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China’s central bank reaffirmed its supportive monetary policy stance while signalling continued caution toward aggressive stimulus, reinforcing a shift toward securing long-term stability over immediate fixes.The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) vowed to guide borrowing costs to continue hovering at a low level, according to a Wednesday statement following its fourth-quarter monetary policy committee meeting. The bank repeated a pledge to step up “cross-cyclical” policies, a phrase suggesting it aims to look beyond short-term volatility and avoid excessive stimulus that could create structural imbalances.The statement didn’t mention a reduction in interest rates or to the reserve requirement ratio, which determines how much cash banks must keep in reserves, while the PBoC pledged to make use of multiple policy tools. That suggests the central bank is cautious about taking those big easing steps, even after a readout following a key annual economic work conference included a reference to those measures earlier this month.The language suggests “a preference toward a reactive rather than proactive approach to easing,” Goldman Sachs Group Inc economist Xinquan Chen said in a note Thursday. Changes in the language “point to a more cautious and flexible approach to monetary policy easing”, he said.This measured approach comes despite deepening weakness in domestic demand, with retail sales last month expanding at the lowest pace since the crash caused by Covid. Fixed-asset investment is also on track for its first annual decline in data going back to 1998, after a crash made worse by a drought in funding for infrastructure projects.The committee said it will “grasp the strength, pace and timing” of policy implementation based on evolving domestic and overseas conditions. The PBoC also reiterated its commitment to maintaining the yuan’s basic stability at a reasonable and balanced level to guard against overshooting risks.The PBoC has adopted a cautious approach this year, frequently disappointing economists who had anticipated more aggressive interest rate cuts. This restraint reflects the central bank’s deeper concerns over protecting shrinking bank margins and preserving policy space for future downturns.While the meeting readout mentioned maintaining “ample” liquidity, the focus on “quality and efficiency” over raw volume suggests that any further easing will be mostly targeted.The PBoC will likely cut the RRR by 50 basis points in the first quarter to maintain ample liquidity and ensure government borrowing costs stay low, economists at China Galaxy Securities Co wrote in a report on Thursday.While it may cut the policy interest rate by 10 to 20 basis points in 2026, any reduction may only be triggered by an increase in economic pressure, such as a deterioration in the US-China relationship or worsening unemployment, they said.

What will it take to secure energy for 8bn people, cut global emissions nearly in half by 2030, and redesign the world’s power systems to meet the most ambitious climate goals in history? The Al-Attiyah Foundation’s landmark 2025 academic publication, The New Energy Paradigm in a Carbon-Constrained World, brings together cutting-edge research and global policy insight to answer these urgent questions at one of the most decisive moments for the planet. Drawing on data showing that over 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions originate from energy systems and that the world has already used roughly 85% of the remaining 1.5C carbon budget, the book offers an indispensable guide for leaders navigating today’s rapidly shifting energy landscape.Arriving at a pivotal time for international climate and energy discussions, the publication explores how nations can balance the three competing forces of the energy trilemma: Security, sustainability, and affordability. This balancing act is becoming increasingly complex amid intensifying climate pressures, volatile geopolitics, and rapid technological change. The book highlights how global policies from the Paris Agreement to the recent outcomes of COP29 and COP28’s “UAE Consensus” are accelerating expectations for renewable energy deployment and ambitious emissions reductions.Across thirteen chapters, The New Energy Paradigm in a Carbon-Constrained World provides comprehensive research, quantitative analysis, and diverse policy perspectives on energy transition pathways. It examines the physical science of climate change, international climate law, the role of non-fossil fuels, emerging technologies such as hydrogen and carbon capture, and the growing importance of digitalisation and smart grids. It also addresses global inequalities, emphasising that over 700 million people still lack access to electricity, and that climate vulnerability remains highest in regions least responsible for global emissions.In his foreword, His Excellency Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, Chairman of the Al-Attiyah Foundation, writes: “It is my hope that ‘The New Energy Paradigm in a Carbon-Constrained World’ will serve as a critical guide and catalyst for action as we collectively rise to meet the challenges and opportunities of a just energy transition.” This sets the tone for a volume intended not only to inform, but to inspire practical, globally coordinated action.This latest academic contribution reinforces the Al-Attiyah Foundation’s leadership in advancing informed, independent, and impactful energy research. As part of its mission, the Foundation will continue to convene expert dialogues, produce high-quality technical reports, and support policymakers in forging resilient, affordable, and sustainable energy systems.The New Energy Paradigm in a Carbon-Constrained World is available through the Foundation’s website at www.abhafoundation.org 

The growth outlook for the Asean-6 economies remains stable on the back of an improvement in the trade environment and more supportive monetary policy, according to QNB.In recent decades, Southeast Asia has been the most dynamic region in the world, showcasing the brightest economic growth performance.Within this region, the six largest countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean-6), which includes Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, have been among the fastest growing economies, with Singapore already reaching the status of an advanced economy.Trade is a major pillar of the economic growth model for the Asean-6 countries, and significant disruptions in international commerce can have a large impact on their performance, QNB said.On April 2, which came to be known as “Liberation Day,” President Trump announced sweeping tariffs on all US trade partners, and a period of much tighter protectionism emerged as a potential threat to growth.Trade and growth forecasts initially deteriorated sharply on fears of the impact of supply-chain disruptions, rocketing uncertainty, and potentially escalating trade wars. But despite a still-uncertain environment, the growth outlook for the Asean-6 group has been stable, with real GDP growth rates in 2026 expected to remain overall strong, similar to those of 2025.First, the global trade environment has begun to stabilise, as the US reached agreements with an increasing number of trade partners, and there is no evidence of a negative impact of trade in the Asean-6 countries.The initially unyielding protectionism of the US administration shifted towards pragmatism as agreements were reached with the UK, Japan, and the EU among many others.Importantly, for the Asean-6, agreements were reached with Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Philippines, establishing a general tariff of 19% and lower rates for selected goods, while for Singapore the levy stands at 10%.Although these rates are higher than before Liberation Day, the end of the negotiations largely reduced the levels of uncertainty discarding the more extreme negative scenarios, and are still within a manageable range, especially as other competitors are also affected by new US tariffs.Even as the US has become more protectionist, the rest of the world is pursuing further integration via new or deeper trade agreements. In October, the Asean member states signed two major agreements: one improving cross-border flows within the group, and an upgrade of the Asean-China Free Trade framework.At the same time, negotiations began for an Asean-South Korea agreement. Furthermore, some Asean-6 countries appear to be benefiting from trade diversion as firms shift supply chains away from China.The impact of tariffs after Liberation Day on the Asean-6 economies has so far been negligible, with exports continuing to show monthly growth rates in the range of 10 to 20% in USD in annual terms. Even as the world adjusts to a more protectionist US, the outlook on global trade is improving, contributing to a more supportive growth scenario for the Asean-6 economies.**media[393199]**Second, lower policy interest rates in the major advanced economies (AE), as well as in the Asean-6 countries, provide a better global environment for economic growth. Since 2024, the US Federal Reserve has already lowered its policy rate by 175 basis points (bps) to 3.75% and is likely to bring it further down to a neutral level of 3.5%.In a similar period, the European Central Bank has lowered its benchmark policy rate by 200bp to 2% and is likely to keep it unchanged during next year.**media[393200]**Thus, policy interest rates in major AE are set to stabilise at lower levels than in recent years, providing better financial conditions for emerging economies.Similarly, central banks in the Asean-6 countries have implemented their own monetary easing cycles after inflation was brought under control following the post Covid-pandemic recovery. In these economies, the average increase in policy rates was 260 basis points, to levels above those at the onset of the Covid-pandemic.As tight monetary policy brought inflation rates down to their target ranges, central banks reached a turning point and began to cut policy interest rates, reducing the cost of credit and boosting credit growth. Overall, looser monetary conditions in the AE as well as from the Asean-6 central banks provide better credit conditions for growth in the region, QNB noted. 

France’s ambassador to Qatar Arnaud Pescheux has stressed that Qatar National Day (QND) is a meaningful occasion to celebrate the nation’s identity and the spirit of unity that brings its people together.In his statement to the Qatar News Agency (QNA), the envoy pointed out that Qatar has become a key player for dialogue and mediation, noting that Doha is now a world capital of international diplomacy due its active foreign policy and peace initiatives.Pescheux also noted that Qatar has spared no effort in many different crises such as Ukraine, Afghanistan or Sudan and foremost Gaza.France and Qatar are both strongly committed to peace, he added, describing both countries as balancing powers that are committed to respecting international law and upholding the international order in every crisis.He also noted that Qatar is witnessing a wide-ranging renaissance across various sectors."I am impressed by its ability to translate ambition into concrete progress, guided by the long-term strategy of the Qatar National Vision 2030," the envoy stated.On the trajectory of the bilateral relations, he said that ties between France and Qatar are historically-rooted in all areas, including diplomacy, economy, defense and security, culture, and sport.The strategic partnership between the two countries has grown considerably in recent years, Pescheux added, especially after His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani's visit in February 2024."Qatar is home for more than 6000 French citizens and I know they share a deep sense of belonging," he said, emphasising that relations between the two peoples are based on mutual respect and joint co-operation."Three words could encapsulate the French-Qatari ties: strategic partnership, trust, and friendship,” the envoy said. “You can count on me to strengthen our ties even further in the near future."  

Turkiye’s central bank cut interest rates for the fourth time in a row, accelerating the pace of reductions following favourable inflation data.The Monetary Policy Committee led by Governor Fatih Karahan lowered the one-week repo rate to 38% from 39.5%, according to a statement on Thursday.“In November, consumer inflation was lower than expected due to a downward surprise in food prices,” the MPC said. However, it emphasised caution, saying broad expectations of price rises and price-setting behaviour by firms continue to pose risks to the disinflation process.The lira was little changed after the decision, trading at 42.62 per the US dollar at 2.49pm in Istanbul. Shorter-dated bonds extended gains, with the two-year yield dropping 22 basis points to 37.63%.“The cooling in inflation paved the way to a 150bp rate cut from the Turkish central bank today, which was larger than our call,” said Maya Senussi, lead economist at Oxford Economics. “We expected the central bank to err on the side of caution and resist a larger cut given the rise in medium-term inflation expectations.”Global banks were almost evenly divided in expecting a reduction of 150 basis points and 100 from the Turkish policymakers, though tilted slightly more toward a smaller cut. Bloomberg reported earlier that people briefed by Karahan said the bank was likely to pay closer attention to negative developments than the positive inflation data.The central bank evaluates rates decisions on a “meeting-by-meeting basis with a focus on the inflation outlook,” the MPC said on Thursday. “Monetary policy stance will be tightened in case of a significant deviation in inflation outlook from the interim targets.”The bank also lowered its overnight lending rate to 41% from 42.5% and overnight borrowing rate to 36.5% from 38%.Annual inflation slowed more than forecast to 31.1% in November and is poised to end the year around that level, according to Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek. That’s above this year’s target of 24% and stems from unexpectedly high food prices in recent months, the central bank previously said.Minimum WageInvestors are now on the lookout for the government’s decision on the minimum-wage increase, expected later this month. The adjustment has major implications for domestic demand, corporate-pricing behaviour and the inflation trajectory.Analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co expect a 25% raise.“We think annual inflation will ease below 30% in early 2026, assuming a moderate hike in the minimum wage,” Senussi said. She expects interest rates of 26.5% by the end of next year.Nick Rees, head of macro research at Monex Europe, said “the recent softening in price growth opened the door” to a larger-than-expected cut on Thursday. “This risks looking like an overly dovish bias — which would pose a challenge to the Turkish central bank’s perceived credibility if this pattern persists into 2026.” 

A session of the Doha Forum 2025 held Saturday discussed defence policy, security, mediation in conflicts, and peacebuilding, under the title of "Iran and the Changing Regional Security Environment”.The session featured Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi, former Iranian foreign affairs minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, and the director of Italy’s Institute of International Affairs Nathalie Tocci.The session was moderated by the executive vice-president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft in Washington, Dr Trita Parsi.The GCC secretary-general affirmed the council’s keenness on Iran’s stability and prosperity, stressing that no one in the GCC wished to see Iran collapse.Al-Budaiwi noted that the Gulf states had, over the past 7-8 decades, transformed into the world’s ninth-largest economy, with a collective GDP of about $2.4tn in 2024, and expressed the GCC’s desire to share these development experiences with Iran.He emphasised the need to respect the principles of good neighbourliness, adhere to the UN Charter, engage in dialogue, and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of other states.Al-Budaiwi added that the GCC’s expectations from Iran were simple and fundamental, similar to any normal relationship between neighbours.He highlighted that Iran embodies a rich civilisational, cultural, and artistic heritage, and stressed that the Gulf states have much to offer Iran, underlining the importance of focusing on a shared future.Zarif affirmed that Iran is capable of overcoming crises despite the challenges it had faced throughout history.He said that Iran had always been willing to engage in dialogue, referencing his 2017 proposal for a Regional Dialogue Forum (RDF) based on the UN Charter, good neighbourliness, non-interference, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.The former minister stressed the need to institutionalise the ongoing discussions between Iran and the GCC states and to build a shared vision for the future.Tocci warned of the growing risks facing the Gulf and Middle East regions, stating that the current situation requires practical steps to strengthen stability and build confidence among states.She stressed that external interventions had contributed to complicating the regional landscape, but were not the root cause of the problem, adding that the future lies in the hands of the regional states themselves rather than external powers.She underlined the need for commitment to dialogue, co-operation, and confidence-building through concrete actions. 

Japan is entering a new phase of economic policy as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the country’s first woman to hold the office, assumes the leadership of the country, QNB stated in its latest commentary.PM Takaichi has vowed to revive Japan’s economic growth through what she calls a “responsible proactive fiscal policy.” This policy aims to strike a difficult balance between deploying spending in strategic sectors, while preserving fiscal sustainability and maintaining control over Japan’s already-large public debt. Boosting growth is a formidable task for a country that faces significant structural challenges and an uncertain global outlook, QNB stated.Japan’s economic performance has been underwhelming in recent years. After the post-Covid pandemic rebound, annual real GDP growth fluctuated around 0.8% during 2022-2024. This year, the economy showed a modest recovery, supported by increasing real income that boosted consumption, fiscal stimulus, and a depreciated currency that backed exports. Growth in 2025 is expected to reach 1.1%, above the pre-Covid pandemic average of 0.9%. But tailwinds are again weakening, and adverse dynamics are gaining traction, worsening the outlook for the next couple of years, according to QNB.“In our view, given the significant headwinds weighing on the Japanese economy, it is unlikely that the new government will be able to revert a deceleration of growth. In this article, we discuss the key factors that support our analysis.“First, stagnating consumption represents a substantial drag on economic growth. Consumption accounts for approximately 60% of the Japanese economy and is therefore a major factor in determining its performance. Despite an improvement this year relative to 2024, consumption has recently stagnated,” QNB stated.Behind weak consumption lies the erosion of the purchasing power of households due to high inflation rates. After several months of gains at the end of last year, workers’ earnings adjusted for prices have contracted throughout this year, a trend that is expected to continue.Adding to the variables that weigh on consumption, the Bank of Japan continued its process of monetary policy normalisation, bringing the benchmark policy rate to 0.5% from an ultra-low negative 0.1%, increasing the cost of credit for households, as well as reducing the room for fiscal policy due to the higher costs of debt. Given the importance of consumption in the economy, these negative trends are dragging on Japanese economic growth, QNB stated.“Second, external tailwinds for exports have weakened, implying less support for growth of the highly globally integrated Japanese economy. After a period of exceptional uncertainty regarding US trade policy during the first semester of this year, a trade agreement was finally reached in July between Japan and the US. The agreement established a baseline 15% tariff on nearly all Japanese imports entering the US.“This implies a significant burden relative to the average tariff of 1.5% as of last year. Since the US is Japan’s second-largest export market after China, accounting for around 20% of foreign sales per year, the new US tariffs represent a relevant barrier for foreign sales,” QNB stated.The expected slowdown in global trade, amid high trade-policy uncertainty and ongoing geopolitical fragmentation, adds to the pessimism for the Japanese economy, where exports represent 20% of GDP and are a key driver of industrial production. Given their importance for Japan, the weakening prospects for exports represent a major headwind for its economic performance.Amid the significant challenges affecting the economy, the new government will attempt drastic measures to boost growth. Within weeks of taking office, Takaichi unveiled a ¥21.3tn (about $135bn) stimulus package plan, her first major economic initiative and a signal of policy direction. The plan combines new public works outlays, household support measures, and targeted investment incentives to sustain demand.“In our view, however, it is unlikely that the stimulus package can generate a major shift in growth trends. Hence, Japanese economic growth is set to decelerate to 0.6% per year over 2026-2027, down from 1.1% expected for this year,” QNB stated. 

Class of 2024 Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) graduate Fatima Yunusa has won the 2026 Rhodes Scholarship — the world’s oldest and most competitive international scholarship.A Nigerian public policy researcher, Yunusa is one of three recipients of the 2026 Rhodes Scholarship in West Africa. She is also among more than 30 other Georgetown students and alumni who have received the scholarship, and the third graduate of Georgetown’s Qatar campus to receive the award in the past five years, joining the likes of Khansa Maria (SFS’21), and Asma Shakeel (SFS’24).The scholarship selects promising young people from around the world who demonstrate integrity, leadership, character, intellect and a commitment to service to study at the University of Oxford.“Fatima’s commitment to uplifting others combined with her focus on public policy and public service exemplifies Georgetown’s highest ideals, and we look forward to seeing what she will accomplish,” said Georgetown Interim president Robert M Groves.As a Rhodes Scholar, Yunusa wants to build on her skills through public policy and public policy research graduate programmes in order to advance her home country’s national development.“I’m concerned about poverty eradication, poverty, and how it prevents people from living a life of dignity. My interest in development comes from recognising that high-quality jobs and opportunities are the most sustainable way for poverty alleviation,” said Yunusa, adding: “It’s a huge opportunity. I’m excited to learn from people who know public service from around the world.”Yunusa grew up moving across different parts of Nigeria. Along the way, she noticed how highly skilled individuals often lacked meaningful employment opportunities. She also saw people she loved struggle with these challenges in professions that hardly made ends meet. Her experiences made her question what she could do to empower communities to maximise their skills and talents.“While talent development initiatives exist in the country, they are not sustainable enough to yield the scale of transformation necessary to secure the country’s future. Existing initiatives are fragmented across sectors, often outdated, or tied to political administrations rather than lasting institutional mandates,” she said. “Nigeria must align its talent, market needs, and position within the international economy to advance.” 

After just six months in power, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition is facing infighting, policy deadlock and sliding poll ratings, undermining its efforts to take on the rising far right.It marks a difficult start for the conservative politician who ran on bold pledges of reviving the stagnant economy, overhauling the threadbare military and toughening immigration policy after years of drift under the previous government.In German post-war politics, "there has never been such widespread dissatisfaction with a government in such a short period of time", Manfred Guellner, director of the Forsa polling institute, told AFP.For Germans who hoped for more decisive leadership after the last government's collapse, "their expectations have been dashed", he said.The winners of February's general election, Merz's centre-right CDU/CSU bloc now find themselves neck-and-neck in the polls with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which came second in the poll and is now the largest opposition party.Merz's junior coalition partners, the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) of ex-chancellor Olaf Scholz, have seen their popularity slide further after a terrible election performance, and now sit around 13-15% in polls."It is clear that many citizens are dissatisfied or disappointed with the government's work so far," Roderich Kiesewetter, an MP from Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU), told AFP.The government appeared to be "focusing only on migration instead of the economy, education and security", he said.There have been increasing tensions between the ruling parties in Berlin since Merz failed to be elected chancellor in the first round of voting in parliament in early May, a first in post-war Germany.In July they were unable to agree on the appointment of three judges to the constitutional court, with the conservatives considering the Social Democrats' candidate too left-wing.A group of young conservative MPs revolted over a pension reform proposal, which had already been adopted by the cabinet, arguing that it burdened future generations.Meanwhile, an overhaul of the country's military service system, which was supposed to demonstrate Germany's leadership in Nato in the face of the Russian threat, has turned into a stalemate over whether to bring back a limited form of conscription.Now Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, a close confidant of Merz, is under fire from conservatives for expressing reservations about the possibility of sending back Syrian refugees living in Germany.With their support so low after the February polls, the CDU/CSU and the SPD "are finding it more difficult to reach compromises," Aiko Wagner, a political scientist at the Free University of Berlin, told AFP. Both sides fear they "will become even weaker among their own" supporters if they do, said Wagner.The coalition's own struggles are making it more difficult for Merz to counter the rise of the AfD, which he declared as his party's "main opponent" ahead of five regional elections scheduled for 2026.Merz has used increasingly tough rhetoric on immigration to counter the AfD, such as a controversial statement in October about the problems of the "German urban cityscape" — seen as criticism of the impact of migrants on cities.But this offended many Social Democrats, as well as some moderates among his conservative bloc.Guellner argued that Merz made "a fatal mistake" by focusing so much on migration when the struggling economy was the main concern of many voters.The AfD meanwhile sees Merz's struggles as an opportunity.A clear majority of Germans backed conservative or right-wing parties in the election, AfD MP Sebastian Muenzenmaier told AFP.But Merz's coalition with the centre-left appears incapable of delivering on his promises, he said."No one sees this government staying in power for four years," said Muenzenmaier, who predicted that the AfD would have strong showings in next years' state elections."Many believe that at the end of next year, after the elections, the situation will become very difficult for the government in Berlin and that it will collapse".The prospect of another coalition crisis and early elections did not sit well with Stephanie and Bernd Nebel, two visitors to Berlin from Munich who spoke with AFP outside of the Reichstag, the seat of Germany's parliament.The biggest problem with the coalition so far, Bernd Nebel said, was that Merz's government "made it their mission to boost the economic recovery a little — and absolutely nothing has happened in that regard".

The College of Public Policy (CPP) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) has completed an intensive training programme for senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). The course, designed under the theme ‘The Role of the State of Qatar in Mediation and the Resolution of Regional Conflicts’, equips officials with advanced skills relevant to the fields of diplomacy and conflict resolution, a statement said. The three-day training, delivered by CPP Prof Dr Sultan Barakat, was attended by around 25 participants holding high-ranking positions at MoFA, Ministry of Defence, and the armed forces. Dr Abdelaziz al-Hour, director of the Diplomatic Institute, stated: “The choice of subject reflects the strategic importance Qatar places on mediation, and we were delighted to have Dr Barakat share his extensive and global experience with our colleagues.” The curriculum explored the complexities of mediation strategies and concepts, analysed real-world case studies, and discussed tools for measuring the effectiveness of mediation, highlighting the importance of regional and international co-operation in peacebuilding. Additionally, participants were informed on how Qatar’s soft power influences policymaking during times of crisis, the impact of the state’s mediation on peace processes in various regions, as well as Doha’s ability to navigate complex geopolitical situations while maintaining neutrality.

The College of Public Policy (CPP) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), through its Hadaba initiative, recently held ‘Hadaba 25: Public Narrative & Data Storytelling’ forum at Minaretein, Education City. This year's theme was designed to advance innovation in policy design through narrative strategy and data storytelling. In doing so, it explores the intersection of data, which is transparent, accountable, and empirical, with storytelling providing the emotional resonance needed to engage people, build narratives, and communicate complex concepts. The two-day event brought together around 180 policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and students to develop practical, data-driven narratives that inform public policy. It blended collaborative training sessions, masterclasses, workshops, talks and keynotes to ensure participants are equipped with skills in data visualisation, policy communication, and collaborative storytelling. As part of the event, Unicef expert Priscillia Hoveyda delivered a talk on 'Storytelling in Humanitarianism,' emphasising the importance of promoting this medium among people facing displacement and humanitarian crisis. Representatives from Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council; Harvard Kennedy School, Weill Cornell Medical College and the Leadership Hub also led sessions and masterclasses across various topics. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology led a talk session which explored Qatar's public sector in the context of narrative. Commenting on the theme of the event and its significance, Dr Logan Cochrane, acting dean, CPP, said: “Authentic stories are more memorable than raw data, and this starts by understanding exactly what a narrative is, its parts, and how to align them to inspire action and inform decision-making. We recognise that storytelling grounded in data is not only a communication skill but a strategic policy tool.”

Non governmental organizations (NGOs) called on countries and companies, particularly European ones, to cease their commercial dealings with illegal settlements run by Israel in occupied Palestinian territories.More than 80 NGOs, including the Human Rights Association and Oxfam, published a report on the business with illegal settlements: how foreign states and companies enable Israel to carry out its illegal settlement policy, which specifically targets companies and institutions that continue their business activities with illegal settlements, which directly contribute to the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's prolonged occupation.The report referred to a French retail chain whose business partnerships in Israel directly support the settlement economy by enabling the sale of its products.It also mentioned a British machinery company that manufactures equipment used to destroy Palestinian homes, damage their crops, and build illegal settlements.The report accused foreign banks of financing commercial activities in the settlements, and a German company of contributing, according to NGOs, to transportation infrastructure that benefits the settlements.The campaign organizers urged countries, particularly those in the EU and the UK, to explicitly ban business activities with Israeli settlements, including the provision of services and investments.The report also called for preventing banks and financial institutions from granting loans to companies that finance projects in the settlements.This report follows a previous report submitted in July by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories by Francesca Albanese to the UN Human Rights Council.According to Albanese, the settlements are expanding with funding from banks and insurance companies, and are being normalized by tourism platforms, large retail chains, and academic institutions.The UN expert noted that consumers have the power to hold these companies accountable.