Opinion

US President Donald Trump has renewed his ambition to take control of Greenland for national security reasons and questioned whether Denmark has any legal right to the Arctic island. The debate has revived scrutiny of how Greenland became part of Denmark, its current ‌self-rule and path to independence, and Washington’s military footprint.Greenland was inhabited by Inuit peoples from Asia ‌and North America intermittently from around 2,500 BC. Around ‍985 AD, Vikings led by Erik the Red settled in southern Greenland, farming and building churches. Around the same time, ancestors of today’s Inuit arrived, living as hunters and gatherers. They became the dominant culture, pushing out Viking settlers around 1400.Denmark colonised Greenland in the 18th century when missionary Hans Egede arrived in 1721, marking the start of the colonial era. A statue of Egede still stands on a ‍hilltop in the capital Nuuk’s colonial harbour, seen by many Greenlanders as a symbol of lost Inuit traditions.In 1916, the United States bought the Danish West Indies - now the US Virgin Islands - for $25mn in gold. As part of that treaty, Washington declared it would not object to the Danish government extending its “political and economic interests to the whole of Greenland”, formally recognising Danish sovereignty.Greenland shifted from colony to formal territory in 1953 under Denmark’s constitution, though Greenlanders were not consulted. Any sale would require a constitutional amendment.Greenland has about 57,000 ‌people, limited infrastructure, and no roads between its around 17 towns. Relations have been strained by revelations of historical misconduct. In the 1950s, Danish authorities forcibly relocated Inuit to larger towns, marginalising the practices and languages of indigenous people who make up almost 90% of the population. Denmark apologised in 2022 for ‍a 1950s experiment that sent Greenlandic children to Denmark.Records show thousands of women and ‌girls as young as 13 were fitted with intrauterine devices without consent between 1966 and 1991, when Greenland gained control over healthcare. Denmark apologised in 2025 for the decades-long birth control campaign.Greenland joined the European Community in 1973 via Denmark but withdrew in 1985 after gaining home rule. It now holds Overseas Country and Territory status with the EU, maintaining a special fisheries arrangement.The US military maintains a permanent presence at Pituffik air base in northwest Greenland under a 1951 agreement granting freedom to build bases with Danish and Greenlandic notification.Denmark has historically accommodated the US presence because Copenhagen does not have the capability to defend Greenland and benefits from US security guarantees through Nato.Trump has said acquiring Greenland is a national security priority, and that the US must own the island to prevent Russia or China from taking it. The shortest route ​from Europe to North America runs via Greenland, making ‌it important for the US ballistic missile early-warning system.Greenland sits at a geopolitical crossroads amid Arctic militarisation by Nato, Russia and China. The US wants to expand its military footprint, including radars to monitor waters used by Russian vessels and submarines.More broadly the Arctic is becoming increasingly militarised with Nato states, China and Russia all expanding activity there. The island, whose capital Nuuk is closer to New York than the Danish ​capital Copenhagen, boasts mineral, oil and natural gas wealth, but development has been slow and mining has seen very limited US investment.Polls indicate a majority of Greenlanders support independence in principle. But many warn against rushing due to economic reliance on Denmark and becoming overly exposed to the United States if independence is pursued too quickly.Independence could allow association with the US under a Compact of Free Association, similar to agreements with Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands.COFA typically provides US services and military protection in exchange for defence access, but whether Greenland would benefit depends on the scale of support and the pace of economic diversification beyond fishing.When Trump offered to buy the island during his first presidential term, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called it “absurd”. Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reiterated in December 2025 that Greenland could not be annexed and international security did not justify such a move. — Reuters

Two economists said that although the World Bank’s recently released semi-annual report on global economic prospects pointed to weak global output growth in 2026, it nevertheless confirmed that the global economy appears more resilient and better equipped to overcome crises.Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), the experts noted that while the World Bank report projected global output growth to slow slightly to 2.6 percent this year, compared with 2.7 percent last year, the upward revision relative to earlier estimates indicates that the global economy has become more capable of absorbing shocks, particularly those linked to trade and fiscal policies. They explained that this improvement reflects the ability of major economies to avoid slipping into recession rather than a broad-based recovery.The report, which reviewed key indicators and anticipated challenges facing global growth and highlighted disparities in its impact between advanced and developing economies, warned that the improvement in global growth does not extend equally to all countries. It clarified that advanced economies are the main contributors to growth, while developing countries and smaller economies are expected to face greater challenges in achieving strong and sustainable growth. This means that the improvement in global growth will have only a limited effect on reducing extreme poverty in those countries.Economists believe that this divergence in global growth suggests that the gap between advanced and developing economies may persist or widen, making development and poverty reduction an ongoing concern for the global economy.Commenting on the indicators cited in the World Bank report, economic expert Dr Abdullah al-Khater told QNA that the global economy has shown greater resilience and an improved ability to overcome recent crises, such as disruptions to trade through international corridors. He noted that while significant impacts on global markets - especially oil markets - had been expected, oil prices remained stable and favourable for the global economy, helping to prevent a rise in global inflation rates.Dr al-Khater added that this created an unexpected level of stability, enabling the global economy to adapt to crises and sharp fluctuations in the geopolitical landscape, making it more rational and mature. He noted that fears and perceptions are no longer the main drivers of oil prices, contributing to stability and moderate economic growth.Traditional assumptionsHe explained that the World Bank based its growth projections on traditional assumptions, but the coming years are expected to be fundamentally different, as the global economy will increasingly rely on technological developments as core infrastructure across all economic activities. This, he said, will depend on countries, companies, and economic institutions capable of effectively integrating rapid technological advancements, which are likely to achieve exceptional growth rates. Dr al-Khater expected global growth rates to rise in sectors such as electric vehicles and artificial intelligence applications, leading to a significant reduction in manufacturing costs and translating into overall global economic growth.Chinese economy He added that the Chinese economy will be among the biggest beneficiaries, while the United States will remain capable of competing. Europe, he said, is likely to remain outside the race for higher growth rates, while the Middle East has numerous projects that will contribute to raising global growth rates.He noted that if global production costs are reduced, growth rates could exceed 2.7 percent, with countries contributing to technological advancements reaping the greatest economic benefits.Dr al-Khater also pointed out that the economies of countries such as Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan may possess advanced economic solutions, which could significantly boost growth rates in those economies in particular and in the global economy overall.He added that traditional assumptions previously used to assess global economic growth will no longer form the basis for such assessments over the next five years. Instead, artificial intelligence (AI), smart robotics, and autonomous driving will become the most important indicators for forecasting global economic growth.The economist stressed that raising global economic growth and making it more impactful requires attention to the structural aspects of economic policies, reinforcing the concept of technological globalisation and expanding its scope, and resolving the issue of tariffs at the global level due to their disruptive impact on supply chains and commercial transport activity. He added that adopting international commercial law would enable the world to achieve higher global growth rates in the current year.Concluding his remarks to QNA, Dr Abdullah al-Khater said that 2026 will be an exceptional year for the use, development, and integration of artificial intelligence and future technologies into local and global economies, as well as for assessing their efficiency in economic operations. A recent World Bank report on global economic prospects paints a mixed picture of the world economy, showing weaker growth but greater resilience in the face of ongoing shocks, according to a Jordanian academic.Dr Omar Gharaibeh, a professor at the Faculty of Business at Al Al Bayt University in Jordan, said the report indicates that global growth is expected to slow to 2.6% in 2026, down from 2.7% in 2025, but noted that upward revisions to earlier forecasts suggest the global economy has become more capable of absorbing shocks.Speaking to QNA, Dr Gharaibeh said the improvement reflects the ability of major economies to avoid recession rather than the start of a broad-based recovery, particularly amid trade and fiscal policy uncertainties.He highlighted that nearly two-thirds of the upward revision in growth forecasts is driven by stronger-than-expected performance in the United States, which is projected to grow by 2.2% this year. This, he said, points to increasing reliance on a single economic engine, while other regions - especially Europe and developing economies - remain less able to drive global growth.Dr Gharaibeh noted that while global GDP per capita in 2025 has exceeded pre-pandemic levels by around 10%, marking the fastest recovery in six decades, this headline figure masks deep disparities. About a quarter of developing countries still have lower per capita income levels than in 2019, particularly among the poorest nations.He added that rising trade restrictions and high external debt levels in parts of Africa are making it harder for these economies to close the gap, resulting in what he described as non-inclusive growth.According to Dr Gharaibeh, there is no contradiction between economic resilience and slowing growth. “Resilience means the global economy has not collapsed despite repeated shocks,” he said, “but it has not regained its previous dynamism.” He echoed the World Bank’s assessment that the global economy is now less capable of achieving strong growth, yet more robust in dealing with political and trade-related uncertainty.He argued that the report exposes deeper structural challenges, including weak investment and productivity, rising trade barriers and mounting debt burdens in some countries. He called for a global policy shift towards supporting trade, stimulating private investment, and increasing spending on technology and human capital, rather than relying solely on short-term crisis management.Economic reports suggest that while the World Bank’s latest outlook offers a cautiously positive signal on the global economy’s ability to withstand shocks, growth remains insufficient to significantly reduce extreme poverty in developing countries, particularly given the stark disparity between advanced and emerging economies.

The Iraqi political arena is witnessing intense political activity and ongoing consultations among parliamentary blocs in a scramble to reach a consensus on naming the new president of the republic, amid sharp political competition and constitutional and political complexities surrounding this electoral entitlement.This comes despite the closure of the nomination period for the post, after 81 candidates from various political and social components, including four women, advanced their nominations, amid the persistence of the political norm that traditionally assigns the presidency to the Kurdish forces.The Kurdish political sphere is witnessing a scramble between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and its historical rival, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, to clinch the presidency.The Kurdistan Democratic Party announced the nomination of Fuad Hussein, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the current caretaker government, and Nawzad Hadi, former governor of Erbil, for the post, while the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan announced the nomination of Nizar Amedi, former minister of environment.Ghalib al-Duaimi, an Iraqi academic and political analyst, told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that offering the chance for a record number of aspirants is a positive step, but the reality is that the winning candidate will only be among those subject to the will of the major parties within parliament.He added that the constitutional process is ongoing, yet the real decision remains in the hands of the political elite, not civil society or voters directly.The Kurdish forces are still conducting intensive consultations to select a unified candidate for the presidency, because this post is viewed as a traditional entitlement for the Kurdish forces under the political quota norm, he noted.According to the Iraqi Constitution, parliament elects the president of the republic by a two‑thirds majority of its members within 30 days after the first parliamentary session, and the president must then assign a prime minister within 15 days from the date of his election.Legal expert Ali Hussein al-Burki affirmed to QNA that the constitutional term for electing the president is a regulatory description and does not constitute a forfeiture of the constitutional right if exceeded. He added that exceeding the stipulated period does not necessarily amount to a constitutional violation, as the speaker of the Council of Representatives can set a new election date without breaching the Constitution.For his part, Saad al-Tubi, a former member of the Iraqi parliament, said that the dilemma of the presidency in Iraq is not confined to the Kurdish political milieu, but is part of a broader crisis affecting other political blocs, noting that the co-ordination framework alliance wants to hasten the selection of the president in order to move ahead with resolving the files of the new prime minister and the Council of Ministers that will serve with him.The political norm designates the presidency for Kurds generally, not for a specific party, which necessitates reaching a new Kurdish agreement that opens the door for competition among various Kurdish political forces, al-Tubi said, affirming that what is happening is not just a political impasse, but represents a healthy phenomenon within the Iraqi democratic experience.Iraq typically witnesses political mobilisation and complexities that prolong consensus on nominees for senior positions, while entrenched political disagreements hinder compliance with constitutional deadlines.The Iraqi Constitution stipulates electing the president of the republic by a two‑thirds majority of parliament members - i.e., 220 votes - within 30 days of the first session, which was held on Dec 29. However, if parliament cannot decide in the first round, the vote is repeated between the two candidates who received the highest votes in the first round, and the candidate who obtains the highest number of votes in the second round is considered the winner, regardless of the number of votes obtained.Upon electing the president of the republic, the new president assigns the candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc to form the government, who then presents his cabinet program within a maximum of 30 days, paving the way for a confidence vote, so the government may begin its work with full constitutional powers, while parliament begins its oversight and legislative role. (QNA) 

The Government Communications Forum 2026, in its second deliberations, weighed in on the role of informed leadership in steering the communication system toward achieving national priorities, the importance of co-ordination among government agencies, as well as the role of transparency in building public trust.The panel discussion on purposeful communication: leadership perspectives from the government sector explored avenues for building an enduring and adaptable corporate readiness with a sharp focus on the significance of communications based on clear-eyed goals and deepened values to promote interaction with the public and clarity in the long run.HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Yasir bin Abdullah bin Ahmed al-Jamal, emphasised that strategic communications represent a core pillar in crafting national policies, highlighting that the ministry has pursued a participatory approach in fashioning policies, starting from the pre-decision-making phase through direct communications with targeted segments, and ultimately ending with measuring the impact to ensure long-term sustainability and social understanding.Al-Jamal further pointed out that in 2024 the ministry launched an executive program aimed at achieving the outcomes of the National Youth Policy, including the Qatar Youth Delegates to the United Nations Program, which has served as a platform for young Qataris to amplify their voices in international fora, with over 50 young men and women representing the State of Qatar being graduated.Al-Jamal noted that the national sports policy comprises an angle dedicated to sports communications and media, stemming from the belief that sports have no longer become a physical activity only, but a lifestyle and social behaviour that requires agile media discourse demonstrating the athletes’ accomplishments and sophisticated infrastructure, which reinforces awareness of the significance of sports as a national value.For his part, HE Adviser to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Majed bin Mohammed al-Ansari, clarified that strategic communications in diplomatic work has no longer become an option, but an imperative imposed by the rapid flow of information and the multitude of platforms.Every single word uttered in the media space today is instantly transformed into a title that could directly affect the nation’s image and global narrative, Dr al-Ansari suggested. He elaborated that the ministry’s experience of press briefs has come as a response to a pressing need to proactively manage the national narrative, as well as to transition from reacting to creating the narrative, ensuring that the nation’s positions are conveyed with clarity and precision, while preventing the creation of alternative narratives outside the official framework.Media is literally a fundamental partner, not an adversary, since forging a relationship based on trust and respect with journalists and media enterprises is a prerequisite for the success of any communications policy, Dr al-Ansari stressed, before noting the importance of never remaining oblivious to the national optics when addressing the world, because those optics are the prime pillar of national trust.HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour, Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman al-Thani, suggested that the staggering challenge in communications facing the ministry lies in the diverse optics given the diversity of interests, prompting multilingual messaging and flexible communication approaches, without compromising the core of the message or altering its substance between domestic and international audiences.She further emphasised that government communication is no longer unidirectional, but has become interactive and participatory, with feedback from the public and relevant stakeholders contributing to the development of policies, suggesting that trust is built when the optics feel their voice is heard and when solutions are crafted in partnership with them.Sheikha Najwa also stressed the importance of unifying messages across government agencies, noting that issues related to the labour market intersect with multiple agencies and cannot be addressed through isolated communication. This underscores the role of institutional co-ordination and the Government Communications Office as the central reference for official messaging.For his part, HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development and Family, Khalifa bin Issa bin Abdullah al-Kubaisi, affirmed that communication is a time-honoured part of the decision-making process, not a subsequent phase.Al-Kubaisi pointed out that the ministry’s strategy motto, “From Care to Empowerment”, is not merely a media message, but a framework guiding decision-making and the design of initiatives.Dealing with sensitive social issues requires a balanced humanitarian discourse that respects the dignity of beneficiary groups and enhances their integration into society, since true empowerment is achieved through social inclusion, not institutional isolation, he underlined.Al-Kubaisi averred that transparency in broaching societal challenges has contributed to raising public awareness and preparing society to accept new policies and initiatives, emphasising that changing societal behaviours requires joint effort in the field of communication and broad partnerships with various media entities.The forum proceeded with rich discussions focused on communication as a tool for influence, trust-building, and fashioning narratives capable of keeping up with rapid transformations both at home and abroad, affirming its role as a national platform for sharing leadership perspectives and weighing in on the role of strategic communication in supporting national priorities and enhancing societal impact. 

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The Bank of Japan (BoJ) ’s absence ‌from a list of central banks lining up to support Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reflects its ‌aversion to politics and the ‍government’s reluctance to cross the US, with an early election on the horizon.In a sign of the sensitivity of the matter, the BoJ informally consulted the government about whether to sign the joint statement, but officials were not able to say yes in time for its release, according to two government sources.“The ‍reason we couldn’t immediately say yes is partly because of our relationship with the US,” one of the sources said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.A spokesperson for the BoJ declined to comment. The government’s top spokesperson, Minoru Kihara, also declined to comment, saying on Wednesday the matter fell under the central bank’s umbrella.In a rare joint statement on Tuesday, central bank chiefs from around the world stood shoulder to shoulder with Powell after the Trump administration threatened him with a criminal indictment - a sign ‌of their fear that the move could imperil global central bank independence. While BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda has stressed the importance of independence, he has refrained from commenting on US President Donald Trump’s attacks on the Fed.The BoJ’s decision not to sign ‍the statement was in line with its long-held practice of withholding comment ‌on controversial and political topics, analysts say, which likely derives from Japan’s history of political meddling in monetary policy.But it might also reflect the BoJ’s desire to avoid stepping into Trump-related controversy as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi - who touts her close relationship with her American counterpart - stands at the precipice of an early election in February, some analysts said.“The BoJ’s decision is in line with its protocol,” said former BoJ board member Takahide Kiuchi. “But it also shows how it’s not completely independent from government interference.”“Criticising US policy could put Japan’s government under heat from Trump,” said Kiuchi, who today serves as an economist at Japan’s Nomura Research Institute. “It’s safest to avoid making any comment on what’s happening overseas.”Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region, New Zealand’s foreign minister rebuked the country’s central bank chief for signing the statement in support of Powell.Under a law that ‌took effect in 1998, the BoJ nominally enjoys independence, although that has not shielded it from political pressure to expand monetary support for an economy in the doldrums.While the government cannot fire a BoJ ‍chief, it has the authority to pick the governor and members of the board, who all need Parliamentary approval.Known as a fiscal and monetary dove, Takaichi rattled markets immediately after taking office in October. She said she had control over the direction of monetary policy and stressed her preference for low interest rates.Later, when the yen slumped and risked pushing up import costs, her administration backed down and assented to the BoJ’s plan to raise interest rates to ​0.75% from 0.5% in December. But Takaichi’s reflationist advisers have repeatedly warned against the danger of additional interest rate increases.Takaichi is widely expected to call a snap election in February, a move that would give her a chance to capitalise on her strong public approval ratings. If Takaichi delivers a solid victory for her ruling party, her administration would have the authority to fill two seats that are opening up on the BoJ’s nine-member board. It might also have a say in who becomes the next governor when Ueda’s term ends in early 2028, analysts say.“The BoJ is not immune to the kind of things happening with the Fed,” Kiuchi, the ex-BoJ board member, said. “Although not as explicit as the way Trump intervenes, Takaichi has and could make a lot of requests (about) what the BoJ ought to do.” — Reuters

Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Martin Chungong, applauded the close co-operation and ongoing partnership between the State of Qatar, the Shura Council, and the IPU across all areas related to activities and events organised at all levels and fields.Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the margins of the 298th session of the Executive Committee of the IPU, which concluded in Doha on Wednesday, Chungong said that the co-operation and partnership with the State of Qatar have been ongoing for many years.Numerous joint events have been organised, the latest being a parliamentary forum with the Shura Council titled ‘Investing in People and Institutions: The Role of Parliamentarians in Social Development’, convened on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development hosted by the State of Qatar from November 4-6, 2025, Chungong highlighted, confirming that it was an utterly successful forum.Chungong praised the State of Qatar for hosting this session and for the outcomes it produced in advancing sustainable social development worldwide, adding that it is essential to collaborate with the State of Qatar and the Shura Council to ensure the existence of a framework and action plan to foster social development globally.Qatar regularly hosts IPU activities to discuss a variety of issues and topics of global significance, including, for instance, strengthening parliamentary efforts to support the peace process in the Middle East, he underlined. Chungong further stated that the IPU consistently seeks to deepen its collaboration with Qatar and continuously works to advance its shared agenda with Doha, benefiting from the expertise Qatar possesses in global peacebuilding efforts.In addition, Chungong said that first and foremost, he believes it is entirely natural for a nation so highly active on the international stage, such as Qatar, to host the activities and events of a global organisation like the IPU, emphasising that he has visited Doha on several occasions and has observed the nation’s strong commitment to the IPU.Accordingly, Chungong underscored that he feels a great sense of ease here when considering the issues on the Union’s agenda, such as peace and security and sustainable development, issues in which Qatar is deeply engaged. For all these reasons, he finds it entirely fitting to be in Qatar and to enjoy the warm and generous hospitality.Chungong further affirmed that the Doha session was extremely productive, expressing his sincere gratitude to the State of Qatar, and in particular to the Shura Council, for hosting the session and providing the conditions that enabled participants to conduct highly substantive deliberations and take decisions that will enhance the way the IPU executes its work in the coming months.He highlighted the appreciated efforts of the State of Qatar in mediation, which are welcomed by all, adding that Qatar has become a hub for anyone facing a problem or crisis in need of mediation and peaceful solutions. What distinguishes Qatar in this regard is the trust placed in it and its policies, and if one looks at nations that succeed in mediation in conflict situations, they succeed because they enjoy the trust of all parties involved, Chungong underlined.Therefore, he said, many are keen to come to Qatar, as they regard it as a neutral, non-aligned nation that commands trust, which is extremely important. He pointed out that it is no coincidence that Qatar is regarded as a hub for conflict resolution, as it has first demonstrated this commitment, and has also shown flexibility in addressing crises worldwide, making it a trusted crossroads for all parties.In an interview with QNA, IPU Secretary-General Martin Chungong commended the support as well as development and humanitarian aid provided by the State of Qatar to numerous countries and communities in need around the world. He noted Qatar’s commitment to its international obligations in these vital sectors, as evidenced by its hosting of the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in March 2023.Chungong asserted that the role of parliaments goes beyond monitoring government performance to include contributing to peacemaking, crisis resolution, and the guarantee of human rights.He emphasised the crucial importance of parliamentary diplomacy in enriching traditional forms of diplomacy undertaken by executive government bodies since parliaments represent the people, speak on their behalf, and advocate for their interests, adding that any efforts they undertake in the areas of peace and conflict resolution aim to create conditions that allow people to live normal lives.When peace processes are completed anywhere in the world with the contribution of parliaments, they must be prepared to incorporate the outcomes of these processes into their legislative functions in terms of enacting sound laws to support the peace process outcomes, holding governments accountable for failing to implement internationally reached agreements, and, more generally, representing the people and providing the resources necessary for implementing the outcomes of peace processes, he pointed out. He emphasised that it is crucial for parliaments to utilise their roles and responsibilities to promote peace globally in these areas.In his interview with QNA, he discussed the IPU’s strategy for the coming years and its priorities, focusing on enhancing people’s well-being and ensuring that other actors work in tandem with parliament. This ensures that parliaments are not viewed as isolated institutions, but rather as part of a system with numerous institutions and stakeholders contributing to a shared objective.He revealed that the IPU is developing a new strategy for the period 2027-2031, stating that one of its key priorities is how to integrate new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, into society and ensure their use for the benefit of humanity, while also minimising the risks associated with their development.He emphasised that the IPU’s strategy works with parliaments to ensure they are not merely consumers of these new technologies, but also the entities that establish a legislative framework for the responsible use of scientific and technological innovation-a crucial aspect of the new strategy.In a related context, he highlighted the IPU’s commitment to ensuring that parliaments are strong institutions in all the countries where they are present, and that they are better equipped to address citizens’ concerns and guarantee their well-being.At the end of his interview with QNA, Chungong pointed out that the current year, 2026, is the Year of Human Rights, and that it will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, the 20th anniversary of the UN Human Rights Council, as well as the 60th anniversary of two fundamental covenants: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Therefore, more attention will be given to how parliaments can contribute to global efforts to promote and defend human rights. 

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Qatar Charity strengthened the scale of its humanitarian interventions in Syria in 2025, demonstrating its commitment to supporting the Syrian people and alleviating their suffering. These interventions included a comprehensive package of relief and development projects encompassing health, education, shelter, food, food security, livelihoods, protection, water and sanitation, social welfare, and economic empowerment. The total value of these interventions exceeded QR163mn, benefiting over 2mn people.Qatar Charity continued to enhance the health response in Syria through a package of interventions combining primary healthcare, advanced services, and the medical supply chain. The number of beneficiaries reached 800,000 people, with a total value exceeding QR29mn.This included supporting Bab Al-Hawa Surgical Hospital as a vital line of defence for emergency cases and preparing to open a specialised cancer treatment centre to bring services closer to patients and their families. Support was also provided to pediatric departments, new departments were equipped, and activities were conducted to screen for and treat malnutrition among children and mothers.Essential and high-quality medicines and medical equipment were supplied to ensure the continuity of services and to strengthen the dialysis and blood bank systems.Support was also provided to the ambulance system and primary healthcare centres, along with specialised surgical interventions (cardiac and ophthalmological) and care for people with disabilities, all within multi-impact projects. The most important projects completed in 2025 included supporting Bab Al-Hawa Hospital and opening a cancer treatment centre in northern Syria.A paediatric ward was also opened in northern Syria, and specialised medical equipment and medicines were provided, in addition to essential medicines for healthcare facilities, dialysis supplies, blood banks, and the pediatric ward at Al-Ra'i Hospital.Support was also provided to primary healthcare centres, the ambulance system, and medical supplies, as well as treatment for malnutrition among children and mothers. Surgical interventions (cardiac and ophthalmological) and care for people with disabilities were also provided (within 68 projects).Qatar Charity's interventions in the education sector focused on ensuring equitable and inclusive access to quality education for children, supporting formal and non-formal education. The number of beneficiaries reached 711,628, with a total value of nearly QR15mn.This included providing school bags and stationery, supporting schools with operational expenses (water, electricity, internet, and routine maintenance), and supplying educational materials and paying the salaries of teaching and administrative staff. The renovation of 301 classrooms and the construction of 30 new classrooms in 20 schools in the Aleppo and Idlib governorates were completed, with co-ordination underway for the renovation of an additional 260 classrooms.Textbooks for grades one through nine were printed, and 668,604 copies were delivered to the targeted schools and educational complexes. Furthermore, Qatar Charity supported needy university students in Turkey by covering their tuition fees in coordination with universities and relevant organisations.Qatar Charity implemented various food security and livelihood interventions, including the distribution of food baskets and flour, support for bakeries, and free bread projects for the most vulnerable groups. These initiatives benefited 570,000 people, with a total value exceeding QR24mn.The response also extended to Syrian refugees and the host community in Turkiye through the distribution of thousands of food baskets in several provinces. Strategically, Qatar Charity continued its wheat value chain support project for the sixth consecutive year by providing farmers with agricultural inputs in Aleppo and Idlib. This project, which will continue until mid-2026, includes marketing support and the provision of equipment for agricultural offices.The livestock value chain project was also implemented through mobile veterinary services, feed distribution, and food processing activities. Families were supported with small grants to enhance food security and generate sustainable income through various breeding and production projects.Qatar Charity's interventions in the shelter sector aimed to restore stability for affected families by repairing damaged homes and rehabilitating housing units and infrastructure, thus supporting safe return and promoting privacy and dignity. The work also included the rehabilitation of community facilities (such as mosques) to restore their social role.In addition to rehabilitation, seasonal interventions were implemented to mitigate the effects of winter by distributing winter clothing to the most vulnerable families. These efforts are part of a humanitarian approach that addresses economic burdens and rising construction costs, aiming to strengthen community resilience and improve living conditions in the near term.In the protection sector, Qatar Charity focused on enhancing specialised services for the most vulnerable children and families in northwest Syria through a package of interventions encompassing individual protection, child protection, and support for orphanages. More than 59,000 people benefited from these initiatives, with a total value exceeding QR4mn.Individual protection included in-kind assistance tailored to basic needs based on vulnerability criteria (the elderly, people with disabilities, and the most vulnerable families), with assessment and referral mechanisms implemented by mobile teams and in coordination with other stakeholders. Child-friendly spaces are also being established, and psychosocial support and case management are being provided in accordance with Unicef standards.In addition to sponsoring orphans, Dar Al Mutaqeen and several other institutions were supported to meet basic needs and ensure a dignified and safe environment, while adhering to protection and documentation policies that preserve the dignity of beneficiaries.Qatar Charity implemented water and sanitation interventions aimed at reducing the risk of waterborne diseases and improving access to safe drinking water. Activities included distributing 5,276 hygiene kits to more than 27,000 beneficiaries, with plans to distribute an additional 10,000 kits. Seven solar power systems were also constructed and installed at pumping stations to ensure the pumping of sterilised water to more than 125,000 people. 

Widespread obesity across the world has become a significant public health issue over the past 50 years, with nearly 900mn adults today living with diabetes according to McKinsey Health Institute (MHI).Obesity is a substantial risk factor for at least 20 diseases or conditions that include diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and brain health disorders. MHI estimates that obesity will be linked to $2.76tn in lost gross domestic product in 2050 due to its effects on labour force participation and productivity.Over the decades, the oil windfall has brought unprecedented prosperity and economic growth to the Gulf region, but the resultant luxury-driven passive lifestyle has taken its toll.According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), diabetes is becoming the most common chronic and non-communicable disease. WHO representative in Qatar Dr Rayana Bou Haka, said in an interview with Qatar News Agency in November that the Eastern Mediterranean Region, which includes 22 countries - among them the Gulf Co-operation Council states - has the highest regional prevalence rate of diabetes at 17.6% among adults aged between 20 and 79 years.In Qatar, the prevalence of diabetes is estimated at 17% of the population - twice the global average, according to the Diabetes Research Center (DRC) at the Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU).A key driver of the development of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes is being overweight and obese, affecting over 70% of adults (with over 35% obese) and 20% of children, according to the DRC.Qatar has set an ambitious target to achieve diabetes control by 2030, launching an aggressive prevention campaign, Gulf Times reported early this month.As the country prepares to host the International Diabetes Federation World Diabetes Congress in 2027, Diabetes Qatar (previously known as Qatar Diabetes Association) is intensifying efforts to identify at-risk individuals and reverse what has become one of the nation’s most pressing public health challenges.“Currently we are focusing on preventing diabetes among the population of the country. We are engaged in several activities to achieve this goal,” said Dr Abdullah al-Hamaq, executive director of Diabetes Qatar, told Gulf Times.The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) in November launched Qatar’s National Action Plan on Obesity, Diabetes, and Modifiable Risk Factors for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD), 2024-2030.It sets forth an ambitious path to improve national health outcomes, aligning with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Health Strategy 2024-2030.Globally, according to MHI, the discussion on obesity is now shifting from an intractable issue to a treatable medical condition, a change that is inspiring investment and innovation across industries, including healthcare, medtech, food, and retail.The society has two possible paths forward. It can react to obesity by emphasising medical treatment and weight management drugs, or it can also pursue a broader vision that prioritises prevention, societal shifts, and metabolic health for all.MHI estimates that the health impact of taking the latter path could be three to four times that of the first path and lead to a $5.65tn annual GDP uplift in 2050.Global spending on diabetes treatment is estimated to surpass $1tn annually by 2030.According to the European Medical Journal, the wider economic burden of diabetes is far greater than previously recognised. Without accounting for informal care, diabetes is projected to cost the global economy more than $10tn over three decades between 2020 and 2050. When unpaid caregiving by family and friends was included, the estimated burden rises dramatically to almost $79tn.For sure, all the ambitious health plans to keep diabetes and obesity under control seek to build healthier and active nations. Ultimately, it all boils down to the individuals to make their choices than medical professionals to intervene. Longer-term, monitoring daily food intake and incorporating regular physical activity is key to leading a healthier life. 

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Investors have piled fresh bets on gold and European defence stocks in response to US President Donald Trump’s threats to take control of Greenland, fearing a geopolitical rift that could end Nato, shatter the global ‌order and damage the dollar.Although gains in both are expected to continue regardless of what happens to Greenland, investors ‌face the dilemma of how to position for any ‍longer-term fallout.Trump wants to gain control of the Danish territory, through a purchase or even military means, while Greenland does not want to be part of the US, a stance supported by Europe and Canada.While investors have previously largely ignored these aspirations, the US seizure of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro in a surprise military raid has suddenly made them more tangible. For investors hoping for ‍less risk after last year’s tariff turmoil, the news makes for an uncomfortable start to 2026.The US administration’s threat to indict Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has reignited concerns about its independence.Gold jumped more than 4% last week after Maduro’s capture and hit a new record high yesterday.European defence stocks hit fresh all-time highs yesterday and last week posted their biggest weekly jump in over five years, with a 10% gain.The soaring gold prices indicate global markets are concerned about the rising geopolitical risk.Non-yielding gold is traditionally seen as a safe haven for investors during wider market uncertainty or volatility. Many investors have already been calling for a large exposure to gold.The US ambitions on acquiring ‍Greenland could have far-reaching implications, not just for Nato but also efforts to end ‌war in Ukraine and China’s tensions with Japan and Taiwan.If the US forcibly took Greenland from fellow Nato member Denmark, it would likely not only mark the end of the military alliance but the wider balance of power.It would call into question much more the global order that’s essentially largely been established since Bretton Woods II, (or) the end of World War II, when Nato was created.If Europe must rely less on the US for its defence, it is no surprise that investors are buying European defence stocks, a sector that’s more than tripled since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.German tank maker Rheinmetall rallied 19% last week, while Sweden’s Saab surged 22%.Beyond buying gold and defence stocks, other trades are more difficult for investors to pick.Political (and) geopolitical risk is very hard to price and markets typically do a very poor job of it, given that these are big-impact, but low-probability ​events. Positioning an investment portfolio for something that has a 1%, 5% chance of being realised is akin to assuming ‘well, 95% of the time I’m going to be wrong.’That helps explain why ‍there has been little broader impact, with world stocks at near record highs and Danish government bonds rallying alongside European peers. Denmark’s closely managed crown currency has been weakening, but rate differentials are a major factor and it is still close to the central rate at which it is pegged to the euro.Things could change quickly if the US took a military approach to Greenland. Unlike Venezuela it would be a big deal, sparking risk aversion in equities and (the) dollar.Traders reacted immediately when Moscow acted on its Ukraine threats, sparking major moves in oil, the ​euro and stocks.If the US were to seize Greenland by force, or maybe not by force, but under some sort of coercion, a rally towards Treasuries and a selloff in European government bonds, which quality investors wouldn’t see as a haven, is quite likely.Investors reckon that short-term, the dollar and Treasuries would benefit from a rush to safety. However, a breakdown in transatlantic relations could see that US pull fade and a return of worries about the dollar’s status, which flickered around last April’s tariff announcement.It is too soon to see any signs of that shifting on the back of the US action in Venezuela or its Greenland threats, with some saying it could prompt money to move out of the US. — Reuters

Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi stressed that the co-operative relationship between Japan and Qatar is exceptionally strong, bound by multifaceted and robust ties, and building upon this long-standing friendship, it is crucial that the two countries further strengthen collaboration as “strategic partners”.In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the occasion of his upcoming visit to Doha, the minister said the co-operation between Japan and Qatar dates back to the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972. Ever since, for over half a century, relations between two countries have developed remarkably across a wide range of fields, including politics, economy, culture, and sports, he said.Motegi added this marks his second visit to Qatar after his earlier visit in 2021, and presents an important opportunity to broaden the horizons of co-operation and coordination between the two countries and to discuss a number of important economic and political issues, including efforts to achieve peace in the region, especially in light of the developments in regional and international situations.The minister described the co-operative relationship between the two countries as exceptionally strong, bound by multifaceted and robust ties. “Building upon this long-standing friendship, it is crucial that our two countries further strengthen collaboration as strategic partners,” he said.The minister reaffirmed the long-standing traditional friendship between Tokyo and Doha which dates back to the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972.“It is said that ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed.’ This proverb perfectly represents the relationship between our two countries. For example, Japanese companies started importing LNG from North Field ahead of companies from other countries, contributing to the development of the LNG industry that has served as the foundation of Qatar’s remarkable economic development and prosperity.“During the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, Qatar extended tremendous support, including an additional supply of 4mn tonnes of LNG and $100mn in financial aid.“Furthermore, amidst the unstable international situation, Qatar has assisted Japan in the evacuation of Japanese nationals overseas. Qatar has consistently been a true friend of Japan, helping and supporting us in times of need. The Japanese people will never forget the spirit of friendship and solidarity demonstrated by Qatar,” the minister saidHe added that in the economic sphere, which forms the core of bilateral co-operation between Japan and Qatar, the two countries have mutually contributed to each other’s development. Japan has done so through the development of natural gas plants and other projects, while Qatar has contributed by ensuring a stable supply of energy to Japan.In recent years, economic activities have expanded beyond cooperation on energy and into a broad range of fields, including infrastructure development, he said.The minister added that cultural exchanges are also active, including regional exchanges, sports and academic exchanges.Furthermore, at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, the Qatar pavilion attracted many visitors, showcasing Qatar’s rich culture through impressive exhibits and performances.The minister congratulated Qatar on its qualification for this year’s FIFA World Cup and wished both teams - Qatar and Japan - the best of luck.He reiterated that Japan-Qatar economic relations have developed from a basis of long-standing co-operation in the LNG sector. Japan has been deeply involved in the formation and operation of LNG projects in Qatar from their initial stages, while also ensuring stable procurement.“Japan recognises that this co-operation has formed the foundation of our bilateral economic relationship based on trust, which goes beyond mere resource transactions. From here onward, we look forward to co-operation with higher added value, including in the LNG-related sector,” he noted.Amid the recent international discussions on energy transition, the importance of stable supply, implementation feasibility, and predictability is being reaffirmed, he added.Under such circumstances, Japan has engaged in the development of the LNG market in Asia, emphasising the continued role of LNG while leveraging Japan’s expertise in long-term contracts, infrastructure development, and operational management.Building on this experience, he said, Japan aims to further deepen practical and constructive dialogue with Qatar, “who we consider to be a key partner.”He pointed out that Japan has contributed to Qatar’s economic development in areas of critical infrastructure, such as urban transportation, air transport, power generation, and desalination. This includes the construction of the Doha Metro and Hamad International Airport. “We look forward to further deepening economic co-operation between our two countries in a wide range of areas, in addition to the energy sector, especially in light of recent developments relating to long-term investment from Qatar to Japan.”Talking about the future of economic co-operation, he emphasised that Japan holds a strong interest in the long-term course of action outlined in Qatar National Vision 2030, which emphasises industrial upgrading and human resource development.Japan has accumulated significant experience in addressing industrial structural transformation, human resource development, and the social implementation of technology. “We can expect the economic partnership between Japan and Qatar to become more robust and substantive, by leveraging each other’s strengths,” the minister said.On the bilateral level, working groups have already been established between Japan and Qatar under the ministerial-level strategic dialogue, focusing on improving the business environment and promoting investment, he said.“Practical discussions through such frameworks serve as a crucial foundation for giving concrete form to economic co-operation between our two countries, and it is expected that the role of such frameworks will continue to grow in importance,.” he added.Furthermore, long-term investment co-operation aimed at foreign direct investment to Japan is emerging between the Qatar Investment Authority and Japanese companies, he said, pointing out that Japan views long-term foreign direct investment as a key growth factor and hopes that by improving the business and investment environment, direct investment from Qatar to Japan will continue to increase, further strengthening our bilateral economic relationship.“Furthermore, while our economic relationship is the linchpin of our bilateral relationship, Japan is also interested in the potential for further expanding the geographical scope of the bilateral co-operation between our two countries. In this connection, Japan sees opportunities for Japanese companies to co-operate with Qatar in its recent active pursuit of investment and business expansion in third countries, such as its initiatives in Africa. Thus, it is expected that Japan and Qatar will advance their economic relations across a wide range of fields.”The Japanese foreign minister said that his first visit to Qatar was marked by the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Qatar. During that visit, the first “Strategic Dialogue” between foreign ministers was held.During the upcoming visit, the minister intends to engage in discussions during the Strategic Dialogue on bilateral relations, including further economic co-operation in addition to various topics of international concern, including the situation in Gaza, building on his recent visit to Israel and Palestine, and exchanging views on how to co-operate for regional and global peace and prosperity with Qatar, which has been playing a constructive role toward the peace and stability of the region.The minister said he is looking forward to having an open and frank exchange of views with HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani to further extend co-operation between Qatar and Japan.He noted the important role played by Qatar in its regional and international environment, stressing Qatar has continuously mediated negotiations, including the ceasefire and release of hostages between Israel and Hamas, the peace negotiations between the US and the Taliban, and the negotiations over the exchange of detainees between the US and Iran, thus making significant contributions to regional stability.Japan deeply respects the constructive role Qatar has played and highly appreciates its diplomatic efforts, the minister said while expressing solidarity with Qatar, which became a target of attacks last June and September, amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.On the situation in Gaza, he said Japan intends to play an active role in the early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza, aiming to contribute to the realisation of a two-state solution and, by extension, to peace and stability in the Middle East.In this regard, Japan has decided on a new assistance package worth approximately $170mn, covering humanitarian assistance in areas such as health and food, as well as recovery and reconstruction support, including debris removal, he added.The minister added that Japan will actively play its part through the three pillars of “Japan’s efforts for sustaining peace”: continuous engagement in the governance mechanism of Gaza; comprehensive support for Palestinian state-building efforts; and expanding the network of assistance through Japan’s own initiatives, such as the Conference on co-operation among East Asian countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD).Taking this approach, Japan is resolved to further strengthen its co-ordination with Qatar, he said, adding that Japan will continue to play an active role in efforts toward achieving peace and stability in the Middle East, while working closely with Qatar and other countries concerned. 

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Despite Denmark’s repeated insistence that Greenland is not for sale, US President Donald Trump and his team are “talking about what a potential purchase would look like”, according to a ‌White House spokeswoman. But even as a thought experiment that assumes the presence of a willing seller, ‌discussion of the hypothetical sale of an autonomous ‍territory such as Greenland rapidly encounters imponderables such as how a meaningful price tag could even be established.“There’s not a market for buying and selling countries,” said Nick Kounis, chief economist of Dutch ABN AMRO bank, noting there was no accepted framework for valuing countries.Attempts to find historical benchmarks for fair value also run into difficulties.In 1946 the US ‍offered to buy the vast, mineral-rich Arctic island from Denmark for $100mn - an offer that was rejected back then. In today’s money, that is around $1.6bn. But that figure, already paltry, is of no use as a baseline because of the massive growth in both US and Danish economies over eight decades since then: it does not reflect any relative “value” of Greenland and its resources in the global economy of the 2020s.America’s $15mn purchase of Louisiana in 1803 and $7.2mn acquisition of Alaska from Russia in 1867 are also not useful precedents. First and most obviously there is the fact that both France and Russia actually chose ‌to sell.And while it is clear that those figures would be vastly higher in today’s money, how much more would depend on how and whether you factored in variables like inflation, appreciation in land prices and growth in local economies.So how about ‍if you tried a method akin to the valuation of a corporate takeover ‌based on the income the target is capable of generating? Still tricky. Denmark’s central bank put the size of Greenland’s fishing-based Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at a tiny $3.6bn in 2023 - about a tenth that of its smaller Arctic neighbour Iceland. Even if that was a starting point for a valuation, what multiple would you use to determine a price based on that?How too would you account for the fact that Danish subsidies cover about half Greenland’s public budget, funding hospitals and schools and underpinning infrastructure for the sparsely populated territory?Estimates put the value of Greenland’s mineral and energy reserves in the hundreds of billions of dollars or more. Proper geological studies of the entire island have not been fully conducted ​but a 2023 survey showed that 25 of ‌34 minerals deemed “critical raw materials” by the European Commission were there.Mining and energy companies have a long history of putting price tags on assets around the world. But here, at least two complications emerge. First, the extraction of oil ‍and natural gas is banned in Greenland for environmental reasons, and development of its mining sector has been snarled in red tape and opposition from Indigenous people. Is that a political constraint that a buyer would want a discount for? If so, how much?And second, mining and energy deals crucially do not include the transfer of national sovereignty — in this case complicated further by the presence of Greenlandic Inuits who assert ownership claims of their own. “Because you are adding the intangible notions of Indigenous peoples’ culture, history, then you can’t — there ​is no way to price it,” said Andreas Osthagen, Research Director for Arctic and Ocean Politics at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute in Norway. “It’s why that notion is ridiculous.”US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s scheduled meeting with Danish leaders next week may yield further insights into the US game plan on Greenland. ABN AMRO’s Kounis suggested Trump could be using a similar playbook to one he has used in other situations such as talks on trade tariffs, where an extreme scenario is put on the table simply to soften up the other side.If one possible outcome is an agreed settlement that the US sees as being to its military and economic advantage, then “part of this might well be about getting leverage for future negotiations”, Kounis said. — Reuters

The Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival (Marmi) attaches great importance to consolidating the heritage of falconry as an integral part of Qatar’s popular heritage, in addition to its status as a global legacy since it was inscribed on Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011, thanks to the efforts of the State of Qatar along with a number of Arab and foreign countries.Since its launch in 2010, the festival has been keen in every edition to engage children and young people in the atmosphere of its events through competitions and championships dedicated to them. This has helped build an early connection between younger generations and their heritage. Initially, the festival included two main competitions: the Young Falconer competition, which consists of simplified educational programmes explaining the basics of falconry, methods of caring for falcons, their types, and the tools used; and the Promising Falconer competition, which moves from introducing this heritage to its practical application by young participants.The Promising Falconer competition is designated for the age group from 5-16 years and takes the form of a Da’w (lure) competition over a distance of 200 metres, in accordance with specific conditions for the falcon, including that its size does not exceed 15 inches. The competition features two categories: the first includes Kubaj, Qarmousha, and Wokri falcons, while the second includes Taba’ and Jebiliya (Shaheen) falcons.Commenting on the festival’s commitment to passing this heritage on to future generations, Chairman of the Committees and Official Spokesman for the Marmi Festival, Mohammed Mubarak al-Ali told to QNA that the festival is keen to promote and entrench this popular heritage in the consciousness of young people. He noted that in its early stages, the festival featured two competitions for children: the educational Young Falconer competition, which focused on knowledge-based competition about falcons, and the Promising Falconer competition.He added that, after the festival’s legacy has grown over the years and with the festival reaching its 17th edition this year, organisers decided to shift children toward practical application in the Promising Falconer Championship, as the Young Falconer competition had fulfilled its role in introducing children to this heritage. “Today, they are practising falconry in reality, which confirms that the festival has successfully transferred this heritage across generations throughout its history,” he said.The official spokesman also pointed out that children who once participated in these competitions have now become youths and men and have moved on to professional-level competitions such as Al Tala’a, Da’w, and Haddad Al Tahadi championships, underscoring the festival’s success in achieving its objectives of preserving Qatar’s popular heritage.For his part, Saad Ali al-Muhannadi, a falconry heritage expert and member of the Promising Falconer Committee at the Marmi Festival, said in similar remarks to QNA that falconry represents one of the most prominent authentic Qatari heritages passed down from fathers and grandfathers to sons generation after generation. He stressed that preserving this heritage and transmitting it to new generations is a shared responsibility and a national duty.He explained that falconry is not merely a hobby or a traditional practice, but rather a system of human and educational values that contributes to the sound upbringing of children by instilling discernment, alertness, discipline, and a sense of responsibility from an early age.Al-Muhannadi added that practising falconry helps children make constructive use of their time and keeps them away from excessive use of electronic devices and digital games. He noted that falconry is a physical activity that enhances fitness and develops self-reliance and daily commitment, whether in training or in caring for the falcon.He further pointed out that the Promising Falconer Committee is keen to instil the principle of balance between practising the hobby and academic achievement, emphasising that education remains the top priority, while falconry serves as a positive way to fill leisure time in a manner that benefits children and strengthens their connection to their heritage and national identity.In turn, Nasser Rashid al-Nuaimi, a member of the Promising Falconer Committee at the Marmi Festival, said in a statement to QNA that falconry is one of the most important pillars of Qatari heritage that has distinguished society throughout its history. He noted that passing this legacy on to new generations contributes to preserving cultural identity and strengthening the sense of belonging among children and youth.He explained that the Marmi Festival, through the Promising Falconer competitions and accompanying activities, plays a pivotal role in introducing young people to the fundamentals of falconry and the proper ways of handling and caring for falcons, ensuring that knowledge and expertise are transferred in a correct and organised manner.Al-Nuaimi added that practising falconry has a positive impact on a child’s character, as it nurtures wisdom, patience, and calmness, in addition to developing mental and physical abilities. He emphasised that this hobby helps direct young people’s energies toward beneficial activities and instils in them a love of learning, exploration, and research, opening broader horizons of knowledge.He also praised the role played by the State of Qatar in supporting this sector, noting that falconry-related events and competitions witness remarkable development year after year in terms of organisation and participation, contributing to safeguarding this heritage and ensuring its continuity for future generations. – QNA

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US manufacturing jobs in December continued an eight-month skid that began last spring after President Donald Trump rolled out aggressive import taxes that he pledged would lead to a resurgence of blue-collar jobs by reshuffling world trade to favour US workers. The ‌reshuffling has certainly occurred, with the US collecting around $30bn a month in tariff revenue, spread among US consumers, importers, and overseas exporting ‌firms, and as firms first frontloaded goods abroad to ‍stock their shelves with tariff-skirting inventory, then slowed their purchases and brought down US import levels. But the blue-collar jobs boom hasn't materialized, adding to the soured sentiment about Trump's economic policies among households concerned about ⁠still-rising prices and uncertainty about the labour market. Data released on Friday ⁠showed the unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.4% in December from 4.5% in November, though estimates of job creation in prior months were revised lower, presenting US Federal Reserve ‍officials with a mixed message of a jobless rate that remains low by historic standards, but hiring trends that seem weak and job growth that seems narrow. The latest data "is very much in line with the businesses I am talking to, which is that the low-hire environment continues. Some of it is uncertainty. A lot of it is productivity," Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin said in comments to journalists. "It is hard to find businesses outside of the AI ecosystem or healthcare that are talking about hiring."The pace of job creation in the first year of Trump's second term has fallen more than two-thirds from what it was in the final year under President Joe Biden, to an estimated 49,000 per month in 2025 versus 168,000 per month the prior year. The ‌unemployment rate has increased only modestly because the number of people looking for jobs has remained flat under Trump, with tougher immigration and deportation rules and enforcement curbing what had been steady labour force growth under Biden's looser immigration policies. "The healthcare sector is the only sector that is adding jobs right now, and it always does. It's completely insensitive to ‍the economic cycle," Luke Tilley, chief economist at Wilmington Trust, said ⁠at a Maryland Bankers Association ‌event on Friday. "What has happened since the tariffs were put into place in April? The healthcare sector has added 30, 40, 50,000 jobs per month," he said. "All of the other non-government sectors, since the Rose Garden announcement that there was going to be a huge change in business costs, combined from April until December this year, have cut 150,000." Some parts of the economy have felt the pressure more than others. The Black unemployment rate has risen from 6.2% as of January, when Trump resumed office, to 7.5% the past two months. The white unemployment rate by contrast has been between 3.5% and 3.8% since April of 2024, and was below that for more than two years prior. Hiring in manufacturing, meanwhile, has been in the doldrums. The sector lost another 8,000 jobs in December, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated, and factory employment has dropped more than 70,000 since April to 12.69mn as of last month - the lowest reading since March of 2022. Construction jobs by contrast, while dropping in December, have continued the slow but steady growth seen throughout the post-pandemic era, goaded along recently by a boom in data-center investment. The much smaller mining and logging industry has also been losing jobs, down to ​608,000 as of December versus 626,000 in April. That was the ‌month Trump rolled out the "Liberation Day" tariffs that, while quickly scaled back after a brutal market reaction, set the stage for an upheaval in world trade and investment patterns that is still unresolved. The US Supreme Court is expected ⁠to rule soon on a case that challenged the legality of many ‍of the tariffs imposed under national security laws but touted by Trump as a source of revenue and meant to reclaim US manufacturing supremacy. The path of employment since the new strategy was put in place, however, shows if anything how difficult it is to reshape labour market dynamics in a $30tn economy whose population is aging and in need of aging-related services, where growth is dependent on consumer spending that tends to be concentrated on services like education, healthcare, leisure, and restaurants, and whose workers command a wage premium that causes firms and managers to invest in productivity so they can make goods with fewer man-hours. Manufacturing employment in the US is now lower ​than it was for much of Trump's initial term, which ran from 2017 until his loss to Biden in the 2020 election.Overall, hiring has been narrowly focused, with a measure of hiring breadth showing more industries shedding employment than adding. The economy is generating jobs based on what people want to buy and what firms can profitably sell, and so hiring patterns haven't shifted all that much. "Highly concentrated job growth only helps to further sideline and lengthen the job hunt for job seekers looking for work outside of the small handful of growing sectors," Laura Ullrich, director of economic research in North America at the Indeed Hiring Lab, wrote after the release of the December employment data, noting also the rise in the number of long-term unemployed, who have been looking for work for more than half a year. The number of people employed part time for economic reasons, typically read as a sign of labor market weakness, is also increasing. "Nothing in the...data points ⁠towards significant, near-term change to this now familiar pattern," she wrote. "That said, a low-hire/low-fire environment can’t last forever in a growing economy. While a long-stagnant labor market might not be as directly alarming as an obviously broken one, it can still feel quite broken for many job seekers." 

From Paris to New York, department stores are sharpening their focus on curated ‌shopping experiences - ice-skating shows, food tasting and architectural tours - to try to win back shoppers. The push ‌has gained urgency as Saks Global’s ‍mounting troubles highlight the sector’s struggle to stay relevant amid competition from luxury brands’ own boutiques and fast-growing e-commerce platforms.Analysts say the trend is more than cosmetic. It reflects a structural shift in a sector under pressure from changing consumer habits and declining foot traffic.“In today’s market conditions, selling luxury ‍goods requires an outstanding experience, which works best in outstanding venues,” said Benjamin Sebban, head of retail investment at Knight Frank in Paris.Printemps’ new Manhattan store features paper replicas of French landmarks - a reminder of its Parisian heritage - and hosts exclusive launches. “This is more than a place to shop - it’s a space to live, linger, and immerse yourself in a new kind of luxury lifestyle,” Printemps America CEO Thierry Prevost told Reuters, highlighting the store’s fine dining restaurant, ‌and talks with designers.In Paris, Galeries Lafayette spent more than 100mn euros ($117mn) restoring its stained-glass cupola, crediting the revamp with lifting visits above pre-pandemic levels. The push aligns with research from consultancy Bain that found experiential sectors like hospitality ‍and fine dining drove luxury market growth between 2023 and 2025. Success ‌isn’t guaranteed, however.LVMH poured around 750mn euros into refurbishing the art nouveau building of its La Samaritaine department store facing Paris’ Rue de Rivoli. But the store still struggled after its 2021 reopening in comparison with LVMH’s Le Bon Marche Paris store, and the pair were combined in a restructuring last year. Analysts say department stores are betting that curated events and architectural upgrades can revive their relevance amid tougher trading.Saks Global, whose bonds are publicly traded, reported a 13% year-on-year drop in second-quarter revenue to $1.6bn in October and an adjusted core loss of $77mn. CEO Marc Metrick stepped down after the company missed a bond payment, triggering reports it was preparing for bankruptcy.While analysts cite inventory missteps and acquisition-related debt as key factors, they say Saks’ plight reflects a deeper structural ​squeeze: department stores are losing ground to ‌mass-market chains offering value and luxury brands’ own boutiques promising exclusivity. “What you’re seeing with Saks is a symptom of a much larger problem,” said UBS analyst Jay Sole.Bernstein analysts ‍say US department stores should move toward concession-heavy models - providing multi-brand sales staff while letting brands manage operations and inventory.Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II offers a template: the city leases prime store spaces through a bidding process, and says values have quadrupled in a decade.“Multi-brand retailers need to reinvent themselves and go back to their scouting and discovery mission,” said Bernstein analyst Luca Solca.Some stores are experimenting with partnerships. In November, Parisian retailer BHV hosted the first ​physical outlet for Chinese budget brand Shein, although the move drew criticism from some competitors and consumers. “The right answer would be for department stores to build out their own online offering, with their own identity,” Knight Frank’s Sebban said.Global department store sales are projected to have declined by 4% to 6% in 2025 and to show little recovery through 2030, Bain forecast in November, lagging growth estimates for the luxury sector overall. US retailer Macy’s warned in December of weaker-than-expected holiday-quarter profits due to cutbacks in discretionary spending.London’s Harrods in October reported a 17% decline in underlying operating profit for 2024. By contrast, e-commerce players are thriving. MyTheresa, owned by LuxExperience, more than doubled quarterly core earnings in November, offering similar products to Saks but with perks like free shipping for orders over $400. — Reuters

US manufacturing jobs in December continued an eight-month skid that began last spring after President Donald Trump rolled out aggressive import taxes that he pledged would lead to a resurgence of blue-collar jobs by reshuffling world trade to favour US workers.The ‌reshuffling has certainly occurred, with the US collecting around $30bn a month in tariff revenue, spread among US consumers, importers, and overseas exporting ‌firms, and as firms first frontloaded goods abroad to ‍stock their shelves with tariff-skirting inventory, then slowed their purchases and brought down US import levels. But the blue-collar jobs boom hasn’t materialised, adding to the soured sentiment about Trump’s economic policies among households concerned about still-rising prices and uncertainty about the labour market.Data released on Friday showed the unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.4% in December from 4.5% in November, though estimates of job creation in prior months were revised lower, presenting US Federal Reserve ‍officials with a mixed message of a jobless rate that remains low by historic standards, but hiring trends that seem weak and job growth that seems narrow.The latest data “is very much in line with the businesses I am talking to, which is that the low-hire environment continues. Some of it is uncertainty. A lot of it is productivity”, Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin said in comments to journalists. “It is hard to find businesses outside of the AI ecosystem or healthcare that are talking about hiring.”The pace of job creation in the first year of Trump’s second term has fallen more than two-thirds from what it was in the final year under President Joe Biden, to an estimated 49,000 per month in 2025 versus 168,000 per month the prior year.The ‌unemployment rate has increased only modestly because the number of people looking for jobs has remained flat under Trump, with tougher immigration and deportation rules and enforcement curbing what had been steady labour force growth under Biden’s looser immigration policies.“The healthcare sector is the only sector that is adding jobs right now, and it always does. It’s completely insensitive to ‍the economic cycle,” Luke Tilley, chief economist at Wilmington Trust, said at a Maryland Bankers Association ‌event on Friday. “What has happened since the tariffs were put into place in April? The healthcare sector has added 30, 40, 50,000 jobs per month,” he said. “All of the other non-government sectors, since the Rose Garden announcement that there was going to be a huge change in business costs, combined from April until December this year, have cut 150,000.”Some parts of the economy have felt the pressure more than others. The Black unemployment rate has risen from 6.2% as of January, when Trump resumed office, to 7.5% the past two months. The white unemployment rate by contrast has been between 3.5% and 3.8% since April of 2024, and was below that for more than two years prior. Hiring in manufacturing, meanwhile, has been in the doldrums. The sector lost another 8,000 jobs in December, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated, and factory employment has dropped more than 70,000 since April to 12.69mn as of last month - the lowest reading since March of 2022. Construction jobs by contrast, while dropping in December, have continued the slow but steady growth seen throughout the post-pandemic era, goaded along recently by a boom in data-centre investment.The much smaller mining and logging industry has also been losing jobs, down to ​608,000 as of December versus 626,000 in April. That was the ‌month Trump rolled out the “Liberation Day” tariffs that, while quickly scaled back after a brutal market reaction, set the stage for an upheaval in world trade and investment patterns that is still unresolved.The US Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on a case that challenged the legality of many ‍of the tariffs imposed under national security laws but touted by Trump as a source of revenue and meant to reclaim US manufacturing supremacy.The path of employment since the new strategy was put in place, however, shows if anything how difficult it is to reshape labour market dynamics in a $30tn economy whose population is ageing and in need of ageing-related services, where growth is dependent on consumer spending that tends to be concentrated on services like education, healthcare, leisure, and restaurants, and whose workers command a wage premium that causes firms and managers to invest in productivity so they can make goods with fewer man-hours.Manufacturing employment in the US is now lower ​than it was for much of Trump’s initial term, which ran from 2017 until his loss to Biden in the 2020 election.Overall, hiring has been narrowly focused, with a measure of hiring breadth showing more industries shedding employment than adding. The economy is generating jobs based on what people want to buy and what firms can profitably sell, and so hiring patterns haven’t shifted all that much.“Highly concentrated job growth only helps to further sideline and lengthen the job hunt for job seekers looking for work outside of the small handful of growing sectors,” Laura Ullrich, director of economic research in North America at the Indeed Hiring Lab, wrote after the release of the December employment data, noting also the rise in the number of long-term unemployed, who have been looking for work for more than half a year. The number of people employed part time for economic reasons, typically read as a sign of labour market weakness, is also increasing.“Nothing in the... data points towards significant, near-term change to this now familiar pattern,” she wrote. “That said, a low-hire/low-fire environment can’t last forever in a growing economy. While a long-stagnant labour market might not be as directly alarming as an obviously broken one, it can still feel quite broken for many job seekers.”