Kuwait Picks New Finance and Trade Ministers in Cabinet Shuffle

Haitham Al-Ali, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, had attributed the power outages to a malfunction in the gas supply (KUNA)
Haitham Al-Ali, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, had attributed the power outages to a malfunction in the gas supply (KUNA)
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Kuwait Picks New Finance and Trade Ministers in Cabinet Shuffle

Haitham Al-Ali, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, had attributed the power outages to a malfunction in the gas supply (KUNA)
Haitham Al-Ali, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, had attributed the power outages to a malfunction in the gas supply (KUNA)

Kuwait has named Nora Suleiman Al-Fassam and Khalifa Abdullah Ajeel as its new finance and trade ministers respectively, as part of a cabinet shuffle, according to a decree issued by the country's Emir on Sunday.
Al-Fassam, who was also appointed minister of state for economic and investment affairs, is a banker with extensive experience in corporate finance and investment banking.
She most recently served as chief strategy officer at Kuwait's Sharia-compliant Boubyan Bank, according to the country’s news agency, KUNA.
According to the bank’s website, the new minister has over 23 years of practical experience in corporate finance and investment banking services.
Al-Fassam also worked for several government and private entities, such as the Public Investment Authority and the National Bank of Kuwait.
She holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Kuwait University.
The new trade minister, Ajeel, headed Kuwait's State Bureau of Financial Control and was a member of the board of commissioners at the Capital Markets Authority.
Kuwait retained Mahmoud Bushehri as minister of electricity. But Bushehri lost the portfolio of Minister of State for Housing Affairs, which was offered to Abdullatif Hamed Hamad Al-Meshari.
The reshuffle comes a few days after a power crisis that led the Gulf state to impose scheduled outages in parts of the country due to a disruption in gas supplies although Kuwaiti officials have indicated there will be no further outages after the first wave in June.
Haitham Al-Ali, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, had attributed the power outages to a malfunction in the gas supply.
During the summer, temperatures in Kuwait typically exceed 50 degrees Celsius leading to increased power consumption amid demand for cooling.

 



Saudi Arabia Expresses Concern over Continued Fighting in Sudan

Columns of smoke rise during clashes between the "Rapid Support Forces" and the Sudanese army in Khartoum (Reuters).
Columns of smoke rise during clashes between the "Rapid Support Forces" and the Sudanese army in Khartoum (Reuters).
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Saudi Arabia Expresses Concern over Continued Fighting in Sudan

Columns of smoke rise during clashes between the "Rapid Support Forces" and the Sudanese army in Khartoum (Reuters).
Columns of smoke rise during clashes between the "Rapid Support Forces" and the Sudanese army in Khartoum (Reuters).

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep concern over the ongoing conflict in Sudan and the escalating violence against civilians, particularly women and children, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia condemned the recent incidents in eastern Al-Jazirah State, which have led to civilian casualties and injuries, emphasizing that such acts violate international law and undermine the principle of civilian protection.
The Kingdom called on warring parties to adhere to the commitments outlined in the Jeddah Declaration signed on May 11, 2023. It urged the warring parties to agree to a ceasefire, end the conflict, and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.
The Kingdom reaffirmed its strong commitment to supporting Sudan’s stability and preserving the unity of its legitimate institutions, sovereignty, and independence. It emphasized that a political solution is the only viable path to resolve the crisis in Sudan.