Kuwait: Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, the ruler of Kuwait who drew on his decades as the oil-rich nation's top diplomat to push for closer ties to Iraq after the 1990 Gulf War and solutions to other regional crises, died Tuesday. He was 91.

In a Middle East replete with elderly rulers, Sheikh Sabah stood out for his efforts at pushing for diplomacy to resolve a bitter dispute between Qatar and other Arab nations that continues to this day.

His 2006 ascension in Kuwait, a staunch U.S. ally since the American-led war that expelled occupying Iraqi troops, came after parliament voted unanimously to oust his predecessor, the ailing Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Al Sabah, just nine days into his rule.

Yet as Kuwait's ruling emir, he struggled with internal political disputes, the fallout of the 2011 Arab Spring protests and seesawing crude oil prices that chewed into a national budget providing cradle-to-grave subsidies.

He represents the older generation of Gulf leaders who valued discretion and moderation and the importance of personal ties amongst fellow monarchs, said Kristin Diwan, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington who studies Kuwait.

No question he has suffered from the lack of deference and respect shown by the younger and more brash young princes holding power today. State television announced his death after playing Quranic prayers.

Sheikh Sabah is expected to be succeeded by his half brother, the crown prince Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah.



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Mangaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lodged a complaint against the Congress party, alleging the circulation of a fake pamphlet on social media aimed at defaming BJP candidate Captain Brijesh Chowta and maligning the Bunta community.

Co-convener of the district BJP legal cell, Deviprasad V. Samani, stated that the pamphlet was purportedly issued under the fictitious name of "Bunt Brigade Dakshina Kannada, Mangaluru," and contained objectionable content. This pamphlet, featuring the image of Captain Brijesh Chowta, has reportedly been widely circulated on social media platforms, potentially sowing discord among communities.

Accusing the Congress of exploiting the situation for electoral gain, Samani seeked attention towards the timing of the pamphlet's circulation, just two days before polling day. The BJP has formally registered a complaint with the Dakshina District Electoral Officer, seeking appropriate legal action against those responsible for the dissemination of the fake material.

The complaint has been officially recorded by the district complaint monitoring cell.