Kuwait Govt Sets Date for First Session of New National Assembly

Kuwaitis cast their votes at a polling station to cast their votes, during the parliamentary elections Kuwait City, Kuwait, on 29 September 2022. (EPA)
Kuwaitis cast their votes at a polling station to cast their votes, during the parliamentary elections Kuwait City, Kuwait, on 29 September 2022. (EPA)
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Kuwait Govt Sets Date for First Session of New National Assembly

Kuwaitis cast their votes at a polling station to cast their votes, during the parliamentary elections Kuwait City, Kuwait, on 29 September 2022. (EPA)
Kuwaitis cast their votes at a polling station to cast their votes, during the parliamentary elections Kuwait City, Kuwait, on 29 September 2022. (EPA)

The Kuwaiti government held an extraordinary session on Saturday to set the date for the first meeting of the newly-elected National Assembly.

The parliament will meet for the first time on October 11.

The government then submitted its resignation following the announcement of this week’s elections results.

The results were announced on Friday, introducing a 54 percent change in the legislature.

Only 12 lawmakers were reelected to their posts in the 50-member legisalture.

Opposition lawmakers made gains, while pro-government MPs were dealt shocking defeats.

Deputies representing the Islamic Constitutional Movement - Hadas (Muslim Brotherhood) won seats. The victors included: Osama Issa Al-Shaheen (first constituency), Hamad Muhammad Al-Matar (second district), and Abdulaziz Al-Saqabi (third constituency).

The Salafist movement achieved a remarkable win with the return of MP Muhammad Hayef to the National Assembly after his loss in the previous elections. Adel Al-Damkhi, Fahd Al-Masoud and Hamad Al-Obeid also won seats.

The entire Bloc of Five, consisting of Hassan Gohar, Abdullah Al-Mudhaf, Badr Al-Mulla, Muhalhal Al-Mudhaf, and Muhannad Al-Sayer, also won with a high number of votes in their constituencies.

About nine Shiite deputies, distributed in various electoral districts and political blocs, won seats, including two independents, Osama Al-Zayd and Jenan Boushehri.

Former National Assembly Speaker Ahmed Al-Saadoun claimed a landslide victory, receiving more than 12,200 votes in the third constituency - the highest in the country.



First Makkah Route Initiative Flight Departs Bangladesh

This year marks the fifth implementation of the Makkah Route Initiative in Bangladesh. (SPA)
This year marks the fifth implementation of the Makkah Route Initiative in Bangladesh. (SPA)
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First Makkah Route Initiative Flight Departs Bangladesh

This year marks the fifth implementation of the Makkah Route Initiative in Bangladesh. (SPA)
This year marks the fifth implementation of the Makkah Route Initiative in Bangladesh. (SPA)

The first flight carrying beneficiaries of the Makkah Route Initiative departed Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

This year marks the fifth implementation of the Makkah Route Initiative in Bangladesh.

The initiative aims to provide high-quality services to pilgrims from the beneficiary countries. It entails completing all necessary travel procedures in the pilgrims' home countries, such as issuing electronic visas, ensuring that pilgrims have a clean bill of health, and finalizing passport procedures at the departure airport.

Additionally, luggage is coded and sorted according to the pilgrims' transportation and accommodation arrangements in the Kingdom.

Upon arrival, pilgrims are offered transportation to their places of residence in Makkah and Madinah, and their luggage is delivered to their accommodations.

The Makkah Route Initiative is one of the Saudi Ministry of Interior's programs, implemented in cooperation with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health, Hajj, and Umrah, as well as other government entities.