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Ghana will scrap long-term mining investment stability agreements and double ‌royalties under sweeping reforms, the regulator in Africa's top gold producer told Reuters, ‌as it seeks to capture more ‍benefits from surging bullion prices. The changes are part of a broad overhaul aimed at balancing investor confidence with the government's ⁠push to reap greater rewards from mining, ⁠Isaac Tandoh, acting CEO of the Minerals Commission, said in an interview in Accra. African governments are tightening mining rules to cash in on high prices, often raising royalties and local-content demands — shifts that have periodically triggered clashes with global miners over costs and contract certainty. In Ghana, the world's sixth-biggest gold producing country, stability and development agreements typically lock in tax and royalty terms for five to 15 years in exchange for investments of about $300mn to $500mn for mine builds and expansions. Companies must also extend ‌mine life by at least three years and lift output by more than 10%, among other conditions, to qualify for renewal. Newmont, AngloGold Ashanti and Gold Fields currently operate under stability agreements. They did not immediately ‍respond to requests for comment. Tandoh said ⁠the changes, to ‌be written into law, mean Newmont's stability agreement — which expired in December — will not be renewed. Similar arrangements held by AngloGold Ashanti and Gold Fields will be phased out when they lapse in 2027. A draft bill expected to go to Parliament by March proposes royalties starting at 9% and rising to 12% if gold hits $4,500 per ounce or higher, roughly double the current 3%-5% range. Spot gold is currently trading around $4,590 per ounce. The reforms also include tougher local-content rules for in-country procurement and support for Ghanaian firms. "Renewal of (investment stability agreements) is not going to happen," Tandoh said during the interview last week. "Renewal is conditional, not automatic." Development agreements will be scrapped entirely as they have been abused, ​he said. "We've seen companies use revenue ‌from Ghana to buy mines elsewhere while refusing to pay even basic obligations like contributions to district assemblies. That cannot continue." Ghana pioneered stability agreements ‍in the early 2000s, helping unlock billions of dollars of foreign investment that helped it overtake South Africa as Africa's top gold producer. Newmont's Ahafo pact, for example, set a 32.5% corporate tax rate and a sliding royalty of 3%-5% (rising to 3.6%-5.6% in forest reserve areas), with duty and VAT relief on qualifying inputs. The extension was tied to a minimum $300mn investment and targets on ​output, mine life and Ghanaian employment, a revised 2015 agreement seen by Reuters showed. Tandoh said Newmont had sought an extension, but the government aimed to phase out the regime in favour of broader rules that "indigenise" more value at home and enforce stricter compliance. He said authorities were "listening" to concerns from smaller and new projects about the proposed royalty increase and would aim for a formula that preserves investment while lifting revenue when prices are high. Tandoh rejected suggestions the tougher terms would scare off capital. "They operate under harsher conditions elsewhere and still make profits. Mining is ⁠about numbers," he said.The Ghana Chamber of Mines did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 

The Samla International Race has announced the signing of a series of strategic partnership agreements ahead of its upcoming edition, scheduled for January 24.Sponsorship agreements were signed with several prominent partners and sponsors for this edition, including Katara Hospitality, Qatar Insurance Group, Defender–Alfardan, and Mazzraty, held Thursday at Al Sharq Village.The ceremony also witnessed the signing of a partnership agreement between the Samla Race, Visit Qatar, and Asics, which will serve as the official sportswear partner of the race.The agreement was signed in the presence of Azzam al-Mannai, CEO of the Samla Race Organising Committee; Jassim al-Mahmoud, director of Public Relations and Communications at Visit Qatar; and Seiji Hori, general manager of Asics Arabia.The official course for the 2026 race features six consecutive, high-challenge stages designed to test competitors’ physical endurance. The course begins with a 3km open-water swim, followed by a 21km run, a 22km mountain biking segment, a 4km kayaking stage, a second 22km cycling segment, and concludes with a 28km run to the finish line.“At Visit Qatar, we take pride in our strategic partnership with the Samla International Race, which represents the values of strength and endurance. Our support for this event aligns with our strategy to promote sports tourism and to highlight events that offer distinctive experiences for visitors and residents alike, while showcasing the natural and cultural assets of the State of Qatar,” al-Mahmoud said.Al-Mannai expressed his appreciation for this collaboration, saying that: “The continued support from Visit Qatar, alongside our sponsors and partners, provides strong momentum to further enhance organisational standards and deliver a world-class competitive experience for both participants and spectators.”In partnership with Visit Qatar, the upcoming edition of the Samla Race is expanding to the global stage, inviting elite male and female athletes from around the world to compete in a uniquely challenging test of strength and stamina across Qatar’s diverse landscapes.With the launch of Samla International, organisers said Qatar continues to strengthen its reputation as a world-class destination for sporting events. 

A series of sponsorship agreements for the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships 2025 were signed during a press conference on Saturday at Rosewood Hotel.Mohammed Ahmed Al-Mudahka, President of Qatar Chess Association (QCA) and chairman of the organizing committee of the tournament, signed the sponsorship deals before the Dec 26-30 championships.Representatives of Social and Sport Contribution Fund (DAAM), Ooredoo, Mowasalat (Karwa), Total, Al Abdulghani Motors, AlkaLive and Qatar University were present to sign the sponsorship contracts.Ahmed Al Banai, Senior Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sponsorship - Ooredoo, Yousef Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Director of Shared Services at Social and Sport Contribution Fund (DAAM), Nasser Mamdouh Al Shammari, Director of Light Transport - Mowasalat Co. (Karwa), Mansur Zhakupov, General Manager - Total Energy, Osama Mariam, CEO AlkaLive, Sami Al Mubarak, Head of Corporate Partnerships - Al Abdulghani Motors and Hamoud Al Hajri, Director of Sports Facilities at Qatar University represented their esteemed organizations at the press conference.Mr. Abdulghani Nasser Al Abdulghani, Chief Executive Officer of Al Abdulghani Motors, said: “We are proud to support the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championship Qatar 2025, an event that reflects excellence, discipline, and strategic thinking at the highest level. Our sponsorship underscores our commitment to supporting national initiatives that promote intellectual sports, empower talent, and reinforce Qatar’s position as a global destination for world-class events. Through our long-standing partnership with the Qatar Chess Association, we remain dedicated to contributing to a vibrant, thoughtful, and future-ready community.”With over €1M in prizes on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the year's final showdown. After nearly a decade, the championship returns to Qatar, and hence fans should not miss the speed, strategy, and intensity.Key Details at a GlanceDates: December 25–30, 2025Venue: Sports and Events Complex, Qatar UniversityPrize Fund: €1,000,000+Formats: Rapid & Blitz (Open and Women’s)

As the exclusive educational partner of the recent Mobile World Congress (MWC25) in Doha, Qatar University (QU) announced the signing of several intellectual property (IP) licensing agreements with four emerging and international technology companies.The agreements were formalised during the “From Innovation to Impact: IP Commercialisation and Industry Collaboration Signing Ceremony”, held on the sidelines of the global event.These agreements align with the QU’s strategy to strengthen the national innovation ecosystem and accelerate the transition of research outputs from laboratories to industry and the marketplace, a statement said Tuesday.The QU signed a licensing agreement with ClearExhaust, the second startup to emerge from the university’s innovation ecosystem.ClearExhaust was founded and led by Prof Samer Ahmed from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, supported by a team of graduate students and research assistants at the QU.The company specialises in developing innovative systems to reduce emissions from combustion engines.Its first product, the “Smokeless Exhaust Pipe”, is based on a registered US patent and offers a breakthrough solution that removes 100% of visible diesel emissions while reducing carbon dioxide (*CO2) emissions by 20-30%.The system was developed at the QU’s Thermal Engines Laboratory and tested on TATA buses in collaboration with Al-Hamad Automobiles, as well as municipal service trucks at the Ministry of Municipality.The company is also developing a second innovation, the Portable Carbon Capture System, which demonstrated 100% carbon capture efficiency during laboratory testing on diesel engines.The technology will be registered soon as a US patent.These solutions address Qatar’s needs for emission reduction in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP 2021).The QU also signed an exclusive licensing agreement with iDiagnostix Ltd, a UK-based medical diagnostics company, to commercialise a novel blood test for the early detection of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).The test is the first of its kind globally to achieve accuracy levels exceeding 80% sensitivity and specificity in both discovery and clinical validation studies, meeting the diagnostic standards set by the American Psychiatric Association.The technology analyses low-level protein modifications associated with metabolic changes in the brain, supported by advanced artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to ensure predictive accuracy.The company was founded in 2024 by former QU researcher Prof Naila Rabbani and Prof Paul Thornalley, formerly from Hamad Bin Khalifa University.The technology was developed and clinically validated in a large-scale study funded by the QU, which also owns the associated patents.The licensing agreement marks a major milestone in enabling early ASD diagnosis, improving referral accuracy, and accelerating access to timely support and treatment for children.The QU also signed an exclusive licensing agreement with QLife Pharma, a Qatar-based pharmaceutical company specialised in manufacturing high-value pharmaceutical products and advancing national self-sufficiency, to produce and commercialise Q-Silvano, a topical antimicrobial gel based on stable silver nanoparticles.The product was developed in the QU Health Sector – College of Pharmacy laboratory under the leadership of Prof Alaaeldin Elkilany.Q-Silvano is the first nano-based medical product to be officially registered with the Ministry of Public Health in Qatar.Technology transfer is currently underway to enable local manufacturing and product launch in early 2026, with plans for regional expansion into GCC and Mena (Middle East and North Africa) markets.The licensing agreement covers the transfer of formulation knowledge, enabling large-scale production, and facilitating commercial marketing processes.This collaboration focuses on technology transfer, regulatory compliance, quality systems development, and sustainable production scaling, supporting local market needs and paving the way for regional expansion.The achievement highlights the impact of QU-industry partnerships in transforming local research innovation into therapeutics manufactured in Qatar, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the country’s knowledge-based health sector goals.The QU also launched a new collaboration agreement with Genesis Technologies, a startup emerging from the national research and innovation ecosystem, to introduce the Imdaat platform during its first commercial phase.The agreement transforms research outcomes developed by the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council and the QU into a tangible digital product.The platform is preparing for its first implementation with a ministry in Qatar in the coming months, offering a reliable and secure decentralised system for issuing and verifying digital documents, enhancing government service efficiency, and supporting the nation’s digital transformation agenda.Commenting on the occasion, QU Vice-President (Research and Graduate Studies) Prof Aiman Erbad said: “The QU’s signing of a series of IP licensing agreements during MWC25 reflects the significant progress we have made in building an integrated innovation ecosystem grounded in applied research and researcher empowerment and in linking scientific output directly to industry and societal needs.”“These agreements mark an important step toward accelerating the transfer of national knowledge and technologies to global markets, while strengthening the ability of our startups to offer innovative solutions in vital fields such as digital health, sustainability, and clean energy,” he said. “We believe strategic partnerships with local and international institutions create unique opportunities for our researchers and students to expand their impact and achieve tangible economic and societal value.”These agreements, it was pointed out, reflect the advanced stage reached by the QU in building an integrated innovation and IP ecosystem founded on applied research support, researcher empowerment, the establishment of knowledge-based startups, and strengthened collaboration with industry locally and globally.At the end of the ceremony, the QU emphasised that enhancing the commercialisation of national innovations will remain a central focus of its research strategy in the coming years, supporting the knowledge-based economy and advancing national priorities in health, environment, and digital transformation, the statement added. 

Bond traders have pushed back against Federal Reserve officials urging them to use a key borrowing facility, complicating the central bank’s efforts to ease strains in the $12tn market for repurchase agreements. Primary dealers representing Wall Street banks told the officials at a meeting last week that borrowing directly from the central bank still carries a stigma and could be seen as a sign of trouble.That’s one reason they’ve been reluctant to use the Standing Repo Facility (SRF), according to people familiar with the discussion, who asked for anonymity to discuss details of private conversations. Others pointed to operational and balance-sheet constraints that made it difficult to access the facility, which was set up by the Federal Reserve in 2021 to serve as a backstop in money markets.The discussion on November 12 unfolded on the sidelines of a Treasury conference where New York Fed President John Williams and System Open Market Account manager Roberto Perli reiterated the facility’s importance as a monetary-policy tool. “It is best thought of as a way of making sure that the overall market has adequate liquidity consistent with the FOMC’s desired level of interest rates,” Williams told the conference, adding that use of the facility had been rising. “I fully expect that the SRF will continue to be actively used in this way and contain upward pressures on money market rates.” Williams then convened the New York Fed’s primary trading counterparties “to continue engagement on the purpose of the Standing Repo Facility as a tool of monetary policy implementation and to solicit feedback that ensures it remains effective for rate control,” according to a spokesperson.The primary dealers come from a group of financial institutions that trade government securities directly with the central bank. Short-term borrowing markets have been in the spotlight in recent weeks, as ebbing liquidity has kept rates stubbornly elevated and the Fed is scheduled to conclude its balance sheet unwind on December 1.Policymakers had anticipated that dwindling bank reserves would push up funding costs, eventually spurring more counterparties to use the SRF — a process that, in theory, would help keep a lid on repo rates. But while usage has increased periodically, officials said a notable amount of transactions still occur above the facility’s offering rate of 4%, according to Perli, suggesting dealers are hesitant to tap it.That has spurred calls on Wall Street for a more forceful response from the central bank to ease the pinch in a market that serves as a critical source of day-to-day funding. Dealers have floated ideas to make the facility more attractive, including allowing its transactions to be centrally cleared through the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, according to the people familiar with the discussions.Since its inception as a permanent facility in July 2021, the SRF has been criticised by market participants for structural issues that make it inconvenient to use. “There were problems with the SRF from the beginning,” Curvature Securities executive vice president Scott Skyrm wrote in a note to clients on Monday. “The Fed added an 8:30am auction which helped with a timing issue, but primary dealers are still reluctant to use the facility and seem to want excessive spreads to intermediate.” For one, borrowing directly from the Fed requires banks to hold more capital against their positions than is required with some alternative repo trades.That means SRF transactions take up more room on the banks’ balance sheets, adding to the perception that they’re inefficient. The results of the Fed’s latest Senior Financial Officer survey released in March showed institutions rated public disclosures of counterparty information as the “most discouraging factor” in their decision-making around participating in the twice-daily operations.Some respondents added that transactions required approval from either funding desk management or even bank executives. At the meeting earlier this month, dealers told officials they should be communicating with bank executives about the issues instead, the people familiar with the discussion said.The Fed’s Perli underlined the importance of the SRF in public remarks at the conference in New York last week. “Stable, efficient and well-functioning repo markets are in everyone’s best interest and vital for ensuring rate control, and the SRF is a crucial tool in supporting those objectives,” he said. Institutions last month tapped the facility for a total of $50.4bn on the final trading day of October.That was the highest level since before the daily operations were made permanent more than four years ago as the result of the liquidity drain in the funding markets. Yet Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan said last month she was disappointed to see rates on a large share of tri-party repo transactions exceed the SRF rate during the final week of October.Logan, who before becoming president of the Dallas Fed in 2022, spent her career on the markets desk at the New York Fed, has urged the central bank to strengthen its tools. For Blake Gwinn, head of US interest rate strategy at RBC Capital Markets, part of the problem with SRF lies in its structure, which requires transactions to be run through banks’ treasury desks rather than as a typical repo operation. “Part of the original sin is the SRF is never what it should be,” he said “It was framed as a bank alternative to reserves, but it should’ve been a repo operation to begin with.”

The Ministry of Energy in the Syrian Arab Republic today signed the final concession agreements to build and operate eight new power generation stations with a total capacity of 5,000 megawatts, with the international consortium led by Urbacon Holding, through its subsidiary Urbacon Concessions Investment, and in partnership with Kalyon G.I.S. Energy, Cengiz Energy, and Power International (USA). This signing comes as part of the Qatari project package in Syria, and as an extension of the Memorandum of Understanding signed on 29 May 2025, which laid the general framework for strategic cooperation in the energy sector and set the practical foundations for initiating the rehabilitation and development of the country’s electrical infrastructure. Following the signing of the MoU, preparatory engineering and technical works were completed, including field surveys for the plant sites and the necessary technical studies, to enable immediate commencement of implementation.The agreements were signed at the Ministry of Energy headquarters in Damascus between Eng. Mohammad Al-Bashir, Minister of Energy of the Syrian Arab Republic, and Ramez Al-Khayyat, President of UCC Holding, in the presence of representatives of the consortium companies, and officials from the Ministry, the Syrian Energy Company, and the Syrian Electricity Company. This step reflects the transition from contractual, technical, and financial preparation to direct on-ground execution.The final contracts include the construction and operation of four high-efficiency, natural-gas-fired combined-cycle power plants, namely the North Aleppo Power Plant (1,200 MW), the Deir Ezzor Power Plant (1,000 MW), the Zayzoun Power Plant (1,000 MW), and the Mhardeh Power Plant (800 MW). In addition, the agreements include the implementation of solar renewable energy projects with a total capacity of 1,000 MW distributed across four locations: Widian Al-Rabee (200 MW), Deir Ezzor (300 MW), Aleppo (300 MW), and Homs (200 MW).These projects will be executed using the latest advanced technologies in performance, efficiency, and reliability, in accordance with the highest global standards for environmental and public safety considerations, and based on an accelerated implementation schedule that ensures phased commissioning and timely entry into service.This project represents a pivotal stage in rehabilitating Syria’s energy system and driving economic growth, as the availability of stable electricity is essential for restoring factories and production lines to full operational capacity, and for launching new industrial, agricultural, and commercial ventures. It will contribute to reducing operational costs, improving the investment climate, and enhancing the competitiveness of local production and exports, thereby encouraging domestic and international investment and supporting long-term economic diversification.The projects are expected to generate tens of thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities during both the construction and operational phases. Furthermore, the adoption of modern technologies will enable the training and upskilling of national technical personnel, supporting sector sustainability and the localization of expertise in the field of energy.Eng. Mohammad Al-Bashir, Minister of Energy, stated:“This project represents a qualitative leap in the development of Syria’s energy infrastructure. It enhances generation capacity and supports the stability of the electrical grid, aligned with national economic development objectives. These projects aim to close the generation gap, meet the growing demand for electricity, and enhance energy supply security, forming a fundamental base for sustainable economic and social growth, strengthening the performance of productive and service sectors, and enabling stable economic development in the coming years.”Moutaz Al-Khayyat, Chairman of UCC Holding, said:“The strategic partnership between the public and private sectors in this project constitutes an essential step toward building a sustainable development model in Syria, and reflects the confidence of international partners in the prospects of Syria’s economic recovery. We are committed to executing these projects according to the set timelines and the highest global standards, ensuring a tangible economic impact that extends beyond the energy sector to supply chains, industry, and investment flows. Enhancing Syria’s energy security will contribute to the revival of industrial activity, support economic stability, and open broader pathways for regional cooperation in the coming stage.”It is noteworthy that this project represents the first and most prominent integrated public-private partnership model in the Syrian energy sector, reflecting the attractiveness of the national investment environment and its ability to draw international partners. The project is expected to pave the way for further major investments in other key economic and service sectors in the near future.

The Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) signed 13 new agreements with United Nations agencies, international financial institutions, and humanitarian organizations, with a total value exceeding US$133 million. The agreements reflect the State of Qatar's steadfast commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation as indispensable pillars for achieving sustainable development and shared prosperity worldwide. According to QFFD, these commitments are expected to benefit more than 8.3 million people globally, advancing progress in health, education, youth empowerment, food security, climate resilience, and economic development. The signing took place on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), held under the theme "Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development, and human rights." The agreements encompass both long-standing and new partners, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Gates Foundation, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Development Coordination Office (UNDCO), the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UNICEF in support of the Generation Unlimited (GenU) initiative, the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UNOHRLLS), the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the Inter-American Investment Corporation. The signing ceremonies were attended by HE Chairperson of the Board of Directors of QFFD, Sheikh Thani bin Hamad Al-Thani, and HE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Vice-Chairperson of QFFD's Board of Directors Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, alongside senior representatives from partner organizations. Through these agreements, QFFD reiterated its firm belief that international solidarity represents the most effective path to addressing pressing global challenges. By providing flexible contributions, QFFD strengthens the institutional capacities of leading UN agencies and expands their reach to the most vulnerable. At the same time, targeted programs supported by innovative financing mechanisms will enhance women's health, strengthen food stockholding systems, sustain essential public services in conflict-affected countries, rehabilitate critical infrastructure for displaced communities, and create new opportunities for young people through education, skills development, and entrepreneurship. QFFD also prioritizes the needs of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), in line with the Doha Programme of Action (2022-2031), focusing on resilience-building and strengthening systems in communities most exposed to fragility. On the sidelines of UNGA80, HE Sheikh Thani bin Hamad Al-Thani met with HE Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group Amina J. Mohammed. The meeting reaffirmed the strong partnership between the State of Qatar and the United Nations and their shared commitment to advancing a just, inclusive, and sustainable future. A series of additional high-level meetings were also held with development leaders to explore ways of enhancing cooperation in addressing global priorities. Speaking on the occasion, Director General of QFFD Fahad Hamad Al Sulaiti stated: "QFFD believes that transformative change can only be achieved through collective action. These agreements reaffirm our commitment to work hand-in-hand with governments, the private sector, and international partners to build a just, inclusive, and sustainable future. They also underscore the importance of high-impact partnerships and innovative financing mechanisms in addressing persistent gaps and global challenges, ensuring solutions that are locally driven, scalable, and sustainable." These efforts align with the State of Qatar's strategy for international cooperation, whereby QFFD aims to address urgent humanitarian needs while simultaneously promoting long-term resilience, guided by the principles of multilateralism, solidarity, and shared responsibility.