United News of Bangladesh

Shakira, Maná, Andrea Bocelli and a surprise appearance by Salma Hayek lit up the World Cup opening ceremony ahead of Mexico's 2-0 victory over South Africa on Thursday. Shakira performed “Dai Dai,” the tournament's official song, with Burna Boy. The Colombian star had a hit with “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)” from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and now seeks to score again. A good World Cup song, Shakira earlier told The Associated Press, “needs to definitely have rhythm. It has to be rhythmic. It has to make people want to dance. And it has to be an anthem as well. It has to make people want to sing along in unison, sing out loud at the top of their lungs.” Shakira has performed at previous World Cups, too: 2006 in Germany, 2010 in South Africa, and 2014 in Brazil. In addition, she will perform at the first halftime show of a World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey with Madonna and BTS. Mexico, the United States and Canada are co-hosting the 48-team tournament. A welcome for all Lila Downs welcomed fans and players in Spanish, English, and the indigenous languages Mixtec and Nahuatl. “People of the world, welcome to Mexico,” said Downs, who wore a white indigenous huipil with a lilac edge. “Mexico welcomes you with smiles from our heart, we are a nation of diversity, heritage and pride in ancestral lands where movement and ritual spirit endure.” Downs, who is a singer-songwriter, was born in Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca. Her mother is Mixtec, and her father was American of Scottish descent. But her heart is green, white and red when it comes to the ball. “It’s a great honor for me to represent my beautiful and diverse country,” Downs said in an interview with The AP. “Of course I’m going to root for Mexico’s team, Viva Mexico!” Maná thrills fans Maná electrified the stadium with “Oye Mi Amor” surrounded by pre-Hispanic dancers who moved their head plumes to the rhythm of rock while tens of thousands of fans chanted. The band, founded in 1986, has sold more than 40 million records. Shortly before their performance, they announced that they will be touring in Latin America, including stops in Bogotá, Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires, and Mexico City. From Iztapalapa to the World Cup The Mexican cumbia group Los Ángeles Azules performed “Por Ella” with Belinda, one of the most danceable songs of FIFA's official World Cup album.  

Colombian pop icon Shakira is set to perform a free concert on Copacabana Beach on Saturday night, with Brazilian authorities expecting around 2 million people to gather at the famous seaside venue. The show comes after similar large-scale performances by Madonna in 2024 and Lady Gaga last year, both of which drew huge crowds to the beach. Shakira’s concert is part of her “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” world tour, named after her 2024 album. Speaking to Brazil’s TV Globo, Shakira said the Copacabana show could be the biggest of her career. She described performing on the beach as a lifelong dream, calling it a “magical place,” and noted that she learned Portuguese before English. Music experts say Shakira’s strong connection with Brazilian fans dates back to the 1990s, when she first performed in the country. Felipe Maia, an ethnomusicologist at Paris Nanterre University, said cultural similarities between Colombia and Brazil helped her build a lasting bond with audiences. He added that Saturday’s concert reflects that long-standing relationship. Fans have already begun arriving early to secure good spots. Vendors lined the beach selling snacks, drinks and even items like toilet paper and sandbags to help people get a better view of the stage, set up near the Copacabana Palace hotel. Street vendor Simone Paula da Cunha, who came a day early to sell drinks, said she also hoped to watch the performance live. Despite being tired, she said she has been a fan of Shakira since her early days. Entertainment on the beach will begin in the afternoon with DJs, while Shakira is expected to take the stage at 9:45 p.m. local time for a performance lasting about two hours. Another DJ will perform afterward to help manage the crowd as they leave. City officials say the free concert is part of efforts to boost Rio’s economy between major festive periods such as Carnival, New Year celebrations and the June Saint John’s Day events. Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere said such events help create jobs, generate income and strengthen the city’s identity. He added that the financial return from the concert could be up to 40 times the city’s investment. According to estimates by City Hall and Riotur, the show could generate about 777 million reais, or roughly $155 million, driven by increased spending in hotels, restaurants and shops. Officials also noted a sharp rise in tourist arrivals during similar events in previous years. Data shows visitor numbers grew significantly in early May in 2024 and 2025 compared to 2023. Airbnb said bookings have increased ahead of the concert, with visitors expected from across Brazil, Latin America and cities such as Paris and London. Wanderson Andrade, an architect who traveled from central Brazil for the show, said he had missed the chance to see Shakira last year and was determined not to miss this one. “Today is a dream come true,” he said.

Colombian pop icon Shakira announced on Monday that she will continue her world tour with a performance in Lima, Peru, after a weekend show was cancelled due to a stomach illness, reports AP> The four-time Grammy Award winner shared the update on her Instagram, confirming that the concert at Lima's Estadio Nacional will start at 8:15 p.m. local time. Shakira cancels her concert in Lima after being hospitalized Shakira, 48, arrived in Peru on Friday and was originally set to perform both Sunday and Monday. However, she had to cancel the Sunday show, explaining on X that she had been hospitalised because of an abdominal condition. The singer began her world tour last week with shows in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Following her performance in Peru, Shakira’s tour will proceed with upcoming dates in Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Argentina, and over a dozen U.S. cities, including Orlando, Houston, Detroit, Boston, New York, and San Francisco. SNL’s 50th Anniversary Shines with Star-Studded Performances, Tributes, and Nostalgia Shakira also mentioned on X that her team is working on rescheduling the show she had to cancel on Sunday.

Albuquerque, N.M., Feb 04 (AP/UNB) — When the Super Bowl halftime show began, Yol-Itzma Aguirre and her relatives watched with anticipation. The El Paso, Texas, family was curious how Colombian-born Shakira and New York-raised Jennifer Lopez, two of the world's most popular Latina artists, would seize the stage.