RABI ALAWWAL 11, 1439 AH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2017 Max 23º 32 Pages 150 Fils Established 1961 Min 10º ISSUE NO: 17394 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Pope sidesteps Rohingya Chinese general kills self Russia loses contact with satellite Pistons snap Celtics 6 crisis in Myanmar address 9 after facing graft probe 23 after launch from new spaceport 16 home winning streak MPs request to meet Amir over tough jail sentences Opposition lawmakers seek pardon • Speaker says no action until final verdict By B Izzak for some defendants. The opposition law- makers have decided to hold another meet- KUWAIT: Opposition lawmakers yesterday ing next week. MP Mohammad Al-Dallal, decided to request a meeting with HH the who hosted yesterday’s meeting, said the jail Amir to discuss the shocking jail terms terms against leading opposition figures passed against 67 opposition figures and constituted a shock, adding that lawmakers appeal to him to issue a general pardon for in the meeting expressed their respect for all the convicts. The decision came following the verdicts but stressed they were harsh. He an urgent meeting attended by 16 MPs, as said the lawmakers formed two teams - first Assembly speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem said to study options how to deal with the issue, that no action will be taken against the three and the second to follow up with the con- convicted lawmakers until a final ruling by victs and their families. the court of cassation. MP Mohammad Hayef said the verdicts The harsh sentences by the appeals court were shocking and are likely to return the on Monday sent shockwaves in political and political crisis to square one, adding that legal circles amid calls for a comprehensive those who supported the rulings represent solution to the lingering political crisis in the only themselves and do not want the wheel country. The court overturned acquittals by of development to progress. He said the rul- the criminal court and passed jail terms on ing takes the country back to the period 67 people, including three current lawmak- before the opposition ended its boycott of ers, several ex-MPs and many activists for elections, “as if we are at the beginning of storming the National Assembly building in the political crisis”. Nov 2011 during protests against the former Hayef called on the judiciary to keep itself prime minister. away from political disputes and not to issue Former MP and prominent opposition verdicts in political issues. He said that the leader Musallam Al-Barrak, who left jail in judiciary should not enter this dark tunnel, April following a two-year imprisonment, stressing that entering the Assembly building KUWAIT: MP Mohammad Al-Dallal (left) hosts a meeting of 16 opposition lawmakers yesterday. — Photo by Fouad Al-Shaikh was handed a fresh nine-year term. Two is not a criminal offense. He said that the MPs, Waleed Al-Tabtabaei and Jamaan Al- entire issue is a political one and the issue a pro-Iran cell. take no action against the three MPs until government, adding that on some previous Harbash, were handed seven years each and should have been resolved politically. Hayef Meanwhile, under 30 of those convicted after the final verdict, adding that the law- occasions, the formation of the Cabinet took MP Mohammad Al-Mutair got one year. criticized the interior minister for immediate- have been arrested or gave themselves up to makers enjoy parliamentary immunity before longer. Opposition MP Abdulkarim Al- Defense lawyers yesterday filed petitions ly forming a 40-member team from the min- the police. They could be freed when the the verdict but lose it after jail terms are Kandari said yesterday that if the process of challenging the rulings, while the public istry to arrest those convicted, saying he court of cassation starts looking into the passed. He said that no Assembly sessions forming the new Cabinet will take longer, he prosecution also demanded stiffer penalties “remained asleep” after the verdicts against case. Ghanem said that the Assembly will will be held before the formation of the new will file to grill the prime minister. News in brief Modi and business leaders in Hyderabad. Ivanka, feted in India is one of the world’s fastest growing major economies but also has one of the Senior Saudi prince Miteb freed lowest rates of female employment, a trend India, calls for that has worsened over the last decade. DUBAI: Senior Saudi Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, a The World Bank has warned that the former National Guard head once seen as a con- closing gender country must reverse a trend of falling tender to the throne, has been freed after more than women’s participation in jobs if it is to three weeks in detention, according to Twitter mes- achieve its ambition of double-digit sages by royal family members yesterday. “Almighty, gap in business growth. “Just consider, if India closes the thanks be to you...” wrote Abeer bint Khaled bin labour force gender gap by half, your Abdullah in a posting on her Twitter account. HYDERABAD, India: Ivanka Trump economy could grow by over $150 bil- Posting an apparent file photo of Prince Miteb, she urged India yesterday to close its yawning lion dollars in the next three years,” added: “May God give you long life, long life full of gender gap in the job market, telling a Trump told the Global Entrepreneurship health, and keep you for us.” Writing on his Twitter business summit in her biggest foreign Summit. “I encourage everyone here account, Moaid Mahjoob, who identifies himself as mission yet that this would bring huge today to come together, to learn from director of external relations for Princess Jawahar economic benefits. US President Donald each other, and to find new ways to lift Al-Saud, said Prince Miteb “had been released and Trump’s eldest daughter urged India to the barriers in our societies so that that he was at his home in Riyadh”. Another royal seize the untapped potential in women in a women are free to innovate.” HYDERABAD: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and advisor to the US president family member, Princess Nouf bint Abdullah bin speech before Prime Minister Narendra Continued on Page 11 Ivanka Trump inaugurate the Global Entrepreneurship Summit yesterday. — AFP Mohammed bin Saud, also posted a similar message on Twitter, writing over a photo of Prince Miteb: “May you be safe for us, Abu Abdullah.” blitz chess championships. Israel and Saudi Arabia have spokesman Lior Aizenberg told AFP. “We expect the Israeli chess players no official relations. The presence of Israelis there would Saudis, aided by FIDE, to approve our requests for visas be highly unusual, and comes as officials from the Jewish to play,” he said. UAE: Qatar behind complaint state increasingly hint at covert ties with the Sunni-ruled Aizenberg noted the Israeli chess federation chairman could make history kingdom. Israel and Saudi Arabia share a common fear of Zvika Barkai had discussed the issue of the Saudi visas ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates yesterday Iran’s attempts to increase its influence in the region. with Makropoulos as well as with FIDE President Kirsan accused Gulf rival Qatar of being behind a call for at Saudi tournament Georgios Makropoulos, deputy president of the World Ilyumzhinov, who recently visited Israel. A spokesman for the International Criminal Court to investigate alle- Chess Federation (FIDE), said that the papers of the sev- the Israeli foreign ministry said he didn’t believe there gations of war crimes by the UAE in Yemen. A JERUSALEM: Israeli chess players could make history en Israeli chess players - five men and two women - had would be a problem for the Israelis to participate in the group calling itself the Arab Organization for Human by participating in a tournament in Saudi Arabia after the been handed to the Saudi organizers “and the visa status Riyadh games if the visas were granted. Israeli athletes Rights in the UK said on Monday it was taking the international chess governing body yesterday said it was is currently pending”. “We are making a huge effort to often face difficulties when competing around the Middle UAE to the ICC over “indiscriminate attacks on pushing to allow it to happen. A spokesman for the Israel assure that all players get their visas,” Makropoulos said East due to hostility toward their country. In a recent inci- civilians” in Yemen. UAE Minister of State for Chess Federation told AFP seven players had filed in a statement. The Israeli chess federation said it “sup- dent, an Iranian wrestler was lauded by his government Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash accused Qatar of requests for visas to participate in the games to be held ports FIDE’s policy to hold the tournament in Saudi after he intentionally lost an international bout at a tourna- being responsible. “The Arab Organization for in Riyadh on Dec 26-30 as part of the world rapid and alongside FIDE’s committment to ensure the participation ment in Poland over the weekend to avoid having to face of Israelis would not be subject to limitations,” an Israeli opponent. — AFP Human Rights with its address in Qatar has filed a media complaint against the UAE to the International Criminal Court,” Gargash wrote on his ers called for his return to Al Thamina. His intentions as Twitter account. “People with knowledge are aware Saudi ‘Matchstick’ the new chief are unclear. But if his past is any indication, that this move aims to create noise, which is Qatar’s Shirian may be about to shake up the country’s tradition- favorite game,” he said.