SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2017 SHABAN 24, 1438 AH No: 17233 AUM launches Swedish official Wenger giving Opera House drops rape probe little away as Al-Othman to into WikiLeaks’ Arsenal face young Kuwaitis5 Julian Assange7 top-447 exclusion As Trump visits, Saudi, US blacklist ‘terrorist’ Min 26º 150 Fils Amir to attend three summits in Riyadh Max 45º WASHINGTON: As US President Donald Trump prepared to head to Saudi Arabia yesterday, Washington and Riyadh issued their first “joint terrorist designation”-blacklisting a Hezbollah leader. Hashem Safieddine was described by US officials as a key member of the executive council of Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese armed movement which Washington has branded a “foreign ter- rorist organization.” His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah, accompanied by an official delegation, will depart the coun- try today heading for Saudi Arabia. HH the Amir will head the State of Kuwait delegation at the 17th GCC Consultative Summit, the GCC-US Summit and the Arab-Islamic-US Summit, scheduled in the Saudi capital Riyadh. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joined the United States in desig- nating Hashem Safieddine,” the US State Department said in a state- ment. “As a result, any of his assets held in Saudi Arabia are frozen, and transfers through the Kingdom’s financial sector, are prohibit- ed.” Separately, the department’s Bureau of Counterterrorism tweet- ed that this marked the “first-ever” State Department and foreign nation “joint terrorist designation”, underlining the close coopera- tion between US and Saudi officials. “The action against Safieddine is the latest example of the strong partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia in combat- ting the financing of terrorism,” the State Department said. The official Saudi news agency SPA confirmed Safieddine’s list- ing, and alleged he had given his organization advice on carrying out terrorist acts and on supplying support to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime. Arms sale US officials say the Trump administration plans to announce $110 billion in advanced military equipment sales and training to Saudi Arabia this weekend as President Donald Trump visits the country. The package includes tanks, combat ships, missile defense systems, radar and communications and cybersecurity technology. The announcement is expected today. Officials providing details were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of KUWAIT: Iranian nationals residing in Kuwait show their ink-stained fingers after casting their ballots for presidential and anonymity. Much of the package builds on commitments made municipal elections yesterday at the Iranian embassy in Kuwait. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat (See also Page 2) before Trump took office. Separately yesterday, the administration informed Congress it will sell some $500 million in precision guided Iranians in Kuwait vote munitions to Saudi Arabia. — Agencies in presidential election By Nawara Fattahova country cast their votes in the crucial election. Polling was extended in Iran as voters continued to flock to cast their KUWAIT: The Iranian expatriates in Kuwait enthusiastically ballots, the outcome of which will have an impact on participated in the election yesterday to deliver their verdict Rouhani’s efforts to rebuild ties with the world. According on President Hassan Rouhani at the Iranian embassy and at to analysts, Rouhani faces stiff competition from hardline the cultural attache in Kuwait. According to the Iranian cleric Ebrahim Raisi, 56, who has positioned himself as a Ambassador to Kuwait Dr Ali Reza Enayati, the turnout was defender of the poor and called for a much tougher line quite high and the voters started arriving at the embassy with the West. even before the polling booths opened at 8 am. “After collecting the ballots and counting them, the “The voting was still going on even at 7 pm as the vot- results will be dispatched to the central voting committee in ers continued to show up even late in the evening,” he Tehran,” the ambassador informed. Enayati thanked the told Kuwait Times yesterday. According to the embassy Kuwait police for helping the embassy in conducting the RIYADH: A giant billboard bearing portraits of US estimates, around 40 percent of the Iranian citizens in the election in a smooth and fair manner. President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman is seen on a main road in Riyadh yesterday. — AFP LOCAL SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2017 KUWAIT: Iranian nationals residing in Kuwait cast their ballot for presidential and municipal elections yesterday at the Iranian embassy in Kuwait. According to Iranian Ambassador to Kuwait Dr Ali Reza Enayati, the voter turnout was quite impressive and voters started to come to the embassy even before the polling booths were open at 8 am. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat Ooredoo concludes three-day entrepreneurship conference Alalyoub underlines need to empower youth KUWAIT: Ooredoo, Kuwait’s fastest network, proudly announced the con- clusion of the 3-day entrepreneurship conference held in collaboration with the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs yesterday in Sheraton Hotel. The conference included participa- tion from the Senior Director of B2B Sales Abdulaziz Al-Babtain, who dis- KFH Team with MP Abdulwahab Al-Babtain cussed alongside a representatives from a number of private and govern- ment sector entities ways for internal KFH participates in CBA policies to enhance entrepreneurial thinking within organizations. Al-Babtain noted during the dis- students’ ceremony cussion Ooredoo’s commitment to Mijbil Alalyoub supporting entrepreneurs and small KUWAIT: Kuwait Finance House projects and their various activi- ucts and services, not to mention a and medium enterprise owners by are part of the initiative in the fol- (KFH,) took part in the honoring ties. This comes in line with the high standard of innovation and providing them with the best-in-class lowing month, activating the memo- ceremony of the distinguished stu- bank’s strategy. client service. mobile internet services included randum of understanding that it dents of College of Business KFH representatives at the cere- KFH manages its operations in within all the solutions and plans that signed with the Ministry of State for Administration as part of its social mony expressed their sincere con- the GCC, Asia, and Europe through are specifically created to meet the Youth Affairs last year. responsibility and efforts to support gratulations to the graduates and over 480 branches, including KFH- needs of entrepreneurs and small Kuwait was chosen in the 38th the youth and the students. their parents for the great achieve- Turkey, in order to offer services for The ceremony was held in the ment. Meanwhile, College of the bank’s clients in Turkey, business owners. assembly of the Arab Ministers of presence of a number of officials, Business Administration praised Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, On his part, Ooredoo’s Senior Youth and Sports Council. A number VIPs, and faculty members. KFH in recognition of the significant Germany, Jordan, and Dubai. Director of Corporate of activities will take place through- Communications Mijbil Alalyoub reit- KFH participation in sponsoring role it plays in shouldering social KFH’s mission is to achieve out the initiative’s program, with a the honoring ceremony stems from responsibility towards students and highest levels of excellence and erated the company’s commitment to focus on involving private sector enti- its keenness to assume the social the educational process which innovation in the field of client enrich youth through its partnerships ties in enriching youth experience responsibility towards all segments reflects its prestigious status as a service, while developing common and ties with other entities, especially under the umbrella of corporate of society, yet reflects its commit- global leading Islamic financial interest for all those concerned the agreement with the Ministry of social responsibility. Additionally, the ment and endeavors to support the institution. with the financial institution. KFH’s State for Youth Affairs. initiative will conclude with declaring students as they are key pillar in KFH was established in Kuwait vision is to spearhead the global Ooredoo announced earlier its a charter for building a constructive achieving the comprehensive in 1977 and is enlisted in the development in Islamic financial strategic partnership in the regional national youth policy. development in the country. Kuwait Stock Exchange. KFH Group services, and to upgrade the bank initiative “Kuwait - Capital of Arab Empowering youth is among KFH has a long track record of is a global pioneer in the field of into the level of becoming the Youth 2017.” The initiative was Ooredoo’s top priorities through its initiatives to support the students Islamic banking services, where it most sustainable profitable Islamic announced earlier with endorse- CSR strategy. The company has and sponsor their graduation offers a wide array of Islamic prod- bank in the world. ment from the Arab League. recently signed a memorandum of Ooredoo Kuwait stated that this understanding with the Ministry of partnership stems from its deep- State for Youth Affairs, to support rooted values of caring, connecting youth projects and initiatives, making and challenging, and is in tandem it the first telecom provider in Kuwait with its corporate social responsibili- to sign such a high-level agreement. ty agenda, which aims to enrich the Ooredoo is continuously working experience of youth and support with the Ministry to enrich youth their passions. Ooredoo aims to par- experience in a variety of fields, with ticipate in a number of events that a focus on volunteerism. KFH team with honorees LOCAL SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2017 Crime Report Citizen arrested in Manila denies terrorism charges KUWAIT: The criminal court recently adjourned the hear- ing of the state security case filed against a citizen who was arrested in the Philippines recently along with his Syrian wife and four others until July 13.