Saudi Arabia Urges Stronger Action Against Illicit Arms Trafficking

Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr. Abdulaziz Alwasil. Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr. Abdulaziz Alwasil. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia Urges Stronger Action Against Illicit Arms Trafficking

Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr. Abdulaziz Alwasil. Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr. Abdulaziz Alwasil. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia has stressed the growing interest of the Arab Group in combating the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons in light of the catastrophic security, humanitarian, and economic consequences of this phenomenon.

The statement was made by Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr. Abdulaziz Alwasil, who stressed the importance of the Program of Action as a consensus-based United Nations framework for combating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and boosting trust and cooperation among states.

He emphasized that the Program of Action constitutes a standalone international framework and underscored the need to ensure that its implementation does not overlap with any other international mechanisms that do not enjoy broad consensus.

Alwasil also highlighted the importance of international cooperation and technical assistance in implementing the program, including the transfer of relevant technologies and the development of national capacities.

Saudi Arabia called for continued study of the impacts of modern technological developments in a manner that contributes to addressing the challenges associated with this phenomenon.



GCC Launches Platform for Unified Review of Gulf Legislation

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi (4th from right) and other officials are seen at Sunday's launch. (GCC)
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi (4th from right) and other officials are seen at Sunday's launch. (GCC)
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GCC Launches Platform for Unified Review of Gulf Legislation

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi (4th from right) and other officials are seen at Sunday's launch. (GCC)
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi (4th from right) and other officials are seen at Sunday's launch. (GCC)

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi launched on Sunday the "Gulf Legislation Platform" that allows the review of unified Gulf legislation issued within the framework of joint Gulf action.

It provides a unified electronic reference that helps in supporting legislative and legal work across Gulf countries, said a statement by the GCC General Secretariat.

During the launch at the General Secretariat headquarters, Albudaiwi hailed the efforts of those in charge of the initiative, which came in implementation of the decision of the Standing Committee of Officials of Legislation Departments in the GCC States at its 19th meeting.

The committee had approved the General Secretariat's proposal to establish this specialized platform to streamline access to unified Gulf and national legislation.

The platform provides advanced search services that enable government and legal entities in the member states, alongside specialists, researchers, and those interested in legislative affairs, to access and review unified Gulf legislation and national legislation with efficiency and ease.

This boosts the exchange of legal expertise and supports legislative coordination and integration among the Council states. The platform currently boasts more than 24,700 legal and legislative documents.

The first phase of the project covers Bahrain and Oman, while the relevant authorities at the General Secretariat continue to work on completing the link with the remaining member countries.


KSrelief's Masam Project Clears 2,045 Mines across Yemen in One Week

The Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance (Masam) in Yemen cleared 2,045 mines from various regions of Yemen during the second week of June 2026. (SPA)
The Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance (Masam) in Yemen cleared 2,045 mines from various regions of Yemen during the second week of June 2026. (SPA)
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KSrelief's Masam Project Clears 2,045 Mines across Yemen in One Week

The Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance (Masam) in Yemen cleared 2,045 mines from various regions of Yemen during the second week of June 2026. (SPA)
The Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance (Masam) in Yemen cleared 2,045 mines from various regions of Yemen during the second week of June 2026. (SPA)

The Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance (Masam) in Yemen, implemented by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), cleared 2,045 mines from various regions of Yemen during the second week of June 2026, the Saudi Press Agency said on Monday.

The clearance operations included 98 anti-tank mines, 18 anti-personnel mines, 1,927 unexploded ordnance items, and two improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

This brings the number of mines cleared since the beginning of June to 2,843, while the total removed since the launch of the Masam project has reached 567,182.

These mines had been indiscriminately planted across various parts of Yemen, posing a threat to civilians, including children, women, and the elderly.

Through KSrelief, Saudi Arabia continues to support mine-clearance operations across Yemen under the Masam project, helping to protect civilians from the dangers posed by landmines and explosive remnants of war


Kuwait Withdraws Citizenship from 2,192 People and Their Dependents

The official gazette Kuwait Alyawm published the names of 2,192 people whose Kuwaiti citizenship was withdrawn, as well as those who may have acquired it through dependency on them (Asharq Al-Awsat).
The official gazette Kuwait Alyawm published the names of 2,192 people whose Kuwaiti citizenship was withdrawn, as well as those who may have acquired it through dependency on them (Asharq Al-Awsat).
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Kuwait Withdraws Citizenship from 2,192 People and Their Dependents

The official gazette Kuwait Alyawm published the names of 2,192 people whose Kuwaiti citizenship was withdrawn, as well as those who may have acquired it through dependency on them (Asharq Al-Awsat).
The official gazette Kuwait Alyawm published the names of 2,192 people whose Kuwaiti citizenship was withdrawn, as well as those who may have acquired it through dependency on them (Asharq Al-Awsat).

Kuwaiti authorities have withdrawn citizenship from 2,192 people, as well as those who acquired it through dependency on them, and revoked the citizenship of one person.

The official gazette Kuwait Alyawm published the names of 2,192 people whose Kuwaiti citizenship was withdrawn, along with those who may have acquired citizenship through dependency on them. It also published a decree revoking the citizenship of one person.

The names were listed in eight decrees.

Decree No. 90 of 2026 provided for the withdrawal of citizenship from 26 people, while Decree No. 91 provided for the withdrawal of citizenship certificates from five people.

Decree No. 92 provided for the withdrawal of citizenship from 1,594 people, while Decree No. 93 provided for the withdrawal of citizenship from 491 people.

Decree No. 94 provided for the revocation of Kuwaiti citizenship from one person.

Decree No. 95 provided for the withdrawal of citizenship certificates from four people, while Decree No. 96 provided for the withdrawal of citizenship from two people.

Decree No. 97 provided for the withdrawal of Kuwaiti citizenship from 70 people.