Kuwait Govt Submits Resignation to Emir

The Emir of Kuwait receives the government's resignation from the premier. (KUNA)
The Emir of Kuwait receives the government's resignation from the premier. (KUNA)
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Kuwait Govt Submits Resignation to Emir

The Emir of Kuwait receives the government's resignation from the premier. (KUNA)
The Emir of Kuwait receives the government's resignation from the premier. (KUNA)

Kuwait's government on Monday submitted its resignation to the ruling emir in an effort to resolve disputes with the parliamentary opposition.

It was the second time a government headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah has resigned this year. It was formed in March after the previous cabinet stepped down.

State news agency KUNA said Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah received the PM who handed him the written resignation of his cabinet.

The resignation helps the government evade eleven debriefings submitted against the prime minister and eight ministers.

It is also an attempt to ease political disputes in the Gulf nation at a time when the government was hoping that reconciliation efforts with the opposition would pave the way for the approval of a number of economic reforms.

Moreover, the resignation also happened shortly after the Emir had issued amnesty to indicted Kuwaitis. The cabinet approved the drafts of the amnesty bills on Sunday.

National Assembly Speaker Marzouq al-Ghanim said the government’s resignation would open a new chapter in Kuwait so that it can focus on major pending affairs.

He highlighted the Emir’s amnesty, saying it will help achieve the nation’s aspirations and resolve problems.

Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser al-Sabah said the PM’s resignation reflects his recognition of the Emir’s efforts in easing tensions and establishing the current positive political circumstances in the country.

The government started a dialogue with MPs to break the impasse, with the opposition demanding an amnesty and to be able to question Sheikh Sabah, who has been premier since late 2019.



Small Earthquake Strikes Eastern Saudi Arabia

The earthquake hit eastern Saudi Arabia, 85 kms east of the city of al-Jubail. (SPA)
The earthquake hit eastern Saudi Arabia, 85 kms east of the city of al-Jubail. (SPA)
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Small Earthquake Strikes Eastern Saudi Arabia

The earthquake hit eastern Saudi Arabia, 85 kms east of the city of al-Jubail. (SPA)
The earthquake hit eastern Saudi Arabia, 85 kms east of the city of al-Jubail. (SPA)

A 3.35 magnitude earthquake hit eastern Saudi Arabia, 85 kms east of the city of al-Jubail, said the Saudi Geological Survey on Tuesday.

In remarks to local television, Tariq Mansoob, head of the detection center at the survey, said six earthquakes were detected in the Kingdom from March and April.

They were all between the 3.5 and 4.5 range, he added.

The latest quake, which struck at 5:12 pm on Tuesday, has no impact on the Kingdom, he stated.

Activity along the Arabian and Eurasian plates along the Zagros and Makran mountains in Iran and Pakistan led to the quakes, he explained.

The pressure created by this activity resulted in the tremors, he went on to say.

Small quakes are a “good sign,” Mansoob said, because if the pressure continues to build without release, it would have eventually erupt in a major potentially devastating quake.

He reassured the public that the small tremors were not a cause for concern and that the larger ones had taken place closer to Iranian shores.