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The International Literacy Day is an occasion commemorated by the entire human community on an annual basis since 1967. The annual celebration aims to remind the public of the importance of eradicating illiteracy as an important means of spreading knowledge, eradicating ignorance, and as a matter of dignity and human rights. It is also an important occasion for the advancement of society in a sustainable manner to be more familiar with reading and writing skills, which have become indispensable in today's world that is going through a transitional phase that requires concerted efforts.The objectives of International Literacy Day are to promote a world free from illiteracy by improving the basic skills of reading and writing as they are an integral part of the right to education that every human being deserves and that enables them to understand and interpret all matters of life and also facilitates communication and creativity in a world dominated by digital nature. Through it, everyone can participate effectively in society and improves the means of life. Learning allows participation in the labor market, improves health and economic conditions, reduces poverty, and provides more opportunities for a decent life.Despite the progress achieved, literacy challenges still remain as at least 771 million youth and adults around the world still do not possess basic literacy skills, of whom two thirds are women, according to the United Nations. In addition, approximately 103 million children have no access to school and are therefore not learning to basic academics such as how to read, write or count, according to Unesco’s report in 2006.Furthermore, during the Covid-19 pandemic, schools were closed thereby disrupting the education of 62.3 per cent of the world's student population of 1.09 billion. Literacy categories were more affected, as 617 million children and adolescents are not achieving minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics.As the whole world's celebration of International Literacy Day for the year 2022 revolves around the theme of "Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces" and developing a new vision of the fundamental importance of learning to read and write, building resilience and ensuring the provision of quality, fair and comprehensive education for all, the year 2023 celebration is under the theme, Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies, with a view to honoring the innovative programs that won the UNESCO Literacy Prizes coinciding with World Day at its headquarters in Paris.The importance of literacy efforts and annual celebration lies in the fact that it is an engine for sustainable development, in addition to being an integral part of education and a form of lifelong learning based on humanity. Governments, civil society organizations, companies and all those involved in the educational and educational system have an opportunity to highlight the improvements that have occurred on literacy rates, and to think about how to overcome the rest of the literacy challenges facing the world, as the issue of literacy is an essential component of the United Nations 2030 goals for sustainable development.The UNESCO Strategy for Youth and Adult Literacy (2020-2025) pays special attention to the member countries of the Global Alliance for Literacy which focuses on promoting literacy in formal and non-formal settings with four priority areas: strengthening national strategies and policy development on literacy; addressing the needs of disadvantaged groups, particularly women and girls; using digital technologies to expand and improve learning outcomes; and monitoring progress and assessing literacy skills.In the State of Qatar, the educational system has remarkable achievements in the field of literacy and adult education, with illiteracy registering zero percent among school-age students and 0.95 percent in general, according to statistics released the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) in 2020. According to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, a total of 7,676 were registered for adult education programs in the academic year 2021-2022. Adult education students are registered in all public schools, except for the model ones.The Ministry develops a special educational program for adult education, for students who do not meet the requirements of compulsory education (those who are over 18 years old or have finished preparatory school), and for students who have been removed from daytime education (due to marriage, repeated failure, or work), whether they are working or not to encourage them to continue their education.Adult education curricula are divided into approved curricula for daytime education students in government schools from the fifth to twelfth grade, and special curricula for literacy classes (first cycle and second cycle). They also have special textbooks and curricula that differ from daytime education. The Ministry offers a set of privileges to adult education such as special education services for students with disabilities and providing them with the necessary arrangements and facilities to meet their needs and others.Qatar has two adult education tracks- one related to homeschooling where students of both genders are registered and tested in day schools and another optional track for evening classes. In this context, the newly-adopted adult education program in the State of Qatar offers much resilience and attraction sources including the opportunity for students to accomplish their learning within 10 years instead of 12.The State of Qatar witnessed a record and unprecedented expansion in constructing new schools of all stages, an achievement that can be made only in the most advanced countries, in addition to ensuring the quality of education and improving its quality in line with the wise leaderships unrelenting and generous support for all types, sectors and levels of education, leading to well-established educational renaissance concerned about preparing Qatari citizens well equipped with belief, science and knowledge as the main pillar for development and civilized renaissance.In this regard, the State of Qatar launched initiatives and exerted efforts to provide education opportunities for millions of children in poor countries worldwide, and to construct and restore many educational institutions in Asia and Africa. At top of these initiatives are initiatives of 'Educate A Child', 'Al Fakhoora' and 'Reach Out to Asia' (ROTA), all of which are affiliated with the Education Above All Foundation that was launched in 2012. Its programs work to ensure that all children in the developing world benefit from their right to education, especially those who are not enrolled in school and currently estimated at 59 million children. The Foundation addresses education issues with a special commitment to the most disadvantaged groups in the world through capacity building, resource mobilization, and the establishment of multiple alliances and partnerships.Qatar's policy to eradicate illiteracy began in 1950s when it established the first adult education and literacy center in 1954 to coincide with the beginning of the educational renaissance in the country. Regular classes were opened in late 1956, as part of the efforts to establish the sub-section of education with several units, including those dedicated to evening classes. In 1976, two girls' schools were inaugurated.The State of Qatar also adopted a 10-year plan (1977-1986) for adult education and illiteracy eradication. Qatar effectively contributed to the implementation of the Arab strategy for illiteracy eradication and preparation of the work plan of the Regional Program for the Universalization and Renewal of Primary Education and the Eradication of Adult Illiteracy in the Arab States (ARABUPEAL). Recent years have also witnessed the exchange of experiences and the development of plans and strategies with global initiatives to modernize the fields of education in general, including the field of adult education and literacy. These initiatives have received praise, appreciation and approval from the world and regional and international organizations.Inspired by the value of science entrenched in Islam, the State of Qatar paid great attention to the educational process and scientific research, with the school dropout rate plummeting to zero percent. These achievements were based on the country's belief that the education and literacy of citizens - the real pillars of developments, is a responsibility to be shouldered in a world full of all types of scientific and vocational knowledge.

Middle Eastern airlines posted a 22.6% increase in July traffic compared to a year ago, International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in its latest report.Capacity rose 22.1% and load factor climbed 0.3 percentage points to 82.6%.IATA noted the post-Covid recovery momentum continued in July for passenger markets.Total traffic in July 2023 (measured in revenue passenger kilometres, or RPKs) rose 26.2% compared to July 2022. Globally, traffic is now at 95.6% of pre-Covid levels.Domestic traffic for July rose 21.5% versus July 2022 and was 8.3% above the July 2019 results. July RPKs are the highest ever recorded, strongly supported by surging demand in the China domestic market.International traffic climbed 29.6% compared to the same month a year ago with all markets showing robust growth. International RPKs reached 88.7% of July 2019 levels.The passenger load factor (PLF) for the industry reached 85.7% which is the highest monthly international PLF ever recorded.“Planes were full during July as people continue to travel in ever greater numbers. Importantly, forward ticket sales indicate that traveller confidence remains high. And there is every reason to be optimistic about the continuing recovery,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 105.8% increase in July traffic compared to July 2022, continuing to lead the regions.Capacity climbed 96.2% and the load factor increased by 3.9 percentage points to 84.5%.European carriers’ July traffic rose 13.8% versus July 2022. Capacity increased 13.6%, and load factor edged up 0.1 percentage points to 87%.North American carriers had a 17.7% traffic rise in July versus the 2022 period. Capacity increased 17.2%, and load factor improved 0.3 percentage points to 90.3%, which was the “highest” among the regions for a second consecutive month.African airlines saw a 25.6% traffic increase in July compared to a year ago, the second highest percentage gain among the regions. July capacity was up 27.4% and load factor fell 1.0 percentage point to 73.9%, the lowest among the regions.For a second month in a row, Africa was the only region to see capacity growth outrun traffic demand, it said.Walsh added, “The Northern Hemisphere summer is living up to expectations for very strong traffic demand. While the industry was largely prepared to accommodate a return to pre-pandemic levels of operations, unfortunately, the same cannot be said for our infrastructure providers.“Performance of some of the key air navigations services providers, for example, has been deeply disappointing for many reasons from insufficient staffing to the failure fiasco of NATS in the UK. These must be promptly corrected. Even more worrying, however, are political decisions by some governments — among them Mexico and the Netherlands — to impose capacity cuts at their major hubs that will most certainly destroy jobs and damage local and national economies. The numbers continue to tell us that people want and need air connectivity. That’s why governments should be working with us so that people can travel safely, sustainably and efficiently.”

China’s exports and imports sank again in August, data showed yesterday, as the onshore yuan fell to the lowest dollar level since 2007.The disappointing yet expected trade figures add to growing pressure on authorities to introduce fresh stimulus for the world’s number two economy even as the data showed some sign of improvement.The threat of recession in Europe and high inflation in many major economies have contributed to a plunge in demand for Chinese goods, which has been compounded by tensions with the US and a move by parts of the West to reduce dependence on Beijing.On top of that, a much-anticipated strong recovery following the lifting of painful zero-Covid rules at the end of last year has run off the tracks, while the gargantuan property sector continues to teeter.All of this has given leaders a headache as they try to reinvigorate growth while at the same time trying to recalibrate the economy from one driven by state investment to one that is consumer-led and more sustainable.Customs figures yesterday showed they have a long way to go to achieve the latter, with imports shrinking 7.3% on-year last month as consumers remained reluctant to purchase while prices fell in July for the first time in more than two years.Exports — which have historically served as a key growth engine for China — sank 8.8%.Still, the pace of contraction in both was slower than the previous month and was better than the nine % drop forecast by economists in a survey by Bloomberg News.Shipments to Western countries in August fell significantly on-year, with US-bound goods diving 17.4% and those to the European Union 10.5% lower.At the same time exports to Russia remained robust — surging 63.2% — demonstrating the continued strength of economic ties between the neighbours despite Moscow’s war in Ukraine.The drop in trade was “in line with expectations”, given persistently weak external demand, economist Zhiwei Zhang of Pinpoint Asset Management said in a note.“The focus of the policymakers is on the domestic economic challenges, particularly the property market,” wrote Zhang.Meanwhile, China’s onshore yuan, whose trade is regulated by Beijing, dropped to its lowest level against the dollar in almost 16 years.At about 0925 GMT, the onshore yuan fell 0.13% to 7.3279 yuan to the US dollar, moments after hitting 7.3284 yuan — which was the lowest level since December 2007.The offshore yuan — which is circulated outside mainland China and is more freely traded than currency in the domestic market — fell 0.19% to 7.3350 to the dollar.“Speculation has increased recently that domestic policymakers could eventually allow the renminbi (yuan) to devalue more significantly to help provide more support for growth from net trade,” said Lee Hardman, currency economist at MUFG bank.“However, their actions to support the renminbi suggest a gradual depreciation path is favoured as they remain wary of encouraging a sharp pick-up in capital outflows,” he added.China’s property sector remains in turmoil, with major developers failing to complete housing projects, triggering protests and mortgage boycotts from homebuyers.Authorities have come under increasing pressure to introduce fresh support after months of debilitating data.Rather than adopt a broad but costly stimulus, Beijing has so far adopted more targeted measures such as easing restrictions on mortgages and cutting key interest rates.But that has left investors and observers frustrated and warning the economy could fall into a period of stagnation similar to that experienced in Japan since an economic bubble burst at the start of the 1990s.More time is needed to determine how effective these policies are in stabilising woes in the property sector and wider economy, suggested Zhang.“We think the policymakers have turned much more proactive than a few months ago,” wrote Zhang.“If the macro momentum doesn’t turn around soon, Beijing will likely launch more policy measures to boost growth in coming months.” Apart from a brief rebound in March and April, China’s exports have been in constant decline since October.In July they fell to their lowest level since 2020, when global demand was hammered by the Covid-19 pandemic.And the drop in imports marked the tenth consecutive month of decline in August, a sign of weak domestic demand.The country’s trade surplus fell to $68.3bn, compared with $80.6bn in the previous month.Gross domestic product grew just 0.8% on-quarter in the April-June period.And youth unemployment reached a record level of more than 20% in June, according to official figures, the publication of which has since beensuspended.

Cancun will host the WTA Finals October 29-November 5, the WTA announcing on Thursday the Mexican resort would stage the season ending tournament after reports that Saudi Arabia was front-runner to land the event. The WTA said in a statement that officials “weighed a number of competitive bids throughout the process” and made a decision “based on multiple factors including player logistics, travel accessibility, venue capacity and a commitment to supporting and showcasing women’s tennis.” The prestigious year-end finale features the top eight singles players and doubles players in the WTA’s Race to the WTA Finals. The news comes after another year of uncertainty as to the location of the Finals, which was held at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, last year. WTA chief Steve Simon said in June the organization was “evaluating” the possibility of taking a tournament to Saudi Arabia, while describing the subject as “difficult and challenging.” Last month Jeddah was confirmed as the venue for the ATP NextGen series until 2027. Some current WTA players, however, including Tunisian Ons Jabeur and American Jessica Pegula, said they thought a tournament there could be part of a push to improve women’s game in the kingdom. Instead, the tournament returns to Mexico for the second time in three years, after Guadalajara hosted in 2021. China’s southern city of Shenzhen had a record-breaking deal to stage the event for 10 years, starting in 2019, when singles champion Ashleigh Barty’s prize of $4.42mn was the highest ever awarded to a player at any tennis event men’s or women’s. But the Covid-19 pandemic and the WTA’s boycott of Chinese venues over concerns for the safety of Chinese player Peng Shuai have meant the Finals have not returned to Shenzhen since. The WTA is set to return to China in September with a 250-level event in Guangzhou and the elite 1000-level China Open in Beijing.

A total of 60 new student-athletes have joined Aspire Academy at the start of the 2023-24 academic year which officially began on Sunday 3 September.The new intake is set to train in seven different sports, with padel the latest sport adopted by the Academy with a total of six student-athletes joining various grades for the new year.Grade 7 welcomes 35 newcomers, with 11 joining Grade 8, there are 4 additions to Grade 9 and a further 5 each in Grades 10 and 11.As well as the six padel players there are 27 footballers, 5 referees, 14 in athletics, 3 squash players, 4 swimmers and one table tennis player.The new academic year is the first since 2020 that will be free of all Covid-19 restrictions something that Aspire Academy’s school principal Jassem Al Jaber is looking forward to.“Let me congratulate all of the students for the new coming year, welcome the newcomers and congratulate the parents,” the principal said as the student-athletes returned to school.“We have had a period of several years when we haven’t been able to be at occupation or carry out all our activities due to Covid-19.“Now with this academic year, we will be back to normal at school and have the two daily training sessions. We are looking forward to the student-athletes being fully active and full of all the energy that we feel here at the Academy.”The principal added that now the school has been re-accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) the staff will continue to meet those standards and improve on them.“Working with students means you need to always be thinking about how you can develop them, how you can make them feel safe,” he explained.“The aim is for them to progress in their sport and with their academics, that's why you need to work daily work with them.”“Our accreditation (with CIS) comes with standards that we had to meet and those are standards you need to continue to deliver.”“We must not only maintain expectations but also raise them as we strive to develop our student-athletes. students more.”“There are always a lot of challenges, but also you will find lots of fun when you work with them as you find solutions to develop them and their skills.”One of the student-athletes returning for his final year after a summer holiday packed with competitions and travelling is pole vaulter Seif Hemeida.Hemeida’s holidays saw him win gold medals at the Asian Under-20 Athletics Championships, the Arab Athletics Championships and the Arab Games as well as competing at the Asian Champions.The 18-year-old also raised his own Qatar record three times from 5.35m, which he set in February, to 5.40m to 5.50m and eventually to 5.51m.Despite the busy schedule in recent weeks, he is confident that he will easily be able to get back into the routine of being back at school as he continues to balance his academic education with his athletics training.“It's very easy to manage it (education and training) because Aspire Academy, do everything for you and they make your routine very easy to follow,” he explained.“They help you to manage your day so we start the day in the school at 7am and then finish around 6.30pm, so we have very little time to think about anything else.”Hemeida is aware of the importance of the academic side of his time at Aspire Academy.“Aspire Academy has already taught me a lot of things, for example when I arrived my English was very bad and Aspire has helped me a lot in that area,” he explained.“Maths is my favourite subject at school and I am thinking about studying business after I graduate from Aspire.”In athletics Hemeida’s next big challenge will be competing for Qatar at the Asian Games in China, which begin on 23 September.Aspire Academy honoured its class of 2023 at a graduation ceremony on Tuesday evening as the academic year drew to a close.A record total of 54 student-athletes became the 16th set of graduates from Aspire Academy.The ceremony took place at the iconic Aspire dome with His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, the Honorary President of the Qatar Football Association, as the guest of honour.Other invitees included representatives from different sports federations as well as from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.Tariq Abdulaziz Al-Naama the Vice President -of the Aspire Zone Foundation, Dr. Abdulaziz Al Kuwari the CEO of Aspetar also attended along with other dignitaries, teachers, coaching staff as well as the parents and friends of the student-athletes.After a recital from the Quran by graduate Younis Mohamed Bala the Academy’s Deputy Director General Ali Salem Afifa spoke on behalf of the Director General.Mr. Afifa stressed the pivotal role that Aspire has played in the development of sport in Qatar since the Academy opened its doors."Since our opening in 2004, the Academy can boast many achievements and has provided a lot of talent and stars to national teams in the various sports that the Academy has in its program,” he said.“We can achieve even more and enjoy further success in various sports with the possibility of adding other sports to those we currently offer."“As important are those graduates who have distinguished themselves academically and educationally and have risen in various fields of work such as medicine, aviation, engineering and others.”Aspire Academy Director of Education and Student Affairs, Badr Al-Hay thanked the guest of honour for his support over the years and hailed the sports federations for their part in developing the student-athletes.He also highlighted the balance that the Academy achieves between academic and sporting development.“Over the years we have developed a curriculum that works for our student-athletes, we have worked to understand and implement measures so they can thrive in the classroom and the sporting arena,” he explained.“We also prepare them for life after the Academy and things like our Leadership Development Programme will help them deal with problems in all aspects of their lives and put them in a position to help others too.”“While we wanted to be recognised as a world-class sports academy, we were also determined that the academic side of Aspire was also recognised and endorsed internationally.”“Our recent re-accreditation by the Council for International Schools proves that we are fulfilling our goal.”“Please never forget that you will always be welcome back at Aspire Academy, please keep in touch and let us share in your successes. We are also here if you need support in the future.”Footballer Saeed Jabir Afifa spoke on behalf of the graduating student-athletes as he offered their gratitude to everyone involved in their time at Aspire Academy.“We will always refer to the hard work done here at Aspire Academy that has inspired, guided and prepared us for the future,” he said.“We are ready for the future. We must also remember that this is just the start and there is a lot of hard work ahead of us if we are to fulfil our dreams.”“Aspire will always be our second home and we will keep in touch. We must also thank our nation for giving us this opportunity to represent them and we are grateful for all your support.:This year the Academy is celebrating graduates across nine sports disciplines – football (23) football referees (2), athletics (18), table tennis (3), squash (2), fencing (1), swimming (2), shooting (2) and motorsport (1).This year’s graduates brings the total of student-athletes to have graduated from Aspire Academy since it launched in 2004 to 594.These graduates can now look forward to furthering their sporting and academic careers and follow in the footsteps of Aspire Academy’s list of illustrious alumni.

The General Assembly of the European Club Association (ECA), which represents almost 500 clubs in European football, concluded on Thursday with Nasser al-Khelaifi being unanimously re-elected as its chairman for the next four years, 2023-2027, after a Constitutive Board meeting.The 30th General Assembly, held in Berlin, was attended by UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and virtually by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The discussions reflected on the last two years’ progress, ECA’s landmark new MOU with UEFA, and plans for the ECA going forward.While reflecting on the last two years, al-Khelaifi said: “The General Assembly of our leadership team was held at the President Wilson hotel in Geneva 2 years ago. We had spent the past 18 months wearing Covid masks and holding meetings by video and telephone. Everything was done at a distance. However, we opened our stadiums to store supplies and serve our cities – because football is bigger than just a sport. We found ways to connect with our fans despite the distance. Rather than being pushed apart, we pulled together – even if some wanted us to fail. And it was in Geneva where ECA set our course to where we are today.“Since then, we have held General Assemblies, Board meetings, youth exchanges, workshops and network events in over 25 countries across Europe. We hosted ECA’s first-ever Financial Sustainability Summit in Switzerland, and our first-ever Women’s Football Summit in London which marked a milestone for women’s club football,” he said.Drawing on personal experience, he said: “I want to talk from my heart. You know, as someone from a small country like Qatar, I know what it’s like to be an outsider; to be under-estimated and under-appreciated – but still to have big ambitions. That’s why I have such a determination for ECA to help smaller clubs – and any club with big dreams. Don’t let anyone stop your ambition; don’t give up; keep working hard; keep believing in your goals. No matter the size of your club or the size of your challenge, your voice is heard here. ECA has collective ambitions threading together all our Sub-Divisions, and we are growing European club football side by side.”He continued: “We have come such a long way over the past cycle. There has been an enormous shift in the role clubs play in the decisions that shape European club football. Today, we are a dynamic, democratic, and inclusive institution – seeking influence and a voice for the many, not the few.”While reflecting on his time with the ECA and the ongoing relationship with UEFA, al-Khelaifi said: “Our partnership with UEFA is so important. We don’t always agree – far from it. But we always discuss things constructively – with dialogue, common understanding, and searching for solutions. And, with thanks to President Ceferin and our UEFA colleagues, I am pleased to say that this morning we signed a new MoU with UEFA, which sets our path to 2030 as the sole representative of European clubs in Europe and worldwide. I want to be clear, as clubs we have obligations under our MoU – we must all honour them.”On Club Benefits Programme agreed between FIFA and ECA, Al-Khelaifi said: “73 per cent of players at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022came from our European clubs. Looking back to the World Cup in Germany 2006, clubs received nothing. Then after ECA was established, clubs received $40 million in South Africa 2010. Following our long and tough negotiations with FIFA, our club benefits have multiplied. Now, for each of the 2026 and 2030 World Cups, $355 million will be distributed to clubs worldwide, over 70 per cent more than the last World Cup.”Discussing the ECA itself, Al-Khelaifi added: “By placing collective interests above individual interests, we have seen +89 per cent and +73 per cent increases in UEFA Club Competition solidarity for sub-division 3 and sub-division 4 clubs since the last cycle. There has been a +25 per cent increase in prize money for UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League. By working on our relationships in Europe and worldwide, we have seen 440 clubs and 837 players around the world benefit from the Club Benefits Programme agreed between FIFA and ECA – even clubs outside Europe. By seeing football not just as a sport but as a social contract, we have used the potential and reach of all our clubs to make a difference in wider society. We have shown how we can come together for communities in Ukraine, Turkiye and Syria – and the new ECA Foundation will continue our important responsibility to society.”Looking into the future, Al-Khelaifi said: “We will have an expanded Board and new Executive Committee which will be more representative, empowered and efficient than ever before. We will have a wider membership and new philosophy that will see ECA not only represent clubs who play in Europe, but clubs that are from Europe. We will be inclusive – vertically and horizontally – within professional football. We will have better resources and improved funding that will match our goals. I am often the first person to put pressure on our management team asking for more to be done for our members, more quickly. But honestly, what our team achieves for you with a limited budget is incredible.”He added: “Everyone in the pyramid will benefit from ECA’s work. We will not grow at the expense of other legitimate stakeholders. We will grow together with our partners and bring people with us. And we will aspire to make a difference every day, including by giving amazing services to you, our members.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he did not know his government had knocked back an application from Qatar Airways for dozens of extra flights into Australia, after incorrectly telling parliament he had discussed the matter with the Gulf carrier’s Australian partner Virgin Australia before the decision.Australia’s Labor party government is under growing pressure to explain its rejection of Qatar’s application for an additional 28 weekly flights in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, with the Coalition centring its question time attacks on the issue.The prime minister initially told parliament he spoke to Virgin boss Jayne Hrdlicka about the application before a decision was made; he later clarified it was after Transport Minister Catherine King had blocked the flights. The decision to reject Qatar’s application has left Labor split amid calls from regulators, tourism bodies and the Queensland and West Australian state governments to reconsider in a bid to increase competition and drive down the cost of airfares. The decision will also face parliamentary scrutiny in Australia.Andrew McKellar, chief executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said blocking more Qatar flights would potentially cost the tourism industry up to $788mn of foregone revenue.Hart had previously written to Australian Transport Minister Catherine King and said the decision to deny Qatar’s application to double its flights to Australia would have serious financial repercussions for the tourism industry. Hart also asked to meet with the government to explain the chamber’s concerns.Flight between Australia and Europe tickets are currently over 60% more expensive than pre-pandemic. It now costs around £1,500 for a return flight to London in economy.Travel agents, opposition politicians, state leaders, and tourism bodies have all raised concerns about the Australian government’s decision to reject Qatar Airways’ application for an additional 21 weekly flights to Australia, accusing the government of blocking additional Qatar long-haul flights to Australia “to protect Qantas” from the competition.Australia’s national carrier, Qantas, objected to Qatar Airways’ application on the basis that it could “lead to the loss of Australian jobs”. Tourism organisations don’t share Qantas’ view, one telling me “the opposite is true, an increase in flights boosts the economy and our sector as a whole”.Qantas boss Alan Joyce will now face a Senate inquiry over his discussions with the federal government in the lead up to a ruling that blocked competitor airlines, including Qatar Airways, from offering more flights. Joyce has also announced he will retire two months early amid a series of controversies that have tarnished the image of Australia’s national airline. He will step down on Wednesday, instead of the planned date in November, the airline said in a statement on Tuesday, after weeks of turbulence at the Australian carrier.“In the last few weeks, the focus on Qantas and events of the past make it clear to me that the company needs to move ahead with its renewal as a priority,” Joyce said in a statement.“The best thing I can do under these circumstances is to bring forward my retirement and hand over to Vanessa and the new management team now, knowing they will do an excellent job.”Qantas has been under fire in recent weeks amid a series of controversies, including the main claim of its success in lobbying the Australian government to deny the bid by Qatar Airways to increase flights. Additionally, Joyce is under facing scrutiny for plans to let nearly $323mn of pandemic-era flight credits expire at the year’s end; and allegations that it sold tickets for more than 8,000 flights it knew had been cancelled.Qantas last month posted an annual profit of $1.1bn but has seen its stock price fall by 13% since the start of August amid the negative publicity. The airline this week apologised for its service falling short of expectations and acknowledged that its reputation had taken a hit.“The decision to deny the application has been estimated to cost the tourism industry up to $788mn,” The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s executive chairman said in a letter to the government. “This is significant revenue that the tourism industry will potentially miss out on at a time when they are rebuilding following the Covid-19 restrictions.”Hart warned the government against making the bilateral air rights rejection a precedent for future applications from other governments. “If this decision sets a precedent for consideration of future applications, being that requests for additional flights will not be granted, the loss to the tourism industry will be grave. The growth of Australian tourism is a function of inbound and outbound air capacity, and any limitations on
capacity stunt growth – not only through numbers of seats inbound but also through price competitiveness,” Hart said in the letter, also sent to Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell.The Sydney Airport CEO joined others in the Australian aviation sector calling for more international airline competition. Additional flights will lower the cost of international airfares (forcing down Qantas’ current sky-high fares, given its comfortable dominance of Australia-International long-haul market) and economists have said it would generate additional $500mn in tourism revenue, and over 2,000 jobs.Virgin chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka said she was disappointed with the decision, particularly given international airfares remain 50 per cent higher than pre-Covid-19. Virgin has a code share arrangement with Qatar.“We are deeply disappointed that our partner Qatar Airways is unable to expand its services to Australia,” she said, and doubled down on the carrier’s previous invitation to work with the government to resolve the issue between Australia and Qatar.“Additional Qatar flights would have an immediate and tangible effect in reducing airfares between Australia and Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Qatar is in the unique position in the context of a constrained global supply of widebody aircraft, to be able to quickly make available 4 additional services per day to Australia,” Hrdlicka said.An industry source told Australian media that “the refusal of additional air rights is essentially a free kick to Qantas, who are profitable but aren’t expanding much right now ... so this holds their competition back too”.Lack of aviation competition reduces tourism and business and isn’t in line with global aviation sector visions of open skies and increased trade.Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said last week that it was time for the Australian government to increase the number of open skies agreements with other countries to make it easier for foreign airlines to fly to Australia, given Qantas’ dominance of the Australian market.The author is an aviation analyst. Twitter handle: @AlexInAir

US President Joe Biden tested negative for Covid again yesterday but will wear a mask out of precaution after First Lady Jill Biden contracted a mild case of the disease, the White House said.The president, 80, also tested negative during a check-up on Monday and is “not experiencing any symptoms,” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. However, because he was with his wife on Monday “he will be masking while indoors and around people” in alignment with government health guidance, she said. “The president will remove his mask when sufficiently distanced from others indoors and while outside as well.”Jean-Pierre wouldn’t give further details on Biden’s masking plans for the G20 summit in New Delhi later this week or for alternative arrangements in case he tests positive for Covid ahead of or during the foreign trip.“The president certainly is going to test on a regular cadence,” she said.Jill Biden, 72, is experiencing “only mild symptoms,” her office said, and will remain at the couple’s private home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. She last tested positive for Covid a year ago.The United States has been experiencing a rise in Covid cases and hospitalisations in recent weeks.

For decades, drug traffickers carried their cash in suitcases to dodge banking controls, and the police. Today, many are also using virtual cryptocurrency wallets installed on their cellphones.When the US Justice Department announced charges in April against four sons of jailed Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the indictment said they had used “untraceable cryptocurrency” to launder the profits of their US fentanyl smuggling operation.Known as the “Chapitos”, the leaders of the Sinaloa cartel are accused of procuring chemicals from China to manufacture fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, in clandestine labs in Mexico for distribution in the United States.On the same day in April, US authorities also announced the arrest in Guatemala of a wanted money launderer who they say worked for the cartel, accusing him of collecting $869,000 in drug profits and depositing the cash in cryptocurrency wallets.The cases highlight how drug cartels and crime gangs in Latin America have taken up virtual currencies to launder money, receive payments and sell drugs on the darknet because law enforcement authorities are finding it harder to detect the deals, researchers and officials say.“The technology is basically getting better and better which is making it even more difficult for law enforcement to go after these bad actors because this process provides and allows for anonymity,” said Gretta Goodwin, a director in the Homeland Security and Justice team at the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), a congressional watchdog.Criminals use cryptocurrencies because it is an easy and efficient way to do business, particularly across borders, said Kim Grauer, a data scientist and cryptocurrency researcher.“Cryptocurrency is really just used because it’s a fast and instantaneous payment,” said Grauer, head of research at Chainalysis, a blockchain analytics firm.“We are seeing a lot more cases popping up,” she said.It is a trend organised crime groups in Brazil and Central America are also tapping into, according to a report published in the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs in March.The MS-13 criminal gang that operates in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala has been using bitcoin as a way for victims to hand over extortion payments and as payment for transporting cocaine to Mexico, the report found.It said organised crime groups are “discovering growing cracks in the regional anti-money laundering architecture that make the switch to cryptocurrencies increasingly attractive.”The report’s co-author Douglas Farah said using cryptocurrency for laundering drug money was easier in countries with lax crypto regulation or where bitcoin is classified as a legal tender, such as El Salvador.“Dollars can come in and out of bitcoin with no traceability ... there’s zero control on bitcoin transactions, but there’s no monitoring, no attempt to do anything about it,” said Farah, who heads IBI Consultants, a US-based security consulting firm, in reference to El Salvador.To move money through cryptocurrency platforms, criminals are taking advantage of unregulated exchanges that do not require proof of identification or registration information, said crypto intelligence company CipherTrace.In Mexico, to stop transactions being detected by authorities — who require registered cryptocurrency trading platforms to report transfers above Mex$56,000 ($3,300) — criminals buy and launder small amounts of bitcoin, found a 2021 report by the International Narcotics Control Board.Criminals operating in Latin America also hire the services of “tumblers” who, in exchange for a commission, mix identifiable crypto with illegal funds to make them harder to trace, according to CipherTrace.Yet most countries in the region have not updated their anti-money laundering regulations to include cryptocurrencies, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).Countries with few or no compliance requirements around money laundering are proving attractive for criminals using cryptocurrency, said Goodwin from the GAO.“They can use that to evade detection and identification by law enforcement, and we found that to be a major challenge,” she said.The adoption of cryptocurrency in the narcotics trade also goes hand-in-hand with the rise of drug sales on the darknet — a hidden part of the Internet, according to a 2021 UNODC report.It said Latin America and the Caribbean have experienced a “sustained growth” in the online trafficking of synthetic drugs and opioids, mostly using bitcoin — the first cryptocurrency to enter the market in 2009.In May, US authorities said “Operation SpecTor,” which spanned three continents and aimed to disrupt fentanyl and opioid trafficking on the dark web, resulted in the seizure of $53.4mn in cash and cryptocurrencies.Drug traffickers have taken advantage of more people being online, and they also advertise drugs on dating sites and apps, such as Grindr and Tinder, the UNODC report says.Once sellers and buyers connect, communications tend to move to encrypted messaging apps such as Telegram.It is a trend that increased during the Covid-19 pandemic when online platforms selling drugs grew as people were stuck at home, said Mariana Kiefer, UNODC’s cybercrime regional coordinator for South America.“Most online activities involved in drug trafficking are through cryptocurrencies. This is appealing to drug traffickers as they can reach more people online. The Internet has no frontiers,” said Kiefer.Many virtual currency transactions are permanently recorded on public blockchains, which show all transactions between wallets, meaning police and researchers can trace transactions provided they have the right tools, software and expertise.In a 2021 study, Chainalysis was able to identify cryptocurrency addresses associated with suspected China-based fentanyl precursor sellers. It found the addresses had received more than $37.8mn worth of cryptocurrency since 2018.A breakthrough often hinges on whether it is possible to access the right cryptocurrency address that has received a payment allowing researchers to follow the money.“We are making progress in how we are identifying these cryptocurrency addresses ... once you do, your world blows up with cryptocurrency because you have every single transaction that that address is ever associated with,” said Grauer.But a key challenge is ensuring US law enforcement and drug agencies are literate in cryptocurrencies so they understand “what they are actually looking at,” to build an investigation from complex databases, she said.US law enforcement agencies are partnering with other experts to trace cryptocurrency payments as criminals adapt and use new technology to avoid detection, said Goodwin.“It requires really sophisticated computer software programs, and some of the law enforcement agencies don’t really have the in-house expertise that they would need,” she said. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

New Zealand took a record beating by South Africa last month, but France are wary of the threat the All Blacks will pose when the two heavyweights face each other in the World Cup curtain raiser on Friday.Although they were hammered 35-7 by the Springboks in a warm-up test, New Zealand enter the tournament having lost none of their 32 matches in the opening phase of nine World Cups.“Playing a World Cup is a dream we’ve all had since we were kids, and starting against the All Blacks is a super exciting challenge. We can’t wait for it,” lock Thibaud Flament told a press conference on Tuesday.Les Bleus, who have rediscovered their touch since Fabien Galthie took over after a mediocre 2019 World Cup, beat New Zealand for the first time since 2009 in an impressive 40-25 win at the Stade de France two years ago.“This match was an important one. It was the first test with our fans after Covid and the stadium was boiling hot,” said assistant coach Karim Ghezal, in charge of the lineouts.“In the last four years, we wanted to beat all the teams, and we managed to do that.”Flament is also expecting a special night.“We’re expecting a lot of energy from the crowd, the atmosphere will be (an) electric atmosphere,” he said. “Everyone has been waiting for it. It will be a big battle, it’s the moment everyone will release all the energy they have accumulated.” France will feel no pressure, added Flament.“The game has a special flavour because the World Cup marks the end of a four-year cycle and it’s an opportunity to make history. It’s important for us (to win on Friday),” said Flament.

The Vietnamese embassy in Doha marked the 78th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day Tuesday in the presence of ambassador Tran Duc Hung, Qatar's Minister of Justice HE Masoud bin Mohamed al-Ameri, Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Protocol director Ibrahim Fakhro, ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions and other guests.Ambassador Tran Duc Hung, in his address, stressed the growing excellent and friendly relations between Qatar and Vietnam in different fields with potential for more growth in the near future as the top leadership of the two countries agree on the need to take such relations to further heights for the best of the two peoples.The Vietnam envoy said: "As a friend and partner of Qatar, Vietnam is pleased to witness comprehensive local and global development of Qatar over the recent years. Qatar is considered an important partner of Vietnam in the Middle East region. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Qatar in 1993, the friendship and cooperation relations between two countries have been nurtured and developed from time to time. Right after lifting Covid-19 restrictions, the two countries have resumed high-level delegation exchanges. Many delegations of different levels from Ministries, provinces and businesses from Vietnam and Qatar are going to visit each other in the coming months to foster ties and seek cooperation opportunities."The bilateral trade volume between Qatar and Vietnam has reached around $550mn. Cooperation in the field of energy, labour and investment is becoming a priority in the relationships between the two countries. The Embassy of Vietnam in Qatar is working closely with relevant Ministries and Agencies to soon relaunch Vietnam – Qatar cooperation mechanisms such as Joint Committee on economic, trade and technical cooperation or sub Joint Committee in labor field."This year, 2023, Vietnam and Qatar celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Accordingly, many celebratory activities such as art performance, film exhibition, and others will be held in Qatar to mark this special year."The ambassador thanked Qatar Airways for sponsoring the National Day celebration and helping the Embassy of Vietnam bring some Vietnamese artists and musicians to perform in Qatar for the occasion.He also expressed his happiness that up to 2023, Vietnam has trade relations with more than 230 markets, engaged in more than 500 bilateral and multilateral agreements in various fields, including 17 free trade agreements. He stressed that Vietnam’s economy grew 8,02% in 2022, marking its fastest annual pace since 1997."I am confident that under the insight guidance of the leaders from both countries, the relations between Vietnam and Qatar will continue to develop positively and effectively in the future, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world," concluded the ambassador.

Growth in remittances from the GCC region could shift to Africa and Central Asia, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a report.“Governments in the Gulf are starting to recruit fewer foreign workers as part of a push to employ more locals and are diversifying recruitment of foreign workers, targeting those from Africa and Central Asia,” IMF cited the reason in its report titled ‘Resilient remittances’.The report prepared by Dilip Ratha, a lead economist at the World Bank and an adviser to the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency noted: “The Gulf Co-operation Council countries are the second-largest source of remittances in US dollar terms but by far the largest when remittances are measured as a share of their GDP. The proportion of foreign workers in the Gulf often exceeds 70% of the population. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are large sources of remittances for South Asia, North Africa, and Southeast Asia.”Remittances sent home by migrant workers provide vital income to millions of people in developing economies, the report said.A growing income gap between richer and poorer nations, demographic pressures, and changes to the planet itself will add to the number of people who migrate in search of economic opportunity. This will, in turn, fuel the flow of remittances for decades to come.According to official statistics, global remittances reached a record $647bn in 2022—three times official development assistance. In fact, remittances are worth more than that because many people send money through informal channels not captured by official statistics.Egypt’s remittance receipts are greater than revenue from the Suez Canal; Sri Lanka’s exceed tea exports; Morocco’s are larger than tourism earnings.India is the world’s largest recipient of remittances, the report noted. In 2022, it became the first country to receive more than $100bn in annual remittances. Mexico, China, and the Philippines are also large recipients.For smaller countries or those caught up in conflict, these transfers are especially vital. Money from migrants is worth more than one-fifth of GDP in Tajikistan, Lebanon, Nepal, Honduras, The Gambia, and a dozen other countries.“At times of crisis, remittances provide a financial lifeline,” the report noted.Migrant workers usually increase the sums they send home in the aftermath of a natural disaster, say, so that stricken relatives can buy food or pay for shelter. Remittances are often stable even if the source country falls into crisis.During the early stages of Covid-19, in 2020, for instance, remittances fell by just 1.1% — in a year when global income shrank by 3%.Migrant workers played a pivotal role in the economy during the pandemic, both as highly skilled doctors and nurses and as frontline delivery workers. The closure of money transfer operators during lockdowns disrupted remittance services, but people still sent money home through digital channels.Remittances recovered strongly and grew by almost 20% in 2021–22, it said.The United States is the largest source country for remittances, especially for Latin America and the Caribbean, the report said. Stricter border controls have trapped increasing numbers of migrants in transit countries, including in Mexico and Guatemala.A surprise result is an increase in remittance flows to transit countries as stranded migrants receive money from relatives. There’s a similar story on Europe’s borders, with more remittances going to trapped migrants in Morocco, Tunisia, and Turkiye, for example. These flows are having a positive impact on host economies, the report said.