RABIA ALTHANI 18, 1442 AH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2020 16 Pages Max 25º Min 18º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 18299 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net COVID-19 wrecked 2020. Trust a rare asset Egypt’s Berber speakers cling Liverpool advance, Real Madrid 5 Will 2021 be different? 8 for banks in Iraq 13 to language in isolated oasis 16 defeat heaps pressure on Zidane Coronavirus vaccine will be free for citizens and expats Government showcases achievements amid challenges By B Izzak KUWAIT: HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al- Khaled Al-Sabah yesterday said Kuwait was among the first countries to order the coronavirus vaccine and “it will be available to citizens and expatriates free of charge and on a voluntary basis”. The pre- mier was speaking during a forum called “Achievements Despite Challenges”, where ministers showcased their achievements, stressing they have made significant achievements during a short period. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said the government plan during the short duration focused on “strengthening integrity”, “digital transformation” and “developing government performance”. He said the government has referred 57 cases of corruption involving public funds to the public prosecution, in addition to 1,042 misdemeanor cases and encroach- ment on public properties, adding that digital trans- formation will block the way of corruption. He said during the beginning of the pandemic, the government conducted the state’s largest repa- triation operation, in which 12,000 employees and volunteers took part. People were brought back aboard 185 flights from 58 destinations. The flights covered one million kilometers in 1,750 hours. Interior Minister Anas Al-Saleh said 70 percent KUWAIT: HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah is seen with his Cabinet during a forum called “Achievements Despite Challenges” to showcase the of the ministry’s services are offered online, adding government’s achievements yesterday. — KUNA that 960,000 people are using the Kuwait Mobile Continued on Page 2 monitor the Dec 5 general elections and enter delayed until today its ruling on the disqualification of News in brief Civil society polling stations. Authorities have invited around 200 a number of candidates, including leading opposition Kuwaiti observers from civil societies, in addition to member and former MP Bader Al-Dahoum. Dahoum Britain OKs COVID vaccine rejects foreign 11 observers from several Arab countries to monitor and 33 other candidates were disqualified by an interi- the elections. or ministry commission supervising the elections. LONDON: Britain yesterday became the first Head of the National Integrity Society Mohammad The candidates were barred from running in the Western country to approve a COVID-19 vac- poll observers Al-Otaibi said Kuwait’s well-established constitutional polls mostly over financial issues, but also over politi- cine for general use, while Italy and Japan system is more qualified than testimony by foreign cal issues. A number of opposition candidates were promised free inoculations for all even as the By B Izzak observers. He said the Cabinet has not given observers gathering at the house of Dahoum as a token of sup- global death toll ticked towards 1.5 million. A authorization to enter polling stations, adding that a port for him. More than 20 candidates, including for- mere 12 months after the pandemic began in KUWAIT: Kuwait’s National Integrity Society said team from his society is ready to take part in the polls. mer MPs, have signed a statement condemning China, the UK’s independent medicines regula- yesterday it rejects allowing foreign observers to Meanwhile, the court of cassation yesterday Continued on Page 2 tor gave its green light to the BioNTech-Pfizer drug in double-quick time but insisted safety had come first. — AFP crisis, which has pitted a Saudi-led Kushner eyes alliance against Qatar, suggesting it could result in limited confidence-building WHO recommends masks indoors measures. Gulf crisis on Cinzia Bianco, a research fellow at the GENEVA: The World Health Organization yes- European Council for International terday recommended wearing facemasks when trip to region Relations, said Saudi Arabia was “consid- indoors with other people, if the ventilation has ering a transitional trial phase to see if been deemed inadequate, in an update to its DOHA: US President Donald Trump’s they can start resolving the dispute”. COVID-19 guidance on masks. The UN health son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Riyadh, along with Bahrain, the United agency also urged people not to wear masks Kushner was expected to tackle the Gulf Arab Emirates and Egypt, cut all ties with during vigorous physical activity, and not to crisis and push for progress toward end- Qatar in June 2017 over allegations Doha use masks with valves. — AFP ing the spat during a visit to Qatar yester- was too close to Iran and backed radical day. The official Qatar News Agency Islamists. Qatar denies the charges. reported that Kushner met with the coun- The boycotting countries have closed 2020 second hottest year ever try’s ruler Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad their airspace, land borders and sea chan- Al-Thani, saying they discussed “develop- nels to Qataris and vehicles registered DOHA: Senior Advisor to US President Jared Kushner meets with Qatari Amir GENEVA: This year is on course to be one of ments in the region”. there. That has forced Qatar Airways air- Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani yesterday. — AFP the three warmest ever recorded and could even Few details have been made public craft to fly over Iran, Riyadh’s archrival top the record set in 2016, the United Nations about Kushner’s trip, which could be his and long-time adversary of Washington, haps the opening of Saudi airspace for going Trump administration. In return, said yesterday. The past six years, 2015 to 2020, last chance to press diplomatic issues in paying significant overflight fees to Tehran Qatar Airways”. Qatar could agree that its media, including are set to make up all six of the hottest years the region that has been a focal point for in the process. Royal United Services US national security advisor Robert Al Jazeera, would tone down its coverage since modern records began in 1850, the UN’s the outgoing Trump administration. Institute analyst Tobias Borck said he O’Brien said in November that allowing of Saudi Arabia, according to another World Meteorological Organization said in its Analysts expect Kushner will focus on expected “some kind of confidence-build- Qatari planes to fly over Saudi Arabia via analyst, who declined to be named due to provisional 2020 State of the Global Climate efforts to resolve the three-year-long Gulf ing measure to emerge from this - per- an “air bridge” was a priority for the out- the issue’s sensitivity. — AFP report. — AFP squashed at every turn - is openly Nearly a month after the Nov 3 “To date, we have not seen fraud on Judge blocks rules on tech visas Trump mulls musing about a second run at the US election the 74-year-old Trump still a scale that could have effected a dif- presidency in 2024. “It’s been an refuses to acknowledge that he lost ferent outcome in the election,” Bill SAN FRANCISCO: A US federal judge on amazing four years. We are trying to and has not conceded to his Barr told the Associated Press on Tuesday blocked rule changes ordered by US 2024 White do another four years. Otherwise, I’ll Democratic rival, who is busy building Tuesday. Barr’s statement was all the President Donald Trump making it harder for see you in four years,” he told guests his incoming administration. Shuttered more powerful because he is a staunch people to get skilled-worker visas. The US House run at a White House Christmas party on in the White House, Trump has limited Trump ally. Given the curious political Chamber of Commerce, the Bay Area Council Tuesday. The event, attended by sever- his public appearances to the bare climate, in which the president-elect is and others had sued the Department of al Republican Party power brokers, minimum but has not shied away from busy introducing his cabinet nominees Homeland Security arguing that the changes WASHINGTON: Donald Trump - who finds himself more and more iso- was closed to the media, but a video of spewing furious tweets about alleged while the current president spreads rushed new restrictions through without a the outgoing president’s speech quick- election fraud - which his own attorney conspiracy theories, speculation in the proper public review process. — AFP lated, with his quixotic quest to over- turn Joe Biden’s election victory ly went public. general says is not evident. nation’s capital is running wild. — AFP 2 Established 1961 Thursday, December 3, 2020 Local Amir, Crown Prince meet Kuwait anti-corruption authority chief KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets head of Kuwait’s His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets head of Kuwait’s Public Anti-Corruption Authority Abdulaziz Al-Ibrahim. — Amiri Diwan and KUNA photos Public Anti-Corruption Authority Abdulaziz Al-Ibrahim. KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah, and Deputy Premier and Defense Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al- Ibrahim yesterday at Bayan Palace. His Highness the Crown Prince also Sabah received at Bayan Palace yesterday His Highness the Crown Mansour Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. His Highness the Amir also received head received Chairman of the Board of Directors, Director-General of Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. His Highness the of Kuwait’s Public Anti-Corruption Authority Abdulaziz Al-Ibrahim.