Obama, Castro Hold Historic Talks in Cuba
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SUBSCRIPTION TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 JAMADA ALTHANI 13, 1437 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Cabinet Syrian govt Clinton launches Khawaja leads deplores rules out another attack Aussies to Istanbul talks on on Trump in victory over bombing3 Assad fate8 her10 speech Bangladesh17 Obama, Castro hold Min 18º Max 32º historic talks in Cuba High Tide 11:20 & 23:00 Two countries take another stride away from Cold War-era enmity Low Tide 05:05 & 17:20 40 PAGES NO: 16821 150 FILS HAVANA: US President Barack Obama and President Raul Castro held historic talks in Havana yesterday, dis- UN-led Yemeni cussing enduring disagreements over Cuba’s human rights record and Washington’s trade embargo as the peace talks in two countries took another stride away from Cold War- era animosity. Obama arrived in Cuba on Sunday for the first visit by Kuwait likely a US president in almost 90 years, achieving a goal for his final year in office that became possible after secret talks led to a 2014 agreement to normalize relations. DUBAI: A new round of UN-brokered Yemeni peace talks could be held by the end of this month in The opening ended decades of US efforts to force Cuba Kuwait, a government official said yesterday. The to change through isolation. But Obama is under pres- sure from critics at home to push Castro’s government talks would be accompanied by a ceasefire, much- to allow political dissent and to further open its Soviet- needed in the war-torn country where a Saudi-led style state-run economy. coalition launched a military campaign in support Obama began his first full day in the symbolic heart of the internationally-recognized government one of Cuba’s Communist system, starting in Revolution year ago, said the Yemeni official who requested Square, where for decades Raul Castro’s brother, Fidel anonymity. Yemen’s warring parties who met with Castro, led million-strong rallies against the evils of US UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed last week have “imperialism.” agreed on “the principle of holding a new round of Obama laid a wreath at the memorial to independ- talks in late March in Kuwait,” the official told AFP. ence hero Jose Marti, overlooked by a huge metal por- The UN envoy wrote on his Facebook page late trait of legendary rebel fighter Ernesto “Che” Guevara. “It on Sunday that he held “positive and constructive is a great honor to pay tribute to Jose Marti, who gave talks” in rebel-held Sanaa with the Iran-backed his life for independence of his homeland. His passion Houthis and their allies-supporters of former presi- for liberty, freedom, and self-determination lives on in dent Ali Abdullah Saleh. “Preparations are ongoing the Cuban people today,” Obama wrote in a guest book for the next round of peace talks on Yemen,” he there. Marti was a 19th century poet and writer whose wrote, without giving a specific date or location for activism helped spur Cuba’s freedom from Spain and the awaited negotiations. whose legacy was later adopted by Fidel Castro’s revolu- Continued on Page 13 HAVANA: President Barack Obama holds talks with Cuban President Raul Castro during a meeting at the tionaries as a symbol of anti-imperialism. Palace of the Revolution yesterday in Havana. —AP Continued on Page 13 Kuwait deports 14 for Hezbollah links 11 Lebanese and 3 Iraqis expelled KUWAIT: Kuwaiti authorities have deported the 14 people had been expelled at the Riyadh last month halted a $3 billion pro- 11 Lebanese and three Iraqis for alleged links request of the state security service. The gram for military aid to Beirut in protest with Hezbollah, the movement classified by Interior Ministry was not immediately avail- against Hezbollah, which is a key political Gulf monarchies as a “terrorist” group, a local able for comment. The Gulf Cooperation force in Lebanon and has lawmakers in its newspaper said yesterday. The 14 were Council (GCC) named Hezbollah, an Iranian- parliament. recently expelled at the request of Kuwaiti allied Islamist political movement that is fight- The daily said Kuwait’s state security security services after they were found to ing for President Bashar Al-Assad in Syria’s civil body had prepared a list of “unwanted” belong to Hezbollah, daily Al-Qabas reported, war, a terrorist group on March 2. Lebanese and Iraqis, including advisers to without providing further details. The Arab League declared Hezbollah a “ter- major companies, for deportation “in the The newspaper quoted a security official rorist” group on March 11, after Gulf monar- public interest”. At the time of the GCC saying that a list had been prepared of chies did the same earlier this month over the decision, Secretary-General Abdullatif Al- Lebanese and Iraqi citizens, some in top cor- movement’s support for Assad’s regime in Zayani accused Hezbollah of recruiting porate positions, “who are unwelcome and Syria’s war. Last week, Bahrain deported an young men to carry out terrorist attacks in should be deported” from Kuwait. The depor- unspecified number of Lebanese residents for Gulf states, smuggling in weapons and CUPERTINO: Apple CEO Tim Cook, speaks at an event to announce new products tations came amid an increasing crackdown alleged links to Hezbollah and Saudi Arabia explosives, and inciting chaos, violence and and an update to the Apple Watch at Apple headquarters yesterday in by Gulf states on foreign citizens with alleged warned that it will punish citizens and resi- political unrest. Hezbollah called the GCC Cupertino, California. — AP (See Also Page 27) links to Iran-backed Hezbollah. dents who “support or demonstrate belong- decision “reckless and hostile” and blamed it Apple cuts price for new, Al-Qabas cited a security source as saying ing” to the group. on Saudi Arabia. — Agencies more compact iPhone Kuwait urges CUPERTINO: Apple yesterday unveiled a Cupertino, California. “Some people asked reconsidered new iPhone with a four-inch screen, aiming us, pleaded with us to keep the four-inch to reach consumers looking for a handset iPhone in our lineup.” The iPhone SE will be talks with IOC that is more affordable and compact than aimed at first-time Apple buyers and those its flagship models. The new device-called who want to upgrade from the iPhone 5S KUWAIT: The head of the Kuwaiti government the iPhone SE-will debut at $399 for US and 5C, which have not been updated in negotiation delegation for roadmap meeting with customers without a contract subsidy, in a over two years. the International Olympic Committee (IOC) yester- significant cut from the price of its larger The iPhone 6S, the lowest-cost handset in day called for reconsidering the current way of iPhones. the large-screen family, starts at $649. Apple negotiations between Kuwait and the IOC over the Apple vice president Greg Joswiak said will be taking orders Thursday for the new “unfair” Olympic suspension of Kuwaiti sports. many consumers prefer smaller handsets, phone in the United States, Britain, Australia, Dr Mohammad Alfili said the Kuwaiti move came which accounted for 30 million units sold in Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, following recent claims by IOC Deputy Director 2015. “They want the most compact iPhone Japan, New Zealand and Singapore, with General for Relations Pere Miro that the Kuwaiti design,” he told an Apple event in more markets to come online in April. — AFP government had twice approved a draft deal with BRUSSELS: In this image provided by the Belgian Federal Police yesterday, a the IOC that was formulated during a Geneva meet- combo photograph shows Najim Laachraoui, who was previously identified in a ing last January. false passport as Soufiane Kayal by Belgium Federal Police, during a money Qatar offshore rig He voiced regret at the issuance of such “false transfer on Nov 17, 2015 in a Western Union bank in the Brussels region of claims and baseless statements” against Kuwait and Belgium. — AP its negotiation team, confirming that the IOC’s team catches fire, 6 hurt was not serious about finding a solution to lift the Paris attacks ‘accomplice’ suspension of Kuwaiti sports. The IOC’s suspension decision was based on misleading information DUBAI: Fire broke out on an offshore rig run the company and its affiliate rang unan- DNA found on explosives by the subsidiary of a Qatar-based drilling swered yesterday afternoon and officials did claiming that Kuwaiti sports laws are not in compli- company, injuring six workers, the firm said not immediately respond to email queries ance with the Olympic Charter and international BRUSSELS: Police have found the DNA of a vivor of the 10 Paris attackers. Laachraoui is yesterday, in the second disruption within a about the fire. The state-run Qatar News sports regulations, he said. It was built on “side newly-identified suspect on explosives also believed to have travelled to Syria in year aboard one its platforms. Gulf Agency reported the blaze yesterday, with- issues and questions as the IOC insisted during the used in last year’s Paris attacks, a French February 2013. International Services, partly owned by out offering any additional details. negotiations on putting on table the extension of source revealed yesterday, but Belgium’s Traces of DNA from the 24-year-old, state-run Qatar Petroleum, announced the Shares in GIS dropped 2 percent yester- the deal between the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) prosecutor admitted they are “far from solv- who is still at large, were found on the fire at its GDI-3 rig in a statement published day on the Qatar Stock Exchange to close at and the Kuwaiti government which had recently ing the puzzle” of the massacre.