JAMADA ALTHANI 4, 1439 AH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 Max 24º 32 Pages Min 09º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 17462 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf: A Israel announces ‘historic’ For single Syrian women, search Russian doping rocks Olympics; 2 story of love, loyalty to Kuwait 7 gas contract with Egypt 32 for soul mates comes up empty 16 Canadians set ice dance record Duterte accepts Amir’s invite, will visit Kuwait next month Kuwait, Manila to sign labor agreement By B Izzak KUWAIT: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has accepted an invitation by HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Sabah to visit Kuwait, and the state visit will take place “in the first or the second week of March”, Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah announced yesterday. The two countries will also sign an agree- ment to regulate the affairs of Filipino workers in Kuwait, Jarallah added after a meeting with the National Assembly’s for- eign relations panel to discuss the standoff between the Philippines and Kuwait over Rodrigo Duterte alleged mistreatment of workers. “The Philippines president will visit the country after the Amir sent an invitation to the president. The visit will - God willing - take KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hind place in the first or second week of March,” Jarallah told reporters Al-Sabeeh and heads of local charities yesterday. — KUNA after the meeting. He said an agreement is currently under review by the two countries to regulate Filipino workers in the country, adding HH the Amir also expressed deep gratitude to International Islamic Charitable Organization and the agreement was proposed by the Philippine authorities. “We have Amir orders grants Kuwaiti charities for alleviating the hardships of peo- Advisor at the Amiri Diwan, indicated that his col- been presented with the draft agreement which will be signed by ple in need of aid. “I can only say thank you in the leagues and he came to see the Amir to listen to his Kuwait and the Philippines. Concerned authorities (in Kuwait) have name of all your Kuwaiti brethren... you have acted guidelines and brief him about aid activities. Jamal Al- reviewed the draft,” Jarallah said. for orphans, and fulfilled your blessed duties,” he said as he hosted Nouri, Chairman of Abdullah Al-Nouri Charity, told Accordingly, Jarallah said the two countries are on their way to Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Minister of HH the Amir that $37 million out of $48 million ear- calm the tense situation, “if we have not actually reached that target thanks charities State for Economic Affairs Hind Al-Sabeeh and heads marked for Iraq had been disbursed for housing for already through the correct and quiet handling of this problem”. of local charities at Seif Palace. The Amir also praised the displaced, aiding widows and teaching skills to Kuwait last week condemned what it called an escalation by the KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- the associations for taking part in the recently held enable the needy to earn money sustainably. Philippines that threatened bilateral relations after the president and Jaber Al-Sabah yesterday ordered giving financial international conference for the reconstruction of Iraq. Chairman of Kuwait Relief Society Ahmad Al- top officials lashed out at Kuwait for allegedly mistreating Filipino grants to orphans at his personal expense. The Amir Good and charitable actions are ideal principles Jasser affirmed that the Iraq conference, held on Feb workers in the country. made the initiative on the occasion of the 57th instilled in the Kuwaiti people’s conscience since old- 12-14, constituted an opportunity to shed light on Kuwait has categorically denied the allegations and stressed that anniversary of Kuwait’s National Day and the 27th en times and embraced by generations, HH the Amir Kuwaiti charitable work. Faisal Al-Zamel, representa- the abuse cases were very limited and will be dealt with within the anniversary of Liberation Day. His humanitarian move said, alluding to the multiple initiatives ongoing to tive of Al-Najat Charity, said he and his colleagues framework of the law. Jarallah said he discussed with the committee toward this segment of the society came a day after he relieve the needy and victims of catastrophes in Arab were honored to meet HH the Amir. An identical state- the consequences of the standoff and its causes and explained to ordered the payment of debts of imprisoned citizens and foreign countries. ment was made by Nabil Al-Oun, General Director of them the efforts that had been exerted by the foreign ministry. and expatriates. Dr Abdullah Al-Maatouq, Chairman of the Al-Salam charity. — Agencies Continued on Page 11 PAM launches Turkey warns Syria new services to over backing YPG; protect workers jets pound enclave By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: The Public Authority of Manpower (PAM) yesterday launched online services to protect the rights of workers. “Every governorate has a labor relations department that includes a labor dispute unit, where an employee can submit his complaint. KUWAIT: Officials of the Public Authority of Manpower (PAM) hold a press conference at Sheraton With our new system, we can reduce paper- Hotel yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat work and documentation due to increased automation,” said Abdullah Al-Merri, Director Asemi, Director of the IT Department at PAM. phone numbers. “We demand the personal of the Labor Relations Department at PAM. The new service is available in four lan- attendance of the employee to verify that the The system serves both employers and guages: Arabic, English, French and Urdu. number really belongs to him and is not pro- employees. “We call upon employers and “We aimed to make the system easy for vided by the employer or his representative. employees to register their phone numbers at workers to use by themselves without the The employee will receive a text message on PAM to benefit from the system’s services. To help of translators. To register, the worker his phone for any inquiries, complaints or access general services on the website, the user should print out and fill up the declaration information. Immediately after registering, he doesn’t need any password. An employee can and commitment form from the website and will receive an SMS with his username and check if there is an absconding case filed against take it to the labor department,” she said. password, so nobody else can see it except him. The employee can also check to which labor Workers have to visit the labor department the worker,” Asemi explained. department he should resort to,” said Rabab Al- in person for the first time to register their Continued on Page 11 SALWAH, Syria: Turkish-backed Syrian rebel fighters fire towards Kurdish forces from the YPG in the Afrin region yesterday. — AFP Trump Jr to wine AMMAN: Turkey’s foreign minister Afrin, Manbij and the east of the and dine luxury yesterday warned against any interven- Euphrates River,” Cavusoglu added at a tion by Syrian pro-government forces joint news conference in Amman with to support Kurdish militias in northern his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi. flat buyers in India Syria, saying it would not prevent Yesterday, SANA said “popular NEW DELHI: Dozens of property investors Ankara from pressing on with its forces will arrive in Afrin within a few and their families will be treated to dinner month-old offensive. Mevlut Cavusoglu hours to support its people’s stand with Donald Trump Junior in Delhi this week was reacting to a report from Syrian against the Turkish regime’s attack on after snapping up flats in a Trump Towers state news agency SANA saying pro- the area and its people”, citing its cor- luxury development on the outskirts of the government forces were expected in respondent in Aleppo. Turkish Indian capital. Trump’s local partners have the Afrin region to counter the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised dinner with the US president’s son offensive against the Kurdish People’s previously threatened to expand the to anyone who buys into the development of Protection Units (YPG) militia. operation to include the YPG-held high-rise apartments boasting floor-to-ceil- Turkey views the YPG as a terrorist town of Manbij and other towns lead- ing windows, state of the art amenities and a offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan ing to the Iraqi border. The Turkish “lifestyle concierge”. Workers’ Party (PKK), blacklisted by army, backed by Syrian rebels, has At 2.5 million rupees (around $39,000) MUMBAI: In this file photo taken on Aug 12, 2014, US billionaire real estate developer and now US Ankara, the United States and the been conducting a ground and air just for the down payment on the smallest and president Donald Trump (left) poses for a photo with managing director of Lodha group Abhishek European Union. “If the regime is enter- offensive against the region since Jan cheapest flat - that is well beyond most Lodha (center) and Donald Trump Jr during a news conference. — AFP ing (Afrin) to oust the PKK, YPG, there 20 to drive out the YPG. Cavusoglu Indians. Nonetheless, the development has is no problem. But if they are entering to said the operation, dubbed “Olive already clocked up sales worth nearly $80 (National Capital Region) and in India, the up and Indian developer Tribeca expects that protect the YPG, then no one can stop Branch”, was aimed at “removing ter- million, according to a statement released project has smashed all sales records,” said number to increase to 100 before the promo- us and Turkish soldiers,” Cavusoglu said rorists” from its southern border.