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Qatar Forms Climate Change Ministry, Appoints Finance Minister

A night view of Doha, Qatar. (AFP)
A night view of Doha, Qatar. (AFP)
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Qatar Forms Climate Change Ministry, Appoints Finance Minister

A night view of Doha, Qatar. (AFP)
A night view of Doha, Qatar. (AFP)

Qatar's emir created an environment and climate change ministry on Tuesday and appointed Ali bin Ahmad Al-Kuwari as finance minister, a role he had held in an acting capacity.

In a government reshuffle, Faleh bin Nasser al-Thani was named minister of environment and climate change in the world's top liquefied natural gas exporter, weeks before a UN climate change conference in the Scottish city of Glasgow.

Two women were handed cabinet posts for education and social development. They join Health Minister Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, who had been the only woman in the cabinet.

Al-Kuwari was commerce and industry minister in the previous cabinet and had also been acting finance minister since May.

Before joining the cabinet in 2018, Kuwari was chief executive officer of Qatar National Bank.

There were no changes to the energy, foreign and defense portfolios in the reshuffle announced by the office of Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

The commerce and industry ministry will now be headed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad al-Thani.

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Gulf

European Parliament Resolution Condemns Houthi Attacks, Urges EU Terrorist Listing

A supporter of Yemen's Houthis carries his rifle during a rally in support of the group in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (AP)
A supporter of Yemen's Houthis carries his rifle during a rally in support of the group in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (AP)
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European Parliament Resolution Condemns Houthi Attacks, Urges EU Terrorist Listing

A supporter of Yemen's Houthis carries his rifle during a rally in support of the group in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (AP)
A supporter of Yemen's Houthis carries his rifle during a rally in support of the group in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (AP)

Members of the European Parliament have expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for Yemen's legitimate government, reaffirming their commitment to the security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of both countries.

The position was set out in a resolution adopted on Thursday that strongly condemned Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, as well as the military escalation inside Yemen.

The members described the attacks as flagrant violations of international law and international humanitarian law. The resolution highlighted that the attacks have killed and displaced large numbers of Yemeni civilians and exacerbated the country's humanitarian crisis.

The resolution called on the Council of the European Union to designate the Houthi group, including its political and military wings, leadership, and military and security apparatus, as a terrorist organization under the EU list of terrorist organizations.

It also called for dismantling the group's funding channels and freezing its funds, economic resources, and the assets of entities facilitating its activities.

The members of Parliament urged the Houthis to immediately cease all hostilities inside and outside Yemen and abandon any ambitions to seize territory.

The resolution also strongly condemned Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

The resolution further called for strengthening security and defense cooperation between the EU and its Gulf partners.

Gulf

Saudi FM Discusses Regional Developments with Counterparts from Cyprus, Germany, Palestine, Iraq

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (AFP)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (AFP)
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Saudi FM Discusses Regional Developments with Counterparts from Cyprus, Germany, Palestine, Iraq

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (AFP)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (AFP)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received on Thursday separate phone calls from his Cypriot counterpart Constantinos Kombos and German counterpart Johann Wadephul.

They discussed the latest regional developments and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and ensure safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb Strait with the aim of bolstering regional security and stability.

Prince Faisal also received a phone call from Vice President of the State of Palestine Hussein Al Sheikh, with whom he discussed the latest regional developments. 

Al Sheikh expressed Palestine's full condemnation of any aggression targeting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's security and stability, and its support for all measures the Kingdom takes to safeguard its security and territorial integrity. 

They also discussed the situation in the Palestinian territories and efforts to secure the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. 

Prince Faisal also received a phone call from Vice President of the State of Palestine Hussein Al Sheikh, with whom he discussed the latest regional developments. 

Al Sheikh expressed Palestine's full condemnation of any aggression targeting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's security and stability, and its support for all measures the Kingdom takes to safeguard its security and territorial integrity. 

They also discussed the situation in the Palestinian territories and efforts to secure the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. 

Prince Faisal earlier received a phone call from Iraqi FM Fuad Hussein for talks on relations between their countries and ways to strengthen cooperation in various fields, particularly security, to help address current regional challenges. 

The two ministers also addressed recent terrorist attacks that struck areas in Saudi Arabia.  

Hussein expressed the Iraqi government's condemnation of these attacks and its rejection of any harm to civilians and civilian facilities. He underlined Iraq's strong stance against using its territory for any attacks or actions that threaten the security of the Kingdom and countries in the region. 

Prince Faisal underscored Saudi Arabia's support for the Iraqi government's efforts to reduce tensions and continue working jointly with neighboring countries to help strengthen security and stability in the region. 

Gulf

UN Chief Expresses Concern over Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia, Escalating Violence in Yemen

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to the media during a joint press conference with Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to the media during a joint press conference with Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
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UN Chief Expresses Concern over Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia, Escalating Violence in Yemen

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to the media during a joint press conference with Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to the media during a joint press conference with Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced concern over continued Houthi attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia and escalating hostilities around Taiz in Yemen, warning that they were inflicting heavy civilian suffering and heightening regional tensions.

Speaking to reporters in New York on Thursday, Guterres called for an end to attacks on homes, hospitals, schools, airports and energy facilities. He warned that escalating conflicts were compounding humanitarian suffering and affecting energy markets, supply chains and financial systems, adding to the cost-of-living pressures faced by people around the world.

He urged restraint and called for renewed efforts to advance a political solution in Yemen, highlighting the UN’s role in this regard. He also stressed the need to end the fighting, uphold international law, protect civilians and ensure freedom of navigation.

Arab and international condemnations mounted over an attack targeting Saudi Arabia's King Fahd International Airport in Dammam that killed two people and wounded eight others. The condemnations stressed opposition to attacks on civilian and vital infrastructure and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia in protecting its security, sovereignty and the safety of its citizens and residents.

On the ground, the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen said on Thursday it had destroyed a ballistic missile heading toward Najran and nine drones targeting the Eastern Province, Riyadh and Madinah.

Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki said air defenses had intercepted and destroyed four drones heading toward the Eastern Province and five others targeting Riyadh and Madinah.

He added that a ballistic missile launched by the Iran-aligned Houthi militia toward Najran, in southwestern Saudi Arabia, had also been intercepted and destroyed on Thursday.