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376 Candidates Register for Kuwait’s Parliamentary Elections

A Kuwaiti candidate registers for the upcoming National Assembly elections. (KUNA)
A Kuwaiti candidate registers for the upcoming National Assembly elections. (KUNA)
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376 Candidates Register for Kuwait’s Parliamentary Elections

A Kuwaiti candidate registers for the upcoming National Assembly elections. (KUNA)
A Kuwaiti candidate registers for the upcoming National Assembly elections. (KUNA)

The deadline for submitting candidacy for the Kuwaiti National Assembly elections ended on Wednesday, with the registration of 376 candidates, including 27 women.

On Aug. 29, the Department of Elections Affairs of the Ministry of Interior opened the door for candidacy for the elections, which are scheduled to be held on Sept. 29.

Former National Assembly Speaker Ahmed Al-Saadoun is expected to take over the presidency of the new parliament, especially as the outgoing speaker, Marzouq Al-Ghanim, withdrew from the parliamentary race.

Al-Saadoun, 87, is a veteran lawmaker, who has been a member of the National Assembly since 1975, and has won all the elections organized in Kuwait since that year.

He was elected head of the assembly for the first time in 1985, but the council was dissolved a year later. He was also elected at the head of the National Assembly in 1992 and 1996.

In 1999, the late businessman, Jassem Al-Kharafi, took over the speakership until 2012, when Al-Saadoun returned to the post.

In a surprise announcement, Al-Ghanim said on Tuesday that he would not run for this year’s elections. He said his move would be “followed by a return with a stronger impetus.”

He explained: “The decision does not mean at all my withdrawal from the political scene... nor abandonment of my national duty… The decision to run for parliamentary elections is a national choice, based on objective foundations and political insight, and takes into account the circumstances and requirements of each stage.”

In addition to Marzouq Al-Ghanim, prominent members of the National Assembly, who occupied parliamentary seats for successive sessions, will be absent from the upcoming polls, including Adnan Abdul-Samad, Abdullah Al-Tariji, Youssef Al-Fadala, Saud Busalib, Salman Al-Hulaila and Nasser Al-Dosari.

The upcoming National Assembly elections are seen as a fundamental shift in the formation of the legislative authority, specifically with the arrival of a new prime minister.

The country awaits cooperation between the two authorities to resolve outstanding matters, especially economic reforms and the fight against corruption.

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Gulf

Arab and Islamic Bodies Condemn Houthi Attack on Power Station in Saudi Arabia’s Madinah

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
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Arab and Islamic Bodies Condemn Houthi Attack on Power Station in Saudi Arabia’s Madinah

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT

Several Arab and Islamic bodies on Friday condemned a Houthi attack that targeted a power station in Saudi Arabia’s Madinah that supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque and other civilian facilities.

Kuwait, Qatar, the Arab League, the OIC, Egypt, the Muslim World League, the Arab Parliament president, GCC, and the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque condemned the attack, saying it violated the Kingdom's sovereignty and breached international law.

The condemnations described the attack as a threat to civilian infrastructure and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, while stressing the need to protect holy sites and civilian facilities from attacks.

They also renewed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed support for the Kingdom in confronting attacks targeting its security, stability, and sovereignty, as well as the safety of its citizens and residents.

Gulf

Coalition: Terrorist Houthi Militia Targets Taibah Power Distribution Station in Madinah

Damage is seen at the station from the Houthi attack. (SPA)
Damage is seen at the station from the Houthi attack. (SPA)
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Coalition: Terrorist Houthi Militia Targets Taibah Power Distribution Station in Madinah

Damage is seen at the station from the Houthi attack. (SPA)
Damage is seen at the station from the Houthi attack. (SPA)

Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki announced on Thursday that the terrorist Houthi militia in Yemen was behind a terrorist attack on the Taibah electricity distribution station in Madinah.

The attack took place at 5:11 am on Tuesday. The investigation and evidence gathered by the relevant authorities confirmed the involvement of the Houthi militia in planning and executing this “cowardly” terrorist act, based on after action review and the wreckage of the drone used.

The attack resulted in one power transformer being taken out of service, without affecting the electricity network.

Debris of the drone used by the terrorist Houthi in the attack. (SPA)

“The cowardly terrorist act, targeting a civilian facility providing electricity to the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, is a continuation of this extremist militia's attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques and their deliberate provocation of millions of Muslims worldwide by targeting Makkah and Madinah,” said Al-Malki.

“The Coalition continues to take and implement measures to deter the terrorist Houthi militia, ensuring the protection of the Two Holy Mosques and the safety of the pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah,” he stressed.

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi strongly condemned the attack.

He stressed that “this heinous Houthi attack has crossed all red lines, represents a blatant provocation to the sentiments of Muslims across the world, and constitutes a grave escalation in violating the sanctity of Islamic holy sites.”

It reveals “an aggressive approach that disregards religious and humanitarian values as well as international laws and norms, particularly in light of repeated attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques and their surrounding areas.”

Damage is seen at the plant as a result of the Houthi attack. (SPA)

Albudaiwi underscored the GCC member states' “steadfast and unwavering stance alongside Saudi Arabia and their full solidarity in confronting anything that threatens its security, stability, and sovereignty.”

He reiterated “complete support for all measures taken by the Kingdom to protect its territory, citizens, residents, and pilgrims,” stressing that the security of the Kingdom and its holy sites “is an integral part of the collective security of the GCC, and that any threat to the Kingdom is a threat to the security of all GCC member states.”

The Jordanian government condemned the Houthi attack as an “outrageous violation of Saudi Arabia's sovereignty, a threat to its security, stability, and territorial integrity, and a clear breach of international law and the UN Charter.” 

Official Spokesperson of the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Fuad Al-Majali expressed Jordan's full solidarity with Saudi Arabia.  

He reaffirmed Jordan's support for all measures taken to ensure the security and safety of its citizens and residents. 

President of the Arab Parliament Mohamed Al-Yammahi strongly condemned the attack, stressing that “such criminal acts constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of holy sites, provoke the feelings of Muslims around the world, and threaten the security and stability of the region, rather than the Kingdom’s security alone.” 

Al-Yammahi affirmed the Arab Parliament’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures it takes to confront such terrorist acts.  

“Such terrorist acts will not undermine Saudi Arabia’s ability to protect its resources, security, and the safety of its citizens and residents,” he added. 

Gulf

Saudi Defense Minister Discusses Regional Security with Hegseth, Vautrin

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
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Saudi Defense Minister Discusses Regional Security with Hegseth, Vautrin

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz held separate telephone calls on regional security with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin.

With Hegseth, Prince Khalid reviewed the Saudi-US strategic defense partnership and discussed coordinating the two nations' efforts to boost regional security and stability.

They also tackled several regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Prince Khalid and Vautrin discussed prospects for bilateral defense cooperation, addressed regional challenges and efforts to maintain international peace and security. They also covered issues of mutual interest.