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The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar officially kicked off on Monday with eight matches held across the Aspire Zone competition complex, marking a memorable start to the first-ever 48-team event.Hosts Qatar narrowly lost 1-0 in their opening match against Italy at the Mansour Muftah pitch, one of eight venues recently renamed to pay tribute to Qatari football legends.The U-17 World Cup will run until November 27, featuring 48 nations competing across twelve groups. A total of 104 matches will be played across eight pitches within the Aspire Zone, culminating with the final at Khalifa International Stadium.The expanded format welcomes five nations making their debut: Fiji, Republic of Ireland, Zambia, El Salvador and Uganda. Qatar will be looking to improve on their best finish, when they claimed fourth place in the 1991 edition of the tournament that took place in Italy – becoming the first Qatari team to reach the third-place playoff.HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani, Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chairman, said: "We are proud to host the first-ever 48-team FIFA tournament, which will showcase football’s exceptional emerging talent and celebrate the sport’s power in uniting people from all around the world.”“As the first of five U-17 tournaments that Qatar will host, this event is another testament of the country’s enduring commitment to advancing football at all levels. It will witness the rise of football’s stars of tomorrow, and hosting it at Aspire Academy is a continuation of the facility’s long-standing track record in producing elite athletes across multiple sports,” Sheikh Hamad added.“The FIFA U-17 World Cup will be another chapter in our rich football legacy and will further our position as a global sporting destination that constantly sets new standards in player and fan experiences,” Sheikh Hamad said.Tickets can be purchased exclusively from www.roadtoqatar.qa. Fans must download the RoadtoQatar mobile app to present purchased tickets and access tournament venues.Tickets are available as a Day Pass, enabling fans to attend multiple matches a day as well fan zone activities. Fans can also purchase a Prime Pass, which will enable them to reserve seats for high demand matches. Supporters of the Qatar national team can avail the Follow My Team ticket, which will enable them to attend all matches of the Qatari U-17 team during the group stage.All tickets will be digital and will include wheelchair accessible seating options for disabled fans. Accessible seat requests must be sent to:[email protected] U-17 World Cup Fan Zone will provide ticketed fans with an immersive experience celebrating the tournament's global diversity. Available exclusively on match days from 1:30pm through the final whistle, the Fan Zone features live match screenings, festive activations, a trophy display and diverse food and beverage offerings. Live stage performances showcasing cultural acts, talented youth and musical performances will be presented from 4pm to 8pmThe U-17 World Cup Qatar will be the biggest-ever edition of the youth tournament that saw the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Luis Figo, Xavi Hernandez, Eden Hazard, Andres Iniesta, Neymar, Ronaldinho, Son Heung-min and Francesco Totti appear on the world stage for the first time.

The President of the Transitional Presidential Council of the Republic of Haiti, Anthony Frank Laurent Saint-Cyr, and his accompanying delegation visited the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) on Monday.The visit came as part of his participation in the Second World Summit for Social Development, scheduled to convene on Tuesday.During the tour, Saint-Cyr viewed the museum's most prized collections across its various galleries and received a comprehensive briefing on its precious treasures, which span multiple eras.He was accompanied by HE Director of the National Museum of Qatar Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Hamad Al-Thani.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, arrived in Doha on Monday to participate in the Second World Summit for Social Development, hosted by Qatar from Nov 4 to 6 .He was welcomed upon arrival at Hamad International Airport by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN, Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani.

Qatar’s passionate fans created a raucous atmosphere at Mansour Muftah Pitch at Aspire, urging their team forward from start to finish, but Italy held firm to claim a hard-fought 1-0 victory in their opening match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025.A fine first-half strike from Samuele Inacio — who finished coolly after a precise through ball from Benit Borasio — proved decisive for the Azzurrini.The young Maroons battled bravely to level the score, showing greater attacking intent after the break. Omar al-Marzouki came close with a powerful shot that was cleared off the line in the 50th minute, while Issa Walid narrowly missed an equaliser with a late effort in the 87th. Despite Qatar’s spirited second-half display, Italy’s disciplined defence ensured all three points stayed with the European side.Qatar's next match is against South Africa on Thursday, while their last group tie is against Bolivia on Sunday.In another Group A match, South Africa beat Bolivia 3-1. Goals from Emile Witbooi, Neo Bohloko and Shaun Els earned 10-player South Africa a superb win. Bafana Bafana were dealt a significant blow when Sive Pama was sent off midway through the first half, but Witbooi soon fired them in front before Bohloko added a second from close range. Bolivia pulled one back through Jesus Maraude's Panenka-style penalty, but Shaun Els’ late breakaway effort put the result beyond doubt.Meanwhile, Japan and Tunisia collected impressive wins while both Argentina and Portugal rallied for hard-fought victories.In Group B, Japan opened a sixth straight U-17 World Cup with 2-0 victory over Morocco. The Asian giants looked to have opened the scoring in the first half when Anthony Motosuna headed home, but he was adjudged to have fouled goalkeeper Chouaib Bellaarouch.They wouldn't be denied for long, though, as Hiroto Asada drove through the heart of the Morocco backline and set up Taiga Seguchi, who unleashed a terrific first-time effort into the far corner. Minato Yoshida thought he'd netted a second soon after, only for play to be pulled back for handball. They would eventually make the game safe in the dying embers, with Daigo Hirashima rifling in from just inside the box.Portugal overcame a sluggish start to thrash New Caledonia 6-1. New Caledonia jumped out to a shock lead when a video review led to a penalty, and Ezekiel Wamowe converted the spot-kick. But Anisio Cabral spearheaded the comeback, equalising via a header and then giving his side the lead early in the second half with an easy finish. Stevan Manuel, Mateus Mide, Mauro Furtado and Jose Neto tacked on goals as well to complete the scoring.In Group C, ten-player Costa Rica claimed a hard-fought 1-1 draw against United Arab Emirates. The game sparked into life just after the half-hour, as Isaac Badilla was sent off for a last-player tackle on Faysal Mohammed.UAE made use of their numerical advantage shortly after the break, as Mayed Adel bundled home a corner. That lead lasted barely three minutes, though, with Yerlan Sosa's centre causing chaos in the UAE box, allowing Nick Bennette to lace home from just beyond the penalty spot.In another Group C match, Senegal and Croatia played out a goalless draw. The Europeans dominated the first half and ought to have taken the lead deep into it. Patrik Horvat saw his shot from the edge of the area parried by Vincent Gomis straight to Jona Benkotic, who cleared the crossbar with the goal gaping. Both pushed in the second period, but neither side could find the breakthrough.In Group D, Argentina squeezed past Belgium 3-2 in an early contender for match of the tournament. Diego Placente's men hit the front through a neat Ramiro Tulian finish, only for Arthur De Kimpe to strike back with a rasping drive.A well-worked Stan Naert goal then gave the Belgians the lead on the hour mark, as Ali Camara squared for the forward to tap in. The game was turned on its head inside four crazy minutes, though, with Facundo Jainikoski netting before fellow substitute Felipe Esquivel drilled in another fine goal. Belgium sub Rene Mitongo then passed up two great chances to level, allowing the South Americans to collect all three points.Tunisia delivered a commanding performance to cruise past Fiji 6-0. The North Africans hit their stride beginning at the half-hour mark, with Wassim Slama beating the goalkeeper at the near post with a clever shot and then a superb strike from Fedi Tayechi.Slama got his second by pouncing on a rebound, followed by a powerful right-footed finish from Anisse Saidi. Saifedin Haj Abdallah made it five with a composed curler from inside the area and Tayechi put on the finishing touches with a strike in the waning minutes.What they said..."When we were one man down, we still kept pushing each other. It’s all about teamwork. For me, it’s a dream come true to be here. I always wanted to reach this stage, and I am chasing my dreams."-Kamohelo Mareletse, South Africa midfielder and player of the match"The team did very well, we managed to hold on despite being a man down and we're ready to keep competing. The next match will be a close contest against Senegal, but we'll compete well".-Nick Bennette, Costa Rica goalscorer"As we expected, it was a tough match where we knew that a single goal could greatly influence the outcome. We managed to score the opener and then add another, which allowed us to control the game in a good way."-Nozomi Hiroyama, Japan coach"The players need to stop thinking about this defeat, even though it's a tough one. We'll make amends against Portugal. We have confidence in these players; they are capable of getting through this group."-Nabi Baha, Morocco coach"We knew it was going to be the most difficult match in the group because Belgium play very well, as well as being physically and technically outstanding. I'm happy for the team because they showed character on two occasions to come back from behind and win."-Diego Placente, Argentina head coach"We had a lot of opportunities and the lack of efficiency made us get to half-time with the game tied. But we kept calm to start strong in the second half and it didn't take long for us to be in front."-Bino Macaes, Portugal coach

El-Fasher taken by paramilitary force late last monthFood supplies had been cut off during long siegeUN-backed monitor first confirmed famine in Darfur last yearA global hunger monitor on Monday confirmed famine conditions in El-Fasher, the Sudanese city taken by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after a lengthy siege, as well as Kadugli, another besieged city in Sudan's south. The finding is the first time the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has determined that the cities are in famine, though in December it had confirmed famine in camps for displaced people in El-Fasher, capital of North Darfur.A war that began two-and-a-half years ago between the RSF and the Sudanese army has caused severe hunger and malnutrition to spread across Sudan, as well as displacing millions of people and triggering waves of ethnically charged violence in Darfur. The IPC is the internationally recognised standard for measuring the severity of hunger crises, and its findings have provoked criticism from Sudan's government, which is backed by the army.The IPC's first determination of famine during the conflict was for the Zamzam displacement camp south of El-Fasher in August 2024. El-Fasher was subject to RSF assaults and besieged for about 18 months before it fell late last month, deepening a geographical split in Sudan. During the siege, residents said food supplies were cut off, forcing people to eat animal feed and sometimes animal hides. Places where people gathered for community kitchen meals were targeted by drone attacks, they told Reuters.As a result, all children arriving in the nearby town of Tawila after fleeing El-Fasher were malnourished, MSF project coordinator Sylvain Pennicaud told Reuters on Monday, while adults arrived emaciated. International Criminal Court prosecutors said on Monday they were collecting evidence of alleged mass killings and rapes after El-Fasher's fall. The head of the Red Cross said history was repeating itself in Darfur.Monday's IPC report, based on analysis for September 2025, said Tawila, as well as Mellit and Tawisha, two other destinations for people fleeing El-Fasher, were at risk of famine. The IPC said the overall number of Sudanese facing acute food insecurity declined by 6% to 21.2 million people - or 45% of the total population - due to gradual stabilisation and improved access in central Sudan, where the Sudanese army took control at the start of the year.However, the situation deteriorated in the Darfur and Kordofan regions as fighting concentrated there, depriving people of livelihoods, increasing prices, and driving displacement, IPC said. Global aid cuts and bureaucratic impediments hobbling the ability of the United Nations and other aid agencies to provide food and other services have increased the humanitarian challenge in Sudan.Kadugli, capital of South Kordofan state, has been under siege by the RSF-allied SPLM-N armed group, though hunger has been spreading there since the start of the war.The wider Kordofan region has increasingly become a focus of the war as it lies between RSF-dominated Darfur and the rest of the country, where the army holds sway. The IPC said the nearby city al-Dalanj could also be in famine, but a lack of data prevented a determination. On Monday, a Red Crescent official said three volunteers in a city in North Kordofan state that was taken over by the RSF, who were shown being beaten in a video clip, were later killed.The RSF has denied responsibility for alleged summary executions.

The prosecutor's office at the International Criminal Court warned Monday that atrocities committed in the Sudanese city of El-Fasher could constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.The ICC prosecutor's office (OTP) voiced "profound alarm and deepest concern" over reports from El-Fasher about mass killings, rapes, and other crimes allegedly committed.After 18 months of siege, bombardment and starvation, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control of El-Fasher on October 26, dislodging the army's last stronghold in Sudan's western Darfur region."These atrocities are part of a broader pattern of violence that has afflicted the entire Darfur region since April 2023," said the OTP in a statement."Such acts, if substantiated, may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute," the founding text of the ICC.The UN said more than 65,000 people have fled El-Fasher, including around 5,000 to nearby Tawila, but tens of thousands remain trapped.Before the final assault, roughly 260,000 people lived in the city.Since the RSF takeover, reports have emerged of executions, sexual violence, looting, attacks on aid workers and abductions in and around El-Fasher, where communications remain largely cut off.The RSF traces its origins to the Janjaweed, a predominantly Arab militia accused of genocide in Darfur two decades ago.Reports since El-Fasher's fall have raised fears of a return to similar atrocities.

Over 36,000 Sudanese civilians have fled towns and villages in the Kordofan region east of Darfur, according to the UN, as the paramilitary warned that its forces were massing along a new front line.In recent weeks, the central Kordofan region has become a new battleground in the two-year war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).Central Kordofan is strategic because it is located between Sudan's Darfur provinces and the area around the capital Khartoum.The widening of the war comes just over a week after the RSF took control of El-Fasher -- the army's last stronghold in Darfur.The RSF has set up a rival administration there, contesting the pro-army government operating out of the Red Sea city of Port Sudan.In a statement late Sunday, the UN's migration agency said an estimated 36,825 people have fled five localities in North Kordofan between October 26 and 31.Residents on Monday reported a heavy surge in both RSF and army forces across towns and villages in North Kordofan.The army and the RSF, at war since April 2023, are vying for El-Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a key logistics and command hub that links Darfur to Khartoum, and hosts an airport.The RSF claimed control of Bara, a city north of El-Obeid last week."Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," an RSF member said in a video shared by the RSF on its official Telegram page late on Sunday, "advising civilians to steer clear of military sites".Suleiman Babiker, who lives in Um Smeima, west of El-Obeid, told AFP that following the paramilitary capture of El-Fasher, "the number of RSF vehicles increased"."We stopped going to our farms, afraid of clashes," he told AFP.Another resident, requesting anonymity for fear of reprisal, also said "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El-Obeid" over the past two weeks.Awad Ali, who lives in al-Hamadi on the road linkinig West and North Kordofan, said he has seen "RSF vehicles passing every day from the areas of West Kordofan toward El-Obeid since early October".Kordofan is a resource-rich region divided administratively into North, South and West Kordofan.It "is likely the next arena of military focus for the warring parties," Martha Pobee, assistant UN secretary-general for Africa warned last week.She cited "large-scale atrocities" perpetrated by the RSF, adding that "these included reprisals against so-called 'collaborators', which are often ethnically motivated."She also raised the alarm over patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab communities after the fall of El-Fasher.At least 50 civilians, including five Red Crescent volunteers, were killed in recent violence in North Kordofan, according to the UN.Both the RSF, descended from Janjaweed militias accused of genocide two decades ago, and the army face war crimes allegations.The United States under Joe Biden in January this year concluded that "members of the RSF and allied militias have committed genocide in Sudan".But international action on Sudan has largely been muted and peace efforts have failed so far.The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced nearly 12 million more and created the world's largest displacement and hunger crises.

Hosts Qatar will look to make a strong impression when they kick off their FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign against Italy Monday at Aspire Zone. Drawn in Group A, the other teams Qatar will face are South Africa and Bolivia. Making their eighth appearance in the competition, the young Maroons are determined to build on their best-ever finish — fourth place in 1991 — under the guidance of coach Alvaro Mejia. Zaid Faisal Ktit, a talented all-round centre-forward known for his intelligent movement and composed finishing, will be one of Qatar’s key players as the hosts aim for a deep run in the tournament. After the training session Saturday, Ktit said: “Italy are a strong team but all teams in this tournament will be tough. Of course, we will have to play well and we are looking forward to it.” Tameem al-Qadi, the Al Sadd youngster, added: “We will play a great game. Italy is a tough team, but there are no weak teams in the World Cup. It’s a proud moment for us to represent our country on home soil, and we will do our best in all the matches.” Meanwhile, Brazil coach Eduardo ‘Dudu’ Patetuci praised the organisation and atmosphere in Doha, saying: “The atmosphere here in Qatar is great, the environment is wonderful, and we’re very happy to be here. It’s going to be a beautiful World Cup.” Saudi Arabia manager Abdulwahab Alharbi expressed confidence in his side’s preparation, adding: “The team has been preparing for two years, and in the last three months, we’ve seen major improvement. InshaAllah, they will do well.”

Healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and experts from around the world gathered in Doha to explore evidence-based strategies for mitigating the health impacts of climate-related issues. The conference was co-ordinated by the Division of Continuing Professional Development at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q). Titled “Exploring the Nexus of Climate, Health, and Environment” (CHE2025), the two-day conference addressed the intersection of climate change, environmental pollution, and human health, with a strong emphasis on the unique challenges faced by the Mena region. Other areas of focus included sustainable urban planning and healthcare delivery, the food-energy-water-health nexus and strategies for achieving net-zero emissions in healthcare systems. Featuring plenary sessions, expert panels, and interactive workshops, CHE2025 offered participants actionable insights to enhance resilience and promote the integration of climate and health in research, policy, and practice. Dr Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCM-Q, said: “At WCM-Q, we recognise that the health of our communities is deeply connected to the health of our planet. CHE2025 demonstrates our commitment as an institution to bring together regional and global experts to discuss and address the urgent health threats posed by climate change, particularly in the Mena region.” The conference was directed by Dr Sadeer al-Kindi, a WCM-Q alumnus and associate professor at Houston Methodist and Weill Cornell Medicine, and medical director at the Centre for Health & Nature in Houston, US, and Dr Nasrin Mesaeli, associate professor of biochemistry at WCM-Q, who also served as speakers. Dr Sanjay Rajagopalan, chief of cardiovascular medicine and chief academic and scientific officer at University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, who also serves as the Herman K Hellerstein MD, professor of cardiovascular medicine and director of the Case Cardiovascular Research Institute at Case Western Reserve University, described the global health impacts of climate change and pollution and how environmental stressors contribute to disease patterns. He also evaluated strategies to address environmental challenges in clinical care. Dr Thurayya Arayssi, vice-dean for academic and curricular affairs at WCM-Q, said: “Discussions about climate change are critical. Through this conference, we seek to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and actionable solutions to drive climate-resilient healthcare and communities in the Mena region. We are extremely pleased by the high level of interest expressed by all participants in addressing this global health challenge.”

Abdullah al-Qahtani won the opening round of the Qatar Free-Style Drifting Championship for the 2025-2026 season held on Friday. After nearly three hours of thrilling action, Al-Qahtani with a total of 44 points edged out Saud al-Marri by just three points, while Ahmad al-Musnad secured the third place, surpassing Ahmad al-Banna by a single point. Rashid al-Banna claimed fifth place. The round was held under the patronage of HE Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad al-Thani, chairman of Qatar Racing Club (QRC) and in the presence of a large crowd that filled the stands. Registration and technical inspection took place on Thursday to check the cars and ensure their readiness for competition. The organizing committee set a number of standards and requirements that all participants had to meet in order to compete in this round — some related to the vehicles, such as the necessity of installing a roll cage, properly securing the car battery, and having a functional seat belt, among other points; and others related to the drivers, focusing on safety elements such as wearing a racing suit, helmet, and using a proper seatbelt, among similar conditions. Before the start of Friday’s competition, a briefing session was held between the drivers and the judging panel, during which several important technical and procedural points were clarified. According to the competition’s structure, each driver was given one chance to enter the track and perform a set of required maneuvers — including drifting, reverse driving, figure-eight spins, and reverse maneuvers — within a total time limit of four minutes. There was also a specific score allocated for the overall style in which each driver performed their routine. At the conclusion of the event, Sheikh Jabor bin Khalid al-Thani, Director General of QRC, crowned the winners. The second round is scheduled to take place on December 26.

Estelle Poret, Oliver Koch Hansen, François Medori and Roberto Mariani clinched UIM-ABP World Aquabike Championship titles in their final Motos at the Old Doha Port Grand Prix of Qatar Saturday afternoon.Poret prevailed in Ski Ladies GP1 for the first time and Koch Hansen took his maiden Ski GP1 title. Medori earned a third world Runabout GP1 title with a stunning Moto 3 win after a shell-shocked series leader Jéremy Perez hit technical trouble om the parade lap and was unable to start the final Moto on time. Italian Roberto Mariani overcame a fierce late challenge from Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al-Mulla to seal the Freestyle crown.Emirati Amer Hawair took the top step of the final Runabout GP2 Asian Continental Championship podium from Saudi Arabia’s Moto 3-winning Daoud Kaloti and Qatari Mohamed Abumaali.Poret seals maiden Ski Ladies GP1 world title; Moto 3 win for DrangeEstelle Poret headed into her final Moto showdown with Jasmiin Ypraus defending a 15-point lead in the World Championship. Despite winning Moto 2, Benedicte Drange’s fuel pump failure in Moto 1 had ruled her out of challenging for the world title, although she had a 16-point cushion over Naomi Benini in the battle for third.Drange started on pole but Jessica Chavanne claimed the hole shot from Emy Garcia, Drange, Poret, Ypraus and Benini. The current European champion held her lead into lap two and the top six held station with Virginie Morlaes, Sofie Borgström and Janina Johansson running behind. River Varner was a non-starter after trying to change an engine on her ski before the race with support from Tory Snyder’s team.Drange and Poret passed Garcia and Drange began to apply the pressure on the leader, who was under investigation before falling off her bike and tumbling down the field on lap three. Drange continued to pull away from her rivals as the Moto progressed but champion-elect Poret was coming under pressure from title rival Ypraus.Drange held on to take her second win of the weekend by 8.426 seconds and Ypraus passed Poret to take the runner-up spot but the final place on the podium was enough for Poret to earn her first world title. Poret also did enough to take honours in the Grand Prix with Ypraus and Drange finishing second and third in the World Championship.Benini overhauled Garcia to take fourth and Chavanne finished fifth, despite a 40-second penalty for not maintaining her lane. Morlaes, Borgström and Johansson rounded off the finishers after Garcia retired on lap seven of 10.An emotional Poret said: “I don’t know if I have the words. A lot of work went into being here. I am so happy after three years of injury. I want to thank my mechanics for the job they did this season. I also want to thank my brother Jéremy, my parents, my husband. It’s not only me. It’s the people around me that made this happen.”Koch Hansen wins the Ski GP1 world title: Bossche takes Moto 3 victoryA vital podium finish in Moto 2 enabled Oliver Koch Hansen to start the final Ski GP1 heat with an 18-point lead over Jéremy Poret in his quest for a maiden title. Japanese rider Toshi O’Hara had already confirmed the bronze medal position with the runner-up spot in Moto 2 and had a slim chance of finishing second.Garcia’s late problems in the Ski Ladies GP1 Moto prevented Benjamin Scharff from taking the original start of the last Moto on their shared ski. The first start was red-flagged in any case after O’Hara, Reiterer and Koch Hansen had made strong getaways. Riders returned to the start pontoon to try again. Ander-Hubert Lauri was a non-starter.Reiterer stormed through to take the hole shot from Koch Hansen, Valentin Dardillat, O’Hara and Scharff. Outgoing World Champion Quinten Bossche started at the rear of the field and was up to 11th through the opening lap. Reiterer continued to hold off Koch Hansen, Jéremy Poret passed Scharff and a flying Bossche was up to seventh behind Scharff.Bossche overhauled Scharff to take sixth and set his sights on the top five with Reiterer leading from Koch Hansen, Dardillat, O’Hara and Poret. The Belgian bomber thae overtook Poret to snatch fifth but, as it stood, Koch Hansen was world champion and Reiterer was on course for Grand Prix success.In treacherous conditions with big rollers, Bossche turned up the heat and was able to capitalise on a O’Hara mistake to grab fourth with Poret also passing the Japanese. There was no stopping Bossche and he overtook Dardillat and moved into the podium places behind Reiterer and Koch Hansen.With six minutes left, Bossche trailed the leader by 12.335 seconds and he passed Koch Hansen. The Bossche juggernaut proved too much for Reiterer as well and he earned his second win of the weekend to make it five wins from eight starts with three retirements this year. Second place was enough for Reiterer to seal overall Grand Prix success and third earned Koch Hansen a first world title.Dardillat and Poret finished fourth and fifth and Scharff, O’Hara, Yoni Hamelin, Matteo Benini and Anthony Beernaut rounded off the top 10. Dardillat was later awarded a one-lap penalty for missing a buoy and that lifted Poret, Scharff, O’Hara and Hamelin into fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth with Beernaut and Morgan Poret rounding off the final top 10. O’Hara was confirmed as third in both the World Championship and the Grand Prix.An ecstatic Koch Hansen said: “It feels amazing. I had a good start. I knew the others would go all-in. They had nothing to risk and I had a lot to risk. I wanted to be stable and try and keep my position. Everything worked out this weekend. It was an incredible race. Quinten was battling for the win but it was more important for me to win overall. Since I was 12-years-old, I worked towards this and I am now 22. It has taken me 10 years to get to this moment. I am so happy.”Grand Prix winner Reiterer added: “This weekend as a team was really tough. We had boat issues the whole time. We kept improving in each Moto. It paid off in the end. Coming out with the win is phenomenal!”Rampant Medori takes third Runabout GP1 title with sensational Moto 3 win; GP win for Qatar’s al-SharshaniJéremy Perez’s hard-earned Moto 2 victory in Runabout GP1 enabled the Frenchman to take the start of the final heat on pole position ahead of his friend and title rival François Medori. A crankshaft failure had cost the Corsican dearly on Friday afternoon and he trailed by nine points heading into the showdown. The battle for third place was wide open with György Kasza leading the way from Pierre-François Savelli, Linus Lindberg and Andrzej Wisniewski.But disaster struck Perez on the parade lap when his Easy Rider ski stopped and the distraught Frenchman was not able to take the start. Medori needed to pick up just nine points to be World Champion for the third time, although he started at the back of the field. Perez had to suffer the ignominy of watching the Moto unfold from the shoreline before starting the race a lap behind the rest of the field. His only consolation was being safe in second place in the World Championship.Kasza took the hole shot from Qatar’s Waleed al-Sharshani, Savelli, Yousef al-Abdulrazzaq and Tory Snyder. Medori was already up to ninth and then climbed to sixth heading into lap two. Egidijus Kirilevicius, Robin Laforge and Ahmad Al-Khadhari were non-starters. The leading Hungarian continued to pull clear of the pursuing Qatari and al-Abdulrazzaq made his way into third. Perez joined the race at the rear of the field in 20th place.With Perez running at the rear of the field that put a different perspective on the entire race for Medori. He remained in fourth through lap four and Perez climbed to 19th. Medori made it into third on the next lap at the expense of Al-Abdulrazzaq: the Kuwaiti ground to a halt on the course and that lifted Perez into 18th.Medori began to apply the pressure on Al-Sharshani with Kasza retaining the lead that would give him Grand Prix success. Medori made it past the Qatari to claim second and he maintained his pace over the closing laps to confirm the world title with a stunning late heat victory by 4.082 seconds. Kasza finished third behind overall Grand Prix winner al-Sharshani and the Hungarian was also third in the final World Championship standings and second in the GP.Savelli, Lindberg and Ruben Jimenez Riquelme finished fourth, fifth and sixth and Lino Araújo, Khalid Al-Maazmi, Guillaume Hemain and Jean-Baptiste Baldassari rounded off the top 10 after Qatar’s Khaled Jamal Al-Mohannadi lost a potential sixth place late on. Savelli also earned third place in the Grand Prix. Perez limped home in 15th.Medori said: “I came here 16 points in front of Jéremy and Saturday we broke the engine. There was maybe one chance in one million to win. I decided to push my maximum and I tried to take this chance. We always need to be positive. I start from last position and I win the Moto. My team did an incredible job. I am really happy with this title. It was really hard to start at the back. I passed a lot of riders. I win the Endurance and the European Championship. It has been a fantastic season.”Freestyle world title for Mariani; al-Mulla wins the Grand PrixTeam Abu Dhabi’s Rashid al-Mulla had reduced Roberto Mariani’s Freestyle lead to just seven points with his dominant display in the first Moto on Friday evening. Massimo Accumolo was assured of the bronze medal and could still catch both his main rivals in the second Moto that rounded off Qatar’s return to the championship.Kuwait’s Aziz al-Armeli took the early lead in the Freestyle Moto with a 136-point haul from the judges before Qatar’s Bader al-Nama earned 90 points to slip into second before being displaced by David Dzhologua (119 points). Abdulrahman al-Sulaiti scored 120 points and then Frenchman Steven Royer hit the front in fading light with a varied programme that gave him 163 points and the chance of a Moto podium.Accumolo started his programme after a short break in proceedings for the evening prayer time and the Italian scored 208 points. That paved the way for Bader al-Abdullah, Mariani and al-Mulla to draw the curtain on the weekend’s return to Qatar. The Qatari finished fourth in the Moto with 185 pointsMariani confirmed the world title with on-water activities that netted him 223 points and al-Mulla did enough to earn 251 points and take the Grand Prix win with a double back flip to finish his stunning session.Hawair wins Asian Runabout GP2 title; Moto 3 win for KalotiEmirati Amer Hawair headed into the last of the Runabout GP2 Asian Continental Motos with a 10-point cushion over fellow countryman Khalid al-Maazmi and an advantage of 12 points over a tying Daoud Kaloti and Mahmoud Abumaali.Hawair claimed the hole shot and stayed clear of Kaloti, al-Maazmi and Mohamed Abumaali through the opening twists and turns with Mahmoud Abumaali running in fifth. Khalaf al-Kuwari was a non-starter.Al-Maazmi grabbed the lead on the second lap but the Emirati was under investigation from race officials as Hawair settled into second ahead of Kaloti.The racers held their positions into lap five and al-Maazmi held on to take the chequered flag ahead of Kaloti, Mohamed Mahmoud Abumaali, Hawair and Mahmoud Abumaali. Fourth place was sufficient for Hawair to win the inaugural Runabout GP2 Asian Continental Championship title but he was later promoted to third when al-Maazmi received a 40-second penalty for a start infringement and Kaloti claimed the Moto win by 19.783 seconds from Mohamed Abumaali.

Survivors fleeing the Sudanese city of El-Fasher told AFP on Saturday that paramilitary fighters separated families and killed children in front of their parents, with tens of thousands still trapped following the city's fall. Germany's top diplomat Johann Wadephul described on Saturday the situation in Sudan as "apocalyptic" while fresh satellite images suggested mass killings were likely ongoing, five days after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces seized El-Fasher. At war with the regular army since April 2023, the RSF pushed the military out of its last stronghold in the vast Darfur region after a grinding 18-month siege. Since the takeover, reports have emerged of summary executions, sexual violence, attacks on aid workers, looting and abductions, while communications remain largely cut off. "I don't know if my son Mohamed is dead or alive. They took all the boys," Zahra, a mother of six who fled El-Fasher to the nearby town of Tawila, told AFP in a satellite phone interview. Before reaching the nearby RSF-controlled town of Garni, she said RSF fighters stopped them and took her sons, aged 16 and 20. "I begged them to let them go," she said, but the fighters only released her 16-year-old son. Another survivor, Adam, said two of his sons, aged 17 and 21, were killed in front of him. "They told them they had been fighting (for the army), and then they beat me on my back with a stick," he told AFP. In Garni, RSF fighters saw the blood of Adam's sons on his clothes and accused him of being a fighter. After hours of investigations, they let him go. The survivors' full names have been withheld for their safety. The UN says more than 65,000 people have fled El-Fasher since Sunday but tens of thousands remain trapped. Around 260,000 people were in the city before the RSF's final assault. "Large numbers of people remain in grave danger and are being prevented by the Rapid Support Forces and its allies from reaching safer areas," Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said. The group said that only 5,000 people had managed to make their way to Tawila, about 70 kilometres to the west. The numbers of people arriving in Tawila "don't add up, while accounts of large-scale atrocities are mounting", MSF's head of emergencies Michel Olivier Lacharite said. Several eyewitnesses told MSF that a group of 500 civilians, along with soldiers from the military and the army-allied Joint Forces, had attempted to flee on Sunday, but most were killed or captured by the RSF and their allies. Survivors reported that people were separated based on their gender, age or presumed ethnicity, and that many were still being held for ransom. Darfur is home to a number of non-Arab ethnic groups, who make up a majority of the region's population, in contrast to Sudan's dominant Sudanese Arabs. Hayat, a mother of five who fled the city, previously told AFP that "young men travelling with us were stopped" along the way by paramilitaries and "we don't know what happened to them". The UN said on Friday the death toll from the RSF's assault on the city may be in the hundreds, while army allies accused the paramilitary group of killing over 2,000 civilians. Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab suggested on Friday that mass killings were likely continuing in and around El-Fasher. The lab, which uses satellite imagery and open-source information to document human rights abuses during wars, said fresh images from Friday showed "no large-scale movement" of civilians fleeing the city, giving them reason to believe much of the population may be "dead, captured, or in hiding". The lab identified at least 31 clusters of objects consistent with human bodies between Sunday and Friday, across neighbourhoods, university grounds and military sites. "Indicators that mass killing is continuing are clearly visible," the lab said. At a conference in Bahrain on Saturday, Wadephul said Sudan was "absolutely an apocalyptic situation, the greatest humanitarian crisis of the world". The RSF said on Thursday that it had arrested several fighters accused of abuses during the capture of El-Fasher, but UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher questioned the group's commitment to investigating atrocities. Both the RSF -- descended from the Janjaweed militias accused of genocide in Darfur two decades ago -- and the army have faced war crimes accusations over the course of the conflict. The US has previously determined that the has RSF committed genocide in Darfur. Meanwhile, the army has drawn on support from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey. El-Fasher's capture gives the RSF full control over all five state capitals in Darfur, effectively splitting Sudan along an east-west axis, with the army controlling the north, east and centre. UN officials have warned that the violence is now spreading to the neighbouring Kordofan region, with reports emerging of "large-scale atrocities perpetrated" by the RSF. The wider conflict has killed tens of thousands, displaced nearly 12 million and created the world's largest displacement and hunger crises.