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The argument for a free press has always been strong. When journalists can work unimpeded, they fulfil essential democratic functions: holding those in power to account, scrutinising government performance, and highlighting underreported stories and perspectives.But press freedom is under threat like never before, and journalists around the world face increasingly complex and rapidly changing pressures that often are as much economic and technological as political. Democratic governments must therefore be steadfast in defending and promoting a free press at home and abroad. Two new reports make a compelling case for these efforts.The first, published by the Media Freedom Coalition, a partnership of 51 countries spanning six continents, demonstrates the broader societal benefits of a free press. For example, media freedom is necessary for a properly functioning democracy and economy. This may seem obvious, because markets depend on a steady stream of reliable information about companies and their financial performance. But the evidence is even more robust: one study cited in the coalition’s report found that companies in the media spotlight are less likely to window-dress their financial statements. Another shows that journalists are effective – sometimes more so than financial regulators – at spotting corporate fraud.Another key area where independent media have demonstrated their enormous value is health. During the Covid-19 pandemic, high-quality news outlets played an indispensable role in disseminating accurate information and debunking misinformation about the virus. Moreover, media coverage can help give health issues that carry social stigma the attention they need to be placed on the public-policy agenda. For example, one study found that developing countries with a freer press were more likely to have government leaders who were committed to curbing HIV/Aids.Investigative journalists have long exposed environmental crimes as well, and continue to break major stories on climate change and related issues, such as air pollution and illegal fishing. The Media Freedom Coalition’s report also highlights evidence showing that press freedom is positively correlated with more rapid adoption of renewable energy.Media freedom is also a crucial element of security, as shown by a report published by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in July. It illustrates, for example, the importance of an independent press both in exposing spurious claims that could mislead people into supporting a conflict, and in ensuring the peaceful resolution of disputes.Of course, a free press is valuable in and of itself, given that freedom of expression is a fundamental human right that arguably underpins all others. After all, how can governments uphold human rights when there is no one to investigate and expose violations? But the evidence presented by the Media Freedom Coalition (which Estonia co-chairs) and the OSCE can help policymakers and campaigners make an undeniable case for media freedom being essential to healthy and prosperous societies.The Media Freedom Coalition is doing just that. The co-chairs, Estonia and Germany, along with colleagues in government, civil society, media, and the legal sector, and with multilateral organisations such as Unesco, work to develop interventions that support journalists at risk and promote policies that protect their right to report, as well as to build norms around emerging challenges such as transnational repression.Diplomacy plays a vital role. As Estonia’s ambassador at Large for Human Rights and Migration, I have seen how embassies are a valuable tool through which governments can promote media freedom. Diplomats are well-placed to advocate for a free press, both publicly and privately, and support host governments as they implement related reforms.But effective diplomacy must be backed up with concrete action. This can take many forms, such as ramping up funding to support independent media, reforming domestic legislation to bolster press freedom, or providing emergency visas and safe refuge to reporters at risk – something that Estonia, which is ranked sixth on the latest World Press Freedom Index, is proud to do.Repression of press freedom undermines human rights and prevents societies from reaching their full potential. But the case for protecting media freedom has never been stronger. It is now up to us – democratic states, including the members of the Media Freedom Coalition – to make this case more loudly than ever. – Project SyndicateKatrin Kivi is Estonia’s ambassador at Large for Human Rights and Migration. Estonia is Co-Chair of the Media Freedom Coalition.

Pledges amounting to approximately $36mn were gathered to fund the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region at the investment round held in Doha on Thursday.Qatar's Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari participated in the meeting at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, a statement from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said.The event was attended by several ministers and senior officials from countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, as well as representatives from international, regional, and national organisations.In her address during the investment round, HE Dr al-Kuwari said that Qatar firmly believes that investing in global health is an investment in global stability, security, and prosperity."Qatar was among the first countries in the world to respond to the WHO's plea for a core voluntary contribution in 2021 to support the response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and other emergencies.”“Recognising the urgent need for ongoing, reliable, and long-term support for the WHO's budget, we reaffirmed our commitment to the WHO in May 2024,” she said."We stand ready to continue discussions with the WHO to determine our contribution to the financial resources needed to implement its 14th General Programme of Work,” HE Dr al-Kuwari added. “We are confident that this will strengthen health systems globally, making them more resilient and capable of addressing challenges such as pandemics and non-communicable diseases."The minister said that the investment round for the WHO underscores the shared commitment to ensuring the future of global health, stating that "In the face of a rapidly evolving health landscape, securing sustainable and stable funding for the 14th General Programme of Work is not just necessary; it is a moral obligation we owe to future generations”.She reiterated the importance of strengthening co-operation to ensure that the WHO remains prepared to lead global health efforts in the years ahead, adding: "Together, we can create a healthier and more equitable world for all."In her opening remarks, Dr Hanan Balkhy, the WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said: "As the global investment case demonstrates, every dollar invested in the WHO generates a return of $35.”“This is an extremely smart investment,” she continued. “It can help save the lives of another 40mn people, making the lives of billions healthier and safer from harm, while providing them access to the health services they need.”"Predictable, flexible funding for our core work over the next four years is essential for us to achieve the best possible health outcomes," Dr Balkhy added.Several ministers and senior officials from the Eastern Mediterranean Region also spoke on the importance of sustainable funding for the WHO to ensure greater preparedness and response to health challenges in the region.In a pre-recorded speech, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the significance of the investment round and the solidarity required for sustainable funding for the WHO, emphasising its importance for global health in achieving "All for Health, Health for All”.The event also featured a video presentation on sustainable funding for the WHO in the region and its importance in addressing health challenges.The 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, held under the theme *Health Beyond Borders: Action, Access, Equity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, will conclude today in Doha.

In August, 14 of Africa’s poorest countries, alongside international organisations and private companies, pledged over $45mn to the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s new Investment Round, which aims to raise $7.1bn in voluntary contributions to close its current funding gap for the next four years, improve primary care, and build a more robust, better-trained health workforce.Amid climate disruptions, pandemics, and rapid population ageing, the WHO estimates that its fundraising effort could save an additional 40mn lives over the next four years. The African Development Bank has committed $10mn, while countries like Ethiopia and Niger have each pledged $2mn.Earlier this month, countries and partner organisations from the WHO South-East Asia Region – including India, Indonesia, North Korea, and Sri Lanka – pledged $345mn.This raises an important question: if low-income countries like Chad and lower-middle-income countries like Côte d’Ivoire can contribute their fair share, will their wealthier counterparts step up?The WHO, which provides critical aid to roughly 166mn people in conflict zones such as Ukraine, Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, urgently requires more consistent and predictable funding.Otherwise, its ability to respond to health crises caused by wars, disease outbreaks, famines, droughts, and floods will be severely constrained, denying millions of people the emergency medical assistance they need.The WHO must also sustain its ongoing efforts in impoverished countries, where billions of people lack regular access to healthcare. In response to these evolving needs, the new Investment Round calls for just 0.1% of the $9tn spent annually on healthcare.When the WHO was founded after World War II, member states provided flexible funding that allowed for long-term planning. But nowadays, the organisation can be certain about only 20% of its budget and relies on voluntary, often earmarked, contributions for the rest, limiting its effectiveness. Even with institutional reforms underway, the current Investment Round is vital for securing the flexible funding required to implement the organisation’s strategy over the next four years.If Covid-19 has taught us anything, it is that health emergencies know no borders and that another pandemic is not a question of if, but when. Alarmingly, as global health threats grow more frequent and severe, the number of unvaccinated children is rising for the first time in modern history, exposing them to deadly diseases again. Moreover, communicable diseases have re-emerged as a leading cause of premature deaths.The climate crisis, too, is undeniably an escalating health crisis, with millions more people projected to die from malnutrition, cancer, malaria, air pollution, and extreme weather events. Meanwhile, the silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance, which contributes to 5mn deaths annually, threatens to reverse a century of medical progress.Against this backdrop, the world is grappling with a profound mental health crisis. As our understanding of mental health disorders has deepened, it is now recognised that they are far more prevalent than previously thought. Notably, more than 700,000 people worldwide die by suicide each year.While health is enshrined as a human right in the constitutions of 140 countries, more than 4bn people lack access to basic care, leaving them so vulnerable that they cannot afford to get sick. Investing in healthcare is thus the best insurance policy to have. The results speak for themselves: every dollar invested in the WHO generates a remarkable $35 return in improved health outcomes. But the organisation’s 194 member states currently contribute just $0.30 per person annually to keep it afloat.Closing the funding gap is crucial for enabling the WHO to respond to the next pandemic swiftly and effectively. Of the $7.1bn it aims to raise, $1.6bn will be used for expanding healthcare in low- and middle-income countries – equivalent to just $0.13 per year from each of the 3bn people in the global middle class.With adequate funding over the next four years, the WHO can address gender-based health disparities, which account for 75mn years of life lost each year, by tackling issues such as post-partum haemorrhage, the leading cause of maternal deaths. These funds will also accelerate the implementation of the global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer. And they will help finance the organisation’s Special Initiative for Mental Health, increasing support for the 1bn people living with mental health conditions.Altogether, fully funding the WHO’s programme of work for the next four years could prevent 40mn deaths by 2028, including 7.5mn deaths from climate-related causes, 6.5mn from noncommunicable diseases, and 5mn from infectious diseases.Moreover, it could improve health outcomes for 6bn people and provide access to healthcare for 5bn individuals facing financial hardship as a result of out-of-pocket expenses.The past few decades have shown what international co-operation, spearheaded by the WHO, can achieve. Co-ordinated global efforts have successfully eradicated smallpox, advanced the fight against tuberculosis, and reduced HIV deaths by 70% within 20 years. Over the past five years alone, it is estimated that 25 countries have eliminated at least one tropical disease, allowing the WHO to expand its efforts to eliminate 30 communicable diseases.Just imagine what can be accomplished in the next four years. A fully funded WHO could protect the world from health emergencies, reduce gender-based disparities, eliminate many more diseases, bridge the mental-health treatment gap, combat antimicrobial resistance, and ensure that displaced people worldwide have access to essential medical services.Achieving these goals depends on closing the current funding gap. In the face of what Martin Luther King, Jr, famously called the “fierce urgency of now,” the world cannot afford to wait. - Project Syndicate• Gordon Brown, a former prime minister of the United Kingdom, is UN Special Envoy for Global Education and Chair of Education Cannot Wait.

Whenever the odds seem stacked against human progress – when economic growth looks set to remain feeble, when too many countries appear destined to grow old before they become rich, when climate change seems out of control – it is worth remembering the distinctive virtue of our species. Human ingenuity is the reason why predictions of global doom, which have proliferated throughout our history, have never materialised.It was ingenuity that defused the so-called “population bomb”, the 1970s threat that “hundreds of millions of people” would starve to death as rapid population growth exhausted finite supplies of food. Instead, agricultural innovations such as high-yield, pest-resistant crops caused global food production to grow faster than the population in nearly every part of the world. Equally, it was human ingenuity that brought deadly diseases – from HIV/Aids to Covid-19 – under control. If climate change is tamed by the middle of this century, you can bet that human ingenuity will have been the main factor.But progress is seldom the fruit of a “eureka” moment. Instead, human ingenuity delivers when governments, private enterprises, and individuals act in ways that benefit entire societies consistently over time. Such outcomes depend on conducive conditions, cultivated by the appropriate mixture of rules and practices. Recognising that sustained economic development usually reflects system-wide business success, we at the World Bank Group describe these conditions as “the business climate” or “the business-enabling environment.”For too long, though, we focused more on what governments can do for the good of business than on what governments and businesses can do together for the good of all. Thus, in a crucial first step to correct the imbalance, our new Business Ready report aims to build a comprehensive dashboard that, by 2026, will allow anyone to dial in the precise settings needed for vibrant private-sector development across 180 economies. Using this tool, policymakers can start to create the conditions to reduce poverty, advance shared prosperity, and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.The goal is to encourage healthy competition among businesses and countries, and to discourage “a race to the bottom” (one of the unintended consequences of Doing Business, our previous effort to help countries establish the right conditions for private-sector development). Our new analytical framework recognises that there is more to a healthy business environment than the “ease of doing business”. It accounts for the possibility that reducing the “cost of doing business” can unintentionally raise the costs for society at large.Accordingly, Business Ready assesses not just the regulatory burden on enterprises – how long it takes to start a business, for example – but also the quality of regulations. Do labour laws protect workers from being arbitrarily fired? Do they inadvertently make women workers less competitive than men and discourage them from seeking work?Beyond assessing the rules and regulations that govern business, Business Ready examines the public services needed to transform intentions into reality. Do public utilities provide reliable water and electricity? Do governments make it easy for businesses to fulfil their tax obligations and comply with environmental and social safeguards?The result is a breathtakingly detailed dataset that encompasses nearly 2,000 data points per economy. One can now zero in, for example, on the frequency of power outages suffered by firms, how long it takes to file and pay taxes, or the average cost to settle a commercial dispute. Since comparable data of this quality are unavailable anywhere else, Business Ready is an essential public good. The trove of insights it offers will enable businesses to make better decisions about where and how they operate, spur governments to adopt better policies by learning from one another, and help researchers everywhere to join the effort to get global private-sector development right.While this year’s edition covers just 50 economies, next year’s will include 100, and our coverage in 2026 will expand to about 180. With each iteration, we will refine the report’s design and methods to reflect lessons learned. Why not wait for the methods to be perfected before publishing the data? Simply put, the world lacks the luxury of time – development delayed is development denied – and getting feedback from the intended beneficiaries of an assessment is a big part of getting the assessment right. In any case, in a dynamic global economy, accuracy will always be a moving target.The data and methods used are more rigorous and more transparent than used in Doing Business. They consolidate the judgments of more than 2,500 business-climate experts, as well as the survey responses of more than 29,000 businesses. They are more exhaustive than anything that has been attempted so far by an international institution, and they are of immediate value to the 50 economies covered. Moreover, all data collected for this report are now publicly available – and verifiable – on our website.Analysis of this year’s data leads to two general observations. First, there is a sizeable implementation gap. Countries tend to be better at enacting regulations to improve the national business climate than at providing the public services needed to ensure actual progress. Fortunately, the gap shrinks when the quality of regulations improves.Second, while richer economies tend to be more business-ready, a country need not be wealthy to create a good business environment. Among the 50 economies assessed this year, several developing economies rank among the top ten in several categories: Rwanda for public services and operational efficiency; Colombia for its regulatory framework and public services; and Georgia for its regulatory framework and operational efficiency.This suggests that progress is possible for most countries, and that governments should step up their efforts to become business ready. But they should do so not merely to win national bragging rights or to chase the uncertain promise of a big surge in foreign investment. The rewards are far more encompassing. When correctly chosen and carefully sequenced, business reforms can simultaneously accelerate economic growth, boost productivity, and help reduce carbon emissions. Establishing a “Goldilocks” business climate will create the conditions for human ingenuity to flourish, and that is exactly what the world needs at a time of slowing growth, rising debt, and accelerating climate change. – Project Syndicate[This commentary has been adapted from the World Bank’s October 2024 Business Ready report.]Indermit Gill is Chief Economist and Senior Vice-President for Development Economics at the World Bank.

To tackle future pandemics on the scale of Covid-19, the world needs to adopt a multifaceted approach that involves international co-operation, stronger healthcare infrastructure, and proactive measures.Countries around the world need resilient healthcare systems capable of handling surges. This includes sufficient medical supplies, well-trained staff, and the ability to ramp up intensive care facilities.Investing in global early-warning systems, especially in areas with high potential for zoonotic diseases, will help identify outbreaks at their source. Rapid reporting mechanisms and surveillance tools need to be upgraded globally.Since many pandemics originate from animal populations, integrating human, animal, and environmental health into policy frameworks is crucial to minimise zoonotic disease outbreaks.A centralised body with adequate resources and authority should be empowered with more authority to lead, co-ordinate, and enforce health responses globally. Nations must commit to better transparency and information sharing.Recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank Group (WBG), and World Health Organisation (WHO) have agreed on broad principles for co-operation on pandemic preparedness.This co-operation, signed recently, will allow a scaling up of support to countries to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats through the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST), the WBG’s financial and technical support, and WHO’s technical expertise and in-country capabilities.The RST allows eligible member countries to access long-term financing at low interest rates to help implement reforms that address structural challenges to the stability of the economy, such as those posed by pandemics, and to enhance countries’ health systems resilience.Operating within their respective mandates and policies, the IMF, the WBG, and WHO will leverage their expertise to enhance pandemic preparedness in their member countries, building on the synergies and complementarity of each institution’s in-country analysis and operations.This collaboration will strengthen the design and articulation of effective policy, institutional and public financial management reforms supported by the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), the policy reforms and investments supported by the WBG, and the technical and operational support provided by WHO. In strengthening the pandemic preparedness framework, member countries will also work to improve the resilience of their health systems and their ability to respond better to all health emergencies.Undoubtedly, more funding and co-operation are required to develop vaccines swiftly. Establishing global platforms for sharing research, manufacturing, and distribution of vaccines is key to faster response times.Governments and health organisations also need to improve the way they communicate with the public, counter misinformation, and foster trust. Transparency in decision-making processes is essential to ensure compliance with public health measures.The world’s reliance on limited supply chains for critical items like personal protective equipment (PPE) and vaccines was exposed during Covid-19. Countries need to diversify supply chains and create stockpiles for essential medical goods.Every country should have detailed pandemic preparedness plans that include emergency funding, logistics for lockdowns or quarantines, and rapid mobilisation of resources.Low- and middle-income countries need better access to vaccines, treatments, and healthcare resources. International organisations and wealthier nations should support equitable distribution, ensuring no region is left behind.

Global conditions are still favourable for gold, despite the rapid global disinflation and the significant accumulated gains from the precious metal in recent years, according to QNB.Gold prices are set to be further supported by easing monetary policy by major central banks, a depreciating USD and geopolitical fractures, QNB said in an economic commentary."Gold’s role in a portfolio has always been a topic of significant controversy. On the one hand, enthusiasts point to the importance of the precious metal as a key diversifier that also serves as a safe-haven against inflation, international conflicts and civil strife," QNB noted.On the other hand, detractors believe that gold is a “barbarous relic of the past,” a non-income-generating commodity with limited utility and little tangible value, QNB said.“In recent years, there is no doubt that gold has been a significant enhancer to global diversified portfolios. In fact, gold reached $2,615 per ounce, making sequential all-time highs for months,” QNB said.Since the pandemic, gold has “outperformed” most other major asset benchmarks, including global equities, government bonds, and commodities.Importantly, gold has recently demonstrated its enduring value as a safeguard against inflation. In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, monetary authorities in advanced economies faced significant challenges due to a surge in inflation.This created concerns about the rapid pace of decline in the “real value of money,” as more units of currency would be needed to buy the same basket of goods and services.Not surprisingly, during this period of higher inflation, gold prices soared against most main currencies, more than offsetting the effect of consumer price increases. This offered a compelling affirmation of the long-held belief that gold is an effective hedge against inflationary pressures.However, as disinflation gains further ground on the back of normalising supply chains, can gold continue to perform well over the medium-term? Is the shiny yellow metal set for a correction or a period of significant underperformance?In QNB’s view, despite a broadly normalised inflation outlook across most advanced economies, global macro conditions are “still favourable” for gold. Three main factors sustain its position.First, the monetary policy cycle in the US and Europe is now a tailwind for gold prices. In recent years, cash or short-dated government securities offered high nominal yields, increasing the opportunity costs of holding gold.While nominal yields are still much higher than they were pre-pandemic in most advanced economies, this dynamic is set to change significantly over the next 24 months.The US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank are expected to cut policy rates by 250 and 150 basis points (bps), respectively.“This means that cash and short-dated government securities are going to be less attractive as investment options, favouring alternative investments such as gold,” QNB noted.Second, foreign exchange (FX) movements are also likely to play their part in supporting gold prices. Historically, gold prices are negatively correlated with the USD, with gold prices going up when the USD is down and vice versa.An assessment of the USD suggests that the currency is overvalued by around 9%, requiring a significant adjustment. A cheaper USD increases the purchasing power of the rest of the world for USD-priced commodities, such as gold, boosting overall demand and supporting prices.Third, the current global economic environment is still beset with geopolitical uncertainties, such as the Russo-Ukrainian War, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, and increasing US-China tensions in the Pacific.“These factors can contribute to a heightened risk premium on traditional assets, steering investors to hedge with alternative safe haven instruments.“Gold’s appeal has been further bolstered by secular or long-term trends, including the intensifying economic rivalry between West and East, a decline in international cooperation, escalating trade disputes, increasing political polarisation, and the “weaponisation” of economic relations via sanctions,” QNB said.In an era marked by more geopolitical instability, gold’s status as a tangible, jurisdictionally neutral asset that can serve as collateral in various markets becomes increasingly significant.Reflecting this movement, central banks globally have been accumulating gold at a rate unseen in generations. This supports a steady long-term institutional demand for gold, QNB said.

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) launched an initiative to motivate existing Qatari companies that completely settled their loans under the National Response Guarantee Program (NRGP).QDB said in a statement the new initiative which grants companies zero interest rate short-term loans comes within the framework of the Amiri gesture and the directives of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani that grant loan forgiveness for companies benefiting from the NRGP.The NRGP was introduced in 2020 to back the private sector amid the COVID-19 pandemic challenges, allocating 100 percent guarantees through Qatar Development Bank to local banks.The bank said it would communicate with the concerned companies to enable them to benefit from this initiative, which is considered a continuation of the private sector support plan in line with the third national development strategy.QDB previously launched its financing portfolio for the NRGP with the aim of supporting companies in transferring their credit facilities from partner banks and providing them with more flexible repayment terms.The bank continues its mission by providing private sector companies with products and services that streamline their growth and business development so that they can effectively participate in the prosperity of the national economy

Based on the Amir's orders, the Cabinet has issued directives to prepare and implement a series of economic initiatives to support the private sectorDraft law to conserve water resources approvedBased on orders by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to reinforce the private sector through various economic initiatives, the Cabinet has issued directives to prepare and implement a series of economic initiatives to support the private sector and increase its contributions to the national economy.The statement by the Cabinet outlined that these initiatives include loan waive-offs for Qatari companies benefiting from the National Response Guarantee Programme (NRGP), which was established to support the private sector during the Covid-19 pandemic.In addition, the Cabinet proposed initiatives to grant short-term financing for Qatari companies, that previously benefited from the NRGP, for working capital.The Cabinet emphasised that this Amiri gesture comes as part of efforts to support private sector companies in mitigating the economic repercussions that resulted from the measures implemented to curb the spread of the pandemic. The gesture also aligns with the Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030, which aims to empower the private sector and drive sustainable economic growth, thereby catalysing the nation's comprehensive development journey.QNA adds: The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the draft water law and referred it to the Shura Council. The draft law, which was prepared by the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa), comes in an effort to achieve water security; preserve water resources; protect them from depletion, waste, or pollution; raise the efficiency of water services and their uses; ensure their quality; and ensure proper maintenance and operation of their facilities.The Cabinet also approved the draft decision of the Minister of Commerce and Industry to issue the executive regulations of Law No. (10) of 2020 regarding the protection of industrial designs and models. This draft decision comes within the framework of strengthening the legal system for the protection of intellectual property and innovation.The Cabinet also approved the draft Cabinet Decision amending some provisions of Decision No. (29) of 2013 establishing the grievances committee related to the expropriation of real estate for public benefit and specifying its powers, and the draft Cabinet Decision regarding the rules and procedures to be followed before the Real Estate Development Dispute Resolution Committees. This comes in implementation of the provisions of Law No. (6) of 2014 regulating real estate development, and aims to establish the rules and procedures for requests submitted to the Real Estate Development Dispute Resolution Committees, organise the work of these committees, and expedite the settlement of disputes, to keep pace with the real estate boom witnessed by the country.The Cabinet reviewed the proposals of desire raised by the Shura Council regarding the rainwater accumulation and directed that the Shura Council be informed of an explanatory memorandum to explain what the relevant government agencies are doing in this regard.The Cabinet also issued directives to the Ministry of Municipality, the Public Works Authority, and other concerned authorities to take the necessary measures to prepare for the rainy season.The Cabinet decided to approve taking the necessary measures to ratify an agreement on cooperation in the field of combating crime between the government of Qatar and the government of the Hellenic Republic.The Cabinet also approved a draft memorandum of understanding for co-operation in the fields of tourism and business events with the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, a draft memorandum of understanding for co-operation and joint news exchange between the Qatar News Agency (QNA) and the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA), in addition to approving the draft executive programme in the fields of sports and youth between Qatar and the People's Republic of Bangladesh for 2024-2025.HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani chaired the Cabinet's regular meeting held at its seat at the Amiri Diwan Wednesday.After the meeting, HE Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ibrahim bin Ali al-Mohannadi issued a statement indicating that the Cabinet discussed a number of local, regional, and international issues, discussed the efforts made to address them, and took appropriate decisions regarding them.At the outset of the meeting, the Cabinet praised the important contents of the speech of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at the opening of the 3rd Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit, held in Doha under the title "Sports Diplomacy," with the participation of a number of heads of states and governments and delegations of fraternal and friendly countries, where the Amir reiterated Qatar's firm stance toward the killing and destruction to which the Palestinian brothers are being subjected and toward the dangerous Israeli escalation in Lebanon.His Highness the Amir's speech also reflected the extent of Qatar's interest in Asia, its keenness to strengthen ties between its countries, and to make the most of its economic potential, enormous human resources, and great political weight for the sake of development and the well-being of its peoples, and to maintain security, stability, and peace in Asia and the world, emphasising the role of sports in achieving these lofty goals and spreading the values of tolerance, cooperation, and mutual respect.The Cabinet concluded its meeting by reviewing three reports and taking appropriate decisions regarding them, including the 14th annual report on the work of the Qatari Committee for the Alliance of Civilizations for 2023, the report on the results of the participation of Qatar's delegation, headed by HE the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs in the 9th Conference of Ministers of Awqaf (Endowments) and Islamic Affairs in Islamic Countries, and the report on the results of the participation of Qatar's delegation, headed by HE the Minister of Justice in the 12th St. Petersburg International Legal Forum (SPILF).

Marking a significant moment in its race towards excellence and quality healthcare, the Primary Health Care Corp (PHCC) on Tuesday launched its Third Corporate Strategic Plan (CSP) under the theme ‘The First Choice for Our Community’s Health’.The programme was held in the presence of HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari and several other dignitaries.Touted as a significant milestone for PHCC, the strategy aligns with the third Qatar National Health Strategy (NHS3) (2024-2030) and the third Qatar National Development Strategy (NDS3) (2024-2030).Addressing the ceremony, PHCC managing director Dr Mariam Ali Abdul Malik unveiled the CSP details for the next seven years noting that the Corporation has witnessed significant developments through its first and second CSPs. “The Corporation continues to address both national and global health challenges, in line with local and global health trends. The scientific studies and reports have shown that primary healthcare systems are the most effective, comprehensive, and equitable in ensuring better health outcomes for communities, compared to other healthcare systems,” she said adding that PHCCC is constantly preparing to face future health challenges in the coming decades, as the health of the population may be negatively affected by changes in lifestyle, especially with technological advancements and the ease of access to everything we need with minimal effort.The speech highlighted the steadfast resilience of Qatar's healthcare system during the Covid-19 pandemic and its impressive performance during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. “Throughout the past decade, PHCC has experienced a dynamic evolution, culminating in its distinguished reputation as a paragon of excellence in delivering top-tier healthcare services to all citizens and residents of Qatar, internationally recognised by the continuous achievement of Accreditation Canada Diamond status,” she said while mentioning the international recognitions won by the Corporation.PHCC, she added, will focus on advancing the delivery of primary healthcare.Assistant Director General for Strategy at PHCC Steven Emery presented an overview of the key achievements attained during the execution of PHCC’s strategy 2019-2023 for each of the six priority areas. He also highlighted key achievements year by year.Earlier, addressing a press conference, he said PHCC's third CSP has been formulated to guide the corporation over the next seven years. “This plan is not just a document, but a commitment to raise the level of healthcare services, enhance access to them, and raise the level of general well-being of communities. PHCC is proud to announce that it has exceeded 90% of its set strategic goals,” he said.While shedding light on the notable achievements, he said six new health centres were opened in strategic locations and the integrated family medicine model was implemented. “In all the health centres the rate of the use of specialised services marked a significant increase. It rose from 53% in 2019 to 70% in 2023. This is in addition to the effective handling and management of 60% of mental health cases within primary care centres,” he explained.Executive Director of Strategy Planning and Health Intelligence Dr Mohammed Ghaith al-Kuwari, said the third CSP focuses on several axes of the health sector such as population health, setting ambitious goals to improve health outcomes, improving the quality of services and facilitating access to them for clients in addition to a renewed focus on sustainability in service delivery.“PHCC will continue to develop its workforce and procedures and use modern technological solutions,” al-Kuwari added.

Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun win Nobel medicine prizePrize awarded for discovery of microRNADiscoveries shed light on role in gene regulationMedicine prize the first of this year's Nobel awardsUS scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Medicine on Monday for the discovery of microRNA and its crucial role in how multicellular organisms grow and live.Their work helped explain how cells specialise and develop into different types, such as muscle and nerve cells, even though all the cells in an individual contain the same set of genes and instructions for growing and staying alive."The Nobel's, you know, there's a word we use for Major League Baseball, it's called 'The Show'. Which means it's not any show, it's THE show," Ruvkun told Reuters, describing what it was like being thrust into the global spotlight.He joked that collaborating with Ambros and receiving previous awards meant they had been "joined at the hip for quite a while"."That's been great. He's a wonderful guy," Ruvkun added by phone. Ambros seconded by saying he was happy to share the award with "a great friend".The Nobel Assembly, the award-giving body, said in a statement that the laureates discovered a new class of tiny RNA molecules, which play a crucial role in gene regulation."Their groundbreaking discovery revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that turned out to be essential for multicellular organisms, including humans," the assembly said.Also speaking to Reuters, Ambros described microRNA as a "communication network amongst genes that enables the cells in our bodies to generate all kinds of different complex structures and functions".Ambros is a professor at the UMass Chan Medical School, while Ruvkun is a professor at Harvard Medical School and also affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.In the late 1980s, Ambros and Ruvkun undertook postdoctorate studies in the laboratory of Robert Horvitz, himself a Nobel Prize winner in 2002, studying a 1 mm long roundworm.Their discoveries on how certain microRNAs in the roundworm govern growth of organs and tissue was initially dismissed as specific to the species.More work published by Ruvkun's research group in 2000, however, showed that all animal life had relied on the mechanism for more than 500 million years.MicroRNA comes into play when single-strand messenger RNA - the subject of last year's Nobel Prize in medicine - is decoded and translated into making proteins, the building blocks of all human and animal life.Messenger RNA, or mRNA, in turn, emerges from the universal blueprint in every cell nucleus, the double-helix DNA.Professor Gunilla Karlsson Hedestam of the Karolinska Institute said that, while the 2023 prize was linked to the specific use in Covid-19 vaccines, this year's award was for a leap in basic understanding with many potential future applications.Janosch Heller, Assistant Professor in Biomedical Sciences at Dublin City University, who was not involved in selecting the winners, said that the findings had boosted the understanding of diseases such as epilepsy.The winners of the prize for physiology or medicine are selected by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden's Karolinska Institute medical university and receive a prize sum of 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.1 million).As in every year, the physiology or medicine prize was the first in the crop of Nobels, arguably the most prestigious prizes in science, literature and humanitarian endeavour, with the remaining five set to be unveiled over the coming days. Created in the will of Swedish dynamite inventor and businessman Alfred Nobel, the prizes have been awarded for breakthroughs in science, literature and peace since 1901, while economics is a later addition.Past winners of the Nobel medicine prize include many famous researchers such as Ivan Pavlov in 1904, most known for his experiments on behaviour using dogs, and Alexander Fleming, who shared the 1945 prize for the discovery of penicillin. Last year's medicine prize was awarded to the runaway favourites Katalin Kariko, a Hungarian scientist, and U.S. colleague Drew Weissman, for discoveries that paved the way for Covid-19 vaccines that helped curb the pandemic. Steeped in tradition, the science, literature and economics prizes are presented to the laureates in a ceremony on Dec. 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death, followed by a lavish banquet at Stockholm city hall. Separate festivities attend the winner of the peace prize in Oslo on the same day.

In the three decades after World War II, Western Europe caught up with the US in terms of per capita GDP. But since the mid-1990s, this trend has reversed, with the US growing twice as fast as Europe. What happened? The explanation is simple: During the Trente Glorieuses (the 30 years until 1975), Western European policies favoured a model of growth based on imitation and accumulation. These countries were playing catch-up, and the process was facilitated by unlimited access to fossil fuels (until the first oil shock of 1973-74); the US Marshall Plan, which helped Western Europeans reconstitute their capital stock; and educational systems favouring the absorption of new technologies from the US. But there comes a time when the growth potential of imitation and accumulation exhausts itself. Once you have gotten sufficiently close to the technological frontier, innovation necessarily becomes the main engine of growth. That has certainly been the case in the US, where the information-technology revolution, and now the artificial-intelligence revolution, developed quite spectacularly. In Europe, however, policymakers failed to adopt the institutions and policies to promote disruptive innovation. As a result, Europe’s private-sector investment in research and development is only half that of the US. This is primarily due to a composition effect. Europe’s R&D is concentrated in the mid-tech range, which absorbs more than 50% of private R&D, with the automotive industry accounting for roughly one-third, even though it generates few breakthrough innovations. By contrast, 85% of private R&D in the US is in more R&D-intensive and higher-return (incidentally) areas such as biotech, software, hardware, and AI. Private R&D in Europe also suffers from EU fragmentation. Across 27 member states, there are 27 different labour laws, sets of procurement rules (very little public procurement is centralised at the EU level, unlike federal procurement in the US), securities regulators, electricity and pharmaceutical regulators, and so forth. Moreover, European startups suffer from the absence of a true capital-market union. Europe has nothing comparable to the Nasdaq; it lacks America’s dense network of venture capitalists to finance new innovative projects; and, save for a few national exceptions (Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands), its institutional investors (pension funds and mutual funds) are less willing to take the risks associated with radical innovation. European public-sector support for innovation also leaves much to be desired. In the US, public R&D funding is concentrated at the federal level, whereas public funding in the EU happens mostly at the member-state level. Moreover, as far as public institutions are concerned, nothing in Europe resembles America’s Advanced Research Project Agencies. By delegating decision-making and project management to top scientists, the ARPAs have helped the US government continuously stimulate disruptive innovation in strategic sectors. Among the famous successes associated with this strategy are GPS, the internet (derived from Arpanet), and the Covid-19 mRNA vaccines. The mRNA vaccines are a shining example of “competition-friendly industrial policy.” When Covid-19 emerged, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) concentrated its funding on three technologies, with two projects (one US, one European) per technology. All six ended up being approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Authority in record time. Interestingly, the two main winners, the US firm Moderna and the German firm BioNTech, were small biotechs, and only one project originated from a pre-pandemic global leader in vaccines (a Sanofi-GSK partnership). This example offers a template for a successful European industrial policy. The US model delegates scientific decision-making to top scientists, does not pretend to know which technologies will work, and offers no incumbency advantage. Such features make it a promising remedy to many of the serious deficiencies in the European innovation ecosystem that former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi highlighted in his recent report on EU competitiveness. Draghi proposes massive public and private investments in fundamental research and disruptive technologies, as well as reforms to EU governance aimed at streamlining decision-making, loosening regulatory constraints, and putting scientists and entrepreneurs in charge.Europe urgently needs to create the conditions for promising new innovators to emerge. Absent any change in its economic doctrine – under which regulation largely prevails over investment – Europe runs the risk of suffering an irremediable decline. The Draghi report shows the way out of this economic death spiral. But first, its message on governance must be fully absorbed.

The Ibn Khaldon Center for Humanities and Social Studies Center at Qatar University (QU) organised its second annual Tajseer conference under the theme "Reflections of Major Events on the World of Ideas: Interdisciplinary Approaches in Measuring Arab Consciousness." The conference brought together distinguished academics, researchers and policymakers to explore the impact of key global and regional events on the intellectual and social landscape in the Arab world. This year's conference focused on interdisciplinary approaches, aiming to assess and explore how Arab consciousness interacts with significant events experienced by Arab youth. It also sought to uncover the effects of these events on the development of ideas in Arab studies and to enhance researchers' ability to connect the real world with intellectual concepts. Additionally, the conference aimed to promote scientific research within the interdisciplinary studies of social sciences and humanities, providing a scholarly platform for researchers from various fields to meet, exchange ideas and to promote knowledge integration. In his opening remarks, Prof Aiman Erbad, vice president for Research and Graduate Studies at QU, emphasised the importance of the conference, stating, "The conference contributes to raising awareness and fostering intellectual strength, vision, and innovation. It helps in effectively addressing and understanding the current and future impacts of the challenges facing the Arab world today, especially as humanity has witnessed pivotal events that have left deep marks on the intellectual and knowledge structure." Dr Nayef bin Nahar, director of the Ibn Khaldon Center, also highlighted that the theme of this conference aims to observe the changes in the world of ideas as a result of the rapidly changing events being experienced. This observation allows us to foresee the future and work towards preparing for it. The conference featured research papers and discussions on a variety of topics, including the impact of significant events such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza on different aspects of life in the Arab world. Professors Ahmed Abouelella, Mansour Benzahi and Abdelkhalek Sidati presented studies on the pandemic's effects on Arab youth in North Africa, particularly in Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco. The researchers focused on how the pandemic reshaped social and intellectual frameworks and daily practices among the youth. Another set of studies examined the impact of ongoing conflicts on Arab youth's perception of justice and international law. These papers, presented by Professors Ali Mohammed Salem, Walid Oweimer, Mustapha Bekhouche, and Taieb Touili, discussed how recent global conflicts, such as those in Ukraine and Gaza, have influenced Arab youth's point of views on justice within the global political landscape. Dr Keltouma Aguis spoke at another session, analysing how feminist movements in the Arab world have responded to Israeli attacks on Gaza, particularly in terms of global feminist ideologies and narratives of resistance. She explored how these movements developed their perspectives and activism. The conference aimed to foster collaboration across disciplines, drawing from various fields such as sociology, political science, and data analysis, to provide fresh insights into the shifting dynamics of Arab thought. The annual Tajseer conference continues to serve as a platform for open dialogue and intellectual exchange, encouraging researchers to collaborate and explore the main challenges facing contemporary Arab societies. The event also addressed the role of technology in shaping modern consciousness, with a particular focus on the influence of digital platforms on political discourse and social movements in the region.