SUBSCRIPTION THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2015 SHAWWAL 28, 1436 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Croat hostage beheaded Min 33º Max 46º by IS affiliate in Egypt High Tide 09:45 & 23:25 Low Tide First such killing of a Westerner 03:20 & 17:05 40 PAGES NO: 16608 150 FILS CAIRO: The Islamic State group said yesterday it has beheaded a Croatian hostage, and released a picture of Regime raids kill dozens near Damascus a body after what would be the first such killing of a Westerner in Egypt. Croatian Prime Minister told BEIRUT: At least 37 civilians were killed yesterday in reporters he could not “confirm with 100 percent cer- Syrian government air strikes near Damascus, while at tainty” that Tomislav Salopek, who worked for French least 13 people died as rebels fired a barrage of rockets company CGG, had been murdered. “But what we see into the capital, a monitor said. The Syrian Observatory does not look good,” he said. Salopek was abducted for Human Rights said at least four children were among last month west of Cairo. The jihadists had issued a 48- the dead in regime strikes on the rebel-held Eastern hour deadline that expired on Friday threatening to kill Ghouta region, where some 120 people were also him if Muslim women prisoners were not freed from wounded. The death toll was likely to rise further, it said. Egyptian jails. The authenticity of the picture could not The air raids hit the towns of Douma, Saqba, Kafr be immediately verified. Batna and Hammouriyeh in the rebel stronghold. An Salopek’s abduction and purported killing were AFP photographer in Douma saw more than a dozen unprecedented in Egypt, which is battling an IS insur- bodies in makeshift plastic shrouds in a field hospital gency in the eastern Sinai Peninsula. Although IS’ where medical workers struggled to aid the wounded. Egyptian affiliate has killed hundreds of policemen and Elsewhere, he also saw two plastic shrouds opened at soldiers since the army overthrew Islamist president the top to reveal the faces of two children, their skin yel- Mohamed Morsi in 2013, the country had been spared low and blood-speckled. the gruesome kidnappings and executions of foreign- Inside a clinic, a young boy wept and hugged his ers by the jihadists in Iraq and Syria. The group has in legs - one roughly bandaged - as he sat on a blood- the past beheaded bedouin in Sinai it accused of col- smeared floor next to other injured residents. The laborating with the army. strikes came as rebels fired dozens of rockets into State-run Croatian news agency HINA quoted a for- Damascus. The Observatory, without specifying eign ministry source yesterday as saying it “does not whether the raids or the Damascus attack came first, have confirmation that abducted Croatian citizen said at least 13 people, among them 10 civilians, were Tomislav Salopek has been killed”. The picture was killed as a barrage of more than 50 rockets slammed posted on IS-affiliated Twitter accounts with the cap- into the capital. It said another 60 people were tion: “Execution of prisoner from Croatia - which has wounded. DOUMA, Syria: A wounded Syrian boy sits on the floor next to men receiving treatment at a makeshift hospi- participated in war on Islamic State - after deadline Continued on Page 13 tal in this rebel-held area east of the capital Damascus following air strikes by regime forces yesterday. — AFP ended.” Continued on Page 13 $1.57bn Zour contract awarded KUWAIT: Kuwait has awarded a new $1.57 billion con- billion) in contracts to build the planned 615,000 bar- tract for work on its planned Al-Zour oil refinery to a rel-per-day refinery. That included a KD 454-million consortium made up of Italy’s Saipem and another contract for a consortium comprising Saipem, Hyundai firm, state news agency KUNA reported yesterday. The Engineering and Construction, and SK Engineering and 45-month contract, valued at KD 475.32 million ($1.57 Construction to build a marine export terminal. The billion), was the lowest offer submitted in the tender, signing of all contracts is expected to take place in ear- Khalid Al-Asousi, spokesman of state-run Kuwait ly October, Asousi said. The Zour refinery, when com- National Petroleum Co (KNPC) said in a statement, pleted, will be one of the largest oil refineries in the according to KUNA. world, falling strategically within KNPC’s long term Last month, KNPC awarded KD 3.48 billion ($11.5 plans running through 2030. — Agencies BIRCH RUN, Michigan: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump appears before addressing a GOP fundraising event on Tuesday. — AP ‘Leading everywhere’: Trump barrels ahead Bush, Clinton trade blame over Iraq war WASHINGTON: The Donald Trump bullet train charged with a popular Fox News moderator, and later made full speed ahead Tuesday, as the unfiltered US presiden- comments about her that many interpreted as crudely tial hopeful slammed China, Barack Obama’s adminis- sexist. But Trump, himself a former reality TV impresario, tration and Republican rival Jeb Bush while reveling in said he was responsible for drawing millions to that fresh poll results that he said show him “leading every- prime-time debate broadcast. “Who do you think they where”. Ignoring warning signs that his campaign may were watching, Jeb Bush? Huh? I don’t think so,” Trump be running into trouble, the brash celebrity billionaire quipped. Asked if he would acknowledge he has gone held a wide-ranging press conference before a speech over the top with some of the criticism and his brag- in Michigan and lashed out on several subjects but gadocio, Trump merely pointed to the polls. “Leading in declined to provide policy details. “We’ll be announcing Iowa, leading in New Hampshire... leading in South over the next two weeks numbers and specifics,” he said Carolina, leading in Nevada,” Trump said, rattling off sev- when asked of his jobs plan. “You have to be flexible on eral early-voting states. jobs and everything else.” He used his take-no-prisoners A new Suffolk University poll in Iowa, which holds style to batter Bush in particular, saying the former the first presidential contest early next year, has Trump Florida governor “will not be able to negotiate against ahead with 17 percent support, Wisconsin Governor China (or) Mexico.” Scott Walker in second with 12 percent and Senator Trump lit a powder keg during last week’s debut Marco Rubio of Florida with 10. The survey also showed Republican presidential debate, when he refused to Bush, a one-time frontrunner, slipping to seventh spot. pledge he would not run as an independent, clashed Continued on Page 13 LOCAL THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2015 KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah meets Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Khaled Al- meets UAE Ambassador to Kuwait Rahma Hussein Al Zaabi. meets Ambassador of Tajikistan to Kuwait Zubaydullo Zubaydov. Jarrah Al-Sabah. — KUNA Crown Prince receives top state officials KUWAIT: His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Meanwhile, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled received UAE Volodymyr Tolkach. Sheikh Sabah received letters Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Ambassador to Kuwait Rahma Hussein Al Zaabi, who from Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Aslov and received Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign delivered a verbal message from UAE Minister of Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin from the two Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah at Foreign Affairs Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan ambassadors respectively, which dealt with bilateral Bayan Palace yesterday. His Highness Sheikh Nawaf regarding topics of mutual concern and recent relations and issues of common interests. Ambassador also received Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of regional and international developments. Walid Al-Kubaizi, First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al- Separately, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled received Foreign Minister’s Office Deputy Director Ambassador Sabah and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Ambassador of Tajikistan to Kuwait Zubaydullo Saleh Salem Al-Loghani and a number of Foreign Defense Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah. Zubaydov, and Ambassador of Ukraine to Kuwait Ministry officials attended the meetings. -— KUNA Kuwait to celebrate capital of Islamic culture in Jan KUWAIT: Kuwait’s celebration as a capi- Scientific and Cultural Organization Islamic culture, seminars, conferences, tal for Islamic culture 2016 will take (ISESCO), said the official, noting that poetry, workshops, musical and cine- place in time with the launch of Qurain the organization annually chooses matic shows and scientific trips. ISESCO Cultural Festival on January 22, said three main capitals from the Arab was established in 1981 to develop sci- Secretary General of the National World, Asia and Africa. ISESCO also ences, education, culture and commu- Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah meets Council for Culture, Arts and Letters nominated the city of Male in the nication in the Islamic world. The Ambassador of Ukraine to Kuwait Volodymyr Tolkach. (NCCAL) Ali Al-Youha. Maldives and Freetown city in Sierra organization, consisting of 52 member- The festival will present Kuwait’s cul- Leone as the other two capitals for states, works on presenting the true tural side and activities, aiming to Islamic culture, during its meeting in principles of Islam all over the world, attract Islamic and international media October 2009, he added. encourage dialogue between different to Kuwait as a cultural center, Youha Meanwhile, Youha said that the cultures and religions, spread peace said yesterday.