Chelsea loans defender Mamadou Sarr back to sister club Strasbourg for upcoming season
The French club
confirmed the loan move
on its website, having sold the highly rated Sarr to Chelsea in June.
Strasbourg is owned by the consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital that bought Chelsea in 2022.
The 19-year-old Sarr is a France under-20 international. He was a regular last season, playing 27 league games as Alsace-based Strasbourg finished in seventh place to seal a place in the Conference League playoffs. He previously played briefly for Lyon.
Chelsea won the Conference League last season
and will play in the Champions League after finishing in fourth place in the Premier League.
Strasbourg was bought by Chelsea's ownership group, BlueCo, in 2023. Chelsea said Sarr had signed a contract until 2033 but didn't disclose the transfer fee.
Strasbourg opens its league campaign at Metz on Aug. 17. ___
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The Hill
15 minutes ago
- The Hill
In Ecuador, environmentalists worry Noboa is unwinding nation's green reputation
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — When Ecuadorians voted two years ago to block oil drilling in Yasuni National Park, it was a triumph for environmentalists seeking to protect one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. And it was in character for a country that was first to enshrine the 'rights of nature' in its constitution and is home to parts of the Amazon rain forest and the Galápagos Islands. But recent moves by President Daniel Noboa have alarmed environmentalists and Indigenous leaders who say the country's green reputation — and its protections for civil society — are unraveling. Noboa's administration has moved to scrap the country's independent Environment Ministry. It's pushing legislation ostensibly aimed at choking off illegal mining, but which critics fear will devastate nonprofits. The National Assembly — pressed by Noboa — approved a law last month allowing private and foreign entities to co‑manage conservation zones that critics say weakens protections and threatens Indigenous land rights. And Ecuador just signed a new oil deal with Peru that could accelerate drilling in sensitive areas. Natalia Greene, an environmental advocate with the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature, said Noboa's decision to fold the Environment Ministry into the Ministry of Energy and Mines will speed up mining just as Ecuador is grappling with a surge in illegal gold mining tied to organized crime. She called it 'like putting the wolf in charge of the sheep.' 'The government's intention is very clear — to be a machine gun of extractivism,' she said. Noboa has defended the ministry moves and other changes as necessary to cut costs, reduce bureaucracy and address Ecuador's financial crisis. Officials argue that consolidating ministries will make decision‑making more efficient. Neither the Ministry of Energy and Mines nor Noboa's office responded to questions from The Associated Press. Indigenous rights at risk In July, Peru and Ecuador signed a deal for Ecuador's state oil company to sell crude directly to Petroperu and link its southern Amazon reserves to Peru's Norperuano pipeline, with drilling eyed for January 2026. Environmental groups say it could fast‑track drilling in sensitive areas while skirting safeguards and Indigenous consultation. Peru's Achuar, Wampis and Chapra nations denounced the plan in a public letter, saying it would gut long-standing protections that require communities be consulted before projects move forward on their lands. They warned the pipeline already averages 146 spills a year and that expanding it would be 'a grave threat to the Amazon and to Indigenous livelihoods.' 'They are going to violate all our rights to enter our territories and extract the resources they want,' said Nemo Guiquita, a Waorani leader with the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon. She said Indigenous communities fear a surge of oil and mining projects across ancestral lands, threatening both ecosystems and livelihoods. 'There will be a weakening of environmental protection,' she said. 'There will be a lot of deforestation, contamination of rivers and destruction of the ecosystem, which is vital for our existence as Indigenous peoples.' Ricardo Buitrón, president of the Quito‑based environmental group Accion Ecologica, noted that the changes come just months after Ecuadorians voted to keep oil in the ground in Yasuni, a decision the government has yet to fully enforce. 'We have gone back decades,' he said. 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Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Newsweek
17 minutes ago
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Multiple Kentucky Whiskey Distilleries File for Bankruptcy
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Kentucky's storied whiskey business is facing significant difficulties, with a number of distilleries filing for bankruptcy amid mounting debt, falling demand and uncertain global trade conditions. Last month, LMD Holdings, the parent company of the Danville-based Luca Mariano Distillery, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Eastern District of Michigan, where it is registered. Newsweek has contacted the company via email for comment. Why It Matters The state's bourbon and whiskey industry—estimated to be worth about $9 billion, according to the Kentucky Distillers' Association—is currently facing an array of challenges. Many, including cost-pressured consumers, shifting preferences among young drinkers away from whiskey and potential ramifications of tariffs on sales in key export markets, are also impacting the nationwide spirits industry and the thousands it employs nationwide. Bottles of whiskey on a shelf at a store on March, 15, 2025. Bottles of whiskey on a shelf at a store on March, 15, 2025. Peter Kneffel/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images What To Know Court filings show that LMD Holdings is burdened with a significant amount of debt, including a "likely claim of over $25,000,000" owed to its largest creditor. Some of the claims are under dispute, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. Owner Francesco Viola told the paper that the bankruptcy filing, which came only weeks after the distillery's June launch, was intended to "maximize the value of the assets for all stakeholders," and that the company was "poised to emerge successfully, ideally with the support of its employees, customers, community and creditors." The filing follows similar reports of other Kentucky distilleries facing financial difficulties. Garrard County Distilling, a $250 million independent distillery that began production in early 2024, has been placed in receivership and closed in April amid a failure to settle unpaid debts. Late last year, Stoli Group USA filed for bankruptcy along with its affiliate, the Kentucky Owl whiskey brand. That followed a sustained slowdown in spirits demand in the U.S., according to CNN, as well as a cyberattack that took down the majority of its operations. More recently, sales of the Kentucky bourbon Wild Turkey have slumped. In its half-year results, Campari Group, which owns the brand and its Lawrenceburg and Danville distilleries, reported that sales of Wild Turkey & Russell's Reserve had fallen 8.1 percent year-over-year "due to a soft trend for Wild Turkey in its core United States market." Beyond bankruptcies and financial difficulties, the American spirits and wine industry has also seen a number of companies cut jobs in an effort to stay profitable in an increasingly uncertain trading environment. In January, Jack Daniel's parent company, Brown-Forman, announced it would be eliminating about 12 percent of its workforce and closing a barrel-making plant in Louisville, Kentucky. What People Are Saying Luca Mariano Distillery owner Francesco Viola, in a statement to the Lexington Herald-Leader: "We filed to maximize the value of the assets for all stakeholders. Luca Mariano Distillery and LMD Holdings have a successful business model, have weathered the prior economic challenges in our industry, and are poised to emerge successfully, ideally with the support of its employees, customers, community and creditors."
Forbes
17 minutes ago
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How this French Football league mastered the art of building global fandom In a sports media landscape overflowing with content, how does a top-tier league not just compete but dominate? France's top football league, Ligue 1 McDonald's, has cracked the code with a reimagined TikTok strategy designed to turn a social platform into a global engagement engine. In just a year, this bold pivot hasn't just enhanced the Ligue 1 McDonald's international profile; it has significantly bolstered an entire ecosystem of teams, broadcasters, and athletes. With an astounding 20 million followers and over 1.6 billion video views, Ligue 1 McDonald's has emerged as one of the most influential sports publishers on TikTok, proving that even in a saturated market, strategic innovation can generate unparalleled reach. Here, we unpack the key lessons from their winning formula. The Ligue 1 McDonald's TikTok strategy is all about scale and consistency. By posting more than 25 times per week (sometimes exceeding 50), they feed TikTok's recommendation system a constant stream of rich signals — from high completion rates and shares to comments and the use of trending sounds — optimizing for maximum reach, engagement, and relevance. The insight is simple: More posts mean more "For You" placements, especially when the content is timely, tailored, and genuinely engaging. This consistent output is fueled by a robust, continuously updated clip library that allows the league to satisfy fan obsession with a diverse mix of formats. Think match highlights alongside behind-the-scenes glimpses, trending memes, and intimate pre-game rituals — all coexisting seamlessly in one consistent feed. In addition, Ligue 1 McDonald's delivered more than just traditional highlights, expertly integrating diverse formats, including creator-style edits, engaging voiceovers, and trending sounds. This creative range ensures their content not only avoids viewer fatigue but actively captures the attention spans and preferences of different fan segments, from those seeking quick match highlights to those craving deeper player insights or trending cultural content. One of Ligue 1 McDonald's most impactful strategic moves has been its commitment to creating localized content. Rather than segmenting into separate feeds, they leverage strategic geofencing not to limit visibility but to amplify it by delivering additional, audience-specific posts tailored to the region, language, and cultural relevance. These geofenced posts are published in addition to Ligue 1 McDonald's regular global content, serving as an extra layer of targeted distribution that precisely amplifies reach among international fanbases. This strategy has significantly boosted the team's visibility outside of France, with international views accounting for a remarkable 61% of all #ligue1 views, totaling 3.6 billion. The lesson here is clear: use geofencing to expand reach and maintain a strong global presence by connecting with local audiences through tailored content. Ligue 1 McDonald's achieves this by creating dedicated posts for every player, every target market, and in every relevant language. For example: as part of their successful Arabic strategy, the league localized content by specifically spotlighting Arab players and tailoring posts entirely in Arabic, which ensured they appeared directly to fans in Arabic-speaking countries. This targeted approach strengthens emotional connections, celebrates regional heroes, and has proven exceptionally effective in expanding the league's fanbase across the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. Ligue 1 McDonald's approach offers a replicable playbook for sports publishers and leagues worldwide: In today's dynamic digital landscape, building global fan communities is a vital element of any winning strategy. Ligue 1 McDonald's TikTok success proves that nurturing direct, personalized connections worldwide translates into unparalleled visibility and engagement. For any brand aiming for sustained growth — empowering and deeply connecting with your community is the key to transforming fleeting fans into loyal brand advocates.
