Mulaifi to Resign After Shaddadiya Accident
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
SUBSCRIPTION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014 RAJAB 15, 1435 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Pedophile A future of UN talks Djokovic US teacher thirst: Water take aim wins in Rome abused scores, crisis lies on at ‘killer on return clues14 missed the15 horizon robots’27 from20 injury Mulaifi to resign after Max 35º Min 22º Shaddadiya accident High Tide 11:08 Low Tide Two workers killed at university construction site 05:22 & 18:12 40 PAGES NO: 16165 150 FILS By A Saleh & Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Two Egyptian workers were killed at a mega Local camel herders take no precautions university construction site yesterday, and Education Minister Ahmad Al-Mulaifi is expected to resign follow- By Nawara Fattahova ing the incident. The incident happened at Kuwait University’s Shaddadiya site where at least two workers KUWAIT: Despite warnings from neighboring were buried in an 8-m deep hole after a landslide. The Saudi Arabia about the link between camels and victims were identified as Majdi Faraj Salem Al-Sayed cases of the coronavirus known as MERS (Middle and Mohammad Rabeia Ahmad Hassan. Meanwhile, a East Respiratory Syndrome), no camel breeders or search was ongoing for a potential third worker who herders in Kuwait are taking precautions to protect could have been buried under the sand as well, accord- themselves against potential transmission. On ing to unconfirmed Sunday, Riyadh warned anyone working with reports. camels to take extra precautions and to wear Shortly after news gloves and masks. But in Kuwait yesterday at the about the incident camel market in Kabd, workers and breeders were broke, reports suggest- freely mixing with the camels, feeding and caring ed that Mulaifi is plan- for the desert animal without masks, gloves or oth- ning to resign in order er precautions. to take ‘political respon- MERS can cause coughing, fever and lung infec- sibility’ over the inci- tions which can lead, in some cases, to fatal pneu- dent. The minister is monia. More than 500 people in Saudi Arabia have reportedly waiting for been infected with the virus, which has a death Prime Minister HH rate of around 30 percent. At least one case, of a Sheikh Jaber Al- 47-year-old citizen, has been reported in Kuwait Mubarak Al-Sabah to and several other cases have been recorded in return to the country Jordan, Oman, Qatar and elsewhere in the region. from an official trip in Kuwait’s Ministry of Health has warned people Ahmad Al-Mulaifi order to tender his resig- to be careful and take precautions, and also nation. Meanwhile, the construction program depart- launched a hotline (Alo Saha 151) to advise people ment at Kuwait University has launched an investiga- on MERS symptoms and related issues. tion into the incident. Kuwait is home to many camel farms, as the Construction at the Shaddadiya University project dromedary is related to Arabian and bedouin cul- has been ongoing for over 10 years, but was delayed ture. They are bred for racing and even beauty after several setbacks and changes that pushed the competitions, as well for their meat, milk and hair. total cost above KD 1 billion. Mulaifi told the parliament Kuwait Times visited the most popular camel farms in March that there is no set date for when the project is in Kabd to inspect the situation of camel herders expected to finish. The university was initially set to be and whether they are following any health precau- completed by the end of this year. The project has also tions to prevent them from being infected with the KUWAIT: Hassan, a camel breeder, pets a camel as he holds a bowl of camel milk at his camel farm in been plagued by a host of other problems through the virus. Kabd yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat years, including fires, allegations of sand thefts and Continued on Page 15 even a murder. Resignations of MPs to be debated tomorrow By B Izzak should accept the resignations if the resigning members insist. If the Assembly Kuwait signs KUWAIT: The National Assembly yesterday accepts the resignations, by-elections to fill asked Speaker Marszouk Al-Ghanem to try the vacant seats must be held within 60 and convince five MPs to withdraw their days. According to parliamentary sources, $3bn 5-yr gas resignations before they take a final deci- the by-elections are expected to be held sion on the issue tomorrow. During a brief just ahead of the fasting month of debate on the matter yesterday, Ghanem Ramadan, which is expected to start on deal with BP told the house that he has already spoken June 28. Some sources said June 21 is a KUWAIT: Kuwait signed a five-year liquefied natural to four of the lawmakers but could not likely date. reach MP Hussein Quwaiaan, but vowed In other issues, the National Assembly JEDDAH: US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel (center) is welcomed by Saudi gas (LNG) supply deal with BP yesterday, worth an esti- he will repeat the attempt before debating passed in the second and final reading Deputy Defense Minister Salman bin Sultan (center left) and Gen Lloyd Austin mated $3 billion, as it seeks to meet rising energy the issue tomorrow. amendments to the residency law to stiff- (center right), Commander of US Central Command, upon his arrival at King demand to power air conditioning during the scorch- Besides Quwaiaan, MPs Riyadh Al- en penalties for those who enter Kuwait Abdulaziz International Airport yesterday. — AP ing summers. Kuwait, a major OPEC oil producer, on Sunday agreed a $12 billion LNG supply deal over six Adasani and Abdulkarim Al-Kandari illegally. The new amendment stipulates a resigned two weeks ago after the jail term not exceeding three years and a years with Royal Dutch Shell and will also import gas Assembly voted to scrap a request they fine of up to KD 3,000 for any foreigner from fellow Gulf state Qatar. Riyadh invites had submitted to grill the prime minister who infiltrates into the country. Those who The BP deal, signed by state-run Kuwait Petroleum on the grounds that it contained many repeat the crime get a jail term of not more Corp (KPC), will help Kuwait run its power plants issues that breached the constitution. A than five years and a fine not exceeding KD Iran FM to visit through the hottest time of the year. “The amount con- few days later, they were followed by MPs 5,000. tracted by the three companies that we signed with Ali Al-Rashed and Safa Al-Hashem. All the The Assembly also agreed to hold a will be up to 2.5 million tonnes per year,” said Nasser al- five MPs said they resigned because of the two-hour secret discussion of the financial US defense chief in Saudi Arabia Mudaf, head of the KPC’s international marketing divi- Assembly action that they said infringed status of the country, especially the per- sion. He was referring to the LNG deals with Shell, BP on their rights included in the constitution. formance of foreign investments estimated RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has invited Iran’s while Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad and state-run Qatargas and said this was an annual foreign minister to visit, Riyadh said yes- Zarif has visited other Gulf Arab states, Under the law, the Assembly can debate at over $400 billion and run by Kuwait estimated amount over the next few years. terday, hinting at the possibility of a he has not yet been to Saudi Arabia. the resignation of its members only after Investment Authority. The LNG from the three companies will come in 32 thaw between two bitter rivals, whose Rapprochement between the two 10 days of their submission. The Assembly Continued on Page 15 shipments per year, each one comprising 80,000 struggle for influence is evident in con- countries would have ramifications flicts throughout the region. Iranian across the Middle East, potentially cool- tonnes, Mudhaf said. Shell will send 18 shipments, President Hassan Rouhani has adopted a ing political and military struggles in Qatargas will send eight and BP will send six, he added. conciliatory tone towards Tehran’s neigh- Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain and Yemen. Kuwait began importing LNG, natural gas frozen to a bours since taking office last year, but Continued on Page 15 liquid for transport on tankers, in 2009. — Reuters Jordan envoy freed in swap AMMAN: Kidnappers freed Jordan’s ambassador to Dersi was in prison or free, he said only: “Dersi is in Libya and he said on his arrival home yesterday that Libya and he is fine.” But Dersi’s brother told AFP that in exchange his government had sent back to Tripoli he was free and with his family following his return to a Libyan Islamist militant who had been serving a life Tripoli. sentence for a bombing plot. Jordan’s foreign minis- Jordanian Ambassador Fawaz Al-Itan was kid- ter said the envoy’s release was arranged in contacts napped last month by Libyan gunmen who demand- with Libyan authorities, not with the kidnappers. ed an Islamist militant be freed from a Jordanian jail But some Jordanian officials voiced concern at the in exchange for the diplomat’s release. Itan told well- precedent the handover of the militant could set for wishers including Jordan’s prime minister on arrival Amman, an important US ally in the fight against Al- at Amman airport that he had been swapped for Qaeda. A Libyan foreign ministry spokesman told Al- Dersi, who he said had been removed from a maxi- Nabaa television channel that militant Mohammed mum-security Amman prison and flown to Libya.