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ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2012
INTERNATIONAL 10
Disruption to Saudi Arabia’s oil exports could cause oil prices to spike
Cyber war targets Middle East oil companies
PARIS, Oct 21, (AFP): Middle Eastern about the “Shamoon” virus that hit Saudi exports could cause oil prices to spike and International Studies think tank. Iran has been victim of other digital cyber espionage operations ongoing in
oil and gas companies have been targeted Arabia’s state oil company Aramco in from their already elevated prices and tip He said the US authorities were used to attacks as well. the Middle East. Their full purpose
in massive attacks on their computer net- August, disabling more than 300,000 the fragile global economy into reces- cyber espionage from Russia and China, In April it was forced to unplug com- remains obscure and the identity of the
works in an increasingly open cyber war computers. sion. but were surprised by the swift rise in puters at its Kharg oil terminal from the victims and the attackers remains
where a new virus was discovered just The virus also hit Rasgas, a joint ven- In what was interpreted as a veiled Iran’s digital warfare capability. Internet after they came under cyber unknown.”
this past week. ture between US oil firm Exxon Mobil threat against Iran, Panetta said the US “A lot of people didn’t think it would attack, and in November last year an Christian Harbulot, the head of the
The United States and Israel, believed Corp and state-controlled Qatar military “has developed the capability to develop this quickly,” he said. explosion at a missile terminal was attrib- Economic Warfare School in Paris,
to behind the first cyber sabotage cam- Petroleum. conduct effective operations to counter However it is unsurprising that Iran uted by US media to a computer virus. warned that “it is extremely difficult to
paign that targeted Iran’s nuclear pro- Panetta called the sophisticated virus (cyber) threats to our national interests.” would seek a cyber warfare capability Only ‘scratched the surface’ of cyber undo the knot” in what is also a propa-
gramme, are now worried about becom- “the most destructive attack that the pri- A senior US administration official, after having hundreds of centrifuges used warfare in Middle East. ganda war.
ing targeted themselves. vate sector has seen to date.” who spoke on condition of anonymity, to enrich uranium ruined by the Stuxnet Kaspersky Labs, which detected the He said Iran could be behind the
“There have been increasing efforts to It took Aramco, the world’s biggest oil told AFP the cyber attack on the Gulf oil virus in 2010. “Flame” and “Gauss” viruses believed “Shamoon” virus, but that “it could be an
carry out cyberattacks on Israel’s com- company, two weeks after the August 15 giants was believed to be carried out by a Stuxnet marked a transformation for behind those attacks, announced Monday additional pretext to weaken Iran” which
puter infrastructure,” Prime Minister attack to restore its main internal net- “state actor” and acknowledged that Iran computer viruses, which had previously it had found a new cyber espionage is already under international embargo
Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this work, but the group said that oil produc- would be a prime suspect. been used for spying or by organised weapon it dubbed “miniFlame”. over its nuclear programme.
month, without giving details. tion had not been disrupted. US officials have “more than a suspi- crime, into a tool for sabotage. It described the virus as “a high preci- For Nicolas Arpagian at France’s
Netanyahu spoke just days after However the threat that digital attacks cion” that Iran was to blame for the It is widely suspected to have been the sion, surgical attack tool ... designed to National Institute of Advanced Security
Washington issued a veiled warning to could cripple vital infrastructure is real, August attacks, said James Lewis, who work of the United States and Israel, steal data and control infected systems and Justice Studies, the latest attacks
Iran over digital attacks and outlined a with Panetta warning of the possibility of has worked for the State Department and which believe Iran’s nuclear programme during targeted cyber espionage opera- “show that arsenal of digital weapons is
new digital warfare doctrine. a “cyber-Pearl Harbor” to justify a policy other government agencies on national aims to produce a bomb. tions.” getting bigger, and that when you have
US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta of moving aggressively against threats. security and cyber issues and who is now Tehran insists its nuclear programme is Kaspersky said “we have only just such an arsenal the use of cyberweapons
also referred publicly for the first time A disruption to Saudi Arabia’s oil a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic for peaceful uses only. scratched the surface of the massive is bound to become more commonplace.”
The Bill No. 17/2012 on linking budg- Syrian regime wounded eight people, a
Escape from et of Public Authority for Special Needs security official said.
Affairs for the fiscal year (2012/2013) Just minutes after Hassan’s funeral cer-
Continued from Page 1 showed budget expenditures amounting emony in Beirut, “young people headed
to about KD 214.865 million. towards the building in the city centre,
or favoritism, vote-buying through prom- The Bill No. 18/2012 on linking budg- but security forces blocked them by firing
ises, services, appointments and unfair et of General Authority for Attention to into the air and using tear gas,” a police-
promotions or ‘favored’ medical treat- Print and Public the Holy Quran and man told AFP.
ments overseas as was the case in the Sunnah and Sciences for (2012/2013) The group was estimated at a couple of
past. showed that expenditures amounted to hundred people.
We are not exaggerating when we say about KD 7.314 million, while the esti- During funeral orations for the slain
the group was adamant, chose the path of mated revenues stand at about KD 3,000. police intelligence chief, angry former
civil disobedience and strayed away The Cabinet also issued a Bill No. premier Fuad Siniora called on Mikati to
instead of rallying around the political 7/2012 linking the budgets of 10 state resign, adding his voice to many others
leadership and show respect for the institutions for the fiscal year 2012/2013 since Hassan and two others were killed
Constitution. By announcing they will as expenditures were estimated at KD and 126 wounded on Friday.
boycott the elections, the majority group 1.252 billion. Siniora, parliamentary chief for oppo-
members have not only crossed the limits The bill, projected budgetary revenues sition leader and ex-premier Saad Hariri,
but given the impression that they alone of Kuwait University, National said the “government is responsible for
own this country. Assembly, Public Authority for Civil the crime that killed Wissam and his
Over the years this militia of extortion Information (PACI), Kuwait Fire Service chauffeur. That is why he must go.”
has been pronouncing their positions but The leaders of Kuwait tribes with the Amir.
Directorate (KFSD), Public Authority for “Mikati, you cannot stay in your post
was quick to fall in line shamelessly as if Applied Education and Training to cover up this crime,” he said. “If you
nothing had happened. (PAAET), Public Authority for Minors stay, it means you agree with what hap-
It is unbelievable that these people talk Affairs, Public Authority for Agriculture pened and what will happen.”
a lot about principles but at the first and Fish Resources Affairs (PAAFRA), Despite calls for him to step down,
opportunity run behind personal interests. Public Authority for Youth and Sport Mikati said after an emergency cabinet
Therefore, I say they will not stick to (PAYS) and the Public Authorit for meeting he had agreed to stay in his post
their promises because they do not want Assemssment of Compensation for at the request of President Michel
to lose the privileges which they enjoy, Damages Resulting from Iraqi Sleiman to avoid a “political vacuum” in
including the immunity that protects Aggression amounted to approximately volatile Lebanon.
them from court cases. KD 25.641 million.
One of them has even gone to the The Cabinet also issued Bill No.
extent of saying, ‘I was born for this day’
(when he stormed the National Assembly
6/2012 on linking the budgets of five Newswatch
independent institutions for the fiscal
building). Well, it is time for him to prove year 2012/2013 whose revenues amount
what he has said by sticking to his prom- Continued from Page 1
to nearly KD 118.235 million.
ise and boycotting the National Assembly The state institutions are Zakat House, court on Sunday cut the jail terms of two
elections. At least he will relieve us and Shiite teachers’ union leaders, convicted of
Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Kuwait calling for the toppling of the Sunni monar-
relieve himself. Institute for Sceintific Research (KISR), chy during last year’s protests, a prosecu-
Public Authority for Industry (PAI) and tion statement said.
Kuwait budget Kuwait Ports Authority. The court halved the 10-year jail sen-
tence handed down to the head of the teach-
KUNA photos ers’ union, Mahdi Abu Deeb, and reduced
Continued from Page 1 Energy drinks The Al-Sabah family at the Amir’s palace the three-year sentence for his deputy Jalila
The law forecast expenditure on con- al-Salman to six months, the statement and
struction projects, maintenance and pub- Continued from Page 1 lawyers said. (AFP)
lic properties at KD 2.162 billion, miscel- ❑ ❑ ❑
laneous and transfer payments at KD blood pressure-affected individuals,
those with caffeine allergies and children
‘A great experience’ CHICAGO: At least seven people have
8.938 billion, complementary credits KD been shot in the midwestern US state of
956.534 million. affected with behavioral disorders.
The Council of Ministers issued on
Sunday a number of bills numbered (8, 9,
The decision also banned companies
from placing misleading advertisements Iraqi officials venture into world of Internet Wisconsin by an unknown assailant, US
media reported Sunday.
Police told reporters they were looking
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18) link- in order to encourage people to purchase
their goods, like those claiming their BAGHDAD, Oct 21, (AFP): Smiling There is no jargon, no cryptic techni- The lack of advancement in Iraq in for a black male as a suspect in the midday
ing the budgets of a number of state insti- shyly, Wassan Saleh admitted to being cal language, and initial lessons are the field of computers comes as a direct shooting near a shopping mall outside the
tutions for the fiscal year 2012/2013 and drinks have medicinal benefits or
increase concentration, among others. the face of a vast problem across Iraq’s devoted to basic operations and use of result of 30 years of war and sanctions: city of Milwaukee. (AFP)
published in the Kuwait Gazette. bureaucracy that officials are now trying simple programmes such as Microsoft’s the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War; Saddam’s ❑ ❑ ❑
The Bill No. 8 of 2012 concerning Energy-drink producing companies
to remedy: she had never used a com- Word or Excel software. 1990 invasion of Kuwait and the inter-
linking the budget of Kuwait Petroleum will now be obliged to obtain a license
puter. Shortly afterwards, students are intro- national response the following year, NAYPYIDAN: Myanmar has no choice
Corporation (KPC) and its subsidiaries from both the Kuwaiti Health Ministry but to accept foreign aid for Muslims hit by
and Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Her participation in information tech- duced to the Internet, and different along with the resulting economic recent sectarian violence or it will face an
for the financial year (2012/2013) esti- nology (IT) classes at a Baghdad college social media services like Twitter and embargo; and the 2003 invasion.
in order to sell their products or issue international backlash, President Thein
mates budget revenues amounting to is part of efforts by university professors Facebook, which have been added in “Until 1980, Iraq was the most Sein said Sunday.
about KD 17.437 billion. advertisements for them.
Shops that do not abide by the laws to help modernise Iraq’s civil service. recent years as mandatory courses that advanced country in the Middle East His comments follow a series of protests
The bill estimated oil expenses by up The system routinely frustrates — to students at the college must take. when it came to technology,” Jawad by Buddhists in Myanmar against efforts by
to KD 16.698 billion and allows the KPC will be issued with an initial warning, fol-
lowed by an enforced closure of their put it mildly — Iraqis, with its The lessons are the brainchild of complained. “But the war with Iran a world Islamic body to help Muslims
to waive the cost of buying crude oil, gas Byzantine rules and paper-based system Harith Fuad Jawad, the head of the col- changed all that, and today, in the tech- affected by the violence in the western state
and products – variable costs – on condi- business for a period of no less than one
week, if the offence is repeated and a that has remained largely unchanged for lege’s IT department. He started them in nology race, we are lagging far behind.” of Rakhine. (AFP)
tion that there would be an increase in decades. December 2008 after reading a newspa- Saddam’s regime clamped down on ❑ ❑ ❑
sales revenue. license withdrawal, if the offence is
repeated for a third time. “This is the first time in my life that I per article that lamented Iraqis’ “techno- freedom of expression, which extended
The estimated net profit for the finan- am using a computer,” said Saleh, an logical illiteracy”. to use of the Internet, but while the PARIS: A correspondent for France 24 TV
cial year (2012/2013) stands at about KD was “savagely attacked” near Cairo’s
official in the commerce ministry, as her In the article, an unnamed professor shackles on Iraqis’ use of the web were Tahrir Square after being seized by a
738.884 million.
Bill No. 9 for the year 2012 on linking
Iran, US introductory class at Baghdad Technical
College drew to an end.
recalled how, when teaching students to
use computers, “I asked them to drag
lifted in 2003, the government has not
promoted the use of computers.
crowd, the network said Saturday. It was the
latest case of violence against women at the
budget of Kuwait Airways Corporation “I have a computer at my home, but I the mouse up — one of them grabbed Iraqis seeking to get things done at epicenter of Egypt’s restive protests.
(KAC) for fiscal year (2012/2013) Continued from Page 1 had no idea how it worked,” said the 35- the mouse and held it up in the air, over ministries face immense amounts of The news channel said in a statement that
showed a net loss estimated at KD that, we have no discussions with the year-old. “Now, I will use everything I the computer.” paperwork, with no option to do any of Sonia Dridi was attacked around 10:30 pm.
105.935 million. United States.” have learned. It’s really a great experi- The students take lessons for three their work online. Friday after a live broadcast on a protest at
The Corporation’s estimated revenue The P5+1 group comprises the perma- ence that I can pass on to my family and hours a day over a 10-day period in a US soldiers, who were stationed in the square and was later rescued by a col-
for the fiscal year mentioned stands at nent members of the U.N. Security my neighbours.” small room with 30 computers. Iraq from the invasion until their with- league and other witnesses. France 24 did
about KD 247.938 million, while the Council – the United States, Britain, Internet penetration in Iraq is by far Government ministries decide who to drawal in December, were often sur- not give further details about the attack, but
expenses are estimated at KD 353.873 China, France and Russia – plus the lowest in the region — it was just send and the courses are relatively prised to learn that orders from town it said its employees were safe and sound,
million. Germany. 1.1 percent in 2010, according to the cheap, even by Iraqi standards — just police chiefs could take days to get to though “extremely shocked,” and that it will
Bill No. 10 for the year 2012 on link- The United States has been working International Telecommunication 50,000 dinars ($42, 34 euros), paid for individual police stations because they file suit against unspecified assailants. (AP)
ing the budget of the Credit and Savings with the P5+1 to pressure Iran on its Union. by the government. were not conveyed by e-mail, but by ❑ ❑ ❑
Bank for financial year (2012/2013) nuclear programme, but with few results. While mobile phone usage has sky- “We learned to use several pro- paper. ZAGREB: A Boeing 737 operated by the
showed an increase in the projected rev- The United States and other Western rocketed since the 2003 invasion that grammes like Word and Excel, and we At home, meanwhile, Internet sub- low-cost Dutch airline Transavia made an
enues of the bank standing at about KD powers allege that the programme is ousted Saddam Hussein, use of comput- went on the Internet,” said Abdul Jalil scriptions remain expensive, ranging emergency landing in Zagreb late Friday
62.128 million. aimed at developing nuclear weapons, ers has not expanded at nearly the same Hanoun, a 55-year-old civil servant in between $60 and $100 per month, and night when smoke affected passengers in
The bill estimated revenue in the but Tehran says it is purely peaceful. rate. the justice ministry. connection speeds trail behind the rest the cabin, airport sources said.
bank’s budget for the aforementioned The White House also denied the With that in mind, the IT classes for “We learned things we did not even of the region, let alone the rest of the The plane, with 192 passengers aboard
period to stand at about KD 89.788 mil- newspaper report, which came two days civil servants are designed to be simple. know existed.” world. was heading to Amsterdam from the
lion, while the estimated expenditure before President Barack Obama faces Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
stands at about KD 27.660 million. Republican presidential nominee Mitt It landed at Zagreb at 1:30 am.
Concerning Bill No. 11 for the year Romney in a televised foreign policy (2330GMT), an airport spokesman said.
2012 to link budget of the Public debate. “It’s not true that the United being an ineffective leader who has left program, which Iran insists is peaceful. A previous ceasefire in April collapsed (AFP)
Authority for Housing Welfare for finan- States and Iran have agreed to one-on- his country vulnerable. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told after just a few days, with each side blam- ❑ ❑ ❑
cial year (2012/2013) showed that pro- one talks or any meeting after the He has also accused Obama of failing Europe-1 radio Sunday that unspecified ing the other. Mediator Kofi Annan
jected budget revenues stand at approxi- to give adequate support to Israel, which experts “have established in an absolute- resigned his post in frustration a few AMMAN: Jordan has foiled a “terrorist
American elections,” US National plot” and arrested 11 Al-Qaeda suspects
mately KD 1.52 million. Security Council spokesman Tommy sees the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran ly indisputable way” that Iran has com- months later.
as a threat to its existence and has tried in piled a full array of centrifuges that The violence has spread across Syria’s who planned to carry out suicide attacks
It estimated expenditures of the author- Vietor said in a statement. against shopping malls and diplomats, Petra
ity for that financial year at about KD “We continue to work with the P5+1 vain to persuade Obama to spell out at “apparently will allow the ability to go frontiers. Assad’s forces exchanged
toward possession of the nuclear weapon news agency reported on Sunday.
295.277 million. on a diplomatic solution and have said what point the United States would use cross-border artillery fire with Turkey “The General Intelligence Department
The Bill No. 12/2012 on linking budg- from the outset that we would be pre- force to prevent Iran acquiring nuclear by the first half of next year, the end of several times this month and on Friday a has foiled a terrorist plot against national
et of the Public Authority for Social pared to meet bilaterally.” weapons. the first half.” He did not elaborate. huge car bomb in Beirut killed a top intel- security, by an 11-member terrorist group
Security for financial year (2012/2013) Salehi said on Sunday it was planned Iran has repeatedly denied Israel’s ligence official whose investigations had linked to al-Qaeda’s ideology,” it said.
right to exist.
estimated revenues to stand at about kd
3.962 billion, while expenses are estimat-
that Iran would hold talks with the P5+1,
“probably in late November”, according An Iranian Revolutionary Guard com- Assad wants implicated Syria in trying to stoke vio-
lence on Lebanese soil.
(AFP)
❑ ❑ ❑
ed at KD 1.967 million. to the Iranian Students’ News Agency mander was quoted on Sunday as prais- Syria’s Information Minister Omran
The Bill No. 13/2012 on linking budg- ing the launch of a drone into Israeli air- Continued from Page 1 Zoabi told reporters on Friday: “We con- BAMAKO: Hundreds of jihadist fighters,
(ISNA). mainly from Sudan and Western Sahara,
et of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic But a spokesman for EU foreign policy space by the Iranian-backed Lebanese “They answered that they would demn this terrorist explosion and all these
militant group Hezbollah this month. arrived in northern Mali over the weekend
Development (KFAED) for the financial chief Catherine Ashton, who is coordinat- respond positively to a (ceasefire) initia- explosions wherever they happen. to support the Islamist groups ahead of a
year (2012/2013) showed an increase in ing the efforts of the P5+1, said that “we “This issue showed that the Zionists tive from the government,” he said. “We Nothing justifies them.” threatened regional intervention, witnesses
the estimated revenue standing at about hope that we will pick up discussions (Israelis) and Americans must know that hope this Eid in Syria will be calm, even
no place is safe for them anymore,” Lebanon and a security source told AFP Sunday.
KD 118.924 million. soon, but there is no date at the moment”. if it is not a happy Eid.” “In the Timbuktu region and around
Bill No. 14/2012 on linking Kuwait The P5+1 has held a series of incon- Mohsen Kazemini was quoted as saying He added: “If we do find that this calm Meanwhile, Lebanese police fired in Gao, hundreds of jihadists, mostly
Municipality’s budget for fiscal year clusive meetings with Iranian officials in by Fars. continued through the Eid, we will try to the air and used tear gas on Sunday to Sudanese and Sahrawis, have arrived as
(2012/2013) showed an increase in the the past year. While Western officials say Separately, the Guards’ top command- build on it. If that does not happen, we repel protesters trying to storm the pre- reinforcements to face an offensive by
estimated budgetary expenditures by there is still time to negotiate, they also er, Mohammad Ali Jafari, said on Sunday will try nevertheless and work to open the mier’s office, amid calls for him to quit Malian forces and their allies,” a Malian
about KD 159.262 million. have been ratcheting up sanctions, which he saw no chance of a military strike on path to hope for the Syrian people.” after a top security official was killed by security official said on condition of
The bill No. 15/2012 on linking budg- are contributing to mounting economic Iran, ISNA reported. Turkey has called for all sides to a car bomb blamed on Syria. anonymity. (AFP)
et of the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) problems in Iran. Jafari’s comments were in contrast to a observe Brahimi’s truce. Iran, one of The funeral of General Wissam al- ❑ ❑ ❑
for financial year (2012/2013) showed The New York Times said Iran had statement last month in which he said he Assad’s major backers, has also support- Hassan had been billed as a protest
expected Israel eventually to go beyond against Syrian meddling in Lebanon, but SANAA: Three men thought to be al-Qaeda
net loss estimated at KD 13.978 million insisted that its direct talks with ed the call but said the main problem in militants were killed in an apparent US
due to increased expenses over revenues. Washington should not begin until after threats and attack Iran. Syria was foreign interference, such as quickly turned into anger at Prime drone attack on a car in Yemen on Sunday,
The Bill No. 16/2012 on linking the the US election on Nov 6, which will France’s foreign minister says Iran arming the rebels. Minister Najib Mikati, whose govern- tribal sources and local officials said.
budget of the Kuwait Investment determine whether Obama serves a sec- appears on track to reach the ability to The United States, which has been a ment is dominated by pro-Syria parties. The men’s car was driving through the
Authority (KIA) for the financial year ond term or is succeeded by Romney. produce a nuclear weapon by the first vocal critic of Assad but has little appar- Tension was also rife elsewhere, espe- south-eastern province of Maareb, a most-
(2012/2013) showed an increase in The report looked likely to fan cam- half of next year. ent influence on the ground, threw its cially in the northern city of Tripoli, ly desert region where militants have taken
expenses over revenues amounted to paign debate over foreign policy, where France is one of six countries that have weight behind the ceasefire call on Mikati’s hometown, where clashes refuge after being driven from southern
about KD 47.593 million. Romney has been accusing Obama of negotiated with Tehran over its nuclear Friday. between supporters and opponents of the strongholds. (RTRS)
