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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held high stakes talks with a Ukrainian delegation in Florida Sunday, as the United States pushes to end Russia's war against its neighbour.The negotiations come as Kyiv faces mounting military and political pressure, along with the fallout from a corruption scandal. They could set the stage for next week's visit to Moscow by President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, who is expected to discuss Ukraine diplomacy."This is not just about peace deals. It's about creating a pathway forward that leaves Ukraine sovereign, independent and prosperous," Rubio said at the start of the negotiations.Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were also attending the meeting in Hallandale Beach, north of Miami.Ukraine's security council secretary Rustem Umerov led Kyiv's delegation, which also included Andrii Hnatov, the chief of staff of Ukraine's armed forces, and presidential adviser Oleksandr Bevz."We are discussing about the future of Ukraine, about the security of Ukraine, about no repetition of aggression of Ukraine, about prosperity of Ukraine, about how to rebuild Ukraine," Umerov said as the talks kicked off.The US talks come amid turbulence for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his government. A blockbuster corruption probe forced him to sack his chief of staff and top negotiator, Andriy Yermak, on Friday.Rubio had met with Yermak only a week ago during another round of talks in Geneva that both sides hailed as "constructive."In a separate post on the platform X, Umerov said he was in "constant contact" with Zelensky as the Florida meeting progressed."We have clear directives and priorities: safeguarding Ukrainian interests, ensuring substantive dialogue, and advancing on the basis of the progress achieved in Geneva," Umerov wrote."We are working to secure real peace for Ukraine and reliable, long-term security guarantees. The delegation will report to the president of Ukraine following the conclusion of today's meetings."Washington has put forward a plan to end the nearly four-year conflict and is seeking to finalise it with Moscow and Kyiv's approval.An initial 28-point proposal -- drafted without input from Ukraine's European allies -- would have seen Kyiv withdraw from its eastern Donetsk region and the United States de facto recognise the Donetsk, Crimea and Lugansk regions as Russian.The United States pared back the original draft following criticism from Kyiv and Europe, but the current contents remain unclear.After the Florida negotiations, French President Emmanuel Macron is set to host Zelensky for talks in Paris today.Separately next week, Rubio is set to skip a meeting of Nato foreign ministers despite allies' concerns about the US plan for Ukraine. However, Witkoff is expected in Moscow to discuss Ukraine diplomacy.The flurry of diplomacy comes as the war — which has killed tens of thousands of civilians and military personnel and displaced millions of Ukrainians — shows no sign of easing.Ahead of the Florida talks, Russia's forces targeted Ukraine's capital and the region for two nights in a row as they advanced on the front line.A drone attack in the outskirts of Kyiv killed one person and wounded 11 on Saturday night, the regional governor said.Hours earlier, a Ukrainian security source said Kyiv was responsible for attacks on two oil tankers in the Black Sea that it believed were covertly transporting sanctioned Russian oil.One of Russia's largest oil terminals halted operations on Saturday following an attack by sea drones.The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), a group that includes US oil majors Chevron and ExxonMobil and which owns the terminal, called the strike a "terrorist attack".Ukraine, which did not comment on the incident, regularly targets Russian energy facilities in a bid to sap the country's war chest as the conflict grinds through its fourth year.The CPC pipeline, which begins in Kazakhstan and ends at the terminal, is a major conduit for Kazakh oil and one of the world's largest by volume, handling around one percent of global supplies. 

Qatar participated Sunday in the preparatory ministerial meeting for the 46th session of the GCC Supreme Council, held in Manama, Bahrain. The Qatari delegation was headed by His Excellency the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi. 

A meeting between US and Ukrainian officials in Florida Sunday was "very productive," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, adding that work still remains towards ending Russia's war in Ukraine."There are a lot of moving parts, and obviously there's another party involved here that will have to be a part of the equation, and that will continue later this week, when Mr. Witkoff travels to Moscow, although we've also been in touch in varying degrees with the Russian side, but we have a pretty good understanding of their views as well," Rubio told reporters.Rubio Sunday hosted high stakes talks with a Ukrainian delegation on Washington's plan to end Russia's war with its neighbour -- discussions a source close to Kyiv's team characterized as "not easy."The talks in Florida come as Kyiv faces mounting military and political pressure, along with the fallout from a corruption scandal. They could set the stage for next week's visit to Moscow by President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, who is expected to discuss Ukraine diplomacy."This is not just about peace deals. It's about creating a pathway forward that leaves Ukraine sovereign, independent and prosperous," Rubio said at the start of the negotiations.Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were also attending the meeting in Hallandale Beach, north of Miami.Ukraine's security council secretary Rustem Umerov led Kyiv's delegation, which also included Andrii Hnatov, the chief of staff of Ukraine's armed forces, and presidential adviser Oleksandr Bevz."We are discussing about the future of Ukraine, about the security of Ukraine, about no repetition of aggression of Ukraine, about prosperity of Ukraine, about how to rebuild Ukraine," Umerov said as the talks kicked off.A source close to the Kyiv delegation, however, cautioned that "the process is not easy because the search for formulations and solutions continues." The exchanges had nevertheless been "constructive," the source said.The US talks come amid turbulence for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his government. A blockbuster corruption probe forced him to sack his chief of staff and top negotiator, Andriy Yermak, on Friday.Washington has put forward a plan to end the nearly four-year conflict and is seeking to finalize it with Moscow and Kyiv's approval.An initial 28-point proposal -- drafted without input from Ukraine's European allies -- would have seen Kyiv withdraw from its eastern Donetsk region and the United States de facto recognize the Donetsk, Crimea and Lugansk regions as Russian.The United States pared back the original draft following criticism from Kyiv and Europe, but the current contents remain unclear. 

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met Wednesday his office at the Amiri Diwan with Minister of State and Member of the Council of Ministers of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and the accompanying delegation, on the occasion of his visit to the country. At the outset of the meeting, His Royal Highness conveyed the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz al -Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, to His Highness the Amir, wishing His Highness good health and happiness, and the Qatari people further progress and prosperity. In turn, His Highness the Amir entrusted Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz al-Saud with his greetings to  King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, and to Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, wishing them good health and wellness, and for the Saudi people continued progress and prosperity. During the meeting, the two sides discussed fraternal relations between the two brotherly countries and ways to support and develop them, in addition to exchanging views on several topics and issues of mutual interest.

The Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) participated in the recent annual meetings of the Growth and Emerging Markets Committee (GEMC) of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), held in Malta.The QFMA was represented at the meetings by an official delegation headed by Khalid Saif al-Sulaiti, Director of the Governance and Disclosure Department. GEMC is the largest committee within IOSCO, representing over 75% of its ordinary membership.The committee seeks to promote the development and greater efficiency of emerging securities and futures markets by establishing principles and minimum standards, providing training programmes and technical assistance for members and facilitating the exchange of information and transfer of technology and expertise.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and President of the friendly Republic of Rwanda Paul Kagame discussed bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and ways to strengthen and develop them in various fields.The meeting also dealt with discussing regional and international issues of joint interest.This came during the bilateral meeting held at the headquarters of the president at the Eastern province of Rwanda in Bugesera. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani arrived Thursday in Kigali, on an official visit to the Republic of Rwanda.His Highness the Amir was welcomed upon arrival to Kigali International Airport by President of the Republic of Rwanda Paul Kagame.Also present to welcome His Highness the Amir was Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Olivier Nduhungirehe, Chief of Defence Staff General Mubarakh Muganga, Mayor of the City of Kigali Samuel Dusengiyumvam, ambassador of Rwanda to Qatar Igor Marara Kayinamura, a number of senior officials, and members of Qatar’s Embassy.**media[384342]**His Highness the Amir is accompanied by an official delegation. Relations between Qatar and Rwanda have been marked by rapid growth and a strategic partnership spanning various fields. Over the past years, the two nations have succeeded in building a solid foundation of co-operation in the areas of economy, investment, education, tourism, aviation, security, and anti-corruption, making Rwanda a key partner in Qatar’s outreach to the African continent.The mutual visits exchanged between the leadership of both countries reflect their shared commitment to strengthening dialogue, expanding investment opportunities, and achieving sustainable development. This contributes to supporting regional stability and creating new horizons for bilateral co-operation.The visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to the Rwandan capital, Kigali, to meet with President Paul Kagame comes within the framework of strengthening the close relations between the two nations and reaffirming the mutual commitment to enhancing the foundations of sustainable investment and expanding its prospects in a way that serves their common goals.

Qatar Chamber hosted a high-level German trade delegation Wednesday, headed by Katharina Reiche, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy. The delegation was received by Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani, in the presence of several board members, a group of Qatari businessmen, and German ambassador Oliver Owcza.During the meeting, the German delegation and Qatari business leaders discussed co-operation relations, the investment climate in both Qatar and Germany, available investment opportunities, and the role of the private sector in promoting bilateral trade.They also discussed ways to enhance co-operation in key economic sectors such as energy, industry, and information technology. Sheikh Khalifa highlighted the strong and friendly relations between both countries, as well as the economic co-operation, which reflects the keenness of both leaderships to advance this partnership to broader horizons. He noted that Germany has long represented a model of excellence in advanced manufacturing and innovation and is one of the fundamental pillars of the global economy.He emphasised that the Qatar Chamber is proud of the presence of many German companies — known for their high technical expertise and global standards — whether as major partners or as independent entities in numerous large-scale projects in the country. Sheikh Khalifa also pointed out that Qatar has emerged as a leading commercial and industrial hub thanks to its strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and modern logistical facilities.He said the volume of trade exchange between the two countries reached QR6.6bn in 2024, noting that the meeting with the German delegation represents a practical step toward a stronger economic future for both nations. He expected that the ongoing dialogue, the exchange of expertise, and the activation of investment partnerships would open new horizons for co-operation. Sheikh Khalifa noted that Qatari investments in Germany, which span multiple sectors, are clear evidence of Qatar’s confidence in the German economy. At the same time, the Qatari side values the role of German companies operating in Qatar and their contribution to the development of many productive sectors.He called on companies from both sides to take advantage of the promising opportunities available in fields such as manufacturing, advanced technology, including artificial intelligence, clean energy, healthcare, sports, education, and many other sectors.Katharina affirmed that Qatar is a major and highly important partner for Germany, noting that 110 German companies had expressed a desire to join the delegation to Qatar, as all of them are interested in establishing partnerships and alliances with Qatari companies. She said 20 leading companies representing various sectors accompanied her on this visit and are eager to develop strategic alliances with their Qatari counterparts. She highlighted that the volume of trade between the two countries, particularly Qatar’s exports of raw materials and petrochemicals to Germany, reflects the strength of the bilateral partnership.She added that the growth of Germany’s GDP, along with the strong performance of the Qatari economy, which is expected to achieve 5% growth in the coming years, presents significant opportunities for expanding cooperation between the two nations.The German Minister also noted that around 100 German companies are currently exploring opportunities related to digital transformation in Qatar and are ready to participate actively in this sector. During the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their strong desire to expand co-operation and establish commercial partnerships across various sectors, especially in energy, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, carbon emissions reduction, satellites, space technology, and aviation.

Qatar participated in the 41st session of the Arab Ministers of Justice Council, held Wednesday at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo. The Qatari delegation was led by His Excellency Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ibrahim bin Ali bin Issa al-Hassan al-Mohannadi. In his speech, he reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to strengthening Arab legal and judicial co-operation. He highlighted Qatar's initiatives aimed at building sustainable justice for future generations, focusing on investment legislation, emerging technologies, governance, and dispute resolution mechanisms. The minister emphasised the role of the judicial sector in supporting investment and praised the Doha Political Declaration adopted at the Second World Summit for Social Development 2025 in Doha as a roadmap for promoting social justice, peace, security, and human rights. **media[381108]** His Excellency al-Mohannadi also expressed Qatar's gratitude to the Arab League and national committees on international humanitarian law for their collaboration in developing Qatar's proposal to establish a permanent Arab committee on international humanitarian law. He described the initiative as a milestone in Arab joint action, giving the Arab world a unified legal voice in defending justice and human dignity in conflict zones. During the session, the council discussed a range of Arab legal and legislative initiatives, including the Arab convention on combating terrorism, the Arab convention on combating money laundering and financing of terrorism, the Arab convention on cybercrime, and the Arab anti-corruption convention. The meeting also reviewed draft Arab model laws, including legislation on hate speech, protection and assistance for displaced persons, refugee status in Arab states, and the protection of children from recruitment in armed conflicts. Ministers additionally discussed measures to enhance Arab co-operation, including co-ordination between the Arab Ministries of Justice and Interior, the creation of an Arab excellence award in applied legal sciences, and the review of recommendations from the 74th meeting of the Arab Ministers of Justice Executive Office.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and President of the Republic of Slovenia Natasa Pirc Musar held an official talks session at the Amiri Diwan Monday.At the beginning of the meeting, His Highness the Amir welcomed the president and the accompanying delegation, wishing them a pleasant stay in Qatar. His Highness noted that co-operation between Qatar and Slovenia encompasses numerous fields, expressing his hope that her first visit to Qatar would contribute to expanding co-operation to broader horizons, fulfilling the aspirations of both friendly nations.**media[380236]**For her part, the president of Slovenia expressed deep gratitude to His Highness the Amir for the warm welcome and generous hospitality. She affirmed her pleasure at visiting Qatar and her country's keenness to further strengthen bilateral co-operation across various sectors. She pointed out that holding the Slovenia-Qatar Business Forum on the sidelines of the visit reflects the development of bilateral co-operation, and expressed her hope that its scope would broaden in all areas.Discussions during the session focused on bilateral relations between the two countries in various fields of co-operation, particularly trade, investment, information technology, and tourism. The two sides also touched on key regional and international issues and developments of mutual interest.**media[380238]**The session was attended by His Excellency Chief of the Amiri Diwan Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Mubarak al-Khulaifi; His Excellency Minister of Social Development and Family Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr al-Nuaimi; His Excellency Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal al-Thani; His Excellency Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi and a lineup of senior officials.**media[380237]**On the Slovenian side, the talks were attended by State Secretary for Multilateral Affairs, Political and Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Dr Melita Gabric; State Secretary for International Affairs, Entrepreneurship, Development Resources and Tourism at the Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport Matevz Frangez and a number of senior officials from the official delegation accompanying the president.His Highness the Amir and the president of Slovenia held a bilateral meeting during which they exchanged views on a host of topics of mutual interest. His Highness the Amir also hosted a luncheon in honour of the president and her accompanying delegation.The president of Slovenia had arrived at the Amiri Diwan earlier, where she was accorded an official reception ceremony.

His Excellency the Minister of Transport, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Thani, is heading Qatar’s delegation to the Smart Transport, Logistics & Infrastructure Fair & Forum for The MEA Region (TransMEA 2025). The event, under the patronage of the President of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, was opened Sunday in Cairo by Prime Minister Dr Mostafa Madbouly. Several ministers and other dignitaries from various countries in the region, and more than 500 exhibitors from 30 countries are participating in the event, making it an important regional platform for exchanging expertise and showcasing latest innovations in industry and transportation. This year’s theme “Industry and Transport Together for Sustainable Development”, discusses ways to develop transportation systems to keep pace with future requirements and promote the transition towards an eco-friendly and sustainable transportation.

First Lady Zsuzsanna Nagy of Hungary and her accompanying delegation have visited Warif Academy, the first-of-its-kind in Qatar that offers inclusive educational opportunities and qualitative services for students with severe and multiple disabilities based on the best global practices.She toured various sections of the academy and listened to a detailed explanation from Executive Director of the Academy Matthew Campion, about its nature of operation and mission.Nagy was received by President of Qatar Foundation’s Pre-University Education (PUE) Abeer al-Khalifa, Director of the Special Education and Inclusive Education Department at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) Fatima al-Saadi, and Director of the Schools and Student Affairs Department at MoEHE Maryam al-Buainain.Warif Academy is a specialised public school that provides inclusive pedagogical and qualitative services for students with severe and multiple functional limitations, whose tasks are laser-focused on empowering those students to access educational activities and engage in them based on their individual needs.The academy further provides ancillary technological tools that enhance students’ independence and capabilities of learning, moving, and communicating within a comprehensive educational environment under the superintendence of a team of experts in special education fields, occupational therapy, physical therapy, as well as speech‑language therapy.It operates to hone the skills of social communication and interaction, promote the Qatari tenets and culture, supply students with educational and pilot opportunities ahead of their upcoming life in the future, alongside guidance and psychological programmes for their families, designed to bolster and safeguard the quality of their lives.In addition, the academy’s approach serves to empower students to upscale the maximum amount of physical, thoughtful, and social potential, as well as their independence and self-confidence to be effective individuals and contributors in their communities.

The State of Qatar participated in the Ukraine Mine Action Conference, held in the Japanese capital, Tokyo, on Oct. 22–23, with the participation of senior representatives from more than fifty countries and international organizations. The Qatari delegation was headed by His Excellency Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Japan Jaber Jaralla Al Marri, with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Defense. The conference, organized by the Government of Japan in cooperation with the Government of Ukraine and the United Nations, aimed to raise awareness and promote partnerships and international cooperation in the removal of landmines and unexploded ordnance in Ukrainian territories. The State of Qatar's participation in this international event reflects its continued commitment to supporting humanitarian and development efforts, enhancing international peace and security, and maintaining its active role as a partner in multilateral initiatives aimed at mitigating the effects of conflicts and promoting global stability.