Brazil hosts the 2021 Copa America tournament
June 1, 2021, 4:25 am

Brazil

Brazil hosts on 13 June The 2021 Copa America, after Argentina was stripped of the tournament just two weeks before it starts.

The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) stated that Argentina was removed as host because of the "present circumstances".

The country is now experiencing a wave of Corona virus.

Yesterday Monday, Conmebol confirmed Brazil would host the showpiece event, which starts on 13 June.

In his tweet, Conmebol thanked president "Jairbolsonaro and his team, as well as the Brazilian Football Confederation for opening the doors of this country to what is today the safest sporting event in the world". He added, "South America will shine in Brazil with all its stars"!

Due to tough conditions that would have to be met, Mr Bolsonaro's chief of staff warned that there is "no done deal yet" .

"We are in the middle of the process (of negotiations). But, we will not shy away from a demand that, if it's possible to be done, it could be done," Luiz Ramos said.

Till now, it is not known which stadiums would host the tournament if it goes ahead.

Argentina was originally set to co-host with Colombia, who were removed on 20 May with wide-spread protests sweeping the country.

Opposition to the tournament had grown both inside and outside Argentina's government, as "the health of the human beings" is the priority now.

On Saturday, Brazil also witnessed, protests over the management of the Covid-19 pandemic by the government of President Jair Bolsonaro.

It has registered nearly 460,000 deaths - the second-highest toll in the world after the United States. It also has the third-highest number of recorded coronavirus cases at more than 16 million.

Brazil's Senate is holding an inquiry into the Bolsonaro government's handling of the pandemic and the slow roll-out of the vaccine programme.

Brazil are defending champions, having won the tournament in 2019.

Every game at the Copa America will be shown live on the BBC.

Source: BBC

Image source: BBC

The drop in Iranian and Nigerian oil exports in May limited OPEC oil output rise The most in nearly seven years, UK house prices increase by 10.9%

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”