RAJAB 7, 1441 AH MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 28 Pages Max 23º Min 12º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 18072 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Migrants, Greek police clash Netanyahu pledges ‘immediate’ Taleban deal puts Qatar on Man City hold off Aston 6 after Turkey opens floodgates 7 annexation steps if re-elected 24 stronger footing with US 28 Villa to retain League Cup Kuwait bans visas as another coronavirus case confirmed Masks, gloves must for cafe workers • Iran deaths hit 54 • Saudi prepares 25 hospitals By B Izzak Kuwait, Gulf KUWAIT: Although only four new coronavirus cases have been discovered over the past three days, Kuwait yesterday stepped up measures to prevent the spread bourses dive as of the deadly diseases, including a total ban on all types of visas for visitors. The National Assembly cancelled a virus hits oil scheduled emergency meeting yesterday in a bid to contain “sectarian exchanges” on social media, and KUWAIT: Stock markets in Kuwait and other oil- Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem said it was premature to rich Gulf states plunged yesterday over fears about decide if the ordinary session on March 10 will also be the impact of the coronavirus which also battered cancelled. The public food authority has instructed all global bourses last week. The crisis threatens to restaurants and cafes that all waiters must wear face- undercut Gulf economies, which are already battling masks and gloves and that restaurants must provide a downturn and struggling to wean themselves from sanitizers to clients. their decades-old addiction to energy revenues. The The ministry of health said yesterday a new case region’s slide was led by Boursa Kuwait, where the tested positive in one of the people who returned from All-Share Index fell 10 percent, triggering its auto- Iran and was at the quarantine set up by the ministry, matic closure. Kuwait’s bourse was closed for most of raising the total number of cases to 46, placing Kuwait last week for national holidays. at the top of Gulf countries in the number of infections. The Saudi bourse, the region’s largest and one of Only new four cases were discovered in the past three the world’s top 10 equity markets, closed down 3.7 days, but MP Adnan Abdulsamad said that a new group percent to its lowest level in 18 months. Energy of Kuwaitis who were repatriated yesterday have not giant Saudi Aramco, the world’s biggest listed firm, yet been tested by health ministry staff, raising the dropped 2.1 percent to 32.65 riyals ($8.70), its prospect of more cases. worst performance since listing to much fanfare on The interior ministry yesterday slapped a total ban December 11 in a record-breaking IPO. The other on all types of visas for all nationalities, only allowing five markets operating yesterday in the region, entry to foreigners who hold legal residencies in the which were closed the previous two days for the country, except those who visited infected countries. weekend, were also hit badly as oil prices sagged KUWAIT: Kuwaiti traders wearing protective masks follow the market at Boursa Kuwait yesterday. Boursa Kuwait Kuwait had cut all transport links to Iran and several below $50 a barrel. had decided to close the main trading hall due to the COVID-19 coronavirus. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat other countries as GCC citizens no longer can use their Continued on Page 24 Continued on Page 24 last month to stem advances by Syrian government Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s main ally Russia. Turkey strikes Syrian forces which have displaced 1 million people close to Despite the warning, Turkish warplanes downed two Turkey’s southern border. Already hosting 3.6 million Syrian warplanes, while Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu Electricity minister Syrian refugees, Ankara is determined to prevent any agency said the Turkish military had targeted and ren- planes and airports further influx from Syria. It has also let migrants cross its dered unusable Nayrab airport, west of Aleppo city. quits over verdict borders into the European Union, in an apparent effort Turkey-backed opposition commanders also said ISTANBUL/BEIRUT: Turkey shot down two Syrian to press for EU support in tackling the Syria crisis. Kuweires airport, east of Nayrab, had been bombed By B Izzak warplanes over Idlib yesterday and struck a military Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said in the last four since midnight. Both airports are well inside Syrian airport well beyond its frontlines in a sharp escalation days Turkish forces destroyed eight helicopters, 103 government controlled territory, marking a significant KUWAIT: Recently- of its military operations following the death of dozens tanks, 72 howitzers, rocket launchers, a drone and six expansion of Ankara’s targets. appointed Minister of of Turkish soldiers last week. Ankara has ramped up its air defense systems. He dubbed Turkey’s operation, its The fighting has risked drawing Russia and Turkey, Electricity and Water attacks, including drone strikes, against the Russian- fourth incursion in Syria in four years, “Operation who cooperated for years to contain the fighting Mohammad Bushehri backed Syrian forces since Thursday, when 33 Turkish Spring Shield”. In response, Syria’s army said it shot despite backing rival sides in Syria’s nine-year war, into yesterday submitted his soldiers were killed in an air strike by Damascus. down three Turkish drones and warned it would take direct conflict. “We have neither the intention nor the resignation to the prime It has already deployed thousands of troops and mili- down any aircraft breaching the air space over the notion to face Russia. minister. The move comes tary vehicles in northwest Syria’s Idlib province in the northwest, which has been controlled for years by Continued on Page 24 after the court of cassa- Mohammad Bushehri tion, whose rulings are final, last week convicted bled the 20 percent won by national Democratic race - which has gradu- Bushehri in a case that has been in courts for years. Big Biden win frontrunner Bernie Sanders, reviving ally winnowed down a record-large The minister was convicted for leaking a confiden- Biden’s campaign and positioning field - Biden’s victory Saturday tial report when he was a senior employee at the puts him back him as the senator’s leading rival. injected a note of uncertainty. “The electricity ministry. “This is a big boost for us,” Biden biggest question is whether this will said yesterday on CNN, but “we slingshot Joe Biden into victory in in 2020 race have a long way to go.” Sanders some Super Tuesday states,” said continues to hold poll leads in many Larry Sabato, director of the Center COLUMBIA, South Carolina: A of the Super Tuesday states - for Politics at the University of MoE sets e-learning resounding victory in South including the biggest prize, Virginia. The victory there, powered Carolina has thrust Joe Biden back California - and he had double-digit by support from black voters, was into the race for the Democratic leads in two nationwide surveys Biden’s first in the race, but came at rules, limits teachers’ presidential nomination, but that released Friday. “I think we’ve got a a crucial time, helping dispel some could all change in two days when great chance to win in California, in earlier doubts about the 77-year- workday to 5 hours voters go to the polls in 14 “Super Texas, in Massachusetts and a num- old’s energy level and broad appeal. Tuesday” states. With 48 percent of ber of states,” Sanders said yester- South Carolina added another bit COLUMBIA, South Carolina: 2020 Democratic presiden- KUWAIT: In view of the two-week school suspension the vote in South Carolina, the for- day on CBS. of clarity: Billionaire businessman tial candidate Joe Biden delivers remarks at his primary due to the spread of the new coronavirus and in a bid mer vice president more than dou- But into an already turbulent Continued on Page 24 night election event on Saturday. — AFP to provide students with alternatives to make up for lost time, the private education department of the edu- cation ministry issued a circular yesterday for owners of Hope” alliance, which stormed to a historic victory in of private schools wishing to activate e-learning plat- New PM sworn 2018, collapsed amid bitter infighting. Mahathir, who forms to give students access to classes without was the world’s oldest leader, initially quit as premier attending school. They should follow the following reg- but then sought to return. ulations: in as Mahathir He lost in a power struggle however to little-known 1. Teaching staff members at schools wishing to use Muhyiddin Yassin, who heads a coalition dominated by e-learning will be allowed to attend school from vows to fight on the multi-ethnic country’s Muslim majority and has Sunday, March 1. faced criticism for controversial remarks about race. 2. All staff members showing up to work in this peri- KUALA LUMPUR: A staunch Muslim nationalist The king’s decision Saturday to pick Muhyiddin as pre- od will work a maximum of five hours daily, taking all backed by a scandal-mired party was sworn in as mier was greeted with shock as Mahathir’s allies precautionary measures. Malaysia’s premier yesterday after a reformist govern- claimed to have enough support, and it sparked wide- 3. The concerned school administrations will provide ment’s collapse, but ex-leader Mahathir Mohamad, 94, spread anger that the democratically elected govern- KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Prime Minister Muhyiddin all the necessary equipment and material including slammed the move as illegal.