfew on the anniversary of the killing of a charismatic rebel leader whose death triggered open defiance against Indian rule. Officials and witnesses said residents in the main city of Srinagar and at least four places in southern Kashmir tried to march on the streets while chanting slogans in favor of rebels and ending Indian rule. Police and paramilitary soldiers fired tear gas to disperse the crowds. The protesters responded by hurling rocks at troops. At least 15 people were reported injured in the clashes. While Kashmir has remained on edge, the Indian and Pakistani armies, which regularly trade fire and blame across the de-facto militarized frontier that divides the disputed territory between them, fired at each other s positions, killing three civilians and an off-duty soldier, officials said. Pakistan s military said two civilians were killed and three others wounded in the Indian army s unprovoked firing and shelling at two places along the highly militarized Line of Control. India s military said an off-duty soldier visiting his home was killed along with his wife after a shell fired from the Pakistani side hit their house in Poonch sector. Army spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta called it an unprovoked violation of the 2003 cease-fire between India and Pakistan. India has accused Pakistan of arming and training the rebels, which Pakistan denies. Pakistan s foreign ministry has praised the United Nations for imposing sanctions on a splinter group of the Pakistani Taleban, which is linked to deadly attacks in the country. In a statement Friday, the ministry welcomed the move in which the UN Security Raote Sawant For the second straight day, government forces sealed off the hometown of Burhan Wani, the 22-yearold rebel leader who was killed along with two associates in a gunbattle with Indian troops last year. Witnesses said security forces ordered residents in southern Tral town to stay indoors. I ve never seen so many soldiers in aggressive posturing enforcing a curfew in my town. This is an unprecedented restriction, local resident Mohammed Hanief said by phone. Troops laid steel barricades and coiled razor wire on roads and intersections to cut off neighborhoods as authorities anticipated widespread protests. They also shut mobile internet services as part of the lockdown to stop activists from rallying online support. We re enforcing strict restrictions to deal with any law and order issues, said S.P. Vaid, the region s police chief. Separatist leaders, who challenge India s sovereignty over Kashmir, called for a strike and protests to honor Wani. Most of the top leaders have either been detained or put under house arrest. Wani s killing set off months of protests and deadly clashes across the region, during which at least 90 people were killed and thousands injured. Wani, who attracted dozens of new recruits while using Facebook and other social media sites, had rejuvenated Hizbul Mujahideen, the largest of Kashmir s militant groups. Its top leader based in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, Syed Salahuddin, was recently designated as a global terrorist by the US. Council on Thursday added the Jamaat-ul- Ahrar group to a list of organizations and individuals subject to freezing of assets, a travel ban and an arms embargo. The ministry said the UN took this step at Islamabad s request. Pakistan often claims that Jamaat-ul- Ahrar operates from neighboring Afghanistan. It imposed a ban on the group last year and launched a crackdown to trace and arrest its leadership. (AP) Executions political weapon : A human rights watchdog on Friday accused Pakistan of using executions as a political tool and even a means to deal with prison overcrowding. Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), which provides pro bono legal representation to vulnerable prisoners including those facing the death penalty, said the country had executed 465 convicts between December 2014 and May 2017 at a rate of 3.5 executions a week. (AFP) Facebook meets Pak government: A senior Facebook official met with Pakistan s interior minister on Friday to discuss a demand the company prevent blasphemous content or be blocked. The meeting comes after a Pakistani counter-terrorism court sentenced a 30-year-old man to death for making blasphemous comments on Facebook, part of a wider crack-down. Joel Kaplan, Facebook s vice-president of public policy, met Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan, who offered to approve a Facebook office in Pakistan, which has 33 million users of the network. Khan said Pakistan believes in freedom of expression, but that does not include Khan insulting Islam or stoking religious tensions. We cannot allow anyone to misuse social media for hurting religious sentiments, Khan said. (RTRS) Shell ordered to pay $2.4m: Pakistan on Friday ordered Shell Pakistan to pay at least $2.4 million in compensation after more than 200 people were killed when one of its tankers overturned and exploded in a devastating inferno last month. The tanker contracted by Royal Dutch Shell s local subsidiary crashed on a main highway in central Punjab province while carrying some 50,000 litres of fuel from Karachi to Lahore on June 25. It exploded minutes later, sending a fireball through crowds from a nearby village who had gathered to scavenge for the spilled fuel, despite warnings by the driver and police to stay away. Health officials and police Friday put the death toll, which has continued to rise since the accident, at 218 people and said 38 victims were still in hospital, some in critical condition. OGRA (the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority) has found Shell Pakistan responsible for the oil tanker incident and imposed a fine of 10 million rupees ($100,000 dollars) on it, authority spokesman Imran Ghaznavi told AFP. (AFP) B desh arrest top militant: Bangladesh police have arrested an Islamist militant over last year s deadly Dhaka cafe siege, officials said Saturday, as authorities continue to crack down on militant outfits a year after the attack. The counter-terrorism unit arrested Sohel Mahfuz, who allegedly supplied the weapons used in the Holey Artisan Bakery attack where armed gunmen killed at least 22 people, mostly foreigners, after taking them hostage. He was the supplier of the weapons in the Holey incident. We were hunting him way before the attack, Abdul Mannan, counter-terrorism additional commissioner, said. Acting on a tip-off, police arrested the 33 year old from the northwestern Chapainawabganj district along with three associates, Mannan said. Mahfuz is the chief of the northern command of Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), a homegrown Islamist extremist outfit blamed for the attack (AFP) Taleban kill 4 students: An Afghan official says the Taleban have fired a rocket at a civilian vehicle, killing four students in the northern province of Faryab. Abdul Karim Yourish, spokesman for the provincial police chief, says the attack took place in the remote district of Khuwaja Sabz Posh on Thursday night. Yourish says the police had earlier warned the students not to travel in the volatile area, where the security forces are fighting with the Taleban, but they ignored the warning. He says a fifth student was wounded in the attack, which he blamed on the Taleban, though the insurgent group has not yet claimed responsibility for the assault. In other developments, a clash between two militia commanders in northern Kunduz province wounded eight civilians, including five women. (AP) Nepali girl dies: An 18-year-old girl has died in Nepal after she was bitten by a snake while banished to a shed because she was menstruating, part of a long-banned ancient Hindu practice, officials said Saturday. Many communities in Nepal view menstruating women as impure and in some remote areas they are forced to sleep in a hut away from the home during their periods, a practice known as chhaupadi. Tulasi Shahi was bitten twice by a venomous snake and died on Friday morning in western Dailekh district, local mayor Surya Bahadur Shahi told AFP. She survived for seven hours after the snake bite but died because medical treatment was delayed, said Shahi. According to local media, her family took her to the village shaman, or witch doctor, for treatment instead of taking her to a hospital. Local police confirmed that a girl had died but were unable to provide further details on the cause. (AFP) Owners may escape sanction: A group of wealthy businessmen, a Buddhist priest and other social higher-ups on trial in Sri Lanka for allegedly keeping illegally captured elephants may get their animals back legally. Sri Lanka s government says it is ready to forgive the owners of poached elephants and give them a chance to apply for license provided they can prove in court that they did not know the animals that were confiscated from them had been illegally captured from the wild. In the South Asian island nation, an elephant in the backyard has long been a sign of wealth, privilege and power. Though capturing wild elephants has been banned for decades and registration records indicate there should be only 127 elephants in captivity most of them older young elephants are a common sight in the country s 400 or so Buddhist religious processions and traditional ceremonies every year. (AP)

17 INTERNATIONAL 17 Lat/Am Vote for assembly Maduro: With many Venezuelans angry at the government and planning to sit out a July 30 vote for a new superbody assembly, President Nicolas Maduro has ordered all state workers to take part, seeking to avoid an embarrassingly low turnout. After three months of anti-government unrest that has killed at least 90 people, Maduro has called for the Constituent Assembly, with powers to reform the national charter and supersede other institutions, in an election he says will bring peace. Opponents plan a rival, unofficial referendum on July 16 to give Venezuelans a say on what they view Maduro as a sham poll by the leftist president, accusing him of trying to formalize a dictatorship in the South American OPEC nation. Maduro has been trying to drum up his base, mostly state workers and poorer Venezuelans. Lopez gets house arrest: Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez has been released from prison and placed under house arrest for health reasons, his lawyer said. Venezuela s Supreme Court confirmed on its Twitter account it had ordered Lopez to be moved to house arrest, calling it a humanitarian measure granted on Friday by the court s president Maikel Moreno. Leopoldo Lopez is at his home in Caracas with (wife) Lilian and his children, Lopez s Spanish lawyer Javier Cremades said in Madrid. He is not yet free but under house arrest. He was released at dawn. (AFP) 28 inmates killed in Mexico: Rioting inmates at a Mexican prison slit their rivals throats and beat them to death Thursday, leaving 28 dead in the latest explosion of violence in the country s often lawless jails. Bodies were found strewn around the maximum-security wing, the kitchen, a prison yard and a conjugal visits area after the predawn riot at the Las Cruces federal prison in Acapulco, said the security spokesman for the state of Guerrero. The incident was triggered by an ongoing feud between rival groups within the prison, the spokesman, Roberto Alvarez, told a press conference. (AFP) Fujimori hospitalized: Peru s jailed exleader Alberto Fujimori was taken to a hospital Friday after showing signs of hypertension and irregular heartbeat, his doctor said. The hospital trip comes on the same day that Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said a potential pardon for Fujimori would not be immediate, as had been speculated, but depended on a medical report that will likely be issued by the end of the year. Fujimori who turns 79 on July 28 was jailed in 2007 for his role in killings by a death squad targeting supposed guerrillas in the 1990s. He was also convicted of embezzlement and bribery. (AFP) US President Donald Trump and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto hold a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany on July 7. (AFP) Diplomacy US president doubles down on wall Trump sits down with Nieto at last HAMBURG, Germany, July 8, (AP): Better late than never: US President Donald Trump and Mexico s President Enrique Pena Nieto sat down Friday for their first face-to-face meeting since Trump took office almost six months later than planned. Journalists packed the meeting room on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit of industrialized and developing nations for a first glimpse of the two leaders together. Pena Nieto was scheduled to be among Trump s first international White House guests but abruptly canceled the visit after Trump moved forward with plans to construct a border wall along the US-Mexican border and have Mexico pay for construction. Trump insists that the wall is crucial to keeping drugs and criminals out of the US although those plans still remain unclear. Trump recently suggested that his wall would pay for itself if it were made of solar panels. Asked Friday if he still expects Mexico to fund the wall, Trump replied: Absolutely. Pena Nieto, for his part, maintains that Mexico will not pay for the wall. During his campaign, the president vowed to build an impenetrable wall along the length of the US-Mexican border out of concrete and steel. But since his inauguration, he has faced resistance, with Congress unwilling to finance the plan. Trump, who met with Pena Nieto during the campaign last year, insists that even if US taxpayers have to cover the costs upfront, Mexico will eventually be forced to reimburse the US in some way. The strong reaction from Pena Nieto signaled a remarkable souring of relations between Washington and one of its most important international partners just days into the new administration. Since then, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Trump s son-inlaw and top adviser, Jared Kushner, have worked to salvage the relationship. As he kicked off his bid for the White House, Trump had derided Mexico as a source of rapists and murderers coming into the United States. Trump looked to downplay the appearance of tension in their brief encounter on Friday, calling Pena Nieto a friend. He also addressed his plans to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, which he has called, the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere. The Trump administration formally told Congress in May that it intends to renegotiate NAFTA with Canada and Mexico. The White House had previously spread the word that Trump was ready to pull out of the pact enitrely, but then Trump reversed course and said he would seek a better deal first. On Friday, Trump said they are making very good progress on negotiating NAF- TA and some other things with Mexico. We ll see how it all turns out, he added. NAFTA took effect in 1994 and triggered a big increase in trade among the three countries. American farmers have mostly benefited from the reduction in trade barriers but the pact did encourage American manufacturers to relocate some operations to Mexico to take advantage of cheaper labor there. Critics blame NAFTA for wiping out US factory jobs. Africa Kenya s interior minister dies: Kenya s government on Saturday announced the death of Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery at a hospital in the capital Nairobi. Nkaissery, 68, a retired army officer, had held the position of cabinet secretary for interior and coordination of national government since late It is with deep sorrow and shock that we announce the sudden passing on of Interior CS Retired General Joseph Nkaissery, said a statement from Kenya s State House. It said Nkaissery died at Karen Hospital in Nairobi a few hours after being admitted for a check-up without Nkaissery providing further details on the cause of death. Nkaissery was a Member of Parliament from 2002 until 2014 when President Uhuru Kenyatta named him interior minister to replace Joseph Ole Lenku who was dismissed following a spike in insecurity and terror attacks in the country. (AFP) Al-Shebab beheads 9: Kenyan officials say al-shebab extremists from neighboring Somalia have beheaded nine civilians in an attack on a village in the southeast. James Ole Serian, who leads a task force of security agencies combating al-shebab, says the attack early Saturday morning occurred in Jima village in Lamu County. Beheadings by al-shebab in Kenya have been rare. The attack occurred in the same area where al-shebab engaged security agencies in a daylong battle three days ago. Al-Shebab has vowed retribution on Kenya for sending troops in 2011 to Somalia to fight the extremist group, which last year became the deadliest Islamic extremist group in Africa. The group in recent months has increased attacks with homemade bombs, killing at least 46 in Lamu and Mandera Counties. (AP) 37 face graft claims: Authorities in Burkina Faso have accused 37 magistrates of corruption in the first case of its kind in one of the world s poorest countries, an investigative commission said Friday. The commission said the magistrates had accepted bribes for freeing defendants on bail and for scheduling hearings in a certain way, saying money changed hands at the offices of investigators and judicial police before every decision. Local media regularly deplore examples of graft in the west African nation, but an official accusation of this kind is unprecedented. Mazombe Jean Konde, head of the investigation commission, said the probe had looked at 51 cases and heard from 233 people including magistrates, court clerks, lawyers and members of the judiciary police. Most of the failures on the magistrates part were facilitated by lawyers, court clerks and members of the penitentiary guard, he said in a statement. Judicial authorities are now set to decide how to discipline the magistrates, he added. (AFP)

18 INTERNATIONAL 18 World News Roundup US Vice-President Mike Pence speaks inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on July 6. (AFP) Heritage Space Pro-Tibet activists protest Eritrea s city of dreams added to heritage list WARSAW, July 8, (Agencies): The people of Eritrea have long said their capital Asmara is like no other city in Africa, and on Saturday the UN agreed, designating it a World Heritage site. The proclamation ends a long-running quest by Eritrean authorities to have the city s unique architecture, which includes an art-deco bowling alley with coloured glass windows and a petrol station built to resemble a soaring aeroplane, recognised by the UN cultural body, UNESCO. It s also a rare example of positive world recognition for the Horn of Africa nation that is a major source of migrants fleeing across the Mediterranean to Europe due to the country s repressive policies. The city s recognition as a heritage site of outstanding universal value fills us with tremendous pride and joy, but also with a profound sense of responsibility and duty, said Hanna Simon, Eritrea s permanent delegate to UNESCO. The decision was taken at a meeting of the World Heritage Committee in the Polish city of Krakow. A former Italian colony, Simon most of the futuristic designs of the Eritrean capital date back to the rule of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini from 1936 to Architects whose designs were unwelcome in conservative European cities found a place in Asmara at a time when about half of the city s population was Italian and the city was known as Piccola Roma, or Little Rome. While the modernist architecture of other Eritrean cities was destroyed during a decades-long war of liberation from Ethiopia, Asmara s survived and was declared a national monument by the government in 2001, which refers to it as Africa s City of Dream (sic). Facades But efforts to restore the marble facades and Roman-style pillars of the city s theatres and cinemas have been hampered by a shortage of money and local expertise, city authorities say. Meanwhile, UNESCO on Friday declared the Hoh Xil nature reserve in China s Qinghai Province a natural heritage site in a controversial decision challenged by pro-tibet activists. The Hoh Xil nature reserve, located on the Qinghai- Tibet Plateau, is home to over 200 animal species. More than 20 of them are state-protected, including the Tibetan antelope. It is China s largest world natural heritage site, covering an area of 45,000 square kms (17,400 square miles). Just inscribed #WorldHeritage Site: Qinghai Hoh Xil, #China, the UN s cultural arm tweeted during its World Heritage Committee meeting in Krakow. A handful of pro-tibet activists protested earlier this week while the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) advocacy group warned that giving Hoh Xil heritage status could have consequences for Tibet. The Hoh Xil nature reserve on the Tibetan plateau... is in the middle of three major nature reserves that increasingly exclude normal Tibetan land use such as nomadic herding, situate the state as the sole agency of control, and encourage mass tourism, the ICT said in a statement Thursday. The inscription of Hoh Xil without further detailed assessment would effectively signify endorsement from the international cultural heritage body of China s ambitious policies including the displacement of Tibetan nomads from their land, the group added. Participants in a UNESCO World Heritage conference have put the historic center of Vienna on the UN cultural agency s list of sites in danger due to a highrise construction project there. The decision was taken Thursday at a conference in Krakow, southern Poland. In this fi le photo dated Sept 23, 2011, President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea addresses the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters. Eritrean officials on Saturday claimed victory after the UNESCO World Heritage Committee unanimously decided to put the African nation s capital city of Asmara onto the World Heritage list, despite widespread criticism of the government and of Afwerki s rule. (AP) Trump Discovery Khehar Water pipe needs replacement: Grand Canyon National Park officials plan to replace much of a decades-old, problem-plagued pipeline system that s forced officials to ask hotels and residents to wash dishes and laundry less frequently and backpackers to drink treated creek water. Crews regularly have to descend into the northern Arizona canyon by trail or helicopter to fix costly rockslide-caused breaks to the 6-inch aluminum pipe that supplies water to hotels, campgrounds and other facilities. The breaks have forced the park to periodically impose water conservation measures or even temporarily restrict reservations at canyon hotels until repairs are complete. The Grand Canyon, which received nearly 6 million visitors in 2016, is one of the most visited US national parks. Preliminary plans call for ferrying pipe pieces and equipment by helicopter into the canyon to replace miles of pipeline serving the South Rim. That pipeline extends from springs located partway up the North Rim, down to and across the Colorado River in the canyon bottom and up to a pump station partway up the South Rim. The National Park Service is seeking public comment on several plans to replace the pipe before reviewing how the plans could impact the environment. Officials are considering replacing the entire 12.5-mile (20.12-km) pipeline serving the South Rim or just replacing about one-third of it. (AP) No same rights as humans : India s sacred Ganges and Yamuna rivers cannot be considered living entities, the country s top court ruled Friday, suspending an earlier order that granted them the same legal rights as humans. The Supreme Court stayed a March order by a lower body that recognised the Ganges and its tributary the Yamuna as legal Pence s hands-on gaffe goes viral New US exploration era CAPE CANAVERAL, July 8, (Agencies): US Vice-President Mike Pence vowed Thursday to usher in a new era of American leadership in space, with a return to the Moon and explorers on Mars, but offered few details. Pence, who was recently named to head a government advisory body called the National Space Council, said the group would hold its first meeting before the summer is out. He also toured NASA s Kennedy Space Center to see progress in constructing a NASA spaceship destined for deep space and privately built capsules designed to send astronauts to low-earth orbit in the coming years. Our nation will return to the Moon, and we will put American boots on the face of Mars, Pence told the cheering crowd of about 800 NASA employees, space experts and private contractors, but gave no specifics. We did win the race to the Moon, he added, recalling the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s which sent men one of whom, Buzz Aldrin, sat in the audience to the surface of the Moon. NASA earlier this year announced it is exploring a project called the Deep Space Gateway, which could send astronauts into the vicinity of the Moon using a massive new rocket, known as the Space Launch System, or SLS, being developed by NASA. And propelling people to Mars by the 2030s was a key feature of US space policy under the previous administrations of Barack Obama and George W. Bush. The United States lost the ability persons in an attempt to protect the highly polluted rivers from further degradation. The landmark ruling made polluting or damaging the rivers legally comparable to hurting a person, and saw three top government officials appointed as custodians. But the Himalayan state of Uttrakhand, where the Ganges originates, petitioned the top court arguing the legal status to the venerated rivers was unsustainable in the law. to send astronauts to the International Space Station when the shuttle program was retired in Since then, Americans have been forced to hitch rides aboard Russia s Soyuz spacecraft, at a cost of more than $80 million per seat. SpaceX and Boeing are hard at work on space capsules that will start sending people to low-earth orbit as early as Pence, who spoke in front of a previously flown SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule and a Boeing Starliner spaceship model, said he would continue to foster cooperation with private industry to make space travel cheaper, safer and more accessible than before. In a goof gone viral, Pence touched something he should not have as he visited NASA headquarters, and his defense smacked of something his boss might do: blame somebody else. Pence was at Cape Canaveral in Florida Thursday for a speech to employees and also took a tour. At one point Pence was guided to piece of gear with a sign that identified it as critical space flight hardware and a warning in bright, red capital letters: do not touch. Pence placed his left palm flat on it, anyway, as cameras clicked away. One of the people in the picture is Florida Senator Marco Rubio. The rest is meme and tweet history. Pence sent out a tweet Friday in which he said he was sorry a blurb with a President Donald Trumpesque exclamation point at the end and joked that he, Pence, was not really to blame for ignoring the sign, which his hand almost dared me to do it!, Pence wrote. In its plea, the state said the ruling was unclear on whether the custodians or the state government was liable to pay damages to those who drown during floods, in case they file damage suits. Petitioner Mohammad Saleem, on whose plea the Uttrakhand High Court bestowed the legal rights to the water bodies, will have the opportunity to appeal the ruling by a bench headed by chief justice J S Khehar. (AFP) This undated photo provided by the National Park Service shows water spraying from a break in an exposed section of the Grand Canyon trans-canyon waterline. (AP) Macron announces Dec summit: French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday he had not given up on trying to get US counterpart Donald Trump to change his mind about withdrawing the United States from the Paris climate change agreement. The final statement from the Group of 20 leaders meeting in Hamburg on Saturday exposed the divide that remains between the United States and other G20 members on the 2015 Paris accord aimed at combating climate change. But Macron also Macron said he would host a summit on Dec 12 to move the Paris deal forward. On Dec 12, two years after the Paris (climate) agreement, I will therefore convene a summit to take further action on climate, notably on the financial front, Macron told reporters. He said that the summit would aim to mobilise private and public financing for the projects committed to under the Paris agreement.(rtrs) Salmon industry against current: Salmon are leaping in their millions from Chilean fish farms to US, Japanese and European dining tables but surging demand and environmental concerns have Chile wriggling on the hook. The world s second-biggest producer of the juicy pink fish after Norway, Chile earned $3.8 billion from farmed salmon last year but campaigners warn the environment is paying a high cost. The demand for salmon is unsustainable, says Liesbeth van der Meer, director of environmental group Oceana Chile. There is an ecological burden that the system can no longer endure. Beyond a certain quantity of salmon, it collapses. She calculates that for every 190 grams of salmon produced, a kilo of local fish is used to feed the farmed salmon. To make the industry sustainable, Chile should halve its current salmon production, she says. Yet the industry estimates that demand for salmon is rising by 10 percent a year. And 70,000 jobs in Chile depend on it. Last year, red algae infested the waters off southern Chile, killing other sea life. Environmentalists blamed it on waste emissions from fish farms. (AFP) Keystone foes weigh appeal: Foes of the Keystone XL oil pipeline said Friday they may appeal a South Dakota judge s decision upholding state regulators approval for the pipeline to cross the state, potentially extending the legal conflict over the pipeline. Two groups said they are weighing whether to raise the issue to the state Supreme Court, while an attorney for a Native American tribe in South Dakota also said its lawyers are examining an appeal. A state judge last month affirmed a Public Utilities Commission decision that tribes, landowners and others challenged. Robin Martinez, an attorney for conservation and family agriculture group Dakota Rural Action, called the judge s decision a disappointment. The organization is considering an appeal, director Frank James said. The clear effect is on the landowners who are now living with this perpetual threat of having their land taken away from them for this pipeline that may or may not ever happen, Martinez said. That s a heavy burden. (AP)

19 Film Persistent ache of loss permeates Kos-Krauze s film Kigali depicts obstacles faced by Third World refugees By Guy Lodge In more ways than one, the persistent ache of loss permeates Birds Are Singing in Kigali, a broken-surfaced, broken-hearted reflection on the Rwandan genocide that marks a heartfelt swansong for married Polish writer-directors Krzysztof Krauze and Joanna Kos-Krauze. Completed by Kos-Krauze after her husband passed away mid-production in 2014, this obliquely framed story centers on a Polish ornithologist who escapes the carnage with the refugee daughter of a slain colleague in tow, tracing their sometimes clashing attempts to process their respective traumas over the following four years. Semi-experimental in form, and sometimes trickily opaque with regard to its characters emotions and motivations, Kigali appears to bear a few scars from its tragically interrupted production, but still achieves bittersweet catharsis by its conclusion. The third feature helmed by Krauze and Kos-Krauze as a duo though their screenwriting partnership began a couple of films earlier Birds Are Singing in Kigali premieres in competition in Karlovy Vary, where all their previous collaborations have unspooled. (2005 s My Nikifor swept top jury honors.) Given something of a hero s welcome at the Czech festival, the film should proceed to a healthy festival run with mostly European distribution potential. Human rights-themed showcases are likely to be particularly accommodating of a film that, while set over 20 years ago, feels only too topical in its depiction of the social and bureaucratic obstacles faced by Third World refugees once they land on safe soil. Enigmatic personal conflicts further complicate matters for 23-yearold Claudine (the impressive Eliane Umuhire) when she arrives in Poland alongside her notional benefactor Anna (Jowita Budnik), after her family is slaughtered by Hutu extremists in Refusing Anna s offer of shelter and legal representation, she opts instead to go into a refugee center a decision later reversed after what one imagines is a further round of emotional abuse. Making viewers work hard for shards of backstory, Krauze and Kos-Krauze s script doesn t presume to read either woman s mind as they both struggle to assimilate into regular Polish society after the visceral horrors of Rwanda. It s a distanced perspective that approximates the potential real-life difficulties of communicating with trauma victims, and makes for challenging viewing: For characters who have lived the unimaginable, audiences might find that sympathy comes more swiftly and readily than empathy. Alienation While Christine battles personal demons and the unwelcoming scrutiny of Polish immigration authorities, Anna despite all the comparative privileges of being on home turf experiences her own feelings of alienation and anxiety. Mentally unable to continue her research on Africa s vulture population (a pretty direct metaphor for the war itself), she enters a tailspin; despite being the two people who best understand each other s pain, Christine and Anna s shared anguish only makes relations between them more fractious. Recovery, for both, can only come via a return to Rwanda, where Christine must lay literal skeletons to rest. In writing the film, Krauze and Kos-Krauze were inspired by their own time living in Africa; there s a grounding authenticity to Kigali s delineation of the geographical and emotional disconnect between its two worlds. Certain disorienting gaps in its storytelling, meanwhile, appear to be by design in a film largely about rupture though not every withheld detail in the film s structure, ambitiously sculpted by editor Katarzyna Lesniak, feels entirely necessary. The elliptical nature of the narrative is mirrored in the film s deliberately slippery visual design, led by the intricate compositions of cinematographer Krzysztof Ptak another collaborator who, sadly, died before the film was completed. Rounded out by contributions from Jozefina Gocman and Wojciech Staron, Ptak s work reflects the leads shared psychological state in its wintry, washed-out palette and obstacle-laden framing: Characters faces are frequently obscured, or their bodies separated from the lens by furniture or tree branches, as we and the camera alike try to reach them. (RTRS) Variety Features SUNDAY, JULY 9, 2017 LOS ANGELES: Sony-Marvel s Spider-Man: Homecoming is flying high heading for at least $100 million in its opening weekend at 4,348 North American locations, early estimates showed Friday. If the number holds, Spider- Man: Homecoming will join Beauty and the Beast, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, and Wonder Woman as the fourth 2017 title to launch to more than $100 million domestically. Box office trackers had forecast an opening weekend ranging from $85 million to $110 million, but first-day business lifted those to the $115 million-plus range. Studio estimates stood at $80 million to $90 million, but were upgraded to near $100 million. The tentpole stars Tom Holland as the titular 15-year-old Spider-Man. The superhero strives to become worthy of holding the title of Avenger, under the skeptical guidance of Robert Downey Jr s Tony Stark. Friday grosses for Spider-Man: Homecoming should top $40 million, which includes Thursday night previews with $15.4 million at 3,493 North American sites the third-highest Thursday night preview gross of 2017, trailing only Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 with $17 million and Beauty and the Beast with $16.3 million. (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: Jeremy Renner, who has been filming Avengers: Infinity War and recently started shooting the New Line comedy Tag, said Friday that he broke his arms during a stunt. The actor fractured his right elbow and his left wrist while filming Tag. That s how it goes, Renner said. It s part of the job. The actor was speaking at a Karlovy Vary Film Festival press conference on Friday for Taylor Sheridan s Wind River, but also discussed his role in Marvel films like Avengers: Infinity War, creating confusion that he sustained the injuries during Infinity War filming. Smiling wryly, Renner said the injury wouldn t affect his job. I m sort of a problem solver, you know. There will be an effect to it, but it won t stop me from doing things that I need to be doing, This image released by Columbia Pictures shows Tom Holland in a scene from Spider-man: Homecoming. (AP) Renner said. I ll heal fast. I m doing everything I can to heal faster. (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: Wonderstruck, the Todd Haynes film that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, will screen as the Centerpiece title of the 55th New York Film Festival this fall. Film Daliborek a documentary play Humanitarian catastrophe in More By Jessica Kiang The blue Aegean sparkles under blazingly sunny skies. The view from a promontory is of rocky cliffs rising from a curving, fertile, beach-fringed bay, and of a series of crags jutting up out of the water like stepping stones to a hopeful horizon. It s a picture that s nobody s idea of Hell, but all Hell needs is a devil in residence, and this strip of the Turkish coast has one, plus another in waiting. Popular Turkish actor Onur Saylak makes an audacious, provocative directorial debut with his adaptation of Hakan Gunday s novel, a film that impresses for its craftsmanship and performances almost as much as it depresses with its relentless, uncompromising depiction of humanity s basest depravities. Presenting the refugee emergency from a viewpoint rarely explored that of the traffickers who exploit it for monetary gain More adds a dimension of horror to the humanitarian catastrophe, and convincingly suggests it s a crisis that corrupts everyone and everything it touches. Gaza (Hayat Van Eck) is a bright young man who has never left the small Turkish seaside town of his birth and why would he, given that, as he intones in one of the film s confessional voiceovers, he is the son of the most important man alive. His father, Ahad (Ahmet Mumtaz Taylan), hardly looks the part: balding, boorish, jowly and rotund. But Ahad s real business is not the fruit and vegetable delivery service indicated on his van; it s the lucrative job of collecting and hiding batches of 20 or 30 people at a time as they flee, mostly from Syria, before some equally unscrupulous boatsmen smuggle them away again across that treacherously calm-looking azure sea. Ahad has a cellar built specially for this purpose and it s Gaza s job to maintain it, to provide the refugees with the basic necessities of food and water while Ahad feels little compunction in exercising his Godlike powers over them, extorting further cash bribes from the men. And so this is a pivotal moment for Gaza, who has a decision to make about who he is, with his own innocence and decency little more than a guttering candle in the darkness of his vicious and venal father s example. The already grim proceedings take an even grimmer turn following the death of a little Holland boy and the subsequent murder of his mother, and the point of no return arrives quickly. Saylak has cast his film with care, and gets exceptionally committed performances from Taylan and, in particular, from Van Eck. The sullen Gaza seems to almost physically change over the course of the film, from baby-faced boyishness to a sunken brutishness, his eyes set deep beneath a heavy forehead. In certain light, he can look positively demonic indeed Feza Caldiran s stark, rich photography makes painterly use of directional light throughout, with slices of illumination slanting through otherwise inky frames. Even the sun-drenched exteriors start to feel claustrophobic as the promise of that far-off horizon turns into a taunt. By contrast, a few of the more literary conceits don t quite work in translation from page to screen, such as the odd occasional inter-title counting down of days, or the sporadic voiceover that ultimately acts as a red herring concerning the film s intentions for Gaza. And there s a sense that in following the novel all the way down to its most hellish extreme and lingering there, the film might actually somewhat dull the message: Its villains become so devoid of humanity they re somehow easier to dismiss as monsters. Less might have benefited More, which is already a difficult, despairing watch, but the ferocity of its intent is both justified and admirable. It s ironic that the term for moving undocumented refugees is known as human trafficking when its inevitable effect is the dehumanization of its victims. And the central theme of More is how that process happens in parallel: the less Gaza sees these people as people, the less of a person he becomes. From there it s no big leap to understand the film s most sobering message one that sits sickly in the pit of your stomach for some time after the movie ends: The lost souls searching for a better life over that duplicitous horizon are far from the only souls lost to this crisis. In observing the rise of incoherent extremist right-wing ideologies across the Western world, it s often hard to know whether to laugh or cry. But here comes a hapless Czech neo-nazi by the name of Dalibor K. who provides Renner Haynes film stars Julianne Moore in the story of two children one in the 1970s, one in the 1920s whose stories overlap on separate journeys to Manhattan. NYFF is considered a key launchpad for films that become a part of the awards-season conversation, and the high profile slot for Wonderstruck there could boost the title as it hits the campaign an answer: Do both. Star of Vit Klusak s morbidly hilarious but also dankly chilling The White World of Daliborek, which the provocateur filmmaker rightly subtitles a documentary play as distinct from a straight-up documentary, Dalibor is an emblematic tragicomic antihero for our times. Now pushing 40, he lives in a small, economically depressed Czech town with his batty mother, posts workout selfies and homemade videos on YouTube (sometimes getting north of 180 views!) and trundles daily to his job as an industrial painter in a nearby factory with his lunch in a yellow plastic bag from a cut-rate supermarket. He d be an endearing underdog if it weren t for the whole loving-hitler thing. Successful Dalibor s mother is more successful in that regard: Social media-obsessed Vera (seen with two ipads and a smartphone on the go, as the TV burbles in the background) has cast her net through various online dating sites and finally snagged a keeper. Much to Dalibor s petulant outrage, her lover, Vladimir, soon becomes part of the furniture, though they reach a detente when Vladimir gives Dalibor an Iron Cross ring for Christmas, quips cheerfully about turning Gypsies into asphalt and takes him shooting. There s a slightly theatrical air to some of these encounters remember, documentary play, not documentary which adds a fascinating performance element to already offbeat, tricksy material (it s not surprising to see there s a credit thanking Joshua Oppenheimer, director of meta-doc masterpiece The Act of Killing ). Even outside the film s overtly fascistic moments, Klusak has an eye for tellingly human, idiosyncratic detail: Vera assiduously removing the chocolate from a stack of Magnum ice-creams and rewrapping them in tinfoil, or Dalibor rolling his eyes when Vera, on the lookout for her skinhead lug of a son, buzzes the front door open before he can get his key out. Klusak s approach allows DP Adam Krulis an unusual degree of control over his compositions, with the result that the film looks better than the shaky, handheld aesthetic we ve come to expect of more spontaneous documentary filmmaking. (RTRS) trail. Haynes last film, Carol, screened at NYFF in 2015 and was nominated for six Oscars. Wonderstruck is based on a 2011 novel by Brian Selznick, whose previous book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, was the inspiration for Martin Scorsese s 2011 movie Hugo, which got its first public showcase as a secret screening at NYFF that year. Hayne s adaptation of Wonderstuck is the second title to be announced so far for the 2017 edition of NYFF, which kicks off in late September. Last month, Film Society of Lincoln Center announced its annual festival would open with Last Flag Flying, Richard Linklater s latest outing starring Steve Carrell, Bryan Cranston and Laurence Fishburne. (RTRS)

20 NEWS/FEATURES 20 People & Places Obits Morgenstern dead Feminist who spread Ms usage dies at 78 NEW YORK, July 8, (RTRS): Sheila Michaels, a feminist who spread the modern usage of the title Ms as a way to denote a woman s independence, has died in New York at age 78, prompting an outpouring of tributes on social media. Michaels is credited with having ushered back into English common parlance the honorific as an alternative to Mrs and Miss, titles that mark a woman s marital status. Michaels, who lived in New York City and her native city of St Louis, died from acute leukemia, said Howard Nathanson, a cousin, in a phone interview. A woman of many professions she was a civil rights activist, technical editor, restaurateur and taxi driver, Nathanson said her push for the adoption of Ms in feminist circles was at first unsuccessful. She described the initiative as a timid eight-year crusade initially met with indifference by her peers until finally catching fire following a radio interview in the late 1960s, she said in a newspaper interview in The honorific was eventually adopted by leading feminist figure, Gloria Steinem, Michaels through the founding of the influential Ms magazine in 1971, according to a magazine blog post. Though Michaels did not coin the title, it had fallen into disuse until, as a young woman in New York City, she stumbled upon mail that addressed its female recipient as Ms. I was stunned. Never having seen the term before, it seemed to provide me with the perfect solution to a problem that had bothered me for years, she told the Japan Times newspaper. (I) was looking for a title for a woman who did not belong to a man, she said in a 2007 interview with The Guardian. Irrelevant The first known use of Ms goes back to 1901, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. It is used when the marital status of a woman is unknown or irrelevant, the dictionary says. Mrs, in contrast, is used before a married woman s surname, while Miss is used as a title prefixed to the name of an unmarried woman or girl, according to the dictionary. Michaels died on June 22 but the family published her obituary in a St Louis newspaper on Thursday. She was divorced and as a young woman indifferent to the institution of marriage, she said. In tributes on Friday, Twitter users celebrated Michaels legacy. Language is important. She made a real difference, wrote Christina Richards, a psychologist, in one tweet. MS FOR LIFE, wrote another user, Christine Chalifoux. In St Louis, Nathanson, 63, said his older cousin was not one to crow about having left her mark on feminism. I think the cause was more important to her than the acclaim, he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. My daughter would refer to Sheila as her cousin, said Nathanson. Because she was involved in so many causes and she was fiercely loyal to them. Also: LOS ANGELES: Jay R. Morgenstern, a 50-year veteran of music publishing, died on July 4 in Los Angeles. He was 87. In a distinguished career, Morgenstern got his start in the industry as an accountant for music publishers in New York s Tin Pan Alley and was involved with celebrated Broadway musicals like Fiddler on the Roof and Cabaret, a passion that would extend to amassing a sizable personal library of hundreds of show scores. He went on to serve in executive positions at ABC Records International and ABC Music Publishing as well as MCA subsidiaries Infinity Records International and Infinity Music Co. A stint in the UK led to the title of CEO of Anchor Records and of International Music Publishing, the second largest print company in Europe at a time. He was also president and a major stockholder of Theater Maximus, a musical play leasing and music publishing company, located in Los Angeles and New York. From 1987 to 2007, Morgenstern served as a member of the Board and Vice-Chairman of performance rights organization ASCAP. In addition, he held a seat on the boards of the Country Music Association, the National Music Publishers Association, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Henry Mancini Foundation. Morgenstern retired as Executive Vice-President/ General Manager of Warner/Chappell Music and CEO of Warner Brothers Publications. Among his many career accolades, Morgenstern had been awarded the Abe Olman Lifetime Achievement Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the MPA Lifetime Achievement Award from the Music Publishers Association of the US. Jay was an incredible human being, kind, generous and simply one of the greatest publishers in the music business, said ASCAP President Paul Williams. He advocated passionately for the music creators that he represented and believed deeply in the power of a song to impact lives. He will be remembered by the many songwriters and composers whose careers he fostered, and the countless songs that he helped deliver to the world. We miss you Jay. Added NMPA President & CEO David Israelite: Jay leaves a great legacy within the music industry, specifically in the publishing and songwriting world. Beyond his work on the NMPA Board, he is remembered for his friendship and his love of the businesses particularly his love of creators. We are grateful to have benefitted from his wisdom and tireless work, and our thoughts and prayers go out to Joan and the rest of his family. Morgenstern is survived by wife Joan, children Marc and Jill, and grandchildren Claire, Dillon, Hope, Jonathan, Morgan and Tory. He was predeceased by his daughter, Fran. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, July 9 at 11:30am at Mount Sinai Hollywood Hills Mount Sinai Chapel, 5950 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, California Memorial donations may be made in his name to St Jude Children s Research Hospital or Children s Hospital Los Angeles. US lead singer Alison Mosshart of the North American band The Kills perform on stage during the 11th edition of the Alive Festival in Oeiras, near Lisbon on July 7. (AFP) This fi le photo taken on Dec 9, 2007 shows French composer Pierre Henry working in a studio in Paris. Henry has died, aged 89, his entourage announced on July 6. (AFP) Variety LOS ANGELES: As the pay gap between male and female actors continues to pose challenges for the industry, Emma Stone has revealed that her male co-stars have taken salary cuts in the past so that she could achieve equal pay. In a discussion with tennis pro Billie Jean King, who Stone portrays in her upcoming film Battle of the Sexes, and co-star Andrea Riseborough for Out magazine, the topic of gender pay parity arose. In my career so far, I ve needed my male co-stars to take a pay cut so that I may have parity with them. And that s something they do for me because they feel it s what s right and fair, Stone said. That s something that s also not discussed, necessarily that our getting equal pay is going to require people to selflessly say, That s what s fair. (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: Saban Films has acquired North American distribution rights to Taran Killam s Killing Gunther, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The cast includes Killam s fellow Saturday Night Live alum Bobby Moynihan, Hannah Simone, Cobie Smulders, Paul Brittain, Amir Talai, Aaron Yoo, Ryan Gaul, and Allison Tolman. The action-comedy is produced by Killam, Kim Leadford, Ash Sarohia and Steve Squillante, executive produced by Schwarzenegger, and financed by StarStream Media and Ingenious Media. Saban is planning a theatrical release later this year. IMR International is handling the foreign rights. (RTRS) LOS ANGELES: Composer John Williams, who has scored all but two of Steven Spielberg s feature films over the past 43 years, will not be doing the music chores on Spielberg s Ready Player One instead, that job will go to Forrest Gump composer Alan Silvestri. Because post-production is happening on the same time on both Ready Player One and Spielberg s other film, The Papers, Williams will score the latter film. It will mark their 28th feature collaboration. According to a statement from Spielberg s Amblin Productions: Steven and John decided Alan Silvestri was the perfect choice for Ready Player One since Steven has worked (as a producer) with Alan on the Back to the Future films in the 80s and Alan has scored other films for Steven s Amblin and DreamWorks. (RTRS) COLUMBUS, Ohio: Actor and comedian Faizon Love has received a suspended sentence after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor assault charge for an alleged altercation with an Ohio airport valet. Music New film, new style Morricone s music beyond gunshots ROME, July 8, (Agencies): Remember the showdown in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly? Well Ennio Morricone, one of the world s greatest living composers, wants you to tear your eyes away from the film s gunslingers and listen instead. In the cinema you cannot actively listen to the music there s dialogue, noises, special effects, it all distracts the audience, he told AFP as he prepared for the next stages of a world tour celebrating 60 years in the business. Music has to be listened to and the concerts allow the audience to listen to my music, and my music alone, the 88-year old Italian said in an interview in his large Rome apartment. Morricone s long-running collaboration with Spaghetti Western film director Sergio Leone saw him pen prize-winning soundtracks for everything from the Dollars Trilogy to Once Upon a Time in the West. The former trumpet player has composed over 500 scores for film and television including Roland Joffe s The Mission and Quentin Tarantino s The Hateful Eight and over 100 classical works. He cites Karlheinz Stockhausen, Pierre Boulez, Luigi Nonno and Aldo Clementi as composers who have influenced him along with Goffredo Petrassi, who his dubs my master but also has a fondness for Stravinsky and Bach. But he shakes his head at the idea of being compared to prolific composers of the past like Mozart or Rossini and said he does not mind knowing that he is most famous for the film soundtracks, deemed to be catchier. I was able to compose music freely, and in such different forms, not only because I could rely on technology, but also because it was essential that I change my style for every film. Every movie required it, he said. The composer, who played in jazz bands in the 1940s before he started ghost writing for film and theatre, is considered a fine conductor too though it is a title he rejects. I was asked to direct my music. The problem is that I am not a real conductor, I do not direct the music of other composers, he said. Morricone, who has worked with some of the most acclaimed Hollywood and arthouse filmmakers from Roman Polanski to Bernardo Bertolucci and Pedro Almodovar says his success lies in evoking thought patterns. I tried to create a way to write music with a lot of pauses, made up of almost monosyllables, or three syllables put together, and then a pause, a bit like a thought that comes and goes and repeats itself in a different way, he said. The Columbus Dispatch reports a municipal court judge in Franklin County found Love guilty of the first-degree misdemeanor on June 30. Love was given a 180-day suspended jail sentence and a $500 fine. Love was arrested March 7 after authorities say he argued with and then assaulted the 24-year-old valet in the Columbus airport s baggage claim area. (AP) LOS ANGELES: Joan Lee, wife of Marvel Stone Cannot fool them When machines write our music PARIS, July 8, (AFP): Machines are already taking our jobs, will they soon be writing our music too? Swiss researchers said Thursday they have developed a computer algorithm that can generate brand-new tunes in different musical genres. The deep artificial composer, or DAC, can produce complete melodies, with a beginning and an end, that are completely original, said co-developer Florian Colombo of the EPFL research university in Lausanne, Switzerland. And the melodies are quite agreeable to listen to, he told AFP. The DAC programme uses a form of artifi cial intelligence known as deep learning that works in a similar way to the human brain in memorising experiences and learning from them. It is a fast-growing fi eld, with more and more possibilities opening up as computers grow stronger and databases larger. The DAC system is trained to listen to existing tunes to learn what works and what does not. It teaches itself to predict the pitch and duration of every note following another. He says there is no secret recipe that he follows absolutely not other than being true to himself. I have always wanted to change, but at the end I remain myself. Also: LOS ANGELES: In a surprising move, Epic Records head of promotion Todd Glassman has been fired from the Sony Music label, multiple sources confirm to Variety. He had recently seen a string of radio hits, with Epic artists holding five spots on the Top 40 chart, chief among them: DJ Khaled s Justin Bieber-assisted I m the One. Epic Records also currently claims the No. 1 album in the country with DJ Khaled s full-length Grateful, released June 30. Since the abrupt exit of former Epic Records chairman Antonio L.A. Reid back in May, under a haze of sexual harassment allegations, the label has been grappling with internal tensions, according to insiders. President Sylvia Rhone, installed during the leadership of Doug Morris, who ascended from CEO in April, has been steering the ship during a transitional Arnie Once it is accurate at predicting 50 percent of note pitches and 80 percent of note durations in existing songs, the machine s training is complete. Then starts the creation. The deep artificial composer builds a string of notes from beginning to end, including the very fi rst note, said an EPFL statement. It picks a follow-up note for each note played, based on the range of probabilities it memorised. But the programme is taught not to pick the single-most probable note rather one of the many between least and most probable. An algorithm that always opts for most probable note will just keep repeating the same thing, said Colombo. Instead, the programme was designed to produce an infi nity of different tunes. It may be versatile, but the DAC is no Mozart. Experts asked to listen to DACand human-composed melodies can still tell the difference. It will be a while before an algorithm will fool connoisseurs of Irish folk music, said Colombo. period, which looks to be all-the-more permanent, considering she s locked into a three-year deal with Sony. And while successes have followed, so has a chasm between those perceived to be from the Reid camp. Rhone, a 30-year veteran of the music industry, and Glassman go back to Universal Motown, which Rhone headed during the 2000s. According to a source, there s bad blood between the two. When, in 2012, Rhone was setting up her joint venture at Sony Music, called Vested In Culture, she tried to recruit Glassman but he opted to stay put, seeing stability was a better option. Once Reid hired Glassman to replace Jacqueline Saturn as promotion head of Epic in 2013, Rhone was said to have been incensed at the slight. Still, there s no denying the radio hot streak Epic has been on of late. Khaled aside, another Epic roster act is crossing over to pop radio French Montana s Unforgettable (feat. Swae Lee) while new songs by Camila Cabello ( Crying in the Club ) and her former group Fifth Harmony ( Down [featuring Gucci Mane] continue to climb. Comics icon Stan Lee, died on Thursday in Los Angeles. She was 93. Joan Lee had reportedly been hospitalized after suffering a stroke earlier this week. I can confirm the sad news that Joan Lee passed away this morning quietly and surrounded by her family, a spokesperson for the family said in a statement to Variety. The family ask that you please give them time to grieve and respect their privacy during this difficult time. (RTRS)

21 NEWS/FEATURES 21 Left to right: Lebanese singers Aline Lahoud, Ramy Ayach and Brigitte Yaghi perform during the opening of the Baalbek international festival in Lebanon s eastern Bekaa Valley on July 7. (AFP) Music Music Jay-Z s 4:44 on itunes Kesha back with first solo song in four yrs LOS ANGELES, July 8, (Agencies): Kesha has released her first new music in four years and announced a forthcoming album, her first since a high-profile legal battle with Dr Luke over a lawsuit accusing the music producer of sexual assault and harassment. Kesha has debuted Praying, the lead single from Rainbow, her first album since 2012 s Warrior. Cowritten by Ryan Lewis, Praying features lyrics about overcoming adversity. In an essay for Lenny Letter, Kesha writes that the song is about coming to feel empathy for someone else even if they hurt you or scare you. Dr Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald, has denied Kesha s allegations. Rainbow is due out Aug Kesha 11 and features appearances by Dolly Parton, Eagles of Death Metal and the Dap-Kings. A week after Jay-Z released his latest album as an exclusive on his Tidal streaming service, the rap mogul made it available Friday on Apple platforms but not on rival Spotify. 4:44, the 13th album by the leading name in hiphop, was available starting at midnight in the eastern United States for download on itunes and for streaming on Apple Music as well as upstart Amazon Music. Jay-Z had released the album, his first in four years, on June 30 only over Tidal, the fledging service which he bought two years ago amid the boom in streaming but which trails leading platform Spotify. 4:44 was not available Friday on Spotify, from which Jay-Z has pulled off nearly all of his music as he tries to lure customers to Tidal. Jay-Z has won wide critical praise for 4:44, an introspective work in which the rapper apologizes to his wife, pop superstar Beyonce, for infidelity and supports his mother as she comes out as lesbian. Certified Despite Tidal s smaller customer base, 4:44 has already been certified platinum or selling one million copies in the United States due to a promotion by telecom provider Sprint which recently bought a one-third stake in Tidal. Beyonce has also shunned Spotify. But the megastar couple s approach is unusual, with the vast majority of artists choosing to stream on all platforms. Official videos from Prince started appearing Friday on YouTube, a year after the death of the pop star who was a sworn foe of the omnipresent site. Videos for some of his classic songs including tracks from his 1984 movie Purple Rain such as When Doves Cry and Let s Go Crazy became available on an official account for Prince. The account was linked to Prince s imprint under Warner Brothers Records, which last month reissued Purple Rain in an expanded edition that reached number four on the latest Billboard album chart. Prince was early to embrace the internet but later became an avid critic, charging that the ubiquity of free online music was short-changing artists. The artist hired a team of online monitors who used legal means to take down videos of him, even short clips by fans of the sort that have become fixtures on social media. Asked about his stance shortly before his death, Prince wrote on Twitter in a message he soon deleted: Since YouTube doesn t pay equitable licensing fees, isn t this a nonsensical question? Prince died in April 2016 at his Paisley Park estate in Minnesota from an accidental overdose of powerful painkillers. His family has since stepped up efforts to monetize his music, explaining that it needed to take action to keep the estate afloat. Recording artist Ringo Starr arrives to attend his birthday cerebration at Capitol Records on July 7, in Hollywood, California (AFP) Shakur Variety Madonna LOS ANGELES: U2 s Joshua Tree tour, which kicked off May 12 in Vancouver and wrapped its first North American leg in Cleveland on July 1, has seen ticket sales in excess of 2.4 million with more than 1 million fans in attendance, the band announced on July 6. Produced by Live Nation Global Touring, the trek now heads to Europe for two London shows on July 8 and 9, followed by dates in Berlin, Rome, Barcelona, Dublin, Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels. It returns to the US on Sept 3 with a show in Detroit, where U2 played its first ever headline stadium show back on April 30th, 1987 at the Silverdome for the the original Joshua Tree Tour. (RTRS) NEW YORK: Rap legend Tupac Shakur broke off a hush-hush fling with Madonna two decades ago because he thought dating the white pop star would hurt his image with his fans, a letter reveals. The brief relationship between the two music icons only emerged two years ago, and now an auction house has put up for sale a 1995 letter from Tupac who was shot dead just a year later to Madonna in which the rapper breaks off the romance, saying, I never meant to hurt you. For you to be seen with a black man wouldn t in any way jeopardize your career, if anything it would make you seem that much more open and exciting, Tupac wrote neatly on lined paper. (AFP) RIO DE JANEIRO: A judge closed legal proceedings against Justin Bieber after he paid a fine of $6,000 for wall-tagging a historic hotel in 2013, court officials said Thursday. Judge Rudi Baldi Loewenkron made the decision after confirming the Canadian pop idol made a donation of that amount to the National Cancer Institute in May, as prosecutors had recommended. During a 2013 stay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Bieber then 19 tagged the wall of the Hotel Nacional after refusing for security reasons to spray graffiti in an area where he had received permission from the mayor. On the same visit, Bieber was photographed emerging under a blanket from a notorious Rio brothel and later vainly tried to bring prostitutes into the posh Copaca- Coldplay release song to support migrants Starr pushes love in new music NEW YORK, July 8, (Agencies): Ringo Starr celebrated his 77th birthday Friday with a call for more love in the world on a song from a new album that will feature Beatles bandmate Paul McCartney. The former Beatles drummer announced that Peace and Love, his 19th studio album, will come out on Sept 15 and include collaborations with McCartney as well as other major names in rock. Starr released a first song, Give More Love, a pop track whose uplifting chorus has echoes of Beatles classics but with heavier guitar. Keeping a birthday tradition, Starr encouraged fans around the world to meet up and collectively offer a twofinger peace sign, with the ex-beatle himself appearing in Los Angeles outside the headquarters of his label Capitol Records. The peace motif harks back to the hippie era of the 1960s when The Beatles embraced the message of non-violence a theme especially dear to late bandmates John Lennon and George Harrison. McCartney is credited on two songs on Peace and Love, marking a reunion of all living members of history s top-selling pop group and the pair s first recording together since Starr s 2010 album Y Not. Starr, who recorded Peace and Love at his home studio in Los Angeles, first revealed the collaboration in February when he tweeted a picture of himself embracing McCartney and thanked him for coming to play bass. Starr on Peace and Love also enlisted several songwriters who worked with him on his last album, 2015 s Postcards from Paradise. They include Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh, Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics, soft rock singer Richard Marx and Toto guitarist and prolific session musician Steve Lukather. Starr plans eight shows in October at a Las Vegas casino followed by a short bana Palace. (AFP) SYDNEY: Pop superstar Katy Perry has US tour. In many ways, you have to get lucky, the former Beatles drummer told writer David Wild in discussing the new album. But in a lot of ways, I ve been playing a long time, I know some really great players, and that really helps. And I do have more energy than I had 25 years ago anyway. Now I make my albums at home. We do it in the guesthouse. I don t know exactly what I m going to get each time, but this one seemed to have its own great energy from the start. That energy includes from his fellow Beatle Paul McCartney, who, along with Walsh, Winter and Lukather, is heard on We re On the Road Again. I go in that room there a bedroom with two drum kits and I just play what I think is right, Starr told Wild. Usually there s not more than two takes for me. That s when it s emotionally more powerful than when I learn it properly. The point is that I m still learning, still playing and still loving it. That s what keeps me making new music here and now, and that s what keeps me On the Road Again, to quote the song that gets the album going. I m happy to say that like the song says, I still have a lot going on and a lot to do. And I m still counting the hours til we get to play for you. Process Ringo says he s found a recording process that works for him. We go a lot with what happens in the room and in the moment. I m not going to tell Steve Lukather what to play on guitar or Paul McCartney on bass. I remember I once asked Benmont Tench, How do you play exactly what I want you to play? And Benmont said, I just watch you dance. And it s true I dance and cheer them on because I love what they do. We have a rapport with all the players and none of us have attitude, and none of us are afraid to just rock. Starr says Give More Love was been slammed by animal activists for telling her pet dog to chase some koalas in a promotional video for the Australian leg of her global tour. Paul McCartney in concert at American Airlines Arena on July 7 in Miami, Florida. (AFP) originally planned as a country album. Dave Stewart and I were going to go down to Nashville and do a country album there. So we thought we should write a few country songs for when we get there. The first one we wrote here in the house was called So Wrong for So Long. Then I got offered another tour with the All-Starr Band, and it was an offer I couldn t resist. That s how I ended up making another album at home and writing all kinds of songs with all kinds of friends - everybody giving more love, and just letting the music flow. Also: NEW YORK: English rockers Coldplay have released a new song written with ambient legend Brian Eno, with proceeds to support migrants who make the dangerous journey to Europe across the Mediterranean. Aliens, released late Thursday alongside an animated video, is the latest single from Coldplay s upcoming EP Kaleidoscope. Coldplay said that proceeds from Aliens would support the Migrant Offshore Aid Station, a charity in Malta that sends search and rescue teams to save some among the thousands making the dangerous trek to Europe. Ostensibly about extraterrestrials, the song alludes metaphorically to the migrant crisis with frontman Chris Martin singing, Just an alien/ We just want to get home again. The song is set to a somber electronic drum-beat and driven, like many Coldplay songs, by the clean, ringing guitar sound of Jonny Buckland. Coldplay said the band co-wrote the song with Brian Eno, the godfather of ambient music known for his work with David Bowie. Coldplay has long championed humanitarian causes and released the song just after playing the latest Global Citizen concert in Germany, which aimed to press the Group of 20 major economies to commit to development. The plug for Perry s Witness tour next year, which also pushes the country s top department store Myer and its 8,000 ticket giveaway for the shows, featured the singer telling the poodle: Let s go chase some koalas, Nugget. Koalas on Australia s east coast are listed as vulnerable to extinction, with dog attacks, habitat loss and vehicle strikes among the top causes of the population decline. This is just absolute ignorance from Perry and Myer, and inappropriate on so many levels, wildlife vet Claire Madden told Queensland s Courier Mail. (AFP) LOS ANGELES: Lauren Conrad is a new mom. The former MTV reality star writes on her website that Liam James Tell was born Wednesday, weighing in at 6 pounds, 14 ounces. It s the first child for Conrad and husband William Tell. The 31-year-old Conrad married the lawyer and musician in Conrad shared pictures of an embroidered image of her new family, including the couple s two dogs. Conrad got her start on MTV s Laguna Beach before getting her own reality show, The Hills, which ran from 2006 to (AP)

22 22 Fashion Young designers reshape the sweatshop model Myanmar designers put ethical twist on local fashion YANGON, July 8, (AFP): With Myanmar emerging as a manufacturing hub for massproduced clothes, a crop of young designers are using home-grown fashion to preserve the country s sartorial heritage and reshape the sweatshop model. Inside her boutique in downtown Yangon, Pyone Thet Thet Kyaw crafts her own designs using traditional patterns and fabrics, many from ethnic minority groups, to make A-line skirts, dresses and tops. On another she adds the high-collared neckline of the inngyi a tight top usually worn by Myanmar women along with a fitted, saronglike skirt to a flirty pleated dress. We Burmese really care about our own ethnic and traditional clothes, she told AFP in the shop, over the whir of sewing machines. When you modernise the traditional patterned clothes you have to be careful they re not too flashy or too modern. Myanmar is fiercely proud of its traditional garb, which was largely protected from the influx of homogenous Western fashion now ubiquitous across Southeast Asia by the former military junta. For 50 years they shut the country off to foreign influences and tightly controlled what was worn in all official media. Designer Ma Pont said she was not allowed to show even a flash of shoulder or armpit when she used to make clothes for military-controlled TV channels in the 1990s. We were not really free, she said. This photo taken on June 30, 2017 shows models presenting traditional costumes during the Myanmar women s traditional culture and dressing style show at the National Theater in Yangon. (AFP) Fashion was particularly politically charged in that era, when many women would secretly ask their tailors for designs that imitated the distinctive style of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Local media reported the purple outfit she wore the day she was released from almost two decades of house arrest soon became a popular sight on Yangon s streets. Today the democracy icon, who last year became the de facto leader of Myanmar s first civilian government in generations, is still widely admired for the elegant Burmese outfits she wears at public appearances. But while many still prefer traditional clothes, especially the sarong-like longyi worn by both men and women, fashions are starting to change. Shopping malls aimed at Yangon s growing middle class are sprouting up around the city, while on its fringes factories are churning out clothes for international brands drawn to its pool of young, cheap labour. It is a flip-side of the industry which boutique designer Pyone Thet Thet Kyaw has seen firsthand. As a teenager she spent months toiling in garment factories on the outskirts of the commercial capital a job that earned her 2,000 kyat a week (now worth $1.46). The experience made her determined to open her own boutique and train young women in the art of clothes-making to make sure they never suffer the same fate. I started to see things, like how you could only spend 10 minutes for your lunch or you could not go to the toilet whenever you wanted because it would disrupt their production line, she said. If fast fashion and unethical fashion continues, then we re the ones to be suffering. Impoverished but emerging Myanmar is swiftly becoming a new hub for massive garment factories making cheap clothes as quickly as possible for fashion giants like H&M and Primark. Exports more than doubled to $1.65 billion last financial year, according to official data, and are expected to surge after the US ended sanctions in October. But while the sector is helping to drive rapid economic growth, critics say few benefits are trickling down to workers who earn some of the lowest wages in Asia and have little legal protections. A recent report by multinational watchdog SOMO warned of significant risks of labour rights violations being committed in Myanmar s garment industry that need to be addressed as a matter of urgency. Other local designers, like Mo Hom, are working to save Myanmar s centuries-old traditional fabric industry from the influx of cheap imported clothes from Thailand and China. Her boutique in Yangon is filled with colourful designs in cotton and silks sourced from Chin and Shan states, where they can take months to weave by hand using traditional wooden looms. Many are dyed with natural substances like green tea and strawberries to give subtle colours, which she mixes with traditional ethnic patterns and silhouettes. Local mills are actually dying because there is no market demand any more, said Mo Hom, who trained and worked as a designer in New York before moving back to Myanmar in A lot of the mills are actually closing down. A model presents fashion from the spring/summer 2018 collection of the label Marcella Lobo during a Designer for Tomorrow show at the Mercedes-Benz fashion week in Berlin. (AFP) Japanese designer Nakazato could revolutionise fashion Custom-made clothes for all within reach PARIS, July 8, (Agencies): Japanese designer Yuima Nakazato claimed that he has cracked a digital technique which could revolutionise fashion with mass made-to-measure clothes. We can design every type and shape of garment to be a precise fit to the wearer s figure, he told AFP after showing his digitally created haute couture collection in Paris. The 31-year-old wunderkind has been working for six months on a new 3D clothes-making technique using traditional materials like cotton, nylon and wool. He said that in future clothes will be infinitely adaptable and will grow with you easily expandable with the wearer s waistline and able to incorporate wearable devices. We want to create a world where everyone can have tailor-made garments, said Nakazato, who was admitted as a guest member of the elite club of Paris haute couture designers last year. Tailor-made clothes, particularly haute couture, are out of reach of all but the world s richest people. But Nakazato argued that his technology could bring clothes that fit perfectly within the reach of all. I think that in future mass customisation is possible because his team had removed the major constraint of using needles and thread. Technique Nakazato said the unit constructed textile technique he has developed in Japan with engineers, 3D designers and sculptors can adjust a garment to be a precise fit to the wearer s figure. With this system we are now able to build all silhouettes imaginable. It is like creating a garment from a dress pattern but with even more flexibility, he added. 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 There are no fees. This is a genuine public Nakazato told AFP that the nine designs he showed in Paris which included evening dresses and a version of Dior s classic Bar suit as well as jeans and a leather jacket were built up with digitally-cut squares of fabric. Rather than a fitting, the wearer is first scanned before numbered squares of digitally cut fabrics are riveted together to form a perfectly fitting piece. He said his 1950s-themed show was a taster of what might be possible. During that decade haute couture brought back elegance and luxury to the minds of people fatigued by the war, and mass-produced jeans became the world s first truly universal attire, he added. Technology now offered the possibility of putting those two things together, he argued. Nakazato said the major breakthrough was finding a way to use everyday fabrics like cotton, nylons and wool which are difficult to control in digital fabrication. That was the most difficult part. But in the end we succeeded. While the young designer admitted that his work was very much at the experimental stage, he insisted that future mass customisation is possible. There is still a lot of work by hand in putting the clothes together, Nakazato said. It is like technology and craftsmanship put together. Aesthetically his digital creations had a long way to go to reach the crafted perfection of classic haute couture, he admitted, which must be made by hand. But this is a long-term project, and we hope you enjoy watching the evolution each season. It is part of the journey, he added. Retro 1950s fashion has been a major theme on the Paris haute couture catwalk this week. service. Drinking problem?: Friends of Bill W. are available to help. Totally confidential. rohsecretary@gmail.com Narcotics Anonymous: NA can help with addiction problems. Totally confidential: English/Arabic. Cancer online support group: If you are Cancer patient or family member fighting with this deadly disease, come join our online support group. Best way of dealing with this disease is providing support and share our experience with each other. There are lot of things which even doctors can t tell so be Also: PARIS: Designer Bouchra Jarrar has quit Lanvin, the troubled Paris label confirmed Thursday, only 10 months after she showed her first collection there. The 46-year-old closed her own label last March so she could dedicate herself to reviving France s oldest fashion house. But it soon became clear that all was not well within the house, which has been in turmoil since the shock sacking of its previous designer Alber Elbaz in In a short statement late Thursday, Lanvin said they had mutually decided to put an end to their collaboration. The popular Elbaz had brought Lanvin, founded in 1889, back from the edge of oblivion before he fell foul of its formidable owner, Taiwanese media magnate Shaw-Lan Wang. The label sank 18.3 million euros ($20.8 million) into the red last year, its first loss for a decade. Jarrar s two collections for the label were warmly received for their sober elegance by critics, and last week she was made an officer of France s prestigious Order of Arts and Letters for her services to fashion. But with morale low in the brand s workshop amid an exodus of talent after Elbaz s departure, and rumours of further friction over budget cuts, her exit was not unexpected. In March, Jarrar hinted that she was not getting the support that she needed to turn the label around. I want to bring my expertise, creativity, technical know-how and pragmatism to the brand, she told the South China Morning Post. For that I need the whole house s support. Alone it s impossible, she added. In the statement confirming her departure, Jarrar said she wished to particularly acknowledge the work of the teams with whom I collaborated to express French creativity and know-how. French-born Jarrar, whose parents come from Morocco, started designing early, having learned to sew from her father. DAKAR: When it launched 15 years ago, Dakar Fashion Week had a handful of aspiring local designers and models gathering in often run-down hotels. Now dozens of designers from around the world present their creations to thumping DJ mixes as drone cameras hover above the runway shows that are broadcast live on national television. Among the guests last week was Jenke Ahmed Tailly, an Ivorian and Senegalese stylist who has worked as Beyonce s creative director and now advises Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. Africa s fashion scene has grown steadily over the past two decades, with sub-saharan Africa s apparel and footwear market now worth $31 billion, according to data by Euromonitor. Michelle Obama and Beyonce have worn labels such as Nigeria s Maki Oh. Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi and Casablanca are at the forefront of African fashion but Dakar is an equally creative hub, with much of its energy driven by Adama Ndiaye, the 39-year-old organizer of Dakar Fashion Week. When I started it was a young girl s dream to build something in my country, she said. Industry challenges include managing clothing production costs, quality control, distribution logistics and reaching large markets. Such concerns, however, were an afterthought as stylish crowds gathered for the fashion spectacle that ran June 27-July 2. 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: 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 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 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. Continued on Page 23

23 23 Food makes up a fifth of the waste stream in the US Use whole fish: Japanese restaurant in NY limits waste NEW YORK, July 8, (RTRS): Chef Yuji Haraguchi serves and stands by Mottainai the Japanese concept of avoiding waste and makes it known at his restaurant in New York by throwing away as little as possible. Haraguchi, who emigrated from Japan to the United States in 2007, purchases his fish locally and uses the meat at his walk-in only restaurant, Okonomi, for breakfast and lunch. After working in the fish industry for so many years, I just realized that there are so many parts of fish that are not being utilized, which is the heads and the bones, mostly, said Haraguchi, who opened the 12-seat restaurant in New York City s borough of Brooklyn in May I was seeing it every day, and I wanted to find a way to utilize those underutilized parts of the fish and also the underutilized species of fish. At Okonomi, chefs simmer the head and bones of the fish for ramen stock, which they serve at dinner when the eatery transforms into Yuji Ramen with an a la carte menu of seafoodrich ramen. After serving 69 breakfast meals and 59 bowls of ramen to roughly 130 people on a recent day, a staffer tossed out a single garbage bag when he closed the restaurant, according to Haraguchi. Less than one-tenth of the food at Okonomi/ Yuji Ramen is thrown away, according to Haraguchi. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says more food fills incinerators and landfills than any other material. Food makes up a fifth of the waste stream in the United States. Whatever comes in, we try to serve it, Haraguchi said, adding that he avoids stockpiling food and mixes up the menu regularly to keep customers satisfied. The food is obviously amazing, fresh, and impeccable, said Brigitte Hamadey, a regular at the restaurant. But also the philosophy that they use all the food... during the brunch they prepare excellent fish and then they use the same fish bones to make the ramen for the evening meals. Brooklyn resident Dmitry Toubolets said he appreciates the restaurant s ability to be sustainable and of the utmost quality. It doesn t make the taste weird in any way, Toubolets said after finishing up his meal. There s no negative impact in my view of anything they re trying to force into that kind of a niche or category. Events click General Continued from Page 22 I am confident that your contributions will be an essential part of the history of Amricani. Share with us! 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: 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: Leadership Excellence Course: The Leadership Excellence Course (LEC) is a course modeled on the Seerah of Rasoolullah who is the best model of leadership for all mankind. The LEC focuses on the lessons that we can learn from the Seerah of Rasoolullah and see how we can apply them in our lives to become winners in this world and the next. The objectives of the course are 1. Understand what leadership is from the Seerah of Rasoolullah and how to apply it in our lives today 2. Understand the purpose of our lives and learn to live that purpose with confidence 3. Understand the importance of connecting to Allah and learn how to do it 4. Understand how to leverage your strengths and overcome weaknesses 5. Understand how to articulate your life goal and create a road map to achieve it. For more information please visit www. leckuwait.com or call / 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. A flyer of the event. Ugandans register with UIK: Are you a Ugandan living and working in Kuwait? Would you like to get in touch with other Ugandans in Kuwait both socially and professionally? Then please get in touch with us. We would like to invite you to register with the Ugandans in Kuwait (UIK) association, an informal organization of Ugandans living and working in Kuwait. The purpose of this exercise is to get together as Ugandans and to consider taking the first steps to establishing a more formal organisation. This association is voluntary. It is designed to create a forum for Ugandans in Kuwait to foster a sense of community, to communicate more effectively with each other and to encourage Ugandans out here to work together. We are also planning a celebration to mark 50 years of Ugandan s Independence this year. If you have any questions regarding this association or if you are interested in registering, then please send us an at ugandansinkuwait@gmail.com. We hope to hear from you soon. Free drum music classes: Free professional drum music classes are available at Salmiya for all age groups from beginners to advanced by a well experienced drum teacher. A flyer of the event. For more details: Indian Embassy SPDC notice: Attention of all Indian associations/indian schools in Kuwait is once again drawn to Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC) which was introduced by Government of India in the academic year with the objective to make higher education in India accessible to the children of overseas Indians and promote India as a centre for higher studies. Under the scheme, 100 PIO/NRI students were awarded scholarship of up to US$ 4,000 per annum for undergraduate courses in Engineering, Technology, Humanities, Liberal Arts, Commerce, Management, Journalism, Hotel Management, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and some other courses. The scheme is open to NRIs/PIOs from over 40 countries (including Kuwait) having substantial Indian Diaspora population. The Scheme was revamped and launched in July Under the revamped Scheme, number of scholarships has been enhanced from 100 to 150 with introduction of 50 scholarships for children of Indian workers employed in the Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries. Continued on Page 26

24 24 A photo from the event Ooredoo sponsors Engineering Fair Ooredoo, Kuwait s fastest network, sponsored Magniscope, a graduation project that demonstrated electromagnetic and magnetic fields during the graduation project fair for Kuwait University s students of the Faculty of Engineering. The two-day fair took place last week in the Crowne Plaza Hotel s Baraka hall, under the patronage of Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Minister of Commerce and Industry, Khaled Al-Roudan. In a statement to the press, Ooredoo reiterated its commitment to supporting youth in all fields, especially the academic field, as part of its mission to help people achieve their wants and reach their potential. The students of the sponsored project, Areej Ahmad, Batool Dashti, Laila Boabbas, Lamis Waleed and Sazida Hussain, used the technologies of virtual reality and 3D imaging to illustrate the way magnetic and electromagnetic fields work. Ooredoo has several memorandum of understandings with esteemed academic organizations and government entities that aim to enrich the experience of youth, through year-round activities and events as per the company s corporate social responsibility strategy. 36 au TOM S LC 500 secures first win of the season at Autopolis Lexus LC 500 takes 3-in-a-row victory Bank s initiative praised NBK staff donate blood KUWAIT CITY, July 8: As a part of its social responsibility, National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) organized a blood donation campaign for its staff. NBK staff voluntarily went to the mobile blood bank unit that was available at Arraya building and Head Office to donate blood. Commenting on the occasion, NBK Public Relations Officer Talal Al Turki said that NBK always goes far in serving the community. The blood donation campaign demonstrates NBK s lasting commitment to the community and to its Corporate Social Responsibilities Program. NBK s initiative is a commitment towards all patients who are in dire need of blood and is held to support the mobile blood bank unit, added Al Turki. The Blood Bank team commended NBK s initiative and its continuous cooperation in serving the community in the philanthropic field. NBK strongly supports health care awareness. Throughout the years, NBK also organized several annual social awareness programs including dental checkups, blood pressure tests, weight checkups and breast cancer awareness. Burgan Bank invites Premier clients to attend free screening of Apes 3D A photo from the event The raffle draw winner of Win up to 75 gold bars & be a gold bullionaire campaign by Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Muhammed Sajid VP receiving the prize of 100 gm gold bar from Lukman Alavi Branch Head, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, in the presence of officials from Malabar Gold & Diamonds. KUWAIT CITY, July 8: Burgan Bank, the second largest conventional bank in terms of assets, in collaboration with Grand Cinemas, announced today that Premier Banking customers will be offered the chance to watch the first screening War for the Planet of the Apes 3D movie for free at the most luxurious movie theatre Grand Class VIP in Al Hamra Center, on July 13, Each Premier customer can reserve two free seats, which will also include access to a light mini cuisine from the buffet dedicated to Premier customers at the Grand Class VIP lounge. Reservations are on first-call-firstserve basis as free seats are limited. To serve its Premier customers better, Burgan Bank allocated a special number to receive calls from Premier customers to reserve their free VIP seats for any of the three shows that will be available that day. To book for the free seats, Premier customers can call from 9:00 am till 5:00 pm. Burgan Bank is committed to reward its premier customers with exclusive offers and a wide range of benefits that are especially designated for them. Burgan Bank is committed to always provide superior products and services to its esteemed clientele. To find out more about Burgan Bank s Premier Banking benefits and latest promotions, customers are encouraged to visit any of the bank s branches, or contact the call center on For more information, customers can also log onto the bank s website on www. burgan.com or premierbanking@burgan.com. KUWAIT CITY, July 8: Having dominated the first two rounds of the 2017 AUTOBACS SUPER GT500 series in Okayama and Fuji Speedway, the new Lexus LC 500 displayed its prowess once again at the Autopolis racing circuit to make it three wins in a row. This time, it was the turn of the #36 au TOM S LC 500 driven by Kazuki Nakajima and James Rossiter to keep the Lexus flag flying as they raced to victory in the third round of the championship. In a race held under clear bright skies and fought over a challenging 300-km distance, the au TOM S LC 500 battled its way from seventh on the grid to the top step of the podium to continue Lexus scintillating start to the season and consolidate the team s position on top of the manufacturer s standings. This has been another excellent performance from the team, and I congratulate au TOM S LC 500 for maintaining Lexus dominance in the 2017 season, said Takayuki Yoshitsugu, Chief Representative, Middle East and North Africa Representative Office, Toyota Motor Corporation. Participating in motorsports events allows us to gather a variety of data which in turn help us while developing production vehicles. The level of support we received from our fans has been one of the highlights of our 2017 activities so far, and I express my gratitude to them for their constant encouragement of our motorsports initiatives. Position The SUPER GT qualifying employs a unique two-stage knockout format, meaning both drivers of each team must be quick enough to get into higher position. Everyone makes a desperate attempt to clock the fastest lap in qualifying within the given time limit to get a better position at the actual race, making it a breathtaking battle well worth watching. Besides, since races tend to get boring if a single car dominates the season, weight handicaps (success ballast), which are calculated according to accumulated points the drivers have acquired in all previous races, are assigned to the cars in the next race. Heavier cars have poorer acceleration and braking, meaning the championship battle is expected to go down to the wire. That looked to be a real disadvantage initially, since Lexus teams dominated the previous two rounds and this meant the LC 500 cars had to carry extra weight into the race. Despite the weight handicap, five of the six Lexus LC 500s made it through to the second stage of qualifying. As the race started, the pole-starting competitor car secured the fastest lap of the entire race on lap two and generated a runaway lead of over six seconds by lap four. However, a major incident on lap five took two cars out of contention and immediately deleted any advantages during the safety car s deployment. Following the restart on lap 14, the Lexus LC 500 Get back double the value of your purchase KFH names summer campaign draw winners frontrunners found themselves caught up with back markers in the GT300 class (SUPER GT is a mixed-class racing competition combining GT500 and GT300 classes, with the two classes of different levels of performance racing together to make the event all the more exciting for fans). This momentary hold-up allowed Heikki Kovalainen to join the chase in the #1 LC 500, eventually pushing into second place by the halfway A photo from the race KUWAIT CITY, July 8: Kuwait Finance House (KFH) announced 7 winners of the fourth draw of the new banking cards summer campaign themed Get Back Double the Value of your Purchases. The campaign was launched in an attempt to encourage clients to use KFH credit, prepaid and debit cards while making purchases in Kuwait and overseas. The winners are: Omar Saed, Fahad Almas, Khaled Alajmi, Mouaz Almezaini, Fatemah Haydar, Nabeel Bouresly, and Mohammad Alkhudari. The campaign that lasts for 120 days gives KFH customers chances to enter draw to win double cashback up to KD 2,000 daily. KFH Credit and Prepaid cards used for domestic and international purchases and KFH Debit cards used for international purchases are eligible for the draw. For every KD 1 spent locally earns 1 chance and every KD 1 spent internationally earn 3 chances to enter the daily draw. This campaign is part of KFH efforts to reward its clients and grant them additional value; thus achieving customer satisfaction and boosting point. By lap 30 the teams began to make routine driver changes. In a calculated move, the #1 LC 500 entered the pits at the same time as the lead car, but managed to emerge in front as the DENSO KOBELCO SARD team pulled off a lightning fast pit stop. During this period, the #36 LC 500 of James Rossiter pushed incredibly hard and took the lead until lap 35, creating valuable headway that allowed fellow driver Kazuki Nakajima to leapfrog into the overall lead after their own super-speedy pit stop, ahead of the #1 LC 500. With the #36 and #1 LC 500s now in first and second position and gaining distance on the rest of the pack, a six-car scrap ensued for third place. However, the two lead cars had their own battle, an intense rivalry that ended in an unavoidable collision on lap 51. The #1 car spun off and was unfortunately hit from behind by a GT300 car as it tried to return to the track, forcing both cars out of contention. Now unchallenged, Nakajima led his #36 car to the chequered flag with an outstanding lead of 26 seconds team au TOM S first win of the their confidence. The campaign also aims at enhancing the bank s presence especially that it dominates the largest market share in the field of banking cards. KFH strives to continuously offer its clients new promotions and discounts in order to distinguish them among peers, not to mention to further bolster bank s leading position in the field of banking cards. KFH marketing campaigns play a significant role in underlining KFH s principles that include boosting sales, and benefitting clients and merchants. It is worth noting that KFH has won several awards in the field of banking cards which reiterates its success and efficiency in banking cards market. KFH enjoys high confidence and leadership in the market in addition to high quality products which have enabled it to achieve growth in cards market and increase the number of customers season and the third consecutive victory for the Lexus LC 500. After the qualifying, I was starting to lose my confidence, so I decided to race calmly, Kazuki Nakajima said. But, James did a magnificent job at the wheel and got us to where we could take the lead. That was more than I ever expected. I had a bad time getting through the traffic (of back markers) and it allowed the No. 1 car to catch up with me. There was nothing I could do about the ensuing collision and that was unfortunate. There was some damage to my machine, but fortunately I was somehow able to get to the finish first. James Rossiter said, It was truly a day full of action. At first, I was running behind the two lead cars and that was the toughest part. But after the safety car came out, I thought that the real race would be from that point on, so I pushed hard. I kept running in full-attack mode, and I really enjoyed it. We got the win, so I am satisfied. Race notes: No. 36 LEXUS LC 500 au TOM S (Kazuki Nakajima and James Rossiter) Race: 1st, 65 laps Best Lap:

25 25 CBS series supersizes the visuals and action Candy Crush addicts get new outlet as game comes to TV LOS ANGELES, July 8, (AP): Candy Crush addicts, and you know who you are, put down your mobile device immediately. Then you can watch Candy Crush, the TV game show. Expect breezy, energetic fun from the CBS series debuting 9 pm EDT Sunday with host Mario Lopez, said executive producer Matt Kunitz, whose credits include Wipeout and Fear Factor. Nearly 200 billion game rounds were played in the Candy Crush Saga last year, according to its maker, King. To entice people to watch it on TV, Candy Crush supersizes the visuals and the action. Two specially designed video walls, each made up of 55 monitors and measuring more than 20-by-25 feet, require contestants to physically scramble as they compete for the weekly $100,000 prize. One wall is placed horizontally on the stage floor, the other is perpendicular to it, and players in safety harnesses scoot across and up and down the screens. They make candy matches by, natch, swiping squares a la the mobile game. The stunt team that handled Lady Gaga s rig during her airborne entrance to this year s Super Bowl halftime show did the same for Candy Crush, with the same injury-free success, Kunitz and CBS said. Taping is completed. When the show was pitched to the network, Kunitz said, they asked CBS executives to imagine if you were playing on your phone and got sucked through and were in a Candy Crush arena. The video walls were key, he said. Their surfaces needed to withstand running, jumping and sliding and respond only to the swipe of contestants hands. Producers ended up going with a company, MultiTaction, that had created a 44-monitor wall for the Australia s Queensland University of Technology. That was the world s biggest, Kunitz said, until Candy Crush came along and he points to a Guinness World Records citation attesting to that. Each monitor has 32 cameras to record the flurry of hand swipes. Many video games have been translated to the movie screen, from Super Mario Brothers to Tomb Raider to The Angry Birds Movie, but it s rare, if not unprecedented, for a game to come to television, said Sebastian Knutsson, a King executive who helped develop Candy Crush. The game s simplicity actually translates very well to TV, he said, and the audience s perspective allows them to see opportunities more readily than the contestants who are so close to the oversized boards. How protective did he feel of his baby during its TV adaptation? It s been very important to us that this stay true to the core of how you play the game, and that it wouldn t break what we think of as the core rules of Candy Crush, Knutsson said from Stockholm. That doesn t mean the TV show had carte blanche. King shared a Candy Crush style guide with details on the color and size of each candy character, Kunitz said. It was so precise that it dictated the dimension of the line around each character and their size in relation to each other. It was understood that some things might change slightly on TV, Kunitz said, and, in turn, he appreciated what was at stake. There s a huge expectation from the audience of what this show should be, because hundreds of millions of people play the game, he said. I wanted to make it bigger and more spectacular and prime-time. That s a fine balance. You don t want to mess up the brand. And it is a brand, a massive brand. Nearly two-dozen different challenges for players help make each episode feel unique, he said. While great effort went into the production, Kunitz said he hopes that viewers will be unaware of all the work and simply enjoy the show. It s just fun. That s all it is, he said. We re not grossing anyone out, no one s wiping out, no one s 300 feet in the air hanging from a helicopter. It s just pure summer fun. Neighbours Omani grooms attend a mass wedding of 25 couples in the Al-Mudhaibi province on July 7. (AFP) Omani grooms dress up ahead of a mass wedding ceremony of 25 couples in the Al-Mudhaibi province on July 7. (AFP) Omani men perform a traditional dance during a mass wedding ceremony of 25 couples in the Al-Mudhaibi province on July 7. (AFP) IT Tech giant to build housing in Silicon Valley for first time Facebook wants to turn campus into village SAN FRANCISCO, July 8, (Agencies): Facebook on Friday unveiled plans to transform its Silicon Valley headquarters campus into a mixed-use village complete with housing and retail shops. Impetus for the Willow Campus includes inadequate housing and public transit, making it tough for Facebook workers to live and commute where the leading social network has its headquarters, according to vice president of global facilities and real estate John Tenanes. The plan, a final version of which must be worked out with the city of Menlo Park, envisions 125,000 square feet (11,600 square meters) of retail space including a grocery store, pharmacy, and other neighborhood shops. Working with the community, our goal for the Willow Campus is to create an integrated, mixed-use village that will provide much needed services, housing and transit solutions as well as office space, Tenanes said in a blog post. Our hope is to create a physical space that supports our community and builds on our existing programs. Facebook s headquarters include a cluster of buildings on the former Sun Microsystems campus it acquired in The leading social network transforming the office park with touches that included Dandelion to offer residential energy services Google s moonshot factory spins off geothermal unit WASHINGTON, July 8, (AFP): Google parent Alphabet is spinning off a little-known unit working on geothermal power called Dandelion, which will begin offering residential energy services. The announcement Thursday took the wraps off one of the secretive projects at the Alphabet unit X, known notably for its work on self-driving cars and internet balloons. Dandelion chief executive Kathy Hannun said her team had been working for several years to make it easier and more affordable to heat and cool homes with the clean, free, abundant, and renewable energy walkways between buildings, giving it a small town feel. Several years later, Facebook bought neighboring land and built an addition designed by architect Frank Gehry. The Willow Campus plan calls for 1,500 units of housing, 15 percent of which would be offered at below market rates, according to source right under our feet, and that the efforts culminated with the creation of an independent company outside of Alphabet. We started this project because we realized millions of homeowners are using expensive, truck-delivered fuels because they don t have access to better options today, Hannun said in a statement. We knew if installing a geothermal heat pump was a simpler and more affordable process, these homeowners would have access to a better product that s also better for the climate. Dandelion will offer geothermal heating Tenanes. Facebook will file its latest plans to the city this month, initiating a review process expected to take about two years, according to Tenanes. Construction will follow, with the first phase projected to be completed in early The shortage of housing in California s Silicon Valley has gotten so severe that Facebook and cooling systems to homeowners, starting in the northeastern United States, Hannun added. She said the effort aims to reduce costs and carbon emissions -- an estimated 39 percent of which come from heating and cooling of buildings. Emissions are especially carbon-intensive in the northeast due to high use of fuel oil or propane. Home geothermal systems can offer lower and steadier monthly energy costs because they use the energy in the ground under your yard, she said. Inc on Friday proposed taking homebuilding into its own hands for the first time with a plan to construct 1,500 units near its headquarters. The growth of Facebook, Alphabet Inc s Google and other tech companies has strained neighborhoods in the San Francisco Bay area that were not prepared for an influx of tens of thousands of workers during the past decade. Home prices and commute times have risen. Tech companies have responded with measures such as internet-equipped buses for employees with long commutes. Facebook has offered at least $10,000 in incentives to workers who move closer to its offices. Those steps, though, have not reduced complaints that tech companies are making communities unaffordable, and they have mostly failed to address the area s housing shortage. The problem with Silicon Valley is you don t have enough supply to keep up with the demand, said Sam Khater, deputy chief economist at real estate research firm CoreLogic. With Facebook s construction plan, the company said it wanted to invest in Menlo Park, the city some 45 miles (72 km) south of San Francisco where it moved in Part of our vision is to create a neighborhood center that provides long-needed community services, John Tenanes, Facebook s vice president for global facilities, said in a statement. Alphabet has taken a smaller step, buying 300 modular apartment units for short-term employee housing, the Wall Street Journal reported last month. Menlo Park Mayor Kirsten Keith said in an interview that there were concerns about whether the Facebook plan would increase traffic, a subject the city s planning department would study.

26 26 European style and Japanese quality Renault Al-Babtain announces partnership with Carriage KUWAIT CITY, July 8: Abdulmohsen Abdulaziz Al Babtain Co, the exclusive and authorized agent of Renault in the State of Kuwait is proud of the partnership established with Carriage Co specialized in food delivery service in Kuwait. The partnership, the first of its kind between the two companies, included the delivery of a fleet of Renault Symbol cars. This partnership is also an effective way to enhance the success of the Renault brand as a versatile vehicle of high quality. Carriage was the very first service of its kind in the State of Kuwait. It was the first platform to combine both online food ordering and food delivery. It was also the first to offer the live-tracking feature, so you know where your order is every step of the way. It started out with a small collection of some of the best local restaurants in Kuwait that offered delivery exclusively through it, and now they have over 270 restaurants and counting. They have new restaurants joining every day. Each one of their restaurants is carefully chosen to constantly provide only the best for their customers the newest, most exciting concepts in Kuwait. The partnership between Renault Al Babtain and Carriage is due to the combination of top vehicles quality and the excellent services provided by both businesses. Photos from the event Renault Symbol, is a tailored sedan for the GCC countries. Renault Symbol comes with a modern design. Its sleek body lines enhancing its dynamic appearance enable you to stand out from the crowd: new Renault C-shaped signature for front & rear lights, DRL with front LEDS, new front & rear bumpers as well as a new boot door with chrome embellisher driving in style has never been so affordable! When it comes to comfort, design and safety, the latest generation of specs is provided from entry level. Renault Symbol is fitted with a 1.6L 16V 105 HP engine, placing the new Renault Symbol among the highest size of engines available in the B Sedan category. Particular care was taken to improve the fuel consumption, which is now at the level of 6.4L/100km (extraurban cycle). Packed with topnotch technology and innovation, it offers an enjoyable ride, significant power while maintaining low levels of fuel consumption. Renault vehicles are known for its European style and Japanese quality, and it succeeded to build strong presence due to its ability to meet all tastes and meet customer s satisfaction in different categories of practical vehicles. It proved its strong presence in the market as it offered the clients practical products for affordable prices. Local minutes and internet Ooredoo announces wide range of latest devices in summer festival Jenelyn Cuasay Atef Salah Ahmad KUWAIT CITY, July 8: Ooredoo, Kuwait s fastest network, announced the launch of its summer festival today, giving customers the latest devices ranging from the price of KD to KD 22 a month. All offers come with Shamel postpaid plans, which include free minutes, internet, and SMS. Included in the offer are the latest Android and ios devices: Samsung S8 and iphone 7. The offer stems from Ooredoo s core values of caring, connecting and challenging, as the company aims to enrich customers lives through telecommunication technology. Ooredoo s plans aim to complement the lifestyle of customers based on their usage and needs. The devices that come with this offer are: iphone 6s, iphone 7, Samsung A5, Samsung Note 5, Samsung S7, Samsung S7 Edge, and Samsung S8. The plans additionally include a number of Shamel s exclusive features, such as the privilege of freezing their contract for up to 3 months a year when they travel, without worrying about paying bills for months that they don t use. Additionally, Ooredoo now allows customers to transfer contracts to other customers even during the contract period, with no penalties or extra fees. All Shamel subscribers in the plans included in the offer can enjoy unlimited calls, and customers with plans that have limited internet can enjoy data rollover, to ensure that they are making full use of their internet package. The new discounted Shamel plans can be purchased from Ooredoo s online store or by visiting any of Ooredoo s branches and authorized resellers across Kuwait. Burgan Bank provides 1st 50 BuBa kids free membership to Aqua Tots Ms Emiliana Pinto Firm concludes Ramadan special offer Al Mulla Exchange travel promotion a huge success KUWAIT CITY, July 8: Al Mulla Exchange, Kuwait s leading money exchange company, successfully completed its Ramadan special offer titled Travel Around the World with Al Mulla Exchange on June 25, The offer done in conjunction with Al Mulla Travels gave away travel vouchers worth different amounts to 12 lucky winners every week. A total of 48 winners were selected during the month of Ramadan. The promotion was conducted electronically and customers conducting a transaction on a particular day were entered into the draw automatically. This saved the customers the trouble of filling out paper forms and making it easier for them to participate. In addition online customers were also part of the draw. The travel voucher is valid for one year from the draw date and the winners can use it to purchase air tickets to any destination of their choice. Speaking to the media on the last day of the offer, Rakesh Joshi, General Manager at Al Mulla Exchange Company, said, The company s strategy is based on a customer-centric approach where the customers satisfaction is put before everything else. click General Continued from Page 23 The Scheme is now applicable to four categories of applicants: (i) Persons of Indian Origin (ii) Non-Resident Indians (iii) Children of Indian workers working in ECR countries (including Kuwait). This drives us to deliver the best every time with innovative products and services, in addition to regular promotions to strengthen customer loyalty and expand our customer base. Further, he noted that promotions of this kind help to be a value addition to customers who seek an efficient and secure transaction. Al Mulla Exchange which established in 2001 lays great emphasis in providing excellence beyond expectations thereby setting a new benchmark in the market. Among the company s many unique services are free insurance, loyalty points and programs, SMS confirmations on all transactions along with fast and secure transactions from home or office through the website, The winners were excited and expressed their gratitude to Al Bhaskar Raju Chamarthi Marvin Erguiza Mulla Exchange for the promotion. Speaking to the media one of the winners said that he sees it as a special blessing in the month of Ramadan. Coinciding with the summer holidays, the offer couldn t have been timed more perfectly as this is the time that people travel the most. Below are the winners of the 4 weeks The 1st week winners list includes: Mohammad Rafique, Ateyah Redha Ali Hasanain Albayoumi, Mohamed Rafeek Abubacker, Imthiyas Sulaiman Lebbe, Ameen Hamed Mahmoud Ahmad, Kinattukara Antony Voseph, Gazi Mohd Badsha Meah, Catherine B. Gastanes, Hamdi Abdulaziz Abdulaziz Alsayed, Marvin Oliva Erguiza, M.D. Abdur Rashid, Mohammed Emran Chepa. The 2nd week winners list include: Abdul Jummasha Fakir, Ehab Abdulfattah Abdulaal Mohammad, Chesyll Asuncion Reynoso, Ashik Solaman, Deva Peddi Raju, Ahmed Lotfe Darwesh Soluman, Arul Jothi Mahalingam, Maher Alsabahi Mohammad Bader, Bhaskar Raju Chamarthi, Abu Shahama Mohammad Hasibur Rahman, Abbas Sulaiman Sulaiman, Dianah Zurbito Retodo. The 3rd week winners list include: Amr Mohammad Naji Abdulbadeea, Abdulraheem Radhi Hamdullah Ali, Jayachandran Manari Q, Adel Obaid Abdulhakeem Mahmoud, Atef Salah Ahmad Mohammad, Emiliana Pinto, Abbas Abdul Rahim, Mohammad Kh A Alali, Lot Kutin Sulaiman, Mohamed Ahmed Elkaber Tibo, Jenelyn De Castro Cuasay. The 4th week winners list include: Fawzy Zahir Mohamed Hegazy, Flavia Juliet, Sequire, Abdulahad Mohamed Mogibul Hoque, Chittaranganie Wijesinghe Welagedara, Khaled Shehtah Altukhi Habashi, Ellen Joy Flores Baqurqurain, Esam Ibrahim Hasan Shadeed, Mahesh George Mahesh, Hannan Miah Farid Miah, Jkdf P.G. Keerthi Rathna, Mav Ji Patidar Hakar Ji Patidar, Kotakonda Anjaiah. (iv) Children of Indian workers in ECR countries - studying in India The institutions that are covered under this Scheme are: (i) NITs, IIITs, Schools of Planning and Architecture (ii) A Grade institutions accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and recognised by University Grants Commission (UGC). (iii) Other institutions covered under Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA) scheme. Income criteria will be applicable to all four categories. Applicants will seek scholarships after they obtain KUWAIT CITY, July 8: Burgan Bank recently announced an exciting summer offer for its BuBa customers in which the first 50 customers will be granted a free one month membership at Aqua Tots Swim School. Aqua Tots is a certified swim school for kids of ages from 4 months to 12 years and was established to teach the importance of water safety by certified professionals in a safe and comfortable environment as well as inculcate a lifelong love for the sport. To avail of the free membership that will be beneficial in their overall wellbeing, customers are required to present their BuBa ATM card to the Aqua Tots staff to start the sessions, noting that the offer is valid until Aug admission in the approved list of educational institutions. Applications are required to be submitted online at SPDC portal - spdcindia.gov.in/login/index.php. Last date for submission of applications was extended till Oct 14, Nodal officer for SPDC is P. Bharadwaj, Deputy Secretary (OIA-II), Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, Tel: , dsoia2@ mea.gov.in Experience Science for Adults: Registration is now open for Experience Science for Adults. Why should kids have all the fun?! The five week programme will be held on Saturday from 10:00 am-11:30 am at the Yarmouk Cultural Centre. Registration is limited to 16. You may register at either the Amricani Cultural Centre, Sunday to Thursday 10:00-3:00 or the Yarmouk Cultural Centre, Sunday to Thursday 10:00-6:00. For more information, please education@darmuseum.org.kw IMA summer classes: Indian Muslim Association (IMA) announces its much awaited Summer Islamic classes 30, The BuBa Kids Account is a savings account targeting kids up to 14 years old and is the perfect solution for parents who want to earn more from their savings for their children. With only a minimum opening balance of KD 10, the benefits further include a branded ATM Card which offers discounts at selected merchants and free monthly transfers to BuBa account. For more information on Burgan Bank products or services, customers can contact the personal banking executive at the branch, or contact the call center on For more information, customers can also log onto the bank s website on www. burgan.com. this year immediately after Eid ul Fitr. The classes were launched in 1994 when it was widely felt by the parents that there was a need to impart fuller knowledge to students when compared to that imparted in their regular schools This year IMA (Indian Muslim Association, Kuwait) with the coordination of IPC, opens the doors of its well-known 2-month long, Summer Islamic Classes program to students in Kuwait from LKG up to 12th standard. Offering a syllabus with a wide range of Islamic subjects such as Quran reading/understanding/memorization, Prophet s Life and Day to day Jurisprudence. Apart from this, teachers work on Personality Development of the students and also engage them in various activities including field visits. Competitions are held on Islamic Quiz, Recitation of Quran and Elocution Date: July 1 to Aug 24; Timings: 4:00 to 6:30 pm; Venue: Indian Community School, Junior Branch; Salmiya, Kuwait. TIES Center events: TIES Center announces following events Tajweed and Recitation: Learn and practice the Continued on Page 27

27 27 h o r o s c o p e By Jacqueline Bigar Happy birthday for Sunday, July 9, 2017: This year you go back and forth with your opinions. Though you are generally reliable, you could drive some people a little wild with frustration. Learn to empathize with others more often and understand where they are coming from. If you are single, you attract many people. In general, the opposite sex finds you to be very appealing. If you are attached, your relationship is likely to experience many ups and downs. You and your significant other need to accept your differences and understand that you both can be right, even if you have different approaches. CAPRICORN helps guide you emotionally. 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) **** All eyes turn to you. You seem to be somewhat of a force in others plans, even if you don t realize it. Avoid an argument, and just listen. A higher-up might feel as if you have not met an expectation of his or hers. Discussions will help solve a problem. Tonight: You call the shots. This Week: Price comparisons will be important. Aquarius - (Jan 20 - Feb 18) *** A lot is happening around you, but you might not want to discuss much of it just yet. You are trying to work through a problem and process some anger or frustration. A relationship or a new person in your life could be the root of the emotions you are feeling. Tonight: Lie low. This Week: Do not get uptight -- just get up and keep going. Pisces - (Feb 19 - Mar 20) ***** Your friends might be more instrumental to your well-being than you realize. Say yes to going to a game of softball or a gettogether. Others depend on your presence. Relax and maintain a sense of humor, but observe what is happening. Tonight: Be where the party is. This Week: Not until Wednesday do you feel up to snuff. Aries - (Mar 21 - Apr 19) *** The Full Moon could encourage you to do more, or you might decide to completely withdraw and hide out. You would be welladvised to choose your words with care. Avoid controversy with those in charge or with those who dominate your life. Tonight: Just say yes. This Week: You easily can bypass any roadblocks. Taurus - (Apr 20 - May 20) ***** You hear news that encourages you to pick up the phone and share your opinions. You quickly will discover that many people around you have different opinions and ideas. Consider their views, and be willing to rethink your own perspective. Tonight: As you like it. This Week: Deal with an irate friend Monday. Gemini - (May 21 - June 20) *** A disagreement could arise between you and someone else. You might not agree on a budgeting issue. Your anger could come to the surface. Recognize that you need to separate your funds, especially if you hit difficult periods frequently. Tonight: Out late. This Week: Do not back off from a problem that involves communication. Cancer - (June 21 - July 22) **** You ll hear a lot of different opinions, and as a result, it could change how you feel about a recent conversation. Try to keep the discussion a conversation and not an argument, and the resolution will appear much faster. Learn to respect others views. Tonight: Stop debating! This Week: Solutions appear if you refuse to run away from a problem. Leo - (July 23 - Aug 22) **** You ll opt for a quiet day spent at home. You could be in a position where you might want to cancel any activity that throws you into a group setting. You have a lot on your mind. A child or loved one might disappoint you. Tonight: You can say no for only so long. This Week: You need to give up control to get results. Virgo - (Aug 23 - Sept 22): ***** A new friend might steal center stage and want to take control. You could feel as if an important matter needs to be handled, but you ll need to come to an agreement with this person first. A loved one might be full of himor herself. Tonight: Be a little naughty. This Week: An obstacle appears, but you will find a way around it. Libra - (Sept 23 - Oct 22) ***** Defer to the person in charge. This person might be responsible for a matter that you are involved with. You might want to question where others are coming from. Why not wait until later? Tempers are close to the surface right now. Tonight: The only answer is yes. This Week: Allow more creativity to enter your life. Scorpio - (Oct 23 - Nov 21) **** Make a point of calling a friend whom you have not seen in a while. You might be surprised by this person s news. Conversations are likely to be more important than you originally had thought. If you can avoid a problem, do. Tonight: Happiest at a favorite spot. This Week: If you can lie low Monday, you ll be able to work through a problem. Sagittarius - (Nov 22 - Dec 21) *** Your pace could be unusually hectic, as you want to get a lot of errands done. Is it worth it to run around like this when you could be on the beach with friends relaxing? Decide which event or happening has the most meaning to you. Tonight: Be with the one you love. This Week: Speak your mind, and others will respond. Born today: Singer Courtney Love (1964), actor Tom Hanks (1956), author Dean Koontz (1945) home decor indoor gardening beauty tips taste buds covered vases lycaste aromatica arnica cures acne date cake Supplies: Old knit sweater; vase or other container; measuring tape; scissors; thread; pins; sewing machine Instructions: First, measure the circumference of your vase. Then, measure the height of the vase to the point where you d like the sweater to stop. Add on an extra inch for the hem. Cut your sweater according to your measurements. You can choose to cut any part of the sweater for your vase. Depending on the size of your container, you could also use the sleeves or neck of the sweater. The idea is to use one finished edge of the sweater, so there s less sewing involved. Once you have your sweater piece cut, fold over the raw edge and hem it. Trim excess, if any. Once the hem is done, wrap the sweater around your container wrong side out, and pin it in place. You ll want to stretch it a little so that it s nice and snug around your container. Sew it up. Lycaste aromatica is found from Mexico to Guatemala. It produces cinnamon-scented yellow-orange flowers, thus the name aromatica. The flowers are large, glossy green egg-shaped pseudobulbs decorated on their apices with two or three pointed elliptic leaves with pronounced lengthwise venation. It s a warm grower and it is deciduous in the winter. It s a recommended first Lycaste. The blooms come off of last years pesudobulbs. Site: Placing this plant outside during the summer so it gets good light. The deciduous species require higher light than the others. Temperature: Tolerant. Water: Water in the winter, after the leaves fall off,reduce watering. Arnica oil is fantastic light and easily absorbed oil produced by maceration of Arnica Montana flowers in sunflower oil. Arnica has been used as an herbal remedy for acne for centuries, and has been suggested to be safe and effective. The primary benefit of arnica for acne and wound healing is that it is a powerful antiinflammatory. You can rub it on a wounded area and also on your face as an acne treatment if the region is inflamed. Add 5-6 petals or 3-4 tsp of it to the boiling water or 2-3 tsp of essential oil if you find it in this formula, then steam your face for about 8-10 minutes to make sure it exercises its miraculous effect. Besides the reduction of the visible effect of pimples, it would also minimize the pain and inflammation as the main symptoms of acne. Ingredients: 250 g butter; 180 g brown sugar; 3 eggs; 250 g plain flour; 6 g baking powder; 300 g seedless dates (chopped); 10 g sodium bicarbonate; 150 ml hot water Method: Soak dates and sodium bicarbonate in hot water for 5 hours. before preparing the cake, preheat the oven and start your preparation. Add butter and brown sugar in mixing bowl and beat them well till light and fluffy. Add eggs gradually and beat them, till light. Add the shifted plain flour and mix well. And then add in dates mixture with the water and mix well. Grease the tin and transfer the mixture into it. Bake it for about 50 minutes at 180 C. Dear Abby Sisters lifelong rivalry escalates into silence By Abigail Van Buren Dear Abby: Our daughters aren t speaking. One says she really doesn t like the other. These are mature women who have had their differences throughout their lives. But they have tolerated each other, one more than the other. The older one claims her sister posted not-so-nice things about her. The younger one threatens not to attend any gatherings if her sister is there. This needs to be resolved before years go by and our family is torn apart. They stopped speaking a month ago on their dad s birthday yet. It was one of the worst days of our lives. We re in our 80s, and I may never again see them together. The older one says she s willing to go to counseling, but the younger refuses. We re desperate for a reconciliation. They don t have to be best friends, just be civil and tolerate a holiday together for our sake. Please advise. Abigail Van Buren Helpless and sad in Dallas Dear helpless and sad: Unless both of your daughters are willing to accept counseling or mediation, they will not reconcile. For your younger daughter to resort to emotional blackmail ( if she s there, I won t be ) is despicable. Please do not give in to it. Tell her that if she decides to change her mind, she s always welcome, and then proceed without her. You may be desperate for a reconciliation, but until your daughters are, it won t happen and you will have to accept it. Dear Abby: Recently I was listening to a couple talking about who and who not to invite to a wedding because seating was limited. I m wondering whether there would be anything wrong with sending out a letter stating that although they would like to invite everyone, seating is limited. Explain that, of course, immediate family (parents, siblings and their spouses) would be invited without exception. However, the remaining seating would be on a lottery basis. If people accept the invitation, they would be in the lottery and then notified of the results. Is this acceptable? I think it would solve a lot of problems. Just wondering. Just a thought in Ohio Dear just a thought: If I were you, I would forget this concept. Depending upon the size of the guest list, I strongly suspect it would offend anyone who didn t win the lottery. Dear Abby: I sometimes have social anxiety. I would like to go out with friends and acquaintances, but I worry I won t have enough to talk about or won t know what to say, and it makes me nervous. Do you have any advice? Loner in Illinois Dear loner: Almost everyone has social anxiety to some extent. If your only worry is that you won t have enough to talk about, don t let it stop you. Most people like to talk about themselves and will appreciate a good listener. If you would like to bring up topics, listen to the news or read your newspaper and jot down a few topics. If your level of anxiety is so high that you cannot interact with others, then it s time to discuss it with your physician and ask for a referral to someone who can give you medical and psychological help. 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: , , Football coaching workshops: Interested in Coaching/professional development? This weekend Everton Academy, Bayan will be welcoming three top coaches from Glasgow Celtic F.C., the Scottish Premier League Champions, including their International Academy Manager, Tony Massie. They will be delivering a certifi ed Celtic Coach Education program on Saturday, 6-8pm, Sunday, 6-8pm and Monday, pm. Certificates will only be awarded to coaches attending all 3 sessions. Places are limited - register at Bayan office any evening 5-8pm. IPC Islamic Courses: Say: O my Lord, let me grow in knowledge. IPC is offering Islamic courses in English (for ladies only). Muslims and non-muslims are welcome. 1. Tilawa Surah Ar-Rad and Surah Ibrahim Sundays at 5:30-7:00 pm; 2. Principles of Tafsir (part 2) - Sundays at 7:00-8:30 pm; 3. Tajweed 3 - Tuesday, at 5:30-7:00 pm; 4. Jesus in Surah Mariam (part 2) - Tuesdays at 7:00-8:30 pm. Instructor: Sr Zeinab Hassan Ashry Place: IPC - Women Section Al-Rawdah, Area 3, Street 30, House 12, opp 4th Ring Road. ipc_sch@yahoo.com, Telephone: St Paul s Church activities: English Worship Services on Fridays at am and on Sundays at 6.30 pm at St Paul s Church in Ahmadi. The Friday English Service has got separate sessions for Children and Youth. Chinese Worship Services on Fridays at am at House No 16, General Continued from Page 26 art of reciting the Holy Quran (tajweed). The instructor will also answer questions related to the meaning of the Arabic words and verses. Every Sunday & 10 11:30am; every 5-6:30pm. The TIES Center is the social and educational hub for English Speaking expats in Kuwait. For more information, please call Street 9, Block 11, Salwa. Urdu Worship services on Thursdays at 5.35 pm at St. Paul s Church, Ahmadi and on Fridays at 5.45 pm at Diwaniya of NECK Campus, Kuwait City. Please contact Fr Harrison Chinnakumar for English and Urdu Congregations and his phone numbers are or and or info@tiescenter.net or visit TIES Center classes: TIES Center is conducting a series of classes about some of the Prophets and Messengers of God who strove very hard to spread monotheism and teach their respective peoples how to worship God. Their message was not only spiritual; they also taught people how to conduct their daily lives and develop the living conditions on earth. In this series, we will focus on the following prophets: Adam, Nouh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Ayoub (Job), Yousuf (Joseph), Mousa (Moses), and Eisa (Jesus) may peace, mercy and blessings of Allah (to Whom all might and majesty is ascribed) be upon them all. A flyer of the event. address: chaplain@stpaulskuwait.com. For Chinese congregation, please contact Zhu Peijin and her number is and address is: greenolivettc@hotmail. com Redeemed Christian Church: The We will not only focus on historical facts, but will also deduce some important lessons whose application in our daily interactions and chores determine our success and salvation. Join us every Thursday at 7 pm to learn about the life and times of those messengers of firm resolve. The TIES Center is the social and educational hub for English Speaking Muslims in Kuwait. For more information, please call or info@tiescenter.net or visit Scrabble sessions are back: Scrabble sessions are back for all to come, learn and play with us at Better Books, Salmiyah, Bldg 19, next to Badur Travel, opposite the Ministry of Private Education, on Friday number 112 Civil ID info: Redeemed Christian Church of God (HOD Parish) worship in English. Celebration Service: Friday 9 am 11 am; Divine encounter: Sunday, 6:30 pm 8:30 pm; Digging Deep (Bible studies): Tuesday, 6:30 pm 8:30 pm; Night vigil every last Friday of the month from 10 pm. Venue: New Mishref. For more information and direction please call , rccghouseofdavidq8@gmail.com 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. 4) 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: / afternoons from 2:30-5:30 pm. Inviting all kids aged 8 and above to join me and play competitively with me Rohaina. Classes are held every Saturday from pm. Bknelled, Euphuize, Waqf, Zooeae are some of the lovely words and there are 200,000 more you can learn with us. But the fun part is playing this wonderful game competitively. So come and see us and call Rohaina Tanweer. Sports Chess Round Robin Challenge: Registrations are open for chess coaching and the Annual Round Robin Challenger Series. Send your name, Civil ID No., Continued on Page 28

28 28 Baldwin hosting road trip series Music giant Jimmy Iovine in Defiant alliance with Dr. Dre NEW YORK, July 8, (Agencies): The Defiant Ones, a new HBO docuseries about two giants in the entertainment world, takes its title from a 1958 film classic about two prison escapees, one black and one white, who are shackled together as they make a break for freedom. Airing Sunday through Wednesday at 9 pm EDT, the docuseries tracks the lives of Dr. Dre, whose upbringing in Compton, California, inspired him to become a pioneer of gangsta rap, and Jimmy Iovine, a working-class kid from Brooklyn, New York, who made his bones as a record producer working with John Lennon, Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen. This four-part portrait differs markedly from the original Defiant Ones, whose fictional heroes are literally stuck with each other. The unlikely kindred spirits Dre and Iovine are bonded not by chains but by a mutual passion that cemented their relationship with Iovine s Interscope Records, which soon after its 1990 launch was swept up in armed warfare between rap rivals, not to mention political and corporate assault. I hate to use the word scary, but it got really weird, he says before posing a rhetorical question: Why did these two guys stay together under the most difficult circumstances in the history of entertainment? With remarkable finesse, the film laces back and forth between their wildly different origins, then follows their implausible association culminating in their 2014 sale of Beats Electronics to Apple for more than $3 billion. The biggest challenge was to blend these men, these cultures, these genres, said Allen Hughes, who directed The Defiant Ones. Hughes said his film is meant to speak to all audiences and musical tastes. We want to throw a gangsta party that everyone s invited to, he explained by phone from Los Angeles. We had a rule in the editing room: If grandma wouldn t understand it, it s gotta go. With a bounty of archival footage and scores of new interviews, the film was several years in the making. I kept saying, This thing won t go away, Iovine laughs. I didn t think it would be four episodes, man! I kept saying, ONE! Arriving for an interview last week, Iovine is sporting a white baseball cap on his shaved head and a designer T-shirt with woodcuts of owls, which might have symbolized his stature, at age 64, as an entertainment wise man, but which he insists just means I love to shop and I liked the shirt, so I bought it. Only days earlier, Iovine previewed The Defiant Ones, which, despite eschewing the he-did-this, he-did-that biopic structure Iovine loathes, inevitably lays out his career as a half-century timeline of popular music. Along with recalling his triumphs, was there anything that made him squeamish to revisit in the film? All of it, Iovine says, as if by reflex. It was so painful, man. Even having hit records is painful, cause you think you can t do it again. Or Beats comes out with a headphone that does really well, but all of a sudden another company comes and challenges it. Couch slouch I never celebrated a success. There are no victory laps. There s no rearview mirror in my car. I m always moving forward. That s the lesson he wants viewers to take from the film. The most important thing I ever learned: No matter how ugly it gets, keep moving. Even so, his career resonates with other useful wisdom. From his first days in the music business, sweeping up the studio where Lennon and Springsteen made magic, I learned how to be of service. OF service. And I took it from there all the way to Apple Music. I want Apple Music to be OF service, not A service not just a utility. Told that his interviewer is a Spotify guy, Iovine fires up his Apple Music app and demonstrates a few of its bells and whistles, including a Favorites playlist that Apple Music has just curated for him: songs include Glory Days, I Wanna Be Sedated, Just Like a Woman, Brown Sugar and Mambo Baby, a 1950s release by R&B great Ruth Brown. Also: LOS ANGELES: Stephen Baldwin will produce and star in The GAP: Great American Pilgrimage, a new series taking a look the varying definitions of what it means to be an American for RT Network. Baldwin and co-producer Max Keiser will hit the road in an RV to examine the different ways that people believe, perceive, and live out what it means to be an American by bringing their platform to underrepresented communities. The GAP is a journey for me to hear from everyday Americans about their passions and perceptions of our great nation. The show will approach each episodic visit from a grassroots commonality that we can all relate to, Baldwin says in a statement to Variety. I am not a journalist, but I m eager play the role of host and journey-ist. Keiser has hosted The Keiser Report, a half-hour program on financial news and analysis, for RT since He is a broadcaster, film producer and co-inventor of the Virtual Specialist, the platform that operates Hollywood Stock Exchange. LOS ANGELES: Steve Buscemi has been cast in the new Netflix comedy The Week Of, starring Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. The Week Of is set to begin production in Long Island this summer. Veteran Saturday Night Live writer and producer Robert Smigel is directing the film. The movie covers the week of preparation for a wedding in which the daughter of Sandler s character is marrying the son of Rock s character. Sandler and Smigel co-wrote the script. Happy Madison Productions Sandler and Allen Covert will serve as producers, and Barry Bernardi and Tim Herlihy will serve as executive producers. The film will premiere globally on Netflix in The streaming network announced in March that it would be financing and producing four more films with Sandler in the wake of its four-movie deal with Sandler s Happy Madison Productions. tv highlights A flyer of the event. A flyer of the event. click Sports Continued from Page 27 mobile number, age, rating to saviosgomes@ gmail.com with CCR in the subject. No entry fee. Kwt-Brits football supporters: A new football supporters website for British expats living and working in Kuwait has been set up by an Everton supporter, Trevor Powell. The Kuwait Brits Football Supporters Association (KBFSA) site aims to provide contact information for supporters of each others whereabouts and also in the future hopes to organise social events such as quizzes and even five-a-side matches on a home international teams basis. We need expats to register their support and hence we can then start to cast around for a suitable meeting venue. The site can be accessed at Free fitness classes: Free fitness classes at B.FIT studio in Salmiya! Classes include Zumba, Masala Bhangra workout, aerobics, toning & much more. Contact for further information. Hurry and enroll now! FBC tournament: Filipino Badminton Committee (FBC) is inviting all badminton enthusiast in Kuwait to join their regular badminton tournament being held every Friday from 8 am to 7 pm at Kuwait Disabled Sports Club, Bin Khaldoun Hawalli. Over 10 badminton courts are now available for badminton practices and tournament and it is open for all nationalities and from different badminton organizations. Exclusive-private court are also available on per hour rental. For more information, please contact Dr Chie Umandap Arnis/Eskrima training: Eskrimador- Kuwait a member of Cacoy Doce Pares World Federation now opens a new batch of training. Learn the Philippine national sports, which is Arnis/Eskrima with the authentic style and techniques. Training schedule will be every Friday from 11:00 am to 1:00 Kaifan Sports Complex-Karate Gym. Text or call # Herms. Free IFRA coaching classes: Indian Football Referees Association (IFRA) will be starting free refresher/coaching classes for existing referees, new recruits, those aspiring to be referees and even those who would like to learn about the laws of the game at IEAS Salmiya (Don Bosco). Classes will be from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm every Friday. Those interested may call or get in touch with any IFRA member for registration. Courses Islamic and Arabic courses: Islamic and Arabic courses are being offered at the Enlightenment into Islam Center starting from 5:00-7:00 pm. Registrations can be done at the main office Women s Committee in Qurtoba. For more information contact: , , and IPC Arabic Course: IPC Rawdah Ladies Section will commence the Arabic Conversation Course. The students must have successfully completed at least 3 levels of Arabic. Placement test will be taken by those who took Arabic class outside IPC. Class is every Friday from 9-11 am. IPC Rawdah Cinema Cinema programme from Thursday 06/07/2017 to Wednesday 12/07/2017 Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Sharqia 1 11:30 (No Fri) Sharqia 3 17:00 Muhalab 1 14:45, 17:15, 00:45 Fanar 1 13:30, 21:30 Marina 2 13:30, 00:15 Avenues 6 23:30 Avenues 10 13:15 (No Fri) 16:00, 18:45, 00: :45, 16:30, 19:15, 22:00, 00: :00 Al-Kout 2 16:45 Al-Kout 4 13:30 Bairaq 2 11:30 (No Fri) 00:05 Despicable Me 3 Sharqia 1 14:00, 16:00, 18:00 Sharqia 2 11:45 (No Fri) Muhalab 2 11:30, 13:30 (No Fri) 15:30, 17:30 Muhalab 3 13:45 (Fri) Fanar 4 11:45 (No Fri) Fanar 5 13:00 (No Fri) 15:00, 17:00, 19:00 Marina 2 11:30 (No Fri) 16:00, 18:00, 20:00 Avenues 2 14:30, 19:15 Avenues 4 13:00 (No Thu) 17:45 (No Sun) Avenues 6 11:30 (No Fri) 13:30, 15:30, 17:30, 19:30, 21:30 Avenues 11 14:15, 16: :30 (No Fri) 14:30, 16:30, 18:30 20:30, 22:30 (No Tue) : :30 (No Fri) :15, 20:00 Al-Kout 1 11:45 (No Fri) Al-Kout 3 15:00, 17:00, 19:00 Bairaq 1 11:30 (No Fri) Bairaq 2 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00, 22:00 Laila 18:30 Ajial 3 15:30, 23:15 Tubelight (Hindi Film) Sharqia 1 20:00 Muhalab 1 12:00 (No Fri) 19:45 Fanar 3 11:30 (No Fri) 16:15, 21:00 Avenues 1 12:45 (No Fri) 18:30, 21:15 Avenues 4 15:00, 19: :00 (No Fri) 14:45, 20:45, 23: :30 (No Fri) 17:15 Bairaq 3 18:30 Ajial 1 16:15, 19:00, 21:45 The Mummy Sharqia 1 22:45, 01:00 Muhalab 1 22:30 Fanar 1 16:15, 00:15 Marina 2 22:00 Avenues 8 12:30 (No Fri) 14:45, 00:30 Avenues 9 11:30 (No Fri) :15 (No Fri) 15:30, 17:45, 20:00, 22:15, 00: :15 (Thu) Al-Kout 4 16:00, 00:15 Spider-Man: Homecoming Sharqia 2 13:45, 16:30, 19:15, 22:00, 00:45 Sharqia 3 11:30 (No Fri) 23:45 Muhalab 2 23:30 Muhalab 3 13:00 (No Fri) 15:45, 18:30, 21:15, 00:15 Fanar 2 12:45 (No Fri) Fanar 4 13:45, 16:30, 19:15, 22:00, 00:45 Fanar 5 21:00, 23:45 Marina 1 12:00 (No Fri) 14:45, 23:30 Marina 3 13:30, 16:15, 19:00, 21:45, 00:30 Avenues 2 11:45 (No Fri) 16:30, 21:15, 00:05 Avenues 4 00:30 Avenues 5 12:00 (No Fri) 14:45, 17:30, 23:00 20:15 (No Thu) Avenues 9 13:45, 16:30, 19:15, Avenues 11 22:00, 00:45 11:30 (No Fri) 18:15, 21:00, 23: :00 (No Fri) 15:45, 18:30, 21:15, 00: :30 (No Fri) 14:15, 17:00, 19:45, 22: :30, 16:15, 19:00, 21:45, 00: :30 (No Fri) 15:15, 18:00, 20:45, 23: :15 (No Fri) 17:15, 22:00, 00:45 Al-Kout 1 13:45, 16:30, 19:15, 22:00, 00:45 Al-Kout 3 12:15 (No Fri) 21:00, 23:45 Bairaq 1 13:30, 16:15, 19:00, 21:45, 00:30 Bairaq 3 23:15 Plaza 16:00, 21:30 Laila 15:45, 22:30 Khammis & Jumma (Horoob Ejbary) Arabic Film Sharqia 3 14:30 Fanar 2 17:30 Avenues 1 00:05 Avenues 3 17:30 Avenues 10 21: :45, 16:30, 19:15, 22:00, 00: :30 (Thu, Sat) Al-Kout 2 12:00 (No Fri) 21:30 Bairaq 3 16:00 Tisbah Ala Khair (Arabic Film) Sharqia 3 19:45, 21:45 Muhalab 2 13:30 (Fri) How to find us 19:30, 21:30 Fanar 1 11:30 (No Fri) Fanar 2 15:30, 20:15, 22:15, 00:30 Marina 1 17:30, 19:30, 21:30 Marina 3 11:30 (No Fri) Avenues 3 11:30 (No Fri) 13:30, 15:30, 20:00, 22:00, 00:15 Avenues 4 22: :00 (No Fri) 15:00, 17:00, 19:00, 21:00, 23:00, 01: :00, 00:45 Al-Kout 2 14:45, 19:30, 00:05 Bairaq 3 12:00 (No Fri) 14:00, 21:15 Laila 20:30 Mom (Hindi Film) Fanar 1 18: :45 Ajial 2 15:30, 18:30, 21:30 Tafash We Arb3een Harami (Arabic Film) Fanar 3 14:15, 19:00, 00: 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: , Avenues 7 14:00, 18:30, 20: :30 (No Fri) 13:30, 15:30, 17:30, 19:30, 21:30, 23: :15 (No Thu) Al-Kout 4 11:30 (No Fri) 18:15, 20:15, 22:15 Transformers: The Last Knight Avenues 1 15: : :15, 17:15, 22:15 Science Fiction Volume One: The Osiris Child Avenues 7 11:45 (No Fri) 16:15, 22:30, 00: :45 (No Fri) :00 (Sat) 15:00 (Thu, Fri, Sat) :30 (No Fri) :15, 01:15 The Dinner Avenues 8 17:00, 19:30, 22: :00 (No Mon) 19:30, 22:00, 00:30 Role Models (Malayalam Film) Plaza 18:45 Ajial 4 15:45, 18:30, 21:30 Guest In London (Hindi Film) Ajial 3 17:45, 20:30 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 It s like having a lottery ticket Tumor gene testing urged to tell if drug targets cancer WASHINGTON, July 8, (AP): Colon cancer. Uterine cancer. Pancreatic cancer. Whatever the tumor, the more gene mutations lurking inside, the better chance your immune system has to fight back. That s the premise behind the recent approval of a landmark drug, the first cancer therapy ever cleared based on a tumor s genetics instead of the body part it struck first. Now thousands of patients with worsening cancer despite standard treatment can try this immunotherapy as long as genetic testing of the tumor shows they re a candidate. It s like having a lottery ticket, said Johns Hopkins oncologist Dr. Dung Le, who helped prove the new use for the immunotherapy Keytruda. We ve got to figure out how to find these patients, because it s such a great opportunity for them. Today, doctors diagnose tumors by where they originate breast cancer in the breast, colon cancer in the colon and use therapies specifically tested for that organ. In contrast, the Food and Drug Administration labeled Keytruda the first tissue-agnostic treatment, for adults and children. The reason: Seemingly unrelated cancers occasionally carry a common genetic flaw called a mismatch repair defect. Despite small studies, FDA found the evidence convincing that for a subset of patients, that flaw can make solid tumors susceptible to immunotherapy doctors otherwise wouldn t have tried. We thought these would be the hardest tumors to treat. But it s like an Achilles heel, said Hopkins cancer geneticist Bert Vogelstein. And last month FDA Commissioner In this photo taken March 28, 2017, Dr Stanley Riddell describes how a patient s large tumor rapidly shrank in an immunotherapy study at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. (AP) Scott Gottlieb told a Senate subcommittee his agency will simplify drug development for diseases that all have a similar genetic fingerprint even if they have a slightly different clinical expression. It s too early to know if what s being dubbed precision immunotherapy will have lasting benefits, but here s a look at the science. Mismatch Hopkins estimates about 4 percent of cancers are mismatch repair-deficient, potentially adding up to 60,000 patients a year. Widely available tests that cost $300 to $600 can tell who s eligible. The FDA said the flaw is more common in colon, endometrial and gastrointestinal cancers but occasionally occurs in a list of others. Say, have I been tested for this? is Le s advice for patients. Most tumors bear 50 or so mutations in various genes, Vogelstein said. Melanomas and lung cancers, spurred by sunlight and tobacco smoke, may have twice as many. But tumors with a mismatch repair defect can harbor 1,500 mutations. Why? When DNA copies itself, sometimes the strands pair up wrong to leave a typo a mismatch. Normally the body spell checks and repairs those typos. Without that proofreading, mutations build up, not necessarily the kind that trigger cancer but bystanders WHO warns of imminent spread of disease New drugs needed against gonorrhoea: UN PARIS, July 8, (AFP): New drugs are urgently needed to treat gonorrhoea, a sexually-transmitted disease threatening to veer out of control as it develops resistance to existing antibiotics, the UN s health agency said Friday. Nearly 80 million people are infected with the disease every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement. Among these, doctors are finding more and more cases of infection untreatable by all known antibiotics. To control gonorrhoea, we need new tools and systems for better prevention, treatment, earlier diagnosis, said the WHO s director of antimicrobial resistance, Marc in a growing tumor. Your immune system could be a potent cancer fighter except that too often, tumors shield themselves. Merck s Keytruda and other so-called checkpoint inhibitors can block one of those shields, allowing immune cells to recognize a tumor as a foreign invader and attack. Until now, those immunotherapies were approved only for a few select cancers Keytruda hit the market for melanoma in 2014 and they work incredibly well for some patients but fail in many others. Learning who s a good candidate is critical for drugs that can cost $150,000 a year and sometimes cause serious side effects. In 2012, Hopkins doctors testing various immunotherapies found the approach failed in all but one of 20 colon cancer patients. When perplexed oncologists told Vogelstein, a light bulb went off. Sure enough, the one patient who fared well had a mismatch repair defect and a mind-boggling number of tumor mutations. The more mutations, the greater the chance that at least one produces a foreign-looking protein that Sprenger. We need new antibiotics, as well as rapid, accurate, point-of-care diagnostic tests. Gonorrhoea, also called the clap, is a disease caused by a bacteria spread through vaginal, oral and anal sex. Untreated, it can cause painful pelvic inflammation in women, and infertility in both genders. In extreme cases, the bacteria can spread in the blood to cause lifethreatening infections in other parts of the body. It can be passed directly from a pregnant woman to her baby and cause blindness in the unborn child. Gonorrhoea resistance to penicillin and tetracycline, a common broad-spectrum antibiotic, first emerged in the 1970s in Asia, spreading to the rest of the world during the early 1980s, according to the WHO. Resistance to the next level antibiotic, ciprofloxacin, developed in the mid-2000s. A third generation of drugs called cephalosporins orally-administered cefixime and injectable ceftriaxone then came into use. But resistance to cefixime and more rarely to ceftriaxone has now been reported in more than 50 countries, said the WHO. These are so-called multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains. is a beacon for immune cells, Vogelstein explained. It was time to see if other kinds of cancer might respond, too. The strongest study, published in the journal Science, tested 86 such patients with a dozen different cancers, including some who had entered hospice. Half had their tumors at least shrink significantly, and 18 saw their cancer become undetectable. It s not clear why the other half didn t respond. Researchers found a hint, in three patients, that new mutations might form that could resist treatment.

30 GASC says buys 115,000T of Russian wheat Egypt aims to double its cotton production Egypt s state grain buyer, the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), said on Saturday it bought 115,000 tonnes of Russian wheat in a tender. GASC did not provide a breakdown of the purchase. Traders gave the following breakdown of the purchase: 55,000 tonnes of Russian wheat from Friends at $ a tonne free-on-board (FOB) and $15.80 a tonne freight equating to $ a tonne cost and freight (C&F) 60,000 tonnes of Russian wheat from Alegrow at $ a tonne FOB and $15.17 a tonne freight equating to $ a tonne C&F The lowest offer at Egypt s GASC wheat tender was at $ a tonne free-on-board (FOB) for 55,000 tonnes of Russian wheat. The state grain buyer is seeking wheat for shipment Aug Results are due later Saturday. Traders said the following offers were made in dollars per tonne on a FOB basis: Louis Dreyfus: 60,000 tonnes of Russian wheat at $ Friends: 55,000 tonnes of Russian wheat at $ Alegrow: 60,000 tonnes of Russian wheat at $ (RTRS) Egypt aims to double production of its most famous export, the silky soft cotton once known as white gold, after a period of slumping output, an Agriculture Ministry spokesman said on Saturday. Hamed Abdel-Dayem told Reuters production should rise to 1.4 million qintar (160 kg) in the fiscal year that started in July from 700,000 qintar a year earlier. All the cotton will be exported. The government aims to increase the price of the long staple cotton to more than 3000 Egyptian pounds ($168.07) per qintar, which will all be exported, the spokesman said. Production of the cotton, used in luxury bedding, has fallen sharply since 2011, a year of political upheaval that coincided with looser regulations that degraded the quality of local cotton. Egypt s sunny skies and superior seed help it grow a cotton known for unusually long fi bres that produce a light durable fabric with an attractive sheen and soft touch. Long-staple sells at 155 US cents per lb, about twice the price of common short-staple cotton. Its return to world markets could provide a lucrative export opportunity at a time when Egypt has a huge trade defi cit and is seeking to relaunch its stagnant economy. (RTRS) Market Movements Change Closing pts GERMANY - DAX , EUROPE - Euro Stoxx , Change Closing pts AUSTRALIA - All Ordinaries , JAPAN - Nikkei , FRANCE - CAC , S. KOREA - KRX , PHILIPPINES - All Shares , INDIA - Sensex , HONG KONG - Hang Seng , Business Boursa Kuwait weekly report Bayan Investment Company Indices end in red zone, market cap dips Boursa Kuwait ended last week in the red zone. The Price Index closed at 6, points, down by 1.22% from the week before closing, the Weighted Index decreased by 0.53% after closing at points, whereas the KSX-15 Index closed at points declining by 0.31%. Furthermore, last week s average daily turnover increased by 32.29%, compared to the preceding week, reaching K.D 9.28 million, whereas trading volume average was million shares, recording an increase of 34.56%. The market continued recording losses as the political issues are getting hotter in the area during this period, which negatively affected on the fluctuation of the region s markets, including Boursa Kuwait, to end the last week s trading in the red zone. Also, the market was subject to pressures arising from the selling operations on many listed stocks of different sectors, especially the idle and small-cap stocks that been traded below its par and book values, which noticeably affected the Price Index in particular, the most losing index compared to its peers, the Weighted and KSX-15. Boursa Kuwait recorded more than K.D. 245 million in losses of its market value in the last five sessions, whereas the market cap reached by the end of last week K.D billion, down by 0.93% compared to its level in a week earlier, where it was K.D billion. On an annual level, the market cap gains for the listed companies in the market contracted to reach 3.26% compared to its value at end of 2016, where it reached then K.D billion. During this period, the market is witnessing a state of watch and caution waiting for the listed companies to disclose its first half financial results of the current year, ended by the end of the month of June, which could push some investors to refrain from trading in the market temporarily waiting for announcing such results to define their investment priorities for the coming period, where it is expected to be disclosed in the few coming weeks. As per the daily trading activity, the market witnessed in the first session of the week a mixed performance for the three indices, whereas the Price Index witnessed a negative performance that pushed it to record strong losses considered the highest in around two months, as it dropped by more than 150 point, or 2.22% of its value, and was accompanied by the Weighted Index in the red zone, which declined by 0.42%, as a result to the large decrease witnessed by many small-cap stocks, especially the ones considered idle and did not witness active trading during the last period, while the KSX-15 Index ended the session s trading with an increase by 0.55%, supported by the random purchasing operations that concentrated on some heavy and leading stocks. The second session of last week was ended with noticeable losses for the three indices due to the selling pressures that many listed stocks were subject to, headed by the leading and heavy stocks that witnessed quick profit collection operations, which pushed the three market indices to close in the red zone. The market was able to record different gains for its three indices in the mid-week session, as the three market indices were able to compensate a small portion of its losses recorded since the beginning of the week, supported by the purchasing operations executed on many listed stocks of different sectors, especially in the Oil & Gas sector, the most growing sector among the twelve sectors of the market. In addition, on Wednesday s session, the market continued its increase supported by the continued purchasing operations on many listed stocks, headed by the leading ones, especially in the Banks sector. However, the three Boursa indices returned in the last session of the week to fluctuate once again, whereas the Price Index realized some gain but did not exceed more than 0.14% only, while the Weighted and KSX-15 indices returned to the red zone once again by recording different losses, which added to its weekly losses. For the annual performance, the Price Index ended last week recording 16.21% annual gain compared to its closing in 2016, while the Weighted Index increased by 4.50%, and the KSX- 15 recorded 2.52% growth. Sectors Indices Nine of Boursa Kuwait s sectors ended last week in the red zone, while the other three recorded increases. The Telecommunications sector headed the losers list as its index declined by 5.75% to end the week s activity at points. The Insurance sector was second on the losers list, which index declined by 5.72%, closing at 1, points, followed by the Consumer Services sector, as its index closed at 1, points at a loss of 3.13%. The Industrial sector was the least declining as its index closed at 1, points with a 0.61% decrease. On the other hand, last week s highest gainer was the Health Care sector, achieving 7.06% growth rate as its index closed at 1, points. Whereas, in the second place, the Oil & Gas sector s index closed at 1, points recording 4.41% increase. The Technology sector came in third as its index achieved 0.14% growth, ending the week at points. Sectors Activity The Financial Services sector dominated a total trade volume of around million shares changing hands during last week, representing 38.98% of the total market trading volume. The Real Estate sector was second in terms of trading volume as the sector s traded shares were 25.45% of last week s total trading volume, with a total of around million shares. On the other hand, the Banks sector s stocks were the highest traded in terms of value; with a turnover of around K.D million or 32.16% of last week s total market trading value. The Financial Services sector took the second place as the sector s last week turnover was approx. K.D 9.55 million representing 20.58% of the total market trading value. For more information, please visit our website: Deal worth almost $5 bln Total s gas deal with Iran Is it a gamble? By Kamel Al-Harami Independent Oil Analyst Last week, the French international petroleum company Total had signed a deal with Iran to develop the biggest gas field in the world Pars field in the Arabian Gulf region. It is shared with Qatar, in which the field is mostly located. The deal is worth almost $5 billion and is aimed at developing the gas field and the industry in Iran as well as to ensure availability of the gas in the Al-Harami local market by the end of Total will own 50 percent share in the gas field and the Chinese gas company CNPC will own 30 percent while the remaining shares are for the Iranian government. The French company will be building petrochemical plants to produce 2.2 million tons of chemicals and polymer annually. Around the same time, Qatar had announced its plans to increase its gas production by 30 percent in the coming five to seven years, which is about 100 million tons of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).This will ensure abundant availability of gas in the world, and more of such gas supply could lead to surplus of gas globally. Of course, suppliers of gas in the Arabian Gulf region are in a better position in terms of production cost, as it is the cheapest like oil globally. Meanwhile, Qatar has already built the infrastructure that can make her more competitive than other suppliers. The competition between the biggest gas reserve and producers is at top gear, and Iran is trying to catch up. Qatar is working on maintaining her top position in the Asian countries, 70 percent of which use gas as clean fuel energy particularly Japan and Korea and are aiming to further reduce their dependence on nuclear energy as much as possible. Total is the first European oil and gas company to sign a major deal with Iran at a time when the new American administration is working on imposing tougher measures and resolutions on Iran. This leaves other international western companies in the queue especially Shell, BP and other smaller ones. The Italian company Eni has signed a letter of intent but failed to follow suit. Meanwhile, Russia, China and the Philippines are already doing business and have many joint operations in the country. However, American companies have a long way to go, as they are waiting for the final green light from their government. This brings us back to our earlier question regarding whether Total is taking a risk by dealing with Iran. This could be the case, but its joint partnership with the Chinese company could prove to be a backdoor support, in case of any USA actions. Perhaps it may not be such a high risk considering the fact that the board of Total company has given the go ahead signal. naftikuwaiti@yahoo.com Kuwait real estate sales hit highest record in May The real estate market picked up momentum in May. Sales rose to KD 289 million, their highest level in 18 months and up 37 percent year-on-year (y/y). The residential and investment sectors provided significant support to the real estate market, with sales increasing by 23 percent and 38 percent y/y, respectively. Activity has been relatively volatile in recent months, with three of the last six months seeing elevated sales, something that could be signaling an end to the two year slowdown. Real estate prices Investment sector activity strong in July across most sectors continued to hold steady, currently off 9-10 percent y/y. The residential sector bounced back following a soft April. Sales jumped to KD 138 million during the month, on 406 transactions. KD sales improved by 23 percent y/y, supported by a 46 percent rise in the number of transactions from a year ago. A surge in home purchases was witnessed during the last two months; 233 and 203 homes were sold in April and May respectively, the highest since March Residential real estate prices were flat in May, continuing to show a stabilizing trend. The NBK residential home price index stood at point, flat for the month. The index has been stable and in the vicinity of points for almost three consecutive quarters, though it remains down 9 percent y/y. The NBK residential land price index retreated in May to points and is down 9.5 percent y/y. Investment sector activity was strong this month, compensating for April s weakness. Sales came in at KD 87.7 million, up 38 percent y/y. The number of transactions improved as well, advancing by 10 percent from the previous year. Investment building prices logged a slight gain for the month. The NBK investment building price index stood at points, up 1.7 percent for the month, a five months high. The index is down 10 percent y/y, an improvement from a few months back as it appears also to have bottomed out in tandem with prices in the residential sector. Commercial sector activity picked up this May, following four months of low volume activity. Sector sales reached KD 62.8 million on six transactions; the largest three transactions were a plot in Egaila for KD 28.5 million and two buildings in Sharq for KD 20.4 million and KD 16.8 million. The slowdown in the real estate market, and the price correction that accompanied it, has started to have an impact on housing rent and consumer inflation. The weak market and a rise in vacant apartments since the end of 2015 have exercised downward pressure on rents though the impact on inflation had been elusive, until recently. Easing rent inflation only became visible in the housing services component of the CPI in March Housing inflation, mostly comprised of housing rents, slowed from 6.4 percent y/y in 4Q16 to a three-year low of 4.3 percent y/y in 1Q17. Drop in Saudi CB foreign assets slows in May DUBAI, July 8, (RTRS): The Saudi Arabian central bank s foreign assets, which the government has been liquidating to cover a budget deficit caused by low oil prices, fell at the slowest pace for a year in May, official data showed on Thursday. Net foreign assets shrank by a little over $1 billion from the previous month to $492 billion, their lowest level since May It was the smallest drop since assets increased for a single month in May On a year-on-year basis, foreign assets shrank 14.2 percent in May. They hit a record high of $737 billion in August 2014 before starting to fall along with oil prices. Reasons for the slow drop in May were not immediately clear, but the government s fund transfers often swing widely depending on payments for infrastructure projects and investment plans. The state budget deficit shrank sharply in the first quarter of this year but analysts do not believe that pace of improvement has continued, since oil prices have fallen back and Riyadh has eased some austerity steps to aid economic growth. Restored The government restored financial allowances for civil servants that were originally cut as an austerity measure last September, and it has not proceded with a previously announced plan to hike domestic fuel and power prices around mid-year. Officials have not revealed a new date for the energy price hikes. The government also plans to launch a programme of payments to poorer Saudis to help them cope with such austerity measures but that scheme, originally due to start at mid-year, has also not gone ahead. Bank lending data released by the central bank on Thursday suggested private sector business activity remains sluggish.

31 BUSINESS 31 Qualcomm steps up legal battle with Apple Berkshire Hathaway to buy Texas energy assets Qualcomm on Thursday escalated its legal battle with Apple, filing a patent infringement lawsuit and requesting a ban on the importation of some iphones, claiming unlawful and unfair use of the chipmaker s technology. Qualcomm said it fi led two separate legal actions including a complaint asking for the iphone import ban with the US International Trade Commission, a quasi-judicial government agency which hears cases involving trade disputes. The complaint alleges that iphones, which are made in China, should not be allowed to be brought into the United States if they infringe on Qualcomm s patents. The chipmaker also filed a complaint against Apple in the US District Court for Southern California seeking damages from the same patent infringement allegations. Qualcomm s inventions are at the heart of every iphone and extend well beyond modem technologies or cellular standards, said Don Rosenberg, executive vice president and general counsel of Qualcomm. The patents we are asserting represent six important technologies, out of a portfolio of thousands, and each is vital to iphone functions. Apple continues to use Qualcomm s technology while refusing to pay for it. (AFP) Berkshire Hathaway reached a multi-billion dollar deal to acquire Texas energy transmission assets that are part of the giant Energy Futures Holdings bankruptcy, the companies announced Friday. Berkshire, the conglomerate chaired by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, would get energy delivery company Oncor as part of an all-cash purchase of the reorganized EFH. Oncor s transmission and distribution network serves 10 million people in Texas. The companies said the price of the transaction was $9 billion. The Wall Street Journal, citing an unnamed source, reported the total value of the deal at $18 billion, including debt. The deal is subject to approvals from Texas utility regulators as well as a bankruptcy court overseeing the three-year old EFH proceeding, one of the largest bankruptcies ever. EFH was a casualty of the US shale boom, having wrongly bet natural gas prices would surge when they instead sank due to copious supply. Executives from both companies emphasized Berkshire s plans to invest in the assets. Oncor is an excellent fit for Berkshire Hathaway, and we are pleased to make another longterm investment in Texas - when we invest in Texas, we invest big! Buffett said. (AFP) More Americans looking for work Hiring surged last month in a sign of US economic vitality WASHINGTON, July 8, (AP): Hiring surged in June in a surprising show of US economic vitality eight years into the recovery from the Great Recession. Pay gains remain weak, though, a stark reminder of one of the economy s key shortcomings. Employers added 222,000 jobs last month, and hiring in the previous two months was revised much higher. Job gains have now averaged nearly 180,000 a month this year, only slightly below last year s pace. Unemployment ticked up to 4.4 percent from 4.3 percent, but mostly for a good reason: More Americans started looking for work, a sign of confidence in the economy. Last month, economists worried that hiring would slow as employers struggled to fill jobs from a dwindling supply of unemployed workers. Friday s data suggests companies are still finding plenty of people to hire. That has given economists greater confidence the economy still has room to run. This balanced pace should enable the current economic expansion to be maintained much beyond the historical norm, Russell Price, senior economist for Ameriprise Financial, said. The current expansion is the thirdlongest on record. So far, the job market and economy look broadly the same as they did last year, though President Donald Trump has boasted that his policies are accelerating hiring and growth. The economy s durability appears to be benefiting more people. The unemployment rate among blacks fell in June to its lowest level in 17 years, at 7.1 percent. The gap with whites, whose rate was 3.8 percent, persisted. The rate among Latinos dropped to 4.8 percent, the lowest in 11 years. Even with June s strong hiring, average hourly pay rose just 2.5 percent from a year earlier. The last time the unemployment rate was this low, wages were rising by roughly 4 percent. Normally, as the number of unemployed dwindles, employers raise pay to attract job seekers. Economists offer a number of explanations for why that dynamic hasn t yet kicked in. One factor: The influx of job seekers last month who had previously been on the sidelines, not counted as unemployed might have offset some upward wage pressures. Employers had more applicants to choose from. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody s Analytics, said many workers are too cautious to push for raises, partly because of the lingering effects of the Great Recession, when nearly 9 million people lost their jobs. And some businesses have decided they can t raise prices enough to afford meaningful pay raises. That cycle of limited wage gains and low prices has kept inflation in check. John McAuliffe, chief executive of Sylvan Learning, a company that offers tutoring to students from kindergarten through high school, is hiring more teachers and expanding. Yet it is cutting costs to maintain profits, rather Canada s unemployment rate drops to 6.5 pct in June MONTREAL, July 8, (AFP): Canada s unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage points in June to 6.5 percent, official data showed Friday, with 45,000 new jobs added compared to the previous month, mainly in part-time work and among women. The number of jobs added was almost four times greater than economists predictions, which foresaw a modest rise of 12,000. In the second quarter of 2017, overall employment grew by 103,000 (+0.6 percent), the fourth consecutive quarter of strong employment growth and the largest quarterly increase since 2010, Statistics Canada said. The latest gains come after 55,000 new jobs were added in May, a sign of the economy s growing strength over the than raising prices. The company has opened 10 new locations since March, creating about 100 jobs, mostly part-time. More people have the ability to afford tutoring for their children, McAuliffe says. But the company sees little need to raise pay. A lot of teachers look for supplemental income, he said. We ve always been able to find them. Economists forecast the economy will expand at roughly a 2 percent pace this year, about the same as it has grown since the recession ended. The economy appears resilient enough for the Federal Reserve to keep raising its benchmark interest rate. In a report to Congress on Friday, the Fed signaled its belief that the economy is on a firm footing. past year. Rising employment could soon see the central bank tighten monetary policy, with the first rate hike in nearly seven years probable next week, according to analysts with CIBC bank. Employment gains in June were led by women aged 55 and older, with the group seeing an increase of 31,000. Many business owners are seeing greater confidence among their customers. Mark Dix, a general contractor in Knoxville, Tennessee, said he has seen a jump in demand for the renovation, painting and home construction services he provides. He employs 15 people. I would hire another half-dozen people today if I could find the skilled labor, he said. $52.6 bln capitalisation GM regains crown on Wall Street as Tesla shares dip NEW YORK, July 8, (Agencies): General Motors (GM) regained its spot as the biggest US carmaker by market capitalization Thursday, amid greater investor skepticism that chipped away at rival Tesla Motors. Near 18:45 GMT, GM had a market capitalization of $52.6 billion, about $1.9 billion more than the electric car maker, which had overtaken GM in April. GM shares dipped 0.6 percent to $34.80, while Tesla slumped 6.0 percent to $ Tesla had a big edge over GM in market value as recently as June 30, but shares reacted poorly to Tesla s latest car delivery figures. The electric car giant, the brainchild of the charismatic Elon Musk, announced Monday it would produce its first mass-market Model 3 sedans Friday, two weeks ahead of schedule, with the first deliveries set for July 28. The Model 3, which targets the middle market with a price of just $35,000, is seen as crucial to Tesla s visions to bring electric cars mainstream. However, analysts instead fixated on the second quarter delivery pace, which came in at 22,000 vehicles, less than the 23,655 expected by analysts. Goldman Sachs on Wednesday slashed its six-month price target on Tesla shares to $180 per share, warning that demand for the company s established cars was plateauing, pressuring profit margins. And Tesla s Model S once again fell short of the top rating in a key crash test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which mean it failed to achieve the rank of IIHS Top Safety pick, the agency announced Thursday. Adding to Tesla s woes, the company is facing a more crowded market after Swedish rival Volvo announced Wednesday that it will phase out production of conventional petrol-only cars from 2019, with all new models to be either electric or hybrids. Meanwhile, registrations of Tesla Inc vehicles in California, by far the largest market of the luxury electric car maker, fell 24 percent in April from a year ago, according to data from IHS Markit. Tesla said in a statement on Friday that it was extremely misleading to look at registration data from one month, that deliveries varied month-to-month for operational reasons, and that deliveries increased by more than 53 percent in the second quarter compared with a year earlier. Looking at the quarter in total is the smallest time frame in which to obtain reliable, meaningful information about our deliveries. Deliveries naturally fluctuate from month to month for a variety of normal operational reasons. In the first month of the quarter, Tesla builds cars primarily for overseas markets, in the second month for North American markets (not including the West Coast) and in the third month for the West Coast, Tesla said in the statement to Reuters. Focusing on April registrations cherry picks data, it said. Tesla earlier this week reported first-half global deliveries of its Model S and its Model X SUV at the low end of its own forecast, driving down the stock and raising questions about demand for the older models. The findings come as investors worry that demand for Tesla s luxury Model S sedan is waning ahead of the mass market Model 3 launch. Tesla s share price more than doubled between early December and late June as investors bet on Chief Executive Elon Musk s strategy to transform the low-volume luxury electric car maker into a diversified producer of mass market vehicles, storage batteries, electric commercial trucks and rooftop solar panels. The company s market value rose past larger rivals General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co. Since June 23, however, Tesla shares have fallen by nearly 20 percent amid concerns that demand for the company s existing models is weakening. Overall sales of electric vehicles in the United States remain stuck at less than 1 percent of total vehicle sales, despite a growing number of models fielded by Tesla and other car makers. US will not fine Canadian firm for spilling radioactive sludge CHEYENNE, Wyoming, July 8, (AP): The agency that regulates the US nuclear industry will not fine a Canadian uranium mining company for twice spilling low-level radioactive sludge outside a Utah waste disposal facility, giving the company credit for efforts to prevent the problem from recurring. Saskatoon, Canada-based Cameco faced a $35,000 fine from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Commission officials told Cameco they won t seek a fine in part because the company plans in the future to store the barium sulfate sludge in bags within the trucks. However, significant violations in the future could result in a civil penalty, NRC Deputy Regional Administrator Scott Morris wrote the company June 29. Cameco is pleased to have resolved the problem to the NRC s satisfaction, company spokesman Gord Struthers said Wednesday. Shipments of barium sulfate sludge from the Smith Ranch in-situ uranium mine and processing facility in northeast Wyoming will resume after the NRC has signed off on Cameco s corrective measures, Struthers added. In a public conference before NRC officials in Arlington, Texas, in May, Cameco officials had asked the NRC not to fine the company, saying the spills didn t endanger anybody. The leaks happened on two occasions, in 2015 and Both times, low-level radioactive waste leaked from trucks from a Wyoming uranium processing facility. The first time, sludge sloshed over the back of the truck when the driver braked hard to avoid hitting a deer. The second time, sludge leaked from a faulty door in the truck container. Workers noticed the leaks after the trucks arrived outside Energy Fuels Resources White Mesa Mill waste disposal facility near Blanding, Utah. Subsequent testing found no elevated radiation along the roughly 600-mile shipment route through Wyoming, Colorado and Utah. The NRC determined that Cameco committed nine rule violations. All were on the low end of the agency s severity scale but five were serious enough to warrant fines, according to the NRC. Fed sees steady economy, only moderate financial weaknesses WASHINGTON, July 8, (Agencies): The US economy continues to churn out jobs and grow at a steady pace, with investment and consumer confidence both healthy and only moderate signs of risk in financial markets, the US Federal Reserve said on Friday in its semiannual report to Congress. With stock markets near record levels, and interest rates and credit conditions still loose, the report gave detailed attention to whether the financial system and bond markets posed any particular threat to the country s eight-year No more rate increase this year Trader Joseph Murray works on the fl oor of the New York Stock Exchange on July 6. Retailers and technology stocks are leading US indexes lower in early trading in Wall Street. (AP) Investors glad to see positive sign for economy Solid jobs report boosts tech stocks NEW YORK, July 8, (AP): US stocks climbed Friday after the government said hiring grew at a stronger pace in June. Technology and consumer-focused companies led the way as investors were glad to see a positive sign for the economy. The Labor Department said American employers added 222,000 jobs last month. That was more than analysts had expected, and it came just a day after a survey that showed weaker job creation by private companies. Stocks regained much of the ground they lost Thursday. Technology companies jumped and retailers like Amazon and McDonald s traded higher. Bond yields climbed and the dollar got stronger. Gold fell. The data itself shows a pretty strong labor market, said Sean Lynch, co-head of global equity strategy for the Wells Fargo Investment Institute. He said it probably lays to rest some of the worries (that) we were taking a step back from an economic standpoint. The Standard & Poor s 500 index picked up points, or 0.6 percent, to 2, The Dow Jones industrial average gained points, or 0.4 percent, to 21, It fell 158 points a day earlier. The Nasdaq composite rose points, or 1 percent, to 6, The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks added points, or 1.1 percent, to 1, The government said more people looked for work in June, which pushed the unemployment rate slightly higher. The government also raised its estimates of job gains in April and May. However average wage growth remained modest. Still, companies that would benefit from better economic growth, like banks and industrial companies, made strong gains. Facebook added $2.62, or 1.8 percent, to $ and Microsoft rose 89 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $69.46 as technology companies made the biggest gains Friday. They have done better than any other industrial group within the S&P 500 this year. Despite Friday s gains, technology stocks have had a bad month. The Nasdaq composite closed at an all-time high June 8 and the S&P 500 technology index closed at a 17-year-high. Since then the tech index has dropped 4 percent, its worst one-month stretch since Britain voted to leave the European Union last June. Apple and Alphabet, Google s parent company, have both fallen almost 8 percent in that time, while chipmaker Nvidia is down 10 percent and smaller chip and chip equipment companies have taken even sharper losses. If the markets are to go higher, it s got to come from somewhere other than technology, said Lynch. McDonald s rose $3.18, or 2.1 percent, to $ Amazon picked up $13.62, or 1.4 percent, to $ and Netflix advanced $3.93, or 2.7 percent, to $ Homebuilder D.R. Horton economic expansion. The answer so far is no, said the Fed, noting that there is little evidence of a liquidity crunch in the corporate or other bond markets, and no evidence that rising asset values pose a problem. The structure of the corporate bond market is changing with new regulations, the Fed said, but by traditional measures shows only minimal strain in adapting. Vulnerabilities in the US financial system remained, on balance, moderate, concluded the report, submitted to Congress on behalf of the Fed s Washington-based Board of Governors. Valuation pressures across a range of assets and several indicators of investor risk appetite have increased further... However, these developments in asset markets have not been accompanied by increased leverage. The combination of rising asset values and rising leverage is considered particularly toxic, indicating that investments are being made with borrowed money and leaving investors unable to repay those debts if the value of the underlying assets decline. US Treasury yields rose after the report, with the yield on the benchmark 10- year note near a more than eight-week high. US stocks edged higher. The release of the report on Friday comes ahead of Fed Chair Janet Yellen s appearance next Wednesday and Thursday before the House and Senate committees that oversee the central bank and related issues. The roughly 60-page document is largely a review of economic and policy developments since the last report, in February. In this instance the document took on a steady-as-she-goes quality. Growth in the first quarter was slow at about 1-1/2 percent on an annualized basis, and inflation took a step backward. But consumer confidence remained strong, and business investment has turned up... The housing market continues its gradual recovery. added $1.30, or 3.8 percent, to $ Stocks dropped Thursday after ADP, a payroll processor, released a survey that showed sluggish hiring by private businesses. Investors have been worried that rising interest rates in the US, and possibly in Europe, will affect economic growth, while the end of stimulus measures by the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank could affect stocks, as they have helped support stock markets since the financial crisis in Benchmark US crude oil lost $1.29, or 2.8 percent, to $44.23 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, fell $1.40, or 2.9 percent, to $46.71 per barrel in London. Analysts said investors are focused on the strong increase in US production in Thursday s energy supply report. Hess fell $1.04, or 2.4 percent, to $41.79 and Devon Energy gave up 64 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $ Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10- year Treasury note rose to 2.39 percent from 2.37 percent. Big-dividend stocks like phone companies, household goods makers and utilities mostly lagged the market as investors who sought yield were lured elsewhere. Advisory Board jumped after Bloomberg said health insurer United- Health Group and private equity firm Vista Equity plan to buy the consulting company and break it up. Advisory Board shares climbed $2.90, or 5.4 percent, to $ Recent Economic growth has also been supported by recent strength in foreign activity. The government on Friday said nonfarm payrolls surged by 222,000 in June and workers put in more hours but average hourly earnings grew a modest 0.2 percent. Along with the discussion of financial conditions, however, the Fed did highlight some long-term problems. The central bank noted that weak productivity growth may become entrenched as a new normal, and could be one reason wage growth remains weak. It also noted the continued gap in unemployment rates between whites and blacks and Hispanics. The Federal Reserve said it sees hopeful signs that business investment is poised to rebound from the doldrums of the global financial crisis and boost the US economy. But, in its semi-annual report to Congress, the central bank restated its view that the benchmark interest rate should rise only gradually as the economy picks up steam. The Fed has said it expects one more rate increase this year. The fate of business investment is key because it could unlock gains in the productivity of businesses and workers, which in turn would drive increases in wages that have remained frustratingly sluggish. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen is scheduled to present the report July 12 in testimony before the House Financial Services Committee, where she likely will again face hostile questioning from Republican lawmakers about the slow growth and tepid wage gains, as well as on how the Fed makes its decisions on interest rates. After remaining flat for much of 2016, business investment rose robustly at the beginning of the year, including solid increases in purchases of equipment. Meanwhile, indicators of future spending are generally upbeat with orders and shipments moving up, and sentiment indexes have remained elevated, the report said.

32 BUSINESS 32 SoundCloud cuts staff electric guitar maker Fender jumps SoundCloud, the music-streaming platform that has struggled in its recent efforts to transition from a free service beloved by musicians to a more formal subscription business, is cutting 40 percent of its staff in an effort to stay afl oat, cofounder Alexander Ljung announced in a blog post Thursday (July 6). The company, which warned of impending fi nancial trouble in January, told staff on Thursday that 173 jobs will be cut and its offices in San Francisco and London will be closed. The news was first reported by Bloomberg. We need to ensure our path to long-term, independent success, Alex Ljung, the company s co-founder and chief executive officer, said in the blog post. He added that the company has doubled its revenue over the past 12 months and the belttightening is an effort to make the 10-year-old company profi table. Rumors have been rampant in recent days that the company is being considered for acquisition by several companies, most prominently the France-based streaming service Deezer. Eric and I founded Sound- Cloud nearly 10 years ago as we saw a need for something that would enable artists to share and connect through music, Ljung wrote. (RTRS) Fender Musical Instruments Corp, whose electric guitars have powered music from Jimi Hendrix to Nirvana, is getting into the software business with an app for guitar lessons. The Scottsdale, Arizona company is launching Fender Play, an online system for learning guitar that Chief Executive Officer Andy Mooney, a veteran of Nike and Disney, hopes will cut down on the number of would-be guitarists who give up. He said 45 percent of the company s guitars sell to first-time players, but 90 percent abandon the instrument within a year and never become repeat customers. The 10 percent who make it through the first year own an average of seven guitars, Mooney said in an interview. When we gathered the data and looked at the facts, we said, Oh my God, if we just reduced the abandonment rate by even 10 percent, we could perhaps double the size of the industry. The musical instrument industry grew 9 percent to $7.1 billion in retail sales over the past fi ve years but remains well below its 2005 peak of $7.7 billion, according to data from The Music Trades magazine. Moreover, the electric guitar was virtually absent from the Top 20 music charts in the past fi ve years. (RTRS) S. Korean company s profit soars to 72 percent Samsung on a roll as data demand for memory chips soar SEOUL, South Korea, July 8, (Agencies): Samsung Electronics is on a roll thanks to booming sales of memory chips required by the increasingly data-based economy. The company, the world s largest supplier of memory chips, said Friday that its operating profit soared 72 percent in the April-June quarter over a year earlier to a record high. Samsung has the most advanced memory chip production technology. Robust semiconductor sales amid a massive expansion of data use yielded a record profit in the last quarter even as smartphone market growth slowed, analysts said. The results beat expectations, putting Samsung on track for its highest profit ever in The South Korean tech giant put its April-June operating profit at 14 trillion won ($12.1 billion), compared with 8.1 trillion won a year earlier. Sales rose 18 percent to 60 trillion won ($51.9 billion). As is typical with Samsung s earnings guidance, the company didn t elaborate on details of its performance. Samsung is due to report full results later this month. Other milestones may be waiting. Samsung s quarterly profit may have surpassed Apple s for the first time, and Samsung s semiconductor revenue, which had been second to Intel s, likely surpassed the US company s in the second quarter, analysts said. The Suwon, South Korea-headquartered company s financial performance has usually mirrored trends in the global economy or followed cycles in the consumer electronics industry, such as how often users upgrade their televisions or smartphones. That is no longer the case. Now data is driving its growth. To process and analyze big data, data storage comes first and this is the driving force behind Samsung s record-high profit, Hwang Min-sung, an analyst at Samsung Securities, said in a report. Consumers data usage exploded and companies are not saving their money to invest in servers for data storage and data analysis. Global tech companies like Google, Amazon and Facebook are scurrying to add more servers for their databases to store, analyze and process the massive data generated from connected devices by consumers surfing the internet to stream videos and music, sharing and viewing photos and files online and using mobile applications. The adoption of artificial intelligence and growth of the internet of things that takes vehicles, refrigerators and even mundane objects like toothbrushes online will drive even higher demand for microchips that can handle more data with speed and energy efficiency. Estimate Analysts estimate that Samsung s semiconductor division, which makes DRAM and NAND chips for mobile devices and servers, generated nearly 8 trillion won ($7 billion) in April- June, or 60 percent of its quarterly profit. That s close to what Samsung s semiconductor division used to earn in a full year. Analysts forecast Samsung s quarterly semiconductor profit will continue to rise because none of its rivals are likely to catch up or match its knowhow and investment in memory chip production. Samsung said earlier this week it plans to spend 20.4 trillion won ($18 billion) in the next four years to expand capacities of memory chips in its South Korean plants. It also is considering adding production lines in China. OLED screens, advanced displays that display crisp, highly saturated colors, are another plus. Samsung controls more than 90 percent of the global market for mobile OLEDs, and is using the screens for the curved displays of its Galaxy smartphones. Apple is widely expected to adopt OLED screens. Analysts said smartphones had a mixed impact on Samsung s performance, with higher costs outweighing robust sales of Galaxy S8 smartphones. On Friday, Samsung began limited sales of recycled Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, which were discontinued last year after they overheated and burst into flames. While the company s financial performance has excelled, Samsung s de facto leader and vice chairman, Lee Jae-yong, is in jail in connection with a corruption scandal that topped South Korea s president. Hearings on charges that Lee engaged in bribery and other offenses are expected to wrap up in August. Some analysts believe Lee s plight could inhibit other top managers from making the kinds of bold decisions that enabled the company to forge ahead in areas like memory chips and OLED screens. Both resulted from years-ago investments of money and effort into the technologies. Samsung is believed to have topped the list of global IT companies, surpassing Intel and Apple, in terms of operating profits for the first time in history, said Kim Dong-Won of KB Securities. It would also be Samsung Electronics highest-ever quarterly operating profit, surpassing the 10.1 trillion won of the third quarter of Samsung has benefitted from increased shipments and strong prices for DRAM and NAND semiconductor chips, as it put behind it last year s Galaxy Note 7 recall fiasco. It appears not to have been distracted by the corruption trial of its detained vice-chairman Lee Jae-Yong. Brisk sales of its new flagship Galaxy S8 smartphones, rising demand for flexible OLED products as well as soaring LCD panel prices also drove its earnings, analysts said. Samsung withholds sector-bysector business performance until it releases its final earnings report later this month. But Greg Roh of HMC Investment Securities told AFP: All the three sectors semiconductor business, display and smartphone business are all believed to have performed well. This is a better-than-expected performance, he added. The earnings forecast surpassed a market consensus of around 13.2 trillion won compiled by FnGuide, a financial information service provider. Sales for the April-June period are expected to surge 17.8 percent onyear to 60 trillion won. Once bitten, twice shy? Central banks should heed market bubble warnings LONDON, July 8, (RTRS): If central banks have learned anything from the Great Financial Crisis, the worst since the 1930s, it is that you don t need runaway inflation to raise interest rates. Financial market bubbles should be enough. The Bank for International Settlements, often considered the central bank to the world s central banks, warned on Sunday that policymakers should press ahead with the great unwinding of post-crisis stimulus, even if some short-term bumps in the road are inevitable. Inflation shouldn t be the be all and end all of monetary policy, according to BIS head of research Hyun Shin. Instead, a bit more emphasis should be put on financial developments such as the rise in credit growth and the potential economic costs of bubbles bursting. Shin and his colleagues should be listened to. The BIS was one of the few institutions warning that the credit bubble being inflated by the Alan Greenspan Fed s super-lax policy in the mid-2000s would burst with disastrous consequences. But even after the financial crisis plunged the world into recession and scarily close to another Great Depression, inflation is still the be all and end all for central banks across the developed world. Parallels between now and then are emerging. Broadly Inflation in the industrialised world is now broadly where it was a decade ago: extremely well contained and below most central banks 2 percent target. Against a backdrop of anemic wage growth and oil slumping 20 percent in the last two months, there s little sign of it accelerating any time soon. In that light, the subtle but notable shift among major central banks recently towards policy normalisation is unwarranted. But while inflation poses no threat, the same cannot be said with any surety about financial markets. The warning signs are there: world stocks are the highest on record, volatility is the lowest in decades, and in credit, emerging market and high yield spreads are the narrowest in years. Despite the Fed raising rates, US financial conditions are the easiest in over two years, according to Goldman Sachs. Credit growth and global debt are now higher than they were before the crisis. Bubbles are forming in equity and other markets, inflated by global central bank stimulus which is still running at nearly $200 billion a month. Reflecting investors hunt for yield, Argentina last week issued a 100-year bond at a yield of less than 8 percent. Argentina has defaulted at least eight times since gaining independence in 1816 and has been in a state of default more than half of all days since Yet investors snapped it up. As Citi s Matt King notes, markets remain in thrall to central banks. This is why tighter policy globally could be potentially seismic for markets. Investors have grown fat and happy on more than two decades of policymakers targeting inflation at 2 percent and offering the implicit insurance policy of the central bank put. That s the belief that central banks will do whatever it takes to avoid the financial and economic damage a crash would unleash. Essentially that means maintaining a loose monetary policy and the flow of liquidity into financial assets. Signaling Last week Bill Dudley, president of the New York Fed, and Andy Haldane, chief economist at the Bank of England, jolted markets by signaling their readiness to raise rates. The Fed has already raised rates four times and is about to reduce its balance sheet, and the European Central Bank and Bank of Canada to varying degrees have made it clear that the postcrisis stimulus should soon be gradually withdrawn. It s too blunt a tool, the concept of financial stability is too vague, it s impossible to accurately identify asset bubbles, the economic and financial fallout from pricking these bubbles is unknowable at best and catastrophic at worst. Ultimately it s not the business of central banks to be micro-managing markets. It s not their remit. Central bankers including Greenspan, Ben Bernanke, Mervyn King, Lars Svensson and Jens Weidmann have argued that monetary authorities should resist leaning against the wind and trying to control or even prevent incipient financial booms. But in recent years the Fed has acknowledged the risks posed by ultra-low volatility and increased risk-taking. In 2014 Janet Yellen said high yield, or junk bonds were on the Fed s radar, warning that a sharp unwind of risk-taking behaviour in general would be something to avoid. A major shakeout in US high yield bonds followed and yields jumped to 10 percent in early But they re now back to historic lows around 5.5 percent, the recovery coinciding almost exactly with the most gradual Fed tightening cycle in history. Higher This shows that higher rates are failing to quell animal spirits. On this issue, Shin at the BIS and perma-bear Albert Edwards at Societe Generale agree that the longer bubbles are left to inflate, the greater the disaster when they pop. Edwards points out the irony in trying to reflate the economy through ultra-loose policy because bursting bubbles will take down the economy and probably deliver the very deflation policymakers were seeking to avoid in the first place. Even after the (Great Financial Crisis) they simply have not learnt that loose money polices to blow asset price bubbles is a catastrophic policy destined to end in failure, Edwards warns. Fiery rhetoric from California to feds over $18 million debt LOS ANGELES, July 8, (AP): California s emergency services director has fired off a sharply worded letter to the US Forest Service that said the agency had stiffed local governments $18 million for fighting wildfires on federal lands last year and raised the prospect the state may stop protecting national forests during blazes. I cannot continue to support the deployment of resources to protect Emergency services director fired An Indonesian woman (center), speaks on her mobile phone in Jakarta on July 6. (AFP) State increasing income taxes Kansas budget issues likely to persist TOPEKA, July 8, (AP): A major financial rating agency says a structural imbalance in Kansas budget is likely to persist even after the state increased income taxes to help close projected shortfalls. The report this week from S&P Global Ratings highlighted the state s plans to continue diverting highway funds to other spending and to keep shorting contributions to public pensions. Those moves were crucial to balancing the state budget through June 2019, even with the tax increase expected to raise $1.2 billion in new revenue over two years. While the state has boosted ongoing revenues through income tax increases, appropriations also have increased, leading to the persistence of structural imbalance in the biennium, S&P said in the overview of its report, dated Wednesday. The S&P report came about a month after another major rating agency, Moody s Investors Service, upgraded the state s credit outlook to stable from negative in the wake of lawmakers enacting the tax increase over Republican Gov Sam Brownback s veto. S&P took no action on its negative credit outlook for Kansas. Even as Moody s upgraded its credit outlook for Kansas, it cited the diversion of highway funds and shorting of public pension contributions as ongoing concerns. S&P rates Kansas debt as AA-. Moody s rates it Aa2. The highest S&P rating is AAA and Aaa for Moody s. Rolled Lawmakers increased rates and eliminated an exemption for more than 330,000 farmers and business owners. In doing so, they rolled back past income tax cuts championed by Brownback. Legislators have drawn occasionally scathing criticism from Brownback and his administration. Aides have called lawmakers spend-happy and said the federal land that ultimately may bankrupt our local governments, Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci said in the letter sent Monday to Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell. The dispute stems from longstanding commitments that coordinate and reimburse firefighters for work on federal lands. Nearly half the land in California is federally owned, and the greatest percentage of that is in National Forests. Wildfires are fought with a combination of local, state and federal firefighters working under mutual aid agreements that often send them hundreds of miles from home. Massive encampments that sprout up at big wildfires include bean counters who tally the costs of fighting fires and figure out how to reimburse the many agencies helping out. But Ghilarducci said the federal government was shirking its responsibilities to reimburse local governments by illogically relying on a sudden interpretation of a 1955 law that prevents the government from paying volunteer firefighters. More than a third of the state firefighting force is made up of volunteers who expect to be paid when called into action far from home, Ghilarducci said. It was appalling and absurd that the Forest Service had blatantly ignored its financial responsibility to the men and women of California who have risked their lives fighting fires to protect federal land, Ghilarducci said. tax increase to financed pet projects, though they have yet to produce a list of offending items for The Associated Press. The S&P report refutes claims made by legislators that their record-breaking tax increase was necessary to stop one-time budget fixes, Brownback spokeswoman Melika Willoughby said in an ed statement. Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, said it s not surprising lawmakers still used some one-time fixes because Brownback s past tax cuts dug such a deep hole for us. We have begun the steps toward recovery, Hensley said. Legislators also phased in a $293 million increase in spending on public schools over two years in response to a Kansas Supreme Court ruling in March that said the state s $4 billion a year in aid was inadequate. The court is reviewing the new school finance law, and S&P said uncertainties about education funding remain as a result. Seeking Messages left seeking comment from the federal agency were not immediately returned. Char Miller, a professor of environmental analysis at Pomona College who has written extensively about the Forest Service, said it was shocking the federal government had reneged on a longstanding agreement, particularly as fire season heats up and agencies will want to know if they re going to be repaid. It s troubling where California feels it needs to go public with its disagreement, Miller said. It seems to me this is not just a turf war, but a reflection that this very delicate crossagency, cross-jurisdiction cooperation is fraying at the seams and that s bad news as the fire season roars away in California. Ghilarducci said Forest Service staff refused to cooperate with the state on the matter and had obstructed efforts to honor its commitments. The federal government is supposed to repay local governments within two months, but more than 90 percent of payments from last year missed that deadline. Two-thirds of payments in 2015 were late. Rich Webb, chief of the Linda Fire Protection District, said failure to meet the deadlines was particularly hard on smaller communities that had to push budget shortfalls to the current fiscal year. Some communities were just recently reimbursed for last summer s Cedar Fire in Sequoia National Forest and several Northern California counties are still awaiting payments for other fires. They re frustrated to the point where they re considering not responding to Forest Service fires anymore, Webb said. Why participate in this agreement if we re not being reimbursed?... That s going to affect the entire mutual aid system throughout the state. Miller said there may be a reasonable explanation for the failure to make the payments or it could be a symptom of the Forest Service now spending about half its budget on firefighting and trying to push some of those costs to the state.

33 BUSINESS 33 Fenner sees high profit Elliott renews legal bid to oust AkzoNobel paint boss British engineering company Fenner Plc said operating profit for the full-year 2017 would be comfortably ahead of its previous expectations, boosted by its medical business. Shares in the company rose as much as 9.2 pct, before paring gains to trade up 7.8 percent at 0708 GMT on the London Stock Exchange. The company, which makes polymer products and conveyor belts for industrial users including miners, said its advanced engineered products (AEP) unit continued to strengthen and said its medical unit benefi ted from new customer projects. (RTRS) US-based hedge fund manager Elliott Advisors launched a renewed bid Friday to oust the chairman of giant Dutch paint maker AkzoNobel, which has slapped down a bitter multi-billion-euro takeover attempt. The activist investor, which owns 9.5 percent of shares in the company behind the Dulux and Trimetal brands, said it had fi led a petition with an Amsterdam court for it to order an urgent extraordinary shareholders meeting. A fi rst attempt by Elliott to convene such a gathering was thrown out by the Dutch Enterprise Chamber a specialised division of the Amsterdam Appeals Court which rules on corporate matters in a preliminary ruling in late May. Elliott wants the meeting so shareholders can try to oust AkzoNobel chairman Antony Burgmans, seen as the main obstacle to a takeover bid by Pittsburgh-based PPG to a total value of 26.9 billion euros ($30 billion). Elliott said it has now fi led papers before the Interim Relief Court, which is part of the Amsterdam District Court, to get a new ruling. Elliott today requested that the IRC compel AkzoNobel to provide its shareholders with a democratic forum in which AkzoNobel s management and supervisory board can be called to account, the New York-based investor said. It added it has irretrievably lost confidence in the ability of the current chairman and supervisory board to guide AkzoNobel in a manner which benefi ts all stakeholders. It said it already called on April 10 for an extraordinary shareholders meeting with significant shareholder support but that AkzoNobel denied the request. (AFP) Inflation elusive, but CBs getting twitchy LONDON, July 8, (RTRS): A significant pickup in inflation still remains tantalisingly out of reach in most developed economies aside from asset prices yet several central banks are leaning toward launching or stepping up efforts that could slow it down. What has shifted in recent months is an acceptance that fiscal policy, touted around the turn of the year as the essential comeback kid after the shock election of Donald Trump as US president, has not yet come back. Much of this is because of a lack of progress on Trump s tax cut agenda, dimming down what was called the Trumpflation trade in financial markets and now even calling into question a multi-year rally in the US dollar. But what this does is thrust central bankers who only six months ago were said to be waning in influence back into the spotlight. Many seasoned central bank watchers say past experience shows that until inflation really accelerates convincingly, and for a sustained period for reasons other than a rise in the price of oil, the best monetary policy is to be doing nothing. The latest minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee s policy discussions show a split over inflation, which is sure to cast unusually sharp focus on Fed Chair Janet Yellen s testimony to both houses of Congress in the coming week. Indeed, with the exception of persistent four-decade-low firsttime claims for jobless benefits, US economic data has been undercutting relatively modest expectations for the past several months, particularly on measures of inflation. Wage inflation across most of the developed world, widely viewed by economists as the most compelling and potent driver of sustained overall price inflation, hasn t picked up the way central bankers have predicted it would either. Remains The Fed, however, remains set on further interest rate rises, and is now contemplating how and when to start reducing its $4.5 trillion balance sheet, bloated by years of mass asset purchases as stimulus once it had no interest rate left to cut. Of course the evolution of the economic data over the next few months remains of critical importance, notes Investec s chief economist Philip Shaw. In particular, will the momentum of the economy be maintained and is the recent run of soft inflation idiosyncratic, as most senior Fed officials seem to believe? It s not only Yellen who might set the mood in the coming week. Federal Reserve remains set on further rate rises ECB taper fears leave eurozone bonds battered LONDON, July 8, (RTRS): Euro zone government bond yields edged higher on Friday, adding to heavy losses earlier in the week as investors reassess the outlook for fi xed income on perceptions that an era of ultra-cheap money is gradually ending. Eurozone growth is picking up but underlying inflation is still weak, so the European Central Bank should adjust its policy carefully and flexibly to avoid abrupt market moves, ECB board member Benoit Coeure told two European newspapers. The Bank of Japan meanwhile said it would purchase an unlimited amount of bonds as it seeks The Bank of Canada meets to set policy on July 12 following a runup in the Canadian dollar, with markets leaning toward expecting the first rate rise in nearly seven years. The domestic debate is partly over whether a rate rise is now warranted in part to tamp down rampant urban housing markets particularly in Vancouver and Toronto as soaring real estate prices have pushed Canada s household debt to income ratio to near the highest in the world. Like in other similar economies, Canada s consumer price inflation on its own does not point convincingly to a need for the Bank of Canada to deliver higher interest rates. Its decision one way or the other could have an effect on markets beyond its shores as it will be seen as a proxy for policy normalisation over a wider jurisdiction, notes Shaw. For some, discussion of normalisation appears eerily similar to 2011, when the European Central Bank, faced with a similarly shakylooking inflation outlook, raised interest rates in what is now regarded as a mistake, arguing higher rates would be supportive of business confidence. A punishing sovereign debt crisis followed and a period of to put a lid on domestic interest rates pushed higher by the broad sell-off in developed market bonds. Eurozone bond yields, which jumped as much as 12 basis points on Thursday as minutes from the ECB s latest meeting showed policymakers are open to a further step towards reducing monetary stimulus, rose 1-2 basis points on Friday. They were thrust higher after data showed the US economy added more jobs than expected in June and employers increased hours for workers, signs of labour market strength. Germany s benchmark 10-year Bund yield edged up to 0.58 percent, a fresh 18-month high. Low-rated Italian, Spanish and Portuguese government bond yields, seen as particularly vulnerable to unwinding of extraordinary stimulus, were particularly hard hit, rising 5-8 bps. The market is unlikely to keep selling off without fresh information...but sentiment remains bearish, said Orlando Green, European fi xed income strategist at Credit Agricole. In just over a week, Bund yields have doubled, with German bonds bearing the brunt of selling in euro zone debt markets. If the market is going to conclude that monetary policy makers are making an effort to eye-wateringly high unemployment, ushering in an expansion of the central bank s balance sheet by well over a trillion euros and counting, along with negative interest rate policy. For now, the ECB appears to be moving very gingerly toward unveiling how and when it will trim back its tens of billions worth of monthly bond purchases, but that date is approaching. Some of the Bank of England s Monetary Policy Committee also now think that now is the time to raise rates despite the uncertainty of Britain starting to negotiate its way out of the European Union. tighten, we should have spreads widening, so that could be the next shoe to drop as the sell-off starts to impact credit and equities, said Peter Chatwell, head of euro rates strategy at Mizuho. Jitters about tighter monetary policies from major central banks have rippled throughout global markets, hurting stocks and supporting the euro. US Treasury yields rose on Thursday on the back of the employment data and concern that rising oil prices could spur infl a- tionary pressures. Meanwhile, 10-year Japanese government bond yields hit fi ve-month highs on Friday before the BOJ said it would buy JGBs. They are prompted by a surge in inflation caused in large part from a plunge in sterling after the Brexit vote. For now, they remain in a minority, but the possibility has supported the pound and markets have been put on notice. But a change of mood appears to have taken place at the Bank of Japan, however, which is backing off initial attempts to signal an imminent shift away from its ultra-easy monetary policy. On Friday it launched a bondbuying bonanza, offering to snap up unlimited quantities in order to calm markets. It s a global backup As cyberattacks hit, Ukrainians turned to Facebook and Google BORYSPIL, Ukraine, July 8, (AP): When departure information disappeared from Kiev airport s website after last week s cyberattack, employees trained a camera on the departure board and broadcast it to YouTube. When government servers were switched off, officials posted updates to Facebook. And with the disruption continuing, office workers have turned to Gmail to keep their businesses going. As Ukraine s digital infrastructure shuddered under the weight of last Tuesday s cyberattack, Silicon Valley firms played an outsize role in keeping information flowing, an illustration both of their vast reach and their unofficial role as a kind of emergency backup system. Google s mail service has been keeping the lights on at some firms after their servers down, while Facebook is credited as a critical platform for digital first responders. Our war room, nationwide, migrated to Facebook, said Andrey Chigarkin, the chief information security officer at a Kiev-based gaming firm and active participant in the early hours of the online response. All the news bad, good was coming through Facebook. Counting Facebook has a relatively low take up in Ukraine, counting between 8 to 9 million monthly active users compared to 10 to 15 million in Poland, a neighbor of roughly the same size, according to figures provided by analytics firm SocialBakers. But it s still a powerful medium there and is credited with being an accelerant for the protest movement that toppled the Russia-friendly leader Viktor Yanukovich in Today, government agencies regularly post official statements to their Facebook walls and press officers eschew s to chat with journalists over Facebook Messenger. Facebook in Ukraine is a big thing, said Dmytro Shymkiv, the deputy head of Ukraine s presidential administration and a former director of Microsoft Ukraine. Shymkiv was among the many officials to post updates about the outbreak as it happened (to Facebook, naturally.) In an interview at his office, he said that the cloud a marketing term for the pool of sometimes free computing power offered by the likes of Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon and many others provided the safety and redundancy that many businesses in Ukraine lacked. It s a global backup, he said, adding that, as a former tech executive, he knew that Silicon Valley firms put an enormous focus on the security of the cloud services. Businesses Private businesses and even government offices are still relying at least in part on Silicon Valley firms and chat services, mainly as a substitute for downed mail servers. Victor Zhora, the chief executive of Kiev-based Infosafe, said two of the firms he s helping to recover from the outbreak have switched to Gmail as they try to get back on their feet. In one pediatric clinic in the Kharkivskyi area of Kiev, Dr. Lidiia Podkopaieva says staff turned to Facebookowned WhatsApp to coordinate their work at the facility after half their computers were wiped out. Some workarounds were more creative than others. At Boryspil Airport, outside Kiev, officials faced a quandary when they switched off their automated systems Tuesday. Although the airport was operating smoothly, anxious passengers could no longer access departure information from the web. So in front of the departure board we set up a webcam which broadcast the board to the web and to our Facebook page, senior airport official Yevhenii Dykhne said in an interview this week. We got 10,000 views on YouTube. Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan said the outbreak had shown that the Silicon Valley s cloud was much more resilient than a Ukrainian physical server standing alone in a post office, a reference to one of Ukraine s worst-hit agencies. But he expressed reservations about leaning too heavily on American computing power in times of need. After all, what would happen if a differently tailored cyberattack brought the cloud crashing down? Definitely we should build a much more sustainable network in case of emergency, he said. We cannot just rely on Facebook as a backup. Participants among them the daughter of the US President Ivanka Trump (front right), and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim (front left), and (second row from left), Britain s Prime Minister Theresa May, Australia s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Japan s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, US President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Canada s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Norway s Prime Minister Erna Solberg, South Korea s President Moon Jae-in, Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres attend the Women s Entrepreneurship Finance Event at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany on July 8. (AP) Trump pledges $50 mln for new World Bank fund WB launches programme for women entrepreneurs HAMBURG, July 8, (Agencies): The World Bank on Saturday launched a public-private loan programme aimed at providing over $1 billion to support women entrepreneurs in developing countries, a project first initiated by US President Donald Trump s daughter Ivanka Trump. The event put a spotlight on the powerful political role Ivanka Trump plays in the White House, where she has a formal job as an adviser to her father, and has frequently met with world leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The World Bank said initial funding of $325 million was coming from donors including Germany, the United States, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and would be matched by hundreds of millions of dollars in additional private capital. This is going to be what we hope will be a multi-billion dollar fund to support women entrepreneurs, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said at a launch attended by six of the 20 world leaders meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg and IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde. This is not a cute little project. This is going to be a major driver of economic growth in the future... and it s going to drive gender equality at the same time, he said. The programme, which aims to start awarding loans before year end, will work with governments to improve laws and regulations that are stifling women entrepreneurs and push banks to free up funds for female-owned businesses. It will also create an online mentoring tool to match women business owners in developing countries with advisers such as Ivanka Trump, Kim said. Women business owners at the event said it was important to tackle legal barriers that prevent women from owning property and limit their access to funds. The empowerment of women is absolutely essential, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres told participants, decrying what he called regression in women s rights even in industrialised countries. Merkel said she was impressed how quickly the bank had realised the project, which was first initiated five months ago. If everything went as quickly at the World Bank then we would be much more efficient, she said. Meanwhile, Trump said Saturday the US would contribute $50 million to a new World Bank fund conceived by his daughter that aims to help women entrepreneurs access capital and other support. Ivanka Trump joined World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim on the sidelines of the Group of 20 world leaders summit in Hamburg, Germany, to launch the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative. Kim said the fund had raised more than $325 million so far for projects and programs to support women and women-led businesses by improving access to capital and markets, providing technical assistance, training and mentoring, and pushing public policy. The fund grew out of conversations between Ivanka Trump and Kim early in Trump s administration. This is not a cute little project, Kim said during a panel discussion, arguing the effort would spur real economic growth. President Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Angela Merkel also spoke at the event, where Trump said the fund would help eliminate barriers for women to launch businesses, help transform millions and millions of lives, and provide new hope to these women from countless communities all across the world. The critical investments we re announcing today will help advance the economic empowerment of women around the world, he said. The president has been criticized for crude remarks he s made about women over the years, including a recent tweet focusing on a television news host s appearance. Trump s senior staff is dominated by men, despite the considerable influence of Ivanka Trump, who serves as a senior White House adviser. In addition to the US, Germany and Canada, the new fund has also received contributions from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Australia, China, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and South Korea. During his 2016 campaign, Trump frequently criticized rival Hillary Clinton s ties to her family s Clinton Foundation, which received millions in donations from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and several other Mideast nations for charitable work. During an October general election debate in Las Vegas, Trump demanded that Clinton give back the money you ve taken from certain countries that treat certain groups of people so terrible. He said then: Saudi Arabia giving $25 million, Qatar, all of these countries. You talk about women and women s rights? So these are people that push gays off... buildings. These are people that kill women and treat women horribly. And yet you take their money. Officials stressed that Ivanka Trump will not have an operational or fundraising role with the fund, which will be run by a governing committee of contributors. Trump also took the opportunity to praise Ivanka Trump, who at one point Saturday was spotted sitting in her father s seat at am official G-20 event. Trump said he d been proud of her since day one, and offered a rare, self-deprecating assessment of the challenges he s added to her life.

34 BUSINESS 34 Ultra Electronics to buy Sparton IMF warns South Africa over economy s vulnerability British defence contractor Ultra Electronics said it would buy Sparton Corp for $23.50 per share, giving the maker of anti-submarine warfare devices used by the US Navy an enterprise value of about $234.8 million. The deal will create a major supplier in the underwater warfare market, including to the US Department of Defense, Ultra Electronics said. Ultra Electronics said it worked with Sparton s engineered components and products unit in a joint venture for over 10 years. This close relationship has benefited our major customer, the US DoD, through more effective use of the available engineering budget, the British firm said. US President Donald Trump has sought what he called a historic increase in defence spending and has criticised European nations for low defence spending. Ultra Electronics will raise capital to partly fund the deal, by placing 9.9 percent of its shares under issue. (RTRS) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned South Africa on Thursday its economy is extremely vulnerable to external shocks and funding shortfalls, although it stuck by its earlier growth forecast of 1 percent this year. In an executive report following a country visit in the last week of June, the Fund also said policy uncertainty linked to political turbulence would weigh on business and consumer confidence. South Africa s economy entered recession in the fi rst quarter and is suffering from an unemployment rates of close to 28 percent. Bitter divisions inside the ruling African National Congress (ANC) as the contest to replace President Jacob Zuma intensifies have also raised investor fears that policy to revive growth would take a backseat. Following last year s near-standstill in economic activity, growth is projected to increase to 1 percent in 2017 and 1.2 percent in 2018, still insufficient to keep pace with the rising population, the IMF said in the report. Investor confidence has been subdued by political uncertainty following the axing of respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan in March and a subsequent credit downgrades to sub-investment. It has also been rattle by worries over the central bank s future independence and by plans for the redistribution of land. Gross domestic product contracted 0.7 percent in the first quarter after contracting 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016, dragging the economy into its first recession in nearly a decade. (RTRS) Frankfurt, Dublin, Luxembourg main competitors France steps up efforts to lure London banks to Paris French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe speaks to the press, on July 7, at the Monnaie de Paris, next to (from left) former Banque de France governor Christian Noyer, French Junior Economy Minister Benjamin Griveaux, General delegate of Paris Europlace, Arnaud de Bresson, PARIS, July 8, (Agencies): French authorities on Friday stepped up efforts to attract London banks to Paris after Brexit by pledging to cut labour costs and ensure they do not face tougher regulations than European rivals. There is fierce competition between Paris, Frankfurt and other European cities to woo the banks based in the City of London financial centre as they consider where to shift some operations to maintain access to the European Union s single market after Britain leaves the bloc. Until now, Paris rivals, including Frankfurt, Dublin and Luxembourg, have been making the headlines as the locations banks, insurers and asset managers have chosen to open new hubs. We are determined to make Paris more competitive and attractive, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said, announcing that the government would scrap the highest bracket of payroll tax for firms like banks that do not pay VAT, and cancel a planned extension of tax on share trading. It would also make sure that bankers bonuses are no longer taken into account when labour courts decide on unfair dismissal compensation. The payroll tax France charges banks and some other sectors such as real estate and healthcare is a charge that companies pay on each salaried employee. It is not levied in most other European countries. Tax was a big concern for London bankers at a roadshow organised by a French finance industry lobby in February this year to promote Paris as a financial centre. Philippe also pledged to review and change on a case-by-case basis the way EU financial regulations are transposed into French law, saying France had sometimes gone too far by imposing additional burden on businesses, compared to European rivals. Germany has said it is looking at making it easier to hire and fire senior bankers in a relaxation of its labour laws to help to attract financial firms to Frankfurt. President Emmanuel Macron, a former investment banker, has a hard task to convince the investment community that France does not see the financial sector as an enemy a phrase once used by former socialist president Francois Hollande. As part of the charm offensive, France has pledged to build three more international schools targeted at expatriates children in the greater Paris region by In a trip to New York last month, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said France would set up a special court to handle English-law cases for financial contracts after Britain leaves the EU. For his part, Philippe will next week give a speech to bankers at a conference in Paris, where the chief executive of US investment bank JP Morgan Jamie Dimon is expected to attend, according to the agenda on the event s website. The European Central Bank said on June 30 that banks should step up their Brexit preparations, while the Bank of England wants details of financial firms contingency plans by July 14. But Britain is also pushing for a Brexit deal that would allow UKbased finance firms to continue to operate relatively freely in the EU after March 2019, when Brexit is due to take effect. We are confident that plans to lower corporation tax to 17 percent by 2020, (and) a commitment to boost national infrastructure and developing trading relationships with new international partners in the coming years will ensure that London remains a world-leading financial hub, the City of London said in a statement on Friday. In another step aimed at attracting foreign businesses, the Paris area is to open three new international high schools by 2022 in addition to the existing six. Philippe also announced that work had begun to establish an international tribunal in Paris to handle financial cases in English. Most international financial contracts are written in English and make reference to British law. Also in the pipeline is the CDG Express, a rail line linking Charles de Gaulle airport to the city. Macron has pledged to relax France s rigid labour laws to free its economy from red tape and excessive taxation. The French financial sector currently represents about 4.5 percent of national output and employs around President of the Ile de France Region Valerie Pecresse, Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and French right-wing Les Republicains (LR) party s member Patrick Ollier. French Prime Minister presented on July 7, measures to reinforce the Paris financial attractivity, following the Brexit. (AFP) 800,000 people. Paris is competing with Dublin, Frankfurt and other centres for an expected shift in finance jobs out of London as a result of Brexit. Several banks, especially Asian institutions, have recently announced that they would move European headquarters from London to Frankfurt in response to Britain s departure from the EU. Bloomberg News reported Thursday that Deutsche Bank was moving investment banking activities from London to its Frankfurt headquarters. So far Brexit has had a limited impact in Paris, apart from banking giant HSBC s decision to relocate 1,000 employees from London to the French capital. JP Morgan Chase, for its part, is moving to Dublin, Frankfurt and Luxembourg. At this stage there are no commitments besides HSBC s, said junior finance minister Benjamin Griveaux. We re working on it. Today is an important signal to investors. With Britain at risk of losing the passporting rights financial firms use to deal with clients in the rest of the bloc, employees in direct contact with customers may need to be based on EU territory in future. Other jobs will need to move to deal with business that must be booked in the EU, as will risk management workers, who must be based in the bloc to satisfy banking supervisors requirements. Reacting to Philippe s announcement on Friday, Miles Celic, head of Britain s main financial lobby, TheCityUK, said the British financial sector cannot be quickly or easily replicable in other centres. France s financial transaction tax (TTF), first introduced in 2012, was to have been extended to include intraday transactions from The decision not to do so angered the Oxfam charity, a major advocate of the tax. They have killed an advance on the TTF and kissed goodbye to extra revenue that could have benefitted the poorest people, said Alexandre Naulot, spokesman for Oxfam France. However, the government is maintaining the rate at 0.3 percent, despite a Senate report suggesting a reduction to 0.2 percent. Monte dei Paschi to cut jobs Italy to nationalize bank, shed $32.5b in bad loans MILAN, July 8, (Agencies): In a bid to end years of struggles, the Italian government is taking control of bank Monte dei Paschi under a relaunch plan agreed by European officials that includes the disposal of a massive 28.6 billion euros ($32.5 billion) in bad loans. In detailing the plan Wednesday, CEO Marco Morelli said that ridding the bank of the load of soured loans was the most relevant issue in the European Commission s approval this week of the rescue plan. The Italian government will inject 5.4 billion euros into the bank, giving it a 70-percent stake, as part of a total boost of 8.1 billion euros. Under the deal, the government must exit within five years. The Monte dei Paschi rescue comes just a week after the government announced plans to save two small Veneto banks where thousands of savers have lost billions of euros. Italian Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said Wednesday that the moves had removed impediments to growth. We are putting the worst behind us. It is the third capital injection in recent years for Siena-based Monte dei Paschi, Italy s third-largest by assets, as it struggles to recover from poor management and a heap of bad loans that compounded during Italy s long economic crisis. Under the bad loan disposal plan, 26.1 billion euros will be bundled and sold at 21 percent of gross book value, the vast majority to the government-organized Atlante II fund, while the bank retains 5 percent. Plan That compares with a price equal to 33 percent of value under a previous relaunch plan announced last fall but which had to be revised after the bank failed to come up with an investor to inject 5 billion euros. The loss on the disposal will be booked by the bank in the first half of this year, while the transaction is expected to be completed by next June. The remaining 2.5 billion euros in bad loans will be disposed in a separate procedure. The five-year plan calls for a net income above 1.2 billion euros by 2021, compared with a 2016 loss of 2.3 billion euros, as the bank refocuses on retail and small business customers. During the period, the bank will be under strict cost controls, capping top executive pay, reducing employees by a net 5,500 and shutting branches as it moves toward digitalization. The bank could resume trading on the stock exchange by late September, Morelli said. Morelli says he agreed to a steep 70 percent pay cut, with no bonuses for the period the bank is under state aid, under a formula negotiated in Brussels. He is one of six managers taking cuts. He said the clear rules on capital structure and liquidity will help the bank recover consumer confidence and business it has lost during its protracted crisis. Italy s troubled bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS) said Wednesday that it would close nearly a third of its branches and axe around a fifth of its workforce just a day after the EU approved a 5.4-billion-euro ($6.1 billion) bailout. The world s oldest bank said in a statement that as part of a new operating model (to) focus on greater efficiency, it would reduce its branches from around 2,000 to approximately 1,400 in Headcount The headcount would be reduced by about 5,500, falling to 20,000 over the same period. On Tuesday, the EU competition commission approved the bailout of BMPS, which has been in deep trouble since the eurozone debt crisis. 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 rescue failing lenders. But Brussels has determined that the bailout is in line with EU state aid rules, because BMPS s shareholders and junior creditors will also put up 4.3 billion euros in capital, thereby limiting the use of taxpayers money. BMPS represented the Achilles heel of the Italian banking system, weakened by so-called bad loans which are unlikely to ever be repaid. EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said the capital injection had been approved, noting it would help BMPS meet capital needs if economic conditions worsened unexpectedly. In exchange for the lifeline, Italy must accept a drastic EU-approved restructuring plan for BMPS. BMPS, Italy s fourth-biggest bank, is disposing of a total 28.6 billion euros worth of loans in or near default. Upon completion of the restructuring plan, BMPS s core capital ratio is expected to rise to 14.7 percent from 8.2 percent in More clouds gather over British economy as slowdown broadens LONDON, July 8, (AP): A raft of disappointing British economic figures on Friday reinforced concerns that this year s slowdown has broadened across sectors and extended into the second quarter of the year, when the country finally began high-level negotiations over its exit from the European Union. Capping a week of fairly grim economic news, the Office for National Statistics said Friday that industrial output in Britain fell 0.1 percent in May from the previous month, against expectations for a 0.4 percent increase. It also reported a bigger than anticipated 1 billion-pound widening in the country s trade deficit to 3.1 billion pounds ($4 billion) in May and a surprise 1.2 percent monthly drop in construction output. Economists said the figures suggest any rebound in growth from the first quarter will be muted and could delay an interest rate hike by the Bank of England, which is increasingly worried about import price increases stoked by the pound s sharp fall in value since last year s Brexit vote. In the first three months of 2017, the British economy grew by a muted quarterly rate of 0.2 percent, the lowest of all Group of Seven industrial economies, largely because higher inflation and Brexit uncertainties kept a lid on consumer spending. This morning s data paint a rather bleak picture for the UK economy and underline the challenges lying ahead, said Kay Daniel Neufeld, senior economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research. The pound fell sharply in the wake Industrial output falls 0.1 pct in May; trade deficit widens Payout was delay by a legal snag Eurozone OKs Greece bailout payment BRUSSELS, July 8, (AFP): The eurozone approved the latest 8.5 billion-euro bailout disbursement to Greece on Friday, just in time for Athens to meet major debt repayments and avert default. The Board of Directors of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) today approved the third tranche of EUR8.5 billion of ESM fi nancial assistance to Greece, the eurozone bailout fund said in a statement. The 19 eurozone fi nance ministers struck a long-delayed cashfor-reforms deal with Greece last month to unlock the badly needed rescue funds but the payout was delayed by a legal snag. The deal was meant to avert a repeat of the summer of 2015 when Greece spectacularly defaulted on an IMF loan and allow Athens to of the figures, and by late afternoon London trading was down 0.7 percent at $ The British economy is facing a series of headwinds, mostly connected with its exit from the EU. In March, Prime Minister Theresa May triggered the two-year Brexit process but discussions only began in June after a general election in which her Conservative Party lost its majority in parliament. Uncertainty over Brexit has ratcheted higher in the wake of the election, especially if May ends up standing down as prime minister some time during the negotiating period or if there s another election. The main economic concern relates to Britain s future trading relationship with the EU, the biggest source for the country s exports. The government has been pushing for a free trade agreement meet seven billion euros of debt repayments due in July. But Spain last month threatened to block the disbursement, angry that Athens has failed to drop a legal case against European experts, including some of its officials, who had worked on the Greek privatisation programme. Greece s supreme court on Tuesday dismissed the case, opening the way for Friday s payment. ESM Managing Director Klaus Regling said today s decision... shows that Greece has completed the reforms required at this stage. The government should continue on this path to rebuild a competitive economy and regain investors trust, Regling said in the statement. EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici, a former with the EU but others, particularly in business, think the trade links should be much tighter and that Britain should remain in the European single market, which guarantees the free movement of goods, services, capital and people. Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, highlighted the construction sector as one that is feeling acutely the adverse impact of Brexit uncertainty on the willingness of households and firms to make long-term financial commitments. On Thursday, the leader of one of Britain s main business lobby groups put her organization s weight behind ongoing membership of the EU single market as well as the customs union. The customs union is a broad tariffless area of trade that includes EU countries and some neighbors like French fi nance and economy minister, said all parties had worked together to get to this new positive stage. Greece s partners recognise the unbelievable efforts made by the Greek people to stabilise the economy. This payment opens a new chapter for Greece whose key words must be jobs, investment and recovery for the benefit of all, he said. Greece s third bailout since 2015 is set to run until 2018, with Athens hoping to win significant debt relief at the programme s conclusion. In return for aid, successive governments have had to adopt stinging and hugely unpopular austerity measures in an effort to balance the public fi nances burdened by a mountain of debt. Turkey, and which demands a common tariff on imports from third-party countries. Instead of a cliff edge, the UK needs a bridge to the new EU deal, said Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry. Our proposal is for the UK to seek to stay in the single market and a customs union until a final deal is in force. The minority Conservative government, which has the support of a small Northern Ireland party in crucial votes in parliament, has ruled out continued membership of the single market as it would involve keeping the freedom of movement of people from the EU. It s also said it doesn t want to remain a member of the customs union as that would limit its ability to strike trade deals beyond the EU. Germany says cyber threat greater than expected, more firms hit HAMBURG, July 8, (RTRS): Germany s BSI federal cyber agency said on Friday that the threat posed to German firms by recent cyber attacks launched via a Ukrainian auditing software was greater than expected, and some German firms had seen production halted for over a week. Analyses by computer experts showed that waves of attacks had been launched via software updates of the M.E.Doc accounting software since April, the BSI said in a statement. That meant that companies that used the software might have been infected by the malicious software, even if there were no obvious signs of a breach, BSI said. Data backups carried out after April 13 should also be viewed as compromised. Some German firms have seen production and other critical processes laid still for over a week, BSI President Arne Schoenbohm said. It has resulted in millions of euros of damage, and this in a case where Germany got off lightly. BSI last week said more than a dozen German companies had been affected by the virus which has been dubbed NotPetya by some experts, all via a subsidiary in Ukraine. The Ukrainian software firm used to launch the global cyber attack this week said all computers sharing a network with its infected accounting software had been compromised by hackers. The German statement added to the growing conviction among experts that the global attack was more harmful than initially believed. The virus took down thousands of computers in dozens of countries, disrupting shipping and businesses. German security officials are still investigating the origin of the virus and do not have reliable data to confirm a claim by the Ukrainian government that Russia was behind the attack.

35 BUSINESS 35 US mortgage rates rise Long-term US mortgage rates rose this week to highest level since mid-may. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages rose to an average 3.96 percent from 3.88 percent last week. It stood at 3.41 percent a year ago. The rate on 15-year, fixed-rate home loans, popular with homeowners who are refinancing their mortgages, rose to 3.22 percent from 3.17 percent. A year ago, it was 2.74 percent. Sean Becketti, Freddie Mac s chief economist, said the higher mortgage rates reflect higher global interest rates. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which influences mortgage rates, has risen to 2.37 percent from 2.27 percent a week ago. (AP) 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 6, % -2.26% -5.40% 2.16% 14.08% -4.15% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Kuwait Only AMIC July 6, % -2.52% -4.82% 2.00% 12.27% -5.85% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Active AMIC July 6, % -3.74% % 2.81% 19.13% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Banking Sector AMIC July 6, % -0.76% -8.57% -4.66% 7.73% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Investment Sector AMIC July 6, % -6.75% % 3.05% 1.76% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Insurance Sector AMIC July 6, % % -8.50% 29.41% 27.87% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Real Estate Sector AMIC July 6, % -3.14% % -1.85% 6.01% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Industrial Sector AMIC July 6, % -0.83% -6.09% 17.02% 22.63% 3.05% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Services Sector AMIC July 6, % -5.00% 3.73% 10.45% 23.23% 13.88% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Food Sector AMIC July 6, % -2.00% -4.43% -7.91% -4.33% % Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Islamic Sector AMIC July 6, % -0.95% -7.91% 0.42% 15.95% -9.64% Kuwait Sharia Compatible Index - Non Kuwaiti Sector AMIC July 6, % 2.22% % 6.45% 66.02% 58.86% Kuwait Stock Exchange Index - Price KWSEIDX July 6, , , % -1.22% -4.97% 16.21% 23.94% 8.31% S&P 500 SPX July 5, , , % -0.33% 3.18% 8.65% 16.47% 17.13% DJ Islamic Index. DJIM July 5, , , % -1.26% 4.60% 12.19% 12.57% 12.47% We still face challenges: Macri Poverty-hit Argentina chases elusive economic recovery BUENOS AIRES, July 8, (AFP): Mauricio Macri promised a freemarket revolution in Latin America s third-biggest economy when he took over as president of Argentina. A year and half on, Macri is facing midterm elections in October, and his people are still waiting a third of them living in poverty. The millionaire businessman and former football executive vowed to achieve zero poverty by rolling back 12 years of leftist policies after he took office in December But the great recovery is slow in coming. You don t get to paradise from one day to the next, Macri s chief of staff Marcos Pena admitted recently. We still face enormous challenges. On taking office, Macri insisted that stabilizing the public finances was the way back to growth and prosperity. He launched unpopular public budget cuts and settled debts to foreign creditors whom his predecessor Cristina Kirchner had defiantly branded vultures. He scrapped export and currency controls, devaluing the peso to try to make Argentina more competitive. And he tried to rein in inflation which at 40 percent last year was sorely hurting Argentines wallets. Pena said in May that Argentina had exited recession. But economists are not convinced of the strength of the recovery. Eighteen months into the government s term, Argentina has lifted exchange-rate restrictions and paid off its debts to the vulture funds, economist Pablo Tigani told AFP. But the macroeconomic situation has got worse. Macri s government caused a stir last month by issuing a 100- year sovereign bond. Investors lapped it up. The government is taking advantage of the low level of debt that the Kirchners left, said Carugati. But maintaining the deficit through debt only works as a temporary measure. The debt sale raised jitters among Argentines with painful memories of the country s catastrophic default in The economy ministry says Argentina s public debt, at 54 percent of gross domestic product, is currently lower than that of various emerging economies such as Brazil. We should stay calm, said Nicolas Dujovne, commenting on the debt sale. We can use this mechanism as a transition measure until we finish lowering the deficit and defeating inflation. Despite the sale, US investment bank Morgan Stanley the next day maintained its rating of Argentina as a frontier economy. That is a real insult because a frontier country is like a crazy country, said Tigani. It is not even an emerging one, which is a euphemism for poor. A study by the Argentine Catholic University indicated that a third of people in the country are living in poverty. UNICEF estimates that half of all children in Argentina are living in poverty. Unions say that 11,000 publicand 200,000 private-sector employees have been laid off since Macri took over. Some 6,000 small and mediumsized businesses went bust last year, said Mariano Mayer, a junior business minister. Multinational food and drink giant Pepsico last month closed a factory in Buenos Aires. Six hundred of us workers have ended up in the street, a union delegate for workers at the factory, Camilo Montes, told AFP. We do not want to be just paid off because then a year from now we will have nothing to eat. Musk s energy vows Tesla to construct largest battery plant in Australia SYDNEY, July 8, (AFP): Elon Musk s Tesla will build what the maverick entrepreneur claims is the world s largest lithium ion battery within 100 days, making good on a Twitter promise to ease South Australia s energy woes. The region was hit with a total blackout when an unprecedented storm wrecked power transmission towers in 2016, and billionaire Musk in March offered to help with a battery farm. This system will be three times more powerful than any system on Earth, Musk told reporters in the state capital Adelaide. Tesla has built the world s current largest battery, which came online in California in December, Musk said, adding that the South Australian battery would be 100 megawatts enough to power 30,000 homes. This is not a minor foray into the frontier... I m pretty darn impressed with South Australia willing to do a project of this magnitude that is beyond anything else in the world, Musk said. That takes a lot of gumption... I do see this as something that the world will look at as an example. The battery will be built in Jamestown, 230 kms (143 miles) north of Adelaide and will be paired with a nearby wind farm run by Neoen, a French renewable energy company, South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill said. Tesla has agreed to deliver the battery within 100 days or it is free, he added. No figures were given for the cost of the contract. Neoen was set up in 2008 and has projects around the world, from Zambia to Egypt. It operates Europe s biggest solar energy park in southwest France, which can produce the equivalent annual electricity to supply a town of 300,000 people. South Africa-born Musk has envisaged Tesla as a company that can help reduce emissions by not only selling people electric cars, but also generating and storing the renewable energy that powers them. China, France eye Gambian port upgrade to rival Dakar BANJUL, July 8, (RTRS): Chinese and French companies are bidding to help Gambia build up its Atlantic port Banjul to be what industry sources say could be a rival to neighbouring Senegal s Dakar. It would be one of the first major structural changes in Gambia following the end of President Yahya Jammeh s more than 20- year rule in January. State-owned China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) says one of its subsidiaries has made a bid for a 140 million euro ($ million) contract Gambia has launched to redevelop the port. First major structural changes in Jammeh s 20-year rule France s Bollore Group has also submitted an offer to develop the port for hundreds of millions of dollars, sources told Reuters, and was part of a recent delegation of French investors to the country. The port was run by a state agency during Jammeh s rule. It is considered to have strategic potential thanks to its easy access to Atlantic shipping lanes. Abdoulie Tambedou, managing director of the Gambia Ports Authority said there had already been several offers. The Chinese are interested in investing in the infrastructure for an overall envelope of 140 million euros, he told Reuters in an interview. We hope to agree the financing in the next six months. An official at CCCC confirmed that one of its subsidiaries was bidding for the contract, without specifying which. In a sign of their interest, a witness saw a Chinese delegation visiting the port last week. Tambedou confirmed Bollore s offer, without giving the price, and said this included both infrastructure costs and the rental concession. Chinese interest in the project follows China s resumption of diplomatic ties with former Taiwan ally Gambia last year under the one China policy, which states that self-ruled Taiwan is part of China. President Adama Barrow s new government reaffirmed that position in February. China is also a major market for Gambia s exports, which globally are mainly peanuts, wood, cashews, fish and fruit. Upgrading the port will take months to complete, Tambedou said. Gambia is poor. It ranks 173 out of 189 countries on the UN Human Development Index, below Haiti. It is badly in need of key infrastructure development. There is not a single bridge across its eponymous 1,120 kms (695 mile)-long river that wiggles up the length of the country, for example. People and goods have to be shipped across on ferries - or go around. Gambia is nonetheless seen as a key transit country for reaching remote areas of Guinea, Mali and Senegal that are easier to access from Banjul than from the countries own ports and capitals. Space constraints at the port, however, mean that arriving cargo ships often have to wait at anchorage before entering. Since the departure of Jammeh, Tambedou said that trade was picking up, with shippers sending imports such as sugar in bigger volumes than before. 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 29, 2017 KD June 22, 2017 Equity Funds Al-Mamoun Fund A Global Weekly June 29, 2017 KD June 22, 2017 Al-Mamoun Fund B Global Weekly June 29, 2017 KD June 22, 2017 GCC Large Cap Fund Global Bi-weekly June 27, 2017 USD June 20, 2017 Global Saudi Equity Fund Global Bi-weekly June 27, 2017 SAR June 20, 2017 Sectoral Funds EPADI Fund Global Weekly June 27, 2017 USD June 20, 2017 Islamic Funds Global GCC Islamic Fund Global Weekly June 27, 2017 USD June 20, 2017 Al-Durra Islamic Fund Global Monthly June 29, 2017 KD June 22, 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 June 30, 2017 KD May 31, 2017 Wafra Bond Fund Wafra Co. Monthly June 30, 2017 KD May 31, 2017 Masaref Investment Fund ISKAN Weekly June 30, 2017 KD May 31, 2017 Fajir Islamic Fund Wafra Co. Monthly June 30, 2017 KD May 31, 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 30, 2017 KD June 8, 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 30, 2017 KD June 8, 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 6, 2017 EGP July 3, 2017 CIB II Equity (Isthethmar) CI Asset Management Weekly July 6, 2017 EGP July 3, 2017 CIB and Faisal Islamic Al Aman CI Asset Management Weekly July 6, 2017 EGP July 3, 2017 Hemaya CI Asset Management Weekly July 2, 2017 EGP June 1, 2017 Thabat CI Asset Management Weekly July 6, 2017 EGP July 3, 2017 Takamol CI Asset Management Weekly July 6, 2017 EGP July 3, 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 June 30, 2017 KD March 30, 2017

36 BUSINESS 36 S. African watchdog defends bid to weaken central bank inflation mandate South Africa s main public watchdog stood by its bid to force the central bank to target growth rather than inflation, dismissing a legal challenge that the move was unconstitutional. The head of the Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, set off a political row last month when she said the South African Reserve Bank s mandate should focus on growth rather than inflation and the currency rattling investors and the rand. The central bank has filed a court challenge to quash the recommendation, which is also opposed by Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba and parliament. The Public Protector s spokeswoman Cleopatra Mosana said Mkhwebane had filed a notice opposing the challenges to her recommendation. The Public Protector is empowered, by the constitution, to take appropriate remedial action with regard to any improper conduct in the state affairs or conduct, or conduct in the state affairs which may result in any impropriety or prejudice, Mosana said. Gigaba and opponents of the proposal say Mkhwebane was exceeding her mandate in making the recommendation. Critics say that Mkhwebane s role is to confront maladministration, not make central bank policy. Analysts say it is unclear what prompted Mkhwebane s recommendation and that it would be up to the courts to decide whether her mandate extends to the central bank. The row over the central bank has highlighted divisions in the tripartite political alliance of the ruling ANC, the country s biggest union, Cosatu, and the South African Communist Party (SACP) over the role of the reserve bank. Both the ANC and the SACP are opposed to altering the mandate the central bank. Cosatu, however, has backed calls for changes saying the bank is not acting in the interests of South Africa s poor majority. Investors were further unsettled this week after the ruling African National Congress proposed at its policy conference to nationalise the reserve bank. Ratings agencies have warned that South Africa risked further downgrades if the independence of institutions such as the central bank was undermined. A cabinet reshuffle in March saw a respected finance minister fired, leading to South Africa credit rating being downgraded to junk by S&P Global ratings and Fitch. Central bank s deputy governor Kuben Naidoo on Thursday acknowledged that inflation targeting was imperfect but said it was the best policy for now. (RTRS) Commodities Weekly Gold at 2-month low Crude prices fall on signs market still oversupplied LONDON, July 8, (RTRS): Oil prices fell more than 2 percent on Friday after data showed US production rose last week just as OPEC exports hit a 2017 high, casting doubt over efforts by producers to curb oversupply. Global benchmark Brent futures were down $1.01, or 2 percent, at $47.10 a barrel at 1341 GMT, after falling to as low as $46.63, the weakest level in more than a week. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures traded at $44.53 a barrel, down 99 cents or 2.2 percent. Their session low of $44.05 was also the lowest in over a week. Bearish news from the supply side has dragged prices down. The spotlight seems to be on the problem of oversupply once again, said Frank Schallenberger, head of commodity research at LBBW in Stuttgart. Weekly US government data showed on Thursday that US oil production rose 1 percent to 9.34 million barrels per day (bpd), correcting a drop in the previous week that was down to one-off maintenance work and hurricane shutdowns. The rise in US output coincides with exports from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries climbing for a second consecutive month in June to the highest level this year. Deal Russia, which is cooperating with OPEC in a deal to stem production, said on Friday it was ready to consider revising the parameters of the deal if needs be. A group of oil producing countries monitoring the output deal will meet on July 24 in Russia at which point they could recommend adjusting the pact. OPEC sources welcomed Russia s comments on Friday, saying they provided a good basis for discussions on deepening production cuts. The market largely ignored news from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) that US crude inventories fell by 6.3 million barrels in the week to June 30 to million barrels, the lowest since January. The push-and-pull between bearish and bullish factors will keep volatility high, said Hans van Cleef, senior energy economist at ABN Amro. In the near term this leaves us with a volatile trading range of roughly $45-50 a barrel. If OPEC was unable to balance the market change would likely be forced on it by oil prices, said Morgan Stanley. The US bank said a WTI price of $46 to $50 per barrel would likely prevent US production rising in the mid- to long-term, but prices need to be in the low $40s for US output to fall significantly. Morgan Stanley said it expected WTI to remain below $50 until mid Gold hit a two-month low on Friday after stronger than expected United States jobs data increased the likelihood of another US interest rate increase. Jumped US non farm payrolls jumped by 222,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department said on Friday, beating expectations of a 179,000 gain. We have a stellar US jobs number, said Naeem Aslam, chief market analyst at Think Markets. The data has brought negative news for gold traders as there isn t really anything in this number which is going to put the brakes on an interest rate hike. Spot gold was down 0.7 percent to $1, per ounce by 1336 GMT, after touching an intraday low of $1,214.40, the weakest since May 9. It has dropped about 2 percent this week and is set for its biggest weekly fall since the week of May 5. US gold futures for August delivery fell 0.6 percent to $1, per ounce. Gold has shed about 6 percent since touching a seven-month peak of $1, on June 6. The dollar index was firmer, making gold more expensive for buyers outside the United States. Dollar-denominated bullion typically loses value when the greenback and interest rates rise as it does not pay interest. Silver fell 1.3 percent to $15.80 per ounce. It had earlier touched $14.86 an ounce, its lowest in 15 months, a move traders said appeared to have been driven by an accidental order. The metal is down 4.2 percent on the week. Palladium fell 0.3 percent to $ per ounce after hitting its lowest since June 2 earlier in the session. Stocks gain as investors place Fed bets after US jobs rebound NEW YORK, July 8, (RTRS): Wall Street stocks rose on Friday along with the US dollar and Treasury yields as investors bet that Federal Reserve policy tightening would stay on track after data showed stronger-than-expected US jobs growth with wage increases that lagged forecasts. Oil prices tumbled after a report showed US crude production rose last week just as OPEC exports hit a 2017 high, casting doubt on efforts to curb persistent oversupply. US Treasury debt yields and the dollar rose as investors analyzed how the mix of strong jobs and weak wage growth would influence the Fed s plans for an interest rate hike or balancesheet reduction. Wall Street s S&P 500 stock index closed higher after a selloff on Thursday as investors, while reassured by the strong jobs number, bet weak wage growth would limit the extent of Fed hawkishness. The US dollar was up 0.2 percent against a basket of currencies. The greenback hit two-month highs against the yen and was on pace to post its biggest weekly percentage gain against Japan s currency since late April after the jobs data. In Treasuries, longer dated yields briefly hit multi-week highs. Benchmark 10-year notes were last down 5/32 in price to yield percent, from percent late on Thursday. The 30-year bond fell 16/32 in price to yield percent, from percent late on Thursday. Bets that some of the world s major central banks are moving closer to unwinding ultra-loose monetary policies affected stocks this week as European Central Bank minutes showed policymakers are open to tightening. In Europe, German government bond yields had risen to 18-month highs, weighing on stocks there. The pan-european FTSEurofirst 300 index lost 0.12 percent but MSCI s gauge of stocks across the globe gained 0.19 percent. US Wall Street stocks closed on a high note Friday, with the S&P 500 index posting its best gain in six sessions on the heels of a US payrolls report that gave investors more confidence in the strength of the US economy. The economy added 222,000 jobs last month, Labor Department data showed, exceeding expectations of a 179,000 gain, putting the Federal Reserve on track to raise interest rates once more this year. However, muted wage growth may give the Fed room to pause if need be. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 94.3 points, or 0.44 percent, to end Geenback hits two-month high against yen Wall St Week Ahead Sector may soon resume outperformance Tech s shares surrender leadership at 21,414.34, the S&P 500 gained points, or 0.64 percent, to 2, and the Nasdaq Composite added points, or 1.04 percent, to 6, The technology sector, up 1.25 percent, led the charge higher, buoyed by gains of more than 1 percent in marketcap heavyweights Apple, Microsoft and Facebook. Despite slumping nearly 3 percent last week, the tech sector is up more than 17 percent on the year, tops among the 11 major S&P groups. With the Fed now expected to remain on track for a rate hike later this year financials, up 0.56 percent, also advanced as they benefit from a steepening of the yield curve. Tesla rose 1.42 percent after the luxury electric carmaker said about 3,500 NEW YORK, July 8, (RTRS): Technology shares surrendered their leadership in the US stock market over the past month, but the fast-growing group may soon resume its outperformance and maneuver back into pole position. Upcoming earnings reports for the technology sector, whose profits are expected to outpace the overall S&P 500 for the 11th consecutive quarter, could lure back investors who have been concerned about expensive valuations and that too many people may have piled into the big names. The sector has slumped 4 percent since the first week of June, while financials have climbed more than 5 percent and healthcare has gained 3 percent. This has prompted speculation that investors may have been cashing out their tech profits to move into those groups. Technology has taken a rest, but it s going to heat up again, and I see tech returning to favor the second half of the year, said portfolio manager J. Bryant Evans of Cozad Asset Management in Champaign, Illinois. For the first five months of 2017, tech was the talk of the stock market, far outperforming the other 10 major S&P 500 sectors and sparking the Nasdaq Composite to its strongest first half since I think of (tech s recent swoon) as profit-taking rather than driven by change in the fundamental factors, said John Praveen, managing director of Prudential International Investments Advisers in Newark, New Jersey. The fundamentals are still positive for the sector. On Friday, the tech sector ended a volatile week by rising 1.3 percent, topping all other sectors and a 0.6 percent rise for the S&P 500. Analysts estimate tech s secondquarter earnings rose 11.2 percent, with semiconductor companies accounting for much of the gain, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The increase tops the estimated 7.9 percent rise for the overall S&P 500 and is well above every sector except for energy, whose performance will be skewed because of negative year-earlier results. The tech sector has the highest growth expectations and only moderate uncertainty, Morgan Stanley equity strategists said in a research note. Given tech s outsized position - 22 percent of the market value of the S&P the sector s growth is critical to overall US corporate profit gains. For the second quarter, tech profit growth alone is expected to account for nearly 28 percent of the S&P 500 s overall increase in earnings, or nearly half if energy were excluded. In an economy that still seems to have some growing pains, consistent growth is worth paying up for, said Peter Tuz, president of Chase Investment Counsel in Charlottesville, Virginia. Tech s second-quarter revenue growth is projected at 7.2 percent, faster than 4.6 percent for S&P 500 companies overall, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. There is growth on the top line, which is more important at this point in the cycle, than in the bottom line only, said Kim Forrest, senior equity research analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh. This earnings season, she will focus on companies comments about sales activity. Valuations for the sector also may not be so expensive. Tech is trading at 18.1 times earnings estimates for the next 12 months, just above 17.8 times for the overall market. That difference is even smaller when compared with the premium tech has held over the past 15 years, following the dot-com bubble. Over that time, its average P/E has been 17.2 times versus 14.7 times for the S&P 500. Another factor in tech s favor: The dollar s 6.1 percent decline this year against a basket of major currencies. S&P 500 tech companies generate 60 percent of revenue from outside the United States, compared with 40 percent for companies in the entire index. A stronger dollar makes foreign sales less valuable when they are translated back into the US currency for reporting purposes. Despite these positive factors, other sectors may end up besting tech. Healthcare s year-to-date performance has nearly kept pace, and a resolution of the legislation moving through Congress could draw investors who have been wary about political uncertainty hovering over the sector. A pickup in the economy and inflation could favor groups like industrials, energy and financials, which tend to perform better in such times. Clues will come starting on July 14, when a big batch of bank reports kicks off the heart of the earnings season. In tech, Microsoft Corp and International Business Machines Corp report the following week, while Alphabet Inc, Facebook Inc and Intel Corp are among the companies that will follow later in the month. vehicles were in transit to customers at the end of the second quarter and they would be counted as deliveries in the third quarter. Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 2.19-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a to-1 ratio favored advancers. About 5.74 billion shares changed hands in US exchanges, well below the 7.13 billion daily average over the last 20 sessions. Europe Falls in energy and bank stocks dampened an otherwise positive week for Britain s top share index, while changes in broker recommendations prompted moves in easyjet, WPP and Royal Mail. Britain s blue chip FTSE 100 index ended the day up 0.2 percent at 7, points, reversing earlier losses after weak housing data drove sterling to a nine-day low, helping the index s dollar earners. Oil & gas stocks dropped however after oil prices fell more than 1 percent following a rise in US output, with Royal Dutch Shell <RDSa.L. and BP down 0.9 percent each. Regardless of what OPEC try and do, it seems the supply overhang is preventing any kind of sustainable rally, Ian Williams, strategist at Peel Hunt, said. Financials were also weaker, with HSBC and Barclays both in negative territory, cooling after the sector hit its highest level since the end of February in the previous session on expectations of higher interest rates. 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37 INTERNATIONAL 37 British FM Continued from Page 1 Qatar issued its response to the ultimatum in a hand-written letter from 37-year-old Amir Tamim bin Hamad al-thani that was delivered earlier this week to Kuwait, which is mediating the crisis. The contents of the letter have not been disclosed, but the anti-qatar bloc described it as negative and failing to appreciate the gravity of the situation. Qatar has strenuously denied that it supports extremist groups. It is refusing to shutter Al-Jazeera, one of its best-known brands, and sees the ultimatum as an affront to its sovereignty. Qatar denies accusations Qatar on Friday dismissed as baseless accusations that it was financing terrorism, in its first public response to a statement from four Arab states which are leading a boycott against the tiny emirate. In their statement, the four said the initial list of 13 demands they had put to Qatar was now void and they pledged further political, economic and legal steps against the emirate. In its first reaction to the statement from the four, Qatar dismissed as baseless the renewed accusations that it was interfering in the affairs of other states and financing terrorism. The State of Qatar s position on terrorism is consistent and known for its rejection and condemnation of all forms of terrorism, whatever the causes and motives, the state news agency said, quoting a senior foreign ministry source. Qatar was ready to cooperate and review all claims that do not contradict the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, it added. Kuwait hails UK support Kuwait s First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah applauded Britain s support of Kuwaiti efforts to resolve the Gulf crisis as he received the British chief diplomat on Saturday. The encounter with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was held with the attendance of Kuwait s State Minister for Cabinet Affairs and Information Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdallah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. The Kuwaiti foreign minister also hailed longstanding ties with Britain, according to a Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry statement. For his part, his opposite British number expressed anxiety regarding the continuing crisis in the region as he called on all sides involved to contain the stalemate and hastily resolve the matter through dialogue. He also reiterated Britain s support of Kuwaiti mediation efforts to resolve the crisis led by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah. The encounter was also attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al- Jarallah, Deputy Foreign Minister for the Affairs of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister s Office Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah and Deputy Foreign Minister for Ceremonials Dhari Al- Ajran. Others were Deputy Foreign Minister for the Affairs of the Deputy Minister s Office Aiham Al-Omar, Assistant Deputy Foreign Minister for the Affairs of the Office of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleh Al-Loghani and other officials. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry spoke with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov by telephone on Thursday about Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain s rift with Qatar, an Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman said. The four Arab states cut diplomatic and transport ties with the tiny Gulf nation last month, which they accuse of supporting terrorism and allying with regional foe Iran. Doha denies the charges. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry called Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday and affirmed Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain s position of rejecting Qatar s support for terrorism and extremism, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement. Shoukry and Lavrov also discussed the latest developments in Syria and agreed to meet soon in Cairo or Moscow, Abu Zeid said. Amir condoles Continued from Page 1 Saudi Arabia s Shiite minority lives. The district has been rocked by unrest since 2011, when Shiite protests erupted to demand equality in the Gulf kingdom. Authorities have blamed the unrest on terrorists and drug traffickers. Amir offers Continued from Page 1 Sinai on Friday, an attack claimed by Islamic State. It was one of the bloodiest assaults on security forces in years. Egypt faces an Islamist insurgency led by the Islamic State group in the restive Sinai Peninsula, where hundreds of soldiers and police have been killed since The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for attacking a remote Egyptian army outpost in the Sinai Peninsula with a suicide car bomb and heavy machine gun fire. The assault killed at least 23 soldiers in the deadliest attack in the turbulent region in two years. The IS made the claim after nightfall Friday, saying in an online statement that it had carried out the attack as the Egyptian army was preparing an assault on IS positions in Sinai. The coordinated attack suggested the Sinai-based militants are among the region s most resilient, after IS in Iraq and Syria, where the so-called ca- Washington more pragmatic about Syria war, says Putin HAMBURG, July 8, (Agencies): Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that he believes the United States has become more pragmatic about the Syrian civil war. It seems to me that the US position (on Syria) has become more pragmatic. There is a comprehension that if we combine our efforts, we can achieve a lot, Putin said in Germany, a day after his first meeting with Trump at the G20. The United States and Russia struck an agreement Friday on a cease-fire in southwest Syria, crowning President Donald Trump s first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is the first US-Russian effort under Trump s presidency to stem Syria s six-year civil war. The cease-fire goes into effect Sunday at noon Damascus time, according to US officials and the Jordanian government, which is also involved in the deal. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who accompanied Trump in his meeting with Putin, said the understanding is designed to reduce violence in an area of Syria near Jordan s border that is critical to the US ally s security. It s a very complicated part of the Syrian battlefield, Tillerson told reporters after the US and Russian leaders met for more than two hours on the sidelines of a global summit in Hamburg, Germany. Of the agreement, he said, I think this is our first indication of the US and Russia being able to work together in Syria. Foes For years, the former Cold War foes have been backing opposing sides in Syria s war. Moscow has staunchly backed Syrian President Bashar Assad, supporting Syrian forces militarily since Washington has backed rebels fighting Assad. Both the US and Russia oppose Islamic State militants and say they re focused on rooting out the extremist group. The potential pitfalls for the ceasefire are clear not least the challenge of enforcing it. Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russian military police would monitor the new truce. But Tillerson said that was still being worked out. A senior US State Department official said the two countries were close to a deal on that issue and hoped to finalize it in the coming days, raising the prospect it could take effect Sunday with no clear sense of who is policing it. That the deal was announced before all the details were ironed out was a clear indication of how eager the US and Russia were to cast their leaders first meeting as a success. Officials said the deal had been in the works for weeks or months, but came together in time for the meeting. The deal marks a new level of involvement for the Trump administration in trying to resolve Syria s civil war. Trump ordered some 60 cruise missiles to be fired at a Syrian air base in April after accusing Assad s forces of a deadly chemical weapons attack. But his top military and national security advisers pointedly said they had no intentions of intervening to oust Assad. And they stopped short of endorsing Russian-led or UN peace mediation efforts between Assad s government and rebel groups. Israel also is part of the agreement, one US official said, who like others wasn t authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity. Like Jordan, Israel shares a border with the southern part of Syria and has been concerned about a spillover of violence as well as an amassing of Iranian-aligned forces in the south of liphate is now witnessing its demise. And it underscored the struggles Egyptian forces face in trying to rein in the insurgency. Egypt has for years battled militants in Sinai, where the jihadis have exploited the vast arid and underdeveloped region and its disgruntled Bedouin population as an ideal incubator for Islamic militancy even before the IS affiliate has emerged at the forefront of the insurgency. Friday s assault began in the early morning, when a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into a checkpoint at a military compound in the village of el-barth, southwest of the border town of Rafah. Dozens of masked militants then descended on the site in 24 Land Cruiser SUVs and opened fire on the soldiers with machine guns, according to security officials. The shooting lasted nearly half an hour, the officials added, speaking on condition of anonymity because of regulations. The troops at the compound were estimated to have numbered about 60. When the attack subsided, the militants apparently looted the checkpoint, snatching weapons and ammunition before fleeing, the officials said. A number of militants were killed in the shootout, indicating the soldiers had fought back, and some of their vehicles were abandoned at the scene. The suicide blast at the start of the attack likely disabled the checkpoint s military communications system, US, Russia agree on ceasefire in southwest Iraqi Couter-Terrorism Service (CTS) members stand amid destroyed buildings in the old city of Mosul on July 7, during the Iraqi government forces offensive to retake the city from Islamic State (IS) group fighters. (AFP) the country. Jordanian government spokesman Mohammed Momani confirmed the accord in a statement that made no reference to Israel s participation. Syrian government forces and its allies will stay on one side of an agreed demarcation line, and rebel fighters will stick to the other side. The goal is also to enable aid to reach this area of Syria, Momani told state media. US officials said the US, Russia and Jordan had only agreed on that demarcation line last week, clearing the way for a ceasefire to be worked out. The deal is separate from an agreement that Russia, Turkey and Iran struck earlier this year to try to establish de-escalation zones in Syria with reduced bloodshed. The US, wary of Iran s involvement, stayed away from that effort. Follow-up talks this week in Kazakhstan were unable to produce prompting one of the officers to use his own cellphone to record an audio message and send it to a colleague via WhatsApp, seeking help and asking for prayers. The message was later widely circulated on social media. MP urges Continued from Page 1 it should take advantage of the parliamentary recess to address the issues. He called on the government to clarify the illegal disbursements in previous budgets amounting to KD 3.8 billion, adding that those proven to have misappropriated public funds must be held accountable. He said the parliamentary recess is a good time for the government to review its papers and positions, especially since the MPs have announced their plan to grill HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and some ministers in the next legislative round. Furthermore, MP Mohammed Al- Dalal has asked Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohammad Al-Fares to announce the results of the investigation on the fake certificates and action taken against those proven to have committed violations. He pointed out this is an important issue because it is related to the most vital sector education. He said the minister must be in the vanguard in the fight against corruption. Decaying bodies piling up among ruins Mosul graveyard for foreign jihadists MOSUL, Iraq, July 8, (AFP): The decaying bodies of foreign jihadists are piling up among the ruins of Mosul where the last few dozen Islamic State group fi ghters are mounting a desperate last stand. More than three quarters of the remaining jihadists in Mosul are foreigners, according to Iraqi commanders who have reported a spike in suicide attacks as anti- IS forces close in on the Old City. They never surrender, said General Abdel Ghani al-assadi, a commander in Iraq s elite Counter-Terrorism Service. Old Mosul will be their graveyard. It was in Mosul in July 2014 that IS supremo Abu Bakr al- Baghdadi made his only public appearance, to urge Muslims worldwide to move to his caliphate, proclaimed less than a week earlier, straddling Iraq and Syria. Thousands of foreigners responded to his call. According to Iraqi police and army commanders, most of the foreign IS fi ghters still in Mosul in recent months came from Russia, particularly Chechnya, and other former Soviet bloc countries, as well as various Arab states. Then come Muslims from Asia Afghans, Pakistanis, Uighurs from China as well as Europeans from France, Germany, Belgium and Britain, along with Americans, the same sources said. They are also believed to include a few dozen jihadists from other French-speaking countries. Most of them come from countries such as Algeria, Morocco or Tunisia, said General Abbas al-jabouri, a commander of the police Rapid Response force. Pale, hungry civilians who managed to escape from the Old City described the foreign fi ghters as cruel men who detained them in houses, many of which were bombed out. When Iraqi forces launched an assault on the Old City on June 18, foreigners accounted for only 20 percent of the 1,200 jihadists identified at the time, according to army officers. But most Iraqi jihadists have fl ed by mingling in with the fl ood of civilians fleeing the Old City. The army says many were arrested, but officers privately estimate that several hundred were able to slip through the cracks. Foreigners though would be arrested immediately during exit screening, says Lieutenant agreement on finalizing a cease-fire in those zones. Previous cease-fires in Syria have collapsed or failed to reduce violence for long, and it was unclear whether this deal would be any better. Tillerson said the difference this time is Russia s interest in seeing Syria return to stability. It s an argument top US officials such as former Secretary of State John Kerry cited regularly amid his failed efforts to end a conflict that has killed as many as a half-million people, contributed to Europe s worst refugee crisis since World War II and allowed IS to emerge as a global terror threat. Tillerson also repeated the US position that a long-term role for the Assad family and the Assad regime is untenable and voiced his belief that Russia might be willing to address the future leadership of Syria, in tones Mosul militants Continued from Page 1 defence lines were collapsing, state television reported. We are seeing now the last metres (yards) and then final victory will be announced, a presenter said, citing correspondents embedded with security forces fighting in Islamic State s redoubt in the Old City by the Tigris. It s a matter of hours, she added. But Islamic State s Amaq news agency reported fierce fighting around the riverside district of Maidan and said its fighters were holding onto their fortified positions. The fighters of Islamic State are collectively pledging (to fight to the) death in Maidan, Amaq said in another online post. Artillery explosions and gunfire could still be heard during Saturday afternoon and a column of smoke billowed over the Old City riverside, the Reuters correspondent said. A US-led international coalition is providing air and ground support to the eight-month campaign to wrest back Mosul, by far the largest city seized by Islamic State (IS) in Almost exactly three years ago, the ultra-hardline group s leader Abu Bakr al-baghdadi declared from Mosul a caliphate over adjoining parts of Iraq and Syria. Dozens of IS insurgents were killed on Saturday and others tried to escape Colonel Haider Hussein, instantly recognisable because of their poor grasp of Iraqi Arabic. An Iraqi officer is more blunt: When we see them, we kill them. In May, the Wall Street Journal reported that France had asked Iraq to hunt down and eliminate 27 French jihadists in Mosul to prevent them returning to Europe. France, as well as the Iraqi commanders, denied the existence of such a list. But Assadi said: All IS fi ghters who do not surrender must be killed, whatever their nationality. According to several Iraqi offi cers, Western intelligence services take DNA samples from the bodies of jihadists. At the beginning of the battle, eight months ago, the jihadists preferred ambushes, snipers and car bombs. Then, in the narrow streets of the Old City, they sent more and more suicide bombers. In the last areas where they are now entrenched, sometimes with their families, they wait in the houses, and when our forces enter, they open fi re or blow themselves up, said Hussein. That s the only strategy they have left. reminiscent of Kerry. Up to now, Assad has rejected any proposals that would see him leave power, contributing to an impasse that has prolonged Syria s suffering. Earlier in the week, Syria s military said it was halting combat operations in the south of Syria for four days, in advance of the new round of Russiansponsored talks in Kazakhstan. That move covered the southern provinces of Daraa, Quneitra and Sweida. Syria s government briefly extended that unilateral cease-fire, which is now set to expire Saturday a day before the US and Russian deal was to take effect. The US-Russian cease-fire has no set end date, one US official said, describing it as part of broader discussions with Moscow on lowering violence in Syria. The agreement may also reflect Iran s increasingly prominent role in Syria. by swimming across Tigris, state TV said. Most of those making a last stand were foreigners, it added. Iraqi commanders say the militants were fighting for every metre with snipers, grenades and suicide bombers, forcing security forces to fight houseto-house in the densely populated maze of narrow alleyways. The battle has reached the phase of chasing the insurgents in remaining blocks, the Iraqi military media office said in a statement. Some members of DAESH have surrendered, it added, using an Arab acronym of Islamic State. The road where the soldiers celebrated was scarred with gaping holes from explosions and rubble from a flattened multi-storey shopping mall. Rubbish and ammunition boxes were strewn around and the only civilians seen were a group of about 15 women, children and elderly, some of them wounded, sheltering in a damaged petrol station. Security forces medics were giving them first aid. Months of urban warfare has displaced 900,000 people, about half the city s pre-war population, and killed thousands, according to aid organisations. Prime Minister Haider al-abadi declared the end of Islamic State s state of falsehood a week ago, after security forces took Mosul s mediaeval Grand al-nuri mosque although only after retreating militants blew it up. Stripped of Mosul, Islamic State s dominion in Iraq will be reduced to mainly rural, desert areas west and south of the city where tens of thousands of people live. The militants are expected to keep up attacks on selected targets across Iraq. The United Nations predicts it will cost more than $1 billion to repair basic infrastructure in Mosul. In some of the worst-affected areas, almost no buildings appear to have escaped damage and Mosul s dense construction means the extent of the devastation might be underestimated, UN officials said. The fall of Mosul also exposes ethnic and sectarian fractures between Arabs and Kurds over disputed territories or between Sunnis and the Shi ite majority that have plagued Iraq for more than a decade. During their impromptu victory celebrations, some of the Iraqi soldiers waved pictures of Hussein, the grand son of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who is immensely revered by the Shi ites. Mosul is a majority Sunni city who has long complained of being marginalized by the Shi ite-led governments installed after the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. Meanwhile, Iraq s regional Kurdish leader said this week that the government in Baghdad had failed to prepare a post-battle political, security and governance plan. Iraqi authorities will imminently announce a final victory in the battle to recapture Mosul from the Islamic State group, a US general said Saturday. An announcement is imminent, Baghdad-based Brigadier General Robert Sofge told AFP. I don t want to speculate if it s today or tomorrow but I think it s going to be very soon, he added. A group of jihadists tried to escape across the Tigris River from west Mosul where they hold a dwindling pocket of territory, but were killed by Iraqi forces, a senior commander said Saturday. In the nearly nine months since Iraq launched the massive operation to retake Mosul, the Islamic State group has gone from holding the entire city to being trapped between security forces and the Tigris River on its western side. But the jihadists have put up fierce resistance in recent days, keeping Iraqi troops from sealing what will be the biggest defeat yet suffered by IS. Some of them tried to cross to... the far bank (of the river), but we have forces there, said Staff Lieutenant General Abdulghani al-assadi, a senior commander in Iraq s elite Counter- Terrorism Service. The jihadists wanted to go back, but security forces fired on them and killed them, he said, without specifying how many died. Iraq s Joint Operations Command issued a statement saying that 35 IS members were killed and six captured when they tried to escape the advance of our forces in Mosul s Old City. Newswatch Continued from Page 1 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which is the first multilateral legally binding instrument for nuclear disarmament to have been negotiated in 20 years. In a statement, the UN Chief said the impetus for the treaty reflects growing concerns over the risk posed by the continued existence of nuclear weapons as well as awareness of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences that would result if nuclear weapons were ever used again. The treaty represents an important step and contribution towards the common aspiration of a world without nuclear weapons, he added. The UN s top official hoped that this new treaty will promote inclusive dialogue and renewed international cooperation aimed at achieving the long overdue objective of nuclear disarmament. (Agencies) SANAA, Yemen: Thousands of supporters of Yemen s secessionists have rallied in the southern city of Aden, backing a new group that advocates for autonomy of the country s south. The group is led by the city s former governor, Aidarous al-zubaidi. He addressed his supporters on Friday from behind a large bulletproof glass box, accusing President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi s government of failure. Al-Zubaidi says he will not remain silent but can shoulder responsibility in securing and running the south. (AP) KUWAIT CITY: Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah phoned Thursday Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Abdullatif Al-Zayani. During the phone call, they discussed the latest developments related to the Gulf rift and the importance of Kuwait s mediation role. (KUNA) MUZAFFARABAD/SRINAGAR: Seven people were killed in Kashmir in cross-border shelling by both Pakistan and India on Saturday, officials on both sides of the frontier said, as the anniversary of a militant s killing raised tensions in the disputed region. The violence occurred as hundreds of militants and political activists took to the streets in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir to commemorate the death of Burhan Wani, a militant killed by the army after urging the region s mainly Muslim population to rise up against Indian forces. A Reuters witness saw protesters holding Pakistani flags and banners and shouting slogans lauding the sacrifice of Wani and others, while pledging to carry on the holy war in Indian-administered Kashmir. (RTRS)

38 LEISURE Sherman s Lagoon By J.P. Toomey N E W Y O R K T I M E S CROSSWORD 38 Mutts By Patrick McDonnell Hagar The Horrible By Chris Browne Popular Japanese beverage 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 0 Minutes 51 Seconds Your Working Time Minutes Seconds Word by Word Yesterday s solution The baby amur leopard receives the name Zivon during a ceremony in the zoo in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on July 6. (AFP) contract bridge By Steve Becker Scratch pad odds n ends TOKYO: Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten has banned the sales of ivory products on its site, the company said Friday in a move hailed by conservation activists as a boost to international efforts to stem smuggling. Rakuten had been accused for years of providing the world s largest online marketplace for ivory, which could fuel smuggling through poor law enforcement. A 1989 ban prohibits international ivory trading. The bulk of legal ivory in Japan has to come from registered stockpiles or have been purchased before the ban came into force. But some traders in the country have been suspected of dodging rules. In response to growing international concern about the sale of ivory and other protected products, Rakuten changed its guidelines to reclassify ivory and sea turtle products as prohibited items on the Rakuten Ichiba marketplace, effective July 1, the company said in a comment ed to AFP. We expect it will take 1-2 months for all listings of these prohibited products to be removed. Currently there are thousands of ivory items offered on the Rakuten site, many of which are carved name seals traditionally used to sign off on offi cial documents. Animal rights and conservation activists hailed Rakuten s decision. (AFP) ANCHORAGE, Alaska: Everybody needs a shoulder to lean on now and then. A walrus calf at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, is getting one 24 hours a day. Trained staff members, working in pairs, are touching, massaging and cuddling a calf all day and all night as part of its recuperation. The calf, estimated to be about 6 weeks old, was found last month without its mother several miles outside Nome. Walrus are highly social and spend two years with their mothers, said Jennifer Gibbins, marketing and communications director for the center. They need constant contact, Gibbins said. Part of the caregiving is providing that constant contact and tactile interaction. The calf was spotted in mid- June on the deck of a mining barge. The walrus was still on the barge the next morning and the barge crew summoned wildlife experts. The SeaLife Center is dedicated to marine research and education and features a public aquarium. It s the only facility in Alaska that holds a permit for marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation. (AP) Child Tefel A burnt child dreads the fire. Al tefl al miktawi be al nar yakhaf al nar. Numbers 7601 Seven thousand six hundred one Sabat alaf wa seto maah wa wahed

39 SPORTS 39 Taylor wins The Ultimate Fighter finale Gaethje stops Johnson in 2nd round of spectacular UFC debut Michael Johnson (left), is hit by Justin Gaethje in a UFC lightweight mixed martial arts bout in Las Vegas on July 7. Gaethje won the bout. (AP) Mayweather-McGregor to begin four-day media tour LOS ANGELES, July 8, (RTRS): Undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather and mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor will begin a four-day international media tour next week to promote their Aug 26 boxing match in Las Vegas. Mayweather and McGregor, two of the most popular athletes in their respective sports, will BOXING hold their first public meeting in front of the media on July 11 in Los Angeles followed by stops in Toronto, New York and London over the next three days. Each event, likely to provide plenty of humorous and heated exchanges, will be open to the public. MLB Scoreboard WASHINGTON, July 8, (Agencies): Results from the MLB games on Friday. Miami 6 San Francisco 1 LA Dodgers 4 Kansas City 1 Seattle 7 Oakland 2 Arizona 6 Cincinnati 3 Colorado 12 Chicago White Sox 4 NY Mets 6 St Louis 5 Minnesota 9 Baltimore 6 Texas 10 LA Angels 0 Boston 8 Tampa Bay 3 Cleveland 11 Detroit 2 Houston 12 Toronto 2 Washington 5 Atlanta (10 Innings) 4 Milwaukee 9 NY Yankees 4 San Diego 4 Philadelphia 3 Chicago 6 Pittsburgh 1 MLB Standings American League Eastern Division W L PCT GB Boston NY Yankees /2 Tampa Bay /2 Toronto /2 Baltimore /2 Central Division W L PCT GB Cleveland Minnesota /2 Kansas City Detroit Chicago White Sox Western Division W L PCT GB Houston LA Angels /2 Texas /2 Seattle /2 Oakland National League Eastern Division W L PCT GB Washington Atlanta /2 NY Mets Miami /2 Philadelphia /2 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 MLB Linescores American League Houston Toronto Morton, Hoyt (7), Sipp (8), Martes (9) and Gattis; A.Sanchez, Bolsinger (2), Beliveau (8) and Montero. W_Morton 6-3. L_A.Sanchez 0-2. HRs_Houston, Correa, Springer 2, Gattis. Toronto, Carrera, Tulowitzki. Detroit Cleveland x Zimmermann, C.Bell (4), Wilson (6), Hardy (7), Stumpf (8) and Avila; Carrasco, McAllister (8), Armstrong (9) and Gomes. W_Carrasco L_Zimmermann 5-7. HRs_Cleveland, Zimmer, Chisenhall. Boston Tampa Bay Pomeranz, Hembree (7), M.Barnes (7), Kimbrel (9) and Vazquez; Odorizzi, Whitley (5), Diaz (8), Kolarek (9) and Ramos. W_Pomeranz 9-4. L_Odorizzi 5-4. HRs_Boston, Bradley Jr, Pedroia, Ramirez. Tampa Bay, Souza Jr. Los Angeles Texas x Nolasco, Petit (2), Paredes (4), Morin (6), Middleton (8) and Maldonado, Graterol; Hamels, Jeffress (8), Grilli (9) and Lucroy. W_Hamels 4-0. L_Nolasco HRs_Texas, Mazara, Beltre, Odor. Baltimore Minnesota x Gausman, Castro (5), O Day (6), Hart (7), Britton (8) and C.Joseph; Jorge, Hildenberger (3), Pressly (6), Belisle (7), Rogers (8), Kintzler (9) and Gimenez. W_Hildenberger 1-0. L_Castro 1-1. Sv_Kintzler (24). HRs_Baltimore, Machado 2, Smith. Oakland Seattle x Manaea, Hendriks (8), Neal (8) and Lavarnway, Maxwell; Paxton, Vincent (8), Rzepczynski (9), Cishek (9) and Zunino. W_Paxton 7-3. L_Manaea 7-5. HRs_Seattle, Cruz. Interleague Milwaukee Mayweather, who came out of retirement for this fight, is widely regarded as one of the best defensive fighters ever and the 40-yearold American prides himself on his ability to evade punishment with his movement and to make adjustments on the fly. Boastful Irishman McGregor, the UFC s reigning lightweight champion and former featherweight champion, is known as much for his bravado as for his explosive knockout power inside an MMA octagon. There is expected to be plenty of interest in the fight, which will be held inside T-Mobile Arena, even though there is also scepticism about how competitive it will be given that McGregor has never boxed professionally before. Colorado Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu throws to fi rst after forcing out Chicago White Sox s Omar Narvaez (38), completing a double play on Tim Anderson during the fi fth inning of a baseball game on July 7, in Denver. (AP) New York Guerra, Hughes (7), Drake (8), J.Barnes (9) and Pina; Montgomery, Webb (5), Clippard (6), Shreve (7), Cessa (8) and Au.Romine. W_Hader 1-0. L_ Clippard 1-5. HRs_Milwaukee, Aguilar 2. New York, Choi, Judge. Chicago Colorado x Holland, Minaya (5), Holmberg (5), Beck (6), Jennings (7), Robertson (8) and Narvaez; Marquez, Ottavino (8), Senzatela (9) and Wolters. W_Marquez 6-4. L_Holland 5-9. HRs_Chicago, Anderson. Colorado, Blackmon, Arenado, LeMahieu. Kansas City Los Angeles x Hammel, Feliz (7), Moylan (8) and S.Perez; Maeda, Fields (6), Stewart (7), Jansen (9) and Grandal. W_Maeda 7-4. L_Hammel 4-8. Sv_Jansen (21). HRs_Los Angeles, Puig. National League Pittsburgh Chicago x T.Williams, LeBlanc (4), Marinez (6), Bastardo (8) and Cervelli; Butler, Edwards (5), Strop (6), Uehara (8), W.Davis (9) and Caratini, Contreras. W_Edwards 3-1. L_T.Williams 3-4. HRs_Chicago, Rizzo, Bryant 2. San Diego Philadelphia Richard, Maton (7), Hand (7), Maurer (9) and Hedges; Pivetta, Neshek (8), Neris (9) and Rupp. W_Hand 2-4. L_Neris 2-3. Sv_Maurer (18). HRs_ San Diego, Hedges 2, Pirela. Philadelphia, Joseph. Atlanta Washington (10 innings) Dickey, Jose Ramirez (8), Johnson (9), S.Freeman (9), Krol (10) and Flowers; Scherzer, O.Perez (8), Treinen (9), Grace (10), Albers (10) and Wieters. W_Albers 5-1. L_Krol 1-2. HRs_Atlanta, Freeman. New York St Louis degrom, Blevins (8), Sewald (8), Reed (9) and d Arnaud; C.Martinez, Brebbia (6), Lyons (7), Tuivailala (8), Rosenthal (9) and Molina. W_deGrom 9-3. L_C.Martinez 6-8. Sv_Reed (15). HRs_New York, Bruce, Reyes. St Louis, Grichuk, Fowler, Gyorko, DeJong. Cincinnati Arizona x6 8 0 Adleman, Wood (6), Storen (8) and Barnhart; Greinke, McFarland (8), Barrett (9), Rodney (9) and Mathis. W_Greinke L_Adleman 5-6. Sv_Rodney (22). HRs_Cincinnati, Schebler, Votto. Arizona, Goldschmidt. Miami San Francisco Straily, McGowan (9) and Realmuto; Moore, Gearrin (4), Osich (7), Crick (9) and Posey. W_Straily 7-4. L_Moore 3-9. HRs_Miami, Stanton, Realmuto. San Francisco, Span. MLB Leaders American League BATTING: Altuve, Houston,.342; Ramirez, Cleveland,.332; Judge, New York,.330; Gamel, Seattle,.329; Correa, Houston,.320; Dickerson, Tampa Bay,.316; Mancini, Baltimore,.315; Reddick, Houston,.314; Garcia, Chicago,.313; Castro, New York,.313; 1 tied at.313. RUNS: Judge, New York, 75; Springer, Houston, LAS VEGAS, July 8, (AP): Justin Gaethje finished battering Michael Johnson and ran off to climb the cage in celebration of his debut UFC victory. He briefly stood atop the fence, but slipped, hitting his head while falling 6 feet back to the canvas. He fell again on his second attempt, but Gaethje found his balance on his third try. He returned to Earth with a joyous, graceful backflip. I m not a quitter. I proved it, the lightweight said with a grin. Hey, it was really slippery up there. I was tired. But I can nail (the backflip) 10 out of 10 times once I get up there and plant my feet. I only (do it) when I get a sweet knockout, and that was sweet. Gaethje has spent years working to reach the biggest stage in mixed martial arts. When the former college wrestler finally hit the big-time Friday night, he showed why he could be the UFC s next big thing. MIXED MARTIAL ARTS Gaethje (18-0) stopped Johnson in the second round of a savage fight that encapsulated his entire style. From the opening minute to the final flurry, he lived up to his reputation as a fighter with punishing skills, athletic brilliance and a reckless disregard for his own safety. I ve got the biggest heart, and I m the most violent guy in the division, Gaethje said. I ll prove it time and time again. I ll take the most boring fighter and have Fight of the Year. That s what I do. I m an entertainer. The UFC agrees. Its chief Dana White awarded Gaethje two bonuses totaling $100,000 after the bout. Gaethje got wobbled and hurt by Johnson during a frenetic first round and again in the second, but the UFC newcomer took control of the fight after staggering Johnson midway through the round with a knee to the body. Gaethje finished the veteran Johnson (18-12) with primal punches and knees that elicited gasps from the T-Mobile Arena crowd. Earlier, welterweight Jesse Taylor stopped Dhiego Lima with a secondround choke to win the finale of The Ultimate Fighter, the UFC s long-running reality competition show. 74; Ramirez, Cleveland, 61; Dickerson, Tampa Bay, 60; Betts, Boston, 59; Correa, Houston, 59; Altuve, Houston, 58; Gardner, New York, 58; Reddick, Houston, 55; Encarnacion, Cleveland, 54; 3 tied at 53. RBI: Judge, New York, 66; Cruz, Seattle, 63; Sano, Minnesota, 61; Cano, Seattle, 60; Correa, Houston, 60; KDavis, Oakland, 60; Springer, Houston, 60; Abreu, Chicago, 58; Morrison, Tampa Bay, 57; Souza Jr, Tampa Bay, 56; 3 tied at 55. HITS: Altuve, Houston, 113; Ramirez, Cleveland, 107; Dickerson, Tampa Bay, 106; Abreu, Chicago, 101; Springer, Houston, 101; Andrus, Texas, 100; Hosmer, Kansas City, 100; Correa, Houston, 99; Judge, New York, 97; 2 tied at 96. DOUBLES: Betts, Boston, 29; Lowrie, Oakland, 27; Ramirez, Cleveland, 27; Altuve, Houston, 25; Lindor, Cleveland, 25; Abreu, Chicago, 23; Dickerson, Tampa Bay, 23; Gurriel, Houston, 23; Schoop, Baltimore, 23; Pillar, Toronto, 22; 3 tied at 21. TRIPLES: Castellanos, Detroit, 6; Ramirez, Cleveland, 5; Bogaerts, Boston, 4; Merrifi eld, Kansas City, 4; Sanchez, Chicago, 4; 7 tied at 3. HOME RUNS: Judge, New York, 30; Springer, Houston, 27; Moustakas, Kansas City, 25; KDavis, Oakland, 24; Morrison, Tampa Bay, 24; Smoak, Toronto, 23; Gallo, Texas, 21; Sano, Minnesota, 20; Alonso, Oakland, 19; Healy, Oakland, 19; 5 tied at 18. STOLEN BASES: Maybin, Los Angeles, 25; Andrus, Texas, 20; Dyson, Seattle, 20; Altuve, Houston, 18; DeShields, Texas, 18; Buxton, Minnesota, 16; Betts, Boston, 15; Cain, Kansas City, 15; RDavis, Oakland, 14; 2 tied at 13. PITCHING: Vargas, Kansas City, 12-3; Sale, Boston, 11-4; Carrasco, Cleveland, 10-3; Santana, Minnesota, 10-6; Keuchel, Houston, 9-0; Pomeranz, Boston, 9-4; 5 tied at 8. ERA: Vargas, Kansas City, 2.62; Sale, Boston, 2.75; Kluber, Cleveland, 2.85; Santana, Minnesota, 2.99; McCullers, Houston, 3.06; Fulmer, Detroit, 3.20; Stroman, Toronto, 3.42; Carrasco, Cleveland, 3.44; Severino, New York, 3.52; Darvish, Texas, 3.56; 1 tied at STRIKEOUTS: Sale, Boston, 178; Archer, Tampa Bay, 139; Darvish, Texas, 119; Kluber, Cleveland, 115; Carrasco, Cleveland, 114; Severino, New York, 114; Estrada, Toronto, 110; McCullers, Houston, 106; Bauer, Cleveland, 103; Porcello, Boston, 102; 1 tied at 99. National League BATTING: Murphy, Washington,.341; Zimmerman, Washington,.335; Posey, San Francisco,.326; Harper, Washington,.321; Ozuna, Miami,.319; Blackmon, Colorado,.318; Cozart, Cincinnati,.318; Votto, Cincinnati,.316; Goldschmidt, Arizona,.314; Peralta, Arizona,.311; 1 tied at.308. RUNS: Goldschmidt, Arizona, 72; Blackmon, Colorado, 70; Harper, Washington, 67; Votto, Cincinnati, 63; Inciarte, Atlanta, 57; Seager, Los Angeles, 57; Bryant, Chicago, 56; Murphy, Washington, 56; Thames, Milwaukee, 55; 4 tied at 54. RBI: Arenado, Colorado, 68; Lamb, Arizona, 67; Ozuna, Miami, 67; Goldschmidt, Arizona, 66; Harper, Washington, 64; Murphy, Washington, 62; Votto, Cincinnati, 62; Zimmerman, Washington, 62; 3 tied at 61. HITS: Blackmon, Colorado, 114; Inciarte, Atlanta, 111; Murphy, Washington, 108; Arenado, Colorado, 104; Ozuna, Miami, 104; LeMahieu, Colorado, 103; Zimmerman, Washington, 97; 4 tied at 96. DOUBLES: Arenado, Colorado, 28; Murphy, Washington, 27; Herrera, Philadelphia, 26; Duvall, Cincinnati, 25; Owings, Arizona, 22; Seager, Los Angeles, 22; Shaw, Milwaukee, 22; Zimmerman, Washington, 22; 4 tied at 21. TRIPLES: Blackmon, Colorado, 10; Hamilton, Cincinnati, 6; Arenado, Colorado, 5; Cozart, Cincinnati, 5; 9 tied at 4. HOME RUNS: Bellinger, Los Angeles, 24; Votto, Cincinnati, 24; Ozuna, Miami, 23; Stanton, Miami, 23; Thames, Milwaukee, 23; Bruce, New York, 22; Schebler, Cincinnati, 21; 4 tied at 20. STOLEN BASES: Turner, Washington, 35; Hamilton, Cincinnati, 34; Gordon, Miami, 31; Nunez, San Francisco, 17; Broxton, Milwaukee, 16; Villar, Milwaukee, 16; Peraza, Cincinnati, 15; Goldschmidt, Arizona, 13; 4 tied at 11. PITCHING: Kershaw, Los Angeles, 13-2; Davies, Milwaukee, 10-4; Greinke, Arizona, 10-4; Scherzer, Washington, 10-5; Wood, Los Angeles, 10-0; Senzatela, Colorado, 9-3; Strasburg, Washington, 9-2; Wainwright, St Louis, 9-5; degrom, New York, 9-3; 4 tied at 8. ERA: Scherzer, Washington, 2.10; Kershaw, Los Angeles, 2.19; Gonzalez, Washington, 2.86; Anderson, Milwaukee, 2.89; Ray, Arizona, 2.97; Greinke, Arizona, 3.05; Leake, St Louis, 3.12; Nelson, Milwaukee, 3.20; Nova, Pittsburgh, 3.24; Strasburg, Washington, 3.28; 1 tied at STRIKEOUTS: Scherzer, Washington, 173; Kershaw, Los Angeles, 146; Ray, Arizona, 141; degrom, New York, 130; Martinez, St Louis, 128; Strasburg, Washington, 128; Greinke, Arizona, 124; Samardzija, San Francisco, 122; Nelson, Milwaukee, 112; 2 tied at 110. Los Angeles Dodgers Chase Utley hits an RBI double, for his 1,000th career RBI, as Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (right), and home plate umpire Todd Tichenor watch during the eighth inning of a baseball game on July 7, in Los Angeles. (AP) Carrasco fans out 11, Indians down Tigers Springer powers Astros past Sanchez, Blue Jays 12-2 CLEVELAND, July 8, (AP): Carlos Carrasco handled Detroit s lineup for the second time in a week striking out a season-high 11 and pulling off a rare nine-pitch, three-strikeout inning and Lonnie Chisenhall hit a two-run homer, leading the Cleveland Indians to an 11-2 win over the Detroit Tigers in Major League Baseball on Friday night. Carrasco (10-3) allowed two runs in seven innings to win his fifth straight decision. He limited the Tigers to one run in seven innings on July 1. The right-hander also recorded an immaculate inning by striking out the side in the fifth on nine pitches. Carrasco is just the second pitcher in Cleveland history to do it, joining Justin Masterson (2014). Chisenhall connected in Cleveland s five-run third off Jordan Zimmerman (5-7), who remains winless since June 3. Michael Brantley had four RBIs, Francisco Lindor drove in three and rookie Bradley Zimmer homered for the Indians, who played their fourth straight game without manager Terry Francona. He remains in the Cleveland Clinic following a heart procedure. Astros 12, Blue Jays 2 In Toronto, George Springer homered twice and tied a career high with five RBIs as Houston rocked Aaron Sanchez in his return from the disabled list, propelling the Astros over Toronto. Springer hit his 26th and 27th homers of the season, including a two-run shot off Sanchez (0-2) in the second inning. The All-Star outfielder had four hits, and the Astros improved their major league-leading record to Making his first appearance since May because of a blister on his pitching hand, Sanchez allowed a career-high eight runs in 1 2/3 innings. Houston s Carlos Correa extended the longest active hitting streak in the majors to a career-high 15 with his 18th homer in the first inning. Evan Gattis added his seventh homer in the seventh. The support eased Charlie Morton s (6-3) return to action. The right-hander, sidelined since May 24 with a right lat strain, gave Houston one-run ball over six innings, surrendering four hits to tie his season low. Brewers 9, Yankees 4 In New York, Jesus Aguilar homered twice and matched a Brewers record with seven RBIs, including a tiebreaking grand slam in the seventh inning that sent Milwaukee past skidding New York for its fifth straight victory. The surprising NL Central leaders overcame a season-high five errors and a record-breaking homer by Aaron Judge to win at Yankee Stadium for the first time in exactly 21 years. Back then, the Brewers were still in the American League they switched to the NL in 1998 and had dropped 14 of their last 15 in the Bronx, including a 10-game losing streak they snapped in this interleague series opener. Rookie left-hander Josh Hader (1-0) struck out seven over three innings of effective relief for his first major league win. Cubs 6, Pirates 1 In Chicago, Kris Bryant hit two homers and drove in four runs and Anthony Rizzo went deep as Chicago beat Pittsburgh. Rizzo chased Trevor Williams (3-4) with a two-run drive in the fourth that made it 3-0. Bryant hit a solo shot against Jhan Marinez in the sixth that cleared the left-field bleachers and added a two-run drive in the eighth off Antonio Bastardo. He also had an RBI triple and finished with four hits, helping Chicago start the weekend series on a winning note after dropping six of nine. Red Sox 8, Rays 3 In St. Petersburg, Florida, Dustin Pedroia, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Hanley Ramirez each homered while Drew Pomeranz won his third consecutive start as Boston beat Tampa Bay. Pedroia hit a two-run shot during a four-run third, and Bradley had a fourthinning solo drive off Jake Odorizzi (5-4) as Boston took a 5-0 lead. Pomeranz (9-4) limited Tampa Bay to two runs over six innings despite allowing six hits and five walks. Steven Souza Jr. hit a solo homer in the seventh for the Rays, who beat Chris Sale and the AL East-leading Red Sox 4-1 in the opener of a four-game series Thursday night. The Rays, third in the division, trail Boston by 5 1/2 games. Nationals 5, Braves 4, 10 Innings In Washington, Daniel Murphy s one-out RBI single in the 10th inning capped Washington s comeback victory over Atlanta. Adrian Sanchez led off the 10th against Ian Krol (1-2) with his first major league hit and two batters later moved to third on Ryan Zimmerman s single. Murphy lofted an opposite-field single over left fielder Matt Kemp s head to win it. Twins 9, Orioles 6 In Minneapolis, Kennys Vargas had three hits, including a big two-run double in the fifth inning, hours after being recalled from the minors to help lead Minnesota over Baltimore. Trevor Hildenberger (1-0) pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for his first major league win as the Twins rallied from a 6-0 hole to send Baltimore to BASEBALL its fifth straight defeat. Vargas two-run double off reliever Miguel Castro (1-1) tied the score in the fifth, and Chris Gimenez s RBI single completed the impressive comeback one batter later. Manny Machado homered twice and had his second four-hit game of the year. Seth Smith also homered as he and Machado went deep back-to-back to lead off the game against Twins rookie Felix Jorge. Dodgers 4, Royals 1 In Los Angeles, Yasiel Puig homered and Chase Utley notched his 1,000th career RBI as NL West-leading Los Angeles beat Kansas City in the opener of the Royals first visit to Dodger Stadium since The Dodgers won their fourth in a row behind Kenta Maeda (7-4). The Japanese right-hander gave up one run and four hits in five innings, struck out five and walked two while bouncing back from a poor outing. Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth to earn his 21st save in 21 chances. The Dodgers improved to a major leaguebest at home. Diamondbacks 6, Reds 3 In Phoenix, Zack Greinke threw seven scoreless innings and Paul Goldschmidt hit his 20th homer to help Arizona beat Cincinnati. Arizona rebounded from a crushing Starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco #59 of the Cleveland Indians pitches during the fi rst inning against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on July 7, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AFP) 5-4 loss in Los Angeles a night earlier when closer Fernando Rodney blew a three-run lead in the ninth. The Dodgers swept the Diamondbacks, winning all three games by a run. Greinke (11-4) allowed four hits, struck out seven and walked one. The right-hander is 9-0 at home, and the Diamondbacks are matching their victory total from last season. Rodney got Tucker Barnhart to ground out to second for his 22nd save. Joey Votto and Schebler homered in the ninth for Cincinnati. Tim Adleman (5-6) took the loss. Rockies 12, White Sox 4 In Denver, Nolan Arenado homered and drove in five runs while German Marquez tossed seven strong innings and had two hits as Colorado s slumbering offense awoke in a win over Chicago. Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu also went deep as Colorado broke out of prolonged slump. The Rockies banged out a season-high 17 hits and were 7 of 14 with runners in scoring position. They hit just.226 and.216 with runners in scoring position while losing 12 of their previous 15. Mets 6, Cardinals 5 In St Louis, Jose Reyes and Jay Bruce hit solo Springer home runs to help Jacob degrom win his fifth straight decision, leading New York over St. Louis. Bruce s homer in the fifth broke a 4-4 tie. It was his 11th home run in 61 career games at Busch Stadium. DeGrom (9-3) gave up four runs, all on solo homers, in seven innings. It was the first time in his career that degrom gave up four home runs in a game, but it was good enough to tie his career-best winning streak set in Rangers 10, Angels 0 In Arlington, Texas, Cole Hamels threw 7 2/3 innings and Adrian Beltre s three-run homer highlighted a five-run second inning as Texas beat Los Angeles. Hamels (4-0) allowed three singles, two to Albert Pujols, and one walk. He struck out six, matching his season high, in his third start since returning from the disabled list on June 26. Mariners 7, Athletics 2 In Seattle, Nelson Cruz hit his 300th home run and drove in five while James Paxton allowed two hits over seven innings as Seattle beat Oakland. Paxton (7-3) did not allow a hit after Marcus Semien s two-run double in the second. The left-hander matched a season high with nine strikeouts while walking three and hitting a batter. Sean Manaea (7-5) gave up three runs and eight hits in seven innings. Marlins 6, Giants 1 In San Francisco, Giancarlo Stanton hit his 24th home run to back another strong start by Dan Straily (7-4) as Miami beat San Francisco. J.T. Realmuto also homered and had three hits, Dee Gordon added four hits and JT Riddle drove in two runs to help the Marlins win the opener of their final series before the All-Star break. The Marlins batted around during a four-run first inning highlighted by Stanton s opposite field two-run homer off starter Matt Moore (3-9). Padres 4, Phillies 3 In Philadelphia, Austin Hedges hit a pair of solo homers and had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the ninth, while Jose Pirela also went deep as San Diego beat Philadelphia. After Cory Spangenberg and Carlos Asuaje hit singles off Hector Neris (2-3), Hedges fouled off a safety squeeze before hitting a fly ball to right-center that drove in the go-ahead run. Padres starter Clayton Richard allowed one run and five hits in six innings before a 94-minute rain delay forced him out. Brad Hand (2-4) got four outs for the win and Brandon Maurer finished for his 18th save.

40 SPORTS 40 RUGBY Fiji down Tonga to book World Cup berth Jaguares sink Waratahs in first match in Australia SYDNEY, July 8, (AFP): Argentina s Jaguares ambushed the New South Wales Waratahs to win on their first Super Rugby appearance in Australia on Saturday. The Jaguares outscored the inconsistent Waratahs five tries to three after getting the early jump on the 2014 Super Rugby champions at 15-0 in the opening 13 minutes. The Argentines led at halftime and although they were reduced to 13 men with yellow cards to Guido Petti Pagadizaval and Benjamin Macome just before the interval and were pulled back to five minutes after the resumption, they finished full of running. It was the most points scored by the Jaguares outside of Buenos Aires in their second season in Super Rugby where they have won six of their 14 games. The Jaguares dominated territory through their kicking game and pierced the shaky Waratahs defence with their skilful off-loads. We had a tough week in Argentina last week losing by one point to the Southern Kings and we had a good week in Sydney and got the win tonight, scrum-half Martin Landajo said. The travel is very tough for us, so it s our first time in Australia and our first win, so we are very happy. This is new for us, this is our second year in the tournament so we are learning a lot, so it s good for us to have another week in Australia and play the Melbourne Rebels next week. The Jaguares played fast direct rugby and crossed for five tries to Pablo Matera, Matias Orlando, Benjamin Macome, Agustin Creevy and Matias Moroni. Fly-half Nicolas Sanchez landed three conversions and three penalties. Jaguares Matias Orlando (center), is tackled by New South Wales Waratahs Michael Hooper (left), during the Super Rugby match between Australia s New South Wales Waratahs and Argentina s Jaguares in Sydney on July 8. (AFP) It was another rollercoaster match for the troubled Waratahs, who have now conceded 130 points in their last three games and with one game left in the season away to the Western Force next game they have won just four games out of 14 this year. It s really a shape of our year, it was really disappointing, really good, then really bad and letting teams get so far in front at the start of the game, Waratahs skipper Michael Hooper said. It s a hit to our pride, but we ll get back up, we re just not getting it right on the field at the moment and it s just so frustrating. Meanwhile, Fiji qualified for the 2019 World Cup in Japan with a second-half rally to beat Tonga on Saturday in a Pacific Nations Cup match in Nuku alofa. The score was locked at 3-3 at half-time after Fiji s Ben Volavola and Tonga s Sonatane Takula traded penalties. Tonga opened up a 10-3 lead when Takula converted Siegfried Fisi ihoi s try early in the second spell before Fiji came back with a try to Leone Nakarawa and then hit the front with two late Volavola penalties. The win ensured Fiji would take the Oceania 1 berth in Pool D at the World Cup alongside Australia, Wales, Georgia and the winner of the Americas 2 qualifying pool which will be either Canada or Uruguay. With the combined results from the 2016 and 2017 Pacific Nations Cup tournaments used to determine the Oceania qualifiers, the 2016 titleholders Fiji booked their ticket to Japan with a game to spare. Wins over Italy and Scotland in warm up Tests before the Tonga clash have boosted Fiji s world ranking and they now lie 10th on points, just 1.44 points behind Argentina. The Oceania 2 slot to join England, France, Argentina and the United States in Pool C is wide open with Samoa and Tonga equal on five points. It will likely be decided next weekend when Samoa, who lost to Tonga last week, play Fiji. New Zealand s No 8 Kieran Read (left), and British and Irish Lions blindside fl anker Sam Warburton (right), hold up the trophy after the drawn test series following the third rugby union Test match between the British and Irish Lions and New Zealand All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland on July 8. (AFP) Lions & All Blacks series end in sensational draw Controversial late call denies NZ penalty chance AUCKLAND, July 8, (AFP): Owen Farrell scored a long-range penalty three minutes from time as the British and Irish Lions drew with the All Blacks to tie a series for only the second time in their history on Saturday. New Zealand, who haven t lost at Eden Park for 23 years, were aggrieved when a last-minute penalty for offside within kicking range was overruled after a video review. All Blacks fullback Jordie Barrett, in his first Test start, set up one try and scored another in the opening half, in what were to be the third and final Test s only tries. It was with 20 minutes left before a Beauden Barrett penalty restored the All Blacks lead only for Farrell to knock one over from 48 metres to make it on 77 minutes. Farrell finished the night with 12 points from four penalty kicks, while Elliott Daly also booted a huge effort from his own half for the Lions just after half-time. Warren Gatland s Lions, who were given no chance against the world champions early in their tour, can feel RUGBY vindicated with the series result, although neither side was entirely happy. In 129 years of touring, it was the Lions first drawn series against New Zealand, and only the second in their history after they finished 2-2 against South Africa in Lions captain Sam Warburton, who lifted the trophy with his opposite number Kieran Read, said: I m not sure what to make of that really I was getting ready for extra time. The All Blacks bossed the first half and they led 12-6 at the break, but the Lions struck back with two penalties from Daly and Farrell to level the scores at In a frantic final 20 minutes, the All Blacks regained the lead after Wyatt Crockett forced a scrum collapse, allowing Beauden Barrett to put them ahead with the penalty. But their slim lead evaporated on 77 minutes when Farrell, also the Lions hero in last week s victory when he kicked the winning points, landed another crucial penalty. The All Blacks, winners in the first Test, were clearly stung by losing the second Test last week in Wellington, and they began the match at a furious pace. After a helter-skelter opening 10 minutes, Daly beat Israel Dagg in the air to take the Lions up to the New Zealand line, only for the two rookie SAN ANTONIO, July 8, (AP): Diana Taurasi scored 17 points and Brittney Griner had 15 points, eight rebounds and five blocks, lifting the Phoenix Mercury over the San Antonio Stars in the WNBA on Friday night. Griner hit a hook shot just before the halftime buzzer to give Phoenix a lead. She and Taurasi combined to score 24 points in the half. Taurasi scored five points during the Mercury s 11-2 run to open the third quarter for a lead. Phoenix cruised in the second half, even after Taurasi was ejected with 8:55 remaining after her second technical foul. Leilani Mitchell also scored 15 points for Phoenix (9-6). She made her third 3-pointer to give the Mercury an lead midway through the fourth. Kayla McBride Taurasi scored 10 of her 22 points in the first quarter for San Antonio (1-16). Alex Montgomery added 12 points and Kelsey Plum had six assists. Elsewhere, Layshia Clarendon scored a career-high 27 points to help the Atlanta Dream beat the Indiana Fever Clarendon was 11 of 15 from the field, and had eight rebounds and six assists. Rookie Brittney Sykes added 18 BASKETBALL All Blacks to turn defence into points. An intercept by Jordie Barrett set Laumape racing 80 metres before he was cut down from behind by Jonathan Davies. From a resulting scrum, Beauden Barrett kicked across field for his brother Jordie to leap high and instinctively palm the ball back to Laumape for the opening try. Dream outscore Fever Taurasi, Griner lead Mercury in victory over Stars points for Atlanta (7-8), which won just its second game in the last six series meetings. Tiffany Hayes scored 11 points and Elizabeth Williams tied a season high with six blocks for the second straight game. Clarendon scored six of Atlanta s first eight points and equaled her career-best with 19 points in the first half on 8-of-10 shooting. NBA Roundup Raptors re-sign Lowry Celtics trade Bradkey to Pistons for Morris BOSTON, July 8, (RTRS): The Boston Celtics traded guard Avery Bradley to the Detroit Pistons for forward Marcus Morris, the team announced Friday. The deal creates the salary-cap space the Celtics needed to sign All-Star free agent forward Gordon Hayward to a four-year, $128 million maximum contract, according to ESPN s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Celtics also will send a 2019 second-round pick to the Pistons. The Indiana Pacers agreed to terms with swingman Bojan Bogdanovic, according to multiple reports. ESPN reported Bogdanovic received a two-year, $21 million contract. The agreement came shortly after the Washington Wizards renounced Bogdanovic s rights, making him an unrestricted free agent. Bogdanovic averaged a careerbest 13.7 points last season while splitting time with the Brooklyn Nets and Washington. The Toronto Raptors officially re-signed All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry and free agent power forward Serge Ibaka to multi-year contracts. Lowry s contract is a reported three-year, $100 million deal, and Ibaka s is for three years and worth $65 million. The Lions replied with a penalty to Farrell, but their time in All Blacks territory was limited and it was only poor handling by the New Zealanders that eased the pressure on the tourists. When the Lions did get within striking range they made it count, with Farrell adding a second penalty to close within one point before Jordie Barrett scored the All Blacks second try. MOTOR RACING Vettel 2nd on grid, Hamilton starts 8th Bottas claims Austrian GP pole SPIELBERG, Austria, July 8, (AFP): Valtteri Bottas upstaged both title protagonists on Saturday by claiming his second pole position for Mercedes in a tense qualifying session for Sunday s Austrian Grand Prix. The Finn clocked a best lap of one minute and seconds to outpace championship leader Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari by four hundredths of a second. Briton Lewis Hamilton, who trails Vettel by 14 points in the title race, was third fastest in the second Mercedes, but will start the race from eighth on the grid due to a five-place penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change. The session ended in some disarray when Frenchman Romain Grosjean stopped his Haas out on the track to bring out a series of yellow flags that prevented any final fast laps. I enjoyed it today and the car was getting better and better, said Bottas. I had a decent lap and I am looking forward to Sunday and hope Lewis and I can do a great job for the team. Vettel said: I was hoping for the last run, but then it was a bit of an anticlimax with the yellow flags. Hamilton said he was happy enough with third: Of course, I would have loved to improve my lap, but it just wasn t meant to be today. When asked after the session to shake hands, Hamilton and Vettel turned and walked away having done so earlier without television cameras. It was Mercedes 80th pole position and the 51st pole by a Finnish driver. For Hamilton, from eighth, it is a major challenge as he has never won from below sixth on the grid a feat he achieved at the 2014 British Grand Prix. Finn Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion, will start from third in the second Ferrari ahead of Australian Daniel Ricciardo and his Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen, backed by a crowd including 10,000 Dutch fans at the Red Bull Ring. Grosjean was seventh ahead of Mexican Sergio Perez and his Force India team-mate Esteban Ocon, with Spaniard Carlos Sainz 10th for Toro Rosso. The session began in balmy, but cloudy, conditions with a track temperature of 45 degrees, as Hamilton soon stamped his speed and authority on proceedings. Eight minutes in, he clocked 1:05.238, three-tenths clear of Vettel. Hamilton improved his time to 1:05.064, when Dane Kevin Magnussen had what appeared to be a suspension failure at turn three and drove his Haas gingerly back to the pits. The first session ended with Hamilton on top ahead of Raikkonen and Vettel, with Bottas pushed back to fifth by a flying Sainz. Out went Briton Jolyon Palmer of Renault, Brazilian Felipe Massa and his Williams team-mate Lance Stroll, Swede Marcus Ericsson and his Sauber team-mate Pascal Wehrlein. For Williams, it was a huge disappointment after the introduction of an upgrade package that has brought no instant success. Hamilton was out immediately for second qualifying on super-softs, a switch that signalled he may intend to run a long first stint in Sunday s race. His first lap was 1:04.800, trimmed by Bottas in 1: as the Mercedes topped the pile. Vettel, on ultra-softs, grabbed sec- Obituary (From left), Ferrari s German driver Sebastian Vettel, Mercedes Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas and Mercedes British driver Lewis Hamilton attend a drivers press conference after the qualifying session of the Formula One Austria Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg on July 8. (AFP) In this fi le photo dated March 26, 2017, Bradley Lowery holds the hand of England s Jermain Defoe prior to the World Cup Group F qualifying soccer match between England and Lithuania at the Wembley Stadium in London, Great Britain. (AP) Jermain heartbroken Defoe s best friend Bradley Lowery dies LONDON, July 8, (AFP): Bradley Lowery, who became one of the iconic images of last season s Premier League through his friendship with then Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe, has died aged six, his family revealed on his Facebook page. The devoted Sunderland supporter suffered from a rare form of cancer neuroblastoma and had of late been receiving palliative care at his home. Defoe, who had touchingly been accompanied by Lowery onto the Wembley pitch when the striker made his England return after a four year hiatus against Lithuania in March, broke down in tears on Thursday when asked about him declaring his best mate only had days to live. Confirmation of the 34-yearold s fears arrived on Friday. My brave boy has went with the angels today 07/07/17 at 13:35, in mammy and daddies arms surrounded by his family (with several heart icons), read a message from the family on Bradley s Facebook page. He was our little superhero and put the biggest fight up but he was needed else where. There are no words to describe how heart broken we are. Thank you everyone for all your support and kind words. Sleep tight baby boy and fly high with them angels. Sunderland who had donated towards possible treatment for him in the United States which sadly was called off issued a long statement. ond in the closing minutes as Hamilton warmed up a set of super-softs for his race starts, with the top three separated by only 0.160sec. German Nico Hulkenberg of Renault, two-time champion Fernando Alonso and his McLaren team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne, Russian Daniil Kvyat of Toro Rosso and the luckless Magnussen, who did not run, were the five to bow out. As the top-ten shootout Bradley captured the hearts and minds of everyone at our club with his indomitable spirit, tremendous courage and beautiful smile, which could light up even the darkest of rooms, read the statement. Despite battling neuroblastoma for much of his all too short life, he demonstrated a bravery and fortitude beyond his years that humbled us all. He was truly an inspiration. Sunderland, whose miserable season which saw them relegated from the Premier League was given a brighter hue by Lowery s presence, asked for the family to be allowed to grieve in peace and referred to Defoe who has moved to Bournemouth and their heart-warming relationship. He had a special relationship with Jermain Defoe and their feelings for each other were evident for all to see. Jermain, naturally, is heartbroken, the club said. Sunderland will commemorate his passing almost immediately as they are playing a pre-season friendly with Bury later on Friday with the latter club saying they will hold a minute s applause for him. Lowery and his courageous battle was exposed to a wider audience at the beginning of last season as at the Premier League game between Everton and Sunderland his name was chanted by both sets of fans in the fifth minute as he was then five and Everton then donated generously to the fund for his proposed treatment in the United States. began, Verstappen was first out. He went top, only to be supplanted by Ricciardo and Hamilton, the only driver who will start the race on supersofts, before Bottas took control in 1: Vettel then slotted into second again, and Grosjean s car failure ensured that Bottas took pole and his team-mate was to start eighth. Austrian GP Grid 1st row Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 2nd row Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 3rd row Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas-Ferrari) 4th row Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India) Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 5th row Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Toro Rosso) 6th row Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault) Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren) 7th row Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 8th row Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas) Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) 9th row Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 10th row Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber)

41 SPORTS 41 England against Proteas, lead by 216 runs Cook punishes depleted South Africa in first Test LONDON, July 8, (AFP): Alastair Cook s unbeaten fifty strengthened England s grip on the first Test at Lord s after South Africa had to toil in the field without Vernon Philander on Saturday. England were 119 for one in their second innings at stumps on the third day, a lead of 216 runs in this opening match of a four-test series. Former captain Cook was 59 not out, after more than three hours of typically painstaking effort, with fellow left-hander Gary Ballance unbeaten on 22. Experienced paceman Philander did not bowl a single one of the 51 overs the Proteas sent down Saturday, after going for an X-ray on a hand injury suffered when he was hit by James Anderson while making 52 in South Africa s first innings 361 earlier in the day. It was a worrying absence for the Proteas given they are already without Kagiso Rabada, another member of their pace attack, for next week s second Test at Trent Bridge after he was banned for verbally abusing England all-rounder Ben Stokes on Thursday s first day at Lord s. South Africa, with Dean Elgar leading the side for the first time in the absence of Faf du Plessis on paternity leave, wasted their two reviews in the first 80 overs on Cook. Both times they challenged what seemed, even with the naked eye, sound not out decisions by umpires Paul Reiffel and S Ravi in response to lbw appeals. But Cook was still on his tea score of 31 when partly unsighted wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock missed a stumping chance off left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj. Keaton Jennings, born in South Africa but England qualified through his mother and residence, helped Cook put on 80 for the first wicket. But he fell for 33 when, trying to England s Liam Dawson bowls during the third day of the first Test match between England and South Africa at Lord s Cricket Ground in central London on July 8. (AFP) Scoreboard ENGLAND 1st Innings 458 (J Root 190, M Ali 87, S Broad 57 no, B Stokes 56; M Morkel 4-115, V Philander 3-67, K Rabada 3-123) SOUTH AFRICA 1st Innings (overnight: 214-5) D. Elgar c Ballance b Ali H. Kuhn c Cook b Broad... 1 H. Amla lbw b Ali JP Duminy lbw b Broad T. Bavuma c Stokes b Ali T. de Bruyn c Bairstow b Anderson K. Rabada c Bairstow b Dawson Q. de Kock c Stokes b Anderson V. Philander b Ali K. Maharaj lbw b Dawson... 9 M. Morkel not out... 2 Extras (b4, lb7, nb3) Total (all out, 105 overs, 454 mins) Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Kuhn), 2-82 (Amla), 3-98 (Elgar), (Duminy), (De Bruyn), (Rabada), (Bavuma), (De Kock), (Maharaj), (Philander) Bowling: Anderson ; Broad ; Wood ; Dawson ; Ali ; Stokes (3nb) ENGLAND 2nd Innings A. Cook not out K. Jennings c de Kock b Morkel G. Ballance not out Extras (lb4, nb1)... 5 Total (1 wkt, 51 overs, 190 mins) To bat: J Root, J Bairstow, B Stokes, M Ali, L Dawson, S Broad, M Wood, J Anderson Bowling: Morkel ; Rabada (1nb); Maharaj ; Duminy ; Match position: England lead by 216 runs with nine second-innings wickets standing Toss: England Umpires: Paul Reiffel (AUS), S Ravi (IND) TV umpire: Simon Fry (AUS) Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL) cut a Morne Morkel ball that was too close to him, he was caught behind by de Kock who played in the same XI as Jennings when they were both pupils at Johannesburg s King Edward VII school. Jennings s exit brought in Ballance, under pressure in what was now his third chance at Test cricket and out for just 20 in the first innings. Cook s three on another sundrenched day at Lord s saw him to a 127-ball fifty including eight fours of which a cover-drive off Maharaj was the pick. South Africa resumed on 214 for five still 244 runs behind England s first innings 458 which featured Joe Root s 190 in his first Test as England captain as well as fifties from Moeen Ali (87), Stuart Broad (57 not out) and Stokes (56). Temba Bavuma was 48 not out and nightwatchman Rabada unbeaten on nine. Both Rabada (27) and Bavuma (59) fell to spinners Liam Dawson and Ali respectively. But after Root took the new ball, de Kock twice struck fast-medium bowler Broad for three successive fours the best a whipped drive through mid-on from a ball pitching outside off stump. It was a typically dashing display by the left-hander, who completed the second-fastest Test fifty at Lord s in a mere 36 balls, including 10 boundaries. But his next ball proved his last, de Kock slicing James Anderson to square cover where Stokes took an excellent low catch. Schippers hopes to provide stiff opposition Britain s Farah seeks to end trying week on a high note LONDON, July 8, (AFP): British athletics legend Mo Farah will be looking for a morale-boosting performance in Sunday s Diamond League meet at the same London Stadium where he will bring down the curtain on his stellar track career in August. The 34-year-old quadruple Olympic gold medallist who will focus on the marathon after the world championships which run from August 4th to 13th goes into the 3000 metres after a week in which documents leaked by Russian hackers Fancy Bears claim a sample he gave in 2015 had to be re-examined before being cleared in Farah who CRICKET is also a quadruple world champion at 5000 and metres hit back by saying he will never fail a test but the claims will cast a shadow over his appearance at the stadium where he lit up the London Olympic Games in 2012 with his triumphs in both the 5000 and 10000m. ATHLETICS Farah Jamaica s Livermore could face 4-yr ban KINGSTON, Jamaica, July 8, (RTRS): Jamaica s Commonwealth Games 200-metres bronze medallist Jason Livermore tested positive for a banned substance in December, the chairman of the country s Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel said on Friday. Kent Gammon, who heads the independent three-member panel, told Reuters that the 29-year-old Livermore had returned the positive result in an out-of-competition test on Dec 16. Livermore, who could face a four-year ban, declined to comment on Gammon s statement when contacted by Reuters. Gammon would not name the alleged banned substance but said Livermore had violated Article 2.1 of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission s (JADCO s) rules, which refer to the Presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers in an athlete s sample. Livermore, who also won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the 4x100m with Usain Bolt, Kemar Bailey-Cole and Nickel Ashmeade, had a preliminary hearing on Friday in front of the disciplinary panel at the Jamaica Conference Centre. Certainly with more than 10 Olympic champions down to compete there is an air of a championships about it although aside from the men s 110 metres hurdles which features among others world record holder and 2012 Olympic champion Aries Merritt it is the women s events that are the more eyecatching. Jamaica may be about to bid farewell to superstar Usain Bolt but in 2016 Olympic 100m and 200m gold medallist champion Elaine Thompson they look to have someone who will dominate the women s event as he has done the men s. However, m world champion Dafne Schippers who had to settle for silver in the 200m behind the Jamaican last year in Rio is hoping she can provide stiff opposition. The 25-year-old Dutch athlete is keen to throw down the gauntlet over the shorter sprint distance and Sunday will give the 100m 2015 world silver medallist a chance to strike a psychological blow when she clashes with Thompson. Kendra Harrison will hope too to bring the crowd to their feet like she did last year when she set aside the disappointment of failing to make the American Olympic team by timing 12.20sec to break the 100m hurdles world record that had stood for nearly three decades. This year she comes into the meeting having exorcised the demons of the American championships after winning the title and she believes she can go on and improve her record. This year I definitely think I can run another personal best, and that s what I plan on doing by the time the season ends, she told the Daily Telegraph. Aside from the Diamond League events there will be an emotional farewell for Paralympian legend David Weir who won three golds in the stadium in Intermediate winners Level D participants pose for a group photo during the FBC ProSports 84th Eid Cup (Left & right): Players in action FBC ProSports YONEX 84th Eid Cup 2017 enters 2nd sizzling week By Michelle Fe Santiago Arab Times Staff The Filipino Badminton Committee in Kuwait (FBC) 84th ProSports YONEX Eid Cup 2017 entered its second week as games went off to a running start with several thrilling matches. The elimination games continued to heat up on Friday at the Kuwait Disabled Sports Club in Hawally with veteran and amateur badminton players participating in the event. Players smashed and swooshed their rackets as they battled it out to reach the finals. Prizes at stake are cash prize, Younex badminton racquets and trophies courtesy of ProSports, the official dealer of world class brands in cricket, badminton and darts like YONEX, Unicorn, PowerGlide, Molten, Gunn & Moore, SS, Ihsan, MB Malik, Omtex and many more. Meanwhile, the FBC simultaneously held on Friday the Winner- Take-All tournament. Here s the list of winner in the WTA tournament: Intermediate Open Mix Doubles Champion Vysakh Joshy & Vikash Singh Runner-Up Melvin Bancud & Marvin De Luna Novice 3 Open Mix Doubles Champion Marc Carandang & Erma Caranang Runner-up Jelsey Carandang & Samuel Castillo On the other hand, the FBC is inviting all badminton enthusiasts to join its regular tournament from 8 am to 1 pm. Meanwhile, singles and adults/kids badminton coaching/tutorial and court rental are from 2 pm to 5 pm. For inquiries please call FBC new hotline number and (Viber/WhatsApp) or visit the Kuwait Disabled Sports Club in Hawally. Ervine blitz helps Zimbabwe draw level in 4th ODI series HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka, July 8, (AFP): Batsman Craig Ervine hit a quickfire 69 to help Zimbabwe pull off a four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the rainshortened fourth one-day international and level the five-match series at 2-2 in Hambantota on Saturday. Chasing a Duckworth-Lewis revised target of 219 in 31 overs, Zimbabwe rode on Ervine s 55-ball unbeaten knock to win with 10 balls to spare at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium. CRICKET Earlier, openers Niroshan Dickwella (116) and Danushka Gunathilaka (87) put together 209 runs in Sri Lanka s becoming the first pair in ODI history to score back-to-back double century partnerships. The left-handed batting duo had put on a 229-run match-winning stand in the previous ODI on Thursday at the same venue but their efforts went in vain the second time around. Solomon Mire (43) and Hamilton Masakadza (28) set up the Zimbabwe chase before teenage leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who took three wickets, got the openers trudging back to the pavilion. But Ervine and Malcolm Waller (20) made sure the chase remained on track with their 43-run sixthwicket partnership after rain interrupted play for over one-and-ahalf-hours. We knew we were ahead (of the rate) and we were always in the game and the way we batted Tourists pull off 4-wicket win over Sri Lanka Zimbabwe cricketer Craig Ervine plays a shot during the fourth one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at the Suriyawewa Mahinda Rajapakse International Cricket Stadium in the southern district of Hambantota on July 8. (AFP) was excellent, Zimbabwe skipper Graeme Cremer said in the postmatch presentation. We have seen we can chase down a score and set a score and our batting has come right, Cremer said on the prospect of his side eyeing a major series win in over eight years. Ervine, a left-handed batsman and a right-arm spinner, smashed eight fours and a six to get the man of the match award. For the hosts, Dickwella hit his second successive century with a commanding knock, while Gunathilaka was bowled 13 short of what could have been his second ODI ton. Wicketkeeper-batsman Dickwella, who scored 102 in the third ODI, played a patient 118-ball knock laced with eight boundaries before being trapped lbw. Zimbabwe off-spinner Waller got the two prized wickets in successive overs to pull things back for the visitors. Paceman Chris Mpofu also got two wickets to rattle the Sri Lankan middle-order as the hosts slipped from to The turning point was when we pulled it back in the last ten overs. Sri Lanka looked like getting , so the way the bowlers pulled it back was excellent, said Cremer. Meanwhile Cremer was docked 20 per cent of his match fee for his team s slow over rate while the rest of the side was slapped with a 10 percent penalty. Zimbabwe were found to be one over short of their target after time allowances were taken into consideration by the International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Chris Broad. Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews, who lifted his side s Scoreboard SRI LANKA N. Dickwella lbw b Waller D. Gunathilaka b Waller...87 A. Mathews c Masakadza b Chatara...42 U. Tharanga b Raza...22 A. Gunaratne c Williams b Mpofu...1 K. Mendis c Waller b Mpofu...0 W. Hasaranga not out...19 Extras (b1, lb1, w11)...13 Total (6 wickets, 50 overs) Did not bat: L. Malinga, A. Fernando, D. Chameera, L. Sandakan Fall of wickets: (Gunathilaka), (Dickwella), (Tharanga), (Gunaratne), (Mendis), (Mathews) Bowling: Mpofu , Chatara , Raza , Williams , Mire , Cremer , Waller ZIMBABWE (Duckworth-Lewis revised target: 219 in 31 overs) H. Masakadza b Hasaranga...28 S. Mire c mathews b Hasaranga...43 T. Musakanda c Dickwella b Chameera...30 C. Ervine not out...69 S. Williams st Dickwella b Gunaratne...6 S. Raza c & b Hasaranga...10 M. Waller c Gunathilaka b Sandakan...20 P. Moor not out...0 Extras (b4, lb1, w8)...13 Total (6 wickets, 29.2 overs) Did not bat: G. Cremer, C. Mpofu, T. Chatara Fall of wickets: 1-67 (Masakadza), 2-82 (Mire), (Musakanda), (Williams), (Raza), (Waller) Bowling: Malinga , Fernando , Chameera , Gunaratne , Hasaranga , Sandakan , Gunathilaka Toss: Sri Lanka Result: Zimbabwe won by 4 wickets via Duckworth-Lewis method Series: The five-match series is level at 2-2. Umpires: Nigel Llong (ENG), Ranmore Martinesz (SRI) TV umpire: Ian Gould (ENG) Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG) total with his 40-ball 42, said that even though he felt 300 was enough, the batsmen s shot selection was not up to the mark. The fifth and deciding ODI is scheduled on Monday at the same venue. The two sides will also play a one-off Test starting July 14.

42 SPORTS 42 Favourites keep powder ahead of gruelling mountain stage Calmejane avoids catastrophe to win maiden Tour stage Abdullah Al-Khalidi displays his medal and national fl ag as an offi cial looks on. Al-Khalidi grabs 2 medals Abdullah Al-Khalidi from Kuwait s fencing team won two bronze medals in the Under-17 IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Championship which is being held in Warsaw, Poland. In a press statement, Secretary General of the Kuwait Disabled Sport Club Abdullah Al-Quraini affirmed the achievements of Al-Khalidi in fencing categories of Epee and Foil in the championship, presenting a distinguished performance especially in the advanced rounds of the championship. He said Al-Khalidi s win will represent a strong motivation for him to realize more accomplishments in the sport, especially in consideration of his young age, adding that he is one among the promising fencers with prospects of achieving more victories and success. A total of 12 Kuwaiti national athletes are expected to participate in the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, which will be held in London, England from July According to the Chairperson of Kuwait Disabled Sport Club Shafi Al-Hajri, the Kuwaiti delegation to the championship headed by the club s secretary Mansour Al-Sarheed will soon leave their training camp in Turkey where they have been preparing for the event since June 23. He affirmed that the Kuwaiti athletes participating in the championship are well prepared, and will participate in wheelchair racing among other sports. STATION DES ROUSSES, France, July 8, (AFP): Frenchman Lilian Calmejane came close to catastrophe before winning his maiden Tour de France stage on Saturday. The 24-year-old suffered cramps over the last four kilometres of the 187.5km eighth stage from Dole to Station des Rouses, but kept his nerve to finish 37 seconds clear of Dutchman Robert Gesink. It s huge, I can barely believe it, it s pretty much everything I was dreaming of at the start, said Calmejane, who is riding his first Tour and only second Grand Tour having also won a stage at last year s Vuelta a Espana. Last year at the Vuelta I won in a similar manner; it s my first Tour, the eighth stage: a wonderful victory. Four kilometres from the end and at the finish I had cramps every time I straightened my leg and I wasn t far away from a catastrophe. But today was my day. The Direct Energie rider also claimed the polkadot king of the mountains jersey for his efforts on the hilly stage, taking it off Italy s Fabio Aru, winner of Wednesday s fifth stage. After a breakneck start to the day that saw numerous attacks fail to stay away as a fluid race situation reigned, eventually a group of 46 riders were Results/Standings STATION DES ROUSSES, France, July 8, (AP): Results on Saturday in the Tour de France: Eighth Stage A kms (116.5-mile) ride from Dole to the Jura Range, with three categorized climbs, including a Category 1 near the finish 1. Lilian Calmejane, France, Direct Energie, 4:30: Robert Gesink, Netherlands, LottoNL-Jumbo, :37 behind. 3. Guillaume Martin, France, Wanty-Groupe Gobert, : Nicolas Roche, Ireland, BMC Racing, same time. 5. Roman Kreuziger, Czech Republic, Orica-Scott, same time. 6. Fabio Aru, Italy, Astana, same time. 7. Michael Valgren Andersen, Denmark, Astana, same time. 8. Rafal Majka, Poland, Bora- Hansgrohe, same time. 9. Nate Brown, United States, Cannondale Drapac, same time. 10. Romain Hardy, France, Fortuneo-Oscaro, same time. 11. Carlos Betancur, Colombia, Movistar, same time. 12. Louis Meintjes, South Africa, UAE Team Emirates, same time. 13. Daniel Martin, Ireland, Quick-Step Floors, same time. 14. Emanuel Buchmann, Germany, Bora-Hansgrohe, same time. 15. Mikel Landa, Spain, Sky, same time. 16. Damiano Caruso, Italy, BMC Racing, same time. 17. Richie Porte, Australia, BMC Racing, same time. 18. Chris Froome, Britain, Sky, same time. 19. George Bennett, New Zealand, LottoNL-Jumbo, same time. 20. Nairo Quintana, Colombia, Movistar, same time. able to get clear of the peloton before that then splintered. A group of nine riders made it to the bottom of the first category climb 24km from the finish but by the summit, 12km from the line, Calmejane was alone with only Gesink able to give chase. Calmejane had a 30-second lead by then and he increased it on the plateau to the finish despite easing up at one point to stretch his legs due to cramp, to win by 37sec. CYCLING The Team Sky-led peloton mopped up the remnants of the breakaway as Guillaume Martin took third at 50sec. But all the top challengers were in that group, meaning there was no change in the standings as Froome maintained his 12sec lead over compatriot and Sky team-mate Geraint Thomas, and 14sec to Aru in third. Froome had his own scare when he briefly went off piste a little over 50km from the finish but he stayed upright and quickly rejoined the road. There was a little moment, there was a righthand bend, myself and my team-mate Geraint Thomas didn t take the right trajectory, but sometimes it s like that, said a smiling Also: 27. R:omain Bardet, France, AG2R La Mondiale, same time. 30. Alberto Contador, Spain, Trek-Segafredo, same time. 33. Geraint Thomas, Britain, Sky, same time. Overall Standings (After eight stages) 1. Chris Froome, Britain, Sky, 33:19: Geraint Thomas, Britain, Sky, : Fabio Aru, Italy, Astana, : Daniel Martin, Ireland, Quick-Step Floors, : Richie Porte, Australia, BMC Racing, : Simon Yates, Britain, Orica- Scott, : Romain Bardet, France, AG2R La Mondiale, : Alberto Contador, Spain, Trek-Segafredo, : Nairo Quintana, Colombia, Movistar, : Rafal Majka, Poland, Bora- Hansgrohe, 1: Rigoberto Uran, Colombia, Cannondale Drapac, same time. 12. Pierre-Roger Latour, France, AG2R La Mondiale, 1: Louis Meintjes, South Africa, UAE Team Emirates, 1: Emanuel Buchmann, Germany, Bora-Hansgrohe, 1: Jakob Fuglsang, Denmark, Astana, 1: Mikel Landa, Spain, Sky, 1: Andrew Talansky, United States, Cannondale Drapac, 1: Serge Pauwels, Belgium, Dimension Data, 2: Nicolas Roche, Ireland, BMC Racing, 2: Guillaume Martin, France, Wanty-Groupe Gobert, 2:23. France s Lilian Calmejane celebrates as he crosses the fi nish line at the end of the km eighth stage of the 104th edition of the Tour de France cycling race on July 8, between Dole and Station des Rousses. (AFP) Froome on French television. Thomas actually crashed into a bale of hay his third fall this week following spills on Tuesday and last Sunday. It was a choice between going into the trees or the hay bales, so I chose the hay, said Thomas. CAF Cup drama Club Africain, FUS advance JOHANNESBURG, July 8, (AFP): Club Africain of Tunisia and FUS Rabat of Morocco booked CAF Confederation Cup last-eight slots Saturday after a dramatic Group A climax. Africain triumphed 4-0 at home to Kampala Capital City Authority of Uganda, the leaders going into the final matchday in the second-tier African club competition. Manoubi Haddad scored twice and Saber Khalifa and Moataz Zemzemi once as the Tunis outfit topped the final standings with 12 points from four victories. While Africain ran riot, Mohamed Fouzair calmly converted a penalty two minutes from time to give FUS a 2-1 home win over Rivers United of Nigeria. FUS finished level on nine points with Kampala, bringing the head-tohead tule into play, and the Moroccans came second having won 3-0 at home and lost 3-1 away to the Ugandans. Africain and FUS must wait until Saturday night to discover who they will meet in the quarter-finals, but both opponents are sure to be fellow north African clubs. Mouloudia Alger of Algeria take a one-point lead into a Group B topof-the-table clash at record threetime Confederation Cup winners CS Sfaxien of Tunisia. Africain meet the Group B runners-up and 2010 Confederation Cup title-holders FUS the winners in two-leg ties scheduled for September. Kampala had hopes of becoming I front flipped but it was a better option than the woods! Froome had claimed on Friday that Saturday s stage wouldn t see much in the way of a battle amongst the top contenders and it proved the case as the favourites opted to keep the powder dry ahead of Sunday s gruelling mountain stage that includes three hors category climbs. I think after today s tough stage, tomorrow (Sunday) will be very, very hard and very selective for the overall contenders, added Froome. And definitely there will be riders who gain time and others who lose time. Sunday s ninth stage is 181.5km long from Nantua with seven categorised climbs, including the three steepest of this year s race, and a technical descent to the finish in Chambery. Most of all, Froome is wary of the Mont du Chat climb which peaks 25km from the finish, and which he and other contenders sampled during last month s Criterium du Dauphine. That climb s savage, especially coming quite late in the race it s the fourth big climb of the day. It s 10 kms at more than 10 percent gradient. It s going to blow the race apart. the first Ugandan club to reach the knockout stage of a CAF competition dashed by a first-half Africain goal rush. Captain Khalifa sprang an offside trap to score on 11 minutes, Haddad doubled the lead with a fierce shot and teenager Zemzemi got the third goal four minutes before half-time. Africain completed the rout in stoppage time when Haddad broke clear, rounded the goalkeeper and pushed the ball into the net. FUS dominated the first half in Rabat and Rivers had several narrow escapes, notably when a fierce SOCCER Youssef el Gnaoui shot rattled the crossbar. However, a minute before halftime Rivers snatched the lead when goalkeeper Aymane Majid failed to grasp a cross and Bolaji Sakin sidefooted the loose ball into the net. Constant threat El Gnaoui levelled on 52 minutes, but a draw was valueless to both teams as it would have allowed Kampala to progress. With FUS wasting chances and goalkeeper Abiodun Akande repeatedly rescuing Rivers, sometimes with unorthodox headed clearances, a stalemate became increasingly likely. Rivers captain Festus Austin then became unconsolable when he handled inside the box, giving Fouzair an opportunity to become the match-winner, which he gratefully accepted.

43 SPORTS 43 European Soccer Roundup Wolves break record for Neves Conte feels betrayed as United agree Lukaku fee LONDON, July 8, (AFP): Belgian international striker Romelu Lukaku is set to join Manchester United for a reported 75million ($97m, 85.5m euros), a record fee between British clubs, after the buying club announced Saturday they had reached agreement with Everton. The 24-year-old s signing which the BBC says includes 15m in add-ons represents a coup for United and their manager Jose Mourinho whose former club Chelsea had earmarked him as their top striking target for the close season. Going in the opposite direction could well be United and England record goalscorer Wayne Rooney, who according to press reports is willing to take a cut in his 13million a year wages to return to his first club, but with the promise of more first team football than at United last year. However, the 31-year-old s move, if it takes place, is not part of the Lukaku deal, according to reports, and United are willing to let him go on a free transfer despite having a year left on his contract. It brings Mourinho and Lukaku back together again as the Portuguese manager in his second spell as Chelsea manager had sold him to Everton in 2014 for 28million. United said in a statement it was delighted to announce a fee has been agreed with Everton for the transfer of Romelu Lukaku, subject to a medical & personal terms. A further announcement will be made in due course, added United. Lukaku, who is reported to have been offered wages of over 200,000 a week by United, should have returned to England on Thursday for pre-season training with Everton but instead was pictured training with his close friend and the most expensive player in the world, United midfielder Paul Pogba, who he is on holiday with in Los Angeles. United are due in Los Angeles this weekend for a pre-season tour. According to British media reports the decisive factor in Lukaku s head being turned towards United and not a return to the club he idolised as a schoolboy Chelsea were Pogba and their agent Mino Raiola. Raiola did extremely well out of United last year making an estimated 40m from Pogba s transfer from Juventus alone while stablemates Henrykh Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic also joined the Red Devils. Chelsea reportedly baulked at paying Raiola s fee for Lukaku s transfer although they had made a similar offer for the player. Ibrahimovic s long-term injury suffered in a Europa League match last season and the fading powers of Rooney have made the capture of a top striker imperative for Mourinho. Apparent efforts to sign Real Madrid s Alvaro Morata came to nothing leading United to switch their attention to Lukaku. Ironically Chelsea may now need to beat a path to Real s door to try and secure Morata s services. Conte is not reported to be angry with the Chelsea board but sources have told the British media he feels betrayed by Lukaku especially as he had held several discussions with him since the end of the season. Everton who have spent freely in the close season are believed to have hoped to sell Lukaku for closer to 100m which would have made him the world s most expensive player bettering the 89m that United spent on Pogba last year. Lukaku, who scored 53 Premier League goals in 110 appearances for the club since his permanent move, declined the most lucrative contract offer in Everton s history at the end of last season, declaring he wished to play at a higher level. Five record transfers British and global Global transfers 1. 89m Paul Pogba (FRA). Juventus (ITA) to Manchester United (ENG), m Gareth Bale (WAL). Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) to Real Madrid (ESP), m Cristiano Ronaldo (POR). Manchester United (ENG) to Real Madrid (ESP), m Gonzalo Higuain (ARG). Napoli (ITA) to Juventus (ITA), = 75m Luis Suarez (URU). Liverpool (ENG) to Barcelona (ESP), = 75m Romelu Lukaku (BEL). Everton (ENG) to Manchester United (ENG), Inter British club transfers 1. 75m Romelu Lukaku (BEL). Everton to Manchester United, m Fernando Torres (ESP). This fi le photo taken on April 9 shows Everton s Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku crosses the ball during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Leicester City at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England. (AFP) Liverpool to Chelsea, m John Stones (ENG). Everton to Manchester City, m Raheem Sterling (ENG). Liverpool to Manchester City, m Juan Mata (ESP). Chelsea to Manchester United, 2014 Highly-rated Portugal Under-21 international Ruben Neves became second-tier English side Wolverhampton Wanderers record signing on Saturday, joining the Chinese-owned team from Porto for a reported 15.8 million ($20.3m, 17.9m euros). The 20-year-old who in 2015 became the youngest Champions League captain of all time in a match with Israeli outfit Maccabi Tel Aviv signed a fiveyear contract and is reunited with former Porto coach Nuno Espirito Santo. Nuno, who was discharged from his duties as Porto coach in May after a trophyless season, also signed on loan another Porto player, centre-back Willy Boly. The influx of Portuguese players and coach reflects the close relationship between the club s Chinese owners Fosun and agent Jorge Mendes. Nuno is bidding to revive Wolves fortunes, who struggled to 15th last season and have not tasted Premier League football since being relegated in Ruben is a very good player who can bring new things to our squad, Nuno told the BBC. I know him well, I worked with him last year. When a player who is 18 years old is captain of a big team like Porto, in the Champions League, it says a lot, added the 43-year-old former goalkeeper. Neves, who played for his country in the recent European Under-21 championships in Poland, said he was delighted to be reunited with Nuno. I have always wanted to play in England and we have a good team, Neves told the club website. Brazilian Thiago Mendes has signed a five-year deal with French club Lille from Sao Paulo, the Ligue 1 outfit announced Saturday. The 25-year-old midfielder, who had played for Sao Paulo since 2015, recently extended his contract until In 147 games he scored 12 goals and contributed 11 assists. At Marcelo Bielsa s Lille he will join countryman Luiz Araujo, a 21-year old striker who arrived on June 14 from Sao Paulo. Since I was a little boy, playing in Europe has always been a dream for me, said Mendes. Today, I am very happy to be at Lille. I also want to grow individually and collectively, especially under Marcelo Bielsa who has a great reputation. Lille s director general Marc Ingla added: It s a new Brazilian in the squad, which will bring even more smiles to an already cheerful dressing room. Ingla also secured the signature of 25- year old French right-back Kevin Malcuit, who learned his trade at AC Monaco, on a five-year deal. Paris Saint-Germain signed Spanish left-back Yuri Berchiche from La Liga outfit Real Sociedad on Friday, making him the first recruit in their drive to win back the French title. The 27-year-old is a direct replacement for the retired Brazilian veteran Maxwell and has joined for a fee of around 15 million euros ($17.1m), said reports in the Spanish press. I ll do everything I can to make my new colours shine, promised Berchiche, who will be working under a fellow Basque in PSG coach Unai Emery. He is the first signing since PSG lost their Ligue 1 title to Monaco and lost their pride in a 6-1 Champions League last 16, second-leg defeat at Barcelona last season. Since that unexpected turn of events PSG replaced sporting director Patrick Kluivert with Spaniard Antero Henrique. PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said Berchiche s personality was tailormade for the club. Former Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo has signed a three-year deal with Toulouse, the Ligue 1 club announced. The 24-year-old French player became a free agent when he was released by the Gunners last week. Sanogo was much maligned in England as he scored just once in 20 appearances for Arsenal and failed to find the net at all in his 21 Premier League games, which included an ill-fated loan spell at Crystal Palace. He does have an FA Cup winner s medal to show for his four-year stay in England, during which he also played on loan at Charlton Athletic. AC Milan continued their summer spending spree on Friday with the signing of Italian right-back Andrea Conti from Serie A rivals Atalanta on a fiveyear deal. The Chinese-owned northern outfit described the Italian under-21 player as one of the most interesting talents in Serie A last season, when he helped Atalanta to fourth. A young talent... showing consistent performances throughout the whole campaign with 33 appearances... is looking to take the leap in his career joining a top club in AC Milan, the club added. The 23-year-old arrives on a deal estimated to be worth 25 million euros ($28.5 million). Conti becomes AC Milan s seventh recruit as the club look to rebuilt after Davies double, Canada make winning Cup start French Guiana forward Roy Contout (11) heads the ball away from Canada midfielder Samuel Piette (6) during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match in Harrison, NJ, on July 7. (AP) NEW YORK, July 8, (AFP): Teenage winger Alphonso Davies scored twice as Canada withstood a fightback from minnows French Guiana to open their CON- CACAF Gold Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory in Group A on Friday. Vancouver Whitecaps forward Davies, 16, who was born in a refugee camp in Ghana in 2000 as his family fled fighting in Liberia, finished clinically in the 60th and 85th minutes to give Canada all three points at the Red Bull Arena. Davies second goal snuffed out French Guiana s hopes of salvaging a draw after they scored twice in the SOCCER second half through Roy Contout and Sloan Privat after Canada had earlier cruised into a 3-0 lead. It was a dazzling debut from Davies, who only became a Canadian citizen in June and who has reportedly been scouted by English giants Manchester United and Liverpool. French Guiana s preparations for the game had been overshadowed by controversy concerning forward Florent Malouda. The former France and Chelsea star had hoped to play for the territory of his birth but was deemed ineligible by CONCACAF chiefs on Thursday. French Guiana manager Jair Karam had threatened to play Malouda regardless and risk forfeiting the game but eventually opted not to start the veteran. Canada, the only other team to win the Gold Cup outside of Mexico and the United States, had earlier dominated the exchanges at with New York Cosmos defender Dejan Jakovic bundling home from close range in the 28th minute to make it 1-0. Scotland-born Burnley midfielder Scott Arfield doubled Canada s lead on the stroke of half-time, surging forward and shooting low to beat the diving Leon. Davies added a third midway through the second half, latching onto a deft pass from Lucas Cavallini to burst clear and slip his finish beneath Donovan Leon. However Canada were given a scare when Contout s header in the 69th minute made it 3-1. Guingamp striker Privat was then on hand to stab home a close-range finish moments to make it 3-2 before Davies late strike settle Canada s nerves. In Friday s other opening Group A game, 2014 World Cup quarterfinalists Costa Rica downed Honduras to open their campaign with a win. San Jose Earthquakes striker Marco Urena scored the game s only goal, tucking away Rodney Wallace s cross in the 39th minute. Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio has been banned for six matches for insulting officials during the recent Mexico coach banned, out of Gold Cup Costa Rica forward Marco Urena (center), kicks the ball past Honduras defender Ever Alvarado (5) during the fi rst half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match in Harrison, NJ, on July 7. (AP) Ronaldinho, Giggs in Pak to play exhibition matches ISLAMABAD, July 8, (AP): Ronaldinho and Ryan Giggs were among soccer stars to arrive in Pakistan on Saturday to play exhibition matches which organizers hope will boost the sport in the country. Dutchman George Boateng, former France players Robert Pires and Nicolas Anelka, former England goalkeeper David James and Portugal s Luis Boa Morte flew in via private jet to the capital Islamabad. Pakistan Ronaldinho Confederations Cup which means the nation s Gold Cup title defense will be disrupted. Mr Osorio used insulting words towards the match officials while displaying an aggressive attitude towards them, FIFA said of heated words used after Mexico s thirdplace play-off against Portugal on July 2. After taking into account all circumstances of the case... Mr Osorio is to be suspended for six official Army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa hosted a reception, saying sports promote peace, before players flew out to Karachi for the first seven-a-side exhibition match later Saturday amid heavy security. The tour has been organized by a private company, World Group, aiming to promote football in Pakistan, which is No. 200 out of 211 in FIFA rankings. Lahore will host the second exhibition match on Sunday. Pakistan has not hosted a major foreign team in any sports since an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team s bus in Lahore in For us it s a big moment, Pakistan football captain Kaleemullah said. We didn t ever dream that such big stars will SOCCER come to Pakistan. I grew up watching Ronaldinho on television and I still can t believe it, he s in Pakistan. The 37-year-old Ronaldinho said in a statement he was excited at the prospect of playing in Pakistan. Cricket is the major sport in Pakistan, but English Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga soccer have attracted a growing following among younger fans. Tickets were priced from 2,000 to 30,000 rupees ($280) with 1,000 free tickets for young people in Karachi. matches and has also been sanctioned with a warning and a fine of 5,000 Swiss francs ($5,040), FIFA added. Mexico had been on course for victory but Portugal scored an extratime penalty after recovering from a goal down to win 2-1 in Moscow. The biennial CONCACAF Gold Cup kicks off later Friday in the United States and features North America, Central America and Caribbean nations. Best of the Rest Cerezo beat Kashiwa: Kenyu Sugimoto and Souza scored second-half goals on Saturday as Cerezo Osaka beat Kashiwa Reysol 2-1 to move top of the J- League. Kosuke Taketomi gave Kashiwa the lead in the 41st minute but Sugimoto equalized midway through the second half and Souza sealed the win with the Brazilian s third goal of the season in the 70th minute. Cerezo won its third straight and improved to 38 points, one ahead of Kashima Antlers which was held to a 2-2 draw by FC Tokyo. Yu Kobayashi scored the winner in the 62nd as Kawasaki Frontale moved into third place on 35 points after a 3-2 win over Sagan Tosu. In other matches, Shimizu S- Pulse beat Gamba Osaka 2-0 and Vissel Kobe beat Vegalta Sendai 3-0. (AP) Messi gets extra fine: Barcelona star Lionel Messi and his father can avoid prison for tax fraud by paying an extra fine, a Spanish court said Friday. Instead of Messi serving his 21-month sentence, the Argentina forward will be fined an extra 252,000 ($287,000). The Barcelona-based court also ruled that Messi s father, Jorge Horacio Messi, will be fined an extra 180,000 ($205,000) instead of serving his 15-month sentence. The ruling was widely expected in Spain, where prison sentences under 24 months for first-time offenders can be waived by a judge. Last year, a court found Messi and his father each guilty of three counts of defrauding tax authorities of 4.1 million euros ($4.6 million) from The unpaid taxes were from money made through endorsement deals, not Messi s salary paid by Barcelona. In that ruling Messi was also fined 2 million euros and his father 1.5 million euros. Both were originally sentenced to 21 months, but his father s sentence was later reduced to 15 months. (AP) San Jose player out of coma: San Jose Earthquakes player Matheus Silva has emerged from a coma after nearly drowning during an accident at Lake Tahoe in California, the club confirmed on Friday. The 20-year-old Brazilian cheated death after arriving at the picturesque beauty spot early on Tuesday s July 4 holiday with team-mates from San Jose affiliate Reno 1869 FC. Silva dived into the water at around 6:00 am (13:00 GMT) and swam to an offshore buoy before getting into difficulties and calling for help. (AFP)

44 PRIME TIME sunday (all times are kuwait local) 07:30 extreme sailing series-maderia... bein sports 9hd 08:00 brewers vs yankees/baseball... bein sports 12hd 08:30 querrey vs tsonga/tennis... bein sports 8hd 09:00 zverev vs federer/tennis... bein sports 10hd 10:00 kontaveit vs wozniacki/tennis... bein sports 9hd 10:30 kerber vs rogers/tennis... bein sports 8hd 12:00 thiem vs donaldson/tennis... bein sports 9hd 12:40 tour de france/cycling... bein sports 13hd 44 Sports Latest sports scores at Poland s Agnieszka Radwanska returns against Switzerland s Timea Bacsinszky during their women s singles third round match on the sixth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 8. (AFP) Germany s Angelique Kerber returns against US player Shelby Rogers during their women s singles third round match on the sixth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 8. (AFP) Nole marches on, Kerber scrapes through Tsonga out LONDON, July 8, (AFP): Novak Djokovic fended off a brief challenge from Ernests Gulbis to reach the Wimbledon last 16 on Saturday as women s top seed Angelique Kerber scraped into the business end of the championships. Djokovic was a break down in the first set and was taken to a tie break in the third but beat Gulbis 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (7/2) on Centre Court. I m delighted with the performance. I thought I raised the level of tennis, said three-time champion Djokovic after making the second week without dropping a set. He next faces Adrian Mannarino, who overturned French compatriot and 15th seed Gael Monfils in a five-setter. Elsewhere in Saturday s third round ties, Kerber looked mightily relieved after saving her world number one status in a tense 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 win over US world number 70 Shelby Rogers. The German star was a break down in the second set but did just enough to claw her way into Monday s fourth round where she will face Garbine Muguruza. Agnieszka Radwanska also had to come from behind in her third round tie, while in the men s draw, last year s beaten finalist Milos Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov made it through -- as did Sam Querrey, who took one game to beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Their match was suspended Friday at 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 1-6, 6-5 due to bad light, with the French 12th seed not wanting to field Querrey s returns of serve in the gloom. They came back Saturday but it was all over in minutes as the US 24th seed broke serve. My opponent was good today. He did three, four good shots, and yeah, that s it, said Tsonga. Querrey said: It s really the most anti-climactic way to finish a match. Canada s Milos Raonic reacts against Spain s Albert Ramos- Vinolas during their men s singles third round match on the sixth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 8. (AFP) TENNIS He faces South Africa s Kevin Anderson for a quarter-final spot. Canadian sixth seed Raonic downed Spain s 25th seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 7-5 to book a fouth round spot against Alexander Zverev. The German 10th seed beat Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. Bulgarian 13th seed Dimitrov had an easy ride when Israeli Sela was forced to pull out at 6-1, 6-1 down after struggling with a right thigh injury that required treatment during the match. The 2008 Wimbledon junior champion will next face meet either Federer or Mischa Zverev. Tomas Berdych, the 2010 beaten finalist, beat David Ferrer in straight sets. The Czech 11th seed will play either Austrian eighth seed Dominic Thiem or Jared Donaldson of the United States on Monday. Spain s world number 15 Muguruza, the 2015 runner-up, comfortably beat Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 6-2. The off-sorts Romanian had witnessed the horrific knee injury suffered Thursday by her last opponent, Bethanie Mattek-Sands. The American wept as she relived the sickening injury which has left her facing surgery to repair a dislocated knee. I heard a pop in my leg and everything went slow after that, she said Saturday from her hospital room in Wimbledon. I have had lots of injuries in my career but this is definitely the worst. I will be out for a while but I will get through this. Wozniacki dug herself out of trouble when pushed to the brink by Anett Kontaveit, but the Danish fifth seed eventually beat the world number 38 from Estonia 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2. She next plays 24th seed Coco Vandeweghe, considered by some as a dark horse for the title, who beat US compatriot Alison Riske 6-2, 6-4. The deft Radwanska, the 2012 beaten finalist, came back from a set down to beat Swiss 19th seed Timea Bacsinszky 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Centre Court. I expected a lot of tricky shots from her and a lot of entertaining rallies, said the Polish ninth seed. Radwanska next faces Russian eighth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2004 US and 2009 French Open champion, who cruised through with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Slovenian qualifier Polona Hercog. Croatia s Petra Martic, ranked 135, is the last qualifier still going at Wimbledon after beating Kazakh wild card Zarina Diyas 7-6 (8/6), 6-1. Martic next faces Slovakia s Magdalena Rybarikova, who eased into the last 16 of a major for the first time with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine. Lukaku busted in Los Angeles BEVERLY HILLS, California, July 8, (Agencies): British soccer star Romelu Lukaku is in trouble for raucous partying in Beverly Hills. Police said Saturday that Lukaku was arrested after officers warned him five times to turn down party music. The 24-year-old plays for Everton in the Premier League, but Manchester United is reportedly trying to sign him to a $97 million ( 75 million) deal. It s not clear why Lukaku was in the Los Angeles area. Manchester United plays the LA Galaxy in a friendly match next weekend. Sgt Jay Kim says Lukaku was not handcuffed or booked July 2 for the misdemeanor of excessive noise. The striker had 25 goals last season and was the second-highest scorer in the Premier League. Lukaku is scheduled to appear in Los Angeles Superior Court on Oct 2. Meanwhile, Manchester United s former England captain Wayne Rooney was pictured at Everton s training ground on Saturday ahead of a proposed transfer back to the boyhood favourites he first joined aged nine. THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT Published by: Arab Times Publishing House Editor-in-Chief AHMED AL JARALLAH Editorial Office: Airport Road, Shuwaikh P.O. Box 2270, Safat, Kuwait Telephone: & Fax: arabtimes@arabtimesonline.com Advertising: Tel: Ext: 175 Fax: advt@arabtimesonline.com Annual Subscriptions: Individuals KD 45/- Companies and Official Departments KD 75 Airmail charges extra for overseas Tel: Fax:

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