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SUBSCRIPTION SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2016 SAFAR 13, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Interior S Korea’s Park IMF approves ‘RunQ8’ boosts Ministry faces resignation $12bn loan awareness about ready for calls at huge to support people with elections3 protest7 rally Egypt22 economy special15 needs Govt austerity measures Max 32º Min 12º top election campaigns High Tide 10:55 & 22:40 MPs slam rampant corruption, lack of reforms Low Tide 04:40 & 16:53 40 PAGES NO: 17049 150 FILS KUWAIT: Candidates in Kuwait’s parliamentary elec- Opposition returns Yellow Parade lights up Gulf Road tions have focused their campaigns on unpopular gov- ernment austerity measures, as the oil-dependent to ballot divided country faces financial stress due to low crude prices. Kuwait, which sits on around seven percent of the KUWAIT: The upcoming election will give Kuwait a world’s proven crude reserves, has resorted to a series chance to elect new representatives to what is of measures to cut spending and boost non-oil rev- arguably the Gulf’s most powerful legislature, as enues in a bid to diversify its economy. the country is squeezed by low oil prices and fear- But measures including raising power and water ful of extremist attacks. But what does one promi- charges and hiking petrol prices have triggered a political nent candidate think ranks among the greatest crisis, leading to the parliament being dissolved last dangers facing this OPEC nation? Cross-fit. month and snap polls being called for Nov 26. “The gov- “Competing athletes play in a mixed environment, ernment has tried to resolve the economic crisis by raising with foreign and even some Kuwaiti women wear- funds from citizens, like hiking petrol prices,” independent ing indecent clothes, like sports bras, in a public candidate Hisham Al-Baghli charged at an election rally and mixed environment,” railed Waleed Al- last week. “This policy will result in serious consequences Tabtabaei, a prominent opposition figure. “This is for ordinary citizens,” warned Baghli, a former lawmaker. shameful and unacceptable.” Before crude prices began to slide in mid-2014, Tabtabaei’s comments and those of others show Kuwait generated around 95 percent of its income from how splintered Kuwait’s opposition is despite many oil. But the country’s oil revenues dropped from a mas- now saying they’ll take part in the Nov 26 poll after sive $97 billion in the fiscal year 2013/2014 to just $40 boycotting the last election, which followed tumul- billion last fiscal year, which ended on March 31, accord- tuous Arab Spring protests. Since the National ing to finance ministry figures. And oil income is pro- Assembly was dissolved in late October, 454 hopefuls jected to slide further to around $35 billion this fiscal have registered to run for the 50-seat parliament. year. In 2015/2016, the OPEC state posted its first budg- Lawmakers on paper have four-year terms, though et deficit of $15 billion after 16 years of surpluses. most parliaments are dissolved early in Kuwait. The government - which had increased its expendi- Among those running are many who sat out of tures to record levels between 2006 and 2015, mainly Kuwait’s 2012 election, including conservative on wages and subsidies - cut its spending by around 15 Islamists and liberal reformers. Others remain percent after oil prices dropped by 60 percent. It has lift- imprisoned, like opposition politician Musallam Al- KUWAIT: Over 100 yellow cars, buses and motorbikes take to Gulf Road yesterday to promote compas- ed subsidies on diesel and kerosene, hiked petrol prices Barrak, who is serving a two-year sentence for a sionate driving, like following traffic rules, giving way to others and being considerate and cheerful on by 40 to 80 percent and decided to raise power charges political speech deemed offensive to HH the Amir the road. The Yellow Parade, which coincides with World Kindness Day, aims to spread values of kind- from next year. The measures have triggered fiery reac- Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. ness and positivity on the road, Chairperson of Al-Nowair Initiative, a co-organizer, Sheikha Intisar tions from parliamentary candidates seeking to drum Continued on Page 13 Salam Al-Ali Al-Sabah (seen seated in the car) said. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat (See Page 2) up public support. Continued on Page 13 News Protests spread as Trump softens rhetoric in brief Man murders wife with Mogul doesn’t rule out ‘amended’ Obamacare: WSJ hammer, screwdrivers NEW YORK: Thousands of Americans around the world, announcing Friday he spilled into the streets yesterday for a new no longer intended to scrap Barack By Hanan Al-Saadoun day of protests against Donald Trump, Obama’s signature healthcare law, even as the president-elect appeared to Obamacare. Pak shrine blast kills 43 KUWAIT: A citizen killed his wife yesterday with a ham- back away from the fiery rhetoric that pro- “This will prove to be a great time in the mer during a fight in their house in Salwa. Hawally pelled him to the White House. The lives of ALL Americans. We will unite and QUETTA, Pakistan: At least 43 people ical facilities. Authorities have dis- detectives arrested the Republican billionaire - huddled with his we will win, win, win!” he tweeted yester- died and scores of others were injured patched ambulances and medical suspect, identified as 45- transition team at his Manhattan resi- day, as up to 15,000 people prepared to when a bomb exploded at a remote workers from Karachi, a three-hour year-old Sayed Ibrahim dence - has sought to strike a conciliatory march on Trump Tower under the rallying Sufi shrine in southern Pakistan’s drive from the blast site. Khalil, after relatives tone since his election sent a shockwave Continued on Page 13 restive Balochistan province yesterday, Pakistan Army spokesman called the police. Security officials said. The blast, claimed by mili- Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa said sources said detectives tant group Islamic State, hit a crowd of troops and medical teams had been found two screwdrivers worshippers participating in a ceremo- dispatched but that “difficult terrain and a hammer the suspect used to kill his 36-year-old ny at the shrine of the Sufi saint Shah and long distance” were hampering wife, also a Kuwaiti. The sources added the suspect is Noorani in Khuzdar district, some 750 their progress. Bajwa said that 20 undergoing psychiatric treatment. km south of provincial capital Quetta. ambulances and 50 soldiers were “At least 43 people have been killed about to reach the site, while a further and dozens of others wounded,” 45 ambulances 100 troops were also Prince Turki, brother Sarfraz Bugti told a press conference in on their way, along with medical the southwestern port town of teams. A military helicopter would of Saudi king, dies Gwadar, without providing a precise attempt evacuations at night, he RIYADH: Prince Turki bin Abdel Aziz, a brother of figure for those injured. Authorities added, but medical teams could not Saudi Arabia’s king, has died, a statement from the earlier said 25 people had been killed access the area by plane as their were palace published on the official news agency SPA and at least 35 others wounded. no air strips close by. said early yesterday. Prince Turki - who was born in Hakim Lasi, a rescue official with the President Mamnoon Hussain and 1934, according to his official biography - was a Edhi Foundation, Pakistan’s largest Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly son of the kingdom’s founder, King Abdul Aziz bin welfare organization, told Geo TV condemned the bombing in separate Saud, and a member of a formidable bloc of channel the charity had received radio statements. “The government is deter- brothers known as the Sudairi seven, after their reports that nearly 100 others were mined to eliminate terrorism and mother Hassa bin Ahmed Al-Sudairi. The group wounded, including women and chil- extremists from the country,” Hussain also included King Fahd and princes Sultan and dren. Local officials said worshippers said in a statement expressing sympa- Nayef, all now deceased, as well as the present were taking part in a devotional dance thy with the victims and their families. Saudi monarch King Salman. Prince Turki, who session, which is held daily before A statement from Sharif’s office said was deputy minister of defense from 1968 to dusk, when the blast occurred. the prime minister called for the “best 1978, was to be buried yesterday. Spain BERLIN: A demonstrator protesting against US President-Elect Donald Trump dis- Rescuers were scrambling to reach the medical treatment” to be given to the announced King Felipe VI had canceled a three- plays a heart-shaped placard during a demonstration yesterday. — AFP shrine, which is located in a remote, wounded. day visit which was to have begun yesterday. mountainous region with limited med- Continued on Page 13 Minister: India ATM Zuckerberg, Facebook reset to take ‘weeks’ NEW DELHI: India’s cash machines will take several users declared ‘dead’ weeks to reset with new bills, India’s finance minister SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook executive Zuckerberg was said yesterday, as public anger mounted over a decision accidentally declared its memorialized in a message to pull the highest denomination notes from circula- founder Mark Zuckerberg at his profile page express- tion. People queued outside banks for the third day and many other users dead ing hope that people who straight, trying to replace 500 ($7.50) and 1,000 rupee on Friday, acknowledging loved him would take com- notes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced after fixing the problem that fort in posts people shared they would no longer be legal tender in a blitz against it had committed a “terrible in tribute to his life.