Latest news with #Sanz
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shakira and Alejandro Sanz Reunite — Again! — for Love Song ‘Bésame'
They're back! After multiple hit collaborations, including 'La Tortura' and 'Te Lo Agradezco, Pero No,' longtime friends Alejandro Sanz and Shakira have reunited again for 'Bésame,' a new collaboration featured on Sanz's new EP, ¿Y Ahora Qué? 'I'll tell you the truth, if life is beautiful, you and it are so similar/ In the end I don't dare let fate decide/ If there's any risk of seeing myself without you, I don't want to bet,' sings Sanz in Spanish on the love song, before Shakira chimes in with shining vocals. More from Rolling Stone Remy Bond Channels the 'Diamond Sadness' of the Seventies in 'Moviestar' Video St. Vincent Taps Mon Laferte for Spanglish Duet of 'Violent Times' Connie Francis Reacts to Going Viral on Tiktok for 1961 B-Side 'Pretty Little Baby' The new track comes just a few days after the stars linked up on stage in Charlotte for a performance of 'La Tortura' during Shakira's Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran tour. 'That was probably one of the very few songs that played in Spanish in America on American radio,' Shakira told Rolling Stone about that moment. 'So, it's like celebrating after 20 years the road that we've traveled, and how many obstacles as artists we have overcome.' 'Bésame' marks the third time they've worked together on a song. Twenty years ago, Sanz joined Shakira for Fijación Oral, Vol. 1's biggest hit. The pair then reconnected on his LP El Tren de Los Momentos in 2006 for 'Te Lo Agradezco, Pero No.' Sanz has been teasing the new collaboration on social media, sharing clips of their performances and snippets of the new song's lyrics. 'A thousand years may pass, along with a thousand more, but what happens to us on stage will remain one of a kind!' Shakira wrote on Instagram after they performed together. Sanz commented, 'Our chemistry is kept for the stage, but my love for you travels with me everywhere.' Sanz's new EP features tracks with Grupo Frontera on 'Hoy No Me Siento Bien' and Manuel Turizo on '¿Cómo Sería?' The new project follows 2021's self-titled album, Sanz. Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
Forbes
28-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Outshone By China, Can Europe Make A Solar Comeback Before It's Too Late?
Javier Sanz Rodriguez, Thematic Leader at European Commission backed InnoEnergy Once a global pioneer in solar technology, Europe now finds itself in a race against time to reclaim a foothold in an industry it helped to create. While China's dominance of solar manufacturing is undisputed, a growing chorus of investors, innovators, and policymakers believes Europe can still rebound—if it acts decisively. 'It's not just about competitiveness anymore—it's about sovereignty,' says Javier Sanz Rodriguez, Thematic Leader for Renewable Energies at InnoEnergy, a cleantech investor backed by the European Commission. InnoEnergy has helped build four industrial unicorns and is currently mobilising €160 billion in cleantech investment by 2030. It is the launchpad behind ventures such as H2 Green Steel and Northvolt, and is now betting big on reviving sovereignty of Europe's solar ecosystem. Europe's fall from solar manufacturing grace wasn't due to a lack of innovation. 'Europe was leading because market demand and technology leadership coincided,' Sanz explains. 'But when demand outpaced domestic supply, China became the easy solution.' From Berlin, Felix Krause, Managing Partner at Vireo Ventures, offers a complementary view: 'Indeed, Europe was once a leader in solar manufacturing,' he says. 'However, continuous reliance on cheap fossil fuels from countries like Russia, a lack of cohesive industrial strategy, and fragmented policies hindered Europe's ability to maintain its competitive edge.' In contrast, China charted a deliberate industrial course, pouring more than $50 billion into scaling its solar PV capacity—ten times more than all EU countries combined. It vertically integrated its supply chains, slashed costs through massive economies of scale, and captured the market. 'This allowed China to rapidly scale production and drive down costs, effectively outpacing European manufacturers,' Krause adds. TOPSHOT - A view shows photovoltaic solar pannels at the power plant in La Colle des Mees, Alpes de ... More Haute Provence, southeastern France, on April 17, 2019. - The 112,000 solar panels cover an area of 200 hectares with a total capacity of 100MW. (Photo by GERARD JULIEN / AFP) (Photo credit should read GERARD JULIEN/AFP via Getty Images) The urgency to act, both Sanz and Krause agree, stems from more than just market logic. It's about resilience and autonomy in an era of geopolitical volatility. 'In the current political climate, Europe must urgently strengthen its energy resilience,' says Krause. 'Historically, we relied heavily on oil and gas imports, but these sources have proven to be unreliable and geopolitically risky. Now, the focus must shift to establishing independent energy production as the basis for democracy, independence and freedom.' Sanz echoes the sentiment. 'If we don't act now, we risk losing not just our competitiveness, but our ability to meet climate goals on our own terms.' The good news? Europe still leads in early-stage innovation. Startups like NexWafe are rewriting the rules of solar wafer manufacturing with processes that are not just more efficient, but more sustainable. 'NexWafe introduces a new approach to silicon wafer production,' says Sanz. 'Their epitaxial process eliminates energy-intensive steps, cuts energy consumption by 40%, reduces silicon waste by 90%, and lowers CO₂ emissions by up to 70%.' It's a breakthrough that could significantly reduce costs and restore a competitive edge to European manufacturers. But innovation alone isn't enough. Europe must scale these technologies, fast. Circularity is another frontier where Europe can lead, especially with its unique mix of strong climate regulation, early-stage innovation, and largescale market demand. The EU's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, WEEE, Directive, for example, mandates responsible recycling of electronic waste, including solar panels. This is creating new opportunities to extract and reuse valuable raw materials, lessening Europe's reliance on external sources. One company, ROSI, is turning this mandate into industrial capacity. With facilities in France and expansion plans in Germany and Spain, ROSI is recovering high-purity materials like polysilicon from decommissioned panels and production waste. 'These materials can be reintegrated into the value chain,' Sanz explains. 'This is about more than sustainability—it's about supply chain resilience.' To scale up manufacturing and compete with Asia's giants, Europe needs to pool resources and expertise. Both Sanz and Krause agree that strategic joint ventures and cross-border collaborations are vital. 'Joint ventures enable rapid scale-up and transfer of industrial know-how,' Sanz says. 'They can rebuild capacity quickly, especially in critical upstream components like ingots and wafers.' Krause is blunt about what's missing: 'If Europe genuinely wants to rebuild its solar industry, it must focus on emerging technologies and new materials rather than attempting to compete directly with the massive economies of scale established in Asia.' But he sees promise—if the EU can get its act together. 'We need a coordinated European strategy that prioritises investment in research, scales these technologies to market, and fosters long-term industrial partnerships.' Felix Krause, Managing Partner at Vireo Ventures When asked what one policy could unlock real momentum, Krause is unequivocal: 'I would implement a clear mandate from the European Commission to transition to 100% renewable energies by 2040.' Such a commitment, he says, 'would send a strong signal to the market, unlock substantial capital, and attract a massive inflow of talent, companies, and businesses.' Sanz, meanwhile, believes smarter foreign investment rules could be transformative. 'Reshape the EU's FDI screening policy into a strategic industrial tool,' he says. 'Let it enable the right kind of industrial partnerships while preserving EU control. Full reshoring isn't realistic, but strategic reinvestment is essential.' He also supports rapid implementation of the Net Zero Industry Act, along with EU-wide procurement policies that favour 'EU-made' technologies. 'Italy and Austria are already offering tax incentives for European-made products. Now we need a continental strategy.' At InnoEnergy, investment isn't just about ROI—it's about systemic impact. 'We look for projects that reduce emissions and create quality jobs in Europe,' Sanz says. Beyond capital, the firm provides hands-on support—market access, governance, industrial expertise—to help projects reach scale. 'We're building companies like Verkor, GravitHy, Holosolis, and now SUNWAFE, which will produce ingots and wafers in Spain.' For Sanz, it's a journey rooted in pragmatism. 'Cross one bridge after another,' he says. 'That mindset helps me focus on solving what's in front of me, rather than getting distracted by what's down the road.' His proudest recent achievement? The launch of SUNWAFE. 'It's one of those moments that give you the sense of having a real impact.' With the right mix of ambition, coordination, and investment, both Sanz and Krause believe Europe can still turn the tide. 'This is not just about technology,' says Krause. 'It's about building the foundations of a future that's democratic, independent, and sustainable.' And with experts continuing to sound the alarm bells for climate change as a cascading crisis, the time to act is now.
Euronews
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
World 'more gender equal than ever', but progress is reversible, warns UN Women regional chief
Despite progress for women's and girls' rights around the world, these gains are fragile. In 2024, one in four countries in the world reported a setback in women's rights, according to a new report by UN Women. ADVERTISEMENT The world is more gender-equal today than at any point in history, but progress is not guaranteed and could even be reversed without sustained action, Belén Sanz, regional director of UN Women Europe and Central Asia, told Euronews in an interview. 'Women have made a real shift in the world, but we are seeing that there is an alarming rollback, that discrimination is deepening, that legal protections are weakening, and that the funding and financing for gender equality is also shrinking,' Sanz said. According to a new UN Women report, Women's Rights in Review: 30 Years After Beijing, parity has been achieved in girls' education, maternal mortality has dropped by a third, and women's representation in parliaments has more than doubled in the past three decades. However, Sanz warned that today's hard-won progress 'can be shifted in a moment,' emphasizing the need for the European Union to remain 'extremely vigilant' against potential setbacks, as Europe is not immune to the global backlash against gender equality. The report highlights that in 2024, one in four countries in the world reported a backlash on women's rights. For instance, Georgia abolished its gender quota for women in parliament, raising concerns about regression, Sanz noted. 'We must anchor the policies the European Union has implemented and ensure strong monitoring and adequate resources, because without them, there is always a risk of rollback,' she added. At the EU level, around 50 million women still experience high levels of sexual and physical violence at home, at work, and in public. Between 2014 and 2024, the percentage of women aged 18-74 who have faced gender-based violence has barely changed (31.4% vs. 30.7%). Women across the EU also continue to face a stark gap in labour market participation, with only 44% of women employed compared to 69% of men. 'The gender gap in employment remains a major issue in the region, along with the fact that care responsibilities and unpaid work still fall disproportionately on women,' Sanz said. Globally, women are occupied 2.5 times more on unpaid care work than men. In Europe and Central Asia, that gap is even wider, with women occupied 3.4 times more on unpaid care and domestic work than men. 'Progress is possible, but it has been too slow, too uneven, and too fragile. The hard truth is that the world is failing women and girls,' Sanz argued. According to UN Women estimates, a girl born today would have to wait until age 40 to see women hold as many seats in parliament as men globally, 68 years for child marriage to be eradicated, and 137 years for extreme poverty to be eliminated. Recent global crises—including Covid-19, the climate emergency, and soaring food and fuel prices—have only intensified the urgency to act, Sanz warned, adding that 2025 will be 'a turning point' for women's rights. 'We are also seeing that certain narratives misrepresenting gender equality are directly targeting the progress we have made,' Sanz said when asked about the impact of the rise of the far-right and anti-feminist movements on gender equality in public and political discourse. 'We cannot afford another setback. Women and girls cannot wait—we must find a solution together,' she concluded. ADVERTISEMENT Investing in gender equality will have 'high returns' The recent suspension of US funding and foreign aid is affecting the work of the United Nations and UN Women, said its regional director for Europe and Central Asia. UN Women has been supported by US foreign assistance in Ukraine, Serbia, Tajikistan and Georgia, among others. "In Ukraine, for example, the suspension will reduce resources for women's peacebuilding efforts and safer spaces for survivors of war and violence," Sanz pointed out. In figures, the US aid cut will affect at least 4,500 women from Ukraine and will indirectly affect nearly 12,000 individuals across the country, led by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to UN Women. ADVERTISEMENT Over the past two or three years, more than half of UN Women's top 20 donors have shifted their development policies, weakening financial support for the UN agency. "Investing in initiatives that enable women and girls to grow, to develop in their communities and in their societies is a very good investment. It's not an expense, it's an investment with high returns for them and for their societies," Sanz said, calling on member states to continue to support the agency's work.
Arab News
11-02-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia's real estate giant ROSHN using AI to enhance efficiency, improve services
RIYADH: State-owned property developer ROSHN said it is using artificial intelligence across its operations to enhance efficiency, improve the customer experience and support its sustainability efforts. Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the LEAP 2025 technology conference in Riyadh, Pablo Sanz, executive director of digital products, said: 'We are deploying multiple AI agents … so we can serve you better or we can solve your problems in a more convenient way.' The move was part of the company's broader strategy to simplify processes and improve accessibility, to assist customers with purchases, moving in and managing services, he said. Sanz said AI-powered tools were being used to create 3D models of buildings, automate the procurement process, streamline construction, reduce waste, improve efficiency and analyze data on real estate markets. ROSHN recently partnered with Google Cloud to enhance its AI capabilities. The collaboration is designed to improve data-driven decision making and ensure the company's developments align with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 for smart and sustainable cities. 'AI is changing how we do a lot of things,' Sanz said. 'The human touch is still important, but AI allows us to work faster and make processes more convenient in many areas, from customer interactions to supplier relationships.' ROSHN has plans to build fully integrated communities in nine cities across the country and is a key player in the Kingdom's goal to achieve 70 percent home ownership by 2030.
Euronews
06-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Destination Europe Summit: Balancing tourism growth, regulation and investment
Guests at the summit discussed the future of the tourism industry - balancing growth, regulation and sustainability investment. Miguel Sanz, president of the European Travel Commission, took to the stage in Brussels after an introduction from Euronews' Meabh McMahon - stressing the importance of travel to Europe's 'lifestyle, culture and connectivity'. He spoke of the effect of digitalisation of the travel sector and argued that more attractions and destinations must be available to book online. Presenting Europe as 'the world's favourite destination', Sanz said the region must strive to retain its competitive edge. Sanz nonetheless highlighted the risks that come with large numbers of visitors: 'Overtourism is putting strain on infrastructure, housing costs, and local communities.' Tourism investment and strategy for 2026 Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism, reasserted the importance of tourism for Europe, calling it a 'powerhouse for economic growth, for job creation, for social development'. He outlined the EU's new tourism strategy for 2026, which will include a focus on: • Climate adaptation and sustainability funding • SME digital transformation, including AI adoption • Infrastructure investment and visitor management He emphasised that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—which form the backbone of Europe's tourism sector—must know how to access funding opportunities to remain competitive. Moreover, he noted how the European Commission has pledged to simplify financing programs. 'We need to make things simpler, and we will,' he stated. CEO warns of overregulation hindering competitiveness Glenn Fogel, CEO of raised concerns about regulatory hurdles slowing down Europe's competitiveness. Fogel also addressed overtourism, suggesting that some destinations may need to explore pricing mechanisms to control visitor numbers, but he stressed that governments—not private companies—should lead on this issue. 'As economies grow, overtourism is only going to get worse,' he warned, highlighting destinations such as Paris, Amsterdam and Venice. New business models and revenue strategies A panel featuring industry executives and policymakers explored alternative revenue models for tourism management: Nikolina Brnjac, member of the European Parliament, highlighted the need for better destination management plans, citing housing shortages and infrastructure pressures from short-term rentals. She highlighted how Croatia has introduced a tourism tax on day visitors to ease congestion. Daniel Attard, member of the European Parliament, stressed that local communities must be part of tourism decision-making, as not every region welcomes mass tourism. Magda Kopczynska, EU Commission director general for mobility and transport, discussed aviation's shift to sustainable fuels, noting that while alternative fuels exist, high costs and production limitations are slowing adoption. Olivier Jankovec, director general at ACI EUROPE, meanwhile, called for greater EU support in scaling up sustainable aviation fuel adoption to ensure Europe isn't reliant on energy imports. Travel demand at record highs George Simon, EVP market development head for Europe at Mastercard, highlighted in a presentation that 2024 was a record-breaking year for travel, with 7.4 billion consumers travelling globally. Notably, 83% of surveyed Chinese travelers expressed a desire to visit Europe, reinforcing the continent's enduring appeal but also raising concerns about pressure on tourist hotspots. Emerging travel trends indicate that leisure stays are lengthening, with the average trip extending by two extra days, benefitting local economies. Additionally, the executive highlighted the 'swift lift' effect, where events, like the Taylor Swift concert, boosted economies across Europe and subsequently underscored the power of organising such events in different destinations. Managing tourism growth responsibly The final panel discussion centered on tourism management strategies. A director from UN Tourism, Sandra Carvao, in charge of market intelligence, policies and competitiveness, stressed the importance of measuring community perceptions, noting that benchmarking data is crucial to addressing seasonality issues and ensuring tourism remains a net positive for local populations too. Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland, pointed to Ireland's high tourism approval ratings, with both locals and national stakeholders maintaining a positive outlook on the sector. He emphasised the need for ongoing engagement with communities to keep tourism development aligned with local interests. Speaking on demographic shifts, Kelly referenced 'silver tourism', highlighting the growing market of travellers over 55 and the industry's need to adapt infrastructure and services accordingly. Policy and infrastructure challenges Sérgio Gonçalves, member of the European Parliament (S&D), echoed overtourism and sustainability concerns, noting how Madeira faces similar challenges to other popular destinations. 'A great destination is only great if it also provides a high quality of life for locals,' Gonçalves said, emphasising the need for robust infrastructure and tourism policies. He proposed reducing airport charges and expanding off-season events as potential strategies to spread visitor traffic more evenly throughout the year. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) was another key challenge for island destinations, with Gonçalves stressing the need for better energy storage solutions and the importance of EU support in scaling up SAF production. Marlène Bartès, policy officer for tourism at the European Commission, warned against using tourism as a scapegoat for broader issues, such as housing shortages, urging a balanced approach that learns from regions experiencing overtourism. Private sector's call for change Zina Bencheikh, EMEA managing director at Intrepid Travel, argued that Europe's tourism infrastructure is not currently aligned with sustainable business models. She stressed the need for structural changes to ensure long-term viability, particularly for SMEs that rely on peak-season earnings to survive through the off-season. 'The European tourism structure has been built in a way that does not fit our style,' she said. Bencheikh also noted that catering for travellers over 55 is the fastest growing segment for Intrepid travel. In his closing remarks, Eduardo Santander, the CEO of the European Travel Commission, thanked attendees for their insights, underscoring the importance of collaboration in shaping the future of tourism. 'This momentum cannot be wasted. It must drive us forward to create a more sustainable tourism landscape,' he said. 'We want to be the best—not just in sustainability, but in accessibility and every aspect of tourism.'
