JUMADA ALTHANI 4, 1441 AH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020 28 Pages Max 21º Min 07º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 18047 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Kuwait celebrates 14th Defying US, Britain approves Syria regime forces recapture Federer saves seven match 3 year of Amir’s reign 11 restricted 5G role for Huawei 24 most of key rebel-held town 28 points to set up Djokovic semi Trump proposes Palestinian state with capital in eastern Jerusalem White House map shows borders • Oman, UAE, Bahrain envoys attend announcement WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump yester- plan proposed by Trump. “The vision provides for a day proposed creation of a Palestinian state with a cap- demilitarized Palestinian state living peacefully along- Amir attends flag-hoisting event ital in eastern Jerusalem, dependent on Palestinians tak- side Israel, with Israel retaining security responsibility ing steps to become self-governing, in an effort to west of the Jordan River,” it said in a statement. achieve a peace breakthrough in their decades of con- The White House also released its proposal for the flict with Israel. “Today, Israel takes a big step towards future borders of Israeli and Palestinian states. The map peace,” Trump told a White House news conference, shows the West Bank area containing some 15 Israeli standing alongside visiting Israeli Prime Minister settlements, connected to the Gaza Strip area by only a Benjamin Netanyahu as he revealed key points of the tunnel. This would technically fulfill Trump’s promise of a plan already strongly rejected by the Palestinians. contiguous Palestinian state. Senior administration offi- “My vision presents a win-win opportunity for both cials, briefing Reuters on the plan the president sides, a realistic two state solution that resolves the risk announced at the White House, said that under Trump’s of Palestinian statehood to Israel’s security,” Trump proposed Middle East peace plan the United States will said. The White House later said that a future recognize Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian state would remain demilitarized under the Continued on Page 24 KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attends a flag-raising ceremony at Bayan Palace yesterday. The Amir was given a 21-gun salute and warmly welcomed by army, police and National Guard person- nel. Sheikh Sabah then hoisted the flag and the national anthem was played. — KUNA (See Page 2) sentence against a former minister, asked the convicts Ex-health minister, to pay KD 10,000 each to suspend the implementa- tion of the jail term, but asked all of them to return KD 81 million to the state. bedoon activist The minister and officials have been on trial before the special court for the past several months on graft handed jail terms charges. The minister was grilled by MP Rakan Al- Nasef over alleged financial and administrative viola- By B Izzak tions. Nasef yesterday welcomed the court verdict, describing it as “historic”, adding the verdict launches KUWAIT: The ministers court yesterday issued a a new phase in which more ministers and senior offi- seven-year jail sentence against a former health minis- cials will be tried. The lawmaker called on the prime ter and issued the same sentence against a former minister to closely watch ministers in order to prevent ministry undersecretary, a current senior official and any violations against public funds in the future. In an agent of a foreign company after convicting them another court case, the criminal court yesterday for squandering public funds. The court, in its first jail Continued on Page 24 The new premier also takes over as interior minister Qatar Amir appoints from predecessor Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani, although other key posts remain unchanged, including the defense, finance and energy portfolios. The trusted confidant as amir issued an order “to appoint His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani as prime minis- new prime minister ter”, the amir’s office, the Amiri Diwan, said in a statement, adding it was effective immediately. DOHA: Qatar’s ruler appointed a trusted adviser as He was sworn in during a ceremony at the Diwan in prime minister yesterday, the government said, replac- downtown Doha early yesterday and security forces ing a veteran regime insider who had spearheaded blocked traffic to clear roads for VIP convoys moving diplomatic efforts to end a regional embargo on Doha. around the city. King’s College London assistant pro- New Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin fessor and regional expert Andreas Krieg described the Abdulaziz Al-Thani previously headed up the office of new head of government as “one of the most trusted gas-rich Qatar’s ruler, Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad advisors and confidants of the amir”. Al-Thani, according to the government website. Continued on Page 24 “Chinese people are currently engaged in a serious China fighting struggle against an epidemic of a new type of coron- avirus infection,” Xi told WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “The epidemic is a demon, and we cannot ‘demon’ virus as let this demon hide,” the Chinese leader said, pledging that the government would be transparent and release contagion spreads information on the virus in a “timely” manner. His com- ments came after anger simmered on Chinese social WUHAN, China: President Xi Jinping said yesterday media over the handling of the health emergency by China was in a struggle against a “demon” epidemic, as local officials in central Hubei province, where the dis- the death toll from the new SARS-like virus soared to ease first emerged in December. 106 and the first cases of human-to-human contagion Some experts have praised Beijing for being more were detected abroad. Xi made his remarks during reactive and open about this virus compared to its han- talks with head of the World Health Organization in dling of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Beijing as a host of nations prepared to airlift their citi- (SARS) epidemic of 2002-2003. zens from Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. Continued on Page 24 2 Local Wednesday, January 29, 2020 Amir attends Kuwait’s flag-hoisting ceremony His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attend the ceremony. KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- state officials attended the event. His Highness the Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attended a flag-raising Amir was given a 21-bullet salute and was warmly ceremony at Bayan Palace yesterday. His Highness welcomed by Army, Police and National Guard per- the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber sonnel. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad then hoisted the Al-Sabah, National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al- flag and the National Anthem was played. Major His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Ghanem, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Humoud Al-Shemari then recited a poem Sabah waves during the ceremony. Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and senior marking the occasion. —KUNA KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh (From left) Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah, Oil Minister Khaled Al-Fadhel, Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attend a flag-hoisting Justice Minister Fahad Al-Afasi, Audit Bureau chief Faisal Al-Shaya and Interior Minister ceremony at Bayan Palace yesterday. — Amiri Diwan photos Major Fahad Humoud Al-Shemari recites a poem during the ceremony. Anas Al-Saleh. (From left) National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem, Deputy Chief of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah receives the Kuwait National Guard Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Kuwaiti flag. Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Kuwait Police and National Guard officers salute the political leadership. (From left) Services Minister Mubarak Al-Harees, Social Affairs Minister Ghadeer Aseeri, Education Minister Saud Al-Harbi, Public Works Minister Rana Al-Fares and Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah. Senior state officials seen in attendance. Kuwaiti flag flutters aloft to kick off national celebrations KUWAIT: A festive atmosphere pervaded Kuwait’s six governorates yesterday as a nationwide flag-hoisting ceremony was held to usher in national celebrations and mark the 14th anniversary of the ascension of His Highness the Amir. Leading the festivities in their respec- tive administrative divisions as Kuwait celebrates its 59th Independence Day and 29th Liberation Day, the coun- try’s six governors conveyed their heartiest congratula- tions to the Kuwaiti leadership and people over the joy- ous occasion. “The security and stability of Kuwait is plenty to be grateful for,” said Capital Governor Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, wishing the nation continued prosperity and development. Extending his well wishes to the Kuwaiti people, Hawally Governor retired Lieutenant General Sheikh Al-Ahmadi Governor Sheikh Fawaz Al-Sabah delivers a speech during a Ahmad Al-Nawaf Al-Sabah recalled Kuwait’s eventful flag-hoisting ceremony yesterday. history, saying such events are an opportunity for Kuwaitis to demonstrate their “patriotic fervor.” The Governor of Mubarak Al-Kabeer Mahmoud Bushehri congratulated the Kuwaiti leadership and people on the joyous occasion, saying he is immensely proud of his fel- low compatriots’ achievements across various fields. Speaking on the national celebrations, Al-Jahra Governor Nasser Al-Hajraf emphasized that His Highness the Amir’s wisdom and shrewdness have garnered him the adulation of the international community. “Our hearts are filled with joy as we celebrate these joyous events,” said Al-Ahmadi Governor Sheikh Fawaz Al-Sabah, who added that the sacrifices the Kuwaiti people made in the name of their country would forever stand the test of time.