SUBSCRIPTION WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017 JAMADA ALTHANI 17, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Amir receives France’s Fillon Saudi film fest Schmeichel phone call charged head says thwarts Sevilla from French over ‘fake cinema needs as Leicester president2 jobs’10 scandal state37 funding rekindle19 fairytale Prison suicide under probe, Min 15º 3 senior officers suspended Max 26º High Tide 01:27 & 13:57 Low Tide Nod to oil price hike in KPC budget, NATO deal 08:01 & 20:18 40 PAGES NO: 17168 150 FILS Pirates hijack By B Izzak School’s Amir mural sets record KUWAIT: Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al- freighter off Sabah yesteday told the National Assembly that the Somalia coast public prosecution has started an investigation into the suspected suicide of the prisoner who was accused of MOGADISHU: Armed attackers have assaulting jailed opposition figure and former MP boarded an oil tanker and forced its Sri Musallam Al-Barrak last month. The minister said three Lankan crew to change course towards senior officers have been suspended for three months the northeastern Somali coast, in what until the investigation into the issue is completed. Last could be the first pirate attack since month, Barrak, who is serving his last days of a two-year 2012. After sending a distress signal on jail term, was attacked by an inmate serving a jail term Monday afternoon, the assailants for abusing drugs. boarded the Aris 13, taking its eight Sri Barrak escaped unhurt but opposition MPs demand- Lankan crewmembers hostage and ed that the incident be investigated, especially after forcing the vessel to divert course. reports that the attacker was moved to Barrak’s ward at “What we know for sure is that a small the Central Jail just a few days ago and his transfer was tanker has been attacked and has not in line with regulations. The interior ministry diverted course,” John Steed, a former announced late Monday that the assailant, a non- British army officer who heads the Horn Kuwaiti, was found hanging in his ward and that an of Africa section of the Oceans Beyond investigation was immediately launched. A number of Piracy NGO, said yesterday. opposition MPs said that there is a lot of suspicion sur- “Whether this is a pirate attack needs rounding the whole case and demanded that Barrak be to be confirmed. For example, we do not accorded sufficient protection. know what the demands of those men Several MPs even demanded that senior officers are. But this looks pretty much like the responsible for the Central Jail must be suspended old piracy attack scenario,” he said. Earlier while an independent investigation is launched. Sheikh reports said the vessel was Sri Lankan- Khaled insisted that the ministry has nothing to hide flagged, but the foreign ministry in and will provide all the information about the case. Colombo denied the claim. “The ministry During the debate, MPs approved a proposal to set a is taking action to verify the alleged inci- two-hour debate after two weeks about the employ- dent, and initial enquiries have revealed ment of Kuwaiti citizens and the rising rate of appoint- that while the vessel involved is not reg- ing expats in public jobs. istered under a Sri Lankan flag, it has an In the quiet session, the Assembly agreed with an eight-member Sri Lankan crew,” it said in overwhelming majority to raise the oil price index in Kuwait Petroleum Corp’s (KPC) budget to $35 a barrel. a statement on Facebook. The Assembly also approved a troop transit treaty Kuwait According to the Marine Traffic web- signed with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization site, which lists the movements of ships (NATO), despite some objection. The approval of raising around the globe, the Aris 13 is a the oil price at KPC came despite a warning by head of Comoros-flagged vessel. The tanker was KUWAIT: Students and teachers of a school in Jahra governorate pose in front of a mural made of 149,000 newspaper and the budgets committee MP Adnan Abdulsamad that the carrying fuel from Djibouti to Mogadishu magazine clippings depicting the face of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah that entered the Guinness approval may require the government to re-prepare the when it was seized. Book of World Records. — KUNA (See Page 40) budget for next fiscal year starting April 1. Continued on Page 13 Continued on Page 13 Trump meets top Saudi prince Alterkait: Arkan achieves WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump met Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed growth, 20% rise in profit bin Salman at the White House yes- terday for a discussion that was KUWAIT: Arkan Al Kuwait Real Estate Co, one of the has acquired three presti- likely to touch on investment largest real estate companies listed on the Kuwait Stock gious investment towers in opportunities in the kingdom and Exchange, disclosed that its earnings reflected a contin- Salmiya, Hamad Al-Mubarak efforts to stop the war in Syria. ued growth in income and an increase in profit during Street, beside Al-Mowasat Trump, who took office in January, the first quarter of the fiscal year 2016-2017 ending Hospital, and two properties and Prince Mohammed who is also January 31, 2017. The leading real estate investment in Farwaniya and Salmiya that the kingdom’s defense minister, company reported its financial results following its have been rented to min- kicked off their talks in the Oval board meeting last week. Arkan Al Kuwait Real Estate istries. Thus, Arkan Al Kuwait Office, where they posed for a pic- Co achieved a net profit exceeding KD 900,000 for the Real Estate Co has accom- ture in front of journalists and did first quarter of 2017, recording an increase of 20 percent plished a newly outstanding not take questions. compared to KD 752,000 in 2016. asset achievement to be US Vice President Mike Pence, The financial results of the first quarter ending added to the company’s Trump’s senior adviser and son-in- WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and Saudi Deputy Crown January 31, 2017 reflected an increase of 17 percent in record of distinctive assets. Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman shake hands in the total revenues compared to the same period in 2016, The beginning of this law Jared Kushner, chief of staff Abdul Rahman Hamad State Dining Room before lunch at the White House yesterday. — AFP reaching KD 1.265 million after KD 1.0 million recorded year has already witnessed Reince Priebus and strategist Steve Alterkait, CEO of Arkan dom’s efforts to revive state finances Office, Trump and his advisers in 2016. As at the end of this year’s first quarter, the esti- significant development in Bannon were also present. The Al Kuwait Real Estate Co meeting was the first since Trump’s by diversifying the economy away joined the prince and the Saudi del- mated total asset value of Arkan Al Kuwait Real Estate terms of the company’s inauguration with the powerful from a reliance on falling crude oil egation for lunch in the White Co has been calculated to reach more than KD 50 mil- empowerment. In 2017, prince, who is leading the king- revenues. After visiting in the Oval House state dining room. — Reuters lion, an increase of 24 percent compared to KD 10 mil- Arkan Al Kuwait Real Estate Co is expected to launch lion in 2016. additional investment ventures and many other proj- Commenting on this remarkable achievement, ects related to the hospitality business, BOT and third Dubai nabs man behind Abdul Rahman Hamad Alterkait, Board Member and party property real estate feasibility, evaluation and CEO of Arkan Al Kuwait Real Estate Co, said: “Last year, property management targeted at promoting growth video of cat fed to dogs Arkan Al Kuwait had registered noteworthy achieve- and progress. The launch and development of all ments, including the announcement of additional proj- these ventures will be determined by and based on DUBAI: Police in Dubai have arrested a man who was behind a ects, where the company contemplated the opportuni- the speculations of Kuwait real estate market. gruesome video showing a cat being fed alive to dogs as a pun- ty to purchase a commercial plot in Kuwait City”. In the same pulse of achievements, Arkan Al Kuwait ishment for eating birds, local press said yesterday. The video, “Driven firmly and strongly, we started the year by Real Estate Co endeavors to obtain the ISO 9001 Quality which was widely shared on social media, showed a man offer- taking over some newly developed real estate ready for Management System Certificate aiming to certify its ing the cat in an open cage to two Rottweilers, encouraging lease services, as well as many other promising projects quality service and robust processes in meeting cus- them to devour the terrified feline. “You eat pigeons and chick- worth more than KD 10 million, and expect to record tomers’ changing needs and expectations. This marks a ens?” a man is heard in the video saying to the cat, as it is being further success for both Arkan Al Kuwait and its unique step that highlights Arkan Al Kuwait Real Estate mauled by one of the dogs. “Eat the cat, eat it,” he orders. esteemed investors,” he concluded. Co’s relentless pursuit in applying best practices of Continued on Page 13 It is worth noting that Arkan Al Kuwait Real Estate Co growth sustainability and prosperity achievement. 20 LOCAL WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017 KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Kuwaiti singer Abdulaziz His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Habib Eid bin Jamea and Falah Al-Mufrrej and his family members.