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SAFAR 24, 1441 AH WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2019 28 Pages Max 39º Min 22º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 17965 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Syria rapper shines Dubai’s vast Expo 2020 Mosul strains to revive India thrash South Africa 20 light on Idlib woes 24 site rises from the desert 24 manufacturing past 26 to complete Test sweep Visit-to-work visa transfers allowed, fees unchanged MoI issues new residency bylaws • First convicted ex-MP returns to Kuwait By B Izzak leave for a maximum of one month; cases subject to the exempt a large number of professions from the salary writing tweets deemed offensive to HH the Amir. residency affairs directorate’s judgment. conditions. These include judges, doctors, engineers, Former opposition MP Ahmad Al-Shuraian said yes- KUWAIT: Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Contrary to reports published repeatedly in the local teachers, journalists and many others. terday that a large number of nationalist figures have Al-Sabah yesterday issued new residency bylaws press about plans to sharply raise almost all residency The new bylaws introduce a tourist visa allowing signed a memorandum addressed to HH the Amir allowing visit visas to be transferred to residency visas charges, the new rules included no major changes to res- tourists to stay in Kuwait for up to three months, and a Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, appealing in many cases. There were only minor changes to other idency fees, while dependent residency rules and others multiple entry visa valid for one year for just KD 1 for to him to issue a general pardon for jailed opposition residency rules and regulations, especially with regards remain unchanged. The only change was introducing a each month. Foreigners whose residence is cancelled figures and others. He said that he has repeatedly to fees. The new regulations, which explain how the KD 3 fee for obtaining a visa on arrival, which used to be and those who resign are given up to three months of approached officials of the Amiri Diwan to arrange to residency law should be implemented, became effective offered free of charge for some nationalities. Residence temporary residency to leave. deliver the petition but his attempts have been unsuc- as of Monday after their publication in the official and renewal fees remain at KD 10 per person per year. In another development, former Islamist opposition cessful. Accordingly, Shuraian said the petition will be gazette Kuwait Al-Youm. Dependent residency fees for spouses and children MP Fahd Al-Khanna, who had been living abroad to published in order to reach HH the Amir, adding that he Visit visas may be transferred to residency visas for remain at KD 10 per person annually, while the regula- avoid a three-year jail term, returned to the country is confident it will be in safe hands. the following categories: Subject to the residency tions allow the residency department to grant relatives yesterday after spending around one and a half years in The former opposition figures were handed jail affairs’ director’s decision, visitors of ministries and other than the wife and children a dependent visa Turkey. It was also reported that several other former terms in the summer of last year, but they left the coun- public authorities (with government visit visas) holding against a KD 200 charge yearly. This includes parents. opposition MPs and activists were returning to Kuwait try before the verdicts were issued to avoid being university degrees; domestic helpers; dependents arriv- The regulations set a minimum of KD 500 in monthly after fleeing for the same reason. jailed. Under Kuwaiti law, they will have to give them- ing on family or tourist visit visas; holders of valid resi- salary for those who can bring their families from The new development comes following reports that a selves up to authorities as soon as they return. Their dencies who do not exceed six months out of Kuwait abroad on dependent visas, while they give the director general amnesty is expected to be issued to pardon the only solution is a pardon by HH the Amir or a general and have to enter with a visit visa; those who enter for of the department to exempt couples already living activists and dozens of other opposition members who amnesty law by the National Assembly, which should be work and start procedures to get residency, but have to here from the salary condition. The regulations also are serving jail terms for either taking part in protests or approved by the government. to be moved back 30 km from the Turkish News in brief Erdogan hails border. “Within 150 hours starting at 1200 noon on October 23, YPG terrorists and their weapons will be removed to the Pentagon chief meets Saudi king agreement with depth of 30 kilometers and their ... posi- tions will be destroyed,” Erdogan said. Putin over Syria He added that after the deadline, Turkish and Russian joint patrols would SOCHI, Russia: Turkish President Recep start in two zones stretching 10 km to the Tayyip Erdogan hailed “a historic agree- east and west of the area of Turkey’s cur- ment” with his Russian counterpart rent Operation Peace Spring. “All YPG Vladimir Putin after hours of talks terrorists in Tal Firat and Manbij will be between the two leaders over the conflict removed outside this region, together in Syria. “According to this agreement, with their weaponry,” he said. Erdogan Turkey and Russia will not allow any sep- also said both countries would take nec- aratist agenda on Syrian territory,” essary measures against “terrorist infiltra- Erdogan said, addressing reporters tions” and create a “joint mechanism” to RIYADH: Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz meets US alongside Putin after the talks in the coordinate the agreement. Defense Secretary Mark Esper yesterday. — AFP Russian city of Sochi. Meanwhile, the commander of Kurdish Erdogan also announced a 150-hour led-SDF fighters has informed the United RIYADH: US Defense Secretary Mark Esper dis- deadline beginning today for Syrian States that it has carried out all of its SOCHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin meets his Turkish counterpart Recep cussed “strategic cooperation” with Saudi King Kurdish YPG fighters and their weapons Continued on Page 24 Tayyip Erdogan yesterday. — AFP Salman yesterday, shortly after Washington ordered thousands of soldiers to the kingdom as tensions fester with Iran. The meeting in Riyadh, base, baffling even those who hail from where Esper arrived late Monday after an unan- Hezbollah the movement’s strongholds. “No one nounced visit to Afghanistan, also took in defense ever expected that in any of these areas issues and the current situation in the region, the in south Lebanon we would hear a single official SPA news agency said. — AFP under rare word against Nasrallah,” or Amal Movement leader Nabih Berri, said Sara, street pressure a 32-year-old activist who participated Qatar to expand airport in protests in the southern city of BEIRUT: When mass anti-government Nabatiyeh. “It’s unbelievable,” the DOHA: Qatar announced yes- protests engulfed Lebanon, a taboo was activist added, asking to use a pseudo- terday a major expansion of its broken as strongholds of the Shiite nym due to security concerns. Hamad international airport, Hezbollah movement saw rare demon- The popular Iran-backed movement is almost doubling the number of strations criticizing the party and a major political player that took 13 seats visitors it can receive as the revered leader Hassan Nasrallah. On live in the country’s May 2018 parliamentary Gulf state prepares to host the TV and in protest sites, citizens accused elections and secured three cabinet posts. 2022 World Cup. “The expan- the party of providing political cover for It is the only political party not to have sion... is a vital part of the a corrupt government that they say has disarmed after Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil future success of the Qatar robbed people of their livelihoods. war, and helped its Christian ally Michel Airways group, and of course This shattered the myth of absolute Aoun assume the presidency in 2016. BEIRUT: A Lebanese protestor walks with her national flag during demonstrations of the country’s preparations Akbar Al-Baker acquiescence among Hezbollah’s popular Continued on Page 24 yesterday. —AFP to host the 2022 World Cup and beyond,” said the carrier’s CEO Akbar Al-Baker. — AFP (See Page 11) Trudeau needs Hover-taxi whizzes Trump sends $4.5m to White Helmets help to form over S’pore; firm WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has authorized $4.5 million in aid for Syria’s White government eyes Asian push Helmets group, famed for rescuing wounded civil- ians from the frontlines in the civil war, the White OTTAWA: A weakened Prime Minister Justin Trudeau set out yesterday to secure the support of smaller par- SINGAPORE: A drone-like flying taxi whirred over House said yesterday. Trump ordered the funds for Singapore’s waterfront yesterday, with the firm behind what is formally known as the Syria Civil Defense ties he will need to form a government after winning Canada’s nail-biter general election but falling short of the test hoping the aircraft will revolutionize travel in group “to continue United States support for the traffic-choked Asian cities. The 18 propeller vehicle, organization’s important and highly valued work in a majority. Trudeau’s Liberals took 157 seats in the developed by German firm Volocopter and with a pilot the country,” spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham 338-member House of Commons, down from a com- onboard during the test flight, took off from a promon- said in a statement.