Opinion

Qatar’s ambassador to India Mohammed Hassan Jabir al-Jabir emphasised that the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to India will enhance bilateral relationship further.Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), he highlighted that the visit is in fact not the first one, as His Highness the Amir so far paid an official visit to India in 2015, during which co-operation was beefed up in all fields.Al-Jabir pointed out that visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Doha in February 2024, was an opportunity to expand the scope of bilateral co-operation in key sectors of trade, investment, technology and culture.He underlined that His Highness the Amir’s visit is highly significant in the light of shared commitment to broaden the horizons of co-operation and fostering a strategic partnership between the two nations for both peoples.The visit is an important opportunity to share perspectives on regional and global issues, strengthen trade and investment co-operation in critical sectors, such as energy, technology and industry, in addition to discussing avenues for addressing global challenges, such as climate change, food insecurity and other topics prioritised by Qatar, the ambassador highlighted.Regarding the Qatar-India economic co-operation, al-Jabir emphasised that the two nations share evolving economic relationship, which has been remarkably thriving over the past years. He indicated that volume of trade exchange between the two countries during 2023-2024 reached approximately $14bn, making India Qatar’s second-largest trading partner.He highlighted that roughly 20,000 Indian firms operate in Qatar, underscoring Qatar’s incredible capability of drawing foreign investments, with the country hosting a sizeable Indian community of approximately 800,000 people, thereby strengthening socio-economic ties. Additionally, Qatar Investment Authority estimates its Indian investments at $4bn across various sectors, with significant growth prospects are expected following this visit.The businessmen forum is poised to convene on the sidelines of His Highness the Amir’s visit, in pursuit of reinforcing the economic co-operation, with the objective of deliberating on co-operation prospects in wide-ranging sectors, such as trade, industry, logistics, information technology, digital and financial services, healthcare, education, and transportation, al-Jabir noted.The forum is not merely a platform to shore up economic co-operation, but rather a salient step toward broadening new horizons of shared investment between the two countries.Al-Jabir indicated that an array of significant memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed during this visit to enhance bilateral co-operation in a variety of fields, including elevating bilateral relations to the strategic partnership in all fields, particularly in politics, economics, investment, sports, education, and culture, in addition to fostering trade exchange and boosting investments between the two nations, ultimately benefiting their economies significantly.The ambassador highlighted that the energy sector, especially natural gas, is one of the foremost sectors that constitute the bedrock of this bilateral relationship, noting that Qatar is the largest supplier of LNG to India, accounting for over 40% of India’s total imports of this critical resource.In February 2024, the two nations signed a long-term agreement with the value of $78bn as a critical step toward exporting 7.5mn tonnes of Qatar’s LNG to India annually for 20 years starting from 2028, he outlined.Al-Jabir underlined that the visit is a foremost opportunity to enhance trade exchange between the two nations, as the Indian market abounds with massive growth potential, positioning itself as one of the most expansive markets globally, thereby opening unlimited opportunities to increase the volume of trade exchange between the two countries.By the same token, Qatar possesses a superb investment climate making it the perfect destination for Indian firms that seek promising investment opportunities in numerous critical sectors, thereby increasing the flow of Indian investments to the Qatari market.The visit will bolster bilateral co-operation in securing the supply of high-quality food products for both markets, al-Jabir highlighted, affirming that India, with its substantial agricultural production capacity, positions itself as a strategic partner in meeting Qatar’s growing demand for agricultural goods.The ambassador underlined that the two nations share opportunities to promote their tourism sectors, given the Indian tourists increasing interest in visiting Qatar following its incredible success in organising global events.In his closing remarks, the ambassador highlighted that His Highness the Amir’s visit is an opportunity to broaden a new bilateral co-operation across many fields, emphasising that it will contribute to achieving sustainable development and prosperity for both nations. (QNA)

India will have the honour to receive His Highness the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Feb 17-18, 2025 on a state visit. This will be the second state visit of His Highness to India, the first being in 2015. Since the first visit of His Highness a lot has changed in the region and the world. Today, the world stands at the cusp of a huge technological revolution being brought by Artificial Intelligence and other technologies with transformative potential for humankind. Yet at the same time the regional conflicts have intensified.In all this, India and Qatar have been resilient in their economic growths and in deepening their historic and multifaceted ties. The trade and investment relations between the two countries have been robust and long-term energy partnership renewed for several more years. Qatar has emerged as a significant diplomatic voice for resolving various conflicts and humanitarian situations. Its successful hosting of FIFA 2022 and other international sporting events has also brought joy to the Indian community. Both countries also supported each other during the tough times of Covid-19.It is now time for both countries to build on their friendly ties and take them to another level. The visit of His Highness the Amir to India will prove to be a landmark in this regard.Over the last decade, under the inspiring leadership of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Prime Minister Modi, the political relations between both countries have remained strong. PM Modi paid visits to Qatar in 2016 and 2024. Both leaders also met on the sidelines of international meetings and kept in touch on phone especially during the Covid pandemic. The last year has seen intense ministerial contacts, especially between Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani and India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. These meetings have enabled both sides to exchange views on taking forward the bilateral relationship and discuss important regional and international issues.Trade has always been a strong pillar of relations between India and Qatar. In ancient times trade was dominated by spices and pearls while in modern times many new items have been added to the list, especially energy exports from Qatar to India. Our bilateral trade today stands at about $14-15bn annually. The Indian exports include a variety of goods, including foodstuffs like rice, spices, tea and meat as well as engineering products and electronic items. We believe that there is significant potential for enhancing trade between the two countries. Initiatives such as the recently held inaugural meeting of Joint Business Council should help by bringing together businessmen and ideas of both countries on one platform. Services is also an important facet of bilateral trade which should continue to grow.Government of India has given a lot of attention to Ease of Doing Business by opening almost all sectors for foreign investments and simplifying laws. This has enabled greater FDI into India, reaching the level of $1tn. Qatari FDI in India has also grown and reached at least $1.5bn covering sectors such as retail, power, education, IT, health and affordable housing. There are a huge number of opportunities for profitable investments in India as the country continues to grow at 6-7%. This could include sectors such as infrastructure, gas infrastructure, logistics, renewable energy, EVs, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. Indians have also made substantial investments in Qatar’s economy, with over 20,000 SMEs registered in their names.With both Indian and Qatari economies expected to register good growth in coming years there is scope for further enhancing our economic partnership. The focus on technology, innovation and sustainability in the policies of both countries also provides exciting potential. India has one of the largest ecosystems of start-ups in the world utilising technology like AI in diverse fields like health, bio-sciences, finance, space, agriculture, logistics, transport, entertainment and education. Some of the Indian start-ups are part of Web Summits in Qatar and opportunities provided by them can be leveraged. The conversations during the upcoming visit will provide further guidance for cementing co-operation in these areas.Energy partnership between India and Qatar was renewed in February 2024 when both countries signed a contract for continuing supply of 7.5mn tonnes of LNG from Qatar to India for 20 years from 2028 when the current deal ends. The contract is estimated worth $78bn. There have also been other deals for LNG and naphtha supplies this year. Both countries have significant synergy for enhanced energy co-operation as India is targeting 15% share of gas in its energy mix and Qatar raising its LNG production to 142mn tonnes. The energy ministers of both countries met at India Energy Week earlier this month continuing the important dialogue on energy issues.The people-to-people and cultural ties provide the foundational connect between India and Qatar. One manifestation of this is the presence of a large Indian community in Qatar whose contribution is well appreciated by the Qatari leadership and society. The Indian leadership has always expressed gratitude to Qatar for the support it provides to the Indian community. Qatar itself has become a hub of culture, education, research and sports. The co-operation between both countries in these areas should strengthen especially with focus on our youth. With good connectivity, travel and tourism between India and Qatar is already strong but could be further developed.The visit of His Highness the Amir will also provide a valuable occasion to both sides to discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest. Qatar has played an important diplomatic role in various conflicts and its efforts in bringing about a deal for Gaza ceasefire and release of hostages is well appreciated. India has always advocated dialogue and diplomacy for resolving issues. Both countries also work together in various international forums.As we eagerly look forward to the visit of His Highness the Amir to India, it is certain that our relationship is set to soar to newer heights in the years to come. Qatar will be one of the foremost partners for India in its quest for development and becoming ‘Viksit Bharat’ or developed India by 2047.

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Eleven suitcases, stuffed with puffer jackets and winter boots, stood ready outside Somali refugee Hassan’s corrugated iron home in Kenya’s sweltering Dadaab camp. His dream of a new life in Seattle was finally within reach.The 24-year-old and his family of 10 were due to fly to the United States on February 10, ending a wait of more than 15 years and filling Hassan with hope for a fresh start on the US Pacific coast.That was until US President Donald Trump suspended refugee admissions as one of his first acts in office on January 20.“When I found out our flight was cancelled, it was very bad news for us,” Hassan told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from Dadaab in eastern Kenya’s Garissa county.“My father sold everything, even his sheep. I was born here in Dadaab and thought I was finally leaving this place, but maybe God has other plans,” added Hassan, whose name has been changed to protect his identity.From Somalia to Afghanistan, thousands of refugees who fled conflict, disaster or persecution, and were approved for resettlement in the United States, have been left stranded after Trump halted the country’s refugee programme. The suspension of the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) was to ensure public safety and national security, Trump said in an executive order. It will be reviewed in three months to determine if it sufficiently benefits Americans, the order said.This is not the first time that Trump has placed restrictions on refugees.In his first term, he banned arrivals from some Muslim-majority nations, temporarily halted the resettlements and slashed the country’s admissions cap to a record low.But refugee rights groups said the new suspension of USRAP was unprecedented.Erol Kekic, a senior vice-president at the Church World Service — a charity that screens refugees for US resettlement — said it was “devastating” and “heart-breaking”.“We have never seen anything like this at this level before, despite the changes that have taken place during the first Trump administration,” Kekic told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.“Refugee resettlement is one of those proud traditions in the United States that has been practised for such a long time, and we’re hoping to try to find a way to continue to do it.”According to the United Nations, nearly 38mn people worldwide are refugees — and 65% of them come from just four countries: Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine and Afghanistan.Many refugees live in poverty in countries such as Iran, Turkiye, Uganda, Pakistan and Kenya, and face a barrage of challenges. Often banned from working, they live in decrepit housing and usually lack the most basic of services.Kenya is home to more than 820,000 refugees, most of whom fled neighbouring Somalia after it descended into civil war in 1991. Over the years, more refugees have streamed in, uprooted by drought, famine and persistent insecurity.Many are housed in sprawling refugee camps like Dadaab — a settlement spread over 50sq km of semi-arid desert that is home to more than 415,000 people.Residents have few ways to earn a living other than rearing goats, manual labour and running kiosks sewing clothes, selling camel meat or charging cell phones from solar panels.Kenya forbids refugees from leaving the camp to seek work.As a result, people are poor and bereft of options.They live in tarpaulin tents or shacks made of corrugated iron and branches, and rely on rations of cooking oil, milk powder, rice and sugar sent by foreign donors.Many Somali refugees have lived in Dadaab for decades; some were born in the camp and have never seen life outside.With most unable to return home to Somalia, tens of thousands have sought a better life whole continents away.While the United States is often a prized destination, US policy on refugee resettlement is complex.Vetting and screening — X-rays, vaccinations and a host of other medical examinations — can take more than a decade.Refugee upon refugee recounts the same tale of years lost to process and procedure, interviews, screenings and then — finally — approval granted only to see their long-awaited escape flights suspended until further notice, no explanation given.During Trump’s first term, the fear of languishing in camps for years saw young men lured by people smugglers into risky, illegal routes to Europe or to the United States via Mexico.“These people smugglers are smart. They target young men who are desperate after having their flights cancelled and promise to take them through another route,” said Abdirahim, 29, who had his flight cancelled in Trump’s first term and now again in his second term.“But many boys just go missing. Or their families here in Dadaab get calls from smugglers in Libya who have kidnapped them and demand thousands of dollars in ransom,” added Abdirahim, whose name has been changed to protect his identity.As well as refugees, thousands of Afghan and Iraqi nationals — people who had worked with the US government and been granted Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) to resettle in the United States — have also been left in limbo.In Afghanistan, many people have been forced into hiding fearing reprisals after the Taliban returned to power in 2021.Subhan Safi, 28, worked with US troops as a plumber for three years. In December 2023, he was granted an SIV and more than one year on, was still awaiting evacuation from Kabul.“I have been waiting to get on a flight ... but now I am facing an uncertain future and do not know what will happen next,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in Kabul.“I’m still hopeful that the US president’s decision will change, and that people like me, who are at risk, will be allowed entry. I’m very eager to start a new and better life,” added Safi, whose name has been changed to protect his identity.The US State Department would not say how many people were awaiting resettlement, but confirmed admissions were on hold.“Consistent with President Trump’s Executive Order ... the Department of State is co-ordinating with implementing partners to suspend refugee arrivals and case processing activities,” it said in a statement to the Thomson Reuters Foundation.The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said it was analysing the order, and was ready to work with Trump to find solutions.“Refugee resettlement is a life-saving measure for those most at risk, including survivors of violence or torture, women and children at risk, and individuals with legal or physical protection needs,” said a UNHCR spokesperson.Dadaab refugees said they had no choice but to hope that Trump would lift his suspension after the three-month review.Some even said they didn’t blame him.“I agree with President Trump. Illegal people should not be in his country. I think once he has deported all the illegal people, he will let the refugees come and do their jobs,” said Abdi, 24, who has been waiting 16 years for resettlement.“We are not bad people. We want go to the US but we want to go properly and legally,” added Abdi, whose name has been changed to protect his identity. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

A new study that yoghurt, which contains live strains of bacteria, and thought to protect against many types of diseases, may reduce risk of colorectal cancer, is heartening indeed. Investigators from non-profit Mass General Brigham, used data from studies that have followed participants for decades, and found that long-term consumption of two or more servings per week of yogurt was tied to lower rates of proximal colorectal cancer positive for Bifidobacterium, a bacterial species found in yogurt. The study showed that the bacterial species was quite common: about 30% of patients with colorectal cancer had detectable Bifidobacterium in their tumour tissue. Their results are published in Gut Microbes. Mass General Brigham is the largest hospital-based research enterprise in the US.“My lab’s approach is to try to link long-term diets and other exposures to a possible key difference in tissue, such as the presence or absence of a particular species of bacteria. This kind of detective work can increase the strength of evidence connecting diet to health outcomes,” said corresponding author Shuji Ogino, MD, PhD, the chief of the Programme in Molecular Pathological Epidemiology in the Department of Pathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system. Ogino is also an American Cancer Society Professor, a Professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and an Affiliate Member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.Ogino and colleagues — team OPTISTIMISTICC — are funded by Cancer Research UK through Cancer Grand Challenges, a research initiative co-founded by Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute in the US. Their objective is to transform the understanding of how the microbiome contributes to disease development, progression and response to treatment. As part of this, Ogino’s team aims to define the risk factors and environmental exposures that individuals encounter through life which are behind the rise of early-onset colorectal cancer and ultimately develop strategies to reduce the burden of the disease.To conduct their study, the researchers used data from two US-wide prospective cohort studies known as the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS). The studies have followed more than 100,000 female registered nurses and 51,000 male health professionals, respectively. Participants have been followed since 1976 for the NHS and 1986 for HFPS, answering repeated questionnaires about lifestyle factors and disease outcomes, including questions about average daily intake of plain and flavoured yogurt, as well as other dairy products. The researchers also assessed tissue samples for participants with confirmed cases of colorectal cancer, measuring the amount of Bifidobacterium DNA in tumour tissue.The researchers found 3,079 documented cases of colorectal cancer in the two study populations. Information on Bifidobacterium content was available in 1,121 colorectal cancer cases. Among those, 346 cases (31%) were Bifidobacterium-positive, and 775 cases (69%) were Bifidobacterium-negative. The researchers did not observe a significant association between long-term yogurt intake and overall colorectal cancer incidence, but they did see an association in Bifidobacterium-positive tumours, with a 20% lower rate of incidence for participants who consumed two or more servings of yogurt a week. This lower rate was driven by lower incidence of Bifidobacterium-positive proximal colon cancer — a type of colorectal cancer that occurs in the right side of the colon. Studies have found that patients with proximal colon cancer have worse survival outcomes than patients with distal cancers.“It has long been believed that yogurt and other fermented milk products are beneficial for gastrointestinal health,” said co-senior author Tomotaka Ugai, MD, PhD, of the Department of Pathology at the Brigham and the Department of Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “Our new findings suggest that this protective effect may be specific for Bifidobacterium-positive tumours.” The researchers hypothesise that long-term yogurt intake may reduce risk of proximal colon cancer by changing the gut microbiome, including Bifidobacterium, but they note that further research that brings together both basic science and population health studies is needed to draw a definitive conclusion.

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The Trump administration’s freeze of foreign funding has begun impacting an international effort to hold Russia responsible for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, according to eight sources and a Ukrainian document seen by Reuters, halting dozens of jobs and tens of millions of dollars in aid.Ukraine has opened more than 140,000 war crime cases since Moscow’s February 2022 invasion, which has killed tens of thousands, ravaged vast swathes of the country and left behind mental and physical scars from occupation. Russia consistently denies war crimes have been committed by its forces in the conflict.US-funded international initiatives such as the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group for Ukraine (ACA) have provided expertise and oversight to Ukrainian authorities. Kyiv has been praised by its Western partners for probing alleged crimes while the war is still raging.At stake are six US-funded projects at the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) valued at $89mn, according to a Ukrainian document on the US funding and cuts seen by Reuters.Funding for at least five of those projects has already been frozen, according to five sources directly involved, who cited interruptions in payments. The affected worked on issues ranging from the preservation of evidence from the battlefield to anti-corruption initiatives and reform of Ukraine’s prosecution system.Two of the listed projects were funded by USAID, three by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement and one directly by the Department of State, the document showed.Of that funding, $47mn was directly allocated to war crimes accountability, the document showed.The impacts on war crimes programmes described by the sources and the document have not previously been reported. Nearly all of the sources spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.While the programmes do not directly impact Ukraine’s frontline efforts to fend off Russia’s onslaught, supporters say they represent the best chance of extensively documenting reported battlefield atrocities in Europe’s biggest conflict since World War Two, now grinding toward a fourth year.Reuters could not establish whether the affected projects were specifically targeted or victims of the broad sweep of the 90-day freeze on foreign aid Trump announced upon taking office on January 20.The White House, the State Department and Ukraine’s prosecutor did not respond to requests for comment about the impact and purpose of the cuts.Among the impacts of the spending freeze, nearly 40 experts provided through Georgetown’s International Criminal Justice Initiative, ACA’s lead implementing entity, have stopped working, according to two of the sources.ACA and Georgetown’s press office did not respond to a request for comment. Two members of the programme declined to comment.On its website, ACA, which is also funded by the EU and Britain, said it has provided more than 150 experts with “decades of experience” to help Ukrainian prosecutors.One source involved in supplying outside legal experts to Ukraine said: “Some partners have no more money to pay their staff.”Another source said an advisor in the PGO was put on leave and a project to provide support for the victims of conflict-related sexual violence had also been suspended.Ukrainian non-governmental organisations have also been impacted. Representatives from two such groups have told Reuters that their work collecting evidence from victims and documenting damages could be impacted, or had already been frozen.“Our organisation... will continue to exist, but we will look for alternative sources of independent funding and accordingly will continue working in this field, just in a limited way,” said Oleksandr Pavlichenko of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, an alliance of Ukrainian human rights groups.The group has halted the work of its regional offices in Ukraine after the US freeze cut around 75% of its annual budget.The head of another Ukrainian organisation that assists in the collection of war crimes evidence and trains legal professionals said the group also had to partly cease operations.If new funding is not found, jobs will be cut in three months, the source said, requesting anonymity to speak frankly on a sensitive issue that has not yet been resolved.Since the first weeks of Russia’s invasion, Ukraine’s international partners have made accountability for alleged Russian crimes a key part of their support for the war-torn country.Yevhen Krapyvin of the Centre for Policy and Legal Reform in Kyiv said US support, particularly from USAID, had been vital earlier in the war.For example, it funded an 800-page handbook for judges adjudicating war-crimes trials for the first time. Foreign experts have proven valuable because of the know-how they brought from previous conflicts, he added.Ukrainian authorities had since gained valuable experience as a result of the infrastructure Kyiv’s foreign partners put in place, he said, downplaying the negative impact of the funding cut on Ukrainian efforts to investigate and prosecute alleged crimes.“Right now, this system is more or less stable, and the experts are there,” Krapyvin said. “Of course, you always want more of them, but this system has been built.”However, a loss of US leadership in the effort could have wide-ranging effects, said a source with direct knowledge of the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. “Perpetrators are emboldened and we all lose,” the source said.Many NGOs have come to rely on American assistance and people are “in shock,” said a source at a Ukrainian advocacy group with a long history of war-crimes related work, who also asked not to be named to speak about sensitive matters.The freeze has also impacted the planned launch of an American-funded case management system that is part of a broader effort to help modernise Ukraine’s judiciary, said Leonid Sapelnikov, deputy head of Ukraine’s State Judicial Administration, in charge of digitisation.Cleaning up and strengthening the judicial system is central to Kyiv’s bid to join the European Union. “If the (case management) system works, we expect that the effectiveness of the judiciary will increase and it will be possible to hear more cases,” Sapelnikov said, adding that Ukraine would seek alternative sources of funding for the project, without giving details. - Reuters

The global talent shortage is a growing issue that affects many industries and economies. Countries and companies compete to attract skilled professionals, leading to talent migration.Globally, corporations and firms struggle to find skilled professionals, which slows expansion and innovation.Delays in project completion and product development impact revenue and competitiveness.Obviously, this creates workforce imbalances, with some regions suffering more shortages than others.Countries with ageing populations face shrinking workforces. Economic growth slows as businesses struggle to find workers to sustain operations.The scale of the global talent shortage before us is vast – estimated by one report to reach 85mn unfilled jobs by 2030. That, according to a report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) is equivalent to around $8.5tn in unrealised annual revenues.Ageing populations and demographic shifts are reducing the pool of skilled workers, even as rapid technological advancements outpace workforce skills.Fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), data science and cybersecurity face surging demands but are struggling to find qualified candidates for these roles.While not immune, the GCC economies are turning this challenge into an opportunity, adopting a three-pronged strategy to drive sustainable growth in the Middle East, noted Nada al-Saeed, Executive Director, Bahrain Economic Development Board.The competition for top talent is fierce, requiring the right conditions to attract and nurture it.GCC countries are, therefore, promoting entrepreneurship and innovation by establishing sandboxes, hubs, incubators and accelerators that encourage startups, attract skilled professionals and create ecosystems that cultivate talent.Supporting local entrepreneurs and channelling resources into business growth boosts talent retention and economic development in the region.Matching their leaders’ ambition, Middle East employees are also ready to embrace the future: recent research found that 61% recognise the need to learn new tools and technologies to excel in their jobs.In response, GCC countries are investing in upskilling their citizens, empowering them to help drive the tech revolution through skills development programmes, vocational training and policies that encourage private companies to hire local talent.This focus on developing tomorrow’s workforce is amplified by the area’s demographic advantage: nearly half of the Middle East and North Africa’s population is under 24, representing one of the world’s largest youth populations. This presents an opportunity to build a sustainable workforce and a future-ready talent pool.Efforts to promote gender equality in the GCC are playing an important role in growing the talent pool. Initiatives to provide equal pay, improve opportunities for career advancement and create a better work-life balance are proving crucial.GCC economies are responding to the global tech talent shortage at every level. Employees feel it too: the proportion of workers who believe their country lacks people with specialised skills ranges from 45% in the United Arab Emirates to as much as 75% in Kuwait.However, there is optimism for the future. Respondents were more confident that skills improvement is a priority for their employers than the global average.By creating an ecosystem that encourages entrepreneurship, elevates local talent and empowers women, the GCC is certainly investing in a sustainable, diverse and inclusive digital future.

The devastating effects of global warming are unfolding before our eyes. Uncontrollable fires ravage the Amazon. Rising sea levels threaten to submerge Pacific islands. Droughts and floods in Africa, and hurricanes and typhoons in the Caribbean and Southeast Asia, are increasing in frequency and intensity. And yet the countries most affected by the climate crisis – nearly all of them in the Global South – have some of the lowest greenhouse-gas emissions worldwide. Helping these vulnerable countries build resilience is no longer an option; it is an imperative.The UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, concluded with the adoption of a New Collective Quantified Goal, with developed countries pledging at least $300bn annually, and all actors agreeing to scale up public and private finance for developing countries to $1.3tn per year by 2035. While the Baku agreement has understandably been met with scepticism, we have no choice but to redouble our efforts to achieve these goals.Public development banks will play an essential role in reaching these targets. Members of the International Development Finance Club (IDFC) are from developed and developing countries, which allows us to take a balanced view. Beyond the question of whether the amounts agreed to in Baku are sufficient, one believes that a major challenge of financing climate action is efficiency. The quality of funded projects, within the framework defined by the Paris climate agreement, is what will enable IDFC members and other public development banks to contribute as much as possible to a sustainable transition.But an even bigger challenge, particularly in an increasingly fragmented world, is how to deploy the full force of the global financial system against climate change. Increasing green investment while considering the needs of low- and middle-income countries is no longer sufficient. Instead, the aim should be to redirect all financial flows toward the green transition within the framework of the Sharm El-Sheikh dialogue.Achieving this goal will require overcoming three obstacles. First, we must stop funding projects and sectors that exacerbate global warming – a gargantuan task, given that the majority of financial flows remain incompatible with the Paris agreement’s objectives. Second, we must start responding to the needs of the most climate-vulnerable countries, where adaptation and mitigation efforts are chronically underfunded. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we need a radical overhaul of the global financial architecture.This systemic transformation requires close collaboration between public and private actors. Public development banks have an important role to play here. They are uniquely positioned to catalyse change by influencing public policies, strengthening local capacities, supporting sectoral transitions, and creating the conditions to mobilise private capital. Such financing is crucial for narrowing the gap between the commitments announced in Baku and the huge investment needed for climate-change mitigation and adaptation efforts in the developing world.While IDFC members have invested significantly in the global energy transition, their ability to transform national and regional financial systems may be their greatest asset. Supporting the development of ambitious national climate agendas, helping businesses and communities execute their transition plans, and strengthening the capacity of local financial institutions will have a larger multiplier effect than any amount of direct spending.To unlock this potential, several conditions must be met. First, all public development banks’ mandates and business models must be strengthened to reflect these objectives. And whether these banks are multilateral, national, or subnational, they need the means to act, which requires expanding their capital base and facilitating their access to concessional resources. Last, but certainly not least, we must develop a global accountability framework that classifies financial flows according to their contribution to the green economic transition. Doing so would allow development banks to work in a systematic and co-ordinated manner.Responding to the climate emergency requires mobilising the entire financial system. Public development banks are leading the way on this front, but they cannot devise comprehensive frameworks and set ambitious objectives by themselves. Solutions exist; we must implement them before time runs out.

Pity Rachel Reeves, the United Kingdom’s Chancellor of the Exchequer. Before she had even gotten through her highly anticipated “growth speech” on Jan 29, criticism flooded social media and the airwaves. Her approach is too scattered, some said, and too reliant on measures whose impact will be felt only over the long term. Some programmes run counter to the government’s environmental commitments, others said, and they are not evenly distributed across the UK. It is all too expensive. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary even went so far as to declare publicly that Reeves “hasn’t a clue”.Don’t get me wrong: the speech was not perfect. But perfection is not possible under the UK’s current economic and financial conditions, and to pursue an elusive optimum would be to make the perfect the enemy of the good. Moreover, Reeves’ speech did succeed in five areas.First, it reinforced the message that the government will go “further and faster” to boost growth – its “number one mission.” Second, it laid out several specific efforts – including planning (zoning) reforms, reducing over-regulation, and improving the use of pension-fund surpluses to increase domestic investment – to ease constraints on existing growth engines.Reeves also focused on the need to promote new drivers of growth, such as by creating a European “Silicon Valley” in the corridor linking Oxford and Cambridge, thereby scaling up these research hubs and the startups that draw on their breakthroughs. She wants to improve the UK’s trade relations to expand its available markets and attract more foreign direct investment. And, finally, she recognised that trade-offs are inevitable when pursuing a far-reaching reform agenda.Such a multipronged approach is what the UK needs to break out of decades of insufficient investment, lagging productivity, disappointing growth, and shrinking growth potential. Reeves’ growth agenda is about enabling the private sector to invest, create jobs, and expand. It is also about avoiding the 1%-of-GDP cut in public investment that was on the table last year.Of course, success will depend on whether the Chancellor’s words are urgently translated into action. The various elements of her plan must be executed simultaneously and in an accountable fashion. That will require a well-coordinated, whole-of-government approach to “hardwire growth into all decisions in the Cabinet,” as Prime Minister Keir Starmer put it before her speech.True, even if the government can meet all these requirements, its strategy may still lack some important elements. But many of Reeves’ critics fail to acknowledge the scale of the challenge and how she is stepping up to it. The UK has underinvested for decades and now faces serious growth and budget constraints.According to a widely cited study published by the Institute for Public Policy Research last year, “the UK has had the lowest level of investment in the G7 for 24 of the last 30 years. The last time the UK was ‘average’ in the G7 for total investment was in 1990.” The result of this chronic neglect is a staggering cumulative shortfall of £1.9tn. Just imagine how different things would look if the UK’s level of investment had been merely average.Given such poor investment performance, any government would need time and luck (especially with respect to external economic factors) to turn things around. The lack of budgetary space leaves the government with no single measure, no silver bullet, to deploy. Even the best growth-oriented policy package would have to comprise a wide variety of measures. Implementation was always going to take time, even if it did not require a broad range of public-private partnerships.Ultimately, the Starmer government’s growth mission will fail if it does not secure the buy-in of companies and households alike. The currently low level of business and consumer confidence is a major headwind to stronger growth, better budget outcomes, and higher inflows of foreign direct investment. It is why the government pivoted from its gloomy talk about the economy to statements about economic performance “turning around.”For the same reason, it is counterproductive – even dangerous – for politicians, media commentators, and economists to be so quick to trash Reeves’s speech, especially when they have no feasible alternative to offer. That is also why it is unhelpful to reduce the multifaceted growth strategy to the third runway at Heathrow airport, the item that is attracting the most attention.In March 2008, I co-authored a paper, “Growth Strategies and Dynamics: Insights from Country Experiences”, with the Nobel laureate economist Michael Spence. One of our findings was that successful growth strategies hardly ever specified every step in the policy journey. Indeed, it is almost impossible to do so. Instead, policymakers defined their destination, embarked with only an initial set of measures, focused on implementation, and remained open to course corrections as more information came in. What they did not do was fail to get off the starting block because the strategy was imperfect, incomplete, or would take too long to bear fruit. They gave growth a chance. The UK needs to do the same. – Project SyndicateMohamed A El-Erian, President of Queens’ College at the University of Cambridge, is a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, the author of The Only Game in Town: Central Banks, Instability, and Avoiding the Next Collapse (Random House, 2016), and a co-author (with Gordon Brown, Michael Spence, and Reid Lidow) of Permacrisis: A Plan to Fix a Fractured World (Simon & Schuster, 2023).

On February 23, German voters will elect a new federal parliament, and many expect the country’s established political parties to lose ground. In recent elections – for the European Parliament in June and in the East German Länder (federal states) of Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg in September – young voters flocked to the far-right Alternative für Deutschland. In the three eastern states, for example, 31-38% of voters under the age of 25 voted for the AfD.It was a shocking shift: in the 2021 federal election, young Germans largely supported the Greens and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), which won, respectively, 23% and 21% of the vote among 18- to 24-year-olds and 21% and 15% among 25- to 34-year-olds. Building on this success, the Greens and the FDP formed a new government with the Social Democrats. Hopes were high that the Ampelkoalition, or traffic-light coalition, for the three parties’ colours, would address the economic concerns of the young voters who helped bring it to power.That did not happen, and young Germans – like their counterparts across the democratic West – have swung to the right, into the arms of the populist AfD. A 2023 study suggests that the growing appeal of such parties can be explained by zero-sum thinking. The belief that groups gain only if other groups lose is deeply embedded in populism, which sets itself against global elites, the deep state, or foreigners whose success is believed to come at the expense of locals.The study’s authors found that zero-sum thinking tends to prevail when resources are scarce. That is certainly the case in Germany, where the economy has stagnated since the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving young people with limited job prospects and little chance of moving up the income scale. Even if the German economy were growing robustly, young people would still be facing one of the lowest rates of social mobility among OECD countries.Improving young people’s economic prospects and increasing social mobility should be a high priority for the next German government. The Harvard economist Raj Chetty has some suggestions for how to go about it.To promote equality of opportunity, which is easier to agree on than redistributing income, Chetty recommends focusing on communities, rather than the individual, as the unit of change. Specifically, he suggests targeting areas where opportunity is lacking. Such an approach accounts for the fact that the chances of a child escaping poverty vary dramatically across places, but also within cities. For example, Chetty’s research has shown that moving to a better neighbourhood can improve children’s prospects significantly, even when families’ financial status remains unchanged.Increasing social mobility, according to Chetty, also requires building social capital through a system of “connected capitalism,” in which financial incentives link people who have opportunities with those who lack them. In communities where the rich and poor interact more, people born into poverty are more likely to receive guidance from their wealthier connections on navigating complex decisions, such as where to go to university, and to be inspired to follow similar career paths. One way to reduce class segregation is by providing low-income families with housing vouchers to move to opportunity-rich neighbourhoods.Implementing these ideas and others espoused by Chetty requires a wholesale reorganisation of social assistance. In Germany, the different government agencies responsible for affordable housing, employment, and state benefits would need to unite around the common cause of creating opportunity and to devise policy to achieve that goal.A quarter-century ago, the Harvard political scientist Robert D. Putnam published Bowling Alone, which showed how the US, once a country of joiners, was turning into a country of loners. Americans were not attending church or marrying as often as they had been, and Putnam warned of social isolation’s corrosive effect on democracy.The same trend can be seen in Germany, where feelings of loneliness have increased over the past five years, especially among people under the age of 30. This has surely contributed to the widening political divide between the country’s young men, who have grown increasingly conservative, and its young women, who have adopted far more liberal views. Compounding young people’s plight is the fact that almost one in five Germans between the ages of 20 and 34 have no vocational qualification, which often results in below-average earnings.Like Chetty, Putnam underscored the importance of building “bridging social capital” – the ties that link people across generations, genders, and incomes. The next German government must focus on improving such ties, which includes promoting community well-being and economic prosperity, to give young people hope for the future and stop their drift toward far-right populism. – Project SyndicateDalia Marin, Professor of International Economics at the School of Management of the Technical University of Munich, is a research fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research and a non-resident fellow at Bruegel.

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Director of Qatar Radio Mohammed Nasser al-Mohannadi affirmed that the radio has produced many specialised and thematic programmes to discuss the most prominent environmental issues and challenges, as well as ways to address the negative effects of climate change, which impact human lives.In an interview with Qatar News Agency on World Radio Day, which falls on Feb 13 each year, al-Mohannadi explained that Qatar Radio had produced several special programmes addressing climate change, including a programme that discusses the role of radio in the issue of climate change, in collaboration with the Radio Tunisienne, in addition to a documentary episode documenting the radio’s relationship with climate change and its role in raising awareness about the issue’s repercussions, its effects, and how to reduce the damage gap caused by it.Al-Mohannadi pointed out that among the programmes produced by Qatar Radio on this occasion is a special episode, which takes the listener back to 1946, when the UN Radio was launched. The episode also highlights the idea of celebrating World Radio Day, which was proposed by the Spanish Radio Academy to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), as an annual reminder of the important role of radio, he added.Furthermore, Qatar Radio airs short awareness segments on environmental and climate change issues throughout the day within its programming plans, he noted.He emphasised Qatar Radio’s commitment to participating in the global celebration of World Radio Day, which this year is under the theme “Radio and Climate Change.” He noted that Qatar Radio plays an important role in producing programmes that serve the theme of the year, as it began early preparations with a specialised team as soon as the theme was announced, working to develop ideas and concepts and implement them in the best possible way to ensure that the message reaches all listeners and achieves its desired goals.He also highlighted that the radio had actively engaged with the theme of the year, given the global attention to the phenomenon of climate change. This focus aligns with Qatar Radio’s message of confronting the challenges and negative effects of climate change that affect human lives, he said. The Radio discusses the issue in all its dimensions, whether by shedding light on Qatar’s strategic plans in this field or through the awareness-raising efforts to increase public awareness of environmental issues in general and climate change in particular, he pointed out.Al-Mohannadi revealed plans to expand broadcasting reach and engage a wider audience through programme exchanges between the Arab States Broadcasting Union in general and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) radios in particular. This would provide the opportunity to deliver the media message to a larger number of target audiences both in Qatar and abroad.He underlined that Qatar Radio contributes to discussing environmental and climate change issues through its various programmes, whether live or recorded, stressing that every program cycle hosts specialists and experts in this field to discuss the main challenges and work on addressing environmental challenges in the best possible way. He also emphasised that awareness of these issues is constantly increasing, demonstrating the significant role that radio plays in influencing audiences and raising their awareness of such critical issues that impact people’s lives.Qatar Radio constantly works on providing specialised and thematic programmes to shed light on the phenomenon of climate change by co-operating with all relevant parties, particularly the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, as well as specialised centres, to address all matters related to environmental and climate change issues. It also hosts experts and specialists in this field who share their experiences and knowledge in addressing climate change challenges, he said.Al-Mohannadi stressed that the radio strategy is based on distinguished and attractive production to discuss environmental challenges and the negative effects of climate change, given the importance of the issue that must be addressed from several aspects, including informative and awareness-raising aspects, in addition to enhancing co-operation with the relevant authorities to contribute to raising environmental issues and ways to confront the repercussions of climate change.He said that Qatar Radio has many platforms on social media for its programmes in general and for such types of programmes that discuss environmental issues in particular, noting that these platforms are invested in presenting special programmes and short, interesting illustrated materials to attract different categories of listeners.He said that the Qatar Radio is working to benefit from modern technological means, especially AI technologies, in order to reach different segments of society and expand the listener base. He pointed out that there is great awareness among all age groups of the importance of preserving the environment due to its great impact on human lives.Regarding Qatar Radio’s future plans in the environment field, al-Mohannadi said that the plan is based on presenting more awareness programmes that aim for a better environmental life. He added that their radio and social media platforms are used in interactive ways that enables them to deliver their message to all followers.In this context, Qatar Radio’s efforts are integrated with global efforts to reduce this phenomenon by discussing and analysing all news related to the seriousness of the climate change and how to confront it. For example, it was discussed how 2024 was the hottest in history and that in 2025, there is a need to combine efforts, co-operation and integration between all media outlets to reduce this dangerous phenomenon.Al-Mohannadi said that the message Qatar Radio emphasises is that a clean environment is a legacy inherited from our fathers and grandfathers, which must be kept that way so it can be a healthy environment for future generations. Therefore, Qatar Radio continuously and consistently highlight Qatari projects and initiatives that have a large and strong presence in all fields and in all international forums related to environmental issues and climate change, through programmes, websites, and correspondents.The Director of Qatar Radio stressed the radio’s keenness to allocate a large space to inform its listeners of the projects, initiatives and efforts undertaken by Qatar in relation to protecting the environment, combating climate change and confronting its challenges for a better future for humanity.The celebration of World Radio Day was proposed the Spanish Radio Academy and was officially presented by the Permanent Delegation of Spain to Unesco at the 187th session of the Executive Council in Sept 2011. Unesco approved it on November 3, 2011 at its 36th session, and World Radio Day was approved in December 2012 by the UN General Assembly. Unesco aims to allocate a World Radio Day to raise awareness among the general public and media professionals of the importance of radio. (QNA)

The first two weeks of US President Donald Trump’s second term were marked by a flurry of directives and executive orders. As expected, he wasted no time withdrawing the United States from the 2015 Paris climate agreement, just as he did during his first presidency. He withdrew the US from the World Health Organisation as well, and soon initiated a sweeping deportation campaign, using tariffs to pressure Colombia into accepting military planes carrying deported Colombian citizens.While controversial, the deportation of undocumented immigrants – particularly those with criminal records – has broad public support. Other Trump initiatives, such as his renewed push to purchase Greenland and regain control of the Panama Canal, have been more polarising, and his decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America has raised eyebrows in the US and abroad.True to form, Trump has also introduced a raft of new tariffs. Most notably, he followed through on his campaign threats and announced a 10% tariff on imports from China. Before assuming office, Trump threatened to impose tariffs of up to 60% on Chinese goods.But Trump’s tariff offensive is not confined to traditional adversaries. In addition to China, he imposed 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded by pledging “forceful but reasonable” retaliation, though his ability to follow through is limited. In early January, Trudeau, with his popularity plumbing new lows, announced his resignation. Trump’s threats and relentless mockery – including the suggestion that Canada become the 51st US state – did not help, further undermining Trudeau’s already fragile political standing.Trump has also announced plans to impose tariffs on Taiwan-made semiconductors, prompting emergency talks among Taiwanese policymakers. Taken together, these moves confirm what has long been apparent: geopolitical alliances mean little to Trump unless they serve his immediate interests.Curiously, Trump has remained silent about Japan and South Korea, America’s two major allies in East Asia. Neither country was mentioned in his inauguration speech or in any of his subsequent statements and policy announcements. Both could find themselves under renewed pressure soon enough, given that Trump has been calling for them to spend more on defence since his first term. For the time being, however, Trump’s apparent lack of interest in Japan and South Korea could work in their favour.It is certainly a welcome relief for South Korea, which is in the midst of a domestic political crisis following the impeachment and arrest of former president Yoon Suk-yeol. Since South Korea does not have a vice-president, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo initially stepped in as acting president after Yoon was impeached for briefly declaring martial law. But Han himself was impeached two weeks later, leaving his deputy Choi Sang-mok to assume the roles of acting prime minister and president. Amid this political turmoil, Choi’s ability to push back against potential demands from Trump is severely constrained.The Japanese government, for its part, is treading carefully, seeking to maintain a close relationship with Trump while considering possible concessions to avoid being hit by tariffs. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru’s first meeting with Trump is this week, three months after the US presidential election in November. Ishiba congratulated Trump after his victory, but their phone call lasted only five minutes – a stark contrast to Trump’s 12-minute call with then-South Korean President Yoon and 25-minute conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron.During Trump’s first term, Japan’s then-prime minister Shinzo Abe cultivated a strong relationship with the US president, bonding over their shared love of golf and establishing himself as a trusted ally in international forums like the G7. Ishiba, who is not a golfer, lacks this personal rapport, as well as the negotiating skills that led Trump to see Abe as a reliable partner.Moreover, Abe was a political powerhouse. By securing a historic third term as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, he solidified his image as a strong and popular figure. By contrast, Ishiba has limited influence over the LDP and the Diet (the Japanese parliament’s lower house). As the head of a minority government, he has expressed a willingness to work with opposition parties to pass key legislation – an approach that may strike Trump as a sign of weakness. Given Ishiba’s tenuous hold on leadership, Japan may come to view Trump’s indifference as a blessing. — Project Syndicate

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Qatar and Rwanda maintain robust and exceptional ties that reflect the desire of the leaderships of the two nations to strengthen them in wide-ranging fields for the best interest of the two friendly countries and peoples.Qatar pursues the policy of openness and co-operation in engaging with various sisterly nations and friendly peoples, including the African nations that share rock-solid strategic ties with the State, based on mutual respect, co-operation and solidarity toward African and global issues. It seeks to advance its investment programmes, in pursuit of serving the common interest with many sisterly and friendly countries in general.The relationship is burgeoning and is termed as ambitious and promising, with the two nations consistently working to build a role model partnership and collaborating on numerous issues to serve their interests and those of other nations, with Qatar being a strategic partner to Rwanda.Bilateral ties have been steadily growing since the establishment of their diplomatic relations in 2017, and since then, leaders of the two countries have been regularly meeting, and their high-profile mutual visits at the levels of ministers and various delegations gave impetus to the co-operation in many critical fields that fostered bilateral partnership.The two countries are connected with a plethora of agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) covering political, diplomatic, economic, trade, agricultural, cultural, sports, as well as investment and co-operation sectors in the area of aviation and double taxation avoidance.In addition, the two countries signed an agreement to acquire 60% of the share of the Rwandan Bugesera International Airport, with Qatar Airways signing two agreements with the Rwandan tourism air transport company and one agreement with the Aviation, Travel and Logistics Holding Limited in Rwanda, along with an MoU for defence co-operation.Hassad, Qatar’s premier investor in food sector, also signed an MoU with the Rwandan government for broadening the co-operation opportunities and studying investment opportunities in food and agricultural fields.Furthermore, Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) inked an MoU with Rwanda Finance Limited (RFL) to facilitate initiatives that will promote the international development of both QFC and Kigali International Financial Centre. Under this MoU, the two parties intend to encourage their respective regulatory authorities to enter mutual recognition agreements to open new business opportunities in both markets.This MoU marks the long-term co-operation between QFC and Rwanda Finance Limited to support businesses in Rwanda and Qatar through joint initiatives that foster skills development, knowledge exchange and investment and partnership opportunities. The agreement also takes QFC a step further in its efforts to forging durable partnerships with international markets that help support Qatar’s economic diversification and capacity building drive.The signed agreements between the two countries comprise an agreement that enables passengers boarding flights with Qatari and Rwandan airways to reach over 160 destinations in the joint networks from Kigali and Doha.On the margins of the ICAO Air Services Negotiation (ICAN2023) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December 2023, the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority held bilateral discussions with the Rwandan counterpart which came up with positive outcomes, culminating in signing an MoU that allows both air carriers to enter into trade cooperation agreements.Rwandan President Paul Kagame so far expressed his country’s desire to foster its economic and partnership with Qatar, highlighting that the path of development in Qatar is a role model. He emphasised that there is a significant opportunity to advance economic and trade co-operation with Qatar, with Rwanda positioning itself as one of the fastest growing economies in Africa.By and large, Rwanda offers a growing and stable investment system in industries, such as such as textiles, apparel, leather, agriculture, livestock, industry, tourism, information and communications technology, and pharmaceuticals, along with significant contributions from the services sector to the Gross Domestic product (GDP), the president said.Kagame emphasised that his country possesses numerous investment advantages, but it should draw on its own efforts to achieve its aspirations by pursuing a new mindset and engaging in diligent and persistent work.Rwanda is located in the heart of Africa, south of the equator, within the Great Lakes Plateau. It is a landlocked nation with no coastline, connecting to the outside world through neighboring countries, particularly via the ports of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and Mombasa in Kenya.The country spans over 26,000 sq km and has an estimated population of 12mn, with 83% residing in rural areas.In the early 1990s, Rwanda experienced one of the most brutal ethnic conflicts in history. However, it has managed to recover and rebuild itself into a unified, prosperous nation, filled with hope, success, and competitiveness both regionally and globally.Rwanda’s success story exemplifies the potential for transformation. Once a small, impoverished nation, it has achieved considerable progress, transitioning from an agrarian economy to one focused on technology, knowledge, and services. The country has fostered foreign investment by reducing barriers, offering incentives, and opening all sectors to international investors.With their clean and sophistication, streets in Rwanda resemble most streets of the European capitals as visitors cant be oblivious to the landmarks of the economic boom the nation witnesses. It is known as the land of a thousand hills and draws tourists from different territories around the globe thanks to the rare and tantalising natural landscape. (QNA)

A Bank of America survey of global fund managers in January showed the re-emergence of global consumer price growth as a key theme for 2025. The World Bank predicted slowing inflation but still warned that it “could prove to be more persistent than expected.”US, European and Japanese inflation expectations have jumped significantly since Donald Trump emerged as favourite to win US presidency.And for the US in particular, analysts are openly starting to reassess inflation prospects.On Feb 4, Morgan Stanley scrapped its forecast for a Federal Reserve interest rate reduction in March, with its Chief US Economist Michael Gapen saying “on-again-off-again tariff uncertainty should raise the hurdle for Fed cuts.”That followed Chair Jerome Powell’s remarks recently that officials aren’t in a rush to lower borrowing costs as policymakers pause easing to see further progress on inflation.The potential for increased tariffs complicates that outlook.The more President Trump threatens tariffs on the US’s trading partners, the more the worry of another inflation wave troubles global economists.Stubborn consumer price growth was bothering much of the world even before he entered the White House.Multiple economies now face latent inflation pressures, either domestic or external.In the US, a resilient labour market is keeping the Fed on alert as Trump’s policies and threats drive bond yields higher. Elsewhere, dollar strength is haunting emerging markets such as Indonesia.One thing is clear: The Fed will take its time to assess the impact of Trump’s policies.Across the Atlantic, the extent of any trade response may be key if Trump unleashes tariffs. For now, policymakers have downplayed them as a price driver in either direction.European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has argued she isn’t “overly concerned” about importing inflation and Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has said tariff effects aren’t straightforward to predict.But consumers and professional forecasters are less sanguine than policymakers, raising their 2025 inflation outlook in ECB surveys. And a Bloomberg poll showed a majority of economists is now more concerned about price pressures exceeding 2% in the medium term.Even in Asia, where prices are largely back within target ranges, issues persist.South Korea’s consumer inflation accelerated in January on the back of higher energy and food prices.In Japan — where the return of price increases is welcome after decades battling deflation — nominal wages rose at the fastest pace in nearly three decades in December, supporting the Bank of Japan’s latest rate hike decision and keeping the bank on track for further tightening steps.Trump substantially raised tariffs on steel and aluminium imports on Monday to a flat 25% “without exceptions or exemptions.” The tariffs will apply to millions of tonnes of steel and aluminium imports from Canada, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea and other countries that had been entering the US duty free under the carve-outs.But US tariffs are an “evolving story” and it is too early to assess their impact on the world economy, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said yesterday. The outlook for inflation was hard to predict, she suggested.While there’s still a lot of uncertainty around US tariff levels, their timing and potential retaliation, it’s clear that it’ll not only pressure prices but also weaken growth globally.A few weeks ago, the Bank for International Settlements even warned of stagflation, a relatively rare mix of persistent high inflation, weak labour markets and tepid growth.US inflation showed scant signs of downward momentum at the start of the year, while healthy job growth undergirded the economy, backing the Fed’s stance to hold the line on interest rates for now. Moreover, proposed policies from the Trump administration risk keeping inflation elevated.

The West is on a war footing. The German government is working on an app that helps people locate their nearest bunker. A 32-page pamphlet entitled If Crisis or War Comes was published in Sweden, and a similar one was downloaded countless times in Finland. Venerable newspapers publish wargame scenarios where Russia, with China’s backing, invades Norway’s arctic islands.In the European Union, top officials argue that the key to unlocking Europe’s chronically low level of investment is its arms industry. US President Donald Trump casually talks about taking over Greenland and the Panama Canal. To top it all off, a storm is gathering over Taiwan, the Philippines, and the South China Sea.Trump and his political opponents disagree on almost everything. But one thing they do agree on is that America is caught in what Harvard University’s Graham Allison calls the Thucydides Trap – the fate of a hegemon confronted by a rising power, China. Meanwhile, the West is running the risk of falling into the Oedipus trap: exacerbating a crisis with actions intended to prevent it – just as Oedipus ended up killing Laius, his father, only because Laius took harsh measures aimed at thwarting the Delphic prophecy that he would be killed by his son. Either of these traps could trigger a catastrophic war.Meanwhile, we are increasingly dominated by cloud capital – a new form of capital consisting of networked machines running algorithms that we train to know us well enough to alter what we want and then sell it to us outside any actual market. Unlike diesel engines and industrial robots, which are manufactured means of production, cloud capital produces an exorbitant capacity to modify our behaviour, bestowing unprecedented power on its owners – our technofeudal masters. This reinforces the Thucydides and Oedipus traps in four distinct ways.First, especially when augmented with artificial-intelligence capabilities, cloud capital lowers the threshold for deploying weapons of mass, albeit targeted, destruction. It is far cheaper to send a swarm of micro-drones, equipped with AI facial recognition, into urban areas to take out prespecified targets autonomously than it is to deploy heavy bombers. It is also easier for presidents and prime ministers to muster the moral conviction to give the order. That is why the capitalisation of a cloud capital-intensive company like Palantir has surpassed that of a legacy behemoth like Lockheed Martin.Second, to deliver maximum revenues, the cloud capital powering our social media is optimised to maximise engagement, a goal most easily achieved by getting us heated, angry, and abusive toward one another. The poisoning of public debates that results from this business model erodes the democratic institutions which hitherto had some capacity to restrain our more bellicose politicians and generals.Third, cloud capital has weakened Europe to the point where it can no longer play the moderating role that it once played during the Cold War. This is because most cloud capital is concentrated in the US and China. As high concentrations of cloud capital have become a prerequisite for substantial economic and political power, Europe has slid into relative irrelevance.Fourth, in China, cloud capital has created a real challenger to America’s near-monopoly of the international payments system, which historically has given US governments the leeway to sanction any country or person they choose. This is far more significant than any animosity within the US caused by the emergence of DeepSeek, the Chinese AI firm whose most recent offering led to losses of $1tn in US stock markets.China’s chief challenge stems from a deep asymmetry vis-à-vis the US that has nothing to do with technology: Wall Street treats Silicon Valley as a potential usurper of its financial revenues, a tussle in which it can count on the support of the Federal Reserve. In contrast, China’s financial sector, central bank, and largest tech firms are working in unison, resulting in a seamless, free-to-use, private-public digital payments system that the West cannot match.Although it currently resembles a pristine multilane freeway that few outside the country use, the Chinese payments system poses a serious long-term threat to the global monopoly of the dollar-denominated payments system and gives the Chinese government and its allies options that alleviate the fear of US sanctions. In a never-ending cycle of negative reinforcement, that newfound confidence fuels America’s eagerness to “get tough” on China.War is in the air more than peace these days. This reflects not only the salience of well-known strategic traps, but also the rise of technofeudal power, which is driving us into them. – Project SyndicateYanis Varoufakis, a former finance minister of Greece, is leader of the MeRA25 party and Professor of Economics at the University of Athens.

The famous saying by Islamic scholar Ibn Qayyim, “If you do not know, it is a disaster. But if you know and do nothing, the disaster is even greater,” encapsulates a timeless truth about the human condition.Ignorance can be a formidable challenge, often leading to misjudgments and errors. However, the true catastrophe arises when individuals possess knowledge yet deliberately ignore or misuse it. This principle extends beyond personal ethics, influencing societal norms, leadership, and governance. Knowledge, rather than being a privilege alone, is a responsibility that must be upheld with integrity.In Hamlet, William Shakespeare wrote, “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” This echoes the dilemma of knowledge — what one does with it defines its ultimate impact. Simply knowing the truth is insufficient; wisdom lies in the application of that truth.Ignorance, in itself, is not a crime. Many people are unaware of laws, ethics, or moral obligations, but they have the opportunity to seek knowledge, ask questions, and educate themselves. As Thomas Gray famously wrote in his poem Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College, “Where ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise.” While this phrase is often misinterpreted as an endorsement of ignorance, in reality, it highlights the innocence of unawareness before one encounters life’s harsh realities.The real issue arises when ignorance is wilful — when individuals choose to turn a blind eye to knowledge out of laziness, fear of responsibility, or self-interest. This transforms ignorance from a temporary gap in understanding into a conscious rejection of truth. In such cases, ignorance is not merely a lack of awareness but a self-inflicted failure to engage with reality.If ignorance is a problem, then possessing knowledge without acting upon it is a catastrophe of far greater magnitude. To know what is right and yet ignore it is not just negligence; it is a betrayal of wisdom. This failure can manifest at multiple levels. On a personal level, many individuals recognise their mistakes yet persist in them. Rationalisation, self-deception, or sheer complacency prevent them from making the necessary changes. As T.S. Eliot once wrote, “We do not dare to disturb the universe.” The fear of consequences often stops people from taking corrective action, turning knowledge into an unbearable burden rather than a tool for growth. On a social level, societies crumble when individuals and institutions knowingly tolerate wrongdoing. Silence in the face of injustice erodes trust, allowing corruption to flourish. Edmund Burke’s famous words, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” highlight this exact dilemma. Those who recognise societal problems yet remain passive enable the very injustices they decry.On a political level, the most dangerous form of neglected knowledge is seen in leadership and governance. Leaders who understand the challenges faced by their people but refuse to act effectively betray their duty. As George Orwell pointed out in 1984, “The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” When truth is inconvenient, it is often ignored or distorted, leading to crises that could have been prevented.To overcome the “greater disaster” of neglected knowledge, three fundamental steps must be taken. First, accepting responsibility is essential, as knowledge is not merely an asset but an obligation. Those who are aware of the truth must take ownership of their role in shaping a better world, whether at an individual, societal, or governmental level. Second, applying knowledge in practice is crucial, as true wisdom comes from action, not just awareness. As Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” Knowledge must be transformed into meaningful change rather than remaining theoretical.Third, spreading knowledge is key to diminishing ignorance, as insight should not be confined to elite circles but made accessible to all. As Mark Twain famously quipped, “A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read.” Knowledge is only powerful when it is utilised, shared, and acted upon.Ibn Qayyim’s wisdom remains as relevant today as it was centuries ago: ignorance is a problem, but knowing the truth and failing to act is an even greater disaster. It is a call to action — urging individuals to rise above complacency, take responsibility, and ensure that knowledge serves its true purpose.The challenge is not merely to learn, but to embody that learning in daily life. As Victor Hugo wrote in Les Misérables, “To know is nothing at all; to imagine is everything.” Yet, beyond imagination, what truly matters is courage — the courage to act upon knowledge and use it for the greater good.

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