The scandal involving Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales continues to deepen. More than a week after he planted a kiss on the lips of star forward Jenni Hermoso following Spain’s World Cup win over England, federal prosecutors have launched an investigation into whether the kiss constituted sexual assault.
Since Spain's victory, Rubiales has claimed that it was simply a “peck between two friends celebrating something,” before changing his tune and saying it was “probably a mistake.” Then, on Friday, Rubiales again defended his actions, and the RFEF, Spain’s soccer governing body, issued a statement supporting him and accusing Hermoso of distorting reality.
Rubiales has been suspended for 90 days by Fifa, pending a disciplinary committee probe. Nearly a dozen Spanish coaches have quit, and some of Spain’s players are refusing to play. Meanwhile, Rubiales’ mom, distraught by the allegations against her son, has locked herself in a church and launched a hunger strike amid growing demands that her son be fired.
In this "ask ian," Ian Bremmer breaks down the rapidly unraveling situation following the US announcement of “Project Freedom” and why tensions with Iran are escalating again.
Will Japan rewrite its rules of war? Europe meets (again) to shape its own defense destiny, US to “guide” ships through Hormuz
Putin is increasingly paranoid, according to a Financial Times report out today. Security has been tightened, more time is being spent in underground bunkers, and the vast majority of his attention is being absorbed by Russia’s war with Ukraine. One reason of his concern is said to be Ukraine’s drone capabilities, which have demonstrated an ability to strike Russian airfields thousands of miles from Kyiv.
There are signs AI could ripple through the economy much faster than past innovations. At the 2026 World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings, GZERO’s Tony Maciulis asked Microsoft's Vickie Robinson what it will take to prepare economies for the age of AI and how quickly it needs to happen.