UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed meets with Germany’s Scholz in Abu Dhabi

1 / 2
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Abu Dhabi. (Twitter: @MohamedBinZayed)
2 / 2
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz witnessed the signing of a major energy deal in Abu Dhabi. (Twitter: @MohamedBinZayed)
Short Url
Updated 25 September 2022
Follow

UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed meets with Germany’s Scholz in Abu Dhabi

  • Scholz is scheduled to visit Qatar before going back to Berlin on Sunday night

DUBAI: The UAE agreed Sunday an “energy security” deal with Germany to supply liquefied natural gas and diesel during German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to Abu Dhabi on the second leg of his two-day tour to the Gulf.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan met with Scholz where both leaders witnessed the signing of the Energy Security and Industry Accelerator (ESIA) Agreement “that will accelerate projects of joint interest” between both countries in energy security, decarbonization and climate action, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

In a tweet, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said, “Today, I was pleased to meet with Chancellor Olaf Scholz to explore further opportunities for cooperation in areas including energy security, emissions reduction and climate action.”

He added, “The UAE enjoys a close friendship and strategic partnership with the Federal Republic of Germany.”

 

 

Scholz said, “I welcome the signing of the joint declaration of intent on the “Energy Security and Industry Accelerator – ESIA”. Through ESIA, we enable the swift implementation of strategic lighthouse projects on the focus areas of renewable energies, hydrogen, LNG and climate action.”

Scholz arrived in the UAE Saturday night after concluding a visit to Saudi Arabia where he met with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

He was welcomed by the UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, and several officials at the Presidential Terminal of the Abu Dhabi International Airport, WAM reported.

Accompanied by a large delegation that includes representatives of several economic sectors, Scholz is scheduled to visit Qatar before going back to Berlin on Sunday night.


Israel prevents Palestinian vice president from attending Christmas Eve Mass in Bethlehem

Updated 10 sec ago
Follow

Israel prevents Palestinian vice president from attending Christmas Eve Mass in Bethlehem

  • It is uncertain who from the Palestinian Authority will attend the midnight Mass in Bethlehem, which will be held for the first time in two years

LONDON: Israeli authorities prevented Hussein Al-Sheikh, the vice president of the Palestinian Authority, from attending the Christmas Eve Mass at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on Wednesday.

Forces prevented Al-Sheikh’s convoy from entering the city, believed to be the birthplace of Christ, located south of the occupied West Bank.

President Mahmoud Abbas assigned Al-Shiekh to represent him at the event and attend the Mass, according to Wafa news agency.

Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem were canceled for the past two years due to the alleged genocide in Gaza by Israel in October 2023. Manger Square instead featured a nativity scene of the infant Jesus surrounded by rubble and barbed wire, symbolizing the crisis in Gaza.

It is uncertain who from the PA will attend the midnight Mass in Bethlehem, which will be held for the first time in two years. The PA has limited autonomy in parts of the West Bank, including Bethlehem. Christians make up less than 2 percent of the territory’s approximately 3 million Palestinian residents.