Kuwait to hold parliamentary elections on April 4, latest round of voting in years of turmoil

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Kuwait says it will hold elections for its national assembly on April 4, its latest round of voting after years of political turmoil. The state-run KUNA news agency made the announcement Saturday, citing a decree published by the oil-rich country’s official gazette. In February, Kuwait’s emir dissolved parliament after a lawmaker reportedly insulted the ruler. Domestic political disputes have been gripping Kuwait for years — including the overhaul of Kuwait’s welfare system — which prevented the sheikhdom from taking on debt. That has left it with little in its coffers to pay bloated public sector salaries, despite generating immense wealth from its oil reserves.