Mathias Pogba, the older brother of French footballer Paul Pogba, has been sentenced to three years in prison, with two years suspended, after being convicted of attempting to extort the former Manchester United midfielder.

The Paris court ruled on Thursday that Mathias Pogba, 33, will avoid time behind bars and instead serve a year under electronic monitoring. He was also fined €20,000 (£16,500).

The case stemmed from a shocking 2022 incident in which Paul Pogba alleged he had been held at gunpoint by childhood friends, who demanded €13 million (£10.8 million). Pogba stated that he paid €100,000 (£82,600) under duress.

Five other individuals involved in the extortion plot received prison sentences ranging from four to eight years. Among them, Roushdane K was handed the longest sentence of eight years, while the others—Boubacar C, Adama C, Mamadou M, and Machikour K—received varying combinations of prison terms and suspended sentences.

Mathias Pogba’s lawyer, Mbeko Tabula, criticized the verdict as “extremely harsh” and announced plans to appeal.

The sentencing marks the conclusion of a high-profile case that exposed deep personal and legal turmoil for Paul Pogba, who is currently playing for Juventus. The football star has described the ordeal as a betrayal by trusted friends and family.

Luigi Mangione, accused of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appeared calm and composed during a series of court hearings on Wednesday. Facing both state and federal charges, Mangione was transported to New York after waiving his right to contest extradition from Pennsylvania.

The day began with hearings in Pennsylvania for gun-related charges and the extradition request. Mangione, described as calm and clean-shaven compared to his recent mugshots, listened intently as the judge spoke, occasionally scratching his head.

By the afternoon, Mangione appeared in a New York courthouse at approximately 3:00 p.m. EST (8:00 p.m. GMT) for a brief hearing. Dressed in a blue sweater and khaki pants with his feet shackled but his hands free, he nodded quietly as his rights and the charges against him were read aloud. His demeanor remained composed throughout the proceeding.

Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Mangione’s lawyer, declined to comment in detail outside the Manhattan courthouse but remarked that her client “appreciates everyone’s support.”

While his legal team did not request bail during the hearing, they retained the right to do so in the future. Mangione is set to remain in New York custody until his next scheduled court appearance on January 18, although this date is subject to change.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that, in hindsight, Russia should have initiated its full-scale invasion of Ukraine earlier and with greater preparation. Speaking during a televised year-end press marathon on Thursday, Putin reflected on what he called “systemic preparation” for the 2022 offensive, which he continues to describe as a “special military operation.”

The broadcast, titled “Results of the Year with Vladimir Putin,” aired live across Russian state TV channels. Putin addressed a range of topics, including Russia’s nuclear policy, domestic economic concerns, and Syria’s political upheaval. He appeared before a large blue screen depicting a map of the Russian Federation that included annexed Ukrainian territories.

Reflecting on Russia’s actions in Ukraine, Putin suggested the timeline of the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the subsequent conflict in eastern Ukraine could have led to earlier decisive action. However, it was eight years later, in 2022, that Moscow launched its attempt to seize Kyiv.

The event included questions from members of the public, foreign journalists, and Russian pensioners, though it remained a highly controlled and choreographed affair. Putin asserted that Russia had reclaimed its “sovereignty,” stating, “We were heading towards a complete, total loss of our sovereignty before.”

On Syria, Putin downplayed the significance of President Bashar al-Assad’s recent ousting, despite years of Kremlin support for Assad’s regime. He described the situation as “complicated” but denied it constituted a defeat for Russian interests. While he has yet to speak with Assad, who reportedly fled to Moscow, Putin noted that Russia is negotiating with Syria’s new leadership to maintain access to two strategic military bases on the Mediterranean coast, potentially for humanitarian purposes.

Throughout the four-hour broadcast, Putin also touched on domestic concerns, addressing questions about rising living costs, including the price of butter, which resonated with the public amid growing economic pressures.