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- March 25, 2026
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Tech addiction
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Nearing one month, the US-Israeli war with Iran has cut off important sources of energy and fertilisers that are key inputs in the production of grains, vegetables and meat. The conflict is sending shockwaves through the global food industry — from growers to packaging firms and distributors — with major implications for food security and living standards. Farmers whose crop yields were already squeezed by bouts of extreme weather now face having to pay more for those crucial inputs and are likely to pass on the cost to consumers through higher prices. The Gulf region has become a significant producer of nitrogen fertilisers in recent decades, and the Strait of Hormuz was handling about a third of the global trade before the war broke out. The conflict has severely disrupted exports from the region, sending prices soaring and farmers scrambling to secure enough of the products while they can. The war is also disrupting production of nitrogen fertilisers in other parts of the world as the conflict has affected supplies of their key ingredient: natural gas. This has led fertiliser manufacturers in countries such as India and Bangladesh to reduce output. There are signs that soaring gas prices are also putting European production under strain. Nitrogen fertilisers underpin roughly half of global food production by supplying plants with nutrients that support their growth. The sudden loss of supply of both chemicals and fuel compounds the problem. India, for example, is heavily reliant on urea and LNG imported via the Strait. Australia, meanwhile, has plenty of LNG but gets more than a third of its fertiliser from the Middle East as well as much of the diesel needed to deliver and apply it. Disruption of the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea shipping routes has raised freight costs and lengthened transit times for grains, oilseeds and fertilisers. Even short journeys face an impact as higher fuel prices make land transportation costlier. Before the war broke out, food inflation around the world was generally expected to ease this year. Food commodity costs are still well below their peak of March 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but the impact of the war is starting to feed through official price gauges. In Turkiye, consumers were reportedly paying about a third more for their vegetables, before the conflict started. The full impact is likely to take some time to materialise. Food prices tend to respond to prolonged energy shocks, not short spikes, and the effect on grocery prices is typically indirect and delayed, according to David Ortega, a professor of food economics at Michigan State University. Modern agriculture is an energy-intensive industry, relying on large amounts of fuel to power machinery used for sowing, harvesting and tending to livestock in sprawling pastures. Without this supply, farming calendars honed over generations could easily be disrupted. If farmers can’t get enough diesel, sowing could be delayed or reduced. Mature crops left in the ground would deteriorate, while the cost of processing and transporting produce after harvest would also increase. Import-dependent countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are particularly exposed to fertiliser shortages and rising input costs, the Food and Agriculture Organisation said on March 15. While farmers in rich nations can count on support from their governments, concerns are mounting over some of the poorest economies. Higher food prices will complicate efforts by central banks to get a post-pandemic wave of inflation back under control. The situation also presents a challenge for politicians, especially in emerging-market economies where food eats up a greater proportion of household incomes than it does in more industrialised nations. As many as 45mn more people could face acute hunger if the conflict in Iran doesn’t ease by the middle of the year, taking the total number to a record high, the UN World Food Programme has warned.
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At moments of geopolitical tension, sport can feel peripheral. When headlines are dominated by conflict and economic uncertainty, stadiums and competitions can seem far removed from the serious business of international affairs. But sport has always operated on a different timeline from politics. Major tournaments, leagues and sporting infrastructure are planned years in advance. Decisions taken today will shape the sporting landscape long after the current moment of instability has passed. The region is steadily positioning itself as a centre for global sport, not only by hosting major events but by building the infrastructure and ecosystems that sustain them. That long horizon is precisely what makes sport valuable in turbulent times. Sport is one of the few global systems that continues to function even when politics fractures. It creates spaces where countries can still meet, compete and collaborate even when political relationships are strained. The playing field has often provided one of the rare arenas where rivalry can coexist with shared rules and mutual respect. Across the Middle East, that long-term perspective is becoming increasingly visible. The region is steadily positioning itself as a centre for global sport, not only by hosting major events but by building the infrastructure and ecosystems that sustain them. Qatar’s experience over the past decade illustrates how deliberate that approach can be. Investments in stadiums, training facilities and youth development ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022 created not only a tournament but a lasting sporting platform that continues to attract international competitions and regional events. The calendar for 2026 alone illustrates the scale of that ambition. In May, Doha will host the Gulf Co-operation Council Games, bringing together athletes from across the region. In January, Saudi Arabia staged the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup, which showcased the next generation of football talent from across the continent. Later in the year Riyadh will welcome competitors for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, while Dubai’s long-established Dubai World Cup will once again draw global attention to the emirate. These events are not isolated moments. They form part of a broader strategic arc. Stadiums, training facilities, youth academies and broadcast partnerships are all part of an ecosystem designed to support sport not just as entertainment, but as an industry and a cultural platform. In that sense, sport sits at the intersection of diplomacy, identity and economic development. Investors working at the intersection of technology, infrastructure and sport are increasingly coming to see sport as one of the most underdeveloped sectors of the global economy. The real opportunity is not simply in events or media rights. It lies in the systems that support them: leagues, talent pathways, facilities, technology and new forms of fan engagement. One of the most significant shifts in global sport over the past decade has been the rise of women’s competitions. Audiences are expanding rapidly, commercial partners are paying closer attention and new leagues are emerging across multiple disciplines. For investors and sporting institutions alike, this creates a rare opportunity to build a more balanced ecosystem from the outset. The infrastructure built today will determine how professional sport evolves over the coming decades. The Middle East is well placed to play an important role in that evolution. Countries across the region have demonstrated their ability to host world-class sporting events and build the facilities required to sustain them. In places like Qatar, where sport has been integrated into broader national development strategies, the emphasis has increasingly shifted from hosting individual tournaments to building a durable sporting ecosystem that supports athletes, fans and communities over the long term. This is where the long cycles of sport matter most. Even as the world moves through a period of political uncertainty, the sporting calendar continues to advance. Athletes are training, leagues are expanding and new generations of fans are emerging. The events planned for the coming years will shape how sport is experienced by millions. In that sense, investing in sport during difficult times is not a distraction from global challenges. It is a way of preparing for what comes next. When the current turbulence eventually passes, the arenas, competitions and institutions being built today will still be there. And in those spaces, nations that may disagree politically will still meet on the same field, governed by the same rules. In a divided world, that may be one of sport’s most enduring contributions.Nicole Junkermann is an international investor focused on technology, sports and media. She leads NJF Holdings, a global investment group, and its sports platform Gameday by NJF Holdings, which invests in sports leagues, media rights and technology-driven fan engagement. Her work in the sector focuses on building long-term sports infrastructure and expanding the commercial and global reach of professional leagues. Related Story
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At a time when the region is witnessing rapidly evolving developments requiring precautionary measures across several sectors, the State of Qatar has once again demonstrated the strength of its institutions and the clarity of its national vision through a carefully coordinated approach to safeguarding the continuity of education. Recent decisions by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to temporarily shift to distance learning, followed by the announcement of a phased and well-structured return to in-person classes, reflect a governance model built on preparedness, adaptability, and a consistent focus on the well-being of students and society.Across the education sector, the speed and organization with which the measures were introduced have been widely noted. Official announcements delivered through national media and government platforms provided clear guidance for students, parents, and educators, ensuring that the learning process continued without disruption. The gradual resumption of in-person classes, preceded by the return of administrative and teaching staff to ensure readiness, highlighted a disciplined and methodical approach aligned with internationally recognised best practices in education management and crisis response.Education specialists observe that the effectiveness of the current response is closely linked to the experience Qatar gained during previous global challenges, most notably the Covid-19 pandemic. During that period, the country moved swiftly to advanced digital learning environments, maintaining academic standards while ensuring strong communication between institutions and families. The lessons learned during those years helped establish a resilient framework that continues to guide decision-making today, allowing the education system to adapt quickly while preserving stability and quality.The latest developments have also underscored the high level of coordination across national institutions. The Ministry of Education and Higher Education worked in close cooperation with universities, schools, and training centres, while the Ministry of Interior continued to provide public guidance through awareness campaigns, official messages, and media briefings that emphasised preparedness, safety, and shared responsibility. The consistency of communication across official channels reinforced public confidence and reflected a governance culture in which institutions operate in harmony to protect society while ensuring that essential sectors remain fully functional.Universities across the country, including institutions within Education City as well as public and private providers, responded with notable efficiency by activating digital learning platforms, adjusting academic schedules, and maintaining full student support services. Academic advising, tutoring, counselling, and virtual engagement initiatives remained available throughout the precautionary period, ensuring that students continued to receive both academic guidance and personal support. This level of readiness reflects years of sustained investment in education, research, and innovation that have positioned Qatar among the region’s leading knowledge-based societies.Alongside academic continuity, strong emphasis has been placed on student well-being. Educational authorities and institutions provided tutorials, recorded lessons, digital resources, and technical guidance to support students during temporary changes in learning formats. Schools and universities also shared structured learning materials, online tools, and continuous updates for students and parents, ensuring that the transition remained organised and productive. The availability of counselling services, academic support sessions, and direct communication channels further reflected a holistic approach that places the student at the centre of the education system.These practices form part of a broader national vision in which education is viewed as a pillar of stability, development, and long-term prosperity. Over the past two decades, Qatar has built one of the most comprehensive education ecosystems in the region, combining strong public education, internationally recognised universities, advanced digital infrastructure, and close cooperation between government ministries and academic institutions. This long-term investment has created a system capable of responding to uncertainty with confidence, balancing precaution with progress while maintaining high standards of quality.From the perspective of the academic community, the adaptability demonstrated in recent weeks reflects a deeply rooted culture of planning and preparedness. Precautionary measures were introduced early, learning continued through well-organised digital platforms, and the return to in-person education was carried out gradually and responsibly. Such an approach reflects internationally recognised best practices, where flexibility, clear communication, and institutional coordination are essential to maintaining stability during challenging circumstances.As founder of Campus & Student Life in Qatar (@students_qatar), the country’s largest student platform with more than 145,000 members, Dr Vahid Suljic said the recent developments once again confirm Qatar’s position as a regional and international reference in managing education during periods of uncertainty. He noted that the consistency of policy, the professionalism of national institutions, and the close cooperation between ministries, universities, and security authorities demonstrate a system that places the safety, well-being, and future of students at the centre of national priorities.Dr Suljic expressed appreciation for the leadership of the State of Qatar and for the continued efforts of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Ministry of Interior, Qatar Foundation, and all educational institutions whose coordinated work ensures stability even in complex circumstances. He emphasised that the ability to respond with calm, confidence, and adaptability reflects a leadership approach that values knowledge, invests in people, and recognises education as a foundation of national resilience.He added that Qatar’s experience continues to stand as a model for the region, demonstrating how strong institutions, forward-looking policies, and a human-centred vision can transform challenges into opportunities for further development. The confidence expressed by students,parents, and educators today reflects years of consistent planning, responsible governance, and sustained commitment to maintaining high standards in education under all circumstances.In this context, the measures taken in March 2026 reaffirm Qatar’s standing as a country capable of maintaining stability while continuing to advance. Through adaptability, adherence to best practices, and close coordination among its institutions, Qatar continues to demonstrate that safeguarding education is inseparable from safeguarding the future. The country’s leadership, policies, and institutions provide a compelling example of how thoughtful governance and long-term investment in knowledge can ensure resilience, confidence, and progress even in times of regional uncertainty.Dr Vahid Suljic is Founder of Campus & Student Life in Qatar (@students_qatar) Related Story
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Dogs have been loyal companions to people since we made them our first domesticated animals, descending long ago from gray wolves -- though precisely when, where and why have remained unanswered. New genetic research now is offering valuable insight, including identifying the earliest-known dog, dating to 15,800 years ago. This dog, known from bones found at the Pinarbasi rock shelter site in Turkey used by ancient human hunter-gatherers, is about 5,000 years older than the previous earliest-known, genetically confirmed canine, the researchers said. The date of the Pinarbasi dog and several others almost as old identified at other sites in Europe shows that dogs already were widely distributed and an integral part of human culture millennia before the advent of agriculture, they said. The new findings were presented in two scientific papers published on Wednesday in the journal ‘Nature’. William Marsh, a postdoctoral researcher in the Ancient Genomics Laboratory at the Francis Crick Institute in London who was co-lead author of one of the studies, said the DNA evidence suggests dogs were present in various locales in western Eurasia by 18,000 years ago and already were quite different genetically from wolves. “We putatively predict that dog and wolf populations diverged a lot earlier, likely before the last glacial maximum (of the Ice Age), so before 24,000 years ago. Although saying that, there is still a great degree of uncertainty,” Marsh said. The dog, descended from an ancient wolf population separate from modern wolves, was the first animal domesticated by people, with animals such as goats, sheep, cattle and cats coming later. “Dogs have been by our side as humans underwent major lifestyle transitions and complex societies emerged,” said geneticist Anders Bergström of the University of East Anglia in England, lead author of the other study. “I think it’s also interesting that, unlike most other domesticated animals, dogs do not always have very clearly defined roles or purposes for humans. Perhaps their primary role is often just to provide companionship,” Bergstrom said. Bergstrom and his team performed a large-scale search for the early dogs of Europe, using a new method to differentiate genetically between wolves and dogs among 216 ancient remains ranging from 46,000 to 2,000 years old from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. This was the largest study of such remains to date. The researchers managed to identify 46 dogs and 95 wolves. Because the skeletons of dogs and wolves were so similar in the early stages of canine domestication, genetic studies are needed to distinguish between them in ancient remains. The oldest of the dogs identified by Bergstrom’s team was one dating to 14,200 years ago from Switzerland’s Kesslerloch Cave site. The oldest of the European dogs identified in this study were found to have shared an origin with dogs in Asia and the rest of the world, showing that these various canine populations did not arise from separate domestication events. The Pinarbasi dog, identified in the study Marsh worked on, showed how much dogs were valued by the hunter-gatherers who kept them. “At Pinarbasi, we have both human and dog burials, with dogs buried alongside humans,” Marsh said. There also was evidence that the people at Pinarbasi fed their dogs fish. This study identified five dogs dating to between 15,800 and 14,300 years ago, including canine remains from Gough’s Cave near Cheddar in England. The Pinarbasi and Gough’s Cave dogs were found to be more closely related to the ancestors of present-day European and Middle Eastern breeds such as boxers and salukis than to Arctic breeds like Siberian huskies. Beyond companionship, the ancient dogs may have helped people hunt or perhaps served as watchdogs, sort of Ice Age alarm systems, according to the researchers. Unlike the many exotic dog breeds around today, these early dogs still likely closely resembled the wolves from which they descended, they said. “The questions of when, where and why people domesticated dogs still remain largely unanswered,” Bergström said. “We think it probably happened somewhere in Asia, but more precisely remains to be determined.”
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Danish voters went to the polls on Tuesday in a general election, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen seeking a third term at the helm of the Scandinavian country after a standoff with U.S. President Donald
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NEW YORK: Armed federal immigration officers in tactical gear moved through terminals at some of the busiest US airports on Monday, standing near security lines and checkpoints after President Donald Trump ordered their deployment during
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Anna Smolchenko, Agence France-PresseFrance's local elections show the appeal of political extremes is growing in France, but Marine Le Pen's far-right party is not necessarily poised to win the presidency next year when Emmanuel Macron
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I’ve seen enough. It’s time to revise our expectations about the midterms. For more than a year now, conventional wisdom has been that Democrats would take back the House — but not the Senate —
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A new study finds that the Panchmarhi Biosphere Reserve (PBR) in India lost about 13% of its forest cover between 1972 and 2020, driven by both climate shifts and human pressures. As highlighted by a
