MUHARRAM 7, 1440 AH MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2018 Max 46º 28 Pages Min 32º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 17633 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Two dead, seven injured Typhoon makes China landfall Digital assistants honing Ronaldo gets off the mark as 39as bus and truck collide after killing 59 in Philippines 15 skills to deliver the news 27 Juve maintain 100% record Lebanese president calls Amir as Beirut rejects derogatory remarks MPs slam Al-Manar TV for criticizing Sheikh Sabah By B Izzak and Agencies Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem and head of the foreign relations committee MP KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Hamad Al-Harashani also strongly lashed out at ‘Giant’ win for Kuwait ice hockey Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received yesterday a phone call the Lebanese Al-Manar television station, the from Lebanese President Michel Aoun, who mouthpiece of Hezbollah, for criticizing HH the expressed rejection of all recent allegations and Amir. During a program aired by the station last remarks by a certain Lebanese media outlet week, a political analyst criticized the Amir’s visit against Kuwait and its Amir. During the phone call, to the United States at the start of the month. Aoun expressed appreciation and respect to the Ghanem said what the analyst said on Al- people and government of Kuwait and to HH the Manar TV was not an opinion to be respected Amir for his stances towards Lebanon in the past. but mere lies and cheap fabrications, adding that The Lebanese president praised the brotherly Lebanese President HH the Amir Sheikh attacking HH the Amir is a “red line” for and historical ties that bring together the two Michel Aoun Sabah Al-Ahmad Kuwaitis. Harashani described those who run the countries, wishing the Amir good health and television station as “gangs” that plot evil continuous progress and development of Kuwait remarks at such a close friend”, “saluting Kuwait against Gulf states. The comments by the analyst under the wise leadership of HH the Amir. Sheikh and its Amir who has been a sincere and loyal were also slammed by a large number of Sabah expressed his sincere appreciation to the friend of Lebanon and holds Lebanon in his Kuwaitis on social media. president for these noble feelings that reflect the heart and conscience and did not abandon Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime strong relations between the two countries and Lebanon in its darkest circumstances, and the Minister Saad Al-Hariri, as well as a wide range wished him a long healthy life and further devel- Kuwaiti people who consider Lebanon as their of political, popular, religious and financial bod- opment to his country. second home.” ies have issued statements condemning the The Lebanese foreign ministry yesterday said On behalf of all the Lebanese people, the min- remarks slandering Kuwait and HH the Amir dur- it strongly rejects any derogatory remarks istry expressed “noninterference in the affairs of ing an interview on Al-Manar TV. Lebanese directed at Kuwait and HH the Amir, calling them countries that stood up and supported Lebanon State General Prosecutor Judge Samir Hammoud unacceptable. A statement by the ministry said during its crisis, putting the interest of their coun- has asked judicial authorities to follow up on the “we should not be directing such harmful try and Lebanon in mind”. Kuwait’s National interview in preparation for legal proceedings. said, pointing out that the watchdog has the Kuwait to build capabilities needed to root out any practices seen as injurious to the local market. competitive The plan will be carried out over three dif- ferent phases in the next few years, focusing KUWAIT: Kuwait’s ice hockey team won the Hong Kong invitational amateur ice hockey on training programs for employees across tournament yesterday by defeating the Giants 6-3 in the final. Fuhaid Al-Ajmi, the head of meet precise objectives, including building an market: Watchdog the government sector, in addition to broad Kuwait’s national ice hockey federation, said in a press release that the Kuwaiti team effective and highly competitive market, the reforms that support a more robust economy. earned this victory due to their extreme efforts. He said the tournament was a beneficial KUWAIT: Kuwait’s competition protection competition watchdog’s head Rashid Al-Ajmi Meanwhile, the competition watchdog has experience for the team, which played against many strong squads, adding that the play- authority has introduced a carefully mapped said in a statement yesterday. “The national also embraced a new slogan in line with the ers scored 21 goals with only six goals against in four games. — KUNA out plan in an effort to increase competitive- economy is the ultimate beneficiary if an substantial changes to Kuwait’s economic ness in the local market. The strategy aims to intensely competitive market is built,” Ajmi policies. — KUNA in July ending two decades of enmity sparked by a two- Ethiopia, Eritrea year border conflict which broke out in 1998. Two land border crossings between Ethiopia and Eritrea were reopened last Tuesday for the first time in 20 years, seek to bolster crowning a rapid reconciliation between the former bit- ter enemies. truce in Jeddah The warming of ties in the Horn of Africa has also seen Ethiopia and Eritrea re-open air links, embassies JEDDAH: Ethiopia and Eritrea signed an agreement and trade routes. Eritrea gained its independence from yesterday at a summit in Saudi Arabia, bolstering a his- Ethiopia in the early 1990s, and war broke out later that toric peace accord between the two former Horn of decade over a border dispute. A 2002 UN-backed Africa enemies, officials said. Authorities did not reveal boundary demarcation was meant to settle the dispute exact details of the new deal signed in Jeddah, but for good, but Ethiopia refused to abide by it. sources close to the Saudi government said it would A turnaround began in June when Abiy announced further help strengthen relations between the two that Ethiopia would hand back to Eritrea the disputed countries. Saudi King Salman hosted the signing cere- areas including the flashpoint town of Badme where the mony which was also attended by his son, Crown first shots of the border war were fired. Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and UN Secretary- along with Gulf ally the United Arab Emirates, helped General Antonio Guterres. broker the historic rapprochement that ended decades “The peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea of enmity. In recent years Eritrea has strengthened ties signed today in Jeddah is a historic event that will con- with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which has reportedly tribute to strengthening security and stability in the built a military base at the strategic southern port of JEDDAH: Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz (center) attends a meeting between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed region,” Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said on Assab used in its operation in Yemen. The two Gulf (center right) and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki (center left), in the presence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Twitter. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and countries also maintain close ties with Ethiopia, part of bin Salman (right) and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres (left) ahead of the signing of the Jeddah peace agree- Eritrea’s President Isaias Afwerki signed a peace pact what analysts call a strategic push into Africa. — AFP ment between Ethiopia and Eritrea yesterday. — AFP Syrians vote in Return of military first local polls service divides since 2011 Moroccan youth DAMASCUS: Syrians in government-controlled areas RABAT: Some view it as gainful employment for youths cast their ballots yesterday in the first local elections with too much free time, others as a tool to blunt there since 2011, when the country’s ill-fated uprising protest movements - Moroccans are divided over the erupted against President Bashar Al-Assad’s rule. looming return of military service. Twelve years after Seven years since the last vote, the conflict has killed conscription was scrapped, the royal palace announced more than 360,000 people, forced millions more to flee, in mid-August that compulsory military service is to be and left the economy in tatters. Now, Syrian troops are JISREEN, Syria: A man and a woman show their ink-stained restored. Millions of Moroccans aged 19 to 25, male back in control of around two-thirds of the country index fingers after voting in Syria’s first local elections since and female, would have to serve for a year. I’m “ready RABAT: Moroccan youth and a soldier walk in a street in the after a string of victories, most recently around 2011 yesterday in Eastern Ghouta. — AFP to join the army if needed,” said 19-year-old Hassan, capital on Sept 12, 2018. — AFP Damascus and in southern Syria. who works in a central Rabat restaurant. It’s “normal to More than 6,550 voting centers opened at 7:00 am including in the Old City. Mohammad Kabbadi, a 42- defend your country.” Fellow 19-year-old Kenza said vance of military service to young people’s needs. (0400 GMT) across government-held parts of the year-old government employee, cast his ballot in the that like many Moroccans she was “very surprised” by Opponents have created a Facebook group urging the country, state media reported. Sunday is a regular Bab Sharqi district of the capital for a candidate from the palace’s announcement. But “for delinquent youth, government to reverse its decision. So far, 4,000 people working day in Syria but voting was extended by five his neighborhood.