SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2016 SHAABAN 21, 1437 AH No: 16887 Kuwait one of Coalition jets Supercoach world’s highest pummel IS in Mourinho anointed donors: Ex-FM2 Syria bastion7 at48 Man United Obama makes history with Hiroshima visit Min 28º 150 Fils Max 44º US president meets survivors, offers no apology HIROSHIMA: US President Barack Obama paid moving tribute to victims of the first atomic bomb yesterday, offering a com- forting embrace to a tearful man who survived the devastating attack on Hiroshima. In a ceremony loaded with symbolism, the first sitting US president to visit the city clasped hands with one survivor and hugged another after speaking about the day that marked one of the most terrifying chapters of World War II. “71 years ago, death fell from the sky and the world was changed,” Obama said of a bomb that “demonstrated that mankind possessed the means to destroy itself”. “Why did we come to this place, to Hiroshima? We come to ponder a terri- ble force unleashed in the not-so-distant past. We come to mourn the dead,” he said. As crows called through the hush of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Obama offered a floral wreath at the cenotaph, pausing in momentary contempla- tion with his eyes closed and his head lowered. The site lies in the shadow of a domed building, whose skeleton stands in silent testament to those who perished. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe followed by offering his own wreath and a brief, silent bow. After both men had spo- ken, Obama, whose predecessor Harry Truman gave the go- ahead for the world’s first nuclear strike, greeted ageing sur- vivors, embracing 79-year-old Shigeaki Mori, who appeared overcome with emotion. “The president gestured as if he was going to give me a hug, so we hugged,” Mori told reporters afterwards. Obama also chatted with a smiling Sunao Tsuboi, 91, who had earlier said he wanted to tell the US president how grateful he was for his visit. As expected, Obama offered no apology for the bomb- ings, having insisted that he would not revisit decisions made HIROSHIMA: US President Barack Obama (right) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after laying a by Truman at the close of a brutal war. As an eternal flame wreath in front of the cenotaph to offer a prayer for victims of the atomic bombing in 1945 at the Hiroshima Peace flickered behind him, however, he said leaders had an obliga- Memorial Park yesterday. (Inset) Obama hugs Shigeaki Mori, an atomic bomb survivor. — AFP/AP tion to “pursue a world without” nuclear weapons. “This is why we come to this place, we stand here, in the middle of this city and force ourselves to imagine the moment the bomb fell. We force ourselves to feel the dread of children US Spelling Bee ends in tie confused by what they see. We listen to a silent cry. The world was forever changed here but, today, the children of this city will go through their day in peace,” the US president NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland: Nihar said. — Agencies Janga, a fifth-grader from Austin, Texas, and Jairam Hathwar, a seventh-grader from Painted Post, New York, were named co- Iran ends hajj talks champions of the US Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday after battling 25 without final deal rounds head to head. The late-night duel twice saw Nihar, 11, fail to capitalize on mis- RIYADH: An Iranian delegation wrapped up a visit to Saudi takes by Jairam, 13, and claim the title out- Arabia yesterday without reaching a final agreement on right. They ended co-winners when Jairam arrangements for hajj pilgrims from the Islamic republic, Saudi nailed “feldenkrais”, a method of education, officials said. The Saudi hajj ministry said that the delegation and Nihar aced “gesellschaft”, a type of social had “asked to go back home without signing the agreement relationship. “I’m just speechless,” Jairam on arrangements for the pilgrims” despite two days of exten- told reporters after the contest that was tele- sive talks. A statement said the ministry had offered “many vised on cable network ESPN and repeatedly solutions” to meet a string of demands made by the Iranians, saw the audience in a hotel ballroom burst who had arrived on Tuesday. into cheers. Nihar, the youngest champion The Saudi hajj ministry yesterday said Riyadh had agreed since 2002, thanked his mother and added: “I to allow Iranians to obtain visas through the Swiss embassy in can’t say anything. I’m just in fifth grade.” NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland: Nihar Janga, 11, of Austin, Texas, and Jairam Tehran. Riyadh also agreed to allow some Iranian carriers to fly Jairam and Nihar will each receive a $40,000 Hathwar, 13, of Painted Post, New York, hold up the trophy after being pilgrims to the kingdom despite a ban imposed on Iranian air- cash prize. — Reuters (See Page 25) named co-champions at the 2016 National Spelling Bee on Thursday. — AP lines following the diplomatic row between the two countries, the ministry said. — AFP LOCAL SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2016 Kuwait one of world’s highest donors: Former foreign minister KUWAIT: Kuwait is by far “the most gener- open minded,” he said. Global recognition ous contributor to humanitarian efforts in for Kuwait’s role in humanitarian aid is a the world,” former Minister of Foreign point of pride for the nation, and personal- Affairs Dr Sheikh Mohammad Al-Salem Al- ly, for the KFAED Director General. “We Sabah was quoted as saying in an issue of signed an agreement with our 105th coun- Newsweek magazine. try last year, which was South Sudan,” In the May 27, 2016 issue of Newsweek, Bader noted, adding that “helping others an article on Kuwait’s generosity is embla- and giving is something that has become a zoned on the pages of the weekly periodi- part of us, of our DNA.” BEBNINE: KRCS’s Chairman Dr Hilal Al-Sayer attends a cal. “We have contributed over $4.1 billion Despite its ancient and rich history, celebration at Al-Faris Intermediate School. — KUNA to humanitarian efforts recently and it has Kuwait is in fact a young country, as accord- been acknowledged by United Nations ing to a recent census, approximately, 74 KRCS pays for Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and US percent of its citizens are under the age of Secretary of State John Kerry,” Dr Sheikh 34. Minister of Information and Minister of educating 83 Syrian Mohammad noted. State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah The bulk of that humanitarian aid is Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah affirmed that students in Lebanon largely focused on alleviating the suffering fact, saying “youth empowerment is a long- Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr of the Syrian people, whose country’s civil term solution to some of the most impor- Sheikh Mohammad Al-Salem Al-Sabah BEBNINE: Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) announced war shows no signs of abating. With the tant global issues.” yesterday that it paid for educating about 83 Syrian refugee memory of the Iraqi invasion of 1990 In September 2014, the UN Secretary In addition, Sheikh Salman explained students in Bebnine in Akkar governorate, north of etched on Kuwaitis’ minds, it is perhaps General acknowledged the generosity of that the country strives to better serve its Lebanon. The KRCS’ initiative aims to support Syrian that memory, on top of a tradition of kind- the Kuwaiti spirit when he convened a spe- youth in efforts to secure a more prosper- refugee students in Lebanon to help them continue their ness that has led Kuwait to provide billions cial ceremony of the UN headquarters in ous tomorrow. “We are looking toward a study, the society’s Chairman Dr Hilal Al-Sayer said in a in aid of Syrian refugees. New York to recognize the role of His bigger role for youth, especially, those statement on the sidelines of a celebration held at Al-Faris Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad active on the social media websites, to Intermediate School. Humanitarian leader Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, calling him “a great immunize their peers and to partake in state He stressed the importance of the education dossier of Moreover, Chairman of the Kuwait Red humanitarian leader of the world.” building,” he added. refugee students as it contributes to building human being, Crescent Society Dr Hilal Al-Sayer said that Meanwhile, Director General of Kuwait The importance of the youth to the calling for concerted efforts to mitigate suffering of Syrian “giving and generosity are in Kuwaitis’ Fund for Arab Economic Development country’s future is well-understood by its refugees “that is getting worse day after day.” He under- genes.” Reflecting on the willingness of (KFAED) Abdulwahab Al-Bader highlighted leadership for very good reasons, as lined the significance of backing Syrian refugee students to Kuwaitis to help strangers, Sayer remarked, KFAED’s prominent position in the country’s Undersecretary of the Ministry of State for avoid dropout due to tough conditions most Syrian “from New Orleans to Syria, we are commit- humanitarian and development program. Youth Affairs Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah refugee families are suffering from in Lebanon. ted to being there and helping in times of “We are blessed here in Kuwait, we found a points out, “They are not just the new gen- Meanwhile, Ahmad Fares, head of Al-Fares school, laud- need.” place where were good traders and very eration, they are the new Kuwait.” — KUNA ed Kuwaiti institutions’ interest in educating Syrian refugee children and the role of KRCS and charities in supporting refugees in all fields, especially education.