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.



Saudi Arabia and Kuwait Support Efforts to De-escalate Regional Tensions

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Al-Sabah (Asharq Al Awsat)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Al-Sabah (Asharq Al Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia and Kuwait Support Efforts to De-escalate Regional Tensions

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Al-Sabah (Asharq Al Awsat)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Al-Sabah (Asharq Al Awsat)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed the latest regional developments and efforts to address them during a phone call on Wednesday with his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Jarrah Al-Sabah.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait stressed the importance of maintaining coordination and consultations between the two countries and supporting joint diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and strengthen regional security and stability.


Saudi Air Defenses Destroy Three Cruise Missiles and Two Drones

Yemeni army fighters on the Jabal Han front near the city of Taiz. (AFP)
Yemeni army fighters on the Jabal Han front near the city of Taiz. (AFP)
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Saudi Air Defenses Destroy Three Cruise Missiles and Two Drones

Yemeni army fighters on the Jabal Han front near the city of Taiz. (AFP)
Yemeni army fighters on the Jabal Han front near the city of Taiz. (AFP)

Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed on Wednesday three cruise missiles fired by Houthi militias towards Riyadh, as well as two drones over the Makkah and Southern Region.

Yemeni government forces expanded their military operations against the Houthis under the “Yemen Dawn” operation, across the fronts of Marib, Al-Jawf, Taiz, Lahj, Al-Dhale and Hajjah.

The Yemeni army said it had carried out 874 strikes over a 24-hour period, killing or wounding about 190 Houthi militants and destroying or disabling 130 military vehicles and combat assets.

In western Lahj, the Giants Brigades and Nation’s Shield forces repelled Houthi attacks, as families fled front-line areas towards Aden and other safer locations.

Government forces also foiled an attempt to detonate two improvised explosive devices disguised as sandstone rocks and planted on either side of the international road linking Marib with the Al-Abr area, which leads to the border crossing with Saudi Arabia.

Military sources said engineering teams dismantled the devices between the Al-Ruwaik and Al-Dhuwaybi areas and secured the road without any casualties.


Bahrain Crown Prince Receives Saudi and GCC Interior Ministers

Bahrain’s Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa receives the Gulf ministers in Manama on Wednesday. (SPA)
Bahrain’s Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa receives the Gulf ministers in Manama on Wednesday. (SPA)
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Bahrain Crown Prince Receives Saudi and GCC Interior Ministers

Bahrain’s Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa receives the Gulf ministers in Manama on Wednesday. (SPA)
Bahrain’s Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa receives the Gulf ministers in Manama on Wednesday. (SPA)

Bahrain’s Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa received in Manama on Wednesday Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz and the interior ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud conveyed the greetings of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to Prince Salman bin Hamad, along with his wishes for continued progress and prosperity for Bahrain and its people.

Prince Salman bin Hamad commended the efforts of the interior ministers during their meeting and the outcomes achieved in strengthening the security and stability of GCC member states.

The meeting also addressed security cooperation among GCC countries and ongoing efforts to boost coordination and integration in security-related fields.

GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi attended the talks.