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RABIA ALTHANI 11, 1441 AH SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019 28 Pages Max 19º Min 12º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 18004 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Indian police probed over Al Mulla Group partners ‘Laugh at what’s hurting you’: Filipina sprinter takes 200m 6 killings of rape suspects 13 with XCMG Group 24 Lebanon cartoonists stir debate 28 crown from ‘Queen of Speed’ Qatari minister talks of ‘some progress’ in mending Gulf rift FM lauds Kuwait Amir’s efforts, commitment to resolve differences DOHA: Qatar’s foreign minister has spoken of “some place under Kuwaiti mediation and thanked HH the Amir progress” in talks with Saudi Arabia on ending a bitter Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for his “con- two-year-old rift between Doha and the kingdom and its tinuous efforts and commitment”. allies. A Saudi-led bloc including the United Arab The disclosure of talks come shortly after Saudi King Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut all diplomatic and trans- Salman invited Qatar’s amir to a summit of the Gulf port ties with Qatar in June 2017. They broke with Doha regional bloc in Riyadh on Tuesday. Observers are eagerly over allegations it backs radical Islamists and seeks closer awaiting Qatar’s response, which could pave the way for a ties with Saudi arch rival Iran. Qatar vehemently denies “reconciliation conference” despite the many hurdles that the charges. obstruct the path to detente. “Signs that a reconciliation is In the latest sign of a thaw, Qatari Foreign Minister impending are multiplying,” Kristian Ulrichsen, a fellow at Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said Friday there Rice University’s Baker Institute in the United States, said had been “some progress” in talks with Saudi Arabia. “We after Riyadh’s invitation to the Qatari ruler. believe the blockade of Qatar and the sequences of events Some Saudi observers have downplayed the move, after that has been affecting and undermining the security saying the king was following protocol and had invited the in our region,” the minister said in Rome at the Qatari leader to last year’s summit too. The Amir, Sheikh Mediterranean Dialogue Forum. “In recent weeks we have Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, spurned that invitation, send- moved from a stalemate to some progress. There are some ing a representative instead, as he had to other summits talks that have taken place between us and, specifically, since the economic embargo was imposed in June 2017. Saudi,” he said. “We hope these talks will lead to a Signs of a thaw have multiplied despite Doha’s refusal progress where we can see an end to the crisis.” to heed the boycotting countries’ demands that it close The regional schism has seen families divided and Al-Jazeera television, downgrade ties with Iran and close a increased costs for businesses but despite the apparent Turkish military base in Qatar. In a last-minute move last thaw, a face-saving formula still needs to be devised to month, the three countries sent teams to a regional repair relations. The Qatari minister said the talks took Continued on Page 24 BAGHDAD: Iraqi protesters mourn and pray yesterday at the site where 17 people were killed and dozens more wounded overnight in Khilani Square in the capital. — AFP Iraq since October, the largest and deadliest grass- Iraqis protest to defy roots movement in decades. Late Friday, at least 17 people were killed and dozens wounded when unidentified gunmen attacked ‘slaughter’ as drone a large building where protesters had camped out for weeks, medics said. “Government forces were hits Sadr’s home one kilometer away and didn’t interfere,” said a young volunteer medic who had treated wounded BAGHDAD: Iraq’s anti-regime protesters gathered people overnight. The violence pushed the protest in the capital and south yesterday, grieving but defi- toll past 440 dead and nearly 20,000 wounded, ant after 17 were killed in an attack demonstrators according to an AFP tally compiled from medics, described as “slaughter”. The protest movement police and a national rights commission. faced another worrying turn yesterday after an Under stormy skies yesterday, young men in cen- armed drone targeted the home of Iraqi cleric tral Baghdad prayed over an Iraqi flag to mourn Moqtada Sadr, an attack his office said could lead to those who died the previous night. They sobbed “civil war”. The dramatic developments have threat- heavily, their shoulders shaking. ened to derail the anti-government rallies rocking Continued on Page 24 investigate the incident. Saudis distance Trump said King Salman “called to express his sin- cere condolences and give his sympathies to the fami- lies and friends of the warriors who were killed and themselves from wounded in the attack that took place in Pensacola, Florida”. The king added in the phone call on Friday US base shooter that the shooter, who was gunned down by police, “does not represent the Saudi people”. The family of RIYADH: Saudi Arabia sought to distance itself yester- the shooter, identified as Mohammed Al-Shamrani, day from a student who carried out a fatal shooting at echoed the same sentiment. The pro-government Okaz an American naval base, as it seeks to repair its image newspaper quoted one of his uncles, Saad Al-Shamrani, of being an exporter of Islamic extremism. The Saudi as saying that his actions do not reflect the “humanity military trainee reportedly condemned the US as a and loyalty of his family” to the kingdom’s leadership. “nation of evil” before going on a rampage Friday at HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida, killing three Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable of condolences yesterday people and wounding eight. to Trump, expressing sorrow over the shooting. In his The shooting marks a setback in the kingdom’s cable, the Amir expressed condemnation of such crimi- efforts to shrug off its longstanding reputation for pro- nal action, which targeted innocent people, stressing on moting religious extremism after the Sept 11, 2001 Kuwait’s stance toward the United States. HH the Amir attacks in which 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudis. The also expressed hope for a speedy recovery of those hashtag “Saudis stand with America” gained traction on injured. HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad social media after King Salman telephoned President Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Donald Trump to denounce the shooting as “heinous” Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah sent similar cables. and pledge cooperation with American officials to Continued on Page 24 in the absence of diplomatic ties, Zarif said. In a state- Iranian, American ment issued in Washington, US President Donald Trump said that “after more than three years of being held pris- oner in Iran, Xiyue Wang is returning to the United freed in apparent States”. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US was “pleased that Tehran has been constructive in this prisoner swap matter” while also thanking Switzerland for its role. A statement on the Iranian judiciary’s Mizan Online TEHRAN: An Iranian held in the US and an American website said Wang had been “freed on Islamic clemen- held in Iran have been freed, the two sides said yester- cy” and handed over to Swiss officials in order to be day, in an apparent prisoner swap at a time of height- returned to America. Wang, a Chinese-born American, ened tensions. Tehran announced the release of Iranian was serving 10 years on espionage charges in Iran. A scientist Massoud Soleimani from the United States doctoral candidate in history at Princeton University, he shortly before Washington declared American had been researching Iran’s Qajar dynasty when he was researcher Xiyue Wang was returning home. “Glad that imprisoned in August 2016. Professor Massoud Soleimani and Mr Xiyue Wang will Iran’s state news agency IRNA said Soleimani had be joining their families shortly,” Iran’s Foreign Minister been “freed moments ago after one year of illegal Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted. detention and was handed over to Iranian officials in “Many thanks to all engaged, particularly the Swiss Switzerland”. government,” which has looked after US interests in Iran Continued on Page 24 2 Established 1961 Local Sunday, December 8, 2019 Crown Prince returns to Kuwait from private visit KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Speaker Marzouk Al-Ghanem, Deputy Chairman of Kuwait National Guards Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah Al- Al-Sabah returned home on Thursday after taking a private vacation. Upon Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minster Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad arrival at the airport, the Crown Prince was welcomed by National Assembly Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and senior state officials. — KUNA administration, Burgan Bank healthcare, econo- my and living envi- diamond sponsor ronment. Speaking on the occasion, of New Kuwait Masoud Hayat, Burgan Bank summit 2019 Vice-Chairman and Group CEO, said: “Burgan Masoud Hayat KUWAIT: Burgan bank has announced Bank is delighted that it will be the diamond sponsor of the to be supporting New Kuwait Summit 2019. The event, held this nation’s vision, New Kuwait 2035, under the auspices of His Highness the through this sponsorship. In order to Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled realize this vision, it is vital to bring Al-Sabah, will take place on December together all stakeholders so that they 10-11.

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