SUBSCRIPTION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014 RAJAB 21, 1435 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Kuwait ‘a ‘Terrifying’ US files first United turn perfect place’ destruction charges on to tried and for Philippine as floods hit hacking, tested in vice consul2 Balkans10 China21 livid Van20 Gaal Central Bank unveils Max 43º Min 25º High Tide redesigned banknotes 04:27 & 14:55 Hi-tech dinars to go into circulation from June 29 Low Tide 09:40 & 22:25 40 PAGES NO: 16171 150 FILS KUWAIT: The Central Bank introduced the sixth edition conspiracy theories of Kuwaiti banknotes yesterday in the presence of sen- ior officials of state bodies and agencies. “The new notes will go in circulation from June 29, 2014,” We seek God’s Governor Dr Mohammad Al-Hashel said during the cer- emony. Older banknotes will run in parallel with the assistance new ones until their withdrawal is completed, he added. The new banknotes reflect the Central Bank’s sincere efforts to keep pace with state-of-the-art technology used in the banknote-printing industry and improve- ment in security specifications, Hashel pointed out. The Kuwaiti flag is an inspiring artistic base for all the new banknotes to illustrate and promote national identity, By Badrya Darwish he added. Among the many new features, the banknotes have a raised decorative design, allowing visually-impaired people to identify a note’s value by feeling it. Holding a [email protected] note to the light will reveal a falcon watermark and incomplete shapes that combine to show the note’s val- ue, while wave shapes change color and circles are seen in the solid art print when a note is tilted. The security uys, you will enjoy the new banknotes from the 29th thread also changes color upon tilting, as well as reveal- of June after the start of Ramadan inshallah. So our ing artwork and the banknote’s value upon directing Geidiya will be the new banknotes. I looked at some light on it. of them and they are amazing and brilliant. The striking Liberation Tower, a massive 372-m struc- By the way, this is the 6th issue of the currency in ture that is one of the main landmarks in Kuwait City as Kuwait, and the most interesting for me was the one after well as one of the tallest buildings in the world, appears liberation, of course. No one will forget it. Another remark- on the front side of the quarter-dinar banknote as a sym- able one was in the 1980s when Sheikh Jaber ordered pho- KUWAIT: Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait Mohammad Al-Hashel shows images of Kuwait’s new ban- bol of Kuwait’s independence since its erection in 1996. tos to be removed and replaced with symbols of heritage, knotes during an official ceremony yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat (See Page 15) Continued on Page 15 culture and traditions of Kuwait. That was a great move. The amazing thing about the new notes that is worth really appreciating and thanks to the guys who thought of it was the addition of Braille. This was a moving touch when they took into consideration the visually impaired of By-elections to be held on June 26 Kuwait. Not to forget to mention the high security, multi-feature system that went into creating these notes to prevent or make more difficult (it’s impossible to prevent) for counter- Assembly to debate new subsidy policies feiters to forge them. And in the meantime, they have added a touch of class. By using the brilliance of colors, you By B Izzak majority of opposition groups. can tilt the banknote and see the wavy shapes of colors The Interior Ministry reminded that can- reflecting like a rainbow. KUWAIT: The Interior Ministry announced didates wishing to contest the election Mind you, I loved the diver which reflects our past, our yesterday that candidate registration for should be Kuwaiti by birth, at least 30 years source of living. The diver with his precious pearls, the the by-election to fill the seats that fell of age and know how to read and write boom and the door. They reflect our old culture and tradi- vacant after five MPs resigned will start Arabic. They should also have not been tion and the source of our income. Also, we cannot have a from today for 10 days, ending May 29. The sentenced to a jail term unless they had note without our lovely camel, what we call the safina al move came after the Cabinet announced been rehabilitated. sahra (ship of the desert). But I was sad to see the little girls and boys in their traditional dress in the old freej (neighbor- late Sunday night that the by-election will In another development, the Assembly hood) gone. It was a shame to remove them, as they are be held on June 26, just two days before is due to debate today the new govern- part of our culture and tradition. the start of the holy fasting month of ment policies on subsidies for public serv- The grand mosque picture gives a touch of spirituality Ramadan. ices and commodities. Finance Minister to the notes. But what a shame whoever decided to The five seats became vacant after Anas Al-Saleh is scheduled to deliver a key remove the beautiful saying which was printed on all our opposition MPs Riyadh Al-Adasani, presentation on the current subsidies and notes - be it the dinar or quarter or half or ten or twenty - as Abdulkarim Al-Kandari and Hussein their cost and impact on the national treas- long as we have printed money: “We Seek God’s Quwaiaan resigned about three weeks ago ury and propose solutions that need to be Assistance.” Even a secular country like the US has ‘In God when the National Assembly rejected their approved by MPs. Saleh announced last We Trust’ on its currency. So why did we remove it from request to grill the prime minister on alle- week that the Cabinet formed a committee FUNDACION, Colombia: Police carry body bags containing the remains of ours? gations he gave cash handouts to a num- in October to revise public subsidies main- The falcon symbol did not impress me too much as it is children who burned to death in the bus parked behind in northern Colombia yesterday. — AP ber of MPs. A few days later, MPs Ali Al- ly on fuel, electricity and water in order to on many of the Khaleeji currencies. For instance, it’s the offi- Rashed and Safa Al-Hashem, the only suggest policies and measures. cial symbol of the United Arab Emirates and is on their cur- female in the 50-member house, quit in According to figures, subsidies are esti- rency too. Oman and Qatar also have the falcon on their 32 children killed in protest against what they described was a mated at more than KD 5 billion, or almost currency. The turtle also didn’t mean much to me - we are breach of the Kuwaiti constitution and an a quarter of the annual budget. Saleh said not a turtle country and it portrays slowness. They even call attempt to silence MPs. that the government wants to make sure it ‘slow coach’ in England. So is this hinting at our slow Colombia bus blaze advancement or economic growth? The Assembly last week accepted the that subsidies go to people who need and resignations with a comfortable majority deserve them, and accordingly any revi- Failaka was marvelous, the historical Greek influence BOGOTA: Colombians expressed horror dren, aged between three and 12 years amid some opposition from a small num- sion or cuts in subsidies will not affect low beautiful, but I hope that will be a reminder that there is a yesterday after 32 children burned to old, were returning from evangelical ber of lawmakers, and Speaker Marzouk Al- or middle income sections of the society, Failaka that needs to be looked after, as since after libera- death when an overcrowded bus burst church services in the small northern Ghanem declared their seats vacant and including expatriates. The local media has tion, it was evacuated of its inhabitants - the Failakawis - into flames and the driver fled the scene, town of Fundacion. The driver lost two of informed the government. The by-election reported about an imminent decision by and neglected like a small island in the middle of the pursued by a mob that stoned his house. his own children in the tragedy. will be carried out in the second and third the government to end subsidies on diesel oceans. The driver turned himself to police as Fundacion Mayor Luz Stella Duran Overall, congratulations to the Central Bank. Well done constituencies (two seats each) and the and perhaps reduce subsidies on electricity families sought to hunt him down follow- said another 20 were hospitalized. Most guys. But I should remind you that we still seek God’s help - ing Sunday’s tragedy in which, according of the injured have second- or third- fourth constituency (one seat). The elec- based on consumption. The government especially nowadays when we are facing so much turmoil tions will be carried out in the same way as however stressed that so far no decision both inside and outside of Kuwait. God bless. to a witness, the bus went up in flames as degree burns. he refuelled it with a jerrycan. The chil- Continued on Page 15 the main polls held for this Assembly in has been taken and that the concerned July last year amid a massive boycott by a committee is still working.