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Pakistan to boycott group match against IndiaPakistan team allowed to participate in tournamentBoycott follows Bangladesh's withdrawalPakistan will boycott their February 15 match ‌of the Twenty20 World Cup against arch-rivals India in Colombo, the ‌Pakistan government said on Sunday ‍while approving the team's participation in the global showpiece."The government... grants approval to the Pakistan cricket team ⁠to participate in the ICC World ⁠T20 2026, however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the ‍match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India," the post on the government's official X account said without elaborating on reasons behind the decision.Pakistan would forfeit two points if they boycotted the India match. There was no clarity on what would happen should the bitter neighbours meet in a knockout game.Pakistan are scheduled to play their Group A matches in Sri Lanka in keeping with ‌their policy of not touring India due to geopolitical tensions.Bilateral cricket remains suspended between the nuclear-armed neighbours, who engaged in a military conflict that nearly snowballed into a fully-fledged war ‍last year.Their fraught political relations prompted ⁠the governing International ‌Cricket Council (ICC) to broker an arrangement allowing them to play at a neutral venue when their neighbour hosts a global tournament.The 2009 champions had earlier announced their squad for the 20-team tournament beginning on February 7, maintaining that their participation was subject to government approval.Their decision to boycott the India match is a serious blow to the tournament because an India-Pakistan clash remains cricket's greatest blockbuster, which is why they are clubbed together in the same group in ICC events.This is not the first example of geopolitical tension affecting the tournament though.Bangladesh have been replaced by Scotland in the global ​showpiece following their refusal to travel ‌to India over safety concerns.The latest setback is a continuation of the soured India-Pakistan relations which manifested in last ⁠year's Asia Cup in Dubai.India ‍beat Pakistan three times in the tournament, including in the September 28 final, but declined to shake hands with their opponents and refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan's interior minister.Namibia, United States and the Netherlands are also in Group A from which two sides will advance to ​the tournament's Super Eight stage."I extend my best wishes to the Pakistan team for the World Cup,” Naqvi, also the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, was quoted as saying by Geo TV."I hope the team will return with the T20 World Cup trophy."The PCB supported Bangladesh's demands to shift their matches to Sri Lanka. The ICC ruled out any threat to Bangladesh players or fans in India and rejected their late demand for a schedule change.An ICC spokesperson did not immediately reply to ⁠a Reuters message seeking comments on the development. 

Bangladesh’s cricket board said Tuesday it had repeated its refusal to travel to India for next month’s T20 World Cup during talks with the ICC governing body. With ties tense between the two countries, Bangladesh wants the International Cricket Council to shift their World Cup games from India to co-hosts Sri Lanka, citing security concerns.The World Cup begins on February 7 and Bangladesh are scheduled to play their four group matches in India. The row erupted on January 3, when India forced Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman to quit the Indian Premier League (IPL). Mustafizur, who has played in the IPL for other teams in previous editions, was snapped up at auction in December by Kolkata for more than $1mn. His sacking sparked fury in Dhaka.Tuesday, during a video conference with the ICC, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said it had “reiterated its request for the ICC to consider relocating Bangladesh’s matches outside India”. Political relations between India and Bangladesh soured after a mass uprising in Dhaka in 2024 toppled then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a close ally of New Delhi. India’s foreign ministry last month condemned what it called “unremitting hostility against minorities” in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s interim leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, has accused India of exaggerating the scale of the violence. “The BCB reaffirmed its position regarding the decision not to travel to India, citing security concerns,” the BCB said in a statement. “While the ICC highlighted that the tournament itinerary has already been announced and requested the BCB to reconsider its stance, the Board’s position remains unchanged,” the statement added. The ICC have not commented. The BCB said discussions with the ICC continue to “explore possible solutions”, it added, but that it “remains committed to safeguarding the well-being of its players, officials and staff”.Bangladesh, led by Litton Das, are placed ninth in the ICC T20 rankings. They have played all the nine editions of the tournament, but have never qualified for the semi-finals. 

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) has been named a ‘Startup Ecosystem Star’ by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Mind the Bridge. The ‘Startup Ecosystem Stars (SES) Awards 2025’ recognise institutions that have demonstrated outstanding leadership, sustained impact, and comprehensive excellence in developing innovation ecosystems worldwide.  The award was presented during a ceremony held at the ICC Headquarters in Paris, in collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Commission, with support from Microsoft. In its third edition, the SES Awards recognised QDB for its significant contributions to fostering innovation across three categories: ‘Best-in-class Startup Programmes’, ‘Outstanding Investment Boost’, and ‘Exceptional Industry Support’.  Recognition across these categories highlights the bank's comprehensive approach to creating a nurturing, flexible and competitive environment for startups, while reinforcing its position as a key driver of innovation within the global entrepreneurship ecosystem.  The milestone reflects QDB’s commitment to providing entrepreneurs with a comprehensive support ecosystem, from training and advisory services to incubation and acceleration programmes.  It also highlights the bank’s leading role in advancing the venture capital landscape by attracting local and international investment, promoting the role of the private sector, supporting exports, and enabling the growth of the national industrial sector through close collaboration with partners and relevant stakeholders across the country.  The SES Awards 2025 are among the most prominent global awards dedicated to evaluating key players within innovation ecosystems. Winners are selected by an international jury comprising leading global experts and representatives of international organisations.  The award underscores QDB’s position as a leading development institution in the region and a key enabler of entrepreneurial growth, reinforcing its role as a catalyst for innovation at local, regional, and international levels.

Qatar Chamber has announced its role as the Strategic Partner for the 10th edition of Qatar Sustainability Week (QSW 2025), while the International Chamber of Commerce Qatar (ICC Qatar) will be the Supporting Partner of the event, hosted by the Earthna Centre for a Sustainable Future, a member of Qatar Foundation.The event, scheduled to take place from November 1 to 8, 2025, serves as a nationwide platform that brings together individuals, businesses, government entities, and community organisations to promote sustainable practices, highlight innovative initiatives, and enhance public engagement with Qatar’s sustainability agenda.Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani, who is also ICC Qatar chairman, said: “Our participation as a strategic partner to the Qatar Sustainability Week underscores our strong belief in the private sector’s role as a key driver of sustainability. We are delighted to contribute to national efforts that foster a greener, more resilient economy and encourage responsible business leadership across all industries.”“We call on companies, organisations, and individuals to take part in the 10th Qatar Sustainability Week and contribute to building a sustainable and prosperous future for Qatar,” he added.The partnership reflects Qatar Chamber’s continuous commitment to promoting sustainability principles within the business community and encouraging companies to align their operations with Qatar National Vision 2030's environmental development pillar.As a strategic partner, Qatar Chamber, together with ICC Qatar as supporting partner, will play an active role in supporting sustainability initiatives and activities implemented across public and private entities.The partnership aims to empower the private sector to adopt environmentally responsible business models, report on their sustainability performance, and raise community awareness about the importance of balancing economic growth with environmental protection for future generations.Among its initiatives, Qatar Chamber has also launched the Comprehensive Waste Reduction Programme, which includes enhanced recycling practices across its premises to minimise waste and promote sustainable resource use.As part of its initiatives for the week, Qatar Chamber will organise a ‘Beach Clean-Up Day’ for its employees and members on November 1, 2025. The chamber has extended invitations to its employees and members and encouraged all those interested to take part in the environmental initiative.

The International Chamber of Commerce Qatar (ICC Qatar) emphasized the role of the private sector in the energy transition during the participation of its Environment and Energy Commission — a strategic collaboration between ICC Qatar and the Al Attiyah Foundation, in a high-level panel discussion on the sidelines of the Qatar National Dialogue on Climate Change (QNDCC), held at the International Capacity Pavilion at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC). Moderated by Axel Threlfall, Editor-at-Large at Reuters, the session brought together the Commission's leadership and working group chairs to showcase its mandate, roadmap, and priority working groups, and explored how Qatar's private sector can accelerate the nation's energy transition and environmental initiatives. The discussion featured the Commission Co-Chairs; Sustainable Energy Programmes Manager at the Al Attiyah Foundation, Colman Hands and Director of Energy at the Al Attiyah Foundation, Howard Bevan. Working group chairs presented their thematic areas: Elena I. Athwal on the low-carbon energy transition, Dr. Marwa Al Ansary on emissions and carbon markets, and Samer Malaeb on desalination and the energy nexus. The panel covered key topics such as renewable energy integration, carbon pricing and emissions reduction, and innovations in water and desalination technologies. It will also outline the Commission's roadmap for capacity building, policy engagement, knowledge sharing, and international collaboration. The session convened senior representatives from government, industry, and international organisations, setting the stage for deeper collaboration and the Commission's upcoming initiatives. "The Environment and Energy Commission provides a unique platform to bring together private sector expertise, innovation, and investment for meaningful climate action," said ICC Qatar Environment and Energy Commission's Co-Chair Howard Bevan. "Through this initiative, businesses will play a central role in shaping a low-carbon, resilient future for Qatar and the region." Aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Environment and Climate Change Strategy, the Commission aims to reinforce business leadership in sustainability while contributing to international frameworks, including the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The ICC ONE Toastmasters Club, with a legacy of over 20 years, hosted its open house meeting with over 50 participants, including 24 first-time guests. Christopher Aleida, founder president M I Farid, Abhishek Mohanty, Deepikha Chandrasekhar Fernandes, Hany ZamZam, Mansoor Moideen, and club president Balakrishnan Karyot spoke.The meeting was also attended by senior leaders of Toastmasters Qatar.