Reuters Entertainment News Summary

FIFA had initially sought about $100 million for the India package covering the 2026 and 2030 World Cups before slashing ​its asking price to $60 million, Reuters previously reported. Taiwan fans seek divine help to secure K-pop band BTS concert ⁠seats Taiwanese fans of K-pop boy band BTS are turning to Yue Lao, the Taoist god of love and marriage, in the hope that ⁠divine matchmaking ​will connect them with seats for their upcoming shows in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung.

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Kanye West performs to ​118,000 in Turkey despite bans elsewhere

U.S. rapper Kanye ​West, who has been barred from performing in ‌several ​countries due to past antisemitic comments, drew more than 100,000 fans to a concert in Istanbul on Saturday night. West, also known as Ye, has faced a ‌wave of cancellations across Europe this summer following years of antisemitic remarks, including statements praising Adolf Hitler and the release of content using Nazi imagery.

UK blocks visits by left-wing US commentators Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker

Britain has blocked Cenk Uygur, a ‌left-wing Turkish-American media personality, and his nephew, Hasan Piker, a U.S. left-wing commentator and influencer, from entering the country ‌to speak at events, both said on Monday. Uygur, who co-hosts the popular YouTube channel "The Young Turks", and Piker said they had been barred because of their views on Israel.

FIFA strikes deal with Zee for World Cup India broadcast days before kick-off

FIFA has struck a deal with India's ⁠Zee Entertainment ​to broadcast the 2026 World ⁠Cup in the country, ending a months-long standoff over the tournament's availability in one of the last major markets where rights remained unsold. Financial terms ⁠were not disclosed. FIFA had initially sought about $100 million for the India package covering the 2026 and 2030 World Cups before slashing ​its asking price to $60 million, Reuters previously reported.

Taiwan fans seek divine help to secure K-pop band BTS concert ⁠seats

Taiwanese fans of K-pop boy band BTS are turning to Yue Lao, the Taoist god of love and marriage, in the hope that ⁠divine matchmaking ​will connect them with seats for their upcoming shows in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung. "It's really hard to get tickets for BTS concerts, so everyone says praying to the God of Love is the most efficient. ⁠After all, it's another kind of matchmaking," said fan Jessie Chuang, 26.

Paramount seeks EU approval to buy Warner Bros; ⁠decision due July 7

Paramount Skydance Corp ⁠has sought EU antitrust approval for its acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, a European Commission filing showed on Tuesday. The proposed $110 billion takeover would unite two of the entertainment ‌industry's most enduring franchises, ‌though critics including some Hollywood stars have said it could ​endanger film and television jobs.