Kuwait Parliament to Convene Tuesday in Potentially its Last Session

Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al Sabah. (Reuters)
Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al Sabah. (Reuters)
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Kuwait Parliament to Convene Tuesday in Potentially its Last Session

Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al Sabah. (Reuters)
Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al Sabah. (Reuters)

Kuwait’s National Assembly Speaker Marzouq al-Ghanim announced on Sunday that he has called on parliament to convene for a regular session on Tuesday and Wednesday amid speculation that it could be its last with the government gearing up to submit a bill to dissolve the legislature.

Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al Sabah had in April announced that the National Assembly will be dissolved and that elections will be held in the coming months.

He also announced that he will oversee the dissolution process and issue a number of political and legal reforms that would “lead the state towards a new phase of discipline and legal guidelines so as to avoid disputes and eliminate all forms of abuse of power by both the legislative and executive authorities.”

The Constitutional Court had on March 19 annulled the results of the 2022 parliamentary elections and reinstated the 2020 parliament, with al-Ghanim as its speaker.

Relations between the National Assembly and government, headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah, are strained and they are expected to play out during the parliament’s upcoming meetings.

Separately, prominent MP Badr al-Humaidi announced that he will not run in the elections.

In a message to the National Assembly, he confirmed that he would not be running, stressing that dissolving the 2020 parliament and calling for new elections will not change the state of affairs in the country or ease tensions.

Al-Humaidi previously served as minister of public works and minister of state for housing affairs between 2003 and 2006.



Saudi Foreign Minister Receives Phone Call from French Foreign Minister

zSaudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah - File Photo/Reuters)
zSaudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah - File Photo/Reuters)
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Saudi Foreign Minister Receives Phone Call from French Foreign Minister

zSaudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah - File Photo/Reuters)
zSaudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah - File Photo/Reuters)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a phone call from Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic Jean-Noël Barrot, SPA reported.

During the call, they discussed bilateral relations and the latest regional and international developments.


Yemen Presidential Leadership Council President Holds Talks with GCC Sec-Gen

President of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi - Reuters
President of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi - Reuters
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Yemen Presidential Leadership Council President Holds Talks with GCC Sec-Gen

President of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi - Reuters
President of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi - Reuters

President of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi met with Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi in Riyadh.

According to a press release issued by the GCC General Secretariat, the two sides reviewed GCC-Yemeni relations and discussed the current situation in the Republic of Yemen, with particular focus on recent developments in the governorates of Hadramout and Al-Mahrah. Albudaiwi affirmed that all efforts are being exerted and supported to enhance security and stability in Yemen.

Dr. Al-Alimi commended the stances, leading role, and exceptional efforts made by the GCC states to support Yemen across various fields, contributing to enhancing Yemen’s stability and realizing its development, SPA reported.

Furthermore, Albudaiwi reiterated the GCC’s steadfast position affirming full support for the Presidential Leadership Council, headed by Dr. Al-Alimi, and its supporting entities, in their endeavours to achieve security and stability in Yemen.

He also underscored the GCC’s support for reaching a comprehensive political solution in accordance with the three references, in a manner that preserves Yemen’s sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and independence.


No Damage as Quake Strikes Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Region 

No damage was reported from the earthquake. (SPA)
No damage was reported from the earthquake. (SPA)
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No Damage as Quake Strikes Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Region 

No damage was reported from the earthquake. (SPA)
No damage was reported from the earthquake. (SPA)

An earthquake struck Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Region on Wednesday.

Spokesperson for the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) Tariq Aba Al-Khail said no damage casualties were reported in the 4.0-magnitude quake.

The earthquake resulted from tectonic stresses from the collision of the Arabian and Eurasian geological plates in the Zagros Mountains of Iran, which activated existing faults in the Earth's crust in Eastern Region of the Kingdom, he said.