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The ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran has sparked concerns about the motivations behind Donald Trump's continued military actions. Kenneth Roth, a Guardian US columnist and former executive director of Human Rights Watch, draws a striking parallel between Trump's approach and that of Richard Nixon during the Vietnam War. Nixon's quest for 'peace with honor' in Vietnam led to years of devastation, resulting in over 20,000 American soldiers killed and a significantly higher toll among Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian civilians. Similarly, Trump's conflict with Iran appears to be driven by a desire to assert dominance and protect his political reputation, rather than a clear military objective. The article questions the rationale behind Trump's continued bombing of Iran, citing claims that Iran's ballistic missile capacity has been functionally destroyed and its nuclear program 'obliterated.' With 7,000 Iranian protesters killed in January, the Trump administration's call for regime change seems unlikely to succeed. The current fixation on Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries 20% of the world's oil and gas, has led to soaring petroleum prices. Trump's threat to destroy Iran's electrical infrastructure by the end of the week, unless Tehran agrees to allow the strait to reopen, raises concerns about war crimes and humanitarian consequences. Roth suggests that a de facto ceasefire, where Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu stop bombing, could be a more fruitful path to deescalation. However, Trump's desire for 'unconditional surrender' and the Iranian regime's insistence on lifting sanctions and affirming its right to nuclear enrichment complicate negotiations. The article concludes that Trump's pursuit of 'honor' and 'victory' in the conflict may come at a significant cost to the people of Iran, the global economy, and the United States itself, echoing the lessons of the Vietnam War.

Mikaela Shiffrin is poised to make history by claiming her sixth overall World Cup title, tying the women's record held by Austrian legend Annemarie Moser-Pröll. The American skier dominated the slalom event on Tuesday, securing her ninth win in 10 World Cup starts this season, a remarkable achievement that has placed her on the brink of success.Shiffrin's victory, which came with a substantial margin of 1.32 seconds over Wendy Holdener, earned her 100 points in the overall standings. Meanwhile, Emma Aicher's third-place finish kept her within striking distance, trailing Shiffrin by 85 points with only the season-ending giant slalom race remaining.Shiffrin's impressive performance has been a highlight of the season, with her ninth win in slalom events setting a new single-season record in 60 years on the circuit. Her consistent dominance in slalom has also secured her ninth career slalom season title.The final race on Wednesday presents Aicher with a challenging task: she must win to keep her title hopes alive, while Shiffrin can seal the overall title with a top-15 finish that would earn her at least 16 points. Shiffrin's odds are significantly in her favor, given Aicher's lack of experience in World Cup giant slalom events, where Aicher's best finish is fourth place.Shiffrin's achievements extend beyond her current season; her 110th career race win on Tuesday solidifies her position as the skier with the most World Cup victories, surpassing Ingmar Stenmark's record of 86 wins.“This season has been so exciting, quite like a whirlwind,” Shiffrin reflected. “I’m grateful for it.”

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has commended the decision to award its country the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, which was initially stripped from Senegal. The FRMF welcomed the decision, stating it reaffirms the primacy of competition regulations and reinforces the conditions necessary for the proper conduct of international tournaments.The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Tuesday that its Appeal Board had awarded the tournament to Morocco, the defeated finalists, on January 18. The final, which Senegal won 1-0 in extra time, was delayed for 14 minutes when the Senegalese players and staff returned to the dressing room in protest against the awarding of an injury-time penalty to Morocco in the second half.The FRMF maintained a clear and consistent position throughout the process, focusing on the strict application of governing regulations. Following its appeal, CAF confirmed that the applicable regulations were not properly enforced. Morocco appealed to CAF to overturn the result immediately after the final, which descended into chaos during and after the protest, and led to a pitch invasion, resulting in 18 Senegalese fans being handed prison sentences.The Senegal Football Federation (FSF) immediately responded to CAF's ruling by saying it would take its own appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Senegal's government alleged corruption following the decision and called for an independent international investigation into the matter.

Senegal's government has demanded an independent international investigation into corruption allegations after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) stripped the country of its Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and awarded it to Morocco.The CAF's decision came after a review by their appeals board into a chaotic final two months ago. The ruling stated that Senegal forfeited the final, a 1-0 victory after extra time, by leaving the field of play during normal time in a 14-minute protest at the awarding of a penalty to Morocco.The result was officially recorded as 3-0 in favor of host nation Morocco. Senegal's government spokeswoman, Marie Rose Khady Fatou Faye, criticized the CAF's decision, stating that it undermines the organization's credibility.Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko previously denounced Morocco's jailing of 18 Senegalese fans following violence during a pitch invasion. The Senegal Football Federation (FSF) announced that it will appeal CAF's ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Senegalese Football Federation has instructed its lawyers to lodge an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after the national team was stripped of its Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title. CAF reversed Senegal's win, awarding the title to Morocco two months after the final.The continent's showpiece football final, in Rabat on January 18, descended into chaos when several Senegalese players walked off the pitch in protest after the hosts were awarded a penalty late in second-half stoppage time. Senegal's players were coaxed back onto the pitch by captain Sadio Mane, but Morocco missed the penalty. Pape Gueye went on to score the goal in extra time that gave Senegal a 1-0 victory.CAF said that, having studied an appeal by Morocco, “the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the match” and the result was “officially recorded as 3-0” in favour of Morocco.CAF President Patrice Motsepe defended the decision, stating that “the decisions of our Disciplinary Board and Appeals Board are viewed with respect ⁠and integrity.” However, Senegal's government called for an independent international investigation of the decision, alleging corruption within CAF.Motsepe admitted that African football remains plagued by trust issues and questions over its integrity, but assured that “not a single country in Africa will be treated in a manner that is more preferential, or more advantageous, or more favourable than any other country on the African continent.”

The fate of seven Iranian women's football players seeking asylum in Australia has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that politics trumped concern for their welfare. The drama unfolded during the Women's Asian Cup, where the Iranian team played amid a backdrop of political tension between Iran, Australia, and the US.Initially, seven players accepted asylum in Australia, but five changed their minds within days and returned to Iran for undisclosed reasons. Critics argue that the outcome might have been different had the women been provided with independent legal advice earlier and the process not been so rushed.Refugee advocates, including Graham Thom of the Refugee Council of Australia, expressed concerns that the Australian government's media strategy may have put the women at risk. Iran has claimed victory in the public relations battle, with the women who returned home being welcomed back with a ceremony.Experts, including Kylie Moore-Gilbert, a political scientist at Macquarie University, suggest that the publicity surrounding the asylum requests may have overshadowed the women's welfare. The incident has raised questions about Australia's strategy in dealing with asylum seekers and the potential consequences for those seeking refuge.

Movsar Evloev from Russia has secured a significant victory over Lerone Murphy at UFC Fight Night 270 held at the O2 Arena. Despite receiving a point deduction for a foul, Evloev managed to edge out a majority decision win over Murphy. This triumph likely sets him up for a highly anticipated featherweight title shot against champion Alexander Volkanovski.The bout was a clash of styles, with Evloev, known for his wrestling, attempting to showcase his striking abilities, while Murphy displayed impressive defensive skills on the ground. Evloev successfully took the fight to the mat in the third round but Murphy quickly regained his footing.In the fourth round, Evloev committed a foul with a kick to Murphy's groin, resulting in a point deduction. However, Evloev intensified his grappling attack in the final round, which proved sufficient for him to secure the win, with two judges scoring the fight 48-46 in his favor and the third judge scoring it a draw 47-47 after accounting for the deduction.This victory marks a significant milestone for Evloev, positioning him for a potential title fight against Volkanovski. For Murphy, it was his first career defeat in the UFC.

Japan has emerged victorious in the Women's Asian Cup, claiming their third title in the tournament. The decisive match against Australia ended with a 1-0 win for Japan, thanks to a stunning long-range goal by Maika Hamano in the 17th minute.The match, held at Stadium Australia in Sydney, was attended by a record-breaking 74,357 fans, marking a significant milestone in the growth of women's football. This victory adds to Japan's previous titles in 2014 and 2018, both of which were also won against Australia with a 1-0 scoreline.The tournament saw a substantial increase in attendance, with over 350,000 fans attending matches, approximately six times the previous record set in 2010. The Asian Cup also served as a qualifier for the 2026 World Cup in Brazil, with six teams—Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, North Korea, and the Philippines—securing their spots.Japan's team, featuring several English-based players, demonstrated exceptional skill throughout the tournament, scoring 29 goals and conceding only one across six games. Despite a strong performance from Australia, Japan's solid defense and fluid gameplay secured their victory.The final match was intense, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. However, Japan's defense held strong, particularly in the final minutes, as Alanna Kennedy's late attempt was thwarted, ensuring Japan's rock-solid defense preserved the win.

Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia dominated the MotoGP Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday, securing his fourth consecutive win and taking the lead in the championship standings.Starting from the second position on the grid, the 27-year-old Italian rider quickly seized the lead and maintained it throughout the race, marking his second win of the year after triumphing at the Thailand Grand Prix earlier in the month.The race saw track degradation concerns and scorching temperatures, prompting a reduction in the race distance from 31 laps to 23, announced just before the start. Bezzecchi's teammate, Jorge Martin, finished second, while VR46's Fabio Di Giannantonio secured third place, holding off defending champion Marc Marquez.Bezzecchi attributed his victory to adjustments made to his riding style and the efforts of his team, who worked tirelessly to improve the bike's performance after a challenging Friday practice session. He dedicated the win to his friend Roberto Lunadei, a mechanic who passed away in a road traffic accident the previous week.With this victory, Bezzecchi now leads the championship standings by 11 points over KTM's Pedro Acosta. The MotoGP action will shift to the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, scheduled for March 27-29.