Agility says in talks with US govt; no deal yet



KUWAIT // Kuwaiti logistics firm Agility said on Monday it was in talks with the US government regarding a settlement in a fraud case, but no deal has been reached yet. "A deal has not been reached until now, and there are no guarantees that these negotiations would lead to a solution," Agility said in a statement on the Kuwaiti bourse website on Monday. Earlier, the Kuwait bourse halted trading in Agility's shares pending clarification of reports the logistics firm is near to a settlement.

Several Kuwaiti newspapers carried reports on Monday about Agility seeking a settlement of up to $600 million with the US government. "Until now the final settlement has not been signed, as some of the points are still pending, however the amount is between $500 million and $600 million," Kuwaiti daily al-Qabas said in an unsourced report. The firm will seek to schedule the settlement amount over a five-year period, Qabas said, adding the settlement will allow Agility to acquire new contracts.

Agility is accused of overcharging the U.S. Army on $8.5 billion worth of contracts to provide food to soldiers in Iraq, Kuwait and Jordan. If convicted of violations of the False Claims Act, the firm faces probation and a fine of up to twice the gain it realised or twice the loss to the US. "A settlement would be better for Agility, but I do not think that Agility will sacrifice huge amounts in the settlement," Mustafa Behbahani, a director at Kuwait Gulf Consulting Co said on Monday. "It all depends on the future deals Agility is eyeing."

"If the future contracts are worth four or five times more than the settlement amount, this would be in favour of the firm," he added. Last week, an Agility spokesman said a court hearing was being rescheduled and no new date had yet been set. The Kuwaiti firm announced last week that US defence contractor DynCorp International had dropped its US unit as a subcontractor in a U.S. Army deal. Agility said it was looking at legal options over DynCorp International's decision to drop Agility Defense and Government Services Inc as a subcontractor as of Dec. 17.

Agility's shares fell 3 per cent on the Kuwait bourse on Monday after trading resumed. *Reuters

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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

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A foster couple or family must:

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Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

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Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Election pledges on migration

CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections" 

SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom" 

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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
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  2. Look beyond school fees
  3. Keep an open mind