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FIFA Plans To Sell World Cup Stake To Private Investors

Simeon Bateren
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FIFA Plans To Sell World Cup Stake To Private Investors

 FIFA announced plans Tuesday to sell a minority stake in a new commercial subsidiary that would control the World Cup and its other major competitions to private investors, in a proposal that would raise up to $4.2 billion and potentially set FIFA president Gianni Infantino on course to earn as much as $64 million a year running the new entity.

The announcement drew immediate and fierce condemnation from European football’s governing body UEFA, which called it a betrayal of the game’s fundamental principles, and from political figures including British Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

What We Know So Far

Under the plan, FIFA would create a new entity called FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE, to oversee all commercial and event operations including the World Cup, Club World Cup, and associated competitions. FIFA would retain majority control of FFE but sell up to 21 percent of the subsidiary to private investors, Reuters confirmed.

Thrive Eternal, a long-term investment vehicle founded by Joshua Kushner, is expected to lead the proposed investor group, FIFA confirmed. Kushner, 41, is the brother of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Jared Kushner is not a potential investor, a source told Reuters. The Trump administration was reportedly aware of Infantino’s plan, according to the Times of London.

Apollo Sports Capital, the long-term sports investment vehicle set up by private equity firm Apollo Global Management, is another likely backer, the Athletic reported.

FIFA said it is working with JPMorgan as its chief financial adviser on the project. Former Liberty Media chief executive Greg Maffei and Rome-based consultancy OpenEconomics are also serving as advisers. Former Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger serves as an adviser to Thrive Eternal.

The $4.2 billion raised from the minority stake sale would be immediately released to FIFA’s 211 member associations through a new funding stream called the FIFA Fast-Forward Programme. Each member association would be allowed to draw an optional $20 million for special projects, infrastructure, coaching, national teams, and grassroots and women’s football. Regular Forward Programme grants would also increase from $8 million to $20 million per nation in the next four-year cycle, rising to $24 million by 2035 to 2038, the New York Times confirmed.

FIFA said outside investors would have no operational role in FFE and would not have any say in football governance, competition rules, the match calendar, or regulatory decisions.

“Outside investors will have only a minority stake in FFE and will not play any operational role,” FIFA said. “For FIFA, nothing changes.”

FIFA, a not-for-profit organization, generated approximately $15 billion in revenue during the 2022 to 2026 World Cup cycle, Reuters confirmed, beating its $13 billion target and doubling the amount earned in the previous cycle.

The Times of London reported that Infantino would run FFE as its commissioner after his FIFA presidency ends in 2031 with a salary comparable to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s reported $64 million annually, a tenfold increase from his current earnings. When asked about that claim, a FIFA spokesperson told the Athletic that the matter had never been formally discussed but that the FIFA president “must have a leading role in this entity.”

Infantino framed the proposal in terms of global equity.

“Football is the world’s most popular sport and an extraordinary engine of human and social development,” Infantino said in a statement. “Our job is to make sure the rest of football grows with it. This is about the democratisation of football worldwide.”

The proposal will be presented to FIFA’s 211 member associations and its 37-member council, which would make the final decision on whether it proceeds.

Kushner is close to FIFA’s plans, and is also bidding for the Las Vegas NBA franchise with Bob Iger.Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images

What UEFA And Others Are Saying

UEFA responded with a statement of unusual severity.

“This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross,” UEFA said. “The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade, especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”

Relations between UEFA and FIFA have deteriorated significantly in recent years. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin refused to attend the 2026 World Cup final following disagreements over disciplinary procedures, refereeing logistics, and match operations.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham was equally blunt.

“The World Cup is not a product,” Burnham wrote on X. “It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone’s to sell. Dress the deal up however you like. Once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out. Football belongs to the fans. It always has, and it always will.”

U.S. Congressman Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland who has requested Infantino appear before the House Judiciary Committee over FIFA’s ties to the Trump administration, said: “Soccer fans were already priced out of the World Cup by FIFA’s corrupt price gouging before. More oligarch corruption just means more corporate tarnishing of the beautiful game.”

Richard Sheehan, a finance professor at the University of Notre Dame who studies the economics of sport, called the proposal a money grab.

“From the perspective of a not-for-profit organization, theoretically raising money to make soccer available to everyone, this move is a farce,” Sheehan said.

Not all observers were opposed. Some pointed out that similar commercial structures have been created by the French and Spanish football leagues, and that the German and Italian leagues have debated comparable moves. Formula One and golf’s PGA Tour have pursued equivalent strategies with private equity.

Why This Matters

The FIFA proposal represents the most significant attempt to commercialize the governance structure of world football since the sport’s modern administrative framework was established.

The World Cup is the most-watched sporting event on earth. Its commercial value, concentrated in broadcasting rights and sponsorship, generates revenue that dwarfs most other sporting competitions. Placing a minority stake in the entity that controls that revenue in the hands of private investors fundamentally changes the incentive structure that governs decisions about the tournament’s format, frequency, and accessibility.

Critics, led by UEFA, argue that private investors motivated by returns will inevitably push for a larger World Cup, more frequent editions, and expanded commercial exploitation of the event in ways that benefit shareholders rather than the global development of the sport. A 64-team World Cup and a more frequent or enlarged Club World Cup are widely regarded as likely outcomes if FFE is approved and private investors seek to maximize the value of their stake.

The involvement of Joshua Kushner also raises questions that go beyond the technical merits of the proposal. His brother Jared’s central role in securing the 2026 World Cup for the United States and in particular for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, combined with Infantino’s close relationship with President Trump during the tournament, places the FFE investor structure at the intersection of sports governance and American political connections in ways that the Athletic noted have already raised eyebrows across the global game.

This is not Infantino’s first attempt to bring external investment into FIFA’s operations. A $25 billion proposal in 2018 involving SoftBank and Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund fell apart due to lack of support. A FIFA streaming service discussed with former U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also never materialized.

What Happens Next

The proposal will be formally presented to FIFA’s 211 member associations and its 37-member council. A majority of member associations must approve it for the plan to proceed.

FIFA’s pitch to member associations will center on the expanded development funding the capital raise would unlock. For smaller and developing football nations that rely heavily on FIFA grants for most of their income, the prospect of accessing $20 million in one-off capital funding for infrastructure and development projects will make the proposal genuinely attractive, regardless of UEFA’s objections.

Whether UEFA’s fierce opposition translates into enough resistance among member associations to block the plan, or whether the development funding offer wins enough votes to carry the proposal, will determine whether Infantino’s most ambitious commercial initiative since taking office becomes reality or joins his earlier investment proposals as another idea that failed to gain sufficient support.

Sources: The New York Times; Reuters; Yahoo Sports

Kenya High Court Rules Shisha Ban Unenforceable After Government Delay

Zipporah Njoki
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Kenya High Court Rules Shisha Ban Unenforceable After Government Delay

Kenya’s High Court has ruled that the government’s ban on shisha is no longer legally enforceable after authorities failed to correct procedural flaws identified in the regulations years ago, handing a significant legal victory to traders and users of the tobacco product.

Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled Tuesday that the Public Health (Control of Shisha Smoking) Rules, 2017 ceased to have legal effect after the government failed to amend the regulations within a nine month period ordered by the court in an earlier judgment.

The ruling prevents government agencies from relying on the 2017 regulations to arrest traders, close businesses or enforce the nationwide prohibition on shisha.

The case was brought by the Novel Tobacco Products Association, which challenged continued government enforcement of the ban despite a previous High Court ruling that identified procedural defects in the regulations.

Justice Mwamuye found that the government failed to address those legal shortcomings after Justice Roselyne Aburili, in July 2018, allowed the regulations to remain in force for nine months to give the Ministry of Health time to correct them.

When that deadline expired without the required amendments, the regulations automatically lost legal force, the judge ruled.

“The Public Health Control of Shisha Smoking Rules, 2017, ceased to have effect upon the expiry of nine months from July 26, 2018,” Justice Mwamuye said in his judgment.

The court also struck down two government notices issued this year that sought to continue enforcing the prohibition.

Those included a February 3, 2025, statement declaring the shisha ban remained in force and an April 14, 2025, directive ordering a crackdown on shisha outlets in Nairobi.

Justice Mwamuye declared both notices unlawful and unconstitutional, saying they relied on regulations that no longer had legal standing.

He further issued a conservatory order preventing the Ministry of Health and other government agencies from enforcing the two directives against members of the Novel Tobacco Products Association.

The judgment also held that tobacco products cannot be prohibited through subsidiary legislation that does not comply with the Statutory Instruments Act, 2013.

The court further ruled that the current legal framework treats some tobacco products differently without constitutional justification, violating Article 27 of Kenya’s Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law.

The dispute dates back to Legal Notice No. 292 of 2017, which imposed a blanket prohibition on the importation, manufacture, sale, advertising, promotion, distribution and use of shisha across Kenya.

In the earlier 2018 decision, Justice Aburili found procedural defects in the way the regulations had been introduced but allowed them to remain temporarily while the government corrected those deficiencies.

The government never completed that process.

Justice Mwamuye also rejected arguments challenging the association’s legal standing, ruling that it was entitled to file the petition on behalf of its members and that the case had not been brought after an unreasonable delay.

The court found that continued enforcement of the expired regulations infringed constitutional protections relating to equality, property rights, fair administrative action and the right to a fair hearing.

The decision effectively removes the legal basis that authorities have relied upon in recent years to enforce the shisha ban.

Government officials have not publicly indicated whether they will appeal the ruling or introduce new legislation to regulate or prohibit shisha under a legally compliant framework.

The judgment does not prevent Parliament or the Ministry of Health from pursuing future restrictions. It requires that any such measures comply with constitutional procedures and Kenya’s statutory law.

The ruling is expected to have immediate implications for businesses that sell shisha, many of which had faced repeated enforcement operations despite the unresolved legal questions surrounding the 2017 regulations.

Legal analysts say the decision also reinforces judicial oversight of delegated legislation, signaling that government agencies must comply with statutory rule making procedures before restricting commercial activities or public conduct.

The case is likely to influence future legal challenges involving regulations enacted without full compliance with Kenya’s legislative requirements.

What We Know So Far

  • Kenya’s High Court ruled that the 2017 shisha regulations are no longer legally enforceable.
  • The government failed to amend the regulations within the nine month period ordered by the court in 2018.
  • Authorities can no longer rely on the expired regulations to arrest traders or close shisha businesses.
  • The court also invalidated two 2025 government notices used to continue enforcing the ban.

What Authorities Are Saying

Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled that the regulations expired after the government failed to regularize them within the court ordered period.

The court also held that banning tobacco products through regulations that do not comply with the Statutory Instruments Act is unlawful and that unequal treatment of tobacco products violates constitutional guarantees of equality.

Why This Matters

The ruling represents one of Kenya’s most significant judicial decisions on delegated legislation in recent years.

Beyond shisha, the judgment reinforces the principle that government regulations must follow constitutional and statutory procedures before they can limit business activities or individual rights. The decision could influence future legal challenges involving regulations introduced without full legislative compliance.

What Happens Next

The government may appeal the decision or introduce fresh legislation that complies with constitutional requirements if it wishes to continue regulating or banning shisha.

Until then, authorities cannot lawfully enforce the expired 2017 regulations or rely on the invalidated 2025 directives against affected traders.

Sources: The Standard Kenya and The Star Kenya.

Teen Who Killed Four at Georgia High School Sentenced to Life Without Parole

Omonigho Daibo
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Teen Who Killed Four at Georgia High School Sentenced to Life Without Parole

A Georgia judge on Tuesday sentenced the teenager who admitted killing two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School to life in prison without the possibility of parole, concluding that the attack was carefully planned and that the defendant had shown no genuine remorse.

Colt Gray, 16, pleaded guilty to 55 criminal charges, including murder, in connection with the Sept. 4, 2024, shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, northeast of Atlanta. Under Georgia law, the murder convictions required a life sentence, leaving the court to determine whether Gray would ever be eligible for parole. Judge Nicholas Primm ruled that he would not.

“You do not seem to be tormented by what you did,” Primm told Gray during sentencing. “You seem to relish following in the footsteps of the murderers you idolize.”

What we know so far

The attack claimed the lives of teachers Richard “Ricky” Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, along with 14 year old students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo. Another teacher and eight students were wounded, seven of them by gunfire.

Victims’ relatives spent days addressing the court, describing the lasting emotional impact of the shooting and urging the judge to ensure Gray would never be released.

District Attorney Brad Smith argued that the teenager remained a continuing danger, telling the court investigators found no evidence suggesting he could fully value human life in the future.

Defense attorney W. Charlton Allen acknowledged Gray’s troubled upbringing but asked the judge to leave open the possibility of parole, arguing that the teenager was capable of rehabilitation and deserved hope for the future.

Investigators detailed months of planning

During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors presented evidence showing Gray had become deeply fascinated with notorious mass killers through online communities devoted to violent crimes.

Investigators testified that he admired previous school shooters, collected thousands of images of them and discussed gaining similar notoriety through a school attack. They also played recorded telephone conversations in which Gray appeared pleased by the attention his crimes had received online.

Prosecutors said the shooting was only one part of a broader plan to achieve lasting notoriety.

Family described years of instability

Gray’s maternal grandmother testified that her grandson experienced an unstable childhood marked by family conflict, substance abuse within the household and repeated pleas for mental health treatment that were never fully pursued. She said she regularly visited him in detention and believed he had improved with counseling and medication.

A defense psychologist described Gray as a lonely teenager who struggled with a chaotic upbringing and became immersed in online communities focused on school shootings.

Judge Primm acknowledged those failures but said they did not excuse Gray’s deliberate decisions.

“The failure does not absolve you from who you chose to idolize, worship and become,” the judge said.

What authorities are saying

District Attorney Brad Smith said the sentence reflected what victims’ families had sought throughout the proceedings.

“This is not a happy day. This is a relief day,” Smith told reporters after the hearing, adding that prosecutors hoped they had honored those affected by the shooting.

Judge Primm said the sentence could never erase the pain suffered by survivors and families but concluded that permanent imprisonment was necessary because of the calculated nature of the attack.

Why this matters

The Apalachee High School shooting renewed national debate over school security, youth mental health, firearm access and parental responsibility.

The case also drew attention because Gray’s father was separately convicted after prosecutors argued he knowingly provided his son with the rifle used in the attack despite warning signs about his behavior.

Legal experts say the sentence reinforces Georgia courts’ willingness to impose life without parole on juvenile defendants convicted of the most serious crimes when evidence shows extensive planning and extreme violence.

The case has also intensified discussions over preventing radicalization through online communities that glorify mass shootings, an issue investigators identified as central to Gray’s actions.

What happens next

Gray will spend the remainder of his life in the Georgia prison system without the possibility of parole. His guilty plea concludes the criminal proceedings against him, although the case is expected to continue influencing policy discussions on school safety, juvenile justice and firearm accountability across the United States.

Sources: Associated Press; NBC News.

Taliban Official Shot Dead By Motorcycle Gunmen In Badakhshan In Rare Targeted Assassination

Omonigho Daibo
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Taliban Official Shot Dead By Motorcycle Gunmen In Badakhshan In Rare Targeted Assassination

Gunmen on a motorcycle killed a senior Taliban provincial official in northeastern Afghanistan on Tuesday in one of the rarest targeted assassinations of a high-ranking Taliban figure since the group seized power four years ago.

Zabihullah Amiri, the Taliban’s director of information and culture for Badakhshan province, was shot dead while traveling from Baharak toward his office in the provincial capital Faizabad on the Baharak-Faizabad road, Taliban police confirmed.

What We Know So Far

Two attackers on a motorcycle opened fire on Amiri’s vehicle in the Kol Dasht area near Baharak city, Taliban police spokesman Ehsanullah Kamgar confirmed to Pajhwok Afghan News.

Amiri’s bodyguards returned fire immediately. One attacker was killed and the second was captured, Kamgar said. Amiri’s driver was also wounded in the attack, Afghanistan International confirmed, citing sources.

Amiri’s body was transferred to Baharak clinic. Taliban forces surrounded the area following the assault.

No individual or group immediately claimed responsibility for the killing. The Taliban’s Information Ministry said in a statement that authorities were investigating.

The attack comes amid a period of increased military activity by anti-Taliban groups in Badakhshan, particularly the Afghanistan Freedom Front, which has recently claimed advances in Zebak district, the downing of Taliban drones, and the capture of Taliban posts in the province.

Rare But Not Unprecedented

Targeted killings of high-ranking Taliban officials have been uncommon since the group took control of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces in 2021, the Associated Press confirmed.

The most recent high-profile killing occurred in December 2024, when refugee minister Khalil Haqqani was killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul. Haqqani was the uncle of Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, who leads one of the most powerful factions within the Taliban movement.

In June 2023, a car bomb in Faizabad killed Badakhshan’s deputy governor and his driver. The Islamic State in Khorasan Province, a regional affiliate of the global extremist group, claimed that attack. A suicide bombing at a memorial service for the deputy governor days later killed at least 13 more people.

In March 2023, the governor of northern Balkh province was killed in a bomb attack on the governor’s office.

What Authorities Are Saying

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid separately addressed reports of recent armed opposition activity in Badakhshan on Monday, dismissing accounts of fighting in Zebak district and claims that Yaftal district had fallen as “media propaganda.”

“The country was liberated through sacrifices and the loss of lives,” Mujahid said. “The Taliban would make twice as many sacrifices to defend it.”

The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan said its forces attacked a Taliban post in Kuran Wa Munjan district of Badakhshan on Sunday night, killing one Taliban fighter and wounding two others. Local sources confirmed the attack to Afghanistan International. Taliban local officials had not commented on those casualties.

The Afghanistan Freedom Front had also claimed advances in Zebak district in recent days. The Taliban said it repelled those attacks.

Why This Matters

Tuesday’s killing is significant precisely because it is rare. The Taliban has maintained a degree of internal security since 2021 that has kept targeted killings of officials at a level far below what occurred during the years of armed conflict preceding their takeover.

The concentration of recent incidents in Badakhshan is notable. The province borders Tajikistan and has historically been a site of resistance activity. The combination of the assassination, the National Resistance Front’s claimed attack on Sunday, and the ongoing Afghanistan Freedom Front operations in Zebak district suggests a possible coordinated increase in opposition activity in the northeast rather than isolated incidents.

The Islamic State in Khorasan Province remains active in Afghanistan and has previously claimed responsibility for attacks targeting Taliban officials in Badakhshan. Whether Tuesday’s killing is connected to that group, to one of the armed resistance fronts, or to a different actor will depend on the investigation Taliban authorities said was underway.

What Happens Next

Taliban security forces had surrounded the area and arrested one of the two attackers as of Tuesday. An investigation into the killing was underway, the Information Ministry confirmed.

No trial or prosecution details were immediately available. The arrested attacker’s identity and any claimed affiliation had not been disclosed publicly as of the time of reporting.

The killing will almost certainly prompt the Taliban to increase security for provincial officials across Badakhshan and possibly in other northern and northeastern provinces where armed opposition activity has been reported in recent weeks.

Sources: AP; ifintl.com; tolonews;amutv;

Singer D4vd Ordered To Stand Trial For Murder Of 14-Year-Old Girl With Death Penalty Still On The Table

Zipporah Njoki
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Singer D4vd Ordered To Stand Trial For Murder Of 14-Year-Old Girl With Death Penalty Still On The Table

A Los Angeles judge ruled Monday that singer D4vd will stand trial for the murder, sexual abuse, and dismemberment of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, finding that prosecutors presented sufficient evidence during a five-day preliminary hearing to establish probable cause on all charges.

The ruling means the 21-year-old artist, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, could face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether they will seek capital punishment.

What We Know So Far

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo ruled that the case could proceed on three charges: murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. Burke has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remained in custody without bail.

Olmedo also upheld three special circumstances alleged by prosecutors: that Burke ambushed the victim, killed her to cover up a crime, and killed her for financial gain. The upholding of those circumstances is what places the death penalty on the table.

“The people have met their burden on all counts,” Olmedo said in court.

Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman told the judge that “based on the mountains of evidence presented, all of the allegations have been proved way beyond the standard required.”

Prosecutors wrapped up their case Monday by presenting a moment-by-moment account of Rivas Hernandez’s final night. She was picked up from her Lake Elsinore home by an Uber that Burke had ordered. As she approached his Hollywood residence shortly after 10 p.m. on April 23, 2025, she sent her final text message: “girly pop i’m almost there open ur door if ur home.”

Her phone went permanently silent after that.

The night before, the pair had argued via text about Burke’s relationship with a woman. Rivas Hernandez sent him an angry message threatening to expose their relationship and damage his career.

“I will tell my dad so many lies about you. I will end ur career and ur life. I will damage anything,” she wrote, the Los Angeles Times confirmed.

Her dismembered body was found months later inside a Tesla registered to Burke. Prosecutors allege he stabbed her to death when she arrived at his home, dismembered her body in his garage, and drove to Santa Barbara County to dispose of evidence. DNA samples from apparent blood stains in the garage matched Rivas Hernandez, a police analyst testified earlier in the hearing.

Autopsy records showed she died from stab wounds to her chest and abdomen.

In earlier testimony, LAPD Detective Corey Farrell described dozens of sexually explicit photographs of Burke and Rivas Hernandez found on his phone, along with text messages indicating she became pregnant at 13 and had an abortion in 2024. The material was so graphic it caused her mother to leave the courtroom in tears.

Prosecutors said Burke had known Rivas Hernandez’s actual age. Sheriff’s deputies investigating a separate missing persons report in 2024 notified him that she was underage, Deputy District Attorney Silverman said. Under California law, lack of knowledge of a victim’s age is not a defense to child sexual abuse charges.

What The Defense Is Saying

Defense attorney Marilyn Bednarski argued that the evidence was insufficient to support a murder charge and asked the judge to dismiss it.

“There’s no evidence that Mr. Burke harbored a deliberate intent to kill Miss Hernandez,” Bednarski said. “He had the opposite of homicidal malice toward her.”

The defense argued that the medical examiner’s finding of two puncture wounds was too vague and inconclusive to constitute murder evidence. Defense attorney Blair Berk also established that Rivas Hernandez had asked seven times in the days before her death to come see Burke, and that he had only reluctantly agreed after she insisted.

The defense showed additional texts in which Rivas Hernandez threatened to mutilate Burke and kill him.

“All of the malice had come from her,” the defense argued.

Berk asked the detective whether any witness had actually seen what happened between 10:10 p.m. and 10:31 p.m. on April 23, the window prosecutors believe the killing occurred.

“You have not identified a single witness who saw David Burke during those 21 minutes?” Berk asked. The detective confirmed that was correct.

Berk and Bednarski declined to comment after the ruling.

The family’s attorney, Patrick Steinfeld, criticized the defense’s approach.

“They made allegations that didn’t have any evidentiary basis, including the assertion that Celeste may have committed suicide or that Celeste was violent, and I personally found that very disturbing,” Steinfeld said. “It seems the defense attorneys are stopping at nothing in their attempts to discredit the prosecution’s evidence and the family was horrified.”

Why This Matters

D4vd became an online musical phenomenon as a teenager with a blend of indie rock, R&B, and lo-fi pop. His 2022 breakthrough song “Romantic Homicide” has more than a billion streams on Spotify. He performed at Coachella in 2024 and released his debut album “Withered” two days after authorities say Rivas Hernandez was killed.

His career was at its highest point when the allegations emerged, making the case one of the most prominent criminal proceedings involving a young musical artist in recent years.

The case centers on a relationship that prosecutors described as years-long grooming of a child. Silverman told the judge that Burke had groomed Rivas Hernandez over many months, repeatedly telling her that the sexual activity was something she had asked for.

“We have a minor who was not only under the eyes of the law at least sexually abused for many, many months, she was groomed, she was being gaslit,” Silverman said.

The evidence presented at the preliminary hearing included more than 1,200 text messages exchanged between the two in the 24 hours before her death, travel records, DNA analysis, phone location data, and photographs from Burke’s seized iPhone and iCloud accounts.

Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman issued a statement after the ruling.

“Burke is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the brutal murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez,” Hochman said. “This has been a parent’s worst nightmare, hearing the ghoulish details of how their child was killed, dismembered and left as trash.”

What Happens Next

Burke will remain in custody without bail pending trial. A trial date has not yet been set.

Prosecutors must still decide whether to seek the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. The upholding of all three special circumstances by Judge Olmedo preserves both options.

The defense is expected to argue at trial that there was no premeditation, potentially raising claims about Rivas Hernandez’s own conduct toward Burke in the days before her death. Berk’s questioning during the preliminary hearing suggested the defense may also attempt to raise issues of domestic violence and mental health, though Judge Olmedo blocked some of those lines of questioning as irrelevant to the probable cause standard.

Sources: The Independent; The Los Angeles Times

Assam floods kill 50, displace 700,000 as 13-year-old dies rescuing pet puppy

Omonigho Daibo
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Assam floods kill 50, displace 700,000 as 13-year-old dies rescuing pet puppy

At least 50 people have died and about 700,000 others have been affected after relentless monsoon rains triggered severe flooding across India’s northeastern state of Assam, forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes as rescue and relief operations continue.

The overflowing Brahmaputra River inundated nearly 900 villages, washed away homes and submerged roads, prompting authorities to establish government relief camps for almost 300,000 displaced residents, state officials said Friday.

The disaster has also produced one of the flood’s most heartbreaking stories after a 13 year old boy drowned while rescuing his pet puppy from fast moving floodwaters.

What we know so far

Authorities said the Brahmaputra River, which rises in China’s Tibet region before flowing roughly 900 kilometers through Assam, burst its banks after days of intense monsoon rainfall.

Floodwaters have damaged homes, submerged farmland and disrupted electricity supplies to more than 7,000 households across the state.

Police, disaster response teams and local volunteers continued evacuating stranded residents while helicopters delivered food and emergency supplies to isolated communities.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said relief efforts remain focused on reaching villages cut off by floodwaters.

In Guwahati, Assam’s largest city with about two million residents, major roads were submerged Thursday evening, leaving commuters stranded for hours.

“I had to stay overnight at my office. The roads were filled with water, some waist deep,” journalist Sudip Mazumdar said.

Jatin Gogoi, a farmer from Nazira, said floodwaters destroyed his bamboo home and swept away his livestock.

“I lost all my cattle. My five member family and I have nowhere to go, so we are taking shelter in a relative’s home,” he said.

Boy dies after rescuing puppy from floodwaters

Among the victims was Hridip Panika, a 13 year old seventh grade student from Bamun Pukhuri village in Assam’s Nazira area.

Family members said Hridip saw his three month old puppy, Borun, being swept away by powerful floodwaters as the waters surged through the village.

The teenager jumped into the flood to save the animal and successfully reached the puppy. Moments later, however, the current swept him away before rescuers could reach him.

Search teams later recovered his body.

Hridip was the only child of Deepak and Parbati Panika, whose home and belongings had already been destroyed by the flooding.

Videos shared widely on social media showed the grieving parents mourning beside their son’s body while the rescued puppy remained quietly nearby, prompting an outpouring of sympathy from across India.

Content creator Homoy Gogoi later visited the family and presented them with immediate financial assistance of 50,000 rupees from a community relief fund totaling 100,000 rupees.

What authorities are saying

State officials said emergency workers remain focused on rescue operations, restoring basic services and delivering food, drinking water and medical supplies to affected communities.

Relief agencies continue working to reach thousands of residents who remain isolated as floodwaters cover roads and bridges across several districts.

Authorities warned that additional rainfall could worsen flooding in parts of Upper Assam where rivers remain above danger levels.

Why this matters

Seasonal monsoon flooding is common across northeastern India, but climate scientists say rising global temperatures are making rainfall increasingly unpredictable and more intense.

South Asia’s traditional monsoon seasons, which typically run from June through September and again later in the year, are producing shorter periods of exceptionally heavy rainfall separated by prolonged dry spells. Those changing weather patterns have increased the frequency and severity of flash floods across the region.

Assam is particularly vulnerable because of the Brahmaputra River system, which regularly overflows during periods of heavy rainfall and affects millions of people living along its floodplains.

Beyond the growing death toll, the floods have devastated agriculture, damaged infrastructure and displaced hundreds of thousands of families, creating long term humanitarian and economic challenges.

The death of Hridip Panika has also drawn national attention to the human cost of natural disasters, illustrating how tragedies often extend beyond official casualty figures to deeply affect families and communities.

What happens next

Weather forecasters continue monitoring rainfall across northeastern India as emergency agencies expand relief operations in the hardest hit districts.

Authorities are expected to maintain evacuation efforts, restore damaged infrastructure and provide assistance to displaced families while assessing losses to homes, agriculture and public services.

Recovery is likely to take months in many flood affected communities as residents begin rebuilding homes and livelihoods once floodwaters recede.

Sources: Associated Press; Indian Express

Zinedine Zidane Named France Head Coach On Four-Year Deal After Five Years Waiting For The Only Job He Wanted

Simeon Bateren
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Zinedine Zidane Named France Head Coach On Four-Year Deal After Five Years Waiting For The Only Job He Wanted

Zinedine Zidane was appointed head coach of the French national team on Tuesday, the French Football Federation confirmed, ending a five-year wait for the only coaching job the legendary midfielder ever wanted.

Zidane, 54, replaces Didier Deschamps, who stepped down after France finished fourth at the 2026 World Cup. He has signed a four-year contract running through the 2030 World Cup, co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

What We Know So Far

French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo announced the appointment at the federation’s headquarters in Paris on Tuesday.

“This is an exceptional moment, exceptional because of the person sat next to me,” Diallo said. “Zidane is one of the legends of French soccer.”

Zidane has not coached since leaving Real Madrid in 2021. During his five years away from football, he turned down multiple club offers while waiting for the France job.

“I had some offers during the five years I was away to take charge of a club,” Zidane said. “I turned them all down for the France team. It was the only thing I wanted to do.”

He was visibly emotional at the announcement.

“I’m excited,” Zidane said, clenching his fists. “The France team makes you dream. We have extraordinary players, an extraordinary team.”

“I’ve waited five years for this chance, so that’s why I’m a bit emotional,” he added. “It’s the happiest day of my career as coach.”

Diallo said he first met with Zidane for talks in February 2025, shortly after Deschamps announced he would stand down after the World Cup.

Zidane’s first game in charge will be away to Turkey in the UEFA Nations League on September 25, followed by a match in Belgium three days later. His first home game will be against Italy at the Stade de France on October 2.

What Zidane Is Saying

Zidane spoke at length about what the role means to him and what he intends to bring to it.

“For me, it’s an immense joy about being able to become the coach of this French team,” he said. “I’m holding myself back because I have so many emotions inside me. I’m ready for the challenge, that’s what drives me today.”

He said France would play differently under him than under Deschamps.

“What motivates me is the game. I was a No. 10, I like goals,” he said. “I was a leader on the field and now I want to be a leader by experience.”

He addressed the Italy match specifically, noting its significance given his infamous exit from the 2006 World Cup final.

“Italy is special, because I played there, because I know people, because I speak Italian,” he said. “All of those things.”

After the news conference, Zidane went outside to greet a large crowd of supporters gathered near the federation headquarters. They cheered loudly when he appeared.

Why This Matters

Zidane’s appointment closes a chapter that began the moment he left Real Madrid in 2021 and made clear he was holding out for one specific job.

As a player, Zidane was the defining figure of the most successful era in French football history. He scored twice in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil at the Stade de France. He starred as France won the 2000 European Championship. He came out of international retirement to carry France to the 2006 World Cup final, scoring a Panenka penalty before his career ended in infamy when he headbutted Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the chest and was sent off in extra time.

As a coach, his record at Real Madrid was singular. He led the Spanish club to three consecutive Champions League titles from 2016 to 2018, an achievement without precedent in the competition’s modern format. No manager before or since has done it.

He now inherits a France squad of considerable depth and talent but one that finished fourth at the 2026 World Cup after losing the semifinals to Spain. Deschamps described an “unbreathable atmosphere” at the end of his tenure, suggesting internal tensions that Zidane will need to manage alongside his tactical preparations.

The 2030 World Cup, held partly on Iberian and North African soil where France have strong emotional and cultural connections, represents the natural target of a four-year cycle that begins this autumn.

Deschamps won the 2018 World Cup and reached the 2022 final. Some critics, including former France teammate Christophe Dugarry, argued he should have won more with the players available to him. Zidane will be measured against that standard.

What Happens Next

Zidane’s immediate schedule includes four Nations League matches in the autumn window. Turkey away on September 25, Belgium away on September 28, Italy at home on October 2, and a fourth fixture to follow.

He said he had noted all four matches in his mind already.

“They’re in my head,” he said, tapping his forehead.

The 2030 World Cup provides the four-year horizon against which his contract and his ambitions will ultimately be measured. Zidane made clear what the goal is.

“I’m going to give everything so that this team keeps on winning,” he said. “That’s the only thing that drives me.”

Sources: AP; France24; Flashscoreusa

Iran executes 2 men convicted over deadly January protests in Isfahan

Emmanuel Paul
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Iran executes 2 men convicted over deadly January protests in Isfahan

Iran has executed two men convicted of killing four police officers during anti government protests in the central city of Isfahan, extending a wave of executions linked to the nationwide unrest that shook the country earlier this year.

Judiciary affiliated news outlet Mizan identified the men as Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani and Amir Hossein Safari Hosseinabadi. Authorities said they were convicted of killing four police officers, setting fire to a police station and damaging public property during demonstrations in Isfahan, about 400 kilometers south of Tehran.

The executions were carried out before dawn Tuesday.

The two men are among thousands arrested during the government’s crackdown on protests that erupted nationwide in late December and continued into January. Earlier this month, Iranian authorities also executed two other defendants connected to the same case.

What we know so far

Iranian officials said the violence centered on clashes at Shahid Alikhani Square in Isfahan on Jan. 8, where four police officers were killed.

State media said investigators accused the defendants of participating in armed attacks using knives, firearms, axes and Molotov cocktails while setting fire to buildings, police vehicles and public facilities.

The judiciary said convictions were based on police reports, witness testimony, mobile phone records, confessions and crime scene reconstruction. Iran’s Supreme Court later upheld the death sentences.

The Centre for Human Rights in Iran and the Norway based Hengaw Organization for Human Rights said crowds gathered near the execution site in an attempt to stop the hangings before security forces dispersed them.

Activist videos circulating online, which could not be independently verified, appeared to show dozens of people assembling before police cleared the area.

One witness quoted by rights organizations said authorities switched off nearby lights before carrying out the executions after dispersing the crowd.

What authorities are saying

Iranian authorities described the executions as punishment for what Mizan called a “horrific crime” committed during violent unrest.

Officials alleged Badjani played a leading role by encouraging attacks, blocking roads and assaulting police officers before helping set injured officers on fire.

Safari Hosseinabadi was accused of joining the clashes while armed with a blade.

Iran has defended its judicial process, saying convictions were supported by evidence reviewed by the country’s courts.

The government has consistently maintained that its response to the protests was necessary to restore public order and national security.

Rights groups raise concerns

Human rights organizations sharply criticized the executions and warned additional defendants could face similar punishment.

Hengaw said both men were subjected to severe physical and psychological torture after their arrests to force confessions. The organization also alleged they were denied independent legal representation and a fair trial.

The group expressed concern over another defendant, Alireza Sepahi, whose family reportedly was summoned for a final prison visit. His current whereabouts remain unknown, raising fears that another execution could be imminent.

On Monday, United Nations experts said at least 24 people have been executed in connection with the January protests during 2026.

Amnesty International has repeatedly criticized Iran’s use of capital punishment. The organization said Iran carried out at least 2,159 executions in 2025, more than double the previous year’s total.

Why this matters

The latest executions underscore Iran’s continued reliance on capital punishment following one of the country’s most significant waves of anti government unrest in years.

The January demonstrations, initially fueled by worsening economic conditions including inflation, unemployment and declining living standards, evolved into broader demands for political reform. The government’s response has drawn sustained criticism from international rights organizations over arrests, prosecutions and the use of the death penalty.

The executions also come as Iran remains under heightened international scrutiny during ongoing tensions with the United States following months of military confrontation and fragile diplomatic efforts.

Competing accounts of the protest crackdown remain unresolved. Iranian authorities have reported more than 3,000 deaths linked to the unrest, while rights organizations have placed the figure above 7,000.

What happens next

Human rights organizations expect additional defendants connected to the January protests could face execution as legal proceedings continue.

International pressure on Tehran over its use of capital punishment is also likely to intensify, particularly as rights advocates continue urging greater transparency in Iran’s judicial system and independent investigations into allegations of torture and forced confessions.

The executions are expected to further deepen international debate over Iran’s handling of political dissent and the country’s expanding use of the death penalty.

Sources: Associated Press, The Straits Times (Reuters), The NationalNews

Gunmen Kill 30 People Including 8 Children In Three-Hour Attack On Kaduna, Nigeria, With No Security Response

Simeon Bateren
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Gunmen Kill 30 People Including 8 Children In Three-Hour Attack On Kaduna, Nigeria, With No Security Response

Gunmen killed at least 30 people, including eight children, in a three-hour overnight attack on the village of Naridon in Kaduna State’s Kauru Local Government Area on Sunday, residents and community officials said Monday, in the latest in a series of deadly assaults on rural communities in northern Nigeria that have gone largely unanswered by security forces.

The attack began at approximately 11 p.m. The assailants shot residents indiscriminately and set houses ablaze. No security intervention occurred during the assault despite military and police posts located less than two kilometers from the village, residents said.

What We Know So Far

The Secretary to the Village Head of Naridon, Dogon Rana, confirmed the death toll to Punch Nigeria on Monday.

“We have confirmed the killing of 30 people, but we are afraid the death toll may rise because some of the injured are in critical condition,” Rana said.

Four people were in critical condition receiving treatment. Rana said at least one family lost five children in a single night, with only one surviving child fighting for his life.

“There is someone in this village who lost five children in one night,” Rana said. “This is a tragedy that has thrown the entire community into mourning.”

A separate resident, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said 22 members of the Rana family alone were killed. Businesses and homes across the community were destroyed.

Raphael Joshua, a resident helping the injured, told the Associated Press that bodies had been deposited at a nearby hospital and that arrangements for burials were underway.

Rana said his own house was among those burned. He also blamed the high casualty figure on the absence of a motorable access road.

“If our road had been motorable, the casualty figure would not have been this high because help would have reached us on time and many people could have escaped,” he said.

The attack lasted approximately three hours, according to residents. Only one military officer and four mobile police officers were deployed to the community in the aftermath.

Derek Christopher, chairman of the Southern Kaduna Peace and Security Network, said the same community had been attacked the previous year around the same time.

“I don’t know who these people have left to fight for them,” Christopher said, accusing the government of abandoning the area.

No group immediately claimed responsibility. The Kaduna State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Internal Security, Sule Shu’aibu, said he had not been briefed on the attack, the Associated Press confirmed.

What Authorities Are Saying

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani condemned the attack and directed security agencies to intensify operations to arrest and prosecute those responsible.

The governor also directed the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency to provide immediate relief materials to affected families, a statement from Information Commissioner Ahmed Maiyaki confirmed.

“The Kaduna State Government reaffirms its commitment to working with the Plateau State Government, security agencies, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to strengthen security cooperation, restore lasting peace and protect lives and property along the Kaduna-Plateau border,” the statement said.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar condemned the killings as evidence of federal government failure.

“The reported killing of scores of innocent Nigerians in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State is heartbreaking and unacceptable,” Atiku said. “The people of Southern Kaduna do not need letters of praise from foreign capitals. They need security.”

Atiku called for intelligence-driven operations, swift prosecution of perpetrators, and proactive measures to prevent future attacks on vulnerable communities.

Amnesty International condemned the killings and said dozens of residents who tried to flee were pursued into nearby bush and killed by the attackers.

“President Bola Tinubu claims he has repeatedly tasked security agencies to end the killings so that rural communities can go to bed with their eyes closed, but clearly nothing has changed,” Amnesty International said.

People’s Democratic Party governorship candidate Usman Bawa described the attack as “a horrifying act of barbarity” and demanded immediate deployment of additional security forces to Kauru and surrounding vulnerable communities.

Why This Matters

The Naridon attack follows an established and recurring pattern in Southern Kaduna and along the Kaduna-Plateau border, where communities have endured repeated deadly raids, kidnappings, and property destruction over many years without sustained security improvement.

Armed groups in Nigeria’s northwest and north-central regions, commonly described as bandits, carry out raids and kidnappings for ransom regularly. Authorities have attributed much of the violence to former herders who took up arms following escalating clashes with farming communities over land and resources that have intensified as climate pressures reduce available grazing territory.

The specific details of the Naridon attack reveal the structural failures that amplify the death toll in each successive raid. Security posts were stationed within two kilometers of the village but did not intervene during three hours of active killing. The absence of a motorable road prevented emergency responders from reaching the community quickly and prevented residents from fleeing. The same village was attacked a year earlier under similar circumstances.

Amnesty International’s criticism of Tinubu’s repeated assurances reflects a growing gap between official statements and documented outcomes that civil society groups and opposition figures have consistently highlighted. The organization noted that the affected community reported several residents remained unaccounted for, suggesting the final death toll could be higher than the confirmed 30.

The diplomatic context adds a further dimension. Nigeria has faced U.S. government criticism over its failure to protect Christians in the country, leading to what Atiku described as the Tinubu administration receiving foreign letters of commendation for counter-terrorism efforts. Atiku’s pointed reference to those letters in the context of 30 people being killed overnight captures the frustration of communities who see a disconnect between diplomatic posture and security reality on the ground.

What Happens Next

Governor Sani directed security agencies to intensify operations in the area and said the state would coordinate with Plateau State, traditional institutions, and other stakeholders to strengthen border security.

Rana and other community representatives appealed to both the federal and state governments to deploy additional security personnel to the area permanently and to construct an accessible road to enable emergency response in future incidents.

Whether those appeals produce meaningful action before the next attack follows the pattern established by the same community’s experience last year.

With the 2027 general elections approaching and political activity intensifying, Atiku specifically cautioned security agencies to remain vigilant against politically motivated violence alongside the ongoing threat from armed groups.

Sources: AP/ Sahara Reporters/ PunchOnline

Mother Goes On Trial For Killing Her 3 Children

Zipporah Njoki
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Mother Goes On Trial For Killing Her 3 Children

The murder trial of a Massachusetts mother who admits she killed her three young children in 2023 opened Monday with starkly opposing narratives, as her defense lawyer argued she was in the grip of severe postpartum psychosis and the prosecutor called the killings a calculated act of murder.

Lindsay Clancy, 35, a former labor and delivery nurse, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her children at the family’s home in Duxbury, a suburb south of Boston, on January 24, 2023.

What We Know So Far

Clancy does not dispute that she killed her children. Her defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, acknowledged the deaths in his opening statement at Plymouth County Superior Court and focused his argument entirely on her mental state at the time.

The three children killed were Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months old, CBS News confirmed.

After the killings, Clancy cut herself and jumped from a second-story window in an attempt to end her own life. She survived but was left paralyzed. She attends court in a wheelchair, Reuters confirmed.

Reddington told jurors that Clancy had spent months struggling with postpartum mental health issues following the birth of her third child and had sought treatment from multiple healthcare providers who prescribed numerous medications that did not help.

“This is a woman that was suffering from psychosis at the time that she went down to that basement,” Reddington said. “She’s living her own hell. She knows what happened with those kids.”

Assistant District Attorney Shanan Buckingham acknowledged that Clancy had been dealing with mental health issues before the killings. But Buckingham told jurors the case was not a debate about women’s mental health treatment. It was a question of whether Clancy understood that killing her children was wrong and chose to do it anyway.

Buckingham said Clancy sent her then-husband Patrick out to pick up a food delivery after using her phone to calculate how long he would be gone, giving herself time to act.

“This was a woman who no longer liked the life she thought she wanted,” Buckingham told the jury. “And when she saw the opportunity to escape, she made the selfish choice to take it and to take Cora, Dawson, and Callan first before attempting to take her own life.”

Patrick Clancy, now divorced from Lindsay, was called as the trial’s first witness. He told jurors his wife had been discharged from a psychiatric hospital less than two weeks before the killings but showed no signs she planned to hurt herself or the children in the days that followed.

He said her demeanor was normal when he left to pick up dinner that evening.

“I came upstairs. I took Callan for a minute, and I rocked him by my knees, kissed Cora on the head, and I said I’ll be right back,” Patrick Clancy testified.

The prosecutor separately asked Patrick Clancy whether his wife had been having suicidal thoughts on the day of the killings.

“She was having one of her best days,” he said.

He also testified that in the week before the killings, Lindsay’s mood had noticeably improved. He said he had felt comfortable leaving her with the two younger children while he took Cora skiing on January 16. “Her mood seemed better. She was more active. She was able to partake in more things,” he said.

The prosecution showed surveillance footage from a Museum of Science visit on January 8 and a Cape Codder resort trip on January 15, during which Patrick Clancy said his wife seemed much better.

Patrick Clancy was still on the witness stand when court ended for the day. A court scheduling matter unrelated to the case will prevent testimony on Tuesday. The trial resumes Wednesday.

What Authorities And Lawyers Are Saying

Buckingham told jurors that when Patrick Clancy returned home that evening, he found his wife in the backyard. He called 911. After first responders arrived, Patrick Clancy discovered his children in the basement.

Reddington argued that Clancy’s decline into psychosis was enabled by a medical system that failed to adequately treat her. He described her as a loving mother who was overwhelmed by mental illness and over-medication.

Judge William Sullivan told jurors the trial is expected to last six to eight weeks. The witness list contains nearly 200 names.

Why This Matters

The Clancy case has drawn national attention because it sits at the intersection of criminal accountability and public debate about postpartum mental illness, a condition that in its most severe forms can produce psychosis, delusions, and a complete break from reality.

The central legal question is not whether Clancy killed her children. That is not in dispute. The question is whether she was legally sane at the time, meaning whether she understood what she was doing and understood that it was wrong.

Massachusetts law allows a verdict of not criminally responsible in cases where a defendant’s mental illness prevented them from appreciating the wrongfulness of their actions. If the jury reaches that verdict, Clancy would be committed to a state mental health facility rather than prison.

If she is convicted of first-degree murder on any of the three counts, she faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

What Happens Next

Patrick Clancy will resume his testimony on Wednesday when court reconvenes. He is expected to describe what he found when he returned home on the night of January 24, 2023.

The prosecution’s case will center on establishing that Clancy planned the killings deliberately and understood they were wrong. The defense will build a detailed record of her mental health treatment, her prescriptions, and the progression of her illness in the months before the deaths.

Given the near-200-name witness list and the expected six-to-eight-week duration, the trial will likely include extensive expert testimony on postpartum psychosis and its effects on cognition and behavior.

Sources: Reuters; CBS News

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