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Peace negotiations to stop a war are difficult and a mistake in translation could destroy the process so how does President Trump’s statement, “You won’t even make it back to your country,” help the process?Bullies
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Alongside various countries around the globe, Qatar celebrated the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, which falls on June 24. This day was established by the United Nations to celebrate the role of women in diplomatic work, to recognize their achievements and contributions in this field, and to encourage governments, international organizations, academic institutions, civil society and diplomatic circles to promote inclusion, remove structural barriers and ensure equal opportunities for women to participate in decision-making that affects societies, countries and the world. The celebration of this occasion aims to highlight the pivotal role of women in the field of diplomatic work, to shed light on their qualitative contributions to building and strengthening international relations, their active role in supporting peace efforts and consolidating global security, as well as to highlight their ability to provide innovative visions in addressing international challenges. Qatar is proud of its contributions to the establishment and adoption of this day, in recognition of the vital role of women in strengthening diplomatic relations and multilateral international work, and building bridges between different cultures. Essential partnerThe country has provided all the energies and capabilities for Qatari women to participate and excel in diplomatic work, so that they now hold many diplomatic positions and represent Qatar in international organizations, and are given increasing opportunities to reach leadership positions and participate effectively in political decision-making. This occasion comes as Qatari women have become an essential partner in Qatari diplomacy, supported by Qatar National Vision 2030, which has given women’s empowerment a strategic priority. Between female ambassadors, envoys, and officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatari diplomacy has become a model of efficiency and active presence on the international stage, whether in peace mediations, promoting international cooperation, or defending women’s issues and equality. The participation of Qatari women in diplomatic work reflects a qualitative development in Qatari society, as it combines authenticity and openness, and enriches Qatari diplomacy with visions and skills that add qualitative value to the country’s foreign policy. HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN Office in Geneva, Dr Hind Abdulrahman al-Muftah said that the UN’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda affirms that involving women in negotiations increases the likelihood of agreements succeeding and lasting in the long term. It also contributes to strengthening cultural and human ties, reflects developmental transformations in society and provides a model that reflects this, as well as building broad international networks of influence, she added. In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), HE al-Muftah said that Qatari women diplomats have proven over the past years their ability to serve the country in all bilateral and multilateral international forums, and have succeeded in building bridges of dialogue and enhancing understanding between different peoples and cultures, through their communication and negotiations skills that contribute to establishing a positive image of the country and enhancing its humanitarian and cultural presence on the international stage. Today, the number of Qatari women working in the diplomatic field has increased significantly, and they work in various job grades, including leading positions. They have also proven their superior efficiency and ability in several high-ranking diplomatic positions, which confirms the Qatari leadership’s confidence in the ability and efficiency of Qatari women to contribute and excel in all forums, she added. HE Dr al-Muftah pointed out that, through their participation in international forums, Qatari women have contributed to strengthening the international community’s confidence in Qatari diplomacy, highlighting national values, expanding areas of cultural and humanitarian cooperation, and advancing negotiation and dialogue processes on many priority issues in international forums. Regarding the achievement or diplomatic file that HE Dr al-Muftah is proud to have managed and represented Qatar in, she noted that among the initiatives that she is most proud to participate in are those that combine the humanitarian and developmental dimensions, and have contributed to enhancing the image of Qatar as a reliable and internationally responsibile partner, explaining further that true success in diplomatic work is not measured only by signing agreements and memoranda of understanding, but by the ability to build sustainable partnerships that reflect the country’s values and its humanitarian and developmental mission. As for the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), HE Dr al-Muftah said that she and her team at the Permanent Mission in Geneva were able to present several initiatives in the form of resolutions addressing important issues, which were adopted unanimously. As is well known, UN resolutions issued by the UNHRC represent the pinnacle of joint diplomatic efforts, and can have a direct impact on changing people’s lives for the better. Among the important initiative in this regard, Qatar is leading a draft resolution at the current 62nd session of the Human Rights Council on protecting health care in armed conflict, which is a major concern for the international community due to the spread and increasing scope of armed conflicts, HE Dr al-Muftah added, noting that this resolution is expected to have a significant impact on the international humanitarian landscape concerning the promotion and protection of the right to health during armed conflicts. Building bridgesOn the other hand, the Qatari delegation worked to build bridges of understanding between the various regional groups within the HRC in particular and the international community in Geneva, through the launch of the Qatar Council, an informal meeting organized by the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar in Geneva, which brings together a number of permanent delegates and senior officials of the UN and international organizations, to discuss many of the issues and challenges facing the world today and reaching understandings about them, and working to strengthen multilateral international action. She noted that she also contributed to holding the first round of the strategic dialogue between the State of Qatar, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the World Health Organization (WHO) in May 2025, to strengthen international co-operation in the humanitarian, development, and health fields. She participated in submitting a number of resolutions at the WHO, most notably the resolution titled ‘Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem’, which was adopted by consensus during the special session of the WHO Executive Board held on Dec 10, 2023. She said that among the initiatives she is proud of is her contribution to organizing Qatar’s hosting of the ‘Doha Best Negotiator of the Year in 2024’, presented annually by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), recognizing outstanding contributions to international negotiation and mediation, and was held during the annual Doha Forum, highlighting the strengthening of technical cooperation with specialized UN agencies, such as training lawyers and judges in investment and intellectual property matters with relevant entities in the country. Balancing responsibilitiesRegarding the most prominent challenges that women may face while working in the diplomatic field, HE Dr al-Muftah affirmed that one of the most significant challenges is balancing professional and personal responsibilities, as multilateral diplomatic work requires being present and actively participating in all international organizations, adding that the successful experiences of Qatari women diplomats have proven that competence and achievement are the true standard of success, contrary to some traditional and stereotypical perceptions that confined women’s roles to specific fields.
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Wealthy Polish, American and Gulf-based property buyers are pouring into Spain’s capital Madrid and Costa del Sol seeking luxury refuge from the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East as well as political turmoil in the United States. Spain, particularly its Mediterranean coast, has long been a magnet for sun-seeking Britons and Germans. But in recent years a broader mix of investors looking to diversify their assets and hedge against instability has moved in, a half dozen real estate agents, European housing market analysts and a property lawyer told Reuters. Official government data confirm the trend. “Whether it’s Ukrainians or Poles settling on the Costa del Sol, or Americans coming to Spain, the common factor is the geopolitical situation,” said Rebeca Caballero, head of realtor Gilmar’s international department. According to last year’s property register data, more than 39% of all home sales in major tourist provinces including Malaga on the Costa del Sol, Alicante on the Costa Blanca and the Balearic Islands involved foreign buyers. That has helped to send prices surging in a country where housing is a major political issue and the central bank called for coordinated policy efforts to boost housing supply with an estimated shortage of 750,000 homes. Buyers from Poland, among Europe’s fastest-growing economies, have been investing in Spanish coastal properties since 2020. But their purchases have tripled since the Covid-19 pandemic and accounted for 4% of all foreign purchases last year, up from 1.6% in 2019. “The strongest wave of investment came after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine ... with a frenzy of purchases made over the phone,” said Agnieszka Marciniak-Kostrzewa, founder of a Marbella-based real estate agency. Marlena Bartkowiak is part of that surge. The 46-year-old, who owns a transport company in Poland, purchased an apartment in Benalmadena on Andalusia’s Costa del Sol as a backup plan when the war broke out. “Spain came to mind as it was somehow the least involved in all sorts of political manoeuvring on the European stage,” said Bartkowiak, who still lives primarily in Poland. Neinor, one of Spain’s largest property developers, sold 70% of its premium 102-home Santa Clara complex completed in Marbella last year to Polish clients. And Polish buyers dominate a 64-floor skyscraper under construction in Benidorm, another coastal hot spot. “Spain right now is a diversification play on security grounds,” said Paloma Perez Bravo, CEO of real estate firm Dils-Lucas Fox. In the same way that conflict on Poland’s eastern border has driven Polish purchases, realtors are already seeing an influx of demand from investors based in the Gulf following the outbreak of the Iran war. Three real estate firms told Reuters they are negotiating luxury property deals on the Costa del Sol with buyers from Dubai as the conflict deals a blow to the emirate’s image as a peaceful haven for the rich. At least two deals have already been completed. Marciniak-Kostrzewa recently sold a property to a Polish client living in Dubai, who was seeking a safer alternative base for their family. While Dubai has wooed foreigners with zero property tax, realty lawyer Maria Ruiz Lopez said regional wealth tax exemptions or allowances are a draw for Madrid and the Costa del Sol, making them more attractive to rich buyers than other parts of Spain. “It’s not just violent conflict, but also the political and social pressure,” said Gilmar’s Caballero, pointing to the surge in Americans — many of them of Hispanic origin — investing in Spain since President Donald Trump’s return to office last year. “Many do it as an investment. And others see it as a Plan B, because they don’t know what’s going to happen in the United States,” she said.
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The news of two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela, killing at least 32 people and injuring more than 700, has saddened the world (“Venezuela earthquakes kill 32, injure more than 700,” June25, Gulf Today website).According
