SUBSCRIPTION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2015 RABI ALAWWAL 12, 1437 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Minister South Korean X-ray vision? Platini calls rewards Jaber ‘mock funerals’ New technology FIFA ban Stadium seek to ease making it a a ‘kick in security4 team life13 stresses reality27 for $300 the19 teeth’ MP Nabil Al-Fadhl dies Min 07º Max 19º during Assembly session High Tide 10:52 & 21:42 Govt, Assembly, MPs pay tribute to parliamentarian Low Tide 04:16 & 15:59 40 PAGES NO: 16736 150 FILS KUWAIT: MP Nabil Al-Fadhl yesterday died on his parlia- mentary seat apparently of a heart attack, as the gov- ernment, National Assembly and MPs mourned him as an active parliamentarian. He was 66. The incident took place about half an hour after the start of the Assembly session in which the grilling of Health Minister Ali Al- Obaidi was scheduled to take place. Speaker Marzouk Al-Ghanem said Fadhl died while serving his country and performing his duty, and suspended parliamentary sessions yesterday and today, saying the next session will be held on Jan 12. Minutes before he died, Fadhl spoke for just over a minute, drawing the attention of his colleagues to focus entirely on Assembly business and not distract ministers and keep them busy signing transactions and forms for the lawmakers. He looked somewhat tired as he sat down. Minutes later, as MP Abdullah Al-Tameemi was speaking, Fadhl fell on the floor and lawmakers near him rushed to his help. They hoisted him up and seated him but he appeared to have breathed his last. Ghanem quickly came down from the podium and took part in helping other MPs as medics also rushed to his help. They took Fadhl to the Assembly clinic and immediately rushed him to the nearby Amiri Hospital. The cause of his death was not immediately announced but it appears to be a massive heart attack. Fadhl com- KUWAIT: MP Nabil Al-Fadhl (center) speaks to Prime Minister HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah (left) and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah plained of health problems in the past few years and at the National Assembly yesterday, shortly before he died during the parliament session. (Right) The Kuwaiti flag is placed over the seat of Fadhl in the last year he underwent a kidney transplant donated by Assembly. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat his son. He was also a diabetic. Continued on Page 15 Kuwait, Iraq overcome obstacles Jaafari denies any link to abduction of Qataris By Meshaal Al-Enezi and Agencies Over the past years, Kuwaiti-Iraqi rela- tions have overcome all obstacles, and the KUWAIT: Kuwait and Iraq have wiped out two countries addressed issues that were KPC names obstacles and outstanding files that exist- outstanding over decades, Sheikh Sabah ed over the past years, First Deputy Prime said, noting that they stand on solid Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh ground for boosting ties. He said both new board Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said sides agreed on rejecting all forms of ter- yesterday at a press conference with visit- rorism and the need to unite in facing ter- ing Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al- rorism and terrorist groups and organiza- KUWAIT: Kuwait’s national oil company, Kuwait Jaafari after the conclusion of the fifth ses- tions, especially since both countries had Petroleum Corp (KPC), has named a new board, sion of the Kuwaiti-Iraqi Joint Ministerial suffered from terrorism. DUBAI: In this Sept 22, 2015 photo, with the Marina Waterfront skyline in the three weeks after the oil minister was replaced, a Committee. Continued on Page 15 background, laborers work at a construction site at the Palm Jumeirah. — AP source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The identities of the new board members were not HRW offers guidelines immediately known, and comment could not be obtained from the KPC. Nizar Al-Adsani will remain chief executive, the source said. The reshuffle is not for builders in Gulf expected to mean any change to the oil policy of the OPEC member; Kuwait’s oil policy is set by the DUBAI: Human Rights Watch released a working hours and overtime pay, and pay country’s Supreme Petroleum Council. set of guidelines yesterday that it says con- workers their full wages on time. The At the end of November, Kuwait appointed Anas struction companies in the oil-rich Gulf group also urged companies to appoint Al-Saleh as acting oil minister, replacing Ali Al- Arab states should follow to ensure basic outside monitors to ensure workers are Omair. At that time, sources said there had been rights for migrant workers. The New York- receiving basic labor protections in prac- based rights group’s latest recommenda- tice, not just on paper. friction between the KPC board and Omair on tions shift the focus toward employers and “In the face of rampant abuse and issues including major projects, mechanisms for are aimed at tackling some of the biggest exploitation of worker’s rights in GCC managing the oil industry, and the return of former abuses facing millions of low-paid laborers countries, construction firms need to step officials to their jobs at the company. An official cir- in the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. up to protect their workforce,” said the cular announcing the board reshuffle is expected They include ensuring that contractors group’s Middle East director, Sarah Leah to be issued after approval by the cabinet, the and sub-contractors pay all recruiting fees, Whitson. Migrant workers in the Gulf are source said. The new board will seek to achieve sta- provide workers with places to keep their employed under a sponsorship system bility in the oil sector and push ahead with proj- KUWAIT: Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari (left) and his Kuwaiti counterpart passports, provide decent accommoda- known as kafala that effectively ties ects, he added. — Reuters Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah attend the fifth session of the Iraqi-Kuwaiti Joint tion, abide by requirements for maximum Continued on Page 15 Supreme Ministerial Committee yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat SpaceX rocket nails safe Growing Iran clout landing in pivotal feat spurs Saudi action MIAMI: SpaceX successfully landed its Previous attempts to land the Falcon RIYADH: After years of tense relations with and the Riyadh talks as part of the same powerful Falcon 9 rocket Monday for the 9’s first stage on a floating ocean platform President Bashar Al-Assad, Saudi Arabia strategy. first time, a major milestone in the drive to have failed - with the rocket either collid- has adopted a bolder approach towards Jamal Khashoggi, a veteran Saudi jour- cut costs and waste by making rockets as ing with the autonomous drone ship or Syria, prompted by rival Iran’s growing nalist and analyst, said nearly three months reusable as airplanes. Its engines burning tipping over. But this time, video images regional influence. The kingdom recently of air strikes on Syrian rebels by Assad’s bright orange against the dark night sky, on SpaceX’s live webcast showed the tall, brought Syrian political and armed opposi- other main ally Russia had further acceler- the Falcon 9 made a graceful arc back to white portion of the rocket - known as the tion factions together for unprecedented ated events. “The Russian engagement or Earth and touched down upright at Cape first stage - appearing to settle down firm- talks in Riyadh, the culmination of months intervention, despite how limited it is, Canaveral, Florida, minutes after launch- ly and stick the landing. The rocket of maneuvering by the Sunni Muslim pow- added a certain dynamic to the Syrian situ- ing a payload of satellites to orbit, video reached a height of 200 km before head- er. The step highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ris- ation,” he said. Diplomats said the coalition images showed. “The Falcon has landed,” a ing back to Earth and touching down at a ing profile in efforts to end the war in Syria, was partly in response to Western criticism commentator said above the screams and former US Air Force rocket and missile where Shiite Iran gives military and finan- that Saudi Arabia does not do enough to cheers of people gathered at SpaceX testing range that was last used in 1978. cial support to Riyadh’s longtime opponent fight extremists such as the Islamic State headquarters in Hawthorne, California. Video images were cut off within sec- Assad. (IS), a Sunni extremist group that has SpaceX, headed by Internet tycoon onds of the landing, and the SpaceX live Days later, the kingdom gained world seized large parts of Iraq and Syria. Elon Musk, is striving to revolutionize the webcast returned to its commentators, attention by announcing the surprise for- Although the coalition is not - at least for rocket industry, which currently loses who described the successful deployment mation of a 34-nation coalition against now - structured to take any military action, many millions of dollars in jettisoned of the rocket’s payload of 11 satellites for Islamic “terrorism”. Foreign Minister Adel Al- Riyadh will offer to use its position as lead machinery and sophisticated rocket ORBCOMM, a global communications Jubeir said there were even “discussions Sunni state to defeat IS, “but only if the post- components after each launch. “I still company. The US space agency NASA among countries” including his, about pos- conflict political order in Iraq and Syria weak- can’t quite believe it,” Musk said in a tele- applauded the feat. “Congratulations sibly “sending some special forces in Syria”. ens Iran’s influence”, and Sunnis in those conference after the landing.