Established 1961 Friday ISSUE NO: 17423 RABI ALTHANI 18, 1439 AH FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018 First batch of recruits Trump slams Bannon, says Murray, Nishikori pull 9 report to duty tomorrow 14 ex-aide has ‘lost his mind’ 44 out of Australian Open The biggest games to look out for in 2018 See Page 28 2 Friday Local Friday, January 5, 2018 $127 billion vs Photo of the Day $300 million! Local Spotlight By Badrya Darwish [email protected] t was shocking to hear that the US may cut aid for Palestinians for disagreeing over the unilateral Idecision by Washington to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It’s a decision that the rest of the world pretty much opposed, and even the closest allies of the US like the UK, Germany and France criticized the move and said it would damage the peace process. Now the US president is threatening to cut what lit- tle money his government, not himself, donates to the Palestinian refugees. The UNRWA already faces regu- lar funding shortages and the paltry $300 million the A fireboat is seen plying the waters off the coast of Ras Salmiya on a recent morning. The boats are part of the US gives barely helps. Kuwait Fire Service Directorate’s fleet of firefighting vehicles and regularly conduct drills in the coastal waters But behind the scenes, there’s a bigger game being of Kuwait. — Photo by Jamie Etheridge played. For the last 20 years, Israel tried nonstop to convince the United Nations to close the UNRWA program. Israel wants to stop calling Palestinians refugees because it wants to legitimize its land grabs and prevent any resettlement of Palestinians back to their homeland. Will 2018 be a year of change? Now Israel wants to delegitimize the Palestinian refugee status Local Spotlight By Muna Al-Fuzai Israel’s strategy is to take the whole of Palestine, including the West Bank and Gaza, which was occu- [email protected] pied in 1967 by Israel. That is why no matter what government is in power there, they still promote the settlers’ initiatives. Half the West Bank now is made up he world is still celebrating a new year after emerg- appear to be worrisome to many around the world, and we of new settlements for Israelis. ing from a year that was filled with dramatic and can only point to his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the devastating changes for many countries and people. capital of Israel. This decision triggered an angry and dis- Now Israel wants to delegitimize the Palestinian T Nevertheless, we still hope for change for the best. Even our missive reaction. I think we are at the beginning of a year refugee status, and by shutting UNRWA, it will help safe Gulf region is witnessing a deep-rooted crisis amongst that faces a lot of arduous issues. People are usually opti- them claim there are no Palestinian refugees left in the its members that may lead to serious repercussions on the mistic about the new year, and they see it as a new station world. social, economic, national and political levels if not ended. in their lives. But some have wishes that have remained By the way, in total, the US gives around $600 mil- Kuwait is still striving to preserve unity and solidarity unfulfilled for many years. lion to the Palestinians; half of which goes to UNRWA among the Gulf states, but the situation is still worrying and Also these days, the demonstrations in Iran have been and approximately $300 million goes to the Palestinian tense. Meanwhile, the Arab world faces crises from Syria to making the headlines, and many are following the develop- Authority and NGOS in Palestine. Yemen. ments with caution, especially as the repercussions of the By way of comparison, what aid does Israel receive Locally, there is nothing new except for a new govern- situation undoubtedly affect the whole region and possibly from the US? In 2016, the US inked a deal to give ment. Nothing significant has been achieved, whether in the the world’s policies in dealing with Iran. However, so far the Israel $38 billion - YES BILLIION - dollars in military field of development or corruption, or the status of women war against IS essentially seems to be over, yet the fear and aid over the next decade. Just imagine. In fact, from and their rights over equality with men in their demand for threat of other terror groups exist. 1949 until 2015, the US has given Israel more than housing. It has become a dream. The government has Security is desired by all religions, as well as peace, repeated itself in every formation, but perhaps the most $127 billion in aid, according to the Congressional security and tolerance, because people are tired of fighting, prominent event was the entry of a new member with a dis- bloodshed and sectarian discrimination. There are other Research Service. tinguished public status who represents new hope for general wishes shared by the majority of people, such as Wow! I leave it up to you guys to contemplate on Kuwaitis - Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad, the new eliminating corruption and low prices. As a Kuwaiti, I hope the massive difference between those two aid pack- Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister. The lifting that the new year will eliminate corruption and witness real ages. And one goes to a military that dominates the of the suspension from Kuwaiti football and hosting the Gulf educational reform, most notably the amendment of the cur- entire region and the other to feed refugees. Cup sparked enthusiasm, and the spirit of unity and joy was riculum. We need a new generation that is aware of its So have mercy, please. felt all around Kuwait. responsibilities and role. Globally, the positions of US President Donald Trump Will the new year bring a new breakthrough? 4 Friday Local Friday, January 5, 2018 Non-native trees are planted by local authorities in the streets. Non-native plants Cactus Abraham’s Balm “As a researcher, I do not focus matrimony vine, rhanterium and in the dock overly much on what happens in cities, haloxylon, which are able to hold the because ecosystems are fundamen- soil, according to an academic study tally confused - people can plant provided by Dr Ali Al-Dosari of the By Athoob Al-Shuaibi tomers are whether the plant is suit- whatever they want in their homes. But Kuwait Institute for Scientific Re- able for external cultivation all year the damage is done when cultivating search. The study showed that it only ometimes you pass by a truck around, and whether it can tolerate the non-native plants in the heart of the takes us to cultivate these small bushes with a large tree on its way to an heat, cold and saline water. As a result, desert and in large numbers, as has to reduce the degradation of soil and Sincinerator, or some decades-old there’s a huge demand for conocarpus happened with the conocarpus. We dust storms. trees chopped and left next to a trees, American cactus, lotus flower, later discovered that its long roots dumpster. These are sad scenes that Abraham’s balm and oleander. damage the infrastructure and break may make you furious, wondering On the other hand, local authorities pipes,” she said. what was the fault of that tree that it adopt the same approach to selecting “The real imbalance occurs when was dealt with in such a violent man- plants that are grown in very large Dr. Sara Al-Ateeqi the only goal is to turn the desert into ner. Perhaps the person who planted it quantities in different parts of the coun- a green land without prior research. I was not sufficiently cognizant of the try and in the desert, in order to make in the environment. There is invariably wonder why we are ashamed of our Kuwait greener. But we wonder whether a good reason why some plants and beautiful desert nature. There is a tone there are studies demonstrating the long animals are not found in some geo- of dissatisfaction with its color and term effects of non-local plant cultiva- graphical areas even if their climatic shape and efforts are made to try to tion in the ecosystem of Kuwait. conditions are similar. turn it into something else, like a jun- Every plant has its own soil type, gle, despite the existence of more than Kuwait’s ecosystem and plants bacteria and fungi. When non-native 400 species of fungi plants in the In general, all plants in any desert plants are cultivated in a habitat, this desert of Kuwait,” Ateeqi added. macrocosm share the same character- causes a disturbance in ecosystems, During winter and spring, the istics that withstand heat and salinity. Dr Sara Al-Ateeqi, Director of Oper- desert blooms with all sorts of plants. But the problem is that every plant has ations at Al-Shaheed Park Museums, Therefore, it is best to invest in local its natural enemy to sustain a balance told Kuwait Times. plants and scrubs such as nitraria, Oleander Conocarpus problems of planting it. Those who want to green their buildings or farms often look for weather-resistant char- acteristics so that the trees can sur- vive in an arid desert climate such as Kuwait and to ensure their longevity. This is what the vendors at the Fourth Ring Road nurseries told Kuwait Times. The most common questions they get from cus- CONDOLENCES Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief, management and staff convey their deepest condolences to BAHMAN FAMILY on the sad demise of Abdul Hussain Bahman Chairman and Founding Member Bahman Group May Allah Almighty bestow His mercy on him 6 Friday Local Friday, January 5, 2018 oung artists in Kuwait responded to the 1930s when it was constructed by the late the final call from Architecture stu- Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah in Salmiya, Ydents to express their objections to to be transformed later into a cultural center.