SHAABAN 6, 1439 AH SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 Max 33º 32 Pages Min 22º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 17512 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Prime Minister stresses importance of UN Security Council meets in Saudis see oil price on the Ruthless Rafa sets up Nishikori 3 enhancing competitiveness in business 7 remote Swedish farmhouse 17 rise as Trump blasts OPEC 15 final, eyes 11th Monte Carlo title Filipino envoy resummoned amid outrage over ‘rescues’ Embassy denies wrongdoing • 3 suspects identified • MPs slam violation of sovereignty By Ben Garcia, A Saleh and Agencies related to recent remarks of several Filipino officials which entailed serious offenses against Kuwait and the KUWAIT: Kuwait yesterday summoned the actions made by some Philippine embassy’s employees Philippines’ ambassador for a second time yesterday in in violation of the diplomatic norms governing the rela- protest over “inflammatory comments” he made to a tions of the two countries as per the Vienna Convention local newspaper, a foreign ministry source said. on Diplomatic Relations. The source expressed regret Remarks by Renato Pedro Villa, along with the “inap- over such practices which could harm the friendship propriate behavior” of Manila’s diplomatic staff in relations between the two countries. Kuwait, have been deemed a threat to Kuwait’s sover- “The embassy always coordinates with the interior eignty, the source noted. ministry when responding to requests of assistance from The move came following videos on social media our nationals. This is standard procedure and we will showing a Philippines Embassy team helping Filipino continue to do so. All the efforts undertaken in the past domestic helpers flee their sponsors’ houses in vehicles weeks are to ensure that we resolve our outstanding with diplomatic license plates. Villa had allegedly con- issues before the signing of the memorandum of agree- firmed to Al-Jarida daily that the videos are genuine and ment and the upcoming visit of our president,” Villa told admitted that the embassy team had been conducting reporters at the hastily-arranged press conference yes- such operations for over a month and managed to res- terday at the embassy. cue many domestic helpers from their sponsors in areas Notably, Kuwait has witnessed several cases of around Kuwait. Filipina housemaids escaping following explosive state- But at an urgent press conference late yesterday, the ments made by President Rodrigo Duterte, which has Philippines Embassy strongly denied allegations and paralyzed the domestic labor market in Kuwait. In reports that it was acting alone in rescuing Filipinos in January, Philippines stopped sending workers to Kuwait need of assistance in Kuwait. Villa also said statements following reports that abuse by employers had driven attributed to him were misquoted. several Filipinos to suicide. A high-ranking diplomatic Kuwait also summoned Villa a day earlier in connec- source said that Manila has set further conditions to tion with scathing remarks by Filipino officials, in addi- return its workers to the local market, and said that the KUWAIT: Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa KUWAIT: A demonstrator named Khalifa Al-Hashash stages a tion to misconduct on the part of the Philippines’ diplo- foreign ministry is studying these conditions to reach a speaks during a press conference at the Philippines one-man protest outside the embassy yesterday. — Photo matic staff in the state, and handed him two protest final agreement when Duterte visits Kuwait. Embassy in Siddiq yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat by Ben Garcia notes. The source stated that the two protest notes are Continued on Page 11 comes less than a week before the North News in brief Kim vows no Korean leader meets South Korean President Moon Jae-in for a summit in Iraq resumes payments to Kuwait the Demilitarized Zone that divides the more nuclear, peninsula, ahead of the eagerly-awaited GENEVA/BAGHDAD: Iraq resumed paying encounter with Trump himself. Kuwait compensation on Friday for the destruction missile tests Kuwait also welcomed North Korea’s of Kuwaiti oilfields and facilities during the 1990-91 decision to suspend its nuclear and bal- Gulf War, the United Nations said in Geneva in a SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong listic activities. This positive step will prepared statement. The payment had been sus- Un said he would halt nuclear tests and contribute to building confidence, defus- pended since Oct 2014 because of security and intercontinental missile launches, in an ing tension - which the world has long budgetary problems the Iraqi government in its announcement yesterday welcomed by suffered from, promoting security and fight against Islamic State. “The United Nations US President Donald Trump ahead of a stability and leading to denuclearizing Compensation Commission (UNCC) today made much-anticipated summit between the the Korean peninsula, an official source available $90 million to the Government of the State two men. Pyongyang’s declaration, long at the Kuwaiti foreign ministry said. The of Kuwait,” the UN said. “With today’s payment, the sought by Washington, will be seen as a Korean leaders are expected to agree on PYONGYANG: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un delivers a speech while attending Commission has paid out $47.9 billion, leaving crucial step in the fast diplomatic dance lasting peace in the Korean peninsula the Third Plenary Meeting of the Seventh Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of approximately $4.5 billion remaining to be paid to on and around the Korean peninsula. It Continued on Page 11 Korea on Friday. — AFP the only outstanding claim.” The sum owed, as well as the $90 million payment, goes towards an overall claim of $14.7 billion in damages by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, the largest approved by the attack sent out the sort of shockwaves Geneva-based commission, set up by the UN India approves that shook the country after the equally Security Council in 1991. — Reuters horrific gang rape of a Delhi student on a bus in 2012, which made headlines around death penalty the world. The cabinet approved the ordi- nance amending laws on sexual violence Saudi fitness center shut for child rapists to allow for capital punishment for those convicted of raping children below the RIYADH: Saudi sports authorities shut down a NEW DELHI: India’s government yes- age of 12, the official said. female fitness center in Riyadh Friday over a con- terday approved the death penalty for Minimum jail sentences for convicted tentious promotional video that appeared to show a child rapists, after the gang rape and rapists were also toughened. “The ordi- woman in figure-hugging workout attire. “We are murder of an eight-year-old girl and a not going to tolerate this,” Saudi sports authority nance will be sent to the president for his chief Turki Al-Sheikh tweeted as he ordered that series of other horrific sexual assaults consent,” the official said on condition of the center’s license be withdrawn. Sheikh, an advis- caused nationwide outrage. Prime anonymity. The president’s approval is er to powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Minister Narendra Modi called a cabinet seen as a formality. The new decree Salman, also told authorities to investigate and meeting to pass the measure yesterday requires trials involving child victims to be prosecute those behind the video. The video, which on his return from the Commonwealth completed in two months after an arrest, was widely circulated on social media showed a summit, a government official told AFP. unusually speedy for India where the woman with uncovered hair in what appeared to be Protests have erupted across India in wheels of justice turn slowly. The order will a gym and kicking a punching bag. The General recent days over the rape and killing of remain in effect for a period of six months Sports Authority said the video contained scenes the young Muslim girl by a group of Hindu from the president’s approval, or until par- NEW DELHI: Swati Maliwal, chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, speaks that could corrupt public morals. Saud Al-Qahtani, men in Jammu and Kashmir state, increas- liament votes the changes into law. to the media yesterday during her hunger strike protest in which she is demanding a media adviser to the royal court, lauded the sports ing pressure on Modi to take action. The Continued on Page 11 the immediate implementation of a stringent law to punish convicted rapists. — AFP authority’s swift response, saying on Twitter that the kingdom was on the path of “moderation with- out moral breakdown”. — AFP energy issues, was one of its members. Hamas Mossad accused did not accuse Israel of killing him but called Batsh a “martyr” - a word it usually uses for No foul play in Avicii’s death people killed by Israeli forces. Contacted by of killing Gazan AFP, an Israeli official refused to comment. MUSCAT: A police source in Oman said yesterday Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Seri Mazlan there was no suspicion of criminal activity after prof in Malaysia Lazim said one of two suspects on a high- Swedish DJ superstar Avicii was found dead in the powered motorcycle “fired 10 shots, four of sultanate’s capital Muscat. The 28-year-old’s repre- GAZA CITY: The family of a Palestinian pro- which hit the lecturer in the head and body. sentative announced his death in a statement on fessor and Hamas member accused Israel’s He died on the spot”. “The police also found Friday without specifying the cause, with reports say- Mossad spy agency yesterday of killing him on two empty bullet shells there,” the police chief ing he had been on vacation in Oman. “Two autopsies the streets of Kuala Lumpur.