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The European Commission proposed Wednesday an unprecedented use of frozen Russian assets or international borrowing to raise €90bn ($105bn) for Ukraine to cover its struggling military and basic services against Russia's war.The European Union's executive body has declared it favours a "reparations loan" using Russian state assets immobilised in the EU due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But Belgium, which holds most of the assets, has voiced a range of concerns that it said had not been satisfactorily addressed by the proposals."We are proposing to cover two-thirds of Ukraine’s financing needs for the next two years. That’s €90bn euros. The remainder would be for international partners to cover," Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters."Since pressure is the only language the Kremlin responds to, we can also dial it up," she said. "We have to increase the costs of war for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's aggression and today's proposal gives us the means to do this."She said the proposal to EU member states had taken into account almost all the concerns raised by Belgium, whose Brussels-based financial institution Euroclear is the main holder of the assets.The proposal would now also cover other financial institutions in the EU that hold Russian assets, von der Leyen said. EU officials said France, Germany, Sweden and Cyprus also held such assets.Russia has warned the EU and Belgium against using its assets, which it says would be an act of theft. The Commission says the scheme does not amount to confiscation as the money would be in the form of a loan — although Ukraine would only have to redeem it if Russia pays reparations.The complexities around the scheme increased after a US-backed 28-point plan to end the war in Ukraine proposed that some of the assets be used in a joint American-Russian investment vehicle.But von der Leyen said she had informed US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent of her plan to move forward with the reparations loan and it had been "positively received".Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said the EU was also seeking to persuade other international partners to provide support in the first quarter of next year as the EU money would probably not be available until the second quarter.The Commission said the EU could proceed with the scheme if 15 out of 27 member countries, representing at least 65% of the bloc's population, voted in favour.EU officials said this would also apply to ensure Russia's sanctioned assets remain immobilised, an essential part of the reparations loans, under EU law allowing financial assistance in instances of "severe difficulties". Sanctions roll-overs normally require unanimity.The other option — borrowing on international markets using the EU budget — would also normally require unanimity among EU countries — a potentially difficult hurdle as Hungary's Russia-friendly government has opposed previous funding for Ukraine.European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde told a European Parliament hearing that using a reparations loan would be a stretch from a legal and financial standpoint though it would "hopefully" respect international law and financial stability.Hours earlier, before the Commission's legal proposals were presented, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot declared that they fell short of Belgium's requirements."We have the frustrating feeling of not having been heard. Our concerns are being downplayed," Prevot told reporters at a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Brussels."The texts the Commission will table today do not address our concerns in a satisfactory manner."The issue is likely to come to a head at an EU leaders summit on December 18, when the Commission said it hoped to clinch a firm commitment by member states.Belgium has demanded that other EU countries guarantee they will cover all legal costs arising from any Russian lawsuits against the scheme. It also wants them to guarantee they would help provide money quickly to pay Russia back if a court ever ruled Moscow must be refunded.Thirdly, it has demanded that other countries holding Russian frozen assets also make those funds available to Ukraine. 

Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Long-Term Care and Residential Services at Rumailah Hospital have successfully achieved reaccreditation from the Joint Commission International (JCI) for the fourth time, following a detailed survey conducted in October 2025.This important milestone covers HMC’s Long-Term Care facilities, including the Enaya and Daam Specialised Care Center and the Residential Care Compound-1, reaffirming HMC’s commitment to providing safe, high-quality care. The reaccreditation serves as a strong endorsement of the quality and safety standards embedded in every aspect of service delivery.The Enaya and Daam Specialised Care Center and Residential Care Compound-1 provide 24/7 care and rehabilitation for long-term patients with complex and chronic medical conditions. These specialised centres are the only facilities of their kind in Qatar, offering comprehensive, multidisciplinary care to improve patients’ quality of life.The JCI survey, conducted under the 2nd Edition of the JCI Accreditation Standards for Long-Term Care, evaluated all aspects of operations, from clinical care and patient safety to leadership and management systems. The successful outcome confirms HMC’s full compliance with international best practices in long-term healthcare delivery. 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed on Tuesday US President Donald Trump's peace proposal, which aims to end the nearly two-year-old war in Gaza. "I welcome US President Donald Trump's commitment to end the war in Gaza and encourage all parties to now seize this opportunity. The EU stands ready to contribute," she said on X platform. "Hostilities should end with provision of immediate humanitarian relief to the population in Gaza and with all hostages released immediately," she added. The US President has announced a plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip through a comprehensive agreement that guarantees the unimpeded delivery of adequate humanitarian aid to the Strip, prevents the displacement of Palestinians, releases hostages, establishes a security mechanism that guarantees the security of all parties, in addition to a full Israeli withdrawal, the reconstruction of Gaza, and the establishment of a path to a just peace based on the two-state solution. This would see Gaza fully reunited with the West Bank in a Palestinian state in accordance with international law, as a key to achieving regional stability and security.

The Qatari Anti-Doping Commission (QADC) organized a workshop titled "Roles and Responsibilities of Sports Bodies in Anti-Doping" on Tuesday. The event was attended by representatives from sports federations, clubs, national and paralympic committees, as well as relevant government authorities.The workshop aimed to strengthen cooperation among various sports entities in Qatar to ensure compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and related international standards. It also highlighted the commission's responsibilities in areas such as testing, education and awareness, scientific research, therapeutic use exemptions, and results management.In this context, Dr. Nasser Al-Saad, CEO of the Qatari Anti-Doping Commission, stated:"This initiative is the cornerstone of promoting clean sports in Qatar. The commission's ongoing efforts will only be effective through a national, coordinating, and collaborative framework between all sports entities."The workshop included presentations and interactive discussions focused on promoting a clean sport culture and sharing best practices, alongside an awareness-raising activity. The event concluded with a discussion on challenges and proposed solutions to further enhance Qatar's leadership role in combating doping regionally and internationally, in alignment with Qatar Vision 2030.

The regional workshop on the implementation of the law on regulating the right to access information concluded in Doha.It was organized by the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority (ACTA) in the State of Qatar, in cooperation with the Anti-Corruption Commission in the State of Palestine, which chaired the Fifth Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Arab Convention Against Corruption, with support from the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States.The three-day workshop brought together representatives from 15 Arab countries.The workshop concluded with a number of practical recommendations and proposals for joint Arab cooperation projects, aimed at enhancing the implementation of the law and supporting the development of a more integrated Arab framework in the areas of transparency and accountability.In her opening remarks, Director of the Control and Development Department of ACTA Amal Al Kuwari noted that organizing this event came in response to a recommendation from the seventh meeting of the Governmental Experts Committee of States Parties to the Arab Convention Against Corruption. She emphasized that it represents the result of fruitful cooperation between Qatar, Palestine, and the Arab League.Al Kuwari explained that the right to access information is no longer merely an administrative procedure, but a fundamental pillar of integrity and good governance, and an effective tool for building trust in public institutions and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She noted that Qatar recognized the importance of this right early on, issuing Law No. (9) of 2022 regulating the right to access information, alongside awareness and training programs to support its implementation.The workshop aimed to exchange legislative and executive experiences in this field, review international principles and standards, and share best practices to develop national policies and strengthen the capacities of Arab countries. The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center in Qatar oversaw the training sessions throughout the workshop.

The European Commission on Wednesday proposed suspending a trade arrangement affecting about 5.8 billion euros ($6.87 billion) of Israeli exports due to the Gaza war, although the measure does not currently have enough support among EU nations to pass.EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also proposed a package of sanctions on two Israeli ministers, as well as "violent" Israeli settlers and 10 senior members of Hamas.The two ministers are far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, an EU official said.Israel's nearly two-year offensive in Gaza and the worsening humanitarian situation has increased political pressure on European leaders to take action.The European Union is Israel's biggest trading partner, with trade in goods between the two amounting to 42.6 billion euros last year, according to the EU.If the free-trade arrangement is suspended, Israel would face duties at the same level as other countries without a trade accord with the bloc.In Israel's case, that would affect exports worth approximately 5.8 billion euros, resulting in an estimated 227 million euros a year in duties, a senior Commission official told reporters.Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on X that the European proposals are "morally and politically distorted, and it is to be hoped that they will not be adopted".The suspension of free-trade arrangements, first floated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last week, would require the support of a qualified majority of EU governments - 15 out of 27 EU members representing 65% of the EU population.EU diplomats told Reuters that it is unlikely that the proposal would get the necessary support, with much depending on Germany, which has so far been reluctant to impose EU penalties on Israel.A German government spokesperson said on Wednesday it has not yet formed a final view on the EU proposals and Germany wants to keep the channels of communication with Israel open.Diplomats say the proposed measures against the Israeli ministers are also unlikely to pass as they require unanimous support from EU members.Kallas said that although public opinion has been shifting due to suffering in Gaza, she believes "the political lines are very much in the place where they have been so far".But the proposals mark a political shift in the EU's relationship with Israel.The Commission is also putting its bilateral support for Israel on hold, without affecting work with Israeli civil society and Yad Vashem, Israel's main Holocaust memorial centre.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday she would push to sanction "extremist" Israeli ministers and curb trade ties over Gaza, as she warned famine could not be used as a "weapon of war".Addressing the European Parliament, von der Leyen lamented that divisions among member states were holding back a European response and said the European Commission she leads "will do all that it can on its own"."What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world. People killed while begging for food. Mothers holding lifeless babies. These images are simply catastrophic," von der Leyen said."For the sake of the children, for the sake of humanity -- this must stop."The German politician, 66, said the commission would put its bilateral support to Israel on hold, stopping all payments, but without affecting work with civil society groups and Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial.The measure is to affect future allocations amounting to about six million euros ($7 million) a year and the disbursement of about 14 million euros for ongoing institutional cooperation projects, the commission said.The European Union's executive will propose sanctions on "extremist ministers" -- whose actions and words "incite violence" -- and "violent settlers".And it will push for a partial suspension of an association agreement with Israel on trade-related matters.But such measures will need approval by the bloc's 27 member states, which have been deeply divided on how to respond to Israel's actions in Gaza."I am aware it will be difficult to find majorities," von der Leyen conceded."And I know that any action will be too much for some. Too little for others. But we must all take our own responsibilities".The United Nations declared famine last month in parts of Gaza, warning that 500,000 people face "catastrophic" conditions.