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Uefa has to show backbone: concrete action can make Fifa’s World Cup plans untenable | Nick Ames
Fifa’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors has provoked a sharp backlash from Uefa and national football associations, intensifying tensions with president Gianni Infantino just weeks after the tournament concluded. The proposal, announced only nine days after the final, could give private investors influence over how and when Fifa’s tournaments…
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Iran ‘considered attacking Ukrainian port in revenge for strikes on Caspian Sea ships heading for Russia’ as two wars continue to merge
The Daily Mail reports that Iran reportedly considered launching an attack on a Ukrainian port in retaliation for strikes on ships in the Caspian Sea that were bound for Russia, in an indication that the conflicts involving Ukraine and Iran are becoming increasingly intertwined. The report highlights how military and logistical links between Russia and…
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China, Russia, Iran and North Korea form ‘axis of aggressors’ that could overwhelm US, book warns
A new book from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), titled “Axis of Aggressors: Countering the Cooperation of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea,” argues that the four authoritarian states are functioning as a strategically aligned bloc despite having no formal mutual-defence treaty. The authors warn that this deepening cooperation could force the United…
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Russia charges Telegram founder Durov with facilitating terrorism
Russia’s FSB security service has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorism, alleging the messaging app was used by Ukrainian secret services to recruit people and coordinate acts of sabotage inside Russia. An international arrest warrant has been issued for Durov, who was born in Russia but has lived abroad for many years. The…
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FIFA Under Fire Over Plan To Sell World Cup Stake To Joshua Kushner Investment Firm
FIFA is facing a backlash from football authorities and politicians over plans to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors, with UEFA taking the unusual step of publicly condemning the scheme. The plan involves creating a new entity, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to hold the commercial rights to the men’s and women’s tournaments,…
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Russia Charges Telegram Founder With Aiding Terrorism And Puts Him On Wanted List
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has charged Pavel Durov, the founder and owner of Telegram, with aiding terrorism and placed him on an international wanted list. The move comes as Russian authorities tighten restrictions on the messaging app, part of a broader, long-running Kremlin campaign to control the internet that has intensified since the full-scale…
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Cucurella gets tattoo of Spain coach De la Fuente
Spain defender Marc Cucurella has had a tattoo of national team coach Luis de la Fuente inked onto his body, fulfilling a promise made before the World Cup. Cucurella played every minute of Spain’s victorious campaign as they beat Argentina 1-0 in the final this month, and his gesture reflects the close bond within the…
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France evacuates thousands as fires displace a third of a million in southwest Europe
Wildfires sweeping across southwest France and central Spain have forced one of the largest civilian evacuations in the region’s peacetime history, displacing around 330,000 people. Authorities in the Gironde region west of Bordeaux ordered a further 4,000 people to leave on 29 July, even as some 15,000 residents were allowed to return home in the…
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French man discovers 5 dead babies hidden in boxes in his home after argument with wife: prosecutors
A man in France discovered the remains of five newborn babies hidden in cardboard boxes at his home after an argument with his partner, French prosecutors have said. The grim find came after his partner gave birth at home and was subsequently taken to hospital, with the man reportedly unaware of the pregnancy until a…
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Airbus keeps an A350 flying for 24 hours
Airbus has completed a record-breaking non-stop flight from Australia to France, keeping its new A350-1000ULR (Ultra-Long Range) variant airborne for over 24 hours. The flight is a key milestone for launch customer Qantas, which plans to use the aircraft for direct routes between Australia and Europe, as well as to New York, cutting out the…