SAFAR 5, 1439 AH WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017 Max Min 32 Pages 150 Fils Established 1961 36º 19º ISSUE NO: 17364 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Kuwait Aviation Show Pak gives Tillerson frosty India approves recapitalization Ronaldo eyes more FIFA success 48to be held in January welcome after US warning 20 plan for state-owned banks 15 as Real Madrid dominate awards Amir warns of complications from prolonged Gulf dispute Sheikh Sabah vows to protect constitution as new Assembly session opens KUWAIT: Kuwait, the main mediator in nations and their people,” HH the Amir a near-five month political crisis between said. “History and future generations will Qatar and its Gulf rivals led by Saudi not forgive anyone who contributes, even Arabia, warned yesterday that the dispute one word, to fuelling this dispute.” Kuwait could escalate. HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah is the host of the next GCC summit due in Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, in an December and has so far not sent out address to the National Assembly, also invitations to Gulf leaders before resolv- said that Kuwait’s goal was to save the ing the crisis. Reports have said that the Gulf Cooperation Council union from summit will most likely be delayed. “cracking and collapsing”. Sheikh Sabah also affirmed that the On June 5, Saudi Arabia, the United commitment to the constitution in Kuwait Arab Emirates and Bahrain, as well as is stable and belief in parliamentary work Egypt, severed all diplomat- is firmly established, ic and trade ties with Qatar, saying “I am the SEE PAGES 2 & 3 accusing the gas-rich emi- one who protects rate of supporting extremist the constitution and groups and having too close ties to Iran. will not allow it to be prejudiced”, Kuwait has led mediation efforts since because it is the basic guarantee after then, but without success. “Everyone God Almighty. During the opening of the should know that Kuwait’s mediation is second ordinary session of the 15th leg- based on a keen awareness that this crisis islative term of the Assembly, HH the Amir risks escalation,” Sheikh Sabah said. The said regional developments and chal- worsening of the breakdown between lenges have made parliamentary work a Doha and the Saudi-led bloc leaves Gulf national benefit to “strengthen our most states vulnerable to foreign interference, important national gains”. He underlined he warned. the importance of security as the “An escalation would be an explicit bedrock of Kuwait’s welfare and devel- invitation for regional and international opment, affirming that uniting people KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah speaks as HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- intervention, which would have serious around the concept of national unity will Sabah (right) and Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem (left) listen on during the opening ceremony of the new legislative session of the consequences for the security of the Gulf bring upon a bright future. —Agencies National Assembly yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat News in brief Info minister grilled; Traffic penalties toughened no-confidence motion KUWAIT: Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah issued a decision to filed by 10 MPs toughen administrative procedures towards some traffic violations from next week, reported Al-Jarida. Sources said the most notable penalties include impounding By B Izzak vehicles for two months for using mobile phones while driving or not using seatbelts. Cars parked in no-park- KUWAIT: The National Assembly began its new term ing areas or on the pavement, besides those obstructing by debating a grilling against State Minister for Cabinet traffic and blocking other vehicles, will also be Affairs and acting Information Minister Sheikh impounded for two months. Cars driving over the speed Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah yesterday, who limit will be impounded for two months too. unexpectedly said he was ready for the debate immedi- ately. After the interpellation, 10 MPs filed a no-confi- dence motion against the minister. Voting on the motion will take place in the next Assembly session, expected Negative expat growth to be held next week, and if 24 lawmakers vote against him, he will be automatically dismissed from his post. KUWAIT: MPs Riyadh Al-Adasani and Abdulkarim Al-Kandari (left) and State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad KUWAIT: A government report showed a reduction in Opposition MPs Riyadh Al-Adasani and Abdulkarim Al-Sabah (right) are seen at the National Assembly yesterday. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat and Fouad Al-Shaikh non-Kuwaitis’ population growth in 2017, after an Al-Kandari explained the alleged violations the minister increase of 65 percent last year. This negative growth has committed in both the ministries and in depart- accused the minister of unnecessarily appointing expa- ized under the law to reply to the last question. of the non-Kuwaiti population is the first since 1992, ments under his supervision. They particularly accused triates in several state departments with lucrative Sheikh Mohammad defended the appointment of reported Al-Qabas. A table comparing growth indica- the minister and the government of covering up and salaries, thus depriving Kuwaitis of much-needed jobs. expatriate senior legal advisors, saying that they were tors between 2016 and 2017 prepared by the popula- refusing to answer questions about the legal status of Adasani said he submitted a large number of questions appointed in accordance with the laws and regulations tion structure committee of the Cabinet showed the the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, saying to the minister but he did not answer them. and praised their work. He also regretted that MPs have annual increase in the non-Kuwaiti population in 2017 that since its establishment in 1959, the chamber has no The minister categorically denied the charges and started criticizing people based on their nationality, was 125,694, while the annual increase in 2016 was legal status and its officials are not held accountable. stressed that he has sharply reduced the amounts of which is something new in Kuwait. After that the two 358,719. Informed sources said this reduction is due to They also charged that the minister committed or unpaid debts in his ministries by a big margin. He said lawmakers responded to Sheikh Mohammad’s answers the decision issued by the interior ministry and the failed to prevent financial and administrative violations he received 17 questions from the lawmaker and and said he had failed to refute their charges. manpower authority to curb marginal labor. in the ministry of information. The lawmakers also answered 16 and informed him that he was not author- Continued on Page 11 Singapore set Crown prince to freeze vows ‘moderate’ number of Saudi Arabia RIYADH: Powerful Crown Prince Mohammed cars on roads bin Salman pledged a “moderate, open” Saudi SINGAPORE: Singapore, one of the Arabia yesterday, breaking with ultraconser- most expensive places in the world to vative clerics in favor of an image catering to buy a vehicle, will freeze the number of foreign investors and Saudi youth. The Saudi private cars on its roads for at least two strongman, 32, did not mince words in declar- years, a rare move in Asia where many ing a new reality for the kingdom, hours after cities are increasingly gridlocked. The announcing the launch of an independent city-state said the growth cap for all $500 billion megacity - with “separate regu- passenger cars and motorcycles will be lation” - along the Red Sea coastline. cut to zero from 0.25 percent a year in “We want to live a normal life. A life in February, while pledging a new multi- SINGAPORE: Motorists enter the financial which our religion translates to tolerance, to RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Klaus Kleinfeld shake billion-dollar investment in the public district area yesterday. —AFP our traditions of kindness,” he told internation- hands following the Crown Prince’s appointment of Kleinfeld as NEOM’s Chief transport network. al investors gathered at an economic forum in Executive Officer yesterday. - AFP (See Page 17) The measure, to be reviewed in 2020, certificates valid for 10 years must be Riyadh. “Seventy percent of the Saudi popula- is an extension of Singapore’s already purchased along with a car, pushing the tion is under 30, and honestly we will not tough controls on vehicle ownership, price of an average sedan to over spend the next 30 years of our lives dealing MBS, said he would see to it his country rich kingdom, including the introduction of which have helped the nation of 5.6 mil- Sg$110,000 ($80,000) - about four with destructive ideas. We will destroy them moved past 1979, a reference to the rise of television and schools for girls. But that came lion avoid the traffic jams that choke oth- times the price in the US. Nevertheless today and at once,” the crown prince said. “We political Islam in the years following the assas- to a halt as the Al-Sheikh family, which con- er Asian cities. As well as controlling the many have still paid the hefty price for will end extremism very soon.” sination of King Faisal in 1975. The early trols religious and social regulation number of vehicles on the roads, special Continued on Page 11 Prince Mohammed, known by his initials 1970s had ushered major change into the oil- Continued on Page 11 2 Established 1961 Local Wednesday, October 25, 2017 National Assembly Speaker stresses importance of resolving Gulf crisis Regional challenges require unity, joint action: Prime Minister KUWAIT: Parliament Speaker His Highness the Prime Minister Marzouq Al-Ghanem speaks during Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah Kuwaiti members of parliament attend the opening ceremony of the new leg- the opening ceremony.