The most ambitious FIFA World Cup in history kicks off today as 48 nations compete across three countries for the first time. With 104 matches scheduled over 39 days, the 2026 tournament promises to shatter every record in the book.
Motorcycle taxi drivers in eastern DR Congo are carrying Ebola prevention messages through communities as health officials fight misinformation. The unusual campaign comes as case numbers rise and scepticism threatens containment efforts.
A Somali match official’s American travel nightmare has turned into European football’s biggest opportunity. Denied a US visa, the referee will now take center stage at the UEFA Super Cup final in Salzburg.
Sebastien Desabre believes DR Congo’s first World Cup appearance in nearly five decades can provide a much-needed boost for supporters back home. The coach spoke Thursday after his squad completed mandatory quarantine protocols in the United States.
Madison Square Garden witnessed history as the Knicks erased a 27-point deficit to defeat Denver in Game 5. The largest comeback in NBA Finals history puts New York one win from their first title in 51 years.
Thousands of fans descended on Mexico City Stadium before dawn, creating electric scenes hours before the 2026 World Cup’s opening match. The atmosphere marked Mexico’s first World Cup hosting duties in 40 years.
American forces intercepted Iranian drones attempting to strike commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz just hours after President Trump announced a breakthrough deal. The incident raises questions about the stability of any settlement.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has rejected suggestions that the European External Action Service could be abolished, defending the bloc’s diplomatic arm as essential for coordinated global engagement. Her comments come as some member states question the service’s €800 million annual budget.
President Trump announced a “great settlement” with Iran was nearly complete, but Tehran immediately contradicted him. Iranian officials called reports of any finalised deal purely “speculative.”
Gianni Infantino’s frequent appearances alongside Donald Trump have sparked a firestorm of criticism. The FIFA president now finds himself defending against accusations that he’s compromising the organization’s longstanding political neutrality.
NASA has unveiled the four astronauts who’ll venture to the Moon aboard Artemis II, though their feet won’t touch lunar soil. The 2025 mission marks humanity’s first crewed journey beyond Earth orbit in over 50 years.
The European Union is advancing plans to reform its defence capabilities and governance structures as geopolitical pressures mount. The proposals address military spending coordination and decision-making processes that have frustrated diplomats for years.
European lawmakers are intensifying efforts to establish a permanent memorial in Brussels honoring victims of totalitarian regimes. The initiative has garnered cross-party support as advocates argue the EU capital needs a central site for remembrance.
The EU’s fiscal watchdog has rejected Commission plans to relax budget rules for energy spending, warning looser regulations could threaten economic stability. The move sets up a clash between fiscal discipline and green investment needs.
Israeli airstrikes killed at least 13 people in southern Lebanon on Wednesday as tensions escalate along the volatile border. Prime Minister Netanyahu made an unusual appeal to Lebanese citizens to turn against Hezbollah.
The UN Security Council turned its attention to Central Africa this morning, where the notorious Lord’s Resistance Army continues to terrorize communities decades after its formation. Despite international efforts, the militant group remains one of the region’s most persistent security threats.
OpenAI has accused China-based actors of using ChatGPT accounts to fuel opposition to AI data centres by amplifying concerns about energy prices. The company detected 130 accounts engaged in coordinated inauthentic behaviour targeting US and European communities.
FIFA chief Gianni Infantino stood by the United States as a World Cup host on Thursday, even as mounting visa disputes threaten to overshadow the 2026 tournament. His comments came after a Somali referee was denied entry into the country for an official assignment.
Omar Artan received a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu after being denied U.S. entry and removed from the 2026 World Cup referee roster. The 34-year-old vowed to return for the next tournament despite the setback.
Starting November 2024, the European Union will implement ETIAS pre-travel authorization for visitors from 60+ countries. The new system marks Europe’s biggest border control transformation in decades.
