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The International Monetary Fund said yesterday it sees some signs of stabilisation in China’s economy from recent data, but believes the country can accelerate growth over the medium term if it takes steps to reform its economy to rebalance from investment toward consumer spending.Chief spokesperson Julie Kozack told a regular news briefing that the IMF still believes China can achieve around 5% growth this year, with detailed projections due when the IMF publishes its World Economic Outlook during IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Marrakech, Morocco on October 10. The Fund sees China’s GDP growth slowing to about 3.5% over the medium term, but this can be accelerated with economic reforms, she added.The IMF view is roughly in line with private forecasters as China’s recovery from Covid-19 lockdowns falters and a massive downturn in its property sector weighs on consumer demand. There is also a debt overhang from a decades-long infrastructure binge and depressed private firms have been reluctant to invest. Some analysts see growing risk that China will drift into an era of Japan-like stagnation with an ageing population and slowing productivity growth.China’s slowdown has some government advisers in Beijing calling for deeper reforms, while others are advocating more robust state spending to bolster growth. Kozack said that after a major slowdown since the first quarter of 2023, “very recent data has been a bit more mixed with some signs of stabilisation”. “We expect that China’s growth will slow to around 3-1/2% against the backdrop of demographic headwinds and slowing productivity growth,” Kozack said.“But we also think that higher growth over the medium term is within reach for China. China should seize the opportunity to rebalance its economy through short-term macroeconomic policy support and medium term reforms.”The IMF believes it is “vital” for its shareholders to reach a deal this year to increase its quota-based lending resources to deal with growing global economic shocks, Kozack said yesterday.Kozack told a regular press briefing that the Fund’s quota review will be a hot topic at the IMF-World Bank annual meetings next month in Marrakech. This will include a US proposal for IMF member countries to contribute more quota funds in proportion to their current shareholdings, without altering the current formula, she said.

The US economy maintained a fairly solid pace of growth in the second quarter and activity appears to have accelerated this quarter, but a looming government shutdown and an ongoing strike by auto workers are dimming the outlook for the rest of 2023.Inflation also remains elevated and tight labour market conditions continue to prevail, with the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rising slightly last week, the reports showed yesterday.Some economists believe the economy’s resilience combined with high inflation could give the Federal Reserve ammunition to raise interest rates again in November. Others, however, expect the darkening cloud over the economy would discourage the US central bank from tightening monetary policy further.“The big news is not that nothing has changed, but that the economy remains resilient, inflation remains elevated and the Fed’s worst-case scenario, stagflation, has been avoided for now,” said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer at Independent Advisor Alliance in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Given how much the Fed has raised rates, it’s impressive that the economy is still growing at this pace.”Gross domestic product increased at an unrevised 2.1% annualised rate last quarter, the government said in its third estimate of GDP for the April-June period. That was in line with economists’ expectations. A downgrade to growth in consumer spending to a lacklustre 0.8% rate from the previously reported 1.7% pace was offset by a sharp upward revision to business investment in factories amid a push by the Biden administration to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to the US.Households spent less on utilities and motor vehicle maintenance and repairs as well as on furnishings and long-lasting household equipment, clothing and footwear than previously estimated.Growth for the first quarter was raised to a 2.2% rate from the previously reported 2.0% pace. The economy is expanding at a pace well above what Fed officials regard as the non-inflationary growth rate of around 1.8%. Since March 2022, the US central bank has raised its benchmark overnight interest rate by 525 basis points to the current 5.25%-5.50% range.The government also revised GDP data from 2017. The economic picture was little changed from 2017 to 2022, with GDP growing at an average annual rate of 2.2%, up from the previously estimated 2.1% pace. The revisions also showed the economy performing much better when measured from the income side than previously reported. Some economists had seized on the gap between GDP and gross domestic income to argue that the economy was not as strong as the data suggested. Americans still have more savings accumulated during the Covid-19 pandemic than previously thought and corporate profits were also revised up.“Overall it now looks like there is more ‘excess saving’ currently left over for consumers than we had seen before the latest revisions, which is a favourable sign for the economy,” said Daniel Silver, an economist at JPMorgan in New York. “Upward revisions to recent data on corporate profits also are a favourable sign with respect to the durability of the expansion.” Growth estimates for the July-September quarter are currently as high as a 4.9% rate.Bitter infighting among Republicans in the US House of Representatives over spending, however, could lead to a government shutdown, sapping momentum in the fourth quarter.Hundreds of thousands of federal workers will be furloughed and a wide range of services, from financial oversight to medical research, will be suspended if Congress does not provide funding for the new fiscal year that starts on October 1.Goldman Sachs estimated that the shutdown would reduce fourth-quarter GDP growth by two-tenths of a percentage point for each week it lasts, though the per-week effect would depend on the duration of the shutdown.

Italy is under growing market scrutiny as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni prepares a difficult 2024 budget, with investors dismayed by government moves affecting sectors from banks to airlines.The new economic targets will provide the framework for a budget in which Meloni will attempt to keep her tax-cutting promises while also lowering the fiscal deficit.The task is made all the harder by a weakening growth outlook and costly financial incentives for green home improvements which were introduced long before she took office but continue to weigh on public accounts.“This budget is Meloni’s first real economic test since she came to power last October,” said Tim Jones, eurozone analyst for market consultancy firm Medley Advisors.“With the European Central Bank backing off as a buyer of Italian bonds she’s now going to have to make the kind of choices that have slow-punctured every other Italian coalition for the last 30 years.”Meloni has much less room for manoeuvre than when she hiked deficit targets in her first budget a year ago.Now there is a growing emphasis on fiscal consolidation at the European level, with governments negotiating over new fiscal rules to be introduced next year after they were suspended in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.This comes amid signs of souring market sentiment towards Italy, something Meloni can ill afford as long as she needs buyers for a public debt equal to about 142% of national output, proportionally the second largest in the eurozone after Greece.The gap between the yields on Italian benchmark 10-year BTP bonds and safer German Bunds has risen to around 1.86 percentage points (186 basis points), the widest since late May.“The supportive factors that allowed the spread to reach our 160 basis point bull-case scenario have vanished,” Morgan Stanley said this month in a note to clients. “We expect higher fiscal deficits and weaker growth.”It forecast the spread would rise to 200-210 basis points by the end of the year. Italy now expects this year’s deficit to overshoot at around 5.5% of GDP compared with a 4.5% official target, sources have told Reuters.After a cautious start, Meloni’s rightist government began raising investors’ eyebrows when it repeatedly attacked the European Central Bank over its interest rate hikes, and then refused to sign off on an EU reform of its bailout fund.Italy is the only EU country holding out against reform of the fund, called the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), with its ruling coalition concerned the proposed changes will make it more likely Rome will have to restructure its debt.Unease over Meloni’s economic vision spiked last month when the government announced an unexpected windfall tax on bank profits which hit lenders’ shares before various attempts at clarification quelled market panic but not uncertainty. The move prompted a flurry of calls from worried international investors, a top Italian banker told Reuters on condition of anonymity, and forced asset managers back from their holidays to deal with the market rout. Episodes targeting airlines and investors in Italy’s €307bn ($326.74bn) bad loan market have followed a similar pattern.Last week the government dialled down plans to cap air fares for flights to Italian islands after airlines including Ryanair challenged the legality of its initial proposal.Roberto Perotti, economics professor at Milan’s Bocconi university, said the proposed limit on air fares showed Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party has “no free-market culture”.Days after the bank tax, Brothers of Italy tabled a plan to allow debtors to pay off their arrears at a discount, effectively setting a profit cap for firms that buy the bad debt from banks to then make money from enforcing its repayment.Meloni subsequently said no measures were planned regarding non-performing loans, but her party’s proposal is still before parliament and uncertainty persists.Meanwhile, economic pitfalls are mounting up. Aside from the budget and the tensions over the ESM, Italy is also struggling to meet policy targets agreed with Brussels to unlock billions of euros of post-pandemic recovery funds.It is not just investors who are fretting about Italy. Two EU central bank governors, also speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters at a recent gathering of EU policymakers that they were concerned about Rome’s public finances.A third said the Bank of Italy’s frequent dovish remarks raise doubts about its inflation-fighting commitment, and a fourth said the ECB should not completely halt its government bond purchases due to the risk of a surge in Italian yields.

The European Union, like much of the rest of the world, is facing powerful economic headwinds. But whereas other major economies, such as China and the United States, are well-positioned to use industrial policies to help counter the challenges they face, the EU faces significant structural impediments on this front.As it stands, EU economic growth is slow and decelerating, with some of the bloc’s economies doing worse than others. It does not help that the drivers of export growth are faltering, partly because of increased competition from China, which is moving rapidly into major industrial sectors like electric vehicles.Moreover, while Europe’s commitment to leading the world on climate action and the clean-energy transition might eventually result in a competitive advantage, it is now acting as an economic impediment – and will continue to do so in the medium term – not least because carbon-intensive industrial sectors dominate exports. The Ukraine war has exacerbated this problem, not only by raising energy costs, but also, and even more so, by forcing the EU rapidly to diversify away from Russian fossil fuels – a very expensive process. As a result, carbon prices in Europe are significantly higher than in other regions.Yet another problem lies in Europe’s technology sectors, which are underdeveloped relative to those in the US and China. Mega-platforms, cloud computing, supercomputing, and the development of advanced artificial intelligence are largely missing from the European economic and tech landscape. The consequences are far-reaching: these are high-growth sectors and important drivers of the structural change and productivity gains upon which an economy’s long-term well-being depends.To make progress on tech, scale matters. For example, it takes a huge amount of computing power to train the most advanced generative-AI models. While it is possible that advances in AI technology will reduce the requirements in this area, the idea that limited computing power would not hamper progress is a bad bet. In any case, mega-platforms are currently the only entities with the required computing power (with the possible exception of the US federal government).And it is the US federal government – not US states – that dominates investment in science and technology. This is particularly notable if one considers that California’s economy, which totalled $3.6tn in 2022, is larger than every national economy in the EU except Germany’s (worth roughly $4tn). No US state, not even California, could afford the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, which supports semiconductor research, development, manufacturing, and workforce development.The US government recognises that, in a federal system, decentralisation is a recipe for underinvestment. It also leads to inefficiency, since state-level investment inevitably targets local actors, whereas federal investment is distributed based on competitive merit in the wider economy. In today’s context, where anything short of large-scale structural transformation implies relative stagnation, the costs of decentralisation are particularly high. This is true not only for tech, but also for national security and defence.Herein lies the problem for Europe. While China and the US take advantage of scale to pursue industrial policies that include large-scale investment in critical sectors, the EU struggles to follow suit, owing to its decentralised fiscal policies and rules limiting government subsidies to industry.The EU’s 2021 Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) – a €723bn ($769bn) programme aimed at mitigating the worst effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and advancing structural change, growth, and stability in the digital age – was a step in the right direction. But it had serious flaws.Imagine if, in the US, all investment under the CHIPS and Science Act and the (misleadingly titled) Inflation Reduction Act was distributed to states in proportion to their size, to be deployed in accordance with pre-approved proposals, which all 50 states had been required to submit before any funding was disbursed. This would clearly be inefficient, yet it is essentially the approach taken by the RRF.The point is not to criticise the RRF, which was established as a response to an immediate set of common challenges and proved to be far more constructive than the fiscal response to the 2008 global financial crisis and the European debt crisis that followed. Rather, it is to highlight the constraints associated with long-term European public investment.Today, a new European investment programme is urgently needed; but, unlike the RRF, it must be neither limited nor temporary. If Europe is to achieve growth and dynamism in the twenty-first century, federal investments must be expanded and made permanent. They should be funded through the issuance of EU sovereign debt, and administered centrally.In a recent commentary, former European Central Bank President and former prime minister of Italy Mario Draghi argues that the prospects for fiscal union in Europe are improving, because “the nature of the needed fiscal integration” has changed considerably since the euro’s creation. Instead of federal fiscal “stabilisation,” Europe needs to mobilise “vast investments” – in defence, the green transition, and digitisation – in a “short time frame.” Though this does not demand full fiscal centralisation – no federal structure would achieve that, anyway – it does mean that Europe must find a way to federalise critical investment in public goods that produce shared benefits.This would greatly enhance the competitiveness and dynamism of European economies, enabling them to avoid prolonged stagnation. More concretely, it would help to ensure that the EU’s talented people – especially the young – have the opportunities they need to reach their potential. — Project SyndicateMichael Spence, a Nobel laureate in economics, is Emeritus Professor of Economics and a former dean of the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University.

China’s teenage skateboarders, Japan’s cyclists and a Thai eSports player bagged golds on day four of the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Wednesday.At the skate park, 13-year-old Cui Chenxi became China’s youngest Asian Games gold medallist when she won the women’s street event. With an eye-catching performance featuring several ‘Ollies’ and a huge move off a high rail, Cui took gold ahead of compatriot Zeng Wenhui, 18, with Japanese 16-year-old Miyu Ito taking bronze. “I did quite well today,” Cui said modestly.Cui, who hails from China’s eastern Shandong province, only took up skateboarding in 2020 when China’s Covid restrictions meant she could not practice rollerblading, which she began as a three-year-old. The street competition involves skaters performing daring tricks on a course that has features that resemble an urban environment including rails and gaps.In bright, warm and humid conditions, which felt even hotter because of the skate park’s innate lack of greenery, scores of dragonflies shared air time with the competitors as they performed their tricks. The skaters did two ‘runs’ followed by five individual ‘tricks’. Each athlete’s highest scoring run and two highest scoring tricks were then added together to reach a final score.Margielyn Didal, who won gold for the Philippines at the 2018 Asian Games, is still only 24 yet she seemed like a veteran with all her competitors in the final 18 or under. “I don’t feel old because I’m also a bit childish, I just want to mess around,” she said, after an injury in the final meant she finished last of the eight skaters.In the men’s final, another 13-year-old and hot favourite for the title, Ginu Onodera, was in the lead after the “run” section. But the Japanese failed to land a single of his “tricks” and so dropped down to seventh.China’s Zhang Jie, 16, won the gold, making that three golds out of a possible four for the host nation at the skate park. “I felt very excited and happy to win the gold medal,” Zhang said. “I never saw it coming.”On the opening day of men’s cricket, Nepal broke a host of records on their way to beating Mongolia by 273 runs. That included their 314-3 total which was the first time any international team has gone past 300 in this format. Nepal beat the previous highest T20 men’s international innings of 278-3 by Afghanistan against Ireland in 2019.Teenager Kushal Malla, batting number three, spearheaded the onslaught by crashing the fastest T20 international century, off 34 balls. Among the other records they racked up, Dipendra Singh Airee hit a scarcely believable eight sixes in an unbeaten 52 off 10 balls.The powerful 23-year-old raced to his fifty off nine balls, another T20 world record and one that should stand in perpetuity because it is mathematically impossible to reach the landmark any quicker. Nepal’s 26 sixes in the innings was also the best ever. Mongolia, whose women’s team were bowled out for just 15 at the Asian Games last week, were dismissed for only 41 in 13.1 overs. Much sterner tests await for Nepal, with India and Pakistan both in the draw.In the velodrome, Japan were dominant winning all three golds on offer on day four, in the women’s keirin and the men’s and women’s team pursuit. “We were actually already celebrating during the last three or four laps,” said Naoki Kojima, from the men’s pursuit team.But China’s medal tally continued to far exceed all of the others. On Wednesday the hosts won golds across the board including in gymnastics, sailing, chess, beach volleyball, chess, taekwondo, shooting and Wushu.Thailand won the Asian Games’ first gold medal for the online version of the beautiful game. In an all-Thai final Teedech Songsaisakul beat his compatriot and close friend Phatanasak Varanan 2-0 to take the gold in the online soccer game EA Sports FC Online, with South Korea’s Kwak Junhyouk picking up bronze. China won the Games’ first eSports gold on Tuesday in the ‘Arena of Valor’ multiplayer battle game.

World number two Carlos Alcaraz said on Wednesday his “beautiful battle” with Novak Djokovic at the top of men’s tennis was driving him on as he prepared for the China Open in Beijing.Alcaraz beat top-rated Djokovic in a memorable Wimbledon final in July and could close the gap on the Serb at the top of the rankings with a strong performance in the Chinese capital. Asked by AFP at a media briefing on Wednesday if his tussle with Djokovic was giving him extra impetus, Alcaraz said: “Yes, of course.”“We have a really beautiful battle for the number one spot after the great performance Djokovic had in the American season,” the Spaniard said.“For me, the number one spot is one of the main goals,” he said.Alcaraz is the top seed for the China Open and will likely kick off his campaign with a match against a qualifier today.Djokovic, who won the US Open this month, is a notable absence from a tournament that has still lured a host of big names.They include Daniil Medvedev – runner-up in the United States – who faces American powerhouse Tommy Paul in a tough first-round draw. Medvedev, ranked third in the world, said at a briefing on Wednesday a “competitive” field was pushing him to finish the season strongly.“Sometimes the end of the season can be tricky because all the Grand Slams are finished, so you need to find this motivation,” the Russian said. “The motivation is... to continue proving to yourself that you can win these big tournaments, big titles, against big opponents,” he said.World number four Holger Rune will also take on Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada in the first round. Other leading participants include Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev and Jannik Sinner.International tennis has returned to China this year after Beijing ended its years-long, isolationist zero-Covid policy.The China Open is being held for the first time since 2019 and follows men’s and women’s tournaments in the cities of Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Chengdu.The women’s tour is back in China after its global governing body ended its boycott of the country. The WTA had suspended its engagements there after Chinese player Peng Shuai made assault allegations against a top government official.

Adviser to HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) HE Dr Majed bin Mohamed al-Ansari has said that Qatar's participation in the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA) meetings in New York, was an opportunity to highlight its global role and affirm its belief in international multilateral action, as a foreign policy pillar.Speaking at the weekly press briefing, Dr al-Ansari said that Qatar's participation in foreign international forums was a cornerstone of its diplomatic activities, noting that its participation in the 78th UNGA meetings centred on main issues related to Qatari foreign policy, including mediation and conflict resolution, development issues, and participation in regional meetings.In a related context, Dr al-Ansari highlighted HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani's visit to New York, where he held 18 bilateral meetings with many officials on the sidelines of the UNGA meetings. He added that HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi held seven bilateral meetings.HE the Minister of State for International Co-operation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lolwah bint Rashid AlKhater and HE the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh al-Khulaifi held several bilateral meetings, he added.One of the key meetings in this context was Qatar's participation in the SDGs Summit, funded by the State in partnership with the Education Above All Foundation (EAA), Dr al-Ansari added, noting that HE al-Muraikhi and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohamed inaugurated Qatar's pavilion, which focused on promoting development and peace internationally to achieve SDGs.Qatari senior officials held over 15 meetings in the UNGA, all of which focused on education, peace and stability, the Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan, post-Covid-19 pandemic recovery, and support for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), as well as other meetings on the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC), mediation and sustainable development, in addition to the Security Council session on Ukraine, he added.Dr al-Ansari highlighted the many paramount side meetings held on the sidelines of the 78th UNGA, such as the participation in several seminars and conferences, including the Middle East Global Summit, and others. (QNA)

Restriction-free policies in tourism benefit countries in terms of economic growth, job creation, cultural exchange, and environmental conservation..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[81786]**A recent report by UN’s specialised agency - United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), indicates international tourism has recovered from the worst crisis in history as visitor arrivals reached 84% of pre-pandemic levels between January and July of this year. As growing numbers of countries around the world ease restrictions on travel, tourism has become a major beneficiary, UNWTO says.Currently, some 197 countries are without any Covid-19 travel restrictions and they represent 89% of all countries in the world, the UN body says.By the end of July, international tourist arrivals reached 84% of pre-pandemic levels.Some 700mn tourists travelled internationally between January and July 2023, 43% more than in the same months of 2022.Data reveal that July of this year was the busiest month, with 145mn international travellers recorded, about 20% of the seven-month total.All regions of the world enjoyed strong rates of tourism recovery over the first seven months of this year, driven by demand for international travel from several large source markets.The Middle East, GCC countries in particular, reported the best results in January-July this year, with arrivals 20% above pre-pandemic levels. The region remains the only one to exceed 2019 levels so far.Europe, the world’s largest destination region, reached 91% of pre-pandemic levels, supported by robust intra-regional demand and travel from the US.Africa recovered 92% of pre-crisis visitors this seven-month period, and the Americas 87%, according to available data.In Asia and the Pacific region, recovery accelerated to 61% of pre-pandemic arrival levels after opening many destinations and source markets at the end of 2022 and earlier this year.If the current trend continues, industry experts say 2023 would see a remarkable recovery in tourism and global travel.UNWTO figures point to international tourism remaining well on track to reach 80% to 95% of pre-pandemic levels by the year-end.Prospects for the last quarter of the year point to continued recovery, according to the latest UNWTO Confidence Index, though at a more moderate pace following the peak travel season of June-August.These results will be driven by the still pent-up demand and increased air connectivity, particularly in the Pacific region, where recovery is still subdued.The reopening of China and other Asian markets and destinations is expected to continue boosting travel both within the region and other parts of the world.That said, tourism recovery faces challenges due to geo-political issues as well as economic concerns. In many countries, persisting inflation and rising oil prices have translated into higher transport and accommodation costs.In many major markets, particularly in the US and Europe, this could weigh on spending patterns over the remainder of the year, with tourists increasingly seeking value for money, travelling closer to home and making shorter trips by road.UNWTO data clearly attest the fact that when a country implements restriction-free policies, it encourages more tourists to visit there. Travellers are more likely to choose destinations where they don't have to navigate complex entry requirements or face the risk of sudden policy changes.Undoubtedly, tourism is a significant contributor to a country's economy. More tourists mean more spent money on accommodation, food, transportation, and various activities. This injection of foreign currency helps stimulate economic growth.With an influx of tourists, there is often an increased demand for services like hospitality, transportation, and local experiences. This creates newer jobs, reduces unemployment and improves livelihoods for local communities.Restriction-free policies provide a favourable environment for local businesses, especially those in the tourism industry. Hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and other businesses that rely on tourism benefit from increased customer traffic.To cater to the increasing number of tourists, countries invariably invest in infrastructure development. This includes improvements to transportation networks, airports, and the overall tourist experience. These upgrades benefit both tourists and locals.For any country, dependence on a single industry or an export commodity is risky. Tourism is one sector that provides an additional source of revenue, helping to diversify and stabilise economic growth.Undoubtedly, restriction-free policies enhance a country's global image and diplomatic relations, making them an essential component of a thriving tourism industry.

The 9th of October 2019 witnessed a prominent event and a new achievement added to Qatar's records, when at that time HE Minister of Municipality and Environment Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie formally received the flag of organizing the International Horticultural Exhibition (EXPO 2023) from 2019 organizer China, in the presence of senior officials of the International Horticultural Exhibition as well as representatives of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). This marked the first step to Expo 2023 Doha.Qatar receiving the right to host this event reflects international confidence in its efforts and its skillful organization of major global events at various levels, in addition to its pivotal role in coordinating global efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.Qatar seized the opportunity during its participation in Expo 2019 Beijing four years ago, sending a clear message when its pavilion won first place in outstanding performance, stating that Expo Doha will be a milestone in excellence by holding this global event in a manner consistent with international requirements and global standards in terms of well organization and punctuality.COVID-19 affected the holding of the event as it was postponed for two years and new dates were set; Expo Doha will be organized from Oct. 2, 2023 to March 28, 2024.Work did not stop during the two years, as the cadres of the relevant authorities in Qatar, with the support of the country's leadership and relevant government ministries, mobilized their efforts and raced against time to present the best possible version of the event that befits the undeniable reputation of Qatar when it comes to events organization.Expo 2023 Doha comes months after the conclusion of one of the most successful global events hosted by Doha, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The event was heavily talked about, and everyone still remembers the beautiful moments and the masterful touches that Qatar spent years working on, as well as the strenuous efforts, acquired experience and huge projects, which all gained international praise from various parties that attended and watched the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Regardless of its size, Qatar overcame its geographical challenges and pushed towards large horizons, becoming a bright spot at various levels. The country's leadership and human cadres proved their ability to confront the biggest global challenges with open and generous arms towards those who are near and far.Qatar is aware that it is the first country with a desert climate in the Middle East and North Africa to host an International Horticultural Exhibition with an A1 classification, which reflects the level of confidence in the country's ability to hold the event regardless of the challenges. The event will attract hundreds of thousands of visitors who are looking for new innovations, anticipated projects and unprecedented solutions, at a time when the world is in dire need of help to face multiple climate threats, which recently had a major negative impact on the region reflected in the increase of the area of desertification, dry seasons and the decrease of green spaces. There is no doubt that Qatar is aiming to include its history and heritage in this global event to reflect the nobility of its identity, as the design for the Qatari pavilion at the Expo 2023 Doha is inspired by one of the country's most important geographical landmarks Ras Abrouq, a peninsula consisting of white cliffs carved by winds and natural erosion located on the western coast of Qatar. According to historians, Ras Abrouq includes the remains of human settlements dating back to prehistoric times. This reflects the organizers' goal to have a model that combines heritage and modern design, where a sophisticated design and Qatari art will be embodied.Expo 2023 Doha will be held under the theme "Green Desert, Better Environment". Spanning 1.7 million square meters in the heart of Doha Al Bidda Park, most of the necessary infrastructure and facilities have been completed. The organizers expect that Expo 2023 Doha will attract three million visitors from more than eighty countries in an unforgettable 179-day event that will include daily and weekly activities that befit the international visitors and their diverse cultures.Qatar's determination to overcome the challenge of holding the event in the best way stems from the accumulation of experiences gained from organizing successive global events over the past few years, which aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030 that places environmental management and sustainable development at the top of the list of goals and priorities. Qatar is also committed to providing a unique experience to the global community, the country's citizens and the Gulf region. Doha will be a meeting place of different cultures united by one noble goal of improving the quality of climate, water and soil, as they are essential basics and resources that must be preserved.Qatar does not only stand out with holding of international festivals and conferences but also their contents. The search for innovative solutions at Expo 2023 Doha will be one of the most important challenges that experts are anticipating, in addition to its contribution to transforming the arid landscapes in different regions of the world to rich and environmentally friendly areas, as well as increasing the green area.Expo 2023 Doha will try to answer big questions surrounding the earth's future through showcasing the modern methods by leading companies in the field of alternative energy, environment, agriculture and horticulture, as well as the best products using the most important methods that takes into account sustainability and environmental awareness, in addition to artificial intelligence (AI) which has begun to insert itself in many aspects of life. As the official intergovernmental institutions turn to Expo 2023 Doha to come up with modern ideas to overcome the serious and ever-expanding environmental risks, the organizers of the exhibition will also provide opportunities and spaces for non-governmental organizations to present their messages and products to a large and wide group of visitors. Environmental and sustainable agriculture activists are looking forward to partaking in the exhibition's agreements or activities regarding reducing carbon emissions, environment development, agriculture, preserving rainforests, clean water, purity of air and soil and combating pollution, all in order to reach the safety threshold and achieve food security for future generations.The organizers of Expo 2023 Doha affirm that the event will commit to enhancing the economy of Qatar and the region, strengthen cultural ties, create a meeting point for diverse people and ideas from all around the world, as well as accelerate the pace of creativity, research and scientific progress in the field of digital technologies related to modern agriculture to produce safe and sustainable food that is affordable to all people. Hand in hand, all possible means must be taken to reduce the negative impact of climate change on the planet. The organizers also hope that Expo 2023 Doha will be a platform that attracts visitors from various continents, as it generates many opportunities for international cooperation and encourages new partnerships. The event will also undoubtedly be a major tourist attraction for visitors from the Gulf and the Arab region, therefore it will strengthen the tourism in Qatar regionally and contribute to building a society based on sustainability throughout the Gulf countries, especially since the region has an integrated structure of airports, ports, hotels and road networks with high international classifications. (QNA)

Hamad Medical Corp (HMC) was awarded the Gold Initiative Certificate for Digital Transformation in the category of Innovations in Telehealth.The award was given for the impactful work of the National Mental Health Helpline (NMHH), operated by HMC’s Mental Health Service, in recognition of the remarkable contribution to transforming access to care, during and post the Covid-19 pandemic.Representing HMC at the award ceremony were Mohamad Mubarak al-Noimi, director of the Office of the Minister of Public Health; Ali al-Khater, communications adviser to the Minister of Public Health and chair of the Supreme Committee for Healthcare Communications; and Saad al-Dosari, assistant executive director of Corporate Communications at HMC.The NMHH is a free of charge, specialised mental health service, consistently receiving over 1,200 calls per month and offering virtual consultations. The NMHH can offer both phone or video consultations.Dr Majid Abdulla, chairman of psychiatry and medical director of the Mental Health Service at HMC, said: “There was no similar service available in the country, before the launch of the helpline, which offers easy and confidential access for people to mental health assessment and support with rapid response. It was launched in April 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and has since been consolidated as a key access point to mental health support for the population of Qatar.”The Arab Hospitals Federation said this award is dedicated to honour the healthcare sector, leaders and institutions committed to implement innovation and technologies, reinforce the investments, improve patient outcomes, enhance efficiency, reduce costs, increase access to care, advance research and to lead healthcare sector towards digital transformation.Hassan al-Hail, HMC’s chief communications officer, said: “Digital health transformation makes hospitals more patient-centred, efficient, and cost-effective, while also improving the quality of care provided to patients. Technology is one of the best ways for hospitals to achieve these goals. We are honoured to receive this prestigious award from the Arab Hospitals Federation. I congratulate everyone from HMC’s Mental Health Service for their remarkable efforts in establishing the helpline and boosting access to care for people in Qatar experiencing stress, anxiety and other psychological distress.” According to the anonymous feedback from users collected over the past few years, reports indicate 81% rate of satisfaction with the service; 90% reported staff are courteous; 79% reported that the service was responsive to their needs; 83% stated they would use the service again and 83% would recommend the service to family or friends.

After India’s G20 summit and the UN General Assembly this month, world leaders will attend the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in Marrakesh, before heading to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai. But there is little optimism that these summits will deliver meaningful progress in tackling our greatest challenges, not because of any lack of resolve, but because the global rulebook we have been following since the end of World War II is no longer fit for purpose.The world’s growing fragmentation was confirmed at the G20 summit. Though the meeting signalled India’s arrival as a major power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s moment of triumph was fleeting. The summit did little to prevent the 2020s from almost certainly becoming a low-growth decade.Despite the African Union’s admission as a full member of the G20, the Global South received scant relief for its crushing debts. And though G20 members are responsible for 75% of global carbon emissions, the summit failed to address the scale of the climate financing gap. Acting on the findings of the G20’s Capital Adequacy Review, the Biden administration has committed to secure an additional $25bn for the World Bank; but that figure falls far short of the $260bn annual fillip that former US Treasury Secretary Lawrence H Summers recommended in the Singh-Summers report to the G20 this year.Instead, the summit concludes a year in which China and the West have been erecting new “iron curtains” in technology, trade, investment, and data – foreshadowing a future of “one world, two systems.”With this new protectionism came a downgrading of the G20. Whereas former US president Barack Obama recognised the G20 as the premier forum for global economic cooperation, current US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan sees the G7 (Europe, America, and Japan) as the “steering committee of the free world.”The G20’s relegation is a by-product of the shift from a unipolar to a multipolar world, from a hyper-globalised economy to one that might be called “globalisation lite,” and from neoliberalism toward neo-mercantilism. For the last 30 years, economics determined political decision-making. Now politics – and nationalist politics at that – is driving policymaking. Zero-sum politics is triumphing over “win-win” economics.In 1999, American hegemony was at its peak, and the US Federal Reserve and US Treasury were happy to be called “the committee to save the world.”When the global economy unravelled in 2008, the United Kingdom and others called on G20 member-state heads of government to come together for the first time. At the London G20 in 2009, UK was keen that China join with the West in buttressing the global economy with $1tn of support. The world was heading in a more multipolar direction.The London summit also commissioned India’s then-prime minister, Manmohan Singh, to oversee a review of the prevailing international architecture. Then, at the Pittsburgh summit in the Fall of 2009, the G20 agreed on a global compact for growth, to be spearheaded by the IMF, which would publish annual assessments to identify both the risks facing the global economy and the opportunities for coordinated action.But as the West retreated into austerity policies and embraced new forms of protectionism, these initiatives fizzled out. Under Donald Trump, the United States broke from its tradition of (usually) acting multilaterally, and pursued unilateralism even as a multipolar world was coming into play.However, climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the energy and food crisis of 2022 confirm that the issues we face today are truly global problems in need of global solutions. Progress cannot be achieved by bilateral and regional interventions alone; it requires globally coordinated action.In elevating the G7 at the expense of the G20, we need to ask what happens the next time there is a global financial crisis and we cannot find a way to bring all the major players together. What chance will we have of progress in reducing global emissions and preventing “free riders” in a world of “everyone for himself”? What chance do we have of dealing with global inequality if countries see the world only in terms of “us versus them,” and where there are no forums in which to find common ground?These rare moments where preparation meets opportunity are when we must act together. Today’s leaders must not wait for a catastrophe before being forced into action.

China won the first gold medal of the Hangzhou Asian Games and then cleaned up in the swimming events yesterday, breaking several records in the process.By the end of a highly successful day one for the hosts, they had pocketed 20 of 31 golds, with South Korea their nearest challengers with five.China’s medal rush began when Zou Jiaqi and Qiu Xiuping dominated the women’s lightweight double sculls rowing for the first gold of the Games, finishing almost 10 seconds ahead of Uzbekistan.It was especially satisfying for Zou, who hails from Hangzhou.“I am very excited as it’s my first Asian Games,” she said, clutching her gold medal.The home nation won six of the seven golds at the Fuyang Water Sports Centre rowing venue with only Hong Kong’s Lam San-tung and Wong Wai-chun getting in on the party by winning the men’s pairs.More golds rolled in for China in shooting, modern pentathlon, wushu and artistic gymnastics, in which they triumphed in the men’s team event.But they saved the best for last, in swimming, in what is always one of the most prestigious events at the Games and has extra significance with the Paris Olympics less than a year away.Olympic champion Zhang Yufei was among the winners as China romped home in all seven races on the opening night in the pool, smashing a slew of Asian records.Zhang successfully defended her 200m butterfly crown, cruising to victory ahead of teammate Yu Liyan in a new Games-record time of 2min 05.57sec.That has been bettered this year only by Canadian star Summer McIntosh and Australia’s Lizzie Dekkers, as Zhang builds towards defending her Olympic title in Paris.“I felt I could have gone even faster,” she warned.“My first mission was to take the gold for China. Next was to beat Jiao Liuyang’s Games record, and I also did that.“I actually felt the pool was a little slow for me and I told my coach that I wasn’t feeling in good form.”The first official day of the 19th Asian Games also saw medals handed out in fencing, judo and taekwondo.Hong Kong’s Edgar Cheung, already a hero to many in the southern Chinese city, added Asian Games gold to the one he won at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago in the men’s foil.Two of South Korea’s five golds came in taekwondo, with Kang Wan-jin winning the men’s individual poomsae and Cha Yea-eun doing likewise in the women’s event.Other sports beginning on Sunday included boxing, rugby sevens, hockey and eSports – where superstars such as South Korea’s “Faker” are expected to draw huge crowds for its debut as a full Asian Games medal event.President Xi Jinping opened the Games on Saturday night after a delay of a year because of China’s now-abandoned zero-Covid policy. With more than 12,000 competitors from 45 nations and territories, the Asian Games has more participants than the Olympics.They will battle for medals in 40 sports across 54 venues.Most events take place in Hangzhou, a city of 12mn people near Shanghai, but some sports are being staged in cities as far afield as Wenzhou, 300 kilometres (186 miles) to the south.