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The general index of Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) rose 16.78 points, or 0.17%, at the beginning of trading on Monday, reaching the level of 9,706 points, compared to yesterday's closing.The general index was supported by a rise in six sectors: Real Estate by 0.73%; Telecoms by 0.44%; Insurance by 0.37%; Consumer Goods and Services by 0.27%; Industrials by 0.24%; and Banks and Financial Services by 0.19%. On the other hand, Transportation dropped 0.26%.At 10:00 am, 54.978 million shares were traded in 2,963 transactions valued QR 112.411 million.

Brazilian authorities announced that the number of victims of torrential rains that caused floods in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in the south of the country rose to at least 78 people, with tens of thousands displaced.Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva held a press conference in the state, accompanied by a group of ministers, about rescue and reconstruction work. Bureaucracy will not prevent restoring the greatness of the state, he said.In turn, Governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite, said that the situation is more like a war zone, and its repercussions should also be addressed.Floods caused by storms in the past few days have damaged about two-thirds of the state's 500 towns and cities, displacing more than 88,000 people.The water destroyed roads and bridges in several cities in the state. The rains also caused landslides and a partial collapse of a dam at a small hydroelectric power station.Rio Grande do Sul was hit last September by a tropical cyclone causing floods that killed more than 50 people.

Weather inshore until 6pm on Monday will be hazy at first with scattered clouds, becomes cloudy with blowing dust and chance of rain maybe thundery at places by night, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report, warning of expected thundery rain associated with sudden strong wind and poor visibility by night.Offshore, the weather will be see scattered clouds, becomes cloudy with chance of scattered rain, maybe thundery by night, the report added, warning of thundery rain associated with strong wind and high sea by night.Wind inshore will be mainly northeasterly - southeasterly at a speed of 8 to 18 knot, gusting to 38 knot with thundery rain.Offshore, it will be variable at first, becomes southeasterly - northeasterly at a speed of 8 to 18 knot, gusting to 40 knot with thundery rain.Visibility inshore will be 4 to 9 km/ 2 km or less with thundery rain. Offshore, it will be 4 to 8 km/ 2 km or less with thundery rain.Sea state inshore will be 1 to 3 feet, rising to 4 feet with thundery rain. Offshore, it will be 3 to 5 feet, rising to 11 feet with thundery rain.

A number of Palestinians were martyred and others were injured Monday in Israeli occupation shelling of the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.According to Palestinian news agency (WAFA), 22 citizens, including children, were martyred as a result of occupation raids that targeted 11 homes in Rafah.Four people, including two children, were martyred in an Israeli bombing that targeted a house in Al-Geneina neighborhood, east of Rafah, while nine people, including four children, were martyred as a result of an Israeli bombing that targeted a house in Al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah, WAFA added.Additionally, four Palestinians, including an infant, were martyred as a result of the occupation warplanes bombing a house east of Rafah. An air strike also targeted Khirbet Al-Adas northeast of the city.Civil defense crews in Gaza had earlier recovered five decomposed bodies of martyrs from Al-Jaabari family, whose house was targeted near the Palestine Stadium in the city.Medical sources announced that the death toll in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 rose to 34,683, along with 78,018 injuries. Meanwhile, thousands are still missing under the rubble and on the roads as occupation forces prevent ambulance and civil defense crews from reaching them.

Through its despicable and pathetic move to close Al Jazeera’s offices, Israel has once again proved that it is a liar, does not believe in democracy, free journalism nor follow the international laws or the orders from the International Court of Justice.It is unfortunate that the world is a mute witness the state of gangsters trying to get away with their unpardonable crimes against humanity while blaming others to hide the failure of their management.As Al Jazeera Media Network stated yesterday, ironically as the world marked World Press Freedom Day, the Israeli government closed Al Jazeera’s offices, preventing the public from accessing its content, disregarding the universally recognised fundamentals of freedom of expression.Israel’s ongoing suppression of the free press, seen as an effort to conceal its actions in the Gaza Strip, stands in contravention of international and humanitarian law. Israel has killed more than 140 Palestinian journalists since the beginning of the war on Gaza.The world has not forgotten that Israeli forces used lethal force without justification when they shot and killed Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank in May 2022, violating her “right to life”. None other than the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel “concluded on reasonable grounds that Israeli forces used lethal force without justification under international human rights law.”Abu Akleh, a Christian American citizen and acclaimed correspondent for the Doha-based media network, was shot in the head while covering an Israeli military raid on the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh in Jenin is a direct result of Israel’s militarisation of law enforcement operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,” said Navi Pillay, chair of the Commission. “Shireen Abu Akleh is another victim of the excessive and disproportionate force used by Israeli security forces in these operations. This was also an attack against journalists, who were all clearly identifiable, which is a recurring pattern identified by the Commission.Al Jazeera Gaza bureau chief Wael al-Dahdouh is a living martyr with numerous members of his family killed by the Israeli military during the ongoing Israel–Hamas war. His wife, seven-year-old daughter, and 15-year-old son were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Nuseirat refugee camp on October 28, 2023, in addition to eight of his other relatives.On December 15, 2023, while al-Dahdouh and his cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa were covering the Haifa School airstrike in Khan Younis, they were hit by an Israeli missile, injuring Dahdouh and fatally wounding Abu Daqqa. His son, journalist Hamza al-Dahdouh, was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis on January 7 this year, and two of his nephews were killed in an airstrike the following day. Of the more than 34,000 Palestinians killed by Israel in the seven months, the majority are women and children. In its annual report published in January this year, the New York-based Human Rights Watch accused Israel of war crimes and said many governments were expressing “selective outrage” over atrocities committed in the conflict in Gaza. Undoubtedly, the Israeli government’s decision to shut down Al Jazeera in the country is a blatant violation of press freedom and an effort to hide the truth of the Gaza war. The action is a repressive and retaliatory measure against the professional role of Al Jazeera in exposing the crimes and violations in Gaza, and represents the culmination of the declared war against journalists, aimed at concealing the truth. If Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet are thinking that they can continue to fool the world by continuing their autocratic and ruthless actions, they should realise that their masks have been torn away long ago. It is high time Israel understood that there is no solution except an immediate ceasefire and negotiations. Silencing the media has never worked in human history, and it never will. The earlier Israel comprehends this, the better for them. The Gulf Times family hereby condemns in the strongest possible terms, the draconian action by Israel, in its desperate attempt to silence Al [email protected]

From Mexicans left homeless by rising seas to Colombians affected by coral bleaching, hundreds of people are telling the top human rights court in the Americas what climate change means to them in an historic case that could shape international law.Environmental lawyers also hope the hearings at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR), which were requested by Colombia and Chile, will define the duties of states to confront the climate crisis and stop it infringing on human rights.As well as receiving submissions from climate victims, the Costa Rica-based court, which started its inquiry in Barbados in April, will hear from UN agencies, legal experts, grassroots environmental campaign groups, and youth groups.The next sessions are due to be held in Brasilia and then Manaus, Brazil at the end of May, and an advisory opinion is expected by May 2025.“We’re hoping that the court’s legal opinion is a guide and reference for Mexico, and other states, to develop public policies from a climate justice perspective,” said Nora Cabrera, a lawyer and head of Our Future, a Mexico-based youth climate justice campaign group.“And that it includes loss and damage compensation for affected communities, and adaptation policies for those not yet directly affected by climate change,” said Cabrera, who will be speaking at the next hearing in Manaus.In January, Colombia and Chile asked the IACHR to issue the advisory opinion, saying that they were experiencing the “daily challenge of dealing with the consequences of the climate emergency,” including fires, landslides, droughts and floods.“These events reveal the need for an urgent response based on the principles of equity, justice, co-operation and sustainability, with a human rights-based approach,” they said in their petition.“There is a close relationship between the climate emergency and the violation of human rights,” they added.It is this link between climate change and human rights that the IACHR will seek to define, while also examining how climate change affects migration and looking at the disproportionate effect on children, women and Indigenous people.Chile and Colombia also asked the court for clarification on a state’s duties to protect environmental activists.Latin America is the most dangerous place in the world for environmental and land defenders, according to advocacy group Global Witness. Around 90% of the 177 killings of environmental activists recorded in 2022 took place in the region.“The hearing aims to ask for clarity about human rights obligations and the climate crisis,” said Jacob Kopas, senior attorney at the Earthjustice environmental group, one of a group of lawyers who spoke at the Barbados hearing on April 26.“It will help to create a more concise framework to guide state behaviour and policy to confront the climate crisis and protect human rights,” said Kopas.Among those submitting testimonies will be the residents of the El Bosque fishing community in Tabasco, Mexico, where rising sea levels caused by climate change have swept away about 200 meters of coastline.Since 2019, the school and more than 50 homes have been destroyed, forcing about 200 people to leave.El Bosque community leader, Guadalupe Cobos, said she and 10 neighbours will probably have to leave within a year and resettle in an area about 12km away, where new homes are being built by the government.“We depend on the sea but coastal erosion has affected our way of life. It’s important for the court to know that we’re living climate change now and that this isn’t something that will happen in the future in 20 or 50 years’ time,” said Cobos.“We want the court to hear our experiences and to know that our rights have been violated, that we have been forced to migrate,” Cobos told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.The court’s advisory opinion could have important implications for climate litigation across Latin America and the Caribbean and make it easier for communities living with the effects of global warming to take legal action.The opinion will apply to all signatories of the American Convention on Human Rights, most of whom are members of the Organization of American States. The United States and Canada have not ratified the treaty however.The advisory opinion will help shape the region’s legal systems as many countries incorporate its jurisprudence into their laws and constitutions.“We’re hoping that the court makes the link between the climate crisis and human rights violations and that it recognises climate displacement,” said Cabrera, whose organisation has been supporting the El Bosque community.The IACHR is known for its progressive stance on climate justice and human rights.In March, it recognised that citizens in Peru have the right to a healthy environment when it ruled in favor of people living in the Andean mining town of La Oroya, who had suffered from decades of environmental pollution.Other courts are also breaking new ground in this sphere.In Colombia in April, in response to a lawsuit filed by a farming couple who were driven out of their home by flooding caused by heavy rains, the country’s constitutional court recognised the links between environmental disasters and climate change and people being forcibly displaced.Across the world, other top courts are also examining the connection between human rights and climate change. On April 9, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that the Swiss government had violated the human rights of its citizens by failing to do enough to combat climate change.Two other courts - the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Seas (ITLOS) — are also expected to give advisory opinions on international legal obligations of states regarding climate change.Kopas said the IACHR ruling could lead the way by delivering a “forward-reaching and progressive” advisory opinion.“It’s historic because of the climate crisis we are in. This is the crisis of our lifetime and of all future generations.” — Thomson Reuters Foundation

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Every day, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers, and lakes. This statement from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) website, drives home the point that plastic pollution is a global problem. Every year 19-23mn tonnes of plastic waste leaks into aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers and seas. Plastic pollution can alter habitats and natural processes, reducing ecosystems’ ability to adapt to climate change, directly affecting millions of people’s livelihoods, food production capabilities and social well-being, according to the UNEP.So much for a depressing but factual introduction about plastic pollution. But a latest breakthrough has come as a beacon of hope. A team of researchers from UC San Diego has created a form of plastic that can basically recycle itself. Dr Adam Feist and Professor Jon Pokorski combined traditional polyurethane with a microbial spore to create plastic that can break down in compost or any other natural environment in around five months. The newly crafted biodegradable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is just as durable and elastic as traditional polyurethane, with the ability to stretch up to 15 times its original size. TPU is used in footwear, floor mats, cushions, and memory foam. But unlike other plastic, the new blend almost completely decomposes much faster.The biodegradable TPU was made with bacterial spores from a strain of Bacillus subtilis that has the ability to break down plastic polymer materials. Pokorski and Feist say that will help the environment by eliminated waste. They say plastic companies can start to mass-produce this kind of “self-eating” plastic right now, simply by adding the microbial spores to their existing ingredients. It’s about 10% more expensive, but they believe that’s worth it to help with pollution and climate change. “To make the biodegradable plastic, the researchers fed Bacillus subtilis spores and TPU pellets into a plastic extruder. The ingredients were mixed and melted at over 200F, then extruded as thin strips of plastic. To assess the material’s biodegradability, the strips were placed in both microbially active and sterile compost environments. Prof Pokorski said the compost setups were maintained at around 100F with a relative humidity ranging from 44-55%. Water and other nutrients in the compost triggered germination of the spores within the plastic strips, which reached 90% degradation within five months.Although the researchers still need to study what gets left behind after the material degrades, they believe that any lingering bacterial spores are likely harmless. Pokorski explained that Bacillus subtilis is a strain used in probiotics that’s generally regarded as safe to humans and animals and can even be beneficial to plant health. For the study, published in the journal Nature Communications, the bacterial spores were evolutionary nudged to adapt to the hot temperatures necessary for manufacturing the TPU. The spores also serve as a strengthening filler, similar to how rebar reinforces concrete, resulting in a TPU variant with enhanced mechanical properties—requiring more force to break and showing greater stretchability.“This is great because the addition of spores pushes the mechanical properties beyond known limitations where there was previously a trade-off between tensile strength and stretchability,” said Pokorski. The research team is now working on optimising the approach for use on an industrial scale.

Al Shahania came up with a spirited display as they beat a strong Al Markhiya 3-1 in the relegation play-off at the Al Thumama Stadium yesterday and were promoted to the First Division – Qatar Stars League 2024-2025 season – in style.While Al Markhiya did rally to bounce back from being a goal down and equalise, Al Shahania hit back with two more late goals to ensure their first division berth.The goal-scorers for Al Shahania were Jaime Rubio (17th minute), Mohamed Abu Shanab (83rd minute) and Mohamed Ibrahim (90+6 minute). Al Markhiya’s only goal came in the 75th minute from an own goal of Niall Mason.Al Shahania began the match with intent and at a fast pace looking to attack at every given opportunity and succeeded soon as their 19-year-old left-winger Rubio struck off a rebound.The move was initiated by Alhassan Koroma who passed the ball to his right to Franceso Antonucci to deliver the strike but his kick saw the ball hit the left post and rebound, and an alert Rubio pounced on the chance to score.The very next minute, Al Markhiya tried to make amends but Yusupha Nije’s kick went just off the left post. A co-ordinated Al Shahania move in the 23rd minute saw Rubio shape up for another big attempt from just outside the box but his kick sailed well over the crossbar. The opening half also saw Al Shahania’s goalkeeper Bautista Burke stave off two potential and powerful strikes from Al Markhiya as well. Post the half time break, Al Markhiya aimed at stepping up the ante and in the 50th minute Mouhamadou Naby Sarr did succeed in scoring while driving left from inside the box but a foul was ruled as the player had brought down defender Marc Martinez while being man-marked.Eight minutes later, Al Markhiya in a close action saw Yusupha rise high to make a header connect but couldn’t reach as the goalkeeper grappled to catch the ball.Al Markhiya repeated attempts eventually bore fruit in the 75th minute when a defensive lapse saw Nije grab the ball and pass it to Driss Fettouhi whose left-foot strike was headed into own goal by an evasive Mason.With parity drawn, the match gained more excitement but just when it seemed that Al Markhiya may try and gain an upper hand, Al Shahania picked up more pace and challenged their rivals.Soon, Al Shahania surprised their opponents as Mohamed Abu Shanab made a fine diagonal strike to score in the far left corner while beating a diving keeper. Abu Shahab was assisted with the ball by Koroma. Having conceded the lead again, Al Markhiya now had more worries and close battles for the ball had some of their players throwing up their arms in frustration. With ten more minutes of added time, the tussle became thrilling and in fast counter-attack Al Shahania struck one more time as Koroma’s long ball was intercepted by Al Markhiya’s Abdelghani Laallam but he couldn’t hold on and Ibrahim ran in to get to the ball and move into the danger zone to score a wonderful and finest goal of the match – keeping a chasing Laallam at bay and making a right foot flick for the ball to go over an onrushing goalkeeper’s head into the empty goal.The goal delighted Al Shahania’s many fans at the stadium and left Al Markhiya’s hopes dashed as they now go back to SecondDivision.

Al Duhail will kick off the prestigious Amir Cup 2024 against Al Shamal at the Al Janoub Stadium today at 5.15pm while defending champions Al Arabi will take on Al Sailiya in the second match at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium at 8pm.The winners of these two matches will meet in the quarter-finals. The matches of the Round of 16 are scheduled to be held from May 6 to May 9.Speaking ahead of his team’s match, Al Duhail’s coach Christophe Galtier said that the Amir Cup is an opportunity for his team to compensate for their performance during the Expo Stars League.Al Duhail finished sixth in the recently-concluded Expo Stars League.“Each member of the squad is aware of the importance of Amir Cup. There are no second chances in this tournament and our match against Al Shamal is very important,” said Galtier.“There is disappointment among the entire Al Duhail team members and fans but this Amir Cup is an opportunity for us to make amends. It will not be an easy match and I have told my players to focus on Al Shamal match as they are an organised team. A victory means we stay in the tournament,” he added.Al Duhail captain Almoez Ali, said, “This tournament is very dear to us and currently all our focus is on the first match. We are not satisfied with our performance this season and we are aware that Amir Cup is our last chance to qualify for the Asian Champions League. We will give our best to reach the final with Al Shamal being the first obstacles. We must play the match with full focus and determination as a lot of hardwork is required to win the title.”Al Shamal coach Poya Asbaghi said, his side was confident of taking on Al Duhail. “We are aware of the challenge we face in Al Duhail, who are looking to bounce back after losing the league title. They are very strong but we are also confident and all the players are determined for a win against them to advance in this prestigious tournament, he said.Al Shamal forward Ricardo Gomes, said, “We have great ambitions and we are ready for the match against Al Duhail. It’s a match that requires complete focus from start to finish.”Defending champions Al Arabi also do not want to take any chances in their match against Al Sailiya. Al Arabi coach Younes Ali, said, Al Sailiya are not going to be easy opponents and we expect a tough match. We are aiming to advance with a win as we are eyeing second straight Amir Cup title.“The atmosphere in the team is great and all the players are looking to give their best. “All the players are keen to give a better show than they gave in the Expo Stars League. Al Arabi is the club which has a rich history and we always compete for titles. We are happy to have clinched the Qatar-UAE Super Cup (with win over Sharjah) this season.”Al Sailiya coach Mirghani al-Zain, said, “The Amir Cup matches are played with a different system than league matches and we are aiming for a place in the quarter-finals.For his part, Al Sailiya player Saad al-Sawan: “We are looking to reach the quarter-finals but we will have to work hard for it. It is going to be a tough match for both the teams.Amir Cup ScheduleMay 6: Al Duhail vs Al Shamal (5.15pm); Al Arabi vs Al Sailiya (8pm)May 7: Qatar SC vs Al Waab (5.15pm); Umm Salal vs Al Bidda (8pm)May 8: Al Gharafa vs Al Ahli (5.15pm)May 9: Al Sadd vs Al Markhiya (5.15pm); Al Wakrah vs Muaither (8pm); Al Rayyan vs Al Khor (8pm).

DOHA: Riders from various age categories will vie for top honours in the two-day Al Shaqab Showjumping League which will begin on Friday at the Longines Indoor Arena. The event is poised to be a spectacular sporting extravaganza, spotlighting the remarkable skills of riders in the league of show jumping competitions.With an emphasis on establishing a distinguished league that provides a prominent platform for riders, this championship also aims to offer opportunities to young riders, aspiring female participants, juniors, future champions and all equestrian enthusiasts.Registration for the competition is open to all members of the Al Shaqab Equestrian Education Academy and riders from all the clubs.The FEI Group 7 qualifying class held in earlier leagues saw all riders qualified for the FEI Group 7 final. Furthermore, the Al Shaqab League is dedicated to providing riders at Al Shaqab with opportunities to qualify for prestigious events such as the FEI group 7 final, Youth Olympic Games and FEI international events. Among the notable achievements, Saad Al Saad stands as the sole rider from Al Shaqab to have qualified for the youth Olympics, a testament to the calibre of talent nurtured within the Al Shaqab community.The main classes of Al Shaqab League includes Future Champions – Ages 14 years old and below (Height 90cm), and Junior Champions – Ages 18 years old and below (Height 100cm).

Liverpool shattered Tottenham’s hopes of finishing in the Premier League’s top four with a 4-2 win that left Aston Villa on the brink of Champions League qualification despite their 1-0 defeat at Brighton yesterday.Needing a win at Anfield to close the gap on fourth-placed Villa, Tottenham slumped to a fourth successive loss to leave their Champions League hopes in tatters. Villa are seven points ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham, who have a game in hand but will miss out on the top four if Unai Emery’s men win one of their remaining two matches.Mohamed Salah was back in the Liverpool team after being dropped for last weekend’s draw at West Ham. The Egypt forward had argued with Klopp before being introduced as a substitute at the London Stadium and fanned the flames afterwards when he said there would be “fire” if he spoke about the clash.Klopp, in the final weeks of his nine-year reign, was celebrating in the 16th minute when Salah notched his 25th goal in all competitions this term with a clinical header from Cody Gakpo’s cross.Andrew Robertson scored Liverpool’s second on the stroke of half-time as the Scotland left-back finished from close-range after Salah’s shot was saved by Guglielmo Vicario.There was worse to come for woeful Tottenham as Gakpo headed in a 50th-minute cross from Harvey Elliott, who netted the fourth in the 59th minute with a superb curler from 20 yards.It was little consolation for Tottenham that Richarlison reduced the deficit in the 72nd minute before setting up Son Heung-min’s goal five minutes later.Liverpool’s first victory in three league games kept them in mathematical contention to win the title, but in truth they have little chance, with leaders Arsenal five points ahead with only two games left. A Villa win combined with a Tottenham loss would have sealed a Champions League place for Emery’s side. But Villa were unable to fulfil their part of that equation as Joao Pedro’s 87th-minute goal condemned them to a second painful defeat in four days. Ending Brighton’s six-match winless run, Pedro headed in the rebound after Robin Olsen saved his penalty, which had been awarded for Ezri Konsa’s foul on Simon Adingra. Surprisingly beaten 4-2 by Olympiakos in the Europa Conference League semi-final first leg on Thursday, Villa were well below their best once again.Emery’s men host Liverpool and travel to Crystal Palace in their last two games as they fight to return to the Champions League for the first time since 1982-83. “We competed but we didn’t get a good result and we didn’t deserve more. I don’t want to know anything about Tottenham because it’s in our hands,” Emery said.At Stamford Bridge, seventh-placed Chelsea thrashed West Ham 5-0 to keep alive their hopes of European qualification. Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is fighting to convince the club’s co-owner Todd Boehly to give him a second season in charge after his troubled debut campaign.Pochettino admits it is “not his decision” if he stays, but securing a place in Europe could be enough to avoid the sack. Cole Palmer put Chelsea ahead in the 15th minute with his 21st league goal of the season, the forward firing home after West Ham failed to clear.Conor Gallagher doubled Chelsea’s advantage after 30 minutes with a blistering volley after West Ham’s Kurt Zouma deflected the ball towards the midfielder. Noni Madueke bagged Chelsea’s third as the winger turned in Thiago Silva’s header from close-range. Nicolas Jackson piled on the misery for woeful West Ham in the 48th minute and the Senegal striker bagged his second.