MUHARRAM 26, 1442 AH MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 16 Pages Max 46º Min 24º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 18230 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Iraqis dig up COVID dead San Francisco exodus as tech ‘Nomadland’ wins top Osaka beats Azarenka to win 6 to rebury in family graves 9 giants lean in to remote work 12 prize at Venice film fest 16 US Open, third Grand Slam Two MPs test COVID positive, Assembly session in doubt Tribal primaries continue despite ban • Adasani: Accounts of 12 MPs inflated By B Izzak least seven days should have passed after Assembly’s legal and legislative committee any contact with infected people. The to examine if they breach the constitution. Boursa Kuwait makes KUWAIT: National Assembly Speaker names of the two infected lawmakers were MP Kandari said he heard that the pre- Marzouq Al-Ghanem yesterday said the not disclosed, but MP Al-Humaidi Al- mier is not willing to face the grilling and ministry of health informed him that two Subaei said he learnt that one of them is would rather use the same tools used by historic move with MPs have tested positive for the coron- MP Abdulwahab Al-Babtain. former premiers, which include referring avirus, and as a result tomorrow’s session The Assembly was expected to debate the grilling to the legal panel or even to the Premier Market listing will most likely be cancelled. Ghanem said two grillings against HH the Prime Minister constitutional court. the Assembly office will meet today to dis- Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah filed by He called on the prime minister to face cuss the issue, and expected it will decide MPs Abdulkarim Al-Kandari and Subaie the grilling in a public session so all the Leading the region in innovative investing to postpone the regular session this week for alleged mismanagement of state affairs. people can hear his defense. MP Subaei until next week. It has not been disclosed whether the also criticized the government’s request to He said the health ministry also prime minister will accept to face the postpone the Assembly session using the informed him that it will test all MPs and grilling in public or in a closed session, or “pretext of coronavirus”, and called for Assembly staff on Saturday because at could ask the grillings to be studied by the Continued on Page 2 Kuwait Times welcomes new deputy editor-in-chief By Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Hamad Al-Humaidhi Bader Al-Kharafi Mohammed Al-Osaimi KUWAIT: Underscoring its pivotal nies. Boursa Kuwait’s position as a KUWAIT: As Editor-in-Chief of Kuwait Times, I role in the growth and development of regional leader among stock am always thinking about the future of the news Kuwait’s capital markets, Boursa exchanges continues to be reinforced industry in Kuwait and the world. So much has Kuwait announced that it will list its with the listing of the bourse on the shares on the “Premier Market” fol- local stock exchange, continuing a changed since the launch of Kuwait Times in 1961 - lowing the Capital Markets’ Authority’s series of firsts for the company. the industry continues to grow and transform while approval on Wednesday, Sept 2, 2020. Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi, in his playing a critical role in the national discourse. Trading of the company’s shares will capacity as both a representative of This week we are all delighted to welcome commence during the opening trading the consortium awarded a 44 percent onboard Abdullah Boftain, a well-known media pro- session today (Sept 14, 2020) under stake in the company and as Chairman the ticker symbol “BOURSA”. of the Executive Committee at Boursa fessional who will be adding to Kuwait Times’ vision The company will be classified Kuwait, said: “We are proud of the of the future by leveraging his vast experience and under the “Financial Services” sector, consecutive string of achievements for building a partnership with Kuwait News e-paper. bringing the total number of compa- Boursa Kuwait, which is undoubtedly a We are all cautious about the continued impact of nies on the exchange to 174, while the role model for companies that want to the coronavirus pandemic, but at the same time are number of listed companies in the undergo privatization and list on the KUWAIT: Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan (center) is flanked by “Premier” Market rises to 20 compa- exchange.” (See Page 8) excited about the future of Kuwait Times and the media industry in our beloved country. Deputy Editors-in-Chief Abdullah Boftain (right) and Dr Ziad Al-Alyan. toms called kafala repeatedly Lebanon’s new slammed by rights groups as allowing a wide range of abuse. Under kafala, meaning “sponsorship” in Arabic, the Half a million work contract employer sponsors the worker’s legal immigration status in the country, and end of ‘kafala’? the latter cannot resign without their iqama holders consent or they become undocument- BEIRUT: Lebanon has approved a ed. The law also does not ban with- stuck abroad new work contract allowing foreign holding a worker’s passport. domestic workers to resign and keep All this leaves a worker at the KUWAIT: The interior hold of their own passport, but employer’s mercy. Lebanon’s econom- ministry’s assistant activists say the exploitative “kafala” ic and coronavirus crises have undersecretary for resi- system remains in place. The eco- increased the urgency for reform over dency affairs Maj Gen nomic crisis-hit Mediterranean coun- the past year, with many families now Anwar Al-Barjas said try is home to around 250,000 paying their workers in the devaluated residency law amend- migrants, mostly women from Africa local currency, and some not at all. In ments are being cur- and Asia, who toil away in people’s recent months, dozens of foreign rently prepared pend- homes as housekeepers, carers or helpers have been thrown out into the ing referral to relevant nannies. streets without due pay or even their authorities for approval. Anwar Al-Barjas They are not protected by the passport, many of them interviewed In an interview with Al- BEIRUT: A photo taken on March 26, 2020 shows foreign domestic workers country’s labor law, but instead work by AFP. Anbaa daily, Barjas said walking their employers’ dogs in the Lebanese capital. — AFP under a set of laws, policies and cus- Continued on Page 2 the total number of expats stranded abroad who still hold valid residency visas (as of Aug 23) is 426,871, adding residents with expired iqamas with fancy cakes, sparkly dresses and will not be allowed to enter Kuwait. Virus dents wild parties are a huge deal, laying Responding to a question about resumption the foundation for a new life for mil- of visit and entry visas, Barjas stressed that the Turkish lions. But the joyous day drew the issuance of all types of visas has been suspend- government’s wrath when videos of ed for all nationalities until further notice. “As raucous street parties with mask-free, soon as we get health ministry instructions to do arm-to-arm dancing went viral just as weddings so, we will immediately put them into practice,” Turkey’s infection rate began to edge he underlined. back up to levels last seen in May. ISTANBUL: Her bridal hair and Barjas explained that the state had earlier makeup done just right, Ayse Keles In the Black Sea city of Trabzon, dozens who celebrated henna night - allowed residents with expired contracts and looked ravishing and relieved: She expired residency or entry visas effective Jan 1, managed to sneak her wedding day in a wedding custom gathering the 2020 to depart Kuwait without any legal before Turkey’s latest wave of coron- bride’s female friends and family accountability or fines. During the amnesty peri- avirus restrictions hit. “I have a close before she leaves her mother’s home - friend who had to delay her wedding all had to be quarantined after one of od, the state had paid the expenses of their five times,” the 28-year-old said in her them tested positive. The govern- departure and allowed them to return to Kuwait. white bridal gown while preparing for ment’s hammer fell on Sept 4, when “Those who failed to leave during this grace a photo shoot on the Asian side of weddings, engagement parties and period will be held legally accountable, will not Istanbul. circumcision ceremonies were limited be granted residency visas, will be immediately to an hour in length and banned from deported and will not be allowed to return to Since premarital cohabitation is ISTANBUL: Ayse Keles and her husband Alp Colak pose for a wedding photo frowned upon in the mostly Muslim having dances or serving food. Kuwait,” Barjas concluded. — Al-Anbaa shoot on Sept 5, 2020. — AFP but secular country, lavish weddings Continued on Page 2 2 Established 1961 Monday, September 14, 2020 Local Deputy Amir keen for all to be equal before law: Public Prosecutor Sheikh Nawaf hosts senior state officials KUWAIT: His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with National Assembly Speaker Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with His Highness the Prime Minister Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Deputy Prime Minister, Interior Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanem.