As the biggest edition in World Cup history approaches in 2026, football fans in Tunisia, Algeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Cape Verde face unforeseen challenges far removed from the tactics and strategies on the pitch.

New procedures imposed by the US administration through the Visa Bond Pilot Programme could transform the dream of attending the tournament live from the stands into an expensive luxury.

The programme requires each applicant to deposit between $5,000 and $15,000 (£11,200), refundable upon completion of the trip, as a prerequisite for obtaining a B-1/B-2 tourist visa.

In north and west African countries, where average annual incomes are meager compared to these sums, the bill becomes enormous. A family-of-three would need to deposit around $45,000 (£33,600) just as a guarantee in addition to record-breaking ticket prices and the new $250 (£186) visa integrity fee. Plus, pay for expensive hotels which risen in price by 55% in host cities compared to the same period last year.

World Cup tickets – for wealthy fans only?

The challenge isn’t limited to the financial aspect; logistical complexities add further burdens. US consulates have begun to favor single-entry visas over multiple-entry visas, meaning fans will have to redo their visa applications when traveling between the US, Canada and Mexico to support their national teams.

Meanwhile, long waiting lists persist despite FIFA’s launch of the FIFA PASS platform to streamline appointments, turning obtaining a visa before kick-off in June into a race against time.

The reactions were swift, with fan groups in Africa calling for a travel boycott and urging fans to watch the matches on TV, fearing that attending in person would become a heavy financial burden.

Meanwhile, sources close to FIFA confirm that intensive negotiations are underway with the US to exempt national team delegations and fans from the financial guarantee requirement. The concern is that rigid regulations could transform the tournament into an event for wealthy fans only, jeopardising its popularity and global image.

The most pressing question remains: will FIFA’s power and authority succeed in ensuring the authentic “pulse of the stadiums”, which has always given the tournament its distinctive spirit? Or will the 2026 edition become the most financially successful yet least popular World Cup in history?

Featured image via Til Buergy

Although he held medical reports, Ministry of Health documentation and even World Health Organization (WHO) approval for evacuation from Gaza, Ibrahim Abu Aram’s requests to leave the Strip for specialised treatment were never granted, despite many months of pleading from his family.

While the Israeli occupation prevented him from leaving Gaza, his health rapidly deteriorated over the past few months and his condition became critical. He sadly died when his life support machine was switched off.

Abu Aram was a husband and father, and a forcibly displaced Palestinian living in the Gaza Strip. He suffered for years from a rare and life-threatening autoimmune disease called Pemphigus vulgaris, a skin disorder which causes painful blistering and severe physical deterioration.

In Gaza, Abu Aram’s story is not unique. Thousands of patients have been unable to receive life-saving treatment abroad because the Israeli occupation has prevented them from leaving the enclave.

Medical evacuations from Gaza take place through the Rafah crossing into Egypt, but in May 2024, the Israeli occupation seized the crossing and closed it. Medical evacuations during this time were banned.

The border crossing was partially reopened on 2 February but between 28 February and 19 March, it was closed again because of the Iran war, the occupation claimed.

Gaza citizens denied access to medical treatment

While many people have medical conditions that are manageable with the correct treatment, many factors have meant that even treatable conditions have become deadly, such as the shortage of medical supplies and equipment, the manufactured state of malnutrition in the Strip and limited access to clean facilities.

Since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza, the Zionist regime has systematically and intentionally targeted and destroyed Gaza’s healthcare system. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that more than 1,800 healthcare facilities have been partially or totally destroyed since 7 October 2023. For this reason, it was impossible for Abu Aram to receive treatment inside the Strip.

Since the same date, 72,292 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, with 716 of those people having lost their life since the start of the so-called ‘ceasefire’ on 11 October last year.

Israeli occupation continues to break ‘ceasefire’ agreement

The continued restrictions on the entry of medical supplies into the Strip has also had severe impacts on patients. Médecins Sans Frontières shared that almost 50% of its essential medications for chronic diseases are in “critically low stock”, and says this shortage will “inevitably lead to preventable deaths”.

There is also a shortage of essential medications, such as antibiotics and anaesthetics, and wound dressings, which are essential to prevent the spread of infection. New medical equipment or spare parts have also been banned from entry by the occupation, so any malfunctioning equipment can have severe consequences for a patient’s recovery.

According to the Gaza ceasefire agreement, 150 patients should be allowed to travel out of the Strip each day for medical treatment, but yet again, the Israeli occupation has not kept its word. Instead, less than 25 patients have crossed the border each day.

Between six and 10 Palestinians like Abu Aram lose their lives each day as a direct result of severe restrictions on medical travel and the continued near-total closure of the Rafah Crossing. A total of 1,400 patients have died since 7 May 2024, when the Rafah border crossing was seized by the Israeli army.

The situation is dire. There are thousands of patients, including those with cancer and children, who if they aren’t evacuated within weeks and their condition worsens, they could become “extremely critical”.

Medical evacuations suspended again after WHO worker, 54, shot in ‘security incident’

On 6 April, the crossing was re-closed after Israeli occupation forces opened fire on a UN vehicle traveling in Gaza.

Gaza’s Ministry of Health said the occupation targeted:

a vehicle rented for the World Health Organization (WHO) which was carrying several of its staff while they were carrying out a routine mission in areas classified as “green” in Khan Younis Governorate. This attack resulted in the killing of the vehicle’s driver.

Majdi Aslan, 54, the vehicle’s driver, was reportedly shot in the head. Following Aslan’s killing, the WHO has suspended medical evacuations of patients from Gaza until further notice. “Israel” then closed the crossing, yet again.

Speaking on the direct and deliberate targeting of health and humanitarian personnel without any justification, Gaza’s health ministry has said it:

reflects the continued policies of the occupation aimed at undermining the work of humanitarian institutions and imposing further restrictions on their operations.

Hamas has called on the international community and the UN to take urgent action. In a statement, it said “flimsy pretexts” were being used for the Rafah crossings closure that is preventing sick and wounded individuals from traveling abroad to receive vital medical treatment.

This action, Hamas claims, “constitutes a new crime against humanity”.

It reflects a fascist approach targeting our people as part of a systematic policy that violates all international humanitarian laws and conventions, in full view of the world.

Featured image via Ibrahim Mohareb

The Zionist regime, which calls itself a Jewish state, showed by attacking this site that it has a problem with all Iranians — it makes no distinction between Jews and Muslims.

These are the words of a Mehr News Agency presenter whilst reporting on the recent US-Israeli occupation missile attack on a Jewish synagogue in central Tehran.

The Rafi Niya synagogue, located in a residential area near Palestine Square, was one of the oldest synagogues in Iran. It was totally destroyed in the targeted attack and nearby buildings were “severely damaged”.

Not even synagogues were spared in US–Israeli attacks: one in central Tehran was leveled to the ground

Iran is home to the second-largest Jewish population in West Asia, where they have lived in peace and harmony — at least until Israel attacked Iran pic.twitter.com/ToLaJfs3yi

— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) April 7, 2026

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According to Homayoun Sameyeh Najafabadi, the Jewish community’s representative in the Iranian Parliament,  the Torah scrolls that were kept in the synagogue have also been destroyed and “remain buried under the rubble”.

Iran synagogue hit during one of the holiest festivals

Talking about the criminal Zionist regime, Najafabadi said it targeted a synagogue belonging to the Iranian Jewish community during the days of Passover “in light of the community’s firm stance in condemning the regime’s actions and its anti-Zionist positions”.

Talking of the total absence of “Israel’s” religious and moral values, he added:

The Zionists merely use Judaism as a pretext to legitimise their actions. All Jews around the world are fully aware of this truth.

Another X user commented:

JUST IN 🇮🇷🇺🇸: U.S. and Israel Strike a Jewish Synagogue in Tehran, Iran

They Destroyed the Synagogue

Iran is home to the second-largest Jewish population in West Asia. Israel wants them to feel unsafe and go to Israel, despite being safe and protected in Iran. https://t.co/tYkBHysyIy pic.twitter.com/QVk36hpoLB

— Ryan Rozbiani (@RyanRozbiani) April 7, 2026

The US and Israeli occupation attacks on Iran have left a trail of destruction that includes not only military targets but also oil depots and infrastructure. The atmosphere in the capital was marked by smoke, blocked roads and widespread panic, with rescue teams scrambling to respond. These events triggered protests among Iranians who see the unlawful aggression against their sovereignty.

Unlawful aggression against Iran’s sovereignty

The attacks violate Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state. Because the attacks were not authorised by the UN Security Council, they are also acts of aggression.

The targeting of oil depots, nuclear facilities and residential areas also raises questions under international humanitarian law, especially when it comes to proportionality and the obligation to distinguish between military and civilian objects. The principle of proportionality prohibits attacks where civilian casualties and damage to civilian property are expected to be excessive in relation to the military advantage anticipated.

Although “Israel” and the US have framed their attacks on Iran as self-defence, they have ulterior motives. They have claimed Iran’s nuclear programme and missile capabilities posed an “existential threat” yet on 28 February — the day Omani mediators announced that Iran had not only agreed to allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors full access to its nuclear sites but also dramatically curbed its nuclear programme — their attacks began.

On 2 April, Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, called on the American people to reconsider their views of his country — one which, in modern history, has “consistently avoided aggression, expansionism, and domination”.

Iran has not started a war in more than two centuries unlike “Israel” or the US, who are the real terrorists.

Featured image via Press TV

Astronauts aboard Artemis II were seemingly left lost for words after an outpouring of praise from Donald Trump as they embarked on the world’s furthest crewed mission to the Moon.

The entertaining video showed a period of awkward radio silence in which none of the crew, which includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, seemed to want to speak to the US president after his run of compliments. (Shocker, right?)

In fact, one of the astronauts then checked that the line was clear with Trump confirming he was still listening,  suggesting the American and Canadian crew had precious few words for the world leader.

Awkward scenes aboard Artemis II as Trump stops ranting and none of the astronauts have anything left to say to him, leading to extended dead air pic.twitter.com/4PjfPhfgY8

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 7, 2026

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Artemis II crew get Trump’s typical condescending shite

It has to be said, when Trump gives compliments they have a prolific tendency to be pretty damn condescending to the recipient. This incident in space is no different as Trump focused his attention on Canadian astronaut Hansen.

After months of disgusting vitriol from Trump being directed at Canada and its leaders, it’s no surprise that his typical “I have friends” speech landed like a damp squib with the Artemis II crew.

Referring to Canada’s ice hockey player, Wayne Gretzky, who is largely regarded as the world’s greatest, Trump gushed:

Well, I have to say I spoke to a very special person, Wayne Gretzky, who I think you know, the great one. And I spoke to your prime minister and many other friends I have in Canada. They are so proud of you.

And you have a lot of courage. I’m not sure if they’d want to do that. I’m not even sure if the great one would want to do that to be honest with you, but you have a lot of courage doing what you’re doing, a lot of bravery and a lot of genius.

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But they’re very, very proud of you.

Cue hay bales floating in gravity as it seemed the mic became a hot potato no one wanted to take. Instead of responding to Trump’s praise, one of the astronauts then asked NASA for a comms check to “make sure you guys are still on the line”.

Hilariously, like the kid no one wants to play with at a party and had forgotten exists, Trump then responded:

I am. Yes, I am.

Awkward as fuck, but equally, hilarious. We have to take the laughs wherever we can find them, right?

Comedy gold

The video has unsurprisingly inspired many laughs, with one X user commenting:

That microphone suddenly became a hot potato. Everyone’s like, “I’m not picking it up, you pick it up.”

“Nope, I picked it up last time.”

“Well, if I pick it up, can I call him a stupid fuck?”

“Yeah, don’t do that. He might shoot missiles at us upon reentry.”

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Another person highlighted the laughter from ground control:

Gold! Especially the comms check and the unbridled laughter from ground control.

#SilenceIsBestResponseToTrump

One X account pointed out the cuts that Trump is imposing on NASA:

Bragging about what he has “done” for nasa yet just released a budget wanting to slash nasa’s budget by 23%. 💀

Others have highlighted how inept Trump truly is.

How does he manage to fuck up even this call? Get on the horn, say some nice words, wish them well, say good night. That’s all he had to do. That’s it. He couldn’t even do that. https://t.co/QpxiwZ2KBk

— Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) April 7, 2026

In fact, the astronauts’ willingness to let Trump languish in that awkward moment only deepens the respect for this courageous team:

Shouts to the astronauts for being willing to make this weird. No need to dig him out of this hole https://t.co/Dztec2LKqz

— Duncan Smith (@DuncanSmithNBA) April 7, 2026

The pilot Victor Glover’s beautiful unifying comments potentially signal the points of diversion between the far-right president and the astronauts, who appear to choose love over hate.

Yet another generational statement from the Artemis II crew 🗣️

During Artemis II, astronaut Victor Glover shared a view from deep space, seeing Earth as one fragile, unified world. He said space is amazing, but life on Earth is just as special and reminded everyone to appreciate… pic.twitter.com/F7Q5burj9r

— Complex (@Complex) April 5, 2026

A president nobody likes

It’s no surprise a Canadian might have little to say to the Epstein-class US president given the disgusting threats Trump has made to Canada.

Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, has responded defiantly to attempts by the US to bully and manipulate them into compliance, pointing to a “rupture” in US-Canada relations at Davos. 

A rupture between these neighbouring countries that this radio silence appears to underscore.

If this video is anything to go by, Canadian citizens seem just as uninterested in what the president thinks. Honestly, it’s delicious.

Featured image via the Canary

A new wave of controversy surrounds Kanye West as the UK government have blocked the rapper’s visa for a performance at a major festival. A number of sponsors withdrew from the Wireless Festival in response to a scheduled performance from West. This is due to criticism over a history of antisemitic comments.

West released a song called Heil Hitler last year, alongside selling t-shirts adorned with the swastika. West had technically apologised, but, as the Canary reported:

West published his apology as a paid full-page placement in The Wall Street Journal. That choice matters because the paper does not serve community seeking repair. Investors, executives, advertisers and institutional decision-makers make up its core readership. Ultimately, these are the people who determine whether a public figure remains commercially viable.

Kanye ‘apology’ falls flat

Clearly, the time has come where Kanye’s apologies make good business sense. And, he’s had plenty of practice with them. This is a man who said that slavery was a “choice,” who aligned himself with fascist Donald Trump, and displayed breathtaking misogyny.

West made a statement reaching out to “members of the Jewish community in London in person, to listen” insisting that he wants to “present a show of change, bringing unity, peace and love” through his music:

BREAKING: Kanye West has put out a statement responding to the Wireless Festival controversy.

Sky’s @Mollie_Malone1 has more on the story

Read more: https://t.co/400TmEufYm pic.twitter.com/Va8AtjiMF4

— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 7, 2026

Kanye West: “Those I’ve hurt”

This plea from Kanye for an opportunity to repair the harm caused by his prior antisemitic comments follows pressure from the Campaign Against Antisemitism to cancel his performance.

A spokesperson for CAA stated:

Kanye West has dedicated years of his life to trying to incite his followers to hate Jews. He has more followers than there are Jews on Earth, so his incitement has a huge impact.

Pro-Zionist Board of Deputies of British Jews have accused the festival of “profiteering from racism”, suggesting:

We think that would be a very appropriate step were the home secretary to find a way to not allow him into the country.

Needless to say, the optics are pretty ugly: cabinet officials allow genocidal war criminals to enter without objection. Yet they ban a man who’s caused harm with his antisemitic comments, but is not a genocidal war criminal.

Piers Morgan has welcomed the cancellation calls against Kanye West:

Shouldn’t even be a debate.
Kanye’s Hitler-loving, Nazi-slathering, Jew-hating bullsh*t should be disqualifying for appearances at any music festival. https://t.co/XvtRGkR6Cx

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 6, 2026

And, UK PM Keir Starmer has unsurprisingly jumped on the bandwagon to condemn the festival’s decision to give West the headline slot. He expressed his ‘deep concern’ that:

Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.

Multiple sponsors have apparently pulled their support for the Wireless Festival, with the BBC reporting:

Rockstar Energy became the latest brand to withdraw its sponsorship of the event on Monday. The energy drink brand is owned by the same parent company as Pepsi, which pulled out on Sunday.

Fellow drinks giant Diageo has removed its support “as it stands”, while PayPal will no longer allow its branding to be used on promotional material for the festival.

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British mineral water company Drip has clarified that it is not involved at all with this year’s festival.

Phillipson: “no place for that kind of hatred”

Multiple MPs from Labour and the Conservatives have backed calls to block West’s appearance with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson saying:

There is no place for that kind of hatred, bigotry or antisemitism from him or from anyone else.

Tory MP Chris Philp is arguing that Mahmood’s stance on antisemitism will be clarified by her position on West’s visa:

Kanye West is guilty of appalling antisemitic and pro Nazi comments

Below I have written to the Home Secretary asking her to use her powers to ban West from travelling to the UK to appear at the Wireless concert

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She used this power recently to ban an anti-immigration campaigner… pic.twitter.com/Cso9TYpTht

— Chris Philp MP (@CPhilpOfficial) April 6, 2026

However, Melvin Benn, the managing director of Festival Republic, has resisted public pressure to kick West to the curb. This refusal comes in light of his own experience witnessing “many episodes of despicable behaviour” which have taught him the need for forgiveness.

Benn recalled his lived experience as an anti-fascist and his time on a kibbutz, stating:

I am a deeply committed anti-fascist and have been all my adult life. I lived on a kibbutz for many months in the 1970’s that was attacked on October 7th, am pro Jew and the Jewish state, while being equally committed to a Palestinian state.

Referring to West’s past antisemitic comments in a lengthy statement, Benn said:

What Ye has said in the past about Jews and Hitler is as abhorrent to me as it is to the Jewish community, the Prime Minister and others that have commented and – taking him at his word – to Ye now also.

Finishing:

Forgiveness and giving people a second chance are becoming a lost virtue in this ever-increasing divisive world and I would ask people to reflect on their instant comments of disgust at the likelihood of him performing (as was mine) and offer some forgiveness and hope to him as I have decided to do.

🚨 BREAKING: Wireless Festival will keep Kanye West as its headliner

Melvin Benn, the Managing Director of Festival Republic, said:

“I am a deeply committed anti-fascist and have been all my adult life. I lived on a kibbutz for many months in the 1970’s that was attacked on…

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— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) April 6, 2026

The Board of Deputies of British Jews has since responded to Kanye’s request to speak to the Jewish community in London.

They welcomed the call to talk but still insisted he be cancelled:

The Board of Deputies of British Jews has responded to Ye’s statement on Wireless, saying they are willing to meet with Ye, but only if he agrees not to perform at the festival this year:

“We are willing to meet Kanye West as part of his journey of healing, but only after he… https://t.co/3j2x3p5Lf8 pic.twitter.com/DGoED41CTp

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— Kurrco (@Kurrco) April 7, 2026

Double standards exposed

Banning West’s entry into the UK is not an unprecedented decision – he was already denied entry to Australia last year after releasing “Heil Hitler”. What would be unprecedented though is the UK barring entry to individuals accused of genocidal crimes against Palestinians. These blood-thirsty individuals have outstanding arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) but are seen to be welcomed into the UK’s corridors of power.

Therefore, the contrast is hard to ignore. After all, it further reveals a sinister double standard: the UK government appears willing to tolerate Israel’s violent, murderous hate yet draws the line at a singer who has expressed disgusting hatred. Kanye can be condemned, but we can’t miss the fact that Starmer and his cronies are quick to react when it comes to antisemitism – but not to actual war criminals.

Let’s be clear: antisemitism is abhorrent and must always be confronted. We do not condone Kanye’s previous antisemitic and pro-Nazi posts. But the UK’s failure to confront the deadly rise in Islamophobia and racism – fuelled by Israel’s actions against Palestinians – is just as appalling, but comes with the government’s tacit approval.

Thus, this incident highlights a serious issue in British politics: the hierarchy of racism.

Featured image via the Canary

Israel has tightened restrictions on the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron in the occupied West Bank – claiming the measures are to protect illegal settlers in the town.

The mosque was the scene of extremist settler Baruch Goldstein’s 1994 massacre of 29 Palestinian worshippers. The atrocity was used by the occupation to further restrict local Muslims’ access to the sacred site, one of Islam’s most important. Israel fenced off the mosque but has now closed additional gates and cut off many of the alternative routes to the mosque. This has forced local people to walk kilometres to gain what access they are allowed, replicating measures imposed on the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Israel’s fascist ‘security minister’ Itamar Ben Gvir has praised Goldstein’s mass murder and today, 7 April 2026, raided Al-Aqsa mosque while announcing it would be re-opened to extremist settlers.

Israel harassing worshippers

Local resident Aref Jaber told Al Jazeera:

The difficulty of reaching the mosque is compounded by the procedures at the iron and electronic gates installed at its entrances and in its vicinity. We are subjected to searches, detention, and harassment without any justification, and often young men, boys, and even women are arrested.

The occupation had ordered the removal of mosque director Moataz Abu Sneineh and his staff for more than two weeks in January and has begun preventing the call to prayer “dozens of times a month”. It then used its attacks on Iran as an excuse to close the mosque completely for six days from the end of February and continues to limit the numbers who can attend. The site is considered a major Islamic holy site and a national symbol of Palestine, making it a target for Israel’s ethno-fascist leadership that denies the Palestinian people even exists and claims the site as the ‘Cave of the [Jewish] Patriarchs’.

Award-winning human rights activist Issa Amro, who directs the Youth Against Settlements group, said that the situation at the mosque is even more dangerous than al-Aqsa, adding that:

The Jewish area [of the mosque] has been expanded, and recently, residents around the mosque have been living a difficult life due to soldier violence, settler terrorism, the constant closure of barriers, and restrictions on leaving their homes. They live as prisoners in their own homes in fear of settlers and soldiers, and disturbed by the constant gatherings held by settlers in the mosque.

Israel is an apartheid, terror state.

Featured image via the Canary