MUHARRAM 14, 1443 AH SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2021 16 Pages Max 44º Min 29º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 18512 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Seven killed, 17 hurt in two Caught in the crossfire, Ethiopian Desperate Haitians rush Top seeds Medvedev, Barty 2 deadly accidents in Kuwait 5 ethnic minority flees to Sudan 6 aid convoys after quake 14 secure triumphs at Cincinnati Taleban co-founder in Kabul to map out govt Thousands scramble to leave Afghanistan • Taleban block employees from work KABUL: Taleban leaders gathered in the Afghan capital yesterday to begin mapping out an “inclusive govern- ment” as thousands scrambled to leave the country via a chaotic evacu- ation dubbed one of the most difficult airlifts in history. A senior Taleban official told AFP that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar- who co-founded the group-would meet jihadi leaders, elders and politi- Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar cians in the coming days, stirring faint hope they may hold good on statement from Massoud. pledges to rule differently this time Meanwhile, government employees around. But the gathering also in Kabul were blocked by Taleban included top officials from the militants from returning to their Haqqani network, a US-designated offices yesterday, the first day of the terrorist organization with million- Afghan working week. Since the dollar bounties on its leadership. hardline Islamist group seized power The Panjshir Valley remains the six days ago, government buildings, only holdout against the Taleban after banks, schools and universities have the hardline Islamists took control of remained largely closed. Afghanistan. Earlier this week, the Only a few private firms, including son of the late, famed anti-Taleban telecom companies, have been oper- commander Ahmad Shah Massoud ating since the Taleban swept back to had called for a new resistance. But power-although there have also been yesterday, pro-Taleban social media two public holidays since then. The feeds posted a video of Khalil blocking of employees from entering Haqqani of the Haqqani network their offices came despite the Taleban claiming Massoud’s son had announcing they would allow govern- KABUL: Afghans gather on a roadside near the military part of the airport in Kabul, hoping to flee from the country after the Taleban’s “declared allegiance” to the new ment staff to continue working. military takeover of Afghanistan.- — AFP Islamic emirate. There has been no Continued on Page 2 around the globe who have been instru- News in brief US thanks mental in this operation in all of its many parts.” “Bahrain, Denmark, Megaship heads to Asia from Suez Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kuwait, Qatar, Tajikistan, Turkey, the UAE, the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan have CAIRO: A super tanker that blocked the Suez partners been or will soon be transiting Canal is heading back to Asia, authorities said, Americans, or in some circumstances, five months after it became wedged across the WASHINGTON: The United States on others, through their territories to safe- vital waterway and crippled world trade. The Friday extended “special thanks” to a ty,” he noted. He also listed other coun- MV Ever Given had “successfully crossed” the number of countries, including Kuwait, tries who “have also made generous canal after unloading its cargo in Britain and was for transiting Americans and allies from offers regarding the relocation efforts now on its way to China, Suez Canal Authority Kabul, Afghanistan “through their terri- for at-risk Afghans.” “We deeply chief Osama Rabie said on Friday. —AFP tories to safety”. “Over the past several appreciate the support they have days, we have mobilized a global effort offered, and we are proud to partner through diplomatic channels to evacu- with them in our shared support for the Biden names China, Japan envoys ate US citizens, personnel from partner Afghan people,” he affirmed. “We are very encouraged that other nations, and, of course, at-risk Afghans countries are also considering provid- WASHINGTON: President from Kabul,” State Department KUWAIT: This handout picture released by the Italian Defense press office Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters. ing additional support, and this is yesterday shows passengers, who fled Afghanistan, boarding an Italian Joe Biden on Friday nominat- something on which we will continue to Price said during the briefing “we military aircraft at the Kuwait International Airport to fly to Rome. — AFP ed career diplomat Nicholas extend special thanks to our partners be focused.” — KUNA Burns as ambassador to China and former Chicago mayor and Democratic party heavyweight Rahm Emanuel ‘Hell on earth’: to head the embassy in Japan. 7,000 evacuated to The White House also Nicholas Burns announced Biden had tapped Lebanon unlivable another experienced diplomat, Michael Battle, Qatar from Kabul for ambassador in Tanzania. The ambassador as crisis deepens DOHA: More than 7,000 people have been evac- posts require confirmation in the almost evenly uated from Afghanistan to Qatar, an official from divided Senate. — AFP BEIRUT: It wasn’t a late-night craving that brought the Gulf state said yesterday, as thousands scram- Ayla to a Beirut cafe but the air-conditioning that let bled to leave Kabul via chaotic evacuation opera- her children, slouched in a sofa next to her, get some tions. Qatar and the nearby United Arab Emirates 3 militia killed by IS in Iraq proper rest. Lebanon’s energy crisis is dragging peo- have been instrumental staging posts for evacua- ple to unlikely places in their desperate quest for life’s tion flights for Western countries’ citizens as well BAGHDAD: Three fighters from a pro-Iranian essentials, be it fresh air, electricity, a working fridge as Afghan interpreters, journalists and others. BEIRUT: Lebanese wait in a queue outside a closed militia were killed in Iraq Friday when the or petrol for their cars. “Since the start of international operations, petrol station in Beirut’s Hamra district Friday. —AFP Islamic State (IS) group attacked their base “For two days, we have not had a single minute of over 7,000 people have been evacuated from near Baghdad, a paramilitary and a security power at home. The children can no longer sleep,” said Afghanistan to Qatar,” a Qatari official who source said. The men belonged to the Noujaba Ayla, a woman in her 30s. “Here, my kids can at least mind-blowing. We have nothing left, we are deprived declined to be identified told AFP. “At the request Movement, a part of the Hashed Al-Shaabi gain a few hours of rest in an air-conditioned space,” of everything, even sleep,” Ayla said. “This is hell on of NGOs, educational institutions and internation- coalition of militias that mostly back Iran. Both she told AFP, her 8-year-old daughter curled up on earth.” In a Beirut barbershop, Ahmad has given up on al media organizations, we evacuated hundreds of sources said they were killed in an attack by IS the sofa, while her 5-year-old son slept on her lap. waiting for the light to come back on. The 20-year-old Afghan employees and their families, as well as on their base in Tarmiya, north of Baghdad, with Power cuts lasting more than 22 hours a day have trimmed a client’s beard using his cellphone torch in female students across the country,” the official seven more fighters wounded. Formed in 2014 become the new norm in a bankrupt country running the simmering summer heat. “We work in very said. That came “in addition to facilitating the to back the Iraqi army in its fight against IS out of literally everything, from fuel and gas to medi- degrading conditions,” he told AFP, sweat staining his evacuation of citizens from the United States of jihadists, the Hashed at the time controlled large cine and bread. Lebanon’s inhabitants are also low on T-shirt. Others have opted to move their barber chairs America, Germany and the United Kingdom, swathes of the country but have since been patience and courage, months into a seemingly bot- onto the pavement to get direct daylight. Lebanon’s among others. Our evacuation effort is ongoing.” integrated into the armed forces.— AFP tomless economic free fall turning the country into a economic collapse has stripped the national currency Continued on Page 2 shell of its former self. “What we are going through is Continued on Page 2 2 Established 1961 Sunday, August 22, 2021 Local Seven killed, 17 hurt in two deadly accidents in Kuwait Five dead in two-bus collision; two perish in three-car crash KUWAIT: This picture released by Kuwait Fire Force shows one of the buses involved in a deadly accident north of the country Thursday night. The second bus involved in the deadly accident north of the country. KUWAIT: Seven people were killed and 17 others company. All passengers inside the two buses were were injured in two separate deadly accidents evacuated, and the wounded were admitted to hos- reported in Kuwait over the weekend. The first acci- pitals by ambulances, it made clear. dent took place north of the country Thursday night Meanwhile, a three-vehicle collision took place when two buses collided on Riyadh Road between and burst into flames, leav- Qurtuba and Yarmouk ing five people dead and 15 Thursday night, which left others injured. two people dead and two The operation room Buses go into others injured. Fire and received a report on a hor- flames in rescue men evacuated all rific crash that led to a fire passengers from the three on the two buses, Kuwait ‘horrific’ crash vehicles, as the injured Fire Force (KFF) said in a were rushed to hospital statement.