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SHAWWAL 20, 1439 AH WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018 Max 48º 28 Pages Min 36º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 17573 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Woman files harassment Rouhani’s tour overshadowed Agonizing rescue ahead for Nadal kills curse of 100 3 case against Kuwaiti man 6 by Iranian diplomat detention 9 Thai boys as nation rejoices 26 club at the Wimbledon Syrian rebels begin a new round of talks with Russia UN urges Jordan to open borders to fleeing Syrians AMMAN: Syrian rebel negotiators began a new round mittee that represents all the south has been formed to of talks with Russian officers yesterday over a peace reach an agreement to spare innocent lives and ensure Sweden book WCup quarter-finals deal in southern Syria under which they would hand the safety of civilians and fighters,” said a statement by over weapons and allow Russian military police to enter the central operations room in the south, representing rebel-held towns, a rebel spokesman said. the key rebel factions in that region. Accompanied by a major Russian aerial bombing cam- The rebel camp has however been deeply split over paign, Syrian pro-government forces have marched the Russian demands, with some negotiators saying they swiftly into insurgent territory in Deraa province over wanted to continue the fighting and accusing some rebel the past two weeks. commanders of cutting separate deals with the Russian Spokesman Ibrahim Al Jabawi said the rebels had military. Rebels and residents say that a string of rebel carried to the negotiating table their “response to a list towns have worked out their own surrender arrange- of Russian demands” that include the handing over of ments that have allowed the Russian military police to weapons and settling the status of rebels in a deal that enter their towns and patrol neighborhoods. ends the fighting. “Today they are carrying their Meanwhile, the United Nations human rights office response to the terms presented by the Russian offi- and refugee agency UNHCR urged Jordan yesterday to cers,” Jabawi said. The Russian demands, handed to open its border to Syrians trying to escape an escalat- rebels in a meeting in a town in southern Syria on ing conflict in the southwest region of Deraa. An esti- Saturday, had prompted a walkout by the rebels, who mated 270,000 people have fled air and ground attacks said the terms amounted to a humiliating surrender. The over the past two weeks, the United Nations said yes- opposition team was then persuaded by Jordan to go terday. “We call on the Jordanian government to keep its back to the negotiating table, diplomatic sources said. border open and for other countries in the region to The opposition negotiators have also agreed to step up and receive the fleeing civilians,” UN human expand their team to a 12-strong delegation after agree- rights spokeswoman Liz Throssell told a news briefing. SAINT PETERSBURG: Sweden’s forward Marcus Berg (left) vies with Switzerland’s defender Manuel Akanji ment among them to include the Quneitra province fur- UNHCR spokesman Andre Mahecic said an estimated during the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between Sweden and Switzerland at the Saint ther west near the Israeli occupied Golan Heights, 40,000 Syrians were massed near the border with Petersburg Stadium yesterday. -— AFP (See Page 28) Jabawi said. Previously they were negotiating for Deraa Jordan, which already hosts 650,000 registered Syrian province to the east. “A new expanded negotiating com- refugees. — Agencies between 300,000 and 500,000 dinars ($240 Of the thousands of rice producers in Iraq’s treasured to $400) a year per dunum (quarter-hectare, Diwaniyah province, just 267 are dedicated 0.6 acres). With a black-and-white che- to the centuries-long tradition of growing quered keffiyeh scarf wrapped around his the amber variety.”As my parents and my amber rice crop head, 46-year-old Kazaali was distraught at grandparents have done for hundreds of the absence of green shoots on his 50 years, since the Ottoman Empire, I’ve been devastated by hectares. “Our eyes can’t get used to the yel- used to touching the grains of amber with lowish color of the earth, it’s too hard to look my feet during planting and taking them in at my fields without my amber (rice),” he my hands during the harvest,” said Kazaali. drought said, on his farm in the village of Abu Teben, “It’s the water of the Euphrates River which in the west of Diwaniyah province. gives it the fresh scent that we can smell for DIWANIYAH: Standing on his farm in The long-grained variety takes its name kilometers.” But Iraq has seen its water southern Iraq, Amjad Al-Kazaali gazed sor- from its aroma, which is similar to that of resources dwindle in recent years-a problem rowfully over fields where rice has been sown amber resin. More than 70 percent of the soon to be compounded by the inauguration for centuries-but which now lie bare for lack amber crop is grown in Diwaniyah and of Turkey’s controversial Ilisu dam on the of water. For the first time, this season neighboring Najaf province, and in total, the Tigris River. Kazaali has not planted the treasured amber variety makes up over a third of the 100,000 Planting was due to take place between rice local to Diwaniyah province. Facing an tons of rice grown in Iraq every year. Fondly May 15 and July 1, with the harvest set for unusually harsh drought, the agriculture min- dubbed “royal rice” by Iraqis, many Shiite late October. Iraq’s agriculture ministry had istry last month suspended the cultivation of pilgrims travelling between the holy cities of planned for 350,000 hectares of crops this rice, corn and other cereals, which need large Karbala and Najaf stop to stock up on the season, including staples such as rice and quantities of water. popular grain. Exports are banned, although corn, spokesman Hamid al-Naef said. But AL MISHKHAB: An Iraqi farmer plants Jasmin rice in the Mishkhab region, central The decision has slashed the income of some of the rice is smuggled through the after the ministry for water resources warned Iraq, some twenty-five kilometers from Najaf. —AFP amber rice farmers, who usually earn Iraqi city of Basra to the Gulf. Continued on Page 24 mer premier is expected to face more than Malaysia ex-PM 10 counts of committing criminal breach of trust linked to SRC International Sdn Bhd, an energy company that was origi- UK healthcare arrested; graft nally a subsidiary of 1MDB. According to an investigation by the worker arrested probe widens Wall Street Journal, $10.6 million originat- ing from SRC was transferred to Najib’s KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian personal bank accounts, just one small for ‘murdering’ Prime Minister Najib Razak was arrested part of hundreds of millions of dollars by anti-corruption investigators yester- from 1MDB that allegedly ended up in his eight babies day, officials said, the latest dramatic accounts. Najib had been summoned development in a widening graft probe twice by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption LONDON: British police yesterday arrested a that has engulfed the ex-leader. Najib, 64, Commission (MACC) over its investiga- female healthcare worker suspected of murdering will be charged today, a taskforce set up tion into a case related to SRC. The newly eight babies and attempting to murder six more after to probe wrongdoing at state fund 1MDB appointed attorney general Tommy an investigation into deaths at a neo-natal hospital said in a statement, adding he was appre- Thomas would lead the prosecution team, unit. The investigation in the northwestern English hended “at his home”. according to Bernama. Allegations of mas- city of Chester began last year and is focusing on the The arrest is the latest in a series of sive corruption were a major factor deaths of 17 babies at the Countess of Chester stunning moves by investigators that sug- behind the shock election loss in May of Hospital between March 2015 and July 2016. gest the legal noose is tightening around Najib’s long-ruling coalition to a reformist Police are also probing 15 non-fatal collapses of PUTRAJAYA: File photo shows Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak Najib, his family and many of his close alliance headed by his former mentor babies at the unit over the same period. “As a result speaking to the media after being questioned at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption political and business allies. Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad. of our ongoing enquiries we have today arrested a Commission (MACC) office in Putrajaya. — AFP official news agency Bernama said the for- Continued on Page 24 healthcare professional in connection with the inves- tigation,” Cheshire police said in a statement, calling the arrest “a significant step forward in our Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a statement said Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, has daz- enquiries”. “She was arrested earlier this morning on Saudi replaces late Monday. Nadhmi Al-Nasr, a member of NEOM’s zled investors with a host of hi-tech “giga projects”, but suspicion of murder in relation to eight of the babies founding board and a veteran of state oil giant Saudi sceptics question their viability as the kingdom scram- and attempted murder in relation to six of the babies Aramco, will take over from Kleinfeld from August 1, bles to diversify its economy in an era of cheaper oil. and is currently in custody,” it said.