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Heading into the last few weeks of the year, the global airline industry seems to be nearly fully recovered to 2019 levels of demand. .text-box { float:left; width:250px; padding:1px; border:1pt white; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 20px; }@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.text-box {width: 30%;} } **media[94091]** The demand for air travel met well in August, latest update from International Air Transport Association (IATA) indicate, which is a huge sigh of relief for an industry that got totally decimated by the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in huge losses in terms of revenue, passengers and jobs. “For the year to date, international traffic has increased by 50% versus last year and ticket sales data show international bookings strengthening for travel in the last part of the year. The global airline industry expects to fly 4.4bn travellers this year,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. The focus, however, has not been on getting back to a specific number of passengers or flights, but rather on meeting the demand by businesses and individuals for connectivity that was artificially suppressed for more than two years, he noted. Total traffic in August (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) rose 28.4% compared to August 2022, according IATA. Globally, traffic is now at 95.7% of pre-Covid levels, the association said in its report released recently. In August, industry-wide revenue passenger kilometres grew 28.4% year-on-year and reached 95.7% of August 2019 levels. In seasonally adjusted terms, passenger traffic increased 1% month-on-month, indicating a slowing but still positive trend globally. Seat capacity, measured in available seat-kilometres (ASKs), rose 24.9% year-on-year and was only 3.1% under 2019 levels. Airlines in all regions have achieved growth in traffic and passenger load factors (PLFs), compared to the same month in 2022. Across the whole industry, PLFs have trended near those of 2019, an indication of high demand for air travel and good financial performance for airlines. African and Middle Eastern carriers saw 26.1% and 27.3% year-on-year growth in international RPKs in August, respectively. For both regions, traffic levels are still approaching full recovery, maintaining their upward trends observed since earlier this year. Total domestic RPKs grew 9.2% over 2019 numbers and 25.4% over 2022 levels, maintaining the improvement trend observed in recent months. On the hand, the recovery in international RPKs experienced a decrease compared to July, now standing 11.5% below August 2019 levels. While recovery trends in domestic and international traffic have been diverging since May this year, international RPKs have maintained their growth, albeit at a slower pace than domestic traffic and relative to the strong performance of international traffic in 2019. Two key airline markets- China and India have seen substantial growth in domestic RPKs over recent months. In China, traffic almost doubled compared to last year, with 93.6% annual growth in August, albeit from a higher base. Domestic demand in the country remained 20.8% above pre-pandemic numbers while ASKs were 33.9% higher than August 2019 levels, resulting in a lower monthly PLF. In India, domestic traffic stood above pre-pandemic levels for the 7th consecutive month. RPKs increased 6.7% over 2019 levels and 23.2% year-on-year. Based on the most recent data and developments for the country’s airlines, the Indian domestic market indicates that it has resumed its pre-pandemic growth trend. International RPKs in the Asia Pacific region surged 98.5% year-on-year, almost doubling when compared to the previous year but still down 24.5% compared to 2019 numbers. Nonetheless, the region’s PLF was 5.5 ppts higher than in August 2022 (1.4 ppts above August 2019 levels), revealing the high demand for travel in the region. Despite sustaining a positive trend in levels, the recovery of industry-wide international RPKs has been regressing since May 2023. While most regions have seen continuous recovery, Europe’s momentum has been losing steam over the most recent months. In addition, August 2023 saw lower passenger traffic numbers than July, an unusual pattern in contrast to the historical seasonal trends. The region also faces a wider range of capacity constraints, which could further hinder traffic recovery. International RPKs performed by European carriers were 9.8% lower in August compared to pre-Covid levels, while the load factor remained 2.3 ppts below. At the IATA Annual General Meeting in Istanbul in June, IATA projected that with $803bn of revenues, airlines will share $9.8bn in net profit this year, although industry experts say margins are wafer thin. That said, the pandemic years are behind us, and borders are open as normal. Despite economic uncertainties, people are flying to reconnect, explore, and do business. Airports are busier, hotel occupancy is rising, local economies are reviving, and the airline industry has moved into profitability. Clearly, airlines are en route to a profitable, safe, efficient, and sustainable future.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has stressed that his country and Qatar should at this stage further build upon what they have achieved over the last five decades to usher in an even brighter future.In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), he said: “It holds much significance to be the first Korean president to make a state visit to Qatar. I hope this visit will serve as an invaluable opportunity to elevate our bilateral relations to a new level.”He added that he will have in-depth discussions with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on how to shape the two countries’ relations for the next 50 years.He noted that Korea and Qatar will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year. “Over the past half century, our two countries have continued to work together, contributing to each others advancement and prosperity in an exemplary manner, especially in the energy and construction sectors.”As Korea’s second largest supplier of LNG, Qatar has provided a reliable buttress that has helped Korea maintain its energy security, he added.He said that over the past 50 years, Korea has participated in about 130 construction projects in Qatar. Most notably, Korean companies took part in the building of the National Museum of Qatar, Lusail Plaza Towers and other landmarks which now serve as symbols of the friendship and co-operation between the two countries.He said: “The Korean government intends to expand the scope of our co-operation, moving beyond the fields of energy and construction to encompass investment, the defence industry, agriculture, culture and people-to-people exchanges. We will also push for co-operation programmes which will bring more tangible benefits for the peoples of both countries. To this end, we will nurture an even broader range of channels for strategic communication.”The president said that Qatar is strengthening its role and contribution to promote regional peace, and Korea is broadening its diplomatic horizons, aiming to emerge as a “global pivotal state”, looking forward to the two countries working together even more closely in regional and international arenas to achieve these goals.While stressing the importance of the visit, the president said he has been profoundly impressed by the way Qatar is establishing itself as an advanced nation through the “Qatar National Vision 2030” under the leadership of His Highness the Amir.He said: “Through this visit, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of Qatar’s efforts towards national development as well as an opportunity to explore ways in which Korea can contribute and co-operate in that development process.”He expressed his belief that Korea and Qatar need to lay out a long-term goal for the development of their bilateral relations and find strategic ways to collaborate in pursuit of their shared objectives.With regard to the economy, he hoped to strengthen the co-operation in various areas including energy, infrastructure, trade, investment, the defence industry, and agriculture, pointing out that a contingent of Korean business leaders will travel with him on this trip, which will be an opportunity for them to meet with their Qatari counterparts to discuss and map out joint business opportunities.He noted that his visit to Doha, which will be during the International Horticultural Expo 2023, is an opportunity to commend Qatar for its successful hosting of another important international event following last year’s FIFA World Cup, adding that he is confident that Qatar will take on even greater roles in both regional and international arenas.Regarding economic and trade co-operation, he said that trade between the two countries, which was less than a mere $4mn in 1974 when diplomatic relations were established, increased to $17.1bn last year even during the global economic downturn in the midst of Covid-19.He added: “Qatar has stably supplied Korea with energy sources such as gas and crude oil, and Korea has contributed to the building of a cycle power plant integrated with a desalination system and other parts of Qatar’s industrial base. Consequently, our two countries have grown into trusted partners in fostering each others economic growth and industrial development.”He said: “During my state visit, I will be accompanied by a delegation of leaders from around 60 Korean businesses which specialise in various emerging industries such as digital technology, biohealth, smart farming and cultural content.”In the next 50 years, it is imperative that the two countries expand the scope of their co-operation to include high-tech industries in which both countries industrial development strategies overlap, he added.The president said that fostering mutual understanding and friendship between the Korean and Qatari peoples is a crucial foundation for steady progress in the bilateral relations.He added that cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries are deep-rooted and there is tremendous potential for further development.He said: “Since the late 1970s, Korean Taekwondo coaches have been teaching in Qatar. I believe that these early exchanges have become an invaluable groundwork for the development of relations between our two countries. It is truly encouraging to see that our peoples interest in each others respective countries has been increasing significantly recently.” He further said: “I understand that there is a deepening interest in Korean culture in Qatar, especially among the younger generations, and that some universities are also offering Korean language courses.“Likewise, interest in Qatar has increased significantly in Korea, following Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup last year,” he said, pointing out popular Korean and Qatari singers performed together at the Opening Ceremony, and this provided a great opportunity to foster ties of friendship between the two peoples.“As this heightened interest in each other leads to vibrant interactions between our peoples, closer-knit bilateral relations will follow,” he said.He stressed that the two countries signing of a Visa Waiver Agreement last year would strengthen the institutional foundation for people-to-people exchanges. On this basis, the Korean government will actively explore ways to expand co-operation in the fields of education, culture and tourism with Qatar, he noted.He also expressed his belief that the Korean peoples increased understanding of Islamic culture and history will help further promote the ties of friendship between the two countries. “We will continue to facilitate this going forward so that more Koreans will be able to experience and understand the Islamic and Qatari culture.” (QNA)

Renewable energy stocks have been hit hard in recent months, performing significantly worse than fossil fuel companies due to higher interest rates.The S&P Global Clean Energy Index - comprising 100 major solar, wind power, and other renewables-related companies - has dropped 20.2% in the past two months, according to a Financial Times report.Total renewable capacity additions have been growing steadily, but stock prices are under pressure.This puts it on track for its worst performance since 2013. In contrast, the oil and gas-heavy S&P 500 Energy Index has seen a 6% increase, according to the World Economic Forum.The industry received a fresh blow on Friday, after a sales warning from equipment provider SolarEdge Technologies sent shares in solar stocks across the US and Europe tumbling as much as 25%.Until recently expected to displace oil-and-gas companies from mainstream investment portfolios, clean energy stocks have instead become a no-go zone for many.Investors have been pulling money out, wiping over $280bn from the market capitalisation of green stocks globally since their August 2022 peak — not quite boom-to-bust but a dramatic unravelling for a market that was all the rage at the turn of the decade, according to a Bloomberg report.Now, with the yield on the 10-year US Treasury bond creeping toward 5%, their fortunes could be about to take another hit.Higher yields make it costlier to fund the huge investment that clean energy requires, giving investors reason to fret about returns.On top of that, the pace of decarbonisation is in question and oil’s march back toward $100 a barrel is renewing interest in fossil fuels.SolarEdge Technologies sank as much as 25% in US premarket trading last Friday after it warned its third-quarter revenue will come in below its previous guidance range.Other firms in the sector, including Enphase Energy Inc, Sunrun Inc, SMA Solar Technology and Meyer Burger Technology also tumbled.The MSCI Global Alternative Energy Index – which counts Orsted A/S, Vestas Wind Systems A/S, First Solar Inc, and Enphase Energy among its top constituents – has slumped about 39% this year.In value terms, it’s down almost $152bn in 2023 alone.Retail investors have also fled, with global clean energy equity ETFs seeing outflows amounting to over $1.1bn in total since December 2022. They had attracted more than $15bn in the previous three years.True, there have been some pockets of speculative frenzy in green shares this year, with stocks linked to lithium — critical for electric-vehicle batteries — skyrocketing in Australia and India.“When I speak to colleagues and other investment managers, they say ‘let’s get out’,” said Marcus Poppe, co-head of European equities at DWS Group.The picture is a stark contrast with the immediate post-Covid period when US and European governments doubled down on net-zero agendas.So far, companies and governments are still committing cash to renewables — the $358bn of new investment seen in the first half of 2023 is a record for any six-month period, according to BloombergNEF.But progress, including on US President Joe Biden’s $2tn Inflation Reduction Act, may still be falling short.BNEF estimates that keeping net zero on track requires at least $4 to be spent on low-carbon energy supply globally for every $1 that goes to fossil fuels from 2021-2030. Investment hasn’t reached that ratio yet.Investors have been told that over $4tn per year is needed for the next 30 years to achieve net zero by 2050, according to the WEF.Despite governments offering billions in tax credits and subsidies, the renewable sector is struggling.

A home-made practice facility Mohamed Shami built just before Covid-19 lockdowns kept the India pace bowler sharp ahead of his successful World Cup comeback against New Zealand.Shami claimed 5-54 in Dharamsala on Sunday to help the hosts to a four-wicket win and a 5-0 unbeaten record at the tournament. In early-2020, Shami laid a pitch, nets and a clay running track at his farmhouse in Amroha, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, giving him and his younger brother, also a cricketer, a convenient practice base.“I knew that there would be no scope to go anywhere so I thought it would be better to build that facility at the farmhouse,” Shami told reporters.Shami was rested during India’s tour of West Indies in July and was dropped from the squad for September’s Asia Cup as all-rounder Hardik Pandya took on a more prominent role in the side after a year-long battle with a back injury.Shami said he would rather be training at the home pitch than taking a break from the game.“Sometimes it happens that when you are busy for 12 months, you get relaxed after going home,” said the 33-year-old. “I feel that I don’t get relaxed after going home. I get more relaxed (training).Shami replaced Pandya, who injured his left ankle during India’s seven-wicket win over Bangladesh last week. Shami’s five-wicket haul included three in the final overs, helping restrict the Black Caps to 273 and earning him Player-of-the-Match. Top of the standings, India next face defending champions England in Lucknow on Sunday.

The Arab Museum of Modern Art: Mathaf announced on its website that it will organise three new art exhibitions which run from October 27, 2023 to March 5, 2024, within the framework of the plan to inspire society for dialogue and research in the field of modern and contemporary art.The first exhibition, 'Deconstructed Meanings,' is affiliated with the Project Space series and in co-operation with a group of artists, and the XLab at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar.The exhibition focuses on a device that works like a writing machine in sand to showcase the development of linguistic interpretations. Using a programmed coding system, the device works to embody the text within the framework of Jacques Derrida's deconstructive theory. The participants are Hala Amer, Saja al-Kabash, Levi Hammett, and Giovanni Ignala.The second exhibition, 'Distilled Lessons: Abstraction in Arab Modernism,' examines the abstract experiments that distinguish the Arab modernist school from its counterparts around the world. The third exhibition, 'Cities Under Quarantine,' the Artist’s Book project, includes documentation of life during the Covid-19 pandemic, as a declaration that friendships and social life can continue in the face of isolation.It features 59 hand-made invitations sent to visual artists in 22 cities around the world, generating unprecedented momentum in expressing the state of human existence at the time of death and isolation.

Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East may be containable, as leadership roles beckon in partnership with international agenciesConflicts and geopolitical risk have moved sharply up the agenda for global leaders and policymakers, largely replacing the Covid-19 pandemic in discussions at this year’s IMF/World Bank summit which took place in Marrakesh, Morocco in early October. Other pressing concerns include high interest rates, inflation and levels of government debt.For the Gulf states, the benefits and challenges are distinct. On inflation and debt, the picture is healthier than for many nations, given that the states are generally oil exporters with surpluses and healthy reserves. Rising oil prices that contribute to inflation around the world result in higher export earnings in the region.The intensification of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Israel and Gaza has been traumatic for those involved, while a major focus of concern is the risk of the conflict spreading to become a regional war. In this respect, the risk of serious destabilisation rests on the success, or otherwise, of diplomatic efforts at containment. If they are effective, the geopolitical risk is probably not significantly greater than in recent decades.A major risk factor is whether Iran becomes directly involved, not only in terms of any conflict in itself, but because of the potential impact on oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, where the Arabian Gulf meets the Indian Ocean, with Iran on one side and the Arabian peninsula on the other. A high proportion of the world’s oil and gas exports passes through the strait.If the conflict stays localised, there may be little wider political and economic impact. Geopolitical risk is already priced in to credit ratings in the region, offsetting the surpluses, strong economies and healthy reserves.For Qatar, the conversations at the IMF meeting covered very different subject areas compared with last year. Then, the questions were about the forthcoming FIFA World Cup and the recovery from Covid-19.In addition to geopolitics and inflation, there is rising concern about high government debt levels in a world of higher interest rates. Qatar’s national debt is low by international standards, and has been coming down since the infrastructure projects in advance of the 2022 World Cup have been completed. In fact, the state and local banks have issued little in the way of bonds in the past two years, to the extent that it may be advisable to do so, in order to retain a profile in the international bond market.Some debt is not directly on the balance sheet of the state, but may have an indirect impact. Qatar has State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), and those entities have been reducing their debt substantially in the past 12 months given the healthy cash flows and higher cost of debt. In a policy statement, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva encouraged Gulf states to reduce their level of direct control over the economy.At a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors in Marrakesh, Minister of Finance HE Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari addressed a strategic perspective, noting the need for reduced debt, financial consolidation, a smooth energy transition and avoidance of pro-cyclical fiscal policies. He called for support from international financial institutions and the international community to deal with major challenges, especially implementing the Paris Accord to tackle climate change. Many of the challenges are too large and complex to be attended to by individual states.The State of Qatar has been stepping up to an international role. It has become an active partner in supporting the IMF and World Bank in global initiatives to reduce poverty. At the IMF meeting, the government signed two agreements with the IMF to support respectively the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust and the Resilience and Sustainability funds. HE Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari said the announcement underlined Qatar’s commitment to multilateral initiatives to reduce poverty and confront crises.In terms of adherence to international standards on sound economic management, Qatar has been a model pupil in recent years. Now, it is stepping up to a leadership role.The author is a Qatari banker, with many years of experience in the banking sector in senior positions.

The participation of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in the Cairo Peace Summit yesterday reiterates Qatar’s firm stance in supporting the Palestinian cause and keeping it at the top of the priorities of its international movement.Since the early days of the Palestinian cause over 70 years ago, this central issue has remained a prominent concern in the hearts and minds of the people of Qatar, including the Amir, the government, and the citizens. Qatar has supported it on all international platforms, using all means and resources, making it a top priority for the state. Qatar has dedicated political, financial, and moral support to the Palestinian people, driven by steadfast principles, ethical values, and human values.Qatar has shouldered the Palestinian cause and their legitimate aspirations, including their right to establish their state on their national land, with its capital, Jerusalem, in every international arena. Qatar has spared no effort in highlighting the justice of the Palestinian issue and the great injustice and oppression suffered by the Palestinian brothers due to the Israeli occupation, which killed them, seized their land, and displaced them across the earth.In all the speeches of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani before various local, Arab, and international forums and platforms, the Palestinian issue was prominently and forcefully placed at the top of priorities and concerns. In his first speech upon assuming duties in June 2013, His Highness the Amir reaffirmed that Qatar is committed to solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle to attain their legitimate rights, considering it a prerequisite for a just peace, which entails the Israeli withdrawal from all the Arab territories it occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, and the right of return for refugees.In his speech at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York in September, the Amir reiterated Qatar’s rejection of the continued Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, stating: “The Palestinian people cannot remain prisoners of Israeli settlement arbitrariness, and the successive Israeli governments have rejected any fair political solution based on international legitimacy principles.”He emphasised that the international organisation’s failure to take action against the occupation provides Israel with the opportunity to undermine the foundations of the two-state solution through expansion and settlement, to the point where the occupation takes the form of a racist regime in the 21st century.The Amir renewed Qatar’s commitment to provide political, humanitarian, and developmental support to the Palestinian people, adhering to the initial position of justice in this issue, which has become a test of the credibility of world leaders towards the Middle East.In May of last year, His Highness the Amir sent a message to the high-level meeting of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, held at the UN headquarters in New York.The Amir stated: “After seven and a half decades since the Nakba, we renew our confidence in the justice of the Palestinian cause and salute the brave resilience of the Palestinian people in their quest for all their rights. We emphasise Qatar’s consistent stance on the necessity of achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting settlement for the Palestinian issue based on international law and UN resolutions, ending the Israeli occupation, and achieving a two-state solution, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with its sovereignty, based on the 1967 borders and its capital, East Jerusalem, granting all the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.”In his speech during the 28th Arab League Summit in Jordan in 2017, the Amir reiterated that “Qatar’s steadfast stance on the Palestinian issue is in line with the Arab commitment to establish a comprehensive, just, and permanent peace settlement based on international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative. This initiative is based on the principle of a two-state solution, ensuring the establishment of the Palestinian state along the borders of June 4, 1967, with its capital in East Jerusalem, the right of return for Palestinian refugees, and ending the Israeli occupation of all Arab territories, including the Syrian Golan Heights.”In accordance with the directives of His Highness the Amir, on October 16, a Qatari plane carrying 37 tonnes of food and medical aid, provided by Qatar Development Fund, departed for the city of El Arish in Egypt. This aid is intended for transfer to Gaza and is part of Qatar’s ongoing support for the Palestinian people, demonstrating its full commitment to assisting them during the challenging humanitarian conditions resulting from the Israeli bombardment the Gaza Strip has been facing.As part of Qatar’s ongoing and strong support for the Palestinian people, a donation of $500mn was provided in May 2021 under the Amir’s directives. This grant was designated for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, specifically focusing on essential infrastructure in the health, education, and electricity sectors, as well as homes that were destroyed due to Israeli attacks.On March 22, 2020, the Amir provided $150mn over a period of six months in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza. This initiative aimed to continue Qatar’s efforts to alleviate the suffering of our Palestinian brothers and support the relief and humanitarian programs of the UN in Gaza. The support included financial assistance to the residents of the besieged Gaza Strip in their efforts to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).On May 6, 2019, the Amir, directed the allocation of $480mn in support of the Palestinian people in both the West Bank and Gaza. On October 10, 2018, His Highness the Amir directed the provision of urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of the besieged Gaza Strip, amounting to $150mn. This contribution aimed to alleviate the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, which had persisted for years. On February 8, 2018, the Amir, directed the provision of urgent assistance amounting to QR33mn, which included medicines, medical supplies, food items, and fuel for hospital generators in the Gaza Strip. These contributions underscore Qatar’s consistent commitment to providing humanitarian support to the Palestinian people in their time of need.On December 19, 2017, His Highness the Amir directed the complete exemption of residents of Hamad City in Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip from paying monthly instalments for the year 2018.On January 15, 2017, His Highness the Amir provided an urgent payment of QR43.8mn to address the electricity issue in the Gaza Strip. He also urged international co-operation to study the electricity problem in the region and propose comprehensive solutions.To alleviate the ongoing suffering of the people of Gaza, His Highness directed the provision of QR110mn worth of fuel to operate the power stations in the Gaza Strip in March 2014. In December 2013, he directed the provision of $32mn worth of fuel and sent urgent humanitarian assistance and relief materials totalling $28mn to address the severe weather conditions in the region.Additionally, Qatar provided a financial grant to support 100,000 vulnerable and impoverished families in the besieged Gaza Strip, providing $100 for each family. Qatar Development Fund signed an agreement with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to support its core resources for the 2021-2022 period with a contribution of $18mn. In addition to the previously mentioned support, Qatar provided comprehensive additional assistance for Palestinian refugees in Syria, covering various sectors including healthcare, education, and economic development, with a total amount of $7mn.His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani was the first Arab leader to visit Gaza Strip after the establishment of the Palestinian Authority. During his visit, he was welcomed by the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. This visit brought hope to the people of Gaza, as it marked a new beginning and a glimpse of optimism for over 1.7mn citizens who had endured years of Israeli blockade and the devastating Israeli military operation in 2008. This operation caused extensive destruction to both human and physical infrastructure, including homes, mosques, schools, hospitals, civil and military government facilities and infrastructure.As part of its national role in supporting the Palestinian cause and promoting Arab solidarity, the capital of Qatar, Doha, hosted three Arab summits. One of them was the Doha Emergency Summit held in January 2009, which was named the “Gaza Summit.” During this summit, Arab leaders called for suspending the Arab Peace Initiative, halting all forms of normalization with Israel, and establishing a fund for the reconstruction of Gaza.Doha Emergency Summit, in its concluding statement, condemned Israel for its aggression on Gaza and demanded an immediate cessation of all forms of aggression and an immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The statement also stressed the necessity of immediately and permanently opening the border crossings, and allowing all humanitarian aid to enter and distribute it freely within the Strip.Qatar’s support for Al-Aqsa Mosque was strong and evident. In 2013, during the Arab Summit held in Doha, Qatar launched an initiative to create a fund named “Support for Jerusalem” with a budget of $1bn. During the Arab Economic Summit held in Kuwait in January 2009, Qatar declared its support for the Gaza Strip with a quarter-billion dollars to participate in the reconstruction of Gaza after the 2008 aggression. In the Cairo conference that took place in October 2014, after the war initiated by Israel on the Gaza Strip that summer, Qatar pledged $1bn for the reconstruction of the region.Qatar is keen to pay its annual share to support the Palestinian Authority. It also continues to provide a lot of humanitarian aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, through Qatari charitable societies, in addition to its contributions to supporting Palestinian educational institutions. It also received Palestinian teachers to work on its territory, and continued to support UNRWA, to enable it to fulfil its mission of relief and employment for Palestinian refugees in refugee camps.Qatar also established a residential city to accommodate the victims of the war on Gaza, and a hospital for prosthetic limbs, as part of dozens of service projects and facilities that Qatar provides to the residents of the Strip under the supervision of the Qatar’s Gaza Reconstruction Committee in all medical, humanitarian, services, health, education, housing, agriculture and electricity sectors.At the level of Palestinian reconciliation, Doha led great efforts to end the division and achieve reconciliation between the Fatah and Hamas movements. On the humanitarian level, Qatar was the first to host fifteen Palestinian prisoners who were liberated as part of a prisoner exchange deal in 2011. They were among 40 prisoners whom Israel stipulated to be deported outside the Palestinian territories, out of a total of 477 who were released. (QNA)

The participation of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in the Cairo Peace Summit Saturday reiterates Qatar's firm stance in supporting the Palestinian cause and keeping it at the top of the priorities of its international movement.Since the early days of the Palestinian cause over 70 years ago, this central issue has remained a prominent concern in the hearts and minds of the people of Qatar, including the Amir, the government, and the citizens. Qatar has supported it on all international platforms, using all means and resources, making it a top priority for the state. Qatar has dedicated political, financial, and moral support to the Palestinian people, driven by steadfast principles, ethical values, and human values.Qatar has shouldered the Palestinian cause and their legitimate aspirations, including their right to establish their state on their national land, with its capital, Jerusalem, in every international arena. Qatar has spared no effort in highlighting the justice of the Palestinian issue and the great injustice and oppression suffered by the Palestinian brothers due to the Israeli occupation, which killed them, seized their land, and displaced them across the earth.In all the speeches of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani before various local, Arab, and international forums and platforms, the Palestinian issue was prominently and forcefully placed at the top of priorities and concerns. In his first speech upon assuming duties in June 2013, His Highness the Amir reaffirmed that Qatar is committed to solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle to attain their legitimate rights, considering it a prerequisite for a just peace, which entails the Israeli withdrawal from all the Arab territories it occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, and the right of return for refugees.In his speech at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York in September, the Amir reiterated Qatar's rejection of the continued Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, stating, "The Palestinian people cannot remain prisoners of Israeli settlement arbitrariness, and the successive Israeli governments have rejected any fair political solution based on international legitimacy principles."He emphasised that the international organisation's failure to take action against the occupation provides Israel with the opportunity to undermine the foundations of the two-state solution through expansion and settlement, to the point where the occupation takes the form of a racist regime in the 21st century.The Amir renewed Qatar's commitment to provide political, humanitarian, and developmental support to the Palestinian people, adhering to the initial position of justice in this issue, which has become a test of the credibility of world leaders towards the Middle East.In May of last year, His Highness the Amir sent a message to the high-level meeting of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, held at the UN headquarters in New York.The Amir stated, "After seven and a half decades since the Nakba, we renew our confidence in the justice of the Palestinian cause and salute the brave resilience of the Palestinian people in their quest for all their rights. We emphasise Qatar's consistent stance on the necessity of achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting settlement for the Palestinian issue based on international law and UN resolutions, ending the Israeli occupation, and achieving a two-state solution, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with its sovereignty, based on the 1967 borders and its capital, East Jerusalem, granting all the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative."In his speech during the 28th Arab League Summit in Jordan in 2017, the Amir reiterated that "Qatar's steadfast stance on the Palestinian issue is in line with the Arab commitment to establish a comprehensive, just, and permanent peace settlement based on international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative. This initiative is based on the principle of a two-state solution, ensuring the establishment of the Palestinian state along the borders of June 4, 1967, with its capital in East Jerusalem, the right of return for Palestinian refugees, and ending the Israeli occupation of all Arab territories, including the Syrian Golan Heights."In accordance with the directives of His Highness the Amir, on October 16, a Qatari plane carrying 37 tonnes of food and medical aid, provided by Qatar Development Fund, departed for the city of El Arish in Egypt. This aid is intended for transfer to Gaza and is part of Qatar's ongoing support for the Palestinian people, demonstrating its full commitment to assisting them during the challenging humanitarian conditions resulting from the Israeli bombardment the Gaza Strip has been facing.As part of Qatar's ongoing and strong support for the Palestinian people, a donation of $500mn was provided in May 2021 under the Amir's directives. This grant was designated for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, specifically focusing on essential infrastructure in the health, education, and electricity sectors, as well as homes that were destroyed due to Israeli attacks.On March 22, 2020, the Amir provided $150mn over a period of six months in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza. This initiative aimed to continue Qatar's efforts to alleviate the suffering of our Palestinian brothers and support the relief and humanitarian programs of the UN in Gaza. The support included financial assistance to the residents of the besieged Gaza Strip in their efforts to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).On May 6, 2019, the Amir, directed the allocation of $480mn in support of the Palestinian people in both the West Bank and Gaza. On October 10, 2018, His Highness the Amir directed the provision of urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of the besieged Gaza Strip, amounting to $150mn. This contribution aimed to alleviate the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, which had persisted for years. On February 8, 2018, the Amir, directed the provision of urgent assistance amounting to QR33mn, which included medicines, medical supplies, food items, and fuel for hospital generators in the Gaza Strip. These contributions underscore Qatar's consistent commitment to providing humanitarian support to the Palestinian people in their time of need.On December 19, 2017, His Highness the Amir directed the complete exemption of residents of Hamad City in Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip from paying monthly installments for the year 2018.On January 15, 2017, His Highness the Amir provided an urgent payment of QR43.8mn to address the electricity issue in the Gaza Strip. He also urged international co-operation to study the electricity problem in the region and propose comprehensive solutions.To alleviate the ongoing suffering of the people of Gaza, His Highness directed the provision of QR110mn worth of fuel to operate the power stations in the Gaza Strip in March 2014. In December 2013, he directed the provision of $32mn worth of fuel and sent urgent humanitarian assistance and relief materials totaling $28mn to address the severe weather conditions in the region.Additionally, Qatar provided a financial grant to support 100,000 vulnerable and impoverished families in the besieged Gaza Strip, providing $100 for each family. Qatar Development Fund signed an agreement with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to support its core resources for the 2021-2022 period with a contribution of $18mn. In addition to the previously mentioned support, Qatar provided comprehensive additional assistance for Palestinian refugees in Syria, covering various sectors including healthcare, education, and economic development, with a total amount of $7mn.His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani was the first Arab leader to visit Gaza Strip after the establishment of the Palestinian Authority. During his visit, he was welcomed by the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. This visit brought hope to the people of Gaza, as it marked a new beginning and a glimpse of optimism for over 1.7mn citizens who had endured years of Israeli blockade and the devastating Israeli military operation in 2008. This operation caused extensive destruction to both human and physical infrastructure, including homes, mosques, schools, hospitals, civil and military government facilities and infrastructure.As part of its national role in supporting the Palestinian cause and promoting Arab solidarity, the capital of Qatar, Doha, hosted three Arab summits. One of them was the Doha Emergency Summit held in January 2009, which was named the "Gaza Summit." During this summit, Arab leaders called for suspending the Arab Peace Initiative, halting all forms of normalization with Israel, and establishing a fund for the reconstruction of Gaza..Doha Emergency Summit, in its concluding statement, condemned Israel for its aggression on Gaza and demanded an immediate cessation of all forms of aggression and an immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The statement also stressed the necessity of immediately and permanently opening the border crossings, and allowing all humanitarian aid to enter and distribute it freely within the Strip.Qatar's support for Al-Aqsa Mosque was strong and evident. In 2013, during the Arab Summit held in Doha, Qatar launched an initiative to create a fund named "Support for Jerusalem" with a budget of $1bn. During the Arab Economic Summit held in Kuwait in January 2009, Qatar declared its support for the Gaza Strip with a quarter-billion dollars to participate in the reconstruction of Gaza after the 2008 aggression. In the Cairo conference that took place in October 2014, after the war initiated by Israel on the Gaza Strip that summer, Qatar pledged $1bn for the reconstruction of the region.Qatar is keen to pay its annual share to support the Palestinian Authority. It also continues to provide a lot of humanitarian aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, through Qatari charitable societies, in addition to its contributions to supporting Palestinian educational institutions. It also received Palestinian teachers to work on its territory, and continued to support UNRWA, to enable it to fulfil its mission of relief and employment for Palestinian refugees in refugee camps.Qatar also established a residential city to accommodate the victims of the war on Gaza, and a hospital for prosthetic limbs, as part of dozens of service projects and facilities that Qatar provides to the residents of the Strip under the supervision of the Qatar's Gaza Reconstruction Committee in all medical, humanitarian, services, health, education, housing, agriculture and electricity sectors.At the level of Palestinian reconciliation, Doha led great efforts to end the division and achieve reconciliation between the Fatah and Hamas movements. On the humanitarian level, Qatar was the first to host fifteen Palestinian prisoners who were liberated as part of a prisoner exchange deal in 2011. They were among 40 prisoners whom Israel stipulated to be deported outside the Palestinian territories, out of a total of 477 who were released.

The pressing issue of climate change “poses the greatest threat to food security today,” according to Dr Mohamed Althaf, director of LuLu Group International.Speaking to reporters recently, Althaf emphasised that food security challenges extend beyond financial constraints, citing the Covid-19 pandemic as an example. However, he lamented that climate change is causing significant disruptions in food supply.Weather changes caused a shortage of olives in Europe, while in Pakistan, heavy rains resulted in a significant loss of rice crops, forcing the South Asian country to shift from being an exporter to an importer of rice. The sudden decrease in global supply also affected neighbouring countries like India, Althaf noted.“If rice becomes scarce, people may turn to wheat, which is already under pressure due to climate change. This is just one incident in a medium-sized country like Pakistan and imagine the impact if larger countries like the US, Brazil, Australia, or India face similar problems,” Althaf warned, adding that many countries in Asia could also face agricultural problems due to climate change.He said, “LuLu’s primary focus is raising awareness about climate change, which is the most significant threat to food security worldwide. Increasing temperature by just two degrees could wreak havoc, hence the urgency of addressing this issue.“This is a key message that LuLu Group intends to highlight at the ‘Expo 2023 Doha Qatar’. LuLu is focused on aligning its goal of promoting sustainable food practices by consistently advocating this cause, in collaboration with our partners like the embassies of Italy, the UK, and Ecuador, among others.”Althaf also highlighted LuLu’s global partnerships with the World Economic Forum (WEF), the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC): “We are the only members of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation from Qatar. LuLu’s membership in these three organisations is among the key aspects of the group’s sustainability strategy.”On LuLu’s initiatives towards achieving net zero targets, Althaf said the group is working on an ‘emission three’ initiative, which is committed to aligning with the Qatar National Vision 2030.“Our goal is to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030, a target which we set five years ago but surprisingly is approaching so soon. In terms of ‘emission one’, which refers to LuLu’s own generation, we are well within our target and expect to achieve it even earlier than planned.“We have made significant strides in energy efficiency as our Al Meshaf store has become the first carbon-neutral hypermarket in the GCC, and we have also made progress in reducing water wastage and recycling plastic,” he explained.Althaf revealed that LuLu Group is now focusing on decarbonising its supply chain, both locally and internationally: “We are in advanced negotiations with shipping companies to overcome challenges and potentially use green fuel. Our supply chain institutions in Birmingham have already achieved net neutrality.“In the UK, we already have surplus power. In the US, we are close to meeting our targets for plastic and pallet recycling, using electric vehicles, and implementing digital automation.”Althaf also highlighted that LuLu is focused on enhancing resiliency in its supply chain, especially in light of recent global events like the war in Ukraine and the conflict between Hamas and Israel.He said LuLu has expanded into Central Europe, including Finland, parts of Germany, and the Baltic region, by setting up a facility in Poland, in collaboration with the Polish Trade Agency.Aside from LuLu’s facility in Milan, Italy, the group is planning to open another one in Australia, said Althaf, who added that LuLu is also exploring potential facilities in Canada, Ecuador, and Mexico.“Self-reliance and self-sufficiency are important, especially in the face of potential climate challenges, so we are diversifying our sources to ensure resilience. Our efforts align with Qatar’s global vision, and we aim to ensure that our businesses follow suit.“LuLu is particularly focused on reducing emissions and making food accessible, affordable, nutritious, and sustainable. We are working towards ensuring that everything we serve is healthy and sustainably sourced,” he stressed.

At least 6mn women worldwide provide unpaid or grossly underpaid labour in community-health centres, often in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Many work as community-health workers. But, though this is a skilled job that should be salaried, only 34 countries offer CHWs accreditation, training, and salaries, leaving the majority exploited and therefore less effective for their patients. If we are serious about making “health for all” a global priority, this must change.CHWs are crucial to strengthening health systems at the national level: they have been proven to improve maternal- and child-health services, expand access to family planning, and support prevention and care for both noncommunicable and infectious diseases. Deploying CHWs who consistently provide just 30 lifesaving health services in countries with the highest disease burden would save as many as 6.9mn lives annually and reduce child mortality by almost half. Moreover, the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated how resilient community-health programmes can provide essential services even in the face of great adversity.But such programmes will reach their full potential only with service design that adheres to evidence-based best practices. That means treating CHWs as professionals who require training, fair pay, and safe working conditions. When used as a stopgap solution or a source of cheap labour, CHWs are less effective than their well-resourced counterparts.In Africa, up to 85% of CHWs are unpaid, and, worldwide, CHWs’ essential medicines are out of stock one-third of the time. In Uganda, our home country, there is a shortage of health-care workers, so CHWs have stepped up to fill the gap. Though these workers provide vital services to their communities, performing many of the same tasks as their salaried supervisors, they often receive little or no pay.Why are CHWs, who are often women of colour, expected to work and save lives without recognition or remuneration? It is clear that this is also a gender-rights issue. Patriarchal norms and power dynamics condition women to accept no or low wages for what should clearly be paid work. For example, women from low-income households and with low levels of education often view this type of unpaid work as an opportunity that might lead to paid work or an asset like a mobile phone or bicycle. Unpaid work in healthcare can also bring women social recognition. In many contexts, it is seen as honourable work that families will approve of for a woman. As a result, CHWs tend to juggle these positions with piecemeal paid jobs and family responsibilities.These women face an unenviable dilemma: If they give up their work as CHWs to find full-time employment that can support them, who will provide much-needed health care for their communities? Backed into a corner by systemic inequalities and traditional gender roles, they often continue to overextend themselves, sacrificing stability, economic security, career progression, and their own well-being in the process.To redress this entrenched social and economic injustice, professional CHWs must become the norm, not the exception. At minimum, CHWs must be accredited to ensure that certain standards are met; paid a competitive wage; continuously trained and supported by a dedicated supervisor; and integrated into health systems, including primary healthcare facilities and wider monitoring and evaluation systems. That way, they can be proactive in surveillance and see patients without point-of-care user fees. In short, CHWs must be salaried, skilled, supervised, and supplied.After years of being marginalised and isolated, CHWs are now organising and establishing in-country networks, largely using digital technology, to achieve these goals. More than 5,000 CHWs and aligned health organisations across 40 countries have come together via the Community Health Impact Coalition to translate shared research and advocacy work into policy change at the national level. Our shared mission is to ensure that all LMICs, including Uganda, adopt policies for professional CHWs.The global community must decide whether it will fairly compensate those who, for decades, have propped up health systems in LMICs, or continue to exploit a largely female workforce. The moral choice is clear. Countries that professionalise CHWs and integrate them into a robust health infrastructure will be in the best position to make progress toward “health for all” – including for the women delivering the bulk of the care. – Project SyndicateLennie Bazira is Policy Director of the Community Health Impact Coalition. Prossy Muyingo is a community-health worker in Uganda and was named a 2023 Heroine of Health by Women in Global Health.

Olympic 1,500m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen and his two brothers Henrik and Philip accused their father and former coach Gjert of abusing them on Friday, a charge he denied.“We grew up with a very aggressive and authoritarian father, who used physical violence and threats as part of his upbringing,” they wrote in an article published in the Norwegian daily VG. “We still feel a sense of discomfort and fear that we have felt since childhood,” the Norwegian brothers added.The siblings were coached by father Gjert until the Covid-delayed Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021 after which they ended the partnership. “We had more or less accepted that. We have lived with it, and in adulthood we have moved on. At least we thought so. In retrospect, we realise that it was naive,” they said.“But two years ago, the same aggression and physical punishment happened again. That was the last straw. From that moment on, we decided to break with our father. It then became impossible for us to continue working with him as a coach.”Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen, 23, is the most successful and the youngest of the three brothers, with a double world championship title in the 5000m in 2022 and 2023. His brothers Henrik, 32, and Philip, 30, were European champions in the 1500m in 2012 and 2016.Their father denied the accusations, assuring the newspaper in a message sent by his lawyer that he had “never resorted to violence” against them. “I am far from perfect as a father and husband, but I am not violent,” he added. “This is a tragic situation for my family”.The Norwegian police said they were studying the facts to determine whether there were grounds to open an investigation into the allegations of violence. After breaking with his sons, Gjert Ingebrigtsen caused a storm in Norwegian athletics by starting to train another runner, Narve Gilja Nordas. He has been denied accreditation by the Norwegian Athletics Association for the World Indoor Championships next March in Glasgow and for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

In the last two years, a series of international summits have focused on the future of the global financial architecture. But as we convened in Marrakesh for the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, many were asking whether it made sense to try to fix the existing system. Some were already convinced that this is neither possible nor desirable.Let’s prove them wrong.We arrived in Marrakesh four months after leaders gathered in Paris for the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact, where they laid out four principles that should guide our global efforts. The pillars of the so-called Paris Pact for People and the Planet echoed the finance-related outcomes of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) that took place in Sharm El-Sheikh seven months earlier; and they animated the negotiations at the G20 Summit in New Delhi, the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, and the recently concluded UN General Assembly in New York.What are these principles? First, no country should have to choose between fighting extreme poverty and fighting the climate crisis. Second, country ownership of development and climate-transition strategies is essential, with each country charting its own path according to its specific national circumstances. Third, a shock of concessional finance is needed. And fourth, private investment must be leveraged to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.Do we need figures to appreciate what the Paris Pact has achieved so far? On concessional finance: G20 leaders agreed in September to unlock $200bn in additional lending firepower from multilateral development banks (MDBs).Do we need voices to attest to how fast the global financial system is changing for the better? Here we are. We come from very different countries, Egypt and France, but we are united by the knowledge that we can indeed reshape the existing global financial architecture. In fact, in just the past few years, we have witnessed major steps toward that end. We will keep carrying that effort forward.Two years ago, for example, the implementation of a global fiscal stimulus to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic seemed a formidable challenge. But we managed to reach a global agreement that led to the historic issuance of $650bn worth of special drawing rights (SDRs, the IMF’s reserve currency), and secured a commitment from developed economies to channel 20% of their allocations to the countries that needed the funding most. France went even further, scaling up its reallocation ratio to 40%.Three years ago, who would have thought that all the largest bilateral creditors would coordinate on sovereign-debt treatment for countries hit by a debt crisis? And yet, in 2020, creditors from across the G20 – including China, the US, and the Paris Club – came together to do just that, and the Common Framework for Debt Treatments was born. Though it remains a work in progress, the Common Framework has already done considerable good, such as for Chad and Zambia.Two years ago, climate-finance negotiations were still paralysed by a thorny issue: developed economies’ delay in delivering the $100bn in annual support for climate-change mitigation and adaptation they had promised to their developing-country counterparts. At COP27 in Egypt, we overcame this issue and even agreed to create new financial arrangements, sponsored by the European Union, to address loss and damage.Two years ago, few would have imagined that climate vulnerabilities would be integrated into the core of MDBs’ operating models. Yet today, the largest such institutions, such as the World Bank, are making progress toward this goal. Moreover, some bilateral development partners, such as France and the United Kingdom, have decided to include climate-related clauses in their loans and now allow countries to suspend debt servicing when facing climate disasters.Two years ago, we lacked an innovative toolbox to establish development partnerships in line with the national priorities of the supported country, as per the “country ownership principle.” Now, “country platform” is becoming the new normal. Having served on both sides of such negotiations, we can tell you that this new approach is working. Egypt showed the way with its Nexus of Water, Food, and Energy (NWFE) programme, launched at COP27. France and other development partners have worked this way with Indonesia, Senegal, South Africa, and Vietnam, among others, to build Just Energy Transition Partnerships, which support these countries as they move along their respective paths away from fossil fuels or coal.Two years ago, who could have foreseen a consensus on reforms to the international financial architecture? And yet we enacted game-changing advances in Marrakesh. Echoing the Paris Pact adopted in June, we confirmed that we want to eradicate poverty and ensure a livable planet, and we agreed to further financial support for global public goods, such as public health.This year’s spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington unlocked an additional $50bn for the World Bank. In Marrakesh, some countries launched innovative instruments to boost the Bank’s capacity even further.Almost a year after COP27 in Egypt, the 2023 annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank, hosted by Morocco, proved it once again: where there is political will, there is a way forward. We can make meaningful progress toward a fairer, more efficient international financial system. Rather than attempt to work outside the system by creating alternative fora, we must make the system we have work. – Project Syndicatel Chrysoula Zacharopoulou is French Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships. Rania Al-Mashat is Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation.