SUBSCRIPTION TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2015 RABI ALTHANI 7, 1436 AH www.kuwaittimes.net 11 citizens, Kurds expel Egyptian Serena finds expats arrested Islamic State female cyclists top gear for insulting from Syria’s pedal for as Venus late Saudi2 king Kobane7 acceptance36 shines20 Massive deficit projected Min 07º Max 24º despite big spending cuts High Tide 04:31 & 16:50 Court reinstates former KAC chairman Nisf Low Tide 10:50 & 23:42 40 PAGES NO: 16415 150 FILS By B Izzak Fine for failure KUWAIT: The Cabinet yesterday approved the budget Border pileup kills 4 for the 2015/2016 fiscal year, projecting a KD 7.05 billion to update new ($24 billion) deficit despite cutting spending by as much as KD 4.1 billion, Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh address on ID said. Revenues are projected at KD 12.052 billion, a 40 percent slump from the current year’s estimates of KD By Faten Omar 20.1 billion, the minister said. It is the largest drop in a single year in over a decade. Public spending is project- KUWAIT: Despite assurances that people who have not ed at KD 10.073 billion, also 17.8 percent lower than updated their residential addresses will not be penalized, estimates in the current fiscal year of KD 23.2 billion. the Public Authority for Civil Information published in the The budget deficit, official gazette “Kuwait Al- one of the largest in Youm” yesterday a list of Kuwait’s history, was 981 citizens and expats projected despite the who have not updated big reduction in pub- their addresses on their civil lic expenditures IDs. It called on those who amounting to KD 4.14 changed their residence or billion from the cur- those whose buildings have rent year. Oil revenues been demolished to report are projected at KD to the PACI headquarters to 10.6 billion, a massive register their new address 43.6 percent drop and provide documents to from this year’s esti- Mosaad Al-Asousi prove their residence with- in 30 days of the announcement. mates of KD 18.8 bil- PACI warned failure to do so will result in a fine not lion, the minister told exceeding KD 100, depending on how many people live a crowded press con- in that apartment or house, according to Article 33 of law ference. Oil income Anas Al-Saleh no. 32 of 1982, which stipulates a KD 20 fine for each vio- contributes 88 per- lation. PACI had earlier denied as “rumors” reports on cent to public revenues, the first time in over 15 years it social media that such violators will be fined from the has dropped below 90 percent. Oil income is calculated on the basis of $45 per barrel beginning of February. PACI Director General Mosaad Al- KUWAIT: Four Gulf nationals were killed and 56 injured during a pileup on Mutlaa Road yesterday. The Asousi said citizens and residents should update their of crude oil and a daily production of 2.7 million barrels collision took place between six vehicles - a Bahraini bus with pilgrims headed to Iraq and five other per day, Saleh said. Non-oil revenues are projected at data within 30 days of any change in address, according vehicles, including a truck loaded with bricks and a water tanker. (See Page 2) to the Civil Information System Act. KD 1.45 billion. Saleh said that wages and salaries Continued on Page 13 US Northeast braces PAGE ‘Birdman’ soars in PAGE for monster blizzard Oscars bellwether Modi honors Obama as VIP guest NEW DELHI: Narendra Modi honored Barack Obama as his chief guest yesterday at India’s Republic Day parade and then rolled out the welcome mat to US businesses in a further warming of ties between the world’s largest democracies. The rain which fell for much of the two- hour showcase of military might and cultural diversity failed to dampen the new sense of bonhomie, a day after the US president and Indian premier signed a friendship declaration. And the pair’s joint appearance at an audience of business leaders further underlined their growing close- BEIRUT: Migrant domestic workers of various nationalities celebrate the launch ness that would have been unimaginable less than a of the first domestic workers’ union on Sunday at the headquarters of FENASOL year ago. Thousands of spectators cheered Obama and in the Lebanese capital. — AFP Modi as they arrived together at the start of the parade in New Delhi, which marks the birth of modern India and included everything from tanks and state-of-the-art Lebanon migrant workers weaponry to camels and traditional dancers. The invita- tion to the parade is one of the biggest honors the coun- form ‘union’ to end abuse try can bestow on a foreign leader and underscores the NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) talks with US President BEIRUT: Subjected to beatings and rape, and Gulf states of racist and degrading increasing warmth between Obama and Modi, who was Barack Obama while watching the fly-past during India’s Republic Day parade and often driven to suicide, migrant treatment of migrant domestic workers, persona non grata in Washington for years. on Rajpath yesterday.— AFP domestic workers in Lebanon are trying who are often referred to simply as “ser- Continued on Page 13 to form a labour union in what would be vants” or “Sri Lankans”, regardless of their a first for the Arab world. “We want to be nationality. treated like human beings, like real work- Although their campaigns have New Saudi leaders to press ers,” said Leticia, a Filipina who was helped raise public awareness, rights assaulted and raped by her employer sev- activists and union workers say there are economic diversification eral years ago. “With this union, I will no no mechanisms in place to protect longer feel alone in the face of abuse,” she women when they are mistreated or RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s new leadership “Already we’ve identified healthcare told AFP. Leticia joined more than 200 when contracts are broken. Gemma, a 48- will push forward efforts to diversify the and transportation investments valued at women from Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, year-old who has lived in Lebanon since growing but oil-dependent economy, $140 billion in the coming five years,” Bangladesh and other countries at the 1993, told AFP: “We domestic workers are while easing procedures for investors, Othman said. There was also a plan to founding conference of their hoped-for not seen as real employees.” The idea of senior officials said yesterday. “The “transform” the financial services, tourism union in Beirut on Sunday. setting up a domestic workers’ union smooth transition of power to King and real estate sectors while focusing on Their initiative is unprecedented in the emerged after the International Labour Salman is a testament of the stability and education and “innovation”, he said. “Now Arab world, which the United Nations Organization’s (ILO) Convention 189 came the commitment that our leadership has,” we have one of the most tech-savvy pop- says is home to some 30 million migrant into force in 2013. Abdullatif Al-Othman, governor of the ulations in the world.” workers. It has the support of the The convention stipulates that domes- Saudi Arabian General Investment Critics have complained of the admin- National Federation of Workers’ Unions in tic workers have the right to at least one Authority (SAGIA), told a conference. istrative obstacles to doing business in Lebanon (FENASOL), which says the day off per week, a minimum wage and Salman acceded to the throne of the Saudi Arabia but Civil Service Minister country has a quarter of a million migrant to choose where to live and spend their world’s leading oil exporter on Friday Abdulrahman Al-Barrak told the gather- domestic workers. But it has yet to win holidays. Under the controversial “kafala” after his half-brother King Abdullah died. ing that “fighting red tape... is a priority”. recognition from the government. (sponsorship) system that Lebanon “King Salman has been a strong sup- Othman added that after detailed study Labour Minister Sejaane Azzi told AFP enforces, migrant domestic workers are porter of promoting the kingdom as an the government has been trying to that Lebanese law does not allow foreign- left at the mercy of their employers. It investment destination,” Othman told the address investors’ concerns. “We’ve intro- ers to set up a union, but “new laws are restricts workers from moving to a new Global Competitiveness Forum. The duced a fast-track process that will needed to improve the situation of job before their contracts end unless they annual event, organised by SAGIA, brings enable investors to obtain licences within housemaids”. obtain their employer’s consent, trapping together high-ranking Saudi officials with five days”, he said. During Abdullah’s “Foreign workers in Lebanon are many in abusive situations. world business leaders. Among those “transformative” rule, Saudi Arabia joined required to have valid residence and Living conditions can be so abysmal attending is Eric Schmidt, executive chair- the G20 group of major world economies work permits, as well as health insurance,” that some countries, including the man of tech giant Google. Oil makes up as well as the World Trade Organization. MIAMI: Miss Colombia Paulina Vega is crowned Miss about 90 percent of Saudi government “Foreign direct investment grew at an said FENASOL head Castro Abdallah. “So Philippines, have forbidden their citizens Universe 2014 by Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler revenues but Othman said the kingdom average rate of 10 percent (and) why is their contract not regulated under from taking up new work contracts in during the 63rd Annual Miss Universe pageant at aims to expand the health, transport and increased by five-fold to reach $220 bil- the labour law? It’s a job like any other.” Lebanon.