Syria to Reopen Embassy in Kuwait, Resume Work
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SUBSCRIPTION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014 RABI ALAWWAL 8, 1436 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Policemen to Jazeera Bahrain suspects Seahawks take be equipped journalists opposition chief NFC top seed, with body mark year in of inciting Packers and cameras2 Egypt jail8 ‘hatred,13 violence’ Panthers20 win Syria to reopen embassy Min 10º Max 24º in Kuwait, resume work High Tide 05:53 & 18:31 Low Tide Three diplomats on the way • No normalization of ties 00:05 & 12:12 40 PAGES NO: 16388 150 FILS DAMASCUS: Three Syrian diplomats left Damascus for Kuwait yesterday where they will reopen their country’s embassy in the state, a Syrian official said. The official, who AirAsia jet ‘at bottom of sea’ spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, told AP that the diplomats include a charge d’affairs. Kuwait, where tens of thousands of Syrians live, has been a JAKARTA: Dozens of planes and ships searching Indonesian waters for a missing AirAsia plane focused strong supporter of the opposition trying to remove yesterday on a patch of oil for possible clues, as a senior President Bashar Al-Assad from power. official warned the aircraft was likely at the bottom of the Khaled Al-Jarallah, an undersecretary at Kuwait’s sea. Australia, Singapore and Malaysia joined the Foreign Ministry, was quoted in the local Kuwaiti news Indonesia-led search as anguished relatives awaited news website Al-Jarida earlier this month as saying that the of their loved ones more than a day after Flight QZ8501 Syrian diplomats left Kuwait City voluntarily in March and disappeared over the Java Sea with 162 people on board. are returning voluntarily to resume consular services for “Papa come home, I still need Papa,” Angela, the daughter Syrian residents there. Jarallah was quoted as saying that of the Indonesian pilot Irianto, begged in an emotional this does not mean a normalization of relations with Syria appeal on local social media. and that Kuwaiti diplomats would not be returning to The Airbus A320-200 lost contact en route from Damascus, where the embassy closed after Syria’s crisis Surabaya in Indonesia’s east Java to Singapore on Sunday began in March 2011. after the crew requested a change of flight plan due to The Syrian Embassy in Kuwait shuttered it doors nine stormy weather, in the third crisis for a Malaysian carrier months ago, forcing some 130,000 Syrian residents there this year. Indonesian Air Force spokesman Hadi Tjahjanto to seek consular services from the embassy that remains told AFP the search was now concentrated on an oil open in the United Arab Emirates. Syrians across the Gulf patch spotted off Belitung island, across from Kalimantan Arab states have struggled to renew their passports and on Borneo island. “We are making sure whether it was register marriages, births and deaths with their govern- avtur (aviation fuel) from the AirAsia plane or from a ves- ment because of the closure of Syrian embassies in Saudi sel because that location is a shipping line,” he said. Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. In early 2012, amid calls for the As the second day’s search ended at dusk, National expulsion of the Syrian diplomats, demonstrators stormed Search and Rescue Agency chief Bambang Soelistyo said the Syrian Embassy compound in Kuwait City, breaking an Indonesian corvette was on its way to collect an oil windows and hoisting the green-striped flag of the anti- sample, with an announcement expected today. Assad opposition. Soelistyo earlier it was likely the plane was at the “bottom Earlier yesterday, a Syrian official said two suicide of the sea”. SURABAYA, Indonesia: Family members of passengers on the missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501 gather at the attackers targeted separate natural gas facilities in the cen- Continued on Page 13 airport in this East Java city yesterday. — AFP tral province of Homs, killing eight people. — AP Expatriates rue Assembly panel to review fines lack of respect No exemption for Kuwaitis • More than KD 1m collected KUWAIT: The National Assembly’s interior and any intention to start the exemption by Dec 28 to spend the holidays abroad. “Expats waiting By Faten Omar and rents are getting more and more defense committee has decided to review the as previously announced, Marafi stressed that for the fines to be cancelled will only multiply expensive. I have 3 children, and my issue of fines imposed on expatriates for fail- such reports were fake and groundless and them and pay more,” warned the sources, not- KUWAIT: The rising cost of living and husband only makes KD 350 a month. ing to update their information after renewing that fines imposed on Kuwaiti sponsors would ing that referring the fines to courts for further ever-changing laws are making life dif- Since the law doesn’t allow us to take their passports. The committee has decided to be referred for investigation as usual. investigation was only allowed for Kuwaitis. ficult for expats in Kuwait. Some have up part-time jobs, charities were the invite the interior minister for a meeting, but Well-informed security sources stressed Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri been forced to send their families back only answer,” Ftafta said. no date has been set for the discussion. that the ministry will keep collecting the fines recently told reporters that he was following home, or turn to charitable societies to She told Kuwait Times that her fami- Meanwhile, acting residency affairs director and that the sum collected so far from expats up the problems Egyptians were facing in make ends meet, like Amal Ftafta, a 52- ly is deep in debt, and charitable soci- Maj Gen Talal Marafi strongly denied any for failing to update their passport information Kuwait and that he was in direct contact with year-old Palestinian housewife. “Every eties and Good Samaritans pay her exemption for Kuwaiti families from paying has exceeded KD 1 million, especially since a the Kuwaiti side to reach an exemption that day we find a new law to make life rent or her children’s school fees. the fines due on their domestic workers and travel ban was imposed on violators pending ends the problem and helps Egyptians legalize more difficult. Schools, food, clothes Continued on Page 13 non-Kuwaiti spouses and children. Denying paying the fines and many intended to travel their statuses. — Agencies Resolutions more Zalzalah calls for procrastination than motivation Cabinet reshuffle NEW YORK: People seeking to get or stay fit in 2015 might do better to start today rather than rely on a Saadoun challenges PM New Year’s resolution to shape up tomorrow, fitness experts say. Losing weight and getting fit and healthy By B Izzak tion Sunday night that strongly lashed are among the top five resolutions every year, even out at the government and the National though most of winter’s great expectations wither by KUWAIT: MP Yousef Al-Zalzalah yester- Assembly, alleging that they have failed spring. “The New Year’s resolution is a kind of grand, day called on Prime Minister Sheikh to check the spread of corruption. glorified, long-term goal that people, for societal rea- Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah to reshuffle Saadoun also said yesterday that he sons, tend to begin on the first day of the calendar the Cabinet to upgrade its performance, has learnt through social networks that year,” said Gregory Chertok, a sports psychology con- which has been below expectations. the prime minister has accepted the sultant with the American College of Sports Medicine. The lawmaker said in a statement that challenge and was prepared for the Goals set because people feel they should make the ministers are incapable of perform- debate, provided he sets the date and them tend to be pressure-filled, unrealistic and less ing their duties adequately and have time. The opposition leader said he likely to be accomplished, he says. “‘I’d like to cut failed to achieve, and this is not accept- accepts the conditions of the prime able. Zalzalah complained that the gov- minister and vowed that he will reveal TEHRAN: Iranians carry the coffin of Brig Gen Hamid Taghavi, a commander of down on junk food a little bit,’ is a goal more likely to ernment has failed to achieve progress “horrifying details” about corruption the Revolutionary Guards reportedly killed in the Iraqi city of Samarra, during be accomplished than ‘I’ll completely revamp my in a number of key projects, and “we are plots against state properties. his funeral in the Iranian capital yesterday. — AFP lifestyle,’ which is the kind of goal we set as a New Year’s resolutions,” Chertok said. While about 45 per- retreating instead of moving forward”. Saadoun said he will reveal a number cent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, only The lawmaker did not name any min- of major corruption cases that have tak- about 8 percent succeed, according to a University of ister who should be changed, but said en place after the dissolution of the IS claims killing Scranton study published in the Journal of Clinical the prime minister should thoroughly opposition-dominated National Psychology. evaluate the performance of ministers Assembly in June 2012, which involved Dr Michele Olson, professor of exercise science at and those who cannot deliver should granting projects worth billions of of Iran general Auburn University Montgomery said a resolution can stay at home. Zalzalah’s statements dinars in violation of the constitution be a way of putting off what can be done today. “If come amid reports that a number of and the law and facilitating the seizure there is a fitness need, such as to increase strength or MPs are applying pressure on the prime of billions of square meters of state BAGHDAD: The Islamic State group has the Iranian officer.