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Turkish attacks: Türkiye (Turkey) launched a sustained aerial bombardment of Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) bases in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) in early October, following a suicide bombing at the Ministry of Interior building in Ankara on the opening day of the month, a few hours ahead of the reopening of the Turkish parliament after a three-month summer recess.

Kuwait was one of 15 countries elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council. It will serve a three-year term, starting 1 January 2024, alongside Albania, Brazil, China, France and others. The 47 seats on the council are distributed on a regional basis.

The Palestinian issue has been steadily sidelined in the minds of most leaders in recent years, but that all changed with Hamas' brutal attack on Israel on 7 October and the devastating bombardment of Gaza that has followed. With the death toll quickly running into the thousands and claims of war crimes being levelled against both sides, Gulf governments are scrambling to deal with the fallout.

Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on 9 October that Tehran’s diplomatic relations with Sudan were to resume after a seven-year break, with the reopening of embassies in the near future.

Saladin governor warrant: An arrest warrant was issued by Iraq's Federal Commission of Integrity against a former governor of Saladin province, following accusations of corruption involving contracts for water services in the area. A statement by the commission on 7 October said the warrant had been issued under Article 331 of the Penal Code.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled Bin Mohammed arrived in Serbia late September on what was described as a working visit. Apart from cultivating business ties, the purpose of visiting Belgrade and then Tirana, Albania was not clear. However, analysts suggested that the UAE may be trying to mediate between Serbia and the Albanian-majority territory of Kosovo, whose independence is not recognised by Belgrade.

The turmoil that has broken out in Israel and Gaza in recent days may lead to a recalibration by Yemen's Houthis of what they should put on their list of demands and how much pressure they can exert on Saudi Arabia in any further rounds of talks. It might also concentrate minds in Riyadh about the need to secure a viable settlement in Yemen, so that the land beyond its southern border is not a long-term harbour of potential danger.

The extent to which Iran knew about, or helped with, the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel remains a point of conjecture. Some were quick to point the finger of suspicion at the Tehran regime, which is undoubtedly a major supplier of military materiel to Hamas and the driving force behind the 'Axis of Resistance' that is now confronting Israel.

UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MBZ) made a surprise visit to Doha early October, ostensibly for the opening of the International Horticultural Expo 2023 but, in reality, to cement and expand relations between the two countries’ leaderships.

UAE Vice President, deputy prime minister and Presidential Court chairman Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan opened the 39th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) early October.

Supreme Council for Youth and Sports deputy chairman Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa opened the fourth edition of Bahrain Comic Con at the Bahrain International Circuit, with some of his children attending, along with children of national security adviser Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa.

Emirati Sheikh Mohammed Bin Saqr Bin Hamad Al-Qasimi was promoted to the role of chairman of the Labour Standards Development Authority (LSDA) in a decree issued by Sharjah Ruler Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al-Qasimi early October.

A Saudi royal order was issued to create the Imam Faisal Bin Turki Royal Reserve – the eight such reserve established in the country to date. The protected area covers territory in the provinces of Asir, Jazan and Mecca and extends into Saudi territorial waters in the Red Sea.

Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company chief executive Sheikh Abdulla Bin Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa was appointed as a board member of the Economic Development Board (EDB). He will serve for the rest of the current board’s term, which is due to end in March 2024.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud returned to Riyadh, after over a month in the northwest city of Neom. In that time, he chaired several weekly cabinet meetings.