International
The Emir of Kuwait dissolves Parliament and suspends some clauses of the Constitution
The Emir of Kuwait, Mishal al Ahmad al Sabah, announced the dissolution of his country’s Parliament, the only one democratically elected in an Arab monarchy of the Persian Gulf, and the suspension of “some clauses of the Constitution” to – he assured – “save the higher interests of the country.”
In a televised speech, the eight-year-old Emir of Kuwait said that he issued a decree with “this difficult decision” that will be in force for “a period not exceeding four years,” during which the head of state himself and the prime minister “will assume the powers delegated to the National Assembly” or Parliament.
He attributed his decision to the “intromission” of “some” deputies in the powers of the head of government “and even of the emir,” in the context of the constant confrontation between the Executive and Legislative powers of the rich country of the Gulf.
“We do not allow democracy to be exploited to destroy the country,” Al Sabah warned in his speech, also reproduced by the official Kuwaiti news agency, KUNA.
“Some (deputies) even interfere in the powers of the emir and his election of his crown prince, forgetting that it is an explicit constitutional right,” of the head of state, he said.
He also denounced the “intromission” of “some” in the election of ministers for the formation of a Government of the country “forgetting, out of ignorance or deliberately, that electing the prime minister and ministers is a constitutional right of the head of state” in which “no one can interfere.”
The decision comes after the emir appointed a member of the ruling family, Sheikh Ahmad al Sabah, as prime minister, on April 15, and commissioned him to form a new Executive, the second cabinet since the monarch himself took power in December.
The previous Government, which lasted a few months, resigned after the parliamentary elections held on April 4.
Mishal al Sabah also decided on April 21 to transfer his powers “during his absence” to the then newly appointed prime minister, a measure that, he said, will remain in force until the emir, who took power on December 20, after the death of his stepbrother, Nawaf al Ahmed, appoints a crown prince.
Kuwait has historically been marked by severe disagreements and constant tensions between the Executive and Legislative powers, which in recent years has been largely dominated by Islamists.
That ongoing confrontation led the new emir to dissolve the chamber in February after implicitly accusing some parliamentarians of “violation of constitutional principles” by making “deliberate use of offensive and uncontrolled expressions.”
During the mandate of the previous emir (2020-2023), the country had to form seven governments due to the continuous confrontation between Parliament and the Executive, characterized by mutual accusations of corruption and nepotism.
“We faced unimaginable and unbearable difficulties, and some people strove to close all the doors through which we tried to enter to overcome our bitter reality, which left us no room for hesitation or delays in making the difficult decision to save this country and ensure its higher interests,” the emir added in the speech.
Kuwait is the only Arab country in the Persian Gulf that has a democratically elected Parliament, which exercises control over the Government. The other states in the area, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, have advisory councils without legislative powers or control over the Government.
International
Florida officials warn against raw milk after dozens sickened
Unprocessed milk from a farm in Florida has sickened at least 21 people, prompting state authorities to issue a public health alert, U.S. media reported Monday.
The 21 cases include six children under the age of 10, all diagnosed with infections caused by E. coli and Campylobacterbacteria linked to raw milk from the farm in the southeastern U.S. state. Local authorities have also warned about the dangers of drinking unpasteurized milk.
Seven people have been hospitalized, two of whom have suffered complications, according to multiple reports.
The Florida Department of Health has urged the public to avoid raw milk consumption and blamed the outbreak on the farm involved—without naming it directly—citing poor sanitary practices.
Florida law prohibits the sale of unprocessed milk for human consumption, although it can be sold if labeled for pets. Pasteurization, which involves heating milk to kill harmful bacteria, is required under U.S. federal regulations for any dairy products sold across states.
Despite these regulations, sales of raw milk have been increasing in recent years, fueled by online promotion from wellness influencers and advocates of unprocessed foods.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn that raw milk can contain potentially deadly bacteria such as E. coli, Campylobacter, Listeria, or Salmonella, which can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea, vomiting, and indigestion to severe complications like kidney failure.
International
Massive wildfire in Southern France kills one, injures nine
Hundreds of firefighters battled on Wednesday to contain a massive wildfire in southern France that has left one person dead and nine others injured.
The blaze, which broke out Tuesday in the Aude department, is the largest recorded in France during the current summer season. Authorities have deployed 1,800 firefighters in an effort to bring it under control.
An elderly woman died in her home in the town of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, while two others were injured—one in serious condition due to burns—according to the local prefecture. Seven firefighters suffered smoke inhalation injuries, and one person remains missing. The wildfire has already scorched an estimated 12,000 hectares of land.
“The fire is spreading very quickly due to unfavorable weather conditions. This is one of the driest areas of the department, and strong winds are fueling the flames,” said Lucie Roesch, secretary general of the Aude prefecture. Rémi Recio, subprefect for the city of Narbonne, added, “The fire is still spreading and is far from being contained or under control.”
The A9 motorway, which runs along the Mediterranean coast between France and Spain, has been closed in both directions between Narbonne and Perpignan, along with numerous secondary roads.
In Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, the smell of smoke lingers over the charred hectares. A helicopter was seen drawing water from the river below the village and dropping it several kilometers away, AFP reporters observed.
A campsite and at least one village were partially evacuated, with 25 houses and around 35 vehicles damaged, according to a preliminary assessment.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou announced he will visit the affected area on Wednesday.
International
Japan marks 80 years since Hiroshima bombing with call for nuclear disarmament
Japan observed a minute of silence on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, a solemn reminder to the world of the horror it unleashed, amid heightened tensions between nuclear powers the United States and Russia.
At exactly 8:15 a.m. local time (23:15 GMT), the moment when the U.S. bomber Enola Gay dropped the “Little Boy” atomic bomb on August 6, 1945, the city paused to remember.
The bombing claimed an estimated 140,000 lives, not only from the devastating blast and fireball but also from the deadly radiation that followed. Three days later, another bomb dropped on Nagasaki killed 74,000 more. Japan’s surrender on August 15 marked the end of World War II.
On a sweltering morning, hundreds of students, survivors, and officials dressed in black laid flowers at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. The city’s mayor, Kazumi Matsui, warned of “an accelerating trend toward military buildup worldwide,” citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stated that Japan has a mission “to take the lead toward a world without nuclear weapons.”
Today, Hiroshima is a thriving metropolis of 1.2 million people, yet the skeletal remains of one building still stand at its center as a powerful reminder of the tragedy.
Wednesday’s ceremony was attended by representatives from around 120 countries and regions, including delegates from Taiwan and Palestine for the first time.
Among the attendees was 96-year-old Yoshie Yokoyama, who arrived in a wheelchair accompanied by her grandson. She told reporters that her parents and grandparents were victims of the bombing.
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