Kuwait Forms First Government Under New Emir and Prime Minister 

New Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al Sabah takes the oath at the National Assembly in Kuwait City, Kuwait, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. (AP)
New Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al Sabah takes the oath at the National Assembly in Kuwait City, Kuwait, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. (AP)
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Kuwait Forms First Government Under New Emir and Prime Minister 

New Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al Sabah takes the oath at the National Assembly in Kuwait City, Kuwait, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. (AP)
New Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al Sabah takes the oath at the National Assembly in Kuwait City, Kuwait, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. (AP)

Kuwait on Wednesday formed a government headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem Al Sabah, the state news agency said, the country's first cabinet after the death of its previous ruler. 

Sheikh Mohammed appointed new ministers for oil, finance and foreign affairs in the first cabinet formed under Kuwait's new Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al Sabah, which he said would carry out reforms to comply with the emir's guidance. 

"This is a heavy responsibility of a new phase of Kuwait's history which includes challenges and aspirations, and requires further hard work and genuine accomplishment," the prime minister said, quoted by KUNA. 

The prime minister appointed Emad Mohammed al-Atiqi as oil minister, Anwar Ali al-Mudhaf as finance minister and Abdullah Ali al-Yahya as foreign minister. 

Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al Sabah came to power in December after his predecessor Sheikh Nawaf died. 



Saudi, Jordanian FMs Discuss Regional Developments

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA file)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA file)
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Saudi, Jordanian FMs Discuss Regional Developments

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA file)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA file)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received on Tuesday a telephone call from Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and FM Ayman Safadi.

They discussed the latest developments in the region, as well as continued bilateral coordination and consultation in this regard.


Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Attack on Khartoum Airport

Khartoum International Airport ground workers greet the first domestic Sudan Airways flight landing from Port Sudan, in Khartoum, Sudan, on Feb. 1, 2026. (AP)
Khartoum International Airport ground workers greet the first domestic Sudan Airways flight landing from Port Sudan, in Khartoum, Sudan, on Feb. 1, 2026. (AP)
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Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Attack on Khartoum Airport

Khartoum International Airport ground workers greet the first domestic Sudan Airways flight landing from Port Sudan, in Khartoum, Sudan, on Feb. 1, 2026. (AP)
Khartoum International Airport ground workers greet the first domestic Sudan Airways flight landing from Port Sudan, in Khartoum, Sudan, on Feb. 1, 2026. (AP)

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Tuesday an attack on Khartoum airport in the Sudanese capital.

The Kingdom reiterated “its firm stance calling for the preservation of Sudan’s unity, legitimate institutions, the resources of its brotherly people, and its security and stability. It also stresses the importance of keeping civilian and vital facilities out of the conflict, said a Foreign Ministry statement.

The Kingdom called on the parties to de-escalate the situation, immediately halt violations, and respect the commitments made in the Jeddah Declaration signed on May 11, 2023, including the protection of civilians and civilian facilities and compliance with international humanitarian law.

The Kingdom also “called on Sudan’s neighboring countries to respect Sudan’s sovereignty and independence and to prevent their territories from being used as a launch point for these attacks.”

The Sudanese government accused Ethiopia of being behind recent drone attacks on sites including Khartoum airport and recalled its ambassador on Tuesday.

In response, Ethiopia’s foreign ministry issued a statement saying it “rejects (the) baseless accusations.”

A military spokesperson in Sudan said the government has evidence of four drone strikes since March 1 originating from neighboring Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar airport.

An attack on Monday targeted the Khartoum airport.


UAE Air Defenses ‘Actively Engaging’ Iran Missiles, Drones

 The United Arab Emirates flag flies in front of the Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai. (Reuters file photo)
The United Arab Emirates flag flies in front of the Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai. (Reuters file photo)
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UAE Air Defenses ‘Actively Engaging’ Iran Missiles, Drones

 The United Arab Emirates flag flies in front of the Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai. (Reuters file photo)
The United Arab Emirates flag flies in front of the Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai. (Reuters file photo)

The United Arab Emirates said Tuesday its air defenses were engaging missiles and drones coming from Iran for the second consecutive day, weeks into a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East war.

"UAE air defense systems are actively engaging with missiles and UAV threats," the defense ministry said in a statement on X, adding that they had "come from Iran".

On Monday, an Iranian drone attack caused a fire, injuring three people at an energy installation in Fujairah, close to the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway that is the focus of tensions between the US and Iran.

Fujairah is the UAE's main oil export terminal bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.

The oil-rich UAE has borne the brunt of Tehran's retaliation, having been targeted by more than 2,800 missiles and drones during the war.