SUBSCRIPTION SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2017 RAJAB 18, 1438 AH No: 17199 Leak shows NSA penetrated Mideast banking networks Min 26º 150 Fils Financial institutions in Kuwait targeted for espionage Max 37º PARIS: A new set of documents purportedly lift- Kuwait, Bahrain and the Palestinian territories ed from the US National Security Agency sug- had been targeted for espionage. Philippines deports gests that American spies have burrowed deep Calls and messages left with EastNets’ into the Middle East’s financial network, appar- offices in Dubai, London and New York were ently compromising the Dubai office of the anti- either not picked up or not immediately Kuwaiti IS suspect money laundering and financial services firm returned. The authenticity of yesterday’s docu- EastNets. TheShadowBrokers, which startled the ment dump could not immediately be deter- MANILA: A Kuwaiti man suspected to be a Rahaf Zina, also named as a member of the security experts last year by releasing some of mined but the group’s previous releases have member of the Islamic State group was yes- group. Zina and Dhafiri married after her the NSA’s hacking tools, has resumed pouring been corroborated by material leaked by for- terday deported by the Philippines to face high-ranking IS commander husband was secrets into the public domain, this time by mer US intelligence contractor Edward charges at home, a justice department offi- killed in Syria, said Justice Secretary Vitaliano publishing purported details of the NSA’s opera- Snowden and software patches issued by cial said. Hussein Al-Dhafiri, one of the two Aguirre. He earlier said the pair had entered tions against banks across the Arab world. major US technology firms. The NSA did not suspected IS members arrested in the the country as part of plans for “a bombing In a first for TheShadowBrokers, the data immediately return emails seeking comment. Philippines last month, was flown out of the operation” in the Philippines or Kuwait. includes PowerPoint slides and purported tar- Because EastNets provides a host of Arab country to Kuwait, undersecretary Erickson Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has get lists, suggesting that the group has access to banks connectivity to the banking system’s Balmes said. warned that IS members might make their a broader range of data than previously known. electronic backbone, known as SWIFT, compro- A statement from the Kuwaiti embassy way into the country by infiltrating its Muslim “This is by far the most brutal dump,” said mising the company would give the NSA the said Dhafiri was due to be tried in his home communities, concentrated in the south of Comae Technologies founder Matt Suiche, who ability to silently track financial transactions country. “Evidence obtained by Kuwait’s the largely Catholic country. The Philippines has closely followed the group’s disclosures and across the Middle East, Suiche said in a phone state security agencies also showed that he is has been battling with Muslim extremist initially helped confirm its connection to the call. He said other documents in the release planning to carry out terroristic attacks in the groups for years in the remote southern NSA last year. In a blog post, he said it appeared suggested an even wider effort to monitor the State of Kuwait,” the statement said. Dhafiri region, some of whom have since pledged that thousands of employee accounts and world’s transactions. “I’ll bet it’s not the only machines from the EastNets’ offices had been SWIFT service bureau that’s been compro- was arrested along with a Syrian woman allegiance to IS. — AFP compromised and that financial institutions in mised,” he said. — AP LOCAL SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2017 Crown Prince returns home KUWAIT: Representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah returned home Thursday after partaking in the 2017 King Abdulaziz camel festival. His Highness was received at Kuwait International Airport by Speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanem, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Minister of the Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of the Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Acting Minister of Information Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Advisor at the Crown Prince Diwan Nasser Al-Roudhan, and Saudi Ambassador to the State of Kuwait Dr Abdulaziz Al-Fayez. His Highness the Crown Prince was accompanied by Sheikh Faisal Al-Saud Al-Sabah, Sheikh Jaber Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah, Sheikh Ali Nasser Al-Ali-Sabah, Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al- Salem Al-Sabah, Governor of Ahmadi area Sheikh Fawaz Al- Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, as well as Advisors at the Crown Prince Diwan Dr Humoud Mohammad Al-Otaibi and Sheikh KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah returns home Thursday Mubarak Al-Faisal Al-Saud Al-Sabah. —KUNA evening. —KUNA Iraq grateful for Kuwaiti-funded school in Irbil Iraqi market provides incentives to Kuwaiti investors: Minister IRBIL: Iraq is grateful for the opening of KUWAIT: Kuwaiti investors are wel- a new school in Irbil as part of the comed to seek business within Iraq Kuwait Red Crescent Society’s (KRCS) and they will have a slight advantage “Kuwait is by your side” campaign, Iraqi over other business personnel, an Iraqi Minister of Education Dr Muhammad official said yesterday. Kuwaiti compa- Iqbal Al-Saidali said yesterday. The min- nies and corporations have a strong ister lauded KRCS for its ongoing presence in the regional and interna- efforts to aid Iraqis on all possible lev- tional markets, said Iraqi Minister of els, saying that this was reflective of Planning and Commerce Suleiman Al- Kuwait’s generous gestures towards Jumaili. Iraq is interested in boosting the people of Irbil. economic and commercial ties with Meanwhile, Governor of Irbil Nawzad Kuwait, said the Iraqi official who Hadi also took the chance to thank affirmed that such cooperation would Kuwait for funding the construction of benefit both fellow Arab countries. Iraqi Minister of the school for the displaced, saying that He commended his meetings with the school, given the name Kathma, will Planning and Kuwaiti top officials, saying that the Commerce stand as a structure displaying Kuwaitis’ gatherings reflected the strong ties sincere wishes for the development of linking the two countries. Speaking on Suleiman Al-Jumaili Iraq within the educational domain. IRBIL: Students celebrate during the opening ceremony of a Kuwaiti- the situation in Iraq, the minister said Meanwhile, Kuwait General Console in that the greatest challenge facing development in Iraq was the Irbil, Dr Omar Al-Kanderi said that the funded school in Irbil, Iraq. —KUNA security threat posed by the so-called Islamic State (IS) and other Kathma School was the third institute terror groups. Once the Iraqi government and allies successfully funded by the KRCS. More of facilities of diplomat, affirming that the society’s ership and people’s efforts to ease the cleanse Iraq from terror groups, the national market will focus on such kind will be opened soon, said the efforts was in line with the Kuwaiti lead- pain of Iraqi displaced. —KUNA building and reinforcing Iraq’s economy. —KUNA KRCS, IRC sign agreement to rehabilitate wounded Syrians BEIRUT: A new agreement, worth $188,000, was Sayer said that Kuwait is always keen to provide a support and funding by Kuwait to UNEP ventures will signed between Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) helping hand to people who are in need of aid world- always be appreciated by the international organiza- and the International Red Cross (IRC) to rehabilitate wide. Speaking during a visit to Al-Rihaniyeh Syrian tion, said the official who hoped that both sides Syrian refugees in Lebanon who were wounded dur- refugee camp in Akkar, the Kuwaiti official said that would be able to work together in the near future. A ing the conflict in their country, a Kuwaiti official said the visit, by officials from Al-Sayer group and the number of refugees at the camp said that were grate- yesterday. United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), was to ful for the assistance provided by the Kuwaiti group, KRCS representative in Lebanon Musa’ad Al-Enizi assess efforts to provide electricity and warm water saying that from darkness, the camp was transform said that the agreement was part of the society’s con- using portable and stationary solar panels. Sayer into a place where light illuminated their paths and tinuous efforts to help Syrian refugees in Lebanon. group’s involvement is in line with the Kuwaiti lead- dwellings. The assistance also provided warm water The agreement will also include other nationalities, ership’s policies to provide refugees, especially that helped to bring a smile to the people who suf- said the Kuwaiti official who stressed that Syrian Syrians, with every bit of assistance that they need to fered from the lack basic human needs. refugees will have the priority in receiving rehabilita- overcome a bit of their suffering. A statement by UNEP indicated that after suffer- tion treatments. Sayer and UNEP Regional Director Iyad Abumoghli ing from long injustice and cold weather, the pro- Meanwhile, Head of the IRC delegation in carried out the visit to Al-Rihaniyeh camp, which gram - through the generous financial support of its Lebanon Fabrizio Carboni said that his organization includes around 1,000 people who are living in 400 main partner Kuwaiti Al-Sayer Group - has con- was keen on bolstering efforts with KRCS to help all tents, mostly accommodating children, women, and tributed to efforts to lighting up tents and walkways those who are in need including Syrian refugees in the elderly.