Doha Forum launches significant new global governance initiative at Tokyo Conference
This event, in collaboration with the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), launched a new joint research initiative focused on the evolving landscape of global governance.
Mubarak Ajlan Al-Kuwari, Executive Director of the Doha Forum, emphasized in his opening remarks that multilateral institutions are facing increasing pressure, leading to a more fragmented and uncertain global governance structure.
'How can we ensure fairness, stability, and accountability in a multipolar world?' he asked. 'What principles and partnerships can guide us through this evolving landscape? These questions are central to a new strategy launched today by the Doha Forum and JIIA.'
Over the next year, the Doha initiative aims to unite leading scholars and experts to focus on the role of middle powers in restoring trust, fostering cooperation, and strengthening the rules-based international system.
Panelists and speakers at the conference on Wednesday included Professor Ken Endo and Professor Satoshi Ikeuchi, both from the University of Tokyo; Professor Maiko Ichihara from Hitotsubashi University; and Professor Naoko Eto from the University.
Additionally, Professor Abdullah Baabood, Chair of the State of Qatar for Islamic Area Studies at the Faculty of International Research and Education, also participated as a speaker.
Jaber Jaralla Al-Marri, the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Japan, attended the event with around 100 participants from the Japanese business, academic, diplomatic, and expert communities.
Panelists discussed current affairs in the Middle East and the role of effective players, such as Qatar and Japan, as the world witnesses the declining power of major global players, including the United States of America.
They highlighted the unique contributions of Qatar and Japan in this changing landscape, from their diplomatic efforts to their economic influence, and the potential for them to shape the future of global governance.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
8 minutes ago
- Arab News
Pakistan approves Skills Impact Bond for youth employment through private investment
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday approved Pakistan's first Skills Impact Bond, a new financing model aimed at mobilizing private investment to equip young people with market-relevant skills and improve their access to employment, both at home and abroad. The approval came during a high-level meeting in Islamabad focused on youth employment. According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, the initiative is part of a broader government effort to align vocational training with labor market demands and make Pakistani youth self-reliant through entrepreneurship and income-generating opportunities. The model, also known as 'pay-for-success,' links funding to independently verified outcomes such as job placement or minimum income levels. 'Pakistan's talented youth are the country's greatest asset,' the prime minister said at the meeting. 'By equipping them with education and skills tailored to market needs, we will transform the future of this nation.' Sharif instructed federal ministries and agencies to accelerate skills training, expand employment outreach through digital platforms and present a comprehensive roadmap based on estimates of domestic and overseas job opportunities for Pakistani youth. The prime minister approved a public awareness campaign to promote the use of the Digital Youth Hub, which has already registered over 500,000 users. The platform currently lists over 47,000 job openings in Pakistan and more than 100,000 overseas, along with 2,000 scholarship opportunities. He also emphasized preparing skilled workers specifically for international job markets and directed relevant departments to offer foreign language training for countries with high demand for labor.
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
US drops sanctions on Myanmar junta allies after Trump praise
The United States has lifted sanctions on several allies of Myanmar's ruling general and their military-linked firms, a US Treasury notice shows, after the junta chief sent a glowing letter of praise to President Donald Trump. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing seized power in a 2021 coup, deposing the civilian government and sparking a civil war that has killed thousands, leaving 3.5 million displaced and half the nation in poverty. Two weeks ago, the top general sent a letter to Trump, responding to his threat of tariffs by lauding his presidency with praise, including for shutting down US-funded media outlets covering the conflict. A US Treasury notice on Thursday said sanctions were dropped against KT Services and Logistics, the Myanmar Chemical and Machinery Company, and Suntac Technologies -- as well as their managers. In a statement, a US Treasury Department spokesperson denied there was an 'ulterior motive' in the move, although the notice did not provide a reason for the removals. 'Anyone suggesting these sanctions were lifted for an ulterior motive is uninformed and peddling a conspiracy theory driven by hatred for President Trump,' said the spokesperson, on condition of anonymity. They added that individuals were 'regularly added and removed' from the sanctions list 'in the ordinary course of business.' KT Services and Logistics and its CEO Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung were described as junta 'cronies' when they were sanctioned in 2022 for leasing Yangon's port from a military firm for $3 million a year. The Myanmar Chemical and Machinery Company and its owner, Aung Hlaing Oo, and Suntac Technologies owner Sit Taing Aung were sanctioned later that year for producing arms, including tanks and mortars. A third Myanmar national, Tin Latt Min -- who the US previously described as owning 'various companies that are closely related to the regime' -- was also removed from the sanctions list. Trump sent a letter to junta chief Min Aung Hlaing earlier this month, one among a raft of missives dispatched to foreign leaders during his global tariff blitz. The letter -- believed to be Washington's first public recognition of the junta's rule since the coup -- threatened Myanmar with a 40 percent levy unless a trade deal was struck. Min Aung Hlaing responded with a multi-page letter expressing his 'sincere appreciation' for Trump's message and praising his 'strong leadership.'
Arab News
5 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan urges global action against banned militant groups exploiting social media
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has requested cooperation from social media platforms to block and remove accounts linked to militant groups, State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry said on Friday, urging global action and the use of artificial intelligence to support these efforts. Chaudhry's statement comes amid growing concerns in Islamabad over the online presence and influence of militant networks, including the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Daesh, which are increasingly using digital platforms to recruit, fundraise and spread propaganda. Pakistan has intensified efforts to curb militancy on social media by strengthening digital surveillance, enforcing cybercrime laws and engaging with major tech platforms. The country's primary legislation in the area is the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, which explicitly criminalizes online recruitment, funding and planning by militant groups. 'I want to once again request for the social media operators and social media platforms to cooperate with us on the blockage and removal of accounts, taking AI measures to stop mirroring accounts and to share info of account holders who are operating these accounts,' the minister said while addressing a news conference. He highlighted how Pakistan was fighting a war against militancy for two decades. 'And Pakistan is a wall between terrorists and the world,' he added. 'If this wall becomes weak the fire will not stop on our borders.' Chaudhry lamented that around 40 international militant groups were operating out of Afghanistan, adding they had access to weapons and ammunition worth millions of dollars left behind by US forces following their withdrawal in 2021. He said all of these militant organizations had been sanctioned by the US, the United Kingdom and Pakistan. 'We want to block and remove the account,' Chaudhry added. 'Second is to use AI measures to stop mirror accounts and thirdly and most importantly is to share information of these account holders because they are also part of terrorist organizations and are terrorists.' The government has also urged platforms such as Facebook, X and YouTube to comply with local regulations and promptly remove flagged content promoting militancy. In May 2024, Pakistan established the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the mandate of PECA, tasked with probing offenses such as terrorism-related cyber activities, misinformation, hacking and other forms of digital crime.
