JAMADA ALAWWAL 25, 1440 AH THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 28 Pages Max 23º Min 11º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 17747 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net MPs walk out as Assembly expels Tabtabaei, Harbash Lawmakers approve final reading of early retirement bill By B Izzak against the persons of the two lawmakers but was an implementation of the law. “These procedures that have KUWAIT: In a swift move that hardly took a few minutes, been adhered to today have nothing to do with the MPs National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem Al-Tabtabaei and Al-Harbash as persons - whom we declared that the seats of opposition MPs Jamaan Al- deeply admire and respect,” he said. “These measures are Harbash and Waleed Al-Tabtabaei have become vacant not against persons and this must be clear to all. None of based on a constitutional court ruling. The announcement us desires to strip any of our colleagues of their member- was made without allowing any debate and amid strong ship in such a manner; however we have received final protests by opposition lawmakers, who then walked out of verdicts from the court of cassation,” Ghanem said. the session to protest against the violation of the constitu- In quick comments on the Assembly decision, tion and Assembly laws. Tabtabaei and Harbash criticized the decision. Ghanem sternly told the house that this decision was an Tabtabaei said that the Assembly had no right to repeat implementation of the court ruling and completely in line the voting after it had voted to retain their membership with the country’s constitution and laws. He then asked in October. Harbash said he has nothing to be ashamed those who oppose the decision to raise their hands, and 18 of as he was paying the price of fighting against cor- MPs did so. There were 58 MPs and ministers in the ruption. The 15 opposition lawmakers who left the ses- chamber. Before walking out, several opposition MPs sion did not take any immediate decision and did not insisted to talk about the issue to explain their viewpoints, announce any protest plans. but the speaker declined. The lawmakers later returned to But a number of them criticized the action taken by the the hall to debate other issues. speaker, insisting his action is a clear violation of the con- Ghanem later told reporters his action was an imple- stitution and the internal charter. MP Adel Al-Damkhi said mentation of a court verdict and that he has adopted the the speaker did not allow the opposition to speak, which is correct constitutional procedures, slamming what he a violation of the internal charter. He added the action was described as MPs who are acting against the people. He against the constitution. MP Mohammad Al-Dallal said the vowed to expose such MPs in a television interview today, voting on the decision was a violation of the law and that saying he will reveal many facts about certain people. the speaker did not allow MPs to speak on the KUWAIT: HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah attends a parliament session at the The speaker reiterated that his action was not directed Continued on Page 24 National Assembly yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat “They are doing so despite knowing that Israel’s Digital giants occupation of the West Bank, including east Jerusalem, is governed by international humanitarian law under Philippine mosque ‘profiting’ from which Israeli settlements are deemed illegal,” said the report. “In doing business with settlements, all four attack kills 2; Amir companies are contributing to, and profiting from, the settlements; call to maintenance, development and expansion of illegal set- tlements, which amount to war crimes under interna- sends condolences oppose Eurovision tional criminal law.” Israeli public security minister Gilad Erdan threat- MANILA: A grenade attack on a mosque in the ened to bar Amnesty from access to the Jewish state troubled southern Philippines killed two people early LONDON: Digital tourism giants Airbnb, over its charge. “The hypocritical Amnesty yesterday, authorities said, just days after a deadly Booking.com, Expedia and TripAdvisor are profiting International speaks in the name of human rights and in Catholic cathedral bombing and a vote backing Muslim self-rule in the region. The latest blast from “war crimes” by offering services in Israeli settle- practice promotes boycotts against Israeli citizens as ZAMBOANGA, Philippines: People look inside a prompted worries of sectarian retaliation in the ments, rights group Amnesty International said in a part of the anti-Semitic boycott and delegitimization mosque on the southern island of Mindanao yes- majority Catholic Philippines, with authorities urging terday after a grenade attack. — AFP report published yesterday. The London-based organi- campaign,” Erdan said in a statement released Tuesday inter-faith unity as investigators hunted a motive. zation’s “Destination: Occupation” report called on the night. “I instructed the ministry of strategic affairs to The grenade explosion tore through the mosque Mindanao, which is home to the Philippines’ Muslim companies to stop listing tourist accommodation, activ- examine the possibility of preventing Amnesty person- as the victims were sleeping before dawn in minority. Four people were wounded in the attack. ities and attractions in settlements in occupied territo- nel from entering, or residing in, Israel, said Erdan who Zamboanga on the insurgency-plagued island of Continued on Page 24 ries, including east Jerusalem. Continued on Page 24 AFC to probe Brutal deep shoe-throwing freeze grips Asian Cup semi US Midwest ABU DHABI: Asia’s football body promised a “thorough CHICAGO: A life-threatening deep freeze gripped investigation” yesterday after the United Arab Emirates’ the American Midwest yesterday as weather colder turbulent Asian Cup semi-final loss to archrivals Qatar, than Antarctica grounded flights, disrupted travel during which fans hurled shoes and bottles. Plastic water and brought life to a standstill for tens of millions. Mail deliveries were suspended, schools and busi- bottles pelted the turf and several shoes were hurled, an ness closed, and residents encouraged to stay Arab insult, as Qatar celebrated the second goal in home in nearly a dozen states where temperatures Tuesday’s 4-0 rout of the tournament hosts in Abu Dhabi. overnight sank into the negative double digits, the Akram Afif twice had to delay taking a corner as worst cold to grip the region in a generation with objects rained down, and Salem Al-Hajri was struck on all-time records still under threat. the head after Qatar’s third goal. One plastic bottle America’s third city Chicago - where the morn- struck the crossbar behind Qatari goalkeeper Saad Al- ing temperature was -30 Celsius, which felt like -46 Sheeb. “The AFC (Asian Football Confederation) is con- Celsius with wind chill - was colder than Alaska’s ducting a thorough investigation into events at the (semi- state capital and even colder than parts of final),” a spokesman told AFP. “Once the investigation Antarctica. More than 1,500 flights were canceled has been completed the AFC will decide on the appro- in the city’s two major airports while rail operator priate steps.” Amtrak scrapped train services from its Chicago The defeat was deeply embarrassing for the UAE, hub. The US Postal Service - known for its commit- who are in the midst of a stand-off with Qatar in which ment to bringing the mail whatever the weather - several countries have slashed diplomatic and transport suspended deliveries in parts of Indiana, Michigan, links, claiming Doha supports terrorism - a claim the Illinois, Ohio, the Dakotas and Nebraska. ABU DHABI: Emirati fans throw bottles and footwear at Qatari players during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Qataris deny. Continued on Page 24 semifinal match between Qatar and UAE at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Tuesday. -— AFP Continued on Page 24 2 Established 1961 Local Thursday, January 31, 2019 Amir receives state officials at Bayan Palace KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with His Highness the Crown His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with His Highness the Prime Minister Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. — Amiri Diwan and KUNA photos Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Head of Kuwait’s Public Anti- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with the former Chief Executive Officer Corruption Authority Abdulrahman Al-Namash. of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) Nizar Al-Adsani. His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah meets with His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- Sabah meets with Head of Kuwait’s Public Anti-Corruption Authority Sabah meets with the former Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Abdulrahman Al-Namash. Petroleum Corporation (KPC) Nizar Al-Adsani. KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. His Highness the Amir then received Head of mer Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace yesterday His Highness the Crown Kuwait’s Public Anti-Corruption Authority Abdulrahman Al-Namash, Nizar Al-Adsani. Meanwhile, His Highness the Crown Prince received Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. His Highness also where he presented a document to enhance values such as integrity His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak, Namash, received His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak and fighting corruption.