Unrest in Europe: What's behind the protests in France, Spain and Italy?
Protests and violent clashes have gripped France, Italy and Spain in recent weeks, but what's behind the unrest in each country and is it motivated by the same grievances? Our editors in each country look at the causes of the unrest and what lies ahead.
In Doha, Qatar, Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot presided over the fourth annual strategic dialogue between Qatar and France on October 21, 2026.
During the meeting, the pair examined the deepening of the political, diplomatic, economic, investment, defense, security, education, health, cultural, sports, humanitarian, and development cooperation ties between the two nations. They also assessed the progress made since the third strategic dialogue held in June 2025.
The dialogue addressed the most recent regional developments, particularly the Palestinian cause, the Gaza Strip situation, efforts for peace in that area, Lebanon's crisis, the situation in Sudan and the Horn of Africa, Iran-related tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, and their impact on regional security and open sea routes.
The importance of Qatar's mediation efforts to resolve disputes through diplomacy, de-escalation, and strengthening regional stability was also showcased. Both leaders emphasized the necessity of ongoing coordination and consultation on key regional and global issues of mutual interest.
Written by urgent.news from The Peninsula Qatar's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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