SUBSCRIPTION MONDAY, MAY 27, 2013 RAJAB 17, 1434 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Maoist rebels Obama Rosberg Neymar kill 23 in travels to emulates announces central India tornado-hit father with transfer to ambush7 Oklahoma15 Monaco19 win Barcelona19 Resignation of oil Max 44º Min 25º High Tide minister ‘accepted’ 01:59 & 12:25 Low Tide Panel calls to scrap Al-Zour power plant contract 07:08 & 20:07 40 PAGES NO: 15821 150 FILS By B Izzak KUWAIT: With just two days before the highly-anticipated debates of two grillings of the oil and interior ministers, it was reported that the resignation of Oil Minister Hani Hussein has been accepted. However, there has been no official comment on the rumours about the resignation, which if true would mean scrapping the grilling filed two weeks ago by three MPs over alleged violations, especially the payment of the $2.2 billion penalty to US’ Dow Chemical. Hussein submitted his resignation to the prime minister along with all Cabinet members two weeks ago after MPs surprised everyone by filing two requests to grill the ministers. In the meantime, Hussein carried out one of the biggest reshuffle in the oil sector, replacing the chief exec- utive officers of all the eight companies under Kuwait Petroleum Corp. The shakeup also included replacing the chief execu- tive officer of KPC Farouq Al-Zanki, who was replaced by Nezar Al- Adasani. A number of MPs swiftly welcomed the reported resignation but no one confirmed the report. MP Abdullah Al- Tameemi said the accept- Hani Hussein ance of the resignation of the oil minister was “long over- due” but called for following the issue on the payment of Dow penalty in court. He also criticized the minister for undertaking the shakeup in the oil sector and not leaving it to his successor. MP Saadoun Hammad, one of the three MPs who filed BEIRUT: Lebanese security forces inspect the damage after two rockets exploded in Shayyah, a southern suburb of Beirut, yesterday. — AFP to grill the minister, said the resignation of the oil minister is a “conviction” against him and vowed that the resigna- tion will not stop them from referring the minister to the special tribunal for trying ministers after he squandered Rockets hit Hezbollah heartland millions in public funds. MP Faisal Al-Kandari called on the three grillers to provide all the information they have to the parliamentary committee investigating the Dow issue. Kuwaitis urged to avoid Lebanon • Bahrain slams ‘terrorist’ Nasrallah MP Maasouma Al-Mubarak said the minister has escaped the Dow catastrophe, but called on the prime BEIRUT: Two rockets exploded in the Hezbollah the first time the Lebanese capital’s mainly Shiite possible”. “Due to the unstable situation in Lebanon minister to rectify the massive changes in the oil sector heartland of Beirut’s Shiite southern suburbs yester- southern suburbs have been targeted during the two- and the expected consequences... a foreign ministry and reinstate highly-qualified oil executives removed by day, wounding four people, hours after the group year-old conflict in neighbouring Syria, where official urged citizens to exercise caution and to aban- the minister. Under Kuwaiti law, when a minister resigns, vowed to fight until victory for Syria’s regime, a Hezbollah has thrown its military might into the don travel to Lebanon at present,” the KUNA news any grilling against him will not be debated like the Lebanese security source said. “Two Grad rockets hit regime’s fight against rebels seeking to topple agency cited an official statement as saying. The for- grilling against Hussein. The two grillings were due to be the southern suburbs of Beirut. One rocket struck a President Bashar Al-Assad. eign ministry also urged Kuwaitis already in Lebanon debated tomorrow with Hussein’s grilling first. It was not car showroom where four people were wounded and Kuwait yesterday urged its citizens to avoid to leave “as soon as possible”, the statement said. clear whether the government will attend tomorrow’s vehicles were damaged,” the source told AFP. It was Lebanon and those already there to leave “as soon as Continued on Page 15 Assembly session or not. Continued on Page 15 Gay epic wins Cannes top prize CANNES, France: An audacious lesbian of “bravo” from the ceremony’s audience. love story featuring hardcore sex, “Blue is “I should like to dedicate this film to the Warmest Colour” by French-Tunisian the wonderful youth of France whom I MoH denies director Abdellatif Kechiche, won the top met during the long period while making prize yesterday at the Cannes Film this film,” he said. “Those young people Festival in a watershed year for gay taught me a lot about the spirit of free- MERS cases rights. An all-star jury at cinema’s top dom and living together.” The Tunis-born showcase led this year by Hollywood Kechiche, 52, also hailed the spirit of the in Kuwait director Steven Spielberg crowned the Arab Spring as he claimed his gong. “I graphically erotic coming-of-age story would also like to dedicate this film to set in France and clocking in at an epic other youth, something which happened Saudi woman dies three hours. In an unusual step, not so very long ago, the revolution in Spielberg awarded the prize to Kechiche Tunisia,” he said. “They also have this aspi- KUWAIT: The Health Ministry said yesterday that it and the film’s two stars, Adele ration to live free, to express themselves has not recorded any cases of a deadly SARS-like Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux, who freely and to love in full freedom.” coronavirus in the country. “The ministry adopts a SHARJAH: (From left) Iranian Masoud Mohammed, Qatari Sheikh Mohammed joined him on stage to cheers and calls Continued on Page 15 transparent policy on all matters related to health bin Abdullah Al-Thani, Palestinian Raed Zidan and Saudi Raha Muharraq cut a safety in the country,” said minister Mohammad Al- cake upon their arrival from Nepal at Sharjah airport yesterday after they suc- Haifi, who came out to reject rumours of the pres- cessfully climbed Mount Everest. Muharraq became the first Saudi female and ence of the disease in Kuwait and called on the dis- youngest Arab to reach the summit of Mount Everest, while fellow climbers seminators of such rumours to obtain their informa- Sheikh Mohammed and Zidan became the first Qatari and Palestinian to reach tion from relevant sources. So far, there have been 44 the mountain’s peak. — AFP lab-confirmed cases worldwide of the virus, which until now has been known as the novel coronavirus, or nCoV-EMC, but was this week redubbed the Palestinian public hails Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, or MERS. local hero of Arab Idol The disease is a cause for intense scrutiny by the ministry, which is committing itself to carrying out GAZA CITY: Eyes glued to big screens eliminates each week the singer with coordinative efforts with the GCC Health Ministers’ in cafes and restaurants across Gaza the fewest votes. Assad made it Council and the World Health Organisation (WHO) on and the West Bank, adoring fans cheer through again on Saturday night. “He on Mohammed Assaf as he sings his deserves to win,” said Maya, a 19-year- the exchange of information on the disease and its way closer to winning this year’s Arab old supporter who watched the show developments, Haifi was quoted as saying in a state- Idol song contest. Since March, the at a cafe in Gaza, smoking a shisha ment. The ministry has taken all necessary precau- handsome, immaculately dressed 22- (water pipe) and drinking coffee. “His tions in the event of a critical situation, added the year-old Gazan’s powerful voice has voice is great and his presence even minister. propelled him every weekend to the better; there’s none like him!” “Assaf is Meanwhile, an 81-year-old woman who had con- ranks of only seven remaining singers competing to raise the profile of tracted MERS has died in Saudi Arabia, raising the in a Beirut-based competition that Palestine and Gaza. I support him and death toll in the kingdom to 18, the health ministry started out with 27. In Gaza City and am proud he’s from here,” she added, said in a statement yesterday “An 81-year-old woman Ramallah alike, fans carry banners that smiling. who was suffering from kidney failure as well as other urge viewers to text “number 3” to the Assaf, introduced on the program as Arab Idol hotline on their mobile representing “Palestine”, has featured CANNES: French-Tunisian director Abdellatif Kechiche poses onstage yesterday chronic illnesses has died” in the eastern Al-Ahsaa phones, giving Assaf a vote. prominently in the Israeli media and with his Palme d’Or for the film ‘La Vie D’Adele’, flanked by French actresses Lea region of oil-rich Saudi Arabia after contracting the virus, it said. As with Pop Idol, the Western equiv- captured not only the popular Seydoux (left) and Adele Exarchopoulos during the closing ceremony of the alent on which it is modelled, Arab Idol Continued on Page 15 66th Cannes film festival. — AFP Continued on Page 15 MONDAY, MAY 27, 2013 LOCAL KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attends a luncheon held in his honor hosted by Faisal Bander Al-Doweesh yesterday in the attendance of HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah. Amir attends luncheon in his honor KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh tion of our ancestors in reaching out to ster our national unity, to strengthen Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and consulting each other with the our constitutional system and to pro- attended a luncheon held in his honor aim of strengthening our democratic mote the principles of Shura (consulta- hosted by Faisal Bander Al-Doweesh experience and uphold the principles tion) and democracy.” Kuwait - a long standing yesterday in the attendance of HH the enshrined by our cherished constitu- HH the Amir applauded the Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad tion,” said HH the Amir during the people’s great awareness and prioritiz- Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.