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An Indian Tejas fighter jet crashed in a ball of fire in front of horrified spectators during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow today, and the Indian Air Force said it was setting up a court of inquiry to investigate the cause. Footage from the site showed black smoke rising behind a fenced airstrip. Dubai's government shared a photograph of firefighting teams dousing smouldering wreckage. Jignesh Variya, 46, who was attending the show with his family, said the fighter jet had been flying for no more than eight or nine minutes and done two to three laps when it went into a nose-dive before crashing at around 2.15pm (1015 GMT). "I could see three different fireballs when it collided with the ground," he said. "Everybody in the crowd stood up there on their feet, and then maybe in around 30 seconds, the emergency vehicles rushed over to the location at the crash site." It was the second known crash of the fighter jet, which is built by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics and powered by General Electric engines. The first crash was during an exercise in India in 2024. The homegrown jet, whose name means "brilliance" in Sanskrit, is seen as crucial for India's efforts to modernise its air force fleet of mainly Russian and ex-Soviet fighters. The crash happened during the last day of the airshow, the Middle East's largest aviation event, which started on Monday. Flying had resumed later yesterday, witnesses said, with jets back in the sky above the show site. "A court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident," the Indian Air Force said in a statement. GE said in a statement it was ready to support the investigation. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of the Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet at the Dubai Airshow and extend our heartfelt sympathies to the loved ones of the pilot," a GE spokesperson said. Dubai's government said emergency teams were managing the situation on-site. First manufactured in 2001 but dating back to studies first carried out two decades earlier, the Tejas was designed as a light combat jet to replace India's fleet of Russian MiG-21s. The IAF expects to operate a fleet of almost 220 Tejas fighters and its advanced Mk-1A variants over the next decade after HAL completes the pending orders. But the rollout of the fighter has been delayed due to slow deliveries of engines from GE, which has blamed supply chain issues faced after Covid-19. "It is the first fully domestic Indian fighter that is not based on foreign designs," said British-based defence analyst Francis Tusa, adding that export interest so far had been limited. "There is work on a Tejas Mark II," he said. 

A day after Myanmar's junta leader visited the southeastern city of Hpa-An last week, two sources said army officers met members of a powerful local militia with a directive: they had to suppress burgeoning scam centres on the Thai-Myanmar border immediately. Online scam operations along the frontier are part of Southeast Asian criminal networks spanning countries including Myanmar and Cambodia that generate billions of dollars every year by defrauding people across the world, often using human trafficking victims. At Sunday's meeting, officers told members of the Karen National Army (KNA) - sanctioned in May by the US treasury department for facilitating cyber scams, human trafficking and smuggling - that the instructions had come directly from the junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, according to two sources aware of the discussions. "(Min Aung Hlaing) met with military officials and stated that the scam centre issue was severely damaging the country's international reputation," said one source with direct knowledge, referring to the junta chief's orders. "He urged them to carry out an aggressive crackdown before the election," the source added, referring to the junta's multi-phase general election, starting on December 28, which has been widely derided as a sham to perpetuate the military's control. Although the junta has publicly said it is participating in a multinational effort to curb scam centres, the sources indicated the military's urgency to conduct operations may have been linked with anxiety over possible US actions. Last week's announcement of a new US government "Strike Force", which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Secret Service, has raised particular concern in Myanmar's junta, both sources said. A military official at Sunday's meeting with the KNA explained that they could not risk US teams crossing the border to start investigations, one source said, describing him as saying: "We must solve the problem ourselves." The discussions within the Myanmar military signal that after years of allowing scam centres to gain ground the junta is bending to growing international pressure. Unlike other ethnic militias in the country, the junta has close links with the KNA, which the US has said is actively involved in the scam centres. A junta spokesperson did not respond to calls seeking comment. On Monday, Myanmar state media reported that Min Aung Hlaing had told military commanders at a regional headquarters to "eradicate" scam centres "as a national responsibility" but did not give details. By Tuesday, soldiers from Myanmar's military and the KNA began operations around the frontier town of Myawaddy, a major hub for scam operations and human trafficking that houses multiple compounds. So far, they have demolished over 180 buildings, detained over 1,000 foreign nationals and seized 2,653 computers and 21,750 mobile phone, Myanmar state media reported yesterday. Naing Maung Zaw, a KNA spokesperson, however said the militia led the crackdown and the military joined the operation after being informed of the action. "Our leader decided that cooperating with the military might make some processes smoother," he said, "These operations are led by us." Scam operations in Southeast Asia originated from loosely regulated casinos and online gambling beginning in the 1990s, but rapidly expanded during the Covid-19 pandemic as criminal groups sought new sources of profits amid lockdowns and strict border controls. Shwe Kokko, a major scam compound in Myawaddy, was set up in 2017 by the Hong Kong-registered Yatai International Holdings Group and a precursor of the KNA, initially advertised as a casino destination, according to the US Institute of Peace. The company has denied involvement in any criminal activities, including human trafficking. After years of expansion, Myawaddy's scam compounds came under the spotlight in January, following the high-profile abduction and release of a Chinese actor in Thailand that sparked a multi-national effort to dismantle the businesses. But the Myanmar military government largely stayed on the sidelines, saying it had limited authority in far-flung border areas - until now. Jason Tower, a senior expert at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime, said the US announcement of the multi-agency "Scam Center Strike Force" to dismantle the compounds was the game-changer. Last week, Thailand extradited gambling kingpin She Zhijiang, who previously headed the Shwe Kokko complex, to China at Beijing's request. He was arrested by Thailand in 2022.

 A study conducted by a group of Qatar based researchers has highlighted the importance of integrating screening of the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) into the primary health care settings as per Qatar’s experience in this regard. The study titled ‘Insights on primary care-based non-communicable diseases screening for adults in Qatar: A narrative review’ and conducted by some researchers from Hamad Medical Corporation, the Primary Health Care Corporation and Qatar University points out that this will help in early detection and continuous monitoring of the NCDs. The research published recently on Qscience.com notes that NCDs represent a major health challenge in Qatar, prompting the integration of screening programmes within primary health care settings. It points out to key national initiatives, including annual health checkups, cancer screening, and mental health assessments in Qatar. “Annual health checkups have revealed high prevalence rates of prediabetes, hypertension, and obesity, highlighting the importance of early detection and facilitating timely, personalised interventions,” says the study. According to the study, cancer screening programmes for breast, bowel, and cervical cancers have played a vital role in the early detection of these diseases in Qatar. Although participation rates declined during the Covid-19 pandemic, recent data indicates a gradual increase in the number of participants. As per the latest statistics, participation rates in the breast cancer screening programme have rebounded, reflecting renewed public engagement and enhanced service delivery. The research further highlights that mental health screening has also expanded in response to growing concerns about psychological well-being. “The integration of tools such as the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-2 and Patient Health Questionnaire-2 assessments into routine care has enabled earlier diagnosis and treatment, contributing to improved mental health outcomes,” highlight the researchers. The study also points out to some of the challenges in this regard despite several advancements. It says that participation rates across various programmes need further improvement, and ensuring continuity of care through streamlined referral pathways is very essential. Another area where more efforts are needed is the increased public awareness about such facilities and initiatives. Expanding public awareness campaigns and enhancing access to digital health tools can further strengthen these initiatives. The research recommends that future efforts should focus on sustaining programme growth, enhancing community engagement, and ensuring equitable access to care, ultimately reducing the national NCDs burden and improving health outcomes.

For Larry Jackson, a Donald Trump-backing Republican hoping to unseat his party’s incumbent in a West Virginia congressional primary next year, the fight in the US Congress over Affordable Care Act subsidies is both personal and political ammunition.Jackson, 42, says steep ACA premium hikes facing West Virginians — estimated by one think-tank to average nearly 400% per enrollee next year — highlight the stakes of the expiring subsidies. It’s an issue he plans to spotlight in a broader cost-of-living message for his campaign to unseat Representative Carol Miller, who has not committed to keeping them in place. The elevation of ACA subsidies as an electoral issue among Republicans in one of the nation’s most reliably conservative states a year before Americans go to the polls for midterm congressional elections underscores the issue’s potential potency.Jackson, a business owner, has relied on the ACA to provide health insurance for his family of eight. Without the enhanced subsidies, due to expire at the end of December, his monthly premium is set to quadruple to $1,850 a month. Democrats’ refusal to approve discretionary funding for federal agencies until Republicans agreed to extend the subsidies triggered the longest government shutdown in US history. It ended on Wednesday without a deal to extend them.Democrats are expected to campaign vigorously on the hikes as they seek to break the Republican grip on Congress in next November’s elections.“These tax credits cannot expire. It’s going to hurt a lot of people in West Virginia,” Jackson told Reuters. “We can all agree there are problems with the Affordable Care Act, but the government needs to extend these credits as they work that out.”The subsidies, introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, expanded federal assistance for Americans seeking health insurance through marketplaces created by the ACA, also known as Obamacare.With an aging, rural population and some of the nation’s highest rates of poverty and chronic illness, the state of nearly 2mn people faces among the biggest proposed premium increases in the country. The subsidies have provided a crucial lifeline to tens of thousands of West Virginians previously priced out of Obamacare coverage.A deal struck on Sunday between Republicans and a handful of Democrats in the Senate to end the 43-day shutdown left the fate of the subsidies in limbo. While Senate leadership promised a vote on the subsidies in December, Republican leaders in the House of Representatives have not committed to a vote on them.Of the more than 30 people Reuters spoke to in West Virginia, a comfortable majority, including all Democrats and several Republicans, supported extending the subsidies until Congress could formulate a plan to make health insurance more affordable.Republicans who opposed the extension expressed concerns about fiscal discipline or potential fraud in the programme, including one whose business was insuring its employees through Obamacare.Keeping the subsidies would likely receive broad support nationwide, according to a poll conducted by health policy organisation KFF from October 27 through November 2. It found three-quarters of US adults backed their extension.Simon Haeder, an associate professor of public health at Ohio State University, said the issue is unlikely to move the needle enough in the midterms in a staunchly Republican state like West Virginia, where Trump won 70% of the vote in the 2024 presidential election. But it could make a difference in so-called purple states closely divided between the two parties.“It’s going to give Democrats something to run on,” said Haeder, who has researched the intersection of health policy and politics. “If you’re a Republican in a purple state, you’re going to have to answer for people losing healthcare.”In an October Reuters/Ipsos poll, 37% of Americans said Democrats had a better approach to healthcare, compared with 27% who favoured Republicans. Brian Darling, a Republican strategist and former Senate aide, said inflation and the broader economy will likely be top of mind for voters next November, but healthcare policy could tip close races.“Republicans need to have a health reform proposal drafted and ready to deploy in the enhanced subsidy debate or they will lose on policy and at the ballot box,” he said.The Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, estimates ACA enrollees in West Virginia face an average 387% increase in their premiums without the subsidies, more than any other state.According to KFF projections, a 60-year-old couple making $85,000 in the state’s first congressional district — represented by Miller — will see premiums jump by 654%, from $602 to $4,540, second only to Wyoming’s lone district at 693%.Tami White, who works at an insurance agency in West Virginia, said her firm has been renewing lower-income clients in new ACA plans, with premium hikes ranging from 20% to 100% for similar or downgraded plans. It has yet to renew any clients with earnings above 400% of the poverty line due to the cost.While households below the 400% threshold — $84,600 for a couple — will still qualify for a lesser tax credit, those above it will receive nothing if the subsidies expire.As many as 15,000 West Virginians are at risk of losing health coverage because they cannot afford the new premiums, according to the West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy, a progressive policy research group, potentially compounding the state’s healthcare problems ahead of planned Trump administration cuts to Medicaid, the government health insurance programme for low-income Americans. The reductions are part of the sweeping package of tax and spending cuts Trump signed into law in July. Once those cuts are fully implemented, the state’s hospitals, which rely heavily on Medicaid dollars, could lose $1 billion per year, according to West Virginia Hospital Association CEO Jim Kaufman.Miller, who is facing the primary challenge from Jackson and two other Republicans, did not respond directly to questions on whether she supported extending the tax credits. Republicans could negotiate on the credits once the government reopens, Nicolas Gray, a spokesman for Miller, said in a statement.The issue has hit home for Jackson’s campaign manager as well. Patrick Krason said he blamed both parties for his new premiums, projected to rise five times to $2,200 a month.“I am mad at everybody, at the legislative branch, Republicans and Democrats,” he said.“Greedily for myself, I would like (the subsidies) extended for a year,” he said. “And, you know, maybe they decide they can actually come up with a plan.”— Reuters 

Senior government officials, academics, and innovation leaders have explored how Public Innovation Labs (PILs) can help governments improve service delivery, foster citizen engagement, and build agile institutions.Eman al-Kuwari, director of Digital Innovation at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), underscored how MCIT is reimagining the role of government in the digital age, citing the TASMU Innovation Lab.“Technology is the means, not the end; we created the Innovation Lab to offer a safe environment for experimentation. It’s a space where we can test emerging technologies, validate ideas, and include the wider ecosystem.“That includes startups, academia, and private sector partners. We’re reimagining how government works — and that starts with giving teams the confidence to try,” al-Kuwari pointed out during the inaugural ‘Ibtechar Majlis’, a new dialogue series launched earlier by Qatari innovation firm Ibtechar.She added that innovation must be embedded in the culture of public institutions: “It’s not just about infrastructure or policy — it’s about building a mindset. We want government teams to be able to experiment, to test, and to learn. That’s how we bring real value to public services.”Nejoud M al-Jehani, executive director of Strategy & Programmes at the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council, offered a strategic framing of innovation, distinguishing between internal reform and ecosystem-wide transformation.“We differentiate between government innovation and public innovation. Government innovation is about improving internal processes — policies, service delivery, operations. Public innovation is broader. It’s about creating value for society by mobilising the entire ecosystem: government entities, corporates, startups, and universities,” al-Jehani explained.Emphasising the dual role of government in this landscape, she continued: “As an adopter, government defines challenges and becomes the first customer. That builds market confidence. As an enabler, it sets standards, opens partnerships, and creates the conditions for innovation to thrive across sectors.”Hissa al-Tamimi, director of Governmental Innovation at the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau (CGB), spoke about the launch of Qatar’s first government accelerator and its role in bridging national priorities with operational realities.She said, “We’re rethinking how services are designed and how operations are managed. The accelerator helps us connect national projects with the day-to-day work of government entities.”Al-Tamimi also addressed the cultural challenge of embedding innovation in public institutions, saying, “If innovation were just about systems, adaptation would be easy. But when you’re dealing with people, that’s where the challenge lies. Innovation pushes us beyond our comfort zones. It’s not a privilege — it’s a way of living. That’s the only way we can advance.”Dr Georgios Dimitropoulos, professor and associate dean for Research at Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Law, highlighted the importance of collaboration between academia and government: “Academia brings ideas and evidence. The government brings implementability. The two sides need each other.”Citing historical examples to illustrate the power of this partnership, Dimitropoulos said: “Think of the Manhattan Project, the COVID vaccines, and the Internet. These were all born from collaboration between government and academia. Qatar’s AI strategy is a local example. It was developed with HBKU’s Qatar Computing Research Institute, and it positioned the country as an early adopter.”Ibtechar co-founder and CEO Nayef al-Ibrahim, who moderated the discussion, framed the Majlis as a culturally rooted space for dialogue and co-creation, adding that it is “an integral part of Qatari culture.”“Public Innovation Labs continue that spirit. They offer governments safe spaces to test ideas, co-create with citizens, and deliver agile services. In a small state, a model that combines centralised coordination with decentralised experimentation brings significant value. It allows for flexibility, inclusion, and scale—all while maintaining coherence,” he added.

Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara is reducing its financial support for flag carrier PT Garuda Indonesia, putting in doubt the distressed airline’s ability to refresh its fleet.Garuda will now receive 23.7tn rupiah ($1.4bn) from PT Danantara Asset Management, an arm of the wealth fund, through a private placement, which comprises a cash injection and a loan conversion, according to an exchange filing. The airline was supposed to obtain $1.8bn under a plan drawn up last month.In addition to covering finance expenses and providing working capital, Danantara Asset would have helped with fleet expansion. However, Danantara Asset notified Garuda that “there is also an adjustment to the planned use of funds, which no longer includes fleet expansion,” the airline said in a separate statement.The carrier has struggled financially since the Covid-19 pandemic and has grounded an increasing number of planes because of difficulties making maintenance payments. The number of idled jets operated by the company and subsidiary low-cost carrier PT Citilink Indonesia rose to 51 as of June, nearly 40% of the group’s total fleet, and up from 33 a year ago.Leasing new planes comes with high price tags amid a dearth of available aircraft and a global surge in travel. The carrier earlier this year paid twice as much to lease a Boeing Co 737 Max jet than it does for older 737 jets.Garuda should focus on getting some of its grounded planes flying again, said Gerry Soejatman, a Jakarta-based independent aviation analyst.“Ordering new planes for early delivery is going to be very expensive, and probably less prudent financially,” he said. “It is better to see the grounded jets being put back into service or returned to lessors before Garuda place big aircraft orders.”

Gold’s meteoric rise in price this year has finally come to a halt, but at an elevated price compared with a year ago. An alternative to buying the metal itself is to invest in the companies that mine it.There is a category of stock that has significantly outperformed that of tech firms linked to the artificial intelligence (AI) boom in 2025. While Nvidia’s share price was up around 40% and Oracle’s 72% by mid-October, the listed company Newmont had gained 134%, Agnico Eagle increased 113% while newcomer to the stock market Zijin doubled in value after its IPO at the end of September.These three less-familiar names are all gold mining companies. The S&P Global Gold Mining Index has increased by over 120% this year.The lustrous metal itself has dazzled humans for millennia, and naturally attracts more attention than the often messy, difficult process in mining this precious metal. Companies that are specialist in the extractive process have not always delighted investors, but that may be changing.The traditional downsides to buying gold as a commodity have been that there are no dividends or potential for earnings growth. Moreover, there are fees; either to cover the security needed to storing physical gold, or the commission for trading gold-linked exchange trade funds (ETFs).With the companies that mine the gold, they have been able to pay dividends following the recent gold rush.The rise in share prices of gold mining companies has been around double that of the price of gold itself, which has risen by around 50% in 2025, reaching more than $4,300 per ounce in mid-October, before dipping back to below $4,000 by the end of the month. As recently as early 2024, it was trading at $2,000.Buying stocks in gold mining is a levered bet on the price of gold: there are high costs, but these do not vary significantly with demand. So margins are overly suppressed with a low price, and disproportionately boosted when the global price rises.There are, however, bad memories for some investors who have invested in gold mining sector. A previous price rise followed the banking crisis of 2007-08, but this was followed by loose fiscal discipline in the sector, high CEO pay, risky mergers and ambitious mining projects which left some miners exposed when the gold price fell – from above $1,500 in 2012 to below $1,100 in 2015. Gold sector stock prices fell 79% between 2011 and 2015.There are indications that the mature companies in the sector have learned the lesson, building up their cash position in the current boom, paying dividends and exercising conservative judgement. Free cash flow yields this year have reached the range 7-9%.There was a boost to the gold price in 2020 during the Covid pandemic, but the industry’s inflation level also rose, owing to disrupted supply chains. Inflation is now subdued. Costs have risen but at a much lower rate than the increase in price.Bolstering support for the sector further is that, while the global gold price may fall – indeed, it is already off its highs – it is unlikely to collapse. While it is often regarded as a safe haven stock, to hedge against inflation, geopolitical uncertainty and the declining value of paper money, this has been only a partial explanation this year. The gold price continued to rise in price while the value of the dollar was holding steady, not falling.Historically, gold prices would move in approximately inverse relationship to stock prices, but in 2025 they have been rising together. The prices of silver and platinum have also increased. These are not traditional hedges against declining faith in fiat currencies. Silver began the year at around $30 per ounce, rose to nearly $55 by October, before falling to $45-46.Elevated global liquidity, and the rise of retail investing, featuring market trading apps, have been contributory factors. InvestEngine, a platform for retail investors, has reported a 250% increase in purchases of gold exchange traded commodities in 2025. The exchange traded fund share of all gold demand has increased to nearly 20%.With an ETF, you do not own physical gold, but rather shares in a gold fund, where each ETF unit typically equals 1gram of 99.5% pure gold. The ETFs are more liquid than gold itself. It is possible to trade in leveraged ETFs linked to gold, which use borrowing to amplify the returns, but leveraging can also compound the losses when prices fall.Governments have continued to build their gold reserves, as a diversification away from the US dollar. The Chinese government now holds 74mn troy ounces, worth around $283bn. It has not been selling at what may be the top of the market. For governments, purchasing significant gold reserves is a strategic holding, not a speculative bet.Gold is likely to remain a significant minority proportion of a diversified portfolio. Gold miners, provided that they avoid over-reach and conserve cash during the boom times, may also be a credible long-term investment.The author is a Qatari banker, with many years of experience in the banking sector in senior positions.

President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Annalena Baerbock stressed that Qatar’s support for the the United Nations is a leading example, praising the country’s role as an international mediator in conflict resolution and its active contribution to social development. In statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Baerbock explained that the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha underscores the need to move from promises to implementation through concrete action in areas such as education, employment, and social justice, thus contributing to achieving social benefits and healthcare for all people. She highlighted the importance of promoting social development and achieving global justice, noting significant progress in certain economic and social indicators despite ongoing challenges in other parts of the world. President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly said that the unemployment rate in Qatar stands at around 1%, while in some other countries it reaches 30%, reflecting the persistent gap among nations in benefiting from the fruits of social development. She stressed that failure to address crises such as hunger exacerbates displacement and migration, emphasising the need to break this vicious cycle by working on the three main pillars of the United Nations: peace and security, social development, and human rights. Baerbock added that the summit aims to accelerate progress toward achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that all goals are interconnected and cannot be achieved in isolation, especially amid global climate challenges that affect food security. She also pointed to the importance of linking the Doha Summit with the Climate Change Conference to be held in the Amazonian city of Belem, Brazil, and the role of nationally determined commitments in reducing carbon emissions. She affirmed that investment in renewable energy benefits strong economies and enhances their competitiveness. The president of the UN General Assembly emphasised the importance of international co-operation to achieve social justice, explaining that global challenges know no borders, and that the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated the necessity of international collaboration in providing vaccines and addressing health crises. In conclusion, the President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Annalena Baerbock told QNA that supporting UN agencies, including the World Food Programme, is vital to preventing hunger and human suffering in countries such as Sudan, stressing that immediate funding and support are essential to ensuring a dignified life for people around the world.

The US Federal Reserve may soon need to grow its balance sheet through bond purchases and could consider shortening the average duration of its debt holdings, Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams said yesterday. "The next step in our balance sheet strategy will be to assess when the level of reserves has reached ample" from the current state of "somewhat above ample", Williams said in the text of a speech prepared for delivery at the European Central Bank Conference on Money Markets 2025 in Frankfurt. When that happens, it will then be time to begin the process of gradual purchases of assets, Williams said. "Based on recent sustained repo market pressures and other growing signs of reserves moving from abundant to ample, I expect that it will not be long before we reach ample reserves," Williams added. At last week’s Fed meeting, the Fed announced that December 1 would bring an effective halt to a three-year-old process to shrink bond holdings acquired as part of an effort to support the economy and financial system during the Covid-19 pandemic. Williams also made the case for shortening the average duration of the Fed's government debt holdings since it focused past purchases on long-term bonds and its average duration was now "very long", much longer than the overall market. "Having a somewhat neutral or close to neutral maturity structure in a central bank balance sheet relative to what's out there in the market, it seems to make sense," Williams said in response to a question. "We're pretty long right now, very long in duration right now." From 2020, the Fed more than doubled the size of its overall holdings to a peak of $9tn on aggressive purchases of Treasury and mortgage bonds. Since 2022, it has been allowing a set amount of those securities to mature and not be replaced with the aim of leaving enough liquidity in the financial system to retain firm control over the federal funds target rate range, its main lever to affect the economy, while at the same time allowing for normal money market volatility. Recent signs of rising money market rates coupled with active use of Fed liquidity facilities indicated to the Fed it had gone far enough on shrinking holdings, hence its decision to hold the overall balance sheet steady at its current $6.6tn level. Some analysts expect the Fed could start to expand holdings via bond purchases in the first quarter. Williams cautioned that it’s tricky to know when the Fed has reached the level of reserves that will need it to start putting cash back into the system. "I am closely monitoring a variety of market indicators related to the fed funds market, repo market, and payments to help assess the state of reserve demand conditions,” he said. He cautioned that buying bonds to maintain the right amount of liquidity is not stimulus. "Reserve management purchases will represent the natural next stage of the implementation of the (Federal Open Market Committee's) ample reserves strategy and in no way represent a change in the underlying stance of monetary policy,” Williams said. He added that Fed rate control tools like reverse repo and the Standing Repo Facility have been working well, and he expects to see active usage of the latter facility, which lends cash to eligible firms, going forward.

Qatar University (QU) Health Sector celebrated the inspiring journey of Lolwa al-Baker, a Qatari graduate from the Physiotherapy Programme whose passion and perseverance exemplify the next generation of national health leaders.Her transformation from an uncertain first-year student to a confident future professional reflects the strength of QU’s academic environment in empowering students to reach their full potential, a statement said.Lolwa’s path to physiotherapy was one of discovery. Initially enrolled in biomedical sciences, she found her true calling late in her first year. “Something in my mind shifted towards becoming a physiotherapist,” she recalled. Drawn to patient care, rehabilitation, and the science of movement, she joined the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences with enthusiasm and purpose.During her studies, Lolwa gained extensive hands-on experience through clinical placements at institutions including Aspetar, Hamad Medical Corporation, and Sidra Medicine. “These placements are helping me map out my future and decide which areas I am keen to explore further,” she said. The experience strengthened her professional skills and affirmed her ambition to contribute meaningfully to Qatar’s healthcare sector.Her academic journey was not without challenges. Like many students, she faced uncertainty during her early university years, compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic. With the support of faculty, peers, and family, she learned to adapt and thrive. “Those early challenges helped me grow as a person and as a student,” she reflected.Initially, her family knew little about the physiotherapy profession, but her success helped increase awareness and understanding of its importance. “Their encouragement and belief in my abilities have been invaluable,” she added, emphasising the role of family support in her development.Lolwa values the diverse learning opportunities offered at QU Health, including Interprofessional Education (IPE) and collaborative activities that promote teamwork and holistic care. “Engaging with passionate peers and dedicated faculty has kept me inspired and motivated,” she said.Looking ahead, Lolwa aspires to specialise further — potentially in sports rehabilitation or paediatrics — and aims to create new opportunities for Qatari physiotherapists through professional associations and community initiatives. “I am dedicated to not only meeting but exceeding the expectations of the Qatari healthcare system,” she stated.Her story reflects QU’s mission to prepare skilled graduates who contribute to national development. Lolwa al-Baker stands as a role model for perseverance, purpose, and professional excellence, inspiring future generations of healthcare leaders in Qatar, the statement added.

Nancy Pelosi, a towering figure in US politics and the first woman to serve as speaker of the House of Representatives, announced Thursday that she will step down at the next election.Admired as a master strategist with a no-nonsense leadership style that delivered consistently for her party, the 85-year-old Democrat shepherded historic legislation through Congress as she navigated America's bitter partisan divide.In later years, she became a key foe of President Donald Trump, twice leading his impeachment and stunning Washington in 2020 when images of her ripping up his speech to Congress were beamed on live television around the world."I want you, my fellow San Franciscans, to be the first to know I will not be seeking reelection to Congress," she said in a video statement pointedly aimed at her hometown constituents."With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative."Pelosi — whose term ends in January 2027 — was the first woman to lead a major political party in the US Congress.Despite entering political office later in life, she quickly rose through the ranks to become a darling of liberal West Coast politics and, eventually, one of the most powerful women in US history.She is in her 19th term and has represented her San Francisco-area district for 38 years. But her fame centers especially on her renowned skills at the national level, leading her party for two decades.As House speaker for eight years, she was second in line to the presidency, after the vice president, including during Trump's chaotic first term.She was revered for her ability to corral her often fractious caucus through difficult votes, including Barack Obama's signature Affordable Care Act and Joe Biden's infrastructure programs.Republicans painted her as the driving force behind a liberal elite that had turned its back on American values and was undermining the social fabric.The granddaughter of Italian immigrants, Pelosi was born in Baltimore where her father, Thomas D'Alesandro, was a mayor and congressman who schooled her in "retail politics" from a young age and staunchly backed Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal.Pelosi attended her first Democratic National Convention before hitting her teens and was pictured with John F Kennedy at his inaugural ball when she was 20.She moved to San Francisco and raised five children with businessman Paul Pelosi while delving into Democratic politics before being elected to Congress at age 47."Nancy Pelosi will be recorded as the greatest speaker in American history, the result of her tenacity, intellect, strategic acumen and fierce advocacy," said Adam Schiff, a colleague in the California House delegation before he moved up to the Senate.A San Francisco liberal and multimillionaire, Pelosi is far from universally popular.Her status as a hate figure for the right was brought in stark relief when an intruder, apparently looking for the speaker, violently assaulted her husband in the runup to the 2022 midterm elections.And during the 2021 assault on the US Capitol, supporters of then-president Trump ransacked her office, and a crowd baying for blood chanted "Where's Nancy?" as they desecrated the halls of Congress.Pelosi moved quickly after that to secure the second impeachment of Trump, whom she called the "deranged, unhinged, dangerous president of the United States."Her legislative achievements include steering through Obama's key health care reforms as well as massive economic packages after both the 2008 financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic."I say to my colleagues in the House all the time, no matter what title they have bestowed upon me — speaker, leader, whip — there has been no greater honor for me than to stand on the House floor and say, I speak for the people of San Francisco," Pelosi said.

AirAsia has signed a provisional accord with Bahrain to set up a Middle East hub in the Gulf country, expanding on its plans to create a global low-cost airline. Tony Fernandes, the Malaysian carrier group’s founder, made the announcement at an investor forum in Bahrain, confirming an earlier Bloomberg News report. The Malaysian entrepreneur’s Capital A Bhd signed a letter of intent with Bahrain’s transport ministry. “Bahrain will be a powerful launchpad for us in the Middle East,” Fernandes said in a statement. Bahrain said the deal reinforced the nation’s role as a strategic connector between Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The Malaysian budget carrier aims to operate more than 25 daily flights via Bahrain by 2030. The newly established hub will explore obtaining a local airline operating license to operate flights from Bahrain elsewhere in the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and Europe. The move expands on an effort to strengthen the Malaysian carrier’s ties to the Middle East. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund played the single biggest role in an AirAsia fund raising earlier this year, investing about $100mn, as the airline sought funds to reboot its growth ambitions after years of Covid-induced losses. AirAsia Group needs a Gulf hub to connect flights and passengers between Asia and Europe using its Airbus SE A321XLR aircraft. The longer-term plan is to have a fleet of 600 planes in 10 years, significantly more than the 255 in service now that are shared among its operating airlines across Southeast Asia. The company plans to expand destinations from 143 to 175 in the same period. Bahrain is working to grow its position as an aviation and logistics hub. The country’s national carrier has been on a mission to become profitable and expand its fleet, placing an order with Boeing Co for as many as 18 widebody jets during a meeting in Washington between Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifah and US President Donald Trump in July.