Controversy and Consequences Erupt in African Cup Final; Other Global Events Unfold
A chaotic African Cup of Nations final resulted in fines and bans for Senegal and Morocco, while elsewhere, researchers highlighted the devastating extinction of island land snails, figure skater Ilia Malinin emerged as a gold-medal favorite, a presidential pardon stirred controversy in Puerto Rico, and federal ICE actions sparked outrage in Minnesota.
The African Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco earlier this month was marred by controversy, leading to significant penalties. According to the Associated Press, Africa's soccer body issued fines totaling over $1 million and banned Senegal's coach and players from both Senegal and Morocco. The penalties stemmed from a "shambolic" final that included a walk-off protest by one of the teams, fans attempting to storm the field, and fights among journalists, the AP reported. The events unfolded after a controversial penalty was awarded to Morocco late in the game on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Rabat, Morocco.
Meanwhile, a comprehensive review paper revealed a concerning trend in global biodiversity loss. Phys.org reported that island land snails are facing a "staggering loss of biodiversity," with the Pacific region leading the wave of extinctions. Robert Cowie of the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa's School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology led the research.
In the world of sports, Ilia Malinin has become a gold-medal favorite in figure skating. Time magazine reported that despite his parents, Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov, both being Olympic figure skaters for Uzbekistan, they initially discouraged him from pursuing the sport. "They didn’t want me to skate," Malinin said, according to Time. "They didn’t really talk about their careers, or how they skated at the Olympics. They knew how hard it was—how much time, effort, and sacrifice goes into it—and they wanted me to have a different life."
Controversy arose in Puerto Rico following a presidential pardon. Time reported that former governor Wanda Vázquez Garced received a pardon from President Donald Trump on Jan. 16, sparking anger and disbelief among many Puerto Ricans. The pardon was seen by some as an example of how "federal power repeatedly shields Puerto Rico’s political class while demanding austerity and sacrifice from everyone else," according to Time.
In Minnesota, federal ICE agents' actions have ignited outrage. Time reported that within three weeks, two American citizens were killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis. Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother and poet, was shot on Jan. 7, and Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, was shot on Jan. 24. Time noted that neither individual had a criminal record nor was the target of immigration enforcement. The incidents have raised concerns about the use of force by federal agents and whether they can "occupy American cities against the will of their citizens," according to Time.
Discussion
Join the conversation
Be the first to comment