SUBSCRIPTION THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016 RABI ALTHANI 4, 1437 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Kuwaitis with Obama tells US Can car FIFA fires US passports to embrace time crashes ex-Blatter must comply of ‘extraordinary become thing deputy with FATCA5 change’7 of21 past? Jerome20 Valcke MPs support leadership Min 07º Max 18º in boycott-hit session High Tide 01:44 & 15:23 E-media, anti-graft laws passed, defense budget approved Low Tide 09:03 & 21:08 40 PAGES NO: 16755 150 FILS By B Izzak KRCS marks golden jubilee KUWAIT: All nine Shiite MPs yesterday boycotted the National Assembly session apparently in protest over court rulings against 25 Kuwaiti Shiites and an Iranian for belonging to an Iran-linked terror cell. None of the nine MPs said explicitly they staged the boycott to protest the rulings, but MP Abdulhameed Dashti published on his Twitter account comments supporting the boycott to “protest the repressive verdicts”. MP Saleh Ashour, another Shiite MP, complained in statements published on Twitter of what he called dis- crimination against Shiites, saying that their anger has reached its peak, especially when “they are being pub- licly accused of being agents for Iran and Hezbollah”. He said that at the same time, the government is not taking any action against those fighting in Iraq and Syria, a clear reference to Sunni jihadist groups. Other Shiite MPs This frame grab from a video shows the detention of American Navy sailors who boycotted the session include Adnan Abdulsamad, by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the Arabian Gulf on Tuesday. — AP Ahmad Lari, Khalil Abul, Khalil Al-Saleh, Faisal Al- Duwaisan, Abdullah Al-Tameemi and Yousef Al-Zalzalah. Sunni Islamist MP Ahmad Al-Azemi said that the Iran frees US sailors Shiite lawmakers staged the boycott to protest against TEHRAN: Iran moved yesterday to head their two patrol boats drifted into the rulings. “They want to send a message which we off a potential crisis days before the Iranian territory late on Tuesday. US and reject. The rulings of the court must be respected,” Azemi expected implementation of its nuclear Iranian officials scrambled to defuse the told reporters after speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem did not deal with world powers by releasing 10 situation, which unfolded as the nuclear allow him to speak during the session. The criminal court US Navy soldiers it had detained in the accord edged toward its final steps, with on Tuesday sentenced a Kuwaiti and an Iranian to death Gulf. A dramatic series of events started a top Iranian official saying the deal and 19 Kuwaitis to between five and 15 years for spying KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah receives a with the sailors - nine men and a should be implemented by Sunday. for Iran and joining Hezbollah and plotting attacks memento from Kuwait Red Crescent Society Chairman Dr Hilal Al-Sayer during woman -being taken into custody after Continued on Page 13 against Kuwait. its golden jubilee celebrations at Bayan Palace yesterday. — KUNA (See Page 3) Continued on Page 13 LOCAL THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016 Kuwait plays leading role in aiding refugees: UN Agency IICO to host 4th NGOs pledging conference KUWAIT: Kuwait plays a leading role in Protection measures aiding the Syrian refugees, Head of the Regarding the challenges facing aid UN refugee agency office in Kuwait Dr work for Syrians, Dr Hamdan said that Hanan Hamdan said yesterday. providing adequate protection meas- Speaking to KUNA, Dr Hamdan said ures during humanitarian missions that Kuwait’s hosting of three donors’ within Syria was the biggest obstacles conferences for the Syrian refugees facing the UN refugee agency. She reflected the country’s strong convic- added that the any instance when the tion in helping these people, adding agency faced a budget deficit was that Kuwait also played an integral role another issue to consider, stressing in garnering international attention to that nations should abide by their KUWAIT: Osama Al-Tahous registers as a candi- date for by-elections in the third electoral con- the upcoming conference, to be held in pledges to able to help the refugees. stituency. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh Abdulaziz Al-Samhan London next February. The agency has a budget of $7 mil- Jassim Abul Al-Kandari In 2015, Kuwait helped some 2.4 lion which will hopefully cover the expenses for now, said Dr Hamdan. She Ten candidates register for said that the agency also played part in resettling the refugees if all other measures failed, indicating that usually refugees were sent to Scandinavian by-elections on first day countries, the US, or Canada for reset- tlement. The resettlement process goes through various phases in cooperation with the host countries mostly respon- sible for the security background check of refugees, said the official who affirmed that the agency made it para- mount that the refugees it is hosting would not become a security liability for the agency or any other countries willing to accommodate them. Pledging conference Head of the UN refugee agency office In other news, the International in Kuwait Dr Hanan Hamdan Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) million Syrian refugees with its gener- announced plans to host the fourth ous nearly $120 million donation to the international pledging conference for UN agency, she said. Displaced Syrians non-governmental organizations Waleed Al-Sharrah Khaled Al-Hamad Taher Al-Failakawi and refugees in nearby countries to (NGOs) to support the Syrians will be By Meshaal Al-Enezi Candidate Abdulaziz Al-Samhan said much Candidate Hassan Al-Osaimi said he is running to Syria also benefited from Kuwait’s held on January 28th. IICO Chairman focus was needed on various issues such as hous- work on various projects and issues including eco- donations, said Dr Hamdan, noting that and advisor at the Amiri Diwan KUWAIT: Ten male candidates yesterday applied ing welfare, education, subsidies, fuel prices and nomic projects, aspirations to unite GCC states in 2013, Kuwait had given a donation Abdullah Al-Maatouq told the press to the elections committee, filing nominations to oil prices. “The current parliament has less than a and improving citizens’ conditions. of about $110 million to countries yesterday that this conference comes run for by-elections in the third electoral con- year in office and this period might not be enough Candidate Khaled Al-Hamad said that the hosting Syrian refugees which included in line with Kuwait’s endeavors to help stituency, said informed sources, pointing out that to evaluate lawmakers’ performance, but remaining period of this parliament’s tenure is Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Egypt. alleviate the suffering of the Syrian nominations would be accepted until Jan 22 and observers can do that by watching their perform- insufficient and does not help MPs achieve the She went on saying that Kuwait’s refugees and the displaced; it also pre- elections would be held on Feb 20. ance inside the parliament hall,” he underlined. many aspirations of the Kuwaiti people. donations to the UN agencies had sur- cedes Kuwait’s co-chairmanship of the Candidate Jassim Abul Al-Kandari declared he Meanwhile, former Municipal Council member “Therefore, we will be keen on group work,” he passed $1.3 billion with the UN fourth donors’ conference to support was independent and that he did not belong to and member of the annulled parliament Hisham underlined. Candidate Taher Al-Failakawi said that Refugee Agency gaining the most out the Syrians, which will be held in any political movement or bloc, though he Al-Baghli yesterday announced running for the there were too many issues to tend to and solve of this sum of donations. Kuwait’s lead- London early February. respects them all. Kandari added that his electoral by-elections. He stressed that his agenda focuses such as the housing problem and disabled peo- ership and people played an important “The tragedy of the Syrians is skin agenda focuses mainly on issues of great interest on reform, in addition to several other major ple’s rights. role in rallying the international com- cringing; hence, humanitarian efforts to Kuwaiti public opinion, namely development, issues such as the economy, oil prices, subsidies Lieutenant Colonel Salah Al-Shatti, elections munity into the cause of aiding the should be intensified,” Al-Maatouq, housing welfare and social issues like bedoons, and public services. department manager at the Ministry of Interior Syrian refugees, said the official, noting who is also UN Secretary General’s retirees and divorced women. (MoI) said that registration is open until Feb 12. He that the UN naming of His Highness Envoy for Humanitarian Affairs said. Candidate Osama Al-Tahous stressed that his Open for all added that the total number of voters in the 3th the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- The conference will see the participa- participation in the election was a duty aimed at Candidate Waleed Al-Sharrah said that the ‘are- constituency is 18,218 that can vote in 20 schools Jaber Al-Sabah as the ‘Humanitarian tions of dozens of NGOs from Arab and supporting democracy. He also noted that dis- na’ was open for all those who feel capable of - 10 for male and 10 for female voters. Notably, Leader’ and honoring Kuwait as a the Islamic countries. They will pledge agreements for greater good were acceptable. He serving the nation to run for elections, and that MoI’s relations and security media has set up a global ‘Humanitarian Center’ were anew to add on previous promises also noted that time was too short in view of the this was why he is running. Sharrah said that more special media center with all facilities needed for challenges facing Kuwaiti youth.