SUBSCRIPTION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2016 SAFAR 21, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Kuwaiti citizens Asia-Pacific Fitzpatrick Kuwait Times abroad express leaders defend wins finale, infographic: desire to vote trade against Stenson the NBA Power in elections3 Trump21 tide Race16 to Dubai Rankings18 Constitutional court accepts Max 27º petition against elections Min 13º High Tide 02:29 & 17:01 Opposition candidates demand political reforms Low Tide 10:10 & 22:16 40 PAGES NO: 17057 150 FILS By B Izzak 120 killed as Indian train derails KUWAIT: The constitutional court yesterday accepted a petition calling for scrapping the Nov 26 general elec- tions on the basis that the Amiri decree dissolving the Amir sends condolences National Assembly was not in line with the constitution. The petition was filed by lawyer Hani Hussein, who was PUKHRAYAN, India: Emergency workers raced to find barred from contesting the polls by the election com- any more survivors in the mangled wreckage of an mittee for being previously convicted by courts. Indian train that derailed yesterday, killing at least 120 Hussein did not elaborate on the petition except by say- people, in the worst disaster to hit the country’s ageing ing that it was accepted by the court, whose decisions rail network in recent years. Shocked passengers are final. He however said he will explain the nature of recalled being jolted out of their early morning slumber his petition at an election rally today. by a violent thud as 14 carriages leapt from the tracks in Acceptance of the constitutional petition does not a remote area near Kanpur city in Uttar Pradesh state. give the challenge any credibility, but it means that the HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- court found the arguments are legal and can be debat- Sabah yesterday sent a condolence cable to Indian ed. No date has been set by the court for any hearing. In President Pranab Mukherjee, voicing sincere and heart- his request, the lawyer claimed that the Amiri decree felt condolences over the victims of the accident and dissolving the Assembly was not constitutional, and wished quick recovery to the injured. HH the Deputy accordingly the election must be called off and the dis- Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- solved Assembly reinstated. Hussein last week promised Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber a “big surprise” that could lead to delaying the election. Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent similar cables of Many commentators saw the petition as a very normal condolences. move that is likely to lead nowhere. Survivors also told of their desperate search for Separately, the court of cassation, whose rulings are loved-ones on the train, which was carrying at least one final, is expected to determine the fate of 17 candidates wedding party with the marriage season in India in full this week. These candidates are among 47 hopefuls dis- swing. “My 12-year-old daughter is missing, I have been qualified by the election committee. A number of them looking for her for hours,” a survivor told AFP at the acci- have been reinstated, while others have been disbarred, dent site, breaking into uncontrollable sobs. “My wife including former MP Abdulhameed Dashti, who has has received serious head injuries and I have lost all my been living abroad since March. belongings. I am feeling so helpless, my whole world Meanwhile, candidates are rushing with their final has turned upside down.” PUKHRAYAN, India: Rescue workers search for survivors in the wreckage of a train that derailed in Kanpur election rallies this week before a campaigning embar- Continued on Page 13 district yesterday. — AFP go starts at the weekend ahead of Saturday’s polls. Continued on Page 13 LOCAL MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2016 Crown Prince meets state officials KUWAIT: His Highness Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received yester- day at Seif Palace His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Sheikh Nawaf also received the First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and Minister of Defense Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah. His Highness also received Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al- Salem Al-Sabah, and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah. Encyclopedia Meanwhile, His Highness the Prime Minister received Dr Mariam Jasser Al-Shammari, a consultant at As’ad Al- Hamad Dermatology Center. During the meeting, Shammari dedicated to His Highness the Premier her book on Atlas of skin diseases, which is a first Arab scientific encyclopedia in this field. His Highness the Premier expressed his appreciation to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah efforts exerted in preparing the encyclopedia which guides medical researchers and enriches the Arab medical library. Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah KUWAIT: His Highness Deputy Amir and Crown His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- His Highness the Prime Minister also extolled the role of Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah meets with Dr the Kuwaiti citizens in raising their country’s status on sci- Amir patronizes meets with First Deputy Prime Minister and Mariam Jasser Al-Shammari. entific scenes and their keenness on manifesting its civi- Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al- lized image, expressing his great confidence in youth who Informatics Awards Hamad Al-Sabah. —KUNA photos have made progress in all fields. —KUNA KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah will patronize the winners of His Highness Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah’s 16th Informatics NATO’s 3rd ICI meeting opens Award today at 10:30 am at Bayan Palace. During the cere- mony, His Highness the Amir will be accompanied by His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported. with Kuwaiti participation Meanwhile, the forum’s organizing committee announced that preparations for the three-day event are finished, noting that the forum will be organized by Salem Al-Ali Informatics Award Foundation. The committee added that international and Kuwaiti participants will take part in this year’s award, the committee added in a state- ment. The participants will display various inventions including the Teleporter; a robot that can be remotely con- trolled from any place worldwide, mobile phone apps, smart cities, online opportunities, 3D printers, digital future and computer clouds, it added. Heading Global organizers lauded KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) concluded its ‘Heading Global’ conference, which was held at the Regency Hotel last week in the presence of Education and Higher Education Minister Dr Secretary General of the Qatari Foreign Ministry DOHA: Kuwait’s delegation to the third meeting of NATO’s Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI). —KUNA Bader Al-Essa. PAAET Director Dr Ahmad bin Hassan Al-Hamadi. General Dr Ahmad Al-Athari thanked Dr Essa for his patronage Dr Ahmad Al-Athari and attendance of the conference, DOHA: The third meeting of NATO’s Moreover, on the Gulf nation’s relations General for Emerging Security Challenges ed by the country’s Ambassador to Belgium and lauded the role of those who Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) kicked with NATO, he said they have made some Sorin Ducaru lauded Qatar’s efforts to bol- and Luxembourg and head of its missions sponsored and supported the off yesterday with Kuwaiti participation. In progress in recent years, noting that Qatar ster NATO’s ties with ICI member nations, to NATO and the European Union (EU) event. Meanwhile, PAAET’s official a speech to open the two-day meeting, has participated in most political events noting that this meeting will prove crucial Jassim Al-Bdaiwi. spokesperson Fatima Al-Azmi Secretary General of the Qatari Foreign organized by NATO. On the meeting, Al- for further cooperation. The delegation also includes head of the Ministry Dr Ahmad bin Hassan Al-Hamadi Hamadi said it represents a valuable oppor- The NATO official also added that the Kuwaiti National Security Apparatus’ security lauded the role of the conference’s underscored that Qatar has long sought to tunity for ICI and NATO member nations to meeting will feature discussions over a host information and follow-up department President, coordinator and rappor- enhance its ties with NATO, especially on work together to bring goals of restoring of security challenges, with focus on the Sheikh Fawaz Mishaal Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah teur, as well as all members of the issues that contribute to peace and stability stability and peace in the world to fruition. fight against terrorism and other issues. and secretary at Kuwait’s embassy in higher organizing committee and in the region. Meanwhile, NATO’s Assistant Secretary Kuwait’s delegation to the meeting is head- Belgium Abdulmohsen Al-Mansour. —KUNA subcommittees. Fatima Al-Azmi Book Fair highlights King Abdulaziz Foundation role in preserving libraries KUWAIT: Kuwait Book Fair held a symposium ing. The aim of this collection is to better protect Saturday to highlight King Abdulaziz Foundation and preserve these materials from damage, he for Research and Archives (Darah)’s role in preserv- noted. Furthermore, Hanehan touched upon the ing Saudi, Arab and Muslim heritage and personal history of libraries in the Saudi Kingdom and the libraries in the Saudi Kingdom. efforts exerted by Darah in collecting, renovating, “Darah surveys the country in search for per- digitalizing, and preserving historical manuscripts sonal libraries, then contacts their owners to offer and books.