Kuwaiti Minister of Commerce Survives No-Confidence Motion

File image used for illustrative purpose. Kuwait parliament meets in Kuwait City in this file photo. - REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
File image used for illustrative purpose. Kuwait parliament meets in Kuwait City in this file photo. - REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
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Kuwaiti Minister of Commerce Survives No-Confidence Motion

File image used for illustrative purpose. Kuwait parliament meets in Kuwait City in this file photo. - REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
File image used for illustrative purpose. Kuwait parliament meets in Kuwait City in this file photo. - REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee

Kuwait's National Assembly rejected Wednesday a motion of no-confidence in the Minister of Commerce and Industry and Acting Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Khaled al-Roudan.

Thirty-seven MPs voted against the no-confidence motion and 11 others voted in favor out of the 48 lawmakers who attended the session.

Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah extended his congratulations to the minister on the renewal of confidence.

The Emir praised Roudan's performance and efficiency during his responses to the interpellation and the democratic practice that characterized the civilized image of the homeland, wishing him all the best in his journey to serve Kuwait.

A total of ten MPs signed the no-confidence motion on March 19. They are Abdulkarim al-Kandari, Khaled al-Otaibi, Mohammad al-Mutair, Farraj al-Arbeed, Thamer al-Suwait, Shuaib al-Muwaizri, Saleh Ashour and Abdullah al-Enezi, Mubarak al-Hajraf and Humaidi al-Subaie.

After renewing the confidence, Roudan pointed out that "it is wonderful to gain the confidence of the public through their national representatives."

He promised to address the issues that Hajraf and Subaie raised during his questioning, confirming that gaining the confidence of the Assembly strengthened his resolve to combat corruption and follow the path towards national reform.

The Assembly decided to refer the interpellation to the Public Funds Protection Committee. The interrogation included financial and administrative violations, wasting public funds and the absence of a supervisory role in the ministry of commerce.



Saudi Interior Minister, Singapore's Coordinating Minister for National Security Discuss Regional Security Development

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Interior Minister, Singapore's Coordinating Minister for National Security Discuss Regional Security Development

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz received a phone call on Sunday from Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs of the Republic of Singapore K Shanmugam.

During the call, the two officials discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and current security developments amid the Iranian attacks targeting regional security and stability, SPA reported.

They also affirmed the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation and coordination in support of regional security and stability, in addition to discussing a number of topics of mutual interest.

Shanmugam expressed his country's condemnation of the Iranian attacks targeting the Kingdom and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, affirming Singapore's solidarity with the Kingdom and the GCC states in all measures aimed at enhancing security and stability.


Saudi Arabia Condemns Riots Targeting UAE Embassy in Damascus

Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Riots Targeting UAE Embassy in Damascus

Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia condemned on Sunday the riots, assaults, and attempted vandalism that targeted the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates and the residence of its head of mission in Damascus.

A Foreign Ministry statement said the Kingdom also slammed the “unacceptable offenses directed at the national symbols of the brotherly UAE.”

The ministry stressed the Kingdom’s “rejection of these attacks and all forms of violence against diplomats, stressing the need to ensure the protection of diplomats and diplomatic missions in line with relevant international laws and conventions.”

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi also slammed the attack against the UAE embassy in Damascus, urging Syrian authorities to hold those responsible to account.


Oman, Iran Hold Talks on Strait of Hormuz

Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)
Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)
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Oman, Iran Hold Talks on Strait of Hormuz

Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)
Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)

Oman and Iran held talks on easing passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the Omani state news agency reported Sunday, with the key shipping chokepoint effectively closed due to war in the Middle East.

"Oman and Iran held a meeting at the deputy ministers level in the foreign ministries of the two countries, with the attendance of specialists from both sides, during which the possible options were discussed regarding ensuring the smooth passage through the Strait of Hormuz," the news agency posted on X.

"The experts from both sides put forward a number of visions and proposals regarding it," it added.