Final Nod to Higher Power, Water Charges for Expats
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SUBSCRIPTION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2016 RAJAB 20, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net New airport Ambitious Saudi Egypt looks to Without Ronaldo, terminal reforms up avert water Madrid hold City building has against ‘vested crisis driven by in Champions unique design3 interests’23 demand,28 waste League20 Final nod to higher power, Min 21º Max 41º water charges for expats High Tide 03:33 & 14:05 Low Tide New tariffs to take effect after 15 months 08:46 & 21:33 40 PAGES NO: 16857 150 FILS By B Izzak Talks progress after Amir meets Yemen foes KUWAIT: The National Assembly yesterday overwhelm- ingly passed a law allowing the government to hike KUWAIT: The UN special envoy to Yemen said yester- electricity and water charges for expatriates after com- day that warring parties have agreed to a framework pletely excluding Kuwaiti citizens. But the application of for talks that will open the way for extensive negotia- the new charges will not take effect before Sept 2017, tions to end the conflict. The announcement came according to the law which states that it will be applied after HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on apartment buildings after 15 months of its publica- met with the two delegations separately and urged tion in the official gazette. them to reach a peaceful solution. It also came a day Forty-eight MPs, including ministers, voted in favor after the UN Security Council urged all sides in the of the law, while eight lawmakers opposed it. This is the negotiations to be constructive. second and final vote on the law as the first reading was “We heard from the Amir of Kuwait clear assur- approved two weeks ago. The law ances with regards to supporting the political was passed after clearing the last process to reach a settlement,” said Mohammed hurdle of adding Kuwaitis residing Abdulsalam, head of the Houthi delegation. The Amir in apartments to their counter- warned that war can only lead to more devastation parts living in villas to the exemp- and bloodshed, Abdulsalam wrote on Facebook. A tion list. The law states that source close to the government delegation said Kuwaiti families living in apart- Sheikh Sabah “urged the two sides to reach a political ment buildings are exempted settlement.” HH the Amir also received the UN envoy unless they have other houses. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. The exemption applies to only The two delegations “agreed to an agenda for one house. A number of MPs negotiations which is a framework for discussing called for exempting several Ahmad Al-Jassar security, economic and political issues,” Ould Cheikh houses for those Kuwaitis who are Ahmed told a press conference later. He said “com- married to more than one wife, but the Assembly reject- prehensive negotiations” would start today in line ed the motion. with UN Security Council resolution 2216, which is According to the law, the hike in electricity and water seen as a basis for any peace plan. It states that the tariffs applies to apartment buildings (expatriates only), rebels must withdraw from seized territories and dis- the commercial sector, industrial and agricultural sec- KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah meets UN special envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould arm before talks can progress. tors and government offices. It applies after one year on Cheikh Ahmed yesterday. — KUNA Continued on Page 13 Continued on Page 13 Saudis, Kuwait struggle to restart Khafji DUBAI/RIYADH: Kuwait and Saudi March 29 that Kuwait had agreed with Arabia appear no closer to restarting neighboring Saudi Arabia to resume pro- News their jointly operated Khafji oilfield, duction at the field. Riyadh has yet to in brief industry sources said, despite Kuwait say- confirm that announcement, and Saudi- ing the sides had agreed to ramp up out- based industry sources say there has put after an 18-month shutdown. Any been no breakthrough in talks to resolve Qatar to let domestic delay in the restart of the Neutral Zone what has become a political sticking fuel prices fluctuate field that produced 280,000 to 300,000 point between the two Gulf OPEC allies. DOHA: OPEC member Qatar announced yesterday that barrels per day (bpd) before environ- “There has been no change in the situa- it will liberalize petrol and diesel prices amid concerns mental problems forced its closure in Oct tion so far in Khafji,” one Saudi oil indus- over the state budget with the fall of global oil prices. 2014 will be seen as a boost to global oil try source said. Another source said: The change will come into force from May and prices will markets struggling to shake off a glut “Talks are still going on to resolve the fluctuate each month, Mishal Al-Thani, chairman of a that has sent prices diving over the past issue ... Hopefully it will be (resolved) commission to study fuel prices, said in a statement. The two years. soon.” overhaul of the domestic market will see future prices Kuwait’s acting oil minister said on Continued on Page 13 determined by global and regional factors as well as costs linked to fuel production and distribution, he said. The price changes would also aim “to raise the efficiency of energy use in the state and to increase consumer awareness”, he added. However this would not “neces- sarily” mean higher prices for consumers, assured Thani. Qatar pushed petrol prices up by 30 percent in January. DUBAI: An Emirati visitor gets off a ten-seater driverless car after a test run dur- Greenland HK launches ing the second MENA Transport Congress Exhibition yesterday. — AP $8bn fund with Kuwait HONG KONG: Greenland Hong Kong Holdings Ltd has signed a deal to set up an US$8 billion real Dubai to promote estate fund with Kuwait Strategic Investor and to take a stake in a luxury New York City develop- ment, it said yesterday. Greenland Hong Kong, the driverless vehicles subsidiary of China’s state-backed Greenland Group, said it would issue 459,005,021 convertible DUBAI: Dubai will introduce legislation That should save 22 billion dirhams ($6 preferred shares to Kuwait Strategic Investor’s Al to promote the use of driverless vehicles billion) in annual costs through greater Waseet International. Conversion of the shares and invite companies to propose auto- efficiency and fewer accidents, Dubai would make Kuwait Strategic Investor the second- mated transport systems for the emirate, ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al- biggest shareholder in Greenland Hong Kong. In DUBAI: An Emirati man walks past the Trump Hotels stand at the Arabian the government said on Monday. The Maktoum said. The government will focus exchange for the shares, Greenland Hong Kong Travel Market exhibition yesterday. — AP fast-growing city state, which has about on innovations such as autonomous bus- would acquire a 41 percent effective interest in 2.5 million permanent residents, aims to es and taxis, it said. It did not give details the luxury Project Lane real estate development in make 25 percent of its transport - both of the legislation or its plans to introduce New York City. Dubai tourism forum has public and private - driverless by 2030. new transport systems. — Reuters surprising name: Trump DUBAI: Tucked away behind stands at a between the hotel chain and others at Saudi Arabia plans to welcome tourists Mideast tourism conference this week is the conference remained strong. “We’ve a surprising name: Trump. Trump Hotels, had a business-friendship with the peo- DUBAI: Saudi Arabia has plans to issue Market exhibition in Dubai. the brand bearing the last name of ple in this hall right now for many years. select visas to welcome tens of thousands of The religiously conservative country cur- Republican presidential candidate That hasn’t changed. It’s still the same,” he tourists a year as part of a sweeping national rently does not issue tourist visas, though it Donald Trump, sits near luxury brands said. “It’s nice to just hear (that) our busi- reform plan aimed at showcasing the coun- ran a pilot program between 2006 and 2010 like the Armani Hotel and the Palazzo ness partners are even encouraging. ... try’s rich heritage, including pre-Islamic welcoming around 25,000 visitors annually Versace at the Arabian Travel Market exhi- They emphasize they will continue to sites, and encouraging Saudis to spend to see Saudi Arabia’s ancient archaeological bition being held in Dubai, the United keep supporting us.” some of their tourist money at home. A day sites and vast landscapes of mountains, Arab Emirates. Trump, who has long Other business relationships in the after Saudi Arabia outlined its Vision 2030 coastline, valleys, volcanoes and deserts. No sought access to the oil-rich markets of Arabian Gulf have suffered in recent plan to wean itself off dependence on oil, a date has been set for when tourist visas will the Middle East, has caused consterna- months for the Trump brand. In top Saudi prince told AP how the country be issued again. tion and sparked condemnation across December, the Dubai-based Landmark plans to develop its tourism industry over Though Saudi Arabia may seem an the region over his comments on Islam Group said it would pull all Trump home Prince Sultan bin Salman the coming years. unlikely destination for a holiday, it boasts and his December proposal to temporari- decor products at its 180 Lifestyle stores ly ban Muslims from entering America. in the region as it “values and respects Prince Sultan bin Salman, who is head of come in”. “It is open for people that are regions where Christian and Jewish commu- Marcos Torres, the global sales direc- the sentiments of its customers”.