SUBSCRIPTION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015 RABI ALAWWAL 11, 1437 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Two nabbed Waste spill Israeli Panthers edge in ‘largest’ buries buildings director’s Giants in marijuana in China, latest movie ill-tempered raid 4 91 missing7 is38 in Farsi thriller20 Nod to new anti-graft Min 07º Max 19º bill, KD 600m for KAC High Tide 09:37 & 20:50 Defense budget, grilling top Assembly agenda Low Tide 03:05 & 14:52 40 PAGES NO: 16735 150 FILS By B Izzak KUWAIT: The Cabinet in its weekly meeting yesterday MoI reaffirms security of churches approved a new draft law for the Anti-Corruption Authority which was declared unconstitutional by the constitutional KUWAIT: Ministry of Interior Undersecretary Lt Gen court on Sunday. The Cabinet sent the new bill to HH the Sulaiman Al-Fahd yesterday reiterated keenness on the Amir for his approval before sending it to the National security and safety of Christians and their places of wor- Assembly urgently. The Assembly’s legal and legislative com- ship, thanking them for interacting with such efforts. mittee was scheduled to discuss today the anti-corruption Fahd received representatives of churches in Kuwait as draft law but it delayed the discussion because the govern- part of coordination meetings with religious bodies and ment did not send it quickly enough. sects in the country, the ministry’s security media depart- It was not clear however whether the committee will dis- ment said in a statement. These are a part of efforts to cuss the draft law today to be ready for the Assembly debate enhance preventive measures and take security and pre- either today or tomorrow, or it could leave it until after the cautionary steps, as well as exchanging views at a time New Year break. The Cabinet also dissolved the Anti- that requires further caution and cooperation to support Corruption Authority and scrapped all decisions and func- the ministry’s efforts. tions that were carried out by the authority after the cancel- During the meeting, Fahd conveyed greetings by lation of the decree forming it. A new setup is expected to Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh be announced immediately after the Assembly approves the Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to the repre- bill. Five MPs also submitted a draft law on the same issue. sentatives, and stressed eagerness that all people in The Cabinet also approved and referred to HH the Amir a Kuwait enjoy freedom of faith and of practicing religious draft bill that allows the government to withdraw KD 600 rituals in stable conditions dominated by tolerance, love and peaceful coexistence, the statement added. Fahd million from the monetary reserves to boost the capital of congratulated the representatives on their feasts, Kuwait Airways, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and expressing pleasure for the good and fruitful meeting. Acting Minister of Electricity and Water Sheikh Mohammad For their part, the representatives of churches expressed Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah said. appreciation of the efforts by the Interior Ministry to guar- The Assembly today starts its two-day session, the last antee security and safety for all people in Kuwait. They before the New Year break, and is scheduled to discuss a underlined the fact that Kuwait “will always remain a land KUWAIT: Interior Ministry Undersecretary Lt Gen Sulaiman Al-Fahd receives representatives of churches in host of important issues including the grilling of the health of tolerance and peaceful coexistence”. — KUNA Kuwait yesterday. — KUNA minister, a government request for additional defense Continued on Page 13 Blatter, Platini get 8-year bans ZURICH: A FIFA ethics tribunal yesterday French legend Platini called the verdict banned Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini a “masquerade” for an attempt to exclude Taleban bomber for eight years, saying they had abused him from world football. The ban, which their positions over a suspect 2 million starts immediately, could however bring kills 6 US troops Swiss franc payment. The court strongly an inglorious end to 79-year-old Blatter’s criticized the FIFA president and vice four decades with FIFA. It is also a devas- as violence rises president, saying there was “no legal tating blow to Platini’s hopes of taking basis” for the payment that Blatter over as head of football’s world govern- KABUL: A motorcycle-riding Taleban suicide bomber authorized for Platini in 2011. While full- ing body in an election on Feb 26. “I think killed six US soldiers near Kabul yesterday, in a brazen blown corruption charges were this is punishment enough, because it attack as the resurgent militant group battled to dropped, both men angrily rejected the means they can never come back,” former seize a key southern district in Afghanistan’s opium- verdict and vowed to appeal. Blatter said UEFA president Lennart Johansson told growing heartland. The bombing during a joint he felt betrayed and declared: “I will the Swedish daily Expressen. patrol with Afghan forces near Bagram, the largest fight to the end.” Continued on Page 13 US military base in Afghanistan, marks one of the deadliest attacks on foreign troops in the country this BEIRUT: Hezbollah members carry the coffin of Samir Kantar as others wave the year. The Taleban claimed responsibility for the Palestinian flag during his funeral procession in a southern suburb of the capital assault, which underscores a worsening security situ- yesterday. —AP ation a year after NATO formally ended its combat operations in Afghanistan. Hezb holds martyr’s “Six (NATO) service members died as a result of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack,” the US-led coalition said in a statement, adding that funeral for Kantar three others were wounded. A US official said all six soldiers killed were Americans. The attack came as BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Hezbollah group yes- Death to America!” and waved the Taleban insurgents in Helmand were closing in on terday gave a “martyr’s” funeral in Beirut Palestinian, Lebanese and Hezbollah flags, the strategic district of Sangin, tightening their grip for Samir Kantar, who was killed in a sus- as the coffin was carried to a mausoleum on the volatile southern province. pected Israeli air strike in Damascus. reserved for “martyrs”. A day after rocket Local residents reported crippling food shortages Fighters manned checkpoints as Kantar’s and artillery fire was traded over the bor- in the district, long seen as a hornet’s nest of insur- coffin, draped in the movement’s yellow- der with Israel, Hezbollah chief Hassan gent activity, after the Taleban began storming gov- and-green flag, was carried to its burial Nasrallah later yesterday gave an address ernment buildings on Sunday. “The Taleban have place in the capital’s Ghobeiri area, a bas- on the killing of Kantar, who commanded captured the police headquarters, the governor’s tion of Hezbollah support. “The Israelis still operations for the group in Syria’s occu- office as well as the intelligence agency building in haven’t learned that with all these assassi- pied Golan. “Samir is one of us and a com- Sangin,” deputy Helmand governor Mohammad Jan nation attempts on leaders they are com- mander of our resistance and it is our right Rasoolyar told AFP. “Fighting is escalating in the dis- trict,” he said, claiming the number of soldiers killed mitting a huge mistake,” senior Hezbollah to retaliate for his assassination in the ZURICH: Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter holds a press conference yester- official Hisham Safiedine said. place, time and a way we see appropriate. in clashes is “unbelievably high”. Continued on Page 13 day after the world’s football governing body announced its verdict banning A thick crowd chanted “Death to Israel! Continued on Page 13 him from football for eight years. — AFP (See Page 18) Oil prices hit 11-year low NEW YORK: Brent crude oil prices hit their lowest in Heating oil futures fell to their lowest since July 2004 as more than 11 years ye, while US crude flirted with seven- US and European weather modes forecast warmer-than- year lows on more signs that swelling global supply expected weather through year end. looked set to outpace tepid demand again next year. While consumers have enjoyed lower fuel prices, the Global oil production is running close to record highs world’s richest oil exporters have been forced to revalue and, with more barrels poised to enter the market from their currencies, sell off assets and even issue debt for nations such as Iran and Libya, the price of crude is set the first time in years as they struggle to repair their for its largest monthly percentage decline in seven finances. OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, will stick with its years. year-old policy of compensating for lower prices with Brent’s premium over US crude narrowed further as higher production, and shows no signs of wavering, the market braced for the end of a 40-year ban on US even though lower prices are painful to its poorer mem- crude exports. US President Barack Obama signed a law bers. on Friday that will end the ban. US crude futures fell 53 “With OPEC not in any mood to cut production ... it cents at $34.20 by 11:14 a.m. EST (1614 GMT) after does mean you are not going to get any rebalancing any bouncing off an intraday low of $33.98. Brent futures time soon,” Energy Aspects chief oil analyst Amrita Sen were down 61 cents at $36.27, falling as much as 2 per- said. “Having said that, long term of course, the lower cent during the session to a low of $36.04 a barrel, its prices are today, the rebalancing will become even weakest since July 2004.