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The Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) held a meeting with Qais bin Mohammed al-Yousef, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of Oman, and his accompanying delegation in Doha Saturday.The meeting, held on the sidelines of a luncheon hosted by QBA deputy chairman Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani al-Thani, discussed bilateral co-operation, especially in commercial, economic, and investment sectors, as well as the role of the private sector in boosting mutual trade and joint investments.QBA chairman HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani welcomed the minister and his delegation in the presence of board members Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser bin Khaled al-Thani and Saud al-Mana.Also in attendance were QBA members Ibrahim Jaidah, Ashraf Abu Issa, Faisal al-Mana, Nabil Abu Issa, Maqbool Habib Khalfan, Yousef al-Mahmoud, Dr Mohammed Althaf, and QBA deputy general manager Sarah Abdallah.Sheikh Faisal noted that the brotherly relations between the two countries serve as a distinguished model within the GCC, highlighting the increase in reciprocal visits aimed at strengthening economic partnerships between Doha and Muscat.He also proposed the formation of a joint technical committee to study potential investment opportunities in various developmental projects across Oman, whether in industries, tourism, and the medical and pharmaceutical sectors, among others. This committee would aim to identify clear projects for both sides, paving the way for meaningful investments in agreed sectors, he said.The Invest Oman Authority, affiliated with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, presented investment opportunities to Qatari investors in diverse sectors, such as fisheries, food and pharmaceutical industries, manufacturing, technology, mining, renewable energy, tourism, and agriculture.Sheikh Khalid emphasised the strength of the brotherly ties between Qatar and Oman, describing them as a model of constructive cooperation. He affirmed the commitment of both leaderships to deepening strategic ties, especially economically, based on the belief that these partnerships significantly contribute to the countries’ development visions through active involvement of the private sector — the cornerstone of a successful economy.He further stated that Oman is an important economic and trade partner for Qatar, highlighting the recent visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Oman, accompanied by a large delegation of businessmen. This visit marked a step forward in advancing cooperation in strategic sectors, such as tourism, manufacturing, food security, education, and logistics — all representing projects of mutual economic value.For his part, al-Yousef thanked the QBA for hosting the ministry’s delegation and praised the bilateral relations between the two sides. He invited QBA members to visit Muscat to explore the various available investment opportunities.He welcomed QBA’s proposal to form a joint technical committee under the supervision of his ministry, aimed at laying the necessary groundwork to turn ideas into real projects. He stressed that building sustainable economic partnerships between the two countries is a strategic necessity and emphasised his ministry’s commitment to intensifying efforts and communication to eliminate any challenges facing investors.He also praised the QBA’s positive role in supporting joint efforts to enhance economic and trade co-operation. The minister also praised Qatari investments in Oman and expressed Oman’s desire to see more Qatari private sector investment.The Omani side presented a detailed overview of investment opportunities across several sectors and outlined the incentives provided to foreign investors, along with key indicators and facilitations in the business environment.They pointed out that Oman has 22 free and industrial economic zones, offering significant investment opportunities in various sectors, including logistics, food industries, tourism, mining, education, innovation, technology, healthcare, and more.Trade volume between the two countries increased by nearly 20% last year, reaching over QR6.2bn.

Palestinian political analysts and experts agree that the upcoming emergency Arab-Islamic summit, scheduled to be held in Qatar capital, Doha, on Monday, represents a crucial opportunity to coordinate Arab and Islamic response to the Israeli entity's arrogance and blatant violations of international law and state sovereignty. The most recent example is the Israeli aggression targeting residential compounds housing several Hamas leaders in Doha.In separate interviews with Qatar News Agency (QNA), speakers noted that the summit is expected to formulate a unified stance to confront Israeli encroachments on Arab sovereignty and to reach a decision supporting Arab, international, and UN efforts to halt the ongoing genocide perpetrated by Israel in Gaza Strip over the past two years, as well as to oppose the Judaization, annexation, and expropriation projects Israel has begun implementing in the West Bank.Political analyst and academic at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, Dr. Samir Abu Madlala, stated that the Arab and Islamic countries participating in the summit are called upon to stand with Qatar in defending its national sovereignty. He emphasized the need for these countries to reassess their relationship with Israeli occupying entity, considering it a colonial expansionist state that poses a threat to the interests of Arab nations and peoples - a stance that Israel's far-right government continues to flaunt.Abu Madlala stressed in an exclusive statement to QNA that the expected Arab and Islamic political support for Qatar must translate into concrete practical steps, including halting cooperation and coordination with Israel, suspending trade relations, and taking measures to prevent Israeli flights from crossing the airspace of these countries.He added that Palestinian and Arab interests must be prioritized, separate from relations with Israel. Without practical action, the occupation will continue its plan to destroy Gaza Strip, carry out its bloody project of displacing its residents, and continue its aggression against Arab countries, as seen in recent attacks on Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Tunisia, Palestine, and most recently, Qatar.Abu Madlala also commended Qatar's support for the Palestinian people, both materially and morally, including development projects in Gaza following the 2014 aggression, which amounted to over 400 million USD and contributed to strengthening Palestinian resilience. He reaffirmed that Qatar consistently stands with the Palestinian people in their right to return, freedom, and the establishment of an independent state.The Palestinian analyst and academic highlighted the vital role of Qatari and Egyptian mediation between the Palestinian resistance and occupation, particularly since the outbreak of Israeli aggression on Gaza, during which Israel has carried out organized state terror against the population under US sponsorship.He said that Qatar's role, alongside Egypt, is crucial in mediation. This mediation succeeded in achieving a ceasefire and truce in January of this year. However, when Qatar sought to continue this role at the US request, Israeli entity attacked Qatar's sovereignty and attempted to assassinate the negotiating delegation, demonstrating the state's policy of organized terror against the Palestinian people.Abu Madlala emphasized that through this attack, Israeli entity proves it has no intention of reaching a truce or agreement to recover its prisoners from the resistance; rather, it seeks to continue its bloody project in Gaza, destroying it entirely and displacing its residents.He concluded that the Qatari and Egyptian mediation roles are central and crucial at this time, expressing hope that Qatar can achieve a ceasefire and halt hostilities as soon as possible, to strengthen Palestinian resilience and preserve what remains of Gaza Strip, given that Israel's project in Gaza targets the Palestinian people, while in the West Bank it targets Palestinian land for annexation and Judaization.Writer and political analyst, Mohammed Abu Qamar, considers that the upcoming Arab summit will witness crucial discussions on mechanisms for a collective response to Israeli aggression, as well as on options for Arab and Islamic action in the coming phase, amid Israeli arrogance.In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Abu Qamar noted that the emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha comes at a sensitive and critical time, coinciding with Israeli aggression against Qatar sovereignty and the occupation's attempt to undermine all efforts to stop the ongoing bloodshed in Gaza, which continued for over 700 days. He also highlighted the expansion of Israeli threats across the Arab region, targeting Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and reaching as far as Qatar, while Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu openly revealed his ambitions for what he terms "Greater Israel."Abu Qamar emphasized that Qatar's persistent diplomatic efforts since the first day of Gaza aggression - including successfully negotiating ceasefire agreements in February 2024 and January 2025 - have not been tolerated by Israel, which seeks to continue its campaign of killing and destruction. He explained that the recent attack on Qatar territories, targeting Hamas negotiating delegation, was an attempt by Israel to undermine Qatar's mediation efforts and obstruct progress toward an agreement to end war in Gaza.Against this backdrop, Abu Qamar stressed the importance of the summit in taking a decisive stance against Israeli aggression in the region, which now threatens Arabian Gulf. The summit is expected to forge an urgent position aimed at halting attacks on Arab states, ending the war in Gaza immediately, and stopping settlement expansion in West Bank, which eliminates any chance for a Palestinian state.He highlighted that Arab countries hold all the leverage necessary to achieve these objectives through decisive measures if Israel's aggression against Palestinian territories and Arab states is not stopped. Eyes of the region are on the Doha summit, with hope that it will adopt a unified position capable of countering Israel's far-right government, which has taken actions and decisions that risk igniting the entire region.In the same context, political researcher, Ahmed Abu Zahri, noted that choosing Qatari capital - which recently suffered an Israeli attack - as the venue for the summit sends a strong message to Israel: Arab and Islamic response to Israeli violations transforms the targeted state into an active arena for political and diplomatic confrontation with the occupation.Abu Zahri told QNA that the high-level representation expected at the summit from the Gulf, Arab, and Islamic world sends a clear message that Israel's targeting of a Gulf state constitutes a threat to the entire region. This gives the summit a mandate to act as a unifying Arab platform, extending beyond traditional expressions of solidarity.He affirmed that the Israeli attack on a residential compound in Doha was primarily aimed at undermining Qatar's role as an effective mediator in Gaza conflict, preventing it from exercising diplomatic and political pressure to implement a ceasefire. As a result, Gaza issue and ending war have become central items on the agenda of the emergency Arab-Islamic summit.

Spokesman for the Secretary-General of the Arab League Jamal Rushdi affirmed Saturday that the emergency Arab-Islamic summit - to be hosted by Doha on Monday - carries a message of full solidarity with the State of Qatar in the face of the brutal attack by the Israeli occupation forces targeting the residential compounds of members of the Hamas Political Bureau in Doha last Tuesday.In remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Rushdi said that the convening of this summit in the State of Qatar aims primarily to discuss the consequences of the unprecedented, dangerous and cowardly Israeli aggression on Qatari sovereignty, by targeting Hamas leaders on Qatari territory. He pointed out that this summit is expected to express a message of full solidarity from Arab and Islamic countries with the State of Qatar and to stand by it in its position that defends international law and international norms, which have long stipulated that mediators or negotiators should not be targeted.The spokesman for the Secretary-General of the Arab League added that the upcoming summit will discuss the repercussions of the situation and the steps that must be taken to halt the slide in the region due to the aggressive behavior of the Israeli entity. The summit is also expected to support the State of Qatar in any measures it takes to preserve and defend its sovereignty, he said, noting that the summit also represents a message to the world rejecting Israeli arrogance and refusing to accept the logic of the law of the jungle in the region.Rushdi stressed the need for the international community to shoulder its responsibility in curbing this reckless Israeli behavior, which is igniting fires in the region, one country after another. In this regard, he emphasized the need to put an end to these Israeli attacks, which have targeted more than one country in the Middle East.The spokesman for the Secretary-General of the Arab League concluded his remarks by highlighting the need to put an end to the ongoing war of extermination in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the importance of respecting international law and warning against the behavior of the Israeli entity, which continues its brutal aggression against the Palestinian people.

Syrian researchers and academics affirmed that the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit to be held in Doha this Monday highlights the importance of reshaping a unified Arab and Islamic position toward the Israeli aggression that targeted residential compounds of several Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital, to confront Israeli policies, support the Palestinian people and their rights, and underscore Qatar's pivotal role in mediation efforts since the outbreak of the war.Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dean of the Faculty of Media at Damascus University Dr. Khaled Za'rour said that holding the summit at this time carries significant implications, noting that it follows directly after the Israeli attack on a residential compound for Hamas members in Doha, marking the importance of both timing and content.He added that the summit includes consensus on rejecting and condemning the aggression, considering it a pivotal shift in the series of Israeli attacks, as it targeted a state hosting negotiations and acting as a mediator.Dr. Za'rour explained that the summit will send a message of unity within the Arab ranks and that the Arab heart beats strongly in solidarity.He noted that the aggression has influenced the Arab and Islamic stance by exposing the false Israeli narrative attempting to justify its attacks, emphasizing that positions will not be complete unless translated into practical steps, including full political and economic boycott, redrawing military and political alliances to identify the most loyal partners, and leveraging the economic power and geographic position of Arab states to strengthen the stance.The dean pointed out that the aggression attempted to weaken Qatar's role but instead strengthened it, as Arab ambassadors' statements at the UN General Assembly showed that Qatar emerged from this aggression with a stronger and more influential position, reinforcing the Palestinian cause.He stressed that the political and diplomatic response should focus on containing the aggressor and exposing its claims, not merely preventing recurrence of the attacks.Similarly, political researcher Omar Idlibi from the Harmoon Center for Studies said that the emergency summit reflects a rare unity in the Arab and Islamic stance and clear solidarity with Qatar in facing aggression that crosses all red lines.Idlibi explained that convening the summit following Qatar's political and diplomatic efforts and international condemnations demonstrates the participating states' determination to coordinate positions to confront Israeli aggression toward the Palestinian people and regional states, highlight the plight of Palestinians in the West Bank, and engage the international community in serious efforts to revive the two-state solution and the Palestinian right to an independent state.He added that the participating states possess various instruments of influence, notably economic leverage, to create tangible impact on international approaches to regional issues and curb leniency toward Israeli aggression.Idlibi emphasized that Qatari diplomacy demonstrated great capacity in responding to the aggression through official statements denouncing it as a treacherous attack, and extensive diplomatic efforts in capitals and the UN Security Council to garner support for Qatar's position, culminating in the call for the Arab-Islamic summit to discuss and coordinate responses and support the Palestinian people against Israeli policies.He noted that Qatari mediation had previously succeeded, in partnership with Egypt and the United States, in achieving a partial ceasefire agreement and the release of several prisoners and hostages.The recent Israeli aggression represented a severe blow to the mediation process but also an opportunity to mobilize Arab and international positions to pressure the occupation and engage in serious negotiations to end the Gaza war tragedy and pave the way for a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue.Idlibi added that the success of these efforts requires Qatar to maintain a firm stance and leverage the widespread condemnations of the aggression to secure international support for mediation efforts and concrete guarantees compelling the occupation to halt undermining negotiations, a goal the Doha summit can achieve with Arab and Islamic backing.The expert on Israeli affairs Khaled Khalil told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the Israeli attack on a residential compound in Qatar crossed all boundaries, reaching an unprecedented level of criminality.He emphasized that this treacherous and sudden aggression against the mediator and negotiating party constitutes a serious criminal precedent, sounding the alarm for Arab and Islamic national security, particularly Gulf security.Khalil explained that the scale of Israel's crimes in Gaza and the region is directly proportional to the absence of countermeasures, making it imperative to activate available deterrence tools through all political, diplomatic, and economic means.He added that the call for an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which includes 57 countries and forms the largest political bloc after the United Nations, represents a key step to confront the aggression, especially as the OIC's ministerial council has played an increasingly prominent political role in recent years.Khalil highlighted the need to build alliances with the European Union and Western countries that have shown growing criticism of Israel, leveraging international opinion to politically, economically, and diplomatically pressure Israel. This is particularly crucial amid rising accusations of genocide in Gaza and the recent recognition of the Palestinian state by six European countries within less than two weeks, coinciding with UN General Assembly sessions.He pointed out that the extensive condemnation and multiple visits from Islamic states demonstrated broad support and solidarity with Qatar.Khalil warned that if Israel does not face firm political and diplomatic pressure, it will continue its crimes without restraint.Khalil described the attack on Qatar as a historic warning, highlighting the need for serious Arab and Islamic action that goes beyond statements.He noted that the current Israeli leadership pursues extremist ideological projects under a historical and religious cover, disregarding strategic and rational calculations, a suicidal path that risks further regional escalation.He underlined that targeting a residential compound of Hamas members in Qatar, a mediating state and active diplomatic player, as well as a major Washington ally outside NATO, represents a dangerous development that could reignite the Arab-Israeli conflict, which Israel has sought to confine to its bilateral conflict with Palestinians.Khalil added that the attack stains the extremist Israeli right and underscores the role of Qatar in activating necessary tools to hold aggressors accountable and push for a firm collective Arab stance, ensuring Israel cannot impose a de facto reality or solidify new security facts.He emphasized that the current stage presents a historic opportunity for Arab and Islamic states to use international forums to condemn Israel, hold it accountable for its crimes, enhance its global isolation, and translate Arab and Islamic solidarity into practical measures that protect Palestinian rights and restore the issue to the international agenda.Experts concluded that the Emergency Summit in Doha represents a critical opportunity to unify Arab and Islamic positions, transform solidarity into concrete steps supporting Palestinian resilience, halting Israeli attacks on Gaza, and strengthening Qatar's role as a pivotal and effective mediator in political and diplomatic efforts.Analysts noted that the targeting of the residential compound in Qatar did not weaken its position; rather, it reinforced its regional and international role, making the summit a key platform to coordinate responses to Israeli aggression and activate political, diplomatic, and economic pressure tools against Israel, ensuring the protection of Palestinian rights and reaffirming adherence to international law and UN resolutions.

The Arab League today welcomed the overwhelming adoption by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) of a draft resolution endorsing the 'New York Declaration', issued last July, which supports the implementation of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. In a statement, Secretary-General of the League Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the strong majority in favor of the resolution reflects a growing international consensus on the urgent need to implement the two-state solution, adding that countries which chose not to support the resolution are placing themselves on the wrong side of history. He added that the General Assembly's adoption of the resolution reinforces the outcomes of the recent conference focused on the two-state solution, and significantly contributes to building international momentum - particularly as several countries prepare to formally recognize the State of Palestine in the coming days, coinciding with the high-level summit on September 22.

Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Majid bin Mohammed al-Ansari announced that Doha will host the emergency Arab-Islamic summit Monday, which is being held in light of recent developments in the region.Dr al-Ansari told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the summit will discuss a draft statement on the Israeli attack on Qatar, submitted by the preparatory meeting of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers, which will be held Sunday.Preparatory meeting of foreign ministers today to draft statement on the Israeli attack on Qatar "The emergency Arab-Islamic summit to be hosted by Doha on Monday, carries a message of full solidarity with Qatar in the face of the brutal attack by the Israeli occupation forces"The Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that the convening of the Arab-Islamic Summit at this time has its significance, as it reflects the broad Arab and Islamic solidarity with Qatar in confronting the cowardly Israeli aggression that targeted the residential headquarters of several Hamas leaders, and these countries' categorical rejection of the state terrorism practiced by Israel.Spokesman for the Secretary-General of the Arab League Jamal Rushdi affirmed yesterday that the emergency Arab-Islamic summit to be hosted by Doha on Monday, carries a message of full solidarity with Qatar in the face of the brutal attack by the Israeli occupation forces targeting the residential compounds of members of the Hamas Political Bureau in Doha last Tuesday.In remarks to QNA, Rushdi said that the convening of this summit aims primarily to discuss the consequences of the unprecedented, dangerous and cowardly Israeli aggression on Qatari sovereignty, by targeting Hamas leaders on Qatari territory.Egyptian experts and analysts emphasized the importance of Qatar hosting an emergency Arab and Islamic summit to reaffirm the support of the Arab and Islamic worlds for Doha's actions in international and regional forums in response to the Israeli aggression.The experts and analysts told QNA that the Doha summit convenes at a highly sensitive moment requiring a unified Arab stance that goes beyond traditional condemnation statements to practical steps to confront the ongoing Israeli aggression, stand with Qatar in solidarity, and endorse all measures it takes to protect and defend its sovereignty against Israeli threats.Lebanese officials and analysts emphasised the necessity for the emergency summit in Doha to produce decisions and measures commensurate with the Israeli aggression.They highlighted the importance of Qatar hosting the summit, noting that the Israeli attack marked a dangerous turning point with repercussions extending beyond the Palestinian issue to the broader political developments in the region.They pointed out that Qatar serves as a mediator for halting the aggression in Gaza and is a leading country globally in promoting peace and stability.Iraqi officials and analysts affirmed Iraq's full support for Qatar in facing the Israeli aggression, stressing that the attack represents a blatant violation of Qatari sovereignty and a breach of international law and the UN Charter.In statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), they emphasized the need for the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha this Monday to serve as a strong platform to confront the aggression and enhance security and stability, calling on the Arab and international community to take firm action against these hostile acts.Syrian researchers and academics affirmed that the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit to be held in Doha highlights the importance of reshaping a unified Arab and Islamic position toward the Israeli aggression, support the Palestinian people and their rights, and underscore Qatar's pivotal role in mediation efforts since the outbreak of the war.Speaking to QNA, Dean of the Faculty of Media at Damascus University Dr Khaled Za'rour said that holding the summit at this time carries significant implications, noting that it follows directly after the Israeli attack, marking the importance of both timing and content.

Qatar National Bank (QNB) predicted that upcoming US Federal Reserve interest-rate decisions could lead to a mild stagflation scenario, where growth slows while inflation remains above target. In its weekly report, QNB noted that the current US administration has clearly focused on monetary policy and has urged the Federal Reserve to deliver large rate cuts and adopt a more flexible stance. The report explained that monetary policy decisions are normally based on forecasts of key macroeconomic variables and a careful analysis of how interest-rate changes affect economic activity and prices, with the Federal Open Market Committee typically carrying out this process through extensive technical deliberations free from political pressure. The bank observed that new economic trends has unsettled financial markets, causing significant volatility as investors try to determine the appropriate level of interest rates for pricing assets in the new macroeconomic environment. US interest rates and Treasury yields were said to provide important information on macroeconomic expectations, particularly through the real yield curve (the gap between yields on 10-year and 2-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities). A wider gap indicates expectations of weaker short-term growth relative to the long term. This gap has widened in 2025 even though long-term real yields have remained stable, suggesting that longer-term growth expectations have not changed while near-term activity is expected to weaken. Recent US labor-market data were highlighted as evidence of this slowdown, showing slower job creation and a gradual rise in unemployment in recent months. Consensus forecasts for real GDP growth have also been revised downward, with expectations for 2025 and 2026 reduced by about 0.5 percentage points to 1.5% and 1.7% respectively, levels approaching the weakest annual growth since the post-COVID recession. The report stressed that real interest rates remain highly restrictive. With the federal funds rate upper bound at 4.5% and inflation at roughly 2.7%, the real rate is close to 1.8%, well above the estimated neutral rate of roughly 0.5-1.0 percentage points. QNB argued that current rates are overly tight and need adjustment to avoid a sharp growth slowdown. Short-term Treasury yields were described as closely tracking market expectations for the Fed's policy path. The two-year Treasury yield has fallen about 60 basis points this year (from a January peak of 4.40% to roughly 3.80%) signaling expectations of a substantial rate-cutting cycle. Markets now anticipate two 25-basis-point cuts by the end of 2025, followed by additional reductions through 2026, which would bring the policy rate down to around 3% by the end of that year. QNB concluded that these indicators point to a moderate stagflationary environment, with inflation staying above the Fed's 2% target even as growth weakens. Members of the Federal Open Market Committee were reported to have acknowledged a shift in the balance of risks toward slower growth, with markets expecting a policy-easing cycle that lowers the federal funds rate to roughly 3% by the end of 2026.

The United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt proposed a roadmap to end the conflict in Sudan, calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire following a three-month truce and for a nine-month transitional process to establish a civilian-led government.In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the four countries urged a three-month humanitarian truce to allow urgent delivery of aid, to be followed by a permanent ceasefire. They stressed that there was no military solution to the conflict and warned that the current situation was causing unacceptable suffering and posing risks to peace and security. The ministers also rejected any return of Sudan's former regime or groups linked to it.The warring parties in Sudan have not yet stated their positions on this initiative.This joint appeal followed a call last June by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a one-week truce in El Fasher, a proposal accepted by the Sudanese army but rejected by the Rapid Support Forces.The war in Sudan has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis, pushing much of the population into famine and leaving millions in extremely dire conditions.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani met with US Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington Friday.The meeting addressed the close strategic relations between Qatar and the US of America and ways to advance them, in addition to discussing developments in the region.During the meeting, Vance affirmed his solidarity with Qatar, noting that diplomatic solutions are capable of resolving outstanding issues in the region.He appreciated Qatar's tireless mediation efforts and its effective role in bringing peace to the region, emphasising that Qatar is a reliable strategic ally of the US .For his part, HE Sheikh Mohammed affirmed that Qatar will take all measures to protect its security and safeguard its sovereignty in the face of the blatant Israeli attack.He expressed Qatar's appreciation for its close partnership with the US and its support for Qatar's sovereignty and its efforts to achieve peace in the region.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani received on Friday a phone call from the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro.During the call, the President affirmed Venezuela's solidarity with the State of Qatar and its strong condemnation of the Israeli attack, stressing that it is a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms.The Venezuelan President also stressed his categorical rejection of any aggression that threatens the security and safety of the State of Qatar and undermines the security and stability of the region.He hailed the role of His Highness the Amir and the State of Qatar in resolving conflicts and mediation efforts around the world.For his part, His Highness the Amir affirmed that the State of Qatar will take all measures to protect its security and preserve its sovereignty in the face of the treacherous Israeli attack.His Highness the Amir expressed his thanks to the Venezuelan President for his sincere feelings and his country's appreciated solidarity with the State of Qatar and its people.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani received on Friday a phone call from King Felipe VI of the Kingdom of Spain.During the call, the King of Spain affirmed his strong condemnation of the Israeli attack on the State of Qatar, stressing that it is a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms.For his part, HH the Amir affirmed that the State of Qatar will take all necessary measures to protect its security and maintain its sovereignty in the face of the treacherous Israeli attack.HH the Amir expressed his thanks to the King of Spain for his sincere feelings towards the State of Qatar and its people.

Syrian Presidential Adviser for Media Affairs, Dr Ahmed Muwaffaq Zidan, has affirmed that the Syria-Qatar relations are far more rock-solid than ever, pointing out that the key challenge now is how to elevate these ties to new heights and build full integration between the two brotherly nations.In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), he clarified that the Syrian people will never forget Qatar's historic position in standing with their cause in multiple stages.It was the country that embraced the Syrians and provided them with political and humanitarian backing until the last moments. Also, Qatar was visited by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa as part of the political overture Syria has recently witnessed, Zidan underlined.Zidan further indicated that the Qatari support for Syria has not stopped even for a single day, whether at the political, economic, or humanitarian levels, with the Qatari companies undertaking a leading role, particularly in the energy sector.Preparation is currently underway to forge new agreements with Qatar in connection with reconstruction and infrastructure.The Qatari side has persistently contributed to supporting the education and health sectors and has had a preeminent presence in reconstruction programs, Zidan pointed out.Zidan emphasised that the Qatari helping hands have never been absent in Syria even for a day, as every single economic support Qatar provides today fully undergirds the Syrian statehood and its Arab renaissance project.Syria's return to the Arab fold, and the Arab fold's return to Syria, embodies an integration realised through investments, grants, and infrastructure development, setting the wheels of the economy in motion as a central driver of social, political, and economic life, Zidan stressed.Zidan pointed out that the provision of natural gas for power generation or contributing to reducing unemployment and creating job opportunities are strategic support that is squarely reflected on Syrians' lives and helps them integrate with their brothers in the Arab Gulf.He asserted that Syria's success is reciprocally a success for Qatar as long as their bilateral relationship is rock-solid and unshakable.Regarding upcoming international engagements, he revealed that President al-Sharaa will head to New York to participate in the 80th session of the UN General Assembly later this September, marking the first visit by a Syrian president to the UN in many years.This participation will usher in a new era of political and civic overture for Syria, providing the opportunity for the president to address the international community and meet the Syrian community, as well as UN officials, something that would break the isolation the erstwhile regime had imposed on Syria and return the global presence to the nation, Zidan said.He added that this visit will pave the way for broader co-operation prospects between Syria and the world, entrenching the image of the people of Syria.Regarding the repeated Israeli assaults on Syrian territories, Zidan highlighted that the Syrian statehood is strong by its people and allies, notwithstanding its weak military capabilities following the decades-long devastation it had incurred.He clarified that Syria's ceiling on this issue is a return to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement under international mediation and with the presence of UN forces, calling on the Israeli occupation to comply with this agreement.The American position plays a positive role in this direction, alongside the critical role undertaken by the Arab Gulf nations, foremost among them Qatar and Saudi Arabia, as well as Turkiye, to tighten the screws on the Israeli occupation to halt its incursions, Zidan highlighted.He revealed that all dialogues, whether in Baku, Paris, or through other mediation channels, focused on returning to the 1974 Agreement as the primary reference on this issue.On Syrian national media, Zidan confirmed a plan to reorganise the national narrative and political discourse, making it more comprehensive and inclusive for all Syrians, at home and abroad, in coordination with Syria's Ministry of Information.He added that while the discourse exists, it needs restructuring and a stronger, more prominent presentation, with results expected to become clear over the next two years.The mammoth investment projects, especially in Damascus, are underway based on meticulously learned plans to determine the image of the future city, and this requires time and effort, but cooperation with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and several western allies will accelerate the construction engine, even though Syrian statehood is still in the making after emerging from accumulated crises, Zidan clarified.Zidan further explained that the war has left 1mn killed, millions of orphans and widows, and 14mn displaced, in addition to the decimation of thousands of schools, hospitals, and homes, making development and economic reconstruction an utmost priority.He emphasised that the recent launch of the Syrian Development Fund represents a key lever for the economic process and will spare the country many burdens imposed by global banks, noting that the participation of friends and brotherly countries in this fund will bolster its effectiveness and impact.Finally, Zidan assured that Syria today is moving forward toward development and reconstruction with the support of Arab brothers, with the State of Qatar at the forefront, which has been providing an advanced model in backing Syria at a variety of levels.He expressed confidence in the upcoming phase, which will usher in a new era of the Syria-Qatar relationship for the interests of the two peoples and strengthening stability in the entire region.