JAMADA ALTHANI 17, 1439 AH MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2018 Max 30º 32 Pages Min 14º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 17472 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Govt eyes creating 17,000 jobs Jordan skate park puts smile Italy international Astori 2 for Kuwaitis in private sector 31 on faces of refugee children 15 dies of heart attack at 31 Saudi crown prince begins first foreign tour in Egypt Riyadh, Cairo to sign a number of agreements CAIRO: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin on the transfer of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Salman landed in the Egyptian capital yesterday at Arabia, sparking protests in Egypt. Sisi ratified the the start of his first foreign tour as heir to the throne. deal last year, and Egypt’s top court annulled lower A beaming Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi court rulings for and against the treaty on the eve of greeted the prince at Cairo airport after he descend- the crown prince’s arrival. Also yesterday, US ed the red-carpeted steps of his plane. The head of President Donald Trump called Sisi to discuss with Prince Mohammed’s office, Bader Al-Asaker, tweeted him “regional issues” and “ways of combating terror- that the prince’s plane was escorted by Egyptian ism”, a statement from the Egyptian presidency said. fighter jets when it entered Egypt’s airspace. Prince Mohammed’s visit comes ahead of Egypt’s Prince Mohammed will hold meetings with Sisi, a presidential polls in late March, with Sisi expected key regional ally, and other officials in Egypt before to win a second four-year term. The visit “will be flying off to Britain on Wednesday and then later this interpreted as proof of Saudi support for Sisi to month to the United States. Saudi Arabia views remain as the president of Egypt”, Mostafa Kamel Egypt as a cornerstone of regional stability, after the Al-Sayed, a political science professor at Cairo former army chief Sisi overthrew his Islamist prede- University, told AFP. Cairo and Riyadh have main- cessor Mohamed Morsi in 2013. Riyadh viewed tained close ties, although Egypt has signalled a lack Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood with suspicion and at of enthusiasm for Saudi regional policy, both on the one point briefly recalled its ambassador from Cairo Yemen war and a potential escalation with Iran. But during his turbulent year in power. it is among a bloc of Arab nations that joined a It has since showered Cairo with aid to prop up Saudi-led boycott since June of Qatar. The Saudi the country’s economy, in a relationship that has led prince is expected to sign a number of agreements, to some controversy in Egypt. In 2015, during a visit Saudi state television said without giving further CAIRO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi (left) welcomes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by King Salman to Cairo, the two countries agreed details. —Agencies upon his arrival yesterday. — AFP Amiri envoy hands letters to Saudi, Bahraini monarchs KUWAIT: Envoy of HH the Amir Sheikh from HH the Amir to Bahraini King Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa. The letter Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs included greetings, appreciation and Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al- thanks from the Kuwaiti people to the Mubarak Al-Sabah, handed a letter from Bahraini king for Bahrain’s effective par- the Amir to Saudi King Salman bin ticipation in Kuwait’s national festivals, in Abdulaziz Al-Saud. The letter mainly addition to distinguished brotherly and included appreciation of the kingdom’s historical relations between both nations. significant participation in Kuwait’s The Amir’s envoy was welcomed on national celebrations. Sheikh Mohammad arrival by the Bahraini King’s Al-Abdullah was earlier received on Representative for Charity Works and arrival by Saudi Royal Court advisor Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Turki bin Mohammad and Kuwait’s Council for Youth and Sports, President Ambassador to the Kingdom Sheikh of Bahrain Olympic Committee, Dean of Thamer Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. the Diplomatic Corps and Kuwaiti Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah then Ambassador to Bahrain Sheikh Azzam Envoy of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Sabah, hands flew to Bahrain, where he handed a letter Mubarak Al-Sabah. — KUNA a letter from the Amir to Saudi King Salman and Bahraini King Hamad Al-Khalifa. — KUNA Saudi Arabia hosts first Assembly set to marathon for women as debate report on gaming lovers square off Filipino workers RIYADH: Saudi Arabia hosted its first February, which prompted complaints marathon for women at the weekend, from some Saudis on social media about By B Izzak local media said, as the conservative the notable absence of women. Sports kingdom seeks to boost female sports in a authorities are set to organize another KUWAIT: The National Assembly is expected to far-reaching modernization drive. marathon for women in the holy city of debate a report on the situation of Filipino workers in Hundreds of women runners, many of Makkah on April 6, pro-government Okaz Kuwait, especially domestic helpers, in the wake of a them dressed in traditional Islamic attire, newspaper reported. serious diplomatic spat with the Philippines. The raced in eastern Al-Ahsa region on Meanwhile, hundreds of Saudi men Assembly’s foreign relations panel met yesterday and Saturday. “The aim of the marathon is to and women squared off in a video game completed a report on the Filipino workers, which promote running and introduce the con- tournament in Riyadh at the weekend, will be submitted to the Assembly for a floor discus- cept of sports for all, for a healthier way organizers said, in the kingdom’s biggest sion tomorrow, MP Mohammad Al-Huwailah said. of life,” Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya News ever eSports contest. The eSports tourna- Last month the Assembly discussed the diplomatic quoted the marathon’s supervisor, Malek ment - in which players face off on com- row with the Philippines and asked the foreign rela- Al-Mousa, as saying. puters instead of turf - was held in the tions committee to discuss the issue and prepare a The event came after Riyadh hosted its capital from Thursday through Saturday. RIYADH: People attend the GSA eSports Cup in the Saudi capital. — AFP report to be debated on March 6. The committee met first international half-marathon in late Continued on Page 11 Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah, who briefed them on the diplomatic efforts to defuse ten- sions between the two countries. Jarallah had said the Pakistan People’s Party that they nomi- Philippine president was invited to visit the country Pakistan elects nated me,” Kohli told AFP yesterday. and expected the visit to take place in the first half of “Kudos to PPP for electing March. Manila has not confirmed the visit. #KrishnaKohli.... Our parliament The row came after Philippine President Rodrigo first female should have representatives of all reli- Duterte strongly lashed out at Kuwait and other Gulf gions, classes & genders in pursuit of countries for the alleged mistreatment of Filipina Dalit senator true democracy,” tweeted rights domestic helpers following reports of deaths and activist Jibran Nasir. Pakistan’s Hindus, abuse. Manila then slapped a total ban on sending ISLAMABAD: Pakistan elected its first who make up around two percent of workers to Kuwait. Kuwait has criticized the way the female senator from the lowest Dalit the country’s 200 million people, have Philippine authorities have handled the issue and caste in weekend polls which also saw long faced economic and social dis- called for a diplomatic solution to the standoff, insist- the ruling party strengthen its hand crimination. ing that all cases of alleged abuse are being handled ahead of a general election in the Members of parliament and of by the law. Muslim-majority country. The surprise provincial assemblies voted Saturday to MP Huwailah said the Kuwaiti position is clear victory of opposition candidate Krishna fill half the seats in the Senate, or upper because it is based on the law and the constitution. Kumari Kohli in the Senate election house, before elections due this summer The Philippines sent its labor minister and senior offi- stirred a wave of optimism on social for the lower house of parliament. The cials to Kuwait to discuss the issue and try to ham- media, as Pakistanis celebrated the rare ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz mer out a new labor agreement to regulate the success for a woman from a marginalized (PML-N) won 15 of the 52 seats up for community at the bottom of the Hindu election to secure a total of 33 spots in employment of their nationals in the country. KARACHI: Pakistani opposition candidate Krishna Kumari Kohli walks out from Continued on Page 11 caste hierarchy. the 104-seat upper house. “I feel proud, I am thankful to Continued on Page 11 Sindh province assembly after the Senate election on Saturday. — AFP 2 Established 1961 Local Monday, March 5, 2018 Govt eyes creating 17,000 jobs for Kuwaitis in private sector Through jobs reclassification, increased allowances By A Saleh local spotlight KUWAIT: The Manpower and Government Restructuring Program (MGRP) has commenced procedures to fulfill their target of hiring around 17,000 citizens in the private sector, said Secretary General Fauzi Al-Majdali, noting Corruption that intensive meetings are being held with private sector unions to reach the suitable new percentage of national labor to be enforced on private sector companies. Majdali added that meetings began in February, when over 28 were held at the MGRP headquarters to discuss replacing expatriate workers with citizens and making the private By Muna Al-Fuzai sector more attractive for national labor.