Bahrain Hikes Price of Fuel As Kuwait Dithers
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SUBSCRIPTION TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016 RABI ALTHANI 2, 1437 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Interior minister Four wheels good, ‘Revenant,’ Lionel Messi warns security two wheels better ‘Martian’, Damon, scoops campaigns will for Pakistan’s Stallone, Winslet record fifth continue3 female11 motorists win38 big at Globes Ballon20 d’Or Bahrain hikes price of Min 06º Max 18º fuel as Kuwait dithers High Tide 00:16& 14:20 Low Tide Govt to take issue to Assembly • Ghanem reassures low-income people 07:50 & 19:42 40 PAGES NO: 16753 150 FILS By B Izzak and agencies Aid trucks enter starving Syria town DUBAI/KUWAIT: Bahrain yesterday announced a hike of more than 50 percent in petrol prices following its MADAYA, Syria: The first trucks carrying desperately cut in subsidies for energy products as oil producing needed aid entered the besieged Syrian town of countries struggle with nosediving crude prices. The Madaya yesterday, where more than two dozen peo- government said the price of regular petrol will increase ple are reported to have starved to death. The Syrian today from 80 fils (20 cents) per litre to 125 fils (33 Arab Red Crescent said two trucks loaded with food cents), an increase of 56.3 percent. The more expensive and blankets entered the rebel-held town in the late super petrol will increase by 60 percent, from 100 fils afternoon, at around the same time a military source (27 cents) to 160 fils (42 cents) per litre, it said after a said that three others entered the government-con- cabinet meeting. Earlier this month, Bahrain cut govern- trolled towns of Fuaa and Kafraya. ment subsidies for diesel and kerosene following similar “The operation has started. It is likely to last a few moves by its Gulf neighbors. days. This is a very positive development,” said Saudi Arabia in December raised petrol prices by 50 Marianne Gasser, the head of the International percent as part of subsidy cuts for petroleum products, power and water, after the country posted a record $98 Committee of the Red Cross delegation to Syria. “But billion budget deficit for 2015. The United Arab Emirates it must not be just a one-off distribution. To relieve has liberalized fuel prices, while Kuwait lifted subsidies the suffering of these tens of thousands of people, on diesel and kerosene from the start of 2015. Arab there has to be regular access to these areas,” she said states of the Gulf, heavily reliant on oil income, have in a statement. been hit hard by the sharp decline in crude prices. The Red Crescent, ICRC and the United Nations and Kuwaiti Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh said the gov- its World Food Programme have been trying to get ernment plans to take proposals to cut subsidies on supplies to Madaya since President Bashar Al-Assad’s commodities and public services, as suggested by an regime gave permission for the deliveries on international consultant, to the National Assembly. The Thursday. The deliveries come after an outpouring of aim is to rationalize the use of these services and to international concern and condemnation over the ensure that subsidies reach those who deserve it, the dire conditions in Madaya, where some 42,000 people minister said. National Assembly speaker Marzouq Al- have been living under a government siege. An AFP Ghanem meanwhile said that he was assured by the correspondent who reached Madaya with the aid prime minister that the government will not take any convoy said the town’s streets were deserted, with unilateral decision on subsidies and that it will share it only a service station open. with the Assembly. A pair of elderly women were seen sitting on suit- Ghanem however insisted that the Assembly is pre- cases waiting to be evacuated. People said they pared to adopt measures that do not harm low-income resorted to extreme measures to survive. “For 15 days people and pave the way for “real economic reforms” to we have been eating only soup,” said Hiba Abdel deal with the distortions in the national economy. He Rahman, 17. “I saw a young man killing cats and pre- underscored the need to “tackle the large distortions in senting the meat to members of his family as rabbit. MADAYA, Syria: A convoy containing food, medical items, blankets and other materials is delivered to this the state budget”, adding that “it is not possible to lead Continued on Page 13 besieged town yesterday. — AP the state to bankruptcy”. Continued on Page 13 On Iran-Saudi Music legend David rift, Gulf acts Bowie dies aged 69 LONDON: British music legend David ordinary artist”, collaborator Iggy Pop with caution Bowie has died at the age of 69 after a called his friendship “the light of my life” secret battle with cancer, unleashing a while Madonna described him as DOHA: Gulf Arab states rallied dutifully behind Saudi cascade of tributes for one of the most “Unique. Genius. Game Changer.” Arabia when it cut relations with Iran last week, influential and innovative artists of his Bowie spanned styles ranging from recalling their ambassadors and cancelling flights to time. A notoriously private person, glam rock, New Romantic and dance Tehran in solidarity with the oil-rich kingdom after its Bowie’s death in New York was a shock to music to alternative rock, soul and hard embassy in Iran was torched by protesters. But all the world with the announcement com- rock, underpinned by an astonishing apart from Bahrain stopped short of severing ties, ing just three days after he released his array of stage personas from the sexually responses that suggest these small states - energy 25th studio album “Blackstar”, on his 69th ambiguous Ziggy Stardust to the Thin powers but military minnows - wish to safeguard birthday on Friday. “David Bowie died White Duke. “He will be remembered strategic interests and avoid a full-blown conflict with peacefully today (Sunday) surrounded by amongst the greats but not just one of Iran in which they would fare poorly. his family after a courageous 18-month them, as a unique great,” said Bowie The crisis erupted when Saudi Arabia executed a battle with cancer,” said a statement biographer Paul Trynka, describing him prominent Shiite cleric on Jan 2 and Iranian protesters posted Monday on his official social as “a creative force” who redefined pop retaliated by storming and setting fire to the Saudi media accounts. music over decades. embassy in Tehran. Tensions in the Gulf have reached The death brings the curtain down on Fans left flowers and messages by a levels unseen since the 1980s, when Iraq received RAMALLAH: Palestinian Mohammed Khatib trains on Nov 16, 2015 in this West an extraordinary musical innovator and colorful mural of him in Brixton, the Gulf Arab funding for its 1980-88 war against Iran in a style icon, with a career dating back to south London district where he was born Bank city as part of his preparations for the qualification of the 2016 Summer pan-Arab effort to stem the influence of the Islamic Olympics to be held in Rio de Janeiro. —AFP his first major hit “Space Oddity” in 1969, David Robert Jones on January 8, 1947, revolution that had toppled the Shah. about an astronaut called Major Tom and where preparations were underway Sunni Muslim power Saudi Arabia has warned it who became lost in orbit. Tributes for a street party in his honor. Although Palestinian dreams of could take further steps against Shiite Iran, which it poured in from the world of music, show Bowie left school with just one qualifica- accuses of meddling in Arab affairs. That raises the business and politics for the singer-song- tion, an O-level in art, he went on to sell racing past Usain Bolt prospect of renewed Saudi pressure on its Gulf writer, producer and actor described as a an estimated 140 million records world- Cooperation Council (GCC) allies to adopt more visionary and master of re-invention. The wide. energetic responses. “Gulf countries are under Mohammed Khatib is 25 watched Arab TV shows. “I saw how hap- Rolling Stones hailed Bowie as an “extra- Continued on Page 13 RAMALLAH: immense pressure from Riyadh. Most are trying to and dreams of winning Palestine’s first py people were. They partied all night appease Saudi and maintain minimal relations with Olympic medal. The yoga instructor with because a Palestinian had won thanks to Iran to prevent further escalation,” said Lina Khatib, a sociology degree first starting dream- the votes of the public across the Arab former director of the Carnegie Middle East Center ing of flying the Palestinian flag after world. I told myself ‘imagine what it in Beirut. “They fear they’ll get caught in the middle”. winning a 100-meter sprint a few years could be like if a Palestinian won a glob- In solidarity with Riyadh, Kuwait and Qatar last ago. So every day, he rushes at full speed al competition.’” week pulled out their ambassadors from Tehran, and on an asphalt track - neither very profes- Since that night listening to the horns the United Arab Emirates downgraded its ties. sional nor very safe - in Ramallah in the and cheers, Khatib has trained alone Bahrain and two non-Gulf states, Djibouti and occupied West Bank where he lives. with exercises he found on YouTube. In Sudan, severed relations completely. But long-stand- “There are football stadiums but for ath- three years, he said, he has managed to ing trade links, shared access to oil and gas fields letics almost nothing. There are 100- lower his 100 m time from 15 seconds to and the presence of sizeable Shiite communities meter tracks, but they are asphalt and 11.