SUBSCRIPTION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017 RABI AL-THANI 13, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Info minister Thousands Detroit auto Late TD lifts launches two throng Tehran show kicks off Clemson to new broadcast funeral of with trade coveted vehicles3 Rafsanjani8 plea21 to Trump collegiate16 crown Outrage as speaker ends Min 08º Max 23º session after heated row High Tide 11:52 & 22:20 MPs threaten to grill youth minister Dispute over ‘alien’ panel head Low Tide • 05:16 & 16:53 40 PAGES NO: 17107 150 FILS Morocco bans By B Izzak KUWAIT: National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al- Ghanem yesterday adjourned the Assembly session fol- production and lowing a heated argument between pro-government MP Hamad Al-Harashani and opposition lawmaker sale of niqabs Jamaan Al-Harbash that involved other MPs. The argu- RABAT: Morocco has banned the production and sale ment began after Harbash criticized the previous of burqa full-face Muslim veils, apparently for security Assembly as a rubberstamp house that triggered a reasons, media reports said yesterday. While there strong response from Harashani, a member in the previ- was no official announcement by authorities in the ous house. North African nation, the reports said the interior Ghanem immediately adjourned the session for the ministry order would take effect this week. “We have day, but a number of opposition MPs said what hap- taken the step of completely banning the import, pened in the session was orchestrated by the govern- manufacture and marketing of this garment in all the ment to prevent the Assembly from studying and cities and towns of the kingdom,” the Le360 news site approving a draft law that could have helped lift an quoted a high-ranking interior ministry official as say- international suspension on Kuwaiti sports. At least two ing. It said the measure appeared to be motivated by lawmakers, Al-Humaidi Al-Subaei and Abdulwahab Al- security concerns, “since bandits have repeatedly Babtain threatened they will file to grill Minister of used this garment to perpetrate their crimes”. Information and Youth Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud Al- Most women in Morocco, whose King Mohammed Sabah over the issue. Babtain said he is likely to file his VI favors a moderate version of Islam, prefer the hijab grilling next week. headscarf that does not cover the face. The niqab, During the session, 10 opposition lawmakers filed a which leaves the area around the eyes uncovered, is motion calling on the Assembly’s sports and youth pan- also worn in Salafist circles and in more conservative el to study and approve a draft law on sports and bring regions in the north, from where thousands of it to the session to allow the Assembly to vote on it. But jihadists have gone to fight in Syria and Iraq. it could not do so because the session was adjourned In some commercial districts of Casablanca, the due to the arguments. Kuwait national football team country’s economic capital, interior ministry officials on Monday conducted “awareness-raising campaigns has until today to be included in the qualifying rounds with traders to inform them of this new decision”, the for the Asia Cup 2019, provided the sports laws are Media 24 website said. amended to be compatible with international sports Continued on Page 13 KUWAIT: MP Safaa Al-Hashem speaks during a parliament session at the National Assembly yesterday. — Photo by charters. Yasser Al-Zayyat Continued on Page 13 News FIFA approves 48-team World Cup in brief ZURICH: FIFA voted to expand the World ago with a vow to repair the damage Nine dead, UAE envoy Cup to 48 teams from 2026 in a victory done during Sepp Blatter’s tenure by hurt in Kandahar blast yesterday for its president Gianni growing football across the globe. KANDAHAR: At least nine people were killed in an Infantino but derided by critics as driven Enlarging the World Cup was the explosion in the governor’s compound in Afghanistan’s by money and politics. In a deeply divi- centerpiece of that vision, but oppo- southern Kandahar province yesterday during a visit by sive move which will enrich scandal- nents say a bigger tournament will the UAE ambassador, local media reported. The UAE for- tainted FIFA’s coffers, its ruling council dilute the quality of play and overbur- eign ministry said envoy Juma Mohammed Abdullah Al- unanimously adopted an expanded for- den already exhausted players, particu- Kaabi and other UAE diplomats were wounded in the mat with 16 groups of three nations that larly in Europe’s money-rich leagues. “terrorist attack”. Afghanistan’s Tolo News said the blast will bring “benefits without negatives”, Football’s powerful European Club left nine people dead and 16 others wounded. said Infantino. “We have to shape the Association reiterated its strong opposi- World Cup of the 21st Century... football tion, describing the current World Cup is more than Europe and South America,” model as “the perfect formula”. “We the FIFA president said after the vote. understand that this decision has been Saudi Arabia unblocks “Many more countries will have the taken based on political reasons rather military aid to Lebanon chance to dream.” than sporting ones and under consider- RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Lebanon have agreed It represents the first major change to able political pressure, something ECA to hold talks on restoring a $3-billion military aid the World Cup since the tournament was believes is regrettable,” the body which package that Riyadh froze last year, a Lebanese boosted from 24 to the current 32 teams represents Europe’s leading clubs said source said yesterday. “The blockage is lifted,” said for the 1998 tournament in France. But in a statement. an official in the delegation of Lebanese President its many critics strongly oppose the lat- Javier Tebas, president of the Spanish Michel Aoun, who held talks in the Saudi capital est move and it was branded a “money La Liga, made no attempt to hide his dis- with King Salman. In February, the kingdom halt- grab and power grab” by New FIFA Now, gust. “FIFA is doing politics. Gianni ed the military aid program to protest what it said ZURICH: FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during a press briefing after a a group campaigning for reform of FIFA. Infantino is doing politics,” he thundered. was “the stranglehold” which the Iran-backed meeting of the FIFA executive council yesterday at FIFA headquarters. — AFP Infantino took over the body 11 months Continued on Page 13 Shiite group Hezbollah had on the Lebanese state. The program, funded by Riyadh, would provide vehicles, helicopters, drones, cannons and other military equipment from France. Trump names son-in-law as Swiss Muslim senior White House advisor girls must swim Iran says it finally receives hajj invite with boys: Court TEHRAN: Iran said yesterday it had finally received an official invitation from Saudi Arabia for its pilgrims to Ivanka to quit businesses STRASBOURG, France: Muslim parents in attend this year’s hajj, two weeks after Riyadh Switzerland cannot refuse to send their daughters announced it. “The Iranian delegation will travel to NEW YORK: Donald Trump yesterday named son-in-law which Kushner has hired a legal team. A federal law, to school-run swimming lessons with boys, Saudi Arabia on February 23... and we hope to get tan- Jared Kushner as senior White House advisor, rewarding passed after then-president John F Kennedy appointed Europe’s top rights court said yesterday, dismissing gible results,” hajj affairs representative Ali Ghazi Askar the man widely credited as the brains behind his elec- his brother as attorney general, prohibits any president a challenge by a Turkish-Swiss couple claiming the told the Mizan Online news website. “For the time tion but courting serious legal and ethical concerns. The from hiring a relative. rule violated their beliefs. The European Court of being, nothing is certain and we will attend the hajj as baby-faced real estate developer and magazine pub- Meanwhile, Ivanka will step down from the Trump Human Rights (ECHR) accepted that the refusal by long as the situation is prepared for us,” he said. The lisher, who turned 36 yesterday, will be Organization and her own label, US Swiss authorities to exempt the couple’s two tone of the invitation is “not that much different from the youngest top member of the admin- media reported yesterday. They suggest daughters from the compulsory lessons interfered past letters”, Askar said earlier. “All matters regarding the istration, working closely with chief of an effort by Ivanka Trump, vice president with their freedom of religion. But the interference, hajj - including accommodation, food, medical affairs, staff Reince Priebus and chief strategist of development and acquisitions at the it ruled, was justified by the need to protect the transport, pilgrims’ security, banking and consular Steve Bannon. “Jared has been a tremen- Trump Organization who set up her own children from social exclusion. School has become the focal point in several issues - must immediately be studied and appropriate dous asset and trusted advisor through- company that sells clothes, shoes and high-profile battles between Swiss authorities and solutions put forward.” out the campaign and transition and I am jewelry, to comply with ethics laws. proud to have him in a key leadership Ivanka came under fire shortly after the Muslim families who say their religion prevents role in my administration,” announced election, when her company used her their children from participating in some mixed UAE to invest $163bn the Republican president-elect. appearance in a family television inter- activities. Last year, a high-profile case involving The appointment was announced two view to market a $10,000 gold bracelet Muslim pupils in the northern canton of Basel to diversify energy days before Trump is set to give his first that she wore during the segment.