A new official Fifa World Cup single was released on Friday, featuring Lebanese artist Myriam Fares alongside rapper Nicki Minaj and Colombian singer Maluma. With a catchy, upbeat tempo and cross-cultural influences, the single, titled Tukoh Taka, is now available on music streaming platforms.
The single features a combination of styles from the trio, but each brings their own style as they sing and rap about welcoming fans to the Fifa World Cup, uniting the world and celebrating together.
All three artists posted teasers on their Instagram accounts for the music video, which is scheduled for release at 7pm UAE time. The teaser shows clips of football games and cheering fans in between shots of Minaj, Maluma and Fares performing against distinct backgrounds that represent their style and culture, while still collectively sharing the same look and feel.
Minaj raps in a bus being driven across the desert to a game, while women clad in gold outfits inspired by belly dancers perform behind her. Maluma appears in a desert at sunset with a giant football sculpture behind him, while Fares, dressed in a blue belly dancing-inspired outfit, plays with gold cymbals between her fingers as she performs in the desert flanked by male dancers playing Arabic drums.
This isn’t the first time the Fifa World Cup has released a single featuring cross-cultural and cross-continental international artists.
Hayya Hayya (Better Together) was the first 2022 World Cup soundtrack single, released in April. The single featured RnB artist Trinidad Cardona, Nigerian-American singer Davido and Qatari singer Aisha. The song calls for global unity and bringing the world together through football.
In August, Arhbo, featuring Puerto Rican reggae star Ozuna and French hip-hop artist Gims was released. Sung in Spanish, French and English with Arabian-influenced instrumentals, the song is about building bridges and setting aside differences through the game of football. The song was followed by another release in September, The World Is Yours To Take, by rapper Lil Baby.
Then in October, Fifa released Light the Sky featuring Emirati-Yemeni artist Balqees, Moroccan-Canadian singer Nora Fatehi, Iraqi singer and actress Rahma Riad, and Moroccan singer Manal. The song celebrates the inclusion of female referees at the first World Cup in the region.
The World Cup kicks off in Qatar on November 21 and will run until December 18, featuring 32 of the world's best national teams.
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
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KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Healthcare spending to double to $2.2 trillion rupees
Launched a 641billion-rupee federal health scheme
Allotted 200 billion rupees for the recapitalisation of state-run banks
Around 1.75 trillion rupees allotted for privatisation and stake sales in state-owned assets
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
