• US special envoy Zampolli hopes for Italy involvement

• Doubts remain over Iran’s participation

An envoy to the US President Donald Trump has asked Fifa to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

The plan is an effort to repair ties between Trump and Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the American president’s attacks against Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war, the FT reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

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Burnley's fifth consecutive relegation or promotion leads to the obvious question - how can they break the cycle?

from BBC News https://ift.tt/8w4iTWE

• Rooney and Murphy question scenes after victory

• Guardiola: ‘They won. How can they not celebrate it?’

Pep Guardiola has hit out at criticism of Manchester City’s celebrations following Sunday’s victory over Arsenal, describing such comments as “stupid things”.

At the final whistle of the 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium, one that took City to within three points of the Premier League leaders with a game in hand, Gianluigi Donnarumma jumped into the crowd behind his goal while many of City’s others players also celebrated in emphatic fashion.

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Brighton heap more pressure on Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior as they ease to a comfortable 3-0 win thanks to goals from Ferdi Kadioglu, Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck.

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At least four more injured at world heritage site in latest violent incident as country prepares to co-host World Cup

One Canadian tourist has been killed and at least four other people have been shot after an armed man opened fire at one of Mexico’s most famous tourist destinations, the Teotihuacán pyramids near Mexico City.

The shooting – the latest violent incident to affect Mexico as it prepares to co-host the football World Cup in June – took place on Monday lunchtime and was captured in mobile phone videos shot by visitors to the site.

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The US president's comments come amid uncertainty over whether Iran will attend peace talks in Pakistan this week.

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Federal prosecutor says woman is suspected of dealing weapons to Africa on behalf of Iranian government

A California woman was arrested at Los Angeles international airport after allegedly trafficking weapons on behalf of the Iranian government to contacts in Africa, including Sudan.

Shamim Mafi, 44, of Woodland Hills was detained on Saturday night by federal agents, according to the top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles.

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