The #FIFAWorldCup kicks off in Qatar in a high-stakes event for the country which has faced a barrage of criticism including over human rights as it stakes its reputation on delivering a smooth tournament.
The #FIFAWorldCup ceremony kicks off in the Al Bayt stadium in Qatar ahead of the first match between the hosts and Ecuador
In a show of solidarity, Saudi Arabia's crown prince and the presidents of Egypt, Turkey and Algeria, as well as the United Nations Secretary-General, are among leaders at the opening ceremony
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani arrived at the stadium flanked by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and took their seats alongside other Arab leaders
Singer Jungkook of K-pop boy band BTS (@BTS_twt) performs his new song 'Dreamers' during the #FIFAWorldCup opening ceremony
The show featured three camels, actor Morgan Freeman and a performance of a new tournament song called ‘Dreamers,’ featuring singer Jungkook of K-pop boy band BTS, alongside Qatari singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi reut.rs/3OkY3vK
Qatar, which has denied accusations of worker abuse and discrimination, and FIFA hope the spotlight will turn to action on the pitch.
The captains of England, Wales, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark have backed down on wearing 'OneLove' armbands at the #FIFAWorldCup under pressure from FIFA, the associations said in a joint statement reut.rs/3EnqMvn 1/5
FIFA has threatened to issue yellow cards to any player wearing the multi-colored armband which was introduced to show solidarity with the LGBT+ community 2/5
England captain Harry Kane spoke on Sunday of his desire to wear the armband in Monday's Group B opener against Iran. #ENGIRN
FIFA's move attracted swift and scathing criticism from groups representing the LGBT+ community 3/5
Alcoholic beer will not be sold at Qatar's #FIFAWorldCup stadiums, world soccer governing body FIFA said, a last minute reversal which raised questions among some supporters about the host country's ability to deliver on promises to fans reut.rs/3TMsZ9y 1/5
The announcement comes two days before Sunday's kickoff of the #FIFAWorldCup, the first to be held in a conservative Muslim country with strict controls on alcohol, the consumption of which is banned in public 2/5
England's Football Supporters' Association said the decision raises concerns about Qatar's ability to fulfil its promises to visiting fans.
For years, Qatar's tournament organizers have said that alcohol would be widely accessible to fans at the tournament 3/5
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to hold that influential post, says she will step down as the Democratic leader in the chamber a day after Republicans secured a narrow majority following the midterm elections reut.rs/3TJWyZa
Pelosi wraps up a long congressional leadership career in which she was the only woman to serve in the powerful House speaker post, showed an ability to pass major legislation, united fractious fellow Democrats and challenged the world's most powerful men reut.rs/3V1jrsc
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi will announce whether she will step down as Democratic leader of the chamber, a day after Republicans were projected to have won control of the House in the midterm elections reut.rs/3X7IrQr 1/6
Pelosi, 82, has been under pressure the last few years from younger House Democrats to yield power after two decades at the helm 2/6
Pelosi, the first woman speaker of the House, did not specifically address her role going forward but in recent days has noted that the violent assault on her husband Paul by an intruder in their San Francisco home, and other factors, would impact her decision 3/6
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner has been taken to a penal colony in the Russian region of Mordovia, a source familiar with the case told @Reutersreut.rs/3V7gaYa 1/4
In August, Griner was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony on drugs charges following her arrest at a Moscow airport in February with vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage 2/4
She was moved from a detention center near Moscow on November 4 to be taken to an undisclosed prison location.
Russian authorities have given no information on her whereabouts for nearly two weeks 3/4
Chinese President Xi Jinping criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in person over alleged leaks of their closed-door meeting at the G20 summit, a rare public display of annoyance by the Chinese leader reut.rs/3GqeV2j 1/5
His displeasure was likely a reference to media reports that Trudeau brought up 'serious concerns' about alleged espionage and Chinese 'interference' in Canadian elections when meeting with Xi on Tuesday reut.rs/3TITkW3 2/5
A translator for Xi can be heard in the video telling Trudeau that 'everything we discussed was leaked to the paper(s), that's not appropriate' 3/5