Spain: Ex-Soccer Boss Found Guilty of Sexual Assault Over World Cup Kiss
Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Federation, was on Thursday found guilty of sexually assaulting national-team player Jenni Hermoso after forcibly kissing her on the lips after Spain's Women's World Cup win in 2023.
After defeating England 1-0 in the final of the tournament in Sydney, the kiss overshadowed Spain's first time winning the women's title and sparked heated debate about sexism in sports. It "stained one of the happiest days of my life," Hermoso said on the stand.
While Rubiales, 47, would go on to express regret over the incident, he insisted the kiss was consensual and maintained it should not be considered sexual assault. "In that moment it was something completely spontaneous," he told the court.
Narrative A
While this sentence was short of the jail time asked for by prosecutors, and despite the fact that Rubiales and three other men were not found guilty of coercion over the pressure campaign, the man at the heart of this scandal was found guilty of sexual assault. This ruling will have a significant and positive impact on Spanish football specifically, and Spanish society at large.
Narrative B
More than 18 months since the actions of Rubiales stole the thunder of the Spanish women's national team and their World Cup win, it's not clear whether Rubiales' sentence and guilty verdict provides the justice female players were searching for. A historic female sporting victory was dwarfed by discourse centered on a man, and all these conversations only go toward encouraging a climate of fear around women's safety, rather than celebrating female acheivement.
Narrative C
Rubiales' kiss was a spontaneous gesture of celebration during a moment of national triumph, occurring without bad faith in a time of maximum jubilation. The incident was blown out of proportion amidst cultural and political posturing, and became a witch hunt against Rubiales.
Nerd narrative
There's a 74% chance that Brazil will win the FIFA World Cup by the end of 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Israel Claims Hamas Returned 'Anonymous' Body Instead of Shiri Bibas
Israel claimed on Thursday that Hamas had returned an "anonymous" body instead of Shiri Bibas, whose body was supposed to be released alongside the remains of her two children. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas would pay "the full price" for delivering the incorrect body.
Hamas, in turn, claimed that Shiri Bibas' remains appeared to have been mixed with other human remains due to Israeli airstrikes, adding that her body had been "turned into pieces" by the strikes. Hamas announced the deaths of the Bibas family early in the war, saying they were killed in an Israeli airstrike.
Israeli authorities claimed after receiving the bodies that the Bibas children had been deliberately killed by Palestinian militants. Though still unclear, reports have indicated that Shiri Bibas and her two children were held by the Mujahideen Brigades, a Palestinian armed group separate from Hamas.
Pro-establishment narrative
Though Hamas' actions have been brutal and its theatrics macabre, the cease-fire should continue and negotiations must move forward. The only way to achieve the release of all the hostages and move past the horrors of Oct. 7 is to maintain and continue the cease-fire deal.
Pro-Israel narrative
Hamas' cruelty and barbarity knows no bounds, and the group's vile actions continue to demonstrate why the goals of the war must be achieved. Hamas killed two baby boys in cold blood yet expects Israel to bend over and pretend that nothing has changed. Indeed, this terrorist group must pay for its crimes.
Pro-Palestine narrative
When Israel kills thousands of Palestinian children, where was the outrage? When Israel returned hundreds of dead Palestinians in bags and dumped their bodies, where was the outrage? Of course, the death of children is always a tragedy, but the clear double standard applied to Palestinians is outrageous, not to mention the fact that Israel killed these children and their mother in its vicious campaign of indiscriminate airstrikes.
DR Congo: US Sanctions Rwanda Minister Over Alleged M23 Support
The US Treasury Department on Thursday imposed sanctions against Rwanda's Minister for Regional Integration James Kabarebe, accusing him of playing a "central" role in the East African country's alleged support for the Congolese anti-government March 23 Movement (M23) militia.
The sanctions also targeted the spokesperson for M23 and the Congo River Alliance rebel coalition, Lawrence Kanyuka Kingston, and two companies he controls in the UK and France, with Washington alleging their involvement in violence and human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The US urged Kigali to respect the DRC's "sovereignty and territorial integrity" and to return to talks. The M23 recently captured two major eastern DRC cities — Goma and Bukavu — resulting in over 3K deaths and more than 500K people displaced.
Establishment-critical narrative
Rwanda's involvement in eastern DRC is purely defensive, aimed at securing its borders against threats from FDLR genocidal militia operating within the Congolese army. The sanctions are unjustified and undermine regional diplomatic efforts toward a peaceful solution. The international community has failed to address the root causes of the conflict by ignoring hostile forces threatening Rwanda's security.
Pro-establishment narrative
Rwanda's military support for M23 rebels constitutes a blatant violation of DRC's territorial integrity and has resulted in widespread civilian casualties, displacement, and human rights abuses. The Rwandan government is exploiting the conflict to illegally extract mineral resources from DRC, requiring robust international sanctions to end its destabilizing activities.
Nerd narrative
There is a 61.1% chance that the DRC will experience a successful coup d'état before 2036, according to the Metaculs prediction community.
UK Doctors Advance Gene Therapy to Address Childhood Blindness
Doctors at Moorfields Eye Hospital and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology have administered the world's first gene therapy treatment for children with severe retinal dystrophy caused by the AIPL1 gene defect — performing the procedure on four children aged between one and three years old in 2020.
The treatment involves a one-hour keyhole surgery where healthy copies of the AIPL1 gene, contained within a harmless virus, are injected into the retina at the back of one eye, enabling the light-sensing cells to function properly and survive longer.
Before treatment, the children could only distinguish between light and dark. Following the procedure, they gained the ability to see shapes, find toys, recognize faces, and, in some cases, they developed reading and writing skills, with improvements sustained over a three to four-year follow-up period.
Narrative A
This is the first effective intervention for the most severe form of childhood blindness — highlighting the transformative power of early genetic intervention in preserving and improving vision and potentially opening doors for treating other forms of genetic blindness in the future.
Narrative B
While this treatment has enabled children to gain independence, confidence, and mobility they never had before, fundamentally changing their daily lives and developmental potential, gene therapy isn't always permanent. More research is needed to make it long-lasting and more widely available.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that at least 57.2% of the US population will have been diagnosed with myopia/near-sightedness in 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Trump's Ukraine Envoy Meets Zelenskyy Amid Spat With US
After the first half of the week passed with US Pres. Donald Trump and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy exchanging a number of barbs, Trump's special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Keith Kellogg, was in Kyiv for a meeting with Zelenskyy on Thursday in the hopes of mending relations and bringing Ukraine back into the fold.
Following the meeting, Zelenskyy's spokesperson told reporters that there was no joint statement at the request of Washington. However, Zelenskyy wrote on social media that the meeting with Kellogg was "one that restores hope," adding that Ukraine needs strong agreements with the US and that he has instructed his team to work towards that end.
Zelenskyy added that during the meeting, they discussed "the frontline situation, the need to free all our prisoners of war held in Russia, and the necessity of a clear, reliable system of security guarantees — one that ensures this war never returns and that Russia never destroys lives again."
Pro-Trump narrative
Zelenskyy needs to have a long, hard look at this latest agreement and acknowledge that, after all the US has done for Ukraine, it was unacceptable for him to disrespect President Trump and see that this is a great deal for Ukraine. Not only will it unlock great potential for both countries — if the US is invested in Ukraine's resources — it's the best way to guarantee American security.
Pro-Ukraine narrative
Zelenskyy had a good discussion with Kellogg in which they discussed the battlefield situation, effective security guarantees, and the agreement on rare earth minerals. Zelenskyy understands that strong relationships are needed with the US so he has instructed his team to work as diligently as possible on reaching an agreement.
Nerd narrative
There's a 1% chance that Donald Trump will win the Nobel Peace Prize before 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Hong Kong's Largest Pro-Democracy Party Moves to Dissolve
The Democratic Party of Hong Kong, founded in 1994, announced on Thursday that its central committee would establish a task force to explore dissolution procedures. For final disbandment, the party would require 75% approval from its members at a future general assembly.
Party chairman Lo Kin-hei cited the "overall political environment" as the primary factor behind the dissolution decision. However, he said that the party's finances remained relatively stable.
This follows Beijing's implementation of the 2020 national security law and subsequent electoral system changes, which effectively barred pro-democracy candidates from running for office and led to the loss of all its legislative seats.
Anti-China narrative
The Democratic Party's potential dissolution represents the systematic dismantling of Hong Kong's democratic institutions and civil liberties — effectively silencing political opposition and ending the territory's tradition of diverse political voices, marking a significant departure from the promised 'One Country, Two Systems' framework.
Pro-China narrative
The Democratic Party's decline stems from its role in fostering social unrest, maintaining questionable foreign connections, and consistently opposing vital infrastructure projects that benefit Hong Kong's development. This makes its dissolution necessary for maintaining stability and national security.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that Hong Kong will stop being a Special Administrative Region of China by November 2046, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Senate Confirms Kash Patel as FBI Director
The US Senate voted to confirm Kash Patel as FBI director by a narrow margin of 51-49 on Thursday, with every Democrat and two Republicans — Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins — voting against Pres. Donald Trump's nominee.
Patel — who served under the acting Defense Secretary and as a senior adviser to the acting director of national intelligence during Trump's first administration, and as a counterterrorism official during the Obama administration — faced scrutiny over his past statements.
During his confirmation hearing, Patel promised there would be "no politicization at the FBI" and "no retributive actions," while distancing himself from previous statements about shutting down FBI headquarters. He was also accused of keeping a list of "deep state" enemies, which he denied.
Right narrative
Despite treacherous opposition from so-called Republicans like Susan Collins, Patel persevered, achieving a huge win for America. FBI whistleblowers, who were persecuted for exposing corruption, are rejoicing as Patel vows to restore integrity and trust. With a mandate to dismantle the agency’s partisan rot, Patel is poised to work relentlessly to rebuild the FBI into a transparent, accountable force for justice.
Left narrative
Unfortunately, Collins and Murkowski were the only Republicans brave enough to say no to authoritarianism. Kash Patel’s confirmation as FBI director, opposed by dozens of lawmakers, is alarming. His vengeful enemies list, alleged directives to purge the agency, and history of perjury signal a politicized FBI. Unfit and divisive, Patel now has the power to make good on his threat to wield the agency as a weapon of retribution, not justice.
Nerd narrative
There is a 15% chance that legislation will be approved by at least one chamber of Congress in 2025 that partially or fully exempts at least one executive branch department, the CIA, or EPA from the Freedom of Information Act, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Canada Beats US to Win 4 Nations Hockey Final
Connor McDavid scored the overtime game-winner, leading Canada to a 3-2 victory over the US in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game at Boston's TD Garden on Thursday.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on X (formerly Twitter), "You can't take our country — and you can't take our game" in a callback to US Pres. Donald Trump's talk about making Canada the "51st state."
Nathan MacKinnon opened scoring for Canada, followed by the USA's Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson taking the lead, before Sam Bennett equalized for Canada, setting up McDavid's overtime winner.
Narrative A
This game was more than just hockey — it was about national pride. Team Canada's victory was a powerful statement of Canadian sovereignty and identity when US trade policies and political rhetoric had strained relations with the US' northern neighbor. This win shows that Canada is tough and resilient and can push back both on and off the field.
Narrative B
It's unfair to politicize the age-old sports rivalry between two neighbors. The political backdrop certainly put Team USA players in an uncomfortable spot in the lead-up to the final. Yet, the tournament showcased American athletic excellence and competitive spirit. The Canadians were the favorites and won the little tournament, but the US remains the best hockey nation in the world.
Nerd narrative
There's a 2% chance that at least part of Canada will become a US state before Jan. 21, 2033, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Coinbase Says SEC to Drop Crypto Lawsuit
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reportedly agreed in principle to dismiss its lawsuit against cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, which it had accused of operating as an unregistered securities broker. The final decision is pending commissioner approval.
The SEC's lawsuit, which was filed in June 2023 during former Pres. Joe Biden's administration, alleged that Coinbase's actions were depriving investors of critical protections and safeguards against fraud and manipulation.
According to a Coinbase official, the proposed dismissal would come without any financial penalties or admission of wrongdoing, and the case would be dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be brought again.
Narrative A
Dropping this lawsuit is terrible for customers, but not surprising under Trump. Coinbase currently faces multiple allegations of negligence, with millions of dollars reportedly lost to scams due to lax security. Meanwhile, Trump's reversal of Biden's crypto protections, favoring his and his wife's personal coins worth billions, benefits his crypto donors and himself over the public. This self-dealing risks financial instability while ignoring Coinbase's failures.
Narrative B
This decision is not corrupt, but a win for innovation and fairness. Coinbase fought an overreaching SEC, spending millions to protect customers and the crypto industry from unlawful regulation, proving its integrity with a full dismissal and no fines. Trump's pro-crypto agenda, notably his appointment of leaders like Paul Atkins, reverses Biden's stifling policies, fostering a thriving US crypto market that benefits the economy rather than chilling it.
Nerd narrative
There is an 87% chance that a US Bitcoin strategic reserve will be announced before Jan. 20, 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.