Entertainment

• Friday, October 11th 2013 - 12:51 UTC

  Over six million ticket requests for 2014 World Cup, with 70% from Brazil

  

  A total of 6,164,682 requests for tickets for the 2014 FIFA World Cup had been received when the initial application period ended on Thursday 10 October 2013, of which 70.86% were from Brazil, with the remaining 29.14% from the rest of the world.

• Friday, October 11th 2013 - 12:33 UTC

  Aerosmith rockers declared fans of Uruguayan president Jose Mujica

  

  American rockers Aerosmith have declared themselves fans of Uruguayan leader Jose Mujica, a colourful former guerrilla known for his simple lifestyle. But the 78-year-old Mujica can't say the same of Aerosmith, admitting after meeting with band members that he hadn't heard any of their songs.

• Wednesday, October 2nd 2013 - 22:50 UTC

  Rousseff names top military officer as head of the Olympic Public Authority

  

  President Dilma Rousseff nominated a senior army officer to fill one of the top roles in organizing the 2016 summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Major General Fernando Azevedo e Silva’s appointment to head the Olympic Public Authority, which coordinates the work of state and local governments, has gone to Brazil’s senate to be ratified, the nation’s official gazette said.

• Friday, September 27th 2013 - 21:52 UTC

  “Appalling conditions” for workers readying the 2022 World Cup hosted by Qatar

  

  Qatar 2022 World Cup organisers say they are “appalled” by the findings of an investigation into the treatment of migrant workers in the country. The Guardian reported Nepalese workers in Qatar “face exploitation and abuses that amount to modern-day slavery”.

• Wednesday, September 25th 2013 - 07:59 UTC

  FIFA confirms it will discuss timing of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

  

  FIFA has confirmed that it will discuss the timing of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar at its next executive committee meeting. The agenda for the meeting on Oct. 3-4, published on Tuesday, included the item “FIFA World Cup Qatar, period of the competition.”

• Wednesday, September 25th 2013 - 05:08 UTC

  IATA forecasts a strong 2014 for the industry, but airlines on average only retain 5 dollars per passenger

  

  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has revised its 2013 global industry outlook downwards to 11.7 billion on revenues of 708 billion dollars, but anticipates that all regions during 2014 will see improved profitability, with divergence in performance and with strong emphasis in North America with 6.3 billion net profits.

• Monday, September 23rd 2013 - 16:29 UTC

  Brazilian media warns that upgrading or airports is way behind schedule

  

  Delays are plaguing work at airports in seven of the 12 Brazilian cities that will host the World Cup nine months from now, the daily O Globo reported Sunday. Citing a survey by Infraero, the federal airports agency, the paper said the worst delay was in the southern city of Porto Alegre, where work on expanding terminal at a cost of 69 million dollars has not even begun.

• Friday, September 20th 2013 - 20:48 UTC

  UEFA agree in principle to move date of 2022 World Cup in Qatar

  

  The 54 member federations of European governing body UEFA are unanimously in favor “in principle” of moving the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to a different time of the year, UEFA president Michel Platini confirmed on Friday.

• Friday, September 20th 2013 - 20:35 UTC

  Gibraltar granted by UEFA a place in the Champions and Europa Leagues

  

  There could be two Manchester Uniteds in European club competition next season after UEFA on Friday granted Gibraltar one place each in the Champions League and Europa League qualifying rounds.

• Friday, September 20th 2013 - 07:30 UTC

  Brazil with no labs to handle drug testing for the 2014 World Cup

  

  With one lab suspended and its replacement unfinished, Brazil won't be able to handle drug testing for the 2014 World Cup alone and is looking overseas for help. The executive director of the country's anti-doping authority said the new lab in Rio de Janeiro should be running a year before the 2016 Olympics. But, Marco Aurelio Klein added, the lab won't be ready for the World Cup next June and July.