The emir also assigned him to form a government and provide a list of names for approval..reports Asian Lite News
Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Tuesday appointed Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah as the Kingdom’s new Prime Minister, state media reported.
The emir also assigned him to form a government and provide a list of names for approval, Xinhua news agency quoted the state media report as saying.
During a meeting with the emir at Bayan Palace, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah expressed gratitude for the appointment, reiterating commitment to the constitution and laws to serve the best interests of the country and citizens.
On Sunday, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah submitted the resignation of his government to emir after the parliamentary elections in accordance with the Kuwaiti constitution.
The previous day, Kuwait held parliamentary elections with 326 candidates running for 50 seats.
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The governor of Iran’s central bank said the US “inhumane sanctions” have blocked Iran’s purchase of vaccines needed to tackle the Covid-19 epidemic, official news agency IRNA reported.
“Because the purchase of the COVID-19 vaccine has to be done through the official channels of the World Health Organization (WHO), all the paths to pay and transfer the required currency have so far been blocked by the inhumane embargoes of the US government and the need to obtain an Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license,” Abdolnaser Hemmati wrote on social media on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported.
The International Monetary Fund did not “even dare” to raise Iran’s request for a humanitarian loan on its board “under pressure and threats from the US and despite acknowledging Iran’s right and the absence of any economic or legal obstacles,” Hemmati said.
Kuwait and the Trump administration played key role in the discussions, aware that energy-rich Qatar had shown itself capable of surviving the blodckade, and was increasingly being drawn into an orbit closer to Turkey and Iran, something the president’s team dreaded…reports Asian Lite
A breakthrough in the three-and-a-half-year dispute between Qatar and its neighbouring Gulf states appears to have been achieved following what were described as “fruitful” talks to resolve the conflict, reports the Guardian.
The Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, said “significant progress” had been reached in the last few days and he was optimistic all countries were close to finalising a resolution.
In talks brokered jointly by Kuwait and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, Saudi Arabia appears to have agreed to open its land and air border with Qatar as a confidence-building measure.
Qatar has been subject to a political and economic blockade by Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, known as the quartet, in a complex dispute turning partly on personal rivalry, and Saudi anger at Qatar’s independent-minded foreign policy.
Earlier, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed Kuwait’s mediation efforts to defuse tension between Qatar and several other Gulf countries.
Qatar Emir (R) and Jared Kushner
“The Secretary-General is encouraged by the statement by the foreign minister of Kuwait and other reports that the Gulf rift is close to a resolution,” Xinhua news agency quoted Stephane Dujarric, the UN chief’s spokesman, as saying on Friday.
“The Secretary-General welcomes the efforts and contributions of Kuwait in building bridges of understanding in the Gulf region and beyond,” the spokesman added.
Guterres expressed the hope that all countries involved in the dispute will work together to formally resolve their differences, and stressed the importance of Gulf unity for regional peace, security and development.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have imposed a diplomatic and economic blockade on Qatar since June 2017, alleging that the gas-rich Gulf country supports terrorism and interferes in their domestic affairs.
They have been asking for a list of demands which Qatar has to implement in order to revive ties.
Qatar has repeatedly denied the charges, calling it “unjustified” and “baseless”, and refused the demands, citing them as interference in its sovereignty.
The Trump administration had tried to broker a deal before, aware that energy-rich Qatar had shown itself capable of surviving the blodckade, and was increasingly being drawn into an orbit closer to Turkey and Iran, something the president’s team dreaded. Qatar is the site of the US’s largest military base in the Gulf, said the Guardian report.The Saudi Foreign Minister also openly hailed the efforts of Kuwait and the US in solving the Gulf crisis.
Taking to Twitter on Friday, the Minister said: “We consider with great appreciation the efforts made by Kuwait to bridge the gap in viewpoints regarding the Gulf crisis, and we thank the American efforts in this regard, and we look forward to being crowned with success for the benefit and good of the region.”
The Minister’s tweet was the first official announcement by the Kingdom after recent reports of the end of the crisis, Xinhua news agency reported.
It also came after the statement of Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah on Friday about “fruitful” talks held recently.
“Fruitful discussions took place recently, in which all parties affirmed their keenness on Gulf and Arab solidarity and stability,” he said.
In a statement sent to winners in National Assembly (parliament) elections, the Emir expressed content for the trust they were bestowed with by citizens, wishing them would succeed in serving their constituents and their homeland..reports Asian Lite News
Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Sunday congratulated the winners of the parliamentary elections that took place the previous day.
In a statement sent to winners in National Assembly (parliament) elections, the Emir expressed content for the trust they were bestowed with by citizens, wishing them would succeed in serving their constituents and their homeland and in contributing to the development of the homeland and its prosperity, reports Xinhua news agency.
According to the Kuwait News Agency, the electoral committee has announced on Sunday winners of 2020 parliamentary elections in five electoral districts in the country.
Kuwait on Saturday held the parliamentary elections with 326 candidates running for 50 seats across five electoral districts in the country.
In the 2016 elections, there were a total of 293 candidates.
The 50 elected members of the National Assembly are elected from five 10-seat constituencies by single non-transferable vote.
In a statement sent to winners in National Assembly (parliament) elections, the Emir expressed content for the trust they were bestowed with by citizens, wishing them would succeed in serving their constituents and their homeland..reports Asian Lite News
Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Sunday congratulated the winners of the parliamentary elections that took place the previous day.
In a statement sent to winners in National Assembly (parliament) elections, the Emir expressed content for the trust they were bestowed with by citizens, wishing them would succeed in serving their constituents and their homeland and in contributing to the development of the homeland and its prosperity, reports Xinhua news agency.
According to the Kuwait News Agency, the electoral committee has announced on Sunday winners of 2020 parliamentary elections in five electoral districts in the country.
Kuwait on Saturday held the parliamentary elections with 326 candidates running for 50 seats across five electoral districts in the country.
In the 2016 elections, there were a total of 293 candidates.
The 50 elected members of the National Assembly are elected from five 10-seat constituencies by single non-transferable vote.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed Kuwait’s mediation efforts to defuse tension between Qatar and several other Gulf countries.
“The Secretary-General is encouraged by the statement by the foreign minister of Kuwait and other reports that the Gulf rift is close to a resolution,” Xinhua news agency quoted Stephane Dujarric, the UN chief’s spokesman, as saying on Friday.
“The Secretary-General welcomes the efforts and contributions of Kuwait in building bridges of understanding in the Gulf region and beyond,” the spokesman added.
Guterres expressed the hope that all countries involved in the dispute will work together to formally resolve their differences, and stressed the importance of Gulf unity for regional peace, security and development.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have imposed a diplomatic and economic blockade on Qatar since June 2017, alleging that the gas-rich Gulf country supports terrorism and interferes in their domestic affairs.
They have been asking for a list of demands which Qatar has to implement in order to revive ties.
Qatar has repeatedly denied the charges, calling it “unjustified” and “baseless”, and refused the demands, citing them as interference in its sovereignty.
Seventy Palestinians, including men and women, took part in the event on Thursday, which was part of a 16-day campaign to fight gender-based violence..reports Asian Lite News
The European Union, in partnership with the a non-government Sharek Youth Forum, has organised a cycling event in the West Bank city of Jericho to raise awareness of women’s rights and protection.
Seventy Palestinians, including men and women, took part in the event on Thursday, which was part of a 16-day campaign to fight gender-based violence, reports Xinhua news agency.
The participants started their journey from Hisham’s Palace, an archaeological landmark north of Jericho, to Bab Al Shams Park in the city.
Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff, the EU representative in Palestine, said that “we are here to say that the consequences of the novel coronavirus and the lockdown have negatively affected the life of women and children”.
“The closure imposed on the Palestinian territories, as well as the countries around the world, has contributed to a significant increase in the rate of violence against women,” he added.
Bader Zamarah, the event’s organiser, told Xinhua news agency that the event aims to tell people that women are an essential part of the community.
“We should protect women from all kinds of violence, including domestic violence that has been doubled amid the novel coronavirus,” he said.
Gender Based Violence is a key protection concern in Palestine.
According to Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) 2011 Violence Survey, an average of 37 per cent of women are victims of GBV in Palestine; in the Gaza Strip, this percentage increases to 51 per cent.
Women in Palestine face multiple layers of violence and discrimination.
On August 4, a cache of ammonium nitrate caused a deadly blast at the Port of Beirut, causing devastation in a city already suffering from a growing coronavirus outbreak, political and economic turmoil…reports Asian Lite News
Against the “grim background” of the tragic August 4 explosions that destroyed much of central Beirut, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has offered a new multi-agency plan to help the Lebanese people move forward.
“With the launch of the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF), prepared jointly by the World Bank, the European Union (EU) and UN, we have a plan,” Xinhua news agency quoted Guterres as saying in a video message on Wednesday to the International Conference in Support of the Lebanese People.
On August 4, a cache of ammonium nitrate caused a deadly blast at the Port of Beirut, causing devastation in a city already suffering from a growing coronavirus outbreak, political and economic turmoil.
The blast killed some 200 people, injured thousands of others, left around a quarter of a million homeless, sparked further protests toward the government, and prompted the resignation of Prime Minister Hassan Diab and his entire cabinet.
“Through this framework – the 3RF – we can, together, help the Lebanese people move beyond the emergency phase and onto the path for longer-term recovery and reconstruction,” Guterres said.
France hosted the video conference designed to finally unlock humanitarian aid, which has reportedly been stalled by the multiple crises afflicting Lebanon.
The new framework assesses the levels of incoming support against the continuing needs of the population – with a focus on the most vulnerable.
“We can address the recovery and reconstruction needs of Beirut, particularly of the port, as well as impacted areas and affected communities,” said the top UN official.
“With a sustainable urban planning approach and quick socio-economic recovery action, we can start to revitalize Beirut as the beating heart of Lebanon.”
The 3RF includes essential reforms, targeted not only to facilitate recovery and reconstruction but also to address the root causes of the crisis.
Guterres underscored the importance of mobilizing more support for the urgent needs of the families and businesses impacted by the explosion; the vulnerable and poor; and the marginalised and underserved.
“We must continue, with one voice, to call the leadership of Lebanon to put aside partisan political interests and form a government that adequately protects and responds to the needs of the people,” he added.
A statement issued by Ishtaye’s office in Ramallah said that he told the meeting “due to these policies, the Palestinian land is shrinking, settler violence is escalating, and the access to our resources decreases daily”…reports Asian Lite News
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye has called on the donor countries to take more serious measures to boycott the Israeli settlements.
“The real situation is deteriorating due to Israel’s policies of expanding settlements in the Palestinian territories,” Xinhua news agency quoted Ishtaye as saying during an online meeting of the international donors on Wednesday.
A statement issued by Ishtaye’s office in Ramallah said that he told the meeting “due to these policies, the Palestinian land is shrinking, settler violence is escalating, and the access to our resources decreases daily”.
According to the statement, Norway chaired the meeting for around 40 donor countries and international institutions, including the UN and the World Bank.
“The meeting discussed the political and financial developments in the Palestinian territories and the preparations for the donors’ conference, which is scheduled to be held in Oslo in February next year,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, Ishtaye explained that “economic development in Palestine is not separate from the political and national goals”.
“Economic developments along with achieving the national and political goals for the Palestinians would lead to ending the occupation and establishing the Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” the Prime Minister added.
According to the Palestine Liberation Organization, about 124 Israeli settlement outposts have been built in the West Bank since the 1990s without any official Israeli approval.
Palestinian rights groups said about 700,000 settlers have been living in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 1967.
The Israeli settlements built on the Palestinian territories are regarded as illegal by the international community.
However in 2019, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that Washington no longer considered Israeli settlements as inconsistent with international law.
