SHAABAN 8, 1439 AH TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2018 Max 31º 32 Pages Min 20º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 17514 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Arab Media Forum stresses Online myth busters fight Afghan girl spends life as India tennis star Mirza 2 need to combat fake news 22 tide of fake news in India 29 ‘son’ her parents wanted 12 announces pregnancy Kuwait vows response amid diplomatic row with Manila Third suspect arrested • MPs keep up pressure • Lawyer files case against embassy By A Saleh, Meshaal Al-Enezi and Agencies Philippine Embassy. The sources expected the motion to be filed after the next parliamentary session. MP Waleed Al- Amir receives letter from Qatari leader KUWAIT: Kuwait has taken effective measures in response Tabtabaei also called for measures to be taken against the to “incendiary remarks” made by the Filipino ambassador to Philippines, starting by recalling Kuwait’s ambassador in the state, Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Manila and all embassy staff, in addition to gradual measures Al-Sabah said yesterday. Kuwait has taken umbrage at the against the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait, declaring the Filipino envoy’s comments as well as “questionable conduct” ambassador persona non grata and expelling diplomatic staff. on the part of Manila’s diplomatic staff in the country, the for- Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah said Kuwait eign minister told the Cabinet in its weekly meeting. He is dealing with the undiplomatic statements and actions of stressed that the actions have been deemed a threat to the Philippine Embassy according to gradual measures that Kuwait’s sovereignty, a country that prides itself on its will accelerate according to the violations committed immaculate human rights record. against Kuwaiti laws and sovereignty, “which are unaccept- Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh able”. Jarallah said the foreign ministry had given the Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah informed the executive body that embassy a three-day grace period to hand over the suspects the interior ministry has taken action in this regard as well. involved in helping the maids escape to avoid forcing the Kuwait had summoned the Philippines’ ambassador twice last ambassador to leave. week in protest over “inflammatory comments” he made to a “Manila’s and the ambassador’s persistence on using such local newspaper. Relations between Kuwait and the statements unfortunately makes us go further on taking meas- Philippines have been tense since the body of a Filipina work- ures to face the situation,” he said, noting that when sum- er was found in a freezer in Kuwait. moned to the ministry, the ambassador said his statements Meanwhile, Kuwaiti authorities have identified and arrest- had been misunderstood. Jarallah denied that the foreign min- ed three Filipino suspects who are believed to have helped a istry discussed severing diplomatic relations. “We only Filipina housemaid to escape from her sponsor’s home. One of stressed that Kuwait will take measures to protect its sover- the suspects was arrested yesterday, the interior ministry said. eignty, which is a red line,” he said, adding that a Kuwaiti del- Two cars, seen in a viral video showing some people helping egation had been sent to the Philippines to discuss a labor Filipino domestic helpers escape from their employers’ agreement. households, have also been seized in a crackdown, the min- Separately, a Kuwaiti lawyer yesterday filed a case against istry said in a press statement. The suspect admitted that he members of the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait, accusing them KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah receives Qatari Deputy Prime had urged Filipino domestic workers to quit their work, it of violating Kuwait’s penal law as well as the Vienna Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Thani at Bayan Palace yesterday, who handed added. Two other Filipinos were arrested on Sunday. Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The lawyer also filed the Amir a written letter from Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. The letter focused on Informed sources predicted that MP Al-Humaidi Al- another case at the administrative court demanding mandat- ways to boost ties and touched on recent regional developments. — KUNA Subaiei will file a grilling motion against FM Sheikh Sabah Al- ing the foreign minister to take proper measures against the Khaled unless serious measures are taken against the ambassador and consider him persona non grata in Kuwait. lators. But liberal MP Abdulwahab Al- of corruption, and warned that many more contract of Olympia. Adasani also said News in brief Panel rejects Babtain, one of five lawmakers who sub- files will be exposed. He said the issue is MPs involved in any graft suspicions mitted the amendments, denied that they on its way to the public prosecution, should be investigated like government Trump keen to resolve Gulf crisis included any harsh penalties for those who adding that a number of issues will be officials. amendments express their opinions. raised. The Assembly last week debated Separately, the court of appeals yes- KUWAIT: US Ambassador to Kuwait Lawrence He criticized the committee for not the issue of the OCA, and several lawmak- terday sentenced 14 opposition activists Silverman said yesterday President Donald Trump to penal code inviting any of the lawmakers who pro- ers made corruption allegations against to two-year suspended terms for repeat- is keen on finding a “quick and final” solution for the posed the amendments to hear their the continental sports organization that ing publicly parts of a controversial Gulf crisis. There have been contacts between US By B Izzak opinions. The lawmaker however said that has been based in Kuwait since its estab- speech by former opposition MP and Gulf officials over the crisis, Silverman told they are ready to withdraw the amend- lishment over 30 years ago. Musallam Al-Barrak, for which he was KUNA, affirming the “unity” of the six Gulf KUWAIT: The National Assembly’s legal ments if they include any restrictions on MPs also raised the issue of the jailed for two years. The court suspended Cooperation Council countries was “important” and legislative committee yesterday reject- the freedom of speech, adding that they Olympia Mall, where the OCA is located. the implementation of the jail term for amidst huge security challenges. The US adminis- ed proposed amendments to the penal will never propose restrictions against The lawmakers called on the government three years and asked each of the defen- tration has voiced backing of Kuwait’s mediation to code because they suggest a jail term and MPs or activists. to seize the mall because of many viola- dants to pay KD 2,000 and maintain resolve the Gulf crisis. — KUNA hefty fines. Head of the panel MP Al- Meanwhile, MP Riyadh Al-Adasani said tions. The government informed them that good conduct throughout the three years. Humaidi Al-Subaei said the amendments yesterday that the National Assembly has the issues related to OCA have been sent MPs Jamaan Al-Harbash and Nayef Al- restrict freedoms and propose huge fines, opened the file of the Kuwait-based to the public prosecution for a probe, and Merdas were not tried because they have Houthi political chief ‘killed’ besides stipulating jail terms for online vio- Olympic Council of Asia, which is accused that the finance ministry is revising the parliamentary immunity. SANAA: Yemen’s Houthi rebels yesterday accused the Saudi-led coalition of killing their political leader Saleh Al-Sammad in an air strike last week. Highnesses would like to thank all staff at Sammad, head of the Houthis’ supreme political Will and Kate the hospital for the care and treatment council, was “martyred” in the eastern province of they have received. “They would also like Hodeida on Thursday, the Iran-allied rebels said in a to thank everyone for their warm wishes,” statement published via their Saba news agency. return home the palace added in a statement. Meanwhile, the Houthis fired two ballistic missiles at The couple stepped out of St Mary’s a Saudi Aramco facility in the southern city of Jizan with baby boy Hospital in central London around 6:00 yesterday, but Saudi state media said both projec- pm to cheers from a crowd of supporters tiles were destroyed. — Agencies LONDON: Britain’s Prince William and global media outlets gathered out- accompanied his wife Kate as she left hos- side. Their two other children - Prince pital yesterday evening after giving birth George, aged four, and two-year-old UAE to rebuild Nuri Mosque to a baby boy, the couple’s third child who Princess Charlotte - had met the latest is fifth in line to the British throne. The boy, addition to the family earlier in the after- BAGHDAD: The United Arab Emirates plans to weighing eight pounds and seven ounces noon, before returning home to rebuild the Grand Al-Nuri Mosque, the historic (3.8 kg), was born at 11:01 am (1001 GMT) Kensington Palace ahead of their parents. landmark of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul which with William, the Duke of Cambridge, Charlotte gave a wave to the assembled was blown up by Islamic State last year, the Dubai present for the birth, Kensington Palace well-wishers and media as she entered government said on its Twitter account yesterday. announced. “The Duke and Duchess of the hospital after William had collected The militants blew up the mosque in the final weeks LONDON: Britain’s Prince William and his wife Catherine show their newborn son, their Cambridge and their son will travel home the siblings from school. of the US-backed Iraqi campaign that dislodged third child, to the media outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital yesterday.