KUWAIT CITY // The minister of information will face a vote of no confidence, MPs decided during the current government's sixth parliamentary questioning, signalling that the national assembly has yet to resolve the tension that has blighted the institution in recent years.
Sheikh Ahmad al Abdullah al Sabah, the minister of information and royal family member, was questioned by Ali al Diqbasi, a member of parliament, over failing to implement media laws and not taking action against a satellite television programme that threatened national unity.
"This sitting will be to promote national unity and freedoms and fight corruption and preserve the gains of the constitution," Mr al Diqbasi said during the interpellation. "The minister does not know what is going on in the ministry."
Mr al Diqbasi accused the minister of failing to control television programmes that threatened national unity. Protests erupted in Kuwait last year when a prominent Kuwaiti suggested on a programme broadcast from his own satellite television station that the country's tribesmen were not really Kuwaiti.
"Let's not be like an ostrich and put our head in the earth," Mr al Diqbasi said. "We have to protect our national unity and constitution."
Sheikh Ahmad said all ministers and MPs were keen on promoting national unity and used his family's name in his defence. "For 300 years the al Sabah family has been ruling and they are still the family that protects patriotism," he said.
Ten MPs signed a motion of no confidence after the questioning, ensuring that the minister would face a vote from the chamber's elected representatives, who do not serve in the cabinet at a special session on March 25. They will need to collect 25 votes from 49 eligible MPs to dismiss the minister.
No minister has ever been dismissed by the parliament before in Kuwait. Several times in the past, the prime minister reshuffled the cabinet to avoid such a vote.
In recent years, Kuwait's elected parliament has struggled to work with the royal family-selected government. Last December, the prime minister, Sheikh Nasser Mohammed al Ahmed al Sabah, who is a senior royal and potential future emir, succumbed to years of pressure from MPs to face them on the podium in a closed-door session.
@Email:jcalderwood@thenational.ae
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How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
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C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
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