Qatar’s Emir condemned on Tuesday the “horrific atrocities” committed in the city of El Fasher in Sudan’s Darfur region, as famine tightens its grip on the country with civilians trapped and aid blocked.
Following the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces' (RSF) takeover of El Fasher last week after more than 500 days of siege, the UN said hundreds of civilians – including humanitarian workers – have been killed, and many others are trapped behind barricades.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a global hunger monitor, issued an alert on Monday, saying that famine is occurring in parts of Sudan for the second time in less than a year. It said that more than 21 million people, or 45 per cent of the population, were experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity.
The IPC report found that famine was occurring in El Fasher and the besieged town of Kadugli in the South Kordofan region.
Sheikh Tamim, addressing the Second World Summit for Social development in Doha, expressed shock at the scale of the violence.
“I cannot conclude this statement without expressing our collective shock at the horrific atrocities committed in the city of El Fasher, in Sudan’s Darfur region, and our unequivocal condemnation of them,” said Sheikh Tamim.
The war in Sudan, which is midway through its third year, has killed tens of thousands and displaced at least 13 million people. The fighting began in April 2023 when tension between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Gen Mohamed Dagalo, erupted into open conflict.
“Sudan has endured the horrors of this war for two and a half years. The time has come to end it and reach a political solution that guarantees Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said Sheikh Tamim.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that since the RSF entered El Fasher last weekend, the situation was growing worse by the day.
The RSF’s takeover of El Fasher has led to widespread concern as reports and footage of attacks against civilians have emerged.
Mr Guterres called on both rival generals to “come to the negotiation table and bring an end to this nightmare of violence, now”.
“I call on both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to work with my Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, towards a negotiated settlement,” he told journalists in a press briefing on the sidelines of the summit.
Breaches of Gaza ceasefire
Mr Guterres also voiced concern about the continued breaches of the ceasefire in Gaza. “They must stop and all parties must abide by the decisions of the first phase of the peace agreement,” he said.
While the Gaza ceasefire has ended most fighting, the violence has not completely stopped. Both sides have accused each other of breaching the US-brokered truce. Israeli fighter jets launched air strikes in Gaza city on Monday night, official Palestinian media reported.
There has been little sign of progress towards the next phase. Major obstacles lie ahead, including the disarmament of Hamas and a timeline for complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
World leaders gathered in Qatar on Tuesday adopted the Doha Political Declaration, signalling a renewed global commitment to building more just and inclusive societies.
The declaration reflects a shared pledge by governments to combat poverty, create jobs, promote equality and protect human rights, emphasising that social development is not only a moral imperative but also essential for peace, stability and sustainable growth.
Sheikh Tamim told the summit that the Palestinian people need all possible support to address the “catastrophic effects of the brutal Israeli aggression and to confront the establishment of an apartheid system in Palestine”.
“We call on the international community to intensify efforts and provide support to the Palestinian people for reconstruction and to secure their basic needs,” he said.
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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The five pillars of Islam
AS IT STANDS IN POOL A
1. Japan - Played 3, Won 3, Points 14
2. Ireland - Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, Points 11
3. Scotland - Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, Points 5
Remaining fixtures
Scotland v Russia – Wednesday, 11.15am
Ireland v Samoa – Saturday, 2.45pm
Japan v Scotland – Sunday, 2.45pm
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Huddersfield Town permanent signings:
- Steve Mounie (striker): signed from Montpellier for £11 million
- Tom Ince (winger): signed from Derby County for £7.7m
- Aaron Mooy (midfielder): signed from Manchester City for £7.7m
- Laurent Depoitre (striker): signed from Porto for £3.4m
- Scott Malone (defender): signed from Fulham for £3.3m
- Zanka (defender): signed from Copenhagen for £2.3m
- Elias Kachunga (winger): signed for Ingolstadt for £1.1m
- Danny WIlliams (midfielder): signed from Reading on a free transfer
One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
How to invest in gold
Investors can tap into the gold price by purchasing physical jewellery, coins and even gold bars, but these need to be stored safely and possibly insured.
A cheaper and more straightforward way to benefit from gold price growth is to buy an exchange-traded fund (ETF).
Most advisers suggest sticking to “physical” ETFs. These hold actual gold bullion, bars and coins in a vault on investors’ behalf. Others do not hold gold but use derivatives to track the price instead, adding an extra layer of risk. The two biggest physical gold ETFs are SPDR Gold Trust and iShares Gold Trust.
Another way to invest in gold’s success is to buy gold mining stocks, but Mr Gravier says this brings added risks and can be more volatile. “They have a serious downside potential should the price consolidate.”
Mr Kyprianou says gold and gold miners are two different asset classes. “One is a commodity and the other is a company stock, which means they behave differently.”
Mining companies are a business, susceptible to other market forces, such as worker availability, health and safety, strikes, debt levels, and so on. “These have nothing to do with gold at all. It means that some companies will survive, others won’t.”
By contrast, when gold is mined, it just sits in a vault. “It doesn’t even rust, which means it retains its value,” Mr Kyprianou says.
You may already have exposure to gold miners in your portfolio, say, through an international ETF or actively managed mutual fund.
You could spread this risk with an actively managed fund that invests in a spread of gold miners, with the best known being BlackRock Gold & General. It is up an incredible 55 per cent over the past year, and 240 per cent over five years. As always, past performance is no guide to the future.
Results
5pm: Al Maha Stables – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Reem Baynounah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Mohamed Daggash (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Afham, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ghallieah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Yas Xmnsor, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi
7pm: The President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Adrie de Vries, Jean de Roualle
7.30pm: The President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Haqeeqy, Dane O’Neill, John Hyde.
