EU fines Google $1 billion over competition violations

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing growing pressure to stay away from an under-14s youth tournament in the Dominican Republic. The request comes amid escalating anger over his handling of World Cup-related commercial plans. According to reports, Infantino received a letter on Friday from a regional football executive warning that his presence could disrupt the tournament entirely. The concern centres on how his attendance might overshadow what’s meant to be a purely technical, development-focused youth event. While Infantino received warm greetings from local politicians ahead of the trip, the head of football’s governing body for North America and the Caribbean firmly opposed his attendance at the Caribbean Football Union event. In the letter, the CONCACAF president reportedly asked Infantino directly to reconsider showing up, warning that his presence could end up undermining the tournament’s youth development goals. The request adds to a broader wave of criticism currently surrounding Infantino’s leadership. FIFA continues to provide substantial financial support to countries through revenue generated by the World Cup, giving the organisation considerable regional influence. Despite that, CONCACAF has reportedly joined forces with European and Asian football confederations, co-signing a letter pushing for Infantino’s resignation. The coordinated pressure marks a significant escalation in tensions surrounding his leadership. While Infantino may still retain some support within CONCACAF, particularly from Mexico, other co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, including Canada, have openly criticised his leadership. That growing divide has placed him under an increasingly difficult spotlight. Adding further pressure, a FIFA presidential election is scheduled for next year. Football associations in England, Wales and Scotland have already withdrawn their prior endorsements of Infantino, signalling weakening support even among traditionally aligned nations. With mounting criticism from multiple continents, an upcoming leadership election, and now formal requests to stay away from grassroots football events, Infantino’s position atop world football appears increasingly precarious heading into the coming year.

Singapore has announced a major expansion of financial support for families as the city-state struggles with a record-low birth rate and a rapidly ageing population. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong unveiled the new measures during his annual National Day Rally speech, saying the government wants to make it easier for Singaporeans who wish to have children to start and raise families. Under the revised package, families will receive nearly S$70,000, equivalent to about US$55,150, in direct financial support for each Singaporean child up to the age of 17. The assistance includes a S$10,000 payment at birth, while another S$10,000 will be provided to help with further education. The government plans to distribute the financial support over a child’s early years rather than concentrating most of the assistance around birth. Singapore will also expand parental leave, particularly for families with more children. The government intends to cover a greater share of the costs associated with extended leave, reducing the financial burden on employers and working parents. Housing support is another part of the initiative. Authorities plan to make it easier for families with children to purchase their first homes through subsidised housing schemes. The measures come as Singapore’s fertility rate continues to fall. The country’s total fertility rate dropped to a record 0.87 children per woman last year, compared with 0.97 in 2024. The figure is far below the estimated replacement level of 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population without relying on immigration. The demographic decline is becoming an increasingly serious challenge for Singapore. Longer life expectancy combined with fewer births means the country is rapidly moving towards an older population. Singapore is expected to enter the United Nations’ category of a “super-aged” society this year, when more than 21 per cent of its population is aged 65 or above. The proportion is expected to increase further, with one in four Singaporeans projected to be aged 65 or older by 2030. Wong acknowledged that financial incentives alone may not reverse the trend. Many younger Singaporeans are postponing parenthood because of concerns about financial stability, housing, careers and the responsibilities associated with raising children. Others are choosing not to have children. The prime minister said the government must be realistic about the limits of its policies and warned that the fertility rate is likely to remain below replacement level. With fewer births, Singapore’s working-age population could shrink while the number of elderly citizens continues to rise. This could place greater pressure on the younger population to support healthcare, pensions and other social services.