In the sweltering early days of August 2026, French internet users scrolling through social media came across something deeply troubling: a video of Edwy Plenel, a well-known investigative journalist, seemingly confirming that his co-host Léa Salamé had bribed major news outlets for positive coverage of her partner, presidential candidate Raphaël Glucksmann. It was the kind of story that feels real because it feeds directly into the public’s worst fears about backroom deals, corrupt media, and powerful people protecting their own. For a few hours, it spread through messaging apps and social platforms, leaving a trail of outrage and suspicion. But…

For decades, soccer’s global governing body and its European counterpart have coexisted in an uneasy alliance, two powerful organizations with overlapping interests but separate orbits. Yet that relationship has now curdled into open warfare, with FIFA formally accusing UEFA of running a “misinformation campaign” against Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, and of trying to interfere in the upcoming election that will decide whether Infantino remains in office. The accusation, buried in court papers filed in the United States, is extraordinary not only for its directness but for what it reveals about the depth of distrust between the two bodies.…