
Grammy-winning musician Ed Sheeran will become the first Western artist to perform in Bhutan, scheduled for January 24, 2025, at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu.
Key performance details:
- Stadium capacity: 15,000 people
- Ticket prices start at $10
- Tickets reported 90% sold out
Bhutan, a small Buddhist monarchy with approximately 700,000 residents, maintains a distinctive international profile. The country implements a unique “high value, low impact” tourism model, charging visitors $100 per day to support public education and healthcare.
Notably, Bhutan lacks significant international commercial presence. The nation has no Starbucks or McDonald’s and only introduced television broadcasting in 1999. Thimphu remains the world’s only capital city without traffic lights, with police manually directing traffic through a single roundabout.
The concert represents a significant cultural event for the country. Previously, Changlimithang Stadium primarily hosted national broadcasts like the 2011 royal wedding and a notable 2003 soccer match.
Following the Bhutan performance, Sheeran’s tour will continue to cities in India and the Middle East.
About the author
Robert Prevost’s Unexpected Path to the Papacy
Tonight, from the Vatican, a stunning development that will reverberate across the Catholic world. The College of Cardinals, in a move that has surprised many, has reportedly chosen Robert Prevost as the successor to the papacy. A figure perhaps less known on the global stage than some of the speculated frontrunners, Robert Prevost's ascent marks a potentially significant turning point for the Church. Robert Prevost, an American prelate who has been serving as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a crucial Vatican department responsible for recommending candidates for bishoprics worldwide, is now poised to take on the monumental task of leading over a billion Catholics. His background, notably his long service as a missionary in Latin America, particularly in Peru, offers a compelling narrative of a life dedicated to the pastoral needs of the faithful in the developing world. […]
David Balogun May 8, 2025
Civilian Lives Lost Amidst India-Pakistan Retaliation
Tonight, from the volatile Line of Control that divides India and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, we are receiving deeply concerning reports of civilian casualties following a dangerous escalation of tensions. This after Pakistan's response to India's earlier air strikes manifested in cross-border shelling, leaving a trail of destruction and loss in its wake. Consider the human cost. Buava Singh, a resident of the Poonch district on the Indian side, recounted a devastating scene. A mortar shell, he says, ripped through his niece Ruby Kaur's home in the dead of night. She had simply woken to prepare tea for her ailing husband when tragedy struck. The shrapnel, Singh described, caused fatal head wounds. Ruby Kaur is now dead, and her daughter gravely injured. Adding to the vulnerability, Singh stated the absence of community bunkers in the area, forcing civilians to seek the fragile […]
David Balogun May 7, 2025
Inter vs. Barcelona Delivers a Champions League Semi-Final for the Ages
Wow. Just wow. If you missed the Champions League semi-final between Inter and Barcelona, what were you even doing? Because what we just witnessed here in the Inter vs. Barcelona match, folks, was not just a game of football. It was an experience. A three-and-a-half-hour odyssey, punctuated by a staggering 13 goals, a trio of substitute stampedes onto the pitch, and then, almost poetically, as if the heavens themselves were moved by the sheer drama, the rain began to fall. It felt like a cleansing, a baptism after two sides had poured every single ounce of themselves onto that hallowed San Siro turf. We were in a realm beyond strategy boards and tactical formations, a place where pure will and heart collided. This wasn't your typical Champions League semi-final; it was an elongated scream of passion, the kind of spectacle […]
David Balogun May 7, 2025
Northampton Shocks Leinster to Reach Champions Cup Final
Well, tonight in Dublin, at the hallowed RDS Arena, we witnessed a seismic shift in the landscape of European rugby. A script no one truly predicted unfolded as Northampton Saints, against all expectations, delivered a jaw-dropping 37-34 defeat to the mighty Leinster, punching their ticket to the Investec Champions Cup final. Consider this: Leinster, the perennial contenders, the standard-bearers of defensive prowess in this competition, had conceded a mere seven tries en route to this semi-final. Seven. Tonight, the Saints, with a relentless attacking fury, breached that seemingly impenetrable wall five times. Five tries, including a hat-trick of blistering scores from the electrifying Tommy Freeman. This was not just a victory; it was a drama of epic proportions. Ten tries were scored in a breathless encounter, a seesaw battle that kept us on the edge of our seats until the […]
David Balogun May 3, 2025
Osimhen Eyes New Scoring Landmark as Galatasaray Battles Sivasspor
Tonight in Istanbul, under the floodlights of Rams Park, Victor Osimhen, the undeniable engine of Galatasaray's Super Lig title aspirations, stands on the precipice of a significant personal achievement. The Nigerian international, a force of nature at 26 years old, currently leads the league's scoring charts with a formidable 22 goals, a testament to his predatory instincts in front of the net. He holds a slender two-goal advantage over Istanbul Baลakลehir's Krzysztof Piatek. While the collective glory of a Super Lig triumph undoubtedly fuels Osimhen, the heart of a striker beats with the rhythm of individual milestones. Tonight's encounter against Sivasspor offers him a golden opportunity to not only widen the gap on his nearest rival but also to etch his name further into the annals of his own impressive career. Consider this: Osimhen has already tallied a staggering 31 […]
David Balogun May 3, 2025
UFC Legend Mark Kerr’s Dramatic Life Story Comes to Screen with Dwayne Johnson in Lead Role
UFC pioneer Mark Kerr's tumultuous journey through the early days of mixed martial arts is set to captivate audiences in the upcoming biopic "The Smashing Machine," featuring a transformed Dwayne Johnson in what many are calling his most dramatic role to date. Kerr, now 56, earned his intimidating nickname "The Smashing Machine" through his devastating fighting style during MMA's formative years, when fighters often competed multiple times in a single night. The Ohio native's remarkable career included four first-round stoppage wins at UFC 14 and UFC 15 in 1997, with his longest bout lasting just 133 seconds. However, the film delves beyond Kerr's octagon dominance to explore his harrowing struggle with painkiller addiction, which culminated in a life-threatening overdose in 1999. The biopic draws inspiration from the acclaimed 2002 HBO documentary of the same name that chronicled Kerr's rise, fall, […]
David Balogun April 29, 2025
Related
Belfast Rap Group’s Comments Spark Political Firestorm
Belfast rap trio Kneecap has responded to criticism following controversial footage from past concerts, claiming their words have been "exploited and weaponized" out of context. The group faces condemnation from Downing Street and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch after a video emerged appearing to show a member saying, "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP" at a November 2023 concert. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesman called the comments "completely unacceptable," while Taoiseach Micheรกl Martin demanded the band clarify alleged statements supporting Hamas and Hezbollah. In a statement, band members rejected suggestions they would "incite violence against any MP". They claimed establishment figures were attempting to "manufacture moral hysteria" to "derail the real conversation" about Gaza. They denied supporting Hamas or Hezbollah and apologized to the families of murdered MPs Jo Cox and David Amess. British […]
Peter Atitebi April 29, 2025
Kneecap Responds to Criticism Over Gaza Messages at Coachella Performance
Belfast rap trio Kneecap have indicated they are pursuing legal action against what they describe as "false accusations of antisemitism" following controversy over messages about the Gaza conflict displayed during their Coachella festival performance. The Irish group projected statements accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians after their set during the second weekend of the California music event. The messages read, "Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people," "It is being enabled by the US government, who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes," and "F*** Israel. Free Palestine." In response, former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne called for the revocation of the band's US work visas, describing their projections as "anti-Israel messages and hate speech." Kneecap's manager, Daniel Lambert, reported that the band has since received "severe" death threats. Addressing the criticism in an Instagram statement, Kneecap claimed […]
Peter Atitebi April 26, 2025
Irish Rap Group Kneecap Reports Death Threats Following Coachella Performance
Belfast rap trio Kneecap have received death threats after displaying messages critical of Israel during their performance at the Coachella music festival on April 18, according to their manager. The bilingual band concluded their set at the second weekend of the California festival with three on-screen messages stating: "Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people," "It is being enabled by the US government, who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes," and "F**k Israel. Free Palestine." The Irish rappers later posted on X, referencing "hundreds of violent Zionist threats." In an interview with RTร Radio, the group's manager, Daniel Lambert, confirmed they had received death threats, noting that their nature would be "too severe" to describe on air. "I think that, to the band's massive credit, there are three working-class young people here who've built a career for […]
Peter Atitebi April 23, 2025
Jay-Z Takes Legal Action Against Rape Accuserโ’Jane Doe’
Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z has filed a defamation lawsuit against a woman who previously accused him and Sean โDiddyโ Combs of raping her when she was 13. The lawsuit, submitted on Monday, asserts that the woman made false and defamatory claims to seek financial gain. In the legal action, Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, alleges that the woman and her attorneys, Tony Buzbee and David Fortney, acted out of greed and disregarded the truth and basic human decency. The lawsuit was filed in the federal court for the Southern District of Alabama, where the woman, referred to as โJane Doe,โ resides. Jay-Z claims that the accusations have harmed his personal and professional reputation. The woman had previously withdrawn her lawsuit last month, which prevents her from refiling it. She initially added Jay-Z as a defendant in December, following her […]
Peter Atitebi March 4, 2025
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Faces Federal Trial: Music Mogul Confronts Multiple Legal Challenges
Sean "Diddy" Combs, prominent hip-hop entrepreneur and Grammy-nominated artist, is scheduled to stand trial on May 5 at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan courthouse in New York City, facing federal charges including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. Combs, held at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center since September 16, 2024, has entered a not-guilty plea to all criminal charges. If convicted, he could receive a life sentence for racketeering and a minimum 15-year sentence for sex trafficking. Federal prosecutors allege Combs participated in kidnapping, drugging, and coercing women into sexual activities, sometimes using firearms or threats of violence. During a search of his Los Angeles residence, law enforcement reported finding materials allegedly intended for organized sexual events, including drugs and substantial quantities of baby oil. The prosecution team estimates they will require three weeks to present their case, while the defense projects one […]
Peter Atitebi February 19, 2025
Air Canada Incident Cancels Toronto Show
Renowned British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, known for his performance at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, was forced to cancel a Toronto concert after Air Canada denied his cello a pre-booked seat. Kanneh-Mason and his sister, pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, were on a North American tour and scheduled to perform at Koerner Hall on Wednesday. In a joint statement, the siblings apologized to fans, explaining they experienced flight delays, a cancellation, and ultimately, were denied boarding for their final flight to Toronto because of the cello, despite having a confirmed seat for the instrument. They spent nine hours at the airport before realizing they wouldn't make it. The musicians expressed their hope for standardized airline policies regarding the carriage of instruments in cabins. Kanneh-Masonโs cello, a 1700 Matteo Goffriller worth โฌ3 million ($3.15 million), is on indefinite loan to him. The […]
David Balogun December 14, 2024
Be the first to leave a comment