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 Click here for more photos at Daylife.com The government of Kuwait submitted its resignation to its ruler, Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah Monday, after facing pressure from the opposition over corruption accusations.
“We decided to submit our resignation to comply with the national interest and due to the danger the situation had reached,” the state television channel reported Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah as saying.
However, the government will continue as caretakers until a new one is formed, though there is no deadline yet.
This announcement comes less than two weeks after protesters broke into Parliament, demanding for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser, the nephew of the Emir.
Protests over the corruption scandals in the government have been going since before this year’s Arab Spring, but this time it has intensified.
With the announcement that the government will stay on, the demonstrators held a night vigil near Parliament.
“We hope that the next step is dissolving the parliament, because a quarter of the members were referred to the prosecutor over corruption allegations,” Islamist opposition lawmaker Dhaifallah Buramia said, according to Reuters.
The Prime Minister has been questioned by the government over corruption charges before. Tuesday he was scheduled to appear for another round of questioning, but it is unknown if that meeting will take place. Sheikh Nasser is being accused of accepting bribes from members of Parliament, and his removal has been demanded for the past two years.
Kuwait is facing a stalled economy and its people are watching Qatar and the United Arab Emirates develop in wealth in recent years.
Despite the disgruntled attitude among Kuwaitis, there is no call to remove the royal family or ban the monarchy.
Source: AP, Gulf News, Reuters
On Monday, the King of Jordan set out on one-day visits to the Gulf States as a way to mark the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. King Abdullah II brought with him his son and heir, Crown Prince Hussein, as he went to Kuwait and Qatar.
 Click here for more photos The tiny country of Kuwait was the first stop for the father and son. Arriving at Dasman Palace, the two met with the Emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah. The King and the Emir then sat for talks about bilateral ties, which have strengthened since Jordan and Kuwait renewed them last year. Their ties were strained 20 years ago during the Persian Gulf war.
After the talks, the Emir hosted an iftar banquet for the King and the Crown Prince.
Abdullah, Hussein and their delegation then returned home.
The next day, King Abdullah went to Bahrain for the same reasons. But he did not bring his son with him. Instead, two of his brothers accompanied him – Prince Feisal and Prince Hashim.
For Wednesday, Crown Prince Hussein joined his father to Qatar, where Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his son and heir, Sheikh Tamim, greeted them at Al-Wajba Palace. All four sat during the talks between His Majesty and the Emir, who discussed bilateral ties and issues concerning the Middle East.
As they did in Kuwait, King Abdullah and Crown Prince Hussein were then guests of honor for an iftar banquet given by the Emir and his son.
Right afterwards, the father and son headed back to Jordan.
Sources: The Jordan Times
Earlier this week, the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, donated $1 million to help the people of Somalia, who are suffering from famine as a result of drought.
 Click here for more photos Abdullah Al Maatouq, the President of the International Islamic Charitable Organisation (IICO), praised the Emir for his donation.
“His Highness the Emir has stressed his commitment to alleviate the severe suffering of the people of Somalia and his confirmation of the importance of providing them with the necessary support and emergency relief to avoid more victims,” he said, quoted by Kuwait News Agency (Kuna).
“His Highness the Emir has directed the IICO to organise a public campaign in coordination with similar organisations and charities in Kuwait to collect donations for the benefit of the victims in Somalia who suffer from severe drought.”
On Tuesday, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon called Sheikh Sabah and thanked him for his efforts. In response, the Emir told Ban that his country will continue to help the people in the Horn of Africa. He also expressed his wish to see the international community to step up in their efforts.
Source: Gulf News, Qatar News Agency
On Tuesday, ten of Kuwait’s opposition lawmakers filed a bid to rid the tiny Gulf state of its prime minister, Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah, a senior member of the ruling family. This comes after over four years of political turmoil since the Sheikh was appointed premier by his uncle, Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah.
 REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee The motion to file the bid came after Sheikh Nasser was drilled for eight hours by the government over allegations of breaching the constitution and suppressing freedoms. It was the second time he was questioned by lawmakers. In December 2009, Nasser faced corruption charges.
The vote to remove the Sheikh will come on January 5th. If it passes, Emir Sabah would have to either appoint a new prime minister or dissolve parliament and hold new elections.
This recent turmoil started earlier this month during a public rally when Kuwaiti forces used batons to assault MPs and citizens. Four of the politicians were injured.
Opposition lawmakers also claimed the government was looking to amend the constitution to suppress public freedoms.
While oil-rich Kuwait was the first Arab state to allow parliamentary democracy in 1962, since Sheikh Nasser was appointed in 2006, it has been rocked by constant difficulties. The Emir has dissolved parliament three times, while the cabinet quit five times.
Source: AFP
Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah began his state visit to Jordan Monday, becoming the first Kuwaiti leader to make such a visit in 20 years.
 KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP/Getty Images He was greeted by King Abdullah II and his brothers – Princes Feisal, Ali and Hamzah – at an Amman airport. The King then took to Emir to the palace, where the official welcoming ceremony took place.
Once that was done, the two leaders went indoors for talks. They mostly discussed the Mideast Peace Process, but they also focused on renewing ties between Jordan and Kuwait. The tiny Gulf state cut off ties with Jordan when it accused it of siding with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War in the early 1990s.
But having the Emir in Jordan shows signs of easing tensions between the two countries. A few weeks ago, Jordan’s Minister of Education Ibrahim Badran was in Kuwait to discuss having education links.
This time around, King Abdullah likely made a request for aid to help his economically weak Kingdom.
Sources: Earth Times, Zawya
The leaders of six Gulf nations gathered in Riyadh for the 12th annual Gulf Cooperation Council. Royals from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates came to Dirriyah Palace to discuss among Iran, Iraq, Yemen and the Mideast peace process.
 Xinhua/Saudi Photo Agency All those in attendance agreed to back the U.S.-backed Mideast peace process, which broke down last year. They also called for a revival of the peace talks and for Israel to stop settlements in Palestinian territories.
In addition, the Gulf leaders sided with Kuwait in an alleged Iranian spy group discovered in that country. The secretary-general of the GCC, Abdulrahman al-Attiyah, said “The security of the Gulf region is a red line. The security of the Gulf cannot be divided.”
“But our Kuwaiti friends want to handle it themselves for the moment,” he added.
As for Iraq, the GCC members called for all neighboring countries and the international community to help the troubled nation to get back on its feet.
The GCC was hosted by Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. Crown Prince Sultan and Prince Naif were present. The monarchs of Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait were there, while the UAE was represented by its Vice President, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum of Dubai. Oman was the other country at the summit, but its deputy prime minister was there instead of its Sultan.
Sources: Arab News, Saudi Gazette, AFP
Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah began his visit to Europe Monday, beginning with a stop in Germany. He was welcomed by German President Horst Koehler in Berlin and later met with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
 REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz The Emir and the Chancellor discussed mainly joint reconstruction projects in Iraq and Afghanistan. The two leaders also talked about Iran’s nuclear program, which could have an effect on tiny Kuwait and other Gulf states if the country got nuclear weapons. Finally, they talked about Kuwait’s relationship with the European Union and it’s plan to sign a free trading deal with the EU.
Sheikh Sabah’s European visit comes just days after he blasted his country’s Parliament, saying it has “disappointed the aspirations of the Kuwaiti people,” as cited by the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA. The Emir has accused Parliament of stalling development and blamed the constitution for the country’s political problems.
“It (parliament) has wasted a golden opportunity and a long time discussing issues totally far away from development projects,” the Emir told a German newspaper.
“What the people say, that parliament has obstructed development and has been engaged in impotent political debates, is true and this was acknowledged by the lawmakers themselves,” he said.
Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah will travel to Italy and the Vatican for the remainder of his European tour.
Sources: Earth Times, AFP
Sheikha Fariha al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sahad of Kuwait is making a visit to Morocco this week. The trip was part of Kuwait-Morocco relations in regards to the disabled. In her country, Fariha is the chairperson of the Committee of the Ideal Mother, which deals with women’s issues.
 Maghreb Arabe Presse She arrived in Rabat on Sunday and was greeted by Princess Lalla Hasna, sister to King Mohammed VI, and Princess Lalla Soumaya. Upon arriving, the Sheikha and the Princesses inspected the honor guard before heading off to one of the royal palaces, where the Moroccan royal women threw a dinner party for their guest.
On Monday, Fariha paid a visit to the Mohammed VI National Center for the Disabled. She was given a tour of the facility and was briefed on how it helps those in need, such as social and medical benefits. The Sheikha also met with the children and gave them gifts.
In a press release, she praised the King and his wife, Princess Lalla Salma, on their work with those facing mental and physical challenges.
Sheikha Fariha also visited the tombs of King Mohammed V and King Hassan II on Monday.
Not too much is known about Fariha, but she is the daughter of the late Emir Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, who ruled Kuwait from 1921 to 1950. His son, Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, Fariha’s brother, is the current Emir.
Sources: Le Matin, MAP
Monday had U.S. President Barack Obama meet and have talks with Kuwaiti Emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah in the Oval Office at the White House.
 - AFP
Among the topics the two leaders spoke about were the Mideast peace process, which the Emir said will be achieved once Israel “implements and fulfills its obligations.”
“I affirmed to President Obama that we are interested in bringing about peace in the Middle East. It is in our interest that peace be brought about,” the Emir said through a translator.
The President and the Emir also discussed U.S. troops in Iraq. Obama thanked the Emir for being an “outstanding host for the United States armed forces during its operations in Iraq.” He added that he and Sheikh Sabah will talk about Afghanistan, Iran, and counterterrorism.
“And I’m confident that, based on this conversation and ongoing work between our two countries, that we can strengthen not only Kuwaiti-US relationships, but also to create a more stable region of peace and security,” said Obama.
The Australian woman who was jailed for allegedly bashing the Emir of Kuwait at the country’s airport, has been set free.
Nasrah Al Shamery will stay in the Kuwait jail that she’s been in since December until she is at last deported back to Australia. She was originally given a two year sentence but now it has been suspended.
Al Shamery’s family is overjoyed not only because they insisted she was innocent of the charges, but because they were concered for her health.
Al Shamery reportedly suffers from diabetes, heart, breathing and back problems and is now unable to walk.
“I understand she is in a wheelchair right now and she is suffering … a few pains but you know that doesn’t matter as long as we got her back,” her son Ahmad told the AFP. “We will have to look after her.”
Al Shamery’s problems began during a family vacation to Kuwait back in December. A melee broke out between the family and the airport officials. During this, the officials say Al Shamery cursed out Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah, a crime in Kuwait. This Al Shamery’s family have always denied.
It is unknown why her sudden release has been made.
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