Spring in Sesko’s step is thanks to Carrick scrapping Amorim’s tactical stranglehold | Jonathan Wilson

Spring in Sesko’s step is thanks to Carrick scrapping Amorim’s tactical stranglehold | Jonathan Wilson

The starkest improvement under the interim manager has been the Slovenian supersub’s attacking potency Benjamin Sesko’s career at Manchester United breaks into two distinct periods. In the first, he played 1,404 minutes of football and scored two goals. In the second, he has played 274 minutes and scored six goals: 702 minutes per goal and then 45 minutes 40 seconds per goal. There’s a very obvious explanation. On 4 January, Sesko toiled in a 1-1 draw at Leeds. He didn’t manage a shot on target. He completed only 76% of his passes. He didn’t attempt a dribble but still lost possession five times. He was caught offside twice. On 5 January, Ruben Amorim was sacked . Continue reading...

‘Diversionary war’: Trump wants to distract Americans from scandals at home | Christopher S Chivvis

‘Diversionary war’: Trump wants to distract Americans from scandals at home | Christopher S Chivvis

From Epstein to tariffs: the strikes function as an attempt to hijack the global narrative and drown out domestic scandal with the thunder of cruise missiles In 2003 the United States invaded Iraq without deciding whether it should. The George W Bush administration failed to ask whether the costs, risks and likely consequences of regime change justified the gamble. The result was tragedy – for Iraq, for the Middle East and for America. Donald Trump’s attack on Iran now follows the same pattern – but with an even narrower logic of performative power. In the run-up to Iraq, Washington devoted enormous energy to planning the invasion. Almost no attention was given to the more important question: was war necessary, and could it realistically produce a stable political outcome? Christopher S Chivvis is a senior fellow and director of the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Continue reading...

Chaos in Kuwait airport - Panic and screams amid reported Iranian strike

Chaos in Kuwait airport - Panic and screams amid reported Iranian strike

"People screams were heard in Kuwait International Airport on Saturday, amid reported Iranian strike. Footage shows smoke filling hall and police officers monitoring the venue later. Kuwait state television described the incident as a drone strike targeting the facility. The United Arab Emirates temporarily closed its airspace following the outbreak of military strikes in the region. Qatar suspended air traffic, while Kuwait cancelled all flights to Iran until further notice. The incident comes amid escalating military tensions across the Middle East. The US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, and Tehran responded with strikes on Israel and US military assets across the region. Donald Trump confirmed 'major combat operations' in Iran in a video posted on his Truth Social: "To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity - or in the alternative, face certain death." Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a joint operation to "remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran". He later called on the Iranian people to 'take their fate into their own hands'. The Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said that 'widespread missile and drone and attacks' against Israel were underway. US bases were reportedly targeted in UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq and Kuwait. Iran's Foreign Ministry stated: "History bears witness that Iranians have never bowed their heads in submission to foreign aggression". Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi added: "Netanyahu and Trump's war on Iran is wholly unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate". Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, who mediated the latest talks between the US and Iran, stated: "I urge the United States not to get sucked in further. This is not your war." UK, France and Germany issued a joint statement: "Iran must halt its nuclear programme. We did not take part in the strikes, but we are in contact with our allies". Emmanuel Macron added: the that "ongoing escalation is dangerous for all. It must stop". Russia, China, France, Bahrain and Colombia called an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council for Saturday night. It comes following three rounds of talks between the Iranian and American sides, one in Muscat and two in Geneva in recent weeks."