JUMADA ALAWWAL 6, 1441 AH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 28 Pages Max 19º Min 11º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 18025 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Don’t miss your copy Protesters attack US embassy in Baghdad over deadly air strikes US to send Marines to embassy as Trump blames Iran BAGHDAD: Iraqi supporters of pro-Iran factions attacked the US embassy in Baghdad yesterday, breach- NOTICE ing its outer wall and chanting “Death to America!” in anger over weekend air strikes that killed two dozen fight- Happy New Year to all our readers! Kuwait ers. It was the first time in years protesters have been able Times will not be published on Thursday, to reach the US embassy, which is sheltered behind a January 2, 2020 and Friday, January 3. Our series of checkpoints in the high-security Green Zone. A next issue will hit the newsstands on stream of men in military fatigues, as well as some women, Sunday, January 5. However, readers can marched through those checkpoints to the embassy walls stay updated on breaking news and events with no apparent reaction from Iraqi security forces. on our digital media channels including our US President Donald Trump in a Twitter message website www.kuwaittimes.net and on accused Iran of “orchestrating” the attack and said it “will Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. be held fully responsible”, but he also said he expected Iraq “to use its forces to protect the embassy”. The Washington Post reported that inside the embassy, US diplomats and staffers were huddled in a fortified safe room, according to two reached by a messaging app. News in brief The demonstrators waved flags in support of the Hashed al-Shaabi, a mostly Shiite network of Iraqi armed Amir exchanges greetings groups that has received training and weapons from pow- erful neighbor Iran. They threw rocks and wrenched secu- KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad rity cameras off the walls, ignoring calls over megaphones Al-Jaber Al-Sabah yesterday exchanged cables of to leave the embassy compound. In response, US guards congratulations with heads of Arab and friendly fired an initial volley of bullets, then switched to tear gas countries on the advent of 2020, wishing stability, and flash bang stun grenades to disperse the crowd. The peace and prosperity for all countries. The Amir Hashed said at least 62 people were wounded. also exchanged cables with leaders of the Gulf US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told BAGHDAD: Members of the Iraqi pro-Iranian Hashed al-Shaabi group and protesters set ablaze a sentry box in front Cooperation Council (GCC) member states to Reuters that a small number of additional of the US embassy building to protest against the weekend’s air strikes by US planes on several bases belonging to greet them on the New Year. In his cables, HH the Continued on Page 24 Hezbollah Brigades. — AFP Amir wished them and all Gulf peoples a happy New Year, praying to Allah Almighty to bestow more progress, welfare and prosperity on all GCC states. — KUNA Filipino FM wants ‘head’ Sultan Qaboos in ‘stable condition’ of woman who killed maid MUSCAT: Sultan Qaboos, who has ruled Oman MANILA: Philippine Foreign Affairs meeting yesterday. for almost half a century, is in stable condition after Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr yesterday “In short. She bashed her head. So I recently travelling to Belgium for a medical check- demanded justice to be served for a want the head of the employer’s wife up, his royal court announced yesterday. “The sul- Filipina maid who was allegedly mur- who murdered their Filipina maid,” tan is in a stable condition and following a sched- dered by her employer’s wife in Kuwait. Locsin later said in a tweet. The minister uled treatment program,” the official ONA news The Philippine Department of Labor and also vowed to go after Filipino recruiters agency cited the royal court as saying, without giv- Employment (DOLE) also slammed the and government officials for putting the ing details. The court announced on Dec 7 that death of Jeanelyn Padernal Villavende, slain Filipina “in harm’s way”. “I beg you Sultan Qaboos was travelling to Belgium for “a lim- Philippine media reported. to give her justice. We will go after the ited period of time”. In his first comments to the “The friendship between your coun- Filipino recruiters and government offi- country since returning, the statement from the try which gives our people the jobs they cials who put her in harm’s way,” Locsin royal court said Sultan Qaboos thanked his people cannot find at home and our people told the Kuwaiti ambassador. for the good wishes they had sent him. — AFP whose faithful service makes the life of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III your people easier depends on justice said the Philippine government is being done the murdered maid. An eye offended over the killing. “The labor MANILA: Kuwait’s Ambassador to Manila Musaed Saleh Ahmad Al-Thwaikh meets for an eye, a life for a life,” Locsin told department is deeply saddened and out- 6 kidnapped children killed Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr in this photo posted by Locsin Kuwait’s Ambassador to Manila Musaed raged over the violent death of Filipino on his Twitter account. ADDIS ABABA: Six children who were kidnapped Saleh Ahmad Al-Thwaikh during their Continued on Page 24 in northern Ethiopia have been shot dead by their captors after their families failed to come up with fireworks despite calls by some members ransom money. Unidentified “bandits” abducted of the public for it to be cancelled in soli- eight children near the Gondar zone of Amhara World ushers darity with fire-hit areas in New South regional state on Dec 20 and demanded that their Wales, of which the city is the capital. families each pay ransom of 120,000 Ethiopian birr in New Year Sydney mayor Clover Moore said plan- (around $3,700), the Amhara Mass Media Agency SYDNEY/HONG KONG: The world ning had begun 15 months ago and that reported. “Failing to secure the ransom money, the rang in the New Year yesterday with the event also gave a boost to the econo- kidnappers tied the children with ropes in pairs spectacular firework displays from my. Some other towns in eastern Australia and shot the children on December 29,” the report Sydney to Tokyo, though celebrations in cancelled their new year celebrations as said. One of the children managed to break free of Australia were overshadowed by deadly naval vessels and military helicopters the rope and flee before the kidnappers had a wildfires and the festive mood in Hong helped firefighters rescue people fleeing chance to shoot him, while another was found alive Kong and India was dampened by the fires, which have turned swathes of despite having been shot, it said. The victims were protests. Around a million revellers New South Wales into a raging furnace. between the ages of 10 and 16. — AFP thronged Sydney harbor and nearby dis- Elsewhere, revellers from Auckland in tricts to watch more than 100,000 fire- New Zealand to Pyongyang, capital of works explode above the city, even as isolated North Korea, welcomed the new thousands of people along Australia’s year with firework displays. In Japan, Ghosn flees to eastern seaboard sought refuge from the people took turns to strike Buddhist bushfires on beaches. temple bells, in accordance with tradi- SYDNEY: New Year’s Eve fireworks erupt over Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge and Lebanon from Sydney decided to press ahead with its tion. — Reuters ( See Page 19) Opera House early today. — AFP ‘rigged’ Japan from the inferno near the water. BEIRUT: Former Nissan chief Scores trapped Some with boats earlier took to the Carlos Ghosn said yesterday he sea in near-darkness, hoping to find had fled to Lebanon to escape in Australia by safety, as one of the worst days yet in injustice in Japan, where he was on Australia’s months-long bushfire crisis bail awaiting trial on financial mis- prompted a military deployment to help conduct charges. The auto tycoon’s dangerous fires relief efforts. Three people have died, abrupt departure was the latest five more are unaccounted for, and twist in a rollercoaster journey that SYDNEY: Thousands of holidaymakers scores of properties were feared saw him fall from boardroom to and locals were bedding down at beach- destroyed after a brutal 24 hours in detention center and sparked es in fire-ravaged southeast Australia on which flames reached well-populated questions over an embarrassing New Year’s Eve after fleeing deadly towns like Batemans Bay, normally security lapse in Japan. Carlos Ghosn blazes that ripped through popular bursting with visitors during Australia’s In a statement, the 65-year-old tourist areas and cut off several towns. In summer holidays. said he would “no longer be held hostage by a rigged seaside communities along a 200-km “We’ve got literally hundreds, thou- Japanese justice system, where guilt is presumed, discrim- strip of coast, terrified crowds - sands of people up and down the coast, COBARGO, Australia: A man stands amongst rubble after fires devastated this New ination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied”. wrapped in blankets and wearing taking refuge on the beaches” and in South Wales town yesterday. — AFP Continued on Page 24 makeshift facemasks - sought refuge Continued on Page 24 2 Established 1961 Local Wednesday, January 1, 2020 Seoul National University to operate new Jahra Hospital: Health Minister Kuwait’s Cabinet committed to democracy, constitution KUWAIT: Health Minister Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Sabah has revealed that the relevant state bodies had approved a bid of the Seoul National University to operate the new Jahra Hospital.