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TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021 / JUMADA AL AWWAL 21, 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17579 16 PAGES 150 FILS Saudi to lift Qatar embargo, open airspace

Sisi hails Kuwait

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 4, (Agen- cies): Kuwait’s foreign ministry on Monday announced that Saudi Iran ups enrichment in return Arabia will lift a years-long em- bargo on Qatar, opening its air and land borders in the first steps toward ending the Gulf crisis. The state-run Kuwait News Agency reported the announce- ment, saying that Saudi Arabia would open its airspace, land and to brinkmanship, seizes tanker sea borders starting Monday eve- ning. Kuwait has been mediating between Qatar and four Arab states that launched an embargo in mid-2017 over Qatar’s support for Islamist groups in the region and its warm ties with Iran. The announcement comes on the eve of a summit of Gulf Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia on Tues- day that will be chaired by Saudi King Salman. Qatar’s ruler is now expected to attend the sum- mit for the first time since the embargo. The decision by the close US allies comes in the final days of the Trump administration’s time in office, and just ahead of the incoming President-elect Joe Biden. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah is scheduled to depart Kuwait tomorrow (Tuesday) to Saudi Arabia to head the State of Kuwait delegation partaking in the 41st GCC summit due in the governorate of Al-Ula. Egypt’s President Abdel-Fat- tah el-Sisi reiterated the Egyptian policy constants aiming to main- tain Arab solidarity, in response to the Kuwaiti efforts to resolve the Gulf Crisis between the Arab quartet and Qatar, egypttoday. com reports. Sisi’s remarks came as he received on Saturday Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti foreign minister, who carried a message from HH the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. The message has displayed In this photo released on Jan 4, by Tasnim News Agency, a seized South Korean-flagged tanker is escorted by Iranian Revolutionary Guard boats on the Arabian Gulf. Iranian state television ac- the latest developments related knowledged that Tehran seized the oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. The report on Monday alleged the MT Hankuk Chemi had been stopped by Iranian authorities over alleged ‘oil pollution’ in the to the Kuwaiti efforts in unifying Arabian Gulf and the strait. (AP) the Arab ranks through achieving reconciliation between the Arab quartet, consisting of Egypt, Seoul ... silent Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and UAE Kuwait logs 269 new cases and Qatar. Newswatch This comes more than three DUBAI, Jan 4, (AP): san Rouhani had given the order years after the quartet decided to begin the production. It came Chronics on COVID priority list to cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, Iran began enriching after its parliament passed a bill, KUWAIT CITY: The Directorate General to pressurize Doha to end its al- uranium Monday to later approved by a constitutional of Public Relations and Security Media De- leged finance to terrorist groups. KUWAIT CITY, Jan 4, (Agencies): Kuwait’s levels unseen since its watchdog, aimed at increasing partment of the Interior Ministry stated as of health ministry said on Sunday that people with “Concerning the reconciliation enrichment to pressure Europe Jan 1, 2021, the renewal of residence per- efforts, Mr President (El-Sisi) 2015 nuclear deal with chronic diseases and special needs should be pri- into providing sanctions relief. mits online (https://eres.moi.gov.kw/indi- Trump told oritized as a mass inoculation campaign against has expressed appreciation and world powers and also Iran’s decision to begin en- vidual/ar/auth/login) is limited to domestic support to the Kuwaiti sincere Covid-19 continues, with health workers and the riching to 20% purity a decade workers who come under Article 20 of the efforts stemming from good in- seized a South Korean- law governing the issue of Kuwait visas and elderly already at the front of the line. tentions over the past years to ago nearly triggered an Israeli The shots would be administered on a “prior- flagged tanker near the strike targeting its nuclear fa- which operates 24/7, reports Al-Anba daily. to back off achieve the desired reconcilia- crucial Strait of Hor- The daily quoting Interior Ministry sourc- ity basis” through online pre-registration, inevi- tion,” Presidential spokesman cilities, tensions that only abated es said a counter will be allocated for the WASHINGTON, Jan 4, (AP): In tably leading to a vaccine rollout to the wider Bassam Radi said, after Sisi’s muz, a double-barreled with the 2015 atomic deal, which elderly and people with special needs inside an extraordinary rebuke of Presi- population, which is in line with the ministry’s meeting with the Kuwaiti foreign challenge to the West saw Iran limit its enrichment in the service centers. dent Donald Trump, all 10 living efforts to safeguard public health, it said in a minister. exchange for the lifting of eco- This comes as part of the security estab- former secretaries of defense are statement. that further raised nomic sanctions. lishment’s keenness to facilitate the citizens cautioning against any move to The measure also aims to protect the most ex- Initiated Mideast tensions. A resumption of 20% enrich- and in implementation of the security strat- involve the military in pursuing posed groups and those higher at risk of devel- Sisi praised the Kuwaiti efforts Both decisions appeared ment could see that brinkman- egy developed by switching to electronic claims of election fraud, arguing oping COVID-19 complications, added the state- in this regard, initiated by late aimed at increasing Tehran’s ship return. Already, a Novem- services, in order to save time and effort and that it would take the country into ment. Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad ber attack that Tehran blames on speed the completion of transactions. “dangerous, unlawful and uncon- The Ministry of Health said Sunday that 269 leverage in the waning days Israel killed an Iranian scientist ❑ ❑ ❑ Al-Jaber Al Sabah and resumed in office for President Don- stitutional territory.” coronavirus cases were confirmed over the past 24 by the current Amir, Sheikh who founded the country’s mili- KUWAIT CITY: His Highness the Amir The 10 men, both Democrats hours, raising Kuwait’s caseload to 151,343. ald Trump, whose unilateral tary nuclear program two de- and Republicans, signed on to The death toll remained unchanged at 937, the Nawaf. withdrawal from the atomic Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sa- He also hailed the role played cades earlier. bah has addressed a cable of condolences to an opinion article published Sun- Ministry’s spokesman Dr. Abdullah Al-Sanad by the Saudi Arabia during the accord in 2018 began a series From Israel, which has its Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King day in The Washington Post that told KUNA. crisis on behalf of the quartet. of escalating incidents. own undeclared nuclear weapons Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud on the de- implicitly questioned Trump’s The number of Covid-19 patients receiving “His excellency (the presi- Increasing enrichment at its program, Prime Minister Benja- mise of Prince Khaled bin Faisal bin Saad willingness to follow his Con- care at hospitals stands at 3,135, including 53 ICU dent) has affirmed the constants underground Fordo facility puts min Netanyahu criticized Iran’s Al-Awal bin Abdulrahman Al-Saud. stitutional duty to peacefully occupants, he said. of the Egyptian policy to achieve Tehran a technical step away from enrichment decision, saying it His Highness the Amir prayed for soul of relinquish power on Jan. 20. Fol- As many as 4,712 swab tests were conducted cooperation and development weapons-grade levels of 90%, “cannot be explained in any way the deceased and wished his family patience lowing the Nov. 3 election and over the last 24 hours, taking the overall tests and support Arab solidarity as a while also pressuring President- other than the continuation of re- and endurance. subsequent recounts in some 1266,950, Dr. Al-Sanad added. solid strategic approach,” Radi elect Joe Biden to quickly nego- alizing its goal to develop a mili- His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh states, as well as unsuccessful Meanwhile, Kuwait’s Directorate General of said. tiate. Iran’s seizure of the MT tary nuclear program.” Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah court challenges, the outcome is Civil Aviation (DGCA) decided to suspend the Hankuk Chemi comes as a South “Israel will not allow Iran to also sent a cable of consolation to the Saudi clear, they wrote, while not spec- flights to and from the United Kingdom as from Sisi also affirmed the impor- monarch on the death of Prince Khaled bin tance of sticking to sincere inten- Korean diplomat was due to travel manufacture a nuclear weapon,” ifying Trump in the article. 4:00 am. Wednesday, January 6, until further no- to the Islamic Republic to discuss he added. Faisal. (KUNA) “The time for questioning the tions to achieve the mutual inter- ❑ ❑ ❑ tice. est and well as solidarity to ward the release of billions of dollars in Tehran has long maintained its results has passed; the time for The decision will be revised later on in view off dangers from the rest of the Iranian assets now frozen in Seoul. nuclear program is peaceful. The BEIRUT: Elias Rahbani, a Lebanese compos- the formal counting of the elec- of the recommendations of the Kuwaiti health au- Arab nation and preserve its na- Calls to South Korea’s For- U.S. State Department says that er and lyricist who wrote the music for some toral college votes, as prescribed thorities, Spokesman of the Directorate Saad Al- tional security, Rady added. eign Ministry and the ship’s as late as last year, it “continued of the Arab world’s top performers, including in the Constitution and statute, Otaibi told KUNA on Sunday night. During the meeting, Sisi and listed owner, DM Shipping Ltd to assess that Iran is not currently Lebanon’s diva Fairouz, has died after bat- has arrived,” they wrote. Earlier today, DGCA President Sheikh Salman the Kuwaiti foreign minister of Busan, South Korea were not engaged in key activities associ- tling COVID-19, his family said. He was 82. The former Pentagon chiefs Sabah Al Salem Al Hamoud Al Sabah inspected have agreed on the need to en- immediately answered after busi- ated with the design and develop- Rahbani was hospitalized last week suf- warned against use of the military the health precautions put in place at Kuwait In- hance consultation and coordina- ness hours Monday. Iran did not ment of a nuclear weapon.” fering low oxygen after he contracted the in any effort to change the outcome. ternational Airport. tion between the two countries acknowledge the vessel’s loca- coronavirus and succumbed to COVID-19, “Efforts to involve the U.S. The DGCA has introduced, in collaboration tion. the illness caused by the virus, on Monday. armed forces in resolving election with the health authorities, a range of measures to in this regard, with the aim of Elias was the younger brother of Man- facing any security threat facing Iranian Foreign Minister Mo- disputes would take us into dan- prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (Co- sour and Assi Rahbani, the Arab world’s gerous, unlawful and unconstitu- stability of the Arab nations. hammad Javad Zarif seemed to iconic musical duo known as the Rahbani vid-19), particularly the new variant of the virus, In the message, the Kuwaiti acknowledge Tehran’s interest in Brothers, who wrote music and plays for tional territory,” they wrote. “Ci- Al-Otaibi noted. Amir has affirmed his country’s leveraging the situation in a tweet Fairouz and other celebrities. Assi Rahbani, vilian and military officials who These include conducting PCR tests for all trav- appreciation to the brotherly rela- about its nuclear enrichment. who was married to Fairouz, died in 1985, direct or carry out such measures elers arriving in Kuwait to make sure they are free tions with Egypt. “Our measures are fully re- while Mansour passed away in 2009. (AP) would be accountable, including from the new strain, which was first identified in Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Nawaf versible upon FULL compliance ❑ ❑ ❑ potentially facing criminal penal- the UK. Al-Jaber hailed Egypt’s strategic by ALL,” he wrote. ties, for the grave consequences of In the meantime, the DGCA said the ban on and pivotal role in preserving the At Fordo, Iranian nuclear LONDON: A British judge on Monday re- their actions on our republic.” flights to and from Kuwait was lifted at dawn last Arab national security and defend- scientists under the watch of jected the United States’ request to extra- A number of senior military Saturday, after slapping it on Dec 21, 2020, in- ing the causes of the Arab nation. International Atomic Energy dite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to officers, including Gen. Mark formed sources in the DGCA put the number of He also praised Egypt’s con- Agency inspectors loaded cen- face espionage charges over the publication Milley, chairman of the Joint flights that landed and took off at 70. trifuges with over 130 kilograms of secret US documents a decade ago, say- Chiefs of Staff, have said pub- tinuous efforts in establishing ing he was likely to kill himself if held under However, the incoming flights from 35 coun- regional security, stability and (285 pounds) of low-enriched harsh US prison conditions. licly in recent weeks that the tries including India, Iran, China, Brazil, Colum- development. uranium to be spun up to 20%, In a mixed ruling for Assange and his sup- military has no role in determin- bia, Armenia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Syria, Sisi, during the meeting, said Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s porters, District Judge Vanessa Baraitser ing the outcome of U.S. elections Spain, Singapore, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sri asked to convey his greetings to permanent representative to the rejected defense arguments that the 49-year- and that their loyalty is to the Lanka, Nepal, Iraq, Mexico, Indonesia, Chile, the Kuwaiti Amir, affirming the U.N. atomic agency. old Australian faces a politically motivated Constitution, not to an individual Pakistan, Egypt, Lebanon, Hong Kong, Italy, special relations between Egypt The IAEA later described the American prosecution that rides roughshod leader or a political party. North Macedonia, Moldova, Panama, Peru, Ser- and Kuwait, represented in de- Fordo setup as three sets of two This Dec 11, 2020 satellite over free-speech protections. But she said The 10 former Pentagon leaders bia, Montenegro, Dominican Republic and Koso- cades of cooperation in various interconnected cascades, com- photo, by Maxar Technologies Assange’s precarious mental health would also warned in their Post article vo, remain in place since the Kuwaiti health au- shows construction at Iran’s likely deteriorate further under the condi- fields. prised of 1,044 IR-1 centrifuges Fordo nuclear facility. Iran has of the dangers of impeding a full thorities has not changed its decision due to the The president stressed - Iran’s first-generation centri- tions of “near total isolation” he would face and smooth transition at Defense situation and repercussions caused by the spread begun construction on a site at in a US prison. Egypt’s keenness to develop fuges. A cascade is a group of its underground nuclear facility Department prior to Inauguration of the coronavirus. cooperation and coordination centrifuges working together to “I fi nd that the mental condition of Mr. Day as part of a transfer to pow- The citizens of these countries cannot directly at Fordo amid tensions with the Assange is such that it would be oppres- between the two countries to more quickly enrich uranium. US over its atomic program, er to President-elect Joe Biden. enter Kuwait, but can enter after passing through serve the interests of peoples Iranian state television quoted satellite photos obtained on sive to extradite him to the United States of Biden has complained of efforts a third country from where flights are permitted of both countries as well as the government spokesman Ali Ra- Dec 18, 2020, by The Associ- America,” the judge said. (AP) by Trump-appointed Pentagon to land provided they stay in that country for 14 Arab nation. biei as saying that President Has- ated Press show. (AP) officials to obstruct the transition. days.