SUBSCRIPTION MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017 RABI AL-THANI 25, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Assembly At least 39 Producers Kuwait Times panel reviews killed as say oil infographic: Interior Ministry Indian train output cut NBA Power budget3 derails12 on21 track Rankings18 Israel OKs settler homes Min 07º after Trump takes office Max 18º High Tide 09:25 & 19:57 US in ‘beginning stages’ of talks to move US embassy Low Tide 03:03 & 13:44 40 PAGES NO: 17119 150 FILS JERUSALEM: Israel approved hundreds of new settler Expats in limbo homes in east Jerusalem yesterday, hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to speak to US President Donald Trump for the first time since his inau- after insurance guration. But a potentially explosive plan to annex a large West Bank Jewish settlement near Jerusalem uni- contract nixed laterally was shelved until after Netanyahu and Trump meet face-to-face. Meanwhile, the White House said KUWAIT: Interior Ministry sources said directors of yesterday that it is in the early stages of talks to fulfill residency affairs in all six governorates were instruct- Trump’s pledge to move the US embassy in Israel from ed to issue temporary residencies for one month Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. “We are at the very beginning only for expats applying to renew their residencies. stages of even discussing this subject,” White House This is due to the cancellation of a contract between spokesman Sean Spicer said in a statement. the health ministry and the company that provided The US Congress passed a law in 1995 describing health insurance that is compulsory for all expatri- Jerusalem as capital of Israel and saying it should not be ates in Kuwait. Expatriates under temporary residen- divided, but successive Republican and Democratic cies may not leave the country and if they travel, will presidents have used their foreign policy powers to not be allowed to return and will have to reapply for maintain the US Embassy in Tel Aviv and to back negoti- a new visa. The health ministry canceled the health ations between Israel and the Palestinians on the status insurance contract so that a new contract could be of Jerusalem. In early December, then-President Barack signed with a new provider. But as health insurance Obama renewed the presidential waiver until the begin- is required by law for all residency applications, no ning of June. It is unclear whether Trump would be able new residencies or renewal of residencies can be to legally override that waiver and go ahead with relo- processed until the insurance matter is resolved. cation of the embassy. “This evening there will be a telephone conversation between President Trump and myself,” Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting yesterday. “There are many issues Saudi finance between us, including the Israeli-Palestinian issue, the situation in Syria and the Iranian threat.” The White ministry rejects House confirmed that such a call was scheduled, but Palestinian laborers work at a construction site in a new housing project in the Israeli settlement of Maale did not give further details. remittance fees Adumim, east of Jerusalem, yesterday. — AFP Continued on Page 13 RIYADH: The Saudi finance ministry said yesterday there would be no fees applied on remittances out of the country, days after the kingdom’s advisory Shura Govt: UK warning on Kuwait attacks ‘routine measure’ Council said it was looking at a proposal to impose a 6 percent levy on expatriate remittances. Saudi Arabia is KUWAIT: In response to a British warning Saturday of European Affairs Waleed Al-Khubaizi said the foreign Similar warnings have been issued by the British Foreign “likely attacks in Kuwait”, Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry ministry has contacted the interior ministry to learn if Office for most regional countries, so it was a routine “committed to the principle of free movement of capital assured the warnings are a routine measure and issued there is anything justified in this warning from the British action, he said, adding that Kuwait is still waiting for an in and out of the kingdom, in line with international not for Kuwait, only but for the Middle East and most of Foreign Office. “They have affirmed that they did not official reply from the British side. standards,” the ministry’s said on its official Twitter European countries. In an advisory, Britain had warned its receive any warnings or information from the relevant The British Embassy in Kuwait said no warning for trav- account. Around a third of Saudi Arabia’s 30 million nationals travelling to Kuwait that attacks in Kuwait are British bodies about the likelihood of security threats,” eling to any Gulf states including Kuwait has been issued. inhabitants are foreigners, many of them attracted by “very likely”, adding they should “take care” if they plan to Khubaizi told KUNA. The embassy is confident of Kuwait’s interior min- the absence of tax and higher pay than they can get at travel in “conservative” areas like Jahra and Jleeb Al- He stressed that the ministry closely followed up the istry’s ability to maintain security, it said in a statement. home. Proposals endorsed by the Shura Council are not Shuyoukh. It advised Britons in Kuwait to “be vigilant at all warning published on the British Foreign Office website This warning is not uncommon, and is the result of always adopted and the kingdom’s central bank gover- times, particularly in crowded places popular with foreign and contacted the UK Embassy in Kuwait to ask about the British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson’s promise to the nor and finance minister said in the autumn that there nationals, and take additional security precautions”. warning. He said British diplomats have promised to con- parliament to revise the ministry’s travel advisories to all were no plans to tax remittances or income. — Reuters In a statement to KUNA, Assistant Foreign Minister for vey the Kuwaiti inquiries to relevant bodies in the UK. countries. — KUNA Rocky start for new White House Trump inflates inauguration crowd, slams protests WASHINGTON: Donald Trump’s White an approval rating of just 37 percent. House came under fire yesterday for Usually, new US leaders start the job with Dubai toughens falsely accusing media of misreporting approval ratings above 50 percent, and inaugural crowd numbers, after millions this has put 70-year-old Trump, who fire rules after took to the streets in protest against the comments regularly about his popularity new president. The brash billionaire and and ratings, on the defensive. his chief spokesman launched a startling Trump and his chief spokesman lam- high-rise blazes assault on the media on Saturday, basted the media for the reporting of the DUBAI: Dubai yesterday announced tougher fire Trump’s first full day in office, accusing inauguration turnout, in what analysts rules in a bid to minimize risks after several spectacu- reporters of downplaying the turnout at said was an attempt to change the sub- lar blazes that have ripped through skyscrapers in his swearing-in ceremony. ject. Non-stop news network coverage of the modern Gulf emirate. Major fires have hit Dubai The attack came as more than two Saturday’s sprawling demonstrations high-rises in recent years and spread quickly, mostly million people flooded US cities in against Trump were replaced within hours due to flammable material used in cladding, a cover- protests led by women opposed to by debate over his “war on the media”, ing or coating used on the side of the buildings. Trump, who many fear will roll back the which is likely to play well among his sup- BANJUL: Gambia’s defeated leader Yahya Jammeh waves to supporters at the air- Civil Defense Lieutenant Taher Hassan Al-Taher rights of women, immigrants and minori- porters. Visiting the Central Intelligence port as he departs on Saturday. — AP announced the new regulations at a security exhibi- ties. The scale of the mass protests, Agency headquarters in Virginia, Trump tion during which authorities also launched Dubai’s echoed in sister rallies around the world, insisted, despite evidence to the contrary, new fire and safety code for the emirate. According highlight the challenge former reality TV that he drew 1.5 million people to his Troops near Banjul to Taher builders must abide by a new requirement star Trump faces as he leads the world’s Friday swearing-in ceremony. to ensure that the flammability of the cladding is as most powerful nation - taking office with Continued on Page 13 after Jammeh flees close to zero as possible. “There is a requirement to minimize it to zero,” Taher said. Builders will also have to regularly carry out main- BANJUL, Gambia: West African troops pulled out shortly afterwards, with tenance on the cladding panels and replace them approached the Gambian capital yester- Sunday’s troop movement the first by sol- after a certain date, he added. “There is a timeline for day to secure President Adama Barrow’s diers from the joint force. all cladding (and) there is maintenance for every- arrival from neighboring Senegal, as con- Marcel Alain de Souza, a top official troversy erupted over the assurances with the Economic Community Of West thing. By that time they’ll have to change it,” Taher offered to Yahya Jammeh to guarantee his African States (ECOWAS), which organised said, speaking in English. Those who violate the rules departure. Jammeh flew out of The the deployment, said the country “could will face fines up to 50,000 dirhams ($13,623), he Gambia on Saturday, ending 22 years at not be left open” for long, and that Barrow added. He said he didn’t know who would pay for the helm of the tiny west African nation, must be in place “as soon as possible”.