Back in 2017, during Trump’s first term, Infantino had suggested a US travel ban on citizens from six majority-Muslim countries was incompatible with tournament regulations, and could invalidate the country’s hopes to host the tournament in 2026.

“It’s obvious when it comes to Fifa competitions, any team, including the supporters and officials of that team, who qualify for a World Cup need to have access to the country, otherwise there is no World Cup,” he warned.

And yet, as a result of the immigration policies implemented by Trump during his second term in office, there will be four competing countries – Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast – whose fans have faced full or partial travel bans, with the White House referencing a need to manage security threats.

In fact, analysis of travel data by the BBC shows that fans from more than a quarter of the 48 countries taking part in the World Cup are facing travel bans, tighter restrictions or high visa rejection rates.

It was only last month that visitors from Algeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde and Tunisia were granted exemptions from having to pay a deposit of up to $15,000 (£11,000) before obtaining a US visa.

At the weekend, the International Sports Press Association complained about “a long-standing and unacceptable problem for us journalists – the denial of entry visas to regularly accredited colleagues”.

And on Monday, Fifa said that Omar Artan, who was set to be the first Somalian to referee at the World Cup finals, had been dropped from the list of officials after he was denied entry to the US. No reason was issued by US immigration authorities, but Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by the Trump administration.

“This is a tournament where players, fans, and officials are not walking in free of risk, if they can get in at all,” according to Craig Foster, a former captain of Australia’s ‘Socceroos’, and now a rights campaigner.

“For a sport that has trumpeted its commitment to its own human rights policy for a decade now, that is nothing short of disgraceful.

“This should obliterate the idea, that has still been somewhat prevalent in the world, of a separation between politics and sport. Unlike any other sporting tournament I can recall in modern times, this is a deeply politicised World Cup.”

L’article World Cup 2026: The key issues set to dominate Fifas summer showpiece est apparu en premier sur indikatorpapua.com.

Beirut, Lebanon – Tuesday marks 100 days since the beginning of Israel's second military intensification against Lebanon in less than two years.

Over the last 100 days, Israeli forces have destroyed dozens of villages in southern Lebanon. Israel and Lebanon have engaged in rounds of direct diplomatic talks for the first time in decades, but multiple efforts to fully implement a ceasefire have fallen by the wayside.

As Israel's latest war on Lebanon marks 100 days, efforts are still under way to end the fighting on multiple fronts. In addition to direct talks between Israel and Lebanon, Iran has pledged to link the conflict to any ceasefire deal it makes with the United States and Israel. On Sunday, Iran attacked Israel as retaliation for an attack on Beirut's southern suburbs, which Tehran considers a red line.

Still, fighting continues in the south between Israeli troops and Hezbollah, the pro-Iran political and paramilitary group that is opposed to the Lebanese government's direct talks with Israel. Hezbollah has recently started using fibre-optic drones in the fight, which has led to a new dynamic on the battlefield.

“They've gone back to their guerrilla roots,†Nicholas Blanford, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council and author of a book on Hezbollah, told Al Jazeera. “The intention now, like back in the 1990s, is to wear the Israelis down. They have to keep overcoming whatever defensive and offensive measures the Israelis bring to bear in the south so that they can keep killing and wounding Israeli soldiers.â€

Thousands killed

Israel has not slackened the intensity of its attacks in southern Lebanon. Even on the 100th day of the latest round of the war, it continued the pattern of forcibly displacing Lebanese, issuing a threat in the southern coastal city of Tyre, including its portside Christian quarter, which had not been threatened previously. At least eight people were killed in an air raid on a residential area in the city.

Israel also continued attacking areas across southern Lebanon.

Israel's intensification of its war on Lebanon began on March 2, shortly after Hezbollah fired six rockets at Israel. It was Hezbollah's first response to Israeli aggression in more than a year. The group said it had responded because of Israel's continued ceasefire violations, with continued attacks on Lebanon despite the 2024 agreement, and because of the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei just two days earlier, at the start of the US-Israel war on Iran.

Since then, Israel has killed more than 3,600 people in Lebanon, according to the country's Ministry of Public Health, including at least 245 children. Another 11,000 people have been wounded in Israeli attacks, among them at least 900 children.

Among the dead are many civilians. At least 131 paramedics have been killed, including some in double- or triple-tap strikes, and 17 hospitals have been damaged and three fully closed.

Journalists have also been targeted in the last 100 days.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese government is trying to impose its authority, and is under pressure from the US and Israel to crack down on Hezbollah, which has long been a powerful force in Lebanon. On March 2, the Lebanese government declared Hezbollah's military activities illegal, though it has had little impact on the group's operational capabilities to date.

Hezbollah's main benefactor, Iran, has also tried to tie Lebanon to any ceasefire agreement between itself and Israel and the US. Meanwhile, the Lebanese government has continued talks and seemingly tied its reputation to its trust in US President Donald Trump.

“I have no other choice. I'm trying to benefit from President Trump's personal interest in ending this conflict,†Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun said in a recent interview. “It's very difficult, but we are committed to it. We have no other choice. So, we're counting on President Trump and his team to make a breakthrough.â€

Long occupation

Much like the previous 66-day military intensification in late 2024, Israel has again forced large numbers of Lebanese to flee. Since March 2, at least 1.2 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes in southern Lebanon, eastern Lebanon's Bekaa Valley and Beirut's southern suburbs. Many of them have been displaced more than once.

Israel's military has also driven deeper into Lebanese territory – occupying about 2,000sq km (770sq miles) – than at any point since it occupied south Lebanon in 2000. Israel last invaded Lebanon in October 2024, but after a ceasefire was agreed upon a month later, the troops pulled out of Lebanon, except for five locations on the border.

“In October and November 2024, the Israelis were very focused on limited goals,†Atlantic Council's Blanford said. “They came in cautiously, mainly on foot with special forces units.â€

This time, however, analysts believe Israel is not planning on withdrawing.

“They've come in with much larger numbers, bringing tanks, armoured personnel carriers and bulldozers. They're destroying a much larger area of south Lebanon, and unlike previously, this time they're planning to stay indefinitely,†Blanford said.

Israeli officials have already said as much. Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has said his troops will occupy up to the Litani River, which runs across southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for the annexation of southern Lebanon and the declaration of the Litani as Israel's new northern border.

No ceasefire

Beirut has been spared the continuous Israeli attacks faced by southern Lebanon, though Israel did attack the Lebanese capital's southern suburbs as recently as Sunday and continues to threaten the city.

But it has faced deadly days. April 8 was one of the bloodiest days of the last 100, as Israel launched operation “Eternal Darknessâ€, which killed more than 350 people in more than 100 attacks in less than 10 minutes. Israel claimed it was going after Hezbollah targets and infrastructure, though experts, including from the United Nations, called the attacks “indiscriminateâ€.

The attacks on April 8 led to an international outcry. The day became known in Lebanon as Black Wednesday. A little more than a week later, on April 16, Trump declared a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, though Israel continued attacking southern Lebanon and Hezbollah continued to fire back.

If anything, analysts say the fighting intensity in southern Lebanon has increased since April 16. Another ceasefire was announced after the latest round of Lebanon-Israel direct negotiations on June 3, but Hezbollah rejected it outright while Israeli forces remain in Lebanon. For its part, Israel has never stopped attacking.

Hezbollah's secretary-general Naim Qassem labelled the agreement “shamelessâ€. He called it a “roadmap to annihilate part of the Lebanese peopleâ€.

L’article Hundred days of Israels latest war on Lebanon est apparu en premier sur indikatorpapua.com.

*Tipping habits in the United States are facing renewed scrutiny as digital payment screens now appear in more restaurants and cafes.

A Popmenu survey found widespread frustration among consumers over preset gratuity options on digital checkout systems. Fox News reports that 78% of respondents say tipping expectations have become unreasonable. The study surveyed 1,000 adults in March. It found that 59% feel pressured to leave a tip when the screen prompts them. Some observers describe the trend as “tip creep.â€

Despite pushback, tipping remains a strong part of dining culture. Restaurant operators say customers still accept standard gratuities in full-service settings.

Vicki Parmelee, who owns Jumby Bay Island Grill in Florida, says tipping remains closely tied to the sit-down dining experience. She says customers generally view gratuity as part of table service. Parmelee adds that frustration tends to rise in lower-service settings, such as counter orders with limited staff interaction.

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“It is pretty annoying to go up to a service counter and order a coffee and then have them turn around a terminal and expect a tip just for handing you a coffee,†she told Fox News Digital. 

“It's kind of ingrained in American culture that if you go out to dinner at a restaurant, and you sit down and you're served, I think that a 20% tip is a good tip,†Parmelee said.

Derek Simms, who runs a hospitality group in Texas, says even people working in the industry feel uneasy about digital tipping screens. He describes the interaction as uncomfortable for both employees and customers. “Even I give pause, and I'm in the restaurant business,†he said.

The survey shows shifting consumer behavior around tipping. About 36% of respondents say they ignore preset options and enter custom tip amounts instead. Another 42% say they now think more carefully about when to tip. Many still follow traditional rates when they feel service meets expectations.

As digital payment systems expand, tension continues to grow. Traditional tipping norms now clash with automated checkout expectations.

MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Massive Chair-Throwing Brawl Explodes Inside D.C. Chipotle Restaurant | WATCH

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Cheap Trick's “Surrender†has been performed thousands of times around the world, from barrooms to sports arenas.

Perhaps one of the most unique renditions occurred at The Abbey in Ottawa.

With a nod to the acoustics of the historic church, singer/songwriter Miles Nielsen, son of Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, and his band the Rusted Hearts sang the 1970s rock hit a cappella.

That moment spoke volumes to the impact the Ottawa Center for the Arts' two venues, The Abbey and the Great Hall, will have on experiencing the arts.

“They were doing a proper rock concert with lights and amplification,†said Anne Badger, executive director of the Ottawa Center for the Arts. “And they were also experimenting just how supportive the acoustics are here, and they chose to end their concert a cappella, because they realized it will sound great in this space.â€

Both of the Ottawa Center's buildings are repurposed churches, each rich in history, and now invigorated with activity.

The Abbey is located at 113 E. Lafayette St., across the street from Washington Square, the site of the first 1858 Lincoln and Douglas debate. Designed in gothic style and built with Joliet limestone, it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is adorned by stained-glass windows, including the Wallace Window, which depicts the Resurrection.

Within walking distance, the Great Hall is located at 910 Columbus St., at the south end of the block from The Abbey. Also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it's characterized by its steeple on the outside and its towering pipe organ inside.

“Both buildings have superb acoustics,†said Badger, who is a musician.

The rock concert scratches the surface of what's offered or possible at the venues. They are a hub for arts and activities of all kinds, including music, dance, photography, film, comedy, lectures, poetry readings and meditation, and even events that haven't been thought of yet.

“We have an open mind and open heart,†said Christine Benson, chairperson of the Ottawa Center's programming.

Not much has been altered on the churches; engineers were brought in to ensure the acoustics were not compromised. Long pews in rows offer bench-like seating for spectators. Ornamental lighting hangs from the ceilings. The reredos and wooden furniture remain intact at The Abbey, which boasts of an Austin organ, as well as a bell that may be used to alert patrons of showtime. The Great Hall features a carpeted lobby that leads upstairs to a vast open hall with stained glass windows, along with a balcony that may be opened for spectators.

Unless noted, events don't require admission fees. Instead, the Ottawa Center requests $10 donations. The proceeds support the volunteer effort to keep the buildings maintained and attract talent. The shows are family-friendly and children are welcome.

In early 2026, Manderley Strings, a quintet with violins, a viola, cello and piano, performed at the Great Hall. Along with the popular “Bridgerton†theme and some folk and chamber music, the group performed the score from Christopher Nolan's film “Interstellar,†accompanied by the pipe organ that reverberated throughout the hall.

“That's our gem,†Badger said.

When the Ottawa Center's committee attended initial meetings, they were asked to come up with one-word descriptions of the venues.

“Joyous,†was one memorable response.

“It really speaks to the history of these buildings as churches,†Badger said. “And the continued joy they will bring.â€

L’article Ottawa Center for the Arts repurposes churches for entertainment and culture est apparu en premier sur indikatorpapua.com.

It was pantomime stuff and it was infectious. A bandwagon rolled. AC/DC played a gig wearing Scotland jerseys. Blue Peter presented the somewhat perplexed squad with a special good luck badge.

Scottish nationalism was on the march with the SNP making record gains. A pro-union newspaper in England wrote that Scotland winning the World Cup would be like “distilled firewater. Hooched up on that, the nationalists could rampage to victory”.

In 1978, Scots roamed across the British football landscape like gods. In the August of 1977, Kenny Dalglish, whose famous goal against Wales helped secure the finals place, had become Britain’s most expensive footballer when arriving at Liverpool. Five months later, Gordon McQueen would set a new transfer record when joining Manchester United.

Liverpool had just won the European Cup with Alan Hansen, Graeme Souness and Dalglish the spine of the team. Ipswich had just won the FA Cup with John Wark and George Burley. Nottingham Forest had won the First Division title and the League Cup with Kenny Burns, Archie Gemmill, John McGovern and John Robertson. Burns was the player of the year in England. A fine Rangers team had won the domestic treble.

L’article World Cup 2026: Scotlands fateful 1978 World Cup campaign still resonates est apparu en premier sur indikatorpapua.com.

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L’article Pope Leo XIV wades into Spains culture wars over soccer and the Catalan language in Barcelona est apparu en premier sur indikatorpapua.com.

What began nearly a decade ago as a way to help local families enjoy a Thanksgiving meal has grown into one of Franklin Community Church's signature outreach efforts.

The church's ninth annual Car and Motorcycle Show will be held Saturday, June 13, at Franklin Community Church, 822 Blackjack Road. Organizers are hoping for another strong turnout as they work toward their goal of providing Thanksgiving meals to as many as 350 families this year.

Steve Henson, a deacon at Franklin Community Church and one of the event's organizers, said the fundraiser plays an important role in supporting the church's annual Thanksgiving food box ministry.

 

 

Since the show was established in 2018, church leaders estimate the ministry has helped feed more than 10,000 people through its Thanksgiving outreach program.

The event has evolved into more than just a gathering of automotive enthusiasts. In addition to showcasing classic cars, trucks, motorcycles and custom vehicles, the show serves as a community-wide fundraiser that brings together local businesses, residents and volunteers to support families facing food insecurity.

Registration opens at 8 a.m. June 13, with the show running from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Entry is $20 per vehicle.

Participants and spectators will find a variety of activities throughout the day, including a silent auction, 50-50 drawings, door prizes and a raffle for a tailgating package that includes a 10-by-10 canopy, chairs, a grill and a cooler.

The event concludes with the presentation of awards, raffle drawings and the silent auction.

Community support remains a major factor in the show's success. Henson said local businesses continue to donate prizes, auction items and other resources that help maximize fundraising efforts.

“We have things from our local auto parts, our local tractor supply, different boutiques throughout the square, throughout Franklin,†Henson said. “We just get a lot of donations from the community.â€

Church leaders say the fundraiser was born from a desire to address a growing need among local families during the holiday season. Over the years, the church has expanded its outreach efforts beyond Thanksgiving, operating community food pantries and providing emergency food assistance throughout the year.

“Years ago, our church saw a need for the Thanksgiving boxes to help families at Thanksgiving and we've just been carrying it on year after year,†Henson said.

While the ministry has served thousands over the years, organizers believe demand could be especially high in 2026 as families continue to face rising costs for groceries, fuel and other necessities.

For church leaders, the annual car and motorcycle show is about far more than trophies and vehicles. Every registration fee, auction bid and raffle ticket sold helps support a mission that has become a staple of the church's community outreach efforts.

Those seeking additional information about the event may contact Steve Henson at 270-962-0234.

L’article Franklin Community Church Event Blends Car Culture With Community Outreach est apparu en premier sur indikatorpapua.com.