Qatari emir, Spanish king meet on sidelines of UN investment conference in Seville
LONDON: Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, met King Felipe VI of Spain in Seville on the sidelines of a UN-organized international investment conference.
The 4th International Conference on Financing for Development began on Monday and will continue until July 3, bringing together global leaders to discuss urgent reforms necessary for financing sustainable development.
King Felipe expressed his desire to strengthen relations and support joint investments through small and medium-sized enterprises following the recent economic agreements between Qatar and Spain.
He also reiterated Spain's solidarity with Qatar and condemned the Iranian attack on Al-Udeid Air Base last week, praising Doha's role in facilitating a ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel.
Sheikh Tamim emphasized Qatar's commitment to enhancing cooperation with Spain across cultural, educational and security fields to serve the common interests of both countries, the Qatar News Agency reported.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
11 hours ago
- Arab News
Qatari emir, Spanish king meet on sidelines of UN investment conference in Seville
LONDON: Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, met King Felipe VI of Spain in Seville on the sidelines of a UN-organized international investment conference. The 4th International Conference on Financing for Development began on Monday and will continue until July 3, bringing together global leaders to discuss urgent reforms necessary for financing sustainable development. King Felipe expressed his desire to strengthen relations and support joint investments through small and medium-sized enterprises following the recent economic agreements between Qatar and Spain. He also reiterated Spain's solidarity with Qatar and condemned the Iranian attack on Al-Udeid Air Base last week, praising Doha's role in facilitating a ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel. Sheikh Tamim emphasized Qatar's commitment to enhancing cooperation with Spain across cultural, educational and security fields to serve the common interests of both countries, the Qatar News Agency reported.
Arab News
12 hours ago
- Arab News
Saudi Ministry of Energy, UN ink deal to propel regional emissions cooperation
RIYADH: Middle East and North Africa countries are set to benefit from enhanced clean energy cooperation following an agreement between Saudi Arabia and the UN Environment Programme to accelerate emissions reduction. The memorandum of understanding, signed in Riyadh by Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, seeks to support MENA nations through the promotion of clean energy technologies, development of climate policy frameworks, and knowledge exchange to advance sustainable development, according to an official release. The initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia's Middle East Green Initiative, a regional platform launched to combat climate change and reduce emissions by over 60 percent from hydrocarbon production across participating countries. The initiative aims to cut 670 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, equivalent to 10 percent of global nationally determined contributions when first announced in 2021. The ministry release stated: 'The MoU reflects shared goals to enhance resource efficiency and lower carbon emissions through a comprehensive, balanced and sustainable approach.' It added: 'Areas of cooperation include policy research and recommendations, partnerships with international organizations, participation in climate and CCE-related events, exchange of knowledge and best practices, and the development of climate policy frameworks, supported by regional and global climate networking activities.' During the meeting, the two sides also held talks over advancing the objectives of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. 'The two sides also discussed Saudi Arabia's climate initiatives, including the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative, as well as other efforts undertaken by the Kingdom to expand renewable energy and reduce emissions through the Circular Carbon Economy framework,' the release added. The MoU supports wider regional efforts to unlock renewable potential. MENA currently contributes less than 8 percent of global emissions from power and heat generation and is aiming to grow its clean energy capacity from under 50 gigawatts in 2022 to 200 GW by 2030, according to a June 2024 report by the International Energy Agency. The IEA report also highlighted that the region — led by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Algeria — is experiencing the fastest relative growth in renewable energy, scaling at 4.5 times its current base due to ambitious national targets. The MENA region holds substantial hydrocarbon reserves alongside significant renewable energy potential, positioning it as a strategically important player in the global shift toward sustainable energy, according to the Natural Resource Governance Institute. Governments across the region are adopting a dual-energy strategy — leveraging both fossil fuels and renewables — to reduce emissions while bolstering energy security. Enhanced regional collaboration is critical to developing interconnected energy systems, boosting economic competitiveness, and securing reliable access to international energy markets.
Leaders
15 hours ago
- Leaders
Netanyahu Says Iran-Israel Ceasefire Opens Opportunities for Gaza Deal
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, suggested that the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran could pave the way for a deal in Gaza that secures hostage release. Netanyahu's remarks came as the Israeli military ordered Palestinians in northern Gaza to evacuate ahead of a major offensive, despite the US President Donald Trump's push for a ceasefire in the war-torn enclave. New Opportunities Addressing the members of Israel's domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet on Sunday, Netanyahu said that many opportunities unfolded for Israel following its military operations in Iran, including the release of hostages and ending the war in Gaza, according to CNN. 'As you probably know, many opportunities have opened up now following this victory. Firstly, to rescue the hostages. Of course, we will also need to solve the Gaza issue, defeat Hamas, but I believe we will accomplish both missions,' he said. This marks the first time that Netanyahu has prioritized the return of hostages over the defeat of Hamas, which he has called the 'supreme objective' for Israel's war in Gaza. Pressures Mount for Ceasefire Netanyahu's remarks come amid intensified pressures for a ceasefire in Gaza. Mediators have been pushing to revive talks on Gaza deal since the Iran-Israel conflict ended. On Sunday, Trump urged Hamas and Israel to reach a deal. 'MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!' he wrote on Truth Social. The US President also expressed optimism regarding an imminent agreement in Gaza, that could materialize within a week. 'We're working on Gaza and trying to get it taken care of,' he told reporters on Friday. Moreover, the Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, is set to travel to Washington and meet with Trump administration officials on Monday to discuss the Gaza issue. He will likely arrange a US visit for Netanyahu in the coming weeks, which could signal movement on a deal, the Associated Press (AP) reported citing an Israeli official. This followed a high-level meeting between Netanyahu and some of his closest advisers, including Dermer and Defense Minister, Israel Katz, on Sunday night to discuss the Israeli military operation in Gaza. Iran Ceasefire Impact The US and Qatar-mediated ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel, which ended their 12-day war, has raised hopes for restarting negotiations between Hamas and Israel to end the war in Gaza. In the light of this, the CNN reported, citing a security source, that the Israeli military now recommends a diplomatic path in Gaza after the elimination of most of Hamas' senior leaders. Ceasefire negotiations have stalled several times, as Hamas is seeking stronger guarantees for a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal for Israeli troops from Gaza, while Israel insists on the destruction and disarmament of the Palestinian group. The latest proposal, made by the US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, included a 60-day temporary ceasefire before starting negotiations for a comprehensive agreement to end the war and the release of 10 Israeli hostages and a number of bodies, in exchange for releasing an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners. New Evacuation Orders The Israeli military on Sunday issued new evacuation orders for Palestinians in Gaza City, Jabaliya and other areas in northern Gaza, instructing them to move south toward Al-Mawasi as the Israeli military operations will intensify and expand westward, the military spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, posted on X. On Sunday, Israeli attacks killed at least 88 Palestinians, including three children, and injured 365 others, Gaza's Health Ministry said. The war in Gaza, which has entered its 21st month, has killed 56,500 Palestinians and wounded more than 133,000 since October 7, 2023, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Short link : Post Views: 78
