Parliamentarians and political observers are hoping the next government formed under the appointed Kuwaiti prime minister will co-operate harmoniously with parliament.
An Emiri decree was issued on Sunday reassigning Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah as Prime Minister after months of political feuds that have hampered much-needed reform programmes.
After the announcement, politician Faisal Kandari said: “I hope that the next government will be ambitious, capable of assuming responsibility and agreeing and co-ordinating with the members of the National Assembly."
The next cabinet will be Sheikh Ahmad’s third in less than eight months.
His previous government resigned less than 100 days after it was formed, after members clashed with parliament over popular bills, including a proposal that the government bought citizens' debts and rescheduled their payments.
“We are hoping for the formation of a government away from pressures of filling quotas and the usual political pressures that get in the way of forming a competent cabinet,” Hussain Jamal, a Kuwaiti political analyst, told Sky News.
“The Prime Minister now enjoys support, but there are populist issues affecting the decision of the members of the National Assembly who support the Prime Minister. We are facing a political dilemma between the two political institutions that was and is expected to remain. But any harmony that might exist will remain temporary if populist issues return to the fore."
For his part, Parliament Speaker Ahmed Saadoun confirmed that the ordinary parliamentary session on Tuesday will not take place if the government fails to attend, whether or not quorum is met.
Mr Saadoun has been forced to adjourn scheduled National Assembly sessions over the past month due to a lack of a quorum and the government’s failure to attend. The adjournments delay debate and voting on key bills related to much-needed economic reforms.
Given the circumstances, the Kuwaiti parliament’s work remains effectively suspended until the formation of the next government amid widespread legal debate over the constitutionality of holding sessions in the absence of the government.
Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al Sabah has begun talks to form a new government to succeed the current caretaker cabinet under Sheikh Ahmad, a son of the current emir.
Sheikh Ahmad's last government resigned on January 23 after only three months in office following a feud with the National Assembly over requests to question two cabinet ministers and a controversial draft bill.
The loan relief bill proposed that the government buy several billion Kuwaiti dinars' worth of citizens' consumer and personal loans.
The government said the move would be too expensive, costing almost $46 billion in public funds, while some rival politicians priced it at less than $6.5 billion.
Meanwhile, Kuwaitis are also monitoring the rulings of Kuwait’s Constitutional Court regarding appeals calling for the annulment of the current parliament. The parliament has been dissolved 10 times since it was formed in 1963.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
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What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
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MAIN CARD
Bantamweight 56.4kg
Abrorbek Madiminbekov v Mehdi El Jamari
Super heavyweight 94 kg
Adnan Mohammad v Mohammed Ajaraam
Lightweight 60kg
Zakaria Eljamari v Faridoon Alik Zai
Light heavyweight 81.4kg
Mahmood Amin v Taha Marrouni
Light welterweight 64.5kg
Siyovush Gulmamadov v Nouredine Samir
Light heavyweight 81.4kg
Ilyass Habibali v Haroun Baka
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
