On Wednesday, the State Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah al-Sabah, said the government hoped that the new law would be the "foundation for resolving the Bidun problem".

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It could be the sort of job that appeals to a former Police Minister, magistrate, ex-Cabinet Minister and member of the Commons home affairs committee.

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The SPD will take seven cabinet seats including Foreign Affairs and the remaining six cabinet seats will be divided among the other parties (with a Lutheran minister from Democratic Awakening to hold the defense portfolio).

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Another Cabinet minister might enjoy an easier time at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee (at 2.30pm).

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"We have made certain changes" to the bill, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said after a meeting of the federal cabinet.

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But its leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, lost his job as home-affairs minister, and his party spurned two seats in the national cabinet.

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But Mr Kato, a former diplomat, is not a minister and lacks experience in a heavyweight cabinet job such as foreign affairs or finance.

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"During its weekly meeting on Sunday, the cabinet named two women to the municipal council for the first time in the history of Kuwait, " Social Affairs Minister Faysal al-Hajji said.

BBC: NEWS | Middle East | Women appointed to Kuwait council

Although there is a proportionate number of Malay members of Parliament, the cabinet has only one Malay minister, who, in addition to holding a minor portfolio, looks after Muslim affairs (Malays being almost exclusively Muslims).

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