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This story originally ran on January 18, 2017. (CNN)Sometimes presidential inaugurations are full of pomp and circumstance. Sometimes they end with the newly sworn-in president jumping out of a White House window. Intrigued yet?Whether you're stoked or bummed about the way the election turned out, here are some fun facts to make you look like a history buff to your friends as the inauguration festivities near. Yes, (most of) this stuff really happened. When William Henry Harrison was too proud to wear a coat. What, you don't remember who William Henry Harrison is? Probably because while he holds the record for giving the longest inaugural address, he didn't hang around the White House too long. His 8,500-word address took about an hour and 45 minutes to read. But it was a super cold and rainy day in 1841, and Harrison refused to wear a hat or coat. He caught a cold that developed into pneumonia and died a month later. Read MoreThat's what his official cause of death was, but that's been called into question, with contaminated water being a possible culprit. Harrison became the first president to die in office and served the shortest tenure in US history.William Henry Harrison apparently didn't even use an umbrella.Abraham Lincoln's soon-to-be assassin took part in the festivities. It was Lincoln's second inauguration in 1865, the first time African-Americans participated in the inaugural parade. Concerns about Lincoln's safety lingered. His inauguration four years earlier was the first to incorporate major security measures. There was a guest in the crowd that day in 1865 who would become Lincoln's biggest threat. John Wilkes Booth, the man who would shoot Lincoln a month later, can be seen in photos near the President as he delivers his address. Assassin John Wilkes Booth got close to President Lincoln more than once.Teddy Roosevelt's unique inauguration jewelry.For his second inauguration in 1905, Roosevelt wore a ring containing a lock of Abraham Lincoln's hair. Wait, what? Roosevelt was inspired by Lincoln. His admiration started early. There's an image of Roosevelt as a boy looking out of a second-story window onto Lincoln's funeral procession. Roosevelt called himself an heir to Lincoln's policies during his presidency, referring to his relationship with the African-American community.Roosevelt eventually became friendly with Secretary of State John Hay, who also happened to be Lincoln's former personal secretary. Hay gave Roosevelt the ring containing the lock of Lincoln's hair to treasure. President Theodore Roosevelt was an admirer of Lincoln.That time Andrew Jackson jumped out of a White House window. Maybe. It was 1829. One of the nastiest campaigns in US history had just ended with Andrew Jackson winning the presidency over John Quincy Adams. The White House held an open house after Jackson's inauguration inviting anyone to come hang out. Problem was, the White House wasn't prepared for the crowd. Accounts vary. Some say it was a wild party where furniture was destroyed and the mob of people had to be lured outside with punch. Others say the riotous atmosphere was fabricated into lore by Jackson's enemies. No one disputes that the number of people at the party was insane. Jackson had to get out. So did he really escape through a White House window or did his staff quietly escort him from the property? Depends on which account you believe.Andrew Jackson's inaugural party was a wild time.The 'So help me God' line was ad-libbed.The actual oath, laid out in Article II Section I of the Constitution, is just 35 words: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."During his first inauguration in 1789 in New York, it is said that George Washington added the phrase, "So help me God," and so the precedent was set that presidents follow to this day. There isn't any hard evidence of this, however. Why did Washington take the oath in New York? That was the seat of the government at the time. Thomas Jefferson was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington, in 1801 after it became the capital city.President George Washington set the tone for future inaugural oaths.Inauguration festivities weren't always so chilly to attend. Washington winters aren't exactly ideal for outdoor gatherings, so why hold inaugurations in January?James Buchanan didn't have to worry about a chance of snow when he was inaugurated in 1857. It was a beautiful spring day, which helped make the first known photograph of a presidential inauguration that much more perfect. It wasn't until the 20th Amendment was ratified in 1933 that the date of January 20 was set as the end of the term of office for the president and vice president. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama walk in the 2009 inaugural parade.Whose line is it?You've heard these famous lines, and now you'll know where they come from!~ "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933 inauguration~ "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." -- John F. Kennedy, 1961 inauguration~ "Our long national nightmare is over." -- Gerald R. Ford, 1974 inauguration, referring to Watergate~ "Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." -- Ronald Reagan, 1981 inaugurationQuiz time! CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly cited the National Archives with regard to George Washington's inaugural address.

4politics

(CNN)In the opening sequence of "Definition Please," 8-year-old Monica Chowdry is asked to spell one final word correctly before she can be declared the Scripps National Spelling Bee champion.The word: Opsimath. Definition: A person who begins to learn or study late in life.This is the irony at the heart of "Definition Please," the 2020 directorial debut of Sujata Day now streaming on Netflix. Monica (portrayed as an adult by Day) spells the word correctly and wins the bee, attaining the stereotypical pinnacle of success for an Indian American child. But 15 years later, the character is back living at home in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and hasn't exactly lived up to her potential.The film's title is a metaphor, Day said, for Monica's malaise.In "Definition Please," Monica Chowdry finds herself living at home in a state of stagnation."When you're up there doing the spelling bee as a contestant and you are searching for more time, you say 'definition, please' or 'language of origin' or 'can you please repeat the word?'" she said in an interview with CNN. "Not only is this young woman a former spelling bee champion, but she is also looking for definition in her life."Read MoreIn other words, "Definition Please" is a story about being stuck and finding your way out of the slump. Along the way, Monica's relationships with her brother Sonny (Ritesh Rajan), her mother Jaya (Anna Khaja) and her best friend Krista (Lalaine) -- and those characters' own struggles -- help her figure out how to move forward.Analysis: Creators of color, your time in Hollywood is nowThe question of how to move forward is also at the center of "Donkeyhead," a film from English-Canadian director Agam Darshi that is also now on Netflix. It follows Mona (played by Darshi), a failing writer in her mid-30s who is living in her childhood home in Canada with her ailing Sikh father. When he falls into a coma, Mona starts to unravel and her three siblings show up to handle things.Both films, which were recently acquired by Ava DuVernay's distribution company Array, tell stories about children of Indian immigrants (Bengali Hindus in "Definition Please" and Sikh Punjabis in "Donkeyhead"). But instead of their cultures taking center stage, the characters grapple with stagnation and subvert cultural expectations -- challenging the model minority trope in the process.They depict deeply flawed charactersIn "Donkeyhead," Mona is the black sheep of the family -- the only one of her siblings who doesn't appear to have it all together. She resists religious convention, pushing back when her aunt wants to host three days of continuous Sikh prayers at the family home. Her writing career is in shambles after she failed to turn in her book draft. To top it all off, she's having an affair with a married man.Put another way, Mona is the "donkeyhead" of the family.The title "Donkeyhead" is a reference to a common Punjabi insult and term of endearment."Sikh Punjabis obviously really love their kids, but they can be rough. The language can be rough. And it comes through in the child-rearing," Darshi explained. "[My mom] would call me donkey every time I would do something stupid. As much as it is an insult, it's also a term of endearment."But Mona is also the one who stayed behind to care for their father after his cancer diagnosis -- despite the abuse she experienced at his hands when she was a child. In doing so, Mona is trying to prove to her father that she's more than the "donkeyhead" he sees her as. But she's also reckoning with the fact that when her father dies, she might finally be forced to confront her aimless existence.They're both universal and specific"Donkeyhead" is at once universal and specific. It's an exploration of messy family dynamics, compassion, forgiveness and self-discovery. But it tells that story through the distinct lens of a Sikh, Punjabi immigrant family -- a demographic that has rarely been depicted with nuance and complexity on screen.In "Donkeyhead," Mona and her siblings are preparing for their father's death while coming to terms with their own fears and insecurities."I really wanted to represent a messy, flawed South Asian woman because I don't think we have enough of that in cinema," Darshi said. "And I really wanted to represent and create space for a Sikh, Punjabi man with a turban on camera in a way that we've never seen before either."Day had similar ambitions for "Definition Please." "What happens in Western media and Hollywood stories is they depict all Indians as the same people, whereas there's Gujaratis and Punjabis and South Indians and Bengalis," she said. "Yes, we have a lot of similarities but we also eat different food, we wear different clothes, all of our weddings are different. I really wanted to tap into my culture because I love when I watch films that are very specific, yet can be universal to all people."One of the central tensions of "Definition Please" is Monica's estranged relationship with her brother Sonny -- and their mother's attempts to reunite them."Definition Please" nods to Bengali soap operas, sprinkles in Bangla words and shows Monica co-sleeping with her mom. But its characters are facing very real challenges -- Monica's brother Sonny is battling bipolar disorder and the weight of always being compared to his high-achieving younger sister. His family members are coming to terms with how to understand his condition. Monica is dealing with her own issues."I wanted to show the beauty of that universal experience and normalize us as people, while also having the culture there as a background and not focusing the story on a character's conflict with their culture," Day added. They normalize not having it all figured out"Donkeyhead" director Agam Darshi sees her film as a kind of coming-of-age story.Ultimately, "Definition Please" and "Donkeyhead" are coming-of-age stories of sorts -- both exploring the feeling of being in a state of arrested development even after adolescence. "I love coming-of-age stories, and I always feel like they're somewhat wasted on the young," Darshi said. "I think it's so much more interesting to watch somebody who's close to 40 having to start over and having to realize that everything that they had grown up with and believed in was perhaps false -- that they have to start anew or that they've learned something and they're coming into their own."Against the expectations of a culture that emphasizes achievement and success from an early age, the two films normalize the experience of being an adult and not having it all figured out. They signal that it's okay to be a late bloomer, or in the words of former spelling bee champion Monica Chowdry, an opsimath.

1entertainment

Story highlights Friends and acquaintances say Michael Adebolajo is one suspect He and another man shot by police are stable in London hospitals, police say UK Ministry of Defense names the victim as soldier Lee Rigby There have been 2 more arrests tied to the case, police sayThe brutal killing of a British soldier Wednesday near a military barracks in the Woolwich neighborhood of southeast London has shocked the United Kingdom, with Prime Minister David Cameron and other officials calling it a terrorist attack.Read more: London attack mirrors plot to behead Muslim soldierSecurity was increased at army bases around London amid fears of additional attacks. The capital has not witnessed an alert of this kind since the summer of 2005, when London's public transport network was targeted with coordinated bomb attacks.Two men accused of carrying out the attack were shot by police and are under guard at hospitals.Latest updatesJUST WATCHEDUK PM seeks answers on London attackReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHUK PM seeks answers on London attack 03:08JUST WATCHEDMan who taped London suspect speaks outReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMan who taped London suspect speaks out 00:10JUST WATCHEDLondon attack: Probing the suspectsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLondon attack: Probing the suspects 02:57 -- Two additional arrests were made by police Thursday tied to their investigation into the killing of a soldier in Woolwich, London's Metropolitan Police said on the department's official Twitter account. They were a 29-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman, both taken into custody "on suspicion of conspiracy to murder."-- Friends and acquaintances, as well as British media, named the meat-cleaver wielding man shown in a video aired by ITN after the attack as Michael Adebolajo. The other three suspects arrested -- including the one arrested at the scene along with Adebolajo -- have not yet been identified.-- Adebolajo and the other man arrested in Woolwich were in stable condition at separate South London hospitals Thursday evening, the Metropolitan Police tweeted.-- Abu Barra described his friend, Adebolajo, as a "very caring" man who was "very vocal" about his belief that Muslims worldwide were being oppressed. "I wasn't surprised that (the attack) happened," Barra told CNN. "...As long as (British) foreign policy is engaging in violence, they're only inviting violence in retaliation."-- Warranted searches have been carried out at six residential addresses as part of what police described as "a large, complex and fast-moving investigation which continues to develop."Previously reported-- It is understood that the two people suspected of carrying out the knife attack were known to Britain's domestic security service. They had featured in previous investigations into other people but were not themselves under surveillance.-- Prominent British Muslim radical leader Anjem Choudary said he knew one of the men named on social media as carrying out the attack.-- The soldier they killed was 25-year-old Lee Rigby, the father of a 2-year-old boy, the UK Ministry of Defense said. Rigby, described as "always smiling," served as a machine gunner, played in the military's Corps of Drums, had been deployed to Afghanistan and was a recruiter in London at the time of his death, the military said.-- "We have lost a brave soldier," Cameron said Thursday outside 10 Downing Street.-- The prime minister had cut shot a visit to Paris and rushed back to London, where he led a crisis meeting of top officials Thursday. Those in attendance included Home Secretary Theresa May, Defense Secretary Philip Hammond, London Mayor Boris Johnson and senior police and security officials. Read more: London attack: Terrorists targeting soldiers at home again?-- A video recorded by one of the two men immediately after the attack seemed to suggest a jihadist agenda. Cameron addressed the issue of Muslim extremism: "This was not just an attack on Britain and on our British way of life. It was also a betrayal of Islam and of the Muslim communities who give so much to our country. There is nothing in Islam that justifies this truly dreadful act."-- British Muslim groups registered horror over the killing of Rigby by attackers who said they were acting to avenge Muslim deaths overseas. Muslim commentators also suggested there is more that British leaders can do to address issues in their community, particularly among alienated young men.-- Police have deployed an extra 1,200 officers at key locations, including religious institutions and transportation hubs, police official Mark Rowley said.-- Capt. William Russell, a U.S. Air Force official, said Thursday that "there are no force protection changes at our UK air bases in response to the incident in London."-- U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday condemned "in the strongest terms" the brutal killing of a British soldier in southeast London. "The United States stands resolute with the United Kingdom, our ally and friend, against violent extremism and terror," Obama said. "... Our special relationship with the United Kingdom is especially important during times of trial."-- Cameron himself offered a message of determination Thursday, saying his "country will be absolutely resolute in its stand against violent extremism and terror." "We will never give in to terror -- or terrorism -- in any of its forms," the prime minister said.Read more: Cameron condemns brutal hacking death, says Britain stands firm

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London (CNN)European Union citizens living in the UK could be deported if they do not apply for settled status after a no-deal Brexit, a British government minister has warned.Security minister Brandon Lewis told a German newspaper that the government will "apply the rules" and remove residents who haven't applied to stay by the end of 2020, even if they meet the conditions necessary for a residence permit.Around 1 million of the UK's 3 million EU citizens have not yet applied for settled status, the UK Home Office revealed on Wednesday.Lewis told Die Welt that "if EU citizens have not registered by that time and have no adequate justification for not doing so, the current immigration rules will be applied." Asked if the same approach would be taken if legal conditions for residence are met, Lewis said: "Theoretically yes. We will apply the current rules."Anti-Brexit groups had pressed British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, to confirm what would happen to EU citizens who did not meet the deadline for the scheme, which was introduced by his predecessor Theresa May. Read MoreSecurity minister Brandon Lewis."Finally, a Home Office minister publicly confirms the outrageous implications of the settled status scheme," Scottish National Party (SNP) lawmaker Stuart McDonald said on Twitter, calling for an "automatic grant of permanent residence to all EU citizens here.""Utterly contemptible behaviour from the Tories in Westminster. Oh how small are these islands becoming with this ridiculous attitude," added Chris Law, an MP from the same party.Lewis later said his comments had been "somewhat taken out of context." In a tweet, he added that there was "plenty of help available" to EU citizens and that the government has "always said we'll allow time for those with reasonable grounds for missing the deadline."My words are somewhat taken out of context. #EUcitizens have till at least Dec 2020 & there's plenty of help available to apply. We've now had 2 million applications & we've always said we'll allow time for those with reasonable grounds for missing the deadline.— Brandon Lewis (@BrandonLewis) October 10, 2019 The settled status scheme asks EU nationals to prove their identity and that they live in the UK, and to declare any criminal convictions.Just over 1.5 million applications for the scheme have been concluded, according to the government's latest figures, with more than half a million applications coming in September.Of the resolved applications, the Home Office said "61% were granted settled status, 38% were granted pre-settled status, and two applications were refused on suitability grounds." Pre-settled status can be upgraded to settled status once a resident has lived in the UK for five years, but they must apply again to make the change.A Home Office spokesperson told CNN in a statement: "EU citizens are our friends, family and neighbours and we want them to stay. The EU Settlement Scheme is a free and easy way for EU citizens to get the UK immigration status they need.""We have received 2 million applications and are looking for reasons to grant status, not refuse, and EU citizens have until at least December 2020 to apply. We've always been clear that where they have reasonable grounds for missing the deadline, they'll be given a further opportunity to apply," the statement added.CNN's Lauren Kent contributed reporting.

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Story highlightsEnglish golfer wins trip into space after hole-in-oneAndy Sullivan offered the flight after finding the cup at the KLM OpenDutch company XCOR Aerospace behind the prizeAfter a hole-in-one at the KLM Open in Amsterdam, golfer Andy Sullivan has won a prize that is truly out of this world.The Englishman, who found the cup with his tee shot on the 15th hole, bagged himself a flight into space courtesy of a Dutch aerospace company.XCOR Aerospace pledged a 62-minute space flight to any player who could card a hole-in-one at the 15th at the Kennemer Golf and Country Club.The trip is valued at between $95,000 and $115,000.JUST WATCHEDHow the Ryder Cup rivalry began at Gleneagles ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHow the Ryder Cup rivalry began at Gleneagles 07:17JUST WATCHEDWhat does it take to win the Ryder Cup?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWhat does it take to win the Ryder Cup? 06:48"My caddie just shouted to me, 'we're going to space'. I was in hysterics. It's just an unreal experience. I didn't play great through the round and then I hit a shot like that," Sullivan told the European Tour's official website.Before boldly going where no professional golfer has gone before, Sullivan needs to run the idea by his wife."I'm not sure if I'll go, I'll check with the missus," said Sullivan. "I'm not great with heights or flying! I might have to pluck up some coverage. I don't think spaceman is a new nickname for me."My daughter will think I'm the best dad in the world -- a professional golfer and an astronaut, she's got the best dad in the world! I'm going to have to pluck up some serious courage, but it is a once in a lifetime experience, so I'm going to have to do it."​Read: Billy Horschel banks $10m jackpotRead: Teenager Kim wins Evian

5sport

Story highlights Fugitive Lionel Clah is captured Saturday in Albuquerque, police sayFellow escaped inmate Joseph Cruz was arrested Friday night (CNN)The second of two escaped inmates was captured Saturday afternoon in Albuquerque, New Mexico, following the overnight arrest of the first fugitive, police said.Lionel Clah, 29, was arrested in an area of apartment buildings and was depicted in a photograph on the New Mexico State Police's Facebook page as two officers put him into a vehicle.No further details were immediately available.Joseph Cruz, 32, who escaped with Clah, was arrested Friday night after a foot chase in Albuquerque, according to New Mexico State Police.The pair escaped from a prisoner transport van Wednesday night in Artesia, in southeastern New Mexico. Authorities have declined so far to provide details of how they escaped.Read MoreAt the time, corrections officials were transporting the men from a penitentiary near Santa Fe to a correctional facility in Las Cruces. Cruz had pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and child abuse, authorities said. His sister, Olivia Cruz, was also detained Friday on a warrant for possession of a controlled substance and possible involvement in his escape, police said. Clah had pleaded guilty to armed robbery with a deadly weapon. New Mexico authorities had offered a $10,000 reward for each of the two escapees. How did they get around? Police also did not provide details on how the two traveled to Albuquerque, where they were spotted on a surveillance camera. Albuquerque is more than 250 miles away from their point of escape.The prison transport van made several stops Wednesday, said New Mexico Corrections Secretary Gregg Marcantel. He indicated the most likely point of escape was during a stop for gas in Artesia.Both escapees were considered violent. Albuquerque police closed some streets for hours when surveillance showed them in the area.CNN's Artemis Moshtaghian contributed to this report

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(CNN)Arsenal laid down its marker for the English Premier League season by beating reigning champion Chelsea 1-0 to claim the FA Community Shield at Wembley Sunday.A goal from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the first half settled the all-London affair and gave Arsene Wenger his first victory over Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in 14 meetings.Follow @cnnsport It was also a sweet moment for 33-year-old Petr Cech, keeping a clean sheet against his old club following his $15.6 million move to the Gunners this summer.Wenger on @PetrCech: "He had an impact because maybe the Chelsea players thought they needed to score a perfect goal to beat him." #AFCvCFC— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) August 2, 2015 He was rarely called into action as Chelsea failed to make much impression against the Arsenal defense, but made a fine save to keep out Oscar's second half free kick and looked assured in claiming several testing crosses in a tense finish.Arsenal had last been at Wembley back in May when it won the FA Cup and Wenger's men made the better start with Theo Walcott proving a nuisance in the central striking role.Read MoreRead: EPL teams reveal new stripsThe England international set up 21-year-old Oxlade-Chamberlain for his 24th minute goal, the winger cutting past Cesar Azpilicueta before beating Thibaut Courtois with a strong shot.Start as you mean to go on... #AFC pic.twitter.com/c59EgaejXr— Aaron Ramsey (@aaronramsey) August 2, 2015 Mourinho brought on new signing Radamel Falcao for Loic Remy after the break, but the Colombian failed to sparkle and the Blues were clearly missing the injured Diego Costa up front.It was Arsenal that almost increased its lead in the closing stages when Santi Cazorla's shot was saved by Courtois and Aaron Ramsey's follow-up was blocked.Kieron Gibbs was also denied by Courtois just before the final whistle.The EPL season starts next weekend with Chelsea and Arsenal due to meet in league action on September 19.

5sport

(CNN)A British teenager who joined ISIS in 2015 says she wants to return home. Shamima Begum, who left the UK with two of her classmates from east London when she was 15, was found in a refugee camp in northern Syria by UK newspaper The Times.Now 19, and nine months pregnant, Begum told the paper that she "just want(s) to come home to have my child."Begum said she had no regrets about coming to Syria, but told the paper that "the caliphate is over.""They're just getting smaller and smaller and there's so much oppression and corruption going on that I don't really think they deserve victory," she said. Read MoreBegum said she had two other children who died in infancy from malnutrition and illness. Two weeks ago, Begum said, she decided to flee from ISIS' last stand in the front-line village of Baghouz in eastern Syria, citing fears for her unborn child. German teenage ISIS wife wed at 15. Two children later she faces uncertain future"In the end, I just could not endure any more," she told the Times. "I just couldn't take it. Now all I want to do is come home to Britain."Begum said her 27-year-old husband, a Dutchman who had fought for ISIS, surrendered to Syrian fighters allied to the US- supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) weeks ago and that she hadn't seen him since. Begum told the paper that she was aware of "what everyone at home thinks of me as I have read all that was written about me online." "But I just want to come home to have my child. I'll do anything required just to be able to come home and live quietly with my child," she said. From east London to eastern SyriaLondon schoolgirls Shamima Begum, Kadiza Sultana and Amira Abase boarded a Turkish Airlines plane from London's Gatwick Airport to Istanbul on February 17, 2015. They are thought to have crossed the Turkish border into Syria within days.In February 2015, Begum left London's Gatwick Airport with her classmates Kadiza Sultana and Amira Abase. The young women, all from the Bethnal Green Academy in east London, were to join another classmate who had traveled to Syria months earlier. When the trio first crossed into Syria, Begum said, they were held in a couple of houses because they were suspected of being spies. Shortly after, they arrived in Raqqa, where, Begum said, she was placed in a "house for women." Here, she said, she applied to "marry an English-speaking fighter between 20 and 25 years old." Ten days later, she married Dutch national Yago Riedijk, she said. The other three young women also married a foreign-born ISIS fighter, according to the Times. Begum described her first years in the then self-described capital of the caliphate, like a "normal life, like the life that they show in the propaganda videos."But when I saw my first severed head in a bin it didn't faze me at all. It was from a captured fighter seized on the battlefield, an enemy of Islam," she told the Times. A close call makes clear that ISIS won't give up its last stronghold easilyIn May 2016, Sultana was reported to have been killed in an airstrike in Raqqa. In January 2017, Begum and her husband left the city, moving southeast along the Euphrates valley as SDF forces advanced, the Times reported. The couple eventually landed in Baghouz.Begum told the Times that she left Baghouz two weeks ago as the SDF's final offensive to oust ISIS loomed. She said she walked along a three-mile-long corridor east of the town, adding that she was "weak" to have left the group as they faced death and "saluted" the women who stayed. Now in a Syrian refugee camp of 39,000 people in al-Hawl, Begum told the Times that she had recently heard from other women that the other two young Londoners were still alive in Baghouz. "But with all the bombing, I am not sure whether they have survived," she said. A homecoming uncertainIt is not clear how Begum's wish to return to Britain will be received by the UK Home Office, which has strict laws for citizens wishing to return after traveling to ISIS territory. Without directly commenting on Begum's case, UK security minister Ben Wallace said on BBC's Radio 4's Today program Thursday that "actions have consequences."Wallace said UK nationals choosing to come back to the UK after traveling to ISIS territory should expect to be "prepared to be questioned, investigated and potentially prosecuted for committed terrorist offenses." Canadian women emerge from ISIS's crumbling caliphate"We recognize that there are children involved in this who had no choice about being out there, but ultimately what we have to do is protect the public. "People who went out there often as amateurs are now professional terrorists or professional supporters of terrorism, and we have to make sure we mitigate that threat should they come back." he said. Tasnime Akunjee, a lawyer for the families of the teenagers, told the UK's Press Association news agency that British authorities should remember the position that the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner took when the girls first went missing. "The position of the Metropolitan Police was that they should be treated as victims, so long as they hadn't committed any further offenses while they are out there," Akunjee said. Mubaraz Ahmed, an analyst at the Tony Blair Institute, says that Begum's "self-confession paints the picture of a young woman that has been desensitized to barbaric violence, considered life under a tyrannical theocracy to be normal, and appears to continue to hold on to some notion of a 'deserved victory' against the enemies of Islam.""For Begum, it was not wrong to join the caliphate, but rather that the caliphate she willfully joined started to get things wrong," he said. JUST WATCHEDThe last survivors of ISIS' caliphateReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe last survivors of ISIS' caliphate 02:50Ahmed argues that it is important for the British authorities to "resist impulsive decision making," saying that the UK should not only take responsibility in investigating and prosecuting its nationals under the law, but that it needs to provide proper support structures to facilitate rehabilitation. "With any foreign fighter, as a starting point, an admission of guilt for supporting or belonging to a proscribed terrorist organization should allow authorities to immediately begin the process of ensuring that ISIS returnees receive the justice they deserve," he said. "Justice need not be exclusively about punitive action," Ahmed said. A new Pentagon report says the US government is encouraging other countries to accelerate efforts to repatriate foreign ISIS fighters to their home countries for prosecution. Progress has been difficult, though, due to political concerns and the challenges of gathering legal evidence to support prosecutions once they have returned.But many European countries have been reluctant to accept ISIS members. In fact, only a handful of countries, such as Russia, Indonesia, Lebanon and Sudan, have allowed ISIS followers to return. Previously, captured ISIS members have been processed under Iraqi law, but the EU does not trust Syria's judicial system to do the same.

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(CNN)There's hiking and then there's hiking.For most walkers, the Tyrolean High Altitude Trail takes between 10 and 12 days to complete -- Italian ultra runner Daniel Jung has negotiated it in just over two days, running a large portion of the route. The trail begins in the Zillertal Valley in Austria and finishes in Merano, Italy. It spans 200 kilometeres (124 miles) and involves climbing 13,964 vertical meters (45,800 feet) in altitude along the way. "I am very happy and proud I have made it, also without injuries," Jung told CNN Sport after taking 57 hours and 32 minutes to complete the challenge. "But I think I could have been faster if I had not underestimated the route."Like a tiny pinprick Daniel Jung climbs a section of the Tyrolean High Altitude Trail.The trail traverses one of the Alps' more dramatic sections and confronts wayfarers with exposed passes, rock bands, and mountain ridges. The terrain's steepness also forces hikers and runners to utilize via ferratas -- an assortment of steel cables that allow some of the trail's more vertical and exposed portions to be safely negotiated.Read More"I did not actually train for it particularly, but did ultra marathon competitions as usual," said Jung as he reflected on his achievement."It was the first time for me that I did a project like this and I just wanted to see how it went, with no pressure. Now I have the experience and for the future I know how to prepare better and more in detail."Jung kept moving during the night. A 34-year-old south Tyrolean native from Naturns, Jung is no stranger to breaking records on his home turf, having won the Ultraskyrace in South Tyrol in 2016 and 2017. However, the Tyrolean High Altitude Trail's unyielding ruggedness posed Jung with some unexpected difficulties. He set off on his record-breaking endeavour at 4 a.m. on August 7, hoping to complete the course in less than 48 hours, and looked well on his way towards achieving this superhuman feat after running for 23 straight hours and covering over half of the total distance. Jung runs along a ridge on the Tyrolean High Altitude Trail.However the 2,706m climb of the Wetterspitze -- a limestone monolith that juts up from the Alps and marks 101km of distance on the trail -- took its toll and forced Jung to rest a few hours in a mountain hut.But resting only made things worse, reminding Jung of the mental and physical toll that such an extreme early effort had taken. "I underestimated the terrain, the fatigue was extremely bad and pushed me to the max," said Jung. He ascended from several mountain lakes on the Alpine trail.After sleeping for a few hours to recuperate the necessary energy to make his final push to Merano, Jung arrived at the finish at 1:32 p.m. on August 9. While he didn't finish in under 48 hours as he'd hoped to, Jung still set the speed record for the demanding circuit."I just wanted to get to Merano and at some point it didn't matter in what time. I tried to listen to my body and my body needed sleep, so my body got sleep," added Jung. "The fact that my girlfriend, my family and friends were waiting for me in Merano definitely helped me get to the finish. This was definitely the biggest challenge in my sporting career."A sketch of Jung, who set a new speed record for the Tyrolean High Altitude Trail. Having set a new trail running record, the Italian super athlete, ranked number 32 on the Ultra-Trail World Tour in 2017, now has his sights set on his next challenges. Among his upcoming races are the Salomon Glen Coe Skyline Race in Scotland and the Pirin Ultra in Bulgaria. He also hasn't given up on cracking the 48-hour mark on the Tyrolean High Altitude Trail. "I will definitely try it again next year again."

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Story highlightsDonna Brazile: In 2008, Hillary Clinton de-emphasized gender and ran on her experienceNow Clinton is positioning her potential campaign to focus on history-making election of a woman presidentDonna Brazile, a CNN contributor and a Democratic strategist, is vice chairwoman for voter registration and participation at the Democratic National Committee. A nationally syndicated columnist, she is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and author of "Cooking With Grease: Stirring the Pots in America." The opinions expressed in this commentary are hers. (CNN)After spending much of her 2008 campaign seemingly running away from the fact that she is a woman, Hillary Clinton is showing signs that 2016 is going to be a different story. It seems that Hillary has found her outer woman, which is to say, she's found the person that she wants to present on the campaign trail, and that person is resolutely female. This time she seems to have decided to fully embrace her womanhood as an asset in her quest for the White House and to trust that the voters will do the same. Donna BrazileOf course, Hillary hasn't officially announced that she will be running for president -- and Universal Studios has not officially announced that there will be a sequel to the blockbuster "50 Shades of Grey." But it's hard to imagine 2016 happening without both of those things, seeing as how they both have such excellent prospects of success. Hillary recently spoke at a Silicon Valley conference for women in the tech field with the theme of "Lead On." That lent itself nicely to the professional goals of the members of the audience as well as to Hillary's own leadership goals. She spoke of the dearth of women not only in the tech field, but in the ranks of Fortune 500 CEO's. In fact, one recent diversity study found that the major S&P 1500 company boards had more men with the name John, Robert, William, or James on them than women of any name combined. Read MoreLeft unsaid in her speech was any reference to the complete lack of a female occupant of the Oval Office thus far, but the thought could not have been far from anyone's mind, let alone Hillary's. JUST WATCHEDGOP revs up anti-Hillary machineReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGOP revs up anti-Hillary machine 04:03Clinton was comfortable talking at length about her own experiences being pregnant and giving birth while working as a partner in a law firm, and using that as a launching pad to discuss the importance of women in the workforce both here and around the world. And from there she highlighted her own work on behalf of the women of the world as secretary of state. She segued into the discussion of the plight of working middle-class families that will be so central to the 2016 race, and the centrality of women's economic issues to those struggles of the middle-class. From there it was a natural progression to talking about 21st century families and the importance of things such as paid leave. And all of that dovetailed perfectly into closing remarks about the future that revolved naturally around the birth in September of Clinton's first grandchild, Charlotte Clinton Mezvinsky. That brought up Hillary's new role as a grandmother, and the perspective it has given her on the future and what needs to be done to guarantee that it's the best possible future. The Silicon Valley address could serve as a template for how Clinton intends to approach her career goals from the vantage point of being a woman seeking her own place in the workforce. In the coming weeks, which serendipitously happen to be part of Women's History Month, Hillary's speaking schedule is heavy with events and gatherings that center around women. If she's not running for president, then she could be gearing up to get a talk show on the Lifetime network.All of which stands in stark contrast to Hillary's last presidential campaign. In 2008, she seemed to think that she had to reassure voters that a woman could be president, primarily by not accentuating the fact that she was a woman. This time around, there seems to be a shared assumption that, of course, a woman would make an excellent president, in part simply by virtue of being a woman. In 2008, she seemed to think that she had to reassure voters that a woman could be president...Donna BrazileIn that previous campaign, Hillary ran as the most experienced candidate, primarily to draw a distinction between herself and her relatively less experienced challenger, Barack Obama. But now, almost eight years later, Clinton can let her experience speak for itself. She has more of it -- almost too much, from one perspective: She'll be 69 by the time the 2016 election takes place. So this time instead of highlighting her experience, she's highlighting the experiences she has in common with the women, mothers and grandmothers out there. Of course, Hillary's message will have to resonate beyond female voters. Fortunately, the dynamics of the 21st century economy and the place of the family within it lend themselves to a family-friendly feminism. We live in a society where women are necessary breadwinners whose income is counted upon for families to make it. Gender pay equality and supportive work environments benefit spouses, children, extended families and entire communities. Today, feminism, family and economic issues intertwine like never before. Hillary's stressing of the importance of women's workplace issues both to the family and to the struggles of the middle-class puts the Republicans on the defensive as they try to co-opt middle-class economic issues. Potential GOP presidential candidates are already trying to position themselves to steal the thunder of the Democratic nominee when it comes to issues of wage inequality and middle-class stagnation. But how exactly do they propose to reinvigorate a middle-class that is overwhelmingly composed of families with two wage-earners if they don't fight for women's workplace issues? For instance, child care may be thought of as a woman's issue, but it's really a family issue, virtually by definition, and an economic issue on top of that. Among topics that are sometimes seen as more traditional women's issues such as family planning, access to birth control and the right to choose, Hillary has the advantage in that she can make her stance clear, based on her life experiences as a woman. It's the Republicans with extremist views on these issues who have to dance around their real beliefs and avoid making outrageous and absurd statements such as embarrassing pronouncements about rape and pregnancy. If Hillary seems more comfortable running as a woman, it's partly because society at large seems more comfortable with a populist-tinged feminism than it was in 2008. Patricia Arquette's Oscar night speech in support of equal pay for women -- although predictably dismissed by right-wing media such as Fox News -- was enthusiastically received by the public in general. In fact, far from being thought radical, Arquette's statements backstage were thoroughly deconstructed by the left for not being progressively correct enough. Women have been steadily making strides in the years since Hillary's 2008 campaign, and as they did, they smoothed the way for one of their own to run for the highest office in the land without having to play down her gender. Hillary is now wisely embracing her gender as a way of capturing the same "hope and change" historical quality of Obama's presidency. Voters always want change, and Hillary Clinton has been a constant on the political stage for decades now. She's certainly no stranger to Washington, or to the West Wing of the White House. But electing her president would still represent massive change on a fundamental level. Hillary Clinton wants 2016 to be the Year of the Woman. And she wants to be The Woman. Read CNNOpinion's new Flipboard magazine.Follow us on Twitter @CNNOpinion.Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion.

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(CNN)The Atlanta Dream, the WNBA team previously co-owned by former US Sen. Kelly Loeffler, has been sold to executives from a national real estate firm and a former player. The sale of the team to Larry Gottesdiener, chairman of the real estate firm Northland, was unanimously approved by the WNBA and the NBA Board of Governors, the league said in a statement Friday. The new, three-member ownership group will also include Northland's Chief Operating Officer Suzanne Abair and former Dream player Renee Montgomery -- making her the first former player to become an owner and executive of a WNBA team."My Dream has come true," Montgomery said in a statement. "Breaking barriers for minorities and women by being the first former WNBA player to have both a stake in ownership and a leadership role with the team is an opportunity that I take very seriously. I invite you to join me as the Dream builds momentum in Atlanta!"WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement the approval of the sale "marks a new beginning for the Atlanta Dream organization and we are very pleased to welcome Larry Gottesdiener and Suzanne Abair to the WNBA." Read More"I am also thrilled that former WNBA star Renee Montgomery will be joining the ownership group as an investor and executive for the team," she added, calling Montgomery a "trailblazer who has made a major impact both in the game and beyond."Atlanta's WNBA team supports Black Lives Matter after pushback from co-owner, a US senatorMontgomery sat out the 2020 season to focus on social justice issues and subsequently retired after 11 seasons in the WNBA.Ownership of the franchise had been in limbo after the exit of Loeffler, who lost support among team members and other league players after she said she didn't support the Black Lives Matter movement and called for the depoliticization of sports. Last summer, Dream players released a unified signed statement -- over Loeffler's objection -- saying they supported the Black Lives Matter movement. "Last year, 2020, the players of the Dream refused to just shut up and dribble," Gottesdiener said in a call with reporters Friday. "They found their collective voice and the world listened." "We are inspired by these brave women who navigated sports and activism in the midst of a pandemic," he added, "and we want to celebrate and honor them." Loeffler lost to Rev. Raphael Warnock last month in the Georgia Senate runoffs. In the days leading up to the election, several Dream players were seen wearing "Vote Warnock" shirts.Loeffler and now former co-owner Mary Brock said in a statement that they had "stepped up to keep the Dream in Atlanta" 10 years ago, saying it was "important to us to help level the playing field for women's professional sports.""We are proud of what we accomplished and wish the team well in their next chapter," their statement said. "We will always value the hard work and dedication, and the memories, fans and friendships that sustained our commitment to the Atlanta Dream over the last decade."CNN's Jill Martin and Amir Vera contributed to this report.

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Story highlights "Turing Law" is named for WWII codebreaker Alan Turing, subject of the 2014 film "The Imitation Game"Some campaigners say the law change does not go far enoughLondon (CNN)Tens of thousands of gay and bisexual men who were convicted of now-abolished sexual offenses in Britain will be posthumously pardoned, the government announced Thursday.The government proposal will also make it easier for living Britons, convicted years ago of since-decriminalized sexual behavior, to clear their names.JUST WATCHEDAlan Turing's family demands pardons for 49,000 menReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAlan Turing's family demands pardons for 49,000 men 01:46The proposal has been dubbed the "Turing Law" -- named after World War II codebreaker Alan Turing, subject of the 2014 film "The Imitation Game." Turing committed suicide in 1954 after he was subjected to chemical castration as punishment for homosexual activity. In 2013, nearly 60 years later, he received a posthumous royal pardon from Queen Elizabeth II.Anyone previously convicted of the abolished laws can already apply through the UK's Home Office to have their names cleared and wiped from criminal record checks. But under the new law, the government will automatically pardon living men convicted of historical sexual offenses "who would be innocent of any crime today," Justice Minister Sam Gyimah said in a statement.Momentous news: thousands of gay and bisexual men will be pardoned of now abolished sexual offences #TuringLaw https://t.co/PB6x7kfAnY— Ministry of Justice (@MoJGovUK) 20 October 2016 "Through pardons and the existing disregard process we will meet our manifesto commitment to put right these wrongs," Gyimah said.Read MorePrivate homosexual acts for men aged over 21 were decriminalized in England and Wales in 1967. However the law was not changed in Scotland until 1980 or in Northern Ireland until 1982.'An admission of guilt'Brighton resident George Montague, who was convicted in 1974 for gross indecency with a man, told CNN he won't accept the government's pardon because "it's an admission of guilt." George Montague says he won't accept the government's pardon.Instead, he wants an apology for the way he and many others were treated."In my view if you're born only able to love and be in love with another a man -- which means you're gay -- then it can't be a crime. How can that be a crime? It's not fair," Montague said."The law didn't apply to heterosexuals -- they could have sex anywhere. But if you were gay and all you did was kiss your boyfriend in public you were convicted."I am 93, please before I die A PETITION for An apology to the oldest old gay men still alive, PLS help me by signing https://t.co/dKgmYWPlQC— George Montague (@GeorgeMontague2) October 19, 2016 He said he wouldn't stop fighting until he received an apology from the government."We were treated very badly. I can't understand it, even today, that there are so many people who do not understand or accept homosexuality."Announcement 'welcomed' Andrew Gilliver from the LGBT Foundation in the UK told CNN that while the government's announcement is welcomed, it's long overdue."What's unfortunate is that it's taken this long. Obviously in that time (since the laws were abolished) so many people's lives have been ruined," he said, adding that family relationships and career opportunities were destroyed.On Friday Parliament is set to debate a bill by MP John Nicolson which proposes a blanket pardon be applied to everyone living so that they don't have to go through the disregard process via the UK's Home Office.However, the government has said it will not support the Nicolson bill because it "could lead, in some cases, to people claiming to be cleared of offenses that are still crimes."The government has already rejected several applicants under the current law because the activity was non-consensual or the other person involved was under 16 years old.I'm proposing the #Turing bill advocated by @stonewalluk tomorrow. I want to bring closure for the living not just pardons for the dead.— JOHN NICOLSON M.P. (@MrJohnNicolson) October 20, 2016 Closing a loophole?Gyimah says he worries the consequences of the Nicolson bill haven't been fully thought through."A blanket pardon, without the detailed investigations carried out by the Home Office under the disregard process, could see people guilty of an offense which is still a crime today claiming to be pardoned," he said.However Paul Twocock of the Stonewall organization, which campaigns for the equality of LGBT people across Britain, said in a statement to CNN that he doesn't agree with the government's interpretation of the proposed bill.Welcome Govt support for #Turing law and pardon but doesn't go far enough @MrJohnNicolson bill does more, see why: https://t.co/RrH2qVe0wA— Paul Twocock (@PaulTwocock) October 20, 2016 "It explicitly excludes pardoning anyone convicted of offenses that would still be illegal today," he said.Twocock said the proposed Nicolson bill "closes a loophole which means some gay and bi men who are still alive and living with those convictions still can't have them deleted, despite them being unjust and not illegal today."Gay rights around the worldJUST WATCHEDAustralia's Labor Party against marriage referendumReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAustralia's Labor Party against marriage referendum 02:58In recent years homosexuals around the world have fought to be pardoned for same-sex crimes that have long since been abolished. Earlier this month Germany announced plans to compensate thousands of men who were convicted under an old law for their sexual preferences, Deutsche Welle reported.And in New Zealand, lawmakers introduced a petition in July seeking a formal apology and a pardon for those convicted of same-sex acts under laws abolished 30 years ago.

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Story highlightsMaria Sharapova says she'd been taking meldonium since 2006 and didn't realize it had declared a banned substance"I am determined to play tennis again," Sharapova saysShe's lost several commercial endorsements since the revelation (CNN)Days after admitting she failed a drug test at the Australian Open in January, Maria Sharapova -- long the world's richest female athlete -- posted a Facebook thank you note to her fans."In this moment, I am so proud to call you my fans. Within hours of my announcement, you showed me support and loyalty, which I could only expect to hear when someone would be at the top of their profession. I wanted to let you know that your wonderful words put a smile on my face."The 28-year-old tennis star revealed Monday at a news conference that she'd been taking meldonium since 2006 and didn't realize it was declared a banned substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency at the start of 2016. She knew the drug, she said, by the name mildronate. Immediately afterward, the International Tennis Federation said on its website that Sharapova would be provisionally banned from March 12 "pending determination of the case." Sharapova faces a ban of four years, although if officials deem she didn't intentionally break the rules, any final suspension could be two years or less. The five-time grand slam champion tells her fans that she looks forward to continuing her tennis career.Read MoreKremlin hits back in Maria Sharapova scandal "I'd like to play again and hope to have the chance to do so," she said. "Your messages give me great encouragement. This message isn't anything else but to say thank you. Thank you very much." She continued, "I am determined to play tennis again, and I hope I will have the chance to do so. I wish I didn't have to go through this, but I do -- and I will."As the tennis world continues to react to the bombshell development, Rafael Nadal -- who has been forced to deny he has ever committed doping infractions -- didn't absolve Sharapova and said tennis is suffering. "It's terrible what happened with Maria for the world of sport, for the world of tennis, but you have to respect the rules," the 14-time grand slam winner told CNN. "The sport must be clean, must look clean and in general Maria affects our image in the world of tennis. "And now she is in trouble, so she is going to a (tribunal) and we'll see what is going to happen, but if she makes negligence, she has to pay for it." Meldonium: the drug that got Maria Sharapova suspended from tennisDespite having a huge entourage, which would include an agent, coach, physiotherapist -- and doctor -- Nadal added it was up to Sharapova to know what exactly she was putting in her body. "You have a team, you believe in your team, but at the end of the day you have to know what you are taking," he said. "So I don't know if it's 100% her responsibility but it's your responsibility."Novak Djokovic, the men's No. 1, wished Sharapova "all the best.""I obviously wish her all the best," the Serb told TMZ. " I've known her for a long time. I feel for her with all that's happening and I just hope she gets out of this stronger."Sharapova's failed drug test came January 26 after she lost to Serena Williams in the quarterfinals. The ITF said the tennis star was charged with an anti-doping violation March 2. Williams, on Tuesday, said Sharapova showed "a lot of courage" for admitting she'd failed a test. JUST WATCHEDA look back at Maria Sharapova's careerReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHA look back at Maria Sharapova's career 00:55She began taking the drug for a magnesium deficiency and irregular EKGs, which can signal problems with the heart's electrical activity, Sharapova said. Her family also has a history of diabetes, she added, and other medications were prescribed to her. Sponsors were quick to distance themselves in light of her admission, although only one, the watch maker Tag Heuer, appeared to end their relationship with the star. Head, her racket sponsor, even said Thursday it intends to extend its deal with Sharapova. Nike has suspended its relationship with the tennis star while the investigation continues. Automaker Porsche, owned by Volkswagen, said Tuesday it was postponing all planned sponsorship activities with Sharapova. Danone, which owns Evian, said it was shocked by the news and would closely follow the investigation. Cosmetics brand Avon declined to comment.Follow @cnnsport CNN's Jethro Mullen contributed to this report

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Story highlightsBritain's Andy Murray preparing for two championships at Wimbledon this summerLondon Olympic tournament follows All England ChampionshipsMurray believes it is "a huge bonus" to be playing on home soilScot's coach Ivan Lendl reached Wimbledon final twice -- but never won titleAndy Murray believes "the green, green grass of home" can be his theme tune for a memorable summer in 2012.Scot Murray will have two chances of glory on the All England courts this summer, with the Wimbledon Championships followed by a chance of Olympic glory on home soil.And he insists the passionate Wimbledon crowds will prove an inspiration, rather than a burden, in his bid for a glorious summer double."I think in all sports it is a huge bonus to be playing at home," Murray told CNN. "When it comes to tennis there is sort of a myth that it is a disadvantage to be playing in front of a home crowd, that getting all the extra support puts all the pressure on you. But I think that when you look over the years it has normally helped players raise their game by being at home."Stage one of Murray's home double will determine his build-up to stage two, with preparation for the U.S. Open also on his summer radar.JUST WATCHEDCash vs. Lendl: 25 years laterReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCash vs. Lendl: 25 years later 03:10JUST WATCHEDPat Cash's Wimbledon climb ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHPat Cash's Wimbledon climb 02:21JUST WATCHEDTennis pro booted for hurting judgeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTennis pro booted for hurting judge 00:46"I'm not exactly sure what I am going to do," Murray admitted. "A bit depends how well I play at Wimbledon because the U.S. Open is close after the Olympics. "After Wimbledon I might go and practice on hard courts for a week or 10 days so that I am not spending too long on the grass. Normally it is four weeks on the grass for the year and that's it, whereas this year it is around eight or nine weeks. I need to change a little bit the way I prepare myself for the Olympics."Toughest era in tennisCentral to that preparation will be Murray's influential coach, twice Wimbledon finalist Ivan Lendl, who is concentrating as much on Murray's mental preparation as any on-court approach. Murray explained: "He obviously has a lot of experience preparing for the major events. We have made some changes to certain things and he is very understanding. "He is someone I can speak to about my emotions, nerves, pressure, stress, tiredness. It is good to have someone around who you can discuss all of those things with and who can give you advice on how to deal with them. "Aside from that, he has a very good talent and practical knowledge."Game, set and match: What Wimbledon says about the BritishJUST WATCHEDKvitova and Navratilova's WimbledonReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHKvitova and Navratilova's Wimbledon 07:06JUST WATCHEDPopularity of women's tennis on the riseReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHPopularity of women's tennis on the rise 03:33JUST WATCHEDLi Na: So much comes after Grand SlamReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLi Na: So much comes after Grand Slam 03:50Lendl won eight grand slam titles and reached the semi-finals or beyond at Wimbledon seven times in an eight-year spell, without ever lifting the coveted All England trophy.Murray added: "In grand slams (the mental side) can be easier now than in other events because of the five-set match. If you play a bad set there is time to come back, so you know that there is no real need to panic early on. "You need that extra length of time on the court to work out how to win the match and how to change your tactics in the middle of it. When you are playing in a best-of-three-set match you know the match can get away from you very quickly if you get off to a bad start. "So it is just as important to focus on the tactics and understand what is going on on the courts. If you get too wrapped up in everything else it can be detrimental."Former British number one Tim Henman believes Murray's decision to bring in Lendl for advice was a "brilliant" decision. "Lendl is one of the legends of the game, he's had so many experiences, he was a guy who lost his first four grand slam finals," Henman told CNN."Murray's been in three finals and hasn't been able to win one of them. I think if he could get into that situation again then it would be a big asset."The standard of the era that he's in is probably the toughest there's ever been, so he's got to keep improving and I'm sure he'll do that."

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Story highlightsUntil Orlando, the worst mass murder of LGBT people in U.S. history belonged to New OrleansA June 24, 1973, arson attack on the Up Stairs Lounge, a gay bar, killed 32 (CNN)There are some distinctions nobody wants to see passed on. The site of the deadliest attack on the LGBT community in U.S. history is one of them. For nearly 43 years, up until Sunday's mass shooting in Orlando, that horrible title belonged to New Orleans. A fire determined to be arson tore through the Up Stairs Lounge, a gay bar in the French Quarter, killing 32 people. Three victims were never identified. Several bodies were never claimed because the victims' families were too ashamed. The story of the Up Stairs Lounge fire did not draw an outpouring of attention and sympathy. No massive vigils sprouted up across the country. Banners offering solidarity with New Orleans were inconceivable. National leaders weren't moved to condemn the attack or issue condolences. Even local officials -- including the mayor, governor and archbishop -- stayed mum. (Never mind, say experts on the attack, that twice earlier in the year these leaders issued statements, even declared a day of mourning, after fires that were far less lethal.) Somewhere between the police raid of the Stonewall Inn in 1969 and the assassination of Harvey Milk in 1978, this tragic chapter in LGBT history went largely overlooked and unwritten. It was certainly news to filmmaker Robert Camina when he first heard about the fire three years ago.Read MoreThat's one reason he created "Upstairs Inferno," a feature-length documentary released last June."It was so incredibly painful that people did not want to talk about it," Camina said Monday, as he still struggled to absorb the deaths of 49 at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. "I can only imagine the flashbacks and the horror that surged in the wake of this news. ... Everyone was emotionally scarred." Keeping the faith Over the phone from his home in Los Angeles, the Rev. Elder Troy Perry fights back tears, with limited success. He weeps for the past and the present.He wasn't there at the Up Stairs Lounge on June 24, 1973, when ignited lighter fluid in a stairwell unleashed hell on New Orleans' gay community. But he flew across the country to be there right after. Photos: Forgotten victims of 1973 gay bar arson attackOn June 24, 1973, an arson fire ripped through the Up Stairs Lounge, a gay bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans. It killed 32 people and, until the Orlando nightclub shooting, it was the deadliest attack on the LGBT community in U.S. history. Hide Caption 1 of 5 Photos: Forgotten victims of 1973 gay bar arson attackSome patrons were able to escape through a little-known back exit, but most of the victims in the second-floor establishment died crowded near windows blocked by security bars.Hide Caption 2 of 5 Photos: Forgotten victims of 1973 gay bar arson attackA rescue worker leans against a blackened window frame through which he helped remove charred bodies after the fire. Three victims were never identified; two others were never claimed by families. Hide Caption 3 of 5 Photos: Forgotten victims of 1973 gay bar arson attackOne man who escaped weeps as he is helped by New Orleans firefighters. He was with a group that was singing around the piano when the fire tore through the bar. Hide Caption 4 of 5 Photos: Forgotten victims of 1973 gay bar arson attackFirefighters offer aid to survivors outside the French Quarter bar at the corner of Chartres and Iberville Streets. It would be 30 years before a memorial plaque was placed to honor those who were killed that evening. Hide Caption 5 of 5The second-floor bar, at the corner of Chartres and Iberville streets, was a gathering place. It was a venue where community members could feel safe, at home and free to be themselves. One patron featured in Camina's film said those in the bar became his family; he no longer felt comfortable with his own because he was gay. Another recalled how he used to bring along his dog, a shaggy "bar hound" who'd enjoy his own bowl of milk and vodka.The patrons would listen to music played by a man they all called Piano Dave and gather in a circle at the end of the night to sing, "United we stand, divided we fall." (Pianist David Stuart Gary died in the blaze.)Perry, 75, was the founder of the international movement of Metropolitan Community Churches. Launched in 1968, it was the world's first Christian church to offer an inclusive ministry to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Today, there are hundreds of congregations in dozens of countries. For a time, New Orleans' MCC met in a theater at the Up Stairs Lounge. They'd found another home by the time of the fire, but church members still frequented the bar. Perry has been out and proud for nearly half a century. He and his now-husband were two of the four plaintiffs in the first lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of California's ban on same-sex marriages. Three years before the Up Stairs Lounge arson attack, Perry helped plan the first Gay Pride Parade in Los Angeles. He'd just returned home from celebrating the third annual parade when he got the call about the New Orleans fire. Twelve members of his church died that night, including the local MCC pastor, the Rev. William "Bill" Larson, whose body was found trying to squeeze out a window, past security bars. Most of the victims were piled near that wall, all aiming to get out windows. An associate pastor, Duane "Mitch" Mitchell, escaped through a little-known back exit but returned to try to save his boyfriend, Horace Broussard. Their bones were found entangled and seared to the floor, Perry said.Mitchell's son, Duane, recalls sitting at a movie theater with his younger brother waiting for his father to pick them up. It would be a week before anyone would tell him his daddy was dead, he told filmmakers. No one bothered to say they were sorry for his loss.Others in the film talk of nervous breakdowns, years of drinking and nightmares. The love of one survivor's life was lost. Another talked about his anger at God. Perry didn't lose faith, but not for lack of being tested. Two MCC churches -- one in Nashville, another in Los Angeles -- had been torched in the months leading up to the New Orleans fire, he said. The Up Stairs inferno only strengthened his determination not to back down.A history of attacksThe Pulse nightclub mass shooting and the Up Stairs Lounge arson are bookends in a line of attacks that have specifically targeted LGBT clubs and bars. On December 31, 2013, an attempted arson attack at a Seattle gay nightclub threatened to burn 750 people alive. The fire was extinguished quickly and no one was hurt.Three men threw chunks of concrete into a gay bar in Galveston, Texas, in March 2009. One patron who was hit required 12 staples in his head. A man opened fire in a Roanoke, Virginia, gay bar in September 2000, killing one and injuring six. Eric Rudolph, the infamous Olympic Park bomber, was behind a February 1997 bombing of a gay and lesbian nightclub in Atlanta. Five clubgoers were wounded, one seriously. These are just some of the attacks that have been reported. Many are not, making hate crime statistics notoriously unreliable, said Mark Potok, a senior fellow at the Southern Poverty Law Center.A leading expert on extremism, Potok set out to analyze such trends by studying 14 years of hate crimes compiled by the FBI.Looking through more than 88,000 reported hate crimes from 1995 through 2008, Potok found that more than 17% targeted the LGBT community -- and that it was disproportionately affected compared to other groups. Among his findings:LGBT people were more than twice as likely to experience a violent hate crime attack than Jews or blacks, more than four times as likely as Muslims, nearly 14 times as likely as Latinos, and about 42 times as likely as whites. Looking at figures from 2014, the most recent year available, he said there were nearly 1,100 anti-LGBT hate crimes -- about the same as the annual average for the 14 years he studied. "The country is moving forward in very dramatic ways in terms of tolerance. Fifteen years ago, it was unimaginable that same-sex marriage would be legal in 50 states," Potok said. "But at the same time, there's an incredibly angry minority of people who see [members of the LGBT community] as destroyers of America." Honoring the forgottenAfter Perry arrived in New Orleans in June 1973, he fought to bring honor to the lives that were lost at the Up Stairs Lounge. He grimaced at the sick jokes he heard around town -- like the one from a radio host who asked, "What do we bury them in? Fruit jars." He struggled to find a large enough site to hold a memorial service. Many churches he called wouldn't have it and hung up on him. Eventually he found one that was willing.A journalist featured in Camina's film remembered overhearing a photographer refer to the attack as the "Fruit Fry." People who'd lost friends and loved ones had to go to work and not mention the fire or show any grief, for fear of outing themselves. Camina said the lack of support after the fire prompted some friends of victims to retreat deeper into closets. Even in their 80s, he said, some still have not come out.No charges were ever filed after the Up Stairs Lounge attack. Police closed their case just two months later. But there was a presumed culprit, based on a threat made in the bar that night and subsequent interviews conducted by the state fire marshal. This suspect, though, committed suicide the following year.Like the shooter in Orlando, this man, too, had exhibited worrisome behavior and shown signs of being conflicted about who he was, according to the documentary. He matched the description of a man who'd bought lighter fluid near the lounge just before the fire. He'd confessed to the crime while drunk, a handful of times, the film says. And the woman he married soon after the attack later told the fire marshal their relationship had never been consummated and that he'd admitted he was gay. The Rev. Elder Troy Perry weeps in a 2015 documentary, "Upstairs Inferno," which tells the largely overlooked story of the 1973 New Orleans arson attack.No matter the suspect's intentions, Perry said in the documentary, this man was the fire's 33rd victim.Camina, the filmmaker, says after the massacre in Orlando he'll never be able to watch "Upstairs Inferno" the same way. Especially the ending, where he now views Perry's closing words as "chilling and prophetic."With tears in his eyes, the church leader sat in front of the camera and talked of the New Orleans fire:It is one of those things that happened that I hope will never be repeated again. I hope nobody ever has to live through what we did and what we saw when we went to New Orleans, Louisiana. Never again will I face that kind of stuff. I hope not. I pray not. But if it does happen, don't give up the struggle and the fight, is what I tell people. Go and bury our dead, hold a service and get ready to still make a difference in this world.Now, mourning the 49 killed at the Pulse nightclub, he's forced to revisit this sentiment: "I hope to God that I never live to see something like this again."Forty-six years after the first pride parade in his city, a parade he helped make happen, Perry opted out of the most recent one this past Sunday. He was able to blame a twisted ankle and bad back for his need to stay home, but the truth, he says, is he couldn't emotionally budge."I asked my neighbors in my community to pray," he said, "because I couldn't do anything but cry." The images on television, the outpouring of support, do give him hope. He marvels at how far this country has come. It's a different nation than it was in 1973.But still, in the comfort of his home in Los Angeles, Perry is grieving and searching for strength.

2health

Tokyo (CNN)Empty stadiums, no fans, and if you're an athlete it's probably best to avoid having sex in the Olympic Village just to be on the safe side.No wonder, then, that the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has been forced to break with a number of traditions as the global pandemic forces organizers to mastermind a mega-sporting event unlikely any other.There's quite a checklist of dos and don'ts for athletes, officials, media and volunteers attending the Games, given those Covid-19 countermeasures that have been in put in place to ensure the Olympics are "safe."Spectators will also be absent from 97% of Olympic competitions, with "virtual cheering" and a screen at events for fans to send in selfies and messages of support to athletes instead.While opinion polls have consistently highlighted the unpopularity of the Games among the Japanese public, organizers hope the focus will quickly move away from the global pandemic once the serious competition gets underway after Friday's Opening Ceremony.Read MoreNonetheless, questions remain over how Tokyo can hold a massive sporting event and keep volunteers, athletes, officials -- and the Japanese public -- safe from Covid-19.On Tuesday, a Japanese health expert warned the bubble around the Olympic village had "kind of broken," while Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said organizers weren't ruling out a last-minute cancellation of the Games amid rising Covid-19 cases.That febrile environment has ensured that Tokyo has a tough task not to be the first 'no-fun' Olympics.A man walks past Olympic rings at the entrance to Olympic Village.READ: Olympic athletes battle 'long Covid: 'I'm really struggling to exercise still'Inside the village The athletes' village at the Olympics Games is typically viewed as a place where thousands of the world's best athletes from more than 200 countries congregate and get to know each other a little bit better, as well as sharing stories and experiences.It's even developed a reputation for hedonism, with one athlete describing it as "a pretty wild scene" and condom ambassadors on duty at the 2016 Rio Summer Games.However, at this Games, organizers are asking athletes to dine alone and maintain social distancing from others. In a TikTok video on Wednesday, Australian water polo star Tilly Kearns detailed the team's rigorous health protocols in the village's canteen -- athletes are only allowed 10 minutes to eat their food.JUST WATCHEDWhy Japan's fastest man trains with a set of wheels ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWhy Japan's fastest man trains with a set of wheels 02:15Large numbers of condoms have been given out at the Games since the 1988 Seoul Olympics to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS. This year, organizers are planning to give away about 150,000 condoms -- but only once athletes check out.Kunihiko Okamoto, vice president of Okamoto Industries, which was asked to supply some of the condoms by Games organizers, said the number of prophylactics was reduced due to the pandemic."Before the pandemic, we thought the Olympics are a great opportunity to showcase our products -- it is important to raise more awareness around STDs. But during the pandemic, and given the situation, we feel there are more important things in the world than talking about the importance of condoms," said Okamoto.Tokyo 2020 will host about 11,000 athletes -- representing more than 200 countries -- and they will be staying in 21 residential buildings.READ: Brisbane officially announced as host of 2032 OlympicsRumors debunkedAs athletes settle into their new accommodation at the Olympic Village, many are testing out what's on offer.Paul Chelimo, a runner for Team USA, claimed on his Twitter account that the "beds to be installed in Tokyo Olympic Village will be made of cardboard, this is aimed at avoiding intimacy among athletes.""Beds will be able to withstand the weight of a single person to avoid situations beyond sports," he added.However, the idea that the beds with cardboard frames would be for "anti-sex" purposes and would collapse under the weight of more than one person was quickly debunked by one Olympic athlete.JUST WATCHEDThis is what athletes are getting up to in the Olympic Village ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThis is what athletes are getting up to in the Olympic Village Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan posted a video on Twitter of himself jumping up and down several times as he tested out his bed's sturdiness, before claiming: "It's fake! Fake news!"Tokyo 2020 says the beds will be "turned into recycled paper after the Games.""We are promoting the use of recycled materials for procured items and construction materials at the Tokyo 2020 Games," the Games' official "Sustainability Pre-Games Report," said.National banners hang from balconies at an athlete's village as Tokyo prepares for the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 17, 2021. READ: Six Polish swimmers sent back home from Tokyo following admin errorCompeting with CovidDespite the Covid-19 protocols, coronavirus cases in Tokyo -- currently under a state of emergency until August 22 -- show no signs of slowing.Tokyo reported 1,832 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, its highest daily increase since January 16, according to Tokyo Metropolitan Government."Without the proper measures in place, it will only take one person to bring in the virus and spread it, especially in places like the athlete village," infectious disease expert Nobuhiko Okabe said at a news conference Friday."We have to do what we can to make sure an outbreak doesn't happen, and we really need the cooperation of all the athletes and delegations to make this work," he added.Olympic organizers have not included any specifics about sex in the playbook outlining Covid-19 countermeasures, though social distancing protocols would make it more challenging. But Maki Hirayama, a sociologist and expert on sexuality at Meiji University, argued athletes who've been preparing to compete at the Games will likely still be looking for ways to let off steam -- even amid the pandemic."(Humans) need a release, and all the top athletes of the Olympics had to focus on their training ... and we cannot live only with concentration; we need a release. Sexual activity can provide (people) the biggest release," she said.

5sport

(CNN)Shane Warne died of natural causes, Thai police said on Monday after releasing details of an autopsy on the Australian cricket great.The 52-year-old died on the Thai island of Koh Samui on Friday of a "suspected heart attack", his management company MPC Entertainment announced.Following the results of an autopsy, deputy national police spokesman Kissana Phathanacharoen said the death was of natural causes and that the family had accepted the findings, Reuters reported."Investigators will summarize the autopsy result for prosecutors within the timeframe of the law," Kissana added.Thai police, citing the late cricketer's family, also told reporters over the weekend that Warne had experienced chest pain before his death and had asthma and heart issues, a Reuters dispatch said.Read MoreWarne's body will now be moved to Australian consular officials ready for return to his family, who spoke out for the first time on Monday of their "never-ending nightmare" in the days since the cricket icon's death. "To find words to adequately express our sadness is an impossible task for us and looking to a future without Shane is inconceivable," his parents Keith and Brigitte Warne said, according to Australia's Nine News, a CNN affiliate."Hopefully the mountain of happy memories we all have will help us cope with our ongoing grief."Warne will be remembered as one of the sport's greatest ever players.'The best Dad anyone could ask for'Warne is survived by his three children -- daughters Brooke and Summer, and son Jackson -- who all paid their own individual tributes to their father, published by multiple outlets."We were so similar in so many ways and I always used to joke that I got your genes and about how much that annoyed me!," Brooke, 24, said."Well now I couldn't be happier and prouder that I have your genes. I am lucky and will forever be so proud to call you my Dad forever. I love you to infinity and back and I will miss you forever."Obituary: Shane Warne was cricket's great showman and entertainerSummer and Jackson both reflected on "the best Dad anyone could ask for.""Sitting at the poker table, walking around the golf course, watching the Saints and eating pizza is never going to be the same," added Jackson."But I know all you ever wanted for me is to be happy, no matter what. You just wanted me to be happy, that's it. "So that's what I'm going to do, try and be happy. I am going to miss you so much Dad and you were truly the best father and mate anyone could've asked for."Melbourne Stand to be renamed in Warne's honorTributes have continued to pour in for arguably the sport's greatest ever bowler, with Victoria's minister for tourism and sport Martin Pakula announcing that a stand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground will be named 'the SK Warne Stand' imminently, according to Sky Sports."I can think of no finer tribute to the greatest cricketer this state has produced than to rename the stand," Pakula said."No matter whatever happens to that stand in the future whether it's rebuilt, refurbished, renovated, it will remain the SK Warne Stand in perpetuity because his legend will live in perpetuity."Discussing the stand's renaming, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting gave an emotional tribute to his long-time friend and teammate.Ricky Ponting retires from international cricket during a test match between Australia and South Africa at WACA on December 3, 2012."He'll be remembered as one of the all-time greats, but for a generation, every young kid wanted to be Shane Warne and wanted to bowl leg spin," a tearful Ponting told Australia's Seven News."Because he knew and touched so many people you can understand that the outpouring of emotion started amongst us [former teammates]."Like most, I've been trying to stay away from them [messages] a little bit because I find it a little bit hard to get on the phone to some of the boys. It's a pretty hard time."

5sport

Story highlightsSpanish rider takes 10th pole in 12 attempts this seasonReigning world champion has dominated 2014 and leads championship by 77 pointsHonda rider won opening 10 races, finished fourth in 11th GP in Czech Republic Spain's Marc Marquez claimed a 10th pole position in 12 attempts this season at qualifying for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Saturday.The Honda rider, who currently leads the MotoGP championship by 77 points, was 0.311 faster than his nearest rival, Italy's Andrea Dovizioso.The Ducati rider was narrowly quicker than Jorge Lorenzo who finished third -- the Spaniard will be looking to complete a third successive victory at the Silverstone circuit.Lorenzo's compatriot Aleix Espargaro is one place further back in fourth with Marquez's nearest rival in the title race, Dani Pedrosa, finishing qualifying in fifth. JUST WATCHEDMarc Marquez targets more MotoGP titlesReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMarc Marquez targets more MotoGP titles 01:56Marquez, who became the sport's youngest world champion last year, has utterly dominated 2014 winning the opening 10 races. The only blot on an otherwise perfect season came at the Czech Republic MotoGP earlier this month where he finished fourth.Read more: Marquez seeks to banish Brno blip in Britain

5sport

(CNN)An election audit of the 2020 ballots from Arizona's largest county -- one demanded by Republican state senators, overseen by a purveyor of election conspiracies and live streamed by a pro-Trump television network -- kicked off on Friday. Earlier in the week, Maricopa County handed nearly 2.1 million ballots and nearly 400 tabulation machines over to the state Senate after Republican lawmakers subpoenaed the materials and a judge ruled county officials had to comply. In a last-ditch effort to block the controversial audit, the Arizona Democratic Party and the lone Democrat serving on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, which oversees elections, sued to halt the count Thursday evening. A judge agreed to briefly pause the audit after a Friday hearing, but Democrats declined to provide the required $1 million bond and so the audit continued. More on Voting RightsSee where lawmakers have introduced bills that would make it harder to voteAZ mail-in voting bill stalls in Senate amid heated debate between GOP lawmakersRepublican state lawmakers push new criminal penalties for election activitiesAtlanta mayor: 'More effective way' than boycotts to get necessary voting reformThe partisan audit, which could stretch for roughly two months, comes after county election officials conducted two audits and found no evidence of widespread voter fraud and other issues. The Arizona Secretary of State has already certified the election results, showing President Joe Biden narrowly won the state. But the latest review highlights how many Republicans continue to cling to former President Donald Trump's unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud in 2020 -- falsehoods that continue to roil the GOP. On Friday, Trump continued to spread his election conspiracy claims in a statement and thanked Arizona's "brave and patriotic" Republican state senators. Arizona Senate President Karen Fann, a Republican who has led the charge for the audit, has insisted she's running a fair process to ensure election integrity. But the overtly partisan review has already sparked an outcry from nonpartisan election security experts, GOP officials in Maricopa County and Arizona's secretary of state, among others. Read More"I have been avoiding calling it an audit to be quite honest with you, because that's not what it is. They have been making this up as they go along," Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, said in an interview with CNN. "This is just a fishing expedition by people who are determined to find something wrong.Fann did not respond to CNN's request for comment. The review is being overseen by a company whose chief executive supported Trump and shared election conspiracies in since deleted tweets, and it will be live broadcast by the right-wing One American News Network. The audit's GOP organizers have been cagey about who will be doing the ballot counting and whether the teams will be bipartisan. They also have ignored requests from election integrity groups to allow nonpartisan election administration experts to observe the process. And journalists who want to report on the endeavor are only allowed to do so if they agree to participate in the process as election observers and will be barred from taking notes or video. "This is not like any audit I've ever seen," said Mark Lindeman, the acting co-director of Verified Voting, a nonpartisan organization focused on technology and election administration. "If it intends to be perceived as fair-minded and credible, they've made some bad mistakes."A partisan audit takes shapeThe partisan nature of the latest audit was evident from the outset. Senate Republicans enlisted a Florida cyber security firm called Cyber Ninjas as the main contractor in a $150,000 deal to lead the review. The firm quickly came under fire after the Arizona Mirror unearthed since-deleted tweets from the company's chief executive, Doug Logan, amplifying election fraud conspiracy theories.Logan was also listed as an expert witness in a Michigan lawsuit that alleged election fraud connected to Dominion Voting Systems, another conspiracy pushed by some Republicans in 2020. Logan also confirmed to the Arizona Mirror that he authored a document titled "Election Fraud Facts & Details" that includes disproven claims about election fraud and voting machines in the 2020 election. Logan, who deleted his Twitter account, has defended himself via a Florida public relations firm."Recently there have been several articles claiming I am biased, and therefore unfit to run the lead company involved in the audit of Maricopa County," Logan said in a statement via the PR firm. "These need to be answered to give the American people confidence in this audit. Because this is not about me or anyone else involved, and it is not about a media narrative, but about the systemic, transparent method we have created to ensure Arizonan and American confidence in the election process and results." Ken Bennett, a former Arizona Secretary of State who was hired by Senate Republicans to act as a liaison for the audit, brushed aside any inquiries about Logan's potential biases at a press event Thursday."We're not here to audit Mr. Logan's opinions about anything," Bennett said. "We're here to audit the ballots, envelopes, everything that was involved in the Maricopa election in November of 2020."Logan, who defended the integrity of the audit at the press event, insisted that those counting the ballots had undergone background checks and their social media had been scrubbed for apparent bias. "I won't touch a single ballot," Logan insisted. In addition to hand counting the ballots and reviewing the voting machines, the Cyber Ninjas review is slated to include door-knocking "to validate that individuals that show as having voted in the 2020 general election match those individuals who believe they have cast a vote," according to their contract. Outside election experts have expressed alarm over Cyber Ninjas' lack of experience in the elections space, the seemingly haphazard security plans to secure the ballots and machines, the dearth of information about the audit procedures and the limited access for nonpartisan election observers."We request that you stop restricting the public's access to the audit and grant observation access to election administration and voting machine experts from nonpartisan American organizations and educational institutions across the country," election experts wrote in a letter to Fann. "We also urge the Arizona Senate to stop efforts that could undermine confidence in our elections." There's little indication Senate Republicans or the firm they have hired is heeding those concerns. A spokesperson for Cyber Ninjas told CNN in an email that the counting will be done by people locally. "The local people are Democrats, Independents and Republicans. I don't know the percentage breakdown," spokesperson Rod Thomson said.The Republicans running the audit have also played coy when it comes to media access. While Republicans agreed to allow OANN to livestream the audit, other media access has been limited. Officials told reporters they could access the audit if they agreed to serve as election observers. All observers -- including reporters -- would be barred from making recordings or taking notes of the proceedings."I support the objective of live streaming the audit and I vividly remember Philadelphia livestreaming their absentee ballot counting 24/7 without the involvement of One America News Network," Lindeman said. "I do not understand why the Arizona Senate has not found a way to do the same thing."Television personalities at OANN -- another purveyor of election fraud conspiracy theories -- have played an active role in propping up the Arizona audit. While the Senate earmarked $150,000 for the effort, OANN personalities set up an outside organization to fundraise for the audit, an effort that former Trump administration official and OANN host Christina Bobb has promoted on Twitter. "We're raising funds to help cover costs of the paper ballot analysis of the Arizona Election Audit. We've already met our first goal of $150,000," Bobb tweeted earlier this month. "Let's get this audit funded!"Bennett obliquely acknowledged there was a source of outside funding at Thursday's media event, saying, "We know a group's name, but many of them have not disclosed where their sources of funding come from."Hobbs, the secretary of state, dismissed the entire spectacle."There is absolutely no validity to this whole entire situation," Hobbs said. "Whatever happens with this exercise has no bearing on the outcome of the 2020 election. The 2020 election was secure. The results that we certified are accurate."Concerns about ballot securityFor election experts, the opaque and seemingly haphazard security plans for the ballot review have been particularly concerning.The majority of members on Maricopa County's Board of Supervisors, including its chair, are Republicans that have stood by the integrity of the county's election results, which found President Joe Biden carried the county by more than 2 percentage points. County election officials have refused to aid in the Senate's efforts to review -- yet again -- the results. When it became clear they would have to hand over the ballots and voting machines, county officials refused a request from the Senate to use the county's elections building for their partisan audit. Instead, the ballots were delivered to the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Arizona State Fairgrounds on Thursday. A day before the ballot and machine transfer was set to begin, Fann contacted Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone requesting 24-hour-a-day security for the ballot site. "The request, which was on one day notice, would cost the county taxpayers, at minimum, $175,000, removing these critical first responders from service for three weeks. Sheriff Penzone has deemed this request unreasonable and outside the scope of our responsibility," Penzone said in statement declining the request. It noted that the state, represented by Fann, was assuming responsibility for the ballots once they were in the Senate's custody, and Maricopa County was no longer responsible for securing the ballots. As of Thursday evening, audit organizers insisted the ballots and counting machines would be kept secure and the count would be recorded, even though images of the ballots could not be shared publicly. In a brief interview Thursday, Bennett insisted "we can't talk about the details" of security."We have guards 24-7 and fencing and live video recording," he added.

4politics

(CNN)There are few tickets in sport more coveted than Wimbledon's Centre Court debenture offerings. But they don't come cheap.On Thursday, 2,520 five-year passes went on sale, with each debenture costing £80,000 ($105,000).The annual fortnight of grass-court tennis is one British sport's crown jewels and Wimbledon's debenture seating is like sporting gold dust, providing its owner unrivaled access at the sport's oldest grand slam tournament.As well as granting admission to every Centre Court game between 2021 and 2025, the debenture also potentially offers a tidy investment opportunity. One such case in February saw a pass-holder buy a five-year debenture for $66,149, before selling the final two years of the premium ticket for $138,892 three years later.Some ticketholders sell their passes for certain days of the annual championship, while others have been known to resell the pass in its entirety for a bumper price.Read More"If you like tennis, a visit to Wimbledon is like mecca," said Claire-Estelle Bertrand, marketing and communications manager at Wimbledon Debenture Holders, one of a number of official debenture ticket resale agents. "It's prestigious, it's rarefied class but most importantly its quintessentially British."They really are the most sought-after tickets in the world. Not only do they give you the best seats to see the world's best tennis, but they really do grant you access into an exclusive world where you can meet other global influencers and meet current and past tennis champions.Roger Federer won his eighth Wimbledon crown in 2017, beating Marin Cilic in straight sets."I personally feel these seats are the absolute best in the house, you have the opportunity to sit alongside the player family boxes and the royal box."The package, which entitles holders to one reserved seat on Centre Court per day of the Championships over the course of the five years, includes access to special viewing rooms, which allow debenture-holders to watch action on the outside courts from an exclusive space. The facility also features an exclusive restaurant, which hosts dishes by famed chefs Albert Roux and Bryn Williams, as well as lounges, bars and a private car park -- though the debenture doesn't entitle you to free food and drink.The sale, for which applications are open until May 10, could see the All England Club (AELTC) potentially raise close to $250 million."Whatever the seats end up going for, they are essential for the running of the club," said Bertrand."The money raised from debenture sales has paid for a number of improvements to the facilities, including the Centre Court roof and No. 1 Court.2,520 of the 15,000 seats that make up WImbledon's Centre Court are allocated to debenture-holders."The All England Lawn Tennis Ground plc. uses funds from debenture sales to offset the considerable expense of running the AELTC and The Wimbledon Championships, none of which would be possible without funds generated by debenture holders."The 2,520 debenture passes amount to 16.8% of Centre Court's seating and of the stadium's 15,000 available seats, just over half of the arena's capacity is made available to the public.In an open letter from AELTC chairman Philip Brook to pass-holders in the 2018 debentures guide, he thanked buyers for their support. "Since 1920, debenture holders have played a leading role in helping us improve the Grounds," he said.The importance of this latest five-year cycle is no different, with the AELTC preparing major redevelopment work of the Wimbledon grounds.READ: 'Tennis gave me the ability to be somebody': Julie Heldman on depression and bottling up abuseREAD: Laslo Djere wins first ATP Tour title, dedicates victory to his late parentsThe club is in the midst of a renovating of No. 1 Court -- the second biggest show court after Centre Court, with the overhaul including the addition of a retractable roof, more seating and a two-level public plaza.In December, a deal with Wimbledon Park Golf Club was agreed, which will see the AELTC purchase the neighboring club's 73-acre site in a deal worth $85.6 million, after a majority of the golf club's members voted to ratify the agreement.The land, which is based across the road from the competition's main location in southwest London, has been mentioned by AELTC chiefs as a possible venue for Wimbledon's qualifying event.The 2016 to 2020 debenture sales cycle raised $138.6 million after tax for the All England Club.Wimbledon is currently the only tennis grand slam where qualifying tournament is not held on-site. The precursor to the tournament takes place nearby at Roehampton.As well as freeing up space for the qualifying event, the adjacent estate will also give Wimbledon the opportunity to expand and improve its corporate facilities, with the other three grand slams having all recently upgraded their offerings.The previous cycle of 2016 to 2020 priced debentures at $66,000 each, raising $138.6 million in the process. However, the debentures' reinvestment value highlight why demand for the five-year passes remain so strong.As Tim Webb, a stockbroker at Dowgate Capital Stockbrokers -- the official partner for the secondary market in Wimbledon debentures, explained to CNN: "The last one which we did in February was at £105,000 ($138,000). And that is with two years left to run, so they have two years' worth of tickets. It was issued at £50,000 ($65,700) with five years, and it was traded at £105,000 with two years left in February.READ: Andy Murray says he's 'pain free' after hip surgery"Supply and demand takes the price to wherever it is. I'm sure the majority of the people buying debentures are tennis-lovers. It is a wonderful experience and, obviously, people are prepared to pay a premium to get debenture tickets."As well as profiting by trading on their passes, debenture holders are also able to sell on tickets for individual days.For the upcoming 2019 Championships, resale prices range from $700 to $5,732 on the Wimbledon Debenture Holders website. The latter figure -- for a debenture resale ticket to the men's final -- represents nearly a tenth of the initial value of the entire 2016-20 cycle, emphasizing the reinvestment potential of purchasing a debenture.The tournament organizers, however, are unconcerned by any propensity to resell and reinvest debentures. The transferability of the premium tickets is viewed as a privilege earned through the support given to the AELTC by the pass-holders. The resale or transfer of non-debenture tickets immediately invalidates them.Among the benefits available to those who pay the premium, pass-holders are able to transfer and resell debentures for their own profit.An AELTC spokesperson told CNN: "Debenture tickets are the only Wimbledon tickets which are freely transferable as the AELTC believes this is fair to those who have invested considerable sums in buying debentures."Indeed, first refusal on renewal of the five-year ticket is given to previous holders as a mark of their financial commitment. Though damage to early records has slightly clouded the official statistics, it is believed that some families' debenture passes date back to the concept's beginning."We believe that there is at least one family that has held debentures since inception," said an AELTC spokesperson.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features and videosIn January, Brook also hinted that tournament organizers could look at changing its application process for regular tickets.While debenture applications can be made online, regular bids for tickets from the United Kingdom are still made by mail -- a long-held tradition of the competition. Overseas, the ballot is now performed as an online process.However, Brook, who is set to leave his role at the end of 2019, told the 2 Barrys Tennis Takeaway podcast: "It is hard work. You have to send in a form with a stamped-addressed envelope. We have for the last three or four years put our overseas ballot online. This is a bit of a test to see what happens.Andy Murray won the Wimbledon title twice, becoming Great Britain's first champion at the All England Club in 77 years in 2013, before securing a second crown against Milos Raonic in 2016."We are looking closely at the whole question of the ballot and whether we might move it online. We are a bit worried about that, (as) we might be completely swamped with demand. Secondly, we think with a paper-based system it is harder for people to cheat."The ballot has existed since 1924 -- making it four years younger than the debenture system, which first came into play in 1920. The funding from that initial cycle -- 99 years ago -- helped to fund the initial construction of Centre Court.The nature of the public ballot, though, is such that entry simply offers applicants an initial place in the ticket draw, with demand far greater than the grounds' capacity.The draw is then carried out electronically, allocating successful applicants with days and courts at random. Fans are unable to request specific days or courts, and have no choice over the allocated days, courts and matches.

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Moscow (CNN)Even locked up in a detention center on the outskirts of Moscow, Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny continues to be a thorn in Russian President Vladimir Putin's side.Late Tuesday, which marked the opposition leader's first day at the infamous Matrosskaya Tishina facility, his team dropped a colossal investigation into the President's wealth, offering Russians to take look into what they allege is "Putin's palace" on the Black Sea.Navalny and his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) called the report their "biggest investigation yet." It contains allegations of vast corruption schemes related to what they say is Putin's property estimated to be worth around $1.4 billion. CNN is not independently able to verify the FBK's claims. Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied the Russian leader was linked to the estate on Tuesday.Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny to be held in custody for 30 days following his return to Russia "They are repeating the old story. It was the year of 2017 or 2016, if I'm not mistaken, that the first time it was mentioned there should be the so-called palace of Putin in Gelendzhik. This is not true. There is no palace, he is not an owner of any palace," Peskov told CNN. Read More"Those are all rumors and there were some disputes between the owners of those premises but they really have no connection with President Putin."The existence of the property was first reported over a decade ago when a businessman Sergey Kolesnikov published an open letter with various documents urging then-President Dmitry Medvedev to "stop the corruption" that funds the construction of the alleged palace.The 17,691-square-meter castle features 11 bedrooms according to plans obtained by FBK.But Navalny's new investigation, which he says he thought of while getting treated at the Berlin Charite clinic, purports to show the scale of the estate and expose dubious financial schemes behind the grand project. The report and an almost two-hour-long documentary film also offer a more comprehensive look inside the palace. FBK says a subcontractor involved in construction handed over detailed plans of the building along with itemized lists of purchased furniture and samples of floor patterns. The group then used these documents and photos obtained from construction workers to create 3D-models of the interiors."This is like a state within a state where one irremovable czar rules," Navalny says in the documentary. "It is built in a way that no one can reach it by land, sea or air, thousands of people working there are banned from bringing even a simple cell phone with a camera... but we will take a look inside."According to the plans, the 17,691-square-meter castle features 11 bedrooms, several living rooms and dining halls, a private theater, a movie theater, a Las Vegas style casino, two spas and a hammam, a bakery, and a "dirt room" with an unknown purpose. The rooms, adorned with velvet and lush carpets, feature marble floors, columns, and intricate ceiling decorations made to resemble St. Petersburg royal palaces. The property on the Black Sea is estimated to be worth $1.4 billion, according to the FBK.A separate part of the report is dedicated to descriptions of staggeringly expensive furniture made to order by a luxury Italian brand, including a $56,000 table and a $27,000 sofa. Described on the FBK site as "the most controversial room in Putin's palace," the plan also features a hookah lounge with what appears to be a dancer's pole. As the Navalny site sarcastically states: "On the plan it is designated as a 'hookah room.' And all would be fine, but there is not a single window in that room, but for some reason there is a stage, a dressing room, spotlights, and something very similar to a pole drawn on the plan. We thought for a long time what it could be. Perhaps they make giant shawarmas there... Or it's a training ground for firefighters."Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation says the castle's costs have skyrocketed due to constant renovations, according to interviews with people who worked at the site. The house initially had critical issues with the ventilation system and humidity levels, which led to many rich interiors being destroyed due to mold, according to the FBK's probe.FBK says the property surrounding the palace itself is estimated to occupy 68 hectares but adds that the actual estate is likely about 100 times bigger, with a large adjacent plot of land that allegedly belongs to the Federal Security Service, or the FSB, as a buffer to the estate. According to the drone videos shot by FBK, the estate features a private hockey rink, personal church, amphitheater, and a 2,500-square-meter greenhouse. The territory is heavily guarded with multiple checkpoints leading up to it; the plot of land itself is listed as a no-fly zone, per FBK.According to drone videos shot by FBK, the estate features a private hockey rink, church, amphitheater, and a 2,500-square-meter greenhouse.The territory boasts sprawling vineyards where classical music is played around the clock, apparently to help the grapes mature, according to members of the vineyard association for the region who heard the music playing during a tour of the estate, the FBK says. Bathrooms at a processing facility in the vineyard are reportedly equipped with an $850 Italian toilet brush and a $1,250 toilet paper holder. Navalny claims that wine-making is Putin's "very expensive hobby" and the Russian President serves this wine to his friends: "He drinks it with his friend from China, Xi Jinping, and, under the same chardonnay, discusses 'deeper integration' with [Belarusian President Alexander] Lukashenko," according to pictures of menus he says were served during official receptions.Navalny also claims to have uncovered a convoluted scheme to finance the property and other personal expenses of the President. The report claims that Putin, at the beginning of his presidency, struck a deal with Russian oligarchs and wealthy businessmen to "donate" some of their income to an investment firm. But 35% of those donations would then go to a special offshore Swiss bank account of a Belize-registered company, Navalny claims. Reuters previously reported on the financial web around the Black Sea property in 2014. Opinion: Why Putin wants to keep Navalny locked upNavalny, who was faced with the choice of fading into obscurity as an émigré or returning to Russia and being almost certainly jailed on arrival, chose the latter option. He was detained in a Moscow airport late Sunday moments after arriving from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from Novichok poisoning he blamed on the Russian government. The Kremlin repeatedly denied any involvement.The next morning Navalny faced an unexpected hearing where the judge ordered him to be placed in custody for 30 days. He now awaits trial to determine whether he violated the terms of his suspended sentence in a 2014 embezzlement case he says was politically motivated. Following the verdict on his detention, Navalny's team announced a nationwide demonstration this weekend, and the report is seen as a way to draw more Russians to the streets.The estate contains a 2,500-square-meter greenhouse according to drone videos shot by FBK."Most of all, I want that the same kind of anger that burns in me burns in the people who watch this video," Navalny's spokesperson Kira Yarmysh tweeted. "Putin is robbing my country, imprisoning my friends, he is a murderer. And I want to fight back. Moscow, Pushkin Square... I'll be there. I hope to see you there too."In less than a day, the documentary has eclipsed 25 million views on YouTube and is looking to overtake the report into the wealth of Medvedev, and Navalny's investigations into his own poisoning.The documentary showing Medvedev's mansion, among other things, was viewed more than 37 million times and led to several mass protests across Russia. At the time the Kremlin called calls for protest illegal and Medvedev dismissed the report as "nonsense." The demonstrations ended in mass detentions; in Moscow alone around 1,000 people were arrested. CNN's Frederik Pleitgen contributed to this report.

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Story highlightsBaby twins Gabriella and Jacques were born on December 10Jacques has been named the Crown Prince of Monaco (CNN)The newest additions to Monaco's royal family, month-old baby twins Gabriella and Jacques, made their first appearance before their subjects Wednesday.Their parents, Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco, presented them to a crowd of flag-waving onlookers from the balcony of the royal palace.Each carrying a baby swaddled in white blankets, the proud couple smiled and waved as the crowd cheered and applauded, while church bells rang and a military band played.The infant royals appeared to sleep through the event, for which a public holiday was declared.The twins were born on December 10 at the Princess Grace Hospital in Monaco, a tiny principality bordered on three sides by France and on the fourth by the Mediterranean Sea.Read MoreGabriella Therese Marie arrived in the world two minutes ahead of her brother. But in line with Monaco's rules of succession, Jacques Honore Rainier was named the Crown Prince and his sister next in line to the throne after him.The first pictures of the royal babies were released on the royal family's official Facebook account on December 23."A beautiful Christmas gift to Monaco, friends of the Principality of Monaco and the royal family," said the post. One of the tiny additions to the royal family wears a pink babygrow and the other a blue one.Royal twins born in MonacoThe twins are the first children born to Charlene Wittstock, a former South African Olympic swimmer who married Prince Albert II in 2011. Prince Albert, 56, also has two children born out of wedlock in 1992 and 2003 who are not in line for the throne.He succeeded his father, Prince Rainier III, as Sovereign Prince of Monaco on his death in 2005.At 2.02 sq km (77 sq miles), it is the second smallest state in the world, after the Vatican, and about half the size of New York's Central Park. It sits on the French Riviera and is a popular tourist destination, famous for its casino and luxury hotels.

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Story highlightsDiane James took over from Nigel Farage after Brexit voteShe says she didn't have "full support" of colleagues (CNN)Well, that was quick.Diane James, who replaced Nigel Farage as the leader of the UK Independence Party, has stepped down after just 18 days on the job.She gave her resignation in a statement to the Times newspaper, saying she did not have "sufficient authority" nor the full support of colleagues and party officers. "For personal and professional reasons therefore, I will not take the election process further," she wrote.Diane James address the UKIP party conference in September. James took over the leadership of the party from Farage, who quit following the UK referendum to leave the European Union.Read MoreFarage, who like James is also an elected member of the European Parliament, was a founding member of UKIP and largely seen as the man who drove the campaign for the UK to leave the EU, known as Brexit.Thank you to all @UKIP supporters who attended my #MeetDiane meetings across the country over the summer. pic.twitter.com/EQf9rUXgKA— Diane James (@DianeJamesMEP) October 4, 2016 "Diane James's resignation has plunged UKIP into yet another round of infighting and chaos," said Matthew Goodwin, Politics Professor at the University of Kent and author of the book "Revolt on the Right" about the party."The party is externally squeezed by a Brexit-focused Conservative Party and internally it is suffering from a total lack of leadership, a lack of money and a chronic shortage of new blood."JUST WATCHEDThis town voted to leave the EU, what do they think now?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThis town voted to leave the EU, what do they think now? 01:58

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Story highlightsBritish player Heather Watson loses match due to 'girl things'Sparks global debate about whether menstruation is sport's 'last taboo'Openness applauded by some, others concerned it could damage equality This article was originally published in January, 2015 (CNN)How much information is too much information? When British tennis player Heather Watson said in a post-match interview that she lost her Australian Open round due to "girl things," she sparked a debate about menstruation that quickly spread across the world."Has sport's last taboo been broken?" wondered commentators, after the 22-year-old described feeling "light-headed" and "low on energy," putting it down to her period."We talk about sex quite openly, we talk about breast enlargements, we talk about so many things that people don't even bat an eyelid about these days," former British number one tennis player, Annabel Croft, told CNN."Yet this particular subject never gets discussed. And I can understand why -- it's a bit uncomfortable viewing isn't it?" said the founder of her own line of leak-proof underwear called "Diary Doll.""But the fact that Heather said what she said in a very innocent, charming way, I think it made people think 'wow' this does happen to athletes at that particular time of the month."Read MoreWith the world's media scrutinizing their every move, it often feels as though nothing is out of bounds when discussing the physical and mental conditions of elite athletes.I think it's just one of these things that I have, girl things. It just happensHeather WatsonIndeed, Argentine footballer Javier Mascherano didn't bat an eyelid as he told reporters he'd torn his anus in a goal-saving stretch during last year's World Cup. While English cricketer Michael Yardy flew home early from an international tour in 2011, revealing he was suffering depression."Women's business"So why the silence when it comes to a fact of nature that affects most female athletes -- and in Watson's case apparently influenced the outcome of her match?"Even grown women in the office, when they make the walk from their cubicle to the bathroom discreetly tuck a tampon or pad up their sleeve or decide whether to carry their purse with them -- not to hide the blood itself, but the fact that they're bleeding," Karen Houppert, author of "The Curse: Confronting the Last Unmentionable Taboo, Menstruation," told CNN.She said the secrecy was partly to do with workplaces historically being "men's spaces," which women have adapted to."I think it's also linked to sexuality in ways that makes people feel uncomfortable," Houppert added."Girl things"While Houppert supported Watson's candor, she said describing menstruation as "girl things" perpetuated a culture of concealment."I wish she could have just been direct about it, because I think that adds to the weirdness surrounding this topic," said Houppert."Our history of talking about menstruation is really full of euphemisms that people have used for centuries: Wrong time of the month; Communists in the summer house; The misery; Under the weather; Weeping wound; Package of troubles."Heather Watson created a stir at the Australian Open last month after insinuating her loss was down to "girl things." Could the British number one tennis player have actually set back feminism in the sports arena by bringing up her period in the first place?"It's potentially problematic for women because our periods can get used against us," said Houppert."It's easy to dismiss a woman as 'oh she's on her rags' if someone is angry or emotional. It's a way of discounting the validity of what a woman is saying."Professional cyclist, Inga Thompson, said there was a fine line between openness and undermining women's sporting abilities."I feel very protective of our sport. You don't want to pull the 'girl card,' because we've fought so hard for equal representation," she told CNN."It's true that the day before or the day after I started my period, I was a little weaker. Was I ever so weak that I felt I lost a race because of it? No."In Croft's case, she once felt so dizzy from her period she had to walk away from a Grand Slam match -- "I didn't feel like I could talk about why I had to do this. Like so many female athletes I suffered in silence," she said.Man up?Every woman is different and menstruation needn't be the deciding factor on the playing field. After all, British runner Paula Radcliffe told the BBC​ she had her period when she broke the world record at the Chicago Marathon in 2002.In some cases, professional cyclists naturally miss periods due to low body weight, said Thompson. ​On the tennis circuit, players sometimes take the pill to skip their period during a major competition said Croft, who recalled the immense pressure of playing at Wimbledon in a white skirt, with her period, and the world's camera lenses trained on her every move.Whether or not a journalist is brave enough in a press conference to ask: 'Did you lose today because you had your period?' I'm not sure if that's ever going to be the caseAnnabel Croft"It's a nightmare, particularly because the skirts are flapping up in the wind the whole time and you definitely don't want to have an accident," she said."There is only one toilet break a set -- and matches can go on a long time!"Breaking the cycleSo does that mean Watson has heralded a new era of openness among female athletes?"What she has done is open up a world debate, and I think it will be easier to talk about it in the future because that subject has been broached now. I think it's been quite groundbreaking," said Croft."But whether or not a journalist is brave enough in a press conference to ask: 'Did you lose today because you had your period?' I'm not sure if that's ever going to be the case."Insight: Bouchard stays calm over tennis 'Twirlgate'Big interview: Goolagong -- 'Sunshine Super Girl' who defied prejudice

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(CNN)And so, from behind the curtain and out of the shadow, comes the final act.Follow @cnnsport For much of the English summer, the focus has been on the World Cup, just not the World Cup on English shores.Instead, the attention has been on the England Women's soccer team, a group of players who have inspired and transcended the sport in equal amounts.England's forward Ellen White scored six goals at the Women's World Cup.Its run to the semifinals of the tournament broke all kinds of records, not least the broadcasting figures with 28.1 million people watching on UK television.England's defeat by the USA in the last four attracted the highest live TV audience of the year so far with 11.7 million.Read MoreThe players have become household names. The likes of Ellen White, Lucy Bronze, Nikita Parris and Steph Houghton, have been on the front and back pages of the newspapers, their names bandied around in the pubs and bars, while radio phone-ins have been besieged by people who have been inspired by their achievements.England's Jonny Bairstow has enjoyed a stellar Cricket World Cup.And yet, away from the limelight, another England team has been forging its very own path toward global domination.England's male cricketers will take to the field at Lord's on Sunday to face New Zealand in its first Cricket World Cup final for 27 years.It is a remarkable achievement for a side that four years ago was embarrassed and humiliated at the 2015 World Cup.England has never won the tournament, though it has reached the final on three separate occasions, the last in 1992 when it was beaten by Pakistan.Its semifinal victory over defending champion Australia was brutal and brilliant, placing it front and center of the news and sporting world, on the front and back pages of the newspapers and breathing new life in to the English summer.READ: New Zealand stuns India in semifinalREAD: England gave Jofra Archer 'all the respect' he deserves, says RichardsREAD: Inside the world's first LGBT cricket team'Public consciousness'Finally, after six weeks and 48 games, the country awoke to a competition that had been happening in its very own backyard. Finally, it left the sphere of cricket, and made the jump into the public consciousness. England's Jason Roy has been a stand out star at the Cricket World Cup.Almost immediately it was announced the final would be shown on free-to-air television -- the first time an England international will have been shown on UK terrestrial television in 14 years.Since the end of the 2005 Ashes series, one of the most exciting and enduring contests between England and Australia, cricket has been shown on Sky TV in the UK.For many English sports fans, the 2005 series remains one of the greatest examples of sporting rivalry. It was a series that stopped the country, a contest that inspired the next generation of cricket players and supporters, a seminal moment in the country's sporting history.That England team was paraded through the streets of London on an open-top bus with thousands lining up for a glimpse of the players who had toyed with their emotions during an emotional summer of sport.England's cricket team rides in an open top double decker bus after winning the 2005 Ashes.Those players, the likes of Andrew Flintoff, Kevin Pietersen and Steve Harmison, have gone down in folklore. Michael Vaughan, the England captain in 2005, speaks for many when he says that series inspired a generation of children. It was a defining moment.And here England stands again. On the brink of glory, of sporting immortality. Yet for many who are not familiar with cricket, the names of Jason Roy, one of the most explosive batsmen in world cricket, and Jofra Archer, a wonderfully talented bowler, may not be at all familiar.For the most part, those not able to watch Sky or stay awake for the highlights on terrestrial television, have been watching clips online and listening to BBC Test Match Special's radio broadcast, a staple of the English summer for cricket fans.Jofra Archer of England celebrates taking the wicket of Aaron Finch of Australia during the semifinal.According to the International Cricket Council, the World Cup has reached a unique audience of 20 million people in the UK through Sky's coverage and highlights shown on Channel 4.Statistics provided by the ICC show that England's win over Edgbaston was the most watched cricket match within the UK across any format since 2006. A unique audience of 3.45 million was reached on Sky Sports with the audience peaking at 1.8 million during India's second innings run chase."We are absolutely delighted that the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 has become one of the most watched sporting events in the world across TV and digital platforms," ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney said in a statement Friday."These quite extraordinary numbers demonstrate how viewership habits are changing and the smart way cricket has adapted to deliver what fans today expect."READ: Bees stop play at Cricket World CupREAD: Virat Kohli's fan club -- 103 million and Viv RichardsDigital dominatesNowhere is the way fans consume their media coverage more evident than in the ICC's own statistics with cellphones, tablets, in-game highlights and YouTube all playing a key role in transporting the tournament to the world.On Friday, the International Cricket Council announced it had recorded an "unprecedented" 2.6 billion video views across its digital and social platforms.The official tournament social channels have added 12 million new followers in the past six weeks and attracted 386 million engagements.England's Joe Root celebrates as Eoin Morgan scores the winning runs to secure a place in the final.The appetite for cricket online could not be clearer with the tournament's official website having registered 65 million unique users worldwide, and has had more than 250 million page views during the past six weeks.As of Friday, the highlights of England's semifinal clash with Australia had almost 9 million views on the ICC's official YouTube channel. The YouTube highlights from India's win over Pakistan had attracted over 21 million.Even the dead rubber game between Afghanistan and West Indies managed over six million views. 'Really important for cricket'But though the digital statistics and broadcasting figures outside the UK are impressive, the clamor for the final to be shown free-to-air hints at a frustration.After 27 years of waiting, can cricket afford to waste such a precious opportunity to influence the next generation? And on a day when the men's final at Wimbledon and British Grand Prix are both freely available for sports fans to watch for free, can cricket just sit back behind the pay TV barrier? The answer, from both a current and former England captain, is no."It's cool, it's great that everyone gets the chance to see it," Eoin Morgan, the current England captain told reporters after the semifinal win over Australia."The 2005 Ashes was the moment for me when cricket became cool. That whole summer it was on all the front and back pages, everywhere."I don't think we will understand the impact until after the tournament when the guys go home. We will be recognized more than before."England's captain Eoin Morgan hits the winning runs as he celebrates victory against Australia.Alastair Cook, the former England captain, agreed. He said it was a "fantastic move" on the part of Sky to allow the final to be show free-to-air."It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these players to play in a home World Cup and to have this opportunity to put it on free-to-air, so hopefully many more millions of people can watch it and hopefully see an England win. It can inspire the next generation," Cook told BBC Radio 5 Live."If they win the World Cup, the first 50-over tournament England have ever won, it can only be a good thing for cricket."And then amazingly, a week-and-a-half later, we start an Ashes series so it could be a very, very special eight or nine weeks for English cricket."England's Chris Woakes celebrates taking the wicket of David Warner of Australia.Cook, one of England's most decorated players, is well placed to make such a call.As England's all-time leading run scorer in Test cricket, his name will surely remain in the record books for many decades to come.But he, like so many of England's most successful players, never came close to winning a World Cup.Now, in front of an expectant country, with the game broadcast far and wide, England's cricketers have the opportunity to inspire and transcend sport, just like the Lionesses did weeks ago.For cricket, for the players, for England, the time is now. Another 27 years is a long time to wait.

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(CNN)Standing at the finish line, 70-year-old Bob Long took a moment to reflect on what he'd just achieved. Behind him lay more than 600 miles of Mongolian steppe, a vast expanse of wild grassland which stretches endlessly into nearby China.Not only had the American just navigated this unforgiving terrain riding semi-wild horses, along with its extreme weather and raging winds, but he also did so faster than anyone else.As a result, he not only became the oldest person to complete in the world's longest horse race -- the Mongol Derby -- he became the oldest person to ever win it."I'd been pushing so hard to get to the end," Long told CNN Sport, from his home in Idaho, US, where he was recovering from his seven-and-a-half-day adventure. Read More"I had to stop for a minute and try to think back through all of the excitement and stressful instances of the trip."READ: When the British countryside hosts Dubai royalty and Arabian racingREAD: London's boutique horse sale in Prince William's back yard'I was really ready'Having ridden horses all his life, Long was inspired to take on this challenge after watching "All the Wild Horses," a film based on the grueling event. He "hated the thought" that he wouldn't be able to complete such a feat so set about preparing his mind and body for the "hardest, toughest, most demanding thing you can do on a horse." "Preparation trumps youth," Long proudly stated, as he adapted back to normal life. "I was really, really ready for this event when I finally got there and some of the other riders were a little bit less prepared." Royal Ascot: A day in the life The annual 1,000-kilometer race (620 miles), officially recognized by the Guinness Book of Records in 2011 as the world's lengthiest, takes its inspiration from the Mongol Empire's pioneering postal service.Genghis Khan, leader of the Mongols between 1162 and 1227, established and expanded the "Ortoo" -- a messenger system that saw riders travel on horseback between outposts, stopping to either rest, swap horses or pass the message onto another rider.After traveling from the capital Ulaanbaatar to the start camp on the steppe, the 40 riders -- each of whom has paid about $13,000 to enter -- are provided with their own semi-wild Mongolian horse on which to head out into the wilderness. Twenty-five horse stations, or "urtuus" to use the Mongolian name, now line the route with the riders changing mounts every 20 miles to prevent the horses from burning out. Despite years of experience in the saddle, the mammoth nature and unpredictability of the task forced Long to dig deep and rely solely on his own volition. Despite having an extensive support system that would monitor racers from afar, the physical strain of riding such long distances naturally took its toll.Leg soreness plagued the trip, to a point where squatting down to sit became an unbearable experience. However, it was the mental test that proved the most difficult to conquer.READ: Why Goodwood brings glorious end to British social seasonREAD: Royal Ascot -- A day in the life Photos: South Korea's billion-dollar dreamHorse racing in South Korea -- it's bigger than you think...Hide Caption 1 of 13 Photos: South Korea's billion-dollar dreamOne hundred years on from the nation's first thoroughbred race, plans are in place for South Korea to become a major player in the sport.Hide Caption 2 of 13 Photos: South Korea's billion-dollar dreamWhat started with small, unstandardized pony races has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry.Hide Caption 3 of 13 Photos: South Korea's billion-dollar dreamA two-way process of "internationalization" is underway, with leading foreign jockeys and trainers employed domestically, and Korean runners beginning to attend major race meetings overseas.Hide Caption 4 of 13 Photos: South Korea's billion-dollar dreamOne venue, LetsRun Park Seoul, boasts towering grandstands called Happy Ville and Lucky Ville capable of accommodating 77,000 people. Hide Caption 5 of 13 Photos: South Korea's billion-dollar dreamAttendance figures are already "right up there with baseball and well ahead of the domestic football league," according to Alastair Middleton of the Korea Racing Authority (KRA.) Hide Caption 6 of 13 Photos: South Korea's billion-dollar dreamBut the KRA is also striving to reach all new demographics in South Korea. Hide Caption 7 of 13 Photos: South Korea's billion-dollar dreamTo that end, a horse theme park, situated in the center of the Seoul Racecourse, opened its doors in September 2016 -- playing host to a number of K-pop acts, including I.O.I.Hide Caption 8 of 13 Photos: South Korea's billion-dollar dreamWith pony riding, racing simulation machines and ice rinks in winter, there's hope it can attract new audiences to the racecourse.Hide Caption 9 of 13 Photos: South Korea's billion-dollar dream"Right now horse racing has a bad perception among some Korean people," Yang Tae Park, executive director of the KRA, told CNN. "We are trying to change that perception."Hide Caption 10 of 13 Photos: South Korea's billion-dollar dreamWith a new quarantine protocol, the Korea Racing Authority (KRA) plans to stage some of the biggest events on the horse racing calendar within five years.Hide Caption 11 of 13 Photos: South Korea's billion-dollar dreamBy 2022, the value of the Korea Sprint and Cup is set to increase threefold to KRW 3 billion ($2.7m) and KRW 2 billion ($1.8m) respectively.Hide Caption 12 of 13 Photos: South Korea's billion-dollar dreamWith Korean-bred horses increasingly racing in foreign lands and proving they can cut it at a high-level, don't bet against seeing one on a racetrack near you soon.Hide Caption 13 of 13'Pleaded with God'As Long forged ahead, the chasing pack was up to three hours away which meant he would sometimes go 25 miles without seeing another living soul."I just didn't have anybody to interact with," he said, revealing he had hoped one of his fellow competitors would catch up. "That means I had to make all the decisions about navigation without the ability to have another person's input."Spending days alone traveling through the stunning wilderness became a spiritual adventure for Long. It allowed him to reflect on his life and provided time to think about family members that he had recently lost. "I had some times where I need some guidance and I actually pleaded with God to give me direction and to make me worthy of the challenge," reminisced the retired health company entrepreneur."I believe in God and a higher power and it was really comforting for me to use that as a crutch to keep going."'Gave me their beds'Despite extensive preparation, there were certain things along the way that were out of Long's capable control. One of which was the weather. Conditions on the steppe would switch suddenly from torrential rain to sweating heat but being entirely immersed in nature also provided some memorable moments. From wading through large river crossings to watching the local herdsmen, Long fell in love with the country and communities along the route.When the British countryside hosts Dubai royalty and Arabian racing With a strict 8 p.m. curfew, when participants would have to stop riding for the day, Long found himself knocking on doors to find a place to sleep at night. Despite an obvious language barrier, the random interactions with the local people turned out to be the most humbling experiences."They all accepted me and some of them gave me their beds and they slept on the floor," he said.One particular moment, when staying with a young mother and her two daughters, still stands out among the rest. "It has just quit raining and the sun was setting," he said fondly. "The two daughters were sitting on the edge of this corral, where they kept their calves, singing some kind of Mongolian lullaby. It was so neat to see."In the morning, she [the mother] wore her ceremonial gown and milked the cow for me. I had fresh cream milk on sweet rice cereal. Man, it was so good." READ: Meet the trainer to royals, rulers and billionairesREAD: 'Role model' Mellah delivers 'fairytale' win at Goodwood Photos: Why "Glorious Goodwood" is so lovedGoodwood racecourse offers far-reaching views across the Sussex Downs in the south of England.Hide Caption 1 of 15 Photos: Why "Glorious Goodwood" is so lovedRacegoers take in the drama of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, commonly known as "Glorious Goodwood." Hide Caption 2 of 15 Photos: Why "Glorious Goodwood" is so lovedIt's one of the highlights of the flat racing season, with 35 races taking place over five days for a total purse of $6.5 million.Hide Caption 3 of 15 Photos: Why "Glorious Goodwood" is so lovedDating back to 1802, the event is a favorite with punters and boasts spectacular views across the south England countryside. Hide Caption 4 of 15 Photos: Why "Glorious Goodwood" is so lovedThe atmosphere is one of an English garden party. Hide Caption 5 of 15 Photos: Why "Glorious Goodwood" is so lovedIt's a chance for racegoers to dress up in finery, especially on Ladies' Day.Hide Caption 6 of 15 Photos: Why "Glorious Goodwood" is so lovedPopular Italian jockey Frankie Dettori rode Too Darn Hot (center, pink) to win the showpiece Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.Hide Caption 7 of 15 Photos: Why "Glorious Goodwood" is so lovedLegendary racehorse Frankel made history in 2012 by becoming the first horse to win the Sussex Stakes twice having also triumphed the previous year. Hide Caption 8 of 15 Photos: Why "Glorious Goodwood" is so lovedThis year, 18-year-old Khadijah Mellah became the first jockey wearing a hijab to race in Britain. She won the Magnolia Cup charity race, having only sat on a racehorse for the first time in April.Hide Caption 9 of 15 Photos: Why "Glorious Goodwood" is so lovedThe facilities at Goodwood offer good views over the parade ring and winner's enclosure.Hide Caption 10 of 15 Photos: Why "Glorious Goodwood" is so lovedOisin Murphy and Deirdre (left) overhauled Frankie Dettori on Mehdaayih to win the historic Nassau Stakes.Hide Caption 11 of 15 Photos: Why "Glorious Goodwood" is so lovedNearby Trundle Hill offers far-reaching views across Goodwood. Hide Caption 12 of 15 Photos: Why "Glorious Goodwood" is so lovedThe event is often seen as the end of the British social season, which also includes tennis at Wimbledon, rowing at the Henley Regatta and racing at Royal Ascot. Hide Caption 13 of 15 Photos: Why "Glorious Goodwood" is so lovedGoodwood has its own distinctive style known as "The Goodwood Look." The dress code is more relaxed compared to other of Britain's racing events. Hide Caption 14 of 15 Photos: Why "Glorious Goodwood" is so lovedDressing up is not just for the ladies.Hide Caption 15 of 15Adapting back to lifeStill not bored of riding, Long has been back in the saddle since arriving home and has not ruled out another Mongol Derby. "My personal definition of success is whether you do it again," he added. Usually satisfied to stay under the radar, he has been asked to give a presentation to his old office and has enjoyed telling friends and family about his trip since returning to the US. However, he's more than aware that most people passing by will have no idea of his incredible feat, something which makes the resilient rider smile. "I did this really, really hard event and the rest of the world is still going on about its business," he laughed."I'm just aware that there are people driving by right now that don't even know what happened."

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El Paso, Texas (CNN)Rubén Lorenzo Peláez circles the chair like a ninja, silently shifting from one foot to the other.For a moment, the snip-snip-snip of his shears is the only sound in the room.The scissors won't close all the way. His vision is blurry. And he's nearly 2,000 miles away from the loyal clients who once got bobs and buzz cuts at his barber shop in central Cuba. But this is the first time in months he's felt at home.It's been just a day since Lorenzo sat in an airplane's aisle seat, shaping his thumb and index finger into an "L" for "libertad" as a friend snapped his photo.Read MoreThe chartered jet was one of dozens that shuttled stranded Cuban migrants from Panama to Mexico this month in what officials described as a humanitarian airlift.Its aim: help Cubans reach the United States after several Central American countries closed their borders to the surge of people pushing north.Lorenzo made it onto the last flight. Now he -- and thousands of others who say they're fleeing a repressive government and searching for economic opportunity -- are taking their first steps in the United States. As America's newest immigrants search for places to put down roots, refugee agencies say they're struggling to deal with the influx, and politicians are sparring over whether this group of immigrants should be here in the first place. It's a familiar refrain, but one with a twist: Because they're Cuban, these immigrants are in the United States legally the second they arrive, regardless of how they get here. And unlike the Central Americans who've flooded across the border in recent years, they have little reason to fear deportation. Lorenzo, 47, has been sleeping in a church pew since his arrival in Texas. And the bald and bespectacled barber says he's not going anywhere."Here," he says, "is where I'm staying."Yadira Lozano Odio is overcome with emotion thinking of friends she left behind in Cuba.Risks and rewardsFlashy photos of models strutting in a Havana fashion show and smiling tourist snapshots from new Cuba-bound cruises are a stark contrast to the scenes playing out as Cubans flood into this U.S. border city.Families sleep on rows of cots that stretch wall to wall in a community center gym. New arrivals rifle through boxes of used clothing, searching for something that might fit. A little girl looks shocked as a volunteer hands her two Barbies.Alianise Valle Paloma, 10, smiles as she tugs on one doll's yellow shirt and runs her fingers through its brown hair."We haven't had toys for years," says her mother, Yadira Paloma Fombellida. In Cuba, she says, the family of four struggled to make ends meet. So they, like many Cubans, left for the promise of a better life in Ecuador, where they wouldn't need a visa to enter the country. But the family's efforts to make a living there didn't work out. "They didn't pay us. ... It was worse than Cuba," says Paloma's husband, Julio Cesar Valle Hernandez.That's a common thread in many of the stories shared by Cubans streaming into church-run shelters in El Paso, where they swap details of their harrowing journeys north:The financial hardships they faced in Cuba. The low wages they earned working as undocumented immigrants in Ecuador. The South American country's threats to deport them. The dangers of hiking for days through the Colombian jungle, facing rough terrain, armed groups and extortion by authorities. The fear they'd never make it out of Panama, where many of them were stranded for months after Nicaragua and Costa Rica closed their borders.Experts say several factors are fueling a spike in the number of Cubans to brave this dangerous journey to reach the United States. Chief among them: fear that U.S. policies that put Cubans on a fast track to legal residency could be repealed as relations between the two countries improve.For El Paso residents who've stepped up to help the arriving immigrants, the conversations have been eye-opening."It's been a roller coaster," says Veronica Román, executive director of the Houchen Community Center, the first stop for more than 1,700 Cubans who arrived in the past few weeks. "It's a lot of mixed emotions when you hear their stories. ... You say, 'Wow, I'm taking my freedom for granted.'" As his daughter plays with her Barbies, Valle says the journey to the United States was far more difficult than he'd expected. But the trip was worth it, he says, to give his children a future. And still, he says, it was better than what his brother went through, trying to leave Cuba on a boat -- only to find himself stranded at sea for five days on a rickety raft, rescued by the Coast Guard and deported back."At least in the mountains," Valle says, "there is earth under your feet." Photos: What they broughtYordanis Garcia Milian, 28, knew he couldn't leave Cuba without a snapshot from his surprise 15th birthday party. The photo shows his parents smiling that day. "This memory, wherever I am, will go with me, because I can lose everything, but not the hope of fighting for them and fighting to have them here with me," he said. Milian is one of more than 3,000 Cubans who flew from Panama to Mexico and crossed into the United States in May. Here's a look at some of the things they carried with them. Hide Caption 1 of 7 Photos: What they brought"When she gave me the bear, she told me she would always be with me," Yadira Lozano Odio, 31, said, her eyes welling up with tears as she described the moment she said goodbye to her best friend in Santiago de Cuba. Lozano keeps a necklace wrapped around the small stuffed panda -- a gift from another close friend. The necklace, she said, was blessed by a priest in her friend's church.Hide Caption 2 of 7 Photos: What they broughtOsdaisy Calaña Bujol, 31, wore a necklace her 8-year-old son made for her before she left Cuba. He told her it would bring her good luck. "It's already green," she said, "but it's the most important thing I have." Hide Caption 3 of 7 Photos: What they broughtWrapped in clothes in a backpack he carried from Ecuador to the United States, Julio Cesar Valle Hernandez keeps small statues of the Virgen de la Regla (Our Lady of Regla) and San Lazaro (Saint Lazarus). "It got broken on the way," he said, "but I couldn't leave it behind."Hide Caption 4 of 7 Photos: What they broughtIt's heavy, but Angel Bornell Batista, 27, didn't think twice about packing a sacred Eleguá stone when she left Cuba a year ago, or bringing it along on the three-month journey from Ecuador to the United States. "I asked him to clear the path for me," Bornell said.Hide Caption 5 of 7 Photos: What they broughtEdgardo Nuñez Cobas, 43, used to work as a cook at a five-star hotel in Cuba. He brought a certificate that shows his hospitality training with him to the United States and hopes it will help him land a job. For now, days after he arrived in America, he's cooking food at a shelter where Cubans who've just crossed into the United States are staying in El Paso, Texas.Hide Caption 6 of 7 Photos: What they broughtNuñez also brought a beaded necklace with him that he's had since he was 18 years old.Hide Caption 7 of 7An unlikely locationAs Lorenzo sweeps the floor, the Rev. Karl Heimer leans back in the church office chair that's become the center of a makeshift barbershop. He doesn't have much hair left, but the Cuban barber has found a way to trim it."How do I look?" the 75-year-old pastor asks him. "Can't you add a little hair on the top?"Heimer has spent decades working at this Lutheran mission less than a mile from the U.S.-Mexico border.He brings Bibles to jailed Central American and Mexican immigrants and hosts mission groups who build houses just across the border in Ciudad Juarez."Never did I think I'd be helping my own people," says Heimer. The pastor left his home in Guantánamo, Cuba, in the 1950s to study in the United States; after Fidel Castro came to power, Heimer applied for refugee status. Now, the mission he runs has become a shelter for dozens of Cubans who've just arrived in El Paso and have nowhere else to go. "I'm loving it, (but) it makes me feel like crying sometimes, because of my mother," Heimer says. A proud Cuban from the coastal city of Cienfuegos, she came to the United States in the early 1960s and lived with him in Texas before she died in 1997. He knows she would have gotten a kick out of the arrival of so many Cubans in such an unlikely place. "The sad thing about it is she couldn't be here to see it." For many years, it would have been unthinkable to see a wave of Cuban immigrants walking across pedestrian border bridges that stretch across the Rio Grande and into this land-locked city. But times have changed. While the U.S. Coast Guard says it has seen a spike in the number of Cubans trying to reach the United States on boats, far more are coming to the country on land.More than 35,600 Cubans have arrived at U.S. ports of entry since October 1, nearly three-quarters of them at the Texas border, according to U.S. figures. More than 4,700 crossed in El Paso alone, according to a CNN tally using numbers from U.S. and Mexican immigration officials. And the numbers show no sign of slowing.It's a blessing, Heimer says, to have so many skilled immigrants arriving. Lawyers, doctors and engineers are among the Cubans who made it to Texas this month."They will add to our society," Heimer says.The Rev. Karl Heimer left Cuba for the United States in the 1950s; the recent wave of migrants has taken him by surprise.Washington weighs inThe papers stapled into their passports are stamped with words that give Cubans a leg up the second they step foot in the United States: "Paroled to pursue adjustment of status under public law 89-732."While immigrants from other countries seeking asylum in the United States often struggle to make their case in court, Cubans don't have to jump over the same hurdles. The Cuban Adjustment Act, passed in 1966, gives any Cuban who sets foot in the United States permission to enter. After a year and a day in the country, they're eligible to apply for a green card.Other government policies grant them benefits like food stamps, Medicaid, housing assistance and work permits soon after their arrival.Snapshot: Cuban migrationPrompted in part by fears that thawing relations with Cuba will end favorable U.S. policies, thousands of Cuban immigrants are trekking through Latin America on their way to the United States. Here's a snapshot of other countries involved:Ecuador was once a magnet for Cuban migrants because the South American country didn't require entry visas. That practice ended last year, and many Cubans are leaving with the threat of deportation looming. Nicaragua in Central America closed its border to Cubans heading north last year, leaving thousands stranded to the south in Costa Rica.Costa Rica struck a deal in January to begin airlifting Cubans out of the country, then closed its borders to stop more from coming in. That left thousands stranded to the south in Panama.Panama began humanitarian airlifts this month that sent more than 3,100 stranded Cubans north to Mexico at the U.S. border. Now Panama's borders are closed, too.Mexico gives Cubans arriving on flights from Central America temporary papers and shuttles them to the U.S. border.In recent months, a number of U.S. lawmakers have slammed the Cuban Adjustment Act, claiming it gives Cubans an unfair advantage and allows scammers to exploit the system."There's no logical reason to give preference to Cubans over immigrants from other countries around the world. ... The Cold War is over. We're normalizing relations with Cuba," says Rep. Beto O'Rourke, a Democrat who represents El Paso in Congress.It doesn't make sense, O'Rourke says, for Salvadorans, Hondurans and Mexicans fleeing violence to get turned away from the United States while Cubans are welcomed without question."I want to make sure that this country treats all people who come to our shores and come to our borders with dignity and respect and helps those who are in the greatest need," he says. "We shouldn't, for political purposes, help one group of people over another."Speaking on the Senate floor last week, Sen. Marco Rubio said the issue "needs to be re-examined.""We have a significant migratory crisis that's building," the Florida Republican said of the "historic increase" of Cubans crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.Rubio, whose parents were Cuban immigrants, said he's proposing a measure that would let Cubans keep some privileges but crack down on abuses of federal benefits by ending "the automatic assumption in U.S. law that all Cuban immigrants are refugees.""You'll be legal in this country," Rubio said, "but you're going to have to prove that you are actually coming because you fear persecution before you automatically qualify for refugee benefits."Cuban officials also criticize U.S. policies, saying they encourage Cubans to risk their lives on harrowing journeys and expose them to criminal exploitation. Obama administration officials have repeatedly said they have no plans to push for policy changes toward Cubans who arrive on U.S. soil.No matter what lawmakers decide, many of the Cubans arriving in El Paso this month say it won't make a difference. "The policy could change," says Cleyzak Muñoz, 34, a merchant from Havana who just arrived. "But what is not going to change is the immigration, because I don't think that Cuba will ever change."Julio Rojas Rubio, a 33-year-old computer engineer who arrived in El Paso earlier this month, says politicians weighing whether to change U.S. policies toward Cuba should go live there for a few months."They would see that most people are leaving Cuba because of a problem with the regime," he says. "Economically, I wasn't doing badly in Cuba. I took care of my family. I lived well. But the regime didn't let me live. ... They repress you. Everything is controlled."Julio Rojas Rubio was a computer engineer in Cuba; he's been volunteering as a cook at a shelter since arriving in El Paso.Two journeys, one destinationBy day, Lorenzo cut hair at his shop, Barberia El Estilo, in the central Cuban city of Camaguey.But outside work, he says, he participated in groups that opposed Castro and brought food to jailed political prisoners.Authorities, he says, threatened him and detained him for days at a time. Lorenzo says political persecution, not economic necessity, forced him to flee to Ecuador, then head to the United States."In this country," he says, "there is freedom of expression." As Lorenzo describes his run-ins with Cuban authorities, Alexi Fernandez del Risco nods in agreement. The 35-year-old welder also hails from Camaguey, where Lorenzo started cutting his hair when he was just a toddler.Things got so bad, Fernandez says, that he tried to leave the island 11 times by boat. Once, he made it as far as Grand Cayman before he got sent back.Lorenzo and Fernandez left Cuba and headed to Ecuador separately. The old friends ran into each other by chance this year in Panama, long after Lorenzo last gave Fernandez a haircut. "I arrived dying of hunger and I saw him and I couldn't believe my eyes. We hugged there in the street," Fernandez says. Together, they made it onto the last plane out of Panama."We arrived together and we're going to stay together," Fernandez says.But now that they've made it to the United States, they've been sparring over where to go next.Lessons learnedNorberto Lázaro leans on the cafeteria table and rubs his forehead.It's only been an hour since he arrived in the United States. He was on the plane that landed in Ciudad Juarez this morning. But it took all day to make it through the U.S. checkpoint. By the time he met volunteers standing outside the Customs and Border Protection facility, the sky was already dark."I feel like I'm dreaming," he says.Rick Vielma interrupts the reverie, asking him whether he has a plan now that he's made it to the United States.Lázaro says he's ready to start working."I want to go up," he says. "I want to go to Alaska."Vielma tells him he might want to wait before making such a long journey."A lot of people when they get here, they're very cold, because of the air conditioning," he says. "It's even colder there."Vielma speaks Spanish with a Mexican accent. Lázaro asks him if he's from the United States. "I'm a first-generation American, the first in our family born in the United States. My father is from Aguascalientes and my mother is from Ciudad Juarez. I can't imagine everything you've gone through," he says. "That's why I'm here. ... My sympathy and my heart are with you."For weeks, Vielma and his 10-year-old son have been stopping by the center to serve food, answer phones and help Cubans figure out their next steps.Vielma says some of his acquaintances have criticized their efforts. "They say, 'Why the f--- are you helping the Cubans? You've got family in Juarez.' But people are desperately in need of sleep, of showers, of someone to talk to," Vielma says. "You can't just turn away from this kind of thing."It's a lesson he hopes his son will never forget."I want him to see that it's OK to give," Vielma says, "to see what people are really made of." 'Are you happy?'The voices of dozens of students repeating their teacher's words bounce off the classroom's concrete floors."I am ... you are ... he is ... she is ... we are ... they are ...y'all are.""You're in Texas," the Rev. Steven Massey tells his class, "so we're going to try to be good Texans.""Y'all," he says again."Y'all," they parrot back.Just over one-tenth of 1% of El Paso's population is Cuban, according to 2010 Census figures, which show 737 Cubans living in the border city. This month, more than 3,100 Cubans were flown from Panama City to Ciudad Juarez and bused to the U.S. border, Mexican immigration officials said. Many of the Cubans say they plan to make their way to bigger cities like Miami and Houston. But local officials estimate hundreds may stay in El Paso. Massey came to El Paso from his home in St. Johns, Michigan, to help start English classes for them.His immediate goal: teach them a few words and phrases they can use right away as they start to find their footing.From pronouns and conjugations, Massey moves on to questions."Where are you?" Massey tells them. "You say, 'I am in El Paso, Texas.'""Why are you here?" he continues. Then he pauses for a moment. "I know it's not a simple answer. You start with saying, 'I am here because ...'""Are you happy?" Massey asks over and over, calling on students around the room. All of them say yes.At the back of the class, Daiye Naranjo Sánchez turns toward her husband and smiles sympathetically.She can tell he's frustrated. He's looking toward the white board with a blank stare. "For him, it's like there's a wall inside," Naranjo says. But she's doing everything she can to persuade him not to get discouraged. She hopes he'll become as determined to learn English as she is. It's a tool she knows will help her, no matter what happens next. "I'm about to face a new life," she explains, "and I don't know what's coming."Ideal Rodriguez Rivas poses proudly with an American flag someone gave him shortly after he arrived in the United States.A new beginningOn a breezy spring evening just a day after he first stepped foot in the United States, Lorenzo stands stunned beneath the bright fluorescent lights of an El Paso strip mall.Heimer brought him to a beauty supply store here to buy him new shears -- ones that will close all the way. He hopes Lorenzo can start working soon as a barber in the United States, and he knows he'll need new tools to do it.Lorenzo picks out a pair of shears and a package of razor blades, then darts to the back of the store to find a new neck duster. His eyes well up as he looks at the shelves. He thinks about how much money the new supplies cost, about the pastor's kindness, and about the lies he heard for so many years about evil people in the United States."This isn't easy," he says. "In my country, they don't do this."The store clerk sees him wipe away a tear."The difficult part is over," she tells him. "You're here."Back at the mission, Lorenzo's phone rings.He laughs as he answers the call from a friend and shouts, "I made it to the United States!"Now El Paso, he says, is home.CNN's Polo Sandoval contributed to this report.

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(CNN)Manchester United's woes deepened after losing 1-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English Premier League on Monday. It was the first defeat for the hosts since interim manager Ralf Rangnick took charge at Old Trafford late last year and the underwhelming performance shows signs that not all is well at the club. The German coach has attempted to overhaul certain aspects of United's game but, yet again, the formation seemed to lack structure and players looked short of confidence. Wolves, meanwhile, were worthy winners after dominating large portions of the match. Their midfield simply outclassed United's, and the visitors could have scored even more if it hadn't been for a string of saves from United goalkeeper David de Gea.Read MoreREAD: Barcelona begins year with 1-0 La Liga victory to edge closer to Champions League placesUnited's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts to a missed chance.Lack of composure The goal finally came in the 82nd minute of the match, with veteran midfielder João Moutinho firing low into the bottom corner. It secured Wolves' first win at Old Trafford since 1980 and moved the side up to eighth in the table -- just one place behind Manchester United."We didn't play well at all, individually or collectively. In the first half, we had big problems to keep them away from our goal," Rangnick said after the match. "The game showed we still have a lot of work to do. We had too many unforced errors. "I don't want to speak about individual performances of players. It's an issue of the whole team. It doesn't make sense." After winning its last game comfortably at home to Burnley, fans at Old Trafford would have expected another strong performance on Monday. But from the first whistle, United's stars seemed to lack composure as they failed to sustain any kind of pressure on Wolves' goal.The second half looked slightly better after the introduction of playmaker Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese star rattled the crossbar shortly after coming on as a substitute before Cristiano Ronaldo's goal was rightly disallowed for offside. Fernandes also had a free-kick saved in the final seconds of the game. READ: Cameroon conflict looms over Africa Cup of Nations venueJoão Moutinho celebrates after scoring his side's goal.'I knew it would be difficult'One potential positive for United is the return of Phil Jones. The center-back has been out with injuries for the last two years but was handed a start with Untied suffering an injury crisis in defense. The 29-year-old delivered a more assured performance than many of his teammates who were jeered by some members of the crowd at full time. "I knew it would be difficult," Rangnick said in a brutal assessment of the job at Manchester United. "That's the reason they brought me. I knew it wouldn't be easy to find a balance between offensive and defense."Today, we showed similar problems the team had three or four weeks ago before I arrived. It is not an easy job to develop a DNA with and without the ball. "The game today showed there are still quite a few steps to go."United faces Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Monday before playing them again in the league on January 15. The Red Devils are currently four points off the Champions League qualification places.

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Story highlights Animal psychologist says dog owners must take action if they spot warning signsJade Anderson, 14, is apparently killed by a pack of dogs in a house in northwest EnglandFour dogs were shot by armed police officers and a fifth was securedMedia reports say they were an American bulldog, bull mastiff and Staffordshire bull terriersThe death of a 14-year-old girl who was apparently fatally savaged by a pack of dogs at a friend's home has prompted horror in Britain.Greater Manchester Police formally identified the girl Wednesday as Jade Anderson. She was found dead at a house in Atherton, near Wigan in northwest England, on Tuesday afternoon after police were called about reports of an unconscious girl and "out-of-control" dogs.Armed officers were confronted by a pack of dogs, described as "aggressive." Four were killed, and a fifth, which was shut up elsewhere in the house, was contained.More clues about what sparked the attack on Jade may be revealed by an autopsy Wednesday, police said.The schoolgirl was alone at the house, which she was visiting, when she was apparently mauled, police said.The dogs' remains will be examined as part of the investigation, which will also look at the breeds involved, police said.JUST WATCHEDDog attacks 4-year-old girlReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDog attacks 4-year-old girl 03:48JUST WATCHEDDramatic dog attack caught on videoReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDramatic dog attack caught on video 01:50UK newspaper reports suggest that an American bulldog, two Staffordshire bull terriers and a bull mastiff attacked the teenager. None of those breeds are banned in Britain.Police Superintendent Mark Kenny said it was "a deeply distressing incident for everyone involved" and expressed condolences to Jade's family."They are understandably devastated by what has happened, as are Jade's circle of friends," he said in a police statement.He told reporters later Wednesday that reports of the dogs attacking after Jade brought a meat pie into the house were speculation, but acknowledged that the attack came at lunchtime, after she'd left and returned."This afternoon we sadly lost one of our students, Jade Anderson. Our thoughts are with her parents and family," the Twitter account for her high school said.Dealing with dangerous dogsA report by the UK parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee last month said seven people, five of them children, had been killed by dogs in homes in Britain since 2007.The cost to the National Health Service of treating severe dog attack injuries is more than 3 million pounds ($4.5 million) a year, it said."Current dangerous dogs laws have comprehensively failed to tackle irresponsible dog ownership," the report said, adding that the latest government proposals are "woefully inadequate."Kenny, the police superintendent, said he was not aware that any formal complaints had been made against the dogs involved in Tuesday's attack.Humane societies point out that it is often the actions of owners, rather than the particular breed, that make a dog dangerous.Animal psychologist Roger Mugford, who founded the UK-based Training and Behaviour Centre, which works with problem dogs, echoes that view."Everything is down to the owner," he told CNN. "Owners know if their dog is a hazard or is not friendly."In a home with several dogs, the animals could be expected to behave as a group in a territorial way, he said. "So a stranger going into a home with five dogs would be seen as a threat, someone to be challenged or even attacked."Once one dog attacks, the others are likely to join in, and self-defense becomes almost impossible, he added.Assuming the worstSome breeds are banned in Britain under the Dangerous Dogs Act. They include the pit bull terrier, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino and the Fila Braziliero, as well as dogs that may be crossbreeds but share the characteristics of these breeds.But it's not the breed involved, but how the animal has been trained that counts, Mugford said, although bigger dogs can inflict more harm if they become aggressive."It's a fallacy that one breed is more dangerous than another," he said. "Everyone has prejudices ... but the willingness to bite is probably the same, on average, in a bichon frise as in a Great Dane."Mugford recommends that owners take action as soon as they spot any warning signs -- by going to a dog trainer or qualified behaviorist, asking a veterinarian for advice or investing in a muzzle."If you have a big dog, or several big dogs, it's pretty obvious that you must take it very seriously indeed," he said. "Assume that the worst can or might happen."The laws in Britain are sufficient to protect people if they are enforced, he said. "But more than anything, we need common sense -- punishment after the act is not the solution, we need behavior that anticipates problems."Pit bull issueThe debate over dangerous dogs is also heated in the United States, where the Humane Society has been campaigning against a Maryland Court of Appeals ruling in August that pit bull terriers are "inherently dangerous."Under the ruling, dog owners and their landlords are responsible for any injuries caused by pit bulls.The Humane Society says it's wrong to discriminate by breed."Singling out a particular breed or type of dog has repeatedly been proven to be ineffective at curbing dog bites because breed alone is not predictive of whether a dog may pose a danger," its website says. "A dog's propensity to bite is a product of several factors primarily under the owner's control, including early socialization, whether the dog is spayed or neutered and whether the dog is isolated or chained."READ RELATED: A pit bull perception problem: What's a dog owner to do?

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Story highlights News appears to boost markets -- Japanese stocks rise in early trading MondayEU leaders praise Greek "courage and resilience"Second-place Syriza says it will keep fighting bailouts The vote is a referendum on the euro used by 325 million people, a former minister saysThe leader of Greece's center-right, pro-bailout New Democracy party claimed "a victory for all Europe" after topping Sunday's parliamentary elections, a vote seen as a referendum on the survival of the continent's common currency.New Democracy's Antonis Samaras now finds himself facing a new round of coalition talks, six weeks after a previous election that failed to produce a government. In a brief address following Sunday's vote, he pledged to form a slate "determined to do what it takes and do it fast.""Today the Greek people expressed their will to stay anchored within the euro, remain an integral part of the eurozone, honor the country's commitments and foster growth. This is a victory for all Europe," Samaras said. "I call on all parties that share those objectives to form a stable new government." The unpopular bailouts that have kept Greece from defaulting on its debts in the face of an ongoing recession include budget cuts demanded by international lenders. Voters punished New Democracy and its former coalition partners in the socialist party Pasok in the earlier vote in May, but reopening the agreement would set up a confrontation with the other countries that use the euro -- the common currency of 325 million people across 17 European nations.Markets appeared poised to react positively to news of the vote, as Japanese stocks climbed. The Nikkei rose 1.7% in early trading Monday.With less than half of 1% of ballots still to be counted, New Democracy had won nearly 30% of the vote, according to Interior Ministry figures. But that showing translates to 129 seats in the country's 300-seat parliament, forcing it to seek other coalition members from the fragmented field. Samaras has said his party wants to remain in the eurozone and alter existing policies, including stringent austerity measures, to "achieve development and offer people relief." His leading rival, Alexis Tsipras of the left-wing, anti-bailout Syriza, had called for the deal to be torn up. JUST WATCHEDParties react to Greek election outcomeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHParties react to Greek election outcome 03:56JUST WATCHEDNomura: Near-term relief from Greek vote ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNomura: Near-term relief from Greek vote 03:53JUST WATCHED'Vote for Europe' welcomed in GermanyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH'Vote for Europe' welcomed in Germany 01:40JUST WATCHEDGreek CASS students' views on crisis ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGreek CASS students' views on crisis 03:22JUST WATCHEDHow will markets react to Greek vote?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHow will markets react to Greek vote? 03:36European Union leaders hailed the vote, with eurozone finance ministers praising results "which should allow for the formation of a government that will carry the support of the electorate to bring Greece back on a path of sustainable growth."And in a joint statement, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman van Rompuy said in a joint statement that they "support the continued efforts of Greece to put its economy on a sustainable path.""Today, we salute the courage and resilience of the Greek citizens, fully aware of the sacrifices which are demanded from them to redress the Greek economy and build new, sustainable growth for the country," the EU leaders said. Tsipras congratulated New Democracy late Sunday, but said his party's nearly 27% showing has forced Greek leaders to realize the bailout "is a nonviable economic plan." Samaras "has the opportunity to form a government on the basis of the people's verdict and on the basis of his own program," Tsipras said. But he said Syriza -- which was projected to win 71 seats -- would continue to demand "from the position of the opposition" that the bailouts be scrapped. "Even if it didn't manage to take the first place, Syriza is now the most basic body representing the average individual, the progressive and the anti-memorandum portion of our population," Tsipras said.Both Syriza and New Democracy picked up 20 seats over their showings in the abortive May 6 vote, while Pasok fell from 41 seats to 33. In the previous parliament, elected in 2009, Pasok held 160 seats, New Democracy held 91 and Syriza, 13. What will Greek elections mean for the country's future?Critics had feared that efforts to renegotiate the bailout would set up a confrontation that could lead to a run on Greek banks and deeper misery. "Don't underestimate the capacity of the Greek people to rise to the occasion," Petros Doukas, a former New Democracy lawmaker and deputy finance minister, told CNN. "What's very clear is the Greeks today voted, including those that voted for Syriza, in favor of the euro and the European Union," Doukas said. He predicted that Greece could now come to better terms with its creditors, whom he said understand "that you can only squeeze so much so fast out of a country and out of its people."Pasok trailed in third place with about 12%. Its leader, Evangelos Venizelos, said the parties need to hammer out a ruling coalition overnight. Venizelos proposed an alliance of New Democracy, Pasok, the Democratic Left party -- which was running in sixth place with 6% and a projected 17 seats -- and Syriza, which has said it won't join a government that backs the continued bailout terms."If we really want Greece to remain in the euro and to get out of the crisis for the benefit of every Greek family, by tomorrow we need a government," he said. The Independent Greeks were running fourth at 7.5% and 20 seats, while the nationalist, far-right Golden Dawn -- which called illegal immigration the country's biggest issue -- appeared headed for a fifth-place finish at 7% and 18. The Communists brought up the rear at 4.5% and 12 seats, according to Interior Ministry figures.The Independent Greeks, a conservative nationalist party led by former New Democracy lawmaker Panos Kammenos, saw its support shrink from 33 seats in May to 20, while Golden Dawn -- which hadn't won seats in parliament before -- held steady. A wild election weekend for Greece, France and EgyptGreece has been suffering under a heavy burden of painful austerity measures, high unemployment and a long-running recession. Syriza and New Democracy were effectively tied in the last official polls two weeks ago, in part because Syriza was seen as offering something new and different, Greek journalist Fanis Papathanasiou said Sunday.JUST WATCHEDAnalyst: Greek productivity needs a lift ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAnalyst: Greek productivity needs a lift 03:59JUST WATCHEDGreek parents forced to give up childrenReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGreek parents forced to give up children 02:35JUST WATCHEDGreeks feel 'tortured" by austerityReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGreeks feel 'tortured" by austerity 02:25JUST WATCHEDFirst debt, then the denial in GreeceReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFirst debt, then the denial in Greece 03:10JUST WATCHEDCrime in Greece up amid tough economyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCrime in Greece up amid tough economy 03:17JUST WATCHEDGreeks divided on Euro austerity demandsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGreeks divided on Euro austerity demands 01:40And Yiannis Alafouzos, managing director of Greek broadcaster Skai Media Group, said older Greeks are scared -- "But the younger generation, they're not scared, and they seem to have had enough of the recession they're trying to get out of it by rebelling, effectively." "Unfortunately, the political system in Greece has not been honest with the voters," Alafouzos said. "And so a lot of people believe there is a way out of this without all the pain we have been suffering for the past two or three years." The possibility that Tspiras could emerge as prime minister prompted waves of fear that Greece could crash out of the euro and Europe's ambitious experiment with a common currency could collapse. Some analysts have estimated that the collapse of the euro would cost $1 trillion, while others say talk of the break-up of the currency is alarmist and unlikely to happen. Since May's vote, Greece has been roiled by uncertainty and division, and the country must identify additional budget cuts by the end of June to be considered "compliant" with the terms of its bailout program.The future of Europe: 3 scenariosGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel, Europe's most powerful advocate of balancing budgets to build a strong basis for economic growth, urged Greeks not to walk away from international loan deals."We will stick to the agreements. That is the basis on which Europe will prosper," she said Saturday.But Fotis Kouvelis, leader of the small Democratic Left party and a potential kingmaker in a closely divided parliament, said the country needed to escape "a situation that cuts us into small pieces and hurts society."As economic crisis bites, Greece's children pay the priceThe situation in Greece is likely to be on the minds of world leaders as they meet in Mexico on Monday for the Group of 20 summit. Some experts argue that a potential Greek exit would be manageable, assuming the European Central Bank and European Union policymakers respond aggressively, while others worry that the pullout would cause chaos in financial markets and shock the global economy.

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Moscow (CNN)Monday's deadly St. Petersburg metro attack was carried out by a suicide bomber originally from the central Asian Republic of Kyrgyzstan, authorities said.The Russian Investigative Committee said the bomber was Akbarjon Djalilov, 22, identified earlier by Kyrgyz authorities as a Russian national born in Kyrgyzstan.Investigators matched Djalilov's DNA to a bomb left at a second metro station that was defused by authorities, the committee said.The Russian health ministry on Tuesday raised the number of dead from 11 to 14. It was unclear whether that number included the attacker. Four of the dozens of people injured are in critical condition, Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova said, according to state-run TASS.Key developmentsRead MoreRussian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev described the blast as a "terrorist act."Train driver praised for actions that likely saved lives.President Vladimir Putin was in St. Petersburg earlier on the day of the attack.Flowers and tributes laid at memorials Tuesday as three-day period of mourning began.Some metro stations reopened after a complete network shutdown.A woman pays her respects at a memorial at the Tekhnologichesky Institute metro station in St. Petersburg on Tuesday. The victimsThe Investigative Committee on Tuesday identified 10 of the victims as Dinara Samandarovna Alieva, 20; Maxim Vitalievich Aryshev, 20; Ksenia Sergeevna Malyukova, 17; Irina Kuzminichna Medyantseva, 50; Angelina Sergeevna Svistunova, 27; Yuri Pavlovich Nalimov, 71; Oksana Gennadievna Danilenko, 25; Larisa Grigoryevna Shchekina, 66; Denis Romanovich Petrov, 25; Mansour Takhrovich Sagadeev, 16 or 17. DNA testing will be used to identify the remaining victims, according to the committee. The explosionThe explosion took place between the Sennaya Ploshchad and Tekhnologichesky Institut stations at about 2:40 p.m. Photographs from the scene showed bandaged and bloodied bodies being carried from the station where the train came to a stop.Others showed bodies lying by the train at Tekhnologichesky Institut as the station filled with smoke. The second, larger device was found and defused at another station, Ploshchad Vosstaniya, and is believed to have been planted by Djalilov, Russian investigators said. "Criminalists found his DNA on a bag with a bomb left at the Ploshchad Vosstaniya metro station, investigators said in a statement, adding that CCTV footage was also used to come to their conclusions.Earlier state media reports quoted law enforcement sources saying the device had been hidden in a fire extinguisher and was larger than the one that exploded. It carried about a kilogram of TNT, the reports said.Train driver praisedThe driver of the train, Alexander Kaverin, has been praised in Russia for continuing to the next station after the blast, ensuring a quick evacuation of passengers."At that moment there was no question of fear. It was just a question of working, rolling up your sleeves," he said. "I just acted according to instructions, because we have instructions worked out especially for such cases. We have had explosions before and I think these instructions are very clever, very correct."Train driver Alexander Kaverin, 50, has been praised for saving lives.Kyrgyzstan connectionNo group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which led to the shutdown of the city's metro system. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev described it as a "terrorist act."Erlan Abyldaev, the Kyrgyz Foreign Minister, confirmed the bombing was a suicide attack but said the perpetrator''s motives were unclear. "Regarding the link with Islamic radicalism, we have to wait to know more until the investigation yields its full results," Abyldaev said at a press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.Kyrgyzstan is a Muslim-majority nation in Central Asia of around six million people. It is formerly part of the Soviet Union and remains a close ally of Russia.Kyrgyzstan has a large population of Chechens. They were initially displaced from Chechnya -- a Russian province -- during World War II. Moscow still battles an insurgency in Chechnya and has fought wars over the territory. It is not clear whether the metro bombing suspect has Chechen origins. Photos: Explosion on St. Petersburg trainThe damaged door of a train car is seen after an explosion on the subway in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Monday, April 3. Multiple people were killed in the blast.Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: Explosion on St. Petersburg trainSmoke fills a subway station near the blast. The explosion, which authorities described as a terrorist attack, took place on a subway car as the train was in a tunnel between the Sennaya Ploshchad and Tekhnologichesky Institut stations.Hide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: Explosion on St. Petersburg trainThe damaged train car is seen at the Tekhnologichesky Institut station in St. Petersburg. Dozens were reported injured in the blast.Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: Explosion on St. Petersburg trainThe aftermath of the explosion is evident at the Tekhnologichesky Institut subway station.Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: Explosion on St. Petersburg trainA person is rushed away from the scene on a stretcher.Hide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: Explosion on St. Petersburg trainA woman makes a phone call at the entrance to the Tekhnologichesky Institut station.Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: Explosion on St. Petersburg trainEmergency workers are seen outside the entrance to the Tekhnologichesky Institut station.Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: Explosion on St. Petersburg trainA man with bleeding hands stands outside the entrance to the Tekhnologichesky Institut station.Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: Explosion on St. Petersburg trainAn emergency-response helicopter takes off near the Tekhnologichesky Institut station.Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: Explosion on St. Petersburg trainFirefighters and ambulances respond at the Sennaya Ploshchad station.Hide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: Explosion on St. Petersburg trainPolice in the city take extra security measures after the explosion.Hide Caption 11 of 11Russian President Vladimir Putin was in St. Petersburg for a media conference the morning of the attack. At a press conference Tuesday, reporters asked Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov whether he thought the President may have been a target."Of course the fact that the terror attack happened when the head of the state was in town is a food for thought and is subject to analysis by the special services. Any terror attack that happens in the country is an attack on every single Russian citizen. Including the head of state," he responded.Analysts have speculated that the bomber could be affiliated with either a Chechen separatist group or ISIS. The bombing of a Russian MetroJet flight over the Sinai desert in Egypt, which killed all 224 people aboard, was claimed by ISISEmergency services arrive near the Tekhnologichesky Institut station Monday.Another possibility, says former CNN Moscow Bureau Chief and Woodrow Wilson Center Global Fellow Jill Dougherty, is a hybrid Chechen rebel-ISIS attack. Many Chechen fighters have gone to fight in Syria, she said, and it has long been feared that they could bring their battlefield expertise back home to carry out attacks.JUST WATCHEDRussia's bloody history of terror attacksReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRussia's bloody history of terror attacks 02:36This would fit in with Putin's theory of ISIS as an international terror network. "It makes it easier for him to make that proposal... to President Trump and the West -- 'let's get on board, let's fight terrorism together.'"However, former FBI special agent Bobby Chacon says that to stay silent after an attack goes against the ISIS modus operandi. "The first thing that's missing from an investigator's perspective is the claim of responsibility," he told CNN. Opinion: The likely culprits behind the St. Petersburg blast "Last year when two ISIS operatives attacked police officers on the outskirts of Moscow... one of the first things that was released was the video where they claimed allegiance to al-Baghdadi, the ISIS leader and ISIS itself and that's a hallmark, as we've seen in San Bernardino, of an ISIS attack." Russia was once a hotspot for terror attacks, but the country has experienced relatively few in recent years. Many previous attacks were aimed at progressing separatist causes in Russia's North Caucasus, including movements in Chechnya and Dagestan. In December 2013, a suicide bombing at a train station in Volgograd killed at least 16 people, in an attack linked to a network in Dagestan. The following day, in the same city, a suicide bombing on a trolley bus killed 14 people.Fast facts: Here's a look at ChechnyaIn 2010, two female suicide bombers linked to the Chechen insurgency blew themselves up at two Moscow metro stations, killing 40. In 2002, Chechen rebels killed 170 hostages in a theater in the capital, Moscow.CNN's Emma Burrows, Schams Elwazer, Judith Vonberg, Donie O'Sullivan, Mariya Ilyushina, Radina Gigova, Nick Thompson, Eliott C. McLaughlin, Alla Eshchenko, Sara Murray and Darran Simon contributed to this report.

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(CNN)It was arguably the most powerful emblem of the tournament that changed the way the world saw African football -- a Cameroon striker's joyous dance at a corner flag.Follow @cnnsport Nobody had really expected all that much of Cameroon at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.Not many casual observers knew that much about 38-year-old Roger Milla -- the football veteran who, after each of his four tournament goals, shimmied his way into the spotlight.Exactly a quarter of a century ago today Milla was the man on the spot in his side's last-16 clash with Colombia, scoring twice as a second-half substitute to seal a 2-1 win and continue the Indomitable Lions' heroics.After each strike he headed straight for the corner flag, gyrating in front of it in a sort of Makossa dance before being engulfed by euphoric colleagues.Read MoreHe found that his celebration, almost more than his goals, had caught people's imaginations -- and that it also had a wider and more dramatic effect. "It remains in our collective memory -- it actually changed the perception the world had of African football," Paulo Teixeira, who was working as a photographer at the tournament, told CNN."Milla dancing in front of the corner flag became a hit. It was an image of joy, of positive energy, communication through body language. "Those goals put Cameroon, and ultimately African football, on the world map."Now an agent, Teixeira was born in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) and has extensively traveled throughout Africa in his work, giving him an in-depth knowledge of the continent's football development.The 63-year-old believes the exploits of Milla and friends also began to alter the way in which people thought about footballers' diets and preparations."His, and Cameroon's, performance made scouts and clubs look differently at African players," he says. "It was proof that they could physically go beyond all expectations, almost defying science in terms of resistance. "People started to look at the way African players ate -- no bread, no desserts, no booze, no coffee, no smoking. All was natural -- vegetables, rice, white meat."Best car mascot in the world. Go on rog. #rogermilla pic.twitter.com/PPeaaP6LXk— joe penny (@joeyveng) June 1, 2015 Milla hadn't even been supposed to be in Italy for the tournament, having earlier quit the international game and traveled to the Reunion Islands to play his football.But it turned out he had admirers in high places and was persuaded to reconsider by Cameroon president Paul Biya, who then insisted on his inclusion in the World Cup squad.The Indomitable Lions faced tournament holders Argentina -- Diego Maradona and all -- in their opening match. Milla, the oldest outfield player at the event (only England goalkeeper Peter Shilton was older), played a late cameo role in the occasionally brutal 1-0 win that got Italia 90 off to a sensational start. But there was plenty more to come from Milla.Coach Valeri Nepomniachi opted to bring him on earlier in the next group game against Romania, knowing a win would seal his team's place in the knockout stages.With 76 minutes of an often tense match gone, Milla won a bouncing ball on the edge of the area, ran on and opened the scoring some 15 minutes after entering the fray. An iconic celebration was born.Four years later, he would augment his achievements by becoming the oldest-ever World Cup player and goalscorer against Russia in the United States.But it is Italia 90 with which he -- like the host nation's Toto Schillaci and England's Paul Gascoigne -- will always be most strongly associated."It might not have changed his career in financial terms," Teixeira says. "After all, he was already way past normal football age. "But he became an icon -- and that is something that money cannot buy."

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Story highlightsHorror crash in stage four of Tour de FranceMark Cavendish out of race through injuryPeter Sagan expelled for role in incidentCAS rejects Sagan appeal (CNN)A cycling sprint finish is mesmerizing to watch. Riders traveling at high speed, like a swarm of bees, jostle for position in pursuit of glory before a winner finally emerges from the bedlam.But it's also a place of danger. And it took just a flick of an elbow for chaos to engulf Tuesday's stage of the Tour de France — arguably the world's toughest professional bike race.Follow @cnnsport Arnaud Démare won the stage which ended in Vittel — becoming the first Frenchman to win a bunch sprint at the Tour for over a decade — but it was the horror crash behind him that has dominated the headlines.With 200 meters to go of stage four, Peter Sagan veered to his right and appeared to elbow Mark Cavendish, forcing him into the barrier at speeds of 60 kilometers per hour (37mph) and leaving the Briton with a fractured right shoulder blade and subsequently out of the race.Compatriot Ben Swift and Germany's John Degenkolb were also thrown from their bikes, with Sagan escaping the melee to seize second place.Read MoreAs things became clearer, Sagan expressed sympathy for his rival but, having been expelled from the race, appealed to organizers and insisted he hadn't done anything wrong. "It was a crazy sprint," he told reporters. "It wasn't the first one like that; it won't be the last one like that"The cyclist then took his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but his request to be reinstated in the race was rejected Thursday. Sagan and Cavendish had been expected to contest the Tour's sprint stages, but the absence of both cyclists has thrown the race for the event's green jersey wide open."I'm obviously massively disappointed to get this news about the fracture," said Cavendish, having crossed the line several minutes after Démare and later confirmed his withdrawal from this year's event."I feel I was in a good position to win [the stage] and to lose that and have to leave the Tour — a race I have built my whole career around — is really sad."I get on well with Peter and a crash is a crash but I'm not a fan of him putting his elbow in like that."READ: Extreme Cuba -- 1,450 kilometers in 57 hoursREAD: Chapel that's a shrine to cycling's fallen and heroesREAD: Yorkshire spawns cycling revolutionSagan gives a kick of his elbow and Cavendish (L) falls near the finish line of stage four.'Completely outrageous' The 32-year-old Cavendish, who rides for the Dimension Data team, has 30 stage wins to his name, and had been bidding to reach Belgian Eddy Merckx's all-time record number of 34.That wait must now go on, prompting Roger Hammond, Cavendish's sporting director, to describe Sagan's actions as "completely outrageous.""Elbows fellow competitor in the head ... can only result in one decision," posted Hammond, in a tweet that would later prove prophetic.Causes a big crash at 1.5 to go, elbows elbows fellow competitor in the head 300 meters... can only result in one decision. #Goodbye pic.twitter.com/xeTB0llOPF— Roger Hammond (@rog10) 4 July 2017 Sagan himself was mainly concerned with the extremity of the measure, having initially been docked 30 seconds, 80 points and relegated to 115th place on the stage before the full extent of his punishment was revealed."Mark was coming really fast from the back and I just didn't have time to react and to go left," the Bora-Hansgrohe rider explained. "He came into me and he went into the fence."When I was told after the finish that Mark had crashed, I went straight away to find out how he was doing."We are friends and colleagues in the peloton and crashes like that are never nice. I hope Mark recovers soon."Bora-Hansgrohe officials similarly rejected the claim the rider had "caused, or in any way intended to cause, the crash."But the head UCI comissaire, Philippe Marien, stated the far sterner sanction was applied because the offender "had put several other riders involved in the crash in danger" and he had sensed a moment to "set boundaries." "Before the Tour de France we warned the sprinters that we would look very closely at every sprint," said Marien. "That is what we did today.""It was not about Sagan, but about the act the rider made. What happens here, it looks like it was on purpose and it almost looks like hitting a person."It's not about Cavendish and Sagan; it could be anybody, the names won't matter."READ: Around the world in 80 days -- on a bikeCavendish (right) crosses the finish line after the crash.ReactionThe verdict has split opinion among commentators, fans and fellow riders. Retired Australian cyclist Baden Cooke, winner of the 2003 green jersey, expressed his opinion that it was "unintentional.""Sending Sagan home was a bad decision," he tweeted. "You often use your elbows to give yourself space to avoid crashing yourself."Sending Sagan home was a bad decision. It was unintentional. You often use your elbows to give yourself space to avoid crashing yourself.— Baden Cooke (@badencooke) 4 July 2017 Former Vuelta a España champion Chris Horner, meanwhile, said he "totally disagreed" with the decision, urging organizers to reinstate the five-time green jersey winner.Just saw the finish of today's @LeTour stage. Totally disagree with the decision to DQ Sagan. Put @petosagan back in the race!— Chris Horner (@hornerakg) 4 July 2017 It was a sentiment shared by former rider Jens Voigt, who contended the disqualification was "too much."So in my private opinion-the disqualification is too much.I am ok with -80 points in green jersey,last place today and timepenalty for sagan— Jens Voigt (@thejensie) 4 July 2017 But Dimension Data performance director Ralf Adag said: "If it's in rule book that you can elbow someone with 200m to go, we need to rewrite the rules."Team Sky's Geraint Thomas, the early holder of the yellow jersey, also fell on stage four but reassured fans he was fit to continue, urging Cavendish to "heal up quick."Cavendish, 32, is four Tour de France stage wins behind Eddy Merckx's all-time record number of 34.Do you think Sagan should have been disqualified? Have your say on CNN Sport's Facebook pageAs it stands, Sagan is the first world champion to be thrown off the race since 1998, when Frenchman Laurent Brochard was disqualified for his role in the Festina drug scandal.He is also the first rider of any standing to be removed from the competition since 2010, when Australia's Mark Renshaw -- then leading out Cavendish for Team HTC-Columbia -- appeared to headbutt rival Julian Dean during a comparable sprint finish.

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(CNN)Having last won a German Bundesliga game just under a year ago, Schalke ended that dismal record in some style on Saturday -- comfortably beating Hoffenheim 4-0 on Saturday.Matthew Hoppe was the star of the Schalke show as he became the first-ever American player to score a hat-trick in the Bundesliga. Armine Harit, assisted all three of Hoppe's goals, before the Moroccan netted Schalke's fourth.Hoppe only made his Schalke debut in November and Saturday marked the first time he had scored a goal in the Bundesliga.Schalke's US forward Matthew Hoppe, 19, made his debut for the Bundesliga in November.isit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosSchalke's victory ensured that Tasmania Berlin continues to hold the winless Bundesliga record of 31 matches.Read MoreTasmania Berlin has a certain pride in its record, posting on its official Facebook page after Schalke failed to equal the Bundesliga's winless landmark, saying "How cool is that?"Tasmania established the record of 31 games without a win during the 1965-1966 season, the only time the club has played in the top flight of German football.However, according to the Bundesliga website, Schalke's barren spell -- 358 days -- is the longest. Before Saturday's victory, Schalke previous win came on January 17, 2020 when the Ruhr-based club beat Borussia Monchengladbach 2-0.Hoppe's hat-trick was the first time the American had scored in the Bundesliga.READ: 17-year-old lights up English football with goal -- and smileAlready this season, Schalke has had four coaches following Christian Gross' appointment in December. David Wagner was replaced by Manuel Baum in September, before Huub Stevens oversaw a couple of games.Saturday's 4-0 win also ended Schalke's run of 26 matches without a clean sheet.The victory moved Schalke off the bottom of the Bundesliga table -- Gross' team is on seven points, one ahead of Mainz."The relief is big, huge even. But that was only one step. Now we have to move on," Schalke's head of sport Jochen Schneider told reporters. "I hope we keep fighting," added Hoppe.Mainz replace Schalke at the bottom of the table after a 2-0 home defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, while Tasmania Berlin, who went 31

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Story highlightsRudy deLeon: Vietnam War shook a generation of AmericansAmericans facing similar challenges to those at end of Vietnam War, he saysRudy deLeon is a senior fellow with the national security and international policy team at the Center for American Progress and a former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense. The views expressed are his own. Watch "The Seventies" episode "Peace With Honor" at 9 p.m. ET Thursday on CNN. (CNN)When the 1970s began, I was a 17-year-old in my last year of high school.The first half of the decade seemed like an extension of the 1960s: the fight for equal rights for all Americans continued; the first moves toward environmental protection were initiated along with Earth Day; the Beatles announced their break-up; and an oil embargo from the Middle East brought long lines at gas stations and soaring prices. Throughout all this, the American people conducted a vigorous and polarizing debate on how to end the war in Vietnam. By the end of the decade, America was trying to regain its standing and ideals and recover from a crisis of confidence following the conclusion of a long and traumatic war. It was a conflict that molded the country in many ways, large and small.But five key legacies of the Vietnam War stand out as having shaped the nation -- and indeed, continue to do so today:Rudy deLeonRead More1. The end of the draftSensing the public's disenchantment with the war, the White House of Richard Nixon moved to abolish the draft and shifted to an all-volunteer force before the 1972 election. It would take a generation for this all-volunteer force to become the modern, highly capable military that it is today. But the end of the draft was a significant milestone in the country's relationship with its military and won immediate favor with the mothers of draft age sons and on college campuses.2. 18-year-olds granted the right to voteThe cliche that 18-year-olds could be drafted but not vote in a presidential election (although the prime age for being drafted was actually 19 while all 18-year-old men were required to register with selective service) produced a rapid response from the House and Senate.The Nixon White House, recognizing the electoral significance of this newly enfranchised population, courted the 18-year-old vote with mailings on the end of the draft as well as posters of the presidential visit to China. In addition, Nixon maximized his appeal to the "great silent majority" symbolized by the "hard hat" construction workers in New York who would become the forerunners of the Reagan Democrats. This initial foray into "wedge politics" would help Nixon win a controversial re-election in 1972 in a landslide. In that election, 55.4% of the newly franchised young voters would go to the polls, the highest in history.3. Banding together of military familiesThe families of American POWs and MIAs (Prisoner of War and Missing in Action) joined together to flex their political muscle and to make sure that America did not forget the men unaccounted for in the war. Walking the halls of Congress and the Pentagon insisting that "you are not forgotten," the POW-MIA league of families ensured that members of the Armed Services of the United States would always be respected for their service, even as the country debated the policies that sent them into war. To this day, about 1,600 American men who fought in the Vietnam War remain unaccounted for, and their grandchildren continue to assemble in their names. The men and women who serve in the Armed Services deserve and have earned the enduring respect of their nation, even as strategy and policies are controversial. 4. War: Getting out is tougher than getting in The Vietnam War serves as an important lesson for today's national security policymakers. Primarily, there is the Vietnam (and now Iraq) lesson, which cautions that getting out of a war is much more complicated than getting into conflict, especially for a democracy such as our own. During the Reagan years, the Pentagon offered a doctrine on military engagement requiring clear policy objectives, public support before engagement and a predesigned exit strategy. Indeed, President George H. W. Bush held to many of these principles during the 1991 Persian Gulf War by ceasing military operations and exiting once the core military objective of liberating Kuwait had been achieved. But a decade later, the painful lessons of Vietnam surfaced again as U.S. forces went back to Iraq and found themselves locked into a ground war that lacked a clear political and diplomatic solution. 5. The rise of China and the toll of WatergateThe pressures to exit Vietnam produced two very different but highly consequential Nixon White House decisions. First, the opening to China was driven by Cold War political realignment as American troops were departing Asia. In many respects, the trip to China had a bigger impact on future events than the moon trips of the same period. China, fed by its opening to the West in early 1972, has become a global economic and political colossus. But, while the trip to China had a lasting impact, other decisions made at the same time had drastic consequences. The creation of the plumbers unit to "plug" the leaks on Vietnam planning at the Pentagon led to a constitutional crisis called Watergate, and a confrontation with Congress that led to the only presidential resignation. Together, the China trip and Watergate scandal would shape American politics for decades.The transformative effect of the Vietnam War on the 1970s is therefore clear as a generation of Americans were shaken by political events at home and abroad.It's also worth noting that Americans face similar challenges today: war fatigue from a decade-long engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan and the politics of distrust in Washington, a city that seems out of touch with the rest of America. The question now is whether, as in the 1970s, these events will invoke a renewed sense of conviction to press ahead to build a better America for the future. I am confident that they will.Follow us on Twitter @CNNOpinion.Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion. Read CNNOpinion's Flipboard magazine.JUST WATCHEDThe other September 11thReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH (24 Videos)The other September 11thThe decade of a thousand bombingsBloody Sunday: 'A dramatic and awful overreaction''Hugh Hefner is my enemy'Who mobilized the gay community?Was 'Jaws' the ultimate summer blockbuster?The fight for women's rightsThings you never knew about PongRunning and screaming: the photo that changed a warVietnam POWs return homeTroops fight to survive the end of the Vietnam warVietnam War's final chaotic momentsCrosby, Stills & Nash on 'Ohio'Behind the biggest break-in of the 1970'sNixon's enemies listNixon's Saturday night massacreThe end of a presidencyName that 70's TV show! Getting real: Explicit language on TV in the seventiesWomen in TV: From entry-level jobs to power playersA '70s television revolutionWomen's Lib, with a laugh trackThe fight over the 'Family Hour'Nixon no fan of Archie Bunker

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London (CNN)UK health workers are preparing to reactivate seven emergency Covid-19 field hospitals, as a surge of coronavirus cases fueled by the spread of a new, more contagious variant threatens to overwhelm intensive care units.A spokesperson for the National Health Service (NHS) told CNN on Saturday that those in charge of the field hospitals -- hastily set up during the first wave of the pandemic but largely mothballed since -- were asked on December 23 to "get services ready to use."Some London hospitals are now almost two-thirds full with Covid-19 patients, President of the Royal College of Physicians Andrew Goddard said Saturday.His warning came as the UK recorded its highest daily rise in coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, with 57,725 new cases registered Saturday and a further 445 deaths, according to the government's dashboard.In an interview with CNN affiliate ITV News, Goddard said: "If you look at the data, some of the hospitals in London at the moment... almost two-thirds of their beds that are available are filled with Covid patients and that is just a staggering statistic and has to make us wonder if this is going to happen across the whole of the UK."Read More2020 stretched the social fabric of the United Kingdom. 2021 could rip it to pieces"There is no doubt the new variant is more transmissible and the escalation of cases that we've seen in South Wales, London, Essex and the South East has been at a much greater rate than we've seen with the previous strains," Goddard added.The emergency field hospitals which may soon come into play are called NHS Nightingale, after the pioneering nurse Florence Nightingale. In London, the huge ExCel convention center in the Docklands area was converted to offer up to 500 beds equipped with ventilators and oxygen. But only a few dozen patients received treatment there in the spring. Questions have previously been asked about how the Nightingale hospitals will be staffed given that hospitals are already struggling to meet demand.According to the government's latest healthcare data on January 1, there were 22,534 coronavirus patients in hospitals across England. This is higher than the almost 19,000 during the April peak.Doctors have made impassioned appeals to the public to stay at home and follow government guidelines on social distancing as hospitals and other health care services come under intense pressure.Intensive care doctor Rupert Pearse, at the Royal London Hospital in east London, tweeted Saturday that he was working on the Covid ICU again. "Almost all my patients are less than 60 years old and previously fit. Some are very young. If you think this disease can't touch you then think again," he said.In another message posted Thursday, Pearse said: "Media reports of pressures on the NHS are all true. The situation in London is now MUCH worse than the first wave, and still deteriorating. Sad to see long queues of ambulances outside the hospital where I work."Ambulances are parked outside the NHS Nightingale hospital at the ExCel centre in east London on January 1, 2021.'Record numbers' of Covid patientsLondon Mayor Sadiq Khan told CNN that the capital's hospitals were dealing with "record numbers" of Covid-19 patients on top of the normal, non-Covid winter surge in demand."We now have in the hospitals in London more Covid patients than at any time during this pandemic and the NHS in London, hospitals in London and our fantastic health workers in London are stretched," Khan said Thursday. Khan said he was "concerned" about hospitals becoming overwhelmed but added that the NHS had the flexibility to increase capacity, for example by canceling certain routine, elective surgeries."But the big worry we do have is, if we continue to see an increase in the virus spreading, it's possible that hospitals won't have the ability to cope and that's particularly the concern because we have not yet reached the normal January, non-Covid peak," he said.Asked whether the military could step in to help with new patients, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told Times Radio on Thursday: "Of course we stand ready to help with Nightingales if the critical pressures go beyond the capacity of the existing NHS."He said the Army currently had about 5,000 personnel deployed in the Covid-19 response.A general view of social distancing signs displayed at Coldfall Primary School in Muswell Hill on January 2, 2021 in London, England. Most of England is now under the toughest level of restrictions to try to limit the virus' spread. Amid the worsening situation, ministers were forced to reverse a decision to reopen some primary schools in London next week, after coming under pressure from local authorities and teaching unions. All schools in London will now switch to remote learning from Monday, when the new term starts, with only vulnerable and critical worker children allowed to attend in person.The change of course came only two days after the UK Department for Education said nine London boroughs and the City of London would keep primary schools open, while those in 23 other boroughs would remain closed. Khan tweeted Friday that the government had "finally seen sense and U-turned" on its plan to open schools in some areas.Vaccine roll-out planThe UK government is pinning its hopes for a route out of disaster on a swift roll-out of the two vaccines now approved for use by the national regulatory agency.UK chief medical officers defend delay of second Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine dosesMore than half a million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine will be available from Monday, according to UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock, with millions more to follow in the coming weeks. Batches of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine began arriving Saturday at hospitals in England, the PA news agency reported. Among the first to receive a batch was the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, West Sussex.Dr. George Findlay, chief medical officer and deputy chief executive for the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, said the hospital expected to give the vaccine to hundreds of people a day starting from next week.The vaccine is cheaper and easier to distribute than the Pfizer/BioNTech jab, approved for use in the UK in early December, because it can be kept at regular refrigerator temperatures for at least six months.Plans announced Wednesday by the head of the UK's medicines regulator, MHRA, to delay giving second doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in order to prioritize first doses for as many vulnerable people as possible have prompted opposition from doctors' groups.The new strategy means that the interval between doses could be extended to up to 12 weeks, instead of the three weeks previously stipulated. However, Pfizer has said it has no data to show that just a single dose of its vaccine would provide protection against the disease after more than 21 days.More than 1,000 fines issued after illegal New Year's party in France breaches coronavirus restrictionsThe deputy chairman of the UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, Anthony Harnden, defended the dosing strategy in an interview Saturday with the BBC."We're not saying you shouldn't have a second dose. We're saying the second dose can be temporarily delayed to get more people vaccinated," Harnden said. "We're in a dire situation in this country at the moment, the virus is rapidly spreading and the more vaccine we can get into these priority groups, the more deaths and hospitalizations we can prevent."UK regulators have also advised giving the second dose of the newly approved Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine four to 12 weeks later. Public Health England's Head of Immunisations Dr. Mary Ramsay said Saturday that mixing Covid-19 vaccines is not recommended. Her comment clarified the UK's position on vaccine mixing after an update to the government's vaccine playbook on December 31 said the interchangeability of Covid-19 vaccines was a "reasonable" option.Members of the public are seen on a quiet Princess Street on Hogmanay on December 31, 2020 in Edinburgh, Scotland.New variant more prevalent in under-20sEven if the government achieves its aim of swiftly inoculating millions of elderly and clinically vulnerable people, thereby reducing Covid-related hospital admissions, the UK faces some tough weeks ahead."It is a pretty grim and depressing picture at the moment" in England, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van Tam told a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday. "It is almost certainly true that the NHS has not yet seen the impact of the infections that will have occurred during mixing in Christmas and that unfortunately is rather sobering."As of January 1, at least 30 countries, including the United States, had reported cases of the more infectious variant of the coronavirus first detected in the UK.A study authored by a collaborative team from Imperial College London, University of Edinburgh, Public Health England and others confirmed that the variant had greater transmissibility and was more prevalent in people under 20 years of age.While the study, released Thursday, found that people aged under 20 make up a greater proportion of cases of the new variant of the virus, its authors said it was too early to determine the reasons for this, adding that further research was ongoing.There's no evidence that the variant is any more deadly or causes more severe disease, according to health officials.CNN's Sarah Dean, Eleanor Pickston, Sharon Braithwaite and Hira Humayun contributed to this report.

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(CNN)Police said they have uncovered "significant evidence" in the Manchester Arena bombing investigation and they want the public's help.Greater Manchester Police found a gym bag (described as a holdall) in a white Nissan Micra seized in the Rusholme area of Manchester, on June 2. Investigators said bomber Salman Abedi made repeated trips to and from this car between May 18 and 22."We believe he was taking items from the car to help assemble the device," police said."Forensic examination has uncovered significant evidence inside. We now need any information you might have about this holdall. Did you see someone in the Rusholme area with this holdall or recognize the one on the photo?"These images of car and bag were released by Manchester Police.Abedi detonated a bomb that killed 22 people -- many of them children and young people -- who were leaving an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena. Read MorePolice said the car was sold by its previous owner on April 13 and that Abedi left the country on April 15."It is vital we understand what happened to this car during these few days," police said. "We need to know who was in the car and where it went."Ariana Grande holds benefit concert in wake of terror attacksPolice said they are making "significant progress" in the investigation of the May 22 attack. A 38-year-old man was arrested at London's Heathrow Airport in connection with the attack, police said in a statement late Tuesday. The statement said the man was arrested on suspicion of "offenses contrary to the Terrorism Act" and remains in custody. Police said the arrest was planned and there was no direct threat to the airport. A total of seven men remain in custody for questioning.Though Abedi seems to have acted alone the night of the attack, police said that doesn't mean he did not have help in the lead-up. "It is vital we exhaust all our lines of inquiry to establish how this was planned and understand how others might have been involved," police said. CNN's Simon Cullen contributed to this report.

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(CNN)Protests broke out in Barcelona Sunday after news that Catalonia's former separatist leader Carles Puigdemont had been detained in Germany. The ex-president of Spain's northern Catalonia region is being held at a police station in Germany, according to a tweet from his lawyer, Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas. Puigdemont was en route to Belgium from Finland and was detained after crossing the border from Denmark. German police said in a statement that Puigdemont was arrested in the northernmost state of Schleswig-Holstein. Protesters scuffle with riot police at a demonstration in Barcelona on March 25, 2018.Puigdemont has lived in self-imposed exile in Belgium since October, after spearheading Catalonia's referendum on whether to secede from Spain.The independence drive plunged the country into its worst political crisis in decades, with Madrid denouncing the referendum as illegal and calling for Puigdemont's arrest.A protester is pulled by riot police blocking the road leading to the central government in Barcelona on March 25, 2018.Read MoreSpanish authorities accuse Puigdemont of rebellion, sedition and misuse of funds over his role in the referendum, in which 90% of voters were in favor of a split from Madrid. However voter turnout was low -- around 42% -- and Catalan authorities blamed the figure on the election day crackdown initiated by the national government.JUST WATCHEDHistorian: Catalan leader 'an extreme nationalist'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHistorian: Catalan leader 'an extreme nationalist' 05:27Thousands protest, state TV reportsThousands of pro-independence protesters took part in demonstrations in Barcelona, carrying Catalonian flags and banners with slogans emblazoned across them, state media outlet RTVE reported on its website. Crowds were heading for the office of the European Commission on Sunday evening. Footage posted on social media shows crowds meeting with police wearing helmets, but the protests appeared to be peaceful. Els sonriures s' han acabat A post shared by Rafa (@antropomorpho) on Mar 25, 2018 at 10:58am PDT A spokesman for the Catalonian police said one protester was arrested after launching an object against police.A spokesman for the regional police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra, later said four people were arrested during the demonstrations, and the Catalan Emergency Services said about 50 people received medical attention for mild injuries. Seguirem dia rere dia fins que totes siguem lliures o totes siguem mortes o empresonades ✊🏻 #llibertatpresospolitics #llibertatpresospolítics #freedom #freedomforcatalonia #elscarrersseransemprenostres #catalunya #llibertat #primaveracatalana #catalonia #cataloniaisnotspain A post shared by Juanan GS (@juanangs86) on Mar 25, 2018 at 9:35am PDT Puigdemont battles from abroadSince fleeing to Belgium, Puigdemont has fought a war of words with Madrid from afar. But Madrid, which has maintained it has the law on its side, has waited out the crisis, refusing to allow Puigdemont to rule from abroad.Other members of his political entourage have been jailed in Madrid, and are now awaiting trial over their roles in the independence push.JUST WATCHEDCatalan parliament passes independence voteReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCatalan parliament passes independence vote 00:52Madrid imposed direct rule on Catalonia after the independence declaration, stripping the autonomous region of many of its administrative powers.It has shown no sign that it plans to withdraw from Catalonia, though it will likely do so if a candidate it regards as legitimate is anointed president.Madrid called a snap election for December last year in hope of having a more moderate Catalan government to deal with, but its plan backfired when the region voted a majority of pro-independence MPs into parliament, maintaining the status quo.The region has been without an official leader since Puigdemont fled to Belgium.CNN's Claudia Dominguez, Duarte Mendonca, Angela Dewan and Sheena McKenzie contributed to this report.

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(CNN)Hungary has banned people from legally changing gender, in a move rights groups said could lead to further intolerance and discrimination against the LGBTQ community in the country. The parliament voted Tuesday to stop transgender and intersex people from changing their gender on identity documents.Lawmakers voted -- with 134 votes in favor, 56 votes against and four abstentions -- to define gender on the basis of "sex at birth," as registered on a birth certificate.Amnesty International researcher Krisztina Tamás-Sáróy said in a statement published online: "This decision pushes Hungary back towards the dark ages and tramples the rights of transgender and intersex people. It will not only expose them to further discrimination but will also deepen an already intolerant and hostile environment faced by the LGBTI community."Hungarian rights group Hatter Society said the law violated a constitutional fundamental right and had been opposed by the European Parliament and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It said LGBTI organizations were now requesting the law be sent for review to the Constitutional Court.Read MoreThe Constitutional Court is the principal organ protecting the democratic state through the rule of law, and decides on the constitutionality of acts of parliament and other cases.While Hungary is a member of the European Union, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been forging his own path in recent years, passing a rash of laws that EU leaders have warned will undermine the country's democracy. However, the government defended the law, telling CNN in an emailed statement that the law "does not affect men's and women's right to freely experience and exercise their identities as they wish."In no way does the relevant section of the bill that some people criticize prevent any person from exercising their fundamental rights arising from their human dignity or from living according their identity, just as the state cannot normatively instruct anybody what to think."Two men have been charged in the shooting deaths of two transgender women in Puerto RicoEarlier this month, Hungary dropped points in a ranking of European countries for LGBTI rights by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) because of "policies targeting LGBTI communities."Darienne Flemington, co-chair of the ILGA-Europe executive board, said the then proposed ban on legal gender recognition was among "alarming signals of how governments with strong authoritarian tendencies are emboldened by the crisis to further limit the rights of vulnerable groups and minorities."Hungary currently recognizes legal unions for same-sex couples, but the ruling Fidesz party and its leader, Orban, oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage. Coca-Cola faced a backlash from politicians and conservative activists in Hungary last August after running ads that included images of same-sex couples kissing and holding bottles of Coke.At least one leading politician from the Fidesz party and conservative media outlets called for boycotting Coke products or banning the ad campaign.In 2018, the Hungarian State Opera canceled a third of its performances of the stage musical "Billy Elliot" for this month and July amid criticism by a pro-government media outlet.But a 2017 poll by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association found that more than 60% of the country's residents believe equal rights should be afforded to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation.

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(CNN)Britain's Prince William has narrated a one-minute film encouraging millions of soccer fans to think about their mental health.The first weekend of January traditionally marks the staging of the third round of the English FA Cup -- one of the world's most famous knockout competition -- and the "Take A Minute" film will be shown at stadiums ahead of all 32 fixtures that will be played across Saturday, Sunday and Monday.Kickoff times will be delayed by 60 seconds show the film, which will also be broadcast on TV and online.Along with his brother, Prince Harry, William has highlighted a number of mental health causes. A devoted Aston Villa fan, Prince William is president of the English Football Association (FA) and works closely with the governing body on a number of issues related to the sport.A collaboration between Public Health England's (PHE) Every Mind Matters , the FA and Heads Together's Heads Up campaign, the film features leading soccer stars such as Harry Maguire, Alex Scott, Dele Alli, Jordan Pickford, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Son Heung-Min and Hamza Choudhury, as well as managers Frank Lampard and Slaven Bilic.Read More"It's hugely important for men to think about their mental health and take action where they can," said Chelsea manager Lampard. "I came from a family where we bottled up a lot of emotions, feelings and sometimes anxieties."I think a huge thing now is the great campaigns that are going on encouraging people to speak openly about looking after your mental health and not feel bad about how you feel inside. I think as men, sometimes we can think that it's a weakness but it certainly isn't. It's a huge strength."Tottenham Hotspur star Alli added: "There are so many people struggling with their mental health, so I want to help people understand that they don't have to deal with it alone. There are a lot of people out there that can help, and there are steps you can take to make sure your mental well being is the best it can be."READ: Liverpool breaking records and opponents' resolveManchester City is the current FA Cup holder.Last year, the Duke of Cambridge opened up in a BBC documentary about the loss of his mother, Princess Diana, saying he felt "pain like no other" after her death in a car accident in 1997 when he was 15 years old. He also said British people -- particularly men -- should feel comfortable talking about mental health issues."I think when you are bereaved at a very young age -- any time really, but particularly at a young age, I can resonate closely to that -- you feel pain like no other pain, and you know that in your life it's going to be very difficult to come across something that's going to be even worse pain than that," William said.He added: "Particularly in Britain as well, we are nervous about our emotions. We're a bit embarrassed at times. You know, the British 'stiff upper lip' thing -- that's great, and we need to have that occasionally, when times are really hard there has to be a moment for that."But otherwise, we've got to relax a little bit, and be able to talk about our emotions, because we're not robots."There are more than 15 million football fans in England, 69% of whom are men, according to PHE.A YouGov survey commissioned by PHE shows men in England are less likely than women to seek help or take self-care actions to address common mental health concerns.In October, Prince William and Prince George, along with the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte, were spotted celebrating in the stands as their favorite team Aston Villa thrashed Norwich 5-1 in the English Premier League.

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Dean Obeidallah, a former attorney, is the host of SiriusXM radio's daily program "The Dean Obeidallah Show" and a columnist for The Daily Beast. Follow him @DeanObeidallah. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion articles on CNN.Dean Obeidallah (CNN) There are more questions than answers about the new Covid-19 variant known as Omicron first identified Thursday by South Africa's health minister. Still, with the World Health Organization announcing Friday Omicron is a "variant of concern" and vaccine manufacturer Moderna adding the variant poses "a significant potential risk," alarm bells are sounding in the United States and across the world about what it may mean for all of us. This new variant may simply be a continuation of the same battle against Covid-19 that began in early 2020. But vaccine makers say there's a possibility our vaccines won't be effective against Omicron. Are we at risk of going back to square one against the pandemic? Read MoreWhile we await more details from scientists, this is the time for President Joe Biden and his administration to give a master class in effective and honest leadership in the face of a potential new crisis. Biden has already stepped up on that front, announcing just hours after South Africa's health minister released information about the new variant, flights have been banned from seven African nations where the variant has been spreading (in contrast, in early 2020, Former President Donald Trump waited until after 45 other countries had banned flights from China — given the virus spread there — to impose a ban of flights from that nation into the United States). From here, Biden should hold regular press briefings to update Americans on new developments, and, as he did when he first took office, these coronavirus briefings should be led by medical experts who can provide scientifically-based information to a nation eager to know. But Biden should be there himself to show Americans he is in charge, and on top of this. In a crisis, Americans look to the President for leadership. In fact, in March 2020, at the outset of the pandemic, then President Trump saw his approval ratings rise as Americans rallied around him in the face of a crisis.Omicron variant puts a chill on Thanksgiving weekend But the bump in the polls for Trump was short-lived. No doubt Trump's plummeting approval ratings were caused by his spewing lies and misinformation about the virus, even suggesting ingesting "disinfectants" to defeat it. Trump also chose to model dangerous behavior during the pandemic by literally mocking people for wearing masks and repeatedly holding events in violation of social distancing guidelines at a time when there were no vaccines to protect us. PolitiFact summed up well Trump's overall message about the deadly pandemic: "The threat to your health was overhyped to hurt the political fortunes of the president." Even though Trump is out of office, we got a reminder Friday of Trumpian-style lies about the virus from Trump's former advisor Stephen Miller. While on Fox News, Miller declared if Trump were still in office, "We would already have modified vaccines that deal with the new variant." Obviously, that's a lie. The variant was only first announced on Thursday and vaccine manufacturers explained Friday it will take about two weeks to study Omicron. From there, if all goes well, it will take about six weeks to adapt their vaccines accordingly, with the hope being 100 days later a "reformulated" vaccine can be rolled out. If Trump were in office — given his track record — it's far more likely he would have dismissed the new variant as "fake news," or at least downplayed, if he felt it would hurt him or the GOP politically. But the bar for Biden's leadership is not — and cannot be — simply being better than a failed, one-term President. Get our free weekly newsletterSign up for CNN Opinion's newsletter.Join us on Twitter and FacebookBiden shouldn't be hesitant in delivering the hard truths to the public. He should also announce plans now about how he would rapidly deliver the new Omicron-tweaked vaccine shots into arms, if needed, much the way his administration did with the original vaccines after he took office. (Reminder: When Biden took office, the Trump administration was averaging a little over 700,000 vaccines injected a day. Biden expanded that to averaging over three million vaccines a day within a few months before the numbers declined). This is not about politics but saving lives, and our economy. This is a time for President Biden to show Americans what effective, science-driven, compassionate leadership looks like. It's a crisis like this that explains why Americans chose to elect Joe Biden as president.

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Moscow (CNN)It's marching season in Moscow: Over the weekend, police detained more than 1,000 people in protests over municipal elections scheduled for September. Independent monitors put the number of arrests much higher. According to OVD-Info, an independent site that monitors arrests, 1,373 people were detained in connection with Saturday's unsanctioned protests, which came a week after a legal demonstration in support of free and fair elections drew over 20,000 people, according to White Counter, a group that monitors attendance figures at protests. The question, now, is whether protests in Moscow will build more national momentum -- and how the Kremlin will respond if they do.Members of the Russian National Guard detain a protester during an unauthorised rally in downtown Moscow on July 27, 2019.The protests were spurred by local politics: A move by local election authorities to keep independent and opposition candidates off the ballot in September's elections. But demonstrations have become a barometer of discontent with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as a gauge of the Russian government's willingness to crack down on dissent.Unlike in the much larger marches in Hong Kong, authorities in Moscow have not deployed tear gas or fired rubber bullets. But eyewitnesses to Saturday's protest, including CNN reporters, saw well-equipped riot police cordon off the crowds, with squads of helmeted officers surging into the crowd to detain and disperse protesters, truncheons at the ready.Read MoreAuthorities signaled in advance that protests would be dealt with severely. In advance of Saturday's rally, police warned Muscovites to stay away, saying their security would not be guaranteed if they chose to take part in an unsanctioned march to the Moscow mayor's office. More than 1,000 people were detained during election protests in Moscow at the weekend.Police also made a pre-emptive effort to thwart the organizers. In the days running up to Saturday's protest, authorities rounded up a number of prominent opposition figures. Among those detained was top opposition leader Alexey Navalny, who was arrested as he went out for a morning jog and to buy flowers for his wife's birthday. JUST WATCHEDNavalny: Putin's regime is built on corruption (2018) ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNavalny: Putin's regime is built on corruption (2018) 03:23The day after the rally, attention shifted to Navalny himself, after the opposition leader was hospitalized for an "acute allergic reaction." Later on Sunday, Navalny's spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, quoted a Facebook post by Navalny's personal physician who was able to observe him at the hospital where he was taken from a Moscow detention center. "We cannot rule out toxic damage to the skin and mucous membranes by an unknown chemical substance with the help of a certain 'third person,'" the post read, adding that visiting doctors had not been given full access to Navalny. Doctors were able to examine him Monday.On Monday, Yarmysh said authorities had ordered the Kremlin critic back to jail. While his condition apparently had improved, Navalny's sudden illness prompted worried speculation. The opposition leader has been physically attacked before, and was partially blinded in one eye in 2017 when he was splashed with an antiseptic green dye.While the cause of Navalny's illness is still unknown -- a physician who examined him said no toxicology report was available -- one thing is clear: Russian opposition figures continue to face physical threats, intimidation and violence. Vladimir Putin is not invincible In 2014, members of the punk performance-art group Pussy Riot were beaten by security officials in the Winter Olympics host city of Sochi. One year later, Boris Nemtsov, Russia's most prominent opposition figure, was gunned down on a bridge near Red Square. And poisonings are not unheard of: Anna Politkovskaya, a renowned investigative journalist, claimed to have been poisoned in 2004. She was later assassinated in 2006, on Putin's birthday. At Saturday's march, one of the slogans marchers chanted was, "Russia will be free." But the Kremlin, up to this point, has been officially silent on the weekend's events. On the day of the protest, state news was covering a classic Putin photo opportunity: The president descending to the bottom of the Gulf of Finland in a bathyscaphe to observe a submarine that sank during World War II. These manly adventures have been a cornerstone of Putin's popular appeal. But it remains to be seen if the president's bare-chested patriotism will be enough to appease those Russians who are willing to take to the streets.

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Story highlightsMore than 300 wounded Libyans will be treated in Germany in the next 10 days111 Libyans are already receiving treatment in GermanyThe United States plans to treat at least 28 wounded Libyan fightersThe Libyans are being taken abroad because their wounds can't be treated in LibyaMore than 300 wounded Libyans will arrive in Germany to be treated in hospitals within the next 10 days in an operation approved by Libya's interim government, the German Foreign Ministry said Friday."Our expectation of the amount of the wounded Libyans treated in German hospitals changes each hour," said Thomas Holz of the German health service Almeda. According to Almeda's marketing chief Michael Blasius, the company expects the number of Libyan patients to rise.Already, 111 Libyans who arrived in 20 planes are receiving treatment in German civilian hospitals. Four further planes were expected to land in German territory Friday."Some of those patients will be transferred to countries like France, Great Britain, Turkey and the U.S.," Blasius told CNN on Friday. JUST WATCHEDSaif Gadhafi to turn himself in? ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSaif Gadhafi to turn himself in? 05:54JUST WATCHEDDo Libyans care who killed Gadhafi?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDo Libyans care who killed Gadhafi? 02:23The United States plans to provide treatment for at least 28 wounded Libyan fighters. U.S. officials said Thursday that at least 24 would be taken to a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, because their wounds cannot be treated in Libya. An additional four will go to U.S. medical facilities in Germany, according to Major Janelle Jeffrey of the U.S. Africa Command, based in Stuttgart, Germany.Libya's National Transitional Council requested the U.S. medical treatment, which is being offered as a humanitarian gesture and support for Libya's democratic aspirations, U.S. officials said.Almeda said it received the health service request by Libya's new Finance Ministry on October 14. Four days later, the first military plane arrived in Germany with dozens of wounded Libyans.That was a day after German Economy Minister Philipp Roesler announced Germany would offer medical help to the NTC.Three so-called "scouting teams" are currently screening Libyan and Tunisian hospitals, searching for heavily injured Libyans who might benefit from treatment abroad. Almeda told CNN there would be two further scouting teams in Tunisia and Libya at the beginning of next week. Many wounded Libyans had already received treatment in Tunisia, according to Blasius.

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Story highlightsMichael Jordan speaks out on the recent shootings of African-Americans and police officersJordan donates $1 million each to a police charity and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (CNN)"I can no longer stay silent."So says Michael Jordan, widely considered the best NBA player of all time but someone who has refrained from using his celebrity to take a public stand on social issues.Jordan, who owns the Charlotte Hornets, published a one-page letter on The Undefeated, a new ESPN platform dedicated to exploring the intersections of race, sports and culture. In that letter, posted Monday, Jordan said that he would be donating $1 million each to the International Association of Chiefs of Police's newly established Institute for Community-Police Relations and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.The Hall of Famer also sheds light on violence from a personal perspective. Jordan's father, James Jordan, was gunned down by two robbers in 1993."As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, and a black man, I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers," Jordan wrote. "I grieve with the families who have lost loved ones, as I know their pain all too well.Read MoreNBA to move All-Star Game over North Carolina law"I was raised by parents who taught me to love and respect people regardless of their race or background, so I am saddened and frustrated by the divisive rhetoric and racial tensions that seem to be getting worse as of late. I know this country is better than that, and I can no longer stay silent. We need to find solutions that ensure people of color receive fair and equal treatment AND that police officers -- who put their lives on the line every day to protect us all -- are respected and supported."Jordan's letter comes two and a half weeks after an Army veteran shot and killed five police officers in Dallas, saying he was angry over police shootings of black men.Jordan also wrote that while he has the "greatest respect" for the sacrifice and service of people in law enforcement, he recognizes that his experiences with law enforcement are different for him than for many other people of color."I have decided to speak out in the hope that we can come together as Americans, and through peaceful dialogue and education, achieve constructive change," he said.As a star player with lucrative endorsement deals, Jordan wasn't known for taking a stand on issues, prompting NBA icon and activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to say in an NPR interview in November that Jordan "took commerce over conscience."But that appears to have changed in recent months.Prior to his letter, Jordan spoke out on North Carolina's controversial bathroom bill in his efforts to keep the NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte."As my organization has stated previously, the Charlotte Hornets and Hornets Sports & Entertainment are opposed to discrimination in any form, and we have always sought to provide an inclusive environment," Jordan said in a statement to the Charlotte Observer in April.The 2017 All-Star Game ultimately was moved from Charlotte and will be played at a yet-to-be-determined location.NBA, Michael Jordan join talks over gender bathroom billJordan also issued a strong statement in April 2014 about former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who was banned for life by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after making racist remarks to his then-girlfriend about not wanting her to bring black people to games."I look at this from two perspectives -- as a current owner and a former player," Jordan said then. "As an owner, I'm obviously disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such sickening and offensive views. ... As a former player, I'm completely outraged. There is no room in the NBA -- or anywhere else -- for the kind of racism and hatred that Mr. Sterling allegedly expressed. "I am appalled that this type of ignorance still exists within our country and at the highest levels of our sport. In a league where the majority of players are African-American, we cannot and must not tolerate discrimination at any level."

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Story highlightsRare film dates back to 1928 -- the same year Mickey Mouse was createdA researcher re-discovered the "holy grail" of Disney films while browsing an online catalog"Sleigh Bells" has been digitally remastered and will premiere in December (CNN)Mickey Mouse is Walt Disney's most popular cartoon character and a staple of almost every childhood in the western world.But, had a business deal gone differently, would Oswald the Lucky Rabbit -- the first Disney character ever created -- have been the star of Disneyland and present in every toddler's toy collection?A rare and long-lost silent film, "Sleigh Bells" from 1928, has just been rediscovered in the British Film Institute (BFI), which stars Oswald, the Disney star who never was. "Sleigh Bells" was made by Walt Disney and fellow animator Ub Iwerks, but the rights to the character Oswald were owned by Universal. Following a contractual disagreement, Disney and Iwerks stopped making Oswald films and went on to create Mickey Mouse."There's a good argument to be made that had Walt Disney not fallen out with Universal over contracts, he would have gone on to make 100 more Oswald films and Mickey Mouse may never have been created," Justin Johnson, an Animation Programmer at BFI told CNN.Read More"Oswald and Mickey clearly resemble each other in terms of physical characteristics. But, even more importantly, their characters have a lot in common. "Before Oswald, cartoon characters were pretty generic, without much personality. However, Oswald is clearly a fun and mischievous character, just like Mickey," Johnson added.Oswald the Lucky Rabbit bears a striking resemblence to Mickey MouseThe rare print was preserved by the BFI and is thought to be the last surviving copy. Johnson described "Sleigh Bells" as "the holy grail of Disney films," being the penultimate film before the split with Universal."Sleigh Bells" has been preserved in the BFI National Archive since the 1980s, after a film company went bankrupt and gave up their archive. However, it was not until recently that a BFI researcher "re-discovered" it.First look at the vast new Shanghai DisneylandWalt Disney Animation Studios have now digitally remastered the film.Robin Baker, Head Curator at the BFI National Archive described the discovery -- and being able to show the film to a new audience 87 years after it was made -- as a "joyful treat.""The restoration of this film will introduce many audiences to Disney's work in the silent period -- it clearly demonstrates the vitality and imagination of his animation at a key point in his early career," Baker added.The full 6-minute version of "Sleigh Bells" will premiere on 12 December 2015 at BFI Southbank in London, UK.

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Story highlightsWebber ends career on a high note Finishes third in final race of WEC seasonMade F1 debut in 2002, won 9 GPs (CNN)Mark Webber bid an emotional farewell to motor racing at the World Endurance Championship in Bahrain at the weekend.Driving the No. 1 Porsche car for the second and final stints of the six-hour race, Webber finished third in his last competitive race before retirement. As he took to the track, the Australian admitted that the moment did start to get to him."For the final stint it was pretty emotional putting my helmet on for the last time," he said. "I enjoyed the last stint and I got the chance to bring the car to the checkered flag for the top three finish, and this was the maximum we could get today. Final one on the steps with some great lads....@BrendonHartley @Timo_Bernhard #teammates 🏁🎯♠️ pic.twitter.com/krCLEQ7c8w— Mark Webber (@AussieGrit) November 20, 2016 "It has been such an incredible three years for me with Porsche, together with Timo (Bernhard), Brendon (Hartley) and the whole team. Nothing is forever, I'm stopping at a good time and I'm looking forward to seeing everybody again soon."Read MoreHaving already claimed the manufacturers' title earlier in the series, Porsche also claimed the drivers' championship when its No. 2 car -- driven by the trio of Romain Dumas, Marc Lieb and Neel Jani -- finished sixth in on Saturday. Webber's No. 1 car was fourth in the overall standings.Webber's F1 careerWebber spent 14 seasons in F1 before switching to the long-distance series in 2014. He won nine races and stood on the podium 42 times in 215 F1 starts, finishing third in the drivers' championship on three occasions. Follow @cnnsport He will be remembered as a gutsy driver who was involved in two of F1's more spectacular moments of recent times. His thrilling overtaking maneuver on rival and friend Fernando Alonso at Eau Rouge during the 2011 Belgium Grand Prix exemplified his racing spirit.He was also involved in one of the sport's most frightening crashes -- his Red Bull car taking off and somersaulting after running into the back of Heikki Kovalainen's Lotus at Valencia in 2010. Webber emerged shaken, but, remarkably, unscathed. Read: Webber: 'I was too big and too tall' for F1 📽 Almost the end of the road for @AussieGrit 🏁 but what a career! 👏🏻 🇦🇺 #WEC #F1 #CNNTheCircuit pic.twitter.com/AXQwdGvXSc— CNN Sport (@cnnsport) November 18, 2016 After leaving F1, the Australian quickly found success in the World Endurance Championship, winning the 2015 title for Porsche in only his second season."Since I made my announcement we've had quite a bit of success, winning quite a few races with Porsche," Webber told CNN World Sport prior to the Bahrain race, pointing to WEC victories in the US and China.Visit cnn.com/motorsport for more news and videos"There's been great, great memories, but I think that's a good sign because I want to remember it like that. As time goes on, you know it's totally the right decision."

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Story highlightsPrado Museum in Madrid, Spain, reveals discovery of earliest known copy of 'Mona Lisa'Image is thought to have been painted around the same time as Leonardo da Vinci's original workPortrait will be unveiled later this month, before joining temporary exhibition at the Louvre, ParisThe earliest known copy of Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" -- thought to have been painted at the same time as the original masterpiece -- has been discovered at the Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain.The work offers art-lovers a tantalizing hint of what the model for the world's most famous painting really looked like.Conservators found the portrait hidden beneath layers of black overpainting during restoration work on a picture initially thought to have been a later replica of the "Mona Lisa."The restored version shows the same woman that Leonardo depicted, against a landscape similar to that shown in the background of the original, which now hangs in the Louvre in Paris.And while the features of Leonardo's subject have been dulled by centuries of dirt and layers of cracked varnish -- which are unlikely ever to be removed -- in the recently-rediscovered copy, she appears fresher faced and younger than her better-known "twin."News of the find was revealed at a symposium at London's National Gallery, linked to its blockbuster "Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan" exhibition, and reported in the Art Newspaper."This sensational find will transform our understanding of the world's most famous picture," the Art Newspaper reported, adding that the underdrawing found on the Madrid version "suggests that the original and the copy were begun at the same time and painted next to each other, as the work evolved."Miguel Falomir, curator of Italian painting at the Prado, told a press conference at the museum expert analysis suggested a strong link between Leonardo and the artist who painted the copy."The painting was done in the painter's own workshop," he was quoted by AFP as saying. "It is absolutely consistent with Leonardo's work," he said, but he added: "It is a work in which Leonardo himself did not intervene."The painting is expected to be unveiled to the public at the Prado Museum later this month.It will then go on display at the Louvre in March, as part of the "Leonardo's Final Masterpiece" exhibition, which focuses on his work, "The Virgin and Child with St. Anne."

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Story highlightsSearch efforts are now over with a confirmed death toll of 301, government officials say"If you boo the country's prime minister, you get slapped," Turkey's PM says in videoMine owner says the Soma site met the standards required by Turkish lawRuling party spokesman says PM's aide kicked a protester after he was attacked by himThe search for victims of this week's coal mine fire in Turkey is now over, with a final death toll of 301, Turkish government officials said Saturday. Authorities believe they have now recovered the bodies of all the workers who perished in the Soma mine when the fire erupted Tuesday.The investigation into what caused the deadliest disaster in Turkish mining history continues, the Natural Disaster and Emergency Coordination Directorate said.The final bodies were pulled out Saturday afternoon, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said.However, as the recovery effort comes to an end, controversy over Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's response to the tragedy refuses to blow over.JUST WATCHEDTurkish PM's aide kicks a protesterReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTurkish PM's aide kicks a protester 01:38JUST WATCHEDMine disaster leaves families devastatedReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMine disaster leaves families devastated 01:08 Photos: Photos: Turkey mine protests Photos: Photos: Turkey mine protestsProtests over Turkey mine disaster – People try to help an injured man who was hit by the jet of a police water cannon on Friday, May 16, during a protest against the government after a mine explosion in Soma, Turkey. Hundreds have taken to the streets across the country since nearly 300 miners died in a mine fire near Soma on May 13, protesting the government and a lack of safety regulations. Unions called for strikes May 15.Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: Photos: Turkey mine protestsProtests over Turkey mine disaster – Police use water cannons and tear gas to disperse people gathered to commemorate victims and protest the government's labor policy in Izmir, Turkey, on May 16.Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: Photos: Turkey mine protestsProtests over Turkey mine disaster – Yusuf Yerkel, an aide to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, kicks a person who is being wrestled to the ground by two police officers during protests in Soma, Turkey, on Wednesday, May 14.Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: Photos: Turkey mine protestsProtests over Turkey mine disaster – Riot police try to stop protesters attacking the offices of Erdogan's Justice and Development Party in Soma on May 14.Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: Photos: Turkey mine protestsProtests over Turkey mine disaster – Protesters riot outside the Justice and Development Party office in Soma.Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: Photos: Turkey mine protestsProtests over Turkey mine disaster – People march to the Soma offices of the Justice and Development Party.Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: Photos: Turkey mine protestsProtests over Turkey mine disaster – A protester is detained in front of the General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration headquarters in Istanbul on May 14.Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: Photos: Turkey mine protestsProtests over Turkey mine disaster – Riot police use a water cannon to disperse protesters in Istanbul. Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: Photos: Turkey mine protestsProtests over Turkey mine disaster – Protesters clash with riot police in Ankara on May 14.Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: Photos: Turkey mine protestsProtests over Turkey mine disaster – Police arrest a protester in Ankara on May 14.Hide Caption 10 of 10JUST WATCHEDMass funeral held for Turkish minersReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMass funeral held for Turkish miners 02:05On Friday, police in the western city used tear gas, plastic pellets and a water cannon on protesters angered by the government's response.The protesters, dressed mostly in black, chanted "Don't sleep, Soma, remember your dead!" as they passed through city streets a few miles from the disaster site, trying to reach a statue honoring miners.Amid a rising tide of discontent, local authorities have banned protests in Soma and apparently clamped down on those taking part.Lawyers' representatives told Turkish broadcaster DHA that eight lawyers and 25 other citizens were detained Saturday. The lawyers were in town to try to help represent families of the dead miners.Abdurrahman Savas, the governer of Manisa province, where Soma is located, declined to say how many people had been detained over the protests.But he told reporters that the authorities took the decision Friday to ban rallies and demonstrations in Soma in order to maintain peace and security.He said that "this is not to prevent freedom of expression."Distrust of the government is running high in certain sectors of society, with some voicing doubts about the official count of those missing, while others question the fact no one has yet taken responsibility for the tragedy. Some are also critical of the authorities' use of tear gas and water cannon against demonstrators.Erdogan's misstepsPublic anger has been fueled in part by Erdogan's own missteps while visiting the scene of the disaster Wednesday.First, Erdogan's comments to relatives of dead and injured miners, in which he described the disaster as par for the course in a dangerous business, were seen as highly insensitive and drew scathing criticism.Then video taken on the same day in Soma showed Erdogan telling a man "don't be nasty," according to the footage aired Friday by DHA. The remarks initially reported and translated by DHA were confirmed by a CNN native Turkish speaker. "What happened, happened. It is from God... If you boo the country's prime minister, you get slapped," Erdogan is heard saying. That was after another video clip emerged showing a crowd outside a grocery store angrily booing Erdogan. As the Prime Minister entered the crowded store, he appeared to put his arm around the neck of a man who was later identified as a miner. JUST WATCHEDTurkey shaken by mine disaster ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTurkey shaken by mine disaster 01:40Map of the mine locationJUST WATCHEDFamily: 'Let this mine take my life too!'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFamily: 'Let this mine take my life too!' 01:00After the confrontation, the video captured what appeared to be Erdogan's security guards beating the same man to the floor. The miner said later that Erdogan slapped him, possibly by mistake. He wants an apology for the way he was treated by the Prime Minister's staff. In addition, a photograph surfaced Wednesday of an aide to Erdogan kicking a protester, an image that quickly became a symbol of the anger felt by many against the government, and amid mounting questions over safety practices at the mine. Huseyin Celik, a spokesman for the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, dismissed the grocery store incident and said the image of the aide, Yusuf Yerkel, kicking the protester was misleading.Yerkel was quoted by Turkey's semiofficial Anadolu news agency Thursday as saying that he had been deeply saddened by the previous day's events. "I am sad that I could not keep my calm in the face of all the provocation, insults and attacks that I was subjected to that day," he reportedly said.Questions over safety chambersThe mine complex exploded in flames for unknown reasons Tuesday -- trapping many miners deep underground.Among other issues, mine officials indicated Friday that workers may not have had access to an emergency refuge where they could have sheltered from the flames and choking fumes.Site manager Akin Celik told reporters that the mine had closed one emergency refuge when excavation work moved to a lower area. Miners were building, but had not finished, a new safety chamber at the lower level, he said.The owner of the company, Alp Gurman, said the mine met the highest standards laid out by the law in Turkey. The company, he said, had no legal obligation to build safety chambers.Asked about that issue, Minister of Labor and Social Security Faruk Celik defended Turkey's workplace safety act and said it was set up within the framework of EU regulations, according to CNN Turk."This is a dynamic area," he said, adding that it is the duty of each company to ensure workers' safety needs are met. "Could people be sent to death because a certain sentence is not in the regulations?" he said.Istanbul Technical University said it had dropped Gurman and a fellow Soma Holding manager, Ismet Kasapoglu, from an advisory panel in its mining faculty, following protests and an occupation by students at the university, CNN Turk reported.Yildiz, speaking to journalists earlier Saturday, when the death toll stood at 299, said 15 bodies had been recovered overnight. Most have been returned to their families but DNA testing is being carried out on the remains of 13 people, the Energy Minister said.Fumes from a new fire, a few hundred yards from the one that broke out Tuesday, hindered search and recovery efforts Saturday, Yildiz said.Initial reports said the main fire was sparked by a transformer explosion, but Celik told reporters Friday that the cause of the fire was still unknown.Asked what had happened, he said, "We don't know either. Never seen anything like this before. We are trying to find out."Political bonfireHundreds have also taken to the streets this week in anti-government protests in Istanbul and Ankara, with police answering, in some cases, with water cannons and tear gas.As Erdogan took a stroll through the city, onlookers showered him with deafening jeers as well as chants of "Resign, Prime Minister!"Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu defended Erdogan in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour on Thursday."He was feeling all these pains in his heart," he said. "Everybody knows that our Prime Minister is always with the people, and always feels the pain of the people. Otherwise, he wouldn't get such a high support in eight elections in (the) last 10 years."But the disaster opened up an old political wound.Opposition politician Ozgur Ozel from the Manisa region, which includes Soma, filed a proposal in late April to investigate Turkish mines after repeated deadly accidents.Erdogan's government rejected the proposal. It claimed that the mine, owned by SOMA Komur Isletmeleri A.S., had passed recent inspections.A Turkish engineers' association criticized mine ventilation and safety equipment this week as being "insufficient and old." A lack of safety inspections has caused 100 coal mines to be closed in the last three years, according to Turkey's Energy Ministry.President Abdullah Gul, speaking as he visited Soma on Thursday, said he was sure the investigation already begun would "shed light" on what regulations are needed. "Whatever is necessary will be done," he said.Despair, anger, dwindling hope after Turkey coal mine fire

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(CNN)Newly inaugurated Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has been in office for mere days, but the Republican is already rolling back the priorities of his Democratic predecessors and running into opposition from counties he lost months earlier, specifically on the hot-button issue of mask requirements in schools.The tension over school mask requirements echoes the way pandemic-related measures have become political touchpoints over the past two years, with Youngkin campaigning last fall in no small part on parents' frustrations with remote learning and seizing on what they perceived as lack of control over their kids' schooling.But Youngkin's executive action about mask wearing in schools, which he signed on his first day in office on Saturday, comes in the middle of the latest spike in coronavirus cases -- in part due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant -- and during a public health crisis where the choices of individuals impact entire communities. His order states "parents should have the ability to decide whether their child should wear masks for the duration of the school day," thereby attempting to stop any mask mandates in public schools.Glenn Youngkin inaugurated as Virginia governorYoungkin's executive actions, which include nine orders and two directives so far, offer the clearest sign that the Republican governor will represent a dramatic departure for a state that has been blue for years, including eight years of Democrats in the governor's mansion and two years of total Democratic control in the state. They've set off a firestorm of controversy and are poised to become Youngkin's first large test since taking office. Several school districts in more blue areas of the commonwealth immediately responded to Youngkin by saying they will defy his new order on masks. Youngkin's predecessor, former Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, had announced in August that masks would be required in schools as part of a public health emergency order. School officials in Northern Virginia, including in Arlington County and Fairfax County (the commonwealth's largest district), as well as Henrico County in the Richmond region, say they will continue to enforce mask requirements for kids after Youngkin's executive order takes effect on January 24. Read More"FCPS continues to require universal mask wearing in alignment with (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidance. Our layered prevention strategies have proven effective in keeping transmission rates low in our schools," said Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand in a letter to the school community."Universal mask use has proven effective in keeping COVID-19 transmission rates low in our schools and ensuring schools remain safe and open," a statement from Arlington Public Schools said about its decision.The CDC recommends "universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of their vaccination status or the area's transmission rates," adding that "the benefits of mask-wearing are well-established."Youngkin, however, rejects that notion in his order. "Many children wear masks incorrectly, providing little or no health benefit. The masks worn by children are often ineffective because they are made from cloth material, and they are often not clean, resulting in the collection of impurities, including bacteria and parasites," he writes.The governor also cited the availability of vaccines for 5-12-year-olds, though he vehemently argues vaccines should not be mandated either -- something that split him and former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, his Democratic opponent, in 2021.Biden and Democrats run up against relentless conservative powerA notice from Henrico County public schools on their plan to continue mask requirements inside school facilities and on school buses notes a Virginia law passed last year that requires all public school divisions to offer in-person instruction adhering to "currently applicable mitigation strategies" from the CDC to reduce the spread of Covid-19.Asked on Sunday about Arlington County's decision to buck his order, the governor told WTOP, "I hope they will listen to parents because we will use every resource within the governor's authority to explore what we can do and will do in order to make sure parents' rights are protected."Macaulay Porter, a spokeswoman for the governor, reiterated his pledge, telling CNN on Monday that Youngkin "will consider all options available and all tools at his disposal to ensure parents can make decisions about their children's upbringing, education, and care."In his State of the Commonwealth address to a joint session of the General Assembly on Monday, Youngkin described reversing course on mask mandates as "a matter of individual liberty."'A mask mandate should not be a political ping pong'Like many Republicans across the country, Youngkin routinely pledged to give parents more agency in pandemic-related decision making during his campaign. And his path to victory offered the GOP a possible road map for which issues to talk about in 2022, like education and parental rights, and which issues to approach carefully, like the 2020 election and false claims by former President Donald Trump.Youngkin's focus on parental rights blossomed from a misstep by McAuliffe. During a debate over what books should be taught in schools, the Democrat flippantly said, "I don't think parents should be telling schools what they should teach," a line that Youngkin quickly spun into an ad and used as a rallying cry for the rest of the race. The focus quickly grew beyond books in schools, and included questions about coronavirus, questions about how race is addressed in the classroom and issues around transgender students. All of it was aimed at cutting into McAuliffe's support with swing voters in key areas like vote-rich Northern Virginia and around Richmond.It is now officials in many of those same areas, however, who are bucking Youngkin's order, something that Monica Hutchinson, a parent to a 14-and a 15-year-old in Henrico County, celebrates.DeSantis says he regrets not speaking out 'much louder' against Trump's recommendation to stay home"As adults we should be leading by example. A mask mandate should not be a political ping pong," Hutchinson said, adding that mask mandates for young people are vital to maintaining in-person learning.Youngkin is not the first Republican governor to face pushback on schools and masks. The legal back-and-forth in Florida over Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' executive order "protecting parents' freedom to choose whether their children wear masks" could be an indication of what lies ahead for Youngkin. DeSantis secured a political victory last November when the GOP-controlled state legislature agreed on a ban on school mask mandates, which DeSantis signed into law. While Youngkin has a Republican majority in the Virginia House of Delegates, the state Senate is still narrowly controlled by Democrats.Even if the current Omicron surge subsides, the conversation about how much control parents should have in the daily decision making of schools is likely to remain a political issue in the coming years.US House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said after Youngkin's victory that the issue will play a prominent role in the 2022 midterms as Republicans will make it part of the party's case to retake the majority from Democrats.This story has been updated with additional context.

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Story highlightsUSTA apologizes after outdated anthem, with connections to Nazi Germany, playedGerman player says anthem mix-up was "the worst thing to have happened" to her (CNN)The US Tennis Association has apologized to the German Fed Cup team for playing the Nazi-era national anthem ahead of a replay match in the women's tournament. Instead of the current version of the anthem, a singer performed verses of "Das Deutschlandlied" which included the words "Deutschland, Deutschland uber alles, uber alles in der Welt," the version of the song used prior to, and during, Adolf Hitler's regime. The verses have developed a strong association with Nazi-era Germany. The words translate to "Germany above all, above all in the world." In footage of the incident, the crowd and the German team appear to be singing different lyrics to that of singer Will Kimball, a local hospital worker and former professional opera singer, according to local media, who was tasked with delivering the anthem.Read MoreSerena Williams beats Venus Williams to win record 23rd majorApologyThe Association apologized in a statement but didn't explain how the mix-up happened."The USTA extends its sincerest apologies to the German Fed Cup team and all of its fans for the performance of an outdated national anthem prior to (Saturday's) Fed Cup competition," the statement reads. "In no way did we mean any disrespect. This mistake will not occur again, and the correct anthem will be performed for the remainder of this first-round tie."The apology was followed up with tweet from the Association's official Twitter page. "The USTA extends a sincere apology to the German Fed Cup team & fans 4 the outdated National Anthem," the tweet reads. "This mistake will not occur again."The USTA extends a sincere apology to the German Fed Cup team & fans 4 the outdated National Anthem. This mistake will not occur again. pic.twitter.com/4LyG3ACe5u— USTA (@usta) February 11, 2017 Ulrich Klaus, the President of the German Tennis Federation acknowledged the USTA apology."Our American hosts made a mistake at the opening ceremony in Hawaii on Saturday which shouldn't happen," he said in a statement carried on the Federation's website. "The fact that in the year 2017 the wrong national anthem can be played, and one that is associated with so much cruelty in the past was for the players, staff and the German fans equally disturbing and shocking. The... USTA, has immediately apologized through their President Katrina Adams both officially in writing and personally and deeply regrets the mistake."In sports, who's really 'old?'Mix-up slammedSpeaking after her defeat in Hawaii, German team member Andrea Petkovic, who was born in Bosnia but grew up in Germany, said the mix-up was "the worst thing that has ever happened" to her."I thought it was the epitome of ignorance, and I've never felt more disrespected in my whole life, let alone in Fed Cup, and I've played Fed Cup for 13 years now and it is the worst thing that has ever happened to me," Germany's top-ranked player in the competition said. In what was the opening match of the day, US player Alison Riske upset former Top 10 player Andrea Petkovic, 7-6, 6-3. The other day's match, between CoCo Vandeweghe and Julia Goerges, was suspended due to rain. Vandeweghe prevailed over the German once play resumed, and on Sunday beat Petkovic 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 to send the US into the semifinals for the first time in seven years. Australian Open: 'Hope you die slowly' -- Tennis stars trolledCORRECTION: A previous version of this story included the wrong photo of Andrea Petkovic.

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This story was excerpted from the November 2 edition of CNN's Meanwhile in America, the daily email about US politics for global readers. Click here to read past editions and subscribe. (CNN)Joe Biden said sorry to the world on Monday for the environmental negligence of his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, at the start of the UN climate conference in Scotland. The President also showed up with a $555 billion vow to reduce US carbon emissions — the biggest-ever US climate budget. "I guess I shouldn't apologize, but I do apologize for the fact that the United States -- the last administration -- pulled out of the Paris Accords and put us sort of behind the eight ball," said Biden, testing the colloquial flair of summit translators with his saloon bar American English. Biden's contrition will no doubt cause Trump's conservative media devotees to pull out the old "Apology Tour" headlines they used whenever President Barack Obama went abroad. And Biden himself noted the incongruity of calling for cuts in carbon emissions while pressuring oil producing nations to pump faster to bring down politically damaging high US gasoline prices. More than 100 world leaders will agree to end deforestation by 2030 at COP26Read MoreThe ex-President is hanging over Biden's Europe trip like a dark cloud. Foreign leaders are wondering just how long the break from Trumpism will last and whether the nation that once stabilized the world will pitch it into a new paroxysm of populist nationalism if Trump is reelected in 2024. In the meantime, Biden is chipping away at Trump's legacy with his climate pitch and by reaching a deal to end his predecessor's steel tariffs on Europe. But his ebbing opinion polls are plain to see, Democrats face big losses in next year's midterm elections and Trump is already positioned to be a shoo-in for the next Republican presidential nomination. As a senior, unnamed member of Biden's own team, quoted by the Washington Post, noted at the weekend that America's allies in Europe know that a like-minded President is far from a given after the next presidential election. "I think our allies believe that we have to lock in progress as much as possible while there is a president who is a deeply committed trans-Atlanticist in office," the official said.

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Story highlights The head of Russia's anti-doping agency says his country is working to address problemsSecret police visited a key lab and posed as staff members, report saysAllegations also include bribery, extortion, intimidation and the use of false identities (CNN)A stunning report this week has rocked the athletics world with detailed allegations of a state-sponsored doping program in Russia.The findings of the independent report, commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), has raised the possibility of Russian track and field athletes being banned from the 2016 Olympics.Russia's anti-doping official initially denounced the report as "unprofessional, illogical and declarative," but some of its evidence has already been passed on to the international crime-fighting organization Interpol for further investigation. And on Tuesday, WADA said it has suspended the Moscow-based laboratory that is supposed to analyze the urine and blood samples of Russia's athletes.Speaking again Tuesday, the head of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency acknowledged there is a problem but insisted his country is moving forward to address it. Nikita Kamaev said the report -- which was especially critical of a lab that, he said, is independent from his agency -- provided clarity but no real news to his organization.Following Monday's Russian #doping allegations, do you still have trust in track and field?— CNN Sport (@cnnsport) November 10, 2015 Here are just five of the most striking allegations contained in that report:Read MoreSecret police inside the anti-doping laboratory Photos: Battling drug cheats Photos: Battling drug cheatsThe World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) new report is the latest twist to hit the Russian doping scandal, building on Professor Richard Mclaren's initial findings, published in July, which concluded doping was widespread among Russian athletes.Hide Caption 1 of 14 Photos: Battling drug cheatsMore than 1,000 Russian athletes across 30 sports -- including football -- benefited from state-sponsored doping, according to the latest report. Hide Caption 2 of 14 Photos: Battling drug cheatsThe doping program, across summer, winter and Paralympic sports, was in operation from 2011 to 2015, said Mr McLaren, who presented his latest findings at a news conference in London Friday.Hide Caption 3 of 14 Photos: Battling drug cheatsWADA's initial report on alleged widespread drug use in international athletics concluded that senior figures including IAAF president Sebastian Coe (pictured) "could not have been unaware of the extent of doping."Hide Caption 4 of 14 Photos: Battling drug cheatsFormer WADA president Dick Pound chaired a press conference held in Munich on January 14, 2016 to present the 89-page report. It said "corruption was embedded" and "cannot be blamed on a small number of miscreants" within the IAAF.Hide Caption 5 of 14 Photos: Battling drug cheatsA report by the IAAF's ethics committee claims a powerful trio blackmailed Russian distance runner Lilya Shobukhova into paying them off to keep results of her positive drug tests secret. Hide Caption 6 of 14 Photos: Battling drug cheatsRussia's former athletics president Valentin Balakhnichev, its ex-chief coach for long-distance athletes Alexei Melnikov and former IAAF consultant Papa Massata Diack have all been banned for life. The report said "far from supporting the anti-doping regime, they subverted it." The IAAF's former anti-doping director Gabriel Dollé has been given a five-year ban.Hide Caption 7 of 14 Photos: Battling drug cheatsThe report claims Balakhnichev, Melnikov and Papa Massata Diack "conspired together ... to conceal for more than three years anti-doping violations by an athlete at what appeared to be the highest pinnacle of her sport. All three compounded the vice of what they did by conspiring to extort what were in substance bribes from Shobukhova by acts of blackmail."Hide Caption 8 of 14 Photos: Battling drug cheatsPound produced an independent report in November 2015 which detailed systemic doping in Russia along with an establishment effort to cover it up. He recommended Russia be banned from athletic competition, which it duly was by the IAAF.Hide Caption 9 of 14 Photos: Battling drug cheatsThe findings uncovered a "deeply-rooted culture of cheating at all levels" within Russian athletics. Asked if it amounted to state-sponsored doping, Pound told reporters: "In the sense of consenting to it, there's no other conclusion."Hide Caption 10 of 14 Photos: Battling drug cheatsThe report suggested the London 2012 Olympics -- in which Russia won 24 gold medals and finished fourth -- was "in a sense, sabotaged by the admission of athletes who should have not been competing."Hide Caption 11 of 14 Photos: Battling drug cheatsPound's report detailed "corruption and bribery practices at the highest levels of international athletics," evidence of which has been given to international crime-fighting organization Interpol for further investigation. Hide Caption 12 of 14 Photos: Battling drug cheatsSenegal's Lamine Diack, former president of the IAAF, is being investigated by French police over claims he accepted bribes to defer sanctions against drug cheats from Russia. French prosecutors claim he took "more than €1 million ($1M)" for his silence. Diack has yet to comment.Hide Caption 13 of 14 Photos: Battling drug cheatsCoe, a former Olympic gold medalist, has come under fire for his praise for predecessor Diack, whom he called the sport's "spiritual leader" when he took over the role in August 2015. He told CNN he would "do anything to fix our sport." Hide Caption 14 of 14Highlighting the extent of Russian state involvement in the efforts to dodge anti-doping rules alleged by the report, the authors describe cases where agents of the FSB, the successor to the Soviet-era KGB, visited and even posed as staff at a key laboratory. FSB agents regularly visited the Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory, and staff members suspected their phones were tapped and parts of the facility were bugged, according to the report. JUST WATCHEDDoping crisis explained in 100 secondsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDoping crisis explained in 100 seconds 01:43In Sochi, the resort where Russia held the Winter Olympics last year, one lab worker cited by the authors reported a high-degree of intrusion. "We had some guys pretending to be engineers in the lab but actually they were from the federal security service," the staff member said. Employees' fears of surveillance by authorities "affect the impartiality, judgment and integrity of the laboratory," the report said.Opinion: Why sport should allow dopingHundreds of samples destroyed before key inspectionJUST WATCHEDRussia reacts to doping charges against its athletesReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRussia reacts to doping charges against its athletes 01:59The report paints a disturbing portrait of the Moscow laboratory, which it suggests "has been involved in a widespread cover-up of positive doping tests." In one of the most spectacular examples, it details the "intentional and malicious destruction" of 1,417 test samples at the lab that a WADA team had specifically requested be kept. The director of the lab, Grigory Rodchenkov, ordered that the samples be thrown out just days before the WADA team arrived for an inspection in December, according to the report. He apparently told the team that he decided to "do some clean up to prepare for WADA's visit." He later said he misunderstood the instructions he received from WADA about the samples, a claim the report's authors said they don't find credible. Bribes and extortionThe report is full of allegations of systematic bribery by Russian athletes and coaches to ensure their doping practices stay under the radar. It says interviews revealed that officers from the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) regularly "accept money placed on the table at the time of taking the doping control test." During the test, "it is frequently the case that the athlete is unaccompanied to the location where the sample is provided and therefore, there is no observation of the urine stream from the athlete," the report states. It also describes efforts by senior officials in the All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) to use a list of athletes under review by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) for doping violations to extract cash payments from the athletes to cover up the cases. One elite world marathon runner paid her coach and the medical director of ARAF sums of money every year, part of which was "to protect her from receiving a positive drug result from her doping activities," the report says.JUST WATCHEDThe evolution of doping in sportReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe evolution of doping in sport 02:19Intimidation of doping testersDoping control officers who don't want to take part in the corrupt culture surrounding the testing of athletes in Russia have to go to extreme lengths to avoid it, according to the report. One officer recounts climbing out of a hotel window during the night to avoid the police officers who were waiting outside to escort the samples to the Moscow lab. The officer says the samples were smuggled out of Russia through a third-party and four of them tested positive for doping in a Swiss lab. "My mother received threatening calls" as a result, the officer says. The report also details the "intimidation, provocation and disruptive techniques from athletes' support personnel, including coaches" that a team of doping control officers working on behalf of the IAAF faced in the Russian city of Saransk in June.WADA sets big cleanup in motionUse of false identities to dodge testsMonitoring of top athletes relies on authorities like WADA and the International Olympic Committee being kept informed of the athletes' whereabouts outside of competitions so officials can conduct unannounced tests. But the report lists a range of measures Russian athletes apparently use to get around those measures. "In a training camp in Portugal, our athletes simply lived under false names," said Yuliya Stepanova, a Russian 800-meter runner who was a whistleblower in the report. "They have taken banned substances, they undertook a course of doping, and to ensure that foreign control officers did not come and test them, they provided false names." In another case, a team official denied to doping control officers that the athletes they were looking for were present at a hotel near Sochi, even though the hotel receptionist had already confirmed that all the athletes were registered there.Olympic race walker: Russian doping robbed me of my gold medal

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Story highlightsA number of American suspects in high-profile cases have not been brought to justice, say ItaliansIn 1998, 20 people were killed when a U.S. Marine Corps jet sliced through steel wires supporting a cable car in the Italian AlpsIn 2009, American troops opened fire at a Baghdad checkpoint, killing Italian secret service agent Nicola CalipariThe trial of Seattle student Amanda Knox, accused of killing her British roommate Meredith Kercher is also controversialIt doesn't take a social anthropologist to see that Italians truly love a lot about American culture. It is evident everywhere, from the popularity of Coca-Cola and Levi's to the prevalence of American music and movies.But for all they like about American culture, it's fair to say Italians are getting a little weary of the American attitude -- especially when it comes to justice. Italians point to a number of high-profile cases over the years in which they say American suspects have been accused of wrongdoing and criminal acts, but have been let off lightly. These cases leave Italians with the feeling that it's possible for Americans to get away with murder. In 1998, a U.S. Marine Corps jet on a low-level training flight sliced through steel wires supporting a cable car near the ski resort of Cavalese in the Italian Alps, sending a gondola plunging to the ground. All 20 people inside the gondola were killed.Italian prosecutors wanted the crew of the jet tried in Italy, but an Italian court ruled they should face court-martials in the U.S., in accordance with NATO treaties. The aircraft's pilot and navigator were found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter, even though the military admitted the plane had been flying lower and faster than authorized.JUST WATCHEDAmanda Knox: I still have panic attacksReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAmanda Knox: I still have panic attacks 00:59JUST WATCHEDTacopina: Knox is 'stone-cold' innocentReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTacopina: Knox is 'stone-cold' innocent 02:40JUST WATCHEDAmanda Knox: I am not a devilReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAmanda Knox: I am not a devil 02:28The defense argued that the incident was a tragic accident caused partly by the fact that the plane's altimeter was not working and the gondola cable that the plane hit was not on the map that he was given.JUST WATCHEDAmanda Knox: 'I'm afraid to go back'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAmanda Knox: 'I'm afraid to go back' 00:55JUST WATCHED'I was not strapping on leather'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH'I was not strapping on leather' 03:06JUST WATCHEDKnox: 'I feel bad for my younger self'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHKnox: 'I feel bad for my younger self' 02:12When it emerged a video that captured the accident from inside the plane had been destroyed, they were dismissed from the Marine Corps.Italians were outraged, referring to the incident as the "massacre of Cermis." For years, many from the local resort area held anti-American protests on the anniversary of the accident.In another incident that raised tensions, Egyptian cleric Abu Omar was seized off the streets of Milan in 2003, and smuggled to Egypt, where he says he was tortured and released four years later.Although Italy did not request the extradition of any of the suspects, 22 CIA agents were convicted in absentia of the kidnapping and sentenced to prison time for their role in the abduction, but none ever served time in Italy.They were also ordered to pay $1.5 million to Omar's family, who have received nothing so far. Italians were outraged that Americans could conduct military-style operations on Italian soil, especially involving kidnapping and torture, and go unpunished.Other cases involving the two nations have been equally controversial. In 2009, American troops opened fire at a Baghdad airport checkpoint, killing Italian secret service agent Nicola Calipari and wounding a just-freed Italian hostage, journalist Giuliana Sgrena, whom Calipari was trying to spirit out of the country.An Italian judge acquitted a U.S. soldier accused of killing Calipari, saying Italy had no jurisdiction in the case, and Italy did not request extradition. But the case is still a sensitive topic in Italy, where Calipari is considered to be a national hero killed by trigger-happy Americans.The trial of Seattle student Amanda Knox, accused of killing her British roommate Meredith Kercher in November 2007 when the two shared a house in Perugia, Italy, is also controversial.Timeline: Kercher murder caseKnox and her erstwhile lover Raffaele Sollecito were famously convicted of Kercher's murder and sentenced to 26 and 25 years respectively in 2009. That conviction was sensationally overturned in 2011 and Knox went back to Seattle. The acquittal was then overturned by Italy's high court in March 2013, meaning Knox currently stands convicted of Kercher's murder and her appeal will likely be heard early next year.Suspects are not required to attend court hearings in Italy, so Knox does not need to return to stand trial, at least in the short term. But if her original conviction is upheld on appeal and confirmed by Italy's high court, she would almost certainly face extradition orders to return to Italy to serve time for Kercher's murder.It could be years before a final decision is reached in the Knox case, and undoubtedly Knox's legal team would fight extradition on every level if her conviction is upheld. In the meantime, Italians assume Knox will never set foot in Italy again, whether she is ultimately found responsible of Kercher's murder or not."She will never come back here, whether she should legally or not," the Kercher family lawyer Francesco Maresca told CNN. "There are too many case precedents that clearly show America does not easily surrender its criminals."READ MORE: Amanda Knox: I wanted to come back from Italy stronger and surer of myselfREAD MORE: What Amanda Knox can and can't tell usREAD MORE: Amanda Knox: I wanted to come back from Italy stronger and surer of myself

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(CNN)Police in the Netherlands have arrested 17 people following a raid on a massive cocaine lab, which they say is the biggest ever found in the country.The lab was housed inside an old riding school in Nijeveen, around 75 miles northeast of Amsterdam, and included sleeping quarters and recreation areas, according to a police statement published Tuesday. Police also released video footage showing equipment, including a row of cement mixers and vats of chemicals.Police made 17 arrests."This is the largest cocaine laboratory ever found in the Netherlands," said André van Rijn, chief inspector of the National Facility for Dismantling Support (LFO), which is dismantling the lab."Given the number of people who worked there, the installation, the size, the furnishings and the equipment, we estimate the production capacity at 150 to 200 kilos of cocaine per day."Read MoreThis quantity of drugs is worth €4.5 million-€6 million ($5.3 million-$7.1 million), van Rijn added.Dutch police discover secret torture site in shipping containers Police raided the facility, as well as warehouses in Elshout and Apeldoorn, on August 7. They found tens of thousands of liters of chemicals used to make cocaine, 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of cocaine base and 120,000 kilograms (265,000 pounds) of carrier material, which is used to smuggle the drug.Of the 17 people arrested, three were Dutch, one was Turkish and 13 were Colombian.They are suspected of producing drugs and will appear in front of a magistrate on August 12 and 13.

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(CNN)After Friday's showstopping opening ceremony, the Rio 2016 Olympics began with action and drama. Day one's highlights included: (Mobile app users can best follow the blog here)• Aquatic grudge match and records smashed in the pool• French gymnast suffers horror injury • U.S. teen Ginny Thrasher wins first gold of Games in women's 10-meter air rifleRead MoreRecap all the action below and at our Olympics hub:

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Reims, France (CNN)Sport is more often than not a brutal place for the underdog. There should always be hope, of course, but it is usually the Goliaths who win. Just ask Thailand, whose players will be chasing red-shirted American behemoths in their nightmares for a number of nights to come.The 13-0 scoreline was a true reflection of the match. It was a thumping, and it was a night that records tumbled as Thailand suffered the heaviest defeat in World Cup history.As both teams walked out onto the field for their opening match of the Women's World Cup, the difference in the physical statures of the opposing players was startlingly apparent. Not long after the final notes of the national anthems had faded into the ether so the disparity in quality became obvious, too.Alex Morgan scored the opening goal as U.S. dominated Thailand. READ: 'Every goal counts': USWNT defends itself after humiliating ThailandREAD: Sam Kerr: The prodigy who became Australia's million dollar playerRead MoreOminous warningIt took just 12 minutes for the defending champions to open the scoring, Alex Morgan heading home from four yards. That only Rose Lavelle, who would end the night with two goals, and Lindsey Horan had added to the scoreline by halftime was the real surprise.After the break, the goals quickly came -- four in the space of six minutes, raising the decibels inside Stade Auguste-Delaune, a stadium in France's champagne region which had become a pocket of America for the evening. Alex Morgan ended the evening with five -- Michelle Akers is the only other player to score as many in a World Cup match -- while Samantha Mewis scored a brace and captain Megan Rapinoe, Mallory Pugh and Carli Lloyd also contributed to the astonishing score.At the final whistle Thailand's players were in tears. Emotional, beaten, exhausted. The odds had always been against them. The bookies' thought so, the fans thought so and so did the experts.This was the world's most successful country in Women's World Cup history, winners of three previous editions of this tournament and favorites in France for a fourth, going up against a nation which was competing in just its second World Cup.It was No.1 in the world versus No. 34 and these sorts of contests usually end one way, though not quite so savagely. In truth, the gulf between the teams was bigger than the world ranking would suggest.READ: The match that changed women's footballREAD: The inspirational footballers helping to change perceptionsU.S. stormed to the biggest margin of victory in World Cup history.Troubled preparation It had not been a perfect build-up for the Americans. Three months before the start of the defense of its title, 28 members of the current squad filed a class-action lawsuit against the US Soccer Federation, alleging that the federation imposes gender discrimination by paying the women less than the members of the men's national team.Former goalkeeper Hope Solo has been vocal this week too, telling the BBC that coach Jill Ellis struggled under pressure in 2016, when the team lost to Sweden in the Olympic quarterfinals -- its earliest exit in a major competition. But the defending champions are eager to make up for the failure of 2016 and the performance in Reims sent out an ominous warning to the teams with hopes of taking the title.With the US 3-0 up by halftime, the match was effectively over before the second half had begun but Ellis proceeded to make attacking substitutions, bringing on forwards Pugh, Lloyd and Christen Press, decisions she defended after the match in the face of criticisms that the team was too ruthless, too eager to celebrate every goal. "If this is 10-0 in a men's World Cup are we getting the same questions?" she told reporters. "A World Cup is about competing. It is about peaking. It is about priming your players ready for the next game."You can tell by my substitutions, you play players who can get hot. And if you can play as many hot as you possibly can, feeling good, feeling the back of the net, that's so important for a forward and for a midfielder."Those feelings are what can help you through the tournament. We have to come out and we have to play as hard as we possibly can in every game. This will be an incredibly hard World Cup. This is only game one."

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(CNN)Hundreds of thousands of basketball fans are calling on the NBA to update its logo to honor Kobe Bryant following the basketball great's tragic death.Bryant died along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant and seven others in a helicopter accident in Calabasas, California, on Sunday.The group was flying to Thousand Oaks, California, for a basketball game in which Gianna was expected to play and Bryant was expected to coach."With the untimely and unexpected passing of the great Kobe Bryant please sign this petition in an attempt to immortalize him forever as the new NBA Logo," creator Nick M wrote on the Change.org petition.He added that he hoped " ... our dream does come true and we are able to see Kobe Bryant engraved into the NBA Logo."Read MoreThe petition had amassed over 280,000 signatures Monday.The current NBA logo was designed by Alan Siegel. It features the silhouette of Los Angeles Lakers great Jerry West.Except for a small change to the font, which was introduced in 2017, the NBA has used its iconic tri-color logo since 1971.CNN had reached out to the NBA for comment.Bryant retired from the NBA in April 2016 after a prolific career spanning two decades. The 41-year-old shooting guard, nicknamed "Black Mamba," earned five NBA titles, was named MVP of the NBA Finals twice and won two Olympic golds.As an 18-time All-Star selection he transcended the sport to become one of the most iconic athletes of his generation.After news Bryant's death broke, the league released a statement sending condolences to his wife and family."The NBA family is devastated by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna," said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in a statement."For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning. He was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game with accomplishments that are legendary ... But he will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability."

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Joshua M. Davidson is the senior rabbi at Congregation Emanu-El in New York City. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN. (CNN)Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl once said, "When we are no longer able to change a situation... we are challenged to change ourselves."This had been a theme of the Jewish people long before Frankl so beautifully articulated it, and the events of 2020 have proven it so once again.Joshua M. DavidsonThe challenges of 2020 have been historic. They have caused people all over the world to mourn loved ones, express gratitude toward frontline workers, weigh concerns for what comes next and deal with new and unexpected frustrations.In adapting to these changing circumstances, our Jewish faith teaches us continually to seek out hope, reminding us that we are not alone in these struggles -- and that change is both necessary and inevitable.An example facing Jewish people today lies in how they will approach Rosh Hashanah, which begins Friday evening, and Yom Kippur, the holiest days on the Jewish calendar. For many, these days are a time to make an annual pilgrimage to their temple, to celebrate a fresh start, to ask for forgiveness and to pray for their names to be written in the Book of Life for another year.Read MoreThis year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, many Jews across the globe are considering how to do this at home, possibly alone, for the first time in their lives. At Temple Emanu-El, we are offering a limited number of frontline workers and members who lost loved ones to join us in-person with masks and abiding by social distancing guidelines, but most of our congregants will be watching our services, which are free and open to the public, online. We have organized "virtual pews" where they can participate together, but still it won't be the same.The Jewish New Year is a wake-up call against hateIt's an uneasy feeling to break this type of meaningful tradition. It's also a feeling that has now become familiar to people of all faiths, as lifelong traditions, milestones and celebrations have been postponed, canceled or moved online to avoid coronavirus concerns.It's lonely to be without our loved ones and our communities on special occasions. Our most joyous moments and significant milestones have been upended or redesigned in order to keep us safe and distant -- while also often leaving us unfulfilled and yearning for connection to those we love. One thing that has brought some peace of mind to those in my community during these past few months is that the narrative of the Jewish people has aptly prepared us for a moment such as this. We are a people that understands change, hardship, tragedy and, most of all, hope. In fact, Judaism was made for moments like these.Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, a leading 20th century theologian, taught that our people have learned to value time over space, perhaps a consequence of Jewish history, in which our people have been driven from one land to another. And so we built the "sanctuary" of the Sabbath. Wherever our people lived, they could enter that sacred "space" once a week to bring holiness into their lives.We wrote lamentations to keep the vision of Jerusalem alive when we were exiled from the spiritual center of our world by the Babylonians. We created daily prayer rituals to sustain us after the destruction of the Second Temple, when we couldn't make daily sacrifices. When regimented study of Jewish law became less accessible to the wider Jewish community, our teachers developed the Hasidic tradition that showed God could be found everywhere by anyone with faith and the desire for it. Get our free weekly newsletterSign up for CNN Opinion's new newsletter.Join us on Twitter and FacebookThe examples of Judaism evolving are numerous, but their underlying message is the same: We are not alone in these feelings of fear, trauma and isolation, and we are part of a tradition that grows more durable, inclusive and inspiring because of them -- so long as we make a space for that kind of reflection.This year, as our community and others around the world cope with the coronavirus and the ongoing fallout from it, may this history of our people bring hope. This moment of change is not singular, nor will it be lasting. The tragedy we face may not yet be behind us, but we will find the strength to make it through.The wail of the shofar (traditionally a ram's horn) is one that many in the world can identify with now. Let all who desire a space for reflection and growth come and hear -- Jews, Christians, Muslims, atheists, those who are spiritual but not religious. Our doors may be physically shut, but our congregations remain open, online and in spirit. All are welcome to find hope in our community.

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Story highlightsTeacher, 34, stabbed at school in Albi, France, education minister saysSuspect is mother of a new student at the school, official saysFrench President Francois Hollande: Officials will look after children who witnessed killingA woman stabbed and killed a French kindergarten teacher in her classroom as students watched Friday morning -- the last day of school before summer break, the French education minister said. The teacher, 34, identified only as Fabienne, was stabbed in front of her students, allegedly by a parent of a child who attends the school in Albi in southwestern France, Education Minister Benoit Hamon told reporters at a news conference.A suspect was taken into custody, Hamon said. He didn't name the suspect or talk of a possible motive, but said she was the mother of a child who'd been attending the school only for a month and a half."It is my role, and it is the role of the government, to ensure that in the future we better protect our schools and shield (them) from violence," Hamon said.Fabienne was married with two young children and was a "fantastic teacher," Hamon said.French President Francois Hollande expressed dismay and said public servants would look after the children who witnessed the killing, according to his office.A psychiatric unit has been set up to assist people in the community, Hamon said. Albi is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) northeast of Toulouse.Police release 911 call in punching death of soccer refDoctor finds Wisconsin stabbing suspect incompetent for trial

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(CNN)Sam Kerr knocked a pitch invader to the ground on Wednesday evening during Chelsea's 0-0 draw with Juventus in the Women's Champions League and was shown a yellow card for it afterwards. As the game in the group stages was drawing to a close, the man ran onto the pitch holding a mobile phone, stopping play as he sought to take a selfie with Chelsea's captain, Magda Eriksson. Eriksson appeared to tell him to leave the pitch while the crowd booed his appearance on the field as it was holding up the game. Those boos turned to cheers when Australia captain Kerr ran over to him, dropped her shoulder and barged him over. The man was escorted from the pitch by stewards, while referee Sara Persson showed Kerr a yellow card for her actions.Read MoreWhen asked by CNN why Kerr had been given a yellow and could the card be appealed, a UEFA spokesperson said: "The player was booked for unsporting behavior and no appeal has been received at this stage."Kerr is booked by the referee for barging over a pitch invader. After the game, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes admitted more needs to be done to protect players. "He could have waited until the end for a photograph if he really wanted one. But jokes aside, we do have to think about player safety," Hayes said, as reported by ESPN."We've seen in the growth of the game there is this sense of the players being more in demand. It should serve as a reminder to us all in our stadiums and with our stewards, we've got to put player protection first."Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosChelsea missed out on the opportunity to qualify for the knockout stages as it failed to score for the first time this season.Chelsea, who impressively defeated Arsenal to win the FA Cup at Wembley on Sunday, remain top of Group A and is three points clear of second-place Wolfsburg.

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Thomas Balcerski teaches history at Eastern Connecticut State University. He is the author of "Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus King" (Oxford University Press). He tweets @tbalcerski. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion at CNN. (CNN)The upcoming presidential debates promise to be a watershed moment in this election. Democratic challenger Joe Biden has been preparing to debate sitting Republican President Donald Trump. By contrast, according to NBC News, the President has reportedly eschewed formal preparation, arguing that debate "isn't something you have to practice."That may be so. But since presidential candidates began appearing on televised debates in 1960, incumbents who don't properly prepare have a decidedly mixed record in the November elections. At the same time, presidential challengers who come out swinging need to be sure they don't miss their mark -- or else face political implosion.Thomas BalcerskiConventional wisdom is that prior preparation prevents poor performance. Yet the history of presidential debates reminds us that other factors, such as a winning personality and the ability to think on your feet, matter equally, if not more. With the whole world watching, presidential debates are equal parts landing jabs and taking punishment, as much as sticking to the script and exploiting opportunities to score points. No magic formula exists to predict their outcome, but one thing seems clear in retrospect: just one dramatic exchange can change public perception of the debates, and by extension, the result of the presidential election.Looking back on the history of presidential debates, these four contests may give us a preview of what's to come: Read More1976: Gerald Ford vs. Jimmy CarterPresident Gerald Ford speaks as Jimmy Carter listens during the first of three debates at Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theater in 1976.The election of 1976 brought the return of the presidential debate, since both Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon had previously refused them. Gerald Ford was eager to secure a term as president in his own right (following Nixon's resignation post-Watergate), and his team of advisers spent weeks preparing their candidate, including by running him through an exhaustive "murder board." By contrast, an overly confident Carter bombed his first answer on how he would end the ongoing economic recession, when he failed to provide a clear plan of action.The focus of the second debate turned to foreign policy, an area where Ford was expected to shine. Thirty minutes into the evening, however, Max Frankel of the New York Times asked Ford about the Soviet influence in Eastern Europe (an area Churchill described in 1946 as being behind an "iron curtain"). Incredibly, Ford answered: "there is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and there never will be under a Ford administration." All that preparation for nothing.When given a chance to clarify, Ford refused. Carter seized the opportunity to underline Ford's error: "I would like to see Mr. Ford convince the Polish-Americans and the Czech-Americans and the Hungarian-Americans in this country that those countries don't live under the domination and supervision of the Soviet Union." Advantage Carter.Following the second debate, Carter enjoyed a 4-point bump in the polls. Even as the race narrowed, Ford could not bring home electoral victory that November. 1984: Ronald Reagan vs. Walter MondalePresident Ronald Reagan answers a question as Democratic candidate Walter Mondale listens during the second round of the presidential debates in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1984.In 1984, the Democrats turned to a beloved former vice president to take on an entrenched Republican incumbent. Sound familiar? Back then, it was Walter Mondale challenging Ronald Reagan, and like Biden, Mondale needed to formulate an effective strategy to debate his charismatic opponent. It would not be an easy task. During the 1980 presidential debates, Reagan had effectively negated Carter's attack on Reagan's previous opposition to Medicare with a one-liner that resonates across American history: "There you go again."With the roles now reversed, Mondale came out strong in the first debate, firing against Reagan's record as president. "You can't wish it away," Mondale charged, in reference to the country's large deficit. Caught flat-footed, even Reagan admitted that he had "flopped." But in the second debate, Reagan rebounded and delivered yet another of the most memorable lines in American political history. When asked about age as factor in the election (he was 73), Reagan replied: "I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience." The audience erupted into laughter, and even Mondale, in his mid-50s at the time, couldn't help himself from doing the same. Mondale simply could not make his criticisms of Reagan stick during the debates. Reagan, already comfortably ahead in the polls, cruised to a landslide in November. 1992: George H.W. Bush vs. Bill Clinton vs. Ross PerotModerator Carole Simpson presides over the presidential debate between Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton, Independent candidate Ross Perot and Republican candidate, President George H.W. Bush, at the University of Richmond, Virginia, in 1992. With three major candidates, the 1992 election attracted widespread popular interest. Both Bill Clinton, the charismatic Democratic governor of Arkansas, and independent candidate Ross Perot, a Texas billionaire, looked to unseat Republican incumbent George H.W. Bush.The first debate went predictably enough, with the three candidates cordially answering questions from the moderators. But, in the second debate, with its new "town hall" format, Bush self-destructed on stage. As audience members asked questions, the President appeared to look at his watch at several points, giving the air of being bored or perhaps uninterested (Bush later said that he was thinking, "Only 10 more minutes of this crap.") When asked a question about the national debt, Bush waffled. By contrast, Clinton hit a home run, replying compassionately in what has been described as an "I feel your pain" moment. "Well, I've been governor of a small state for 12 years," Clinton said, "I'll tell you how it's affected me ... When a factory closes, I know the people who ran it. When the businesses go bankrupt, I know them."With his emotional style, Clinton had won the battle for the public's heart. In comparison, Bush's poor performance in the debates foreshadowed his loss at the polls. 2012: Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama answer questions during a town hall style debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, in 2012.The election of 2012 demonstrated the continued vulnerability of a sitting president to a challenger's attack. Building up to the debates, Republican challenger Mitt Romney scored points on President Barack Obama's "you didn't build that" line in connection to small business owners. National polls showed the race to be nearly tied leading into the fall.During the first debate, Obama appeared underprepared and overconfident, even contemptuous, and pundits awarded the contest to Romney. But at the second debate, Romney fell victim to unforced errors of his own. Speaking about the terrorist attack on the US mission in Benghazi, Romney went on a veritable tirade that spiraled into near incomprehension. Obama coolly remarked: "Please proceed, governor." Later in the debate, Romney again goofed when he declared that his staff had brought him "binders full of women" to work for him as governor of Massachusetts. Get our free weekly newsletterSign up for CNN Opinion's new newsletter.Join us on Twitter and FacebookOn election night, Obama's reelection rankled incredulous conservatives (George W. Bush's former campaign adviser Karl Rove's Fox News meltdown is legendary), but they should not have been surprised. Romney's lackluster performance at the presidential debates pointed to the November outcome.Presidential debates are won and lost on a mixture of preparation, personality and performance. While preparation can help a lot and personality can save the day, a candidate's performance ultimately matters most. May the best debater win.

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(CNN)Former Barcelona and Spain manager Luis Enrique has paid tribute to his nine-year-old daughter after she passed away from osteosarcoma -- a form of bone cancer. The 49-year-old released a statement on Twitter Thursday evening confirming Xana's death and thanking hospital staff for their care over an "intense five months." "We will miss you lots but we will remember you every day of our lives, with the hope that in the future we'll meet each other again," read the statement. "You'll be the star that guides our family." The Spaniard, who stepped down from his role as Spain's national boss in June to spend time with his family, thanked those who sent good wishes but asked for "discretion and understanding." Enrique celebrates Barcelona's Champions League victory with his daughter Xana in 2015. Read More'Speechless'The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) led the tributes online, saying it "mourned the sad loss of little Xana." "We want to show our condolences to family and friends, joining us all today to their pain," it tweeted. A host of Enrique's former players also paid their respects to young Xana, among them Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi. "We are with you, all the strength of the world," the Argentine wrote on Twitter. Meanwhile, Spain and Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea said he was "speechless," while Enrique's former club Barcelona offered "condolences and all our sympathy."Tennis legend Rafael Nadal also sent his condolence to the family. Nadal's uncle Miguel Ángel Nadal is a former Barcelona and national teammate of Enrique. "I am very sad and I cannot imagine the pain of the family. A huge hug to Luis Enrique and the whole family from a distance. A lot of strength and courage in these hard times," he tweeted. A host of clubs, including Manchester United, also paid their respects. We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Luis Enrique and his loved ones at this extremely difficult time.The thoughts of everyone at Manchester United are with you ♥️ https://t.co/T4HUOAjVRe— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 30, 2019 Enrique enjoyed a successful playing career, representing Spain on 62 occasions. He also won three Spanish La Liga titles, once with Real Madrid and twice with rivals Barcelona. He continued such success as a coach, winning the Champions League during his time at the Nou Camp, in addition to two domestic titles and three Copa del Rey trophies. Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu expressed his sympathy, writing: "All of our support and compassion goes to Luis Enrique, his wife and all of his family at this particularly painful time."

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(CNN)Mick Schumacher took to the circuit in a Formula 1 car for the first time on Tuesday and thoroughly "enjoyed" the experience.Son of racing legend and seven time F1 champion Michael Schumacher, the 20-year-old clocked the second fastest time at the official Bahrain testing event behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen.Schumacher was signed by the Ferrari Development Academy earlier this year and appeared comfortable performing in the famous red car."I really enjoyed today." he told Ferrari's official website. "It felt like home in the garage from the very first moment with a lot of people that know me since I was very young."Any first F1 test is special for the driver 🙏This one is for a lot of you, too 👏@SchumacherMick on track in the @ScuderiaFerrari #F1 🐎 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/xpS1xxTX0T— Formula 1 (@F1) April 2, 2019 Schumacher described himself impressed with the power, smoothness and braking capabilities of Ferrari's SF90 car. "It seemed to me you could brake later and later and the car would have made the turn anyway."JUST WATCHEDNico Rosberg on why he retired after winning F1 title ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNico Rosberg on why he retired after winning F1 title 01:22Read MoreThe German is the current Formula 3 champion and made his Formula 2 debut last weekend.He is also set to test the Alfa Romeo F1 car -- who Ferrari have a partnership with -- on Wednesday.READ: Ferrari give youth a chanceSchumacher had looked set to claim the fastest time during Tuesday's rain interrupted testing until being pipped by Verstappen who clocked a lap of one minute 29.379 seconds. That was 0.6 seconds faster than Schumacher, although the Dutchman was using harder tires.F1 experts often caution about lending too much credibility to test times.While Schumacher will be happy with his first drive during a test event, his best lap was still more than two seconds slower than that which earned Charles Leclerc pole position in the Bahrain GP over the weekend.

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(CNN)A former Roman Catholic priest who spent decades on the run was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for sexually abusing an altar boy in New Mexico.At a sentencing hearing Friday, US District Judge Martha Vazquez described the case involving Arthur Perrault, 81, as the "worst case that I have ever handled and ever seen."Perrault was convicted in April of seven federal counts for the early 1990s sexual assault of a 10-year-old boy, who was an altar boy at St. Bernadette's parish in Albuquerque. Authorities said Perrault abused the child in several places, including at a veteran's cemetery and a military base."I have to say, Mr. Perrault, that this is the worst case that I have ever handled and ever seen. I'm glad you're looking at me, because it is extremely difficult to speak to someone and to try to explain one's sentiments and have that person not give you the respect of looking at them," Judge Vazquez told the former priest in the Santa Fe federal courtroom."It was supposed to be your job to help, not destroy," she also told him.Read MorePerrault's attorney did not immediately respond to a CNN request for comment.The former priest fled to MoroccoPerrault met the "deeply devout" boy and his mother when he was a pastor at St. Bernadette's parish. The abuse, which lasted for about two years, ended when Perrault fled the country in 1992. He moved to Morocco when he learned that other victims were coming forward, prosecutors said.The former priest lived in Morocco for 26 years and taught classes at a language center, authorities said."In Morocco, while Perrault lived freely and likely victimized more young students, I and other victims were left with the burden of shame, the trauma of sexual assault, and the struggle to cope with the symptoms of his abuse. Now it's time for him to cope with prison. I urge you to impose the maximum sentence," one of the victims wrote in a letter to the judge prior to the sentencing hearing. He was arrested by local authorities in 2017 and sent to the United States last year. Morocco has no extradition treaty with the US, but the Moroccan government expelled him and transferred custody to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Perrault's arrest came after he was indicted by a federal grand jury for the boy's sexual abuse at two federal sites, the Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque and the Santa Fe National Cemetery."The indictment captured only a small fraction of the crimes he actually committed, naming just one of his many victims and, by virtue of the constraints of federal jurisdiction, included only the molestations he inflicted on federal enclaves," prosecutors said. The former priest moved to New Mexico in the 1960s and became a teacher and faculty advisor at St. Pius High School. Prior to becoming a pastor at St. Bernadette's parish, he served at local parishes Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and Our Lady of the Assumption.He has been accused of molesting multiple young boys while acting as their "mentor and spiritual advisor." Some of the victims testified during Perrault's trial but the former priest has only faced charges in one case.CNN's Hollie Silverman contributed to this report.

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Story highlights Everton manager David Moyes is the odds-on favorite to succeed Alex Ferguson Shares of Manchester United drop nearly 5% in early trading following the newsFerguson is retiring after the last game of the season on May 19, after 26 years in chargeThe decision to retire was not taken lightly, but this "is the right time," Ferguson saysManchester United will name a replacement for Alex Ferguson -- English soccer's most successful manager -- on Thursday, according to widespread British media reports.The 71-year-old Scot is retiring at the end of this season after more than a quarter of a century at the helm, the club announced Wednesday. He has managed the newly-crowned Premier League champion, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and loved by millions of fans around the world, from Manchester to Manila and Montreal, since 1986.Everton manager David Moyes is the bookmakers' favorite to succeed his compatriot, and the 50-year-old will reportedly be confirmed as the next United boss on Thursday -- though neither club has said such a statement is forthcoming."David's contract is up in six weeks' time and he has a right to make his own decisions," Everton chairman Bill Kenwright told Sky Sports on Wednesday. Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sports Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sportsLongest-serving coaches in sports – Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson announced he will retire at the end of the English Premier League season. Ferguson has managed the team for 26 years, making him the longest-serving manager in Premier League history.Hide Caption 1 of 9 Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sportsLongest-serving coaches in sports – Mike Krzyzewski, also known as Coach K, has coached Duke University's men's basketball team since 1980, putting him in his 33rd season as head coach. Hide Caption 2 of 9 Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sportsLongest-serving coaches in sports – Eddie Robinson served as Grambling State University's head football coach for 57 seasons from 1941 to 1997. Robinson -- here listening to the national anthem before his final game -- coached more than 4,000 players. Hide Caption 3 of 9 Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sportsLongest-serving coaches in sports – Al Arbour coached the New York Islanders for 20 years, with a year-long stint as vice president of player development for the team in 1987. Hide Caption 4 of 9 Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sportsLongest-serving coaches in sports – Andy Landers has coached the University of Georgia Lady Bulldogs basketball team since 1979 and continues to this day. Hide Caption 5 of 9 Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sportsPhotos: Longest-serving coaches in sports – Head coach emeritus Pat Summitt of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA history of either men's or women's teams. She coached for 38 years before stepping down in 2012 to fight early onset dementia.Hide Caption 6 of 9 Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sportsLongest-serving coaches in sports – Gregg Popovich is in his 17th year as coach of the San Antonio Spurs.Hide Caption 7 of 9 Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sportsLongest-serving coaches in sports – Tom Landry coached the Dallas Cowboys from 1960 to 1988 and turned the team into one of the most dominant in the National Football League until the early '80s. Hide Caption 8 of 9 Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sportsLongest-serving coaches in sports – Connie Mack managed the Philadelphia Athletics, now based in Oakland, California, from 1901 until his retirement at age 88 in 1950.Hide Caption 9 of 9JUST WATCHEDWill Mourinho replace Ferguson?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWill Mourinho replace Ferguson? 00:39 Photos: The seven moments which define Alex Ferguson Photos: The seven moments which define Alex FergusonA formidable forward – As a player, Alex Ferguson enjoyed a moderately successful career. A prolific striker, he scored 170 goals in 317 appearances including 25 goals in 41 appearances for Glasgow Rangers.Hide Caption 1 of 7 Photos: The seven moments which define Alex FergusonAce of Aberdeen – Ferguson was appointed manager of Aberdeen in 1978. In addition to three Scottish First Division titles, Ferguson guided the club to an impressive triumph over Real Madrid in the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup.Hide Caption 2 of 7 Photos: The seven moments which define Alex Ferguson"The king is dead" – Ferguson was assistant to Scotland coach Jock Stein during the qualifying campaign for the 1986 World Cup. Scotland secured a 1-1 draw against Wales in their final game to reach the tournament, but Stein collapsed and died following the final whistle in Cardiff.Hide Caption 3 of 7 Photos: The seven moments which define Alex FergusonFA Cup salvation – A late winner from substitute Mark Robbins in an FA Cup replay against Nottingham Forest in January 1990 allegedly spared Ferguson the sack. United went on to beat Crystal Palace at the second attempt in the final, giving Ferguson his first trophy at Old Trafford.Hide Caption 4 of 7 Photos: The seven moments which define Alex FergusonU-turn – The Scot originally planned to retire from management at the end of the 2001-02 season. But, after helping the team recover from a slip in form which saw them drop as low as ninth in the Premier League table, Ferguson reversed his decision in February 2002 and signed a new three-year contract.Hide Caption 5 of 7 Photos: The seven moments which define Alex FergusonFlying boot – A boot flew into the face of Manchester United's star midfielder David Beckham after Ferguson lost his temper following a 2-0 FA Cup defeat to Arsenal in February 2003. Beckham had to be held back following the incident and he joined Real Madrid ahead of the following season.Hide Caption 6 of 7 Photos: The seven moments which define Alex FergusonTreble – Ferguson's finest hour arrived in Barcelona in May 1999, when his United team came from 1-0 down in the 90th minute to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in the European Champions League final. The win completed an historic treble of titles won during the 1998-99 season, which included the Premier League title and the FA Cup.Hide Caption 7 of 7"He's served this club wonderfully well and he has a right to make his own decisions."During his 26 years in charge, Ferguson -- a supporter of Britain's Labour Party who's renowned for dressing down players with the "hairdryer treatment" -- has won more than 30 trophies, including 13 league championships.Many fans took to Twitter to voice their appreciation, using the handle #thankyousiralex. He became Sir Alex when knighted by the queen more than a decade ago for his services to the game.'Thank you for everything,' say Manchester United fansAs well as dominating on the pitch, Ferguson has helped build the century-old soccer club into a huge business operation whose progress is followed on stock exchanges around the world.Its shares dipped nearly 5% in early trading Wednesday.The Old Trafford club is owned by the American Glazer family, who oversaw the club's listing on the New York Stock Exchange last August.For the 2011-2012 season, United increased revenues by £14.2 million to £117.6 million ($182.4), the highest of any club in the Premier League.But it lost the top spot as the world's most valuable sports franchise in this year's Forbes list to Spanish soccer club Real Madrid. Forbes valued Manchester United at $3.17 billion, still ahead of Barcelona, another Spanish soccer club, and two U.S. outfits, the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball and the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL.Ferguson will bow out after the club's last game of the season, an away match against West Bromwich Albion, on May 19, according to a statement from Manchester United. Photos: Fans wear shirts with pride for 'Fergie' Photos: Fans wear shirts with pride for 'Fergie'Sadness in team's home town – "Teddy is very sad," wrote Instagram user @ejgemmag In Manchester, England, of her toy after hearing news of United manager Alex Ferguson's retirement. Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: Fans wear shirts with pride for 'Fergie'Fans wear shirts with pride for 'Fergie' – Instagrammer @johnwalker021, who is half English and half Swedish, displayed his shirt with pride and posted a football chant in honor of Ferguson: "So here's to Alex Ferguson. He'll take us all the way! We're on the road to glory now! Winning at home and away."Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: Fans wear shirts with pride for 'Fergie''I got a tear in my eye' – "I felt like I had been punched in the stomach and contemplated calling in sick to work," said Instagram user @jplubrani, in active service in the U.S. military from Los Angeles. "I got a tear in my eye ... All those emotions at once!"Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: Fans wear shirts with pride for 'Fergie''Devastated' by the news – "Lifelong fan" @alexbalding shows his red devil tattoo -- Red Devils is the club's nickname -- done the very morning of the announcement Ferguson was to retire. He said he was "devastated" by the news.Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: Fans wear shirts with pride for 'Fergie'Remembering the beautiful games – "The man will definitely be missed," said @sosogeed813, who shared this picture from his first Manchester United game. "It was an experience of a lifetime ... It is the beautiful game after all. Thanks Sir Alex Ferguson!" Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: Fans wear shirts with pride for 'Fergie'Mournful in Australia – In Oatley, Australia, @frankiegram1 showed off a sad look while wearing a Manchester United top (with help from his owner, Matt).Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: Fans wear shirts with pride for 'Fergie''Interesting' future ahead for team – "It's going to be interesting without him," said Instagrammer @kurto12.Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: Fans wear shirts with pride for 'Fergie''Tough' to get used to – "Seeing my favorite team with another manager next season, that's going to be tough to get used to," said Instagrammer @shar316 from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: Fans wear shirts with pride for 'Fergie'Wearing the shirt of the 'Red Devils' – Thai-Brit Instagrammer @KrisRedford posted a picture of himself proudly wearing his United team shirt.Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: Fans wear shirts with pride for 'Fergie'Could change be good? – Instagrammer @mrsagatha_sari's young son Waltteri wears his United jersey to play football in the southern Finland where they live, in this photo from last summer. She said she was "very sad" about Ferguson's retirement, but "I guess that change might even be good."Hide Caption 10 of 10 Photos: Who will replace Alex Ferguson? Photos: Who will replace Alex Ferguson?Who will replace Alex Ferguson? – Jose Mourinho, right, had been widely expected to return to Chelsea if he leaves Real Madrid at the end of this season -- but Alex Ferguson's decision to retire has prompted a flood of bets from punters that the Portuguese coach will instead go to Manchester United.Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: Who will replace Alex Ferguson?Who will replace Alex Ferguson? – Ferguson's fellow Scot, Everton manager David Moyes, had previously been the bookmakers' favorite to take over at Old Trafford. The 50-year-old Scot has impressed on a tight budget at the English Premier League club since his arrival in 2002.Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: Who will replace Alex Ferguson?Who will replace Alex Ferguson? – Moyes is out of contract in the summer -- as is Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes. This season the 68-year-old coach has guided Bayern to the Bundesliga title as well as the Champions League final - the Munich club will play German rivals Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on May 25. However, Heynckes will step down at the end of this season after Bayern opted to appoint Pep Guardiola on a three-year contract from July 1.Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: Who will replace Alex Ferguson?Who will replace Alex Ferguson? – Jurgen Klopp is also among the bookies' frontrunners, having guided Borussia Dortmund to this month's European Champions League final. The 45-year-old coach helped Dortmund win the German Bundesliga title the previous two seasons.Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: Who will replace Alex Ferguson?Who will replace Alex Ferguson? – Ferguson's former "supersub" Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is another linked with the job. The 40-year-old Norwegian, a Champions League winner with United in 1999, began his managerial career with Molde after injury ended his playing days, and has already won two domestic titles in his homeland. Before that he successfully coached United's reserves. Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: Who will replace Alex Ferguson?Who will replace Alex Ferguson? – Michael Laudrup is also seen as a contender after a successful first season in the English Premier League with Swansea, guiding the Welsh club to the League Cup trophy. The former Barcelona star has previous managerial experience in Spain with Getafe and Mallorca, and in Russia with Spartak Moscow.Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: Who will replace Alex Ferguson?Who will replace Alex Ferguson? – Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti is another being backed to replace Ferguson. The 53-year-old Italian has won virtually every honor in the game as a player and manager with clubs including AC Milan, Roma and Chelsea. There has been intense speculation Ancelotti will leave French league leaders at the end of the season.Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: Who will replace Alex Ferguson?Who will replace Alex Ferguson? – Former United captain Roy Keane was once seen as Ferguson's future successor, but the Irishman has focused on media work since being sacked by English second division team Ipswich in January 2011. He took Sunderland into the Premier League at the first attempt but quit in December 2008 after a run of poor results.Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: Who will replace Alex Ferguson?Who will replace Alex Ferguson? – Rene Meulensteen, right, has been Ferguson's assistant since 2008, but the 49-year-old Dutchman is not expected to make the step up to the top job despite an association with United that started more than a decade ago as youth coach. Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: Who will replace Alex Ferguson?Who will replace Alex Ferguson? – One of the outsiders is veteran United player Ryan Giggs, who has won 13 English league titles under Ferguson since his debut in 1991. The Welshman, who is 40 in November, has signed another one-year playing contract. Hide Caption 10 of 10JUST WATCHEDBobby Charlton: Ferguson's best momentReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBobby Charlton: Ferguson's best moment 02:39Watch: Alex Ferguson's legacyBefore then he will have one more home game for the "Red Devils" at Old Trafford on Sunday, against Swansea City.'A bright future'Ferguson will join the club's board as a director and "ambassador," Manchester United said."The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about and one that I have not taken lightly. It is the right time," Ferguson said."It was important to me to leave an organization in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so."The quality of the team, the balance of the players' ages and its upcoming youth squad will contribute to its continued "success at the highest level" and "ensure that the long-term future of the club remains a bright one," he said.Seven moments that defined Ferguson's managerial careerFerguson paid tribute to the club's "players and staff, past and present," thanking them "for a staggering level of professional conduct and dedication that has helped to deliver so many memorable triumphs. Without their contribution the history of this great club would not be as rich."He also expressed gratitude to his own family, the Glazer family, and the club's many supporters, at home and abroad."Alex has proven time and time again what a fantastic manager he is but he's also a wonderful person. His determination to succeed and dedication to the club have been truly remarkable," Joel Glazer said.The club also quotes former Manchester United and England captain Bryan Robson as saying Ferguson is the "greatest there has ever been."'Extraordinary success'Gavin Hamilton, editor of World Soccer magazine, told CNN he considers Ferguson to be unsurpassed as a manager in his time."In the modern era, where's he's dealt with the players on huge salaries and the corporate world that is now football, he has had extraordinary success," he said."He's tough and uncompromising and, I think, completely dedicated to being a winner."Whoever takes over at Old Trafford has a hard act to follow, Hamilton said -- but Manchester United will have been planning carefully for this moment."There will definitely be someone in place, I think -- the big question now is who that person will be because it's been kept a secret from everyone until now," Hamilton said.Whoever it will be has a daunting, if exciting, prospect ahead."It's the largest football club in the world, it's the biggest management job in the world, and on top of that is the task of following the most successful manager in the club's history," Hamilton said.While Moyes is favored for the job after more than a decade with EPL club Everton, other names on the bookmakers' list include: Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, formerly of Chelsea and currently at Real Madrid; Borussia Dortmund's Jurgen Klopp; Michael Laudrup of Swansea City; and former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, currently managing Norwegian team Molde.Health concerns?Fans' thoughts are bound to turn quickly to the 2013-2014 season, starting in September, as Manchester United prepares to defend its domestic title and attempts another win in Europe.As recently as last week, Ferguson suggested that he was fully involved in those future plans, promising the club would be "competitive" in the summer transfer market.JUST WATCHED2012: Ferguson talks to CNNReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH2012: Ferguson talks to CNN 03:42JUST WATCHEDFerguson's retirement 'a sad day'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFerguson's retirement 'a sad day' 02:52Speaking to Inside United, the club's official magazine, Ferguson said: "Hopefully the players we bring into the club in the next year or so will be of the quality we need."Manchester United coasted to this year's English Premier League title with a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa in April, with four games in hand.Ferguson is due to undergo hip surgery this summer, according to UK media reports, but it's not clear how much of a role health concerns have played in his decision to stand down."I think retirement's for young people because you can do something else. When you get to my age, if your health is good, you like to work," he told CNN in a 2010 interview.Sports writer Mihir Bose said he was surprised by the timing of Ferguson's decision, despite his upcoming surgery, saying he had expected him to carry on as manager for another couple of years.Ferguson -- who is seen as a kind of father figure by some of the young players he developed -- has "that ability to reach out to people," said Bose, but he is also a skilled political operator."He could be delightful but he was a man who made sure that he controlled the agenda," he told CNN. "If you crossed his path he made it very clear that he controlled everything at Manchester United."Those who got the famous "hairdryer treatment" -- loud shouting directly in someone's face -- included many sports journalists over the years. Ferguson would also refuse to speak to reporters if he didn't like what they said. Despite that thorny relationship, Ferguson will be remembered as an iconic figure in English football history, said Bose. The big challenge now is how Manchester United will manage the transition to ensure continued success, he added.'A sad day'Former Manchester United and Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel told CNN he was still trying to make sense of the news."It is a sad day. I'm shocked, I'm sad, I'm disappointed. It's a day I think everyone who loves Manchester United, everyone who's worked with Sir Alex -- it's a day that we've been expecting, but I have to be honest I didn't think it would be now -- I thought it would be a couple of years down the line."JUST WATCHEDAlex Ferguson's football legacyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAlex Ferguson's football legacy 02:34JUST WATCHED2012: Ferguson: 'Racism still exists'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH2012: Ferguson: 'Racism still exists' 03:29Schmeichel said he was certain that Ferguson had not been forced out but had made the decision himself, given his record of success and changes already happening on the club's board this summer.He paid tribute to Ferguson's knowledge, skills and philosophy as a manager, particularly his ability to bring on young players.Internationally known footballers like David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Nicky Butt were all created by Ferguson, Schmeichel said."He is the best manager in the world and he's the best guy as well. He's a really good friend as well."Ferguson's talent has been in managing players individually rather than as a group, Schmeichel said."The end result is that everyone plays really well for the team," Schmeichel said. "Yes, he can be hard, he can be tough. ... In a way he becomes your second dad. He has to educate you in life, he has to prepare you for what comes next in life after football."'Vision, energy, ability'David Gill, who will step down as chief executive of Manchester United in June, said it had been a "tremendous pleasure" to work alongside Ferguson over the past 16 years."We knew that his retirement would come one day and we both have been planning for it by ensuring the quality of the squad and club structures are in first class condition," he said."Alex's vision, energy and ability have built teams -- both on and off the pitch -- that his successor can count on as among the best and most loyal in world sport."Ferguson began his career on the soccer pitch, playing for Scottish clubs Queen's Park, St. Johnstone, Dunfermline, Glasgow Rangers, Falkirk and Ayr United.But it was when he returned to the game as a manager, working at East Stirlingshire, St. Mirren and then Aberdeen that people really began to take notice.He led Aberdeen to three Scottish titles, four Scottish cups, one League Cup and one European Cup Winners' Cup before moving to Manchester United in November 1986 following the dismissal of former manager Ron Atkinson.It didn't take long for the Scotsman to start turning things round at a club that was then near the bottom of the league.Since then, Ferguson has dominated the English game -- his string of victories making him, according to the Manchester United website, "the most successful manager in British football history."

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Story highlightsNeymar signs five-year contract at Barcelona before greeting packed Camp NouSpanish club say transfer cost of $75 million was raised after late interest from Real MadridBarca had initially intended to sign the forward in 2014Brazilian starlet Neymar completed his transfer to Barcelona on Monday and swiftly declared that his aim was to help Lionel Messi continue to be the best footballer on the planet. "Barca are more than a club and a great team and I want to help Messi to continue to be the greatest player in the world," he was quoted as saying by Barcelona's official website. Read: Neymar to join Messi at BarcelonaThe words may be seen as an attempt to dampen speculation as to how the 21-year-old signing from Brazilian side Santos will fare alongside the four-time World Footballer of the Year. Barcelona legend Johann Cruyff recently stoked the debate when stressing a need to learn from the past as he discussed Neymar's arrival, saying he would not put "two captains on the same ship."Despite his widespread reputation as one of the greatest players in footballing history, Messi has not been averse to criticism from some teammates in years gone by. JUST WATCHEDNeymar dealing with the pressureReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNeymar dealing with the pressure 03:19JUST WATCHEDWhy did soccer stadium roof collapse?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWhy did soccer stadium roof collapse? 02:48JUST WATCHEDThiago Silva targets PSG dominance ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThiago Silva targets PSG dominance 03:07JUST WATCHEDBrazil misses World Cup deadlineReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBrazil misses World Cup deadline 03:26JUST WATCHEDMessi claims fourth Ballon d'OrReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMessi claims fourth Ballon d'Or 02:31JUST WATCHEDLionel Messi breaks goal scoring recordReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLionel Messi breaks goal scoring record 01:51In his 2011 biography, Zlatan Ibrahimovic complained that the end of his Barcelona career began when Messi told then coach Pep Guardiola that he wanted to play centrally, rather than on the wing, so forcing the Swede to play out of position. The striker was an expensive flop after joining in 2009 and the present Barcelona hierarchy will hope that the $75 million spent on Neymar will work out far better than the similar amount splashed on Ibrahimovic, who lasted just a year at the club. "There are big question marks as to how Neymar will fit into the team as there is already one god, or demigod, at Barcelona in Lionel Messi," Spanish football expert Jimmy Burns told CNN. "There is potential tension. Cruyff has said in recent days that you cannot have two captains but other people are being more generous. "I think he is going to introduce a necessary element of dynamism to a Barca that showed signs of flagging in the season just past, and who were utterly destroyed by Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals." Beaten 7-0 over two legs in the semifinals of this year's competition by the eventual winners, Barcelona can at least reflect on a more than satisfactory league campaign. They reclaimed the title off last year's champions Real Madrid in convincing fashion, winning La Liga by a record 15 points over their bitter rivals. Barca also registered 32 victories and reached 100 points for the first time in a league campaign following Saturday's 4-1 defeat of Malaga. "I'm very happy to be a Barca player. I'm very excited, I've realized a dream. Thank you so much," said Neymar after walking out into Barcelona's stadium accompanied by a group of children and the club's hymn. "It is an honor to play alongside the best player in the world in Messi. It should be easier to play alongside him because he is the best," he added later. He was greeted by over 56,000 fans, with the Barcelona website commenting that "very few players (had) garnered this much attention from the Camp Nou faithful." The Brazil international, who flew overnight from Rio de Janeiro after playing in Sunday's 2-2 draw with England, put pen to paper on his contract on Monday after passing a medical. Neymar -- whose full name is Neymar da Silva Junio -- signed a deal that is set to keep him at the club until 2018. Any suitors potentially interested in luring the Brazilian away will have to stump up a staggering transfer fee after Barcelona announced that his buyout clause is $248 million. Barcelona vice president Josep Maria Bartomeu revealed on Monday that Barca had planned to bring in Neymar next year only to have to move the deal forward in light of competition for his signature from Real Madrid and another unnamed club. "The operation has been made more expensive due to the interest of other clubs that interfered in the signing of Neymar," he said. "It was foreseen that Neymar would arrive in 2014. To bring the move forward, we have had to pay $22 million more."In total, the deal cost Barcelona $75 million, with the club having already made a down payment of $13 million last year. Neymar himself said he had always targeted a move to Barcelona despite the attempts made by their great rivals Real. "Real Madrid is a great club and I respect them, but I chose Barca because my heart was with Barca and I am here today," he explained."My family and I have never been moved by money, for me happiness is very important and I am happy at Barca."The Spanish titleholders and four-time European champions announced the signing of the forward on May 26.

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(CNN)Marseille's home game against Rennes was postponed on Saturday after an angry group of supporters stormed the club's training ground hours before kick-off. Local police said 300 fans marched to the training facility and "violently attacked" officers who were trying to secure the area, whilst footage showed the group throwing fireworks and flares into the center.Some Marseille fans are unhappy with the way the club is currently being run and have protested against president Jacques-Henri Eyraud, who they say is ignoring the club's traditions. Marseille released a statement condemning the violent scenes and said the damage to buildings amounted to "several hundred thousand euros." It also said nearby trees were set alight and vehicles damaged. Read MorePolice made 25 arrests and seven officers were injured as they tried to restore order.READ: Palmeiras fans gather to celebrate Copa Libertadores win despite the pandemicAngry fans attacked the club's training ground on Saturday afternoon.US Capitol comparison A statement from the club's owner Frank H. McCourt likened the scenes to the recent insurrection on the US Capitol in January. "Along with so many citizens in America and around the world, I have been shocked and outraged by the scenes of the Capitol being stormed by irresponsible people obeying injunctions beyond their control," he said in a statement to the club's website. "Misinformation and lies, spread by social media, achieved the unthinkable by shaking one of the emblematic centers of Democracy. "What happened some weeks ago in Washington DC and what happened yesterday in Marseille follow a comparable logic: a few sources feed an inferno of opinions, invectives, and threats that are amplified by social media creating the conditions that lead to violence and chaos." Marseille said it would continue working with the authorities to hold those involved accountable for their actions."What happened this afternoon [Saturday] calls for the utmost severity for these troublemakers who claim to be supporters but destroy facilities and threaten employees and players," Eyraud said. READ: Manchester United star Marcus Rashford racially abused onlineA protest banner against club president Jacques-Henri Eyraud reads: "JHE: Marseille vomits you."'Unacceptable'Goalkeeper and club captain Steve Mandanda said there was no way to "justify such a wave of violence" but that now was the time for "appeasement." "I've been a player at Olympique de Marseille for 13 years," he said."I know everything about this club, I know the love and frustration it can arouse. But today's events sadden me and are unacceptable."Marseille is currently ninth in Ligue 1 and has won just once in its last five league games. League organizers are yet to reschedule the fixture against Rennes but said it would be played at a later date. Martin Goillandeau contributed to reporting.

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(CNN)It is an internet battle cry: Stop the Steal has swept across inboxes, Facebook pages and Twitter like an out-of-control virus, spreading misinformation and violent rhetoric -- and spilling into real life, like the protest planned for DC this weekend. But while Stop the Steal may sound like a new 2020 political slogan to many, it did not emerge organically over widespread concerns about voting fraud in President Donald Trump's race against Joe Biden. It has been in the works for years. Its origin traces to Roger Stone, a veteran Republican operative and self-described "dirty trickster" whose 40-month prison sentence for seven felonies was cut short by Trump's commutation in July. Stone's political action committee launched a "Stop the Steal" website in 2016 to fundraise ahead of that election, asking for $10,000 donations by saying, "If this election is close, THEY WILL STEAL IT." Supporters of President Donald Trump protest outside the Clark County Election Department on November 7 in Nevada. He first trotted out the slogan during the 2016 primaries -- claiming a "Bush-Cruz-Kasich-Romney-Ryan-McConnell faction" was attempting to steal the Republican nomination from Donald Trump -- before re-upping Stop the Steal for the general election. Read More"Donald Trump thinks Hillary Clinton and the Democrats are going to steal the next election," his website said that October. Stop the Steal briefly resurfaced around the midterms in 2018 -- with Republicans employing the hashtag during a recount in a neck-and-neck Florida race for U.S. Senate -- but it wasn't until 2020 that it really caught fire. A Stop the Steal Facebook group was managed by a loose coalition of right wing operatives, some of whom have worked with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon. The group amassed hundreds of thousands of followers in little more than a day before Facebook shut it down on November 5 -- the day after it was launched. Also on November 5, Bannon started his own "Stop the Steal" Facebook group; he changed the name to "Own Your Vote" the following day. It was not removed by Facebook, but the social media company did later remove several other pages affiliated with Bannon. "We've removed several clusters of activity for using inauthentic behavior tactics to artificially boost how many people saw their content," said Andy Stone, a Facebook spokesman. "That includes a group that was originally named Stop the Steal, which later became Gay Communists for Socialism and misled people about its purpose using deceptive tactics." Spinoff pages sprung up soon after like brush fires, with Facebook struggling to quickly snuff out the spreaders of bogus information. All the while, Roger Stone and Bannon have been in full disinformation mode. Stone has appeared on the show of far-right radio commentator Alex Jones to trumpet groundless claims that Biden is trying to steal the election; Bannon is echoing similar conspiracy theories on his podcast, calling the election "a mass fraud." "We're calling it a fraud or we're calling it a steal -- stop the steal," he said on a November 4 episode. Despite efforts by Facebook to shut down the misleading content, it was too late. The cluster of groups and pages -- which altogether had amassed 2.5 million followers, according to an analysis by activist group Avaaz -- had seeded a jungle of misinformation that is being shared -- and believed -- by millions of Americans. Dozens of people calling for stopping the vote count in Pennsylvania due to alleged fraud against President Donald Trump gather on the steps of the State Capitol on November 5 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. "I would not consider this a grassroots movement by any means," said Ben Decker, the CEO and founder of Memetica, a digital investigations consultancy. "Stop the Steal is a highly coordinated partisan political operation intent on bringing together conspiracy theorists, militias, hate groups and Trump supporters to attack the integrity of our election." The movement has also migrated to in-person events, Decker said, manifesting itself "in a variety of offline rallies and protests featuring a number of participants that are often armed." Some of the violent rhetoric associated with the campaign has come from its own leaders. "Clean your guns," said Dustin Stockton, one of the administrators of the Facebook Stop the Steal group, on a Facebook Live Stream video to his followers. "Things are going to get worse before they get better." Stockton acknowledged CNN's request for comment but didn't respond to questions. Stockton previously told CNN he did not see any messages within the group "calling for violence outside of what is common political hyperbole." He said Facebook's removal of the page was "out of line and they should restore it immediately." Stop the Steal triggered voter-intimidation lawsuits in 2016 When Stone launched Stop the Steal in 2016, it wasn't just a campaign slogan and fundraising website -- it also became a self-described "vote protectors" project that sought volunteers to monitor polling places. Stone told CNN this week that the purpose of the group was "to insure the integrity of the vote."The project triggered a slew of federal lawsuits just before Election Day by Democratic parties in six battleground states accusing Stone and affiliates of trying to intimidate minority voters in the cities where he intended to send volunteers. A federal suit filed in Ohio, for instance, accused Stone's Stop the Steal project of violating the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by "conspiring to intimidate, threaten, harass, or coerce voters on Election Day." A judge granted a temporary restraining order against the group, but it was lifted on appeal. Today, StopTheSteal.org redirects to Stone's personal web page, "StoneColdTruth.com," where Stone has been posting conspiracy theories about "widespread voter fraud." Roger Stone, former adviser and confidante to President Donald Trump, was sentenced on February 20 to 40 months in prison. Trump later commuted Stone's sentence.This week, he appeared on Alex Jones's show, where Stone groundlessly pronounced that Biden's election was a "hoax" and made a plug for Stop the Steal. "I think our headline is Join the Patriots in Washington, D.C. this weekend to protest the hoax that is the theft of this election and demand that we Stop the Steal," he said, adding, "hashtag Stop the Steal." In an email, Stone responded pugnaciously to a question from CNN about whether the current Stop the Steal movement is a recycled version of the false narrative of mass voter fraud he led years before. "As for the lack of evidence that is the mantra of all you flying monkeys," he wrote. "It's like denying the Holocaust. The evidence is overwhelming and compelling, despite the framing of your question." Stone defended the recycling of the slogan in his email, attempting to draw a parallel to other mass protests that share a theme, such as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington in 1963 and The Million Man March -- a gathering of Black men in Washington, DC, in 1995. We offer several ways to reach our journalists securely. Stone distanced himself from Bannon, referring to him as an "enemy of the people." Bannon didn't respond to messages from CNN seeking comment.This fall, as the 2020 election drew closer, there was talk in right wing circles of dusting off the Stop the Steal campaign again -- but not by Stone. "I'm thinking about bringing Stop the Steal out of retirement," said right wing activist Ali Alexander, formerly known as Ali Akbar, in a video he circulated on social media in September. "In the next coming days we are going to build the infrastructure to stop the steal." Alexander, a controversial figure on the right whose tweets about Jewish journalists have raised eyebrows, says he employed a successful Stop the Steal campaign during the 2018 midterms in Florida. This year, Alexander's company registered another Stop the Steal website -- StoptheSteal.us -- on November 4. Alexander did not directly respond to CNN's questions for this story. Also on November 4, the Stop the Steal Facebook group was launched by an organization led by a woman with ties to Stone's ex-wife and managed by a team of several conservative activists, some with close connections to Bannon. Amy Kremer is the chair of Women for America First -- an organization which created the Stop the Steal Facebook group, according to Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), a London-based think tank that monitors online polarization and extremism. Kremer was a lead Tea Party organizer who also started a super PAC with Stone's ex-wife, Ann Stone, called Women Vote Trump.In an emailed response to a set of questions from CNN, Kremer did not deny that Stop the Steal is a planned, recycled version of a similar gambit. She declined to answer a question about the extent to which she was coordinating the Stop the Steal efforts with high-profile right wing operatives, but said: "We welcome the support and involvement of any individual who is concerned about the integrity of our elections and who supports President Trump." The administrators for the Stop the Steal Facebook group also included Dustin Stockton and Jennifer Lawrence, a couple who have both written for Breitbart -- where Bannon once served as executive chairman, according to ISD. Both also were part of Bannon's core team for We Build the Wall, an ill-fated crowdfunding campaign for Trump's border wall that led to the arrest this summer of Bannon and three associates on suspicion of using hundreds of thousands of dollars in proceeds for personal expenses. Stockton and Lawrence were not among those arrested and indicted in August, but their recreational vehicle was raided by federal agents as a part of the probe. Bannon pleaded not guilty to the charges. In an interview last week, Stockton told CNN that the Facebook group had had no contact with Bannon prior to its November 4 creation or while it was active. "We haven't been able to speak to anyone from that circle since August and the indictments," he said. 'The horse has bolted' Supporters of President Donald Trump hold "Stop the Steal" signs as they stand outside of the Clark County Elections Department in Nevada on November 7.The Stop the Steal Facebook group took off immediately. Its size swelled at a dizzying pace, gaining some 300,000 followers in just 24 hours. Some commenters on that Stop the Steal Facebook group and its knockoffs used "threatening rhetoric anticipating a civil war, or talk from members about how they are locked and loaded," said Ciaran O'Connor, a disinformation analyst with the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. Citing one of the most extreme comments he came across, O'Connor said a user on one of the Facebook groups said they would die fighting for what they believe. "Since then, this thread has over 450 comments in support of the original statement, with many saying that they would happily do the same," he said. Decker of Memetica said he watched the Facebook group radicalize people in real time during the peak of its virality. "You had otherwise normal Trump supporters who suddenly wanted to understand what was being done against President Trump in this election," he said. "And suddenly you see comments where people are asking, 'What is this QAnon thing?' 'What is red pilling?' And immediately you see all of these different users engage and share harmful, toxic conspiracy theories that they otherwise would have never seen had they not joined the group." The Stop the Steal hashtag has also spread widely on Twitter. Seeded by a spate of tweets by Ali Alexander and others at least as early as September, the hashtag took off on Election Day -- November 3 -- with a tweet by a lawyer showing a video of a poll watcher in Philadelphia arguing with poll workers who wouldn't let him in the building. The man was indeed wrongfully turned away; city officials told news outlets it was an "honest mistake" and that the poll watcher went to another polling site. The tweet went viral, boosted by retweets from famous conservative firebrands such as Ann Coulter and Donald Trump Jr. Other conservative influencers picking up the hashtag on Twitter were Rudy Giuliani, Michelle Malkin and Dinesh D'Souza, a conservative activist and filmmaker who pleaded guilty to making illegal campaign contributions and was pardoned by Trump. All told, the hashtag was tweeted 1.7 million times, mostly after November 5, said Darren L. Linvill, an associate professor in the department of communications at Clemson University who tracks the spread of information online. Meanwhile, many of those banned from or restrained by the two Big Tech companies have migrated to emerging platforms such as Parler, which became the most-downloaded free app in the Apple app store on the weekend of November 8 -- the day major media outlets called the election for Biden. Despite efforts by tech companies and fact checkers, the bogus charge that the election has been stolen has entered the bloodstream of American democracy. "There are still groups active with tens of thousands of members, over 170 Facebook Stop the Steal events, the last time I counted," O'Connor said. "The horse has bolted at this stage." The hyper-polarized rhetoric around the election worries Steven Levitsky, a Harvard government professor and co-author of the 2018 book "How Democracies Die." "When people lose faith in the electoral process and don't think elections are clean and legitimate, they are much more willing to accept violence," he said. The onus, Levitsky said, is on Republicans in Congress to assure the public that the election was legitimate. So far, that hasn't happened. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has yet to recognize Biden as the winner. To date only a handful of GOP leaders in Congress have done so. CNN's Scott Bronstein, Yahya Abou-Ghazala, Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Benjamin Naughton, Zachary Cohen and Amitoj Singh contributed to this report.

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(CNN)Former Washington Spirit player Kaiya McCullough has told CNN that the abuse she faced at the hands of former coach Richie Burke left her "dreading having to go on the field" and "hoping I would get hurt at practice." Speaking to CNN's Bianna Golodryga on the Amanpour program on Tuesday, McCullough said that Burke had created a "toxic" environment. "He would target people at practice, and no matter what they did, good or bad, it just wasn't enough," she said. "It really was just this environment that was so toxic and it was fearing that you were going to be next and knowing that nobody was going to stand up for you because they were also scared that it was going to be them next." McCullough, 23, left Washington Spirit in 2020, citing what she described as verbal and emotional abuse by former Washington Spirit head coach Burke. Burke was fired by the National Women's Soccer League in September following an investigation into allegations of harassment and abuse. He has denied all allegations against him. Fear of retribution allowed for a sustained period of abuse while Burke was in charge, McCullough said. "You have these people who are abusers and who are bullies and they have unilateral control over other people's livelihoods -- your contract, that's your source of income, that's your place of living. They have the ability to uproot your life and trade your life away." Read MoreBurke's dismissal has been followed in recent weeks by widespread allegations of sexual and emotional abuse across multiple global leagues in women's football. McCullough, who at 23 has retired from the sport, cited the pervasive abuse in the sport as a reason as to why she has quit football altogether. "I didn't feel like I could go somewhere where I would be safe. I had a feeling that it was more common than people were letting on, and it was just a gut instinct that anywhere I went, I might not be safe. So I just didn't want to put myself through that again," she said. McCullough speaks at Baltimore Convention Center on January 16, 2020.She called for more players to come forward and for greater accountability across football. "It does take the big players to come out and support and to call things out for things to get done because they wield more power and when you're talking about these larger power structures, these intricate systems of power, it often takes people who wield some of that power to be able to impact what's happening."Joyce Cook, FIFA's Chief Education and Social Responsibility Officer, told CNN last week that the sport's governing body is taking the issue seriously and encouraged victims to come forward.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videos"We are incredibly serious about eradicating abuse from sport, from football," Cook said. "Part of ensuring that we have a safe sport means that we also have to provide remedy for those that have been abused, that are being abused and to make sure that any perpetrators are not only not welcome but banned from sport."Reacting to those comments, McCullough said that she "would love to believe that people will follow through with their words, with robust action, but other parts of me have seen how the systems have failed me. So I'm optimistic, I'm hopeful, but still hesitant." "It really shouldn't be on players to have to give up their career or to have to relive trauma in order to fix some of these more systemic issues," she said.

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(CNN)Think of cricket-playing nations and the likes of India, Australia and England might come to mind. Not so much Oman, a country nestled on the corner of the Arabian Peninsula with limited history when it comes to red or white-ball versions of the game.But that could be about to change come Sunday as Oman, alongside the neighboring United Arab Emirates, is set to host the T20 World Cup.Originally scheduled to take place in India, it was decided earlier this year that the tournament would be moved amid the Covid-19 pandemic. So Oman, which only built its first grass cricket pitch 10 years ago, offered its services."It's purely a one in a million years opportunity," Pankaj Khimji, chairman of Oman Cricket, tells CNN Sport."Never has an associate country [on the International Cricket Council] hosted a World Cup. And not just that, has also played in one simultaneously. This is a big high for us in Oman."Read MoreIt wasn't so long ago that the idea of hosting an international cricket tournament would have been unthinkable. There were a handful of brown pitches with concrete wickets in the center, one of which was later updated to astroturf. The Oman Cricket Academy in Muscat is inaugurated in November 2018.Each year, stones and pebbles would be painstakingly removed from the outfield and sand placed on the surface. But that hardly made the prospect of diving for a catch any more appealing. "You never dived," explains Khimji. "You could get second, third degree burns from having skin scraped off -- it was vicious earth."Needless to say, playing conditions have been dramatically improved ahead of Oman's T20 World Cup opener against Papua New Guinea at the Al-Amerat Cricket Stadium, located 18 kilometers outside the capital of Muscat. The stadium's seating -- previously comprising of 52 park benches shaded under trees -- has been upgraded to a 5,000-seat infrastructure; the venue's lighting system has been enhanced and a press box and media center have also been added -- all in the space of 90 days. READ: Cricket swaps 'batsman' for gender-neutral 'batter' in law changeThis year marks the seventh edition of the T20 World Cup: 45 matches which run from October 17 to November 14. Oman will contest a preliminary group that includes Papua New Guinea, Scotland and Bangladesh, from which the top two teams qualify for the Super 12s -- the later stage of the tournament. Backed by 4,000 home fans at each game, Khimji is confident that this Omani team -- "a good vintage" -- can qualify for the next round. He adds, though, that on-field success is just part of the aim.Oman's Bilal Khan appeals against Hong Kong at the 2017 Desert T20 Challenge."If I can put Oman in the minds of the cricketing audience globally and how beautiful it is, and then even if one in 50 start looking up on the internet and say: 'Hey, what's happening in Oman?' and start searching Oman, that itself will be a major accomplishment," he says.According to Khimji, football, sailing and fishing -- which benefits from the country's extensive coastline -- are all popular in Oman. The cricket team, meanwhile, is made up of part-time players who balance their sporting commitments with nine-to-five jobs. "Every time they play a tournament, they have to secure permission from their so-called employers to relieve them to go on national team duty," says Khimji."Sometimes, it's a challenge. More often than not, these employers have been very, very supportive ... Some of them have retained their jobs, some of them have been put on a stipend every time they go out to play."READ: Virat Kohli to step down as India's T20 captain after World CupThe pandemic has delayed the launch of a grassroots program in Oman, which would see cricket played for four hours each week in schools across the country. Once this foundation is in place, the standout players would then have the chance to play professional or semi-professional cricket further down the line. Locals play a cricket match in Muscat in December 2010.But for those who will represent Oman at this year's World Cup -- almost all of whom are expat players -- the rewards won't necessarily be financial. "In 10 years' time, they'll be telling their children stories about how their father played cricket at the World Cup," says Khimji."I think that's what it's all about now. They're all playing for pride, passion, family, country, friends. I'm very proud of the bunch."Before those stories can be told, an historic sporting moment awaits for Oman as the T20 World Cup is just the bowl of a ball and the swing of a bat away.

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Story highlightsHe laid the wreath a day after London detectives were granted visas to LibyaThe detectives are continuing their investigation of the death of Yvonne Fletcher in 1984A bullet fired from Libyan diplomatic offices killed her while she policed a demonstrationLibya's prime minister laid a wreath Friday at the spot where a London police officer was killed outside the Libyan diplomatic offices 28 years ago.The wreath-laying happened a day after London detectives were granted visas to visit Libya to continue their investigation of Yvonne Fletcher's death.Libyan Prime Minister Abdurrahim El-Keib walked up to the memorial at St. James's Square in central London and laid the white wreath at the spot where Fletcher died, where a marker reads "Here fell WPC Yvonne Fletcher, 17th April 1984."Fletcher was policing a demonstration outside the Libyan offices when a bullet fired from inside the building struck her in the back and killed her, authorities said.Ten demonstrators also were injured in the incident, authorities said.British Prime Minister David Cameron said in a statement Friday that he was pleased that detectives were going to Libya, calling it "a really positive step forward."London's Metropolitan Police Service said Thursday that the investigation has remained open and that the Counter Terrorism Command wants to find those responsible for Fletcher's death.Investigators have visited Libya several times and met with officials from the Libyan investigative team, including in 2004, 2006 and 2007, authorities said. Fletcher's death is under joint investigation by London and Libyan authorities, London police said.

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Kara Alaimo, an associate professor of public relations at Hofstra University, is the author of "Pitch, Tweet, or Engage on the Street: How to Practice Global Public Relations and Strategic Communication." She was spokeswoman for international affairs in the Treasury Department during the Obama administration. Follow her on Twitter @karaalaimo. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. View more opinion at CNN. (CNN)On Tuesday, White House communications director Kate Bedingfield said the Biden administration is reviewing whether social media companies should be held legally accountable for the spread of misinformation on their sites by changing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects their ability to moderate users' content. This statement comes at a time when misinformation -- especially about Covid-19 vaccines -- is spurring both public outcry and the belief among many that social media companies should be more aggressive in their efforts to fight back. Kara Alaimo White House officials have expressed outrage over the failure of Facebook and other platforms to crack down on false claims about vaccines amidst rising numbers of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths in recent days. Last week, President Joe Biden claimed that social networks are "killing people" by allowing health misinformation to proliferate, though on Tuesday he took back those words and instead placed blame on the authors of such misinformation. Facebook, for one, disagrees with the claims that it is responsible for fueling misinformation. A spokesperson told CNN that Biden's allegations that tech companies are responsible for spreading vaccine misinformation "aren't supported by the facts. The fact is that more than 2 billion people have viewed authoritative information about COVID-19 and vaccines on Facebook, which is more than any other place on the internet."As the coronavirus continues to sicken Americans and so many others worldwide, people (especially those lucky enough to live in a country with strong Covid-19 vaccine access) need to be encouraged to get vaccines that can not only protect them from serious illness and death, but also stop them from spreading the virus to those around them who aren't eligible to be inoculated -- like children and people with certain medical conditions. The spread of misinformation about vaccines must be stopped. That's why the White House is right to question Section 230. It does need to be updated. But the exceptions to this law must be extremely narrow and focus on widespread misinformation that clearly threatens lives.Read MoreAccording to the Center for Countering Digital Hate, just 12 people are responsible for 65% of the misinformation about vaccines that has been circulating online. The organization found 812,000 instances of anti-vaccine content on Facebook and Twitter between February 1- March 16, 2021, which it reported was just a "sample" of the misinformation that is widely spreading. Trump's meritless lawsuits don't stand a chanceThe failure of tech companies to stop it is unconscionable. But instead, according to the Center's report, misinformation has on occasion actually been recommended by Instagram (owned by Facebook) to its users. And, even when this false content has been reported to social media companies, they have overwhelmingly declined to take action against it. While the Center faults Facebook, Twitter and Google for failing to identify and remove anti-vaccine content, it notes that "the scale of misinformation on Facebook, and thus the impact of their failure, is larger.Many Internet activists oppose changing Section 230 because removing its protections against legal liability for online intermediaries who host or republish content could limit our ability to have wide-ranging conversations on social media -- including those about controversial topics. And, clearly, it would not be feasible for tech companies to monitor and fact-check all of the conversations we have on social media every day. "Attacking Section 230 of the CDA does nothing but show that you have no idea what you're talking about when it comes to ending abuse online," Zoë Quinn, who was the victim of fake online claims that she slept with a reviewer in order to get him to write a glowing review of a game she created and was deluged with death threats and other abuse as a result, wrote in her book Crash Override: How Gamergate (Nearly) Destroyed My Life, and How We Can Win the Fight Against Online Hate.But there's a way to protect the openness of the Internet and the ability of social networks to operate while still cracking down on falsehoods that cause mass harm. Congress should pass a law holding tech companies responsible for removing content that directly endangers lives and achieves mass reach -- such as more than 10,000 likes, comments, or shares. The definition of endangering lives should also be narrow. It should include grave threats to public health -- like vaccine misinformation -- or other direct invitations to cause serious harm to ourselves or others. This requirement of this type of updated legislation would allow tech companies to focus their efforts on policing content that spreads widely (and, by the way, also makes them the most money, since social networks rely on popular content to keep people on their sites so they can earn advertising revenue). Content with the most reach and engagement is, of course, the most influential and thus potentially harmful.Of course, there's plenty of legal precedent for this. As I've pointed out before, it's Constitutional to restrict freedom of speech in limited cases, such as when it threatens to facilitate crimes or poses imminent and real threats. Clearly, information that fuels a deadly pandemic qualifies.What anti-vaxxers sound like to meSuch a law would also come with serious danger that cannot be discounted and must be addressed: politicians could try to use it to hamper the spread of information they don't like that is actually true. (Remember how former President Trump frequently called accurate reports he didn't like "fake news?"). That's why the arbiters of truth in such cases would need to be federal judges, who are nominated by the president but confirmed by the Senate and are supposed to be impartial. The Justice Department and state attorneys general could bring suits against social networks for failing to remove deadly misinformation that spreads widely on their platforms, such cases could be decided by a panel of judges (to further protect against a single activist jurist), and tech companies found to be in violation of the law could face monetary fines.The real idea here is that the prospect of financial penalties and the public relations damage that comes with lawsuits would cause social networks to step up their policing of misinformation to avoid facing suits in the first place. That would keep the onus mostly on companies to ferret out and shut down fake news that is dangerous and widespread. Of course, that's exactly what happens with copyrighted material. Copyright infringement isn't protected under Section 230, so when a user shares copyrighted material on a social network without permission, the owner of the copyright can sue the platform for damages. That's why social networks have gotten so savvy about removing such content -- and how we've ended up in past situations like when Twitter removed a clip posted by former president Trump of the band Nickelback while separately allowing him to invoke the prospect of a civil war. If tech companies can figure out how to remove clips that harm people's commercial interests, surely they can also figure out how to take down posts that pose threats to our lives.Get our free weekly newsletterSign up for CNN Opinion's new newsletter.Join us on Twitter and FacebookSocial networks could have avoided this kind of regulation by doing a better job of cracking down on misinformation in the first place. But they have long tried to shirk responsibility for the social effects of the misinformation that spreads on their platforms. In 2017, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg used his voting power to block a shareholder resolution that would have required the company to merely publicly report how it deals with misinformation and the impact of its misinformation policies. Like the viruses vaccines protect us against, misinformation has become explosively contagious and deadly on social media. Congress should inoculate us against some of the worst of it while still maintaining the viability of broad, unfettered speech that doesn't threaten lives on social media.

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Story highlightsLewis Hamilton takes pole for Spanish Grand Prix in BarcelonaTeammate Nico Rosberg is second on the gridDaniel Ricciardo in third for Red BullNEW: Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel five-place grid penaltyLewis Hamilton reserved a barnstorming final lap in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix to take his fourth pole of the season Saturday.With his 35th career pole, Hamilton relegated Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg to second on the grid as he bids for his fourth straight win of the season.Victory in Sunday's race would see Hamilton leapfrog Rosberg in the world title standings and would be his first at the Circuit of Catalunya.But it proved another sorry afternoon for four-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel, who could not take part in the final part of qualifying after "losing drive" in his Red Bull, and was later penalized five grid places for a gearbox change.JUST WATCHED'Talking' car takes F1 to the next levelReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH'Talking' car takes F1 to the next level 02:54JUST WATCHEDRosberg: 'We definitely haven't peaked'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRosberg: 'We definitely haven't peaked' 02:19JUST WATCHEDRacing on the Barcelona circuitReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRacing on the Barcelona circuit 01:19Read: Hamilton hat-trick in ShanghaiIt left him 15th on the grid, while teammate Daniel Ricciardo of Australia again impressed by claiming third spot, although over a second slower on his lap than Hamilton.Finn Valtteri Bottas took a fine fourth for the revived Williams team, with Romain Grosjean giving Lotus a boost in fifth.Ferrari's home hero Fernando Alonso had hoped to give his vast following in Barcelona something to cheer, but had to settle for seventh on the grid, being out qualified by his teammate Kimi Raikkonen.Read: Mercedes one-two in Bahrain qualifyingRosberg had raised hopes he could take pole ahead of Hamilton by being fastest in third practice and then in the opening two sessions of final qualifying.But Hamilton showed his superiority despite doubts he would have to give second best, clocking a time of one minute 25.232 seconds. "Nico (Rosberg) has been driving really well through P3 and qualifying, so I didn't know if I could get it. At the end, I had to eek out everything and more from the car," he said."To have the kind of performance we have, I have never really known that before. I'm overwhelmed, so happy."Jenson Button for McLaren, Felipe Massa in the second Williams and Nico Hulkenberg for Sauber, who narrowly missed out on final qualifying, round out the top 10.Read: Why can't women win in F1?

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(CNN)This year, we've watched the story of a little chopper unfold on another planet. And much like the joy brought by the successful landing of the Perseverance rover on Mars in February, the journey of its Ingenuity helicopter sidekick is just what we needed in 2021.From millions of miles away, we've looked to the red planet as a distraction from our woes as we live through the second year of a pandemic. Meanwhile, two robots are achieving what was once thought to be impossible on Mars. It's easy to project our hopes on them, envision them as two robot pals playing out some buddy cop scenario. Their discoveries bring us wonder. Their successes are worth celebrating. And they send back stunning postcards from a rust-colored world. Ingenuity was built and is powered by the same human trait from which it takes its name. Thousands of dedicated, hardworking and creative people worked for years to make it a reality. When I ask scientists if they ever imagined a helicopter flying on Mars, most of them say no -- but they are glad, and in awe, that it exists and is actively flying through the Martian atmosphere. The Mars rover landing was the happy moment we all neededThe journey hasn't been easy for the helicopter. Imagine building an experiment, technology to be demonstrated on another planet, and not running into some problems. Time and time again, the chopper and its team have overcome these issues to keep exploring. Read MorePerseverance, which is about the size of an SUV, was built to survive for at least two years on Mars; Ingenuity was not. The 4-pound (1.8-kilogram) helicopter was designed for five experimental test flights in April.To date, Ingenuity has achieved an astonishing 15 flights, and it hasn't abandoned Perseverance yet. Together, they are exploring Mars in an unprecedented way that could reveal if life ever existed on the red planet. Ingenuity has been the perfect travel companion, scouting ahead and leading the way. And Perseverance doesn't have to make the journey alone.Surviving MarsAs humans, we're intrigued by flight and exploring Mars, so it's no surprise that something bringing the two together has captivated people around the globe.After Perseverance survived the infamous "seven minutes of terror" landing on Mars in February, we waited to hear if Ingenuity had survived the seven-month journey through space as well. Mars rover scrapes at rock to 'look at something no one's ever seen'I've had the privilege of reporting on the rover at CNN for years; the week of Perseverance landing on Mars was like my Super Bowl or Oscars. In the late evening hours of February 20, I waited, still bowled over by the awe of Perseverance's success, to see if Ingenuity would send us a message. The little chopper phoned home, from its safe place tucked within the belly of the rover, to say it was OK. It was another big sigh of relief that week, but Ingenuity's arduous path was just beginning. Then, it had to unfold like a butterfly from its chrysalis and detach from the rover and its faithful power supply. Perseverance wouldn't be able to shield Ingenuity from the frigid nights on Mars any longer. The helicopter would have to do that on its own. Another sigh of relief came the first time Ingenuity charged itself using its solar panel and withstood the freezing Martian nights, which can dip to negative 130 degrees Fahrenheit (-90 degrees Celsius).NASA's Perseverance Mars rover (right) took a selfie with the Ingenuity helicopter (left) on April 6.Perseverance and Ingenuity took a selfie together, sitting on the surface of Jezero Crater, as if to say "hey, no big deal, just hanging out at the site of an ancient Martian lake." The image still makes me smile; it's one of my favorites from this year.Then, it was time for Ingenuity to fly. And that didn't come easily, either. But moments that make history never do. Achieving first flightThe groundbreaking first flight was originally scheduled for April 11, but plans shifted after a command-sequence issue was discovered when the helicopter went through a system of preflight checks with its software. On April 19, Ingenuity successfully completed the first powered, controlled flight on another planet and safely landed back on the surface. Images and video taken by the rover, as well as aerial photos from the helicopter's camera, showed Ingenuity in motion. Ingenuity took this shot while hovering over the Martian surface on April 19.My favorite is Ingenuity's perspective of itself, watching its own shadow boldly crossing the Martian landscape.The helicopter team celebrated in their control room on Earth, leaping out of their chairs."We can now say that human beings have flown a rotorcraft on another planet," said MiMi Aung, Ingenuity project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadenea, California, that day. "We've been talking about our Wright brothers moment on another planet for so long. And now, here it is."The Ingenuity team celebrates the first flight. MiMi Aung can be seen standing at the center.It's fitting that the mission carried a piece of history as well. A postage stamp-size piece of muslin fabric that covered one of the wings from the Wright brothers' Flyer 1 is attached to a cable beneath the helicopter's solar panel.That first powered, controlled flight on Earth took place aboard the Flyer near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, when Orville and Wilbur Wright flew 120 feet (36.6 meters) for 12 seconds in December 1903. History was made when the Wright brothers conducted four separate flights on December 17, 1903, and each one was a little longer than the previous one.Ingenuity was only supposed to fly in April. But just like the Wright brothers, it didn't give up.Since then, Ingenuity has beamed back color images, transitioned from a tech demo to an active scout for the rover, survived a scary flight anomaly, flown through changing atmospheric conditions on Mars and conquered record-breaking flights that are further, faster and more challenging than the last.From dream to realityThink about the things in your life that weigh 4 pounds. Perhaps it's a pet, or a family heirloom. Then picture holding Ingenuity in your hands. Imagine that you poured years of your life into this object, built it and watched it come to life -- only to watch it crash during testing. JUST WATCHEDIngenuity project manager: 'Game-changing' to be able to fly on MarsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHIngenuity project manager: 'Game-changing' to be able to fly on Mars 02:13But then it became real, part of a mission heading to Mars. And it worked, and it's still working. Let us be grateful for people like MiMi Aung and Ingenuity's chief engineer, Bob Balaram, and the rest of the Ingenuity team at NASA for pushing so hard to make what was once an idea sitting on a shelf a successful reality. Ingenuity may only be 4 pounds, but it has successfully carried all of our hopes. It has allowed us to dream of successors capable of even more, and Ingenuity's continued achievements spark the same joy as the landing of Perseverance.

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Graves County, Kentucky (CNN)As Johnny Stutzman surveyed the wreckage of what had been his house, all he could do was muster a laugh."My front porch is laying over there on the other side of the road," he said, pointing to a splintered pile of rubble that had landed amid trees across a Kentucky state road when a deadly tornado hit the night of December 10. Stutzman, 23, is part of the conservative Swartzentruber community of about 40 Amish families in the area. He and his wife survived the tornado — climbing into their basement just as their windows shattered.But his neighbors, Jacob and Emma Gingerich, and two of the Gingerich's five children were killed when their trailer home was ripped from its frame. Emma Gingerich was Stutzman's cousin. Family members and friends from five states had arrived by bus early last week for the Gingerich family funerals, and they stayed to help with clean-up and the start of the rebuild. They slept on the floors of homes still standing. Read MoreMembers of the Kentucky National Guard had stopped by earlier Thursday to drop off sleeping bags. In the afternoon, as a heavy rain began to fall, several men were unloading a pallet of new windows that had just been delivered.There's just so much work to be done.An Amish man walks to unload donations brought by community members in Mayfield, Kentucky.A week after the deadly long-track tornado ripped through western Kentucky, residents of the region were rallying around those who had suffered the worst damage, much like the Amish community that had gathered in rural Graves County, several miles outside Mayfield. In Mayfield, a town of less than 10,000 people where more than one-in-three residents live below the poverty line, many people said they were committed to remaining in the area and rebuilding what they had lost. But anxiety over the economic blows so many had suffered had also set in, with many beginning to confront the long process of recovery with more questions than answers. In Mayfield, the owner of a food truck that sells the self-proclaimed hottest wings in the world wondered how he would afford new grills. A basketball trainer hoped the children he works with would have access to a gymnasium soon so he could make a living again. A mother of four worried about where she and her four children would stay after two weeks of free lodging at a nearby resort runs out. Rubble from destroyed offices is seen in downtown Mayfield on December 15.Stutzman had five buildings on his property: a house, a barn, a workshop, and buildings for machinery and lumber. All were destroyed. "We don't have anything usable as far as furniture. And as you can see, there's a lot of our stuff over there," Stutzman said, looking across the street. "First of all, we're going to rebuild everything and try to get back into our home," he said. The challenge, he said, is paying for the materials he will need. "I'm not going to ask for it," Stutzman said. "But we're going to take all the donations so we can buy what we need for materials and stuff to rebuild."'It's just a day.'With Christmas just days away, some in Mayfield who survived the tornado, some of whom saw presents they had already purchased get damaged or destroyed, said they were scaling back their plans. They were simply grateful to have survived to see the holiday at all. "There is no Christmas. Not this year," said Angee Wilson, 46, who works in her mother's tax preparation office, which was demolished by the tornado. "It's just a day. We're just thankful that we're actually still here. We can celebrate it maybe in February." Nicole Rudolph, a 28-year-old housekeeper who lives on the outskirts of Mayfield with her four young children and another on the way, said she expects a low-key holiday season — but is glad to have survived a difficult stretch leading up to it.A hymnal lies among the debris in Mayfield.Rudolph, who is vaccinated, said she and her children had gotten Covid-19 in the fall — among the many in Graves County, which saw a severe spike in cases in August and September. She said it was the worst illness she'd ever experienced."I know for children, Christmas is about gifts. But in reality, it's just about making it. It's about love. It's about support from your family," Rudolph said.Her house was not badly damaged, she said, but the food in her refrigerator had spoiled with much of Graves County without electricity. She was filling a plastic tote with canned goods at the Graves County fairgrounds' supply center on Wednesday. "It gets harder every day," she said. "I'm still able to make it through, with the people out here to help us." 'The bills still go on'Through the streets of Mayfield, most businesses remained shuttered last week as the town waited for power to be restored. A McDonald's was closed, but the fast-food chain operated a food truck in its parking lot. A Walgreens became a gathering spot for distributing water and other supplies to those working on clean-up efforts, with portable toilets in its parking lot. Businesses that weren't demolished have boarded up their broken windows and temporarily patched holes in roofs with tarps. Children's playground equipment, pieces of fencing, patio furniture and more debris were scattered throughout residential areas. Farther away from the tornado's path, those whose houses were not destroyed have lined their front yards with massive piles of sticks and branches, awaiting clean-up crews to haul the piles away.Dozens of buildings and houses that were directly in the tornado's path are now piles of rubble, with cars too damaged to drive left parked beside them. And days after the tornado, those who lived and worked in those homes and buildings continue to search for their belongings and mementos. Shawna Driscoll cries as she hands unbroken ceramic plates to her friend Angee Wilson while digging through debris at Wilson's mother's tax office in Mayfield on December 15.Wilson and her friend Shawna Driscoll on Wednesday were climbing through the rubble of what had been Wilson's mother's tax preparation office.They were securing clients' files. But they were also searching for an important keepsake: a photo of Wilson's grandfather that sat atop a shelf by a window. They didn't find the picture. Wilson and Driscoll met President Joe Biden during his trip to Mayfield on Wednesday. Wilson said the two asked for counseling services and first aid kits, so that hospitals' emergency rooms wouldn't be crowded with people who suffered minor injuries like glass cuts while clearing debris. Both the first aid kits and counseling services had shown up a day later, Wilson said, though she did not know whether Biden was directly responsible for their arrival.On the trip, Biden announced that the federal government would cover 100% of costs of emergency work for the first 30 days after the tornado outbreak. Wilson, 46, said their immediate needs were covered — but, like many in Mayfield, expensive repairs are looming in the weeks and months ahead."We could use a new roof and a new fence for my dog," she said. James Stovall, owner of Larry, Darrell & Darrell Bar-B-Que, lost his food truck and smokers in the tornado outbreak.James Stovall, the 67-year-old owner of Larry, Darrell & Darrell Bar-B-Que — who claims to have come up with the recipe for the hottest wings on earth, using nine of the world's spiciest peppers — was trying to recover the grills for his food truck on Thursday. His food truck and grills had been picked up and destroyed by the tornado, left amid the piles of rubble in downtown Mayfield.He said he wants to keep his business going. But he's facing an $18,000 price tag for a used food truck and at least $50,000 for grilling equipment. Still, big business is looming: His barbecue is always a major hit at the spring's annual QuiltWeek convention, which brings tens of thousands of quilters to nearby Paducah. Stovall said he is trying to "keep it together and get everything that I can salvage." "My banker called me this morning — 'James, you need to make a deposit,'" he said. "The bills still go on. It's tough when I look at what it's going to take me." 'It's all about moving forward' This rural, conservative region of western Kentucky is relatively isolated from major cities with abundant temporary housing. Larger cities like Nashville, Tennessee, Louisville, Kentucky, and Evansville, Indiana, are at least two-hour drives away. Some residents in Mayfield are desperate to find places to stay — especially as free, temporary options run out and savings accounts are drained to foot hotel bills. Some have left town. Others are sleeping in their cars, or on the floors of the houses of family members in town. Hotels within a one-hour drive of Mayfield are packed. Food, clothes and other supplies are organized at a supply center in Mayfield on December 15.In a building that's been turned into a supply center at the Mayfield-Graves County Fairgrounds, where dozens of volunteers wearing yellow vests were unloading a constant stream of canned goods, toiletries, diapers, pet food and more while the Kentucky National Guard directed traffic, people described a deep uncertainty about where they will end up and how they will pay for it. Sammantha Smith, a 31-year-old cook who lives in public housing in Mayfield, said that a resort northeast of Mayfield had given her family a cottage for two weeks because her house's windows were shattered and its roof was falling down. She was gathering cleaning supplies, cereal and other necessities in a large plastic tote. She said she doesn't know when she'll be able to provide any sense of normalcy for her four children, who range from age 4 to 10. "It's hard to gain normalcy, because we're only going to be there for two weeks, and then we have to find somewhere else," Smith said. "It may be a month, two months, before we can even get back into our house. So we're just having to maneuver through everything." The Federal Emergency Management Agency had set up a trailer in a parking lot behind a tire store in Mayfield to help those who had lost their housing in the tornado. Among those who stopped in Thursday was Benjamin Dordoye, a 29-year-old basketball trainer in Mayfield. Dordoye said he is paying for a hotel room now, after trying to stay in his house for the first days after the tornado. He said he had to leave because his roof is cracked and he had no electricity — leading to cold nights. People help clear debris in Mayfield on December 15.Dordoye said FEMA officials told him he would receive a follow-up phone call. In the meantime, he said, he has no income. "Working on kids, you know, that was mainly my main income. So right now I really don't have an income," he said. Many in the region whose homes and businesses were not severely damaged were volunteering at shelters and supply centers and with clean-up crews. Others were driving food, water and supplies to people they knew in Graves County. Rebecca Head, a 45-year-old crisis therapist at Four River Behavioral Health who said she was helping clients find places to stay, was picking up cleaning supplies at a supply center to deliver to those clients."It's all about moving forward," Head said, "and just seeing where you can help."

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London (CNN)Britain was hit by heavy snow and subzero temperatures Wednesday as the "Beast from the East" brought chaos to the country's infrastructure.The cold snap, which has chilled much of Europe, left Britain blanketed in snow, forcing hundreds of schools to close and leaving the country's transport services and motorists facing severe delays.Pedestrians cross the Millennium Bridge as heavy snowfall hits London.The freezing winds swept across Europe from Siberia.Rail companies have warned customers that their trains could be delayed while several services across the country were canceled.London's Heathrow Airport tweeted that it did not expect significant disruptions.Snow blows off a bus as commuters cross London Bridge after snow hit London overnight.Read MoreSeveral roads across the country are closed, but northeast England, Kent and East Anglia are the areas that are worst affected.The RAC breakdown service said it was "experiencing a high demand" for its services.According to the UK Met Office, freezing winds from northern Scandinavia and northwest Russia will mean temperatures will struggle to get above 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day and plunge as low as minus 8 degrees Celsius (17 degrees Fahrenheit) at night.More snow is expected Thursday and Friday. Icicles hang from a frozen elephant fountain on Tuesday in Colchester, United Kingdom. "This spell of weather is the coldest parts of the country have seen since at least 2013, and there is the potential for disruptive snowfall in many parts throughout the week. Transport disruption is likely in areas with significant snowfall and the cold could have an impact on people's health," Met Office Chief Forecaster Laura Patterson said in a statement.A surfer walks over snow-covered rocks after surfing in Redcar, northeast England. "Low temperatures mean snowfall is likely to be powdery, bringing the risk of drifting in the strong easterly winds. The areas affected by snow will vary from day to day and so will the areas at the risk of major impacts."With the weather so severe at the moment it is really important that everyone keeps up to date with the forecast and warnings in their area, check for local travel information and follow the advice of local authorities and emergency services." A young man takes a running jump down a snow covered hill with his sled on February 27, 2018 in Rochester, Kent.While the cold snap has brought much of the country to a standstill, some people decided to enjoy it.Sledders were out in force, while even the freezing temperatures could not persuade one daredevil from grabbing their surfboard and catching some waves.

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Hong Kong (CNN)British Prime Minister Boris Johnson appears to have won the majority he needs to deliver Brexit. Now the hard work begins. As the UK general election results still come in, all indications are the ruling Conservative Party will move forward with Johnson's Brexit plan quickly, possibly holding a vote on it in the newly reorganized House of Commons before the end of the year. Brexit has dominated UK politics for almost five years now, well before the 2016 vote that sent the country on course to leave the European Union, and many other issues have fallen by the wayside as the debate has become more and more focused on how exactly the UK will leave and whether any Prime Minister could get the parliamentary math right to do so. Brexit -- no matter how hard or soft it ends up being -- will have a major impact on the UK economy, and London will need to craft new trade deals to mitigate the potential damage.We have some idea of what a future UK-EU trading relationship might look like, though it's likely it will continue to be hashed out for months, if not years, to come. What remains somewhat up in the air is how the country deals with its other important trading partners, chief among them the world's two leading economies, China and the United States. Read MoreJohnson was attacked by the opposition Labour Party throughout the election campaign for cozying up to US President Donald Trump amid suggestions he may be willing to allow US firms access to the UK's National Health Service and other key public bodies -- and potentially lowering regulatory standards in the process. Trump is a big fan of Johnson, and has showered him with praise in the past -- though the UK leader avoided his American counterpart during the election campaign due to Trump's unpopularity with many voters. The US is also historically the UK's most important ally and a key trading partner even when compared to the EU. As the results came in, Trump tweeted: "Looking like a big win for Boris in the UK!But while a US trade deal may be attractive to some in Johnson's Conservative Party, Washington is expected to drive a hard bargain that could risk alienating British voters. China offers a potential counterweight to having to lean on Washington too much, but brings with it a host of its own issues. Chief among them being the difficult question of how to balance a relationship with Beijing while not angering Trump amid the ongoing US-China trade war. JUST WATCHEDIMF chief: Trade war could cost world economy $700BReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHIMF chief: Trade war could cost world economy $700B 02:34Important partnerAccording to analysis by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, China would be the biggest winner from a no-deal Brexit, and will likely see substantial gains from the type of hard leave solution previously mooted by Johnson. "Countries which would gain the most from a no-deal Brexit are those are currently facing higher tariffs: China, the United States and Japan," the study said. Johnson's predecessor Theresa May worked hard to boost ties with China before her failure to pass a Brexit bill saw her pushed out of her party's leadership. Speaking ahead of a visit to the country, she said there were "huge trade opportunities in China that we want to help British businesses take advantage of" and called for an intensifying of a "Golden Era" of UK-China relations that was begun -- in theory at least -- under former Prime Minister David Cameron. Currently the UK does not do a great deal of trade with China, meaning there is a lot of room to grow -- China accounted for just 3.5% of all UK exports and 6.6% of UK imports in 2018. Total trade between the two countries was worth around $90 billion last year, compared to around $220 billion between Germany and China. Beijing will heartily welcome a more robust trading relationship with the UK, particularly as that will give it greater influence in Europe, even with London out of the Union, according to analysis by the European Council on Foreign Relations. "Chinese scholars expect that Brexit will weaken the EU's position on its own values, leading to a softer European posture on Chinese human rights abuses," the ECFR said in a report. "Economic competition between the UK and EU for Chinese investment is also seen as likely to lead to better terms for Chinese companies."China has already seen its influence substantially increase in Europe -- particularly among poorer eastern and Mediterranean nations -- as leaders in Brussels have been delayed in crafting a new policy for dealing with Beijing as Brexit negotiations dragged on. Testy relationship While Johnson and his trade negotiators might be keen to turn on the Chinese money pipe, any deal they strike with Beijing will have to avoid upsetting relations with the US. In particular, the UK government can't appear to undermine Washington's pressure in the trade war. After Johnson took leadership of the Conservative Party in July, Chinese media played up an interview -- from his time as foreign secretary -- in which he said the UK was "very pro-China," adding that he was "very enthusiastic" about President Xi Jinping's signature Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) investment project.In an editorial, the day after Boris' victory was announced, the state-run China Daily said Johnson faced a delicate balance between Beijing and Washington."Given that the United States has decided to lock horns with China on trade, tech and other issues, it is likely to make it a condition of any deal with the UK that it is precluded from having a free trade agreement with China," the editorial said. "And a FTA with China is something the UK has also pinned its hopes on post-Brexit."As well as trade, Johnson also faces an impending decision on whether to allow Chinese telecoms giant Huawei access to the UK's 5G network -- another area where Washington and Beijing are at loggerheads. At a NATO meeting earlier this month, Johnson suggested that Huawei could "prejudice our vital national security interests," and said any decision would be dependent on how it would affect the UK's Five Eyes intelligence partnership, which includes the US. The following day however, Johnson appeared to use a Huawei phone to take a selfie after a TV interview. Downing Street told the UK's Sky News that the "is not the prime minister's but belongs to a member of his staff." Hu Xijin, editor of the nationalist Chinese tabloid Global Times, said that Johnson's use of the phone made his security risk claim "sound hypocritical" and suggested the British leader was attempting to have it both ways on the issue. Brexit -- and the endless parliamentary debates over it -- has held British politics in a kind of stasis since 2016, allowing politicians to kick the can down the road on other issues. When he's done celebrating this week's victory however, Johnson may realize just how many more difficult hurdles are just over the horizon.

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Australian Cricketers' Association CEO Todd Greenberg (L) and Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley (R) speak to the media during a press conference at Sydney Cricket Ground on May 05, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (CNN)Australian and other overseas cricketers who have been participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) are scrambling for ways to leave India as it faces the world's worst Covid-19 outbreak. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will help move Australia's entire IPL "cohort" to the Maldives or Sri Lanka ahead of the weekend, Cricket Australia (CA) announced on Wednesday. India's governing body for cricket has been working to repatriate all the players, support staff, umpires and commentators as quickly and safely as possible, CA's interim chief executive Nick Hockley told reporters during a press conference in Sydney. "So what we're working to do and what the BCCI are working to do, and they've been incredibly cooperative, is working to move the entire cohort out of India," Hockley said. He added that players would wait outside India for approval to head home, as Australia has banned travelers who have been in the country within the past two weeks.Read MoreIn Australia, anyone who has been in India 14 days prior to Monday is now blocked from entering the country, including Australian citizens, under the country's Biosecurity Act.Adam Zampa of Australia celebrates after taking the wicket of Shreyas Iyer of India during game three of the One Day International series between Australia and India at Manuka Oval on December 02, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison denied that the ban on arrivals is racist and played down the chance of jail time for those caught breaking the rules.On Monday, around 9,000 Australians in India were registered with the government as wanting to return to Australia.Former Australian cricketer Michael Slater, who has been working as a commentator covering the IPL, has been vocal in his criticism of the Australian government."If our Government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home," tweeted Slater on Monday. "It's a disgrace!! Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out the quarantine system. I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect."And for those who think this is a money exercise," added Slater in another Twitter post. "Well, forget it. This is what I do for a living and I have not made a penny having left early. So please stop the abuse and think of the thousands dying in India each day. It's called empathy. If only our government had some!" he added.India has accounted for 25% of the world's Covid-19 deaths reported in the past week, according to the World Health Organization."In good spirits"A handful of IPL participants have recently tested positive for Covid-19, including Chennai Super Kings' Australian batting coach Mike Hussey and two non-playing members of the team. Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) chief executive Todd Greenberg said that as far as he knows, Hussey was the only Australian in the IPL to contract the virus. "We've spoken to Mike today. He's okay, he's in good spirits", said Greenberg, who added that Hussey has relatively mild symptoms, and will be in isolation in his hotel room for at least 10 days in India.Michael Hussey (Team Mentor) during the Australian national cricket team training session and press conference at Newlands Cricket Stadium on February 25, 2020 in Cape Town, South Africa. There are over 50 foreign players, including 14 Australians, currently stuck in India, according to Reuters. Hussey's diagnosis comes despite the IPL's strict bio-bubble arrangement, where teams moved across the country for games and on occasion, wore head-to-toe PPE for internal flights. Prior to the IPL's suspension, Australians Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson cut short their IPL stints to return home last week. "We're all hoping the situation improves"As the number of Covid-19 cases in India surpassed 20 million on Monday, Hockley urged the cricketing community to rally and support the country."We're all hoping the situation improves," he said on Wednesday. Ahead of the press conference a number of Australian cricketers including Pat Cummins and Brett Lee donated money towards medical supplies in India. Likewise, CA partnered with the ACA to raise much needed funds for UNICEF Australia's India Covid-19 Crisis Appeal. "We were all deeply moved by the sentiments expressed and donations given by Pat Cummins and Brett Lee over the past week," said Hockley in a statement. "Australians and Indians share a special bond and, for many, our mutual love of cricket is central to that friendship," Hockley added. Kane Richardson of Australia looks on wearing a yellow floppy hat during game three of the One Day International Series between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 17, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. Welcoming the partnership with Australian cricket, UNICEF Australia chief executive Tony Stuart said he was moved by the cricketing community's response to the crisis. "We thank Australian Cricket for acting now as it is leadership like this which will help beat COVID for all," Stuart added. Looking aheadDuring the press conference on Wednesday, Hockley said the International Cricket Council (ICC) is looking at contingency options for the T20 World Cup, which India is set to host in October this year. He added that the BCCI has also pledged to arrange a charter plane to bring Australian cricketers home, refusing to speculate if the league could resume this year. "I think it's premature to speculate on that," Hockley said. "At the moment, the BCCI are very focused on getting all the players, not just the Australians, home safe," Hockley added."The public will see our best Australian cricketers as almost superheroes ... but they are human beings," Greenberg added in agreement.

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John D. Sutter is a CNN contributor and a National Geographic Explorer. He is director of the forthcoming BASELINE series, which is visiting four locations on the front lines of the climate crisis every five years until 2050. Visit the project's website. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion at CNN. (CNN)"It'll start getting cooler."Those tiny words are among the most dangerous of Donald Trump's presidency. They're part of a playbook the fossil fuel industry has been rolling out for 40 years. The aim is to cast negligent and unwarranted doubt on the reality of climate science, which has told us clearly and for many decades now that humans are driving dangerous warming. It's not getting cooler and it won't. That's obvious despite what the President said this week at a briefing in California, a state that's burning amid record-setting temperatures. But Trump's lies are known to distort the way we perceive reality. Read MoreIn California, the sun never rose on WednesdayConsider his exchange with a California official on Monday."It'll start getting cooler," Trump said. "You just watch.""I wish science agreed with you," replied Wade Crowfoot, the official. "I don't think science knows, actually," Trump said.It does. If you're reading this, chances are you understand that. Most Americans do. You can turn on the news or the weather or, in many places, look outside. Fires are tearing across the West. Five tropical storms are spinning in the Atlantic; that's happened only once before. Siberia hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit this year. Death Valley, 130. A report from the World Meteorological Organization said that the five-year period from 2016 to 2020 is expected to be the hottest on record. Even when there's a cool year or two, or five, that won't change the trajectory, which is unmistakably up -- and because of us. We've warmed the planet about 1.1 Celsius since the Industrial Revolution. We're already living with the dystopian results. JUST WATCHEDSally leaves widespread flooding across the Gulf CoastReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSally leaves widespread flooding across the Gulf Coast 01:39"You just watch." I'd like to watch something else. I'd like to watch November 2020 become the definitive climate election. That's what it is, already. But I'd like to watch Americans realize that. Black Lives Matter. The pandemic is an American tragedy. These also are defining issues of our time and should not be minimized. Global warming, though, will outlast every human currently living on this planet by a long shot. Carbon dioxide emissions stick around in our planetary systems, causing warming, for 1,000 years. Our decisions today will matter in 3020, and for generations of unborn people who will inherit the unconscionable debt of a planet on fire. That's why 2020 is an election about systemic racism, it's an election about Covid-19, which has killed nearly a million people worldwide; and it's also the singular climate change election. JUST WATCHEDFilmmaker captures devastation left by California wildfireReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFilmmaker captures devastation left by California wildfire 01:37What would happen if the voting public took that to heart? We'd realize that climate change also is deadly, for one. Outdoor air pollution, much of it caused by burning fossil fuels, kills 4.2 million people per year globally, according to the World Health Organization. Fixing the climate crisis means getting rid of that pollution, and therefore saving millions of lives. Floods, storms, droughts and fires. I don't need to tell you those are dangerous, too. Dozens have died in Western wildfires this summer. These unnatural disasters are also expensive. Wildfires this year alone could cost over $20 billion, according to Tom Corringham, a researcher at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.All of this had mattered for many years. But we're out of time, which is why this election matters so terribly much. Earth already is brushing up against red lines established by the international community -- 1.5 degrees Celsius or at most 2 degrees of warming above preindustrial levels. Again, we're at 1.1 degrees now, and we're on track for more than 3 degrees of warming.The world may cross the 1.5-degree line within a decade. A 3-degree future is scarier still. "You just watch." I don't think of myself as a partisan, but the gulf between Trump and Joe Biden, the Democratic challenger, must be noted. It's wider than it has been in any American election. Climate advocates had sharply criticized Biden for not proposing policies that would move swiftly enough to eliminate fossil fuel pollution, which is the only way we can truly "solve" the crisis we have at hand. We have to do that and prepare for the warming already happening. But Biden's team has taken some of that critique to heart, proposing a suite of new plans, totaling $2 trillion in spending, that collectively aim to wean America's economy off its fossil fuel addiction. Biden proposes creating a "carbon pollution free power sector" by 2035 and eliminating net carbon pollution from the entire US economy by 2050. Get our free weekly newsletterSign up for CNN Opinion's new newsletter.Join us on Twitter and FacebookThe Washington Post called the proposal, which Biden announced earlier this summer, "the most ambitious (climate policy) blueprint released by a major party nominee for president." Jeff Goodell at Rolling Stone wrote that the plan could be "transformative."Quibble with the details. But, again, the gulf between the candidates is oceanic. Biden acknowledges the threat of climate change while Trump continues to deny reality. "We have to act as a nation," Biden said this week. "It shouldn't be so bad that millions of Americans live in the shadow of an orange sky and are left asking, 'Is doomsday here?'"It is here. It's not getting cooler. Americans know that. The question is whether they'll vote on it.

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(CNN)Bryson DeChambeau has muscled his way to becoming a major winner, and he's now hoping it'll bring him success at golf's most famous competition. As he prepares for the Masters, which begin on Thursday, the 2020 US Open winner has brought a new weapon with him: a new driver. DeChambeau had contemplated using a 48-inch driver last year, but opted against it in the end, finishing 18 shots behind winner Dustin Johnson. But now, after a few barren months and time to tinker, the American is hoping the new club will bring him success at the Augusta National. READ: Moe Norman: The 'Rain Man of golf' who amazed even the greats of the sportRead MoreDeChambeau plays his shot from the third tee during a practice round prior to the Masters."Obviously there's something in the bag this week that's very helpful," he said in his pre-tournament press conference. "I won't go into specifics of it. But just know this has been a few years in the making, and I'm very excited for it. Whether it helps me perform at a higher level, I'm not sure, because it's golf and you never know what happens. Definitely what I've seen on the driving range and what I've seen the last week in practice, there's some tremendous benefits to it."The world No. 5 shot up golf's world rankings in 2020 when he returned from the break brought on by the coronavirus pandemic having added 40 pounds of muscle and able to hit the ball even further. Now the longest driver on the PGA Tour, he won his maiden major at the US Open last year. But at the Masters, he struggled, finishing tied for 34th.While he's hoping his length with give him advantages -- he spent his practice rounds trying to blast his drive on the first tee over the trees protecting the right side, thereby leaving a much shorter shot to a hole which is 445 yards long -- the intricacies of the course means the rest of his game has to be on point if he wants to have any success. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosDeChambeau warms up on the range before a practice round for the Masters."There are certain holes out here where length does help tremendously. And so as you look at it from a statistical point of view, there is a lot of advantages to be had with length for me," DeChambeau told reporters. "But, again, you go up around those putting greens, and you just try to hit it into those areas of the green where the pins are, and it becomes very diabolical. Length is only as good as you can hit your next shot, is what I always say. And that's the most important thing about Augusta National, is it doesn't test just the driving. It tests your second shots, it tests the third shot, it tests -- you're making for par, your 4-footer you're trying to make for par."

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(CNN)Francesco Molinari's "special year" continued with a magical performance at the Ryder Cup. The Italian rubber stamped Europe's victory at Le Golf National by defeating Phil Mickelson 4&2 on Sunday and also fired himself into the record books.Follow @cnnsport The often deadpan 35-year-old showed a fiery spirit in Paris and revealed he was desperate to help Europe's captain Thomas Bjorn win. "It's been a special year for me," he told CNN's Shane O'Donoghue."There's always been a really good relationship between Thomas [Bjorn] and me. I really wanted to make the team this year because I thought I could do well for him." Read MoreFrancesco Molinari of Europe celebrates winning The Ryder Cup with Captain Thomas Bjorn (L). READ: Dominant Europe trounce powerful USA in ParisREAD: How a WhatsApp 'love-in' and tattoo pledge inspired EuropeDespite becoming Italy's first major winner at July's British Open not many expected Molinari to be the catalyst for European triumph.And yet, courtesy of his trademark steady hand, he became the first European to ever win a maximum five points in one Ryder Cup -- American Larry Nelson was the last man to do so, in 1979.Despite the inspirational performance, the Italian remained humble."It's a course that I love," he said. "So it's a combination of factors, coming here with a lot of confidence and finding an amazing partner in Tommy. Just a perfect week for me." Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalAlex Noren of Europe celebrates with his teammates after winning his match on the 18th green. Europe won the Ryder Cup, defeating the US team on Sunday, September 30 in Paris, France. Hide Caption 1 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalTeam Europe's Tommy Fleetwood celebrates with spectators after winning the Ryder Cup on Sunday.Hide Caption 2 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalBubba Watson of the US shows emotion following his team's defeat at the Ryder Cup on Sunday.Hide Caption 3 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalFrancesco Molinari of Europe, right, celebrates winning the Ryder Cup with team captain Thomas Bjorn on Sunday.Hide Caption 4 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalIan Poulter of Europe celebrates winning his match on the 18th hole during singles matches on Sunday.Hide Caption 5 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalIan Poulter of Europe plays his shot from the first tee during singles matches on Sunday.Hide Caption 6 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalPaul Casey of Europe celebrates a putt on the second green during singles matches of the Ryder Cup on Sunday, September 30, in Paris, France.Hide Caption 7 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalJustin Thomas of the US celebrates on the green during singles matches of the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National on Sunday, September 30, in Paris, France. Hide Caption 8 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalSergio Garcia of Europe plays out of a bunker during singles matches on Sunday.Hide Caption 9 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalTeam Europe's Ian Poulter reacts during Day Two of the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National outside Paris on Saturday, September 29.Hide Caption 10 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalTiger Woods reacts after losing his foursomes match on Day Two of the Ryder Cup on Saturday.Hide Caption 11 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalUS supporters attend Day Two of the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National outside Paris.Hide Caption 12 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalEurope's Justin Rose, right, celebrates with teammate Henrik Stenson on the 17th green after winning a foursomes match Saturday.Hide Caption 13 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalWebb Simpson of the United States plays a shot during the afternoon foursomes matches on Saturday, September 29.Hide Caption 14 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalTiger Woods of the United States plays out of a bunker during the Saturday afternoon foursomes matches. Hide Caption 15 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalEuropean fans applaud Saturday during the foursomes matches.Hide Caption 16 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalJordan Spieth of the United States reacts to his third shot on the 10th hole during his match Saturday with Justin Thomas against the European team.Hide Caption 17 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalTeam Europe's Ian Poulter plays during Saturday's foursomes matches.Hide Caption 18 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalTeam Europe's Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood talk Saturday during the foursomes matches.Hide Caption 19 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalBubba Watson of the United States reacts after playing his fourth shot on the ninth hole during the Saturday afternoon foursomes matches.Hide Caption 20 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalTeam Europe's Justin Rose celebrates a birdie on the 13th hole during the Saturday foursomes matches.Hide Caption 21 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalEuropean fans display giant pictures of Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia during the Saturday morning four-ball matches. Hide Caption 22 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalTeam USA's Woods hits from the rough during a Saturday foursomes match.Hide Caption 23 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalAmerican golfer Tony Finau strikes the first tee shot of the 2018 Ryder Cup on Friday, September 28.Hide Caption 24 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalEuropeans Jon Rahm (left) and Justin Rose celebrate during the Friday morning four-ball matches. The pair lost their lead to Tony Finau and Brooks Koepka. Hide Caption 25 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalMcIlroy reacts Friday to a shot. Hide Caption 26 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalJohnson was paired with Rickie Fowler, and together they won the first point Friday for Team USA.Hide Caption 27 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalSweden's Henrik Stenson wasn't in action Friday morning, but his fans were out in force. Hide Caption 28 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalWoods is playing at the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2012. Hide Caption 29 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalMolinari (left) and Fleetwood went up against the American pair of Woods and Patrick Reed and secured a crucial point Friday for the Europeans.Hide Caption 30 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalThomas and Spieth of the United States talk during the Friday morning four-ball matches. Hide Caption 31 of 32 Photos: The best photos from Le Golf NationalFans of Team USA show their support during the Friday morning four-ball matches.Hide Caption 32 of 32MoliwoodThe Italian was paired with English rookie Tommy Fleetwood for the fourballs and foursomes matches and the duo became crowd favorites.The morning after the week before 🏆#TeamEurope #Moliwood pic.twitter.com/J5JunSS5Ee— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) October 1, 2018 The pairing picked up the "Moliwood" moniker on their way to becoming the first European duo to sweep all four pairs matches they played together. Notably, three of those four wins came against 14-times major champion Tiger Woods.Following the win, Molinari was full of praise for Fleetwood and the relationship they formed throughout the tournament. "We just have fun together. We are really good friends outside the course, we spend time together. But that's not enough obviously," Molinari explained."We play in a really similar way. We are both very complete and steady. We make putts when we need to make putts and we just inspired each other. It was incredibly fun."

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(CNN)The Las Vegas Raiders secured a last-second 16-14 victory over a Cleveland Browns team ravaged by Covid-19 absences to reignite their postseason dreams on Monday.Daniel Carson's 48-yard field goal as time expired snatched away what would have been a win in equal parts dramatic and crucial for the Browns -- who ran out at their FirstEnergy Stadium with 19 players absent on the Covid-19 list. The game had initially been set to be played Saturday but was postponed by 48 hours due to a surge in NFL covid cases, much to the frustration of Raiders owner Mark Davis who said the rescheduling put his team at a "competitive disadvantage."Despite the additional time window the Browns remained without head coach Kevin Stefanski out due to a positive test, whilst first-choice quarterback Baker Mayfield was replaced by third-string signal caller Nick Mullens, who went 20-for-30 passing for 147 yards.Mullens in action during the game.Opposing quarterback Derek Carr had set the Raiders on the way with a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Bryan Edwards in the opening quarter, before Carlson foreshadowed the Browns' fate with a 24-yard field goal to put the away side 10-0 at half-time.Read MoreA fumble and subsequent turnover from Carr flipped momentum late in the third-quarter, Browns running back Nick Chubb capitalizing with a four-yard touchdown run to put his team back in the picture.The Raiders' frustrations were compounded by a knock sustained by Carr during the turnover, but the 30-year-old returned shortly after to end with 236 yards from 25 of 38 passes. Another field-goal from Carlson restored the cushion before Harrison Bryant caught a dramatic touchdown pass on fourth down and five yards from Mullens with four minutes remaining -- Chase McLaughlin converting the kick to edge the Browns into a slender one-point lead.Yet the returning Carr rallied the Raiders, nudging them down the field on an eight-play, 41-yard drive to tee up Carlson's last-gasp kicking heroics. Jubilant scenes ensued among the Raiders players and staff as they celebrated a win that levels their season at 7-7 and keeps alive their playoff dreams.Carl Nassib of the Raiders interacts with fans after defeating the Cleveland Browns.'They're pretty down right now'"It was fun to be able to do my job and get the win for us," Carlson told reporters.Meanwhile Carr said he understood his team's grievances over the rescheduling, but insisted that it was strictly business as usual for him."My teammates said things that I agreed with, but at the end of the day ... life's gonna throw you curve balls, there's gonna be adverse times," Carr told reporters."Whether I agree or don't agree, I don't really think it matters. We gotta play at some point."I wanted to play -- I have a schedule and a routine so it messes with that a little bit, but if that's the hardest thing I deal with, then thank the lord," Carr added.Whilst the Raiders prepare to face the Denver Broncos (7-7) the evening after Christmas day, the Browns -- also 7-7 -- must lick their wounds before a daunting Christmas clash against the NFC North champions the Green Bay Packers (11-3). "That locker room right now is hurting," said acting Browns coach Mike Priefer. "That's the most I've seen it in that kind of pain. "You're upset when you lose. Obviously you're joyous when you win. But when you lose that type of game, that was tough."Vikings sink BearsFollowing in the Raiders footsteps, the Minnesota Vikings kept their playoff hopes alive to go 7-7 with a 17-9 victory over the Chicago Bears (4-10), who saw their slim postseason chances extinguished.Kirk Cousins threw two touchdown passes despite going 12-for-24 with an interception for just 87 yards-- the fewest he's ever had in a career start. Cousins threw two touchdown passes despite a career-low passing game.Justin Jefferson and Ihmir Smith-Marsette caught Cousins' touchdown passes to secure the win for the Vikings.

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Story highlightsRenald Luzier says continuing to work at the magazine has become "too much to bear""Finishing each edition is torture because the others are gone," he tells the French newspaper Liberation (CNN)The only Charlie Hebdo cartoonist to survive the massacre of the magazine's staff is leaving the publication, he says. Renald Luzier was running late on the January day when two gunmen burst into the satirical magazine's offices and killed the other five cartoonists who worked for Charlie Hebdo.Luzier then drew the French satirical magazine's first front cover image after the deadly Islamist terror attack, showing the Prophet Mohammed weeping and saying "All is forgiven."The cartoon prophet held a sign saying "Je suis Charlie," the slogan of those who stood up for the magazine after the killings. Luzier, who draws under the pen name Luz, said in an interview with French newspaper Liberation that continuing to work at Charlie Hebdo had become "too much to bear."Read MoreCharlie Hebdo cartoonist Renald Luzier, who draws under the name "Luz," is shown after the funeral of Charlie Hebdo editor and cartoonist Stephane Charbonnier, also known as "Charb," in January."There was hardly anyone left to draw," he said in the interview published on the newspaper's website late Monday. "I found myself doing three front pages out of four."When the first issue after the killings came out, Luzier said he felt a sense of "catharsis" after drawing the cartoon. But last month, he said he would no longer draw the prophet, explaining that he "got tired of him." Charlie Hebdo had a history of depicting and lampooning Mohammed -- taboo to some Muslims -- and the gunmen who carried out the attack on the magazine were thought to be motivated by those parodies.JUST WATCHEDWill Charlie Hebdo continue to be provocative?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWill Charlie Hebdo continue to be provocative? 02:06Why Islam forbids images of MohammedLuzier, 43, told Liberation that the decision to leave was "very personal" and that he wanted "to rebuild myself, to regain control of my life.""Finishing each edition is torture because the others are gone. Spending sleepless nights summoning the dead, wondering what Charb, Cabu, Honore, (and) Tignous would have done is exhausting," he said, referring to some of his murdered colleagues.Complete coverage on the Charlie Hebdo attack Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksCharlie Hebdo editor and cartoonist Stephane Charbonnier, known as Charb, was among the 12 people killed in a terror attack Wednesday, January 7, at the magazine's offices in Paris. On January 9, four hostages were killed when a gunman seized a Jewish grocery store and killed them before police moved in. Hide Caption 1 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksJean Cabut, also known as Cabu, was one of the well-known Charlie Hebdo cartoonists killed in the attack. London's Daily Mail described him as "an almost legendary cultural figure in France." Hide Caption 2 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksCartoonist Georges Wolinski, 80, was a political cartoonist. "He was a great satirical artist," said Mexican cartoonist Felipe Galindo, a friend of Wolinski, who once presented him with an award. "Nothing was sacred for him. He would touch anything. But he was also a very gentle, very kind man."Hide Caption 3 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksCartoonist Bernard Verlhac, also known as Tignous, was a man "who enjoyed freedom to its fullest in his artistic creativity and published his cartoons without fear," said Ecuadorian cartoonist Xavier Bonilla.Hide Caption 4 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksEconomist Bernard Maris was among the magazine's contributors. He wrote about economic issues under the byline of "Oncle Bernard," contributed to mainstream broadcasts and taught at Université Paris 8, the Globe and Mail reported.Hide Caption 5 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksCartoonist Philippe Honoré, also known as Honoré, was born in wartime France, in Vichy in 1941.Hide Caption 6 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksMichel Renaud was a visitor at the newspaper office. He was known for his work on the cultural life of Clermont-Ferrand and held several positions in the municipality, France 3 Auvergne reported.Hide Caption 7 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksElsa Cayat, the only woman killed in the newspaper attack, was a psychoanalyst and twice-monthly columnist for the paper. Hide Caption 8 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksAhmed Merabet was a member of the 11th arrondissement police force that pursued the attacker of the newspaper office. Merabet was Muslim, his brother Malek told reporters. "He was killed by false Muslims," the brother said. "Islam is a safe religion."Hide Caption 9 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksYoav Hattab, 21, one of the four hostages killed at the kosher grocery on January 9. He was the son of the chief rabbi of Tunis, Tunisia, JSSNews reported.Hide Caption 10 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksYohan Cohen was a 22-year-old student, according JSSNews and a French news outlet. He liked rap, particularly French rapper Booba.Hide Caption 11 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksPhilippe Braham was in his 40s, and no further details were immediately available, JSSNews reported.Hide Caption 12 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksFrançois-Michel Saada, 63, was a retired senior executive, according to French news outlets RTL and Agence-France Press.Hide Caption 13 of 13CNN's Alexander Felton, Richard Allen Greene and Ariana Williams contributed to this report.

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Story highlightsDuke professor sparked controversy with comments on Asian-AmericansJeff Yang: History has shown how fragile Asians' status as "good Americans" truly isJeff Yang is a columnist for The Wall Street Journal Online and contributes frequently to radio shows, including Public Radio International's "The Takeaway" and WNYC's "The Brian Lehrer Show." He is the co-author of "I Am Jackie Chan: My Life in Action" and editor of the graphic novel anthologies "Secret Identities" and "Shattered." The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. (CNN) When I was growing up, one of the things that always made me crazy was my parents' habit of constantly praising other kids in my presence: "Oh, remember Olivia Chang? Did you know she's going to be performing at Carnegie Hall next month? Original composition! She wrote it herself!" Or "Mrs. Lee's son George will be attending Oxford University next year. And he's only 14!" These exclamations would invariably be followed by silence and an evaluating look at me, intended to communicate my utter inability to match the performance of these other children. If you're reading this and you're Asian-American, you'll probably recognize this as a common motivational technique among Asian immigrant parents -- and one that rarely achieved the intended results of lifting my aspirations to meet these kids' stellar standards. Jeff Yang On the contrary: These words made me resent my mother and father's failure to see value in what I was doing in life. (I was making a horror movie about a demonic cult secretly controlling my middle school. And I'd gotten one of my Dungeons & Dragons characters, a half-elf ranger, up to level 13!) These words prompted me to refuse to practice piano, which I hated, in disgusted realization that I'd never be as good as Olivia Chang. And they made me want to punch George Lee in the face. Which is a shame since he was actually an OK guy. I was reminded of all this by the controversy that erupted this week when online comments made by Duke University professor Jerry Hough about an editorial published by The New York Times came to light. The Times editorial "How Racism Doomed Baltimore" highlighted the historical, institutional forces that have turned Baltimore, a city that is two-thirds black and the sixth most segregated city in the nation, into a volatile petri dish of poverty, endemic violence and urban despair. Read MoreHough had a heated response to it that drew a firestorm of reaction on the essay's discussion thread -- generating a wave of outrage as well as more than 220 "recommends" to date."The blacks get awful editorials like this that tell them to feel sorry for themselves," he wrote. "In 1965 the Asians were discriminated against as least as badly as blacks. ... So where are the editorials that say racism doomed the Asian-Americans. They didn't feel sorry for themselves, but worked doubly hard."The comment, from a tenured professor at a leading institution of higher education, sparked uproar among those who correctly pointed out that the statement disingenuously ignores the uniquely oppressive circumstances under which African-Americans arrived in the United States. While other groups experienced hardships in the course of immigration, no other population came to this nation as chattel property. And then there was the corrosive legacy of segregation, Jim Crow and broad-based discrimination that continued long after the end of slavery, and that still overshadows black life in America today.But Hough's comment is problematic on another front as well, and it's one that references an ugly old trope that's gained fresh momentum in recent years: The positioning of Asian-Americans as a "model minority" that African-Americans should emulate if they want to rise out of the circumstances this nation has imposed upon them. Look at the Asians, goes this line of argument. They've done what needs to be done to succeed here -- they've worked hard, they've embraced this nation in all of its upwardly mobile glory. They've also integrated with America, by which those espousing this view typically mean "white America," as can be seen by the rest of Hough's comment in which he points out that his Asian students have adopted a "very simple old American first name that symbolizes their desire for integration" while "virtually every black has a strange new name that symbolizes their lack of desire for integration." And he also suggested that Asians at Duke actively engage in interracial dating with other races, while blacks avoid doing so out of fear of "ostracism from other blacks."There are so many ways that this kind of praise is actually damnation. For a start, it suggests that assimilation and cultural erasure are the only means to succeed in America. It dismisses those who don't succeed in the precise ways that white America defines as success as failures, and blames them for their inadequacy and laziness. And it sets America's striving masses against one another -- dividing communities that should by all rights be finding common cause and fighting shared ills. The net effect is that in times of unrest, anger is redirected away from an unjust establishment and toward closer and more immediate targets for rage. We who grew up experiencing the same kind of language from our parents should be wary of it when we encounter it as adults. The sad thing, though, is that many Asian-Americans -- too many -- not only accept these false terms as factual, they actually embrace the hype. It's a core rationale fueling the drive by some Asian-Americans to strike down race-based affirmative action, for example. The fact is, not every Asian-American is Olivia Chang or George Lee. And those who are shouldn't encourage mainstream efforts to turn us into false icons of seamless social integration, not when history has shown how fragile our status as "good Americans" truly is. It's worth remembering that the wedge that splits the wood is what ultimately takes the brunt of the blows from the hammer.Follow us on Twitter @CNNOpinion.Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion.Read CNNOpinion's new Flipboard magazine.

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Luke McGee is a senior producer at CNN based in London. London (CNN)The race to become Britain's next Prime Minister has taken a turn for the surreal, as a popular TV presenter best known for interviewing minor celebrities and dispensing lifestyle advice became involved in a public spat with one of the candidates. Lorraine Kelly, a mainstay of British morning television who combines a sunny outlook with plain-speaking Scottish patter, delivered an unusually pointed series of barbs over two days, directed at one of the outsiders in the 10-strong field to succeed Theresa May as leader of the governing Conservative Party.File photo of presenter Lorraine Kelly (center) meeting Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall during the royal couple's visit to ITV's This Morning show. The spectacle began on Monday when viewers of ITV's "Good Morning Britain" saw Kelly's decidedly lukewarm reaction to an interview with Esther McVey, a hard-Brexiteer who, before becoming a Member of Parliament, was an anchor on a previous incarnation of the same show. After a day of social media comment, "Good Morning Britain" host Piers Morgan brought it up on Tuesday, in a live tease for Kelly's subsequent show, the eponymous "Lorraine.""Yesterday, Piers, I'll be honest with you, I just got sick to the back teeth of the whole toxic political atmosphere," Kelly replied.Then Kelly took aim at McVey's poor voting record on equality issues. "I strongly disagree with her on LGBT rights, I just thought, I've had enough of this, we've had two-and-a-half years of going round in circles and not sorting Brexit out, and now we've got a state in Britain where people are at each other's throats, and it's got to stop."Read MoreWhile no one would suggest that Kelly is the voice of the nation, it's a fair point. Brexit is at a standstill. The European Union is clear that the deal struck by May last year is the only one the UK will get, and that negotiations on how the UK leaves the EU will not be reopened.However, since May announced her decision to stand down as leader of the governing Conservative party and the nation, those jockeying to take her place seem to have conveniently forgotten this fact. They are instead promising tweaked Brexit deals -- alongside other wild and uncosted policies -- that appear to have little grounding in reality. JUST WATCHEDTrump: May's probably a better negotiator than meReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTrump: May's probably a better negotiator than me 00:56The Conservative party has for decades held its record of sensible economic management as its chief advantage over the main opposition Labour party. This should be especially true right now, as Labour -- once the party of centrist icon Tony Blair -- is currently led by the far-left Jeremy Corbyn.Instead, the Conservative party -- arguably the group of people most responsible for Britain's Brexit paralysis -- is effectively playing chicken with the nation's finances by creating an unprecedented level of uncertainty. It's all very strange. Conservative Party MP Esther McVey speaks at a political rally entitled Lets Go WTO hosted by pro-Brexit lobby group Leave Means Leave.Public polling is throwing up all sorts of weird results at the moment. At last month's EU elections, neither main political party finished in first or second place. Those spots were taken by the Brexit party, who support a clean break from the EU, and the Liberal Democrats, who want to stop the whole thing and stay in the EU. Brexit has created an odd atmosphere among a public that was in 2016 effectively split down the middle by a binary vote. This is what Kelly was talking about. Michael Gove, British PM hopeful: 'I deeply regret' taking cocaineHowever, it isn't the public that gets to select the next Prime Minister. That honor falls to the 160,000 Conservative party members -- roughly 0.25% of the country. So, the destiny of a country that is facing its largest political crisis since the end of the Second World War is in the hands of political activists from one political party.It's little wonder so many in the UK, like Lorraine Kelly, are sick of the whole thing.

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(CNN)Champions League winner. Check. Club World Cup winner. Check.English Premier League winner. Check. Winning it all with your boyhood club. Check.For players and fans around the world such an extraordinary feat would be far beyond their wildest imagination.Follow @cnnsport But for Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, his fairytale dream has become a reality -- all at the age of just 21."It's hard to even comprehend what's actually happened -- I'm over the moon," a beaming Alexander-Arnold told CNN Sport after the club secured its first league title in 30 years on Thursday. Read MoreThe right-back celebrated the achievement with his teammates and coaching staff at a golf resort in the city as they watched Chelsea beat Manchester City 2-1 -- thereby handing them the trophy with a record seven games to spare. He admits, though, it wasn't quite the way he'd pictured such a historic moment playing out in his imagination."I always dreamt it as a last minute winner. It was a tight, tight title race up until the last minute and we'd scored an equalizer to win the league," he smiles.He likely pictured that moment with fans in the stadium, too, but the coronavirus pandemic means games are being played behind closed doors. Fans celebrated Liverpool winning the title outside Anfield stadium.One icon inspires anotherThe England international joined the club as a six-year-old and immediately caught the eye of club legend Steven Gerrard.Gerrard, who was part of the Liverpool side which narrowly missed out on the title in 2014 alongside Luis Suarez, wrote in his 2016 autobiography: "Trent has a terrific chance of making it as a top professional...he's got a lovely frame and seems to have all the attributes you need."It's high praise, which the defender has used as inspiration. "[Gerrard's] a hero, a legend, an icon, someone who I always looked up to, someone that I try to become and want to emulate," he said. "I was just proud of him acknowledging my talents and singling me out individually as someone with a bright future. It was an honor for me...I always used him as an inspiration to become a better player."Former Liverpool star Steven Gerrard spotted Alexander-Arnold's talent from a young age'We want to write our own chapter'Since making his first-team debut in October 2016, he has gone from strength to strength and is now widely acknowledged as one of the best full-backs in the world. Alexander-Arnold, though, doesn't want his or the club's relentless pursuit of success to stop here -- he wants to create a new legacy."When you're playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world and you're playing with world class players and you've got a world class manager the mentality has to be world class and that's relentless all the time."To be able to do that you have to win trophies year after year, and next year it's going to be about doing the same and recreating the feelings that we're feeling for the next few years and trying to become a legendary Liverpool team."We want to write our own chapter in this amazing history of the club -- we just want to be a special Liverpool team that fans can be proud of."The defender played an instrumental role in helping the club to win the UEFA Champions League in 2019A voice for change and equalityEnough is enough. It's time for change. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/ynEflGNKBD— Trent Alexander-Arnold (@trentaa98) June 21, 2020 His ambitions on the pitch are matched by those off it.The defender has been inspired to speak out against racism by the impact of his England colleagues Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling.During his side's recent Premier League clash with local rival Everton, Alexander-Arnold wore boots which carried the message 'Black Lives Matter.' These were auctioned off after the game with the proceeds going to the Nelson Mandela Foundation."The movement has been so inspiring to me, seeing so many people involved and so many people pick it up, so many movements and institutions that are behind it."It's powerful to be a part of something and to know that you're an inspiration and a role model to a younger generation. It just inspires you more to put out the right messages."Visit our football page for more news and videosAnd Alexander-Arnold knows that for meaningful change to happen education is the key."People shouldn't be treated differently because of the color of the skin or where they're from. So it's important to educate people."For now, it's about getting these types of stories and getting these types of messages out there as much as possible just to enforce that change and that education."

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Story highlightsMichael Adebowale and Michael Adebolajo plead not guilty to charges in soldier's deathThe two suspects are due to go on trial in NovemberSoldier Lee Rigby was killed in a daylight attack near a London barracks in MayTwo men accused of murder in British soldier Lee Rigby's killing in May pleaded not guilty Friday at the Old Bailey criminal court in London.Michael Adebowale, 22, and Michael Adebolajo, 28, also both pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to murder a police officer and to attempted murder of a police officer. They are scheduled to go on trial at the Old Bailey on November 18.The two men appeared at Friday's hearing by video link. JUST WATCHEDHacking suspect charged with murderReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHacking suspect charged with murder 02:16Adebolajo is also known as Mujaahid Abu Hamza, a court document said, and Adebowale as Ismail Ibn Abdullah.Rigby was killed in an attack near the Royal Artillery Barracks in the southeast London neighborhood of Woolwich on May 22.

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(CNN)After watching his En Marche party torpedo the opposition in last month's legislative election, French President Emmanuel Macron spent Tuesday on a nuclear-armed submarine.Macron, fresh from delivering his address at the Palace of Versailles, visited Le Terrible to show his support for the country's naval fleet.Emmanuel Macron visits the submarine Le Terrible off the Brittany coast.The President, wearing a naval uniform, was winched down to the submarine from a helicopter after visiting the nuclear weapons facilities at the Ile Longue base, near Brest in northwestern France.Macron (center) stands with Capt. Jerome Halle, the commanding officer.Macron spent four hours underwater. He met with officers and crew, went through a simulation exercise and was given a tour.President Macron gets a good view from the periscope.After the visit he tweeted: "At Ile Longue base of nuclear submarines, launching equipment. France has a deterrent force, a guarantee of peace." Read MoreFrance will be the only EU country to possess nuclear weapons after Britain leaves the bloc in 2019.Read: Police foil Macron assassination attemptLe Terrible, which submerges to a depth of 500 meters, is the first submarine entirely mapped out through computer assisted design, and cost about $1.72 billion.Macron's visit came just after North Korea said it had launched its first intercontinental ballistic missile.CNN's Katie Polglase contributed to this report,.

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(CNN)Thousands of activists marched in several major cities across Australia on Friday, calling on the government to act on the climate crisis and do more to stop the bushfires that continue to ravage large swathes of the country.The protests, organized by national student organization Uni Students for Climate Justice, were set to take place in nine cities including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, indicating widespread public discontent after months of increasingly deadly fires.New South Wales police told CNN more than 30,000 people attended the climate change protest in Sydney. Organizers put the number between 50,000 and 60,000 people."The bushfires are devastating communities and our government is not doing enough to stop it," Ambrose Hayes, 14, told CNN at a rally in Sydney. "The Morrison government needs to act before it's too late, before we reach a tipping point, before these impacts get worse than they already are."Protesters carried signs that read "Koalas Not Coal," "Change the System, Not the Climate" and "Sack ScoMo," with many directing their anger at Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has faced heavy criticism for what they see as a lackluster response to the fires and for his climate policies, as well as support for coal mines.Tens of thousands of Australians rallied across cities as deadly climate-fuelled bushfires swept across the continent.Read More"We've had decades to deal with it and successive governments have done nothing. The Earth is a finite resource. You can't have an economy on a dead planet," said Kris Stevens, who traveled to Sydney from the city of Dubbo in New South Wales (NSW). Friday's protests pushed for five main demands: funding for firefighters, relief and aid for affected communities, land and water sovereignty for indigenous communities, an immediate transition toward renewable energy, and a "just transition" for workers in the fossil fuel industry.A total of 27 people have died this fire season, around 2,000 homes have been destroyed and an estimated billion animals have been affected. State and federal authorities have been scrambling to respond, with thousands of firefighters on the ground and billions of dollars allocated in federal aid. But climate activists say it's not enough."We're protesting this Friday because we're outraged about our government's criminal negligence about the bushfire crisis, exacerbated by climate change," said Uni Students for Climate Justice on its Facebook page. "We are protesting to give a voice to the tens of thousands of people who want real action on climate change and real funding for relief services."Photos show exhausted Australian firefighters on break from battling bushfiresAuthorities had urged protesters to postpone the marches due to dangerous fire conditions and limited resources. Victoria Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Tim Hansen said on Wednesday that the police force was already stretched thin and fatigued, and the protests would be a "distraction" and a "resource drain" on a day forecast to be hot and dangerous.The organizers pushed back, posting on Facebook that the police, the media and the state government were "trying to paint ordinary people -- who are fed up with their lies, theft and criminal negligence -- as being a drain on emergency services."Pressure on MorrisonMorrison has faced growing anger and frustration from the public as the fires continue to spiral out of control.He was widely criticized for taking a vacation to Hawaii as fires raged in NSW last month. During a visit last week to the fire-ravaged town of Cobargo, the Prime Minister was heckled by furious residents who had lost their homes. "You're an idiot," one resident shouted at him. He has also been accused of initially playing down the severity of the fires."The strategy up until Christmas was to downplay importance of the emergency, to make it seem like another episode of fires ... nothing to see here, move on," said Frank Jotzo, Director of the Centre for Climate and Energy Policy at Australian National University's Crawford School of Public Policy. "That really jarred with the very obvious never before seen dimensions of this disaster and it would really grate with anyone who had a direct experience of these fires.""The government has simply looked uncaring, and it looked like the political position of the government, including with regards to its position on climate change, seemed to be more important than even the acknowledgment of the magnitude of the disaster," said Jotzo.On kangaroo killing field, from horror to hope for Australian animals devastated by wildfiresMorrison has defended his government's response to the fires and set up a National Bushfire Recovery Agency to coordinate the response to rebuilding communities.His administration has allocated 2 billion Australian dollars ($1.4 billion) in federal aid, to help rebuild vital infrastructure like schools and health facilities struck by fire. The Prime Minister earlier said up to US$4,200 will go to each of the volunteer firefighters battling blazes for more than 10 days. Other relief measures include compensated pay and extra leave for volunteer firefighters. Cash payments of 1,000 Australian dollars ($690) are also available to those who have lost homes or loved ones in the fires. The federal government has also sent in military assistance like army personnel, air force aircraft and navy cruisers for firefighting, evacuation, search and rescue, and clean-up efforts."The tone and nature has really changed over the last week or so. There is now a clear acknowledgment that it is the absolute top priority for the federal government in Australia," said Jotzo.Activists on Friday, however, said the recovery fund was "totally inadequate" and called for the fire service to be fully funded. "It's scandalous that we have to rely so heavily on volunteers and charity to stop whole towns from being wiped out! We demand full funding for our fire services," Uni Students for Climate Justice said on Facebook. JUST WATCHEDAnimals badly burnt by Australian wildfires euthanizedReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAnimals badly burnt by Australian wildfires euthanized 02:54Climate policies under scrutinyMorrison has also been accused of not doing enough to address the climate crisis, which experts say is making natural disasters like fires go from bad to worse. Summers in Australia are always hot and dry -- but fire seasons have been arriving earlier and spreading with greater intensity."The science is telling us ... these extreme heat conditions we've seen this year might occur naturally once every 350 years," said climate scientist and former federal climate commissioner Tim Flannery. "But once you add in the influence of the human-emitted greenhouse gases, we're likely to see those conditions once every eight years."Flannery added that coal was "a national addiction," and the link between government and the fossil fuel industry was "almost complete."Critics of the Morrison administration have pointed to his history of climate skepticism and support for coal mines. In 2017, Morrison -- then treasurer -- made his position clear when he brought a lump of coal into Parliament."This is coal. Don't be afraid, don't be scared," he said, to jeers from the opposition. "It's coal that has ensured for over 100 years that Australia has enjoyed an energy-competitive advantage that has delivered prosperity to Australian businesses."Australia's deadly wildfires are showing no signs of stopping. Here's what you need to knowSince then, his climate rhetoric has softened a little -- he has acknowledged the link between climate change and extreme weather, and asserted his commitment to reduce emissions. But he also said the government would only pursue "sensible" policies, and that there wasn't "a single policy, whether it be climate or otherwise," that can fully protect Australia against the fires.Jotzo said climate change has been a "really poisonous issue politically for about a decade in Australia.""Morrison took a very decisive stance against climate change policy in the election campaign in 2019," he said. "He was subsequently locked into a position by his government of not doing much on climate change."That policy of inaction is threatening to divide Australian society, said Flannery, "because people are deeply angered by the betrayal of one government after the other on this issue." The Australian navy delivered 800 gallons of beer to a thirsty town after supply lines were cut by fires"We have a significant minority of Australian parliamentarians who are welded-on climate skeptics. And even if the seas were lapping at their chins and their hair was on fire as a result of climate change, I don't think they would change their mind," he continued. Anger over government inaction on the climate crisis was evident at the march in Sydney. "This is unacceptable, we want our Prime Minister to listen to the youth. He hasn't been listening to his voters. This is not what a Prime Minister should be doing," said 14-year-old Hayes, who spoke at the rally. Scientists have been warning for years that a disaster of this magnitude could happen, but government agencies failed to take heed and prepare, Jotzo said, adding that there is now enormous domestic and international pressure on the Australian government to make meaningful climate change policies. "The fires are a wake up call to that, and I am optimistic that it will result in a real shake up in how we think about these extreme weather events," he added. JUST WATCHEDSee the Australian fires from the sky ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSee the Australian fires from the sky 03:05Extreme weather returnsThe protests come as wildfires across Australia's southern states were expected to worsen on Friday, as hot, dry winds gust into the area, New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said in a press conference.There were 137 fires burning in New South Wales as around 3,300 firefighters battled conditions that the fire service described as "difficult and erratic."On the border between Victoria and NSW, two fires -- the Green Valley fire and Dunns Road fire -- have connected, making a combined fire covering 545,785 hectares (1.3 million acres). In Victoria, emergency fire warnings were in place for several areas, telling people to evacuate. The Victorian Country Fire Authority warned residents still in Combienbar town, "You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave."Strong winds southwesterly winds of 70 to 100 kilometers per hour (43-62 miles per hour) were expected to hit the region overnight, complicating firefighting efforts. "These next few hours are going to be very, very challenging," Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews said, according to CNN affiliate Nine News. CNN's Hilary Whiteman and Isaac Yee contributed to this report.

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An Australian Army soldier suffered serious head and chest injuries after being mauled by a crocodile that attacked him late on Friday, Australia media reported, with a colleague who came to his rescue in Queensland's far north also bitten.Australian media said the two soldiers were swimming near a coastal fishing village on the Cape York Peninsula, about 800 kilometers (497 miles) north of Cairns, when attacked. The Royal Flying Doctor Service saying on Twitter it had flown the men to a hospital in Cairns, with media reporting both were in stable condition."Two blokes have been swimming in croc-infested waters. One got attacked and the other one tried to help," the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), quoted Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Wayne Butcher as saying.The soldier who came to aid his colleague suffered arm and wrist injuries, according to media reports. It wasn't immediately clear what happened to the crocodile.The defense department told ABC both men are Army personnel, but did not say whether they were on duty when the attack happened.Read MoreQueensland's Department of Environment and it would further investigate the incident, with a team of wildlife officers was due to reach the remote area only later on Saturday.According to data from the Northern Territory government, the state with the highest number of crocodiles in Australia, there are between 100,000 and 200,000 saltwater crocodiles, native to northern Australia, living in the wild in the country.

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Story highlightsA fingerprint of Salah Abdeslam, wanted for Paris attacks, has been found in an apartmentThe apartment had been rented under a false identityHandmade belts to transport explosives also were found (CNN)Material that could be used to make explosives, traces of the explosive TATP and the fingerprint of a suspect in the November terrorist attacks in Paris were found during a search of an apartment in Brussels in December, a prosecutor in Belgium has confirmed.The discoveries suggest that the third-floor apartment on Rue Bergé in the Brussels district of Schaerbeek might have been for a time the hide-out of Salah Abdeslam, who is wanted in connection with the Paris attacks, in which 130 people were killed.Abdeslam, a Belgian-born French national, remains at large and is one of Europe's most-wanted men.Salah Abdeslam remains at the center of a mysteryFrench authorities have confirmed that he wore an explosive belt found on a Paris street 10 days after the November terror attacks, a source close to the investigation told CNN in December.Read MoreSuicide attack aborted?The source said investigators had analyzed the suicide belt, found on a sidewalk on Rue Frederic Chopin in the Paris suburb of Montrouge, and discovered traces of sweat that matched Abdeslam's DNA. Investigators are working under the theory that Abdeslam was supposed to blow himself up in Paris' 18th arrondissement but backed out, the source told CNN.The apartment in Brussels, where he may have hidden out for a time, was searched on December 10. It was rented "under a false identity that might have been used by a person already in custody in this case," the prosecutor's statement said Friday.Three handmade belts that might have been intended to transport explosives were also found in the apartment.Follow @Don_Melvin

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Story highlightsSource: Woman in ISIS video may be widow of man who attacked kosher groceryIn the video, ISIS urges more attacks on French police officers and soldiers (CNN)French authorities say a woman in the latest video released by French-speaking ISIS fighters may be Hayat Boumeddiene, who is believed to have knowledge about the deadly January 9 attack on a Paris kosher grocery, a source close to the investigation told CNN. The video, titled "Blow Up France 2," was released Tuesday and shows an ISIS fighter praising previous attackers in France and calling for new attacks.The video shows a woman standing next to the speaker, wearing camouflage clothing and holding a weapon.Authorities are tryng to identify the woman in the front right of this video image."French authorities are investigating the possibility this woman could be Hayat Boumeddiene," the source said. Her husband, Amedy Coulibaly, killed four hostages January 9 at a kosher grocery in Paris, authorities said. He was killed by police in a rescue and the remaining hostages fled to safety.Read MoreAuthorities are searching for Boumeddiene, who is believed to be in Syria. She and Coulibaly were married in a religious ceremony, but the marriage was not officially recognized under French law.The grocery store attack followed the January 8 attack by Islamic gunmen on Charlie Hebdo, a satire magazine. The next day, a French police officer was killed. Seventeen people were killed over those three days.Hayat BoumeddieneThe latest ISIS video calls for more attacks on soldiers and police officers in France. "If you fight for democracy, we will fight for Islam," they say to officials. "You will have to accept that we will react fully to the numerous crimes you committed. You took our rights. Therefore you can't expect to be in peace."Complete coverage on the Paris attacks

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Moscow (CNN)Ukrainian lawmakers on Monday voted to introduce martial law in the border areas with Russia after it seized three Ukrainian navy ships and detained 24 sailors in a key waterway that holds strategic importance for both countries.It's the first time Ukraine has enacted martial law since the conflict with Russia began in 2014, indicating a major escalation in tensions between the two former Soviet Republics.The law -- which could give the government extraordinary powers over civil society -- will start on November 28 and will last 30 days. In Parliament, 276 members voted for the motion.Ukranian MPs speaking ahead of a parliamentary vote on whether to impose martial law in the country.In a statement on Twitter, Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko said martial law would be introduced only in regions bordering Russia, or adjacent to regions where Russian troops are posted. That includes regions bordering the Azov and Black Seas and a portion of the border with Moldova's Transnistria region, where Russian troops are stationed. "This is where the blow can be struck," Poroshenko said.Read MoreThe Ukrainian government's introduction of martial law follows a confrontation with Russia Sunday around a waterway linking the Azov Sea and the Black Sea. Ukraine said two of its small gunboats and one tugboat were attacked by Russian naval forces Sunday after entering the Kerch Strait en route to the city of Mariupol.Video of the incident released by Ukrainian officials appeared to show a Russian ship ramming the Ukrainian tugboat. The incident provoked fury in Kiev, while Russia accused Ukraine of acting as the aggressor, calling the incident a "dangerous provocation" by Kiev.During an emergency UN Security Council meeting to defuse rising tensions after Sunday's confrontation, US Ambassador Nikki Haley called the incident "yet another reckless Russian escalation" and demanded that the Kremlin release the sailors."This is no way for a law-abiding, civilized nation to act," Haley said, adding that it was an "outrageous violation" of Ukraine's sovereignty."Impeding Ukraine's lawful transit through the Kerch Strait is a violation under international law. It is an arrogant act that the international community must condemn and will never accept."US Ambassador to the United Nation Nikki Haley addresses the United Nations Security Council.Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday called for restraint by Ukraine and Russia following the incident. "The United States condemns this aggressive Russian action. We call on Russia to return to Ukraine its vessels and detained crew members, and to respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters," he said in a statement. Ukraine's navy said six of its sailors were injured in the incident on Sunday. It added that the tugboat and one of the gunboats were disabled and towed away by the Russian navy. The other gunboat was undamaged but was also seized by Russia, Ukraine said. On Monday, Russia's state news agency RIA reported that all 24 sailors aboard the three boats were detained by Russia, citing sources in Crimea's security agencies. Three of the sailors were now in a hospital, it added. The Kerch Strait -- a shallow, narrow stretch of water just 2 to 3 miles wide at one point -- connects the Azov Sea with the Black Sea and runs between the Crimean Peninsula and Russia. It is an important economic lifeline for Ukraine, as it allows its ships to access the Black Sea. It's also the closest point of access for Russia to Crimea, a peninsula Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014. A Russian-built bridge over the Kerch Strait was opened in May.Russia has 'no justification' says NATOAhead of an extraordinary meeting of NATO-Ukraine ambassadors in Brussels late Monday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia had "no justification" for seizing the Ukrainian ships. "What we saw yesterday was very serious because we actually saw Russia use military force against Ukraine in an open and direct way," Stoltenberg said, adding that NATO has increased its presence in the black sea region. "We have to show Russia that its actions have consequences."Vladimir Putin needs to feel real consequences for his aggression Earlier Monday, Stoltenberg pledged the alliance's "full support for Ukraine's territorial integrity" following a morning phone call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.Similarly, European Union foreign affairs spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic condemned Russia at a press briefing on Monday. She called on Russia to "immediately release the vessels and the crew." European member states of the UN Security Council -- including France, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and the UK -- also called on Russia to restore freedom of passage at the Kerch Strait, in a statement. On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the incident as a "dangerous provocation" by Kiev that required "special attention and special investigation," the state news agency TASS reported. Russia and Ukraine have been locked in long-simmering conflict since the annexation of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea by Russia in 2014, and a war with Russian-backed separatists in the country's east has claimed more than 10,000 lives.Protesters gather outside the Russian embassy in Kiev on Sunday evening. What happenedUkraine and Russia offered conflicting accounts of the incident, each accusing the other of violating the laws of the sea. A 2003 agreement confirms the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait as domestic waters of Russia and Ukraine.Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) Border Service in Crimea reported that three Ukrainian warships had illegally entered Russia's territorial waters and were carrying out dangerous maneuvers, according to Russian state news agency TASS. TASS reported the three Ukrainian vessels were detained by Russian forces and that "weapons were used to force them to stop." "They did not respond to legitimate demands by the ships and boats of Russia's FSB Border Guard Service escorting them to stop immediately and performed dangerous maneuvers," the FSB said, according to TASS.Russia's bridge to Crimea: A metaphor for the Putin eraThree Ukrainian servicemen were wounded and received medical care from the Russians, TASS said. The Ukrainian navy, on the other hand, said Russian border patrol vessels "carried out openly aggressive action" against the Ukrainian ships.President Poroshenko's office described the Russian action against the Ukrainian navy ships as "an act of aggression aimed at deliberately escalating the situation in the waters of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait," and called for international condemnation of Moscow and the imposition of new sanctions.Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov also tweeted video he claims shows the two ships colliding.The video appears to be shot from on board a Russian vessel. A commander can be heard speaking Russian, swearing and ordering his crew to "slam him from the right," "squeeze him" and finally warning those on board to "hold on" before the moment of impact.It's unclear how Avakov obtained the video. Similar clips were released by Russian state media but those did not show the actual collision.МВС України спецзасобами отримало доступ до відео провокації -тарана російського прикордонного корабля "Дон" українського🇺🇦 судна. Перехоплене відео знято російськими, чутні команди - це піде доказом в міжнародний суд! Агресія! Гуртуемось та очікуємо реакції дружніх країн! pic.twitter.com/f0e9hFB1BT— Arsen Avakov (@AvakovArsen) November 25, 2018 In a post on Facebook, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the incident had been devised to "divert attention from the internal problems that are ravaging Ukraine and blame the neighbor responsible for all of Ukraine's troubles."In the wake of the incident, Russia temporarily closed off the strait. However, it has since been reopened for civilian ships, according to TASS.Video from the scene showed a tanker blocking the waters under the bridge and fighter jets flying near the bridge.A ship under the the Kerch bridge blocks the passage to the Kerch Strait near Kerch, Crimea, on Sunday.On Sunday, Poroshenko convened a military cabinet emergency meeting and later tweeted he would appeal to Parliament to declare martial law. "There are no red lines" for Russia, he said. "We consider such actions categorically unacceptable. And this aggression has already led to consequences."Ukraine and the United States have been accusing Russia of interfering with international shipping in and out of the Kerch Strait for some months now. Russian state media has reported the confrontation is a provocation orchestrated by Ukraine and others in America to disrupt the forthcoming meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires this week.

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(CNN)Natalia Molina was shocked when she heard a whistleblower's allegations about hysterectomies in ICE custody. But also, she wasn't.Molina has written about the history of forced sterilization. The professor of American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California knows there's a shameful legacy of US officials ordering operations on people without their consent -- often disproportionately targeting people of color -- with laws driven by racism and cloaked in terms about mental health and fitness. So when new allegations emerged about conditions in ICE custody, she says, it wasn't hard to make a connection."The story gained so much traction immediately with people, because there's such a long history affecting many different racial and ethnic groups, across many institutions -- mental health hospitals, public hospitals, prisons," she says. In a complaint filed with the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general, a nurse who worked at Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia reported concerns about a high rate of hysterectomies and alleged medical neglect there. Lawmakers are calling for an investigation and ICE is urging skepticism of what it calls "anonymous, unproven allegations."Read MoreAs details emerge, Molina and other scholars say they see this week's allegations as the latest chapter in a long and troubling history.The history of forced sterilization in the US dates back more than a century"This could be seen as a recent episode in a much longer trajectory of sterilization abuse and reproductive injustice," says Alexandra Minna Stern, a professor and associate dean at the University of Michigan.Indiana passed the world's first eugenics sterilization law in 1907. And from there, Stern says, 31 other US states followed suit."Under those laws, about 60,000 people were sterilized in procedures that we would qualify today as being compulsory, forced, involuntary, and under the justifications that the people who were being sterilized were unfit to reproduce," she says.The laws, which led to officials ordering sterilizations of people they deemed "feeble-minded" or "mentally defective," later became models for Nazi Germany. Stern directs the Sterilization and Social Justice Lab, a project that's dedicated to reconstructing stories behind the sterilizations that occurred across the US. "Women and people of color increasingly became the target, as eugenics amplified sexism and racism," Stern wrote in a recent article for The Conversation detailing the lab's research. Patterns varied from state to state, Stern says. In California, people of Mexican descent were disproportionately sterilized. And in North Carolina, Black women were disproportionately targeted. Most of the state laws were repealed by the 1970s. But their history is something scholars are still working to unravel and states are still reckoning with.North Carolina state Rep. Larry Womble wipes away tears in 2012 as he tells his fellow legislators to do what's right and approve funding for a program to provide compensation for victims of North Carolina's forced sterilization program.Lawmakers are invoking this history as they call for an investigationAs word spread about the whistleblower's accusations this week, Democratic lawmakers pointed to this history as they called for an investigation. "This profoundly disturbing situation recalls some of the darkest moments of our nation's history," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.Whistleblower alleges high rate of hysterectomies and medical neglect at ICE facilityAlan Kraut, an immigration historian and professor at American University, says he sees parallels with the past in the recent accusations. But just because something happened historically, he says, doesn't mean it's happening now."Without evidence I really hesitate to say, 'Yeah, they're probably doing sterilizations just the way they used to do in the 1920s.' I'm not willing to say that. ... That's really a heavy-duty accusation," he says. "And I think we should all be asking, is there any evidence of this? Not just rumor, not just he said-she said, but an investigation. There needs to be an investigation of who's been mistreated, how they've been mistreated, and whether or not there's anything to this, because it is extremely, extremely serious."When Americans tried to breed a better race: How a genetic fitness 'crusade' marches onThere have been more recent sterilizations, tooWhen it comes to sterilization, Molina -- who teaches at the University of Southern California's Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences -- says California's history has been particularly troubling."We know that there were forced sterilizations at LA County hospital. ... We know that in the California prison system there were also issues of forced sterilization," she says. "We also know that there's been sort of a reckoning with this past. LA County has apologized for forced sterilizations."Sterilizations in the 1970s at the county hospital in Los Angeles spurred protests and a lawsuit that later became the subject of a documentary, "No Más Bebés."On Twitter, Maybell Romero, an associate professor of law at Northern Illinois University, said to her the connections between that case and this week's allegations are clear."In that case, a whistleblower much like today came forward with evidence that Latinas were being tricked, coerced, and forced into sterilization," she wrote. "Much like today's case...the women often had little to no grasp of English, leaving them vulnerable to coercion."JUST WATCHED2012: Eugenics controversy comes to lightReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH2012: Eugenics controversy comes to light 05:35This history was already on scholars' minds before the recent allegations came upMolina says the coronavirus pandemic already had a lot of scholars thinking about this history recently, even before the whistleblower's complaint."Many of us have been thinking about this history recently as we start thinking about who's going to get the (Covid-19) vaccine," she says, "and are communities of color going to be trusting the government?"One thing that keeps coming up, Molina says, is the Tuskegee syphilis study, in which hundreds of Black men with syphilis were never told their diagnosis or that they weren't being treated for the deadly disease. "That is another way in which we see the government abusing medical power, medical ethics, and seeing certain populations as more disposable," Molina says.Then-President Bill Clinton apologized for the study -- years after it had ended -- in 1997 at an emotional ceremony for survivors and their family members. "What was done cannot be undone, but we can end the silence," he said. "We can stop turning our heads away. We can look at you in the eye, and finally say, on behalf of the American people, what the United States government did was shameful and I am sorry."New ads encourage minorities to roll up their sleeves and participate in coronavirus vaccine trials Awareness about forced sterilization has grown, but a lot of people still don't know about itSome states in recent years have issued apologies for forced sterilizations, and awareness about the practice in the US has grown. But Stern says the history still isn't taught in many schools or as widely known as it should be. "One reason is that many of these sterilizations took place in institutions that again had no accountability. ... All of this was happening behind closed doors. People weren't necessarily aware of it," she says. "People who were subjects to this sterilization, many of the survivors still to this day find it so painful and hard to talk about that experience, it's so marked with shame and secrecy for them, that it's not like they're writing long confessionals about it. But some have."Famed civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer spoke out about her sterilization, Stern says, drawing attention to the practice. Hamer underwent a hysterectomy without her consent in 1961 while undergoing a minor surgery to remove a tumor.American civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer spoke out about her forced sterilization and drew attention to the issue."She was subjected to what she called the 'Mississippi appendectomy,'" Stern says, "where young Black women were taken into local clinics and sterilized. ... That was really a motivating factor to her in her activism." Stern says learning -- and sharing -- this history is important. "It's important to know that America was profoundly shaped by the Eugenics Movement. ... The legacies continue to play out and the lessons have not been learned," she says. "It's an integral part of understanding the history of inequality in the United States, and how social ideas can be twisted to promote dehumanization."

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Regensburg, Germany (CNN)On the outskirts of one of Europe's best preserved medieval cities is one of the world's most modern factories. The BMW group plant in Regensburg, Germany, manufactured approximately 320,000 vehicles in 2018. BMW says its use of technologies -- from robotics to 3D printing to smart data analytics -- meant it was able to cut the time needed to deploy new applications by 80% and reduce quality issues by 5%. The plant -- which was described as a "factory of the future" by the World Economic Forum -- is at the forefront of what's being called "Industry 4.0" -- a new phase in the industrial revolution that focuses heavily on interconnectivity, automation, machine learning, and real-time data. Around 9,000 people and more than 3,000 machines, robots and autonomous transport systems work in BMW's Regensburg plant. Smart factories like this one could add at least $1.5 trillion to the global economy in the next three years, according to Capgemini. And many more are coming: the consulting firm found that the manufacturers it surveyed in 2019 planned to create 40% more of these plants over the next five years.High-tech car makingRead More"A smart factory is characterized by a smart way of using new technologies, (and) new ideas to get innovations on a next level," says Frank Bachmann, BMW's Regensburg plant manager.There are more than 3,000 connected machines, robots and autonomous transport systems at the plant. A custom-made Internet of Things platform links these tools with materials and parts, which are given laser-printed labels at the outset -- allowing information to be analyzed and tracked every step of the way.That means any problems in the supply line can be alerted. For instance, if the system detects strange noises, mechanics are notified, and the problem can be fixed immediately. Autonomous vehicles deliver parts around the factory."We try to predict things, try to understand things in a reactive way, to make the future safer, easier and make even better cars," says Bachmann. Bachmann believes the factory's success is not down to one single technology, but how it integrates technologies with human workers."A smart factory is driven by smart people," he says. Driving the industrial revolutionIt is not the first time cars have been the driving force in modernizing manufacturing. Henry Ford created the first moving assembly line in 1913, which drastically cut the man-hours required to assemble a Model T car -- from 12-and-a-half-hours down to six. But the next generation of manufacturing won't just take place on the plant floor. It will happen on computers and in the cloud. This brings some additional challenges. Capgemini's report found that despite the overriding positive outlook, manufacturers are struggling to scale up their smart initiatives, with just 14% characterizing their existing initiatives as "successful."Smart factories could add $1.5 trillion to the global economy in the next five years.Enno de Boer, of consultants McKinsey & Company, also sees some hurdles to overcome. "Two of the biggest challenges facing manufacturers are around employee capability and scale," he says. "There is a big skills gap to be addressed -- 42% of industrial companies are reporting they are already experiencing a shortage of labor with 4IR [Industry 4.0] capabilities," he adds. To reskill and upskill the workforce at scale, de Boer suggests manufacturers develop effective technological learning methods, such as gamification and VR or AR learning.

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(CNN)What are pro tennis stars Serena Williams and Coco Gauff doing to prepare for the first Grand Slam tennis competition of the season? Living it up at a Florida resort, of course.The duo have been all over social media while they attend a star-studded preseason training camp put on by Serena's trainer Patrick Mouratoglou. Serena and Coco are joined at the Boca Raton Resort and Club by fitness influencer Shaun T, DJ Bob Sinclar, and tennis players Chris Eubanks, Nicholas David Ionel and Holger Rune. This December, I wanted to renew with the tradition of organising a team-building camp to prepare for the Australian Open.Along with Serena, we brought in a new, crazy-talented generation of players, and even some DJs and fitness gurus.Best. Cast. Ever.#MouratoglouPreseason pic.twitter.com/ApKlSlT6xF— Patrick Mouratoglou (@pmouratoglou) December 11, 2019 While they may be training for the Australian Open in January, the crew seems to be having a fantastic time. Mouratolou has been flooding Twitter with videos of the team doing karaoke, choreographed dance numbers and even boxing with Mike Tyson. Coco Gauff, left, and Serena Williams, pictured in New York City in August, are now gearing up for the first Grand Slam tournament of the season.The athletes are definitely working hard out on the courts, but are taking part in a bunch of other training activities, as well. Read MoreLegendary boxer Tyson made an appearance to give Williams a one-on-one boxing session. Tyson posted a video of Williams hitting a punching bag captioned, "Wouldn't want to get in the ring with this GOAT."When you see how hard she packs a punch, that's not surprising.Wouldn't want to get in the ring with this GOAT @serenawilliams 🥊 pic.twitter.com/pn8mrlCuOR— Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) December 19, 2019 She may even have squared up to the former heavyweight champ. Don't stress about Tyson, though. Photos show the two having a great time. Yes, it really happened.Yes, Serena really won. pic.twitter.com/DMw4vi50gi— Mouratoglou Tennis Academy 🎾 (@MouratoglouAcad) December 19, 2019 The athletes' impeccable moves on the court seem to translate to the dance floor, as well. Shaun T led the crew in a choreographed dance routine. Their moves? Flawless.When the Team Spirit brings together the best people. @serenawilliams @cocogauff @shaunt @chris_eubanks96 @bocaresort pic.twitter.com/rISEovuVaB— Patrick Mouratoglou (@pmouratoglou) December 19, 2019 The fitness maestro wouldn't let the team get off that easy. He also pushed the team to be competition-ready in a group workout last week. Time to grind 👌🏾 #preseason #ThursdayMotivation pic.twitter.com/lUAivE6INw— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) December 12, 2019 If you look closely, you can see one of the athletes' kiddos getting in on the action in the back. Wait a second. But where are the kids when the parents are hitting the courts? This snapshot of Williams and Shaun T's kids says it all.There is a pre-season for everyone. While the parents are dying on the court, the kids are socializing: Team Spirit ! pic.twitter.com/OIXwwVJ4bP— Patrick Mouratoglou (@pmouratoglou) December 13, 2019 The tiny toddlers are kicking it close by and soaking up all that nice Florida sun.

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Story highlightsRory McIlroy heads the leaderboard at the Shanghai Masters after first roundMcIlroy carded an opening round 68, one shot clear of Hunter Mahan in secondThe winner at the Lake Malaren Golf Club is set to receive a check for $2 millionWorld number three Rory McIlroy carded an opening round 64 on Thursday to finish eight-under-par and lead the Shanghai Masters by one shot.The U.S. Open champion is in pole position to claim the $2 million winner's check, a bigger prize than any of golf's four majors, at the 30-man invitational tournament which is not affiliated with any of the sport's professional tours.McIlroy, 22, is one shot clear of American Hunter Mahan after a bogey-free round at the Lake Malaren Golf Club which included five birdies on the back nine."Very happy with my opening 64 at the Shanghai Masters.... Hopefully I can keep it going over the next few days!" McIlroy said via his official account on the social-networking site Twitter.McIlroy was paired with fellow Briton Lee Westwood, just six days after McIlroy left former professional Andrew "Chubby" Chandler -- the golf agent who also represents world No.2 Westwood.Westwood, who along with Masters winner Charl Schwartzel and British Open champion Darren Clarke is still represented by Chandler, is tied for fifth after carding an opening round 69.Three-time major champion Padraig Harrington and British duo Ian Poulter and Paul Casey share third on five-under, with the trio hoping to claim a large portion of the $5m prize fund.China's Li Chao made a strong start, shooting 68 to sit level with American Anthony Kim on four-under.Level with Westwood on three-under is stablemate Schwartzel, two-time major champion John Daly, double U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen, 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, Sweden's Robert Karlsson and South Korean Y.E. Yang.

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(CNN)French President Emmanuel Macron has used his traditional New Year's Eve address to acknowledge the "anger" among anti-government protesters, but warned that hateful speech and actions would not be tolerated.Speaking from the Elysee Palace on Monday, Macron said he would use that anger as a "lesson" for the new year ahead. Tax rises, yellow vests and a gold desk: Emmanuel Macron's humbling year"An anger that came from far away broke out. Anger against injustices, against the course of globalization, sometimes incomprehensible, anger against an administrative system that has become too complex and lacking in benevolence," Macron said in his speech. "To me, this anger means one thing, whatever its excesses: we didn't resign ourselves."The "gilet jeunes" or "yellow vest" protests have paralyzed parts of France since erupting last month, as demonstrators clashed with police, torched cars, erected roadblocks and burned barricades.The protests, named after the yellow high-visibility jackets French motorists must carry in their vehicles, have transformed from dissent over rising gas prices and eco-taxes into a broader demonstration against Macron, his government, and tensions between the metropolitan elite and rural poor.Read MoreWithout naming the yellow vest protests directly, Macron railed against extreme and violent parts of the movement who claimed to speak "on behalf of the people" but were actually speaking for a "hateful crowd" to "attack officials, the police, journalists, Jews, foreigners, homosexuals." He called those elements, "the negation of France."Macron said that France "wants to build a better future" but to do that, he said, people must respect each other and remember the lessons from the generations who fought for today's freedoms. JUST WATCHEDWho are France's 'yellow vest' protesters?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWho are France's 'yellow vest' protesters? 02:33"We are free in our country only because generations before us fought not to suffer from despotism or any tyranny, and this freedom requires a republican order, he said. "It requires the respect of each and all opinions."Under pressure to respond to the protests, Macron pledged in December to increase the minimum wage and scrap new pension taxes. But this move has done little to appease the anger felt by some hard-core protesters.At the protests' height, 1,723 people were taken in for questioning and 1,220 were taken into custody over one weekend. On December 15, about 34,000 protesters had turned out across France, including more than 2,000 in Paris, according to the Interior Ministry. The previous week, some 77,000 protesters demonstrated across the country, including 10,000 in Paris.Emmanuel Macron was anointed as France's last great hope for reform. Is that all lost now?Ten people have died in connection with the protests, with most deaths occurring in traffic accidents related to blockades in November and December, according to Le Parisien newspaper and CNN reporting.The number of demonstrators has dwindled over the past couple of weeks, while authorities have ramped up policing to prevent a repeat of earlier violence.To get things back on track, Macron said France's "institutions must continue to evolve" and he vowed to "restore vitality to our democracy."

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Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. (CNN)It's a moment that has been decades in the making. The James Webb Space Telescope, NASA's premier space observatory of the next decade, successfully launched on Christmas morning. The telescope lifted off atop an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana at 7:20 a.m. ET."We have LIFTOFF of the @NASAWebb Space Telescope!" NASA shared on Twitter. "At 7:20am ET (12:20 UTC), the beginning of a new, exciting decade of science climbed to the sky. Webb's mission to #UnfoldTheUniverse will change our understanding of space as we know it."The Webb telescope launched from French Guiana Saturday morning.The Webb telescope has endured years of delays, including a combination of factors brought on by the pandemic and technical challenges. But the world's most powerful and complex space observatory will answer questions about our solar system, study exoplanets in new ways and look deeper into the universe than we've ever been able to. The European Space Agency aptly referred to it as "an awesome Christmas present" for the international launch teams, as well as the whole of space science, on Twitter.Read MoreNASA Administrator Bill Nelson shared his gratitude for the international teams that made the mission and the Christmas Day launch possible."This is a great day for planet Earth," Nelson said shortly after the launch. "Thanks to the team. You all have just been incredible. Over three decades, you produced this telescope that is now going to take us back to the very beginnings of the universe. We are going to discover incredible things that we never imagined."The name of NASA's most powerful telescope is still controversial one month before its launchWebb will peer into the very atmospheres of exoplanets, some of which are potentially habitable, and it could uncover clues in the ongoing search for life outside of Earth. The telescope comes equipped with a mirror that can extend 21 feet and 4 inches (6.5 meters) -- a massive length that will allow the mirror to collect more light from the objects it observes once the telescope is in space. The more light the mirror can collect, the more details the telescope can observe.The mirror includes 18 hexagonal gold-coated segments, each 4.3 feet (1.32 meters) in diameter. It's the largest mirror NASA has ever built, the agency said, but its size created a unique problem. The mirror was so large that it couldn't fit inside a rocket. So the NASA team designed the telescope as a series of moving parts that can fold origami-style and fit inside a 16-foot (5-meter) space for launch.Webb will act as an infrared detective, detecting light that is invisible to us and revealing otherwise hidden regions of space, according to NASA.Ball Aerospace optical technician Scott Murray inspects the first gold primary mirror segment of the telescope.Since 2004, thousands of scientists, technicians and engineers from 14 countries have spent 40 million hours building the telescope. The telescope includes instruments from the Canadian Space Agency and the European Space Agency.Now, Webb is ready to help us understand the origins of the universe and begin to answer key questions about our existence, such as where we came from and if we're alone in the cosmos.What Webb will seeThe Webb telescope will look at every phase of cosmic history, including the first glows after the big bang that created our universe and the formation of the galaxies, stars and planets that fill it today. Its capabilities will enable the observatory to answer questions about our own solar system and investigate faint signals from the first galaxies formed 13.5 billion years ago.Webb telescope is about to take an unprecedented look at these intriguing exoplanetsThe telescope will take a closer look at a selection of exoplanets to peer inside their atmospheres, if they have them, and help answer questions about how the planets formed and evolved. Data collected by the telescope can tell scientists if methane, carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide is in the atmosphere. The gases within these alien atmospheres could reveal the very building blocks of life. Other objects of interest for the initial science campaign include observing the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, actively forming planetary systems, bright quasars at the center of galaxies, and leftovers from the formation of our solar system known as Kuiper Belt Objects. What it can doWith all of its superlatives, engineering Webb was an extraordinary challenge. The observatory is comprised of three main elements. One is the Integrated Science Instrument Module, which holds Webb's suite of four instruments. These instruments will mainly be used for capturing images or spectroscopy -- breaking down light into different wavelengths to determine physical and chemical components.The main eye of the observatory, called the Optical Telescope Element, includes the mirrors and backplane, or spine, that supports the mirrors. And then there's the Spacecraft Element, which includes the spacecraft bus and sunshield This is how the sunshield looks once it's been deployed.The spacecraft bus includes the six main subsystems needed to operate the spacecraft, including propulsion, electrical power, communication, data and thermal controls. This "bus" design, which doesn't actually resemble a bus, is used to support the spacecraft's infrastructure. The five-layer sunshield unfurls to reach the size of a tennis court and it will protect Webb's giant mirror and instruments from the sun's heat -- because they need to be kept at a very frigid negative 370 degrees Fahrenheit (negative 188 degrees Celsius) to operate. When to expect the first imagesThe observatory will travel for about a month until it reaches an orbit about 1 million miles (1.6 million kilometers) away from Earth. During those 29 days, Webb will unfold its mirrors and unfurl the sunshield. This process involves thousands of parts that must work perfectly in the right sequence. Fortunately, each step can be controlled from the ground in case there are issues. And then it will go through a period of commissioning in space that lasts for six months. That includes cooling down the instruments, alignment and calibration. All of the instruments will go through a checkout process to see how they're functioning."The launch of the Webb Space Telescope is a pivotal moment -- this is just the beginning for the Webb mission," said Gregory L. Robinson, Webb's program director at NASA Headquarters, in a statement. "Now we will watch Webb's highly anticipated and critical 29 days on the edge. When the spacecraft unfurls in space, Webb will undergo the most difficult and complex deployment sequence ever attempted in space. Once commissioning is complete, we will see awe-inspiring images that will capture our imagination."This image shows the full-scale James Webb Space Telescope model at South by Southwest in Austin. Webb will begin to collect data and its first images later in 2022. Thousands of scientists have been waiting for years to see what the observatory can show us."The initial year of Webb's observations will provide the first opportunity for a diverse range of scientists around the world to observe particular targets with NASA's next great space observatory," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA, in a statement. "The amazing science that will be shared with the global community will be audacious and profound."For more about the telescope, you can watch the CNN Film "The Hunt For Planet B" on CNNgo. The documentary follows scientists as they build and plan for the launch. It also looks at the search for life on planets outside of our solar system.

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(CNN)Federal prosecutors in Washington, DC, will not pursue criminal charges against the US Capitol Police officer involved in the shooting death of Ashli Babbitt during the riot at the Capitol on January 6, the Justice Department said Wednesday.The Justice Department said it has cleared the officer involved and has closed its investigation, saying there is "insufficient evidence" to support prosecution. "The investigation revealed no evidence to establish that, at the time the officer fired a single shot at Ms. Babbitt, the officer did not reasonably believe that it was necessary to do so in self-defense or in defense of the Members of Congress and others evacuating the House Chamber," the DOJ statement said. The officer involved was not named.Watchdog reveals new warning about map of Capitol's underground tunnels posted before insurrectionBabbitt's fatal shooting on January 6 occurred as a crowd pushed toward a doorway -- barricaded by chairs and guarded by Capitol Police -- that was the entrance to the Speaker's Lobby in the US Capitol building. Babbitt was given medical assistance immediately and taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead."Officials examined video footage posted on social media, statements from the officer involved and other officers and witnesses to the events, physical evidence from the scene of the shooting, and the results of an autopsy," the Justice Department said. "Based on that investigation, officials determined that there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution." Read MoreThe federal probe focused on constitutional issues that would be difficult to prove in court, like whether the officer "willfully" used force against Babbitt that violated her Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable seizures.Oath Keepers likely stashed weapons at a Comfort Inn prior to Capitol riot, prosecutors sayJustice Department officials informed a representative of Babbitt's family about the decision on Wednesday, the department said. She was the only person killed by police among the thousands of rioters who breached the building or amassed on the Capitol grounds.A CNN review of Babbitt's social media accounts showed that she frequently voiced support for former President Donald Trump and other conservative figures on Facebook, and promoted far-right conspiracy theories. Her online postings also embraced the QAnon conspiracy theory, according to The New York Times.She was a senior airman in the US Air Force from 2004 to 2008, served in the Air Force Reserves until 2010, and was in the Air National Guard until 2016, according to military records.This story has been updated with additional details.

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