Hashem missing from top 15

Al-Ghanim back for likely Speakership

MINISTER OF JUSTICE LAUDS FLAWLESS ELECTIONS

Large poll turnout despite COVID

By Saeed Mahmoud SalehArab Times Staff and Agencies

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 5: Kuwaitis elected on Saturday their representatives to the 50-member National Assembly.

HH the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent cables of thanks to HH the Commander of the Kuwait National Guard Sheikh Sa-lem Al-Ali Al-Sabah, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Sa-bah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Min-ister, Interior Minister and Minister of Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh, Foreign Minister and Acting Information Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Al-Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, Minister of Health Sheikh Dr Bassel Humoud Al-Sabah, Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Fahd Al-Afasi, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Saud Al-Harbi, Minister of State for Municipality Affairs Walid Al-Jasim, Direc-tor General of Kuwait Fire Force Lieut. Gen Khaled Al-Makrad, Director General of Kuwait Municipality Ah-mad Al-Manfohi and Chairman of Kuwait Red Crescent

Society Dr Hilal Al-Sayer for their role in the successful organization of the legislative election.

About 567,694 male and female voters made their way to 107 schools to choose 50 members from among 326 candi-dates, including 33 women, to represent the country in the Parliament for the sixteenth legislative term – 10 members from each constituency.

This election saw a large turnout amid fears of weak par-ticipation, low voting turnout due to the COVID-19 pan-demic and unpredictable rainy weather, which experts had termed as critical, decisive and different from earlier elec-tions for a number of reasons and considerations, the most important of which is that it is the fi rst during the reign of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad, and the second is that it is taking place in light of a global pandemic and there were fears voters may keep away and the third is that a number of those who boycotted the elections earlier in protest against the amendment of the electoral system (one-man one-vote), are participating this time around.

At the time of going to the press the following were the top fi fteen contestants in each Constituency with former speaker Ali Marzouq Al-Ghanim the overall top vote-getter.

First Constituency:Hassan Jowhar; Hamad Rohaldin; Ali Abdulrasoul Al-

Qattan; Ahmed Al-Shuhoumi; Essa Al-Kandari; Yousef Al-

Gharib; Adnan Abdulsamad; Abdullah Al-Turaiji; Abdullah Al-Mudef; Osama Al-Shaheen; Adel Al-Damkhi; Osama Al-Zaid; Saleh Ashour; Kamel Al-Awadhi; Yousef Al-Zalzalah.

Second Constituency:Marzouk Al-Ghanim; Mohammed Barrak Al-Mutair; Khalil

Ibrahim Al-Saleh; Bader Hamad Al-Mullah; Hamed Moham-med Al-Matar; Bader Nasser Al-Humaidhi; Ahmed Mohammed Al-Hamed; Khalid Al-Anzi; Hamad Al-Bathali; Salman Al-Az-mi; Hamad Seif Al-Harshani; Fahd Abdulaziz Al-Masaud; Omar Al-Tabtabaei; Riaz Ahmed Al-Adsani; Alia Faisal Al-Khalid.

Third Constituency: Abdulkarim Al-Kandari; Faraj Al-Otaibi; Osama Al-

Monawar; Mohammed Nasser Al-Jabri; Abdulaziz Al-Saka-bi; Mahalhal Al-Medef; Mohannad Al-Sayer; Mubarak Zaid Al-Mutairi; Yousef Al-Fadalah; Saadoun Hammad; Amar Al-Ajmi; Hamad Adel Al-Obaid; Yaqoub Al-Sanea; Jarrah Al-Fouzan; Hisham Al-Saleh.

Fourth Constituency: Shuwaib Al-Muwaizri; Farez Ghannam Al-Jumhour; Saud bu

Slaib; Musaad Al-Mutairi; Mohammed Obaid Al-Rajhi; Saad Al-Rashidi; Farz Al-Daihani; Mohammed Haif Al-Mutairi; Naif Al-Mutairi; Marzouk Al-Khalifa; Tamer Al-Suwait; Ali Al-Deqbasi; Hussein Al-Daihani; Asker Al-Anzi; Farraj Al-Arbid.

THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAITEstablished in 1977 / www.arabtimesonline.com

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2020 / RABEE’A AL-THANI 21, 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17554 16 PAGES 150 FILS

skiingsoccerPage 15 Page 16

All keen on retaining pan-Gulf, pan-Arab solidarity

Amir welcomes historic agreement to heal Gulf riftKUWAIT CITY, Dec 5, (KUNA): His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has welcomed and expressed great pleasure for the historic achievement made through continued, constructive mediation efforts to reach a final agreement to resolve the Gulf crisis.

“This agreement has shown that all concerned parties are keen on retaining the pan-Gulf and the pan-Arab solidarity, unity and stability,” His Highness the Amir said. “It has also demonstrated their eagerness to meet their peoples’ aspirations to security, stability, progress and welfare,” he said.

On this occasion, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf recalled the late Amir His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahamd Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s great mediation efforts since the first day of the crisis to resolve it.

These efforts have set the basis for this agreement, he pointed out, adding that the late Amir efforts will always be alive in “our minds and history pages”.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf congratulated the leaders of the region on their historic and blessed step to achieve the aspiration of their peoples.

He also thanked and voiced appreciation to friends from all over the world who supported the Kuwaiti mediation, particularly US President Donald Trump.

His support has reflected the US commitment to the security and stability of the Gulf region, he said.

– Details Page 2 –

Photo by Rizk Tawfi kEditor-in-Chief of the Arab Times newspaper and Al-Seyassah daily Ahmed Al-Jarallah casts his vote in the Third Constituency during the 2020 National Assembly

elections on Saturday.

People wait to cast their votes for the parliamentary elections, in Hawally on Dec 5. Polling stations for the 2020 National Assembly elections in the five constituencies closed their doors at eight in the evening (local time) on Saturday, to choose the members of the National Assembly in its 16th legislative term. The voting process began at eight in the morning in the five constituencies in all governorates, as 326 candidates compete for seats in Parliament, while 567,694 voters are entitled to vote in the elections to

choose 50 members to represent them in Parliament according to the one-vote system. (AP)

KUNA photoHis Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah visiting the polling station in Jabriya. These elections are ‘different than the previous 60 years because of the health crisis and the measures that needed to be adopted,’ His Highness the Prime Minister told reporters while visiting Khabab Ibn Al-Arat School in Jabriya,

which was made a polling station.

Photo by Rizk Tawfi kSheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah casts his vote in the Second Constituency during the

2020 National Assembly elections on Saturday.

Photo by Rizk Tawfi kFormer National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim casts his vote in the Second Constituency during the

2020 National Assembly elections on Saturday.

SINCE 1900 until we entered the third mil-lennium, we have witnessed many epidem-ics. The latest one is the COVID-19 which the WHO has declared a pandemic. This pandemic sent the scientists scurrying to find a vaccine to contain this calamity.

But there was another epidemic that afflicted us before this pandemic – that of corruption, bribery, money launder-ing, and theft of state money. We have yet to find a vaccine to cure these mala-dies. Such maladies have already been cured by countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and many others.

Since we still have no vaccine for corrup-tion, let us call this age the era of corruption which has no treatment, even though we are called a state of law – the law with loopholes to protect the corrupt. The vaccine for this cure will take a long time.

... Yet tomorrow is another day.

Zahed Matar

Day by Day

Continued on Page 4

LOCALARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2020

2

Arab bloc lauds Kuwaiti efforts to end Gulf rift

GCC greets Kuwait FM remarks on likely Gulf Arab reconciliationKUWAIT CITY, Dec 5, (KUNA): Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-Gen-eral Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf has welcomed an address made by Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah about the keen-ness on solidarity reached in recent reconciliation talks between Gulf Arab states.

“This refl ects the Gulf Cooperation Council’s strength and cohesion, and its ability to overcome obstacles and challenges with the grace of God and the wisdom and sophistication of its leaders,” he said in a statement on Friday.

“The people of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as they are proud of this state-ment, seek to strengthen the Gulf house and look forward to what the future may bring of hope, aspirations and opportunities amid an interconnected and united Gulf entity that works to serve its countries and peoples and pushes forward the wheels of development, progress, security and prosperity.”

The GCC chief recalled, with “appreciation and gratitude, the sincere ef-forts led by the late Amir of Kuwait His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, since the beginning of the affair, and the continued efforts of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, which we are witnessing through the statement issued today.”

He also praised US President Donald Trump support for the mediation ef-forts and his belief in the unity of the Gulf Arab bloc, its strength and its pivotal role in promoting regional and global peace, security and development.

He went on to extend his gratitude, appreciation and congratulations to GCC leaders on a day, he described as “blessed” and to its nations, who he said are “wit-nessing the beginning of a new phase of our blessed march, led by the leaders of the GCC, with the help and success of God, to achieve development, security and prosperity.”

Speaking to the people and the media, he urged to “look positively to the future and avoid things that may provoke dispute,” and to instead, “focus on things that aim to strengthen and support solidarity.”

He prayed for the protection of GCC leaders so they may perform their duties in strengthening Gulf and Arab

solidarity and supporting security and stability.Earlier today, Kuwait’s foreign minister said in a TV address that “fruitful

discussions” took place recently, in which Gulf and Arab parties “affi rmed their keenness on solidarity and stability and to reach a fi nal agreement that would achieve the aspirations of lasting solidarity.”

Meanwhile, the Arab League welcomes Kuwait-led progress towards resolv-ing a lingering dispute involving Gulf states, the bloc’s chief said on Friday, shortly after Kuwait’s foreign minister indicated in a TV address that an end to the rift appears near.

“Any genuine Arab initiative that aims to quell regional feuds is tantamount to a show of unity,” Arab League Secretary General Ahmad Aboul-Gheith said in a statement, adding that the bloc’s efforts to get Arab states on the same page are “undermined” if quarrels persist.

He went on to say that “rebuilding trust” and getting to the “root cause” of friction are surefi re ways towards Arab unity.

Earlier on Friday, Kuwait’s foreign minister said in a TV address that “fruit-ful discussions” had recently taken place, whereby Gulf and Arab parties “af-fi rmed their keenness on solidarity and stability to reach a fi nal agreement that would achieve the aspirations of lasting solidarity.”

Dr Al-Hajraf

RECONCILIATION

UN chief lauds mediation bid

EU welcomes, praises Kuwaitefforts at resolving GCC crisisBRUSSELS, Dec 5, (KUNA): The Eu-ropean Union Saturday welcomed and praised Kuwait’s efforts at resolving the crisis within the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC.)

“The European Union welcomes the announcement by Kuwait’s Foreign Minister (Sheikh Dr.) Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Friday that efforts aimed at resolving the crisis within the Gulf C o o p e r a t i o n Council (GCC) have been fruit-ful,” said EU lead spokesper-son for foreign affairs and secu-rity policy, Peter Stano, in a state-ment.

“The EU commends the role played by Kuwait, as well as by the US, in facili-tating this statement. The EU continues to support Kuwait’s ongoing mediation efforts,” said the spokesperson for the 27-member European bloc.

“The settlement of the internal rift will allow the GCC to restore its unity and resume its important work. The EU remains ready to further strengthen its long-standing partnership with a re-invigorated GCC,” he added. (end)

Meanwhile, the United Nations Sec-retary General Antonio Guterres has lauded Kuwait’s mediation efforts to narrow differences among Gulf coun-tries.

“The Secretary-General welcomes the efforts and contributions of Ku-wait in building bridges of understand-ing in the Gulf region and beyond,” Spokesman for the Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric said in a press state-ment Friday.

He added that the UN chief is encour-aged by the statement by the Foreign Minister of Kuwait and other reports that the Gulf rift is close to a resolution.

Gutteres also expressed hope that all countries involved in the dispute will work together to formally resolve their differences.

He stressed the importance of Gulf unity for regional peace, security and development.

Earlier on Friday, Kuwait’s Foreign Minister and Acting Information Min-ister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mo-hammad Al-Sabah said in a televised speech that “fruitful” talks were held recently, in regards to achieving recon-ciliation and supporting Gulf and Arab solidarity and stability.

“Within the framework of recon-ciliation efforts, previously led by His Highness (the late Amir) Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and in continuation of the efforts currently be-ing carried out by His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of Kuwait, and President Donald Trump of the friendly United States of America to resolve the crisis, fruitful discussions took place recent-ly, in which all parties affi rmed their keenness on Gulf and Arab solidarity and stability and to reach a fi nal agree-ment that would achieve the aspira-tions of lasting solidarity between their countries and achieve what is good for their people,” he said.

Saudi FMSaudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal

bin Farhan said on Friday the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is greatly appreciative to Kuwait for its efforts to iron out dif-ferences related to the Gulf crisis.

“We look with great appreciation to the Kuwaiti efforts to reach conver-gence of opinions on the Gulf crisis,” tweeted Prince Faisal bin Farhan on his offi cial Twitter account.

In his tweet, he also thanked the US administrations for its endeavors in this regard.

The Saudi offi cial hoped that these sincere efforts will prove successful for the good of the whole region and its interests.

Earlier in the day, Kuwait’s Foreign Minister and Acting Information Min-ister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah revealed “fruit-ful” talks recently made within the framework of making reconciliation, and supporting and achieving the Gulf and Arab solidarity and stability.

“Within the framework of reconcilia-tion efforts that had been previously led by His Highness the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God bestow mercy on him, and in continuation of the efforts being made

by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Naw-waf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God protect him and preserve him, and President Donald Trump of the of the friendly United States of America to re-solve the crisis, fruitful discussions took place during the last period in which all parties affi rmed their keenness on the Gulf and Arab solidarity and stabil-ity, and reaching a fi nal agreement that would achieve a permanent solidar-ity between their countries and achieve what is good for their people,” Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nasser said in a statement delivered to the Kuwaiti TV.

OIC Secretary General of the Organi-

zation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Yousef Al-Othaimeen on Friday wel-comed the statement made by Kuwait’s foreign minister on the recent “fruitful talks” to heal the Gulf rift.

In a statement, Al-Othaimeen lauded the reconciliation efforts previously made by the His Highness late Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and are currently carried out by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as well as efforts by the Gulf countries’ friends topped with US President Donald Trump to solve the crisis.

He affi rmed OIC’s keenness on soli-darity and stability of the Arabian Gulf, which represents a source of security and stability of the OIC member states.

Earlier in the day, Kuwait’s Foreign Minister and Acting Information Min-ister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah revealed “fruit-ful” talks recently made within the framework of making reconciliation, and supporting and achieving the Gulf and Arab solidarity and stability.

“Within the framework of reconcili-ation efforts that had been previously led by His Highness the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God bestow mercy on him, and in continuation of the ef-forts being made by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawwaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God protect him and preserve him, and President Donald Trump of the of the friendly United States of America to resolve the crisis, fruitful discussions took place during the last period in which all parties affi rmed their keenness on the Gulf and Arab solidarity and stabil-ity, and reaching a fi nal agreement that would achieve a permanent solidarity between their countries and achieve what is good for their people,” Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nasser said in a statement delivered to the Kuwaiti TV.

Lebanon Lebanese foreign ministry hailed

Kuwait’s efforts and role in resolv-ing issues between the Gulf states and achieving reconciliation.

In a statement on Saturday, the min-istry said it is pleased with the recent development in the Gulf reconciliation talks and expressed appreciation for the efforts of Kuwaiti Minister of For-eign Affairs Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah on the matter.

Yesterday, Sheikh Ahmad said that the Gulf states held some fruitful talks that will push forward reconciliation and enhance peace and stability both in the Gulf region and the Arab World.

He noted that these meetings are part of the reconciliation efforts of His Highness the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and US President Donald Trump.

Qatari FM Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and

Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani affi rmed on Friday that the Kuwaiti statement is “an important step for solving the Gulf crisis”.

“We thank the sisterly Kuwait for its mediation since the start of the cri-sis and also appreciate the US efforts made in this regard,” the Qatari min-ister tweeted.

He went to say that “we emphasize that our priorities were and will remain the interests and security of people of the Arabian Gulf and the whole region”.

Earlier in the day, Kuwait’s Foreign Minister and Acting Information Min-ister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah revealed “fruit-ful” talks recently made within the framework of making reconciliation, and supporting and achieving the Gulf and Arab solidarity and stability.

KUNA/AP photosKuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Information Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah talking to the media. Inset:

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud expresses optimism that boycott is nearing an end.

S. Arabia says end to years longboycott of Qatar looks ‘in reach’

Qatar FM sees ‘some movements’ toward ending crisis

DUBAI, United Arab Emir-ates, Dec 5, (AP): Saudi Arabia’s top diplomat said Friday that an end to the years long boycott of Qatar by the kingdom and three other Arab nations “looks in reach” for all involved, though he offered no details on how this feud would be resolved.

The remarks by Saudi Prince Faisal bin Farhan followed com-ments earlier in the day from Kuwait, which has been mediat-ing in the dispute and which said that ongoing talks over the crisis have been “fruitful.”

Resolving the dispute could re-store calm among nations at the heart of American defense strat-egy in the Middle East, especially as tensions remain high with Iran and as President-elect Joe Biden is poised to enter the White House next month.

However, the other three nations boycotting Qatar - Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates - did not immediately acknowledge this burst of optimism. Over a year ago, a similar hope for an end to the dis-pute quickly faded.

The boycott has torn apart the typically clubby Gulf Cooperation Council, a six-nation group com-prised of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Qatar, an energy-rich nation that will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, has seen its state-run Qatar Airways blocked from the boycott-ing nations’ airspace and its only land border to Saudi Arabia shut over the crisis.

ProgressSpeaking to Italy’s annual Medi-

terranean Dialogues, Prince Faisal, who is also the kingdom’s foreign minister, said: “We’ve made signif-icant progress in the last few days.” He thanked Kuwait and President Donald Trump by name.

“We hope that this progress can lead to a fi nal agreement which looks in reach,” the prince said. “And I can say I am somewhat op-timistic that we are close to fi nal-izing an agreement between all the nations in the dispute to come to a resolution that we think will be sat-isfactory to all.”

He did not elaborate on any of the negotiations. However, his comments came just after Sheikh

Antonio Guterres

Qatar says normalization of Israel ties on holdROME, Dec 5, (AP): Qatar’s foreign minister said Friday that his country remains commit-ted to the creation of a Palestinian state with its capital in east Jerusalem, and that pro-gress on that front would need to be “at the core” of any agreement to normalize relations with Israel.

“Right now, I don’t see that the normalization of Qatar and Israel is going to to add value to the Palestinian people,” Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said at Italy’s annual Mediterranean Dialogue.

There was speculation that Qatar - which al-ready cooperates with Israel in providing aid to the Gaza Strip - might be the next Arab coun-try to normalize relations after the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan established diplo-matic ties with Israel earlier this year.

But the foreign minister said Qatar remains committed to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, in which Arab countries would recognize Israel in exchange for its withdrawal from territories oc-cupied in the 1967 war and the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem.

The foreign minister noted that his country has a “working relationship” with Israel to pro-vide aid to Gaza, where the Islamic militant group Hamas seized power from rival Palestin-ian forces in 2007.

“But for the full normalization, I believe that the (Palestinian issue) needs to be at the core of any agreement of normalization between Qatar and Israel,” he said.

The wealthy Gulf country’s aid to Gaza has provided a lifeline to the territory, which has been under a crippling Israeli and Egyptian blockade since Hamas seized power. It has also been a key element in a shaky, informal truce that has prevented any major outbreaks of fi ghting in recent years. Israel and Hamas have fought three wars - the most recent in 2014 - as well as countless smaller skirmishes.

The normalization agreements with Israel, brokered by the United States, were widely seen as a breakthrough in Mideast diplomacy. But the Palestinians condemned the agreements as a betrayal because they marked a major erosion in Arab support for their cause, a key source of leverage in any future peace talks.

Ahmed Nasser Al Mohammad Al Sabah, Kuwait’s foreign minister, gave a brief statement as Kuwaiti state television began its 4 p.m. newscast.

SolidaritySheikh Ahmed similarly thanked

Trump and said Kuwait’s new rul-ing amir, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, also had been involved.

“Fruitful discussions have taken place in the past period, where all parties affi rmed their keenness on Gulf and Arab solidarity and stability and on reaching a fi nal agreement that achieves the aspired permanent solidarity between their countries,” Sheikh Ahmed said, without elaborating.

Sheikh Ahmed also thanked Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and one of his senior advisers. Kushner and other American of-fi cials have traveled in the waning days of the Trump administration to Saudi Arabia and Qatar over the crisis. What Kushner and his col-leagues said in the negotiations re-mains unknown.

Qatar’s foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, immediately wrote on Twit-ter that the Kuwaiti statement was an “imperative step towards resolv-ing the GCC crisis.”

“We express our gratitude to the State of Kuwait for their mediation & the United States for their ef-

forts,” Sheikh Mohammad wrote. “The interest and security of the people of the Gulf & the region re-main our top priority.”

Oman, which also tried to medi-ate the dispute, welcomed the an-nouncement in a statement carried by state television.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, speaking remotely to the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ annual Manama Dialogue, said he hoped any agreement be-tween Qatar and the boycotting countries would be made on a “foundation that is lasting.”

“We are very hopeful that the dispute between the Saudis and the Qataris can be resolved,” Pompeo said. “We’re going to keep working to do what we can facilitate conver-sations and dialogues.”

“The view from the United States is that this confl ict, (it) is time to be resolved,” Pompeo added.

Sheikh Mohammad, speaking ear-lier to the Mediterranean Dialogues, similarly said that “this needless cri-sis needs to come to an end.”

Crisis“There are some movements that

we hope that this will put an end to this crisis,” he said. “We believe ac-tually that Gulf unity is very impor-tant for the security of the region.”

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the develop-ment and was “encouraged by the

statement” on prospects for a reso-lution to the Gulf Arab rift, said U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujar-ric. Guterres also lauded Kuwait’s efforts in “building bridges of un-derstanding in the Gulf region and beyond,” the spokesman said.

Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE cut ties to Qatar on June 5, 2017, just after a summit in Saudi Arabia in which Gulf leaders met with Trump. They say the crisis stems from Qatar’s support for ex-tremist groups in the region, charges denied by Doha. Qatar has backed Islamists in the Mideast, something strongly opposed by the four Arab states, particularly the UAE.

DisputeThe four nations also have point-

ed to Qatar’s close relationship with Iran, with which it shares a massive offshore gas fi eld that provides the peninsular nation its wealth. Qatar restored full diplomatic ties to Iran amid the dispute.

Sheikh Mohammed defended Qatar’s ties to both Iran and Tur-key, which has a small military base in Doha, during his remarks at the Mediterranean Dialogues. Iranian Foreign Minister Moham-mad Javad Zarif separately tweeted that Tehran welcomes Kuwait’s an-nouncement and that “we hope rec-onciliation contributes to stability and political & economic develop-ment for all peoples of our region.”

LOCALARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2020

3

Suicide suspected

Body torn to piecesKUWAIT CITY, Dec 5: A Jordanian resident died after she fell from the ninth fl oor of a resi-dential building in Salmiya, reports Al-Rai daily.

Without going into details the daily said the woman’s body was torn to pieces after she landed on the ground.

The Public Prosecution has ordered an investi-gation into the fall. The daily did not give more details.

A security source told Al-Rai that the Ministry of Interior’s operations had received a report stat-ing the death of an unidentifi ed woman after she fell from the ninth fl oor of a building in Salmiya.

The victim allegedly worked as ‘stewardess’ and preliminary investigations show it is a case of suicide.

Meanwhile, an unidentifi ed Kuwaiti has fi led a complaint with the Surrah Police Station accus-ing an unidentifi ed person of breaking into his vehicle and stealing valuables and offi cials docu-ments, reports Al-Anba daily.

The Kuwaiti said the car was parked in front of his house. Personnel from the Criminal Evi-dences Department have lifted fi ngerprints.

KUNA photoThe Governor of Farwaniya Sheikh Mishal Al-Jaber Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah touring a polling station.

‘Participation in polls national duty’Farwaniya Governor Sheikh Mishal Al-Jaber Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah said Saturday the participation in the electoral process is a national duty that complements the march of Ku-waiti democracy, “which is a model to be followed.”

Sheikh Mishal told KUNA dur-ing his tour of a number of elec-

tion committees of 2020 National Assembly elections, that all voters must cooperate to implement pre-ventive measures to confront COV-ID-19 pandemic.

He congratulated His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His High-ness the Crown Prince Sheikh Me-

shaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for these democratic elections.

Sheikh Meshaal also praised the efforts made by all ministries and private agencies by creating a suitable atmosphere to enable vot-ers to “perform their national duty, which refl ects the civilization of Ku-wait.” (KUNA)

Discord erupts over retirementof over 30 years MEW workers

Discrepancy seen in age limit

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 5: A list containing about 500 names of personnel who spent 30 years in government service, which the Ministry of Electricity and Water sent to the Public Institution for Social Security to consider their entitlement to full retirement pen-sion, has incited some issues, reports Al-Anba daily.

The concerns were raised by a large number of employees who have yet to complete full service in the Ministry of Electricity, given that the list sent to the Public Institution for Social Security identifi ed the names of workers in the ministry who were born in 1970 and earlier, i.e. starting from 50 years old and not 55 years old, which fulfi lls the hypothesis that a large number of names mentioned in the list did not complete the total service of 30 years.

MEW to send warnings to privateresidence owners for paying duesKUWAIT CITY, Dec 5: According to informed sources from the Ministry of Electricity and Water, the ministry, im-mediately after the implementation of the fi fth phase of the plan for the return of life, will start sending warnings to owners of private residences about the need for them to pay their electricity and water bills to the ministry. Failure to pay the bills will lead to disconnec-tion of water service for the violators, reports Al-Rai daily.

The sources said, “The ministry continues to send warnings to all other sectors, urging them to pay their bills. It is also committed to sending warn-ing notices to citizens who have debt declarations with the ministry, based on the request of the State Audit Bu-reau, which stressed the need for the ministry to collect its dues, especially from private housing owners who pledged to pay by signing debt decla-rations.”

The debt collections movement rose well from the beginning of the last quar-ter of this year. The collection numbers are expected to jump very signifi cantly at the end of the year after a period of inactivity due to the COVID-19 situa-tion”.

Meanwhile, the Deanship of Ad-mission and Registration at Kuwait University is considering not disburs-ing bonuses for the special summer semester to some administrators due to the application of distance education, reports Al-Qabas daily.

According to reliable sources, the deanship, in the process of preparing the lists of those entitled to rewards for the exceptional summer semester held in October and November, refused the participation of some administrators, citing the decision to implement dis-tance education in this semester, and that their names should not be included in the list.

‘Need to keep pace with the clock’“DURING the past ten years, I have read many reports and studies that talk about the need to fi nd serious eco-nomic and political reforms, such as the reports of the Al-Shall Company, and the reports of the Kuwait Na-tional Competitiveness Committee, headed by Dr. Fahd Al-Rashed, in addition to some specialists and writers,” columnist Abdulaziz Al-Kandari wrote for Al-Rai daily.

“A few days ago, 29 academics from Kuwait Univer-sity wrote and requested the restructuring of the Kuwaiti economy according to a deliberate and long-term plan to be able to absorb new graduates into the labor market, in light of the glut of the public sector and the depletion of public fi nances on the one hand and the large private sector reli-ance on employing cheap foreign labor on the other hand.

“The title of the document was ‘Before it is too late’ published by the KuwaitImpakt.com web-site, which specializes in pub-lishing papers and studies related to public policy in Kuwait, and within the next fi ve years, 96,000 new jobs are required to accom-modate the graduates. The study stated that the number of new jobs required during the next 15 years is 298,000.

“The study showed the labor market imbalance is one of fi ve structural imbalances that the national economy suffers from, and it spoke of a comprehensive vision to correct the path in terms of restructuring the infl ated public sector, and reduce employment growth with in-terim goals such as amending the salary scale, and link-ing promotions and rewards to effi ciency and productiv-ity, especially limiting employment to the actual need in the sector matched with a real tendency to create job opportunities in the private sector.

“The importance of the paper lies in the fact that today we are live in a changing world, with a speed that we are not accustomed to. We are witnesses to the fl uctuation of oil prices on which we depended mainly during the past months due to the Corona pandemic, and in this era those who have not progressed will be back benchers, a lot will change, and it is said some jobs will disappear, therefore, we may ask: ‘What are the plans of both the government and the National Assembly for the future’?

“The technology will change the face of many tradi-tional industries, I do not say in ten or fi ve years, but within a year or two, and perhaps the Corona pandemic contributed a lot to that, for example booking tickets and hotels is done through some applications on smart-phones. Educational institutions that did not see distance education as a need, are adopting this matter.

“There was talk in the past about the effectiveness of electric cars, and that they are impractical because of the constant charging that this car needs but a Chinese company announced that it has manufactured car bat-teries capable of running two million kilometers, and this battery was developed in cooperation with the Tesla company.

“There are expectations indicating the lack of demand for buying from malls, in favor of applications in smart-phones such as ‘Noon’, ‘Mall’ and ‘Zad’, and many more that will contribute to changing the consumption pattern of people.

“Today we are facing very big challenges, and these challenges will not be merciful to those who do not work hard. We have to defi ne our position in the Arab world. We must foresee the future with spirit of time if we are serious, and plan well before others plan our future.

“Both the next government and the National Assem-bly must realize that well and now. Economic and politi-cal reforms and curriculum changes are needed to keep pace with the times.”

Also:“As the election approaches, the candidates’ voices

are becoming louder and louder, their promises come fl ying in the face, advertisements have crowded the TV sets, and their pictures spread in the streets and regions of Kuwait,” columnist Dr Moudhi Al-Humoud wrote for Al-Qabas daily.

“Everyone swears to serve those close to him and his group, and promises to increase the welfare of the citi-zen from the state treasury which is almost emptied by extravagance, waste and populist projects of some of the deputies who provided little to the citizens and stashed millions in their accounts.

“Everyone is preparing, and only a few of the can-didates dare to put forward the terms of the deserved reform. They do not dare to raise the causes of the delay in the real reform or to ask the government and them-selves about some of the due steps of reform such as not adopting a progressive tax, even in small proportions, on the income of large companies, or on the least real pricing for what the state provides in terms of services and facilities and why not direct support to small and medium enterprises with productivity for goods and ser-vices needed by the country.

“They do not ask about the silence of successive gov-ernments and the complicity of some MPs in not defi n-ing the segments of electricity and water consumption, so that those with limited and medium consumption enjoy fi nancial support, and fees rise as per the rate of consumption.

“They also do not ask why the state budget bears the costs of disbursing food supplies to merchants and those with high income and why not exchanged in cash with subsidizing food supplies and disbursement progresses with the income of the head of the family, and here we hit two birds with one stone, so we save the costs of the army of labor in this sector, especially since most of them are immigrant workers, and we also deal with the stolen ‘ration’ that the trucks carry out of the country publicly.

“Why does the state continue to spend employment support for senior employees in the private sector, even

if they are bank managers and the like, whose salaries may be estimated in thousands? And why is this subsidy not linked to a specifi c ceiling?

“Why is the bulk labor fi les not looked into with seri-ousness? Why don’t we look into the issue of the people who brought them into the country and left them strand-ed to use state services and facilities?

“These are some of the aspects of reform, and many of them were well illustrated by our 29 young university professors in their distinguished historical document, entitled ‘Before it is too late’, which outlines a road map for serious economic reform.

“Frankly speaking, I do not expect reform from a number of candidates or MPs who have placed the in-terests of the tribe over the homeland and have vowed to work for their tribe, or a candidate who has promised to spare no efforts to serve and support his sect if elected.

“A sad scene that Kuwait does not deserve but this is the reality on the ground. We hope those concerned with real change and reforms do that at the earliest op-portunity.

“We no longer have time as the resources are dimin-ishing, and your role today, dear conscious voter is to take the initiative to ask your candidate before choosing him if he does dare to work towards serious reforms and bear the responsibility which may cost him some votes to preserve the future of the homeland.”

❑ ❑ ❑

“The Ministry of Education recently announced its in-tention to link 208 governmental schools in various edu-cational districts with the optical fi ber network, in coor-dination with its communications counterpart, such that all government schools across Kuwait will be connected to the network within the next two months,” columnist Abdulrahman Al-Awwad wrote for Al-Sabah daily.

“This promising project could be a qualitative leap in governmental education because it will support e-learn-ing or distance learning — the system currently applied in the country due to circumstances brought about by corona. This is in addition to the importance of the pro-ject in developing electronic correspondence between schools and some authorities on one hand, and between schools and the ministry on the other hand.

“The advantages provided by the link are not limited to the framework of the ministry’s efforts to implement the government’s roadmap towards automating services. For example, the old dream of creating an electronic re-cord for students will be realized easily, as well as the fi ngerprint attendance system for teachers and admin-istrators, comprehensive educational portal and virtual library. All of these will be available and feasible.

“The project could be regarded as a qualitative and unique step in the educational sector if it is implemented professionally and on time, considering that the imple-mentation of governmental projects is usually delayed. It came at the right time as we are currently suffering from the impact of corona on education.”

❑ ❑ ❑

“A colleague of mine who specializes in computers such as laptops, tablets, iPads, etc, with whom I speak the same language regarding specifi cations says: It is not reasonable to take advantage of online teaching to raise prices signifi cantly,” Dr Turki Al-Azmi wrote for Al-Rai daily.

“O His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, talk to the Minister of Education or any competent person specialized in the fi eld of information technology, computer engineering, communications, and information systems who knows how to make deals to provide a huge quantity of devices with good specifi -cations at least (i5, 8 GB with Sdd 256) at a subsidized price.

“It is unreasonable for a retired head of family or a person with limited income who has 3 children, for ex-ample, to bear more than 1000 dinars. What will hap-pen? We do not want the issue of masks to be repeated with the difference of analogy! We do not want to repeat the issue of used tablets in the Ministry of Education, which is sold for approximately 80 dinars, and neither the mic nor camera works!

“We are only asking for the rights of students — in light of the ‘online’ crisis. At least, give them laptops with good specifi cations, as the experts know that cer-tain specifi cations must be met in the devices. It is sad that some still offer old devices know that the platforms have huge fi les and the speed of the processor, RAM and SDD memory is very important. What is offered is either used with exaggerated prices or new and expensive with low specifi cations”.

❑ ❑ ❑

“Forcing expatriate private sector workers, who reached 60 years old, to leave the country is one of the most ill-considered decisions that the government issued recently,” columnist Ahmad Baqer wrote for Al-Jarida daily.

“This decision is not based on the security record of the expatriate, his relationship with the employer, his work experience, his relations with Kuwaitis including relatives or friends, the length of his stay, payment of health-related dues and others. It was based only on one factor — age!

“It is a decision that refl ects a defi cient understanding of the need to address the lopsided demographic struc-ture, because replacing the expatriate youths with the elderly will not change this structure.

“The correct way is for the concerned authorities to stop renewing the residency permit of any expatriate who does not fulfi ll his obligations, does not pay the specifi ed fees for various services, if the employer no longer wants him to stay due to a security restriction im-posed on him, or if there is a Kuwaiti who can replace him at work. Age is not related to any of these condi-tions.”

— Compiled by Ahmad Al-Shazli

Other Voices

Al-Kandari

In this context, sources confi rmed that the list sent by the ministry did not include the names of those whose services exceeded 30 years. They pointed out that the list was attached to another list that includes those 50 years of age to know if they served in another organization for a total of 30 years.

They explained that the ministry is working on the basis of the text of Cabinet’s decision, which provides for the referral of those whose service has exceeded 30 years to retirement, with the excep-tion of some specialties such as engineers and others, as well as those the minister deems a need for his survival.

They said the ministry had requested in its letter to the in-stitution to study the extent to which the names mentioned in the list are entitled to retire-ment, regardless of speciali-zation, explaining that the list will be sorted out later to verify each case on its own — whether among the excluded specialties or those needed to remain on their jobs.

According to law, referral to retirement will not take place except for those who are 55 years old whose ser-vice exceeds 30 years (for women), noting the retiree gets the full retirement pen-sion. He added that early re-tirement is only done at the employee’s request, so part of his pension will be deducted.

Sources confi rmed that this step aims to pave the way for young leaders and to motivate them to work, while creating second rows of ex-periences, as required by the replacement plan that aims to reduce the number of expa-triates to less than 1 percent within 3 years. They reiterat-ed that 100 employees were laid off in the past month.

KUNA photoApplication of ‘social distancing’ among voters participating in the 2020 nation elec-

tions.

LOCALARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2020

4

Volume of spending on research,dev in education down 120 times

Kuwait makes limited progress in TIMSS participation in 2019

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 5: In light of the widespread controversy in the educational arena, due to the reper-cussions of the corona crisis and the continuation of distance learning, official data revealed that the volume of spending on research and development in the field of education has shrunk 120 times within one year, while the Trends of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) assess-ments results for Kuwait students reflect the continu-ing imbalance in the educational sys-tem, reports Al-Rai daily.

The analysis of the fig-ures of expenditure for the ministries and gov-ernment departments at the level of jobs reflects the development of edu-cation was not on the government’s list of pri-orities during the year, despite the significant changes in this file, as the financial allocations for research and devel-opment position in the field of education during current fiscal year (2020/2021) is about KD 100 thousand only, while the value of appropria-tions during the last fis-cal year (2019/2020) amounted to KD 12 mil-lion.

Data showed that despite the significant decline in the volume of financial alloca-tions, no amount was spent until the end of last June.

On the other hand, an educational source revealed that Kuwait has made lim-ited progress in its partici-pation in the Trends of the International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) in 2019 compared to its results in the previous edi-tion in 2015 where it ranked the last five out of 57 par-ticipating countries and did not achieve the minimum required set of 500 points in the assessments.

The source indicated “the students’ failure to obtain the minimum points is evi-dence of the continued imbalance in the education-al system, which has nega-tively affected the capabili-ties of students in fourth and eighth grades in the sci-ences and mathematics.”

It is likely that the offi-cial results of these assess-ments will be officially announced in the first week of December, noted the source.

The operation in progress.

11-year-old sister donates bone marrow

Kuwaiti medical team performssecond stem cells transplant op

By Marwa Al-BahrawiAl-Seyassah Staff

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 5: In a new historic achievement a specialized Kuwaiti medical team headed by Dr. Sundus Al-Sharida succeeded in per-forming the second stem cells trans-plant operation of a bone marrow from a donor to her sister who suf-fers from sickle cell anemia. The donor sister is 11 years old.

This new achievement comes a few weeks after the success of the first stem cell transplant in the coun-try, and days after the success of the first liver transplantation performed by an integrated Kuwaiti medical team.

On this occasion, Minister of Health Sheikh Dr. Basil Al-Sabah expressed his pride in this achieve-ment and the sincere national medi-

cal staff who participated in achiev-ing this success - in the successful planning of organ transplantation programs, and concerted efforts to improve the health system in the country, and to provide health care according to the highest international quality standards.

Giving the details, the Ministry indicated that a series of preparations and equipment preceded over a peri-od of about two months to ensure that the stem cells required being implanted matched the patient through medical examinations.

It is reported that the medical team, according to the results of the medical examinations and reports of the patient and the donor, decided to conduct the operation after complet-ing all preparations for the operation, which took about 3 hours, and was

preceded by the process of collecting cells from the donor, which took about two and a half hours and both were successful.

The patient was suffering from acute and chronic sickle cell pain and severe complications, which, accord-ing to what had been decided by the team treating the case, required the transplantation of stem cells from the bone marrow.

The ministry stated that the medi-cal team that performed the opera-tion, was headed by Dr. Sundus Al-Shraideh.the team included Dr. Samar Rifat from the Yaqoub Behbehani Center, Dr. Dalal Al-Shammari, Dr. Brigitta Antoine and Dr. El-Shazly Abdel-Hafez, in addition to a nursing and technical staff with a high level of experience and qualification.

MEW activatespenalty clauseKUWAIT CITY, Dec 5: As per efforts to contain the sit-uation and to hold to account negligence and waste of public money, reliable sources revealed that the Ministry of Electricity and Water activated the penalty (fine) clause on delayed con-tracts at a sum of KD 11 million - the largest amount to be imposed by the minis-try on contractors in a single year, reports Al-Qabas daily.

The same sources men-tioned that State Audit Bureau has been urging the ministry for several years to apply con-tractual fines to some delayed contracts but the ministry was reluctant in that aspect until last year when it started listing contracts, which have been delayed in terms of imple-mentation and completion rate, as stipulated in the agree-ment.

Sources indicated the Minister of Electricity and Water Dr Khaled Al-Fadhel referred a number of offi-cials in his ministry to the A n t i - C o r r u p t i o n Commission and the Leadership Disciplinary Authority at Civil Service Commission, as a result of the financial violations and irregularities that marred some contracts.

Large pollContinued from Page 1

Fifth Constituency: Badr Al-Dahoum; Hamdan Al-Azmi;

Mubarak Al-Ajmi; Saifi Mubarak Al-Saifi; Saleh Diab Al-Mutair; Khalid Al-Otaibi; Mohammed Hadi Al-Huwailah; Majed Musaad Al-Mutairi; Faisal Al-Kandari; Hamoud Al-Azmi; Nasser Al-Dosari; Naif Al-Ajmi; Hani Hussein Ali; Marzouk Faleh Al-Azmi; Hamoud Al-Hamdan

As a matter of fact, former MP Safa’a Al-Hashem who contested the parliamenta-ry elections from the second constituency, at the time of going to the press was not among the top 15 contestants.

Minister of Justice Dr Fahad Al-Afasi affirmed on Saturday that the parliamentary elections proceeded smoothly and without any obstacles due to excellent efforts by personnel of all the concerned state depart-ments.

In a statement to Kuwait News Agency and Kuwait Television, Dr Al-Afasi, also Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, said personnel of the ministries of justice, inte-rior and health, played a key role in facilitat-ing the electoral process.

Members of the electoral commissions, namely judges and personnel of the judi-ciary, have exerted extraordinary efforts in the shadow of the health measures due to the novel coronavirus.

This high turnout since early hours of the balloting affirms the Kuwaiti citizens’ awareness of their constitutional rights and positive interaction with public affairs of the homeland, he said.

Kuwait voted Saturday for its National Assembly, the first election since the death of its longtime ruling Amir and as the coun-try faces serious economic problems under the coronavirus pandemic.

The country’s hundreds of thousands of voters selected lawmakers for 50 seats in the Parliament, the freest and most-rambunc-tious assembly among the Gulf Arab coun-tries.

Parliaments typically don’t serve out their full terms in the stalwart US ally, but this one did.

Kuwaitis voted across 102 schools in the nation, which is the size of the US state of New Jersey. Authorities said masks and social distancing were required due to the pandemic. Several schools took those with active cases of the virus, with the sick first receiving permis-sion from the government to vote.

“Life is developing so everything should develop including the election either through parties or blocs,” Kuwaiti voter Issa Al-Qallaf said. Major blocs include those backing the ruling family, Islamists and moderate liberals.

The vote came after the death in September of Kuwait’s ruler, the 91-year-old Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah. Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, 83, quickly took power without any opposition. The outgoing Parliament then approved Sheikh Nawaf’s choice for crown prince, Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber, the 80-year-old deputy head of Kuwait’s National Guard.

The new Parliament will need to make decisions on a number of matters, perhaps none more important that Kuwait’s econo-my.

This fall, the ratings agency Moody’s downgraded Kuwait for the first time in its history. The finance minister warned the government soon wouldn’t be able to pay salaries. Kuwait’s national bank said the country’s deficit could hit 40 percent of its gross domestic product this year, the highest level since the financial devastation of the 1990 Iraqi invasion and subsequent Gulf War.

With crude oil prices just above $45 a barrel, other nearby Arab states took on debt, trimmed subsidies or introduced taxes to sustain their spending. Kuwait, however, did none of that.

That’s not to say Kuwait will be begging for aid at international summits anytime soon. The Kuwait Investment Authority holds assets of $533 billion, according to the Las Vegas-based Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, making it the world’s fourth-largest such fund.

The problem is Kuwait has no legal framework to deficit-spend beyond its cur-rent limit of $33 billion. It needs the coun-try’s Parliament to grant approval. But law-makers likely will face a popular backlash as the public fears the money will be lost to corruption amid a series of high-profile cases shaking the country.

“We have to fight corruption by choosing who will represent us inside the National Assembly,” one voter, Azraa al-Rifai, remarked.

Kuwait has the world’s sixth-largest known oil reserves. The country hosts some 13,500 American troops, many at Camp Arifjan south of Kuwait City, which is also home to the forward command of US Army Central.

PM content with medical prepHis Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh

Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said he was satisfied with medical preparations for Saturday’s parliamentary elections, which “are different than the previous 60 years.”

These elections are “different than the previous 60 years because of the health cri-sis and the measures that needed to be adopted,” His Highness the Prime Minister told reporters while visiting Khabab Ibn Al-Arat school in Jabriya, which was made a polling station.

“I am happy with the reports I have been receiving about the participation in this con-stitutional procedure to elect representatives of the Kuwaiti people ... ,” he said.

He hoped elections would end with high turnout and voters abide by health condi-tions.

“We see a big turnout and we hope to see compliance with the health requirements during elections, and to refrain from cele-brations following the announcement of results,” said His Highness the Prime Minister.

“The victory is for us to preserve public health,” he added.

His Highness the Prime Minister was accompanied by Ministry of Interior’s Undersecretary General Essam Al-Naham.

Covid-19 infectees voteKuwaiti voters infected with coronavirus

(Covid-19) practiced their democratic right despite the disease on Saturday.

The government allocated one polling station in each of the five constituencies for Covid-19 infectees, who were in quarantine, who can cast their ballots in a safe environ-ment.

People who are in quarantine can take a permission to go vote through Shlonik smart phone applications.

Ministry of Health spokesman Dr. Abdullah Al-Sanad had urged infected vot-ers to always wear masks and not to remove the masks unless requested by officials supervising the voting process, and then return home immediately after casting the ballots.

Meanwhile, the Spokesman for the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health, Dr. Abdullah Al-Sanad announced Saturday that the num-ber of cases transferred from electoral cen-ters to hospitals has reached six people.

Al-Sanad told KUNA, that medical staff dealt, through the clinics that were equipped inside the electoral centers, with 15 cases of fatigue, or hypoglycemia, pointing out that the cases in their entirety were stable.

He pointed out that the number of requests for exit permit from isolation (pos-itive cases) to cast their votes so far has reached 600 cases.

Minister of Health Sheikh Dr. Bassel Al-Sabah underlined the importance Saturday on abiding by the electoral process and adhering to the precautionary measures setup in order to maintain safety for all and to reach the desired results.

Sheikh Bassel made the remarks to KUNA after a tour in Bin Rushd School Committee in Al-Fayha, which is an area designated for Coronavirus patients, adding that he made several tours to various schools with each of the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Justice and other senior officials of the Ministry of Interior to check on the extent of commitment to follow health procedures.

The minister mentioned that he witnessed at first hand the extent of everyone’s response in following health procedures and requirements despite the fact that some schools witnessed some large crowds in specific periods, noting that the committees witnessed physical distancing and the com-mitment by voters to wear masks.

The minister noted that in the event that health procedures are adhered to during the course of the electoral process and through-out the day, “this process will pass with success and the best results.”

Speaker hails measuresNational Assembly Speaker Marzouq

Al-Ghanim expressed hopes Saturday that a high turnout would take place in the 2020 Parliament elections, to contribute in shap-ing the future of the country, hailing as well government measures and readiness to the election process.

In a statement to reporters, Al-Ghanim said there seem to be a good turnout since the opening of the polling areas, expressing hope that such turnout remains high and safe until the end of the day.

The Speaker noted that voters will decid-ed who will represent them in the parlia-ment, urging them to vote for the best can-didates they see fit for the job.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh confirmed on Saturday that his Ministry is making every effort to facilitate all procedures and to enable voters to cast their votes in the 2020 National Assembly elections despite the exceptional circumstances and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The remarks were made in a statement to Kuwait TV and KUNA, after an inspection tour accompanied by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, at Mohammad Al-Mousawi School in Al-Rumaithiya area.

Al-Saleh added, “I apologize to all voters who waited outside the school due to the high turnout.”

Al-Saleh appealed to male and female citizens to adhere to their constitutional right to vote in the elections, calling on all to “be patient until this democratic celebra-tion ends safely.

The minister added, “we are proud of democracy in Kuwait, and we are working hard so that this democratic celebration comes out in a manner befitting the stature of the State of Kuwait.

Electoral process smoothIn related news, a Kuwaiti civil society

group said on Saturday that the electoral process is running smoothly on a day Kuwaitis are heading to the polls to elect a new parliament, commending the govern-ment’s preparation in the run-up to the vote.

Kuwait’s constitution encourages “free-dom of expression” in a way that does not “undermine” the transparency of the elec-tions, Kuwait Transparency Society chief Majid Al-Mutairi said outside a voting cen-ter, alongside a delegation from the Arab Network for Democratic Elections (ANDE), an international observer monitoring the polls.

He described the electoral process as “excellent and orderly,” adding that interior ministry personnel are on hand to deal with any potential glitches, while voter concerns over the coronavirus pandemic have been allayed thanks to the stringent precautions in place.

The purpose for the ANDE’s week-long visit is to get a feel for the “democratic cli-mate” in Kuwait, according to delegation member Fayan Al-Sheikh, who revealed that the group would publish its assessment of the polls two days after the vote.

The elections are unfolding “seamlessly and smoothly” despite the pandemic, said ANDE delegation member Ahmad Marwa, citing an impressive voter turnout so far.

Rigorous planning preceded Kuwait’s parliamentary elections to ensure it would be in line with the country’s “favorable image”, Municipality Chief Ahmad Al-Manfouhi said on Saturday, describing the vote as a “democratic spectacle.”

“We face a legal and constitutional obli-gation to hold these polls,” the official said, adding that His Highness the prime minister has personally surveyed polling stations since the wee hours of morning to ensure the smoothness of the electoral process.

Al-Manfouhi, who heads a government committee in charge of national health pre-cautions, pointed to the “plummeting num-bers” of coronavirus cases in Kuwait, which proves “large-scale compliance” with health guidelines.

Designating polling centers for voters carrying the virus has been among measures the health ministry has taken to avert a resurgence of the pandemic in the wake of the vote, he added.

Expressing his satisfaction with the voter turnout, the official went on to commend the electorate for keeping health precautions in mind as they cast their ballots.

Elderly people in the five electoral dis-tricts of the country were keen to participate in the 2020 National Assembly elections since the start of the voting process at 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning.

The availability of various means of transportation, wheelchairs, and precaution-ary measures approved by the health author-ities to confront the Covid-19 made it easier for the elderly to vote.

LOCALARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2020

5

An old female voter on a wheelchair being helped by a securityman at the polling center.

Photos by Mahmoud JadeedA Kuwaiti casting his vote at one of the polling booths.

KUNA photos Top and above: Kuwait Red Crescent Society volunteers distributing aid to the Syr-

ian people.

KRCS calls for joining voluntary workChairman of Kuwait Red Crescent Soci-ety (KRCS) Dr Hilal Al-Sayer has called for encouraging citizens to partake in voluntary tasks.

Dr Al-Sayer, in a statement mark-ing the International Volunteer Day on Saturday, indicated that the occasion brings into recollections “great accom-plishments” by the volunteers over the past year.

He praised in particular those who worked under the KRCS umbrella, serv-

ing devoutly in the relief and humanitar-ian realms.

The KRCS chief called for expanding the culture of volunteering and shed-ding further light on necessity of free of charge tasks.

The International Volunteer Day constitutes a message of apprecia-tion for the volunteers, he said, noting that such efforts contribute to develop-ment at local and international levels. (KUNA)

‘MEW teams ready to deal with any emergencies during rains’

‘Clouds to dissipate on Sunday with chance for rain’

By Muhammad GhanemAl-Seyassah Staff

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 5: The offi cial in charge of mechanisms and contracts super-visor in the electrical networks emergency department at the Min-istry of Electricity and Water Misha’al Ju-mah confi rmed that the emergency teams in the Ministry of Electricity and Water are ready to face all emergen-cies, especially during the rainy season dur-ing which complaints abound.

He said plans have been developed in the area mainte-nance and work.

On the readiness of preparing the transformers, he stressed, the emergency teams are now more prepared than ever before to deal with any emergency and fix any malfunctions that are re-ported in record time.

He said in a press statement the Minister of Electricity and Water, Dr Khaled Al-Fadhel, and the assistant undersecretary for the distribution networks sector, Eng Mutlaq Al-Otaibi, in order to develop the adminis-tration in line with the require-ments of the current period, “we have worked on through-out the last period to facilitate the process of reporting faults that are received by the admin-istration.”

He indicated that the minis-try succeeded in transforming the administration into a fully electronic one, in addition pre-paring national cadres that in-clude the best engineers work-ing in this field.

Agencies add:Earlier, sporadic rains of

varying intensity, to be heavy in the southern regions of Ku-wait, was predicted over the weekend.

This comes “amid a prolifer-ation of low to mid-level clouds interspersed with cumulus clouds,” Abdulaziz Al-Qarawi of the Kuwait Meteorological Department said.

He expected partly cloudy to cloudy conditions on Friday, with a chance for light to mod-erate, heavy sometimes, scat-tered rains and thunderstorms, particularly over southern ar-eas.

Forecasts indicate the con-tinuing possibility of rain dur-ing the night across the coun-try, with a decrease in the level of horizontal visibility at times, he added.

Daytime conditions on Sat-urday was forecast to be cloudy with a chance for light scattered rains, which will be moderate yet thundery at times in south-ern regions.

As for Saturday evening un-til the early hours of Sunday morning, conditions would be cloudy with a chance for light to medium scattered rains, which may be heavy and thun-dery at times.

By noon on Sunday, the clouds will dissipate and with it the chance for rain, which will gradually recede.

The evening and early hours of the following day will be marked by a decrease in the level of horizontal visibility due to fog, he said.

Al-Haifi submits proposal

Change ‘Al Mutla’a Residential Cityname to Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad’

By Abdel Nasser Al-AslamiAl-Seyassah Staff

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 5: The Jahra Com-mittee in the Municipal Council referred the proposal submitted by the Assistant Undersecretary for Research and Informa-tion Systems Sector at the Office of the Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Ahmed Al-Haifi, to change the name of Al-Mutla’a Residential City to ‘Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Residential City.’

The proposal has been submitted to the executive body in the Kuwait Municipality with a detailed report.

After the meeting, the head of the Jahra Committee in the Municipal Council, Fahid Al-Muwaisari, said the committee

discussed several requests related to the governorate, the most important of which was changing the name of Al-Mutla’a City.

He also referred another proposal submit-ted by the Kuwaiti Flour Mills Company’s request regarding the allocation of a site in Mubarak Al-Kabeer port for the construc-tion of silos and a mill.

Al- Muwaisari added that the committee also put on its schedule the two requests submitted by the Ministry of Electricity and Water, the first regarding the allocation of the site for the water filling station with di-mensions of 160 meters and 125 meters on Al-Salmi Road, and the other regarding the allocation, fixation and delivery of the site of a major power transmission station with measuring 300 meters and 300 meters in the Abdali area.

Today we see a new achievement: CEO

KOC reduces gas fl aring levels to less than 1%

KOC succeeds in obtaining preferential prices for dealsKUWAIT CITY, Dec 5: The Ku-wait Oil Company has succeeded in obtaining preferential prices for contracts for the supply of 31 drill-ing towers with nine local and inter-national companies, as the company was able to get price deduction of about 11 million dinars for the lease on drills in the final negotiation held by the company recently with the

contractors, reports Al-Anba daily.The daily quoting reliable sources

said the signing of contracts with nine companies will take place within about a month from now. They stated the contract, which extends for about 5 years, comes within the company’s efforts to expand drilling, exploration and development operations under the 2040 strategy, with the implementa-

tion of an intensive program to de-velop newly explored oil reservoirs.

They said two local companies won the supply operations, in ad-dition to 7 international companies. The two companies include Burgan Drilling Wells and Kuwait Drilling Company (KDC), as well as foreign companies represented by Chinese Sinopec, Jerry, Alef and Sino Sarwa

Al-Masria and Schlumberger.They indicated the company plans

to drill about 400 new wells for crude oil and non-associated gas in all the fields of the company, with the ar-rival of new towers, bringing the total working towers in Kuwait to about 150 covering 80 well drilling and 70 well repairs, indicating well repair operations exceed 1,100 annually.

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 5: The CEO of Kuwait Oil Company declared Kuwait has made great strides in the global gas flaring which has re-duced over the past 15 years from 17 percent to just one percent, re-ports Al-Anba daily.

The CEO added, “Today we see a new achievement by the Kuwait Oil Company by reaching less than 1% of the gas flaring rate dur-ing the second quarter of the fiscal 2020/2021.

In company’s ninth news brief-ing, CEO said, the company has strengthened its strategy to maxi-mize the value of hydrocarbons, including natural gas, as it is con-cerned with increasing its produc-tion and sustainability and limiting its burning, whether it is associated or not with oil, as it is considered one of the most important natural resources of clean energy.

It is a resource whose importance increases with the increase in glob-al demand for it as it is a key factor in supporting many vital industries and a source on which many plas-tic industries, synthetic fibers and petrochemical products depend, in addition to being an economical and successful alternative to other liquid fuels used in electrical power generation, he added.

Emad Sultan went on to say, “The Kuwait Oil Company pays great attention to increasing the production and operational capac-ity of all its units and raising its dependence to increase gas produc-tion and reduce its burning in line with the strategy of the Kuwait Pe-troleum Corporation and commit-ment to environmental standards to achieve a leading and distinguished global position.”

“Since the 1960s of the last cen-tury, the KOC interest in gas has turned this interest into a fertile reality when the Southern Lique-fied Petroleum Gas Plant project was established, and projects con-tinued after that by building sta-tions to boost gas in addition to huge pipelines networks to export

rich gas and its condensate starting from the stations north of Kuwait to the south and from east to the west to increase the capacity of export-ing gas and limiting its flaring,” he added

Sultan said the KOC has spared no efforts to join the World Bank’s “Global Partnership to Reduce Gas Flaring” initiative in 2011 with the aim of learning about the experi-ences of other countries and maxi-mizing the benefit of new technolo-gies in dealing with burning gas.

Sultan stated that one of the most important challenges to reach this achievement is preparing the infra-structure to absorb the quantities of acid gas in the West Kuwait region by exploiting the optimum value of these hydrocarbon materials in line with health, safety and envi-ronment standards, and the highest

percentage of readiness for West Kuwait facilities, which includes Gas booster station 171.

The gas booster station is one of the most important means that helps reduce gas flaring, as well as accessing the highest flexibility of gas pipeline networks and control-ling transfers of gas volumes from the acid gas treatment unit to alter-native facilities instead of burning it.

Gas pipelines in the West Kuwait region and the continuous raising of their operational capacity are among the most important means that have led to reducing gas flar-ing, in addition, to the activation of projects that are the remote control rooms of the Gas Operations Group that have helped greatly in control-ling the quantities of gas sent and operations transfer and control.

Doha hosts traditional dhow event

Craftsmen show Kuwait’s maritime tradition at festDOHA, Dec 5, (KUNA): A delegation of Kuwaiti research-ers and craftsmen specializing in maritime and heritage will participate in the Katara 10th Traditional Dhow Festival, held in Doha.

In a statement to KUNA, the Kuwaiti delegation head Nawaf Al-Asfour stressed the importance of participating in this festival, which is the most prominent of its kind in the re-gion, with the aim of presenting the ancient Kuwaiti maritime and popular crafts.

The Kuwaiti pavilion in-cludes a number of research-ers and specialists in Kuwait’s heritage, presenting the old

collections contained in some Kuwaiti marine museums, in addition to handicrafts con-cerned with everything related to the maritime industry, he added.

The festival aims to enhance the position of the marine her-itage in the community of all its categories, in addition to its vital role in preserving the ma-rine heritage of the participat-ing countries.

It also includes different competitions, marine heritage performances, various cultural activities and events, and ex-hibitions of marine heritage collections of the participating countries.

Dr Khaled Al-Fadhel

MIDEASTARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2020

6

‘Timing of delivery and the volume of doses’ confidential

Bahrain now second nation to grant Pfizer shot emergency useDUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Dec 5, (AP): The island kingdom of Bahrain said it has become the second nation in the world to grant an emergency-use authorization for the coronavirus vac-cine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech.

The state-run Bahrain News Agency made the announcement on Friday night, following an earlier announce-ment by the United Kingdom on Wednesday, making Britain the first in the world.

“The confirmation of approval by the National Health Regulatory Authority of the kingdom of Bahrain followed thorough analysis and review undertaken by the authority of all

available data,” the kingdom said. Bahrain did not say how may vac-

cines it has purchased, nor when vacci-nations would begin. It did not respond to questions from The Associated Press. The Pfizer shots, a so-called “mRNA vaccine,” contain a piece of genetic code that trains the immune system to recognize the spiked protein on the surface of the virus.

Pfizer later told the AP that the details of its sales agreement with Bahrain, including the “timing of deliv-ery and the volume of doses,” was confidential and declined to comment.

“We have developed detailed logis-tical plans and tools to support effec-tive vaccine transport, storage and

continuous temperature monitoring,” Pfizer said. “Our distribution is built on a flexible just in time system which will ship the frozen vials to the point of vaccination.”

The immediate challenge for Bahrain would be the conditions in which the vaccine must be kept. It must be stored and shipped at ultra-cold temperatures of around minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit). Bahrain is a Mideast nation that regularly sees temperatures in the summer of around 40 C (104 Fahrenheit) with high humidity.

Bahrain operates a state-owned carri-er, Gulf Air, that could be used to trans-port the vaccine. In the nearby United

Arab Emirates, the Dubai-based long-haul carrier Emirates has already said it is preparing its facilities to distribute vac-cines at ultra-cold temperatures.

The vaccine also requires two doses be given three weeks apart.

Bahrain had already granted emer-gency-use authorization for a Chinese vaccine made by Sinopharm and has inoculate some 6,000 people with it. That vaccine, an “inactivated” shot made by growing the whole virus in a lab and then killing it, also is in use in the UAE. Pfizer’s vaccine does not contain the coronavirus itself.

“The approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will add a further important layer to the kingdom’s

national COVID-19 response, which has strongly prioritized protecting the health of all citizens and residents dur-ing the pandemic,” said Dr. Mariam al-Jalahma, the CEO of Bahrain’s National Health Regulatory Authority.

BioNTech, which owns the vaccine, said it has so far signed deals to supply 570 million doses worldwide in 2021, with options to deliver 600 million more. It hopes to supply at least 1.3 billion in 2021.

Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, is a small island off the coast of Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf.

With a population of 1.6 million, it has reported more than 87,000 cases and 341 deaths, according to the gov-

ernment. Over 85,000 people have recovered from the COVID-19 illness that is caused by the virus.

The country is also home to a large expatriate population, with many low-paid laborers from Asia living in tight housing. In July, authorities told the AP they had moved 8,000 laborers to new accommodations, disinfected housing and implemented a rule requiring no more than five laborers per room, with about 3 meters (10 feet) of space for each one.

The Bahraini government says it has conducted over 2 million coronavirus tests across the island. It initially blamed its higher per-capita infection rate on that.

A wounded Palestinian demonstrator, that was hit by a Israeli troop vehicle, receives treatment as Israeli soldiers stand guard, during a clash after a protest against the expansion of Israeli Jewish settlements near the West Bank town of on Dec 4. A 13-year-old Palestinian died on Friday after being

shot by Israeli troops during clashes with a stone-throwing crowd in the occupied West Bank, the official Palestinian news agency reported. (AP)

PA condemns settler’s attempt to burn down Church of All Nations

‘Halt aggressive measures at Al-Aqsa Mosque’

RAMALLAH, Dec 5, (Agencies): The Palestinian Authority on Friday con-demned an Israeli settler’s attempt to burn down the Church of All Nations (Gethsemane Garden) in the occupied Jerusalem, calling on the international community to safeguard the Palestinian people’s holy sites.

The PA said via Palestine’s news agency WAFA that the Israeli government is responsible for these continued attacks on its people and their holy sites and properties.

“These continued attacks on holy Christian and Islamic sites is proof of the settlers barbarianism and brutali-ty,” the Palestinian Authority added.

The PA blamed Israel for the attack as they Israeli forces in the occupied city are turning a blind eye to the set-tlers and their assaults on Muslim and Christian holy places.

Meanwhile, Israeli police said Friday they arrested a Jewish man after he poured out a “flammable liq-uid” inside a church near Jerusalem’s Old City, in what they described as a “criminal” incident.

The police did not provide further

details about the motive, but past attacks on churches in the Holy Land have been blamed on Jewish extremists.

Friday’s incident took place at the Church of All Nations, a Catholic church built on the traditional site of the Garden of Gethsemane, where Christians believe Jesus was betrayed by Judas, one of his followers, and arrested by the Romans before being crucified.

The Roman Catholic custodian in the Holy Land, Francesco Patton, con-demned the incident and called for “a serious investigation.” He said it was no simple criminal attack but a “terri-ble, humiliating and intentional act.”

His statement said the attacker used a firebomb – a claim that could not imme-diately be reconciled with the police statement about the attacker pouring out a flammable liquid. The police also cir-culated a photograph of wooden pews with black stains on them.

A 2015 arson attack blamed on Jewish extremists caused extensive damage to the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish, a popular pilgrimage site on the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel.

Jewish extremists have targeted mosques, churches and dovish Israeli groups in recent years.

In another development, Jordan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Al-Safadi has demanded aggressive measures taken at Al-Aqsa mosque be halted.

A statement by the Foreign Ministry,

released late on Thursday, quoted Al-Safadi as making the stern call during a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi at King Hussein Bridge.

The two sides discussed possibility of re-launching negotiations on the Palestinian Authority resumption of economic and security cooperation with Israel.

Discussions also revolved around Jordanian-Israeli relations which include topics like water supply, removal of restrictions on Jordanian imports to the West Bank, additional supply of electric-ity and managing border crossings under COVID-19 restrictions.

During the meeting, Al-Safadi stressed importance of Israel halting actions that would undermine possibil-ity of creating peace through a two-state solution, encompassing Palestine as an independent state with Al-Quds as its capital to live in peace in accor-dance with international law and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.

Based on Jordan’s guardianship of Islamic and Christian identity of the holy sites in Jerusalem, Al-Safadi noted that Amman would continue to exert all possible efforts for shoulder-ing responsibilities in this respect.

Al-Safadi also said, for peace and justice, there would be no alternative to a two-state solution, which is a necessity for the region and the world, stressing the need to re-hold negotia-tions under frameworks of internation-al law to find a viable solution for restoring true peace.

Middle East

Egypt frees 3 rights workers

Hope France will get ‘rid’ ofPresident Macron: ErdoganISTANBUL, Dec 5, (Agencies): Turkey’s president has renewed his vitriolic attacks on French President Emmanuel Macron, saying he hopes France will get rid of him soon.

Speaking after Friday prayers in Istanbul, Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Macron “trou-ble” for France, which he said

was experi-encing a dangerous time under his leader-ship.

“ M y wish is for France to get rid of the Macron trouble as soon as possible,”

Erdogan said. Otherwise, Erdogan claimed, France would not be able to overcome the Yellow Vest protest movement against social injustice in the country.

Erdogan also said France has lost its credibility as an interme-diary of the Minsk group, which was created in the 1990s to encourage peaceful resolution for the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. France has sided with Armenia in that conflict, and Turkey with Azerbaijan.

CommentsErdogan’s comments come

amid harsh rhetoric from both leaders.

Macron tried to avoid further escalation Friday, calling for “respect” after Erdogan’s attack, and deflecting a question on the spat. The French leader also told Brut, a news website, that Erdogan was in the process of limiting the liberty of the Turkish people.

Relations have been tense over a host of issues, including what Erdogan characterizes as French Islamopohobia, energy disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean and Libya.

The French presidency responded to Erdogan’s com-ments in October with unusually strong language, saying: “Excess and rudeness are not a method” and “we are not accepting insults,” and called for changes in Erdogan’s “dangerous” policy.

Meanwhile, Erdogan says he would get vaccinated against the coronavirus to set an example for his country’s citizens.

“There is no problem for me to get vaccinated,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after Friday prayers in Istanbul. “It is necessary to take this step as an example for our citizens.”

The Turkish government plans to buy multiple vaccines, Erdogan said.

Turkey has ordered 50 million doses of Chinese company Sinovac Biotech’s CoronaVac, and the first shipment is due to arrive Dec. 11. The government also is talking with Russia about securing the vaccine developed there.

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca told the official Anadolu news agency that he would work to convince people to get immunized by getting the Chinese shot himself as soon as Turkish authorities approve its use.

Turkey also has ordered 1 mil-lion doses of the vaccine devel-oped by US drugmaker Pfizer and German company BioNTech. Erdogan said he spoke with BioNTech co-found-er Ugur Sahin, who is of Turkish descent.

Turkey is experiencing a surge in infections with confirmed cases hovering above 30,000 per day on a 7-day average. The country’s death toll since March has reached 14,316. A weekend lockdown, the first since the end of May, is set to begin Friday evening.

❑ ❑ ❑

Three Egyptian rights workers who were arrested and slapped with terrorism-related charges last month were freed on Thursday after an outcry over the government’s crackdown on one of the last rights groups still oper-ating in the country.

The government of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has been relentlessly silencing dissent and clamping down on independent organizations for years, with arrests and rest