SUBSCRIPTION THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 RAJAB 30, 1435 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Traffic Obama warns Google revs Serena follows offenders US must up driverless Venus out of will not be not rush car, axes French Open detained to war steering wheel after shock los 2Indications15 of27 a Cabinet20 Max 44º reshuffle next term: MP Min 30º High Tide 00:05 & 11:03 Court delays ruling on public gatherings law Low Tide 05:27 & 18:29 40 PAGES NO: 16180 150 FILS By B Izzak Lower turnout threatens Sisi mandate KUWAIT: MP Adnan Abdulsamad said yesterday that the Cabinet is likely to be reshuffled ahead of the opening of CAIRO: Egyptians cast their votes in a presidential the next parliamentary term late October, especially election yesterday that is certain to install former after the resignation of two ministers from the 16-mem- army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi as president, but his ber Cabinet. Abdulsamad told reporters that reports call for an overwhelming mandate did not appear to about an imminent decision to dissolve the National have been heeded by voters. Tareq Al-Shibl, a mem- Assembly “are not true”. “There are no indications toward ber of the election committee, was quoted by Al- a decision to dissolve the National Assembly. The signs Ahram, a state-run newspaper, as saying that more we have, which are real, do not indicate dissolving the than 21 million people voted, or nearly 39 percent of National Assembly,” the veteran Shiite lawmaker said. an electorate of 54 million. That would be less than Abdulsamad statements come as HH the Amir yester- the 40 million votes, or 80 percent of the electorate, day met a number of citizens. The content of the meet- that Sisi had called for last week. ing was not revealed but it is believed to have focused However, a Western diplomat following the vote put the turnout at between 10 million and 15 million on the prevailing political situation in the country. The votes, which would equate to between 19 and 28 per- influential Arabic daily Al-Qabas called in an editorial cent of the electorate, much less than the official pro- Tuesday on the Amir to conduct what it called a “com- jection. The lower turnout figure threatens to under- prehensive national reconciliation” that should include mine Sisi’s credibility as leader of the Arab world’s all sides including loyalists and opponents. most populous nation. It would also suggest that he Abdulsamad said that he believes that time is not ripe had failed to rally the support he hoped for after top- for a Cabinet reshuffle now but there is information that pling Egypt’s first freely elected president, Islamist a reshuffle will take place ahead of the next parliamen- Mohamed Morsi, following street protests last year. tary term in October after the resignation of two minis- A tour of Cairo polling stations yesterday saw only ters. Minister of Islamic affairs and justice Nayef Al-Ajmi a trickle of voters cast their ballots. The same pattern resigned about three weeks ago and education minister emerged in Egypt’s second city, Alexandria, Reuters Ahmad Al-Mulaifi resigned earlier this week. reporters said. Adbulsamad said Kuwait is witnessing a stage of relative Continued on Page 15 CAIRO: An election worker waits for voters in front of a ballot box at a polling station yesterday. — AP social and political calm following years of high tension. Continued on Page 15 THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 LOCAL Photo of the day KUWAIT: Summer is here and the swimming season has opened in Kuwait. Parents should be advised to take special care to keep an eye on their children while swimming to prevent accidents and drown- ing. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat No detention for More companies prosecuted traffic offenders for human trafficking KUWAIT: Traffic offenders will no longer spend time locked up at the Traffic be jailed, and instead will be issued tickets General Department detention center. Employers face jail sentences and asked to follow legal procedures Hundreds of expatriates were also deport- according to a new decision released by ed without trial, according to reports. KUWAIT: The Labor Public Authority is prepar- The companies will be questioned on suspi- early this month with Hind Al-Subaih, Minister the Interior Ministry’s Traffic General The decision went into effect Tuesday ing to file cases with the public prosecution cions of human trafficking, according to the of Social Affairs and Labor and Minister of Department on Tuesday. According to the until further notice, Al-Anbaa daily report- against companies for violating the law that sources. If convicted, the employers face sen- Planning and Development. decision, traffic police officers are not ed yesterday. The step comes only one regulates work in the private sector. The step tences ranging between 15 years to life in Hiring labor forces from abroad in the pri- allowed to send drivers to jail for breaking day after Maj Gen Abdullah Yousef Al- comes following inspections that exposed prison. vate sector is currently suspended as the Public traffic regulations. They can only issue the Muhanna was appointed assistant under- companies that have employees registered in Nearly 2,500 companies were referred to the Labor Authority prepares to become fully oper- driver a traffic ticket, after which the per- secretary for traffic affairs, succeeding Maj their files but do not have existing offices, prosecution on similar charges during the first ational sometime this summer, according to son would be required to follow court Gen Abdul Fattah Al-Ali, in a major Interior according to sources with knowledge of the half of 2014, while only around 250 companies local newspaper reports. procedures. Ministry reshuffle. Ali, the architect behind case. were questioned in the past few years. The authority will have exclusive powers to Thousands were reportedly arrested last year’s traffic campaigns, was appoint- The sources, who spoke to Al-Qabas on the William Lacy Swing, Director General of the hire, sponsor and provide labor forces to com- during wide-scale crackdowns against ed as assistant undersecretary for public condition of anonymity, did not specify the International Organization for Migration, panies on demand, effectively phasing out the number of the companies in question or the acknowledged Kuwait’s efforts in combating flawed kafeel (sponsorship) system in the traffic violators last year, and many had to security affairs. date when the cases are expected to be filed. human trafficking during a meeting in Kuwait process. p3.e$S_Layout 1 5/28/14 8:26 PM Page 1 THURS DAY, MAY 29, 2014 LOCAL Abbas Murad Ali Al-Shashtari Ali Nashi Al-Rashidi Dadhel Al-Dabous Fahad Al-Khashshab Mamdouh Al-Enezi Marzouq Al-Khalifah Nawaf Al-Dihani Saad Al-Azmi KUWAIT: Registration of candidates for National Assembly by-elections continued yesterday. By-elections will be held in three constituencies over five vacant parliamentary seats after the resignation of five MPs early this month.— Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat Entrepreneurship widely increased in Kuwait Thanks to social media By Ben Garcia ing. We are now in a new era essen- our loved ones. It’s an extension of tially,” she noted. our culture at home. We document KUWAIT: Entrepreneurship in many According to Linaker, Kuwait is a moments with our families and countries around the world including very interesting market when it comes friends through social media and we Kuwait has increased significantly to social media, since a majority of allow our family photos to be shared since the spread of social media, expatriates and Kuwaitis are tech with others. Since expats are the according to an expert. Ema Linaker, savvy. “If you speak with young peo- majority here, the use of social media Memac Ogilvy’s Regional Director of ple aged 25 and under, they don’t to connect with their families abroad Social Media Practice, told Kuwait read newspapers anymore - they rely is really massive,” she explained. Times the use of social media in on the information they get from Linaker was asked whether the Kuwait is prevalent and considerably smartphones. Overall, people in authorities are doing the public a higher compared to other developing Kuwait are highly informed and adapt favor by banning or blocking some countries. This is because various to the latest technology quickly. Social social networks. “No they are not. But social media applications have media users in Kuwait are very sophis- thankfully, almost all media applica- tions we enjoying right now are up and running in Kuwait. I think there will be some tensions as always with authorities, but the proof is clear - see the entrepreneurship and innovations boom and who is benefiting from it? It’s the society and people around them. This is something that everyone in the government wants. So I think it’s just a question of education and proof. People are seeing the proof. Putting information in the hands of people is a good thing, and if they don’t allow this, they will be lagging behind other countries’ technology- wise. Admittedly there is a minority who will always say negative things against new things, but it will always be countered with good ones,” she Ema Linaker concluded. become a major tool for promotions, ticated; they browse the latest in fash- Linaker provides strategic leader- connecting with people and reaching ion through Instagram, then order it ship for clients across the organiza- to people in other parts of the world. through WhatsApp or call through tion’s regional network. She joined “Many entrepreneurs these days Viber. They are using social media Ogilvy in 2012 after running her own started their business with the use of tools massively via smartphones and marketing and communications social media available now like tablets,” she mentioned.