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Nick Candy, who serves as the honorary treasurer of Reform UK and is among its top financial backers, has completed the sale of his Chelsea residence for an estimated £275 million. The transaction, first reported by Bloomberg, is believed to set a new benchmark for residential sales in London and ranks among the world’s most valuable property deals. Known as Providence House, the Grade II‑listed estate sits within the grounds of the Royal Chelsea Hospital and features a private lake and swimming pool. The identity of the purchaser has not been disclosed. Land Registry records list the current owner as Providence House LLP, a partnership controlled by Candy, with his estranged wife, former pop star Holly Valance, also named as a partner. A mortgage charge from First Abu Dhabi Bank is registered against the title. Candy’s involvement with Reform extends beyond his treasurer role; he contributed roughly £1 million to the party last year and has been instrumental in high‑profile fundraising events, including a 2024 gathering for Donald Trump Jr. at the estate. He has previously been seen alongside Nigel Farage as the party promoted a “billionaires’ bonanza” scheme offering wealthy individuals a £250,000 fee for ten‑year residency and a special tax regime. Candy also attended a meeting between Farage and billionaire Elon Musk at Mar‑a‑Lago in December 2024. Alongside his brother Christian, Candy amassed his fortune through global property ventures. He continues to market other high‑value assets, including a £175 million penthouse at One Hyde Park and a Los Angeles mansion, while maintaining office space in Mayfair that also houses Farage’s company, Thorn in the Side. Originally purchased by Christian Candy in 2012, the Chelsea mansion was later transferred to Nick Candy, underscoring the family’s long‑standing presence in the UK’s luxury property market.

Fifa has announced a substantial increase in the top ticket price for the World Cup final, setting it at $10,990 for this year's tournament. This marks a significant jump from the $1,600 price tag for the 2022 World Cup final.The price hike is part of Fifa's dynamic pricing model, which adjusts ticket prices based on demand. This approach has been widely criticized for potentially pricing out fans and contradicting Fifa's mission to promote accessible and inclusive soccer globally.The increase in ticket prices has sparked concerns among fans and politicians. 69 Democratic members of US Congress wrote to Fifa's president, Gianni Infantino, expressing their concerns about the financial exclusionary nature of dynamic pricing.In contrast, Infantino has praised the sales process, stating that Fifa received a record number of requests, equivalent to "the request for 1,000 years of World Cups at once." The World Cup is set to take place in cities across the US, Mexico, and Canada, with the final on July 19 in New Jersey.The new batch of tickets released includes the final and 17 group stage matches, with additional tickets to be made available on a rolling basis. Fifa will also take a 15% cut from both buyers and sellers on the resale market.

The Italian football landscape has been plunged into crisis with the resignation of Gabriele Gravina as president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). This development comes on the heels of Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup finals for the third consecutive time, losing on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a playoff match.Gravina's departure follows intense scrutiny and pressure from the country's minister for sport, Andrea Abodi, who called for a renewal of the FIGC leadership. Gianluigi Buffon, the national team delegation head, also announced his resignation, further exacerbating the turmoil within the Italian football hierarchy.The FIGC's future leadership will have to navigate significant challenges, particularly regarding Italy's co-hosting of Euro 2032 alongside Turkey. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has issued a stern warning, emphasizing that the tournament's hosting rights are contingent upon Italy's ability to meet the necessary infrastructure requirements. Ceferin expressed concerns about the state of Italy's stadiums, highlighting that they are among the worst in Europe.Italy is required to submit its list of five stadiums for the tournament by October, with only Juventus's Allianz Stadium currently meeting the requirements. While plans are underway for the redevelopment of San Siro in Milan, Napoli's Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, and the construction of a new stadium in Rome, the deadline for commencing work on new or upgraded venues is March 2027.Ceferin also pointed to deeper issues within Italian football, citing the need for modernization of football facilities and a complex relationship between football politics and general politics. He expressed concern that the crisis extends beyond individual leadership, warning that the greatest loss would be to the FIGC and the potential difficulty in finding a suitable replacement who loves football and Italy as much as Gravina does.

Colin the Caterpillar, a British party favorite for 35 years, has been outperformed by eight supermarket rivals in a recent cake taste test conducted by consumer champion Which?.The 'original' chocolate caterpillar cake, produced by Marks & Spencer (M&S;), scored a mere 64%, ranking it at the bottom of the list. The main criticism was that its sponge was 'too dry', with almost half of the 75-strong panel of cake-testers expressing this concern.In contrast, Waitrose's Cecil caterpillar cake emerged as the winner with a score of 78% and was awarded a coveted 'best buy' gong. Cecil was praised for its remarkably moist texture, flavorful shell, and 'perfect' sponge-to-buttercream ratio.The taste test also revealed that Colin the Caterpillar contained the highest levels of sugar (46.3g) and fat (21.3g) per 100g among the caterpillar lineup, making it one of the most expensive options at £9.50. M&S; responded by highlighting a recent poll of 2,100 adults that named Colin the nation's best caterpillar cake.Key rankings:1st - Cecil (Waitrose): 78%, £9.50, 744g, 38.6g, 17g.2nd = Charlie (Co-op): 73%, £9.85, 702g, 46g, 14g;2nd = Wiggles (Sainsbury’s): 73%, £8.50, 613g, 41.9g, 18.7g.4th - Cuthbert (Aldi): 72%, £6.99, 624g, 43.5g, 17.7g9th – Colin (M&S;): 64%, £9.50, 625g, 46.3g, 21.3g.

The United States men's national team is gearing up for the World Cup, but their recent friendlies have left fans concerned. Over the past few months, the team has struggled, with more than six months without a win. However, this trend is not unprecedented. In 1994, the USMNT had a dismal run-in to the World Cup, winning just two games in 12 attempts, including a loss to Iceland. Despite these poor results, the 1994 team managed to survive the group stage and narrowly lost to eventual champions Brazil in the round of 16. This precedent may offer some consolation to current fans. The team's coach, Mauricio Pochettino, remains optimistic, stating that he is 'happy about the camp' and believes that 'we are not far away' from achieving their goals. Roberto Martínez, former Belgium manager, warned against reading too much into pre-World Cup results, stating that they are 'quite worthless'. This sentiment is echoed by the USMNT's history of performing well in the World Cup despite poor preparations. In 1950, the team lost their only tune-up game but stunned England 1-0 at the World Cup in Brazil. Similarly, in 2002, the USMNT made a deep run in the tournament despite losing several friendlies. The team's star player, Christian Pulisic, also remains positive, citing 'a lot of positives' from the recent friendlies. The USMNT's history suggests that their pre-tournament form may not be a reliable indicator of their performance. With the World Cup approaching, fans will be hoping that the team can defy their recent form and make a strong showing.

Iraq's national football team is looking to make a significant impact on the world stage, with its coach expressing optimism that a strong World Cup performance can help reshape the country's image globally.The team's participation in the prestigious tournament is seen as an opportunity to showcase Iraq's talent and resilience, potentially altering international perceptions of the country.While specific details about Iraq's World Cup campaign are not provided, the coach's comments highlight the significant role sports can play in diplomacy and national representation.

Shops, universities and public institutions across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem shuttered on Wednesday as Palestinians launched a coordinated strike to denounce a newly passed Israeli law that makes the death penalty the default sentence for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks by military courts. Hundreds gathered in Ramallah, chanting against the legislation championed by far‑right National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir. Demonstrators brandished signs reading “Stop the law to execute prisoners, before it’s too late”, featuring a graphic of a prisoner in a keffiyeh beside a noose. Similar protests unfolded in Nablus, where participants warned that “time is running out,” and in Anata, northeast of Jerusalem’s Old City, where Israeli soldiers compelled striking shop owners to reopen their businesses. The strike was called by President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party the previous day, reflecting widespread anger that “there isn’t a single person here without a brother, husband, son or neighbour in prison,” said 53‑year‑old psychologist Riman, who asked that her surname not be disclosed. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, condemned the measure, stating that its application to residents of the occupied Palestinian territory would amount to a war crime. According to the AFP, more than 9,500 Palestinians are currently detained in Israeli prisons, including 350 children and 73 women. Human‑rights groups on both sides allege detainees suffer torture, starvation and medical neglect, contributing to dozens of deaths. The law, approved by the Knesset late on Monday, stipulates that Palestinians tried in military courts for “terrorism‑related” deadly attacks face capital punishment as the default outcome. Because Palestinians in the West Bank are automatically tried in military courts, the statute creates a separate, harsher legal track compared with Israeli civilians, who face either death or life imprisonment for comparable offenses. While the legislation is not retroactive, critics argue it entrenches a system of unequal justice. Social‑media posts showed tyres burning at the busy Qalandia checkpoint, a key entry point into Israel via Jerusalem. The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that Israeli forces responded with rubber‑coated bullets, stun grenades and tear‑gas, though no injuries were confirmed. Violence in the West Bank has intensified since Israel’s war in Gaza began in October 2023, a conflict that has claimed over 72,000 lives. The latest law and the ensuing protests underscore the deepening legal and humanitarian rift between Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Bosnia and Herzegovina secured a dramatic victory over Italy in a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying match, winning the tie on penalties after regular time ended in a draw. The win knocked Italy out of contention for the upcoming tournament.The original match report has been archived; a concise summary is provided here, with a link to the full Al Jazeera Sport article for readers seeking detailed analysis.For the complete match report, visit Al Jazeera Sport's coverage.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has officially confirmed its lineup of 48 nations, following Iraq's thrilling 2-1 victory over Bolivia in the FIFA Playoff tournament. This win secured Iraq's spot in the tournament, marking a significant milestone for the team. The 2026 edition, hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, promises to be the biggest World Cup yet, with 104 matches scheduled across 16 venues. The tournament will feature a new format with 48 teams, up from the usual 32. Several teams made their debut, including Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi at the 2022 World Cup, will look to defend their title. The World Cup's first game will see Mexico take on South Africa on June 11 in Mexico City, a replay of the 2010 tournament opener. The 48 teams have been divided into 12 groups. Some notable groupings include: Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Czechia Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay, Turkiye Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan This World Cup promises to be an exciting event, with several challenging matchups and debutant teams looking to make their mark.