SHAWWAL 8, 1442 AH THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021 16 Pages Max 47º Min 27º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 18438 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Pandemic triggering Longtime car fan Biden Chile’s large Palestinian Benzema recalled by France 8 orphan crisis in India 9 lives his electric dreams 15 community protests strikes 16 for Euro 2020 after 6-yr exile Zionist raids damage Kuwait Specialized Hospital in Gaza Protests continue in Kuwait despite attempts by MoI to ban gatherings By B Izzak and Agencies take place. The ministry had banned another gathering a few days ago, which prompted three GAZA/KUWAIT: The administration of the Kuwait opposition lawmakers to announce their intention Specialized Hospital in Gaza City said yesterday the to grill Interior Minister Sheikh Thamer Al-Sabah. hospital’s facilities were damaged by Zionist raids on The grilling has not yet been filed. The National Rafah in southern Gaza Strip. At dawn, some facili- Assembly will hold a special session next Sunday ties were damaged at Kuwait Specialized Hospital in to debate grillings against three ministers over Rafah governorate, administrative supervisor at the allegations of mismanagement and failure to hospital Talaat Barhoum said in a press statement. respect questions sent by lawmakers. The hospital was damaged after the Zionist Ten opposition MPs had requested the special occupation forces targeted a charity near the hos- session in order to avoid discussing the issue in a pital, which provides aid to the people of Rafah, he regular session, which the opposition is not said. The recovery room at the operations depart- allowing to take place unless the prime minister ment, dental clinics, the men’s department and the accepts to be grilled. Speaker Marzouq Al- vascular clinic were damaged, Barhoum explained, Ghanem and a number of MPs claim that the adding that pictures will be provided. Assembly on March 30 took a decision to delay In Kuwait, the interior ministry yesterday again the grillings against the prime minister until the prevented a gathering called by political groups end of 2022, but the opposition insists that the to declare support and solidarity with the decision is illegitimate and against the constitu- Palestinian people currently under attack by the tion. As a result, the opposition is not allowing Zionist entity. The interior ministry had insisted regular sessions to proceed without the grilling of that public meetings and gatherings are not the prime minister. allowed in these times because of the coronavirus In Sunday’s session, opposition MPs have pandemic. It reminded the public of the decisions filed to grill Health Minister Sheikh Basel Al- taken by the Cabinet on Tuesday regarding ban- Sabah for allegedly failing to manage the coron- KUWAIT: Kuwaitis protest in solidarity with the Palestinian people yesterday. — Photo by Yasser ning gatherings to stop the spread of the disease. avirus pandemic. Al-Zayyat (See Page 3) But the ministry later allowed the gathering to Continued on Page 2 Zionist entity according to Zionist News in brief Biden expects police. “The president conveyed to the UAE allows full foreign ownership prime minister that he expected a sig- ‘significant nificant de-escalation today on the ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates path to a ceasefire,” the White House announced yesterday it will lift a cap on non- de-escalation’ said after a fourth phone call in a little local ownership and allow full foreign control of over a week. As diplomatic efforts business ventures from June 1. The reform, origi- GAZA CITY: US President Joe Biden intensified to stem the bloodshed, nally flagged in 2019, will make it easier to do told Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Germany said its top diplomat was business in the Gulf state and encourage invest- Netanyahu that he expects “signifi- heading to the Zionist entity for talks ment, the economy ministry said. The decision cant de-escalation” yesterday in the today. Netanyahu earlier yesterday abolishes a longstanding law that limits foreign military confrontation with the issued a tough threat against the Gaza ownership to just 49 percent. — AFP Palestinians, amid intense efforts to Strip’s Islamist rulers Hamas, who the reach a ceasefire. Deafening air Zionist entity says has fired around strikes and rocket fire once more 3,700 rockets at the Zionist entity Saudi ‘hopeful’ over Iran talks shook Gaza in the conflict that has, since May 10. MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s French midfielder Paul Pogba (left) and since May 10, claimed 219 Palestinian “You can either conquer them, and Ivorian midfielder Amad Diallo carry a Palestinian flag as they walk around PARIS: Saudi Arabia is “hopeful” after lives according to the Gaza health that’s always an open possibility, or the pitch at the end of an English Premier League match against Fulham at exploratory talks with its nemesis Iran, its foreign ministry and killed 12 people in the Continued on Page 2 Old Trafford on Tuesday. — AFP (See Page 15) minister told AFP, in a rare comment on delicate discussions whose details have been closely guarded. “We have initiated some exploratory spiraling outbreak, as it once again hit a record dai- Europe that in recent days has seen Britain open talks. They are at a very early stage but we are French cafes reopen ly number of coronavirus deaths and hospitals pubs, gyms and other indoor venues, Italy relax hopeful,” Prince Faisal bin Farhan said in Paris on struggled to keep up with climbing cases. curfews and Portugal welcome returning tourists. Tuesday. Asked what the impact of the June As health workers administered the world’s 1.5 France joined the party yesterday, allowing outdoor presidential elections in Iran might be, he said he as EU says will allow billionth COVID-19 vaccine dose, there was hope dining at cafes, bars and restaurants, as well as vis- thought it would be minimal. — AFP that immunization campaigns will allow countries to its to museums, cinemas and theatres after six vaccinated travelers finally emerge from the pandemic. The EU said yes- months of restrictions and ahead of a full reopening terday it would allow fully vaccinated visitors into of the economy on June 30. Only vaccinated can enter offices PARIS: The French returned to their beloved cafe the bloc and increase the level of new cases that a “It feels good. There is a sense of euphoria in terraces yesterday, while the EU said it would open country can hit before being declared unsafe - a the city center,” said Patricia Marchand, a manag- RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday said vacci- its borders to vaccinated travelers as life crept back measure that would open up travel into Europe er of the Cafe des Feuilles in the northwestern city nation against COVID-19 will be mandatory to normal in Europe after months of punishing from more places. of Rennes. from Aug 1 to enter any government and private restrictions. But India was still grappling with its It was the latest step toward return to normal in Continued on Page 2 establishments as well as to use public transport. Vaccination will be required to “enter any gov- ernment or private establishments” as well as to ambassadors in several countries access any entertainment or sports activities, the Lebanon FM including Kuwait to be summoned. interior ministry said in a statement. It will also Lebanon’s leaders have since tried be required to enter education institutions and to put out the fire and the 67-year-old use public transport, it added. — AFP quits over announced in a brief statement after meeting President Michel Aoun that he Dubai police hunt ‘big cat’ Saudi row had asked “to be relieved of his duties”. Aoun asked Akkar - who is also deputy DUBAI: Dubai Police said Tuesday that a hunt BEIRUT: Lebanon foreign minister prime minister - “to proceed with her was underway for a wild animal on the loose in a Charbel Wehbe stepped down yester- duties as acting foreign minister” as residential neighborhood, after reports that an day and was swiftly replaced after well as her original portfolio. escaped big cat was on the prowl. As a video of comments he made irked Saudi The Gulf’s relations with Lebanon a sleek black cat circulated on social media Arabia, as cash-strapped Beirut have become frostier over the rising groups, residents of The Springs community scrambles to avoid a diplomatic fall- political influence of the Shiite group were warned to “exercise all necessary caution”. out with the wealthy Gulf state. Hezbollah but Beirut is seeking fresh The Nation newspaper quoted a vet as saying Wehbe said in a televised debate on financial support from its former allies. Monday that the Islamic State group’s Lebanon defaulted on its debt last BEIRUT: Lebanese Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe (right) presents his res- that the creature appeared to be a young black ignation to President Michel Aoun at the Baabda presidential palace yes- leopard or panther. — AFP rise in the region had been engineered year, is witnessing unprecedented by Gulf states, prompting Lebanese Continued on Page 2 terday. — AFP 2 Established 1961 Thursday, May 20, 2021 Local Amir receives Crown Prince, Prime Minister KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received, at Bayan Palace yesterday, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. His Highness the Amir also received His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. — KUNA photos Kuwait Finance Minister Kuwait condemns discusses cooperation ‘gross slanders’ with US, Tunisian envoys against GCC KUWAIT: The Foreign Ministry expressed strong condemnation and denunciation of the gravely abusive remarks of the now for- mer Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe against the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and their peoples.