US Marine Crisis Unit to Deploy to Kuwait
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SUBSCRIPTION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2014 THULHIJA 8, 1435 AH www.kuwaittimes.net First Kuwaiti, Bahrain court First Arda strikes Arab woman lifts travel Ebola case late to give to earn PhD ban on diagnosed Atletico win in oil spills rights activist in28 the US over Juve 3US Marine7 crisis unit20 Max 41º Min 24º to deploy to Kuwait High Tide 05:55 & 14:12 2,300 troops on the way US crewmember missing in Gulf Low Tide • 10:23 & 22:23 40 PAGES NO: 16303 150 FILS WASHINGTON: The US Marine Corps plans to deploy 2,300 troops to the Middle East for a new unit designed to quickly respond to crises in the volatile region, the Pentagon said late Tuesday. It will include several air- craft and be prepared to move rapidly in the case of “contingencies”, Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby told reporters. The idea for the task force originated in 2013 - before the current US air campaign against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria - and was not related “to the ongoing operations in Iraq,” Kirby said. A senior Marine Corps officer said last week that the new task force for the Middle East region would be based out of Kuwait. The “special purpose marine air ground task force” is part of a push by the military to improve its ability to respond to crises, including embassy evacuations, following a deadly attack on a US diplomatic post in the Libyan city of Benghazi in 2012. The US Marine Corps has already set up a similar unit in Moron, Spain that is assigned to the Africa region. Separately, the US Navy and Marine Corps are con- ducting a search and rescue operation for a missing air- crew member who ejected over the Arabian Gulf. A statement from the US Navy says two crewmen bailed out of a Marine Corps aircraft yesterday when it lost power on takeoff from the USS Makin Island. The pilot of the MV-22 Osprey was able to regain control and land safely aboard the ship. The Navy says the other crewman MAKKAH: This general view shows pilgrims arriving for prayers on Tuesday at the Grand Mosque, home of the cube-shaped Kaaba or ‘House of God’ that was built who bailed out was rescued and is in stable condition. by Prophet Abraham (PBUH). — AFP (See Page 14) Bahrain hosts the US Navy’s 5th Fleet. — Agencies News Ashour repeats in brief calls to close Sharia College By B Izzak KUWAIT: Shiite MP Saleh Ashour yesterday reiterated calls for the closure of the Sharia (Islamic Studies) College at Kuwait University amid strong rejection from Islamist MPs, who described the call as dangerous. A day after bluntly calling for shutting down the faculty, Ashour sent a series of questions to State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al- Sabah about an earlier government report recommend- ing the closure of the college. Ashour informed the minister that the Cabinet received a study calling for the merger of the Sharia College with the college of law and asked what was the government decision towards the recommendation. The lawmaker also asked the minister about the basis for allowing graduates of the Sharia College to work in jobs that require sound legal knowledge like the public prosecution, the investigation department and the fat- wa and legislative department. Ashour said that sharia Maid tortured graduates normally decline to work in jobs that suit for three years their qualifications, especially as mosque preachers, and KUWAIT: An image of a maid from Madagascar who opt for legal jobs that they are not qualified for. was allegedly tortured by her sponsor was being shared Continued on Page 13 on social media sites yesterday. The abuse has allegedly been continuing for the past three years, perpetrated by her female sponsor, who is a doctor. The maid has been fed only bread and water for the past one and a half years, and has been blinded in one eye by the beatings. No further details about the maid were immediately available, and she was not named. This follows on the heels of video clips circulated on social networks this week of an expat being abused at a police station, and another of an expat being pushed around and cursed at by a ministry official. An official of the Kuwait Human Rights Society yesterday warned that foreign workers in Kuwait are subject to violations that have been increas- ing lately, including deportations and fake absconding reports filed against them.(See Page 4) EPA warns of heavy rainfall KUWAIT: The Environment Public Authority (EPA) has predicted heavy rainfall this year that could overwhelm the drainage network’s capacity, unless various concerned bodies coordinate and combine efforts. EPA climate change department manager Sharif Al-Khayyat told KUNA that earlier studies had proved right by up to 80 percent accu- racy according to UN’s calculations up to 2035. “The studies showed that rainfall rates would increase by 100-150 millimeters in 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, which exceeds the national drainage network’s capacity,” warned Khayyat, noting that such predictions had been sent to various min- istries and government establishments for review long enough before the rainy season so that all possible precautionary measures could be taken to prevent flooding of roads and streets if heavy rain falls in a very short period like what happened KUWAIT: A vendor displays a sheep at the cattle last year. market in Rai yesterday, as Eid Al-Adha approaches. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat LOCAL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2014 KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace yesterday HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. HH the Amir also received National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanem, former parliament speaker, Jassem Al-Khorafi, as well as Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. — KUNA KRCS support Syrian Ooredoo supports donations patients in Lebanon efforts during Eid TRIPOLI: The Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) launched Lebanon. He stressed that humanitarian aid comes in the ‘Empowering underserved communities is one of our main missions’ yesterday its third initiative for supporting Syrian refugees framework of the KRCS’s commitment to supporting who have been suffering from kidney diseases in Lebanon. Syrians, hoping that such aid could alleviate the sufferings KUWAIT: Ooredoo Kuwait announced In a statement to KUNA, KRCS’s head of the volunteer’s of Syrian refugees. For his part, head of the north region of that Ooredoo employees have donat- team in Lebanon Musaed Al-Enezi said that required med- the Lebanese Red Cross Youssef Boutros hailed the ed giveaways for children on Eid Al- ical equipment and medications were delivered to Orange- humanitarian efforts provided by Kuwait to support the Adha. This initiative comes in line with Nassau Governmental Hospital in the city to serve those displaced Syrians, stressing this action contributed signifi- the celebrations which took place patients. He added that humanitarian assistances provided cantly to alleviating their plight. recently on the occasion of honouring to Syrian patients aim at contributing to treating them for Boutros added that this is not the first initiative under- HH The Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad six months, especially those who have chronic kidney dis- taken by the KRCS as it has always been active in helping Al-Jaber Al-Sabah by the United eases in coordination with Lebanese officials. He pointed the afflicted and needy in all parts of the world. He noted Nations as a “Humanitarian Leader” out that the KRCS started the project of distributing bread that thousands of displaced Syrians in Lebanon have bene- and Kuwait as the “Humanitarian to 4, 000 families of Syrian refugees in north and south of fited from the KRCS’s humanitarian projects. According to Centre”. Lebanon for three months. the latest statistics, Syrian refugees in Lebanon exceeded This initiative falls under Ooredoo’s Al-Enezi said the KRCS had earlier distributed more more than one billion mostly in areas of Tripoli, Akkar, efforts to promote corporate social than 20 million bread loaves to Syrian refugees in Sidon and Bekaa. — KUNA responsibility and its vision to enrich people’s lives. Commenting on this thoughtful initiative Ooredoo Kuwait employees, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani, Ooredoo Kuwait Chief Executive Officer and General Manager said: “Empowering under- and keen on promoting corporate supported Bayt Abdullah Hospital by served communities is one of our social responsibility both externally fulfilling the dreams of terminally ill main missions as a telecommunica- and internally amongst our own children. tions company. We have worked with employees. This alignment is what Additionally, Ooredoo sponsored the Kuwait Red Crescent Society, an makes us live by our brand values.” OxAdventure, a Kuwaiti non-profit organization which is recognized for As a community-focused company, organization that strives to make a dif- its local and international efforts. We Ooredoo recently donated the first ference in the lives of the less fortu- are committed to making a positive privately-owned Braille printing for nate; reflecting the brand mission of change in the markets we operate in the Kuwait Blinds Association and promoting human growth. Kuwait lauds UNHCR role in tackling humanitarian crises GENEVA: Kuwait hailed Iraq refugees, he said. yesterday the significant The UNHCR’s governing ExCom holds role played by the UN its 65th annual meeting in Geneva dur- High Commission for ing the period September 30 to October Refugees (UNHCR) in 2 to review and approve the agency’s helping displaced people programmes and budget, advises on worldwide, reiterating international protection and discuss a commitment to generous- wide range of other issues with UNHCR ly support the internation- and its intergovernmental and non-gov- al organization’s humani- Jamal Al-Ghuneim ernmental partners.