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Several Palestinians were martyred and others were injured Thursday, as a result of Israeli occupation warplanes shelling the Al-Mawasi area, south of the Gaza Strip.Local sources said that a number of martyrs were killed in an occupation shelling of the Al-Mawasi area, which shelters displaced persons west of Khan Yunis.The occupation warplanes also launched a raid on the western areas of the Beit Lahia project in the northern Gaza Strip, at a time when the occupation soldiers blew up a number of residential buildings in the Jabalia camp.The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced in a statement Thursday that the Israeli occupation forces committed, during the past 24 hours, five massacres against families in the Strip, where 71 martyrs and 176 wounded victims were transferred to hospitals, noting that a number of victims are still under the rubble of destroyed buildings, without ambulance and civil defense crews being able to reach them.The Israeli occupation army continue its bloody war on the Gaza Strip for 412 days, causing horrific massacres and war crimes, while the northern areas of the Strip are witnessing forced displacement amid continuous shelling and massacres against families and displaced persons for the 48th consecutive day, resulting in the martyrdom of 44,056, the majority of whom were women and children, and the injury of 104,268 others.

HE the Minister of Transport Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Thani met with the Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, International Transport, Employment and Labour, and Urban Development of Saint Kitts and Nevis Marsha Henderson.The two ministers discussed bilateral relations in the areas of transportation, mobility services, and civil aviation, and ways to enhance them, particularly in air transportation.Following the meeting, the minister attended the rolling out of an air services agreement, and an open skies memorandum of understanding, thereby expanding the network of world destinations of the flag carrier airlines of Qatar.Mohammed Faleh al-Hajri, in charge of managing the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA), and Royston Griffin, Head of the Civil Aviation Division of Saint Kitts and Nevis were in attendance.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and HE Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain Pedro Sanchez have discussed key regional and international issues of common concern, particularly the latest developments in the Gaza Strip, the occupied Palestinian territories and Lebanon.This came in a phone call HH the Amir received on Thursday from the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain.The phone conversation also covered bilateral relations and ways to boost them across all fields.

The Moroccan Armed Forces announced that a DA 42 training aircraft crashed Thursday inside an air base immediately after takeoff.A statement by the General Command of the Armed Forces said that the accident resulted in the death of two officers who were on a training mission.The statement said that an investigation committee was formed immediately to determine the causes of the accident.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and President of the friendly Republic of Colombia Gustavo Petro held an official session of talks on Wednesday at the Casa de Narino Presidential Palace in the capital Bogota.At the outset of the session, the president of Colombia welcomed His Highness the Amir and the accompanying delegation, expressing pleasure at the Amir's visit and hoping that it would contribute to strengthening cooperation between the two countries and expand it to broader horizons in a way that achieves the interests of the two friendly peoples.His Highness the Amir extended his thanks to the president for the warm welcome, affirming his keenness to strengthen cooperation with Colombia across various fields. His Highness the Amir also expressed hope that the visit would enhance the exploration of bilateral cooperation opportunities, especially in investment.During the session, the two sides discussed the existing relations of cooperation between the two countries in various fields, and ways to boost and develop them, particularly in investment, economy, and trade.The session also addressed the latest developments in regional and international issues of mutual interest, especially the developments in the Gaza Strip, the occupied Palestinian territories, and Lebanon, as well as the need to intensify efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and reach a ceasefire.The session was attended by HE Chief of the Amiri Diwan Abdullah bin Mohammed al- Khulaifi, HE Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi, HE Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani al-Thani, and HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi along with members of the official delegation accompanying the Amir.On the Colombian side, the session was attended by Vice President and Minister of Equality and Equity Francia Marquez Mina, Minister of Foreign Affairs Luis Gilberto Murillo, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism Luis Carlos, Minister of Mines and Energy Omar Andres Camacho, Minister of Transport Maria Constanza Garcia, Minister of Education Daniel Rojas Medellin and a number of senior officials.Earlier, His Highness the Amir and the Colombian president held a bilateral meeting in which they discussed the relations of cooperation between the two countries and ways to enhance and develop them.His Highness the Amir was accorded an official reception ceremony upon his arrival at the Casa de Narino Presidential Palace.

The International Criminal Court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, as well as Hamas's military chief Mohammed Deif.The unprecedented move drew a furious reaction from Netanyahu, who denounced it as anti-semitic."Israel rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions and accusations made against it," he said.Israel's closest allies, including the United States, also denounced the warrants against the Israeli politicians, but rights groups including Amnesty International welcomed them."Prime Minister Netanyahu is now officially a wanted man," said Amnesty Secretary General Agnes Callamard.The ICC's move theoretically limits the movement of Netanyahu, as any of the court's 124 national members would be obliged to arrest him on their territory."The Chamber issued warrants of arrest for two individuals, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024, the day the Prosecution filed the applications for warrants of arrest," the ICC said in a statement.A warrant had also been issued for Deif, it added.Israel said in early August it had killed Deif in an air strike in southern Gaza in July, but Hamas has not confirmed his death.The court said it had issued the arrest warrant as the prosecutor had not been able to determine whether or not Deif was dead.The court said it had found "reasonable grounds" to believe Netanyahu and Gallant bore "criminal responsibility" for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, as well as the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.The ICC said the pair were also criminally responsible "for the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population".The court alleged both men "intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival", including food, water, medicine, fuel, and electricity.Regarding the war crime of starvation, it said the "lack of food, water, electricity and fuel, and specific medical supplies, created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza".This resulted in civilian deaths including of children, due to malnutrition and dehydration, the court charged.It said it had not yet determined if "all elements of the crime against humanity of extermination were met," the court said.However, judges did say there were reasonable grounds to believe that the crime against humanity of murder had been committed in relation to these victims.

The Hamas government's health ministry in the Gaza Strip said on Thursday that at least 44,056 people have been killed in more than 13 months of war.The toll includes 71 deaths in the previous 24 hours, according to the ministry, which said 104,268 people have been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the war began on October 7, 2023.Dozens were killed or unaccounted for in Gaza yesterday after Israeli strikes, Palestinian medics said.One strike near the Kamal Adwan hospital in the north of the territory left "dozens of people" dead or missing, the facility's director Hossam Abu Safiya said.Another strike was reported in a neighbourhood of Gaza City, with civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal saying 22 were dead.Israel vows to crush Palestinian resistance movement Hamas and to bring home the hostages seized by the group.On the Gaza front, the United States vetoed on Wednesday a UN Security Council push for a ceasefire.

The Qatar Stock Exchange on Thursday closed 43 points lower on selling pressure especially at the insurance, telecom and banks.The foreign institutions were seen net sellers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.42% to 10,394.32 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,465 points.As much as 63% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR1.77bn or 0.29% to QR617.32bn primarily on the back of microcap segments.The Gulf funds were seen increasingly into net profit booking in the main market, which saw as many as 0.15mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.71mn change hands across 47 deals.The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the main barometer of the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the increase.The Gulf retail investors were increasingly net sellers in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.However, the domestic institutions were seen increasingly bullish in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index lost 0.42%, the All Islamic Index by 0.41% and the All Share Index by 0.37% in the main market.The insurance sector index shed 0.93%, telecom (0.74%), banks and financial services (0.45%), industrials (0.38%) and consumer goods and services (0.02%); while real estate and transport gained 0.31% and 0.07% respectively.Major shakers in the main bourse included Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Qatar Islamic Bank, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Inma Holding, Ooredoo, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Qamco and Ooredoo.In the venture market, Al Mahhar Holding and Techno Q saw their shares depreciate in value.Nevertheless, Qatari Investors Group, Doha Bank, Meeza, Medicare Group, United Development Company and Ezdan were among the gainers in the main market.The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR32.19mn compared with net buyers of QR1.5mn on November 20.The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking increased noticeably to QR8.59mn against QR1.42mn the previous day.The Gulf individual investors’ net selling expanded marginally to QR0.95mn compared to QR0.4mn on Wednesday.However, the domestic institutions’ net buying grew substantially to QR25.81mn against QR3.5mn on November 20.The Qatari individuals’ net buying strengthened considerably to QR11.04mn compared to QR2.69mn the previous day.The Arab individual investors were net buyers to the extent of QR2.63mn against net sellers of QR1.56mn on Wednesday.The foreign retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR2.23mn compared with net sellers of QR4.21mn on November 20.The Arab institutions had not major net exposure for the fourth straight session.Trade volumes in the main market shot up 18% to 130.36mn shares, value by 25% to QR371.4mn and transactions by 37% to 15,478.The venture market saw a 41% shrinkage in trade volumes to 0.55mn equities and 41% in value to QR1.44mn but on flat deals at 79.

The Embassy of the State of Qatar in the Republic of Korea organised the “Qatar-Korea Trade and Investment Forum” as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries. The event was organised in co-operation with the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), and with the participation of the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar); the Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ); and the Public Works Authority (Ashghal).Speaking at the function, Qatar’s ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Hamar praised the role of Korean institutions, including KITA, in strengthening Qatari-Korean relations. He expressed hope that the forum would open new horizons for co-operation in various fields, and contribute to providing new opportunities for investment and increasing trade exchange between the two countries.Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association, Dr Jin Sik Yoon said that the forum is a culmination of the two countries’ achievements, hailing the strong friendly relations between his country and the State of Qatar, which reflect in various sectors, including the economy, culture and sports. Several papers were presented during the forum on investment opportunities and laws, and foreign investments in the Qatar; facilities provided by Invest Qatar; business opportunities available in free zones; and construction and infrastructure projects in Qatar.

QNB Group has participated as ‘Strategic Partner’ for the 5th World Conference on International Arbitration, organised by the Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA), in support of Qatar’s role as a leading destination for resolving commercial and investment disputes.This sponsorship comes as a clear testament for QNB’s commitment to promote initiatives aimed at strengthening the implementation of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the country’s economic development and business environment.It also reflects its keenness to support Qatar’s strategy of hosting leading international events and enhancing its status as a global trade hub.Commenting on the sponsorship, Khalid Ahmed al-Sada, Senior Executive Vice-President, Group Corporate and Institutional Banking at QNB, said, “We are very pleased to sponsor this pioneer international platform dedicated to promoting a culture of arbitration and enhancing Qatar’s role as a hub for international arbitration. We always support initiatives aimed at building qualitative knowledge, making Qatar an attractive destination for foreign investment.”The event attracted significant local and international participation, including lawyers, arbitrators, judges, academics, counsellors, and prosecutors, with over 35 speakers from major international arbitration centres, including UNCITRAL and the Saudi Arbitration Center, alongside more than 1,000 attendees.Over the course of the two days, participants discussed a number of vital topics and themes related to arbitration issues and the recent developments in the international arbitration.QNB Group is one of the leading financial institutions in the MEA region and among the most valuable banking brands in the regional market. Present in over 28 countries across Asia, Europe, and Africa, it offers tailored products and services supported by innovation and backed by a team of over 31,000 professionals dedicated to driving banking excellence worldwide.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), in partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), has conducted a high-impact training programme on the Madrid System for the International Registration of Trademarks.This initiative is specifically targeted at private sector institutions and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Qatar, aiming at empowering them with comprehensive knowledge of the Madrid Protocol’s benefits and practical application.Reaffirming the ministry’s dedication to fostering robust intellectual property (IP) rights protection, the programme sought to equip both current and prospective users with the tools needed to navigate international trademark registration seamlessly.It also underscored the extensive legal protections afforded by the Madrid Protocol, reinforcing its significance for businesses seeking global competitiveness. The Madrid system, which is administered by the WIPO, one can register and manage protection of the trade mark in multiple countries at the same time in one application.The exchange of knowledge and expertise underscored Qatar’s commitment to empowering its businesses to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and competitive global marketplace.The training delved into critical areas, including an overview of IP principles, the strategic importance of trademarks, and the step-by-step process of international trademark registration — from application submission and examination by the office of origin to the rigorous review by WIPO.Participants gained insights into common pitfalls in the international applications and learned effective methods to address correction notifications from both the office of origin and WIPO via the e-filing system.Further, the programme shed light on the legal safeguards available to rights holders, detailing the implications of international registration, the refusal period, and correspondence related to protection status, as well as the processes for substitution and transformation.The event also featured international speakers who shared firsthand experiences with the Madrid Protocol, offering practical, actionable guidance for trademark owners eager to harness the system’s full potential.

A specialised training programme on “New Trends in Risk, Governance and Compliance” was organised by the Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA), in co-operation with the Union of Arab Securities Authorities (UASA).The two-day training programme explored ways to make effective responses to the current developments and challenges in financial risk, internal audit, and compliance, including the revised three lines of defence paper from IIA (Institute of Internal Auditors), BIS (Bank for International Settlements) guidance and the impact of remote working.The target audiences of the training were employees of different capital market institutions, regulators, stock exchanges, depository centres, as well as brokers and other entities related to capital markets.The training programme provided a detailed overview of how risk, internal audit, and compliance have changed as a consequence of Covid-19 and other risks.It shared best practices in managing new risks exposure induced by digital transformation, cyber risk, and remote working. It also shared best practices in managing new risks exposure induced by digital transformation, cyber risk, and remote working.With the expanded understanding in key industry updates, participants gained insights into integrating Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) within the internal control frameworks and the practical implementation.The training covered several topics including developments in financial risks, audit and compliance, operational risk, credit risk, and climate risk.It included other topics covering the three lines of defence (3LoD), new trends in internal audit and compliance, as well as integrating GRC into strategies.