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FIFA has announced a star-studded roster of international artists set to perform and contribute music for the 2026 World Cup, as the organisation expands its entertainment offering ahead of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The lineup includes global stars such as Shakira, Burna Boy, LISA, Tyla, Anitta, Future, J Balvin and Rema, with several artists contributing tracks to the official 18-song World Cup album.

According to FIFA, the soundtrack has been designed to reflect the diversity of the tournament, bringing together performers from different continents, languages and musical genres. FIFA President Gianni Infantino described...

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is facing growing controversy ahead of its opening matches as visa problems threaten to prevent several referees, officials and supporters from attending the tournament in the United States.

One of the most high-profile cases involves Somali referee Omar Artan, who was reportedly denied entry to the US despite holding a valid visa. The decision has sparked concern within football circles and renewed debate over immigration procedures linked to the tournament.

Iran has also been affected by visa restrictions. Several members of the country’s football delegation were reportedly unable to obtain travel authorisation, forcing...

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to begin this week, but the tournament is already facing controversy over visa restrictions and ticketing disputes affecting teams, officials and supporters.

One of the biggest flashpoints involves Iran, whose football federation claims FIFA revoked its allocation of tickets for group-stage matches in the United States just days before the tournament. The federation said the decision left many supporters unable to attend games despite having made travel arrangements and accused organisers of discriminatory treatment.

Visa issues have also affected several participants. Somali referee Omar Artan was reportedly denied entry to the...

Liverpool teenager Rio Ngumoha has been ruled out of England’s 2026 World Cup squad due to FIFA regulations, despite impressing during the Three Lions’ preparations for the tournament.

The 17-year-old winger made a memorable senior debut in England’s warm-up victory over New Zealand, earning widespread praise and being named Player of the Match after a standout performance.

However, FIFA rules state that any player added to a World Cup squad before the tournament must have been included in the country’s provisional list of up to 55 players submitted in advance. Ngumoha was not named on England’s provisional squad...

Uzbekistan’s solar and wind power plants generated 5 bn kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity since the beginning of 2026. This represents a 28% increase compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Energy.

As of June 8, solar infrastructure contributed 3 bn kWh to the national grid while wind farms accounted for 1.9 bn kWh.

The surge in renewable energy generation has substantially lowered the country’s reliance on fossil fuels. The clean electricity produced by solar and wind facilities allowed Uzbekistan to reduce its natural gas consumption by 1.3 bn cubic metres.

Furthermore...

Apple’s highly anticipated WWDC 2026 concluded, bringing with it a tidal wave of software innovations. While hardware took a backseat this year, the tech giant delivered massive artificial intelligence integrations, robust safety tools and significant design tweaks across its entire ecosystem.

The arrival of Siri AI

The undisputed star of the keynote was Siri AI. Apple has completely rebuilt its voice assistant from the ground up, transforming it into a context-aware powerhouse capable of holding natural conversations.

For the first time, Siri AI gets its own dedicated application. Conversations sync seamlessly via iCloud across your iPhone, iPad, Mac...

American media reports indicate that Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater have ended their relationship after nearly three years together.

According to U.S. magazine People, the couple separated quietly and amicably several months ago. A source stated that the pair made the decision to part ways after careful consideration but remain supportive friends.

Representatives for both actors have been approached for comment.

Romance on set of Wicked

The 32-year-old pop star and the 34-year-old actor first met in 2023 while filming the two-part cinematic adaptation of Wicked in the UK. Grande starred as Glinda in the Wizard of Oz...

Just days before the World Cup kicks off, the Iranian football federation (FFIRI) has revealed that its official ticket allocation has been unexpectedly withdrawn. The last-minute decision has left countless supporters who had already finalised their travel plans completely unable to attend their national team’s fixtures.

The tournament commences on Thursday, with Iran scheduled to navigate a challenging group stage in the United States.

Iran’s Group G fixtures:

Outrage over “political interference“

Under standard tournament regulations, every participating...

Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have agreed to strengthen political, economic and cultural cooperation following a high-profile summit in Pyongyang, Reuters reports.

Marking his first visit to North Korea in seven years, Xi was welcomed with a lavish ceremony to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the historic friendship treaty between the two nations. According to Pyongyang’s state news agency KCNA, the meeting has opened a new chapter in bilateral relations and aims to bolster strategic communication through high-level government exchanges.

During the discussions, Kim reiterated his unwavering support for the “One China principle...

Personnel from the Mississippi National Guard, backed by U.S. Central Command, have concluded a series of emergency preparedness and response drills alongside staff from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The collaborative training sessions took place in the city of Almalyk between May 18 and 21. The bilateral initiative aimed to bolster the capabilities of local first responders when handling large-scale natural disasters.

A major focus of the command and staff exercises involved developing robust action plans to manage the devastating aftermath of severe earthquakes. Uzbek rescue teams participated in practical simulations designed to test their operational readiness under extreme...

Jensen Huang, the chief executive of the American microchip giant Nvidia, has made his inaugural television appearance in South Korea. The tech billionaire featured on the hit tvN talk programme “You Quiz on the Block”, which is fronted by the well-known comedian Yoo Jae-suk.

Preview clips released on Monday revealed Huang sporting his trademark black leather jacket while dancing to the immensely popular track “Golden”. The song is part of the original soundtrack for the Netflix animated feature “KPop Demon Hunters”. Filmed against the backdrop of traditional Korean houses known as hanok, the CEO enthusiastically remarked:

New York City’s most famous landmarks, from the Empire State Building to One World Trade Center, were illuminated in orange and blue to celebrate the Knicks’ highly anticipated first home game of the series. However, the electric atmosphere was complicated by exorbitant ticket costs, recent street chaos and a high-profile visit from Donald Trump, BBC reports.

Securing a seat for the milestone match proved impossible for the average supporter. Online resale markets saw the cheapest available tickets soar past $10,000 (£7,500), with premium spots demanding upwards of $100,000. While regular-season Knicks fixtures are traditionally among the NBA’s most expensive...

The death tool from the powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on June 8 has risen to 37. Search and rescue operations continue as authorities report that more than 450 people have been injured and four individuals remain missing.

The natural disaster has affected over 17,600 families, translating to roughly 77,000 people. The city of General Santos and Sarangani province are the hardest-hit areas, where search and rescue teams are currently concentrated.

Displacement and temporary shelters

Many residents refuse to return to their homes due to ongoing aftershocks and fears regarding...

Uzbekistan lost 2-1 to the Netherlands in an international friendly in New York. Fabio Cannavaro’s team equalised in the 92nd minute through Igor Sergeev but conceded a late penalty to lose the match.

The Netherlands controlled possession early in the game and created several chances against goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov. In the 30th minute, the referee awarded a penalty after Jakhongir Urozov fouled Crysencio Summerville. Cody Gakpo took the penalty and scored to give the Netherlands the lead.

Following the goal, Uzbekistan increased their attacking efforts through Abbosbek Fayzullaev and Eldor Shomurodov but entered half-time trailing 1-0.

Second half and...

As part of a working visit to Zurich, Switzerland, Uzbekinvest Insurance Company held a series of high-level meetings with leading Swiss insurance and reinsurance institutions and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Swiss Export Risk Insurance (SERV), Switzerland’s official export credit agency.

During the discussions, SERV Director Cristina Schulze-Bergmann highly praised the economic reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. She also highlighted the growing interest of leading Swiss companies in pursuing investment projects in Uzbekistan across key sectors, including energy, pharmaceuticals, engineering, electrical manufacturing, tourism and other industries.

The parties also noted that a...

TV personality Katie Price has fuelled speculation about the future of her marriage following a trip to Dubai to visit her husband, Lee Andrews, who remains in prison over what authorities have described as a private civil matter.

According to reports, Price travelled to Dubai in an effort to help secure Andrews’ release and has spent several days visiting courts, police stations and Al Awir prison. She has described the situation as emotionally and physically exhausting, admitting that “time is running out” as efforts continue to resolve the case.

Rumours of a possible split intensified after sources claimed...

The European Union has agreed on a landmark migration reform that will make it easier for member states to deport migrants who have no legal right to remain in the bloc, marking one of the toughest migration crackdowns in decades.

The new Return Regulation allows EU countries to establish so-called “return hubs” outside the bloc, where rejected asylum seekers and undocumented migrants can be sent while awaiting deportation. The law also introduces a common European return order to streamline removals across member states.

Under the agreement, authorities will gain broader powers to enforce deportation decisions, including longer detention...

Iran and Israel have announced a halt to military operations after a fresh round of missile and air strikes raised fears of a broader regional conflict. The pause came after US President Donald Trump publicly urged both sides to “immediately stop shooting” and return to ceasefire negotiations.

The latest violence marked the most significant direct confrontation between the two countries since a ceasefire was established earlier this year. Iran launched missile attacks in response to Israeli military actions linked to Hezbollah in Lebanon, while Israel carried out retaliatory strikes on targets inside Iran.

Following Trump’s intervention, officials in...

A protester dressed as the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk has sparked widespread condemnation after reenacting his assassination outside a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) event in Texas.

The incident took place during the TPUSA Women’s Leadership Summit in San Antonio, where attendees gathered for an event led by Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, who succeeded her husband as the organisation’s chief executive following his death.

Videos shared on social media showed a demonstrator wearing a papier-mâché mask resembling Kirk before dramatically collapsing to the ground in an apparent mock reenactment of the activist’s killing. Some protesters were also...

Former Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has reportedly given his initial approval to a move to the Saudi Pro League, although any deal will depend on three key conditions being met.

According to reports, Salah has received an offer from a Saudi club but believes the financial package currently on the table falls short of previous proposals made during his time at Liverpool. The Egyptian star is reportedly seeking a salary and commercial benefits that reflect his global profile and marketing value.

The 33-year-old’s second condition is a contract lasting at least two or three seasons, providing stability during...

Video game designer Hideo Kojima has sought to distance himself from artificial intelligence following criticism over his involvement in an AI-generated promotional film for luxury fashion house Prada.

The controversy erupted after an AI-generated sci-fi short featuring Kojima and filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn was released as part of Prada’s “Satellites II” project. The film, which used generative AI to depict the pair on a surreal space adventure, drew widespread criticism from fans and creatives who accused the project of relying on artificial intelligence at the expense of human artistry.

Speaking in a recent interview, Kojima said he does...

Fabio Cannavaro has urged the Uzbekistan national team to focus on the unique experience of the World Cup rather than fixating solely on the final scoreline. Speaking in a recent interview with Championat.asia, the head coach emphasised the importance of embracing the moment on football’s biggest stage.

“If you go there thinking that we have to win, it is impossible to enjoy the tournament,” the Italian tactician explained.

He noted that the squad’s primary objective should be to demonstrate their true capabilities to the world. Cannavaro deliberately wants to avoid placing extra burdens on...

Netherlands national football team manager Ronald Koeman is preparing to use the upcoming international friendly against Uzbekistan as a final dress rehearsal before the World Cup kicks off.

The Dutch squad will face the Central Asian team on June 8 at 23:45 (GMT+5) at the Icahn Stadium in New York. According to reports from Reuters, Koeman intends to deploy his preferred starting eleven to build cohesion ahead of the major tournament.
Explaining his tactical strategy and the reasoning behind scheduling two warm-up games, Koeman stated:

“We want to use the first match to make as few changes...

Russian energy corporation Gazprom delivered 6.5 bn cubic metres of natural gas to Uzbekistan last year. This figure represents a 15% increase in annual supply volume compared to the previous 12 months, according to reports from the TASS news agency.

To put this growth into perspective, export levels stood at 5.6 bn cubic metres in 2024. The fuel is currently transported to the Central Asian republic via the dedicated Central Asia-Centre pipeline system, which transits through neighbouring Kazakhstan.

The boost in Uzbek exports aligns with a broader regional trend for the Russian supplier. Gazprom recently announced significant jumps in...