Weather inshore until 6pm on Friday will be hazy at first and partly cloudy at times, with chance of rain at places, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report.Offshore, the weather will be partly cloudy with chance of scattered rain, maybe thundery at times, the report added, warning of expected thundery rain associated with strong wind and high sea.Wind inshore will be mainly southeasterly - southwesterly at a speed of 5 to 15 knot, gusting to 20 knot at places at times.Offshore, it will be mainly southeasterly at a speed of 8 to 18 knot, gusting to 28 knot with thundery rain.Visibility inshore will be 4 to 9 km, Offshore, it will be 4 to 9 km/ 3 km or less with thundery rain.Sea state inshore will be 2 to 4 feet, rising to 5 feet with thundery rain. Offshore, it will be 3 to 5 feet, rising to 9 feet with thundery rain.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said Turkiye’s move to halt trade with Israel was designed to force the country to a ceasefire in Gaza.The decision, announced on Thursday, is the latest indication of deteriorating relations between the two countries.“We have taken some measures to force Israel to agree to a ceasefire and increase the amount of humanitarian aid to enter” Gaza, Erdogan told a group of businessmen in Istanbul.“We will oversee the consequences of this step we have taken in coordination and consultation with our business world.”Already in April Turkiye, announced it was restricting exports to Israel, covering 54 products from iron and steel to jet fuel.“We do not run after hostility or conflict in our region,” Erdogan said on Friday. “We do not want to see conflict, blood or tears in our geography.“We know now that we did the right thing.”The Gaza Strip is suffering a humanitarian crisis caused by Israel’s war against Hamas that has been raging since October first week, with the United Nations and aid agencies warning of impending famine.The war started with Hamas’s unprecedented October first week storming of Israel.Israel’s retaliatory offensive against Hamas has killed more than 34,600 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.An outspoken advocate of the Palestinian cause, Erdogan has become one of the most strident critics in the Muslim world of Israel’s offensive in Gaza.He has accused the government of “state terrorism”, branding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the “butcher of Gaza”.But Turkiye’s trade action against Israel came after criticism inside the country against Erdogan’s government for having failed to act sooner.Erdogan said: “We have one goal here, and that’s to force the Netanyahu government, which went out of control with the unconditional military and diplomatic support of the West, to a ceasefire.” “If a ceasefire is declared and an adequate amount of humanitarian aid is allowed to enter Gaza, the goal will be achieved.”

The Philippine Migrant Workers Office (MWO) organised a seminar-workshop at the Philippine International School Qatar (PISQ) to mark World Day Safety and Health at Work 2024.The event, held in collaboration with the Philippine Association of Safety Engineers (Phase) Qatar, Apo-AA ‘97, PISQ, and Bayanihan ng mga Manggagawa sa Konstruksyon ng Qatar (a non-governmental organisation dedicated to the welfare and well-being of Filipino workers in the construction sector), brought together Filipino industry experts and numerous safety workers.The celebration seeks to address and raise awareness on the importance of health and safety in workplaces. Attendees explored various related topics, fostering discussions and initiatives aimed at enhancing safety protocols within their respective sectors.Cherry Cureg, head of Assistance to Nationals at MWO Qatar, spearheaded the celebration, with the presence of Cassandra B Sawadjaan, the first secretary and consul general of the Philippine embassy in Qatar.In her remarks, Cureg stressed the significant role of awareness and education in fostering safer work environments. She underlined the collective responsibility in safeguarding communities through proactive safety measures, highlighting the profound impact of individual actions in saving lives and fostering a culture of well-being.In his presentation titled ‘Assessing Workplace Safety and Health Risks in an Emerging Climate Change’, Leo S Dote, adviser and former president of Phase Qatar, discussed the impact of climate change on workers’ health and safety.He shed light on issues such as traumatic injuries, respiratory ailments, and emotional distress stemming from extreme weather events.He cited Qatar’s commendable policies and strategies as proactive responses to climate change, including restrictions on outdoor work during extreme temperatures, mandatory health checks for workers, and comprehensive risk assessments to mitigate heat-related stressors.The seminar tackled the essential aspects of managing workplace heat stress and heightened awareness surrounding mental health issues among workers.Discussions also revolved around providing adequate training, access to cool drinking water, and shaded rest areas to mitigate the adverse effects of heat stress, underscoring the holistic approach required to ensure the well-being of employees in diverse work environments.The seminar-workshop provided a platform for Filipino workers and industry experts to collaborate and share knowledge, reinforcing the commitment to prioritise health and safety in work environments.