SUBSCRIPTION THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 JAMADA ALTHANI 6, 1436 AH www.kuwaittimes.net KIPCO looks Kuwaiti to double rappers seek to profit change image by21 2018 of40 Arabs ‘Moment of truth’ as govt Min 15º rejects ‘lies and videotape’ Max 27º High Tide 04:00 & 15:45 Sheikh Mohammad govt hero • Ghanem blasts Sheikh Ahmad Low Tide 10:00 & 23:00 40 PAGES NO: 16471 150 FILS By Staff Reporter Heinz, Kraft KUWAIT: State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah yesterday said that leading US investigation and intelligence services firm set to merge Kroll had found that claims made by former opposition NEW YORK: For fans of traditional American gastron- MPs about huge money transfers were “baseless”. He was speaking during a special debate on what MPs described omy, it’s a Wall Street match made in food heaven. The as systematic attacks on the mega-merger of US icons Heinz and Kraft Foods judiciary “aimed at destroy- announced yesterday will bring together classic sta- ing Kuwait”. ples ketchup, hot dogs, processed cheese and a Sheikh Mohammad told whole host of other top-selling convenience foods MPs that the government under one roof. The deal, had hired Kroll to carry out forged by investment investigations over allega- guru Warren Buffett’s tions that former prime min- Berkshire Hathaway and ister Sheikh Nasser Al- 3G Capital, which own Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al- Heinz, will assemble the Sabah and his son made bil- world’s fifth-largest food lions of dollars of illegal company, with around transfers to foreign banks including a bank in Israel. The Commerce Minister $28 billion in annual Abdulmohsen Al-Mudej sales. allegations were made at a public rally in June last year. resigned yesterday. The Kraft Heinz Company, as it will be called, will Sheikh Mohammad said Kroll, which once investigat- have eight billion-dollar brands and five others worth ed Saddam Hussein’s finances for Kuwait, said in a more than $500 million in annual sales. They include lengthy report that the size of transfers claimed by for- classic brands with often global name-recognition: mer MPs is illogical, especially the ones to Israel. The Heinz Ketchup, Heinz Baked Beans, Kraft Macaroni & report also said that Kroll got letters from a British bank Cheese, Maxwell House coffee, Velveeta cheese, Oscar saying that they had never had any dealings with the for- Mayer hotdogs, A-1 steak sauce, Miracle Whip mayon- Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al- mer premier or his son, quashing claims by the former naise, Kool-Aid and Jell-O. Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah Ghanem readies for the onslaught. “I’m as opposition politicians. Continued on Page 13 heroically stands for the integrity of Kuwait. white as my ghutra,” he declared. Continued on Page 13 Hadi flees as Houthis advance SANAA: Yemen’s embattled president fled his palace home in the southern port city of Aden for an undis- News closed location yesterday as Shiite rebels closed in on in brief the country’s third-largest city and launched airstrikes targeting the presidential forces guarding the palace’s compound. President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi left BBC sacks Top the palace just hours after the rebels, known as the Gear’s Clarkson Houthis, and their allies seized a key airbase where US LONDON: The BBC announced yesterday that it was troops and Europeans had advised the country in its dropping one of its most popular presenters, “Top Gear” fight against Al-Qaeda militants. The base is only 60 km host Jeremy Clarkson, for physically away from Aden, where Hadi had established a tempo- attacking a producer. “It is with great rary capital after fleeing from house arrest at the hands regret that I have told Jeremy Clarkson of the rebels in Sanaa earlier in March. today that the BBC will not be renewing The rebels offered a bounty for Hadi’s capture and his contract,” BBC Director-General Tony arrested his defense minister. Hours later, they launched Hall said in a statement. Clarkson’s con- airstrikes targeting presidential forces guarding the tract with “Top Gear”, a motoring show palace. The advance of the rebels, empowered by the which draws more than 350 million Clarkson backing of the ousted Yemeni autocrat Ali Abdullah viewers around the world, is thought to Saleh and his loyalists, threatens to plunge the Arab expire at the end of this month. His departure will have world’s poorest country into a civil war that could draw financial implications for the British broadcaster, as its in its Gulf neighbors. Already, Hadi has asked the commercial arm BBC Worldwide earns around £50 mil- United Nations to authorize a foreign military interven- lion ($75 million) a year from the show. But Hall said: tion in Yemen. “There cannot be one rule for one and one rule for Continued on Page 13 another dictated by either rank, or public relations and commercial considerations.” Sweden-Saudi Malik leaves boy spat because of band One Direction LONDON: Zayn Malik has left boy band One Direction but the group will continue without feminist policy him, they said yesterday, in news set to break the STOCKHOLM: Sweden is seeking to quell an unprece- hearts of millions of teenage girls dented diplomatic spat over human rights with Saudi worldwide. Malik apologized to Arabia which has seen ambassadors recalled and arms fans for leaving the British band, sales cancelled, drawing comparisons with Denmark’s whose hits include “What Makes cartoon controversy. Stockholm’s relations with Riyadh You Beautiful” and “Best Song have nosedived since leftist Foreign Minister Margot Ever”, but said he had to do “what Wallstroem told parliament in a February speech the oil- feels right”. “I am leaving because I rich state was a “dictatorship” that violated women’s want to be a normal 22-year-old rights and whipped bloggers. Malik who is able to relax and have As Sweden faces growing criticism from the king- some private time out of the spotlight,” he said in dom’s allies in the Middle East, Wallstroem’s detractors at a statement released by One Direction on social home wonder whether the government thought media. “I know I have four friends for life in Louis, through the consequences of denouncing the Gulf pow- Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to erhouse. “All this has been badly planned,” Paulina be the best band in the world,” Malik added. Neuding, editor of the right-leaning political magazine NEO, told AFP. Sweden’s government announced a “femi- Cover design of new nist” foreign policy when it took power in September. Lee novel unveiled Rights groups accuse Saudi Arabia of meting out brutal NEW YORK: The cover for Harper Lee’s new novel will punishments to dissidents and religious minorities, and surely remind you of the cover for her old one. excluding women from most areas of public life. The crisis in relations between Stockholm and Riyadh Yesterday, HarperCollins unveiled the was cemented earlier this month when Sweden ended jacket art for Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman”, an arms agreement with Riyadh, despite warnings from the unexpected follow-up to her classic business leaders about the potential impact on exports “To Kill a Mockingbird”. The new cover, to the Gulf state, worth about $1.3 billion. like the one for “To Kill a Mockingbird”, A storm of criticism ensued from the Arab League is a moody illustration featuring an oak and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. The top tree in front. The art for “Go Set a religious authority in Saudi Arabia accused Sweden of Watchman” also shows train tracks and disrespecting Islam and sharia law, which forms the a train in the distance. In a statement basis of the Saudi legal system, while the foreign min- released by HarperCollins, company President Michael istry accused Stockholm of “flagrant interference”. Saudi Morrison noted that “Go Set a Watchman” begins with Arabia blocked a planned speech by Wallstroem at the “Mockingbird” protagonist Scout Finch returning by Arab League, halted business visas for Swedes and train 20 years later, in the 1950s, to her native Alabama. recalled its ambassador from Stockholm in protest. The HarperCollins has announced a first printing of 2 million UAE, a close Saudi ally, also recalled its ambassador. copies and a July 14 publication date for the book. Continued on Page 13 LOCAL THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah in a group photo with ministers Yasser Abul and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets Kuwait Foundation for Advancement of Yaqoub Al-Sanea, as well as chairmen and members of local charities and societies. — KUNA photos Science’s Director General Dr Adnan Shehabeddine and Deputy Director General Ahmad Bechara. Kuwaiti charities hail Amir’s support Amir receives ministers, charities’ presidents KUWAIT: A number of officials representing Charitable Society meanwhile commented on Heritage Revival Society, commented on the family. Since the start of the campaign and up Jaber Al-Sabah separately received Dr several charitable organizations highly praised charitable assistance to the Syrian refugees, subject of helping the children of Syrian until now, more than 43 million loaves of Adnan Shehabeddine, Director General of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- saying that he favored that charities to Syrians refugees, saying that there are more than five bread have been distributed, he said. Kuwait Foundation for Advancement of Ahmad Al-Sabah for his ample support of their would not be confined to relief aid only but to and a half million children of Syrian refugees HH the Amir had received at Bayan Palace Science (KFAS), who presented Dr Ahmad humanitarian work.