RAMADAN 3, 1440 AH WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2019 28 Pages Max 40º Min 25º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 17827 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Kuwait Airways worker Bahrain ditches subsidy reform Trump awards Presidential 3 killed in freak accident 24 plan; political tensions simmer 28 Medal of Freedom to Woods IMSAK 03:23 Fajr 03:33 Dhur 11:44 Asr 15:20 Magrib 18:28 Isha 19:54 MP presses for an urgent debate on remittance tax Assembly votes on no-confidence motion today By B Izzak Meanwhile, the National Assembly will meet today to take the vote on a no-confidence motion against KUWAIT: MP Khalil Al-Saleh said yesterday he has Information Minister Mohammad Al-Jabri which was started collecting signatures of other members to make submitted following a lengthy grilling on alleged financial the National Assembly debate a draft law stipulating a 5 and administrative violations. The minister appears to be percent tax on expatriate remittances. Saleh, who has headed to win the Assembly confidence as only a few been taking anti-expat stances recently, said he wants members have said they will support the motion. To pass, the draft law to be debated and approved by the the motion requires the support of 25 MPs and would Assembly during the May 14 session, giving the debate a mean an automatic dismissal of the minister. status of urgency. The three MPs who grilled the minister, Riyadh Al- The draft law was approved by the Assembly Adasani, Adel Al-Damkhi and Mohammad Al-Dallal Financial and Economic Affairs Committee even after the claimed the minister was responsible for many violations legal and legislative panel rejected the bill saying it is at the ministry, the agricultural authority and the sports against the constitution because it involves discrimina- authority which come under his authority. The minister tion against foreigners which is banned by the constitu- denied the charges as the council of ministers on Monday tion. But the financial committee adamantly approved the announced its backing for Jabri and said it was satisfied draft law, denying it was discriminatory. The panel, in with his replies. which leading anti-expat MP Safa Al-Hashem is a mem- But MP Dallal insisted that the minister had deliberately ber, said imposing the tax will have important economic skipped any response to several accusations especially benefits to the country. those at the agricultural authority. MP Adasani had warned The Central Bank and the Finance Ministry have both to file a second grilling against the minister if the no-confi- warned against the bill saying it would lead to an exodus dence debate turns into tribal or sectarian. of expatriate funds from the country and will also lead to Opposition MP Mohammad Al-Mutair meanwhile said a black market for money transfers. MP Saleh, who heads he has submitted a demand by MPs that the Assembly an Assembly panel working to replace expatriate holds a special session on May 12 to debate a draft law employees with Kuwaitis, said he wants the early debate stipulating general amnesty for those who were jailed for of the bill because expatriate remittances last year political offenses. The bill specifically targets several for- KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah welcomes Chief of Kuwait National increased to KD 4.2 billion, according to the central bank mer opposition MPs and activists who were handed Guard His Highness Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah at a reception held on the occasion of the holy month of of Kuwait. The lawmaker said the figure indicates to seri- heavy jail terms for storming the National Assembly Ramadan. Al-Sabah family received senior state officials on Monday evening at Bayan Palace. (See Page 5) ous consequences on the Kuwaiti economy and denied building during an anti-corruption demonstration in that imposing the law will have any negative impact. November 2011. Ramadan Kareem News in brief Three parts UAE to lift travel ban BEIRUT: The United Arab Emirates will soon lift a ban on its citizens travelling to Lebanon, Lebanese of Ramadan state media cited the UAE’s ambassador to Lebanon as saying yesterday. “The lifting of the ban on Emiratis travelling to Lebanon will come By Hassan T Bwambale soon,” Lebanon’s NNA quoted Hamad Saeed Al- Shamsi as telling journalists after meeting By Dr Teresa Lesher Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil. The UAE’s close ally Saudi Arabia said in February it amadan is said to be split into three thirds: KUWAIT: Family and friends receive the two Kuwaitis Adnan Al-Kharafi and Fahd Al-Alyan at the Amiri Airport. was lifting its own advice to citizens not to travel the Holy Prophet (PBUH) has said, “It to Lebanon, where Gulf tourism was once a main- R(Ramadan) is the month whose beginning is Mohammed Irani said the release was the result of seri- stay of the now struggling economy. The UAE and mercy, middle, forgiveness and its end emancipa- Kuwaitis return ous efforts the embassy had exerted in contacting the Saudi Arabia have both voiced frequent concern tion from the fire” (Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol 93). Salman Iranian Foreign Ministry and other authorities to ensure over the political situation in Lebanon, located Al-Farisi (RA) reported that Prophet Muhammad the detainees’ safe and speedy return to Kuwait. next to war-torn Syria and home to the heavily (PBUH) said, “...The first third of the month of after Iran ordeal Irani added that the release was delayed due to armed, Iran-backed Hezbollah group. — Reuters Ramadan is the time for mercy, the second third is some unexpected administrative problems, as the for forgiveness, the third is for release from KUWAIT: Kuwaitis Adnan Al-Kharafi and Fahd Al- two were supposed to leave Iran through Bushehr, Hellfire...” (IbnKhuzaymah). We hope to make the Alyan, who were arrested in Iran for illegally sailing into but instead they went to Tehran (where they Qatar to help Palestinians most of each third so that we can receive the Iranian national waters while fishing, arrived to Kuwait remained at the Kuwaiti Embassy premises), which blessing related to each. yesterday onboard a Kuwait Airways flight that landed prolonged the period the embassy needed to finalize DOHA: Qatar said yesterday it had allocated $480 For the first third of mercy, the following hadith at the Amiri Airport. Iranian Ambassador to Kuwait their return documents. comes to mind: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “While million in aid to the cash-strapped Palestinian fasting remember the hunger and thirst on the Day Authority to support education and health services of Judgment. Give alms to the poor and needy. Pay and provide urgent humanitarian relief. The authori- respect to your elders, have sympathy for your ty led by president Mahmud Abbas has been hit by youngsters and be kind towards your relatives and Myanmar frees two the cutting of two of its leading sources of revenues. kinsmen. Guard your tongue against unworthy Washington has ended all bilateral US aid in words, and your eyes from scenes that are not Reuters journalists response to the Palestinians’ severing of contacts worth seeing and your ears from sounds that after it recognized the disputed city of Jerusalem as should not be heard. Be kind to orphans so that if after global outrage Israel’s capital in 2017. A row with Israel has mean- your children may become orphans they will also while led to a halt to transfers of customs duties it be treated with kindness.” YANGON: Two Reuters journalists jailed for their levies on goods destined for Palestinian markets. The second third of Ramadan is characterized reporting on the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar walked Both Abbas and the leader of Hamas, the rival as a time when Allah (SWT)’s forgives. The Quran out of prison yesterday, freed in a presidential amnesty Palestinian faction which controls the Gaza Strip, says, “And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord, after a vigorous global campaign - and backroom welcomed the Qatari announcement. — AFP and a Garden the extensiveness of which is the diplomacy - for their release. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe YANGON: Reuters journalists Wa Lone (left) and Kyaw heavens and the earth, prepared for those who Oo were mobbed by media as they stepped out of Soe Oo gesture as they walk to Insein prison gate after guard against evil. - Quran 3:132. Will they not turn Yangon’s notorious Insein prison after more than 16 being freed in a presidential amnesty yesterday. — AFP to Allah and seek His forgiveness, and Allah is oft- months in detention. Their December 2017 arrests UN probes Libya air strikes forgiving, Merciful? (Quran 5:74). made them an international cause celebre and a sign of continue.” Reuters editor-in-chief Stephen Adler said: A prophetic tradition reported by Abu Huraira Myanmar’s deteriorating press freedoms under Nobel “We are enormously pleased that Myanmar has UNITED NATIONS: United Nations experts are (RA) says, “Whoever observes fasts during the laureate and civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. released our courageous reporters”. “Since their arrests investigating missile strikes near Libya’s capital that month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping Wa Lone, 33, thanked people from “around the 511 days ago, they have become symbols of the impor- were fired likely using Chinese-made drones and to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will world” for advocating for their release and vowed he tance of press freedom around the world. We welcome be forgiven.” - Bukhari 2: 37.