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SUBSCRIPTION TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017 RAJAB 21, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Kuwait eager How Spain US filmmaker Harden powers to cultivate became world learns why she Rockets past love of reading leader in organ endured airport Westbrook’s in students4 transplants29 stops39 for years Thunder20 Court sets May 8 for expat Min 21º Max 28º driving ban case hearing High Tide 04:59 & 15:18 Low Tide Acting speaker urges restraint over grillings 09:53 & 22:52 40 PAGES NO: 17202 150 FILS By B Izzak conspiracy theories KUWAIT: The administrative court yesterday set May 8 to start hearing a case demanding a total ban on Master their language expatriates driving until the government has resolved the traffic problem on the country’s roads. The case was filed by lawyer Mohammad Al-Ansari on behalf of a number of Kuwaiti citizens, who charged that the government has failed to resolve traffic congestions on roads and asked the court to intervene to help solve the problem. By Badrya Darwish The lawyer demanded a total suspension of all driving licenses held by expatriates and also to stop giving new licenses to foreigners until a solution is found to the traffic problems. The lawyer and his [email protected] clients are demanding to keep all expatriate drivers off the road to allow easy access to Kuwaiti motorists to go to work and return. read a column by Dr Suad Al-Sabah in Al-Rai yes- There have been calls by some Kuwaiti lawmakers to terday about a topic that has been on my mind for this effect. MP Safaa Al-Hashem, the sole female MP, has Imany years. Guys, it’s about the decline of our called for suspending licenses for expatriates for one beautiful Arabic language. Thanks to Dr Suad for her year until a solution is found to the traffic problem. The effort in raising this serious issue, especially how it’s ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets supporters during his visit to the Eyup Sultan calls have been described as racist by the independent being taught to children. As a language, it should be Mosque yesterday, a day after his victory in a national referendum to change the constitution. — AFP Kuwait Society for Human Rights and a number of MPs. taught when you are young - anything you learn The court is not expected to accept the lawsuit, and if it when you are very young will stay in your memory. does so, it will be challenged at the appeals and Children are like sponges - they absorb everything, Erdogan slams criticism supreme courts to become final. and especially languages, 100 times better than Meanwhile, acting speaker Essa Al-Kandari yesterday when they are older. called for restraint in using grillings and urged MPs to I still remember poetry that I was taught in school of Turkish referendum resort to lesser constitutional tools in questioning min- at the age of six or seven. If you give me two lines of a isters. He said that resorting to the grilling tool all the poem today to memorize, I think it will take me one time is likely to weaken this important constitutional week. With regards to Arabic, I want to also add Amir congratulates president tool, and at the same time, fail to resolve problems fac- another aspect that needs discussing - that as adults, ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gathered outside, telling monitors who criticized the we are ignoring our language. I have noticed that in ing citizens and could lead to straining relations yesterday angrily rejected criticism by international many societies, English is prevailing. Even when we poll: “Know your place.” Showing no sign of pulling his between the Assembly and the government. are walking or talking as a family or with friends, we monitors of a referendum granting him extra powers punches, Erdogan said Turkey could hold further referen- Kandari said citizens are fed up from the continued are not using Arabic - even our slang is mostly English. that was disputed by the opposition and exposed bit- dums on its EU bid and re-introducing the death penalty. escalation of tensions between the executive and legis- The problem is that many of us started to consid- ter divisions in the country. The referendum was seen HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- lature authorities, adding that the constitution has er speaking English as a mark of status. Wow. Cool. I as crucial not just for shaping Turkey’s political system Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable of congratulations yester- made cooperation the basis of relations between the hear young Arab mothers at the co-op or at the air- but also the future strategic direction of a nation that day to Erdogan, expressing his best wishes for Turkey two bodies ahead of confrontations. Kandari’s call port or shops talking to their children in English. has been a NATO member since 1952 and a European after the success of the constitutional referendum, comes a day after two opposition lawmakers filed a They seem to be more focused on demonstrating to Union hopeful for half a century. hoping as well for more developmental progress and motion to grill the prime minister, the second grilling in everyone that they know English and that their kids Returning in triumph to his presidential palace in prosperity for the country. the past few days. know English, rather than really communicating Ankara, Erdogan addressed thousands of supporters Continued on Page 13 Continued on Page 13 with their children. Sometimes, I even laugh as some of them make mistakes while speaking, but insist to keep speaking in English. I’m not against any language and I love languages, Layoffs, ‘digital transformation’ at The National actually. I’m writing in English because this is an English-language paper and there is no harm in this. DUBAI: A state-backed newspaper in the United Arab it would become the Mideast’s standard for independ- undergo “a digital transformation while retaining All our kids should know English and other languages Emirates that was bought by an Emirati who oversees ent, hard-nosed newspapering. But while the paper its print product”. It answered no questions from of the world. But first let’s master our own language the English football club Manchester City is undergo- broke local stories on skyscraper fire safety and other the AP about the layoffs. and this is what my generation was forced to do. ing layoffs, those with knowledge of the firings said issues, it largely stayed away from controversial topics Although the newspaper sale has yet to finalize, Master Arabic before learning a second language. I understand that the whole world has become a yesterday. They told AP that staffers at The National in a country with strict laws governing speech. staffers had to reapply for jobs at the paper. village, and thanks to globalization, our interaction were informed Sunday they had been let go. They International Media Investments, a subsidiary of Sources close to the process said the post of chief with the rest of the world is mainly in English. So spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity for fear of Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corp owned by editor could go to Mina Al-Oraibi, the former assis- that maybe is one of the reasons why many people repercussions. It wasn’t clear how wide the layoffs Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan of tant editor of Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat. All want their children to learn English. Also, the social were or what specific plans The National’s new owner Manchester City, bought The National in November this comes as low global oil prices have pinched system in Kuwait means that children are often had for the daily newspaper. Repeated calls to the from Abu Dhabi Media. Sheikh Mansour’s media the economy of the United Arab Emirates, a federa- exposed to domestic help from Asian countries and newspaper rang unanswered yesterday. firm has a joint venture with Britain-based Sky to tion of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. often end up communicating in English. Despite all The layoffs come after months of turmoil at The run the Arab satellite news channel Sky News Sheikh Mansour is a member of the ruling family of these snags, we should try our best and concentrate National, which was founded in 2008 and staffed with Arabia. In a statement, International Media Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s oil-rich capital. He also serves more on learning Arabic and force our children to top writers and editors from Western newspapers. Its Investments said: “The National is putting together as a deputy prime minister and minister of presi- master their native tongue as early as possible. owner, the state-backed firm Abu Dhabi Media, hoped its team, made of existing and new talent,” and will dential affairs. — Agencies Saudi seeks 10% renewable energy in 6 years: Minister RIYADH: Saudi Arabia wants 10 percent of its electricity the kingdom’s energy sector will be as significant as the to come from renewable sources within several years as discovery of oil in the 1930s. “You’re really talking about part of a transformation in its power sector, the energy a significant socio-economic transition that’s going to minister said yesterday. Khaled Al-Falih said his country, take place” over the next decade or two. the world’s biggest oil exporter, will also sell renewable Falih said the energy sector is being completely energy and its technology abroad. At a restructured to include an autonomous forum seeking investment in the sector, board of regulators, and with privatized he announced “30 projects to be imple- generation capacity.