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South Korean actress Jung Ho-yeon made an unannounced appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19, presenting the championship trophy before kickoff.

Acting in her capacity as a global ambassador for Louis Vuitton, Jung walked onto the pitch carrying the custom-designed trophy trunk. She was joined for the ceremonial presentation by Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz. The pair unveiled the prize moments before the decisive match to signal the start of the final.

This appearance established Jung as the first Korean actress to participate in an official World Cup final ceremony. While organisers had previously announced that...

Elon Musk envisions a future where SpaceX surpasses the total value of Earth, despite his concurrent belief that traditional currency will eventually become obsolete.

The billionaire articulated this extraordinary valuation on July 9 while responding to questions on social media platform X regarding a multibillion-dollar artificial intelligence compute partnership with Anthropic. Musk stated that if SpaceX achieves its objectives, the firm will be worth more than the rest of the planet.

This bold claim follows the company’s historic June 2026 initial public offering. While SpaceX briefly saw its market capitalisation surge past $2 trln following its public debut, Musk’s...

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Sunday as he began a high-profile visit aimed at strengthening U.S. support for Lebanon and advancing efforts to restore stability along the country’s southern border. The meeting comes ahead of Aoun’s scheduled talks with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.

During their discussions, Rubio praised the Lebanese government’s efforts to strengthen state authority and advance plans to disarm Hezbollah, while reaffirming U.S. backing for a framework intended to improve security and reduce regional tensions. Aoun stressed the need for continued U.S. engagement...

FIFA has launched a range of high-end collectibles linked to the 2026 World Cup final, including limited-edition championship rings and preserved pieces of the final match pitch, as the governing body continues to expand its commercial offerings.

For the first time in World Cup history, the winning team will receive American-style championship rings alongside the traditional trophy and gold medals. FIFA has produced 2,026 individually numbered rings, with 30 reserved for the champions and the remaining 1,996 available for purchase by fans as official licensed memorabilia. Some reports suggest the collector’s items could sell for as much as $150,000 each.

Kylian Mbappe has become the first player in football history to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot twice after finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals at the 2026 World Cup.

The France captain, who also claimed the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, edged Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who finished the tournament with eight goals. Mbappe matched Gerd Muller‘s 1970 tally of 10 goals, making it one of the highest-scoring World Cup campaigns in history.

The Real Madrid forward scored braces against Senegal, Iraq and Sweden, added goals in the knockout rounds...

Spain claimed their second FIFA World Cup title after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 in an intense extra-time final at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday. Ferran Torres emerged as the hero, scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute to seal Spain’s first world crown since 2010.

The final remained goalless through 90 minutes despite Spain dominating possession and creating the better chances. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez produced a string of outstanding saves to keep his side in the contest, but Spain finally broke through when Torres converted from close range after sustained pressure.

Argentina’s...

Madonna delivered one of the night’s most talked-about performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, taking the stage in a striking pink lace corset and silk bloomers during the tournament’s first-ever halftime show at MetLife Stadium.

The 67-year-old singer embraced her signature lingerie-inspired style with a sheer pink corset over a silver bra, paired with thigh-high tights, black lace-up boots, a purple bomber jacket and fingerless gloves. Her platinum-blonde curls and glamorous makeup completed the retro-inspired look.

Madonna shared the historic halftime stage with Justin Bieber, BTS and Shakira, helping transform the World Cup final into a...

Spain were crowned FIFA World Cup champions for the second time after Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 extra-time victory over defending champions Argentina in Sunday’s final at New York New Jersey Stadium.

After a tense goalless 90 minutes, Torres broke the deadlock in the 106th minute, converting from close range following sustained Spanish pressure. Luis de la Fuente‘s side dominated possession and created the better chances throughout the match, while Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez produced several crucial saves to keep his team in contention.

Argentina’s hopes suffered a major setback when midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent...

U.S. President Donald Trump joined FIFA President Gianni Infantino in presenting the FIFA World Cup trophy to Spain after their dramatic 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the 2026 final at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.

Spain secured their second World Cup title thanks to Ferran Torres‘ decisive goal in the 106th minute, ending Argentina’s hopes of retaining the trophy. Trump watched the final from the VIP section alongside world leaders before taking part in the post-match medal and trophy ceremony.

The presentation drew significant attention, with many fans reacting loudly as Trump and Infantino entered...

The first-ever FIFA World Cup halftime show took place during the final match between Spain and Argentina, featuring a collaborative performance from Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber and Shakira.

The stadium pitch was covered by a large colourful fabric displaying a child-like drawing of the Earth and the word “LOVE” inside a central circle. The production opened with Madonna emerging from a stadium gate to perform while flanked by individuals dressed as former football players Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Dancers carrying colourful flags flooded the pitch as she sang lyrics for her songs “I Feel So Free.”

MADONNA officially...

U.S. President Donald Trump received a separate, private viewing of the World Cup trophy following the public presentation ceremony at the tournament final.

Trump attended the decisive match between Spain and Argentina alongside First Lady Melania Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The American leader will join Infantino to formally present the championship trophy to the winning captain after the match.

However, the ceremonial duties extended beyond the public broadcast. Following the official on-field celebrations, organisers arranged for the trophy to be shown to Trump separately. This exclusive viewing allowed the president an intimate moment with global football’s most coveted...

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has released updated information on American military casualties following recent Iranian attacks in the Gulf, confirming that two U.S. service members have died while another remains unaccounted for after an attack in Jordan. An investigation is continuing to identify human remains recovered from the site.

In a separate incident, CENTCOM said a U.S. service member was killed in northern Iraq on July 18 during the controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone. Another service member sustained minor injuries and is receiving medical treatment.

The latest update comes amid...

American actor Tom Cruise opened the 2026 World Cup final with a pre-match speech highlighting the tournament’s capacity to transcend cultural divides.

Addressing a packed MetLife Stadium before Spain and Argentina took the pitch, the “Mission: Impossible” star reflected on the 48-nation journey spanning three host countries. Cruise told spectators that the month-long competition proved the sport belongs to a global audience.

“Football is a language spoken without words. A force that unites people, that turns strangers into friends, and reminds us of what we all have in common.”

The championship game serves as the...

Uzbekistan and Germany have begun preparations for the next round of intergovernmental negotiations on development cooperation, with officials reviewing ongoing bilateral projects and exploring new opportunities to strengthen economic ties. The discussions were held by representatives of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade and the German Embassy in Tashkent.

According to the Uzbek ministry, both sides assessed the progress of existing cooperation programmes and coordinated preparations for the upcoming negotiations, which are expected to focus on sustainable economic development, investment and technical cooperation.

Germany remains one of Uzbekistan’s key European partners, supporting projects in areas such as...

Kimi Antonelli demonstrated immense maturity to claim his sixth victory of the 2026 season at the Belgian Grand Prix. The Italian driver kept his cool after losing the lead in the pit lane to hunt down Charles Leclerc and secure a vital win that extends his championship advantage to 50 points.

On a cool and dry Sunday at Spa-Francorchamps with track temperatures hovering around 32°C, the race delivered high drama from the very first lap. A collision between ex-Mercedes teammates, a brilliant tactical gamble from Ferrari and a fierce recovery drive from McLaren kept the packed grandstands entertained until...

Kimi Antonelli has secured a sensational pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix after a chaotic qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps that saw Lando Norris ruin his chances with a late excursion into the gravel.

With Norris already facing a 10-place grid penalty for engine component changes, the door was left wide open for a front-row shootout between Mercedes and Red Bull. Ultimately, it was Antonelli who delivered when it mattered most to claim his sixth pole of the 2026 season by three-tenths of a second.

Hamilton’s Miraculous Recovery

Before a wheel was even turned in Q1, the spotlight...

A group selfie captured by basketball player Kevin Durant at the Fanatics Fest festival in New York has emerged as a major talking point online hours before the 2026 World Cup final.

The photograph, widely shared across social media platforms as one of the most star-studded sports images of the year, brought together prominent figures from various sports and entertainment fields. The gathering included football players Lionel Messi, Rodri and Emiliano Martinez alongside former defender Rio Ferdinand. Tennis star Novak Djokovic and American football icon Tom Brady also joined the frame.

Musician Travis Scott and comedian Kevin Hart completed...

Apple looks set to introduce a physical variable aperture mechanism to its smartphone lineup following a data breach that exposed internal hardware logs. Security researchers identified the upcoming component changes inside system diagnostics files stolen from manufacturer Tata Electronics by the World Leaks ransomware group.

The corporate data dump details the technical profile of the premium iPhone 18 Pro Max. According to the leaked documentation, the top-tier device will transition to a Sony IMX905 primary sensor.

While the imaging chip maintains the 1.22-micrometre pixel size of its predecessor, its standout hardware trait is the inclusion of adjustable aperture blades...

Uzbekistan recorded the highest growth in venture capital investment globally during the second quarter of 2026. Venture funding in the country increased by 539.7% year-on-year, according to a report from the analytics platform Dealroom.

Uzbekistan outpaced Kenya, which recorded a 325.7% growth rate. Austria, Ghana and Pakistan completed the top five with respective increases of 307.7%, 278.3% and 264.2%. China, Argentina, Ukraine, Croatia and the United States also placed in the top 10.

The growth in Uzbekistan stems from a low statistical base in the previous year combined with recent high-value transactions. Dealroom reported that funding was driven primarily...

U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain to present the victorious nation with the championship trophy.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the president’s upcoming appearance during a press briefing.

“His attendance will cap what has been the most watched, most secure and most successful World Cup in American history,” she said.

Leavitt added that the high-profile match serves as a fitting conclusion to an event that highlighted the ability of the United States to host the global community on the grandest stage.

The American leader...

The death toll from the devastating twin earthquakes in Venezuela has risen to 5,069 with more than 21,000 displaced residents continuing to shelter in temporary accommodation.

National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez confirmed the latest government figures, which recorded a 24-hour increase of 139 fatalities. The official bulletin reported 16,740 people injured and 6,462 individuals successfully evacuated from immediate danger zones. The number of rescued individuals remained unchanged from the previous day.

The catastrophe left nearly 18,000 people homeless. Authorities have established 107 temporary camps that currently house 21,235 survivors. Structural damage is widespread across the affected region with...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has reviewed an extensive international cultural programme for 2026 and 2027 designed to showcase the nation’s historical heritage and contemporary arts on the global stage.

The presidential press service confirmed a series of high-profile exhibitions and performances across major international venues. The initiative begins in September with the “Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion” exhibition at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. This will be followed by a feature in the “Global Antiquity” exhibition at Milan’s Fondazione Prada in November.

The programme also pairs international talent with historic venues. Renowned pianist Lang Lang is scheduled to perform...

Disney’s highly anticipated live-action adaptation of the animated hit “Tangled” has begun production, and fresh set photos provide a long-awaited glimpse at the film’s leading duo. Images circulating online show Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim stepping into the iconic roles of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider as filming gets underway in northern Spain.

Directed by Michael Gracey, the filmmaker behind “The Greatest Showman”, the project is currently shooting on location in Valdegovia. The ambitious eight-month production schedule will span both Spain and the United Kingdom, making it the longest live-action shoot in Disney’s modern history. Croft, best known for her...

Samsung’s tightly guarded Galaxy Z Fold 8 has seemingly broken cover early after BTS member J-hope shared photographs featuring the unreleased smartphone on social media.

The artist uploaded a series of images to Instagram during the musical group’s ongoing world tour. Followers quickly identified the handset in the photos as the anticipated Galaxy Z Fold 8. The external design aligns perfectly with specifications detailed in recent supply chain leaks.

This sighting provides the most definitive real-world look at the flagship foldable ahead of its scheduled debut at the July 22 Galaxy Unpacked presentation.

Samsung maintains a lucrative promotional...