Kuwait MPs pass controversial electoral decree


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KUWAIT CITY // Kuwait's parliament yesterday overwhelmingly approved the electoral decree that caused the opposition to boycott last month's general elections.

Forty-nine lawmakers voted for the decree issued by the emir, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah in October after he dissolved the previous parliament. Two MPs voted against the decree while three others abstained.

Under the constitution, the Kuwaiti ruler can issue legislation in emergency situation when parliament is dissolved or in recess. These decrees must be passed by parliament to become laws, however.

The decree amended the key electoral law to allow voters to pick only one candidate instead of four in the previous law. Each of Kuwait's five electoral constituencies elects 10 MPs.

The opposition boycotted the polls saying the amendment allows the government to manipulate the outcome of the election.

The Islamist, nationalist and liberal opposition have staged several demonstrations to press for repealing the amendment and to demand dissolving the new parliament.

Police on Sunday fired tear gas and stun grenades at hundreds of opposition protesters who demanded that the new parliament be dissolved and controversial electoral legislation be scrapped.

Police arrested several protesters including Osama Al Shaheen, a member of the previous opposition-dominated parliament.

It was the first opposition demonstration in about a month, with a much smaller turnout than the tens of thousands of people who took part in each of the previous four rallies starting on October 21.

The country has been rocked by a series of political disputes since mid-2006 between MPs and the government.

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1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Unresolved crisis

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly president was ousted, Moscow annexed Crimea and then backed a separatist insurgency in the east.

Fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed more than 14,000 people. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, that ended large-scale hostilities but failed to bring a political settlement of the conflict.

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Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.

The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.

UAE jiu-jitsu squad

Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)

Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)

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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

While you're here
South Africa squad

: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen (wkt), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Duanne Olivier, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada.

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When is VAR used?

Goals

Penalty decisions

Direct red-card incidents

Mistaken identity

The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

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Transmission: Single-speed automatic

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On the menu

First course

▶ Emirati sea bass tartare Yuzu and labneh mayo, avocado, green herbs, fermented tomato water  

▶ The Tale of the Oyster Oyster tartare, Bahraini gum berry pickle

Second course

▶ Local mackerel Sourdough crouton, baharat oil, red radish, zaatar mayo

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Dessert

▶ Lumi Black lemon ice cream, pistachio, pomegranate

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Brief scoreline:

Tottenham 1

Son 78'

Manchester City 0

RESULTS

Cagliari 5-2 Fiorentina
Udinese 0-0 SPAL
Sampdoria 0-0 Atalanta
Lazio 4-2 Lecce
Parma 2-0 Roma
Juventus 1-0 AC Milan

Last-16

France 4
Griezmann (13' pen), Pavard (57'), Mbappe (64', 68')

Argentina 3
Di Maria (41'), Mercado (48'), Aguero (90 3')

Company profile

Name: Tharb

Started: December 2016

Founder: Eisa Alsubousi

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: Luxury leather goods

Initial investment: Dh150,000 from personal savings