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Two-time Asian champions Qatar on Monday will be looking for a winning start at the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup when they take on Palestine at Al Bayt Stadium. Coached by Julen Lopetegui, Qatar qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in October. With their match on Monday, Qatar will be officially launching their preparations for next year’s FIFA World Cup that starts in seven months’ time.Having won the Asian Cup on home soil last year and finished third at the previous edition of the Arab Cup, which they also hosted, Lopetegui’s side will be aiming to ride home support to secure another major title.Qatar coach Lopetegui said in a press conference on Sunday: “We are delighted to be participating in the Arab Cup. I watched Palestine’s previous matches; they have outstanding players and our match against them will not be easy.”The Qatar coach added: “Our focus is solely on the first match, and we aim to progress through the tournament step by step. We have turned the page on the past and are striving to write a new chapter in the history of Al-Annabi (the Qatari national team). “We have many new players in this tournament, and our goal is not limited to participation or trying out some players. Rather, we aim to win, develop, and prepare for the upcoming stages.”Qatar player Al-Hashemi Al-Hussein said on Sunday: “Preparations for the tournament have gone well despite the limited time available, but playing on our home ground and in front of our fans gives us a huge incentive.”He added: “Representing the national team is a source of pride, an honour, and a dream for every player. This gives us a great incentive, and we strive to capitalize on the coach’s confidence in us as young players.””The fans of Al-Annabi are the number one player for us, and they have proven this in all previous tournaments. Our goal is to make them happy, and we hope for their presence and strong support in the stands,” Al-Hussein said on Sunday.For Qatar coach Lopetegui, a young Qatar squad will miss several seasoned players like Almoez Ali, Hasan Al Haydos, Boualem Khoukhi, Karim Boudiaf and Pedro Miguel who have been dropped.Feared midfielder Akram Afif will lead the home charge when Qatar arrive at the Al Bayt Stadium on Monday. Afif will be paired with the reliable forward Mohammed Muntari, the first goal-scorer at the FIFA World Cup for Qatar in 2022.Afif is not only a star of the Qatari league; he is one of the most influential players in the Arab world. A mercurial attacking threat, the versatile forward is a two-time winner of the AFC Player of the Year award and also claimed MVP honours as Qatar tasted continental success last year. Palestine, coached by Ehab Abu Jazar, just last week qualified for the 16-team Arab Cup with a sensational play-off win against Libya.After their hard-fought win following a penalty shoot-out at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, an emotional Gazar said: “We are different from other teams. They play to compete, but we play for two goals: to send messages through football and to develop Palestinian football. Our team has become a big name in Asia and was close to reaching the World Cup playoff. We play for more than trophies – we play to send a message and bring joy to our people.”Playing the first match in Group A will clearly be another huge occasion for Palestine on Monday. Palestine’s Oday Dabbagh, at the age of just 26, is already his nation’s all-time record scorer and appears on course to set a mark that will take some time to beat. Powerful, quick, strong in the air and on the ground, the Zamalek marksman boasts European experience in the Portuguese, Belgian and Scottish leagues and is sure to be central to his nation’s hopes of progression in Qatar. FAN SUPPORT FOR AL ANNABIAs the Arab Cup approaches, Khalid Mubarak Al-Kuwari, the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Qatar Football Association (QFA), has issued a definitive rallying cry. His message to the nation is clear: when it comes to backing Al-Annabi, everyone has a jersey in the game. Al-Kuwari predicts that the Qatari faithful are poised to be the decisive factor, promising that they will provide the “strongest voice in the stands.” He views the upcoming campaign not just as a series of matches, but as a collective mission where every fan is a partner in the team’s pursuit of glory. “Our promotional campaign is diverse, and we strive to involve everyone to be a part of it,” Al Kuwari said. Behind the scenes, the QFA is executing a high-level strategy to unify support. Al-Kuwari revealed that coordination meetings have been held with local clubs to combine forces, utilizing their platforms to amplify support for the national team.Simultaneously, the digital game is being stepped up. The team is constantly evolving its social media content to match the intensity of the tournament, recognizing the vital role that dedicated fan accounts play in building the narrative.With the tournament atmosphere building, Al-Kuwari urged fans not to wait until the final whistle to make their move. The directive is to secure tickets now for all national team matches rather than waiting for the last minute, ensuring the stands are packed and the energy is electric from kickoff to the final whistle. Qatar squad:Mahmoud Abunada, Meshaal Barsham, Shehab Al Laithi (goalkeepers), Abdulaziz Hatem, Ahmed Alaaeldin, Ahmed Fathy, Akram Afif, Al Hashemi Al Hussein, Ayoub Mohammed, Assim Madibo, Edmilson Junior, Issa Lay, Homam Al Amin, Jassim Jaber, Khalid Ali, Lucas Mendes, Mohammed Khalid, Mohammed Mannai, Mohammed Muntari, Mohammed Waad, Sultan Al Brake, Tarek Salman, Yousuf Ayman Source link
The death toll from Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka has risen to 159, with at least 203 people still missing.Sri Lankan media reported that floodwaters rose in parts of the capital, Colombo, Sunday, after Cyclone Ditwah left widespread destruction and claimed the lives of at least 159 people across the country.Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency last night to address the cyclone’s aftermath and appealed to the international community for assistance.Sri Lankan’s Disaster Management Centre reported that the northern part of Colombo is experiencing severe flooding, with the Kelani River continuing to rise.The Center noted that while rainfall has subsided across the island, many roads in the worst-affected Central Province remain impassable.The floods and cyclone have destroyed more than 20,000 homes and forced 122,000 people into temporary state-run shelters. Another 833,000 people required government assistance after being displaced by the floods.Sri Lankan officials reported that about a third of the country remains without electricity or water due to the collapse of power lines and desalination plants, and internet connectivity is also disrupted.At this time of year, Sri Lanka experiences heavy rainfall due to the northeast monsoon, which has intensified in recent days due to a low-pressure system affecting the eastern part of the island. Related Story Source link
A man looks on as a stage is prepared on the waterfront in Beirut, Saturday, ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Lebanon. The Hezbollah group Saturday urged Pope Leo XIV to reject Israeli “injustice and aggression” against Lebanon, in a message to the pontiff who arrives in Beirut this weekend.Hezbollah emerged heavily weakened from more than a year of hostilities culminating in two months of open war with Israel that began when the group started cross-border attacks against Israel over the Gaza war.A ceasefire a year ago was supposed to end the hostilities but Israel has kept up regular strikes on Lebanon, mainly saying it is targeting Hezbollah fighters and sites, and has maintained troops in five southern Lebanon locations it deems strategic.Under heavy US pressure and fears of expanded Israeli strikes, the government has committed to disarming Hezbollah, a move the group has rejected.”We in Hezbollah take advantage of the occasion of your auspicious visit to our country Lebanon to reaffirm from our side our commitment to coexistence,” read Hezbollah’s message to the pope, published on the group’s social media channels Saturday.But it also affirmed the group’s commitment to “standing with our army and our people to face any aggression and occupation of our land and our country”, adding that what Israel “is doing in Lebanon is unacceptable ongoing aggression”.”We rely on your holiness’s stance in rejecting the injustice and aggression our nation of Lebanon is subjected to at the hands of the Zionist invaders and their supporters,” the statement added.In a speech on Friday, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem welcomed Leo’s upcoming visit to Lebanon, saying he had tasked members of the group with delivering a letter to the pontiff that would also be published in the media.He insisted his group has respected the November 2024 ceasefire and called for an end to persistent Israeli strikes on the country.”Do you expect there to be a war later? It’s possible at some point, yes, that possibility exists,” Qassem said, referring to increased fears in Lebanon of a renewed, broader war.After visiting Turkiye, Leo is due to arrive in Lebanon today for a three-day trip that includes an open-air mass at Beirut’s waterfront which organisers expect to draw 120,000 people, as well as an interreligious meeting in the city centre.Qassem said Friday that “we welcome this visit at this pivotal moment, and we pray that the Holy Father will contribute to spreading peace in Lebanon, liberating it, ending the (Israeli) aggression, and standing by it and by the oppressed, as we have always known him to do”. Related Story…
Ooredoo Qatar, the nation’s leading telecommunications provider, has proudly renewed its long-standing partnership with the Qatar Football Association (QFA), continuing as the official telecommunications sponsor of the Qatar National Football Team for the next three years, in the lead-up to the Arab Cup 2025 and the FIFA World Cup 2026. The sponsorship renewal was officially announced and signed at the QFA headquarters by Thani Ali IA al-Malki, Chief Business Officer at Ooredoo Qatar, and Mansoor al-Ansari, Secretary General of QFA.This milestone agreement celebrates over 25 years of collaboration between Ooredoo and QFA, reinforcing Ooredoo’s dedication to supporting national sports, promoting a healthy and active lifestyle within the community, and enhancing the fan experience across Qatar’s most prominent football events. Speaking at the signing ceremony, al-Malki, said: “Our renewed partnership with QFA reflects Ooredoo’s long-standing commitment to elevating sports in Qatar and enriching the nation’s football culture. As we move towards the Arab Cup 2025 and the FIFA World Cup 2026, we remain dedicated to supporting the national team and enhancing the fan experience through reliable, seamless connectivity.” In turn, al-Ansari said: “We are pleased to announce today the renewal of the sponsorship agreement with Ooredoo until 2028, under which it will continue to serve as the Official Telecommunications Partner of our Senior National Team. The team faces important upcoming commitments, starting with the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, followed by our participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026, in addition to other future tournaments and engagements.” He added: “There is no doubt that this sponsorship will provide real added value and ideal support for the Senior National Team and for the objectives of the Qatar Football Association, in line with the federation’s vision and strategy. It also reflects the strength of the relationship we share with our partners at Ooredoo, and we look forward to activating this sponsorship in ways that bring positive benefits to both sides.” Ooredoo remains committed to leveraging its technology and expertise to bring fans closer to the action, ensuring seamless connectivity and innovative digital experiences as Qatar prepares for major regional and international tournaments. Source link
Two people were killed in a helicopter crash in Poland on Saturday evening.Polish Press Agency (PAP) quoted a spokesperson for the local fire department as saying that the accident occurred in the Malawa region near the city of Rzeszow in the southeast of the country, and that poor visibility and dense fog were hampering rescue efforts. Polish media reported that the helicopter crashed in a densely wooded area, and had published photos showing flames rising from the wreckage.Information regarding the cause of the crash are unknown yet. Source link
The Israeli occupation aircraft carried out bombing and shooting operations on Sunday, targeting several areas in the Gaza Strip, despite the ceasefire agreement being in effect.Palestinian news agency (WAFA) reported that the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) carried out intensive shelling and gunfire operations from helicopters, east of Bureij camp, in the central Gaza Strip.The Israeli occupation’s warplanes also carried out six airstrikes east of Rafah city, in the southern Gaza Strip.In Khan Younis, the occupation bombed a house in the town of Bani Suheila, east of the city. Related Story Source link
Corruption, instability and poverty have opened the door to powerful narcotics traffickers in Guinea-Bissau, where the military justified this week's coup by alleging ‘drug barons’ were plotting against the state.Wednesday's military takeover cast a harsh light on how the murky links between traffickers, politicians and officials deepen political turmoil in the coup-prone West African nation.Luxury 4×4 vehicles cruising through the streets and lavish villas, suddenly acquired by owners with no visible income, are tell-tale signs in Guinea-Bissau, described by the United Nations as a gateway for drugs from Latin America bound for Europe.’Guinea-Bissau has long been a central cog in the international cocaine trafficking system,’ said the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) in an August report.’Today, Bissau's cocaine market is booming once again, and has arguably become more profitable than at any point in the country's history,’ it added.’Colombians can be spotted at the top hotels in the capital, and retail prices for cocaine and crack are falling.’The country's history has been marked by military coups and violence since independence from Portugal in 1974.The drug trade has fuelled the instability, prompting some analysts to brand Guinea-Bissau a ‘narco-state’, with the United States even labelling certain officials drug barons.On Wednesday, General Denis N'Canha, head of the presidential military office, told reporters that officers launched the coup to protect security in response to a plot involving ‘national drug lords’.Citing intelligence reports, he said the plan to destabilise Guinea-Bissau had included ‘the introduction of weapons into the country to alter the constitutional order’.More than a quarter of the country's population lived below the poverty line in 2023, according to the World Bank, while the vast sums generated by drug trafficking fuel envy and corruption.The coup struck as the nation awaited the results of presidential and legislative elections held on November 23.’The cocaine economy is inextricably linked to the Machiavellian politics of the tiny West African state,’ GI-TOC said.Following drug-related violence months ahead of the polls, GI-TOC warned that ‘with a flourishing cocaine market and expensive election campaigns looming… Guinea-Bissau appears to be yet again entering a period of significant upheaval.’Foreign traffickers maintain links with local accomplices, who have contacts within the security forces to guarantee safe passage for drug shipments, a source close to the matter told AFP on condition of anonymity.’Scouts’ within the network alert contacts in the capital Bissau to the arrival of ships or planes from Latin America, the source said. ‘Handlers’ then accompany the ‘product’ and travel with it to Bissau.Senior military figures and top civil servants have repeatedly been implicated in the drug trade in recent years.The son of a former president, Malam Bacai Sanha Junior, was sentenced in March 2024 to several years in prison in the United States for involvement in an international heroin-trafficking scheme.President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, ousted in Wednesday's coup, had in August 2021 refused to extradite General Antonio Indjai, a former coup leader wanted by the United States for alleged drug trafficking linked to Colombia's FARC rebels.Some political campaigns have been suspected to have been financed by traffickers, with parties suddenly acquiring gleaming 4x4s to criss-cross the country.Increased police co-operation between Guinea-Bissau, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and the United States has helped deal some blows to the traffickers, however.The Guinea-Bissau courts sentenced four Latin Americans in January to 17 years each for drug trafficking.They were handed over in April to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which transferred them to the United States.West Africa has long been a natural staging post for drugs, mainly cocaine from Latin America, en route to North Africa and Europe, mostly by sea but increasingly by land, according to a 2024 report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).Drug trafficking is also a scourge in other regional states, notably Guinea and Sierra Leone, which face epidemics of kush, a locally used synthetic cannabinoid, and crack cocaine. Source link
Visitors look at a Zerog eVTOL model ZG-ONE in the Zerog booth during the Aero Asia 2025 in Zhuhai, in southern China’s Guangdong province Saturday. Aero…
With robust infrastructure, comprehensive planning, and growing international backing, Qatar is set to deliver an exceptional and memorable FIFA Arab Cup 2025, further cementing its position as a leading hub for major global sporting events.Preparations are entering the final stretch with authorities confident of delivering another world-class sporting event when the tournament kicks off from December 1 to 18.As part of its nationwide readiness plan, Qatar Rail has confirmed that the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram networks are fully equipped to transport the thousands of fans expected to attend both the Arab Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2025 Finals. Service hours will be extended on match days to accommodate late kickoffs, ensuring that spectators can rely on smooth and efficient journeys long after matches conclude. Complementary metrolink, metroexpress, and selected Park and Ride facilities will operate throughout the tournament to support increased passenger flows.To meet the anticipated demand, Qatar Rail will deploy 6-car trains on the Red Line and operate up to 110 trains during peak periods, reinforcing Qatar’s commitment to seamless mobility and enhanced fan experience. Adjustments to parking availability at certain stations, including Education City and Lusail QNB, have also been made to streamline match-day operations.Qatar Tourism, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and the Permanent Committee for Managing Visitor Entry, has announced updates to the “Hayya” GCC Residents Visa (A2). The new features are designed to make travel to Qatar smoother and more convenient during a season rich in international sporting, cultural, and entertainment events.Beyond operational readiness, the 2025 edition gains special significance as a key preparation platform for seven Arab national teams already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Teams from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, and Jordan are set to benefit from competitive, World Cup-level matchups. Iraq, meanwhile, heads into an intercontinental playoff aiming to expand Arab representation to a historic eight teams.The tournament also enters a new era with enhanced regulations introduced by FIFA. For the first time, Arab Cup fixtures will be recognised as official international friendlies, contributing points to the FIFA world rankings—an upgrade that elevates the tournament’s competitive and global profile. Qatar’s successful organisation of the 2021 edition has prompted FIFA to award the country hosting rights for the next three editions in 2025, 2029, and 2033. Related Story Source link
Law enforcement officers work next to damaged cars at the site of an air attack in Kyiv Saturday, amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine. A vast Russian…