JAMADA ALAWWAL 7, 1442 AH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2020 16 Pages Max 20º Min 09º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 18315 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net New defense minister Pakistan signs $1.7 billion Syrian potter preserves Seahawks clinch playoff berth 2 takes oath before Amir 8 debt relief agreement 12 ancient craftsmanship 16 as Chiefs win ninth straight Kuwait halts flights, closes borders over virus variant Recent returnees from UK, EU must undergo PCR test at Jaber Hospital KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Cabinet anno- week,” the official Saudi Press Agency unced the closure of all ports and the said. “Entry to the kingdom through Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad laid to rest suspended all commercial flights from land and sea ports will also be sus- 11 pm yesterday until Friday, Jan 1, pended for a week, which can be 2021, after a new fast-spreading strain extended by another week,” SPA of coronavirus appeared in Britain. added, citing the interior ministry. Kuwait on Sunday had banned pas- The suspension does not apply to senger flights from Britain over the international aircraft currently in the new strain of the virus. kingdom, which will be allowed to Citizens and residents who arrived leave, SPA said. Cargo into Saudi to Kuwait from the European Union Arabia will only be permitted from and United Kingdom between Dec 11, countries where the new strain has 2020 and Dec 21, 2020 are required not been identified as having broken to undergo a PCR test on the fifth and out. The Gulf sultanate of Oman tenth days since arrival. They are adopted similar measures. It “decided instructed to take the test at Jaber (on Monday) to ban entry and exit Hospital from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, from the country through the various and bring evidence of their return land, air and sea borders starting 1:00 date with them. am local time on Tuesday December Late Sunday, Saudi Arabia halted 22 for a week”, the official Oman international flights and suspended News Agency reported. entry through its land and sea ports The decision was based on what for at least a week. The kingdom is “authorities in a number of countries “temporarily suspending all interna- announced regarding the emergence KUWAIT: Mourners carry the bier of Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah during his funeral at Sulaibikhat tional flights - except in exceptional of a new COVID-19 strain”, it said, Cemetery yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat (See Page 3) cases - for a period of one week, adding the suspension will not apply which can be extended by another Continued on Page 2 2 Established 1961 Tuesday, December 22, 2020 Local Kuwait’s Defense Minister takes oath before Amir KUWAIT: (From left) Secretary of the Council of Ministers Abdullatif Al-Roudhan, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Hamad Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- Minister Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and Deputy Prime Minister and Sabah takes oath before His Highness Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh. — Amiri Diwan photos the Amir. KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Diwan Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime of His Highness the Amir’s Office Ahmad Fahad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Al-Fahad, Secretary of the Council of Ministers Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah, who took Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah Affairs Anas Al-Saleh, Head of the Amiri Diwan Abdullatif Al-Roudhan and Head of the Amiri oath as Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and attended the ceremony. Sheikh Mubarak Faisal Saud Al-Sabah, Protocol and Chamberlain Sheikh Khaled Al- Defense Minister. His Highness the Crown Also in attendance were Minister of Amiri Undersecretary of the Amiri Diwan and Director Abdullah Al-Sabah. — KUNA vote system of helping the election of pro-govern- so far no one has taken any action. MP Saqabi also MPs file proposal to ment MPs which allowed the government to submitted a draft law calling to amend a clause in increase its grip over the national assembly. They the assembly internal charter to prevent cabinet also charge the system of promoting corruption in ministers from taking part in voting in the assembly return to four-vote the country. on issues related to parliamentary questions, Five other lawmakers yesterday submitted a draft grillings, no-confidence and non-cooperation election system law calling to ban the appointment of any expatriate motions in addition to requests for debates. in public sector jobs if there was a jobless Kuwaiti Cabinet ministers, who are unelected members By B Izzak with the same educational degree and qualification. of the assembly, are allowed to vote like elected If approved, the law is likely to speed up the legislatures on almost everything except no-confi- KUWAIT: Five opposition lawmakers yesterday process of replacing some 100,000 expatriates dence and non-cooperation motions, giving the submitted a draft law calling to amend the current working in the government with Kuwaitis. The law- government a strong hand in deciding issues in the single-vote election system to return to the previ- makers said that the bill will help resolve unemploy- assembly. ous system that allows voters to elect up to four ment among citizens. Opposition MPs meanwhile launched a scathing candidates. In 2012, the government changed the Two lawmakers meanwhile submitted a draft law attack on speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem for decid- The National Assembly. prevailing electoral system through an Amiri decree calling on the government to purchase the bank ing to prevent the public from attending assembly and introduced the existing system that allows loans on Kuwaiti citizens and then forgive the sessions and for declaring today’s session a special at the orders of the speaker. Ghanem said that the Kuwaiti voters to elect only one candidate. That entire interest on it. MPs Hisham Al-Saleh and one to prevent opposition MPs from discussing ban on public is a decision that was introduced amendment led to the opposition groups boycotting Khaled Al-Enezi said in their proposal that debtors any issue other than the election of members of several months ago based on health ministry the polls. Some of them are still boycotting. will then be asked to repay the principal of the committees. request as a precautionary measure against the The five MPs; Osama Al-Shaheen, Shuaib Al- loans from the KD 120 monthly cost of living Opposition MP Bader Al-Dahoum, who on coronavirus pandemic. Opposition MPs were hop- Muwaizri, Abdulaziz Al-Saqabi, Musaed Al-Mutairi allowance paid by the government to all Kuwaiti Sunday urged the public to attend the session, yes- ing to debate a number of motions related to the and Hamad Matar called in their draft law to change citizens. A large number of MPs have vowed during terday called on the people to stay away from events that took place at the inaugural session last article 2 of the election law to return to the old vot- their election campaign to press the government to today’s session after he was informed by the week. Ghanem said that such issues can be debated ing system. Opposition groups accuse the single- forgive all consumer loans for Kuwaiti citizens but assembly chief guard that no people will be allowed in coming sessions. Cabinet extends hands for a new approach with National Assembly KUWAIT: The Cabinet held its weekly opening of the first ordinary session of meeting yesterday at Seif Palace headed the 16th legislative term delivered by His by His Highness the Prime Minister Highness the Prime Minister, in which he Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al- emphasized the government’s belief that Sabah. After the meeting, Deputy Prime cooperation with constitutional institu- Minister and Minister of State for tions is the cornerstone in achieving Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh said the sound democratic practice and its stabil- following: At the beginning of the meet- ity, as well as the aspiration of the gov- ing, His Highness the Prime Minister wel- ernment, with extended hands and a sin- comed Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al- cere desire for a new approach. KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah (center) chairs the Cabinetís Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Meanwhile, the Council of Ministers, meeting yesterday. — KUNA Minister of Defense, at the beginning of mourned late Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al- the meeting, in his name and on behalf of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the former that confirm the decrease in the number previous decisions. The Council of center in South Sabahiya, with a value of his sister and brothers, expressing his first deputy prime minister and minister of infections and those who receive Ministers called on all citizens and resi- KD 2.5 million. The Council of Ministers thanks and appreciation for accepting of defense, who passed away Sunday. treatment, and those in the intensive care dents to continue to take caution and expressed its thanks and appreciation the responsibility of participating in this The council mourned with grief and sor- units. The Cabinet also was informed on not be complacent in adhering to health for this initiative, which constitutes a government, wishing him success in car- row for the deceased, and in apprecia- the latest preparations related to efforts requirements and instructions, and vivid embodiment of the Kuwaiti socie- rying out his mission and serving his tion for his sincere efforts, vowed to to combat the coronavirus and ways to keep away from gatherings to ensure ty’s cooperation, solidarity, patriotism country with the help of his sister and assume responsibility for his work effi- prevent it, coinciding with the approach- that the spread of the virus is limited in and true responsibility.