Faithful Gather for Start of Annual Hajj Pilgrimage
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SUBSCRIPTION THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2017 THULHIJJA 9, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net His Highness Harvey hits Qatar crisis KFA amends the Amir extends Louisiana as shakes East laws to get Eid Al-Adha Texas rescuers Africa, home to FIFA ban greetings3 race against6 clock Gulf militaries7 lifted15 Faithful gather for start Min 28º Max 47º of annual hajj pilgrimage High Tide 05:29 & 20:16 Low Tide Environmentally-conscious worshippers eye green inspiration 13:38 32 PAGES NO: 17320 150 FILS MAKKAH: More than two million Muslims from around the world began the hajj pilgrimage at Islam’s holiest sites yes- UN chief calls terday, a religious duty and an epic multi-stage journey. On the esplanade of Makkah’s Grand Mosque, the excitement for lifting of was palpable as crowds from all four corners of the world gathered for a pilgrimage that all able Muslims are required to perform at least once in their lives. Tidjani Gaza blockade Traore, a public service consultant from Benin, said he was on his 22nd pilgrimage at the age of 53. “Every time, there GAZA: UN chief Antonio are new emotions,” he said. “There are new innovations for Guterres called for the blockade organizing and hosting the pilgrims. Now, for example, the of Gaza to be lifted yesterday as tents are air-conditioned.” he visited the Palestinian Wearing the simple garb of the pilgrim, the faithful enclave enduring “one of the waited at dawn with their suitcases for buses to take them most dramatic humanitarian crises” he had seen. The secre- to Mina five kilometers to the east. There, hundreds of tary general’s comments came thousands will gather before setting off today at dawn to as he wrapped up his first visit climb Mount Arafat, the pinnacle of the hajj. First, however, to Israel and the Palestinian ter- they must perform a ritual walk known as the tawaf seven times around the Kaaba, a black masonry cube wrapped in Antonio Guterres ritories since taking office. Repeatedly throughout the visit a heavy silk cloth embroidered in gold with Quranic verses he had called for a two-state solution to the Israeli- at the center of Makkah’s Grand Mosque. The shrine is the Palestinian conflict, long the focus of international point towards which Muslims around the world pray. diplomacy but currently under threat. “I still have to finish the tawaf!” said a breathless Nour, Yesterday in Gaza, Guterres said he had been struck 30, from Saudi Arabia as she rushed past without stopping. by humanitarian conditions in the overcrowded and Pilgrims walk and pray yesterday on Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal Al-Rahma (Mount of Mercy), southeast of Sitting on a folding chair in the middle of the esplanade, impoverished enclave, where an electricity crisis has the Saudi holy city of Makkah, on the eve of Arafat Day, which is the climax of the hajj pilgrimage. — AFP Continued on Page 11 worsened and clean water is lacking. “I am deeply moved to be in Gaza today, unfortunately to witness PAGE PAGE one of the most dramatic humanitarian crises that I’ve Qatar and Russia to seen in many years working as a humanitarian in the In smartphone age, United Nations,” Guterres said. boost economic ties hajj is for sharing Continued on Page 11 17 LOCAL THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2017 News In brief Kuwaiti Ambassador to Tanzania Jassem Al-Najem KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah met His holds talks with Second Vice President of Zanzibar Seif receives Speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanem.— KUNA photos Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah yesterday. Ali Iddi. — KUNA Zanzibar, Kuwait seek Crown Prince receives senior officials stronger bilateral ties KUWAIT: Zanzibar is keen on strengthening ties with Kuwait especially within trade and commerce, Second KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and First Minister of Interior Sheikh Khaled Al- Al-Jalawi and KGAC Assistant Vice President of Zanzibar Seif Ali Iddi said yesterday. This Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Jarrah Al-Sabah. Separately, His Highness Undersecretary for Financial and Taxes remark came during a meeting between Iddi and Kuwaiti Sabah yesterday received Speaker of the Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al- the Crown Prince hosted Deputy Prime Affairs Aseel Al-Munaifi, as well as KGAC Ambassador to Tanzania Jassem Al-Najem. In a statement National Assembly Marzouq Ali Al- Hamad Al-Sabah. He also received Deputy Minister and Finance Minister Anas Al- Assistant Undersecretary for State’s by the Kuwaiti embassy, Iddi thanked Kuwait for its efforts Ghanem at Bayan Palace. His Highness Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Saleh who introduced to His Highness the Property Affairs and Legal Affairs Ghazi Al- to support his country’s plans for development. Zanzibar, the Crown Prince also received His Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad General Manager of Kuwait General Enezi on the occasion of their new a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania, is about to wit- Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Sabah and Deputy Prime Minister and Administration of Customs (KGAC) Jamal appointment. — KUNA ness a new era of its history after recent oil and gas dis- coveries, which will increase chances of economic coop- eration with Kuwait, he added. Iddi said he is looking for- ward to the upcoming visit by a delegation from Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) which will include the signing of a loan agreement to expand and re-equip the main hospital in Zanzibar. On his part, Ambassador Al-Najem affirmed his country’s keenness on developing ties Zanzibar on all possible domains. The relation between Kuwait and Zanzibar dates back to the early 20th century. Kuwait oil price down 40 cents to $48.28 pb KUWAIT: The price of the Kuwaiti oil dropped by 40 cents to settle at $48.28 per barrel (pb) Tuesday com- pared with $48.68 pb last Monday, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said yesterday. At the global level, oil prices were down more than 1.5 percent due to a decline in US crude oil as Hurricane Harvey is wreaking His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah held talks with havoc in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm affected 16 per- His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah receives First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad cent of US oil operations and production. The price of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sab. Al-Sabah yesterday. the West Texas Intermediate’s future contracts for September delivery went down by $62 to reach $45.95 per barrel, the same case for the Brent crude’s future contracts for October delivery, which went down 20 cents to reach $51.69 pb. ISESCO blasts magazine’s anti-Morocco front page RABAT: The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) condemned French magazine Jeune Afrique for the cover of its latest edition which depicts the Moroccan flag with the phrase “terrorism born in Morocco”. “This an unprofessional act,” the ISESCO Director General Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijri said in strongly- worded statement. ISESCO added that labeling a whole nation, which has long history of civilization and a flour- ishing present and adopts a wise internationally-recog- nized policy approach in the fight against terrorism and extremism, is unacceptable. The magazine also published His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah poses for a the photos of 10 young European men of Moroccan ori- group photo with General Manager of (KGAC) Jamal Al-Jalawi, (KGAC) Assistant gins belonging to the cell which carried out the recent His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah receives Undersecretary for Financial and Taxes Affairs Aseel Al-Munaifi, (KGAC) Assistant terror attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils in Spain. “The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah. Undersecretary for state’s property affairs. perpetrators of these terrorist acts in European countries were born and raised in these countries and have nothing to do with Morocco and its culture,” Al-Tuwaijri stressed. ISESCO urged all member states as well as human rights Hajj mission keen on fulfilling the needs of pilgrims and press organizations to denounce the magazine’s actions as a vilification of a well-respected country and a MAKKAH: The Hajj mission is keen on is following up on the latest develop- form their first day Hajj rituals, ahead of Central Hajj Committee, Prince Khaled violation of the ethics of journalism. offering topnotch services to Kuwait’s ments during the season, affirming that grouping on Mount Arafat today. Al-Faisal and other ranking officials over- Hajj pilgrims, aiming at fulfilling their the mission will work hard to answer According to the official Saudi Press saw the pilgrims flow and the procedures needs during this great Islamic rite, an the needs of the state’s pilgrims. Head Agency, traffic squads backed by security taken for their safety. The pilgrims would Society of Engineers to official from the Kuwaiti Ministry of of the Kuwaiti mission Khalifa Al- personnel organized flow of the faithful stay in Mina until today’s sunrise, where take part in first forum Awqaf and Islamic Affairs said yester- Othaina and other officials accompa- from Holy Makkah to Mina.