SUBSCRIPTION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016 SAFAR 28, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net NUKS-USA Will Modi’s Supermarket in Rosberg foils cancels last day India cash Denmark offers Hamilton of conference for ban plan fresh take on to claim security5 reasons backfire?21 expired28 food maiden20 title Tsunami of change dumps Max 22º old guard by the wayside Min 10º High Tide 12:07 & 23:08 Amir congratulates winners • Big names fade, small tribes shine Low Tide 05:46 & 17:29 40 PAGES NO: 17064 150 FILS By B Izzak KUWAIT: The 2016 National Assembly elections sprang a Thousands flee regime advance in Aleppo number of major surprises that included the failure of many big names and the battering of the three biggest ALEPPO: Thousands of civilians have fled rebel-held Bedouin tribes, outgoing Assembly members, and Shiite east Aleppo after government forces, determined to candidates. At the same time, the election saw significant retake all of Syria’s second city, seized its largest rebel- gains by the opposition and its supporters, an important controlled district and advanced into two other areas. injection of fresh young blood and a stellar and unexpect- The capture on Saturday of Masaken Hanano - which ed performance by smaller tribes. had been the biggest rebel-held district of Aleppo - Meanwhile, HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- was a major breakthrough in a 13-day regime offen- Jaber Al-Sabah sent cables of congratulations yesterday to sive to retake the entire city. Yesterday, regime forces the winners of the elections. The Amir wished the winners also took control of two neighboring areas, Jabal success in their duties aiming to serve and develop the Badra and Baadeen, the Syrian Observatory of Human dear homeland. HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- Rights said. “The army’s rapid advance is due to its strategy of attacking east Aleppo on several fronts, weakening SEE PAGE 2 the rebels,” Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. The regime gains came as its aircraft pounded Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Prime Minister rebel positions and amid heavy clashes between the Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent similar opposition and forces loyal to President Bashar Al- cables to the new MPs. Assad. Masaken Hanano was the first district the Writing on his Twitter account, political analyst Salah Al- rebels took in the summer of 2012 in a move that Fadhli described the election results as a “tsunami of divided the city into a rebel-held east and a regime- change because they were like a tornado that uprooted controlled west. many figures”. Only 20 out of the 50 members of the out- Around 250,000 civilians trapped under govern- going Assembly were re-elected, a massive 60 percent ment siege for months in the east have faced serious turnover. As many as 42 members of the dissolved house food and fuel shortages. The Syrian Observatory said contested the polls, while the remaining did not take part nearly 1,700 civilians had fled over the past 24 hours for a variety of reasons. Prominent among those defeated to government-held parts of western Aleppo and include former public works minister Ali Al-Omair, who another 2,500 to the Kurdish-controlled northern dis- secured a small number of votes in the third constituency, trict of Sheikh Maksoud. “It is the first exodus of this ALEPPO: Syrian displaced families arrive at a makeshift camp yesterday in the government-held district of former minister of justice and Islamic affairs Yacoub Al- kind from east Aleppo since 2012,” Abdel Rahman said. Jibreen. — AFP Sane and deputy speaker Mubarak Al-Khrainej. Continued on Page 13 Continued on Page 13 Cuba mourns death of Castro HAVANA: Cuba mourned its revolution- the odds to endure into the 21st, Castro ary leader Fidel Castro yesterday as it pre- died late Friday after surviving 11 US pared a four-day funeral procession for administrations and hundreds of assassi- Arid Saudi could the giant figure of modern history, loved nation attempts. No cause of death was need ‘$50bn’ in by many but branded a tyrant by others. given. “It is a great loss. The most impor- After the stunned commotion triggered tant thing is that he died when he chose, water investment by Saturday’s announcement that Castro, not when all the counter-revolutionaries 90, had died, yesterday was set to be a wanted,” said Carlos Manuel Obregon RIYADH: Arid Saudi Arabia could need more than $53 bil- day of preparations ahead of a flurry of Rodriguez, a 43-year-old taxi driver in lion in water sector investment supported by private events to mark his death. Students left Havana. “It may not be painful for every- funds as demand grows, officials said yesterday. The lighted candles next to a portrait of the one, but it is for a lot of people. I was world’s largest oil exporter, whose petroleum revenues black-bearded communist leader during born under this revolution and I owe fell 51 percent last year on declining crude prices, is push- a vigil at Havana University. Fidel a lot.” ing to diversify its economy through greater private sec- A titan of the 20th century who beat Continued on Page 13 tor investment and development of new industries. Among government agencies targeted for privatization is DOHA: Migrants gather at the Search and Follow Up Department in the Qatari the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), which capital on Nov 8, 2016. — AFP desalinates water from the Gulf and Red Sea coasts. “Future plants will be tendered to the private sector,” Qatar ‘illegals’ scramble Ali Al-Hazmi, SWCC governor, told the government-orga- nized Water Investment Forum. “We have everything ready for privatization.” The desert kingdom, which has no to leave under amnesty rivers, obtains most of its water from desalination and the DOHA: Kalawani has spent the past six papers to be approved. Under Qatar’s rest from ground sources. “This requires a lot of money years hiding from the Qatari authorities, strict sponsorship laws, anyone wishing to and a lot of capital investment,” Mansour Al-Mushaiti, a but finally she is going home to Sri Lanka change their job must get permission deputy minister with the ministry of environment, water for the first time since 2010. The former from their employer, so Kalawani became and agriculture, told the forum. “We are envisaging that housemaid is one of 9,000 undocumented an “illegal” after fleeing. the capital requirements in the next five years will reach residents expected to leave Qatar before She has existed by relying on her family up to 200 billion Saudi riyals ($53.3 billion).” SWCC, created in 1974, is the world’s largest producer Dec 1 after Doha introduced a three- for help and working in a cafe, though that of desalinated water. It operates 28 plants and as part of month amnesty for those living in the was also illegal as her entry visa to Qatar the process is able to generate electricity for the national country illegally to leave without “legal allowed her to work only as a housemaid. power grid. Saudi water demand is increasing by more consequences”. Kalawani ran away after “This amnesty is good for me. I want to go than five percent annually, Hazmi said at the start of the her employer refused to pay her monthly home,” she says quietly. Under normal two-day forum. By 2020 the kingdom is targeting 52 per- wage of 1,000 Qatari riyals ($275), a com- rules, she could be facing a huge fine or cent of desalinated water production through “strategic HAVANA: A picture of Fidel Castro and a Cuban flag decorate a home in the mon problem. “I didn’t get any salary from imprisonment for absconding. partners”. — AFP my sponsor,” she says while waiting for her Continued on Page 13 Cuban capital yesterday. — AP US plans for Syria refugees in limbo RUTLAND, Vermont: Arabic language classes the Obama administration screened and admitted to the US, refugees cannot be are drawing 25 to 30 people a week in prepa- admitted nearly 12,600 Syrian refugees, who expelled unless they have committed a seri- ration for the new arrivals in town. High were resettled in cities and towns across the ous crime or are found to have lied to gain school students are helping collect furniture US Thousands more are scheduled to arrive in entry. Rutland’s plan has been welcomed by and housewares for them, and employers the coming year. some and condemned by others, who warn have inquired about giving them jobs. For the During the campaign, Trump proposed a that the refugees could not only pose a secu- past several months, Rutland has been get- ban on Muslims entering the country and rity threat and but also take away housing, ting ready to receive 100 mostly Syrian called for a moratorium on accepting Syrian jobs and social services from locals. refugees beginning early next year. But with refugees for fear of terrorists slipping through. “It’s just sad, sad. We don’t need any more Donald Trump taking office in late January, He also vowed “extreme vetting” of would-be people here, from anyplace, but especially the Rutland’s plans and those of other US cities immigrants from countries plagued by Syrians, because who knows, there could be that have agreed to take in people fleeing the extremism. Presidents set the quotas for one terrorist in there. Once they’re here, civil war have been thrown into question, giv- refugees allowed into the country.