SUBSCRIPTION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017 JAMADA ALAWWAL 17, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Embassy honors Blast kills Adele sweeps Kuwait Times first director at least 13, Grammy awards infographic: of PLO office injures 83 in upset victory NBA Power in Kuwait4 in Lahore7 over38 Beyonce Rankings18 MPW announces measures to Min 11º tackle Ghazali traffic snarl Max 21º High Tide 01:27 & 14:40 MoI issues guidelines on avoiding gridlock Low Tide 08:31 & 20:37 40 PAGES NO: 17141 150 FILS Govt mulling Dubai eyes hover-taxis to reduce jams By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: The Ministry of Public Works announced yes- cancelation of terday ‘instant measures’ to tackle the traffic congestion resulting from the closure of the key Al-Ghazali Road and Bridge. The extraordinary measures will be effective kafala system from today, the ministry said in a statement, indicating they are a result of intensive meetings that involved KUWAIT: Even as a number of lawmakers called for the officials from the traffic department, Kuwait University formation of a special temporary committee to study the and the ports authority. demographic imbalance in the country, a government Ahmad Al-Hassan, assistant undersecretary for roads’ committee entrusted with studying the cancellation of engineering, said in a statement that the department is the kafala (sponsorship) system is forging ahead to find a coordinating with other state authorities to tackle the solution that will protect the rights of both employers and problem that arose after the vital road was closed on employees, achieve public interest and preserve Kuwait’s Friday due to road renovation works. The problem is human rights image. being tackled with several steps, such as reopening Notably, many MPs believe that the uncontrolled and closed side roads, he added. Kuwait has been witness- growing numbers of expats, not putting replacement ing unprecedented traffic congestions for the past two policies into practice and lenience with visa traffickers days due to the construction works and the required have all led to serious consequences, limiting citizens to measures taken. only 30 percent of the total population. The Ministry of Interior also issued guidelines for According to a report in Al-Rai daily yesterday, motorists on how to avoid traffic jams by using alterna- informed sources said the government committee, tive roads. It said in a statement that part of Ghazali comprising of elements from the social affairs and labor Road had to be shut for the completion of the Jahra ministry, the interior ministry and the manpower road project as well as Ghazali Road. As a result, traffic authority, is currently considering a proposal to make had to be diverted to the Jahra side road leading to the government sponsor all private sector employees Shuwaikh Port. The ministry listed a number of other and regulate employer-employee relations through DUBAI: A model of the EHang 184 autonomous aerial vehicle is displayed at the World Government roads that can be used to avoid the jam. Trucks are contracts to be signed by both sides, with the manpow- Summit 2017 in Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah yesterday. — AFP (See Page 13) banned from plying from 6 am to 4 pm from Sundays er authority as the sponsor. to Thursdays. The sources explained that the contracts will include articles and provisions to prevent employers from holding employees’ passports and prevent transferring employees to work for others unless they cancel their residency visas and depart the country, with an exception for doctors, engineers, managers and holders of university degrees. “The study also suggests granting employees special residency cards to be held by sponsors and used on departing the country through various exits to show sponsors’ approval,” explained the sources, noting that this would replace the retaining of passports, which is globally banned. Moreover, the sources said that the new contract will protect employees’ rights, namely financial ones, by man- dating remittances through local banks in order to docu- ment the process in case of disputes. The sources con- cluded that the study is still subject to discussions at the committee and other relevant ministries in order to help regulate expats’ residencies, the demographic structure, setting special quotas per nationality, prevent these quo- tas from increasing and prevent all kinds of manipulation and tampering with residency laws. News in brief OPEC delivering on agreed output cuts KUWAIT: The OPEC oil cartel has implemented more than 90 percent of its agreed output cuts aimed at curb- ing a glut on world markets, Kuwait’s oil minister said yesterday. OPEC and non-OPEC producers including Russia agreed late last year to reduce output by about 1.8 million barrels per day in a landmark deal that fol- lowed a sharp drop in oil prices. “OPEC compliance with the output cuts is excellent ... Compliance has reached 92 percent,” said Kuwaiti oil minister Essam Al-Marzouq, who chairs a committee tasked with monitoring the agreement. Non-OPEC producers had delivered on more than half of their pledged production reductions, he told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Kuwait City. Marzouq attributed the relatively low non- OPEC implementation rate to previously agreed export commitments. (See Pages 5 & 21) Hamas hardliner elected as group’s Gaza chief GAZA CITY: Hamas elected in secret a hardline member of the Palestinian Islamist movement’s armed wing as its new Gaza leader yesterday, indi- cating a tougher stand against longtime adversary Israel. Yahya Sinwar was elected to head the Hamas political office in the Gaza Strip, officials from the party said. An influential military figure, Sinwar represents for some the hardest line within the Islamist movement which has fought three wars against Israel since 2008. He will succeed politician Ismail Haniya and becomes the second most important figure in the party after Khaled Meshaal. Sinwar was held in Israeli jail for more than 20 years until 2011, when he was released along with more than 1,000 other Palestinian pris- oners in exchange for Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier captured five years earlier. He has since become a senior figure in the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017 LOCAL Situation on borders with Iraq normal: Deputy FM IOM launches documentary in appreciation of Kuwait KUWAIT: There is nothing abnormal on the Kuwaiti-Iraqi borders, Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah stated Sunday. The situation is nor- mal and stable on borders with Iraq and will remain the same thanks to the vigilance of Kuwaiti people and Iraq’s respect of the sovereignty of the State of Kuwait, Jarallah said on the sidelines of the International Migration Organization’s (IOM) cere- mony to launch a documentary about Kuwait’s humanitarian role. He added that National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem has discussed the issue with Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al- KUWAIT: Director General of the Parliament Speaker Salim Al-Jabouri Jarallah speaks on the sidelines of International Organization of KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Minister of State for Housing the ceremony. Migration William Lacy Swing speaks Affairs and Minister of State for Services Yasser Abul and officials.— KUNA who stated that nobody could drive a wage between Kuwaiti and Iraqi during a ceremony held Sunday to people. Jabouri himself affirmed to tary about Kuwaiti contributions and launch a documentary about the press that his country is serious support, and positive effect of better Kuwait’s humanitarian role. —KUNA life of them. Jarallah thanked the IOM Amir meets Housing in respecting the sovereignty of its joining the UN last September, and for shedding light on a center of shel- neighboring country and that Iraq is taking over responsibility of negotia- keen on continuing good trusting tering of female workers in Kuwait, which provides humanitarian servic- tions over an international agree- relations with Kuwait. Jabouri’s ment for safe immigration. Minister, officials statement shows the Iraqi side’s es and was admired by global humanitarian organizations. He also thanked IOM for publish- respect of Kuwait sovereignty, ing a book talking about Kuwait Jarallah said. Earlier this month, being a source of inspiration in times KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi Humanitarian diplomacy Eman Erekat, head of IOM Mission of crises. The book talks about Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- said that his country would not be in Kuwait, said her organization pro- Kuwait’s humanitarian activities and Sabah received at Bayan Palace yes- dragged to malicious schemes of programs conducted in cooperation some entities which try to spread duced the documentary in apprecia- terday Minister of State for Housing tion of Kuwait’s humanitarian role with IOM. Affairs and Minister of State for rumors and fabricated news to mar Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations. around the globe, as well as to initia- Services Yasser Abul. His Highness tives of His Highness the Amir who Bountiful contributions the Amir also received The Director created the ‘humanitarian diplomacy.’ Meanwhile, Swing said in an inter- General of the Public Authority for Renewed commitment view yesterday that the bountiful Jarallah pointed out that the mes- She said Kuwait’s humanitarian aid Housing Welfare (PAHW) Bader Al- for the refugees and the displaced contributions of Kuwait and His sage received by His Highness the Highness the Amir has contributed to Woqyan and Director General of Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- included transportation and cleaning Kuwait Credit Bank Salah Al- materials, and tents. giving hope to those who feel hope- Jaber Al-Sabah from the US President less about life amid displacement Mudhaf. Deputy Minister of Amiri Donald Trump included a renewed Erekat said more than a million Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al- people benefited from Kuwait aid in and wars.