JAMADA ALTHANI 26, 1439 AH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2018 Max 30º 32 Pages Min 17º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 17480 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Zain Life, a new portfolio of digital Residents flee as Turkish Poor Internet access no Sevilla shock Man Utd; Roma 17 solutions for a smarter way of living 6 forces ‘surround’ Afrin 29 limit to Cuba YouTubers 16 beat Shakhtar to reach last 8 Trump fires Tillerson, names CIA chief Pompeo successor Alleged ‘black site’ overseer tapped as first woman to lead CIA WASHINGTON: Donald Trump yesterday Before leaving on a trip to California, sacked his top diplomat Rex Tillerson and Trump spoke openly of his divergences with named current CIA chief Mike Pompeo to the former Exxon chief - including over the succeed him, ending a rocky tenure by the Iran nuclear deal as he explained the ration- Texas oilman who had frequently been at ale for the latest departure from his chaotic odds with the mercurial US president. A White House. “We got along actually quite senior White House official said Trump well but we disagreed on things,” Trump wanted to reshuffle his team with a view to told reporters. “When you look at the Iran launching talks with North Korea, following deal, I thought it was terrible, he thought it last week’s spectacular announcement he was okay,” Trump said. “So we were not plans to meet Kim Jong Un. really thinking the same. I wish Rex a lot of Trump thanked Tillerson “for his service,” good things,” the president added. “I think but had scant words of praise for the 65- he’s going to be very happy. I think Rex will year-old Texan, who had effectively been be much happier now.” sidelined on the world stage and was long Announcing Tillerson’s sacking in a tweet rumored to be on the way out. The outgoing earlier yesterday, Trump lavished praise on secretary of state, who returned overnight Pompeo, a former US army officer and con- from a trip to Africa, did not even speak to the gressman who led the CIA for nearly 14 president before his sacking was announced months, saying he would do a “fantastic and was unaware of the reason for his sudden job!” “He will continue our program of Rex Tillerson Mike Pompeo Gina Haspel downfall, according to a top aide. That aide - restoring America’s standing in the world, Steve Goldstein, the undersecretary for public strengthening our alliances, confronting our confirmation. His enthusiasm was echoed by “There’s a pattern and practice to dismiss Pompeo at the Central Intelligence Agency, affairs and public diplomacy - was quickly adversaries, and seeking the denucleariza- the US envoy to the United Nations, Nikki anyone with whom this president has a pol- Trump nominated Gina Haspel, a controver- sacked after his comments. No reason was tion of the Korean Peninsula,” Trump added, Haley - who tweeted her congratulations to icy difference, and that appears to be the sial career intelligence officer who is the given, but White House and State Department calling him “the right person for the job at her “friend” Pompeo. case with Secretary Tillerson,” senior first woman tapped for the post. officials said Trump had made the decision. this critical juncture” and urging his swift Democrats quickly pounced on the news. Senator Dianne Feinstein said. To succeed Continued on Page 11 that the premier should testify in court. public funds as part of the so-called hospi- News in brief Tabtabaei wants PM to The lawmaker said the activists entered tality spending scandal. The decision was the Assembly building following a reported on the Twitter account of a Saudi cabinet approves atomic policy demonstration against corruption in the retired police major general, who said the testify; Hayef queries country and in protest against lawmak- action came at the recommendation of the RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s cabinet yesterday approved ers who were accused of accepting mil- Assembly. The Assembly has launched an the national policy of its atomic energy program, state work visa exemptions lions of dinars in bribes. investigation into the issue after budget media said, as the kingdom prepares to award con- Tabtabaei, along with MP Jamaan Al- reports showed that hospitality spending tracts for its first nuclear power plants. The policy By B Izzak expressing dismay over Kuwait’s drop in Harbash, spent three months in jail before by the interior ministry swelled to KD 23 insists on limiting nuclear activities to peaceful pur- the Corruption Perception Index’s latest they were freed by the court of cassation, million two years ago, while it was under which is currently handling the case. MP KD 2 million the previous year. poses and calls for enhanced safety measures as well KUWAIT: Opposition MP Waleed Al- release. The premier was quoted as say- Mohammad Al-Mutair, who also received Separate probes by the interior ministry as the use of best practices for radioactive waste Tabtabaei yesterday said he will ask HH ing that the new low ranking distorts the the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- country’s image and vowed to take nec- a jail term in the same case, wondered how and the Audit Bureau concluded that the management, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Saudi Mubarak Al-Sabah to testify in the cassa- essary actions. it took so long for the premier to realize funds were misused by interior ministry Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, is seeking nuclear tion court in the case involving 69 oppo- Tabtabaei, who was among 67 oppo- that corruption is rife in the country. officials, and the Assembly’s budgets com- power to diversify its energy supply mix in order to sition activists who are accused of storm- sition activists handed harsh jail terms Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled Al- mittee - which conducted the parliamen- free up oil to boost exports. The kingdom has acceler- ing the National Assembly building. for storming the Assembly building in Jarrah Al-Sabah issued a decision yester- tary investigation - called on the interior ated plans to build 16 nuclear reactors over the next Tabtabaei’s statement on Twitter came late 2011, said that he and other activists day referring seven senior officials to the ministry to refer the case to court. two decades, officials and analysts say, at a cost of after reports cited the prime minister will ask their defense lawyers to demand public prosecution for allegedly stealing Continued on Page 11 some $80 billion. Negotiations are underway with the United States for its agreement to export technology needed for their construction. — AFP Faraj was also in the convoy but was not Bomb targets injured in the explosion, which occurred shortly after they entered the territory. Qatar announces Abu Dhabi oil deal At least six people were wounded, with Palestinian PM none of their injuries believed to be life- DOHA: State-owned Qatar Petroleum announced threatening. A security source in Gaza yesterday it has signed a deal with Abu Dhabi to convoy during said the convoy was also fired on by operate a shared offshore oil field, despite a bitter unknown gunmen at the time of the diplomatic rift between the Gulf neighbors. The rare Gaza visit explosion, before Hamas security forces United Arab Emirates confirmed the contract had sealed off the area. been renewed with the Japanese operators of the GAZA CITY: A bomb blast targeted After the attack, Hamdallah briefly Al-Bunduq field but said it had not had any contact Palestinian prime minister Rami appeared at the opening of a wastewater or dealings with Qatar on the issue. The small oil Hamdallah’s convoy during a rare visit to treatment facility in Gaza before cutting short his visit and returning to the field, located on the maritime border between Qatar the Gaza Strip yesterday, leaving him Israeli-occupied West Bank, where his and Abu Dhabi, is managed by a Japanese oil con- unhurt but provoking outrage over what government is based. “It was a very sortium. The previous deal to operate the oilfield officials called an assassination attempt. The attack is likely to further increase ten- well-planned attempt. It was a roadside ended earlier this month. Yesterday’s statement did bomb about two meters into the not say how many years were covered by the latest sions between Hamas - which denied any involvement - and president Mahmoud ground,” Hamdallah said at his office agreement. However, the UAE Supreme Petroleum Abbas’ Fatah, with a reconciliation agree- upon his return. A statement on official Council (SPC) said Abu Dhabi did not hold any nego- Palestinian media said Abbas GAZA: Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah (right) is greeted by Hamas’ secu- ment between the two all but dead. rity chief Tawfiq Abu Naim upon his arrival in Gaza yesterday. —AFP tiations with Qatar regarding the oilfield. — AFP Palestinian intelligence chief Majid Continued on Page 11 Dubai deal triggers port row safety and well-being of our household service workers in underscored to the members of the Philippine negotiating Kuwaiti officials Kuwait,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S Cayetano panel the need to include more practical measures to make said. Cayetano issued the statement on Monday evening the proposed agreement more implementable. MOGADISHU: Somalia’s parliament has declared shortly after he and Labor and Employment Secretary Among the measures Cayetano earlier said he would “null and void” a port deal signed by breakaway to visit Manila to Silvestre Bello III met at the Manila Hotel with foreign affairs want to see in the agreement would be payment of salaries Somaliland that has raised tensions between and labor officials involved in the negotiations.