Cambodia Condemns Thai Military Attack on Preah Vihear Temple | Cambodia Confirms Troops Still Holding Mount Trop as Thailand Cannot Raise Flag on Sovereign Territory | Cambodia and Thailand Clashes Enter Third Day as Casualties Rise to 33 | UN Security Council Urges Restraint as Thailand-Cambodia Clashes Intensify | Cambodia Condemns Thai Aggression at UN, Calls for Ceasefire and International Intervention | Techo Hun Sen Advises Military Strategy Amidst Border Clashes with Thailand | 45 Staff Rescued After Being Trapped at Preah Vihear Temple Amidst Clashes | BREAKING: Cambodia Denies Firing Projectiles into Laos, Accuses Thailand of Disinformation | Cambodia's Tourism Ministry Seeks Aid for Troops, Refugees; Reaffirms Commitment to Peace | BREAKING: Laos Denies Border Clash with Cambodia; Cambodia Rejects Thai Accusations of Shelling Laos | BREAKING NEWS: Andrew MacGregor Marshall Claims Queen Mother Sirikit Has Died, Alleging Concealment by Thai Authorities | BREAKING NEWS: Cambodia and Thailand Agree to Malaysian Mediation Amid Escalating Border Clashes | Ministry of Education Announces Postponement of 2025 Baccalaureate Examination | Cambodian Community in Korea Holds Mass Protest Against Thailand’s Invasion | Techo Hun Sen: “In Times of National Crisis, We Have No Right to Rest or Fall Ill” | UN Secretary-General and Cambodian Officials Call for Immediate Ceasefire Amid Border Clashes | Lieutenant General Duong Samnieng Dies Fighting Thai Invaders at Preah Vihear | BREAKING NEWS: Prime Minister Hun Manet to Lead Cambodian Delegation to Kuala Lumpur for Special Meeting on Ceasefire | Secretary Rubio Calls for Immediate De-escalation in Cambodia-Thailand Border Dispute | TOP NEWS: Cambodia and Thailand Agree to Ceasefire After Malaysia-Mediated Talks | ASEAN Issues Statement Supporting Ceasefire and Peaceful Resolution in Cambodia-Thailand Border Dispute | BREAKING: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Welcomes Cambodia-Thailand Ceasefire Declaration | TOP NEWS: President Trump Announces Ceasefire and Peace Agreements with Thailand and Cambodia | Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet Reports Successful Ceasefire Negotiation with Thailand, Thanks U.S. Support | Techo Hun Sen Commends Trump Initiative That Saved Thousands of Lives During Cambodia-Thailand Conflict | Cambodia and Thailand Engage in High-Level Military Meetings Amid Ceasefire Implementation | All My Feelings at This Time Are Connected to Some Major Tasks: Prime Minister Hun Manet Shares Personal Reflection on Social Media | Techo Hun Sen Praises Cambodian and Thai Armies for Respecting Ceasefire and Urges Continued Efforts for Peace | UN Geneva Welcomes Cambodia-Thailand Ceasefire in Social Media Message |
Cambodia Condemns Thai Military Attack on Preah Vihear Temple | Cambodia Confirms Troops Still Holding Mount Trop as Thailand Cannot Raise Flag on Sovereign Territory | Cambodia and Thailand Clashes Enter Third Day as Casualties Rise to 33 | UN Security Council Urges Restraint as Thailand-Cambodia Clashes Intensify | Cambodia Condemns Thai Aggression at UN, Calls for Ceasefire and International Intervention | Techo Hun Sen Advises Military Strategy Amidst Border Clashes with Thailand | 45 Staff Rescued After Being Trapped at Preah Vihear Temple Amidst Clashes | BREAKING: Cambodia Denies Firing Projectiles into Laos, Accuses Thailand of Disinformation | Cambodia's Tourism Ministry Seeks Aid for Troops, Refugees; Reaffirms Commitment to Peace | BREAKING: Laos Denies Border Clash with Cambodia; Cambodia Rejects Thai Accusations of Shelling Laos | BREAKING NEWS: Andrew MacGregor Marshall Claims Queen Mother Sirikit Has Died, Alleging Concealment by Thai Authorities | BREAKING NEWS: Cambodia and Thailand Agree to Malaysian Mediation Amid Escalating Border Clashes | Ministry of Education Announces Postponement of 2025 Baccalaureate Examination | Cambodian Community in Korea Holds Mass Protest Against Thailand’s Invasion | Techo Hun Sen: “In Times of National Crisis, We Have No Right to Rest or Fall Ill” | UN Secretary-General and Cambodian Officials Call for Immediate Ceasefire Amid Border Clashes | Lieutenant General Duong Samnieng Dies Fighting Thai Invaders at Preah Vihear | BREAKING NEWS: Prime Minister Hun Manet to Lead Cambodian Delegation to Kuala Lumpur for Special Meeting on Ceasefire | Secretary Rubio Calls for Immediate De-escalation in Cambodia-Thailand Border Dispute | TOP NEWS: Cambodia and Thailand Agree to Ceasefire After Malaysia-Mediated Talks | ASEAN Issues Statement Supporting Ceasefire and Peaceful Resolution in Cambodia-Thailand Border Dispute | BREAKING: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Welcomes Cambodia-Thailand Ceasefire Declaration | TOP NEWS: President Trump Announces Ceasefire and Peace Agreements with Thailand and Cambodia | Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet Reports Successful Ceasefire Negotiation with Thailand, Thanks U.S. Support | Techo Hun Sen Commends Trump Initiative That Saved Thousands of Lives During Cambodia-Thailand Conflict | Cambodia and Thailand Engage in High-Level Military Meetings Amid Ceasefire Implementation | All My Feelings at This Time Are Connected to Some Major Tasks: Prime Minister Hun Manet Shares Personal Reflection on Social Media | Techo Hun Sen Praises Cambodian and Thai Armies for Respecting Ceasefire and Urges Continued Efforts for Peace | UN Geneva Welcomes Cambodia-Thailand Ceasefire in Social Media Message |

World Cup Gets Underway with Stakes High for Host Qatar

AL KHOR: Qatar's ruler opened the World Cup on Sunday, 20 November, with a call for people of all races and orientations to put aside their differences, speaking as the host nation faced a barrage of criticism over its treatment of foreign workers and LGBT rights.

The Muslim Gulf nation is staking its reputation on delivering a smooth tournament and has denied accusations of abuse of workers and discrimination. Governing body FIFA hopes the spotlight will now turn to action on the pitch.

Organizers have also denied allegations of bribery to win the rights to host soccer's biggest event.

"People of all races, nationalities, beliefs and orientations will gather here in Qatar and around screens across the continents to share in the exciting moments," Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani told the crowd in a tent-shaped stadium.

"How lovely it is that people can put aside what divides them to celebrate their diversity and what brings them together at the same time," the emir said in the ceremony, during which he kissed the hand of his father who abdicated in 2013.

Tamim arrived at Al Bayt stadium flanked by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, to a roaring crowd, and sat alongside other Arab leaders. A show unfolded on the pitch, featuring camels, American actor Morgan Freeman, Jungkook of K-pop boy band BTS and Qatari singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi. Fireworks lit the sky.

Saudi Arabia's crown prince and the presidents of Egypt, Turkey and Algeria, as well as the United Nations Secretary-General, were among leaders at the stadium, where Ecuador later scored a 2-0 victory over Qatar, the first World Cup hosts to lose their opening game.

SOFT POWER

The soccer tournament, the first held in the Middle East and the most expensive in its history, is a culmination of Qatar's soft power push, after a 3-1/2 year boycott by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain that ended in 2021.

The UAE, whose rapprochement with Doha has been slower than that of Riyadh and Cairo, sent its vice president who is also ruler of Dubai, where many World Cup fans have opted to stay.

There were signs of other thaws as Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, whose countries' ties have been strained, shook hands in Qatar.

And for the first time, a direct commercial flight from Tel Aviv to Doha landed in Qatar despite the absence of formal bilateral ties, in a deal brokered by FIFA.

Qatar hopes the event will cement it as a global player, display strength to rivals in the region and placate Qatari frustrations at mounting criticism of the host nation.

As they prepare to compete in a conservative Muslim state where same-sex relations are illegal, Denmark's and Germany's team captains will wear One Love armbands. Organisers say all are welcome, while warning against public affection.

FAN FESTIVAL CHAOS

Thousands of fans are already in Doha, but the main rush will be later this week. Nevertheless, chaotic scenes broke out inside and outside a fan festival an hour before kick off after organisers allowed too many supporters to flood the precinct.

Crowd control will be key, with some 1.2 million fans expected to visit the city - more than a third of Qatar's population, which itself is made up mostly of foreign workers who vastly outnumber Qatari citizens.

Alcohol is banned at stadiums but is available at the FIFA Fan Festival and other venues. Argentina fan Julio Cesar said he expected a great atmosphere, saying "we'll drink before the match.”

For Daniel Oordt from the Netherlands, however, there was a feeling of "constant pressure" not to say or do the wrong thing, adding, "It’s not a fun atmosphere to have at a World Cup.”

Outside the city's edges, workers can watch matches in a sports arena in an industrial zone, priced out of the stadiums many toiled to build along with other infrastructure for the event. No alcohol was being served.

"Of course I didn't buy a ticket.

They're expensive and I should use that money for other things - like sending it back home to my family," Ghanaian national Kasim, a security guard who has worked in Qatar for four years, told Reuters.

SOURCE: Reuters


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