Opinion

Trade policy barriers and regulatory differences make up the largest component of trade costs when low-income economies trade with each other, according to the International Monetary Fund.A trade barrier refers to any regulation or policy that restricts international trade, especially tariffs, quotas and licences.The rise of trade barriers against China and other countries over the past year could cost the global economy $1.4tn, on top of the severe damage being done by the war in Ukraine, the head of the IMF has said.“What I am hoping to see is some reversals in policy blocks towards China and globally,” Kristalina Georgieva said in a Bloomberg Television interview on Saturday. “The world is going to lose 1.5% of gross domestic product just because of division that may split us into two trading blocs. This is $1.4tn.”For Asia, the potential loss could be twice as bad, or more than 3% of GDP, because the region is more integrated into the global value chain, Georgieva said.US firms had $90bn directly invested in China at the end of 2020, and despite all the talk of decoupling, added another $2.5bn in 2021, according to data compiled by China’s commerce ministry.The actual total is likely even higher, because some businesses are thought by analysts to route some investments through Hong Kong, or via tax havens like the Cayman and Virgin Islands.US tech supply chains in China rely on firms from Taiwan and elsewhere as well as domestic Chinese firms, increasing the level of dependence further.As dollar appreciation in double-digits so far this year is continuing to cause headaches across emerging markets, investors flock to safe havens amid signs that much of the global economy could be headed toward recession.The IMF last month cut its forecast for global growth next year to 2.7%, far below the 3.8% it was predicting in January. It sees a 25% probability that growth will be less than 2%.IMF calculations show that about one-third of the world economy will have at least two consecutive quarters of contraction this year and next, and that the lost output through 2026 will be $4tn.Global merchandise trade will slow next year as “multiple shocks” ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine, high energy costs in Europe and US monetary policy tightening raise manufacturing costs and squeeze households, the World Trade Organisation said in October.The Geneva-based institution said it expects trade growth to fall sharply in 2023 to 1%, compared with its previous forecast of 3.4%.The WTO forecasts – which are in line with IMF and OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) projections – mark a major deceleration from last year’s 9.7% growth in global trade.Geopolitical tensions have raised the prospect that strategic competition and national security concerns may trump the shared economic benefits of global trade.Inter-dependencies between economies mean that such a prospect would be very costly, especially for Asia, according to the IMF.For example, about half of the imports in the US and a third in Europe come from Asia. In turn, Asian countries account for almost half of global demand for key commodities.Rolling back damaging trade restrictions and reducing uncertainty via clear communication of policy objectives should be a priority for policymakers.Most importantly, engagement and dialogue between countries will be key to avoiding the most harmful trade fragmentation crises.

Just days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared that Germany’s approach to defence and foreign policy would undergo a Zeitenwende (epochal change). And in various commentaries and speeches since then, he has reiterated his commitment to deeper European security integration and economic coordination. Then, in September, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced that Germany would adopt a more values-based feminist foreign policy to defend the liberal order against autocracy.The intended message is that Germany will abandon a foreign policy that many others have criticised as being too passive, intransigent, and ambiguous. For many decades, Germany was all too willing to do business with autocrats, despite its professed commitment to a foreign policy based on European liberal values. It was a free rider in matters of hard power, and it frequently failed to consult its allies or pay due attention to their legitimate concerns. It clung to this ambiguous position because there were massive benefits for Germany in doing so.From Helmut Kohl in the 1990s to Scholz today, German chancellors have consistently believed that trade policy and dialogue would improve ties with actual and potential adversaries. Defying key allies such as the United States and France, Germany fostered economic dependencies that ultimately could be used against it. By the time Russia invaded Ukraine, Putin had an iron grip on Germany’s natural-gas supply, and by the time Xi Jinping became all powerful in China, Germany’s massive export sector had become critically dependent on China.Is the current German government serious about adopting a more assertive and less ambiguous foreign policy? Unfortunately, the early evidence suggests otherwise. The same old gap between Germany’s stated aspirations and its actions remains. After announcing support for Ukraine, the government has been slow in granting military and logistical aid, and its promised strengthening of the Bundeswehr (armed forces) is already far behind schedule.Moreover, by moving unilaterally to soften the blow from higher energy prices, Germany is increasingly isolated within the European Union. This lack of consultation has increased Franco-German tensions to a worrying degree.As for the values-based feminist foreign policy, Baerbock’s office already failed its first test by being too slow to respond to the women-led protests in Iran. And Scholz added to the ambiguity of Germany’s position with his visit to China this month. He said his goal was to convince China to pressure Russia not to use nuclear weapons. But if that was really the point of the visit, why did he also bring a host of German corporate executives with him?More broadly, why has Germany constantly managed to alienate its closest allies while going soft on adversarial powers like Russia and China? I see four interrelated reasons. First, there is Germany’s lack of long-term strategic thinking in foreign policy, which blinded it to a fundamental rule of geopolitics: conditions can – and often do – change radically.Until Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine earlier this year, Germany had no “plan B.” It had scarcely even considered the possibility that there might be some alternative to the post-Cold War dispensation of endless economic globalisation driving the spread of liberal values and democracy. The German foreign ministry remained beholden to groupthink through the rise of Trumpism, illiberal democracy, Russian bellicosity, and a thoroughly autocratic China.The second reason is the close connection between German corporate interests and German foreign policy. It is only a slight exaggeration to say that what Germany calls its foreign policy is in fact primarily a trade policy. That is how it ended up so precariously dependent on Russian energy and exports to China. The governments of Gerhard Schröder and Angela Merkel were pushed that way by corporate interests.It was German big business that wanted the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, with its promise of cheap Russian gas, and it is German exporters that have made the country even more dependent on the Chinese economy than on Russia. Some of the same corporations that want Russian gas shipments to recommence also had representatives travelling with Scholz to Beijing, with chemical giant BASF as a prime exemplar. The German government’s unhealthy proximity to big business consistently compromises its other commitments to national and European interests.The third factor is the “permacrisis” phenomenon. After coming to power a year ago, the current Scholz government had no time to get into operating mode and start implementing the reforms outlined in the coalition agreement – many of which were meant to overcome the inertia of the Merkel years.Instead, the government has been dealing with the pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the energy crisis, the influx of a million refugees, inflation, a slowing economy, infrastructure problems, lagging digitalisation, and demands by Poland for World War II reparations. Overburdened and lacking the capacity to handle so many crises at once, Germany’s government has failed to stay on top of more routine diplomatic matters, such as co-ordinating weapons procurement with France.Lastly, Germany has a complex, fragile coalition government that is often working at cross purposes, having been forged under the fairer-weather conditions of late 2021. Plodding debates among various sub-coalitions are delaying decisions, frustrating German voters and allies abroad, and often producing bad results.The three main ministries involved are headed by the two coalition parties that have the least in common. With the Greens leading the foreign and economics ministries, and the Free Democrats leading the finance ministry, co-ordination failures have been legion. These factors were evident in the move to cap gas prices, Scholz’s trip to China, and energy purchases at high prices, which crowded out other European countries.Once again, Germany is showing a troubling lack of empathy to allies and boldness to adversaries. There can be no Zeitenwende without both. — Project Syndicatel Helmut K Anheier, Professor of Sociology at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, is Adjunct Professor of Social Welfare at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs.

The COP27 summit of nearly 200 countries agreed on Sunday to set up a “loss and damage” fund to support poorer countries being ravaged by climate impacts, overcoming decades of resistance from wealthy nations whose historic emissions have fuelled climate change.Pakistan’s climate minister Sherry Rehman, who was part of the campaign by developing nations to win the commitment at the two-week UN summit in Egypt, hailed the landmark decision as “down payment on climate justice”.But the text of the agreement leaves open a number of crucial details to be worked out next year and beyond, including who would contribute to the fund and who would benefit.Here’s what you need to know about the agreement:In UN climate talks, “loss and damage” refers to costs being incurred from climate-fuelled weather extremes or impacts, like rising sea levels.Climate funding so far has focused mostly on cutting carbon dioxide emissions in an effort to curb global warming, while about a third of it has gone toward projects to help communities adapt to future impacts.Loss and damage funding is different, specifically covering the cost of damage that countries cannot avoid or adapt to.But there is no agreement yet over what should count as “loss and damage” caused by climate change — which could include damaged infrastructure and property, as well as harder-to-value natural ecosystems or cultural assets.A report by 55 vulnerable countries estimated their combined climate-linked losses over the last two decades totalled $525 billion, or 20% of their collective GDP. Some research suggests that by 2030 such losses could reach $580bn per year.Vulnerable countries and campaigners in the past argued that rich countries that caused the bulk of climate change with their historical greenhouse gas emissions should pay.The United States and European Union had resisted the argument, fearing spiralling liabilities, but changed their position during the COP27 summit. The EU has argued that China — the world’s second-biggest economy, but classified by the UN as a developing country — should also pay into it.A few governments have made relatively small but symbolic funding commitments for loss and damage: Denmark, Belgium, Germany and Scotland, plus the EU. China has not committed any payment.Some existing UN and development bank funding does help states facing loss and damage, though it is not officially earmarked for that goal.Also remaining to be worked out are the details on which countries or disasters qualify for compensation.The fund agreed at the UN summit in Egypt will be aimed at helping developing countries that are “particularly vulnerable” to climate change, language wanted by wealthy nations to ensure the money goes to the most urgent cases while also limiting the pool of potential recipients.The deal lays out a roadmap for future decision-making, with recommendations to be made at next year’s UN climate summit for decisions including who would oversee the fund, how the money would be dispersed — and to whom.The agreement calls for the funds to come from a variety of existing sources, including financial institutions, rather than relying on rich nations to pay in.Some countries have suggested other existing funds could also be a source of cash, although some experts say issues like long delays make those funds unsuitable for addressing loss and damage.Other ideas include UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s call for a windfall profit tax on fossil fuel companies to raise funding. — Reuters

The Covid-19 pandemic is one of the deadliest emergencies in modern history, with an excess global death toll of 14.9mn (and still rising). It has pushed an estimated 100mn people into poverty and set back progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, not least SDG3: health and well-being for all.Despite the pandemic’s massive costs, the G20 and international financial institutions still have not created a pandemic preparedness and response (PPR) framework capable of managing the next global health crisis. In many countries, health spending is being slashed (or kept at an insufficient level) as International Monetary Fund-driven austerity comes back into fashion. By next year, 85% of the world’s population will be suffering the effects of reduced investments in public services and public-sector capacity.Just two and a half years after the start of the pandemic, health is again being framed as a short-term discretionary expenditure, rather than as a long-term investment that is central to economic well-being and resilience. As world leaders have shifted their focus to issues like inflation and food insecurity, they have forgotten that today’s economic and financial crises are byproducts of a global health emergency that has yet to be resolved.Covid-19 is still killing 10,000 people per week, on average, and uneven vaccination rates have created the conditions for a “variant soup” that makes it more difficult to predict and respond to new waves and the next devastating mutation. Covid-19 outbreaks continue to disrupt manufacturing, travel, and access to treatment for other infectious diseases like tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. We have yet to stamp out a pandemic that is undermining decades of progress, let alone equip ourselves for when the next outbreak inevitably occurs.The World Bank and the World Health Organisation estimate that avoiding another tragedy like Covid-19 can be achieved with an investment in PPR of just $1.30 per person. And earlier this year, the international community established a multilateral Financial Intermediary Fund to help close the $10.5bn annual PPR financing gap. Yet the FIF has generated only around $1.5bn in funding so far. Similarly, in October, the IMF launched a Resilience and Sustainability Trust to help low- and middle-income countries finance urgent health (and climate) needs. Yet RST funds come with the Fund’s usual conditionalities regarding fiscal consolidation, which could ultimately undermine the health systems that they are supposed to be strengthening.These examples are indicative of a larger problem. As the WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All has argued, G20 countries and the international community are still clinging to an outdated “donor-beneficiary” mindset, viewing PPR as a charitable development project rather than as a global common good that is in their own interests.To be sure, the pandemic, rising debt burdens, climate change, inflation, food insecurity, tightening monetary and financial conditions, and other global problems have severely constrained most low- and middle-income countries’ fiscal space. But neither the Bretton Woods institutions nor G20 governments have risen to the challenge of addressing this problem, leaving in place massive barriers to health-related investments just when countries need them most.Meeting the world’s PPR financing needs will require a more holistic, bottom-up approach, with poorer countries creatively leveraging development finance, capital markets, domestic resources, and debt-restructuring tools to create the fiscal space they need to invest in health. Some countries are already showing what this looks like. In Barbados, Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s government recently negotiated the inclusion of a new “pandemic clause” in its sovereign bonds, in line with recommendations from the emerging Bridgetown Agenda. Were the WHO to declare another pandemic affecting the region, the clause would automatically defer interest payments for up to several years without negatively affecting the country’s credit rating.To put this in perspective, low- and middle-income countries paid $108.2bn to service their debts in 2020, whereas the Covid-19 ACT-Accelerator programme to help those countries received just $23bn in funding for the 2021-22 fiscal year. By immediately and temporarily reducing these governments’ debt burdens in the face of future health emergencies, pandemic clauses would provide the short-term budget flexibility countries need.As interest rates rise amid a dimming global economic outlook, the IMF warns that more than 60% of low-income countries and over 25% of emerging markets are already in, or at risk of, debt distress. But countries can also use debt-restructuring processes to meet their PPR needs, such as through debt-health swaps, whereby debt relief is conditioned on investment in public health. The Global Fund has already tried this approach on a smaller scale, and it could be scaled up along the lines of Belize’s successful debt-for-nature swap. The IMF has promised to create a model for debt-for-nature swaps; it should publicly commit to do the same for health and PPR financing.The remaining elephant in the room is international tax governance. A global wealth tax could generate the funds needed to tackle PPR financing shortfalls, but no country or multilateral organisation has backed such a proposal. Financing for global public goods like PPR and climate mitigation must be put at the centre of ongoing conversations about a potential global wealth or financial-transactions tax, and in the implementation of the OECD’s new minimum corporate-tax framework. While the tax deal primarily benefits G7 countries, it could easily be tweaked to redistribute more under-collected tax revenue to low- and middle-income countries.There is no silver bullet for PPR financing. The fight to ensure that national health systems and global public-health institutions are better prepared to confront future pandemics will require a “portfolio approach,” with countries cobbling together the necessary investment from a range of sources. With high-income countries still hoarding vaccines and coming up short at global donor events, we should look to low- and middle-income countries for inspiration and guidance on how to generate the fiscal space required to achieve health for all. — Project Syndicate•Mariana Mazzucato, Founding Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, is Chair of the World Health Organisation’s Council on the Economics of Health for All.•Alan Donnelly, a former member of the European Parliament, is Founder and Convenor of the G20 Health and Development Partnership.

Qatar is the cynosure of all eyes for the next 28 days with the greatest sporting event on the planet, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, being played out across eight state-of-the-art stadiums. What began as a dream on the evening of December 2, 2010, when it was announced that Qatar won the bid, came to fruition yesterday when the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world kicked off. The world has literally descended on Qatar to enjoy not only the thrilling matches featuring the best players but also an unprecedented array of mesmerising cultural and entertainment activities, another first in the history of the World Cup.Over the past 12 years, Qatar has grown by leaps and bounds in every sector. Residents who have witnessed the amazing development will vouch for the positive impact brought forth by the changes. World-class facilities including infrastructure, transportation, communication and healthcare have elevated the Qatar experience to enviable heights, all the while staying sustainable to the maximum and facilitating the first carbon-neutral World Cup in line with international efforts to confront climate change. Qatar has succeeded in building sustainable stadiums, including design, construction, energy and water use, as well as installing stations to measure air quality, gas emissions and dust, in addition to organising a mechanism for sorting waste during the stadium construction phase, to reduce the carbon footprint, and to recycle about 80% of the waste generated from the construction.The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has announced that carbon savings from Qatar’s new Al Kharsaah 800MW solar power plant will be used to offset approximately half the emissions generated from the country’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup. The project will commit 1.8mn tonnes of carbon savings to Qatar 2022. During its first year of operation, the solar power plant is expected to generate almost 2,000,000MWh, the equivalent energy consumption of approximately 55,000 Qatari households. A report published in 2021 estimated that Qatar 2022 would generate about 3.6mn tonnes of carbon emissions. Data will be collected during the tournament to update the carbon inventory report and adjust the offsetting strategy accordingly. While about 50% of the emissions will be compensated by savings from the solar power plant, the SC will source an additional 1.5mn tonnes through carbon-offsetting projects approved by the Global Carbon Council.According to official Qatar News Agency, Qatar has spent about $220bn on infrastructure projects, an amount that does not include building stadiums and sports facilities for the World Cup only, but covers all projects, including roads, hotels, sports facilities, health facilities and other expenses that cover all sectors in the country. Officials of the SC as well from the government, have reiterated that the World Cup in Qatar is more than just a sporting event, as hosting the tournament for the first time in the Middle East was a base for launching and accelerating giant projects, a large percentage of which are infrastructure projects, which will also benefit future generations. The spending on infrastructure projects was carefully studied and described by many analysts and economists as a philosophy in the right direction, as the aim is to bring about a qualitative leap in economic and tourism development, and attract more foreign investment.FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is the first edition of the event to rely entirely on 5G technologies, while the speed of Internet data downloads in stadiums will be among the fastest in the history of the tournament. The Qatar edition of the World Cup will also be one of the first tournaments to use the best and latest digital technologies. What unfolds over the next 28 days is one of the most historic and monumental events of the 21st century, by any yardstick.

HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Qassim al-Thani has stressed his ministry’s collaboration with all concerned agencies in the country to produce a historic and exceptional World Cup edition.In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), the minister said the success of the first-ever World Cup in the Middle East and the Arab world will reflect Qatar’s civilisational, economic and cultural development and prosperity under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.He said this unique World Cup edition will be a bright sign and a solid historical legacy for all citizens and residents in Qatar, and that it will inspire the World Cup fans and future generations.Highlighting the ministry’s efforts to contribute to the success of this global event, he pointed to the ministry’s co-operation and co-ordination with various government agencies and private sectors to accelerate the launch of integrated initiatives and programmes in line with the provisions of Law No 10 of 2021 regarding measures to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.He said the ministry defined the mechanisms for the World Cup events and ways to facilitate procedures for entry visas, recruitment permits, work permits, and company registration.The procedures also included tax and customs exemptions for some categories according to the limits determined by the minister of finance and government regulations.These parties included the FIFA and its affiliated organisations, continental federations, national football associations, companies, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and FIFA entities, suppliers of goods and contractors of its works, contractors of service providers, FIFA business partners, broadcasters, their employees and foreign nationals participating in activities.In conjunction with these measures, the ministry co-operated with the concerned authorities to draft Law No 11 of 2021 on the protection of trademarks, copyrights and related rights of the FIFA, according to which the Industrial Property Protection Office, or the Office for the Protection of Copyright and Neighbouring Rights at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, registers FIFA trademarks, audio recordings, performing artists, and FIFA radio programmes.In this regard, the ministry registered more than 500 FIFA-related trademarks until June 2022, according to Law No 9 of 2002 on trademarks, trade names, geographical indications, and industrial designs and templates.The ministry also registered nearly 180 other FIFA-related trademarks, under Law No. (11) of 2021. Hence, FIFA granted the rights to use its trademark to about 27 companies and commercial partners.The minister highlighted the ministry’s workshops aimed at supporting intellectual property rights and providing the necessary protection for major international brands, and discussing ways to guarantee fair competition and prevent illegal abuses such as unauthorised promotional activities, and combating the sale of counterfeit goods and FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022-linked products without the consensus of the concerned authorities, and the unauthorised use of trademarks and designs affiliated with FIFA and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.The workshops also discussed the tasks of judicial officers in the vicinity of stadiums during World Cup matches, ways to protect the trademarks and intellectual property rights of FIFA and the tournament sponsors, the World Cup designs and the rights of companies authorised to sell World Cup-related products, as well as mechanisms for identifying officially licensed products, and reviewing the in-stadium brand protection program during the tournament.As part of its efforts to ensure readiness for effective dealing with investors and auditors during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, he affirmed the Ministry’s keenness, through the Single Window Services (SWS) and all supporting administrative units, to secure the necessary co-ordination with the concerned authorities to complete the auditors’ transactions.He highlighted the role of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Services Center to facilitate procedures for commercial licencing and the establishment of companies concerned with working on World Cup projects, providing general trademark registration services and its contribution to accelerating transactions involving the various sectors of the ministry.This centre provided 23 services in the industrial sector to back industrial projects and provide important investment incentives and benefits to support the industrial sector through various transactions.In the commercial sector, it provided a single place to facilitate obtaining the necessary licences and registrations, support and assist investors in the planning and registration procedures and licenses for their commercial projects, in addition to diverse and fast services that meet all the needs of investors and customers.In the consumer sector, it launched 28 exclusive and distinctive services, and issued the necessary licenses for sales and offers.Commenting on the ministry’s readiness to meet the various needs of the local market during the tournament, the minister stressed the ministry’s preparedness to deal with the expected increase in demand for consumption in the local market at very high rates amid expectations to receive large numbers of fans and visitors.**media[760]**The ministry took the necessary measures to set up, renew and gradually increase inventory of food, supply and consumer commodities within the framework of the ministry-run strategic inventory management and control system.He highlighted the co-ordination with various concerned authorities and parties, particularly Al Meera Consumer Goods Company as a strategic partner to contribute to the success of this important event.Under this co-ordination, the retail giant will secure sufficient stocks of products in high demand during the tournament, such as oils, rice, breakfast meals and foods, canned food, eggs, drinking water, detergents and paper products, etc.He stressed that many Qatari strategic companies completed their stocks of commodities like frozen poultry, eggs, frozen meat, bottled water, vegetables and fruits, at a time when the whole world faces huge challenges in the production and availability of foodstuffs, high prices of inputs and the continued supply chains disruptions and other obstacles and challenges which Qatar managed to reign in.He also stressed the key role played by the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Food Security Emergencies Follow-up Centre, which aims to respond quickly to any shortages in foodstuff and consumer goods and overcome any difficulties or challenges facing the parties participating in the tournament.He highlighted the package of laws introduced to boost foreign investments as part of the state’s keenness to provide foreign investors with the opportunity to participate in the implementation of economic projects, especially those related to the activities of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.The ministry is also intensifying its efforts to promote and attract foreign investments, with the ministry giving priority to investment requests submitted by foreign companies through the “Invest in Qatar” centre, and facilitates their procedures, whether for the Ministry or the relevant government agencies.He added that the “1000 Opportunities” initiative represents a true nucleus for linking investment opportunities with foreign supplying companies, and opening a communication channel between them and local companies to benefit from the localisation of some industries, whether in supply chains or contracting for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 projects.The minister pointed out that a number of local and foreign companies submitted about 700 requests during the past six months, and that a number of local companies signed procurement contracts with more than QR600mn.At the same time, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry made great efforts to support Qatari industries and expand and diversify their fields, in order to achieve self-sufficiency, by launching several initiatives aimed at urging Qatari industrial establishments to raise their production capacity of national goods in order to meet the needs of consumers during the World Cup activities and in a manner that supports the arrival of national goods and products to the largest number of sales outlets in the country, he said.The minister added that about 50% of the on-display items were allocated for Qatari products, and that co-ordination was made with more than 30 governmental and semi-governmental agencies to give priority to national products and increase their purchases.He said the remarkable turnout for investment in non-traditional sectors, particularly the industrial sector, proves the success of the state’s plans to support and enhance the contribution of national companies to achieving self-sufficiency for the State, with about 835 factories currently operating in the country.The industrial facilities established in 2022 brought the total number of locally-made products to about 1142 products, he said, reiterating co-operation with all concerned authorities to reach the best preparations for the first-ever World Cup in the Middle East and the Arab world. (QNA)

As the impacts of climate change hit harder, a new realism is dawning about our changed circumstances. Increasingly, the world is recognising that climate change isn’t just a future problem from which we must protect our children. It is a problem from which we must protect ourselves today.According to the World Economic Forum, we need to fight climate change by cutting our emissions to fight further increases in warming and protecting ourselves from climate change’s increasing effects.Adaptation and mitigation should be pursued, as UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “with equal force and urgency.” Over 1C of warming has already happened, and warming over 1.5C is very likely. We are nowhere near ready for the impacts this will bring.Recently, the COP27 launched the Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda – the first ever comprehensive global action plan rallying governments and non-state actors behind 30 adaptation goals for a resilient world by 2030.This framework signals a growing expectation that business, alongside other actors (countries, cities, investors, civil society), take action to adapt to the acute hazards now facing us.Adaptation is a crucial part of the fight against climate change. It is necessary to protect people around the world from the climate change that’s already in process, and it also brings huge opportunities to help the nearly 8bn people transition to a more sustainable and secure way of life.For example, transitioning to climate-resilient farming practices could increase yields by 17% without increasing land use, WEF points out as it outlined three key actions business can take to help tackle climate change.Adaptation will spur the expansion of industries, such as water conservation, heat-resistant infrastructure, and drought-resistant agricultures, supporting prosperity and security for billions of people as we build a climate-resilient world.Adaptation is good for business. It can help companies expand their business footprint, achieve efficiency gains, innovate for the future, and enhance long-term sustainability. In addition, business adaptation is good for the society of which business is an inseparable part. Business thrives when society thrives.Smart companies are acting now to adapt to a climate that is changing before our eyes. The more energetically business dedicates itself to adaptation, the more society as a whole is helped to adapt and benefit.Some business leaders view adaptation as a corporate social responsibility initiative rather than a business imperative as part of the overall execution strategy and risk management. We encourage these executives to recognise that all companies can be affected by climate change. Even business leaders who may believe their companies have little exposure to climate change have no reason for complacency.The effort of adaptation is worth it. Globally, $1.8tn of investment into adaptation efforts could generate $7.1tn in total net benefits by 2030.Insurers reckon that a dollar spent on adaptation – strengthening flood and wind defences, for example – saves five in reconstruction. Best of all, of course, proactive adaptation opens up opportunities to build a more sustainable world.Clearly, the climate crisis requires urgent global action on mitigation and adaptation.

Since winning the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar has started to mobilise its efforts, employ its experiences and expertise, and strengthen its regional and international co-operation to secure this global event, making it the safest and most secure World Cup edition.Qatar has inspiring experiences, wisdom and insight in hosting international mega events and activities that require crowd management and achieving the maximum levels of safety and security for participants and visitors from all around the world.Qatar’s recent history includes a long list of organising hundreds of international events, forums, and mega sports events.One of the biggest sports tournaments organised by Qatar was the 15th Asian Games (XV Asiad) which was described as “the games of a lifetime” given the exceptional success in security and organisation.The list goes on to include the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics, the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, the 2015 World Men’s Handball Championship, and more than 500 other regional and international sports tournaments organised over the past 15 years.Qatar’s success in securing sporting events is not strange for a country that enjoys political, social, and economic stability as well as a high level of security as affirmed by global indicators that classify Qatar as one of the most secure countries in the world and ranks among the top in societal safety and security according to these indicators.Talking in numbers, according to Global Peace Index (GPI), Qatar ranked first among the countries of the Middle East and North Africa (Mena), while it ranked 23rd globally among 163 countries included in the report on the level of security, advancing by six places over the previous year, as the safest and most secure state.Qatar has maintained its high rank in several security indicators contained in the report, including criminality in society, terrorist activity, homicides, safety, and security, organised internal conflicts, and terrorism and political stability.Qatar also ranked first globally, within the Arab world, and within the Middle East in the Security Index for the year 2022, issued by the worldwide database (Numbeo). All these indicators affirm that extending safety and security is an indispensable priority, a consistent approach no matter the circumstances, and a right for everyone who lives in this country or visiting as a guest.Based on that, Qatar has placed the safety of all participants of FIFA World Cup Qatar whether teams, fans, or visitors at the top of its main priorities to prepare in advance to secure this event and guarantee full readiness on various logistical, human, and technical levels.To achieve maximum safety and security, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Safety and Security Operations Committee (SSOC) has launched a bundle of plans, programmes, training and qualification workshops, and joint exercises, to raise the human cadre capabilities, in implementation of the tournament’s security strategy.Among the training programmes designed for governmental and private security, the programme on the security and safety of sports fans which included several training courses on stadium safety and security, security sense, crowd management, human rights, first aid, co-operation with the crowd, in addition to Tournament Policies and Procedures programme which covered facility evacuation simulations and training on how to deal with possible scenarios.These programmes were conducted in co-operation with specialised experts from the European Police and Europol with 49,000 participants — 32,000 individuals from government security and 17,000 individuals from private security.In Nov 2021, the SSOC organised the ‘Watan’ joint exercise to confirm security readiness.The exercise was conducted with the participation of all military, civil, organisational, and service authorities in the country, each according to its competence along with 13 brotherly and friendly countries.The “Watan” security exercise was the largest of its kind in terms of the number of participating authorities internally and externally, in addition to the evolving of its events to combine security, military, organisational, and service aspects.It also featured the diversification of its various scenarios and gradations based on all kinds of potential internal and external risks during the tournament’s organisation.At the time of the exercise, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) pointed out that the exercise aims to enhance close co-operation with the brotherly and friendly forces participating in it and to ensure the integration of efforts and co-operation to achieve the best security experiences in major sporting events hosted by Qatar.Qatar signed several agreements and memorandums of understanding with different countries and international organisations such as (Interpol, the International Centre for Sport Security ISCC, The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement co-operation Europol) to ensure a smooth exchange of information and expertise in the security domains to strengthen the security of the tournament and leaves a global legacy to be used by countries wishing to host mega sports events.The Last Mile Security Conference, organised by the SSOC in May 2022, was a testament to Qatar’s keenness to follow up the implementation of security plans and strategies in co-operation with regional and international partners, strengthen bilateral co-operation in the security field, and to stand on the final required security preparations.The conference also witnessed the signing of an agreement between Qatar and the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) to extend co-operation for (Project Stadia), which was established by Interpol in 2012, with funding and support from Qatar, with the aim of serving countries wishing to host major sporting events.In addition, a joint declaration on the International Police Co-operation Center also was signed between Qatar and a number of countries participating in the conference.In the context of international co-operation, as well as achieving the highest levels of security during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Qatar established the International Police Co-operation Center (IPCC) with the launch of the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019.The IPCC is an operations room managed and supervised by the SSOC, and it has been provided with the latest advanced technological means and the necessary infrastructure for the centre to perform its role and achieve its goals.Qatar crowned these efforts by hosting the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021, which offered an opportunity to measure security, logistical, and organisational readiness.Qatar’s security efforts in preparation for the World Cup were praised by the FIFA.During the “Last Mile” security conference, FIFA’s Director of Security Helmut Spahn stressed that the level of integration and partnership that has been achieved with the SSOC reassures that the tournament will be delivered to the highest safety standards.Spahn stressed that FIFA as the governing body of the game participated in the preparations for the tournament in Qatar, adding that since being established in 2012, the SSOC has been working closely with FIFA.In a related context, project “Stadia” a Qatari project that started in 2012 in collaboration with Interpol is one of the main projects that took shape after Qatar won the bid to host the FIFA World Cup.The project aims to help member countries of the Interpol organisation set and implement police and security measures within the framework of preparing for mega sports events.The 12-year running project contributes to the police and security arrangements for the World Cup, which leaves a sustainable legacy for the world law enforcement mediums.With wisdom, insight, and multidimensional vision, Qatar continues its security preparations to host the FIFA World Cup.During the preparations, Qatar managed to shape its philosophy by qualifying its security cadres who will oversee this national mission and establishing regional and international partnerships to benefit from experiences and expertise.The will of Qatari citizens and residents remains the main front line to secure the tournament so that Qatar once again proves to be the world’s safest place and the worthiest to host such a global event.

The divided US Congress after the November midterm elections undermines pharmaceutical companies who want to weaken a new law that allows the government to negotiate drug prices, Republican strategists, policy experts and pharmaceutical executives say.Democratic President Joe Biden’s signature Inflation Reduction Act, which Democrats passed in August against pharmaceutical industry and Republicans opposition, allows the government’s Medicare health programme for people aged 65 and older and people with disabilities to directly negotiate prices for some drugs starting in 2026.The industry had been hoping a Republican-controlled Congress would change some provisions in the law and that the president could be convinced to signed off on them, eight strategists, experts and executives told Reuters.Now, with Democrats in control of the Senate and Republicans running the House of Representatives starting in January, the pharmaceutical industry is regrouping for 2023 around a shorter provisions list they say are most problematic as well as turning to other priority areas, sources and experts say.Drugmakers are launching new medicines at record-high prices this year, a Reuters analysis has found, highlighting their pricing power even after Congress moved to cut the $500bn-plus annual bill for prescription drugs in the United States.The law allows the government to choose 10 drugs to negotiate from among the 50 costliest drugs for Medicare.Some experts say it is highly unlikely the Biden administration would change its signature law.Biden vowed on the campaign trail to oppose Republican attempts to weaken it.The White House did not respond to a request for comment.Even so, Republicans will “chip away” at the drug price negotiation provision and its implementation, said Joel White, founder and president of Horizon Government Affairs.“There are things that I think Republicans are thinking could be changed in the law to make it less onerous,” said White, a Republican strategist and former congressional staffer who specialises in health policy.That aligns with the industry’s approach.Speaking on condition of anonymity, three pharmaceutical executives said they would lobby both Democrats and Republicans to extend the negotiation exemption period for conventional prescription drugs to 13 years from nine years following US Food and Drug Administration approval.This would be in line with complex biologic drugs, which are made from living cells.Also among their top asks is a reset, or at least extension, of the negotiation exemption period every time a company proves the drug works for an additional illness and is approved for it by regulators.They argue companies and shareholders will lose their financial incentive without such a change.The industry believes the best approach for bipartisan support is to tie the extension request to their work on finding cancer treatments, even if it is an uphill battle.This would align with Biden’s “cancer moonshot” initiative to cut the cancer death rate in half in the next 25 years.“We’re eager to work with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to fix flaws in the law and to drive meaningful change that lowers patients’ out-of-pocket costs,” said Brian Newell, a spokesperson for Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the industry’s powerful trade association.Biden is unlikely to weaken his signature domestic achievement, said Larry Levitt, Executive Vice President for Health Policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation.“I can certainly imagine Republicans pushing for tweaks that would weaken drug pricing negotiation, but I have a tough time seeing President Biden going along with that,” said Levitt, a senior health official during the Clinton administration.Even Republican support for the drug pricing provision is not guaranteed because it is popular with voters across the political spectrum, he said.“All Republicans voted against drug price negotiation, but they have to tread carefully in any effort to weaken it.” – Reuters

On December 2, 2010, Qatar won the bid for hosting the 2022 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup, becoming the first country in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region to host this tournament. Ever since, the country has launched several mega projects, ramping up its infrastructure capacity, amid wide controversy about migrant workers’ rights. With two days left before the start of the tournament, scheduled for November 20 through December 18, 2022, experts from the Middle East Council on Global Affairs reflect below on the various dimensions of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.Hosting a World Cup Amid Real Wars and Culture WarsTarik M. YousefOn November 20, the FIFA World Cup 2022 will kick off in Qatar, marking a first for an Arab nation and a country of its size to host the globally significant event. The games are also taking place at a moment of acute geopolitical disorder as the economic repercussions and political tensions of the War in Ukraine reverberate internationally. Qatar has invested massive financial resources and undertaken significant policy reforms over the past decade to organise a world-class tournament, while addressing the concerns of domestic and international stakeholders. Yet, as with past international sports events of this magnitude, there has been a significant uptick in controversial news coverage about Qatar in the Western press as the start date draws closer. Some of this coverage focuses on questions about the host country’s record on human rights and treatment of migrant workers who constitute close to 80% of its population. Policymakers in Qatar should appreciate the important role of these critical perspectives for public accountability and future reforms. After all, this will not be the last major sports tournament to be organised in the country.Unfortunately, some of the media coverage has been blatantly misleading and full of racist undertones. This serves neither the rights of migrant workers nor the spirit of international sports. Observers in Qatar and other Arab countries should accept the reality that any healthy debate on public policy in Qatar or anywhere else will increasingly take place in a global context of culture wars, media manipulation, and digital disinformation by paid-for influence campaigns. As a result, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will generate the unity, joy, and celebration anticipated around the world, while at the same time highlighting current divisions, polarisation, and xenophobia in societies, especially in advanced democracies.An Opportunity for Qatar and the Wider RegionRanj AlaaldinThe World Cup takes place in Qatar against the backdrop of a challenging and tumultuous geopolitical environment in the Middle East. Between 2017 and 2021, neighbouring countries imposed a blockade on Qatar, prompting wider geopolitical turbulence. Relatively unscathed from these crises, however, Qatar has spent this period carving out a stronger relationship with the international community, particularly in global finance and trade. The country’s vast gas reserves and focus on diplomatic mediation have helped it become an instrumental small-state actor. Qatar has leveraged its gas reserves to address shortfalls in global energy supplies following the Russia-Ukraine war. It has also mediated between the US and the Taliban to secure Western evacuations from Afghanistan.These episodes in the country’s foreign policy indicate a marked capacity for power projection, even amid dramatic and rapid changes in the emerging international order. It is, therefore, up to Qatar to determine how and whether the World Cup will build on these significant foreign policy wins. Hosting the World Cup is a historic moment for the country and the Arab world. But it can also present an opportunity for Doha to use the power of sports to secure benefits for the region at large. The Middle East has been characterised by intense enmity, rivalry, and proxy wars over the past decade. Now, however, a spirit of warming appears to have set in, with renewed interest in regional dialogues and bilateral rapprochement. Football transcends linguistic, national, and cultural divides, and Qatar has an opportunity to use the power of sports diplomacy to cultivate further peace and stability.The World Cup Induces Labour Law Reform, But the Journey Is Not Over YetNejla Ben MimouneWith only days until the start of the FIFA World Cup, hosted for the first time by an Arab country, controversy persists regarding the treatment of migrant workers in Qatar. Since it won the bid to host the tournament in 2010, the country has initiated several mega projects in preparation for the event, including the construction of cutting-edge sports venues, luxurious hotels, and state-of-the-art transportation infrastructure. With hundreds of thousands of foreign workers brought in to implement these projects, various international organisations and Western countries have criticised Qatar for the mistreatment of migrant workers.As a result, Qatar embarked on a reform journey that started by establishing a technical co-operation programme with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 2017 and setting up an ILO project office in Doha a few months afterward. Since then, the country has announced several amendments to its labour law, including abolishing the Kafala (sponsorship) system that exists across the Gulf region. Qatar has also introduced a minimum wage law and created a wage protection system to monitor compliance. In addition, it has defined maximum daily work hours and introduced measures to protect workers from heat stress.Through this process, Qatar has made significant strides in reforming its labour market and protecting migrant worker rights. However, challenges in the implementation of the legal framework and monitoring of ongoing practices persist, Qatar is strengthening its protection mechanisms and facilitating access to the justice system — advances Qatar is already working on in conjunction with the ILO.The Regional Benefits of the World Cup Exceed Economic GainsFaozi al-GoidiHosting the FIFA World Cup holds many benefits that will not only serve the host country but the rest of the Mena region, as well. With global attention focused on Qatar, there is a unique opportunity to alter the stereotypical image of the Arab world, introduce people to Arab culture, and promote an image of co-existence and tolerance. This was the case for South Korea, which hosted the World Cup in partnership with Japan in 2002. That opportunity allowed Korea to promote its culture, which later spread across the globe. Additionally, Qatar’s success in organising the World Cup may pave the way for hosting and organising other international events in the region, such as the Olympic Games, as Qatar is going to host the Asian Games 2030.On the political front, the World Cup could contribute to improving intra-Gulf relations that have been strained in recent years. This would also parallel the remarkable improvement of relations between Korea, Japan, and China following the 2002 games. So far, the run-up to the World Cup in Qatar is already benefiting the economies of its neighbours, and revenues in the hospitality, aviation, and tourism services sectors are all anticipated to increase during the month-long event. An intensive schedule of shuttle flights has been organised between Doha and other cities in the Gulf and the broader region. In the hospitality sector, Saudi Arabia expects an increase of 106% in its hotel occupancy rate, with other countries not far behind. Saudi Arabia is allowing Hayya card World Cup fans to perform minor pilgrimage on this occasion also. The UAE has already postponed the Dubai Marathon due to hotels reaching full booking capacity for the World Cup. Even Iran hopes to increase the influx of tourists during the World Cup period.Mohamed Salah, Islamophobia, and the World CupAdel Abdel GhafarSince the Egyptian footballer Mohamed Salah moved to Liverpool Football Club, he has been credited with a reduction in Islamophobia and racism, not only in the city of Liverpool but in the UK at large. A paper by Stanford University and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) found that Salah’s presence on the Liverpool team has coincided with a significant drop in hate crimes and a decrease in instances of Islamophobic rhetoric on social media platforms. Dubbed the “Salah effect,” the findings highlight how exposure to Muslim sports stars can reduce prejudice more broadly towards Muslims. Indeed, the chant by Liverpool fans — “If he scores, I’ll be Muslim too!”— is quite unprecedented in English and European football, which has a long history of exhibiting racism toward players with ethnic origins from outside the continent. The recent ban by some French cities on the screening of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in public venues to protest abuses in Qatar is arguably hypocritical, given rising racism, increasing abuse of French Muslims, and growing Islamophobia there. The French footballer of Algerian descent, Karim Benzema, described it best when he said: “If I score I am French. If I don’t, I am Arab.”The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has the potential to build on the “Salah effect” and show fans and the world how a Muslim country can successfully host a World Cup, demystify Muslims, and contribute to efforts to fight Islamophobia worldwide.Building on and Sustaining Qatar’s World Cup LegacyNader S. KabbaniThe FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 provides a unique occasion for Qatar to present itself on the world stage. The country will, henceforth, forever be associated with the most-watched sporting event on the planet. Indeed, 2022 will provide a unique World Cup experience, as all games are within an hour’s drive of one another. Qatar has also leveraged the World Cup as an opportunity to develop its core infrastructure and key economic sectors. During the event, Doha hopes to showcase its state-of-the-art transportation systems, world-class tourism and culinary experiences, thriving arts and culture scenes, and its warm and generous hospitality. Other countries that have hosted the World Cup have witnessed a permanent stream in tourism and other economic activities. Qatar should expect the same.The challenge for Qatar, and the question on everyone’s mind, is how the country will leverage its massive economic investments to sustain economic growth after the event. The increase in capacity that was created to host the World Cup, and welcome over 1.5mn visitors to the country, can only be sustained by encouraging new economic activity and effectively utilising what Qatar has already built. This will require Qatar to attract foreign direct investment and support the development and growth of small and medium size enterprises. Fortunately, Qatar has been investing heavily in its human capital. It boasts among the strongest post-secondary education systems and research institutions in the region. These are the building blocks of a competitive, diversified economy. In the end, Qatar must unleash the full potential of its human, physical, and social capital to diversify its economy and welcome in a new era of prosperity and sustainable growth.(This article is published by the Middle East Council on Global Affairs as part of the Council Views blog series that brings together experts’ insights on headline issues facing the Middle East and North Africa region.)

Poland had started to bolster its air defences long before a stray missile landed just inside its border on Tuesday, but a robust shield for the skies along Nato’s eastern flank is still a long way off after decades of neglect following the Cold War.The missile that hit Poland appears to have been fired by Ukraine’s air defences rather than a Russian strike, Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday.But while it may have been a technical error that can happen in any conflict, the incident underlines the urgent need for Nato to plug gaps in its defences because even mistakes like this could lead to a dangerous escalation.“It was only a question of time for such an accident to happen,” an air defence expert from a Nato country, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters. “It could also have been a stray Russian missile flying the wrong way, due to a technical or human error.”While more advanced Western air defence missiles are designed to destroy themselves if they miss their target, older Soviet missiles do not have such a mechanism, the military source said.“If they miss their target, they simply fly on until they have burned up all fuel — and then plunge down,” he said, adding that the older missiles also had a higher error rate.Ground-based air defence systems such as Raytheon’s Patriot are built to intercept incoming missiles.But after the Cold War, many Nato allies scaled down the number of air defence units to reflect the assessment that they would, from now on, only have to deal with a limited missile threat coming from countries such as Iran.This perception changed drastically with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which sent Nato allies scrambling to increase stocks of ammunition and tackle air defence system shortfalls.Germany had 36 Patriot units when it was Nato’s frontline state during the Cold War and even then it relied on support from Nato allies. Today, the German forces are down to 12 Patriot units, two of which are deployed to Slovakia.“It used to be a real belt of air defence systems, and this is what people have in mind if the speak of protecting Nato’s eastern flank,” the military expert said. “But we are far away from such a scenario.”Realising the need to plug the gap, more than a dozen Nato allies led by Germany in October kicked off an initiative to jointly procure air defence systems for several layers of threats, eyeing Israel’s Arrow 3, Patriot and the German IRIS-T among other systems.The initiative comes as Ukraine, under heavy Russian attacks, desperately needs more air defence units, potentially exacerbating existing shortfalls in Western nations that are handing Kyiv some of their systems.Poland, which together with the three Baltic states builds Nato’s new eastern frontier, has invested for years in bolstering its air defence capabilities which still partly rely on Soviet-era systems like the OSA and Kub air defence missiles.“In the next decade, we are talking about Poland having a really state-of-the-art and very large air defence system,” Marek Swierczynski, a defence analyst for Polish think tank Polityka Insight said.The implementation of these systems is slow, however, and they could still take years to become fully operational.Poland has received additional support from Washington in recent months, but these systems, such as Patriot fire units stationed in Rzeszow, are not reactive and far-reaching enough to monitor every single gap in protection on the eastern flank, Swierczynski said.However, even more air defence systems could not guarantee that another stray missile like the one on Tuesday is intercepted.“This is the paradox: no matter how much money you spend on such an air defence system, you will never build something that is 100% impenetrable, so to speak, so there is always the possibility of such a situation arising,” Swierczynski said. — Reuters

The timely release of a new film version of Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front offers a reminder of the close parallels between World War I and the current war between autocracies and democracies. The fighting now is in Ukraine, but, as in WWI, the broader war has several fronts: the energy front, the grain front, and, less well noticed, the Western front. Across Western capitals, autocrat-backed lobbyists, enablers, fellow-travellers, and “understanders” are trying to undermine the democratic world’s unity and weaken its resolve to maintain sanctions against Russia and arms deliveries to Ukraine.The original German name of Remarque’s novel – Im Westen nichts Neues (In the West Nothing New) – is apt. There is nothing new about autocratic governments interfering in Western politics. The most notorious and best-documented episode is Russia’s interference in the 2016 US presidential election. But that was merely one of many examples. Similarly, Italy’s recent election brought to power a coalition that includes Lega, which has advocated a pro-Russian position for many years and allegedly received Russian government support.While Russian President Vladimir Putin violates international law on the Ukrainian front, his lobbyists in Western capitals operate in covert ways that allow for plausible deniability. As seen in the recent book Spin Dictators, co-authored by Sergei Guriev and Daniel Treisman, this is how the majority of nondemocratic regimes now function. Gone are the military uniforms of twentieth-century tyrants. Today’s autocrats wear staid business suits and pretend to be democrats, and that has been sufficient to grant them access to high-level meetings in Davos or at the G20, where they actively recruit former Western politicians, lawyers, public-relations consultants, and think tanks to make their case in the West.It is a cunning strategy. If an autocrat’s malign influence operations are not discovered, he can continue to receive capital and technology from the West. But even if the Western public learns that corrupt autocrats’ money permeates their institutions, that merely helps the dictator’s narrative at home. “You think corruption is bad here,” he might say, “Just look at the West, where former politicians have all sold themselves to the highest bidder.” Such messaging is essential, because modern spin dictators base their legitimacy not on outright terror but on a carefully cultivated image of their own (relative) competence.Another typical narrative goes something like this: “Yes, we interfere in Western elections, but they also interfere in ours.” This claim, too, happens to be at least partly true. The United States and Europe do support civil society and independent media around the world – and rightly so. But the big difference is that the West is proud of promoting democratic values and does so openly, whereas modern dictators interfere covertly, using illicit financial flows rather than grants from publicly registered NGOs.This distinction underscores an important fact: whatever the weaknesses of Western democracies, they still command a degree of soft power that their autocratic competitors could only dream of. Democracy remains popular around the world – among citizens of both democratic and nondemocratic countries. That is why modern dictators pretend to be democrats.To be sure, there is no shortage of criticism about how the US and Europe function. But that itself is a product of the press freedom and political opposition that one can find only in democracies.The first step toward meeting the threat on the Western front is to acknowledge the problem. Until recently, Western politicians who supported and carried water for Putin paid no reputational cost whatsoever. And though most now feel obliged to say that they oppose the war, they continue to argue that sanctions should be removed. These politicians’ links to autocratic regimes should be investigated.Second, the West should reduce its dependence on trade with autocracies. Fortunately, this has already begun with the push toward “friend-shoring,” a concept that is more economically sound than its critics allow, considering that the costs of war can easily outweigh the marginal gains from trade with autocracies.Finally, the West should pay more attention to autocrats’ penetration of international organisations. Modern autocrats are trying to use covert interference to protect themselves from sanctions. Democracies must stand up to them. Just because it’s quiet doesn’t mean there isn’t a war on. — Project Syndicate

HE the Minister of Social Development and Family Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser al-Misnad has underlined that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 constitutes an opportunity to convey an honourable image of the Qatari identity and culture, as well as the true image of Arabs and Muslims away from distortion and stereotypes.She affirmed that Qatar is open to criticism, but it will never bend to attacks aimed at detracting it.In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), the minister said this global football event “is an opportunity that we have long waited as Arabs and Muslims to show the whole world our true face away from distortion and stereotypes. We should not feel threatened. We are proud of our culture and religion; this does not negate that we accept others, on the basis of mutual respect.”“Yes, there may be abuses here and there, but let’s look at the bigger picture, not exceptions.The broader picture is that we have a historic opportunity in which we will not only represent Qatar, but all Arabs and Muslims,” al-Misnad pointed out.In this context, she stressed: “Our first and main priority is the success of hosting this event, and giving the coming fans an exceptional experience. As for rumours, accusations and attempts to distortion, we consider them a motivating factor to prove our strength and capabilities, as I mentioned.“We follow these criticisms with great regret. The problem is not related to criticism; on the contrary, we are open to any criticism that contributes to correcting mistakes. Indeed, Qatar has undertaken many reforms that are in its development interests and are in line with its civilisational visions.”She recalled the recent speech of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani before the Shura Council on this point: “The campaign tends to continue and expand to include fabrications and double standards that were so ferocious that it has unfortunately prompted many people to question the real reasons and motives behind this campaign.”Al-Misnad emphasised that Qatar is an Arab and Muslim country, and among its most important cultural and civilisational features are generosity and good reception and hospitality of guests. “Yes, we are a country that welcomes everyone, but we are also a country that has its own values, morals and civilisational and cultural context.”On the social aspect of the tournament, the minister said: “Today, we are already living a historic stage in the path of the Qatari renaissance, and this event will be written in the pages of history to be narrated by coming generations. Today, the eyes of the world are on Qatar to see what has been achieved.“Now, in these moments, I remember the 12 years that have passed since the announcement of Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup. Since then, concerted efforts have been made by everyone to succeed in this challenge, whether from the government staff and state entities, or through fruitful co-operation with private sector companies, in addition to the valuable contributions of citizens and residents.”In this context, the minister stressed that Qatar came out stronger after all the challenges and crises it faced, stressing that the success in this event (FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022) is another station on the road to achievements. “We must remember that all we are doing is accelerating the development process to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030 under the direct supervision of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani,” she added.As for the efforts of the Ministry of Social Development and Family in this regard, she explained that the ministry had launched many initiatives, such as “Now is our turn, Now is our time” campaign, given the importance of the social role of the people of Qatar.She noted the campaign aims to highlight the important role of all people living in Qatar in the success of the tournament, and conveying an honourable image of the Qatari culture and identity; pointing to a wide interaction with the campaign.In a related context, the minister said the Ministry of Social Development and Family, in co-operation with the Shafallah Centre, announced the operation of the “Muzn” lounge at Hamad International Airport, which is equipped with the latest technology and educational and rehabilitation equipment, aiming to offer the best travel experience that people with autism and disabilities deserve while they are in Qatar.Al-Misnad also announced that the Ministry of Social Development and Family will launch the “Qatar is accessible to all” website in partnership with Sasol, a website that clarifies all places suitable for people with disabilities in Qatar; explaining that this service serves the people of Qatar, and visitors to the country with disabilities.She added that the ministry has also directed to support Qatari productive families under the “Home Grown” initiative which has so far served 600 Qatari families. “We have allocated places for these families in Msheireb and fan areas during the World Cup. We have a primary goal, which is to support and appreciate the productive Qatari families. They are our sisters and mothers and one of the pillars of this country, and their success is a success for all of us,” she stressed. On the expected role of citizens and residents in the success of this tournament, the minister said: “We expect a lot,” recalling His Highness the Amir’s speech before the Shura Council that the World Cup “is an occasion in which we portray who we are, not only in terms of the strength of our economy and institutions, but also in terms of our civilisational identity.”She also pointed to the provision of an audio descriptive commentary service on matches to enable visually impaired and blind groups to enjoy the atmosphere of the World Cup, and be able to follow the matches inside the stadium and enjoy the atmosphere of the tournament.Al-Misnad added that the Arabic language will be present for the first time in the history of the World Cup, and that the audio descriptive commentary service will also be available for people with disabilities among fans from around the world in both Arabic and English, through a special application on smart devices.The minister also revealed the provision of sensory assistance rooms inside the stadiums for the first time in the World Cup history, so that the fans with autism and sensory difficulties can follow the matches in a quiet space equipped with the latest assistive technologies, under the supervision of a specialised team of experts.“This World Cup will see the largest use of sensory assistance rooms at a sporting event of this magnitude in history.The minister also highlighted the barrier-free experience provided by the modern metro network in all its 37 stations, all equipped with elevators to facilitate the movement of people with special needs, prominent floor markings to guide the blind, and wheelchair-friendly toilets.On the most prominent fruits and expected benefits of hosting the World Cup, she said: The World Cup represents an important step in the renaissance process which will continue even after the end of this event. Therefore, sustainability was among the priorities of when hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”She underlined that the tournament will leave behind a lasting legacy in various aspects, including securing major sporting events, infrastructure, environment, community development and entrepreneurship, in addition to strengthening Qatar’s position as an attractive tourist destination in the region.She felt the success of hosting the largest football event in the world will consolidate Qatar’s reputation as a destination for sports and athletes, which will be reflected in Qatar’s continuity in hosting major international events. (QNA)

The innovative cooling technology used in the stadiums of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and in other public places, such as Katara, is an embodiment of the sustainable legacy after the World Cup, whether in Qatar or abroad, as well as the lively development of environmentally friendly technology in football.The cooling process depends on sensors limited to the spaces where people are present as the stadium structure acts as a wall surrounding the cooling inside area.The stadium cooling mechanism works by passing the cooled air through special outlets under the audiences’ seats, and large nozzles to cool the pitch.Air circulation technology is also used, where previously cooled air is drawn in, cooled again and purified, before being pushed back into the stadium.Cooling technology was an important commitment of Qatar’s bid, not only for the success of the 2022 tournament, but also as a legacy for Qatar and the region.The technology aims to stabilise the temperature during matches not to exceed 21C, creating a suitable environment for the players by turning the field into an air bubble with sensors installed to isolate the entire stadium from outside weather.Since Qatar has won the honour of hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2010, the country promised to organise a historic and remarkable edition of the World Cup, setting new standards and advanced ways to organise global tournaments in the future, based on the optimal use of environmentally friendly technology.Although the World Cup Qatar 2022 is scheduled for the winter season during November and December, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, which is the body responsible for delivering infrastructure projects, insisted on implementing sustainable technologies and innovative cooling systems in stadiums, training venues and areas for spectators and fans, which will contribute to reducing the temperature to range between 20-24C.The work of this technology will not be limited to cooling the air, but also purifying it, as the air inside the stadiums will be very clean and pure.In addition to that, the cooling technology will be used to ventilate the stadiums floor in order to provide a suitable climatic environment for healthy grass free of fungal diseases.The cooling system was developed for the sake of three basic elements: the grass, the players and the fans, which means that the process provides the grass with a certain temperature and humidity to be at its best.The process also gives both the players and the fans an appropriate temperature.The state-of-the-art cooling technology blows cold air on the players via football-sized nozzles alongside the pitch and smaller air diffusers under each spectator’s seat, pushing out cold air at ankle level.The human body produces heat to a certain degree, and when a large number of people gather in one place, this temperature rises dramatically.World Cup Stadiums Cooling Technology Engineer Dr Saud Abdulghani said the innovative cooling system in the stadiums of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 constitutes a model to follow in the sustainable legacy of major tournaments, in a way that enhances the status of Qatar at the global level, with its steady progress in fulfilling its pledges to host an exceptional edition of the World Cup.Abdulghani, who led the team involved in developing the cooling technologies in the stadiums for the World Cup Qatar 2022, explains that the innovative cooling system will help players avoid injury in extreme temperatures, noting that this technology will become a constant base in major sporting events in the future.The cooling system consists of two parts, the first of which is to purify and clean the air and the second one of which is to cool it.It relies on pushing clean and cooled air into the stadiums and taking out the hot air and recirculating it through machines that release clean and filtered air.Sensors are deployed throughout the stadiums to control the temperature and humidity, to provide a temperature during matches ranging between 20-24C, at the request of FIFA.The cooling devices are designed based on 3D printed stadium model to determine the power of the wind and the shape of the shade, as the design of the stadium greatly affects the cooling and purification of the air.In this context, Cooling Technology Engineer, who is also a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Qatar University, indicates that the system meets the requirements of sustainability as the energy used in the cooling process is generated from the main grid, which receives the energy coming from the Al Kharsaah Solar Power Plant.He points to the difference in the mechanism of cooling technology according to the design, shape and function of each stadium, which challenged the engineer and the work team.Afterwards, customised cooling solutions are created for each stadium separately, covering all areas within the World Cup stadiums that will witness the tournament, ensuring that fans and players enjoy an ideal atmosphere during the activities of the World Cup championship, he adds.Khalifa International Stadium is the first World Cup stadium that was equipped with innovative cooling technology during its redevelopment work while the new technology was included in the rest of the World Cup stadiums, starting from the design stage. The first of these was Al Janoub Stadium, which is the first stadium built from scratch specifically to host the World Cup competitions. (QNA)

Upbeat investors in cryptocurrencies have suffered a painful collision with reality after Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX filed for bankruptcy.The entire $16bn fortune of former FTX co-founder Bankman-Fried has been wiped out, one of history’s greatest-ever destructions of wealth.The downfall of his crypto empire — which filed for bankruptcy last Friday along with his resignation — means assets owned by the mogul have become just worthless.At the peak, the 30-year-old was worth $26bn, and he was still worth almost $16bn at the start of the week.The Bloomberg Billionaires Index now values FTX’s US business — of which Bankman-Fried owns about 70% — at $1 because of a potential trading halt, from $8bn in a January fundraising round.The saga that has shaken the crypto world began with a rumour on November 2 and culminated on Friday with FTX filing for US bankruptcy court protection from creditors and Bankman-Fried resigning as chief executive in the industry’s highest-profile collapse.US regulators are now investigating Bankman-Fried and FTX.com for potential violation of rules following the crypto exchange’s sudden collapse, which marks yet another crisis of confidence for the cryptocurrency industry.Bankman-Fried was also interviewed by Bahamian police and regulators on Saturday as the authorities in the country investigate whether there was any criminal misconduct in FTX’s collapse.The firm is registered in the Bahamas.FTX’s liquidity crunch appears to have been triggered in part by a report on CoinDesk last week detailing close ties between FTX and Alameda Research, the trading house Bankman-Fried founded and in which he is a majority owner.According to a Wall Street Journal report, FTX lent more than half of its customer assets to Alameda to fund risky bets. Bankman-Fried says FTX now faces a shortfall of up to $8bn.Even before the FTX crash, institutional investors were souring on cryptocurrencies. The sudden downfall of FTX.com may have permanently damaged their prospects of being included in mainstream portfolios.While plenty of industry die-hards remain, many professional money managers are saying the case for crypto as a portfolio diversifier or digital gold has been debunked. The losses are too great and the market structure is too risky, they say.The implosions and scandals of the past few months have laid waste to the key arguments of crypto boosters, and all but obliterated the notion of Bitcoin as safe haven in turbulent times.But none of those events – from the TerraUSD collapse to the Celsius bankruptcy — were as damning as the revelation that even FTX, until recently considered one of the most blue-chip names in crypto, was unsound.The FTX collapse is “raising questions on the viability of the crypto ecosystem,” said Salman Ahmed, chief investment strategist at Fidelity International, which oversees $646bn from London. “It was always tough to make a case for including crypto, but the set-up has come under more pressure.”Crypto markets have lost some $2tn in market value over the last year as the Federal Reserve has removed liquidity and markets reprice financial assets.Even as other crypto firms ran into trouble, Bankman-Fried insisted that FTX was solid. Last Thursday he acknowledged in a Twitter post that he was wrong.The cryptoverse is hyped for its decentralised domain. As for FTX, however, so much hope and responsibility was placed on one individual.For sure, it goes against everything that crypto is supposed to represent.