Datasets:

AyoubChLin

/

CNN_News_Articles_2011-2022

like 6

Story highlightsWorking longer-than-average hours has been tied to negative mental, physical, relational health outcomesHere are four ways a shorter workweek could help you live better, longer (CNN)The number of hours you log at work each week can have a significant impact on your health and your longevity -- especially if you overwork.Based on full- and part-time workers' hours, people in the United States work an average eight hours every week day, adding up to 40 hours per week, according to 2017 data from the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.Working more than that has been tied to some negative health outcomes, especially for "individuals who work extended hours or very long hours. We're talking people who do 50, 60, 70, 80 hours per week," said Azizi Seixas, an assistant professor at NYU Langone Health, who focuses on sleep and stress research."Generally, that's associated with a host of mental and psychological health issues as well as physical health issues and the third one, which we don't really hear a lot about, relational health issues," he said.Each of those aspects of your health -- mental, physical and personal relationships -- can play a role in how long you live. Here are four ways that working fewer hours each week could help boost your longevity. Read More1. You could de-stress."Longer workweeks increase a person's risk for psychosocial stress responses and depressive symptoms," said Christian Benedict, a researcher in Uppsala University's Department of Neuroscience in Sweden.What's the best work schedule for your age?In other words, long workweeks can stress you out, and that's not good for your mental health. A study published in the journal Psychological Medicine in 2011 found that working more than 55 hours per week predicted subsequent depressive and anxiety symptoms among 2,960 British people ages 44 to 66 who were employed full-time. "A 1.66-fold risk of depressive symptoms and a 1.74-fold risk of anxiety symptoms among employees working more than 55 hours a week, compared with employees working 35 to 40 hours a week, has been observed," Benedict said of the study, in which he was not involved.How much you make may be linked to how much you stressA paper published in the British Medical Journal in 2015 found that alcohol consumption was more likely to rise to risky levels among adults who work more than 48 hours a week compared with those who work average hours. That paper involved reviewing and analyzing 63 previously published studies on the association between long working hours and alcohol use."Finally, if you work all day, you may have no chance to pay attention to your worries until you go to bed. Going through your worries while in bed is however one of the worst things you can do to your sleep," Benedict said. "Stress and anxiety, in turn, cause difficulties with falling and staying asleep," he said. 2. You could catch more Z's.As you sleep, you enter a biological process in which certain hormones are released to repair cells and make sure that your body and brain function properly the next day. Photos: Tips for better sleep Photos: Tips for better sleepSetting an alarm might be the only thing that helps you get up in the morning, but try setting one at night to remind you when it's time to go to bed. Click through our gallery for other tips for better sleep.Hide Caption 1 of 8 Photos: Tips for better sleepDid you know that having warm feet can help you sleep? Pull on a pair of socks before bed to speed up how quickly you'll fall asleep.Hide Caption 2 of 8 Photos: Tips for better sleepEven the smallest amount of light can disrupt your sleep patterns. Keep your bedroom as dark as possible for the best night's sleep.Hide Caption 3 of 8 Photos: Tips for better sleepExercise regularly? You'll sleep better. Even a few minutes of physical activity a day can help.Hide Caption 4 of 8 Photos: Tips for better sleepPaint your bedroom a tranquil color to make your room a restful one.Hide Caption 5 of 8 Photos: Tips for better sleepNaps, when limited to 30 minutes and not too close to bedtime, won't interrupt your nightly sleep routine.Hide Caption 6 of 8 Photos: Tips for better sleepYoga can help you wind down at the end of the day and calm your mind, which also slows your breathing and heart rate for better sleep.Hide Caption 7 of 8 Photos: Tips for better sleepGet some sunlight first thing in the morning. It triggers your brain to stay awake and alert early in the day and helps you ease into sleep a little earlier at night.Hide Caption 8 of 8"During sleep, the brain clears out metabolic waste products accumulating during wakefulness, which is important for the maintenance of brain health," Benedict said."Studies have also shown that newly learned information is consolidated during sleep, especially those relevant for future behavior," he said. "There is also evidence to suggest that sleep promotes processes involved in creativity and problem-solving. Finally, during sleep, parts of the brain recover that are involved in decision-making, stress resilience, learning, planning, vigilance and impulse control."Car crashes, industrial disasters and medical and occupational errors can increase when we tire, not to mention decreases in work productivity and efficiency.JUST WATCHEDHow important is a good night's sleep?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHow important is a good night's sleep? 07:21 Long work hours and lack of sleep may lead to poor performance, poor memory, inability to process new information, judgment issues, difficulties being alert and poor concentration, Seixas said."The only two behaviors that seem to enhance the process of clearing out the cellular debris and proteins that are associated with Alzheimer's disease and dementia from the brain is physical activity, to a certain extent, but primarily sleep," he said."When you have an excess of blockage and buildup of protein debris in the brain, what happens is that that has been associated with poor brain function."Sleep is important to maintain important homeostasis biological processes -- maintaining balance in the body," he said. "What does that mean? It means that your liver, your heart, all these organs can't be working at 100% throughout the day. There needs to be a period where they recuperate and regenerate, and so sleep is an important activity for that."Night owls have 10% higher mortality risk, study saysGetting less than the recommended amount of sleep on a regular basis has been tied to an increased risk of early death. A longitudinal study of 10,308 British civil servants, published in the journal Sleep in 2007, found that those who reduced their sleep from seven to five hours or fewer a night were almost twice as likely to die from all causes, especially cardiovascular disease. The study also showed an increase in sleep duration, to more than 8 hours, was associated with an increase in mortality.As it turns out, an increased risk of cardiovascular disease has been also linked with long workweeks, Seixas said.3. You could improve your heart health.Observational studies suggest that there's about a 40% increased risk of coronary heart disease among adults who work long hours, as in more than 50 a week or more than 10 a day, according to a paper published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2012.The paper reviewed and analyzed 12 previously published studies on long working hours and health risks, including a total of 22,518 study participants."By extending your work hours, you have less time to sleep," Seixas said. "We need about seven to eight hours per day in order to get optimal health benefits, give or take depending on the individual," he said. "But if you're not getting that, that can lead to an increased risk for obesity as well as increased risk for diabetes, particularly Type 2 diabetes, and an increased risk for hypertension."Hard-working women, go home earlier to avoid this diseaseYou can be at increased risk for cardiovascular and cardio-metabolic health conditions, as well as musculoskeletal issues such as back and neck pain, headaches and vision problems, Seixas said.Women who work an average of 60 hours or more per week over a 32-year period may have elevated risks of diabetes, non-skin cancer, heart disease and arthritis, according to a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine in 2016.Specifically, workweeks that averaged 60 hours or more over three decades appeared to be associated with triple the risk of those chronic diseases, the study showed, and heart disease and cancer are the top two leading causes of death in the United States.The study involved data on 7,492 adults, covering 32 years of job history between 1978 and 2009. The data came from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth.4. You could spend more time with loved ones.Overall, when you work less, "you have more time for your family and time to engage in health-promoting leisure activities, exercise, meeting friends and so forth," Benedict said.JUST WATCHEDStudy: Loneliness increases your risk of deathReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHStudy: Loneliness increases your risk of death 01:39Engaging with loved ones can help battle loneliness, which has been found to be somewhat detrimental for longevity.A study published in the medical journal JAMA in 2012 found that among 1,604 people older than 60, loneliness was a predictor of functional decline and early death. Of participants, 43% were classified as lonely. Among those who felt lonely, 22.8% died during the study's six-year followup period, compared with 14.2% of their peers.Loneliness has become such a significant public health problem that in the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Theresa May appointed a minister for loneliness this year in a drive to tackle social isolation, which estimates suggest is endured by 9 million Britons.'When are you really productive?'Still, there can be some downsides to working less than average, Benedict said."Working fewer hours per week typically results in greater work intensity, which might offset positive effects of short workweeks," he said. "Labor is not only a source of income, allowing material needs to be satisfied; it also provides non-pecuniary benefits like status and recognition."Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team.All in all, research suggests that the best working amount can be determined on a case-by-case basis and can vary based on your needs."You need to figure out, when are you really productive?" CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta said."The key is to try to figure out when are those productive hours for you and try and do your most important things then," Gupta said. "If you can spend a few minutes actually considering the task at hand, if you work smarter, not longer, I think a lot of things will happen," he said. "You're going to get more done, and you're going to be able to spend more time not actually working, and that will certainly help you live to 100."CNN's Sandee LaMotte contributed to this report.

2health

Washington (CNN)President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed a massive spending bill into law that includes $13.6 billion in new aid to Ukraine, saying during a signing ceremony that the new assistance shows the United States is "moving urgently to further augment the support to the brave people of Ukraine as they defend their country.""Today we're again showing the American people that as a country we can come together, as Democrats and Republicans and independents, and do big things; that our democracy can deliver ... and outperform autocracies, and that there's nothing we can't do when we do it together as the United States of America," Biden told an audience of lawmakers at the White House.Russia's invasion, Biden said, has "united people all across America, united our two parties in Congress and united the freedom-loving world to act with urgency and resolve that we're doing right now -- that you provided me the ability to do." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will deliver a speech to Congress on Wednesday, where he is likely to renew his calls for steps like a no-fly zone and request help acquiring fighter jets -- steps Biden has previously rejected. And later Wednesday, Biden is expected to detail the US' assistance to Ukraine in remarks. Speaking on CNN on Tuesday, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said Biden would talk "about the security assistance that we have provided, that we are providing. It's just unparalleled in amounts. Anti-tank, anti-aircraft, anti-armor, all kinds of support that the Ukrainians have asked for."Read MoreThe Senate passed the spending bill, known as an omnibus, late Thursday on a bipartisan vote of 68-31, after having passed three previous stopgap funding bills to keep the government running in the meantime. The omnibus will provide funding through fiscal year 2022, which started in October. The new funding will provide additional humanitarian, security and economic assistance for Ukraine and allies in the region.Roughly half of the aid package will be used to deploy troops to the region and send defense equipment to Ukraine, according to a summary of the bill provided by the House Appropriations Committee.The US has deployed thousands of troops throughout Europe, both before and during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But putting troops on the ground in Ukraine, which is not a member of NATO, is a line that the US and its Western allies have not been willing to cross.Much of the other half of the aid will provide humanitarian support for refugees fleeing Ukraine and people displaced within the country, including emergency food assistance, as well as help to respond to the economic needs in Ukraine and neighboring countries, such as cybersecurity and energy issues.In Tuesday's remarks to lawmakers, Biden touted a record $1.2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine over the past year, acknowledging that while it's been "exceedingly difficult to get supplies in Ukraine while the Russian onslaught continues ... we're managing to get supplies in Ukraine regularly thanks to the bravery of so many frontline workers who are still at their posts."The President also highlighted some of the spending bill's other provisions, which include reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act as well as additional funding for opioid response grants and mental health services.The spending bill also calls for more than $1.5 trillion in annual appropriations, excluding the Ukraine aid. That's more than a 6% increase from the year before, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.The legislation will provide $730 billion in non-defense funding -- a 6.7% increase over fiscal year 2021 -- the largest jump in four years, according to the House Appropriations Committee. It also will provide $782 billion in defense funding, a 5.6% increase over fiscal year 2021.The omnibus does not include additional Covid-19 response-related funding. The Biden administration requested $22.5 billion in supplemental Covid-19 relief funding in the massive government funding package. Negotiators had proposed a scaled-back $15.6 billion for Covid relief, but following pushback on both sides of the aisle, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that Covid provisions would be stripped from the funding bill, which passed late last week. House Democrats have introduced a standalone Covid relief bill, but it does not currently have the votes to pass both chambers. On Monday, White House Covid-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients said that "additional funds are necessary in the very near future to avoid disruptions to ongoing Covid response efforts."Should Congress fail to act, Zients added, "it would result in severe consequences" for efforts toward treatment, testing, vaccines, efforts to help deliver more vaccines globally and fight future variants -- all key to President Joe Biden's national preparedness plan for the next state of the pandemic outlined earlier this month.CNN's Donald Judd, Katie Lobosco, Tami Luhby, Betsy Klein and Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.

4politics

Story highlightsPep Guardiola has enjoyed a trophy-laden spell as Barcelona coachThe former Barca player has led the Catalan giants to 14 major honorsGuardiola has won plaudits for Barca's devastating passing styleHis final match was Friday's 3-0 Copa del Rey final win over Athletic BilbaoBarcelona coach Pep Guardiola signed off in style on Friday, securing yet another slice of silverware for the Spanish club before embarking on his self-enforced sabbatical.A 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Cup final saw the all-conquering Catalan coach take his haul of trophies to 14 during his four-year tenure, and even if he decides never to return he will have left an indelible print on the sport.His final match underlined his approach to the game; the manner of the triumph important as the result. Barca were 3-0 up inside 25 minutes as Athletic were forced to chase shadows, like so many teams that have gone before them. Guardiola has built on Barca's pure football principles with a totalitarian approach to "tiki taka," a style reliant on short passing and dynamic movement, and the results have helped an already successful unit transcend a higher plane.Guardiola signs off in style as Barca win Copa del ReyJUST WATCHEDChampions League means big moneyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHChampions League means big money 02:33JUST WATCHEDJuventus president: 'Proud' of ourselvesReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHJuventus president: 'Proud' of ourselves 03:27 Photos: Barcelona say farewell to Guardiola with Copa del Rey win Photos: Barcelona say farewell to Guardiola with Copa del Rey winPassing the torch – Pepe Guardiola and his successor Tito Vilanova sit in the dug out during the Copa del Rey final win.Hide Caption 1 of 3 Photos: Barcelona say farewell to Guardiola with Copa del Rey winPedro double seals win – Pedro Rodriguez sealed Barcelona's Copa del Rey triumph with two first half goals against Athletic Bilboa.Hide Caption 2 of 3 Photos: Barcelona say farewell to Guardiola with Copa del Rey winMessi magic – Lionel Messi celebrates his 73rd goal of the season by Barcelona as they beat Athletic Bilboa 3-0 in the Copa del Rey finalHide Caption 3 of 3Guardiola's vision has been enshrined by fellow disciples of Barcelona's famed La Masia youth academy, players like influential Spanish pair Andres Iniesta and Xavi, as well as prolific striker Lionel Messi.They have helped him deliver three successive Spanish League titles, two European Champions League crowns, two Spanish Cups, two FIFA Club World Cup titles and five further trophies with a soulful swagger that has had many a pundit purring that this is one of the greatest club sides of all time.Guardiola's masterstroke has been to morph the basics of Barcelona's philosophy into a new style of soccer that has confronted convention, according to Spanish football expert Sid Lowe."What Guardiola has done to some extent is challenge some of the truisms and clichés of football, such as defending is about sitting deep and denying space for teams," Lowe told CNN."Barcelona have done the opposite, they've gone and looked for teams, defended with possession which teams perhaps haven't done before.Guardiola -- the greatest soccer artist ever?"The challenge, for example, on the use of the word practical or pragmatic, to talk about what is essentially a long ball game, but what could be more pragmatic than winning what Barcelona have won in the last four years?"Albert Ferrer played with Guardiola during a golden era for Barcelona, when legendary Dutch coach Johan Cruyff led the club to three consecutive league titles and their first European Cup triumph in the early 1990s.Ferrer believes Guardiola's innovative, progressive approach to the game was born during that period under Cruyff, himself a staunch defender of Barcelona's cherished attacking philosophy."Pep tried to play simple football," said Ferrer of his friend, also Catalan born and bred. "He created the philosophy where if you can play an easy pass why would you play a difficult one? "Barcelona are one of the few teams who always had 70-75% possession in games because of the players they had and the philosophy of keeping the ball. He was very demanding of that -- not giving the ball away."All the teams now defend against Barcelona and he had to adapt to those solutions. He didn't always play the same system -- with three defenders or four, playing with a '9' (a traditional striker) or without a '9' -- always making things difficult for the opposition."All the movements he created, with the two full backs pushed forward and the center backs very wide, all started with him." Michael Cox, from the Zonal Marking website, attributes the development of Guardiola's coaching philosophy to how the former Barca captain's own playing career panned out -- where there was a general loss of faith in the deep-lying midfield position Guardiola used to occupy in favor of more aggressive midfielders"He had to leave Barcelona as a player and take quite a big drop down to Brescia (in Italy) because, frankly, no good club wanted a player in that mold. Everyone wanted big battlers deep in midfield, like Patrick Vieira, Edgar Davids, Roy Keane, Claude Makelele."Now, he's managed to construct a team featuring four players who looked up to him when they were in the Barcelona youth team: Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas. "I think almost every big club in Europe has copied Barcelona's way of playing, to a certain extent, in recent years. It's remarkable that that is now the way to play football, considering his struggles towards the end of his playing career as a deep-lying passer."As ever in the often fickle world of football, Guardiola has his detractors, who attribute his success as a masterstroke of timing, claiming his tenure conveniently began just as a clutch of great players rolled off the famed Barcelona production line.And while there may be truth in that argument, Lowe believes it was the way Guardiola allied the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Busquets and Fabregas to his own football philosophy that was more pertinent."Guardiola has been the most zealous defender of a certain type of identity -- he hasn't been the creator of that identity," said Lowe."There's an almost puritanical conviction about how you've got to do things. That mindset has its flaws but Barcelona stick to it."He was absolutely the right man at the right time with the right squad, the right players around him. It has been a culmination of circumstance but without that identity it wouldn't have been as clear or as unshakable."This unflinching devotion to Barcelona's cause and the all-consuming nature of the job has taken its toll on Guardiola. As well as his own meticulous nature combined with the weight of responsibility that comes with being Barca manager, another explosive element -- Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho -- only added to the pressures on the 41-year-old."People close to him have said they've been worried about him for a long time," said Lowe. "That he doesn't eat as well, he looks skinnier, he's lost his hair. "Guardiola has struggled to understand the depth of tension that has been created by this rivalry with Mourinho over the last year. I think he has found that genuinely unpleasant at times and hasn't known how to deal with it."I think those things have all come together to put us in a position where Guardiola thinks, 'I've had too much, it just isn't enjoyable any more.'"In typical Barcelona style, at the press conference to confirm Guardiola's departure, the club announced his erstwhile assistant Tito Vilanova, another pupil of the club's famous school, would replace him.Ferrer, who describes his former teammate as a relaxed individual, thinks Guardiola is calling time on his Barcelona tenure at just the right moment."He is the manager who has changed everything," he said. "He's been clever in choosing the moment to leave because in Barcelona he will always be welcome and he can have whatever position in the club he wants."Guardiola's self-enforced break may only be in its embryonic stages but for those fearful he will be lost to football forever, his comments prior to his final match should provide reassurance that he will be back to reinvent the wheel again before too long."For the next months I have to charge my batteries and charge my mind," he said. "I am going to rest and I will wait. I will be ready once a club wants me, if they seduce me I will train again."

5sport

The Olympic Stadium, Tokyo (CNN)Italy's Lamont Marcell Jacobs set a new European record as he claimed a shock victory in the men's 100m at the Tokyo Olympics.Jacobs' winning time of 9.80 seconds on Sunday saw him finish 0.04 seconds ahead of the USA's Fred Kerley in second and 0.09 seconds ahead of Canada's Andre De Grasse in third. It capped a glorious few minutes for Italy at the Olympic Stadium with Jacobs' victory coming shortly after Gianmarco Tamberi's gold medal in the high jump. The two men embraced as Jacobs -- the first Italian man to win 100m gold at the Olympics and the first European man to do so since Great Britain's Linford Christie in 1992 -- surged across the finish line."It was my childhood dream to win an Olympic Games, and obviously, a dream can turn into something different, but to run this final and win it is a dream come true," said 26-year-old Jacobs.Read More"I want to thank my family that has always supported me, my children, and my mom, who has been my number one fan since I was a child, and my team who have followed me and those who support me."Jacobs takes victory in the men's Olympic 100m final. On a hot, humid evening in Tokyo where the temperature hovered around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), the race got underway in nervy circumstances when GB's Zharnel Hughes was disqualified for a false start.It proved to be a stroke of luck for Jacobs, who had the slowest reaction time out of the blocks -- more than half a second -- during the first start. Jacobs, Kerley, and De Grasse all ran personal bests in the final, with De Grasse adding another bronze medal to the one he won at the Rio Olympics five years ago. In the first men's 100m final since three-time champion Usain Bolt retired from athletics, Jacobs -- whose winning time was 0.01 seconds faster than Bolt's in Rio -- was an unlikely successor to the Jamaican. He had been competing in the long jump until as recently as 2017 before switching his focus solely to sprinting. "I really didn't know anything about him. It was my first time racing him at the Monaco Diamond League (in July)," Kerley later said of Jacobs. "He did a fantastic job (here)."Jacobs (left) and Tamberi embrace after the men's 100m final.Kerley had finished third at the US Olympic trials in June behind Trayvon Bromell -- billed as the favorite to win the 100m title ahead of the Olympics -- and Ronnie Baker. However, Bromell was unable to qualify for the final in Tokyo and Baker finished fifth behind South Africa's Akani Simbine."I executed the race perfectly and I came up with a silver medal. I can't complain," said Kerley."The race was a beautiful race. I got a PB (personal best) and a silver medal. I am blessed to be at the biggest stage of my career."On an incident-filled evening in Tokyo, Tamberi shared the men's high jump gold medal with Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim. The two men had identical records after clearing 2.37 meters in the final, but neither was able to clear 2.39.Shortly before that, Venezuela's Yulimar Rojas smashed the women's triple jump world record by 17 centimeters, sealing the gold medal with a distance of 15.67 meters.

5sport

(CNN)Bella Hadid is getting real about her mental health.In a lengthy Instagram post Tuesday, the model shared some tearful selfies and quoted singer and "Red Table Talk" cohost Willow Smith. "'That feeling of thinking that you're good enough or being insecure about your art- is natural- but at the same time, I feel like it's taught," Hadid quoted Smith. "'All humans are different, every single human has something so special and unique to offer.'""This is pretty much my everyday, every night For a few years now," Hadid wrote in response to Smith's quote in the caption. "Social media is not real. For anyone struggling, please remember that."Kids nearly doubled screen time during the pandemic, but there is something you can do about it"Sometimes all you've gotta hear is that you're not alone," Hadid continued.Read More"Self help and mental illness/chemical imbalance is not linear and it is almost like a flowing rollercoaster of obstacles... it has its ups and downs, and side to sides," the caption read. "But I want you to know, there is always light at the end of the tunnel, and the rollercoaster always comes to a complete stop at some point.""There is always room for it to start up again, but for me it's always been nice to know that even if it's a few days, weeks, or months, it does get better, to some extent, even for a moment."Stress is a part of life. Burnout doesn't have to beHadid concluded by writing, "Not sure why but it feels harder and harder to not share my truth on here. Thank you for seeing me and thank you for listening. I love you."CNN has reached out to reps for Smith and Hadid for additional comment.

1entertainment

Story highlightsBen Ryan hired as France's consultant coachThe Briton led Fiji to its first Olympic medal in 2016Hailed as a "superstar" by French players (CNN)He's the man hailed as a hero in Fiji -- the man whose face appears on national currency; who possesses an honorary title and a three-acre plot of land. But today, Ben Ryan is trying to transform another nation's rugby fortunes. Follow @cnnsport After guiding the Pacific island nation to its first ever Olympic medal -- rugby sevens gold at Rio 2016 -- Ryan has returned to the touchline as a consultant coach with France.A long-established heavyweight of the fifteen-a-side game, when it comes to sevens the French have some catching up to do. Since 1999, Les Bleus haven't finished above seventh in the World Series with just one tournament victory in that time."There's no tradition of seven-a-side in France, they almost have a blank page where they're trying to create a new culture of the game," Ryan tells CNN World Rugby at a recent training camp in Marrakech. "Right now, they're knocking on the door of eighth, ninth in the world. They want to be a lot higher than that. They want to be consistent."Read More Photos: An Englishman's island odysseyBen Ryan spent a golden three years with Fiji's sevens team. Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: An Englishman's island odysseyRyan moved to the Pacific Islands with his interest in the game at its lowest ebb after being disillusioned by his job with the English RFU.Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: An Englishman's island odysseyFiji won two successive men's Sevens World Series titles, and backed that up to take Olympic gold at Rio 2016.Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: An Englishman's island odysseyRyan built up an amazing rapport with his team, but opted to walk away from the role after the Olympics when his contract expired.Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: An Englishman's island odysseyHowever, Ryan -- pictured with Ro Dakuwaqa in Rio -- remains closely linked with the Fiji players and is working to ensure they get a fair pay deal for playing on the global stage.Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: An Englishman's island odysseyThe Englishman (pictured celebrating after the Olympic final) closely follows the team's fortunes after parting ways.Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: An Englishman's island odysseyFiji enjoyed strong support in Brazil during the Olympics.Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: An Englishman's island odysseyBut that was dwarfed by the celebrations that greeted both Ryan and his players on their return to Fiji after August's Games.Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: An Englishman's island odysseyIn the ensuing months, Ryan attended a number ceremonies for him and his players.Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: An Englishman's island odysseyMembers of the public would line up at his home in Fiji to give him gifts and thank him for what he had achieved.Hide Caption 10 of 10READ: Australia's women make history in SydneyREAD: What's caused France's 'disastrous' run of form?'He's a superstar'After the Rio Olympics, Ryan suddenly found himself propelled into the public eye and inundated with demands for his time. He met with investors about the possibility of turning his journey with Fiji into a Hollywood film; he attracted the interest of NBA franchise New York Knicks, and discovered, to his surprise, that he had become the most followed sports coach in China. But as far as rugby sevens goes, France has called upon the right man. Ryan boasts arguably the best CV in the game. After coaching England for six years, he took Fiji to another level. On top of Olympic glory, the Pacific island nation won back-to-back World Series titles in 2015 and 2016. It's this pedigree that is motivating France's players. "I suppose when the players see someone who has had success at world, Olympic and continental level telling them that they're good players and that they've done something well ... that's going to help them feel good about themselves," says Ryan. "Perhaps I can give them a slightly different set of eyes on how the game could be played ... I've given a few tips for them, some encouragement."JUST WATCHEDToulon and Toulouse: The state of French rugbyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHToulon and Toulouse: The state of French rugby 22:32As far as the players are concerned, even as Ryan watches from the side of a training ground, his aura inspires. "He knows everything about the game of sevens," says Pierre-Gilles Lakafia, a relative veteran of the French side with 118 matches under his belt. "Just the fact that he's here is a big thing for us. He's a superstar, everybody knows him, everybody recognizes what he does."Rediscovering France's 'élan'Over the past 50 years, France has for long periods been the dominant force in the European 15-a-side game.But having recently fallen upon testing times, Ryan believes it is through the free-flowing, razzle-dazzle of sevens that France could rediscover its former glory."The French [fifteen-a-side] team of the 1980s played with this élan, this French spirit -- that was really beautiful to watch," he says"It's disappeared from French rugby in the last 20 years, probably with professionalism, and if it's going to return it's going to return through these guys. "Every opportunity to play a game that's based on flare, and skill, and individual decisions -- that would be amazing if we can get them to play like that. That's something perhaps the whole of French rugby has moved away from."READ: 'Genderless' mascots unveiled ahead of 2019 World CupREAD: Aussie women stars get pay parityPlaying with flare is one thing. But Ryan's coaching philosophy goes beyond side-stepping and ball-handling. How you treat players off the field, he says, is instrumental in dictating how they perform on it.JUST WATCHEDMeet Ren-G: The 2019 Rugby World Cup MascotReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMeet Ren-G: The 2019 Rugby World Cup Mascot 00:49"If you get the best out the people you're working with then you're going to get good results," he explains. "To make sure that everyone feels they can say what they want and that they have a purpose ... that I make them feel valued, that you treat people nicely. "Certainly within Fiji -- the three years I had in Fiji -- showed you can be absolutely ruthless on the field and win world titles and Olympic gold medals but you can also be very nice to people."It's a school of thought Ryan is deeply invested in and one he also has inked on his forearm. "Vei lomani" is a Fijian phrase meaning "love one another."World Cup ambitionsHe once said that he wouldn't know how he'd be able to coach a team against Fiji, and this could go some way to explaining why Ryan's time with the French side is limited to just a few days a year. Currently eighth in the World Series standings, only time will tell whether the effects of Ryan's gold dust will be felt by Les Bleus. But regular season aside, there's a World Cup in the USA on the horizon and any number of sides, says Ryan, could have their hands on silverware come July 22.Visit cnn.com/rugby for more news and videos"There's every opportunity for a team that gets their tails up and a bit of wind behind their backs to come from the pack," he muses. "I could quite easily see a team that perhaps isn't a favorite for the World Cup getting to the final stages. "The French hope it's them."

5sport

Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (CNN Business)Richard Branson became the first person to ride into space aboard a rocket he helped fund. The supersonic space plane developed by his company, Virgin Galactic, roared into the sky over New Mexico early Sunday, carrying Branson and three fellow crewmembers.Branson -— along with Virgin Galactic employees Beth Moses, Colin Bennett, and Sirisha Bandla and pilots Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci — boarded the SpaceShipTwo, a winged plane with a single rocket motor that the company has spent nearly two decades developing, before the crack of dawn. Attached beneath its massive, twin-fuselaged mothership, dubbed WhiteKnightTwo, the vehicle took to the skies at 8:30 am MT and climbed to about 50,000 feet in the air.Just after 9:15 in the morning, the SpaceShipTwo detached from its mothership and dropped momentarily before its engine screamed to life and the vehicle swooped upward. On board, the passengers experienced up to three Gs of force from the burst of extreme acceleration and watched the blue sky fade into the star-speckled darkness of outer space. At the top of the flight path, more than 50 miles high, the vehicle was suspended in weightlessness for a few minutes, allowing the passengers to enjoy panoramic views of the Earth and space as SpaceShipTwo flipped onto its belly. It then deployed its feathering system, which curls the plane's wings upward, mimicking the shape of a badminton shuttlecock, to turn the spaceship rightward as it flew back into the Earth's thick atmosphere and glided back down to a runway landing. Virgin Galactic spaceplane VSS Unity rockets to outer space, with Richard Branson and crew onboard.As Branson floated around in microgravity, he taped a message using cameras onboard the space plane: "To all you kids out there — I was once a child with a dream, looking up to the stars. Now I'm an adult in a spaceship...If we can do this, just imagine what you can do," he said."To all you kids down there..." - @RichardBranson's message from zero gravity. #Unity22Watch the livestream: https://t.co/5UalYT7Hjb pic.twitter.com/lYXHNsDQcU— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) July 11, 2021 This flight marked only the fourth test flight of the vehicle that reached the edge of space. Read MoreSurrounding SpaceShipTwo's takeoff was — in typical Branson fashion -— a high-production party with friends, family, employees and a few VIPs in attendance. Earlier on Sunday, Branson tweeted a picture of himself and a barefoot Elon Musk hanging out. Grammy-nominated artist Khalid is also expected to perform an as-yet-unreleased song on an outdoor stage. What this meansBranson's flight — which came just nine days before Amazon bilionaire Jeff Bezos is slated to rocket into suborbital space aboard his own company's spacecraft — is a landmark moment for the commercial space industry. The up-and-coming sector has for years been seeking to make suborbital space tourism (a relatively simple straight-up-and-down flight, as opposed to orbiting the Earth for longer periods) a viable business with the aim of allowing thousands of people to experience the adrenaline rush and sweeping views of our home planet that such flights can offer. Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflight Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightThe space plane carrying Richard Branson lifts off from Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, on Sunday, July 11.Hide Caption 1 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightBranson carries crew member Sirisha Bandla on his shoulders while celebrating after landing back on Earth. Bandla is the second woman born in India to fly to space.Hide Caption 2 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightAstronaut Chris Hadfield holds wings before pinning them to the crew members' flight suits.Hide Caption 3 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightVirgin Galactic's VSS Unity space plane detaches from its mothership and heads toward space.Hide Caption 4 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightBranson and the other crew members experience weightlessness at the edge of space.Hide Caption 5 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightThe VSS Unity's rocket burns during the flight.Hide Caption 6 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightSpectators watch as the space plane separates from its mothership.Hide Caption 7 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightThe VSS Unity takes off aboard its mothership, the twin-fuselage carrier jet dubbed VMS Eve.Hide Caption 8 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightSpectators take photos and cheer as the Virgin Galactic space plane takes off.Hide Caption 9 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightVirgin Galactic's chief astronaut instructor Beth Moses embraces Branson and other crew members ahead of the spaceflight.Hide Caption 10 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightRichard Branson waves to schoolchildren while heading to board the space plane.Hide Caption 11 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightRichard Branson receives some cards from schoolchildren as he walks out ahead of the flight.Hide Caption 12 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightBranson arrives at Spaceport America by bicycle just after sunrise.Hide Caption 13 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightGuests assemble before the launch.Hide Caption 14 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightA photographer prepares his camera as the sun rises over Spaceport America.Hide Caption 15 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightLightning flashes over Spaceport America on Saturday, July 10. Virgin Galactic's livestream of the launch was delayed 90 minutes from its originally scheduled time thanks to high winds the night before.Hide Caption 16 of 16Branson and Bezos are situated to become direct competitors in that industry, each offering tickets to wealthy customers for brief rides to the upper atmosphere aboard supersonic, rocket-powered spacecraft. Everything you need to know about Richard Branson going to space this weekendVirgin Galactic plans to conduct just one more test flight before it will begin flying paying customers. More than 600 people have reserved tickets priced at $200,000 to $250,000 so far. The company is expected to reopen ticket sales soon, though at a higher price point.Branson's flight also helps bolster Virgin Galactic's reputation as the "world's first commercial spaceline." That's how the company advertised itself as it signed up those hundreds of willing customers who've waited through development delays — and a tragic mishap — for their chance to ride aboard SpaceShipTwo. But whether or not Virgin Galactic will really be the "first" commercially operational suborbital space company is not yet clear. Bezos' space company, Blue Origin, appeared poised to put its founder in space before Branson, until Virgin Galactic made the surprise announcement earlier this month that he would be on the very next test flight, a departure from the company's earlier plans. Bezos' flight, slated for July 20, could kick off the company's commercial operations sooner than that, and one of his fellow passengers on the flight is a paying customer, having won a ticket through a charity auction for the price of $28 million. The company has not yet begun selling tickets to the public, however, nor has it set a specific date for when it plans to do so.Neither company is expected to offer tickets that are affordable to the average American. Branson did tease a big "announcement" about his effort to "democratize space" ahead of the flight. But he revealed Sunday only that Virgin Galactic would be holding a "sweepstakes" for two free tickets, along with a tour of the facility from the winners from Branson himself. How Virgin Galactic got hereVirgin Galactic moved into its facilities in New Mexico in May 2019 after years of delay. The glitzy building, called Spaceport America, was paid for with more than $200 million in mostly taxpayer money, and it had been waiting nearly a decade for Virgin Galactic to move in and open for business. The company refurbished the building to include a lounge and other amenities that ticket holders will be able to use before their brief journey to the edge of space.Virgin Galactic's development program has endured a series of setbacks, including a catastrophic accident during a test flight in 2014 that left a co-pilot dead and the pilot badly injured after the SpaceShipTwo's feathering system was prematurely deployed, ripping the spacecraft apart. The company has since parted ways with its manufacturing partner and says it has worked to enhance SpaceShipTwo with additional automated safeguards. Branson said ahead of Sunday's test flight that he was anxious to join the pilots and test engineers who've already flown on SpaceShipTwo because he felt it demonstrated a crucial vote of confidence. Richard Branson receives some cards from children as he walks out from Spaceport America, near Truth and Consequences, New Mexico on July 11, 2021."You've got to remember that Virgin Galactic has people on every spaceflight... The fact that I'm willing to fly with those people shows confidence," Branson told CNN Business' Rachel Crane earlier this month. "I think the least the founder of the company can do is go up there and fly with his people."

0business

Washington (CNN)Law enforcement officials told lawmakers Tuesday they were prepared for the possibility of limited violence on January 6 at the US Capitol, but the intelligence available ahead of time did not warn of a coordinated attack like the insurrection that overwhelmed officers and led to multiple casualties. "The breach of the United States Capitol was not the result of poor planning or failure to contain a demonstration gone wrong," former US Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund told two Senate committees at the first open hearing on the Capitol riot.Former House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving testified that intelligence assessments before the January 6 attack incorrectly concluded that there was only a "remote" to "improbable" chance of a civil disturbance that day, according to prepared testimony. This is the first time Americans are hearing in full why intelligence and operations failed dramatically on January 6 from the very people whose choices contributed to the crisis -- information that will likely help shape the search for new leaders and possibly a new security management structure on Capitol Hill. Sen. Gary Peters revealed Tuesday that an FBI report containing "troubling" information was given to US Capitol Police headquarters on the eve of January 6 but never made it to the department's leadership, a breakdown the Michigan Democrat said is "clearly a major problem."Read More"How can you not get that vital intelligence on the eve of what's going to be a major event?" Peters asked.Sund responded that the information was "coming in as raw data," though he acknowledged the information would have been helpful."I agree that's something we need to look at. What's the process and how do we streamline?" he said.Sund added that the report prompted Capitol Police to discuss its plans with Metropolitan Police and expand its perimeter for the event, though he also said that the expansion was already underway.A coordinated attackAll four officials who testified Tuesday said they believed the January 6 insurrection was coordinated. "These people came specifically with equipment ... bringing climbing gear to a demonstration, bringing explosives, chemical spray... you're coming in prepared," Sund said. "I think there was significant coordination with this attack."DC Metropolitan Police Acting Chief Robert Contee echoed that view, telling lawmakers: "From the day of the incident, there were hand signals being used by several of the insurrectionists. There were radio communications by several individuals that were involved ... I certainly believe it was coordinated."The question of coordination among rioters has played into the Justice Department's criminal investigation into the attack, as well as the impeachment of former President Donald Trump. Some of the rioters have since claimed that they were inspired by the rush of the crowd when they stormed the Capitol. But federal prosecutors have brought several criminal charges against members of far-right extremist groups that allegedly planned the attack for weeks or months.During Trump's impeachment, his lawyers highlighted claims that the attack was pre-planned as part of their argument that he did not incite the violence with his incendiary speech beforehand. Dispute over deploying National GuardLawmakers grilled all four witnesses Tuesday on why it took so long for the National Guard to be called in once the US Capitol was under siege. In his initial statement, Contee described a phone call shortly after the Capitol was breached by pro-Trump rioters, and how Pentagon officials were apparently unable or unwilling to quickly send in National Guard troops. "I was surprised at the reluctance to immediately send the National Guard to the Capitol grounds," he said.During his testimony, Irving disputed reports he was concerned by the "optics" of National Guard members appearing on Capitol Hill and thus had declined to request reinforcements on January 4, two days beforehand."We did discuss whether the intelligence warranted having troops at the Capitol, and our collective judgment at that time was no -- the intelligence did not warrant that," he wrote in his prepared statement. "The intelligence did warrant the plan that had been prepared by Chief Sund."6 Capitol Police officers suspended, 29 others being investigated for alleged roles in riot"Based on the intelligence, we all believed that the plan met the threat, and that we were prepared," Irving added. "We now know that we had the wrong plan."In a previous letter, Sund said he asked Irving and former Sergeant at Arms Michael Stenger to request the National Guard before the event.Irving said he "was concerned about the 'optics' and didn't feel the intelligence supported it," Sund wrote in his letter. Stenger suggested asking the Guard to be ready in case Sund needed them.On Tuesday, Republican Sen. Roy Blunt asked Sund, Irving and Stenger about a request Sund claims he made for National Guard troops in the days before the riot. Sund testified he asked Irving and Stenger to make an emergency declaration, which he believed would be required to call in troops.Irving responded that he actually did not view Sund's inquiry as a request for troops, but instead was a conversation in which Sund said the National Guard offered to deliver 125 troops to help with crowd control.Irving said all three men decided the intelligence about the protest didn't warrant a military response.Blunt also pressed on conflicting timelines about when the Guard was requested after the rally turned into a clear riot.Sund claimed he made the request at 1:09 p.m., but Irving insisted he had no recollection of a conversation at that time, instead claiming the two spoke around 1:30 p.m.Captain says she's still recovering from chemical burnsCapt. Carneysha Mendoza of the US Capitol Police provided riveting testimony Tuesday morning about her firsthand experience responding to the insurrection."I proceeded to the Rotunda where I noticed a heavy smoke-like residue and smelled what I believed to be military grade CS gas -- a familiar smell," Mendoza said, mentioning that she served in the Army. "It was mixed with fire extinguisher spray deployed by the rioters. The rioters continued to deploy CS inside the Rotunda."CS is a reference to tear gas, which is often used by police as a riot control agent. Footage from the Capitol attack shows officers and rioters using chemical sprays against each other during the hours-long melee."Officers received a lot of gas exposure, which is a lot worse inside the building versus outside, because there's nowhere for it to go," Mendoza said. "I received chemical burns to my face that still have not healed to this day."She also described the terrifying moments while she and other officers brawled with hundreds of rioters."At some point, my right arm got wedged between the rioters and railing along the wall," she testified. "A (DC police) sergeant pulled my arm free and had he not, I'm certain it would have been broken."Search for new Capitol Police chiefOn Thursday, acting USCP Chief Yogananda Pittman is scheduled to testify in an open hearing in front of the House Appropriations Committee. That will also mark the first time Pittman takes questions publicly. She previously appeared in a closed-door hearing in which she apologized to lawmakers.FBI and intel agencies hand over first documents to lawmakers ahead of Capitol attack hearingsHer new testimony comes as officials are starting the search for a new USCP chief.A congressional source told CNN that Congress is moving forward with hiring an outside entity to begin the search.Several other committees working together have already received briefings and documents from intelligence agencies as part of the numerous probes.The House Intelligence, Homeland Security, Oversight and Judiciary committees' joint review prompted an initial production of documents last week from the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and National Counterterrorism Center, a congressional source told CNN. Additionally, they have received several briefings from the three agencies. The source said so far the documents have mostly been finished intelligence products that the committee could already access.This story has been updated with testimony from Tuesday's hearing.

4politics

(CNN)The US military has approved religious exemptions to its Covid-19 vaccine mandate for 15 service members out of approximately 16,000 requests, according to the latest data from the services. The Marine Corps has approved religious exemptions for six Marines and the Air Force has approved nine requests for exemptions. The Navy has given conditional approval for a member of the Individual Ready Reserve, but that member would have to be fully vaccinated before returning to service. The military's vaccine mandate, instituted shortly after the US Food and Drug Administration granted full approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, has faced legal challenges, despite the high vaccination rate of service members.A federal judge in Georgia ruled this week that an anonymous Air Force officer who was denied a religious exemption does not have to receive a Covid-19 vaccine because of her religious beliefs. Judge Tilman Self ruled that the mandate violated the officer's religious freedoms. "What real interest can our military leaders have in furthering a requirement that violates the very document they swore to support and defend?" Self wrote in his order. Read MoreWhile the ruling only applies to the one officer who filed the lawsuit, the order in her favor could encourage other challenges to the vaccine mandate.In a separate, ongoing federal case in Texas, a judge ruled that the Navy could not take adverse actions or punish a group of 35 Navy SEALS who claimed a religious exemption from the requirement.Meanwhile, a number of Republican governors have challenged the mandate for the National Guard, asserting that they are the commanders of the state units, not the federal government. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin dismissed those objections, arguing they do not negate the need for what he has long considered an important military medical readiness requirement.These cases remain the exception. The active duty military, composed of more than 1.3 million service members, is more than 97% vaccinated, while the total force, including reserves and the National Guard, is approximately 90% vaccinated.Marines have requested a total of 3,595 religious exemptions, according to the latest data from the Marine Corps. As of this week, 640 Marines have been separated from the service for refusing the lawful order to receive a vaccine. The Air Force has approved a total of nine exemptions and rejected 3,381. Another 2,664 requests are still pending. The Air Force has separated 160 service members for refusing the vaccine.The Navy has received 3,369 religious exemption requests, but none have been approved, according to data released by the service. A total of 247 active duty sailors and one reserve sailor have been separated for refusing the vaccine. There were another 22 entry-level separations for those refusing the vaccine within their first 180 days of active duty.The Army has received 3,088 religious exemptions requests and granted zero of them. The Army only recently put into place its separation policy and has not yet discharged anyone for refusing the vaccine, according to the latest data.

4politics

Megan Ranney, MD, MPH, is a professor of Emergency Medicine and associate dean at the School of Public Health at Brown University. The views expressed in this commentary are her own. Read more opinion on CNN. (CNN)Just when we thought we were heading for a more normalized holiday season, a new variant -- the dreaded Omicron -- has been identified as a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organization. I and other public health experts are cautioning Americans to take this variant seriously, but also to be patient, as we have much to discover. But I recognize that the wait feels understandably frustrating: how is it possible that almost two years into the pandemic, we still can't know with certainty what the next best step might be? Megan Ranney To understand where we are, and where we are going, it's helpful to understand the science behind Omicron, and the speed at which we can expect answers. The discovery of this variant is impressive, in and of itself. It was identified when South African scientists who were conducting regular surveillance saw an uptick in Covid-19 cases in Gauteng Province. They genotyped incoming tests in only 36 hours, quickly identifying the dozens of mutations that are putting the public health community on edge. This speed of genetic sequencing was largely unheard of prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. The world should feel indebted to the scientists at the Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa and privately owned Lancet Laboratories. Read More But the genetic sequence is only the first step. As humans know well, our genetic sequence is not the only thing that determines how we look and how we work. So we need to do more work to figure out answers to the questions that really matter about the Omicron variant. This takes time and isn't easy. The next big question we are trying to answer is: How easily does this new variant spread, or, in science-speak, how "transmissible" is it? Do the mutations actually help it "stick" to the airway more easily, or replicate more effectively? This question matters because if a virus spreads easily, it gets more people sick -- especially if they're unvaccinated, unmasked, or have waning immunity. (This is what made the Delta variant so bad.)Why travel restrictions are a bad idea Transmissibility in some ways seems the easiest to figure out: we think of this as old-school, gumshoe epidemiology, in which we contact trace, count the number of people who get ill and figure out their characteristics, and then -- as we accumulate cases -- start to approximate the reproduction number. But the best estimates rely on other things too (like social density), as well as our own behavior (like mask-wearing). Scientists are hard at work at getting this information, but accurate data takes time, and we should expect that our estimates will continue to change. For now, we're watching the speed of spread in South Africa and elsewhere to calculate a back-of-the-envelope estimate. It's not looking good. One preliminary model suggests that Omicron spreads twice as easily as the Delta variant. This is the reason that many of us scientists are warning people to mask up in public and go get their booster. We want to stave off the spread if the real numbers are close to what the initial calculations suggest. We also want to figure out whether Omicron makes people sicker than the prior variants. This question may not be answered for months, because the severity of illness is influenced by so many things -- who is getting infected, how overwhelmed the local hospital system is, the prevalence of vaccination and prior infection, and whether mildly symptomatic people are getting tested. JUST WATCHEDIATA Director: Travel bans don't slow down infection ratesReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHIATA Director: Travel bans don't slow down infection rates 03:46 Six months after its discovery, we are still debating whether the Delta variant makes people sicker. But we obviously can't wait months to make decisions about what to do. So we have to act "as-if," for now. This is why President Joe Biden announced new measures on Thursday, including actions to ensure more American adults get their booster shots and more kids ages 5 to 11 get the vaccine, an expansion of free at-home testing, and others. I'm hoping that more will come. Which leads me to the biggest unanswered question that most of us have: How well do our Covid-19 vaccines protect us from Omicron. This answer, too, will change over time. Current analyses are complicated by the fact that most people in Southern Africa -- where community spread has been identified -- are unvaccinated, thanks to continued vaccine apartheid, which describes the institutionalized racial segregation that existed in South Africa for almost 50 years. Therefore, it becomes more difficult to sort out vaccine efficacy. Unfortunately, this setting -- where many have already been infected with other variants -- also permits us to examine whether prior infection protects from the Omicron variant. So far, the signs are that it may not. In other words, get your first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, if you haven't already. And then get your booster, if you can. So where does that leave all of us -- including me -- as we get ready for the holidays? While we wait for data, basic protective measures are still your best bet. All signs point to the fact that the same old strategies (masks in public indoor places, rapid testing, ventilation and, of course, vaccines) are still the most important in stopping the spread of this airborne virus. Plus, the Delta variant is still among us representing 99.9% of the daily cases in the US, and these safety measures work to protect us well from Delta. Additionally, if you live in a region of the world where vaccines are easily available, now is the time to get a booster -- any booster -- to increase your chance of fighting off the new Omicron variant.Get our free weekly newsletterSign up for CNN Opinion's newsletter.Join us on Twitter and Facebook If you're fully vaccinated and were planning on holiday trips, it's honestly too soon to give definitive advice. I am advising folks to look into their options for cancellation, but not to put the kibosh on that family gathering just yet -- assuming that everyone has received at least their first series of the vaccines. Here's my final advice. None of us anticipate a return to 2020-style lockdowns. We have much more to prevent and treat the virus now. But bear with me -- and with the other scientists, doctors, and public health professionals -- as we try our best to walk the line between expecting the worst and hoping for the best. Advice may change, but we're doing the best we can, as quickly as we can. After all, we all were looking forward to a more normal holiday season, too.

3news

London (CNN)The UK and Spain reached an agreement Saturday over the status of Gibraltar once the UK has left the European Union.The accord over the British territory paves the way for approval by 27 EU governments at a summit Sunday on the withdrawal terms of the UK from the bloc next year."I have just told the head of state, the King, that Spain has reached an agreement over Gibraltar," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters in Madrid.He said the agreement excludes the territory from the general negotiation between the EU and UK and "will allow Spain to negotiate directly with the UK over Gibraltar."Spain "will vote tomorrow in favor of Brexit," Sanchez said. Read MoreGibraltar, a rocky outcrop that adjoins the southern coast of Spain, voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU. It is surrounded by the Spanish region of Andalusia that will soon hold regional elections, and Spain's territorial claim to Gibraltar threatened to scupper Sunday's summit. "The unwavering commitment of the UK that it will negotiate future trade and other arrangements with the EU that work for all of the British family of nations, including Gibraltar," the government of Gibraltar said in a statement."Throughout our history we've stuck with Britain," said Fabian Picardo, the chief minister of Gibraltar. The deal of the terms of withdrawal is opposed by the minority partner in the UK government, the Democratic Unionist Party.Historic mistake Speaking at a DUP conference Saturday, Boris Johnson, the former UK foreign minister and a leading Brexiter, said the UK was "on the verge of making a historic mistake" and that the UK would become "rules-takers.""Brussels has got us exactly where they want us -- a satellite state," he said. May agreed to accept the terms of the customs union and the regulations of the EU's single market in the agreement she reached with the European Commission earlier this month. Critics like Johnson say this is the worst possible scenario for Britain. Theresa May has refused to comment on whether she will resign if she loses the parliamentary vote on Brexit.Nothing in the tortured 17-month withdrawal process since the UK voted to leave the EU in June 2016 has gone smoothly, and the contested rock of Gibraltar was just the latest snag.At the moment, the border between Spain and Gibraltar is open, but the Spanish government was concerned that would change after Brexit, affecting future trade negotiations. Spain joined the EU in 1986, 13 years after the UK, and one of the conditions of its accession treaty was a clause that agreed to the British sovereignty over the outcrop with a population of 30,000.Under EU rules, the Brexit treaty must be approved by a "strong qualified majority" of the 27 remaining nations. Even though Spain cannot formally veto the legally binding part of the agreements, other EU governments would be reluctant to adopt it without a consensus.Even if the agreement is approved by EU leaders on Sunday, it will still need to be voted through the UK Parliament, a ballot that is far from secured for May.

3news

(CNN)After rioters stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday to protest Joe Biden's Electoral College victory, players and coaches across American sports leagues voiced their concerns about what they witnessed in Washington."This is what's going on. It has been incited. People can't be surprised at what's happening, because it's kind of been provoked for a long time," Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Duane Brown said. "It's here now, and it's not being met with the same outrage and the same anger as other protests, and things that have happened over the last recent months. I'm praying for everyone involved, for safety, I believe they said some people were shot or injured so praying for the best outcome possible in those situations. But like I said, it's been provoked for a while." Players from the Bucks and Pistons kneel shortly after the start of an NBA game Wednesday.NBA players also demonstrated before and during games nationwide to recognize Jacob Blake, including kneeling during the national anthem and after the opening tip. This was the police response when it was Black protesters on DC streets last yearBlake was shot seven times by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last August. He survived the shooting but is paralyzed from the waist down. The Kenosha County district attorney announced Tuesday that the officer, Rusten Sheskey, will not face charges.Read MoreAt the start of Wednesday's game between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat in Miami, the teams released a joint statement."2021 is a new year, but some things have not changed. We play tonight's game with a heavy heart after yesterday's decision in Kenosha, and knowing that protesters in our nation's capital are treated differently by political leaders depending on what side of certain issues they are on. The drastic difference between the way protesters this past spring and summer were treated and the encouragement given to today's protestors who acted illegally just shows how much more work we have to do." Players from the Celtics and Heat kneeled during the national anthem, as did the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers before their game in San Francisco. Members of the Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns locked arms in a circle before their NBA game. The Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons played their NBA game less than an hour away from Kenosha. After the opening tip, players on the court from both teams took a knee. Following the game, it was revealed the gesture was for Jacob Blake, and Bucks players, including star Giannis Antetokounmpo, said it lasted seven seconds for the seven gunshots Blake took. Athletes across US sports take a stand, as games are called off in solidarity with Bucks' boycottIn August, following the shooting of Blake, the Bucks decided to boycott their playoff game. This led to other NBA playoff games being postponed for the day, and was followed by WNBA, MLS and MLB games being called off in an act of solidarity. Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown spoke Wednesday to the dichotomy of situations faced by different parts of society."It reminds me of what Dr. Martin Luther King has said, that there is two split different Americas. In one America you get killed by sleeping in your car, selling cigarettes or playing in your back yard. In the other America, you get to storm the Capitol, and no tear gas, no massive arrests, none of that," Brown said."I think it's obvious, it's 2021, and I don't think anything has changed. We want to still acknowledge that, we want to still push for the change that we're looking for, but as of yet we have not seen it. We want to keep conversations alive and do our part," he added.Celtics teammate Jayson Tatum said, "It was heavy on our hearts. We were thinking about it.""It's tough because we're not surprised about what we see on TV. It's the world we live in. I just feel like the same energy should be kept as when we see our people peacefully protesting for things that we see our people getting murdered on TV and live and videos. They're protesting in the Capitol -- rioting in the Capitol for losing an election. It's two different things. I want the same energy on TV to be, 'They're thugs and criminals,' the same terms they used when they see our people protesting for losing our lives," Tatum said.Baltimore Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin III tweeted, "The difference in the treatment between races in America is on full display."The difference in the treatment between races in America is on full display— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 6, 2021 Houston Texans wide receiver Randall Cobb wrote, "This is America... did they really just storm the Capitol in an attempted ...coup!?"Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers said democracy would prevail at the end of the day, yet shared the sentiments expressed by those in the sports world. "When you saw the protest in the summer and you saw the riots, or more the police and the national guard and the army, and then you see this and you saw nothing, it basically proves a point about a privileged life in a lot of ways," Rivers said. "I will say it because I don't think a lot of people want to. Could you imagine today, if those were all Black people storming the Capitol, and what would have happened? That, to me, is a picture that's worth a thousand words for all of us to see, and probably something for us to reckon with again."The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat kneel before an NBA game Wednesday.Other NBA coaches made pointed comments at the political climate in Washington, in particular the fires stoked by President Donald Trump and Republican senators.Warriors head coach Steve Kerr remarked, "I wish that people like Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio and Josh Hawley had to do pre-game media before they meet in Congress. It would be great for them to answer the question, 'Are you happy now? Do you keep moving the line back? Does this change anything? Or are you going to continue to enable?'"Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said before their game, "I think we all hope that the people we elect to lead us are supposed to be modeling leadership will do so in a way that is motivated by serving others, by showing compassion, by acting gracefully. And instead, we elected a President who luckily is on his way out and others that have not shown that kind of grace. It's been consistent. And they just operated at a win-at-all costs attitude."In this situation, a disgraceful ending. I'm looking forward to two weeks from now, as I know a lot of other people are too."CNN's Aleks Klosok contributed to this report.

5sport

(CNN)Golf has it's fair share of conservative traditions, but the Vic Open in Australia shows that the sport is also capable of innovating.Both male and female professionals played in alternate groups over two courses at the 13th Beach Golf Links in Geelong, with equal prize money of $1,100,000 on offer for both men and women. It's the one event on the LPGA and European Tour schedule where this happens.Min Woo Lee won the men's tournament, while South Korea's Park Hee-young claimed the women's title following a playoff."The Vic Open should open people's eyes to the fact that our game is full of amazing golf talent," former US Open winner Geoff Ogilvy, who was competing in Geelong, wrote on the LPGA website."It also proves that women and men playing together can work. Tennis has been doing it for years and has clearly benefited from it. There are certain major tennis championships where the women's final draw more eyes than the men.Read More"I know some people think it's not complete equity -- the women play best of three sets and the men play best of five, that sort of thing -- but at least they play at the same place at the same time. And, they play for the same prize money."The 21-year-old Lee's victory earned the Australian a two-year European Tour exemption. "I just played awesome and out of myself. I'm over the moon," Lee, whose older sister -- world No. 9 Minjee Lee -- won the Vic Open in 2014 and 2018, told reporters.Minjee Lee of Australia is all smiles after her brother, Min Woo Lee wins the Vic Open on Sunday.READ: Tiger Woods' son is good at golf, but video poses wider questions'Worst year of my life'Park got the better of fellow South Koreans Choi Hye-jin and Ryu So-yeon in a playoff."Last year was the worst year in my life and I had to go to q-school and I was going to stop golf because I thought (there was) no more game in my mind," said the 32-year-old Park."Then I made q-school and I had a chance to play another year this year. I never stopped and I think God gave to me this present."In June, Swedish stars Anika Sorenstam and Henrik Stenson will host the Scandinavian Mixed with 78 men and 78 women going head-to-head on the same course as the golfers compete for one prize fund and one trophy.

5sport

(CNN)Meryl Davis' impressive mountain of bling just got topped off with a shiny wedding ring.The 2014 Olympic gold medalist and "Dancing with the Stars" champion married Fedor Andreev in the South of France on Saturday, her publicist Lynn Plage told CNN. Davis' new husband is the son of legendary figure skating coach and choreographer Marina Zoueva. Zoueva coached Davis and her skating partner, Charlie White, to the United States' first-ever Olympic gold medal in ice dance in 2014.Meryl Davis and Charlie White won Olympic gold, two world championships and six US championships.That same year Davis, now 32, won the 18th season of "Dancing with the Stars" with partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy.Read MoreThe groom, 37, is an accomplished skater in his own right. Andreev won the 1999 Canadian national junior championship and was an ice dancer in Russia.Meryl Davis wins 'DWTS'Andreev has also worked as a model and has competed as a race-car driver.The Davis-Andreev union is the latest example of ice dancers marrying other skaters' partners. In 2015, Davis' partner White married former skating rival Tanith Belbin.

5sport

(CNN)Jen Principe and Toni Musso were stuck in traffic in Agoura Hills, California last month when they spotted a man on the ledge of a highway overpass. "Oh my God, is that guy gonna jump off the bridge?" Musso remembers saying. The man had climbed on the outside of the chain-link fence barrier. He was making his way toward the center of the bridge over a busy road below, according to Musso. They immediately called 911, and then began to drive off as the traffic cleared. Then, Principe remembered a video she had watched two days earlier. "(It) just came back to me and I said, 'We have to turn back. We have to go back,'" Principe told CNN's Alisyn Camerota on "New Day" in an interview that aired Wednesday.She had seen the story of Kevin Hines, the man who survived a suicide attempt off the Golden Gate Bridge when he was 19 years old. Hines said he felt instant regret after he jumped and he's now dedicated his life to suicide prevention. CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta recently profiled Hines as part of CNN's "Champions For Change" series.Read MoreDr. Gupta: If you see someone struggling with mental illness, don't turn away"That's the one thing that really stuck with me ... Kevin Hines saying that had anybody been nice to him, anybody tried to stop him, that this wouldn't have happened," Principe said.Musso's husband, who was driving when they spotted the man on the overpass, immediately took the next exit and looped around. When they got back to the overpass, he pulled over and the two women jumped out of the backseat and immediately headed across the busy freeway, straight toward the man."We stopped the cars, we ran across, and there he was, just all the way in the center ... of that freeway overpass," Principe said. "We looked at him and the first thing we said is, you know, 'We love you, please don't jump.'"'I've been sent as your guardian'As they waited for police to arrive, Toni Musso said she talked to the man and listened to him."He said he had nothing to live for, and he had no reason to be here on earth anymore," Musso told CNN's Camerota. "I kind of locked eyes with him and just said, 'I'm here for you, I've been sent as your guardian. I need you to listen to me. Just look at me and listen to my words.'" To get helpCall the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). There is also a crisis text line. For crisis support in Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454.Principe's husband recorded video of the encounter on his cell phone. Musso can be seen putting her hands on the fence as she offered words of encouragement and support. At one point, Musso said she thought he was going to fall back and let go."When I really thought he was going to jump, I said, 'You know, imagine what could happen to the people below, you're not only going to hurt yourself but potentially there's a family in a car, and the two of us have to witness this horrible, horrific act,'" Musso said. "'If you can just get through today, tomorrow might be a little different, you might feel different, you may not have wanted to do this. You just gotta give yourself one more day. Just give me one more day with you and I promise I'll stay with you.'"Finally, she said the man agreed and started making his way off of the overpass. That's when the police arrived."When the police came, he got very startled and at that point he said, 'They're going to arrest me.' And I said, 'I won't let them do that. Just stay with me,'" Musso said she told him.A ripple effectTwo police officers arrived, prompting the man to take his eyes off of Musso. That's when "he got very uncomfortable," Principe recalled."The police came up and we said 'You need to leave us alone' ... They said 'You guys got this. You got this,' which is fascinating that that happened," she said.At that point, Musso said she told the man to keep his eyes on her."I said, 'Just don't look back. Just keep looking at me and keep walking with me. I'm here with you and I'm not going to let you go.' And I continued to walk off the bridge with him," Musso said. As the man made his way off of the highway overpass, police took him into custody Musso said. She said she regrets not being able to hug him afterward, something police wouldn't allow because of safety concerns. But Principe said that he did thank the two women before he was taken away.CNN reached out to the Agoura Hills city manager who confirmed the incident and said that the man was taken to a hospital for observation but could not provide any more details.The two women hope their story will inspire others to take action if they suspect someone might be suicidal. Principe has set up a link at the top of her Instagram page to help raise money for suicide prevention. It's an issue that's personal to her having lost a family member to suicide five years ago. "I have gone through what suicide and mental illness looks like," Principe said. "So yes, this really hit home for me."She believes she and Musso were destined to be there for the man, whose name they don't know but they hope to meet again."Had we not gotten behind those cars all day long and been slowed down, we would have literally missed it by seconds," Principe said. "I feel grateful that we're here and we're able to even share this story because it is a ripple effect."

2health

Berlin (CNN)German Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition government remains intact after she reached a deal Monday over the country's migration policy, ending a political standoff with her interior minister.Horst Seehofer, the leader of the Christian Social Union, or CSU, the Bavarian sister party of Merkel's Christian Democrats, the CDU, was at a stalemate with Merkel over how the country should deal with asylum seekers arriving at the country's southern borders. Seehofer offered to quit as interior minister and as leader of the CSU during a marathon party meeting on Sunday, but was later persuaded by CSU colleagues to meet with Merkel one more time and attempt to resolve the disagreement, Reuters reported.Late Monday, general secretaries of both parties said Germany will establish transit centers close to the border with Austria where asylum seekers already registered in another European Union country will be processed before being returned to that country where possible. Where that is not possible, the parties have agreed the asylum seekers will be sent back across the border to Austria.Trump falsely claims rising German crime rate as he pushes immigration debateMerkel called the agreement a "good compromise after tough negotiations and difficult days." Returning migrants to the county where they first registered with the agreement of that nation preserved the EU's "spirit of partnership," Merkel said. Read MoreSeehofer said the deal ensured that he would hold his post as interior minister."I'm pleased we managed to get this agreement -- it has shown again it's worth fighting for something like this. Now we have a tenable clear agreement for the future."But neither Merkel nor Seehofer will be fully satisfied. Merkel has had to abandon her bid for bloc-wide deals in favor of bilateral arrangements, while Seehofer has conceded defeat on his goal to turn away all asylum seekers directly at the border who are already registered elsewhere.The plans will also require the approval of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which is the third party in Merkel's coalition and favors a more liberal approach to migration. The party has not yet responded to the announcement.Austrian government spokesman Peter Launsky said in a statement Tuesday that Austria was prepared to "take measures" to protect its southern borders if the proposals are implemented. By preventing migrants from entering Austria from Italy, some of whom will then travel onward to Germany, the country could reduce the number of people pushed back across the Germany-Austria border under the new German plans. Horst Seehofer speaks to journalists early Monday after late-night talks with the CSU leadership.How did we get here?The political crisis is one more sign of a growing rift in Europe between those who want to work together to reduce the number of migrants and refugees entering the bloc, and those who have grown tired of failed attempts to reach bloc-wide agreements and are taking unilateral action.Seehofer, who repeatedly called for tougher policies on refugees, had given Merkel two weeks to reach an agreement with other EU leaders that would allow German police to reject asylum seekers at the border who are already registered in another country in the bloc. Under EU law, those people must be taken in and arrangements made on a case-by-case basis to send them back to the first country of entry.Seehofer had threatened to implement that policy unilaterally if Merkel could not reach a satisfactory deal by Sunday. Instead, he reportedly offered to step down, a move that could have provided temporary respite for Merkel but might have meant the end of the decades-old CDU/CSU alliance and the coalition government.Speaking ahead of an EU summit last week, Merkel -- a staunch advocate of EU-wide solutions -- said migration could be a "make or break" issue for the union. Europe's leaders emerged from talks with a bloc-wide agreement that it was best to deal with the issue collectively rather than unilaterally. But the wording was vague and nations will participate in relocation and resettlement programs only on a voluntary basis.EU summit deal reached after Italy demanded action on migrant crisisSpeaking at his party's annual gathering Sunday, Matteo Salvini, Italy's interior minister and leader of the anti-immigrant League Party, said he wanted to create a pan-European association of like-minded parties, Reuters reported, a further indication that nationalist forces are gaining strength.Merkel insisted the EU-wide deal reached on Friday was a victory, but Seehofer's party was not so sure. The CSU is fighting state elections in Bavaria in October and, under pressure from the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany, or AfD, is seeking to burnish its own anti-refugee credentials in an attempt to win back voters.Merkel and Seehofer had long battled over the right approach to migration, but seemed to reach an agreement after federal elections last year when the Chancellor agreed to try to limit the number of refugees arriving in Germany each year to 200,000 -- a policy that Seehofer had repeatedly demanded and Merkel had consistently rejected.The latest flareup was triggered when Seehofer announced a 63-point "migration master plan" last month, which Merkel refused to endorse due to the proposal to reject asylum seekers already registered elsewhere. Merkel agrees that the current rules -- known as the Dublin regulation -- must be reformed, but insists that must be done at the European level.Nadine Schmidt reported from Berlin and Judith Vonberg wrote in London. CNN's Atika Shubert contributed to this report.

3news

Story highlightsMurray wins 6-7 (9) 6-4 6-4Improves to 2-0 Nishikori drops to 1-1Stan Wawrinka beats Marin Cilic 7-6 (3) 7-6 (3) (CNN)Billed as a battle for No. 1 between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic at the year-end championships, both men have won their first two matches. But it hasn't been easy. Follow @cnnsport After Djokovic struggled against big-serving Milos Raonic on Tuesday, Murray needed to be at his resilient best to see off the flashy Japanese shot-maker Kei Nishikori 6-7 (9) 6-4 6-4 in a record three hours, 20 minutes: It was the longest three-set match in tournament history, surpassing the 3:12 Murray spent on court against Rafael Nadal in 2010. Murray recorded his 21st consecutive victory Wednesday in London and turned the tables on Japan's Nishikori -- who had defeated the Scot in a similarly pulsating contest at the US Open in September. "Nishikori was dictating almost all of the rallies today," Murray told reporters after taking an ice bath to aid his recovery. "He moves the ball around extremely well, better than maybe anyone." Read MoreRead: Murray stunned by NishikoriMurray hasn't officially joined Djokovic in the last four at the World Tour Finals because Stan Wawrinka beat Marin Cilic 7-6 (3) 7-6 (3) in the late match in the John McEnroe group. However he is almost there. While he will of course be content -- and relieved -- to prevail in what was the most entertaining contest so far this week, the length of the slugfest could have a knock-on effect on Murray as he tries to fend off Djokovic and secure the year-end No. 1 ranking.Beginning his campaign at the World Tour Finals a day later than Djokovic, Murray won't benefit from a day off between the round-robin stage and the semifinals should he progress. If Djokovic claims the title -- he is the four-time defending champion -- the Serb would end Murray's brief stint atop the rankings. JUST WATCHEDAndy Murray talks about No.1 ranking ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAndy Murray talks about No.1 ranking 03:27Tennis fans are buzzing about the prospect of Murray and Djokovic playing in Sunday's final and Murray admits it would make for a grand finale indeed. "I think for the tournament and stuff, for everyone interested in tennis, that would probably be the perfect way to finish the year," Murray said.The first set alone between the world No. 5 and Murray lasted 85 minutes, with Murray temporarily fending off a set point at 5-6 in the tiebreak with a brilliant, lunging backhand winner on what appeared to be a simple put away at the net for the 2014 US Open finalist. Murray actually held the first set point, erring on a forehand prior to the tiebreak when leading 6-5. But on Nishikori's fifth set point, Murray sent a forehand wide to drop only his fifth set during the imposing winning streak. This is 1st time @andy_murray has started 2-0 #ATPFinals since 2008 debut in Shanghai (went 3-0 in RR, lost in SF).— ATP Media Info (@ATPMediaInfo) November 16, 2016 Never averse to venting to his player box, Murray was certainly in full flow Wednesday. Not only did he take out his frustration on his entourage, but he pumped his fist -- after losing points. "I don't often do that, but today I was definitely being more sarcastic towards myself than usual," said Murray, who hadn't challenged a top-five player since losing the French Open final to Djokovic. Murray broke in the first game of the second set, though Nishikori broke back for 4-4. How Nishikori will rue dropping serve in the ensuing game after holding game point. He'll also rue his break-point numbers -- 2-for-11, with Murray 4-for-7 -- and continuing to attempt drop shots. While Murray produced eight aces, Nishikori didn't hit one. Nishikori surrendered serve twice in the third set -- from 30-0 and 40-15 -- yet came back, from 1-5 to 4-5, before Murray served out the match without fuss. "He's a tough player," said Nishikori (1-1). "Think it was great match, both of us. Also for me, played really consistent, playing with good energy."Well, I'm sure he's going to qualify from the group. I try to aim for the second spot."Nishikori next battles Cilic (0-2) Friday and Murray tangles with a fellow three-time grand slam winner, Wawrinka (1-1). "It's going to be a great match hopefully. I know I can play well here," Wawrinka, a winner over Murray at the event last year, said in an interview on court. Djokovic tries for a third win Thursday and was due to meet the already eliminated Gael Monfils. Instead he will play Belgium's David Goffin after Monfils withdrew Wednesday citing the rib injury that kept him out of the Paris Masters. Last match of the season tomorrow at the #ATPFinals ! pic.twitter.com/vWzsHFm8Mw— David Goffin (@David__Goffin) November 16, 2016 Dominic Thiem faces Raonic, with the winner joining Djokovic in advancing from the Ivan Lendl group. CNN's Henry Young also contributed to this story

5sport

Clint, Texas (CNN)Democratic members of Congress expressed outrage Monday over the growing humanitarian crisis on the southern border after touring two Texas border facilities prompted by reports of deteriorating conditions.They described horrific circumstances at facilities on the same day the investigative news organization ProPublica revealed a closed Facebook group in which current and former Border Patrol agents reportedly share jokes about migrant deaths, derogatory comments about Latina lawmakers and a lewd meme involving at least one of them. The posts have been turned over to the Department of Homeland Security inspector general, said US Border Patrol Chief of Operations Brian Hastings.Here's a look inside the controversial Clint, Texas, facility where migrant children have been detainedRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was among the Democratic lawmakers who toured a facility here Monday following reports of squalid conditions for detained migrants at the border, overcrowded facilities and thinly stretched resources. She claimed she saw migrants drinking out of toilets, which a Border Patrol official flatly denied, and that she felt unsafe during the visit."People (are) drinking out of toilets, officers laughing in front of members Congress," Ocasio-Cortez said in a series of tweets. "I brought it up to their superiors," she said in one tweet. "They said 'officers are under stress & act out sometimes.' No accountability.Ocasio-Cortez said in an interview with CNN that she did not feel safe. Read More"In the last facility, I was not safe from the officers," she told CNN's Natasha Chen on her way into the Clint facility. Ocasio-Cortez grew frustrated during the tours. She screamed at Border Patrol agents for trying to take selfies with her before she toured one facility, according to her spokesman Corbin Trent.Asked on Tuesday about why Ocasio-Cortez said she felt "unsafe" during the tour, Trent told CNN in a statement that "The information uncovered by the ProPublica story and the way the CBP agents interacted with the delegation and their staff made it an unsettling experience" for the congresswoman.Hastings denied the accusations that some immigrants in border detention facilities are forced to drink from toilets.Here's a look inside the controversial Clint, Texas, facility where migrant children have been detained"Drinking out of the toilet is completely untrue," said Hastings.He said there are "ample supplies" and that "a lot of our stations look like Costco."The lawmakers' visit came on the heels of the passage of a $4.6 billion border funding bill to assist with the crush of migrants arriving at the US-Mexico border, and amid government and media reports detailing worsening conditions at border facilities. Lawmakers congregated in front of the beige facility Monday afternoon and decried the conditions, as protestors chanted over them. Chairman Joaquin Castro, flanked by his colleagues, said, "The system is still broken." Posters saying #Free the Children and "Humanitarian Aid Is Never a Crime Drop the Charges" floated overhead."It's not just about money, it's also about the standards of care," Castro told CNN. "We're going to have put a hell of a lot of pressure on the Trump administration, through appropriations, through investigations, to get them to change what they're doing."In an interview with CNN, Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán expressed frustration about not getting sufficient answers from officials. "We're not getting any answers on some of the programming, like (Migrant Protection Protocols)," she said. The MPP policy requires that some asylum seekers wait in Mexico for the duration of their immigration hearings. Democratic Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania tweeted "conditions are far worse than we ever could have imagined" and that "this is a human rights crisis."Ocasio-Cortez slams border bill: US should not 'be throwing more money to ICE'"(Fifteen) women in their 50s- 60s sleeping in a small concrete cell, no running water. Weeks without showers. All of them separated from their families," Dean wrote on Twitter.Allegations of poor health and hygiene at multiple US Customs and Border Protection facilities in Texas, including the one in Clint, sparked a national outcry last month earlier this month. A team of lawyers, doctors and advocates described circumstances in which children said they didn't have access to soap and had few opportunities to shower.Over the weekend, a federal judge ordered CBP to permit health experts into detention facilities holding migrant children to ensure they're "safe and sanitary" and assess the children's medical needs. The order encompasses all facilities in the CBP's El Paso and Rio Grande Valley sectors, which are the subject of a lawsuit.And on Monday night, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced a 30-year-old Honduran man who was in ICE custody died on Sunday at a Houston-area hospital. The man, Yimi Alexis Balderramos-Torres, entered ICE custody on June 6 and was taken to the Houston Contract Detention Facility on June 18. He was found unresponsive in his cell on Sunday and attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.Balderramos-Torres is the sixth person to die in ICE custody since October 1.Flurry of developments MondayJUST WATCHEDSee disturbing posts in border agent Facebook groupReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSee disturbing posts in border agent Facebook group 05:16During Monday's tours, a report by the investigative reporting group ProPublica revealed a closed Facebook group for current and former Border Patrol agents that reportedly features jokes about migrant deaths, derogatory comments about Latina lawmakers and a lewd meme involving at least one of them. CBP officials said they are investigating "disturbing social media activity." CNN has not been able to independently access and review the Facebook group posts in question.The posts were "hosted on a private Facebook group that may include a number of CBP employees," according to Matthew Klein, assistant commissioner of CBP's Office of Professional Responsibility.Before the lawmakers' visit to Clint on Monday, protesters and counter-protesters lingered around the entrance, some donning Trump swag -- at times getting into heated exchanges over immigration. Victoria O'Connell Curran traveled from Alaska on Saturday to visit the facility. She held an orange sign that read "Close the Camps." "For some reason, it really hit," she said, recalling when she visited the Tornillo influx facility in Texas last year.Amy Bailon, an El Paso resident, came to the facility with her sister and brother-in-law. "We're against what they're doing with the children," she said. "We need to lend a hand." Over recent months, the Department of Homeland Security has warned of facilities overwhelmed by the sheer volume of migrant arrivals, eventually provoking the request for additional funds that was passed last week. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan reiterated last Friday that he has warned of overcrowding in border facilities for months, but also pushed back strongly on what he termed "unsubstantiated" reports about the Clint facility where he says children are receiving supplies such as blankets and toothbrushes, despite claims to the contrary.The situation at the border recently took on added urgency when a photo of a father and daughter who drowned trying to cross the Rio Grande into the US went viral. Texas Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar, who was part of Monday's delegation, became emotional on the House floor as she talked about the photo late last week."The United States needs to see what's happening. Americans need to see what is happening," Escobar told CNN Monday, referring to the tragic images that have surfaced. Inside the facilityJUST WATCHEDThis is what's really going on at the borderReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThis is what's really going on at the border 02:15CNN and other media outlets toured the Clint facility last Wednesday but were barred from taking any pictures or video.The facility, which is meant to hold 106 people, was holding 117 migrant youths, CBP officials said at the time. The youngest children in the facility were a 1-year-old, who has been traveling with a 17-year-old and a 2-year-old unaccompanied minor.Most of the children were being kept inside rooms with metal doors, a large glass window and no windows to the outside. Some were sleeping or lying on orange coats and blue mattresses on the floor. Some girls were passing the time braiding one another's hair and a group of boys were playing soccer.A teen girl was quarantined in a separate cell, where a sign posted outside indicated that she may have the flu. CBP agents said children in the facility have been treated for chicken pox, rabies, lice and scarlet fever.Reporters were taken to a galley area with pallets of food, including cups of noodles and drinks. They were also shown a storage area with boxes of toothbrushes, toothpaste and clothing. They also spotted a group of five children playing soccer.The children are allowed to shower every two days in a trailer equipped with shower stalls, CBP agents said.While CNN was told by a CBP official at the Clint facility the environment was the same on Wednesday as it was last week when legal monitors visited, a CBP source with firsthand knowledge of the facility said, "Typical. The agency prepped for you guys." The source added, "It's a never-ending cat and mouse game."Government reports detail overwhelmed border facilities JUST WATCHEDTrump: I'm very concerned about conditions at borderReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTrump: I'm very concerned about conditions at border 02:52In May, the DHS inspector general found "dangerous overcrowding," and unsanitary conditions at an El Paso, Texas, Border Patrol processing facility following an unannounced inspection, according to a report. The IG described "standing room only conditions" at the El Paso Del Norte Processing Center, which has a maximum capacity of 125 migrants. On May 7 and 8, logs indicated that there were "approximately 750 and 900 detainees, respectively.""We also observed detainees standing on toilets in the cells to make room and gain breathing space, thus limiting access to the toilets," the report, which was first obtained by CNN, states. A cell with a maximum capacity of 12 held 76 detainees, another with a maximum capacity of eight held 41, and another with a maximum capacity of 35 held 155, according to the report."(Customs and Border Protection) was struggling to maintain hygienic conditions in the holding cells. With limited access to showers and clean clothing, detainees were wearing soiled clothing for days or weeks," the report states.In its response to the inspector general, DHS said that it "has implemented a multi-layered approach" that includes the construction of additional structures to house migrants, continued coordination with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and providing staff support.The agency has constructed a soft-sided structure at El Paso Station that can hold 500 and has been operational since May 2, the response reads. The agency also plans to build additional structures, including an "800 holding capacity modular facility" at El Paso Station by July 31 and a permanent centralized processing center for approximately 1,800 people. A drop in apprehensions JUST WATCHEDHow is the US required to treat children at the border?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHow is the US required to treat children at the border? 01:45As the hot summer months get underway, apprehensions are dipping, as is common this time of year, though officials attribute the drop to a coordinated effort between the US and Mexico. Last month, the United States and Mexico signed onto a joint declaration after President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Mexico if it didn't bolster immigration enforcement. The declaration included, in part, increased enforcement at Mexico's southern border. McAleenan said last Friday that it appears there will be a 25% decrease in June in numbers of migrants crossing at the US-Mexico border.More than 144,000 migrants had been encountered or arrested at the US-Mexico border in May, the highest monthly total in 13 years.McAleenan credited Trump administration initiatives, especially the increase in interdictions by Mexico over the past three weeks and the return of some asylum seekers to Mexico for the duration of their immigration proceeds, a program McAleenan says is being expanded.That program, however, is being fought in court, including by a union representing asylum officers which opposes the initiative.McAleenan said that he expects to be able to tell by late July if these initiatives will have a sustained impact.This story has been updated with additional developments Monday.CNN's Nick Valencia, Nicole Chavez and Geneva Sands contributed to this report.

4politics

(CNN)A New York woman has been arrested in Russia on suspicion of possessing marijuana that she said was for medicinal purposes, Russian courts told CNN on Tuesday.Audrey Eliza Lorber was arrested on charges of transporting cannabis into Russia from the United States, after marijuana weighing about 19 grams was found during a search of her possessions at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport, courts press service representative Darya Lebedeva told CNN.Nineteen grams is nearly 3/4 of an ounce.Lorber had a US permit to use marijuana as part of a medical program, but the permit doesn't apply in Russian territory, Lebedeva said.A criminal prosecution has not started, Lebedeva said. Read MoreIt wasn't immediately clear when the arrest happened, or what medical condition Lorber has.US Rep. Max Rose, who represents Staten Island, where Lorber lives, tweeted on Saturday that he was trying to help Lorber come home."I'm working to help get Audrey home as soon as possible because no American citizen should be held in jail for a medical condition," the statement said.I'm working to help get Audrey home as soon as possible because no American citizen should be held in jail for a medical condition.https://t.co/efVJxQZPPy— Rep. Max Rose (@RepMaxRose) September 7, 2019 The US State Department told CNN it was aware of reports that a US citizen was arrested in St. Petersburg. "We take seriously our responsibility to assist US citizens abroad. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment," a State Department official said in a statement to CNN. It wasn't clear whether Lorber has obtained a lawyer. Lorber's mother declined to comment and asked for privacy when reached by CNN.Lorber is a third-year film and screen studies major at the honors college of Pace University, according to a spokesperson at the university. A resume on LinkedIn says she is a screenwriter, YouTube personality and film editor.Lorber has been a server at Waterside restaurant on Staten Island for a couple years. "She's a great kid, hard worker," said Lorber's boss and manager of the restaurant, Joseph Guli. "All the customers love her, she never missed work, friendly, always smiled, had a career ahead of her, still does hopefully," he said. CNN's AnneClaire Stapleton, Laura Dolan, Monica Haider, Rob Frehse and Laura Ly contributed to this report.

3news

(CNN)The Church of Cyprus has called for the country's official entry to the Eurovision Song Contest to be withdrawn, arguing that it promotes devil-worship. Greek singer Elena Tsagrinou is due to represent the island nation in Rotterdam in May with the dance-y pop song "El Diablo." She rose to fame in 2009, making to the semifinal of "Greece's Got Talent" aged just 14. According to the contest's official website, the song is "about falling in love with someone as bad as El Diablo."The controversial entry includes lines such as "Tonight we gonna burn in a party, it's heaven in hell with you" and "I gave my heart to El Diablo ... because he tells me I'm his angel."The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus issued a strongly worded statement Tuesday in which it expressed "its intense disagreement and frustration" with the stance of national broadcaster Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) over the selection of the song. Read MoreIt said the song "favored our global ridicule by advocating our surrender to the devil and promoting his worship," while praising the "fatalistic submission of humans to the devil's power."The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus has called for the song to be withdrawn.In a statement issued through her label, Panik Records, Tsagrinou told CNN: "'El Diablo' is clearly an allegorical song! It says the story of a woman who manages to get out of a toxic relationship and sends a message of strength to the audience. Music unites us all, it does not divide us!"She said she and her collaborators "remain committed to our goal; to represent Cyprus worthily in the music contest."Want to win Eurovision? Write a nice, slow song about loveCyBC chairman Andreas Frangos told local journalists that the broadcaster had no plans to withdraw "El Diablo" from the competition.The corporation told CNN in a statement: "The song tells the story of a girl who finds herself trapped in an exploitative relationship with a bad guy, hence she calls him 'el diablo'. It is the eternal struggle between evil and good. Through this problematic Stockholm Syndrome relationship and despite the paranoia she experiences, in the end the truth always shines, and she seeks help to break the ties on a path to freedom.""Any other interpretation has nothing to do with the meaning of the song," CyBC added, "which especially nowadays should not only be applauded, but also be an inspiration not only for women but for anyone experiencing similar situations."Dismissing the CyBC's "metaphorical interpretation," the church described the lyrics as "provocative and unacceptable" and "completely at odds with our people's values."It said it had been contacted by "thousands" of citizens expressing displeasure at the song choice.Madonna's controversial Eurovision performance missed the mark"We call on the government who appoints CyBC's board of directors to cancel the selection of this particular song and replace it with a different one which expresses our history and culture, our traditions and our claims," the church said.The call comes days after police were called to CyBC's offices following reports that a 48-year-old man had illegally entered the premises to protest about the song. A spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior told CNN that the man "was charged for trespassing, disturbance in a public place, insult and threat."The affair has even reached the highest levels of Cypriot politics. Victoras Papadopoulos, director of the president's press office, said in a statement: "We respect the views of the Holy Synod or of those who disagree with the title of the song that will represent Cyprus in this year's Eurovision contest.Eurovision Song Contest is coming to America"At the same time, however, the Government fully respects creative intellectual and artistic freedom that cannot be misinterpreted or limited because of a song's title, and unnecessary dimensions should not be attributed." Running since 1956, the Eurovision Song Contest is the world's oldest TV music competition, according to Guinness World Records.This week, Eurovision organizers issued extensive Covid-19 health and safety plans to allow the contest to go ahead in May, after it was canceled last year due to the pandemic.All entrants will have to quarantine for five days before departure to the Netherlands and must test negative for the virus 72 hours before flying. Once in Rotterdam, delegations must stay in their hotel, except when at the Ahoy Arena for rehearsals, the live shows and other related activities, organizers said.

3news

(CNN)Ah, Eurovision -- the kitsch, camp, glitzy annual spectacle that captivates a continent and profoundly confuses the rest of the world.The annual singing competition attracts hundreds of millions of viewers, has given the world acts including Abba, Celine Dion and Olivia Newton-John, and may even have brought Europe together in the wake of the World War II.But truly understanding the joys and many, many oddities of Eurovision is trickier than it seems. It blends geopolitical skullduggery and skin-tight leather trousers like no other international event can. It sees entire countries glued to their televisions, certain in the knowledge that victory alone can secure a unifying sense of national pride. And -- most importantly -- it tears through copious amounts of glitter, crates of pyrotechnics and wardrobes full of frilly national dress, all in the name of transboundary cooperation. Make sense yet? Don't worry -- here's an explainer.Read MoreWhat is Eurovision?In simple terms, it's an international singing competition organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). It takes place once a year, and is hosted by the previous edition's winning country. There are two semi-finals, and a grand final, which this year is taking place on Saturday in Tel Aviv, Israel. Of course, it's also so much more than that. The show features awkward back-and-forths between presenters, plenty of political messaging, a few big talking points and a controversy or seven. This year, Madonna is even performing during the interval.But the contest's lore throughout Europe comes mainly from the downright absurdity of the contestants taking part. Just how weird are we talking? We'll get to that...Finland's Lordi performs the song "Hard Rock Hallelujah" during the 51st Eurovision final song contest in 2006.How did it all start?The story of the origins of Eurovision is surprisingly noble. Tasked with bringing together a continent torn apart by war, the fledgling EBU organized a musical contest. Seven countries took part the first time around, with the live event testing the limits of the new and shiny technology called "television." The contest rapidly expanded, and its message of peace and harmony was eagerly embraced -- that's why, today, Europe remains a united and carefree region with a contented population and almost no cross-boundary divisions to note. OK, we may be exaggerating that last part.Swedish pop group Abba performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 1974.Who takes part?Any member country of the EBU can take part, and that includes countries on the fringes of Europe such as Morocco, Jordan and this year's hosts, Israel. The Vatican is technically a member too, but their long-overdue entry into the Eurovision fray is tragically yet to materialize. Australia, though not quite within the boundaries of Europe, also takes part.Eurovision faces backlash as musical kitschfest hits IsraelThis year, 41 countries entered, but those were whittled down to 26 via two semi-finals. Because they're the five biggest financial contributors to the EBU, the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy all qualify for the final automatically -- a reward worth paying any price for. Each country performs a three-minute song once, during a very, very long and somewhat emotionally draining broadcast. Singers can sing in any language -- most choose English, but plenty opt for their own -- and they don't even need to be from the competing country. Many countries choose their contestant in a televised competition. The possibilities are endless -- washed-up boybands, regional superstars, novelty acts and more all take part on an annual basis.Then, for those viewers still sober enough to process numbers, the results are announced -- each country hands out points to their favorite competing nations, separately revealing the scores from an expert jury and the public vote. Countries give 12 points to their top dog, 10 to their second-favorites, and between one and eight for their honorable mentions. Votes are read out, via satellite link, by a national celebrity in each of the countries that entered the contest, so we get a whistlestop tour of over 40 European capital cities. "Hello Tel Aviv!" they'll all shout, before milking their fifteen seconds in the spotlight and desperately trying to keep it together despite an excruciating delay in the video link. Scores are are announced in English and French -- and so the dreaded prospect of "nil points" hangs over every nation until they finally get on the board. John and Edward Grimes of the band Jedward perform for Ireland in 2011.Wait, why is Australia in Eurovision?No one's quite sure. The country was invited to join as a "one-off" in 2015, to celebrate the contest's 60th anniversary, but it has stuck around ever since. In theory, it's because Australians have loved Eurovision for decades -- despite it starting in the early hours of the morning, it is broadcast annually by TV channel SBS. If Australia won, the following year's contest would likely be held in a European country of its choosing -- which probably presents Britain's best chance of ever hosting the competition again.How popular is it?Oh, it's huge. Around 186 million viewers watched last year's competition, according to the EBU. Certain regions within Europe take it especially seriously -- Scandinavian nations have long been obsessed and can boast a long list of winners. In Iceland in 2018, more than 95% of television sets were tuned in to Eurovision -- despite the country not even qualifying for the final.Popularity varies from country to country, but few nations can honestly say they're uninterested. The UK likes to pretend it's above the whole thing, but Brits are secretly seething that the once-successful nation hasn't taken home the crown since 1997. They like to put the drought down to all manner of political motivations -- currently, Brexit seems the most logical explanation -- and stubbornly refuse to accept the possibility that their entries are just not very good.Who's won the most?Ireland has the most wins, with seven, but the majority of those were from the early days of the contest, and Sweden need just one more victory to equal their record. Monaco are the smallest country to have won, with their David vs. Goliath triumph coming in 1971.Overall, 27 countries have won the contest. Portugal was the most recent new winner, taking home the title in 2017.OK, how weird are these performances?I thought you'd never ask. In recent years, Eurovision has seen an ethno-pop band called Buranovskiye Babushki comprised of eight Russian grandmothers; a pair of rapping Montenegrin astronauts; an all-female Polish group who churned butter throughout their performance; a Ukrainian dancer in a hamster wheel; and Ukrainian superstar Verka Serduchka, who... well, it might just be easier to see for yourself. That came in second.Not quite every country opts for such an over-the-top spectacle. On Saturday, as is the case every year, there will be a handful of drab ballads about peace, and a few more about love. But with every nation keen to stand out from the pack, even the most straightforward tunes can be presented in some eyebrow-raising ways.All hail the absurd joy of EurovisionThe chorus to Greece's 2013 ska-punk entry was the statement "alcohol is free" sung ad nauseum, while Estonia's 2008 performance included dancers in bikinis holding up pictures of onions, for no clear reason. And Eurovision always manages to stay current -- so current, in fact, that San Marino's 2012 entry was called "The Social Network Song," and featured the lyrics: "If you wanna come to my house, then click me with your mouse." But most topical expressions are political: Ukraine's winning 2016 song, "1944," for example, detailed the deportation of the Crimean Tatars in the Soviet Union and severely angered Russia.So expect bright colors, perhaps some magic tricks, a few questionable hairstyles... and most importantly, expect the unexpected.Is it always so controversial?Absolutely. Eurovision vaguely resembles Christmas Day -- it's circled on the calendar months before, and millions look forward to it with bated breath. Then, when it finally arrives, everyone falls out with each other and the whole thing descends into one giant shouting match. With sequins.Officially, no "lyrics, speeches (or) gestures of a political nature" are allowed during the contest -- but if you believe that, you'll believe anything.In fact, Eurovision's history has always been connected with the continent's politics. It's been alleged that, as early as 1968, Spanish dictator Francisco Franco oversaw a campaign of vote-buying to hand victory to Spain, over the heavily favored British entry Cliff Richard.JUST WATCHEDRussia blames politics for Eurovision lossReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRussia blames politics for Eurovision loss 03:38More recently, Lebanon pulled out of its scheduled Eurovision debut in 2005 during a spat over its refusal to broadcast the Israeli performance. And in 2009, a year after Russian-Georgian tensions reached a flashpoint in South Ossetia, Georgia withdrew its entry for the Moscow contest, after unsuccessfully arguing that their entry "We Don't Wanna Put In" had nothing to do with the Russian President.And then there's the ever-present complaint of political voting, with clear regional blocs of nations always seeming to gift each other plenty of points. That explains why more isolated nations really need to go above and beyond to win.Editions in cities such as Baku have also drawn complaints over the human rights records of competing nations. This year's contest, in Tel Aviv, has been particularly controversial, coming at a tense time for the country after a flare-up of violence between militants in Gaza and the Israeli military.Who's going to win this year?There's plenty of money on the Dutch entry this year. Their entry is 25-year-old superstar Duncan Laurence. You know, Duncan Laurence. You haven't heard of Duncan Laurence? In fact, he's little-known even at home. But his debut single "Arcade" is attracting plenty of buzz among Eurovision experts and performed well in the semi-finals -- meaning the Netherlands are in pole position to claim their first Eurovision title since 1975. Australia are also in the running, but if they pulled off their first ever Eurovision victory it would likely cause chaos back in Europe. With Brexit, political division and regional disputes dominating headlines, it would surely be a cruel step too far if Europe can't even win its own singing competition.The Swiss entry has earned some love, and Sweden are always a good bet. But watch out, too, for Iceland -- their techno-bondage-synth-punk act Hatari have raised eyebrows already, and they're sure to provide one of Saturday's most memorable performances.Iceland's Hatari performs the song Hatrið mun sigra during the first semi-final of this year's contest.Eurovision sounds great. How do I watch it?That's the spirit. If you're in Europe but you've so far held out against embracing the wondrous tradition that is Eurovision, you'll likely be able to find it on a terrestrial broadcaster. US networks only began showing the event in recent years, and there are no plans to broadcast it this time -- but worry not, as there'll be an official live stream on YouTube. Swedish broadcaster SVT will also put up an on-demand repeat, which can be watched anywhere.It starts on Saturday night at 8 p.m. in the UK (3 p.m. ET).

3news

Story highlightsDjokovic to play Federer in Cincinnati finalSerbian has won eight of the nine MastersFederer can return to No. 2 in world with title (CNN)Novak Djokovic is seeking to make tennis history in Cincinnati on Sunday -- but the formidable figure of Roger Federer stands in his way. While defending champion Federer will aim for a record-extending seventh title in the ATP Tour tournament, world No. 1 Djokovic will attempt to become the first singles player to win a complete collection of Masters 1000 titles.Follow @cnnsport The Serbian has lost four finals in the American city, which hosts one of the nine top-level tour events.Federer beat him in 2009 and 2012, and on Saturday Djokovic came close to a repeat of last year's shock exit.JUST WATCHEDGael Monfils: tennis' greatest entertainerReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGael Monfils: tennis' greatest entertainer 04:06JUST WATCHEDThe U.S. Open's extreme makeoverReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe U.S. Open's extreme makeover 03:34He was beaten in the third round 12 months ago on the hard courts by Spanish clay specialist Tommy Robredo, and this time was just two points away from losing to 66th-ranked Alexandr Dolgopolov in the semis.Read MoreDjokovic rallied, however, to triumph 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 against a player who came through the qualifying draw."He just plays more carefully on the big points," said the Ukrainian, whose resistance fell away in the final set as he needed medical treatment."You have to beat him and go for the risk. I really believed I can win and my game is enough to beat him. It was just the situation -- those few points decided everything."Djokovic reached his 25th Masters final, and will be seeking his 20th title since the beginning of 2011.The nine-time grand slam winner failed to complete a coveted major collection when he lost to Stan Wawrinka in June's French Open final.He will be up against the man he denied a record-extending eighth Wimbledon title in July's final.Federer, who's unbeaten in Cincinnati finals since winning his first in 2005, progressed after defeating Andy Murray 6-4 7-6 (8-6) in Saturday's second semi.If he beats Djokovic, the 17-time grand slam champion will reclaim the world No. 2 ranking from last week's Montreal Masters victor Murray ahead of the U.S. Open starting August 31."That is not the story," Federer said after beating Murray. "It's whether Novak can make history by winning the 'Golden Masters.' I will try to stop that and win my seventh title."The Swiss veteran has won seven of the nine Masters events, as has Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal.In men's doubles, American brothers Mike and Bob Bryan have a complete set, as does Canada's Daniel Nestor. Can Federer stop Djokovic? Tell us on CNN Sport's Facebook page

5sport

London (CNN)The UK seems to be obsessed with the man at the heart of its new government.He is widely regarded as a political genius. His name is in the papers every day. Some believe he was the single most important figure behind the country's decision to leave the European Union. And after three years of Brexit paralysis, he has promised to spend every waking hour in a herculean effort to make Brexit happen on October 31, do or die.This man is not Boris Johnson, the new British Prime Minister, but his most senior adviser, Dominic Cummings.If Johnson was the face of the official Brexit campaign, Vote Leave, Cummings was its brain. He is credited with creating the "Take Back Control" slogan and calculating the Brexiteers' widely-debunked claims that the UK sends £350 million ($424 million) to Brussels every week. Once a political outsider, he's now at the center of Johnson's efforts to prise the UK out of the EU in two months' time.For this profile, CNN spoke to multiple British government officials, civil servants, and former colleagues of Cummings. Most agreed to be quoted only on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly. Some would not be quoted at all amid concerns about discussing one of the most powerful -- and sometimes feared -- men in the UK. Read MoreAlmost everyone CNN spoke with agreed on one thing about Cummings -- his single-minded zeal to get the job in front of him done. The Leave campaign's success, it's often said, was down to its singular focus on a simple message. And the decision to have such a simple message was made by Cummings."What sets him apart from many people is the unbelievable strategic focus on the task at hand. Dom's favorite phrase was always 'don't get stuck in the weeds,'" says Gisela Stuart, a former opposition party lawmaker who chaired the Vote Leave campaign.Dominic Cummings was once a political outsider. Now he's at the heart of the UK government.A loathing for elitesCummings, 47, is not the sort of person typically associated with top-level politics. Despite having spent his whole career working for conservative politicians and a conservative think tank, he claims to have never been a member of any political party and loathes large parts of the governing Conservative party he now serves.He has stated publicly that he had to be convinced to lead Vote Leave. "I wasn't massively keen to get involved with this," he said in 2017, claiming that he'd had enough of the Conservative party's infighting over Brexit.Cummings largely shuns the spotlight -- Downing Street was approached for comment for this article but declined to provide any. He seems to revel in his reputation of being an irascible eccentric, his vast intellect perfectly matched with an instinctive understanding of how normal people think. Friends say he detests the political elites and relishes being seen as the strategic genius they all aspire to be.As a close friend puts it: "All of the charlatans and spivs are courtiers to the people at the top of their parties. They are all looking at Dom because he is doing what they wanted to do. The only problem is, they're bulls***, they're just style. Dom is the substance." His physical appearance can be messy: On the day Johnson took up residence in Downing Street, he was pictured in an old T-shirt, lurking in the corner. His manner can be bizarre: "He used to turn up to work wearing deliberately scruffy clothes and would quite often just sleep at his desk overnight," says a former colleague who worked with Cummings during his time as a political adviser to the Conservative party when it was in opposition. Dominic Cummings is seen in the background (R) on the day Boris Johnson (L) first entered 10 Downing Street as Prime Minister.Some colleagues find his behavior divisive. David Laws, a former Liberal Democrat lawmaker who worked with Cummings in the coalition government led by David Cameron, described him as a "Grade-A political rottweiler." He doesn't suffer fools and has a reputation for dismissing those he doesn't respect.Such was the fascination with Cummings and his role in Brexit, he was portrayed in a recent biopic by none other than Benedict Cumberbatch. James Graham, who wrote "Brexit: The Uncivil War," says his decision to make Cummings the central character was easy. "He is different, and different is fun... He doesn't speak or talk or behave like other political strategists I have met."Cummings was played by Benedict Cumberbatch in 'Brexit: The Uncivil War.'Since entering Downing Street Cummings has embarked on a wide-ranging shakeup of the civil service and the army of government aides, known as "special advisers," or in the Westminster parlance "spads," multiple sources have told CNN. Longer hours, endless reams of paperwork preparing for Brexit and canceled vacations have become normal. Cummings' devotion to work and enormous energy is being instilled across government.Yet despite this sudden increase in workload, it's hard to find anyone currently working with Cummings who has a bad word to say about him. Many civil servants and special advisers say that after former Prime Minister Theresa May's repeated failure to deliver Brexit, a single-minded commitment to leave the EU with or without a deal on October 31 has given them a fresh sense of purpose.While Cummings' eccentric style had been evident earlier in his career, it was when working as an adviser to then education secretary Michael Gove in 2010 that his way of doing things began to attract wider attention. He was reportedly dismissive of David Cameron and Nick Clegg, the Prime Minister and deputy prime minister for whom he and Gove worked. David Laws wrote in his book "Coalition" that Cummings once said to him while discussing education policy, "I don't like Clegg, but I think Cameron and No. 10 are muppets as well. They have no idea what they are doing." Cummings eventually left this job in 2014. Then he let rip.JUST WATCHEDWorries over Boris Johnson and a 'no-deal' BrexitReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWorries over Boris Johnson and a 'no-deal' Brexit 02:27In the years between leaving government and starting Vote Leave, Cummings retreated to his father's farm in the north of England and read. A lot. He would occasionally publish his thoughts on politics, politicians and more in long posts on his blog.Here, Cummings mused on issues far bigger than the politics of the day. He wrote extensively about how artificial intelligence and machine learning were developing faster than the brains of humans, and the dangers presented by this development. He wrote about how, post Brexit, the UK should consider working with the entrepreneur Jeff Bezos to build a moon base to advance international cooperation and "create real long-term value for humanity."And, of course, in almost all of these blogposts, he savaged the political establishment, both in London and Brussels, for its limited ambition and failure to prepare for what he saw as a longer-term crisis facing the human race.What motivated a man who so hates the establishment and wanted to leave politics lead a campaign that ultimately placed him at the heart of it? "If the UK leaves on 31 October... I think in his view that will be halfway through the mission; the second part will be the reorganization of government," explains a friend of Cummings.This ambition to change government is one side of the Cummings' master plan. The other is his belief that politics simply doesn't adequately serve the public. Cummings was behind the debunked claims by Vote Leave that the UK sent £350 million a week to the EU.Several former colleagues explained that his disdain for the ruling class came from his belief that for too long, the political elite had ignored the masses. In 2017, Cummings took particular aim at the Conservative party, claiming the view among much of the public was that it "is run by people who basically don't care about people like m... I am sad to say the public is basically correct."And it's this single-minded drive that so many admire in Cummings that enables them to overlook his flaws. "He's eccentric, he's off the wall, but he's never, in my experience, been wrong," says a Conservative party insider who worked with Cummings in the coalition government of 2010 to 2015. "His political judgment is brilliant... everyone who is on the opposing side should be astonishingly frightened." "Since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved," wrote the Italian diplomat Niccolò Machiavelli. That might have been true in 16th century Europe, but Machiavelli didn't have to deal with the UK's notoriously bureaucratic civil service, nor the intransigence of the European Union. Could Brexit be his downfall?Delivering Brexit rubs up against both of these obstructions. And it's here that even Cummings' admirers predict that his busy, take-no-prisoners approach to government could ultimately be his downfall. The civil service in London has a particular habit of wearing political appointments down. In Brussels, the EU also presents a challenge. However popular Cummings might be now, some in Westminster think that his way of doing things isn't sustainable. "I would say that he is very good at delivering a short-term task and cutting through the bulls*** to deliver that. I am not convinced he will be around in government in long term," says one of his former colleagues. Fortunately for Cummings, the job in hand has a firm deadline of October 31. After that, he might find himself eased out of Downing Street so that Johnson can begin governing more traditionally. Cummings is a paradox that even Machiavelli might struggle to understand. He is simultaneously loved, feared and respected. People who disagree with his methods cannot deny his genius and privately wish he was on their side. And despite his career of rejecting the establishment and political mainstream, his star continues to rise. It's worth remembering that in 2016, the Leave campaign was the underdog. No one believed that Cummings could pull off a victory for the pro-Brexit campaign. And even if the UK voted to leave -- as it did, narrowly -- the idea of leaving the EU without a deal was unthinkable. Now, it seems to be the most likely outcome."One of the best decisions that Matthew Elliot (chief executive of Vote Leave) made was to bring Dom in to run the strategy side of the Leave campaign. No one thought we could win the thing, but he had a plan, he stuck to it and it worked," says Daniel Hannan, a prominent Leave campaigner, and friend of Cummings.The outsider who defeated the British establishment now stands inside the most important building in London, ready to take on the Brussels establishment. The odds are stacked against him, and some believe his project is doomed to fail.But if history tells us anything, when Cummings seizes a plan and sticks to it, his opponents tend to break first. It's little wonder that Boris Johnson wanted him by his side as he embarks on the most controversial period in British political history.

3news

Story highlightsOAS commission hears grievances about Dominican vote processCountry denies it is rejecting voting by those with Haitian descent (CNN)A month away from presidential elections, one segment of Dominican Republic society fears it will be denied the right to vote.Dominicans of Haitian descent -- people born in the Dominican Republic to undocumented immigrants parents -- have been fighting for equality since 2013, when a court ruling annulled the citizenship of tens of thousands of Dominicans.A crisis over the sudden statelessness of so many led the Dominican government to provide a path for the affected to have their Dominican citizenship restored.Civil rights groups representing Dominicans of Haitian descent testified before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Washington on Friday, arguing that this segment of voters will be disenfranchised.Despite government claims that everyone who qualified to have their citizenship restored did so, and that no Dominicans will be denied the right to vote, the witnesses told the commission that the reality on the ground is very different.Read MoreAftermath of a crisisDominicans of Haitian descent have long complained that others treat them as second-class citizens.In 2008, Juliana Deguis -- born in the Dominican Republic to Haitian parents -- was denied a national ID card, allegedly because her last name sounded Haitian. The national ID card also is used for voting.Deguis filed a series of complaints that made it to the country's highest court. In 2013, the court ruled that not only was Deguis not a citizen because of her parents' immigration status, but that all Dominicans born to immigrants parents were not entitled to citizenship.On Friday, human rights promoter Noemi Mendez told the IACHR commissioners that the process to restore citizenship was such a mess that thousands of eligible voters do not have the proper national ID to vote.Plea to human rights commissionThe allegation against the Dominican government is that officials are violating the Inter-American Democratic Charter by holding an election where a segment of the citizens will not be able to participate.The IACHR is a branch of the Organization of American States."This segment is the victim of systemic discrimination," Mendez said. She accused the government of perpetuating the discrimination and inequality faced by those of Haitian descent.Another witness, Ana Maria Belique, told the story of one candidate for elected office -- a Dominican of Haitian descent -- who was not allowed to run because his papers were not in order.The one thing commissioners want to see: evidence and data to support the claim that Dominicans of Haitian descent stand to become disenfranchised voters, or that all complaints have been resolved.Government: No human rights violationsAt Friday's hearing, which was strictly kept within a one-hour time limit, representatives for the Dominican government said that all citizens of voting age can participate in the upcoming elections, including those of Haitian descent."The government's position is that everyone can exercise their political rights, no matter their race or background," government representative Mayelin Cordero testified.A Dominican boy of Haitian descent rides his bike in Esperanza, Dominican Republic, in July 2015. Dominicans in this segment of the population are fighting for equal rights.Cordero objected to the civil rights representatives' claim that tens of thousands of Dominicans are still in limbo regarding their nationality."All complaints that arose during the legalization process have been resolved," Cordero said.She said that the government "categorically denies that hundreds of thousands of people are stateless."Because of time constraints, the commissioners asked questions, but requested that the replies be submitted in writing later.Friday was the final day of week of hearings before the commission. During these sessions, people or groups could present their grievances, though the testimonies are part of specific cases on the issue.These hearings serve to inform the opinions of the commissioners and to provide updates on long-running conflicts. The commission will not directly address the validity of May's election in the Dominican Republic.

3news

Story highlightsReigning champion Samantha Stosur cruises through U.S. Open first round matchTop seed Victoria Azarenka also through after a crushing 6-0 6-1 winFormer world No. 1 Maria Sharapova and three-time champion Kim Clijsters throughFifth seed Petra Kvitova battles through first set tiebreak to make second roundAustralian Samantha Stosur made a strong start to the defense of her U.S. Open crown with a crushing opening victory at Flushing Meadows. Her Croatian opponent Petra Matric won just two games as the seventh seed marched to a 6-1 6-1triumph in just 51 minutes.Stosur won the first grand slam title of her career in New York last year, beating home-crowd favorite Serena Williams in the final.The 28-year-old will now face Edina Gallovits-Hall, an unseeded Romanian who has won through to the second round of year's final major for the first time.Speaking after the match, Stosur explained how being away from home has helped her game. JUST WATCHEDJim Courier's U.S. Open tipsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHJim Courier's U.S. Open tips 04:05JUST WATCHEDTennis star launches candy lineReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTennis star launches candy line 01:05JUST WATCHEDVenus Williams' passion for fashion ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHVenus Williams' passion for fashion 02:28JUST WATCHEDWilliams: 'Gold is my favorite color'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWilliams: 'Gold is my favorite color' 02:03"You're in the spotlight a bit more back home and you see yourself on TV and the newspapers even if you're not looking for it," the 28-year-old told reporters. "It's unavoidable, whereas here there are other players that are in that spotlight instead." U.S. Open: Get the latest scores and match statisticsWorld No. 1 Victoria Azarenka dropped just one game against Russia's Alexandra Panova as she secured her place in the second round.The Australian Open champion, eliminated in the third round of the 2011 event, took just 50 minutes to complete a resounding 6-0 6-1 win and set up a tie with Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens.Olympic silver medal winner Maria Sharapova put in a powerful performance against Hungarian Melinda Czink, winning 6-2 6-2.The 2006 champion wrapped up the match in just over an hour and will face Spain's world No. 78 Lourdes Dominguez Lino for a place in the last 32.A two-and-a-half-hour rain break did not trouble ninth seed Li Na, as she reached the second round for the first time since 2009 with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Britain's Heather Watson. She will now play unseeded Australian Casey Dellacqua.Three-time champion Kim Clijsters made a fine start to the final grand slam of her career, entertaining the Arthur Ashe Stadium with a 6-3 6-1 defeat of American Victoria Duval. The Belgian, who came out of retirement in 2009 and won back-to-back U.S. Open titles, will retire after this tournament and faces Britain's Olympic mixed doubles silver medalist Laura Robson in the next round.Fifth seed and 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova battled past Slovenian Polona Hercog 7-6 6-1 to set up a meeting with 50th-ranked Alize Cornet of France.

5sport

(CNN)Decades before President Donald Trump ever attacked the media, Senator Barry Goldwater introduced a new idea to the presidential campaign trail: liberal media bias.Goldwater was 1964's Republican presidential candidate, and he was convinced that the journalists covering the campaign were infusing their reporting with a left-leaning tilt while claiming to be neutral observers. As a staunch conservative, Goldwater believed this bias put him at a distinct disadvantage in his race against President Lyndon Johnson.Nicole HemmerStruggling in the polls, he insisted that his message — rolling back the New Deal and taking the fight to the communists — was popular with Americans. The trouble, he said, was that his positions were constantly being distorted by the liberal gatekeepers in the media. He needled the journalists trailing him, even handing out pins to reporters that read "Eastern Liberal Press."Goldwater's "liberal press" claim had some basis -- television news broadcasts and major papers based on the coasts were staffed with journalists who personally tended to support at least some level of desegregation, social safety net programs and US cold war policy -- but they weren't the cause of his uphill battle with voters. Since the end of World War II, Republicans and Democrats had hashed out a rough consensus on many of the major issues of the day — a consensus Goldwater regularly rejected as he adopted positions well outside the mainstream.It was his fringe position, not the press, that contributed to Goldwater's loss in a historic landslide. Yet even in defeat, he'd pioneered an argument that would become a staple of Republican campaigns: the US media favored Democrats and liberals, and skewed their reporting to help their preferred candidate.Read MoreCan Bernie Sanders beat Donald Trump? Here's the realityThis argument wasn't really true: many newspapers had a conservative bent, and most reporters maintained a commitment to the practice of objective journalism, regardless of their political preferences. But Goldwater discovered the political power of the bias charge, and future candidates would hone it into a brutally effective weapon -- including Trump, who has used it as a key strategy throughout his presidency and will use it during his 2020 re-election campaign.Goldwater was far from the first presidential candidate to complain about the press. In the 19th century, before the concept of objectivity became a journalistic norm, most newspapers were partisan. Criticizing papers for their political commitments made little sense — that was, after all, what newspapers were for from about 1790 through the late 1800s. In 1848, for instance, the Democrats and Whigs spent heavily to start newspapers just to circulate the party line. So despondent were the editors at the Republican Los Angeles Times after Democrat Grover Cleveland won the 1884 race, they simply refused to report the results for several days.Even after objectivity became a journalistic practice in the early 20th century, presidential candidates still found plenty to criticize in the nation's newsrooms -- but the complaint was seldom that the papers were too liberal. In the 1930s, Franklin Roosevelt regularly railed against newspaper publishers, who he dubbed "press barons." He wasn't wrong. Newspaper publishers often had a rooting interest in conservative presidential campaigns; one Republican president, Warren G. Harding, was himself a newspaper publisher. Henry Luce, who headed up a publishing empire including Time and Life magazines, pushed so hard for Republican Wendell Willkie in 1940 that one of his reporters cabled from the campaign train: "Take me off this train. All I can do is sit at the typewriter and write, 'Wendell Willkie is a wonderful man. Wendell Willkie is a wonderful man.'"For decades, this relationship between president and press was a state of affairs that rarely raised eyebrows among the public -- until Goldwater's 1964 campaign. With his complaints, he planted the seed for the now widespread belief among Republicans that the media is skewed to support the left, despite the reality at the time that many newspapers favored conservative Republicans. Conservatives see a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in TrumpHe did this by tapping into already simmering pockets of resentment across the US; his "Eastern Liberal Press" pins were rooted as much in region as ideology. The senator hailed from Arizona, and long nurtured a disdain for the dominance of Eastern media, politics and culture.And in the South, white-owned papers and television stations censored Northern coverage of the civil rights movement, and white southerners heatedly criticized Northern journalists for what they saw as pro-civil-rights bias.This meant that by the time Goldwater became the presidential nominee, there was an audience more than ready for his message -- one that had been arguing about journalism's alleged left-wing bias for more than a decade. Hearing their arguments popularized by a presidential candidate was a boon to a movement that had operated on the fringes of the two major parties.Cries of liberal media bias didn't save Goldwater. But they did pave the way for a much more powerful criticism of American journalism five years later, when Richard Nixon entered the White House. Nixon was no stranger to lashing out at the press, but he tended to argue that journalists were anti-Nixon, not anti-conservative. It was his vice president, Spiro Agnew, who transformed Goldwater's complaint into the one we recognize today: that a liberal coastal elite produces biased journalism that leaves the American people misinformed, hobbling their efforts to make wise political choices.This tactic isn't exclusive to conservatives -- Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is running for the Democratic nomination, has suggested that The Washington Post's coverage of his campaign is influenced by its ownership. But it is one that fueled the spread of a conservative media industry that remade American politics and journalism over the last 30 years. Belief in liberal media bias has become an article of faith on the right, a core part of conservative political identity.In recent years, the idea has undergone another metamorphosis. Donald Trump, with his "fake news" slur, has charged something well beyond simply favoring one ideology over another. He's accusing the media of wholesale fabrication -- a line that, while completely untrue, delights his base.Get our free weekly newsletterSign up for CNN Opinion's new newsletter.Join us on Twitter and FacebookUnder Trump, the purpose of the media attack has become even more apparent: to delegitimize all news that isn't subservient to him, while encouraging supporters to trust only one source — Donald Trump.Political journalism isn't above criticism, far from it. But for the right, attacking the media is less about improving coverage or pointing out actual errors and biases, and more about eliminating alternative sources of information and rallying a base willing to ignore any news that comes from outside the movement. Understanding that strategy is vital to understanding the 2020 election. And it started with Barry Goldwater, more than a half-century ago.

3news

Richard Gabriel is president of Decision Analysis, a national trial consulting company and author of "Acquittal: An Insider Reveals the Stories and Strategies Behind Today's Most Infamous Verdicts." The views expressed in this commentary belong to the author. View more opinion at CNN. (CNN)As a trial consultant, I have spent the better part of my 35-year career helping lawyers understand how trials can be easily lost even when they clearly have all the evidence and law on their side. It's an uncomfortable conversation and it comes down to a simple question: "Would you rather be right or would you rather win?" Often, you can't have both. Richard GabrielWith less than 30 days until the election, an infected President minimizing the risk of the coronavirus, the first raucous Presidential debate under our belts, and a high probability that the Republicans will be confirming another Supreme Court nominee, it is time for the Democrats to face the same difficult question. Let's take a good hard look at the facts that we should use to judge a sitting President. To date, more than 210,000 people have died in the US as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. More than 10 million jobs have been lost between February and September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and we are in the midst of a brutal economic recession. After nearly four years in office, Donald Trump has been embroiled in countless scandals, and the President has been impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress (although the Republican-led Senate voted to acquit him on both counts).Opinion: Trump's erratic actions put US at riskThose with close ties to Trump have written books accusing him of incompetence, narcissism, and racism (even though Trump believes no one has done more for Blacks than him) and an extraordinary number of retired military officers, national security leaders and high-profile Republicans support Democratic nominee Joe Biden, with many citing the threat another four years of Trump would pose to our democracy. Yet Trump's job approval ratings remain steady at almost 40%, with an average of 87% of Republicans approving of his handling of the presidency. Yes, Joe Biden is currently ahead in the national polls, but if the evidence shows Trump is a failure on several accounts, why isn't this a complete blowout for the Democratic nominee? Read MoreThe answer to this question is the abject failure of the Democratic Party to understand and communicate effectively with the voters who decide elections. It is no coincidence that the Lincoln Project, a Republican political action committee to prevent Trump's reelection, has created some of the most effective and hard-hitting campaign advertising this election cycle.Democrats on the other hand, have shown that they are incapable of controlling the narrative. They have also mistakenly believed that voters mainly use policies, facts, and logic to decide on candidates. They have consistently communicated their disdain for Trump's base, as evidenced by Barack Obama's "guns or religion" comment in 2008 and Hillary Clinton's "deplorables" comment in 2016. Sean Penn and José Andrés: President Trump, embrace your duty as a 'wartime president'Here are some harsh realities that the Democrats need to confront to win this election. First, many people don't vote on abstractions — they vote based on things that affect them personally. Democracy is an abstraction. Divisiveness is often an abstraction. For the most part, policies are abstractions. The voters that decide elections often don't care about abstractions. Second, Democrats must understand that fear as an emotion is much more powerful than hope. And third, Democrats must paint a stark picture of who Trump is, what he has done to this country, and what his reelection would really mean. So, with apologies to former first lady Michelle Obama, it is time to go low. And by going low, I mean the Democrats have to be brutally honest in order to reach the voters they need and attack two core values of Trump's authoritarian message: his "strength" and "success." As a trial consultant, I work with clients to ensure that they use the evidence presented in a case to create a powerful story that compels a jury to vote in their favor.If I were in charge of creating political ad campaigns for the Democratic Party, they would focus on how Trump's failures have a tangibly negative effect on voters and I would target Republicans, independent, and swing voters with messages that are personal and specifically designed to evoke an emotional response, like these:Trump's grotesque coronavirus theaterDonald Trump is weak. He has failed to stand up to Russia, China, North Korea and Saudi Arabia on key issues. He failed to stand up for our troops and confront Vladimir Putin for months following the US intelligence assessment that Russians offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill US troops in Afghanistan, calling it fake news instead. He didn't act when he knew about the dangers of the virus in January, which could have potentially prevented the US death toll from exceeding 200,000, claiming instead that he is the country's cheerleader. He acted irresponsibly throughout the pandemic and failed to follow basic public health guidelines that would have minimized his risk of exposure to the coronavirus. He can't protect you. He can't even protect himself. His weakness has made America weak. Donald Trump is a failure. His economy has failed you. His failed response to the pandemic could cost you your job, if it hasn't already. He is a failure at business, with his companies having filed for bankruptcy multiple times. He has failed coal workers, the manufacturing industry, and farmers with empty promises and a disastrous trade war. He has failed our soldiers by groveling and kissing up to our enemies. His failure makes America a failure. A Democratic ad could show footage of shuttered factories in battleground states, bare supermarket shelves, home foreclosures, drought-stricken farms, food lines, crying babies, and thousands of hungry, homeless people, warning that that's what people could face in Trump's America in 2021. Donald Trump despises you. He is trying to take away health care from millions of Americans. He has proposed cuts to Social Security, despite his own promises not to, and denials that he will. He wants to slash spending on your children's education if schools don't reopen. He wants to take your freedom of speech (online), even though he claims he's fighting censorship. He is willing to deploy federal law enforcement agents, some of whom beat a military veteran and broke his hand. And even if your mother, grandmother, brother, cousin and best friend all died from Covid-19, he might still insist it "affects virtually nobody." This ad could feature a running tally of Covid-related deaths, while clips show Trump minimizing the coronavirus risk and golfing, juxtaposed with images of body bags, overcrowded emergency rooms and sick people. This messaging can also be used for tight Senate races. Democrats should drive home the failures of incumbent Republican senators when it comes to the economy and their pandemic responses and hold them responsible for the deaths and loss of jobs in their states. While I would prefer to communicate the usual hopeful messages of unity that Democrats do so well, I know that too much is at stake to just take the high ground and hope for the best. Republicans have spent decades developing think tanks, which have mastered the psychology of language. Meanwhile, our education system has failed to teach citizens how to distinguish fact from fiction, with 47% of Americans who believe it's difficult to know if the information they encounter is true, according to an AP-NORC and USAFacts poll from 2019. It is a classic authoritarian method to control populations: keep them ignorant and keep them in fear. As a result, we now live in a post-proof, post-truth world where the message is perception and perception becomes reality if repeated frequently enough.Fascism and propaganda flourish in the fallow fields of ignorance. Until we can improve our education system and make critical thinking a priority, we must communicate in a way that shakes voters and wakes them up to the harsh reality of the consequences of this election, even if it makes us uncomfortable. Get our free weekly newsletterSign up for CNN Opinion's new newsletter.Join us on Twitter and FacebookBoth of my parents lost family members during the Holocaust before they were blacklisted under the reign of McCarthyism in the 1950s, so Republican authoritarianism casts a much darker shadow for them than me. I enjoy my righteous indignation and moral superiority as much as the next Democrat. But in this campaign, we can't afford to be righteous losers just to maintain the ethical high ground. It is not enough to complain about this administration or despair at the decline of our political environment. It is not enough to fend off the constant attacks on the principles we hold dear. It is not enough to naively believe that voters will use evidence rooted in facts and judge the candidates based on their platforms. If we truly want to fight for the legacies of Rep. John Lewis and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, we must fight to win. And we must use the weapons of language and persuasion to accomplish that goal. Only we can make America great again. Our very democracy will depend on it.

3news

(CNN)Former Formula One mogul Bernie Ecclestone, 89, and wife Fabiana Flosi, 44, have announced the birth of their son.The baby boy was born on Wednesday and is named Ace, a spokesperson for Ecclestone confirmed to CNN.The new arrival will be the billionaire's first son, and his first child with Flosi, joining daughters Tamara, Petra and Deborah from Ecclestone's previous marriages.Ecclestone and Flosi were married in 2012, and in 2016 Flosi's mother was kidnapped for ransom in Brazil. Aparecida Schunck Flosi Palmeira was released a week after being abducted.Ex-F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says Black people are often 'more racist than White people,' even as he praises Lewis Hamilton's drive for diversityEcclestone ran Formula One for 40 years before he was ousted in 2017.Read MoreHe is credited with overseeing the sport's transformation from an amateurish operation in the 1970s to the $8 billion business formally acquired by new US owner Liberty Media in 2017.Ecclestone remains an influential figure in the sport and caused controversy in late June for his comments on racism.Lewis Hamilton, six-time world champion and the first and only Black driver to compete in F1, has called out F1's "biggest stars" for "staying silent ... in the midst of injustice," and set up the Hamilton Commission to increase diversity in motorsport.Ecclestone praised Hamilton for his initiative but told CNN he does not think it will have a tangible impact on F1."In lots of cases, Black people are more racist than what White people are," he added.Bernie Ecclestone 'made some enemies ... but he did a lot of good' CNN challenged Ecclestone over the assertion and he was unable to provide any concrete evidence for the baseless claim beyond saying that he had "noticed" it over the years.Ecclestone joins an illustrious list of celebrities who have fathered children later in life.Charlie Chaplin was 73 when he and wife Oona O'Neil welcomed their son Christopher into the world, while media mogul Rupert Murdoch was 72 when he had his daughter Chloe with his then-wife, Wendi Deng, in 2003.Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro was 68 when he and Grace Hightower had their daughter Helen Grace, and Playboy founder Hugh Hefner was 65 when son Cooper was born to then-wife Kimberley Conrad.CNN's Aleks Klosok, Amanda Davies and George Ramsay contributed to this report.

5sport

London (CNN)The countdown is on: Meghan and Harry's first baby is expected any day now. The couple has just launched a joint Instagram account, sparking fevered speculation that a big announcement is on the way. Here's what we know so far -- and what the world is waiting to find out -- about the newest addition to the royal family.When did Meghan announce her pregnancy?Just five months after their wedding in May 2018, Harry and Meghan touched down in Australia for their first overseas tour as a married couple in October. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were expecting a baby during their Australian tour.What was already set to be a hectic visit turned into a royal frenzy when news that the couple were expecting broke just as they arrived in Sydney at the start of their 16-day tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga.Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in the Spring of 2019. pic.twitter.com/Ut9C0RagLk— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 15, 2018 Read MoreWhen is the baby due? Kensington Palace officials have been tight-lipped about the Duchess of Sussex's exact due date, other than to say that Meghan and Harry's first baby is due in the spring of 2019.But at various royal engagements since the original announcement, Meghan is said to have told members of the public the baby is due to arrive around the end of April or the beginning of May.Meghan has told well-wishers that the baby is due at the end of April, or beginning of May.Where will Meghan give birth?With just days or weeks to go, it is still unclear where the new royal baby will make his or her entrance into the world.In recent years, the Lindo Wing at London's St. Mary's Hospital has become the de facto maternity ward for royal births.Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, gave birth to her three children -- Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis -- at the hospital. It is also where Harry and his brother Prince William were born. Crowds greet Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge at the Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital.The "world class" maternity ward provides private birthing suites and even offers new mothers a "celebratory high tea" and a glass of champagne to welcome their new arrival.William's birth at the hospital in Paddington was something of a break with tradition, however, as until then all heirs to the throne had been born at home (or at one of the royal family's homes).Diana and Charles leave the Lindo Wing after the birth of their first son, Prince William, in July 1982.But, with Meghan and Harry recently moving from Kensington Palace to a new home -- Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, around 23 miles west of central London -- they may opt for a hospital nearby.Some media outlets have speculated that the couple may choose Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey as it could be more accessible for Meghan, should the former actress go into labor while in Windsor.However, others have reported that staff at the Lindo Wing have been asked to not take holiday in April -- something which may or may not be to do with Meghan's due date.Will it be a boy or a girl?No one knows whether the new arrival will be a boy or a girl. In fact, even the Duke and Duchess of Sussex don't know for sure. At an event in February, Meghan was overheard saying that the couple had decided not to find out the baby's sex before the birth.All eyes were on Meghan's baby bump when she and Harry traveled to Morocco in February.Regardless of modern medical technology, the sex of a royal baby isn't usually revealed until after he or she is born. So we'll all just have to wait and see.What happens after Meghan gives birth?Once the baby is born, Queen Elizabeth II, British Prime Minister Theresa May and the Governor General of each Commonwealth nation will be informed, along with the rest of the royals and Meghan's family in the United States.If the baby is born in the middle of the night it's unlikely the 92-year-old monarch will be woken up to hear the news, so in the event of an overnight delivery, an announcement likely won't be made until the following morning.Following the birth, an official notice will be signed by Meghan's doctors, confirming the newborn's gender, weight and time of birth. A notice is placed on an easel outside Buckingham Palace to announce the birth of a royal baby.This notice will be taken to Buckingham Palace, under police guard, where it will be framed and placed on an easel in the palace forecourt, for members of the public to read. When Kate and William's children were born, the Prince's savvy PR team was instructed to publicly announce the royal births on their official social media accounts at the same time. When will the public get to see the baby for the first time?This is up to Meghan and Harry, and will likely depend at least in part on where the royal baby makes his or her entrance.Catherine and William appeared on the steps of the Lindo Wing within hours of the births of both Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to introduce their newborns to the world's media and bystanders gathered outside the hospital's front door.The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave the Lindo Wing with their son Prince Louis.Whether reporters and well-wishers will be able to stake out a similar position for a prime view of Baby Sussex's debut is unclear.What will the baby be called?It could take anything up to 10 days after the birth for the baby's name to be announced.Until then, speculation will be rife. Diana, Alice and Victoria are all among the bookmakers' picks for a girl, while for a boy the favorites are Albert, Philip and Arthur.Tradition plays a huge role when choosing a royal name. Albert, for example, would be a reference to Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert and also to Queen Elizabeth II's father, King George VI, who was known as Albert until his accession to the throne. And, of course, Diana would be a nod to Harry and William's mother, who was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997.Diana is among the bookmakers' favorite names for a girl, after Harry's mother who died in 1997.But the couple could opt to skip tradition altogether, as Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter Zara Phillips did when she chose to name her daughters Mia Grace and Lena Elizabeth. Meghan's American background might even influence the couple's choice of name for their child.What surname will the baby have?Royal babies are given a lot of names -- Harry's full name, for example, is Henry Charles Albert David. But those titled His or Her Royal Highness don't, traditionally, have a surname.When William and Harry were at school and during their later military careers, they used "Wales" -- derived from their father's official title as Prince of Wales. Harry and Meghan -- the Duke and Duchess of Sussex -- were married at Windsor in May 2018.As descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, they could also use Windsor, or Mountbatten-Windsor -- both of which are relatively new inventions, adopted during World War I to disguise the family's German origins.As for Meghan and Harry, their child will likely use Sussex -- their assigned dukedom -- as a surname, just as William and Catherine's children use Cambridge at school.Could the baby be King or Queen?Meghan and Harry's child, who will be Queen Elizabeth II's seventh great-grandchild, will be seventh in line to the throne. He or she will follow Charles, the Prince of Wales -- who is currently the next in line, followed by William, his three children and Harry himself. So, does that mean the baby will be a prince or princess?Despite being seventh in line to the throne, Meghan and Harry's baby won't automatically become a prince or princess. That's because in 1917, King George V limited the use of such titles within the British royal family, and the couple's child will be too far down the line of succession. However, the Queen could step in to overrule that decree -- as she has done with William and Catherine's younger children, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis (since he's third in line to the throne, George was automatically a prince).Queen Elizabeth II will be one of the first to hear news of the birth of Meghan and Harry's baby.Will he or she have dual citizenship?Meghan and Harry's child will become the first British-American baby born into the royal family.The newborn will automatically be a British citizen, but the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will have to report their child's birth to an American consulate in order for him or her to obtain US citizenship.Harry and Meghan's child will be born a British citizen; he or she will also be eligible for US citizenship.In the case of the royal baby, he or she will be eligible because s/he was born in wedlock abroad to an American citizen who has lived in the US for a period of five years, at least two of which were after the age of 14 -- according to the US Department of State.Why has the world gone wild over Meghan and Harry's baby?News of the royal baby was a largely symbolic landmark for the UK's history books, particularly at a time when Britain's busy cutting its ties with the European Union, writes Jane Merrick for CNN."The new prince or princess will not only have that American heritage, but will also be the first biracial baby in line to the British throne," she said. Harry and Meghan's wedding was hailed as a unifying moment for the UK, amid divisions over Brexit."Any new baby is a symbol of hope for the future of any family. But these expectations will be made all the heavier for the newest member of the royal family -- particularly at a time of uncertainty and upheaval in the UK."According to Merrick, Meghan and Harry's wedding was a "much-needed counterpoint to the climate of fear and hostility over immigration that has become magnified since the Brexit referendum."

3news

(CNN)Swedish police said 15 to 20 people were injured in a fire at a shelter for asylum seekers on Saturday night.Two people were badly injured when they jumped from a window to avoid the fire in the town of Vanersborg, police said.Authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze.Riots erupt in Stockhold neighborhoodVanersborg's website said the city's "emergency support for psychosocial care" had been sent to the Restad Farm shelter in connection with the fire. "The municipality has also opened the school in the area to offer a safe place for children."Read MoreThe fire comes at a time of increased focus on immigration in the country.US President Donald Trump this month suggested that immigrants in Sweden were to blame for an increase in crime. Trump's statements puzzled many in Sweden.Sweden has taken in more refugees per capita than any other European country in recent years, fueling tension and spiking anti-immigrant sentiment.Asylum centers have been arson targets previously.Firefighters tackle a suspected arson attack at a refugee accommodation block in Fagersjo, south of Stockholm, in October 2016. In January 2016, a 22-year-old woman was murdered at the asylum center where she worked, bringing pressure to curb immigration.Statistics show that Muslims in Sweden are far more likely to be victims of hate crimes than perpetrators. Crime against Muslims in the country jumped by nearly 90% between 2012 and 2015, the government said.Center is former hospitalVanersborg is about an hour's flight from Stockholm. It has about 38,000 residents.Restad Farm is a former hospital. "In the last few years, the buildings have housed a large number of asylum seekers through the Swedish Migration Agency, and a number of new businesses have started here," its web site says. "Due to its generous size and beautiful location by the Gota River, the area is a popular recreation area for the locals."

3news

Story highlightsTwo leading swimmers touch the wall at the same timeGolfer sends tee shot into the cup (CNN)It was a night of triumph and history for the United States in two of the Olympics' showcase sports at the Rio Games.Swimmers Michael Phelps and Simone Manuel stole the show at the pool Thursday night, and superstar gymnast Simone Biles became the fourth straight American to win gold in the women's individual all-around event -- and she has opportunities to earn more next week.Manuel entered the history books by becoming the first African-American female swimmer to win an individual Olympics event.The two Simones inspired the hashtag #BlackGirlMagic as fans applauded their victories on social media.The Two Simones #BlackGirlMagic is real! @Simone_Biles @simone_manuel Two bright stars in a year not very kind to us pic.twitter.com/yj3mqtrbSe— Nila N. Brown (@AuthorNNBrown) August 12, 2016 The way in which the Stanford swimmer took gold in the women's 100-meter freestyle made for some Olympics magic, too: Manuel and Canada's Penny Oleksiak touched the wall at the same time.Read MoreSimone Manuel: 5 things to know about US swimmer who made historyFor just the third time in Olympics swimming history, a dead heat.Two gold medals won; two national anthems played at the podium ceremony.The win was part of an amazing day full of action at the Rio Games. One-two punch in gymnasticsSublime superstar Biles put on an all-time classic show in capturing the women's individual all-around gymnastics event. That makes it two dominating golds in two tries (her first being a member of the US winning team effort). But listen to Biles and she'll try to convince you that she's just Simone from Texas."I'm not a celebrity. I'm just Simone Biles, but it's amazing to be recognized for all of this success for myself and for team USA," she said. "I'm not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps, I'm the first Simone Biles."To me, I'm just the same Simone. I just have two Olympic gold medals now. I feel like I did my job tonight."We have news for you, Simone, you are indeed a celebrity now.Simone Biles chasing history at #Rio2016 -- https://t.co/zkcD1F4qgh pic.twitter.com/q0dVpA3oOK— John Sinnott (@JohnSinnott) August 11, 2016 Teammate Aly Raisman earned silver, making up for her disappointment four years ago in London. She finished fourth in that all-around after she lost a tiebreaker.The women's individual apparatus finals will run from Sunday to Tuesday. Biles qualified to compete in the vault, beam and floor exercise finals; Raisman also will compete in floor exercise.Team USA, led by Biles, takes goldSimone Manuel: 'This medal is not just for me'Manuel recognized the significance of her win after the race."It means a lot [to be the first black woman to earn gold in the pool]," Manuel said after the race. "This medal is not just for me. It's for a whole bunch of people that came before me and have been an inspiration to me. And it's for all the people after me, who believe they can't do it."If you know how Jim Crow metastasized in America's pools, you know how significant #SimoneManuel's gold medal is #Rio2016 #blackhistory— Kevin B. Blackistone (@ProfBlackistone) August 12, 2016 Manuel, 20, attends Stanford University, where she is a rising junior. She grew up in Texas. Her parents put her in swimming lessons at age 4 so she'd learn how to be safe in water, she said this year. But she enjoyed it so much, she immersed herself fully into her passion by age 9.During her senior year in high school, she became a household name in the swim community when she broke the national age group record on her 17th birthday.Phelps and a 2,000-year-old record Phelps wowed the crowd with an amazing golden performance in the men's 200-meter individual medley. Phelps' win also created some unusual history too with his 13th gold medal in an individual event. If you go all the way back to the beginning of time, or close to it, there was an ancient Greek who competed in the Olympics -- Leonidas of Rhodes. He won 12 individual events for which he was awarded some swanky headgear. Phelps, who took his tally to four gold medals at Rio by winning the 200IM for the fourth consecutive Games, moved ahead of Leonidas, who accomplished his feats more than 2,000 years ago.If Phelps' records are ever broken, it might take another 2,000 years. What if Michael Phelps were a woman?Just as the crowd was settling down from Phelps earning his 22nd gold medal, Manuel and Oleksiak treated the crowd to their thrilling finish.Party in FijiIn 13 prior Summer Games -- and three appearances by lone athletes at the Winter Olympics -- Fiji was oh-fer. No medals. Not since becoming an IOC member in the 1950s. Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps celebrates his 22nd Olympic gold medal after he won the 200-meter individual medley on Thursday, August 11. This is the fourth straight Olympics that Phelps has won the event.Hide Caption 1 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6U.S. swimmer Simone Manuel, right, hugs Canadian Penny Oleksiak after they tied for first place in the 100-meter freestyle. They finished in an Olympic-record time of 52.70 seconds. Manuel is the first African-American woman to medal in an individual swimming event.Hide Caption 2 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6U.S. gymnast Simone Biles waves to fans after winning gold in the individual all-around. Biles also won team gold earlier this week.Hide Caption 3 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Biles hugs her teammate Aly Raisman, who won the silver.Hide Caption 4 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Raisman reacts after her balance beam performance.Hide Caption 5 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Apisai Domolailai and Viliame Mata celebrate after Fiji won its first-ever Olympic medal with a 43-7 victory over Great Britain in the rugby sevens final.Hide Caption 6 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Osea Kolinisau scores Fiji's first try in the final.Hide Caption 7 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6British cyclist Callum Skinner was part of the gold-medal sprint team that also included Jason Kenny and Philip Hindes on Thursday.Hide Caption 8 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Canadian golfer Graham DeLaet tees off to start his first round. He finished the round tied for second place after a 5-under 66.Hide Caption 9 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Russian fencer Violetta Kolobova celebrates after defeating Estonia's Irina Embrich to win bronze in the team epee.Hide Caption 10 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Competitors sail during the women's Laser Radial event.Hide Caption 11 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6British fans cheer Charlotte Dujardin in the team dressage Grand Prix event.Hide Caption 12 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6American Kayla Harrison celebrates after winning the judo gold medal in the 78-kilogram (172-pound) weight class. Harrison also won gold at the 2012 London Games.Hide Caption 13 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Brazilian sailors Samuel Albrecht and Isabel Swan capsize during the Nacra 17 mixed race.Hide Caption 14 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Estonian fencer Irina Embrich, left, competes in the team epee event.Hide Caption 15 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Australian cyclist Patrick Constable gets ready to compete in team sprint qualifying.Hide Caption 16 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Ben Saxton and Nicola Groves sail for Great Britain in Guanabara Bay.Hide Caption 17 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade competes on the uneven bars during the individual all-around.Hide Caption 18 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Croatian center Miro Bilan, second left, eyes a rebound during a game against Brazil.Hide Caption 19 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Hungary's Ildiko Toth, left, tussles with Spain's Marta Bach Pascual during a water polo game.Hide Caption 20 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6China's Zhang Binbin competes in the 50-meter rifle (three positions). She won the silver.Hide Caption 21 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6German canoeist Luuka Jones won silver in the K-1 slalom.Hide Caption 22 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6A sailing event gets underway.Hide Caption 23 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Venezuelan boxer Albert Ramirez, in red, faces Algeria's Abdelhafid Benchabla in a light-heavyweight bout. Benchabla advanced to the quarterfinals.Hide Caption 24 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Belgian field hockey player Felix Denayer lies injured on the turf during a match against Spain.Hide Caption 25 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6British rugby player James Rodwell rises during a lineout against South Africa.Hide Caption 26 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Romania's Ana Maria Popescu celebrates after her fencing team won an epee quarterfinal match against the United States.Hide Caption 27 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6A Poland supporter has her face painted before a handball match.Hide Caption 28 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Badminton play began Thursday.Hide Caption 29 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Rowing teams from Romania, New Zealand and the Netherlands race during the women's eight competition.Hide Caption 30 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Canada's Belinda Trussell performs a routine during the dressage Grand Prix event.Hide Caption 31 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Morocco's Mohammed Rabii is punched by Kenya's Rayton Okwiri during their welterweight bout. Rabii advanced to the quarterfinals.Hide Caption 32 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6German rower Karl Schulze celebrates with his gold medal after winning the quadruple sculls competition.Hide Caption 33 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Chinese judoka Zhehui Zhang reacts after losing to Kayla Harrison in the 78-kilogram (172-pound) weight class. Harrison would go on to win the gold medal.Hide Caption 34 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Chinese badminton player Wang Yihan returns a shot during a singles match against Ireland's Chloe Noelle Magee.Hide Caption 35 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Barbara Engleder celebrates after winning gold in the 50-meter rifle (three positions).Hide Caption 36 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Poland's Mateusz Jachlewski prepares for a shot against Egypt.Hide Caption 37 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6South Africa's Jaco van Zyl hits a tee shot during the first round of the golf competition.Hide Caption 38 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6France's Audrey Tcheumeo won silver in the 78-kilogram (172-pound) judo competition.Hide Caption 39 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6France's Lauren Rembi reacts after her team lost to Russia in their epee quarterfinal.Hide Caption 40 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6Vladimir Samsonov, a table tennis player from Belarus, plays a shot against Zhang Jik of China.Hide Caption 41 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6South Korea's Ki Bo-bae competes in the individual archery competition. She ended up with the bronze.Hide Caption 42 of 43 Photos: Rio Olympics: Day 6China's Chen Long returns to Sri Lanka's Niluka Karunaratne during a badminton match.Hide Caption 43 of 43Well, get the trophy case ready because the men's rugby sevens team is bringing home gold. Sure, there are other rugby titles already on the Fiji resume, but to win the first gold medal ever handed out for rugby is an overwhelmingly special moment for the rugby-crazed nation. "I was just thankful to the lord for blessing us and giving us an opportunity to win in a mega-sport arena like the Olympics," captain Osea Kolinisau told reporters at a news conference that began with the sound of applause.The island nation of some 900,000 people was one big party Thursday. We can only imagine what it will be like when the team returns with their shiny new medals.Rose's aceIt's in the hole, it's in the hole!Great Britain's Justin Rose had a great tee shot on Thursday as golf returned to the Olympic program. On the 189-yard fourth hole the Englishman knocked one right at the flag. It took a few hops after landing on the green and rolled right in the cup.Olympic GamesRio 2016: Full coveragePhelps does it again for gold #22Fiji wins its first Olympic gold medalSimone Biles lives up to the hypeRecord number of LGBT athletes at RioSecond Olympic pool turns greenAthlete of the day is ...Rio: Before and afterSee inside Olympic villageNot that Rose saw it. According to the Los Angeles Times he wasn't sure what had happened. "It was either in or it was off the back edge," Rose said, the newspaper reported. "And the way the reaction was from the few people around the green, we figured it had gone in."Rose is fourth heading into the second round, sitting on 67. He is four shots behind leader Marcus Fraser of Australia.Hospitality houses at the Olympics -- which nation has the best digs?Gold medal roundupWinners of the other medal finals Thursday:Archery, Women's Individual -- Chang Hye-jin, South KoreaCanoe Slalom, Men's Canoe Double -- SlovakiaCanoe Slalom, Women's Kayak -- Maialen Chourraut, SpainFencing, Women's Team Epee -- RomaniaJudo, Men's 100 kilograms -- Lukas Krpalek, Czech RepublicJudo, Women's 78 kilograms -- Kayla Harrison, United StatesRowing, Men's Double Sculls -- CroatiaRowing, Men's Lightweight Men's Fours --SwitzerlandRowing, Men's Quad Sculls -- GermanyRowing, Men's Pairs -- New ZealandRowing, Women's Double Sculls -- PolandRowing, Women's Quad Sculls -- GermanyShooting, Women's 50-meter rifle Three Positions -- Barbara Engleder, GermanyTable Tennis, Men's Singles -- Ma Long, ChinaTrack Cycling, Team Sprint -- Great BritainHow to survive the Athletes' VillageCNN's Marilia Brocchetto, Jason Hanna, Julia Jones and journalist Claire Rigby contributed to this report.

5sport

Story highlightsJose Mourinho departs Chelsea for a second timePremier League champion is struggling in the league (CNN)Jose Mourinho isn't special anymore.Widely regarded as one of the world's best soccer coaches, Chelsea has sacked the Portuguese manager after an awful run of form left the English Premier League champion with no chance of retaining its title. Follow @cnnsport But Mourinho was so much more than just a football manager.Brands flocked to him, attracted by his swagger, but just importantly his ability to deliver outrageously provocative quotes. He was a man you either loved or hated. Were Chelsea right to sack Jose Mourinho? https://t.co/AOVqB0CyMV #CFC— CNN Sport (@cnnsport) December 17, 2015 So in April, Mourinho told one British newspaper that he was such a good manager that he was "getting better at everything related to my job," which underlines the 52-year-old didn't do self doubt.Read MoreAt that time he was preparing to celebrate Chelsea's triumph in winning the English Premier League title, but that jauntiness has long since disappeared as this serial winner has had to watch his side implode during the 2015-16 campaign.READ: How Mourinho's final match unfolded Photos: What's gone wrong for Jose Mourinho? Photos: What's gone wrong for Jose Mourinho?Guus Hiddink has been appointed the interim boss of Chelsea for a second time.Hide Caption 1 of 13 Photos: What's gone wrong for Jose Mourinho?The Dutchman has a glittering coaching CV, and was in temporary charge of the Blues between February and June 2009. Hide Caption 2 of 13 Photos: What's gone wrong for Jose Mourinho?Jose Mourinho was sacked as Chelsea manager Thursday, the club confirmed on its official website. The Portuguese manager endured a difficult downturn in results in the 2015-16 season, just months after leading Chelsea to the English Premier League title.Hide Caption 3 of 13 Photos: What's gone wrong for Jose Mourinho?Chelsea dominated in 2014-15, winning the championship by eight points from nearest rival Manchester City. Hide Caption 4 of 13 Photos: What's gone wrong for Jose Mourinho?However, near the halfway stage of the 2015-16 campaign, Chelsea was languishing just above the relegation zone following a 2-1 defeat by Leicester -- managed by Claudio Ranieri, who Mourinho replaced at Stamford Bridge in his first spell in 2004.Hide Caption 5 of 13 Photos: What's gone wrong for Jose Mourinho?The players have struggled too. Chelsea captain John Terry played every single minute of last season's league campaign and earned a new contract, but has often been sidelined this time around.Hide Caption 6 of 13 Photos: What's gone wrong for Jose Mourinho?Diego Costa, who scored 20 league goals last season, has endured criticism for his physical style of play, and was banned for three matches after an incident against Arsenal. Costa has managed just three goals so far this campaign.Hide Caption 7 of 13 Photos: What's gone wrong for Jose Mourinho?Nemanja Matic, one of the outstanding players of last season, has failed to repeat his form so far this term. He was sent off in the 2-1 defeat at West Ham.Hide Caption 8 of 13 Photos: What's gone wrong for Jose Mourinho?Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn angered Mourinho by entering the field of play to treat Eden Hazard during the 2-2 draw against Swansea City on the opening day of the season. Mourinho has been heavily criticized for his behavior towards Carneiro, who subsequently left the club.Hide Caption 9 of 13 Photos: What's gone wrong for Jose Mourinho?Roman Abramovich has transformed Chelsea's fortunes since taking over the club in 2003. In the past 12 years Chelsea has become one of the most successful teams in Europe and won the Champions League in 2012.Hide Caption 10 of 13 Photos: What's gone wrong for Jose Mourinho?Jurgen Klopp, who replaced Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool, piled more pressure on Mourinho when his team inflicted a 3-1 defeat on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on October 31.Hide Caption 11 of 13 Photos: What's gone wrong for Jose Mourinho?Pep Guardiola, head coach of Bayern Munich, has been linked with a move to Chelsea at the end of this season.Hide Caption 12 of 13 Photos: What's gone wrong for Jose Mourinho?It has also been rumored that Carlo Ancelotti -- who replaced Mourinho at Real Madrid in 2013 but is now without a club -- will return to Stamford Bridge, where the Italian won the Premier League and FA Cup double in 2010.Hide Caption 13 of 13Though Chelsea has qualified for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, Monday's 2-1 domestic defeat by Leicester left the Blues languishing one point above the relegation places. It was the club's ninth league defeat of the season.A statement on the club's official website read: "All at Chelsea thank Jose for his immense contribution since he returned as manager in the summer of 2013. Both Jose and the board agreed results have not been good enough this season and believe it is in the best interests of both parties to go our separate ways."The club wishes to make clear Jose leaves us on good terms and will always remain a much-loved, respected and significant figure at Chelsea. JUST WATCHEDLooking back on Mourinho's Chelsea reign ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLooking back on Mourinho's Chelsea reign 02:36"His legacy at Stamford Bridge and in England has long been guaranteed and he will always be warmly welcomed back to Stamford Bridge. The club's focus is now on ensuring our talented squad reaches its potential."Social media reacts to Mourinho's sackingIt is the second time Mourinho has been relieved of his duties at Stamford Bridge, with billionaire club owner Roman Abramovich also wielding the axe in 2007.His sacking signals a remarkable fall from grace for a man regarded as one of the world's best -- Mourinho has also won league titles in Italy, Spain and Portugal, plus two Champions League triumphs with Porto and Inter Milan.He returned to England in June 2013 after a tumultuous spell at Real Madrid, where he described his final season as the worst in his career after failing to win a trophy.Jose Mourinho: What went wrong for the 'Special One' and Chelsea?Mourinho signed a four-year deal at Chelsea, and the team finished third in his first season back before ending a five-year wait to win the domestic championship the following year.However, this season has been more difficult, with Mourinho embroiled in a controversy that led to the departure of Chelsea's female team doctor Eva Carneiro.He has been twice fined by the English Football Association -- for a total of £90,000 ($135,000) -- and given a one-match stadium ban for incidents during and after matches with Southampton and West Ham.Chelsea have lost nine league matches this campaign, more than in the previous two seasons combined, and sit 20 points off leaders Leicester.After the game he told reporters he felt "betrayed" by his players, who had failed to carry out his tactical instructions."One of my best qualities is to read the game for my players and I feel like my work was betrayed," Mourinho told Sky Sports."One possibility is that I did an amazing job last season and brought the players to a level that is not their level and now they can't maintain it."Jose Mourinho: Social media reacts to manager's sackingWhen asked after the game if he thought he would be given more time to turn things around he told reporters: "The only thing I can say is that I want to. "I have no doubts and I think you know me well enough, three years this time, plus three years another time, that I am not afraid of a big challenge, and in this moment this is a real big challenge. "I want to stay, I hope Mr Abramovich and the board want me to stay."The club gave the 52-year-old a vote of confidence in October, saying he had the board's full support even though they admitted that results hadn't been good enough.Since then Chelsea have suffered five more defeats in the Premier League, and could drop into the relegation zone if it is beaten by Sunderland on Saturday and other results don't go its way.

5sport

Story highlightsSolo will not return to club this seasonGoalkeeper, 35, serving 6-month banTrial pending for domestic violence chargeCalled Swedish opponents "cowards" (CNN)After a tumultuous few weeks, Hope Solo says she needs some time on her own. The 35-year-old goalkeeper, who is serving a six-month suspension from the US women's national team following a contentious time at the Rio Olympics, has announced she will not be returning to her club team, the Seattle Reign, this season.Follow @cnnsport "Coming to terms with the fact I was fired from the US women's national team after 17 years of service has been devastating," Solo wrote on her social media accounts Tuesday. "After careful consideration, I have decided to end my season with the Seattle Reign, an organization I love playing for," she added. "Mentally, I am not there yet." READ: Hope Solo 'saddened' by 6-month USNWT suspensionpic.twitter.com/ogdYGQzniK— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) August 30, 2016 Read MoreWith two Olympic gold medals and one World Cup title under her belt, Solo has long been acknowledged as the world's top female goalkeeper. But the Washington native has also been a polarizing figure in the sports world for number of years. In the lead-up to the London 2012 Olympics, she admitted to going on the Today Show drunk after partying all night following her 2008 gold medal win in Beijing. In 2014, Solo was arrested on domestic assault charges related to a drunken fight with her half-sister and her nephew (a local judge dismissed the charges on procedural grounds; a state appeals court reinstated them and trial is pending).READ: Who's really to blame for Hope Solo's fall?In 2015, Solo was suspended from the national side for 30 days after her husband was arrested and charged with driving the US Soccer team van under the influence (Solo was with him at the time).Not sharing this!!! Get your own! #zikaproof #RoadToRio pic.twitter.com/y3d8hnuEjk— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) July 22, 2016 Leading up to the Rio Olympics, she created a stir by posing under a bee net with insect repellent in hand, prompting cries of "Zika!" by local fans every time she touched the ball -- a reference to the virus that concerned many athletes ahead of the Games. On the pitch, Solo was not at her best in Rio. She let a crucial goal slip through her legs against Colombia, before venting her frustration after crashing out to Sweden on penalty kicks. Calling the Swedes "cowards" after the semifinal match appeared to be the last straw for US Soccer, which promptly suspended her for what it said was an accumulation of actions. JUST WATCHEDUS women's soccer team loses to Sweden in RioReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHUS women's soccer team loses to Sweden in Rio 00:50JUST WATCHED2012: Hope Solo: 'I have a bad rap'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH2012: Hope Solo: 'I have a bad rap' 01:36Seattle plays in the 10-team National Women's Soccer League and has four regular season games left on its schedule. The team is in fifth place, one spot out of playoff contention. Solo was granted personal leave from the Reign's last match, but has left her future with the team -- and her career -- in doubt. Solo cited the solid play of her understudy Haley Kopmeyer as one reason she felt comfortable with the move.Will Solo play again? Have your say on our Facebook page"I truly believe this decision is what's best for me and for the Reign organization," she said. Reign coach and general manager Laura Harvey accepted her goalkeeper's decision with comments on the team's Twitter account. Visit cnn.com/football for more soccer news"While disappointed that Hope will not return to Reign FC this season, we understand and respect her decision," she said. Solo, whose contract with US Soccer was set to expire at the end of the year, will not be eligible for national team selection again until February.

5sport

Story highlightsCBS Correspondent Bob Simon died Wednesday in a car accidentAnderson Cooper says Bob saw everything with keen, fresh eyesAnderson Cooper is the anchor of CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360°," which airs weeknights at 8 p.m. ET on CNN. The views expressed are his own. (CNN)There was nothing simple about Bob Simon. Except that he was simply the best. The best writer. The best correspondent. As F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote of Gatsby, the best of the "whole damn bunch."He'd started in Northern Ireland and never seemed to stop. Hurling himself into the breach. Into the pulse. And the pain -- time and time again.How many plane rides? How many careening cars? How many kisses to loved ones goodbye? How many bullets? How many bombs? How many tragedies and tears?Stunned to report the death of legendary CBSNews correspondent #BobSimon— Anderson Cooper (@andersoncooper) February 12, 2015 Bob saw everything with keen, fresh eyes. He died at 73, still curious, still doing the work, boarding the planes, asking the questions, writing the stories and making them sing.He was a warrior poet, a traveling wordsmith whose voice was shaped by all he'd seen.Read MoreVietnam. Somalia. South Africa. Bosnia. Haiti. Israel. Iraq. Barbarism, brutality, compassion, kindness -- Bob knew it's often intertwined. He bore witness, captured moments and saw details others routinely missed.#BobSimon was the best writer, in my opinion, working in broadcast news. I have admired him from the time I was a kid watching #CBSNews— Anderson Cooper (@andersoncooper) February 12, 2015 He also wrote sentences we had not heard -- showed us stories we had not seen -- and we were lucky he came our way.For many of us, he was the correspondent we dreamed of being, the writer we wished we were. Not too long ago, he wrote a piece for "60 Minutes" about a choir in Kinshasa. In a place known for poverty, Bob found an ode to joy.On this sad, senseless day, perhaps it's best to remember that.

3news

Story highlightsBoth men were activists for gay, lesbian, transgender rights Al Qaeda affiliate claims responsibility for killingsThe slain USAID worker was also editor of Bangladesh's first LGBT magazine (CNN)Ansar al-Islam, the Bangladeshi division of al Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent, has claimed responsibility for the killings of two LGBT-rights activists who were hacked to death Monday evening in Dhaka.The claim was made in a statement distributed on social media.Xulhaz MannanUSAID, an American government agency for poverty prevention, identified one victim as Xulhaz Mannan. Mannan worked at the organization but also served as editor of the country's first LGBT magazine. "Today, USAID lost one of our own," the statement said. "He was the kind of person willing to fight for what he believed in, someone ready to stand up for his own rights and the rights of others," USAID Administrator Gayle Smith said in a statement.Tanay MojumdarThe other victim was Tanay Mojumdar. Like Mannan, he was openly gay and was a leader in the fight for LGBT rights, a British photographer told CNN's Ivan Watson. The photographer did not want to be named for fear of being barred from Bangladesh.Read MoreThe two were not romantically involved with each other, the photographer said.Human Rights Watch, an international non-governmental organization, called on Bangladesh to investigate the killings of the two activists. Monday's attack follows several others in Bangladesh since 2013, including the hacking death of a professor at a bus stop Saturday and the killings of several bloggers -- six in the past 12 months alone.Is there a way to protect Bangladeshi writers?Horrified & condemn the senseless murder of my friend and #humanrights activist #Xulhaz. Perpetrators must be brought to justice.— Robert Gibson (@HCRobertGibson) April 25, 2016 "They knew ... there was a danger"Tanay Mojumdar, the photographer said, was a "minor celebrity" who had acted in a hit play in Bangladesh and appeared on television. "Tanay got a threat last year because he was photographed in the gay pride parade," the photographer said. "And that photograph was published in places in the Bangladeshi newspapers."They knew that basically, there was a danger," the photographer said. "There was a threat because there had been all these bloggers killed and a couple of foreigners killed," the photographer said. "They decided not to tell everyone because it would spread fear. They were encouraging everyone to be open."JUST WATCHEDSecular blogger hacked to death in BangladeshReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSecular blogger hacked to death in Bangladesh 05:03Mannan oversaw Roopbaan, a Dhaka-based LGBT magazine that describes itself as "a platform and publication promoting human rights and freedom to love in Bangladesh."The Roopbaan team had been receiving threats from various Islamist pages on Facebook for some time, said Boys of Bangladesh, the country's largest gay rights group. Mannan had been a prominent member of Boys of Bangladesh since 2005 and many of its leading activists have been living in fear, it added. Attackers posed as couriers The two were in an apartment when five or six young men posing as couriers arrived under the guise of delivering a package, said Mohammad Iqbal, the officer in charge of the Kalabagan police station.The attackers entered the second-floor apartment and hacked them to death with machetes, Iqbal said. Mannan's mother and a maid were also in the flat at the time, he said. Both are alive."The brutal killing today of an editor of an LGBTI publication and his friend, days after a university professor was hacked to death, underscores the appalling lack of protection being afforded to a range of peaceful activists in the country," said Champa Patel, Amnesty International's South Asia director.U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the killing a "barbaric murder."Second hacking attack this weekJUST WATCHEDPolice: Professor hacked to death in BangladeshReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHPolice: Professor hacked to death in Bangladesh 02:28The killings come a day after Bangladeshi police detained a university student in the hacking death of 58-year-old Rezaul Karim Siddique, an English teacher at Rajshahi University.Rajshahi police Commissioner Mohammad Shamsuddin said the student wasn't charged and it remained unclear why Siddique had been stabbed in the neck as he awaited a bus to take him to campus Saturday. "He was neither a blogger nor an anti-Islamic campaigner, but the pattern of the murder indicates Islamist militants involved in the recent spate of killings of secular bloggers might have a link," Shamsuddin said.ISIS claimed responsibility for Siddique's death, saying he was slain "for calling to atheism." CNN could not independently confirm either the terror outfit's claim or Siddique's religious beliefs. Extremists have 'hit list'Reports of hacking deaths go back to 2013 in Bangladesh, most of them targeting bloggers. Since last year, Nazimuddin Samad, Faisal Arefin Dipan, Ananta Bijoy Das, Niloy Neel, Washiqur Rahman and Avijit Roy are among the writers who have been killed. In September, Islamic extremists said they wanted to take their war against secular writers beyond Bangladesh's borders. They released a "hit list" of people they would target in Europe and North America."Let Bangladesh revoke the citizenship of these enemies of Islam," a statement accompanying the list says. "If not, we will hunt them down in whatever part of God's world we find them and kill them right there."Amnesty alleges that Bangladesh authorities have done little to discourage such attacks. Exiled lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists told the watchdog group that when they attempted to report threats to authorities, police responded by warning them they could be charged with "unnatural offenses."Rather than offer security, Amnesty said, police have warned LGBT activists to be "less provocative." CNN's Ivan Watson, Ravi Agrawal, Holly Yan, Deborah Bloom, Bijan Hosseini, Serenitie Wang, Farid Ahmed contributed to this report.

3news

Story highlightsTennis star Andy Murray present at Dunblane attack, pays tribute to Connecticut victimsCampaign against gun ownership led to 750,000-name petition handed to governmentBritish public generally supported ban -- most saying they saw no need for gunsDespite fall in gun crime since ban introduced, in 2010 a lone gunman killed 12 peopleThe deaths of 16 children aged five and six together with their teacher in the Scottish town of Dunblane in 1996 was one of Britain's worst incidents of gun-related violence. The massacre stunned the country, but what did the UK do to try to prevent such a tragedy happening again? What happened at Dunblane?Shortly after 9 a.m. on March 13, 1996, Thomas Hamilton, a 43-year-old former Scout leader, burst into the gymnasium of a primary school in the tranquil Scottish town of Dunblane. Within minutes 15 children aged five and six had died in a hail of bullets. One died later in hospital. Their teacher, Gwen Mayor, a 44-year-old mother of two, died in the attack, reportedly while trying to shield her pupils. Two other teachers were also seriously injured while heroically trying to protect children. Hamilton turned one of his four handguns on himself and was found dead at the scene. Tennis star Andy Murray, who grew up in Dunblane, was present during the attack at his school, but normally refuses to speak about his experience. He posted this tribute during the weekend on his website: "My heart goes out to all those poor children, their families and the community in Newtown in Connecticut, so so sad."JUST WATCHEDLooking abroad for gun control solutionsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLooking abroad for gun control solutions 03:23JUST WATCHEDMorgan, guests fired up over gun controlReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMorgan, guests fired up over gun control 02:12In his autobiography "Hitting Back," Murray recalled how as an eight-year-old boy he was walking to the gymnasium when shooting broke out. A teacher led him and his classmates into the headteacher's study where they took refuge."Some of my friends' brothers and sisters were killed. I have only retained patch impressions of that day, such as being in a classroom singing songs. The weirdest thing was that we knew the guy [Hamilton]. He had been in my mum's car. It's obviously weird to think you had a murderer in your car, sitting next to your mum."Who was Hamilton?Many local people said Hamilton was an oddball -- a loner obsessed with guns and young boys, someone who didn't fit into society. He was reported to have held a grudge against the Scouting movement and his local community after police questioned him about inappropriate behavior to boys in his care. Raymond Reid, secretary of a local shooting club that rejected Hamilton for membership, described him as "sleazy.""He was just one of these people that you got a gut feeling about ... didn't like -- or at least I didn't particularly like him," Reid said. Nevertheless, Hamilton held a permit to own handguns, possibly including the ones he used at Dunblane. What was the reaction to the massacre?The massacre, one of the worst incidents of gun violence in Britain, had a massive impact in Scotland, the rest of the UK and around the world. "This is a slaughter of the innocents, unlike anything we have ever seen in Scotland, and I think Scotland is going to have to come to terms with it," said Scottish MP Helen Liddell at the time. After the massacre, appalled residents of Dunblane and bereaved relatives demanded to know how a person like Hamilton could be allowed to own guns. A highly successful public campaign in the months after Dunblane against gun ownership culminated in a petition being handed to the government with almost 750,000 signatures, according to British media reports.In response, then Conservative Prime Minister John Major set up a public inquiry to look into gun laws and assess ways to better protect the public. What happened next?In the wake of the 1987 Hungerford massacre, in which one lone gunman killed 16 people, Britain introduced new legislation -- the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 -- making registration mandatory for owning shotguns and banning semi-automatic and pump-action weapons.Within a year and a half of the Dunblane massacre, UK lawmakers had passed a ban on the private ownership of all handguns in mainland Britain, giving the country some of the toughest anti-gun legislation in the world. After both shootings there were firearm amnesties across the UK, resulting in the surrender of thousands of firearms and rounds of ammunition.Britain has never had a "gun culture" like that of the United States, but there were about 200,000 legally-registered handguns in Britain before the ban, most owned by sports shooters. All small-bore pistols, including the .22 caliber, were included in the ban, along with rifles used by target shooters. Penalties for anyone found in possession of illegal firearms range from heavy fines to prison terms of up to 10 years. "It was one of the most shocking things that has ever happened in this country and it united the country in a feeling that we had to do something," Gill Marshall Andrews, of the Gun Control Network, told CNN. "And I don't think that it would have been possible to make the kind of progress that we have made without that tragedy." The public generally supported the ban, with most saying they saw no need for guns. However, others complained bitterly that the ban deprived legitimate sports shooters of their hobby and demonized them. "Just because we enjoy shooting doesn't mean that we think everybody should be free to go into any shop on any street corner and buy a gun without having some suitable checks," firearms expert Michael Yardley, spokesman for Britain's Sportsmans' Society, said at the time. "There is obviously a balanced position. What we don't like is being scapegoated."Anyone who has any expert knowledge in this field realizes that a simplistic ban, bureaucratic ban on one category of firearm, was never going to solve a real world problem," Yardley said. "But that's what's happened, and what we're going to see is handgun crime will continue as ever. It will probably grow." What effect did the ban have?According to bare statistics, the ban initially appeared to have little impact, as the number of crimes involving guns in England and Wales rose heavily during the late 1990s to peak at 24,094 offenses in 2003/04. Since then the number has fallen in each year. In 2010/11 there were 11,227 offenses, 53% below the peak number, according to the official crime figures. Crimes involving handguns also fell 44% -- from 5,549 in 2002/03 to 3,105 -- in 2010/11.Despite this, the effectiveness of Britain's gun laws has been repeatedly questioned. The most high-profile mass shooting happened in 2010 when a lone gunman killed 12 people in a four-hour shooting spree in rural Cumbria, northern England. After a huge manhunt, the body of 52-year-old taxi driver Derrick Byrd was found alongside two powerful rifles, one equipped with a telescopic sight.Criminologist Peter Squires said the real picture shows a slight but significant decline in the use of firearms since Dunblane. The figures don't tell the whole story, he said, but "the murder rate has fallen and all the indicators are moving in the right direction."Squires, professor of criminology at Brighton University and a member of the Gun Control Network, said he believed the fall in crimes where guns were used was due to new legislation coupled with better policing against gangs. "Any weapon can be misused in a crime. Gun control will never be a complete solution to events like the mass shooting we saw in Connecticut. The swamp of gun use has not been fully drained and while tighter gun control removes risk on an incremental basis, significant numbers of weapons remain in Britain."He added it was important to note that a big problem remained in Britain and other countries with imitation guns, converted weapons such as starting pistols and air guns, "which many people regard as only one step up from a toy."

3news

Story highlightsRory McIlroy chasing fifth major Burst onto scene as 18-year-old amateur at Carnoustie in 2007Scottish venue hosts 147th Open, beginning ThursdayCarnoustie, Scotland (CNN)He's the curly-haired kid who lit up Carnoustie as an amateur, and now Rory McIlroy hopes to channel some of that boyish bounce as he seeks a fifth major title at the Open this week.McIlroy, a childhood prodigy from Northern Ireland, made his splash on the wider golf scene as a chirpy 18-year-old when the Open was last played at Carnoustie in 2007.Follow @cnnsport The cheerful, chubby youngster was tied fourth after the first round and ended the week as the leading amateur, launching a career which has given him multiple spells as world No.1 and yielded untold riches.But without a major in four years, the now married 29-year-old thinks embracing his youth could be the key to the future -- barring that thick mop of curly black hair."Looking back at the pictures, it's funny. It's great memories," the now well-honed McIlroy told reporters at Carnoustie.Read More"When I looked in the mirror back then I didn't think it was as big as it was. Anyways, we live and learn."He added: "I remember that week very fondly. I hadn't even turned pro yet and didn't know what to expect or the journey that I was about to embark on."READ: "He's gone gaga" -- was this sport's greatest disaster?READ: Why "old man" Tiger could be a Claret Jug contenderRory McIlroy won the silver medal for leading amateur in 2007.'Young and oblivious'McIlroy turned pro later that year and rocketed up the rankings, first reaching the top spot in March 2012.He enjoyed a prolific streak from 2011, when he won his first major, the US Open, adding a US PGA title in 2012 and clinching the Open and US PGA again back-to-back in 2014.JUST WATCHEDHow well does Rory McIlroy know his career?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHow well does Rory McIlroy know his career? 01:37Since then his flame has flickered, but McIlroy hopes his major mojo can return by revisiting his 18-year-old self."I've alluded to the fact that sometimes I think I need to get back to that attitude where I play carefree and just happy to be here," said McIlroy, who is now ranked eighth."It was my first Open Championship. I was just trying to soak everything in. "Sometimes, the pressure that's put on the top guys to perform at such a high level every week, that starts to weigh on you a little bit. But I look back at those pictures and the more I can be like that kid, the better."JUST WATCHEDRory McIlroy: I will win the Masters ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRory McIlroy: I will win the Masters 02:23He added: "I think as you get a little older, you get a little more cautious in life. It's only natural. "There is something nice about being young and being oblivious to some stuff. "When we last played the Open here I was bouncing down the fairways, didn't care if I shot 82 or 62. The more I can get into that mindset, the better I'll play golf."READ: Tiger Woods and co. tackle "Car-nasty" Photos: Holywood starSlipping from the top: Rory McIlroy was last golf's world No.1 in June (he is now ranked No. 5) and is bidding to win a fifth major and his first since 2014.Hide Caption 1 of 32 Photos: Holywood starGrand Slam chasing: McIlroy just needs the Masters to become only the sixth player to win a career grand slam of all four major titles alongside legends of the game Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.Hide Caption 2 of 32 Photos: Holywood starStandout junior: The young Northern Irishman was a child prodigy. He won the World U10 title and here poses with six-time major champion Nick Faldo after winning the Under 17 Division of the 2006 Faldo Junior Series at Celtic Manor in Wales.Hide Caption 3 of 32 Photos: Holywood starAmerican idol: The young Rory idolized Tiger Woods, who won his first major in 1997 when McIlroy was eight. At nine, he wrote to the US star, saying he was "coming to get him."Hide Caption 4 of 32 Photos: Holywood starWider prominence: He was well known on the amateur scene, making Tiger-esque waves in Northern Ireland, but McIlroy first showed his talents to a wider audience as an 18-year-old when he finished as the best amateur at the 136th British Open at Carnoustie, Scotland, in 2007.Hide Caption 5 of 32 Photos: Holywood starProfessional breakthrough: He delayed turning pro until after the Walker Cup, the amateur version of the Ryder Cup, in September 2007. He won his first pro event at the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic.Hide Caption 6 of 32 Photos: Holywood starFamily affair: McIlroy's delighted parents Gerry and Rosie had worked multiple jobs and poured every penny into his obsession with golf from a young age.Hide Caption 7 of 32 Photos: Holywood starBreaking America: His first win in the US came at the Quail Hollow Championship in May 2010.Hide Caption 8 of 32 Photos: Holywood starMajor looming: A first-round 63 at the 2010 British Open at St. Andrews suggested McIlroy's first major title was imminent.Hide Caption 9 of 32 Photos: Holywood starBlown off course: But he struggled to cope with wild winds on day two and dropped back before battling to a distant third place behind South African Louis Oosthuizen.Hide Caption 10 of 32 Photos: Holywood starNear miss: A few weeks after the British Open, McIlroy missed out on a playoff by one shot to finish tied third at the US PGA at Whistling Straits.Hide Caption 11 of 32 Photos: Holywood starHair raising: European Ryder Cup players and caddies wore wigs resembling Rory McIlroy's shock of curly dark hair ahead of a practice session for the 2010 event at Celtic Manor.Hide Caption 12 of 32 Photos: Holywood starMajor coronation?: McIlroy was in inspired form at Augusta for the 2011 Masters and led by four shots going into the final day. A maiden major victory looked to be a formality.Hide Caption 13 of 32 Photos: Holywood starMasters meltdown: He still led by one on the 10th tee in the final round. But an errant drive into trees to the left of the fairway sparked a famous collapse as he dropped six shots in three holes.Hide Caption 14 of 32 Photos: Holywood starScar tissue?: He carded a final-round 80 after having one arm in the green jacket. Many thought he'd struggle to get over his collapse.Hide Caption 15 of 32 Photos: Holywood starRecord breaker: However, he rebounded in spectacular fashion with a wire-to-wire victory in the US Open two months later, breaking a host of scoring records along the way.Hide Caption 16 of 32 Photos: Holywood starMajor winner: McIlroy won his maiden major title by eight shots at Congressional Country Club, marking him out as the game's hottest property.Hide Caption 17 of 32 Photos: Holywood starHomecoming: He took the US Open trophy home to Holywood Golf Club outside Belfast where he learned the game as golf-mad youngster.Hide Caption 18 of 32 Photos: Holywood starFair weather golfer: But at the British Open that summer, McIlroy struggled again in bad weather and told reporters he was not a fan of having to battle the elements.Hide Caption 19 of 32 Photos: Holywood starTop of the world: Victory in the Honda Classic in Florida in March 2012 took McIlroy to world No.1 for the first time -- less than five years after turning pro.Hide Caption 20 of 32 Photos: Holywood starRunning late: An alarm clock episode meant McIlroy needed a police escort to make the course on time but he succeeded in winning his Sunday singles match to help Europe pull off the "Miracle of Medinah" in the Ryder Cup in Chicago.Hide Caption 21 of 32 Photos: Holywood star'Brain dead': In another honest assessment of his disappointing play, McIlroy admitted to feeling like he was "brain dead" and "unconscious" as he struggled in the British Open at Muirifield, Scotland in 2013.Hide Caption 22 of 32 Photos: Holywood starChildhood dream: The following year, he dominated in the British Open at Hoylake, emulating Woods' feat at the Liverpool venue in 2006, to lift his first Claret Jug and third major title. Hide Caption 23 of 32 Photos: Holywood starJoining the greats: He became only the third player after Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods to win three majors by 25. Hide Caption 24 of 32 Photos: Holywood starFour timer: Just weeks later, McIlroy clinched the US PGA title at Valhalla, Kentucky. Victory in three of the game's four majors put him on the brink of a career grand slam. Hide Caption 25 of 32 Photos: Holywood starMasters miss: It wasn't to be a third major in a row and the final leg of the grand slam as McIlroy ended fourth at Augusta in April 2015, playing alongside Tiger Woods on the final day.Hide Caption 26 of 32 Photos: Holywood starLove match: McIlroy was joined by partner Erica Stoll for the opening ceremony of the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine. The pair married the following year.Hide Caption 27 of 32 Photos: Holywood starComeback kid: After a 2017 disrupted by injury, a refreshed Rory hit back with victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in March 2018, his first title since winning the Tour Championship in 2016.Hide Caption 28 of 32 Photos: Holywood starPlayers' player: McIlroy's next win was at the prestigious Players' Championship at Sawgrass in March 2019.Hide Caption 29 of 32 Photos: Holywood starFan favorite: McIlroy clinched a fourth title of 2019 with victory in the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai in November.Hide Caption 30 of 32 Photos: Holywood starBack to No.1: In February, 2020, he overhauled Brooks Koepka in the rankings to return to world No.1 for the first time since 2015. He held onto the spot until July. Hide Caption 31 of 32 Photos: Holywood starGlory beckons: In November, he returns to Augusta for his sixth attempt at sealing the career grand slam.Hide Caption 32 of 32'Decent career'McIlroy stands on the brink of golf's grand slam of winning all four major titles, needing only the Masters to join the elite group of five players to have achieved the feat.He played in the final group at Augusta in April but fell away as playing partner Patrick Reed clinched the green jacket.JUST WATCHED2018 Open: Phil Mickelson on links golfReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH2018 Open: Phil Mickelson on links golf 05:08Recently, McIlroy said the Masters was the "biggest tournament in golf," but insisted at Carnoustie Wednesday all the majors were equal, including the Open."It's just as big," he said. "I won't feel any less nervous on the first tee tomorrow [Thursday] than I would at Augusta or at Shinnecock [US Open] this year, or at Bellerive [US PGA venue]. "I try to treat them all the same. Easier said than done when April comes around, but that's how I try to approach it." He added: "I've had a decent career up to this point, and I've got a lot of time left to add to my major tally or just tournaments won. It's hard to win any week on Tour, let alone the four big ones." McIlroy's Open record is often underrated, with a fifth and fourth in the last two years following his absence from St. Andrews in 2015 because of an ankle injury from playing football. JUST WATCHEDCarnoustie: Paul Lawrie's favorite courseReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCarnoustie: Paul Lawrie's favorite course 01:48His one Open title came in a procession at a benign Hoylake in 2014, while he was also third in 2010 after opening with a major record-equaling 63 before being blown off track with an 80 in strong winds on day two. But despite growing up on a diet of links golf in all weathers, his relationship with the Open has sometimes been less than amicable. In 2011 he bemoaned the wild weather which battered him into submission at Royal St. George's, saying: "It's not my sort of golf." At the 2013 Open at Muirfield, while struggling to cope with a switch to a new equipment manufacturer and off-course legal issues with his management company, he stumbled to a disastrous first round and admitted afterwards he was "brain dead." READ: Rory McIlroy - Holywood star with box-office appeal Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Golf began in Scotland some 600 years ago and the country represents a bucket list destination for many dedicated addicts. St. Andrews (pictured) is known as the "Home of Golf" and its Old Course is arguably the game's most hallowed turf.Hide Caption 1 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses St. Andrews: Golf has been played over the dunes and linksland of St. Andrews since the 15th century. The clubhouse of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club stands sentinel over the unique layout which starts and finishes in town.Hide Caption 2 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses St. Andrews: There are six courses squeezed onto St. Andrews' links, with the Old Course at their heart. The Road Hole 17th and 18th form an iconic finishing stretch. Hide Caption 3 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses St. Andrews: The Old Course is known for its blind drives over seas of gorse, vast greens, and swales, humps and hollows which require imagination and the ability to use the ground to your advantage.Hide Caption 4 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Turnberry: Now best known for being owned by US President Donald Trump, Turnberry on Scotland's west coast is a spectacular setting with a famous Edwardian hotel, all of which underwent a multimillion dollar revamp when Trump took over.Hide Caption 5 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Turnberry: The Ailsa course occupies a sublime location overlooking the Firth of Clyde with sweeping views to the Ailsa Craig rock and the Isle of Arran. Hide Caption 6 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Trump International: Controversy has dogged Donald Trump's new course north of Aberdeen since day one -- with environmental concerns chief among the criticism -- but when it opened in 2012 it was clear that from a golfing point of view it was a new gem. Winding through towering dunes and sunken valleys with tantalizing snapshots of the sea, the course offers the full Scottish links experience, with American hospitality thrown in.Hide Caption 7 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Trump International: Trump's Aberdeen venture features two out-and-back loops of nine holes in an authentic natural setting. The modest clubhouse at its heart offers several dining options, including the award-winning MacLeod House Restaurant, and a whiskey bar.Hide Caption 8 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Royal Troon: This is a classic old links on Scotland's Ayrshire coast north of Turnberry. Hide Caption 9 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Royal Troon: The course is famed for its devilish par-three eighth hole, dubbed the "Postage Stamp." It's only 123 yards long but provides a stiff test in the wind, with deep bunkers and a thin green.Hide Caption 10 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Carnoustie: Northeast of Dundee on Scotland's east coast lies the fearsome links of Carnoustie, known as one of the toughest courses in the British Isles. Hide Caption 11 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Carnoustie: The Championship course is the main pull and is famed as the venue where Jean Van de Velde paddled in the burn during a final-hole collapse during the British Open in 1999. Hide Caption 12 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Muirfield: The jewel in the crown of Scotland's "Golf Coast" of East Lothian, Muirfield is a celebrated if controversial venue. Hide Caption 13 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Muirfield: The testing track near Gullane was mired in controversy before the club finally voted -- at the second attempt -- to admit female members.Hide Caption 14 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Gullane: Close to Muirfield is another revered club with three courses. Gullane No.1 is the pick but all offer a satisfying slice of Scottish golf at its finest.Hide Caption 15 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses North Berwick: Along the coast from Muirfield lies a quirky, historic masterpiece with views over Bass Rock and an upturned "reddan" style green that has been copied the world over. Hide Caption 16 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses The Renaissance Club: Another East Lothian gem with stellar views. Hide Caption 17 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Royal Dornoch: On the north shore of the Dornoch Firth on Scotland's northeast coast lies one of its most revered courses. Golf has been played in the seaside town, north of Inverness, since 1616 but the current club has "only" been in existence since 1877. Hide Caption 18 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Royal Dornoch: The venerable spot hosts two courses -- the Championship and the Struie -- but it is the former track that draws in visitors from around the world. Winding along sinuous sandy shores and among the dunes behind, the fast-running course features humps, hollows, pot bunkers and gorse of a true links test, sandwiched between the sea and purple heather-clad mountains. Hide Caption 19 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Kingsbarns: Just along the coast from St Andrews is Kingsbarns, a blockbuster of a modern links in a spectacular cliff-top setting, opened in 2000. Crafted on land that first witnessed golf in 1793, Kingsbarns quickly went to the top of many wish lists for its rugged scenery, testing championship course and lavish hospitality.Hide Caption 20 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Kingsbarns: It features as one of three top-notch courses used in the European Tour's annual Dunhill Links Championship along with St Andrews' Old Course and Carnoustie. Nearby are other Scottish links gems such as Crail, Elie, Leven and Lundin Links. Hide Caption 21 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Castle Stuart: Although it only opened in 2009, Castle Stuart on the banks of the Moray Firth has become a highlight of golf in the Highlands. The course, overlooked by a towering white art-deco clubhouse, hugs the shore and shelving cliffs on a thin stretch of links land with views to Ben Wyvis mountain, Kessock Bridge, Fort George and Chanonry lighthouse. Hide Caption 22 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Castle Stuart: The course is 10 minutes from Inverness airport and within a short drive of Speyside's Malt Whiskey Trail, taking in eight distilleries, including Glenfiddich and The Glenlivet. Other local courses such as Brora, Nairn and Gulspie are worth a trip. Hide Caption 23 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Loch Lomond: Everything about Loch Lomond oozes luxury. From 18th Century Rossdhu House at its center to a spectacular parkland-style course on the banks of the eponymous loch -- Britain's largest expanse of fresh water -- it's a study in elegance. The rub is, it's a private club so access is like a golden ticket from Willy Wonka. Hide Caption 24 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Loch Lomond: It's a relatively recent addition to Scotland's golfing repertory, designed by former US golf star Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish and opened in 1993, but its setting between mountains and water in the grounds of the ruined medieval castle ensures its a regular in lists of the world's best courses. Hide Caption 25 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Gleneagles: A one-stop shop for golf and glamor, Gleneagles offers an inland antidote to Scotland's normal diet of windswept links courses. With a five-star hotel, three top-notch courses, bags of country pursuits and Scotland's only restaurant with two Michelin stars -- Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles -- this highland estate northeast of Edinburgh offers plenty of bang for its buck. Hide Caption 26 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Gleneagles: The Jack Nicklaus-designed Centenary course -- used for the 2014 Ryder Cup -- is the centerpiece of the golf offering, a big, parkland-style layout with soaring views to purple heather-clad mountains. The Gleneagles Hotel opened in 1924, dubbed the "Riviera of the Highlands" and now features 232 bedrooms including 27 suites. More than 50 onsite luxury lodges can also be rented.Hide Caption 27 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Royal Aberdeen: As with many of Scotland's finest courses, golf in these parts goes way back -- Royal Aberdeen Golf Club was founded on land close to the "Granite City" in 1780, and is said to be the world's sixth oldest golf club. The historic Balgownie course is the highlight, a classic links layout threading its way through the natural ecosystem of dunes.Hide Caption 28 of 29 Photos: Scotland's best golf courses Machrihanish: For golf off the beaten track, this historic club in the village of Machrihanish lies on the long finger of the Kintyre peninsula on Scotland's west coast pointing towards Northern Ireland. Machrihanish, with a famous opening shot over the sea, is another links in classic Scottish tradition, with undulating fairways, firm turf, pot bunkers, gorse, wind and vast views towards the islands of Islay, Jura and Gigha. Hide Caption 29 of 29From man to boyBut the highs and lows are all part and parcel of McIlroy's mercurial make up.And he insists he is a serious contender this week, despite Carnoustie's reputation as a beast of a course earning it the nickname "Car-nasty.""I feel like I've developed and I've grown as a links player," he said. "I've added some shots and a few things to my game that have helped over the last few years. Hopefully, I can keep that run going and get myself a little bit closer to being right in the mix on Sunday."JUST WATCHEDCabrera-Bello on partnership with caddie ByrneReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCabrera-Bello on partnership with caddie Byrne 02:51 When Ireland's Padraig Harrington dueled with Spain's Sergio Garcia -- both idols to the young McIlroy -- to win a playoff at Carnoustie in 2007, McIlroy was waiting behind the 18th green with Harrington's wife and young son Paddy, who famously used the Claret Jug as a receptacle for his ladybird collection."I remember just after turning pro I went to Padraig's house and he had the Claret Jug sitting on the kitchen table with the ladybird coming out of it," he said."Obviously I don't have any kids yet, but hopefully there's a young amateur this week that's waiting behind the 18th green on me and I'm the one that's coming up there trying to win the tournament."Visit CNN.com/golf for more news, features and videosFrom boy to man, and maybe back to boy again.A second Claret Jug would see him return home to Northern Ireland as defending champion at Portrush next year.For McIlroy, it could be Carnoustie Karma.

5sport

London (CNN Business)Shell is getting out of Russia and ditching its joint ventures with Gazprom, including its involvement with the moribund Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline. The UK-based oil company said Monday it would dump its 27.5% stake in the Sakhalin-2 liquified natural gas facility, its 50% stake in a project to develop the Salym fields in western Siberia and its 50% interest in an exploration project in the Gydan peninsula in northwestern Siberia."We are shocked by the loss of life in Ukraine, which we deplore, resulting from a senseless act of military aggression which threatens European security," Shell (RDSA) CEO Ben van Beurden said in a statement. Shell's move follows BP's (BP) announcement Sunday that it was abandoning one of Russia's biggest foreign investments by exiting its 19.75% stake in Rosneft and associated joint ventures. Analysts said Monday that BP could take a hit of more than $26 billion as it walks away from its business in the country. Shell earned about $700 million in 2021 from the Sakhalin and Salym joint ventures. Its interests in Russia were valued at about $3 billion at the end of the year, and the company said abandoning the Gazprom projects would probably lead to impairment charges. Read More"Our decision to exit is one we take with conviction," van Beurden said. "We cannot — and we will not — stand by."The war in Ukraine has made Russian assets toxicThe company was one of five that provided 50% of the financing and guarantees for the estimated €9.5 billion ($10.6 billion) cost of building Gazprom's Nord Stream 2 pipeline under the Baltic Sea between Russia and Germany. The project was effectively killed off last week when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the country would halt certification of the pipeline.Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor will also begin to exit its joint ventures in Russia, the company said in a statement Monday."We are all deeply troubled by the invasion of Ukraine, which represents a terrible setback for the world," said Anders Opedal, president and CEO of Equinor.The company said it had $1.2 billion in long-term investments in Russia at the end of 2021. It has operated in Russia for more than 30 years and has a cooperation agreement with Rosneft. French oil giant TotalEnergies (TTFNF) on Tuesday condemned Russia's actions and said it would no longer provide capital for new projects in the country. TotalEnergies has done business in Russia for 25 years, and recently helped launch a major liquefied natural gas project on the Siberian coast.Other European energy companies continue to have a presence in Russia, including the remaining Nord Stream 2 partners France's Engie (ENGIY), Austria's OMV (OMVJF), Germany's Wintershall Dea and Uniper, as well as Italy's ENI (E).ExxonMobil (XOM), which has been active there for more than 25 years, has reduced its presence since Russia annexed Crime in 2014. But its subsidiary, Exxon Neftegas Limited, still has a 30% stake in Sakhalin-1 — a vast oil and natural gas project located off Sakhalin Island in the Russian Far East. It has operated the project since 1995 on behalf of a consortium that includes Japanese and Indian partners, as well as two affiliates of Rosneft.— Chris Liakos and Pamela Boykoff contributed to this article.

0business

(CNN)If the scientists at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had their way, to curb the spread of Covid-19 right now, nearly every US school would cancel football, wrestling, band and loads of other mainstay school activities.In another piece of guidance, the CDC tells people who've recovered from Covid-19 that they can leave their homes after five days -- and while they are out and about for the next five days, they should avoid being around more than 80% of the US public.Dr. William Schaffner, an adviser to the CDC for four decades, said it's "unlikely, unreasonable, and unrealistic" to think Americans will follow either of the agency's suggestions. "Making public health recommendations -- they are not a platonic ideal," Schaffner added. "They have to work in the real world." CDC updates Covid-19 prevention guidance for K-12 schools Such out-of-touch advice has been a hallmark of many CDC recommendations long before the pandemic began, and the agency needs to do better, said current and former health officials and physicians who have worked with the CDC on health guidance. Read More"As we say in Tennessee, that dog won't hunt," said Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Over the past few weeks, the agency has faced criticism for issuing guidance that was confusing or seemed counterintuitive. In this case, the criticism is different; the concern is that CDC staffers, while hardworking, smart, and well-intentioned, don't always consider whether Americans will -- or even can -- follow their advice. CNN asked CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky about the two pieces of guidance. In a statement, Walensky said the agency "prioritized academics over athletics because of the increased risks involved in some extracurricular sports.  When followed, our school guidance has been incredibly effective.  In the fall, 99 percent of schools were able to remain open during the intense delta wave of COVID." Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Coming out of Covid-19 isolation doesn't have to be complicatedPart of the problem, Schaffner and others say, is that CDC scientists are sometimes stuck in a bubble. "You've got nerds -- literally science nerds -- who are writing these things," said Dr. Otis Brawley, who worked with the CDC on cancer guidance while he was chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society from 2007 to 2018.Brawley added, though, that the CDC is often in a tough spot. For example, it's clear there have been documented Covid-19 outbreaks among choirs, and so on the one hand, it makes sense to advise schools to stay away from singing. But on the other hand, it's unrealistic to think that schools would cancel band, choir and school musicals now or at any other period of high transmission. "I really feel for the people at the CDC," he said. "They're damned if they do, and they're damned if they don't." CDC's school guidance As part of its guidance last updated on January 6, the CDC advised schools to "cancel or hold high-risk sports and extra-curricular activities virtually" any time a community has a "high" Covid-19 transmission rate. The guidance links to a CDC map that indicates more than 99% of US counties are currently experiencing high transmission. As schools battle Omicron, billions of federal relief dollars remain unspentThe CDC gives football and wrestling as examples of high-risk sports and says that "high-risk extracurricular activities are those in which increased exhalation occurs, such as activities that involve singing, shouting, band, or exercise, especially when conducted indoors." Paul Imhoff, president of The School Superintendents Association, told CNN while schools have gone to great lengths to curb the spread of Covid-19, he doesn't know of any schools that have cancelled activities such as football or band or choir. Such activities, he said, are "important to students' mental health." "As schools are making decisions about having choir and band and wrestling, it's about making sure our kids are healthy in every way. I think everyone's doing their best to take care of the whole child," said Imhoff, a school superintendent in Ohio. In her statement to CNN, Walensky said the CDC "developed our school guidance knowing school administrators, teachers and parents were looking to us at CDC to get their children back in the enriching environment of the classroom and it was a priority to get our children back to school safely," adding that "vaccines are available for school-aged children, which adds another layer of protection and enhances the school guidance." Omicron 'inherently milder' than Delta for young kids, but parents shouldn't let guard downAt a January 7 media briefing, Greta Massetti, chief of the CDC's Field Epidemiology and Prevention Branch, said the guidance was "intended to really protect that critical in-person learning time." She added that the guidance "is really one piece of a layered prevention strategy that schools can use. CDC continues to recommend layered prevention, including universal masking, including screening, testing, and a variety of other strategies." Schaffner, however, questioned why the CDC would advise schools to cancel extracurriculars that involve shouting when children shout on a regular basis. "I could take you by the hand and say, 'let's walk through three grammar schools.' What we'd see is kids shouting in the hallways. That's what kids do," said Schaffner, a liaison representative to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. CDC's isolation guidance In its isolation and quarantine guidance, which was last updated January 9, the agency tells people that if they have Covid-19, they should isolate themselves for five days following the onset of symptoms or a positive test. After that, they can end isolation if they're fever-free without the use of medication and other symptoms have improved. Early signs suggest the Omicron wave is peaking in some parts of the US, but relief is far from nearThat advice links to a CDC page that lists conditions that make people more likely to become severely ill with Covid-19. Many of the conditions are very common, such as being overweight or suffering from depression, certain heart conditions or cancer.The Computational Epidemiology Lab at Boston Children's Hospital estimates that more than 80% of Americans have at least one of the conditions on the CDC's list, according to an analysis the group did for CNN. Schaffner questioned the practicality of avoiding 80% of the people around you. "How do you know if people have heart conditions or diabetes? How are you supposed to figure that out? Can you recognize everyone who is pregnant or has sickle cell or are former smokers?" he said, naming some of the conditions on the CDC's list of whom to avoid. When asked about the advice at the briefing, Walensky said the agency was asking people to "avoid your family members or others who might be immunocompromised, avoid visiting grandma or a nursing home." 'Round, red tomatoes' When considering the CDC's school and isolation guidance, Glen Nowak thinks back to a foodborne illness outbreak that occurred in 2008, while he was the CDC's head of media relations. It was unclear exactly what had made people sick, but one of the possible culprits was tomatoes, so Nowak says the agency's scientists wanted to tell Americans to stop eating tomatoes. CDC urges Americans to wear most-protective mask or respirator that fits well and that they'll wear consistentlyNowak says he told the scientists that this was quite broad, considering that tomatoes are a very common food. He says he asked his colleagues to be more specific -- was there a particular type or source of tomatoes that Americans should avoid? "I got an answer back -- they said 'round, red tomatoes.' I told them that wasn't actionable," Nowak said. The warning about tomatoes was scrapped altogether, and the red round vegetable ended up not being the cause of the outbreak after all -- it turned out to be jalapeño and serrano peppers. Nowak said when he worked at the CDC from 1999 to 2012, scientists repeatedly developed guidance without thinking through the next step: Is it possible to follow the advice we've written? If so, what exactly would someone need to do? "It was a constant challenge. It came up during a lot of circumstances," said Nowak, co-director of the Center for Health & Risk Communication at the University of Georgia. "Scientists and experts have a really hard time seeing the world through the lens of everyday people," he added. Shifting the lens One way to shift that lens is to seek input from outside groups, but that's been more difficult during the pandemic, when the agency has had to move more swiftly. Spokespersons for the superintendents' association and the National Association of Secondary School Principals said the CDC did not reach out to them to confer about the guidance on school sports and extra-curricular activities. CDC director turns to media consultant as Covid-19 messaging frustrations mountA federal health official familiar with how the CDC develops its guidelines said the agency should also make better use of its own communication specialists. "There simply is not a seat at the table for communicators when it comes to actually developing guidance," the official said, adding that CDC communication specialists would "take into account whether the guidance that's being developed is truly practical." The official asked to speak anonymously because they were not authorized to speak on this issue. Brawley noted that the pandemic has posed unusual challenges when issuing guidance. He said under normal circumstances, experts will first gather all the relevant studies on a particular topic and then debate -- sometimes for months -- what the best advice to the public would be, and also consult outsiders to get their input.A Biden Cabinet member stepped in it trying to defend the CDC director"When I was at the American Cancer Society, when we sat down to write lung cancer guidelines, it took a group of 14 people almost a year to come up with the wording. And then we tested the wording on focus groups, working with doctors and nurses and lay people to try to figure out if we were communicating effectively," he said. "The CDC doesn't have time to do that." Brawley, now a professor at Johns Hopkins University, said there's an alternative to the way CDC issued their guidance. For example, if schools aren't ready to cancel football or choir, then the CDC could just explain that those are high-risk activities, without directly advising against them. Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team.He said it would be important to explain the research that shows these are high-risk activities, something the CDC doesn't do on their site now. "I would put in the studies, because I have a sense that a large part of the American lay population doesn't appreciate how we come up with these rules. This isn't just a couple of people in Atlanta making these up in their offices at the CDC. The rules are based on real observations in real populations," he said. But he added that the CDC still would likely come under fire for its guidance, at least from some people. "There's no way the CDC can win," he said. CNN's Danielle Herman and Jamie Gumbrecht contributed to this report.

2health

(CNN)Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been placed on the reserve/Covid-19 list and will miss Sunday's game at home against the Detroit Lions, the team announced Saturday.Last week, during an appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show," Roethlisberger announced he was fully vaccinated against Covid-19 after being asked what protocols he must follow in the locker room. Green Bay Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers off reserve/Covid-19 list"I think you're supposed to have your mask on if you're not vaccinated. I don't know who on our team is and isn't. I know I am, so I don't have to have my mask on, but you still have to live your life," Roethlisberger said. The reserve/Covid-19 list is for players who either test positive for the Covid or who have been in close contact with someone who is infected.Roethlisberger has started all eight games this season, throwing for 1,986 yards and 10 touchdowns. Read MoreRoethlisberger becomes the second starting quarterback this month to be ruled out of a game after being placed on the reserve/Covid-19 list. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers missed the team's Week 9 game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to Covid-19 protocols. Rodgers was activated off the list before the team's week 10 tilt against the Seattle Seahawks, the Packers announced earlier Saturday.

5sport

Story highlightsQueen Elizabeth II will mark the diamond jubilee of her accession to the throne this yearBorn in 1926, the queen became monarch in 1952 on the death of her father, George VIQueen's reign hit low point in 1992 as the marriages of three of her children collapsedMonarch is known for her love of equestrian events and is a champion of modern technology The 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the British throne marks a major milestone in the remarkable life of a monarch who, though reluctantly thrust into the spotlight at a young age, has won almost universal praise for her steadfast dedication to duty.Her long reign (second only to Queen Victoria's) has seen Britain transformed from a war-weary declining imperial power into its modern incarnation as a member state of the European Union that rarely looks to its monarch for leadership, but still holds her in high esteem.And while it has witnessed its fair share of joy -- not least the recent marriage of the queen's grandson Prince William to Catherine Middleton -- Elizabeth's rule has also weathered many storms, both public and personal, as the monarchy has tried to keep pace with changing times.Elizabeth Alexander Mary was born in 1926, the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York. She did not become heiress presumptive to the throne until 1937 when her father was crowned King George VI after the scandalous abdication of his older brother -- events recently dramatized in the Oscar-winning film "The King's Speech."As World War II erupted, Elizabeth was quietly groomed for statehood. While living out the blitz on London in nearby Windsor Castle, she was privately tutored in matters of constitution by Henry Marten, an eccentric yet respected teacher who reputedly kept a pet raven in his study.She began making tentative steps to public life in 1940 when, aged 14, she made her first radio broadcast: a speech to children displaced by conflict. At 16 she was made an honorary colonel of the Grenadier Guards, a British army infantry regiment.Wartime offered her certain freedoms beyond the constraints of royal life. In 1945 she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service, and spent four weeks getting her hands covered in oil and grease as she learned to drive and maintain military vehicles. When victory was declared in Europe, a uniformed Elizabeth mingled with jubilant crowds outside Buckingham Palace.JUST WATCHEDThe Queen's unseen photos ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe Queen's unseen photos 03:37JUST WATCHEDQueen Elizabeth speaks to ParliamentReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHQueen Elizabeth speaks to Parliament 00:10JUST WATCHEDQueen, Camilla and Catherine go shoppingReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHQueen, Camilla and Catherine go shopping 00:43JUST WATCHEDQueen Elizabeth marks 60 years on throneReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHQueen Elizabeth marks 60 years on throne 02:25Queen Elizabeth celebrates 60 years on thronePeacetime brought the return of Lieutenant Prince Philip of Greece, a handsome young naval officer who had, by all accounts, had won her heart when she was just 13. The pair married in Westminster Abbey in 1947. Their first son, Charles, was born just over a year later.With her father's health in rapid decline, Elizabeth began accepting more official duties, taking his place at the annual Trooping the Color military parade in 1949. In 1952, when Elizabeth and Philip were on an official trip to Kenya, news came of her father's death. She was now queen.The next decade saw the queen settle into her role. After her 1953 coronation, she embarked on numerous official trips, oversaw state openings of parliament, welcomed visiting leaders such as President Eisenhower, Charles de Gaulle and Nikita Khrushchev, and toured a coal mine.In 1964, the queen became a mother for the fourth time as new son Edward joined Charles and fellow siblings Anne and Andrew. There was, however, barely any let up in her busy schedule.By the arrival of her third decade on the throne, she was in her element. Prince Charles was embarking on a military career, Princess Anne, an acclaimed horsewoman, was married -- drawing huge crowds of well wishers.Girls given equal rights to British throne under law changesWhile indulging in her own equestrian pursuits, she continued to throw herself into public life, clocking up dozens of overseas trips and official visits around the UK -- one of which in 1976 saw her become one of the first people to send an email (she continues to champion new technology today).There were family problems in 1976 when her sister's marriage collapsed and constitutional problems with growing debate among Commonwealth countries about the role of the monarch, but these failed to dampen celebrations to mark the silver jubilee of her reign in 1977.Another royal wedding followed in 1981 when Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer at London's St Paul's cathedral. Millions of people around the world watched the ceremony on television, happily unaware it would usher in the most turbulent period yet of the queen's life.The queen's 40th year on the throne, 1992, marked her lowest moment as three royal marriages fell apart. Princess Anne and Mark Philips divorced, Charles and Diana separated after claims of infidelities while Sarah Ferguson was photographed topless with an American financial manager.To cap it all, a huge fire ripped through Windsor Castle causing major structural damage. In the wake of the blaze, a furore broke out when it was suggested that public money be used to fund the restoration."1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure," the queen said in a speech later that year. "In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an annus horribilis."Kate has graduated as 'fully fledged' royalThese problems overshadowed the queen as she made an historic visit to meet Nelson Mandela in 1995, but criticism reached new heights in the wake of Diana's tragic death in 1997 when the royals were accused of being aloof and out of touch amid widespread outpourings of grief.This marked a turning point. After days of silence, the queen returned to London, talked to mourners and admitted there were lessons to be learned from Diana's life. The gestures struck a chord with the public and criticism ebbed away.After Diana, the queen's popularity rebounded as she presided over what appeared to be a softer, more accessible and thoroughly modern royal family. This was evident In 2005 when, to public approval, she assented to the previously unthinkable marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles.The queen's most recent decade as monarch has largely been one of celebration. In 2006, she marked her 80th birthday with a series of festivities and goodwill messages from around the world.She has witnessed both her grandsons graduate as military officers and, of course, she oversaw the marriage of Prince William and Catherine, the woman who -- when her husband eventually inherits the throne to become king -- will succeed her as Britain's next queen.

3news

(CNN)Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton capped a remarkable year on and off the track after he was awarded a knighthood in the UK's New Year's Honours List which was announced on Wednesday.This year, Hamilton won his seventh F1 driver's championship title, equaling the great Michael Schumacher's record.Off the track, the 35-year-old became a powerful voice on the issue of racism and was one of British sport's leading voices supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.The Briton is the fourth F1 driver to receive a knighthood after the late Australian Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss and triple champion Jackie Stewart.READ: What's gone wrong at Ferrari and can Formula One's most successful team bounce back in 2021?Hamilton along with some of his fellow F1 drivers take a knee on the grid in support of the Black Lives Matter movement prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain.Read MoreEqualing a legendHaving won his first world title in 2008, Hamilton ushered in a period of dominance on the track between 2014 and 2020, winning six further world championships to equal Schumacher's record. Not only that, but in October, Hamilton beat the German's record of 91 career F1 race wins. His victory at the Portuguese Grand Prix broke the record with the Briton's total now standing at 95.His 11 victories during 2020 also equaled his personal race win record in a F1 season.The end to his 2020 campaign on the track hit a slight bump in the road after he tested positive for Covid-19. Ahead of the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi -- in which Hamilton finished third -- Hamilton admitted he was struggling with the after-effects of the virus.Although his contract at Mercedes expires at the end of the season and he has previously said there are "no guarantees" that he will continue racing after the 2020 season, the news of Toto Wolff's contract extension hints that Hamilton might be sticking around. READ: Lewis Hamilton, Formula One's voice and conscienceHamilton driving during the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain.Setting an exampleAs the sport's first and only Black world champion in its 70-year history, Hamilton has helped campaign for diversity and spoken out against racial injustice. Earlier this year, he said he was "completely overcome with rage" at the sight of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis on May 25 and called out the rest of the F1 grid, and the sport itself, for remaining silent. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosIn June, he attended a peaceful protest in London, urged people to "keep pushing" for change and backed anti-racism demonstrators who tore down a statue of 17th-century slave owner in Bristol, southwest England.He also set up a commission in his name to increase diversity in motorsport shortly after which F1 launched the #WeRaceAsOne initiative, and with it a new Task Force which aims to "increase inclusion in the sport."In what Hamilton has described as an "important statement," Mercedes unveiled an all-black car for this season in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter message.The halos of both cars featured the call to "End Racism," while Toto Wolff, the team principal, revealed that Mercedes would review its recruitment policy.Ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, Hamilton also criticized the sport's record on human rights. "Naturally, the human rights issue in so many of the places that we go to is a consistent and a massive problem," said Hamilton."We are probably one of the only ones that goes to so many different countries and I do think as a sport we need to do more."Aleks Klosok contributed to this report.

5sport

Story highlightsArrogate wins Dubai World CupRecovers from poor startTakes $6 million prize (CNN)Arrogate overcame a disastrous start to win Saturday's Dubai World Cup and confirm his status as thoroughbred racing's new superstar.The four-year-old colt was claiming his seventh straight victory, including the lucrative Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes in January.Arrogate started as an overwhelming favorite to win the 2,000-meter race at Meydan Racecourse, but was baulked coming out of the stalls and had to come from the back of the field under jockey Mike Smith.The world's best horse Arrogate wins the Dubai World Cup in style and has now earned more money than any horse has ever done before! pic.twitter.com/A0AqFts8a5— Meydan Racing (@DRC_Meydan) March 25, 2017 The 2016 Breeders' Cup Classic winner eventually hit the front in the closing stages to come home ahead of the earlier leader Gun Runner with Neolithic in third place.It was the third Dubai World Cup win for Bob Baffert, who also trained the legendary Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.Read MoreREAD: Dubai ruler vows to regain 'richest race' crownREAD: Arrogate primed for more success in DubaiREAD: Arrogate named World's Best RacehorseJUST WATCHEDSheikh's racing vision brings world to DubaiReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSheikh's racing vision brings world to Dubai 22:15Such is the regard Arrogate is held, Baffert drew comparison after seeing his horse make a remarkable recovery from 20 lengths behind."That was 'Plan F'!" Baffert said. "But that's the best I've ever seen in my life, it's unbelievable."I guess he knew where he was but it just goes to show you how great this horse is, he's just a great horse. Mike did a great job, he didn't panic." Photos: The world's best racehorses Photos: The world's best racehorsesArrogate (left) capped a triumphant debut season by winning the 2016 Breeders' Cup Classic in a dramatic finish.Hide Caption 1 of 9 Photos: The world's best racehorsesThe result helped the American colt to be named Longines World's Best Racehorse for 2016 in London Tuesday.Hide Caption 2 of 9 Photos: The world's best racehorsesArrogate beat California Chrome and Australian wonder-mare Winx to the coveted Longines prize.Hide Caption 3 of 9 Photos: The world's best racehorsesThe much-loved Chrome suffered only one defeat over the course of 2016.Hide Caption 4 of 9 Photos: The world's best racehorsesThat was at the hands of Arrogate in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita.Hide Caption 5 of 9 Photos: The world's best racehorsesFormer Kentucky Derby champion Chrome won the 2016 Dubai World Cup.Hide Caption 6 of 9 Photos: The world's best racehorsesAustralia's Winx won all eight of her starts in 2016. She is riding a 13-race winning streak going back to May 2015. Hide Caption 7 of 9 Photos: The world's best racehorsesWinx won the Cox Plate for a second time in October.Hide Caption 8 of 9 Photos: The world's best racehorsesShe has now won over AUD$9.34 million ($7 million) -- the third-highest earnings of any Australasian racehorse. Hide Caption 9 of 9"He's just amazing. I've never ridden a horse like this," jockey Smith added.The winning horse's connections, with owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, take home a $6 million prize from the $10 million pot for the Dubai World Cup, making Arrogate the highest earner in racing history.Visit cnn.com/winningpost for more news and videosFlorent Geroux, rider of second-placed Gun Runner, believed his horse was in with a chance "until Arrogate arrived, he was just awesome," he said.

5sport

(CNN)Chelsea announced the signing of German striker Timo Werner from RB Leipzig on Thursday. Werner, who has scored 32 goals in 43 appearances this season, will stay with Leipzig for the remainder of the Bundesliga season before joining Chelsea in July, subject to passing a medical examination. The 24-year-old made his international debut in 2017 and has netted 72 times in four seasons with Leipzig. Last November he became the youngest player to make 200 appearances in the Bundesliga.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, videos and featuresTo everyone at @ChelseaFC :I'm incredibly happy to be joining the Blues next season! It feels like the right step for me and I am delighted to become a part of Chelsea FC. Really looking forward to playing for such a fantastic and historic club! See you soon Chelsea fans! 👋 pic.twitter.com/WLcagJCHWt— Timo Werner (@TimoWerner) June 18, 2020 "I am delighted to be signing for Chelsea, it is a very proud moment for me to be joining this great club," said Werner. Read More"I of course want to thank RB Leipzig, the club and the fans, for four fantastic years. You will forever be in my heart. "I look forward to next season with my new teammates, my new manager and of course the Chelsea fans. Together we have a very successful future ahead of us."READ: Paulo Dybala -- how the boy from a town 'where dreams seem unreachable' became a global superstarKnown for his pace and clinical finishing, Werner will join a strike force that also includes France international Olivier Giroud and England international Tammy Abraham. He is Chelsea's second signing ahead of the next season, alongside Ajax winger Hakim Ziyech."We are very excited that Timo Werner has chosen to join Chelsea," said Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia.JUST WATCHEDEnglish Premier League is back: Players make a standReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHEnglish Premier League is back: Players make a stand 01:52"He is a player who was coveted all over Europe and it is no surprise, he has that rare mix of being young and exciting and yet established and proven. "We can't wait to have Timo on board, but until then we wish him and RB Leipzig all the best for the rest of this season."Bayern Munich has already wrapped up the Bundesliga title with four games still to play, while the Premier League resumed on Wednesday after a three-month-long hiatus amid the coronavirus pandemic.

5sport

(CNN)A fight for the moral high ground is publicly playing out over the US Women's National Team's gender discrimination lawsuit against the US Soccer Federation.While both sides have agreed to mediation, US Soccer is now posting numbers saying the back-to-back FIFA Women's World Cup champions actually earn more than the US Men's National Team.It's a claim the women say is "utterly false." The women also received the backing of the men's team, which issued a statement saying they support the women "in their pursuit of fair compensation for their work as professional soccer players."On Monday, US Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro released an open letter on Twitter, saying that from 2010 through 2018 the federation paid $34.1 million in salary and game bonuses to the women, compared to $26.4 million for the men.Those figures do not include benefits, such as healthcare, that the women receive. Included in the federation's numbers is that US Soccer pays WNT contracted players a salary to play in the National Women's Soccer League, while the men are paid by their individual teams.Read MoreThe women's and men's compensation structures are different, as those each were collectively bargained.And the fact sheet... (2/2) pic.twitter.com/XFofHS90f1— Carlos Cordeiro (@CACSoccer) July 29, 2019 "In the weeks ahead, we'll focus on preparing for mediation and resolving this matter in the best interests of the WNT and US Soccer," Cordeiro said."I want you to know that US Soccer is committed to doing right by our players, and I've been encouraged by the public comments from players expressing their desire for a cooperative approach. I remain optimistic that we can find common ground."Together, I believe we can get this done."Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, and Allie Long celebrate during the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Victory Parade and City Hall Ceremony on July 10, 2019 in New York City.'Utterly false'In a written statement, a spokesperson for the USWNT players says the figures are misleading."This is a sad attempt by USSF to quell the overwhelming tide of support the USWNT has received from everyone from fans to sponsors to the United States Congress," Molly Levinson said in a statement."The USSF has repeatedly admitted that it does not pay the women equally and that it does not believe the women even deserve to be paid equally. This is why they use words like 'fair and equitable,' not equal in describing pay."The numbers USSF uses are utterly false and, among other things, inappropriately include the NWSL salaries of the players to inflate the women's players compensation. Any apples to apples comparison shows that the men earn far more than the women."In the most recent CBA negotiation, USSF proposed a compensation structure that is exactly the same as the MNT's compensation structure but with less compensation across the board. In every instance, win or draw for a friendly or competitive match, the women players were offered less compensation. Equal Pay was never on the table for the women regardless of structure."The USSF fact sheet is not a 'clarification.' It is a ruse."Here is what they cannot deny. For every game a man plays on the MNT he makes a higher base salary payment than a woman on the WNT. For every comparable win or tie, his bonus is higher."That is the very definition of gender discrimination. For the USSF to believe otherwise, is disheartening but it only increases our determination to obtain true equal pay. If the USSF cannot agree to this at the upcoming mediation, we will see them in the court of law and the court of public opinion."The US Men's National Team said they too "were not impressed" by Cordeiro's letter. "The women's national team players deserve equal pay and are right to pursue a legal remedy from the courts or Congress," the men's team said.Rose Lavelle of the USWNT celebrates with Emily Sonnett after winning Women's World Cup final.Victory tourIn March, members of the USWNT filed a federal class-action lawsuit against US Soccer, citing gender discrimination.The suit alleges that the federation discriminates by paying the women less than members of the men's national team "for substantially equal work and by denying them at least equal playing, training, and travel conditions; equal promotion of their games; equal support and development for their games; and other terms and conditions of employment equal to the MNT."Overall, the American women have had much more success on the pitch than their male counterparts, winning four World Cups and four Olympic gold medals.During that time frame US Soccer provided in Monday's letter, the women have won two World Cups, in 2015 and earlier this month, while the men missed the 2018 World Cup, having failed to qualify.The USWNT begins its World Cup victory tour on Saturday with a match against Ireland at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

5sport

(CNN)Thousands gathered Saturday in Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles for the second Women's March, eager to participate in the nationwide protests and listen to a slate of celebrity speakers.Emma Rees, 24, is a graduate student at the University of California, Irvine.Live: Women's March in Los AngelesMarch organizers honed in on this year's midterm elections using the theme "Hear Our Vote."But the rally was much more than electoral politics for many attendees. Demonstrators advocated for women's rights and equality, as much of the sentiment in this year's march overlapped with the #MeToo and Time's Up movements.Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johannson, Viola Davis and Sarah Hyland were among a long list of famous folks who addressed massive crowds as they reached the march's end at Grand Park and City Hall. Here's what they had to say:Read MoreEva Longoria"This march and this movement is far more ambitious in scope and scale and it extends beyond one political actor or even one political party. What we're calling for is sustainable and systematic change to the experience of women and girls in America. A change from fear and intimidation to respect. From pain and humiliation to safety and dignity. From marginalization to equal pay and representation."One year later, Women's March returnsNatalie Portman"I keep hearing a particular gripe about this cultural shift and maybe you have, too. Some people have been calling this movement puritanical or a return to Victorian values, where men can't behave or speak sexually around dainty, delicate, fragile women. To these people I want to say, the current system is puritanical. Maybe men can say and do whatever they want, but women cannot. The current system inhibits women from expressing our desires, wants and needs, from seeking our pleasure."JUST WATCHEDA 12-year-old Natalie Portman was sexualizedReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHA 12-year-old Natalie Portman was sexualized 01:54Scarlett Johansson"While Me Too means different things to different people, to me, it is very simply the ability to empathize with the visceral realities of this condition. I want to move forward. And for me, moving forward means my daughter growing up in a world where she doesn't have to be a victim of what has cruelly become the social norm. That she doesn't have to fit into the bindings of the female condition. Time's up on the female condition. ...Scarlett Johansson, right, speaks as Mila Kunis holds a microphone for her at the LA Women's March."I stand before you someone that is empowered, not only by the curiosity about myself and the active choices that I am finally able to make and stand by, but by the brightness of this movement, the strength and the unity that this movement has provided. It gives me hope that we are moving toward a place where our sense of equality can truly come from within ourselves." Viola Davis"I am always introduced as an award-winning actor but my testimony is one of poverty, my testimony is one of being sexually assaulted and very much seeing a childhood that was robbed from me. And I know that every single day when I think of that, I know that the trauma of those events are still with me today. And that's what drives me to the voting booth."JUST WATCHEDViola Davis' full speech at women's marchReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHViola Davis' full speech at women's march 09:17Olivia Munn "I'm asking all of you to be the team member for every woman in your life. Refrain from judgment. Be the rock of understanding be the well of empathy. Right here, we all have the power to make sure that our daughters, nieces, granddaughters, great granddaughters, grow up with a mentality, that if you come from one of us, you come from all of us."Read more: Here are the signs of the Women's MarchRob Reiner"We have a racist in the White House. We have a sexist in the White House. We have a pathological liar in the White House, and he is tearing away at the fabric of our democracy. And when we all came together last time, we had the power and it's the women -- the women have given us the power. And the women continue to give us the power. We've seen it with more women running for office, more women taking the true power that they have and it's with women that we will take by this country and return democracy to where it belongs."Larry Wilmore "But men, we can't just reserve our listening for issues that anyone with the smallest amount of decency should lend an ear to. We have to listen to women not just because we're being indicted, but because they need to be included. We cannot be a great country until women not only have a seat at the table, but -- how about this -- are actually seated at the head of the table. And so 2017 could be called the year of speaking up. We need 2018 to be the year of showing up at the ballot box."Comedian Larry Wilmore speaks at the LA Women's March.Sarah Hyland "If we have learned one thing this year it's that we are not alone. We are not alone. Millions of women have marched, millions of women have raised their voices and told the world, hey, MeToo. And now, united, we have declared that the time is up. Time's up. Time's up on men harassing women. And assaulting women. And getting away with it." Olivia WildeOlivia Wilde speaks at the Los Angeles Women's March on January 20. "This is a winnable fight, but we need everyone to work together to make it happen. We must reach across cultural divides and recognize our power as an undivided force. This means white women need to hold up our end of the fight. Not just coming to rallies with likeminded others but reaching deep into our own families and communities deep into the places where women wore t-shirts that read, "Trump can grab my p***y," and have courageous conversations about what freedom really looks like."Yvette Nicole Brown"We are a year into our resistance. A year into doing everything we can daily, at times moment-by-moment, to make sure that the issues that affect our opportunities, our careers and our bodies are heard, believed and addressed. That's a lot. That's been a year of a whole lot. But be not weary in well doing. Take a moment, take a breath, take a knee, do what you need to do to get your mind and your spirit and your heart right. But get it together and then get back into the fight."

3news

Story highlightsRoyston Drenthe accuses Lionel Messi of calling him "negro" during matchesBarcelona say the accusations against Messi "are well wide of the mark"Drenthe on loan at Everton from Real Madrid but has been left out recently for disciplinary reasonsLionel Messi has been dragged into the row about racism in football, but his club Barcelona insists that accusations against the three-time world player of the year are "well wide of the mark."Messi is said to have frequently directed a racial term at Real Madrid's Royston Drenthe during matches in the Spanish top flight.Drenthe, who has spent this season on loan at English Premier League club Everton, claimed in an interview with a Dutch magazine that Messi repeatedly called him "negro" (meaning black).It is the same word that caused huge controversy in English football this season when Manchester United's black defender Patrice Evra accused Liverpool striker Luis Suarez of using the term several times during a Premier League match between the teams.Suarez was banned for eight matches and fined £40,000 ($64,330). He maintained that the word "negro" is used commonly in his native Uruguay and is not a form of racial abuse.JUST WATCHEDMessi wins third straight Ballon D'orReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMessi wins third straight Ballon D'or 02:25 Photos: The world's 10 best-paid sports teams Photos: The world's 10 best-paid sports teams1. Barcelona FC $8.6 million average – Barcelona's players are the best paid in the world according to a new report. The team kept its No. 1 place on the earnings table with each player taking home an average annual salary of $8.6 million (£5.2 million). That's a whopping $166,934 (£101,160) per week and a 10% rise on last year. Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: The world's 10 best-paid sports teams2. Real Madrid $7.7 million – Spanish football teams continued to dominate the rankings, with Real Madrid keeping its No. 2 spot. It's players earned an average $7.7 million (£4.7 million) - a 6% rise on last year. Cristiano Ronaldo became the most expensive footballer in history in 2009 after moving from Manchester United to Real Madrid in a six-year deal worth $129 million (£80 million).Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: The world's 10 best-paid sports teams3. Manchester City $7.4 million – Manchester City moved up the rankings from 10th last year to 3rd in 2012, thanks to an average annual salary of $7.4 million for its players. It's a 26% increase on last year and demonstrates the wealth of the English club's owner Sheikh Monsour.Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: The world's 10 best-paid sports teams4. Chelsea $6.7 million – Russian billionaire Roman Abromovich's Chelsea team climbed the rankings from sixth to fourth, with players earning around $6.7 million a year -- the equivalent of $130,690 a week.Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: The world's 10 best-paid sports teams5. LA Lakers $6.2 million – The first non-soccer entry in the rich list is the LA Lakers. The Americans are also the only bastketballers in the top 10, with players taking home $6.2 million annually -- about $120,732 per week.Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: The world's 10 best-paid sports teams6. New York Yankees $6.1 million – Baseball's New York Yankees have continued to fall in the rankings -- dropping from No. 1 in 2010 to sixth this year. But the MLB team's players can still take comfort from an average yearly salary of $6.1 million -- around £118,968 a week.Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: The world's 10 best-paid sports teams7. AC Milan $6.1 million – Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi pumped even more money into his football club AC Milan last year. The Serie A champions rose from 14th in the list with players enjoying a yearly salary of $6.1 million, pocketing $117,399 per week.Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: The world's 10 best-paid sports teams8. Bayern Munich $5.9 million – Also rising in the rich list was Germany's Bayern Munich, up from 12th place last year. Players boasted a yearly salary of $5.9 million, taking home $113,609 a week.Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: The world's 10 best-paid sports teams9. Philadelphia Phillies $5.8 million – The Philadelphia Phillies are one of just three U.S. teams in the top 10. The baseball franchise's players earned an average $5.8 million a year, or $111,884 per week.Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: The world's 10 best-paid sports teams10. Inter Milan $5.7 million – Internazionale sneaked into the top 10 with an average yearly salary of $5.7 million for its players. It's a family affair for Italian oil tycoon Massimo Moratti, whose father Angelo also owned the club in the 1950s and '60s.Hide Caption 10 of 10 Photos: Real Madrid's La Liga triumph Photos: Real Madrid's La Liga triumphMourinho's mission accomplished – Real Madrid players lift Jose Mourinho after winning the Spanish title for the 32nd time. The Portuguese coach has also won league titles in Portugal, England and Italy.Hide Caption 1 of 6 Photos: Real Madrid's La Liga triumphFlying the flag – Real Madrid supporters celebrate their team's triumph, which was clinched with two games to play after a 3-0 win at Athletic Bilbao. Hide Caption 2 of 6 Photos: Real Madrid's La Liga triumphGonzalo's joy – Gonzalo Higuain celebrates his opener for Real against Bilbao. It was followed by goals from Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo.Hide Caption 3 of 6 Photos: Real Madrid's La Liga triumphReal Madrid triumph – Bilbao's Javi Martinez was sent off late in the match at San Mames. His team had been expected to put up a tough test, having reached the final of the Europa League this season.Hide Caption 4 of 6 Photos: Real Madrid's La Liga triumphMessi breaks record – Barcelona may have lost the Spanish title after a three-year reign, but Lionel Messi broke Gerd Muller's longstanding record for goals in a European season. Messi's eighth hat-trick this season in the 4-1 win over Malaga took him to 68 overall and 46 in La Liga -- two ahead of Ronaldo.Hide Caption 5 of 6 Photos: Real Madrid's La Liga triumphAjax clinch Dutch title – As Real triumphed in Spain, Ajax Amersterdam won the Dutch league for the second year in a row as coach Frank de Boer's team beat VVV Venlo 2-0.Hide Caption 6 of 6 Photos: The end of an era: Josep Guardiola Photos: The end of an era: Josep GuardiolaTime away – Pep Guardiola has been on a year-long sabbatical in the U.S. after stepping down as Barcelona coach, but he returned to Europe in January for the Ballon d'Or when he was shortlisted for FIFA's world coach of the year award.Hide Caption 1 of 14 Photos: The end of an era: Josep GuardiolaEnd of an era – When he confirmed he was to end his four-year reign as Barcelona coach, Guardiola gave an emotional press conference.Hide Caption 2 of 14 Photos: The end of an era: Josep GuardiolaLeague of his own – Guardiola announced his intent to quit at the end of last season just three days after the club's Champions League semifinal exit against Chelsea, drawing 2-2 at home and losing 3-2 on aggregate. He left a remarkable legacy.Hide Caption 3 of 14 Photos: The end of an era: Josep GuardiolaFlying high – He was massively popular at the Camp Nou after four trophy-laden seasons. Here he is thrown in the air by his players after winning the FIFA Club World Cup for the second time in December 2011, having been the first team from Spain to win it two years earlier.Hide Caption 4 of 14 Photos: The end of an era: Josep GuardiolaA super bond – Guardiola congratulates Barca players Cesc Fabregas and Javier Mascherano after winning the Spanish Supercup against Real Madrid at the start of the 2011-12 season.Hide Caption 5 of 14 Photos: The end of an era: Josep GuardiolaCup runneth over – Guardiola lifts the 2011Champions League trophy after Barca beat Manchester United at Wembley. The 41-year-old has earned a reputation as a coach who prepares meticulously for matches. Hide Caption 6 of 14 Photos: The end of an era: Josep GuardiolaA golden career – Guardiola won the FIFA Men's Football Coach of the Year award in January 2012. "I can't promise you silverware, but I can say that we'll keep on battling to the end and you'll be proud of us," he said after becoming coach four years ago.Hide Caption 7 of 14 Photos: The end of an era: Josep GuardiolaSix-time champs – In the 2009 calendar year, Guardiola won six trophies in total -- the Copa del Rey, La Liga, the European Champions League, the Spanish Supercup, the UEFA Supercup and the Club World Cup.Hide Caption 8 of 14 Photos: The end of an era: Josep GuardiolaPlayer turned coach – Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta shakes hands with Guardiola on June 5, 2008. The Catalan club's 15th coach arrived with the mission to end a two-season trophy drought -- he didn't disappoint.Hide Caption 9 of 14 Photos: The end of an era: Josep GuardiolaBarcelona boy – As a player, Guardiola spent more than a decade in Barcelona's senior team, winning six Spanish titles and one European Cup. He captained Spain to a gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and went to the 1994 World Cup. Hide Caption 10 of 14 Photos: The end of an era: Josep GuardiolaAcademy graduate – He joined Barca's famed La Masia youth academy in 1984, and wore the No. 4 shirt until leaving for Italy in 2001.Hide Caption 11 of 14 Photos: The end of an era: Josep GuardiolaItaly calling – He had two spells at Serie A side Brescia either side of a brief time at Roma, and is pictured playing against Perugia in 2002.Hide Caption 12 of 14 Photos: The end of an era: Josep GuardiolaWorld class – Guardiola left Europe to join Qatar's Al-Ahly from 2003 to 2005, then joined Mexico's Dorades de Sinaloa for a season before finally hanging up his boots.Hide Caption 13 of 14 Photos: The end of an era: Josep GuardiolaGolfing fan – Guardiola is pictured here with fellow Spaniard Jose Maria Olzabal at the Ryder Cup after Europe produced a remarkable comeback to win the tournament at Medinah in the U.S.Hide Caption 14 of 14But Barcelona strongly rejected any suggestion that Argentine forward Messi would have used the same term."The player has always shown a maximum respect and sportsmanship towards his rivals, something which has been recognized by his fellow professionals many times, and we are sure that any accusations to the contrary are well wide of the mark," a spokesman said."His behavior throughout his career has always been exemplary."Messi has had another outstanding season individually, scoring an unprecedented 72 goals in all competitions and a record 50 in La Liga alone ahead of Saturday's final match at Real Betis.However, his team have fallen short of their usual high standards, losing out in the Spanish title race to Real Madrid and suffering a shock loss to Chelsea in the Champions League semifinals when Messi hit the bar with a crucial penalty in the second leg.Drenthe's spell at Everton has ended miserably. The 25-year-old hasn't been picked since he was dropped from the FA Cup semifinal against Liverpool on April 14 for unspecified disciplinary reasons.The Dutch midfielder joined Real Madrid for a reported €14 million ($18.1 million) in 2007 but has spent the last two seasons out on loan. He has been quoted as saying he wants to return to Feyenoord, where he played before joining Madrid.

5sport

Story highlightsLetters from Prince Charles to officials must be released after a Supreme Court judgmentBritain's Guardian newspaper fought for 10 years to have the documents made publicClarence House and Prime Minister David Cameron call the decision disappointingLondon (CNN)Previously secret correspondence between Britain's Prince Charles and government officials is to be made public after a Supreme Court ruling Thursday. The Guardian newspaper had been fighting for the communications to be released since 2005. Charles is next in line to the British throne and as King would constitutionally be required to maintain strict political neutrality. Some commentators say letters to officials suggest he could be a "meddling king," attempting to influence politicians.After the judgment was released Thursday, Guardian Editor-in-Chief Alan Rusbridger said the paper was "delighted" about the Supreme Court's decision after what he said was a "brilliant 10-year campaign by Guardian reporter Rob Evans." "The government wasted hundreds of thousands of pounds trying to cover up these letters, admitting their publication would 'seriously damage' perceptions of the Prince's political neutrality. Now they must publish them so that the public can make their own judgment," Rusbridger said.Max Foster, CNN's royal correspondent, says the letters are part of a broader discussion about the role of the heir to the throne.Read More"These were private letters, never meant for public consumption, which is why the Prince's office has resisted their release," he said. "But they play into a much bigger debate about the role of monarchy. Should Charles be getting involved in politics at all when, as head of state, he'll be expected to be politically neutral? He's not in that position yet so feels he has some leeway."'Disappointing' judgmentPrime Minister David Cameron said the judgment was "disappointing" and the government would now look at how to release the letters."This is about the principle that senior members of the royal family are able to express their views to government confidentially. I think most people would agree this is fair enough," he said.Cameron suggested the legislation might need revision in light of the decision: "Our FOI (freedom of information) laws specifically include the option of a governmental veto, which we exercised in this case for a reason. If the legislation does not make Parliament's intentions for the veto clear enough, then we will need to make it clearer."The Prince's official residence, Clarence House, issued a brief statement about the decision."This is a matter for the government. Clarence House is disappointed the principle of privacy has not been upheld."The anti-monarchy group Republic welcomed the news but warned that 2010 changes to the Freedom of Information Act to remove the public interest clause put future releases at risk."The government must now act to end royal secrecy. Any risk to the monarchy must pale against a risk to democracy from having an activist prince acting in secret," CEO Graham Smith said. "We can't have a situation where we don't know what influence Charles is having on government policy." In a statement issued on the eve of the decision, Smith branded the monarchy one of Britain's "most secretive institutions." "Charles clearly has his own political agenda, yet his name won't be on the ballot in May. So we all need to know what influence he is trying to exert and what impact he is having on policy." The legal battleEvans, the Guardian reporter, had been fighting a legal battle to get the letters published since 2005 when he requested disclosure of communications between Charles and various government departments under the UK's Freedom of Information Act and environmental regulations.After the departments and the information commissioner denied his requests, Evans appealed to the Information Tribunal, which referred the matter to the Upper Tribunal.The Guardian reported in 2009 that Charles had written to Treasury, Foreign Office and Education Department ministers over the previous three years and that his aides had also written letters to government officials."The disclosures will fuel growing concern that the prince is continuing to interfere in political matters when many believe he should remain neutral if he wishes to become king," the paper said.The Upper Tribunal ruled in 2012 that many of the letters, "advocacy correspondence," should be disclosed, but its decision was vetoed by Britain's attorney general, who issued a certificate overriding it.Explaining his decision, the attorney general said that in that his view, the correspondence was "undertaken as part of The Prince of Wales' preparation for becoming King" and contained nothing that outweighed "strong public interest against disclosure."The Guardian challenged the veto in court, but three high court judges dismissed it, so Evans appealed to the Supreme Court, which on Thursday ruled that the attorney general was not entitled to issue the certificate.

3news

(CNN)Europe has missed its chance to stop the third wave of the coronavirus epidemic before it got out of control. Now it's paying a high price for it, with new lockdowns being imposed across the continent. On Thursday night, France announced new restrictions on 16 regions, including Paris and Nice, though President Emmanuel Macron has refused to reimpose a national lockdown as cases soar. On Monday, large parts of Italy including the cities of Rome and Milan once again entered a strict lockdown, while in Spain, all regions except for Madrid have decided to restrict travel over the upcoming Easter holidays. The German capital of Berlin has halted the planned easing of its lockdown too, quoting a rising number of Covid-19 cases. Critics say the new restrictions have come too late and that Europe's current problems can be traced back to politicians too eager to start easing."The second wave did not end, the lockdown was interrupted too soon, to let people go shopping for Christmas," French epidemiologist Catherine Hill told CNN. She said infection levels remained at a high level. "Recently admission in intensive care units have [been increasing] regularly, and the situation is now critical in several parts of the country, including greater Paris."New coronavirus variants keep popping up. Here's what we know about themRead MoreA more contagious variant of the virus, known as B.1.1.7, seems to be the common culprit behind the chaos. New preliminary data published in the British Medical Journal suggest that the strain, first detected last year in the United Kingdom, may also be more deadly. Alessandro Grimaldi, the director of infectious diseases at Salvatore Hospital in the Italian town of L'Aquila, told CNN the new more contagious variant had "changed the game," adding that "inevitably, the measures taken to prevent the infection have to become more drastic."World Health Organization warned about this nearly two months ago, when it became clear the UK variant was circulating in most of Europe. "Once it becomes dominant, it may impact the epidemic curve overall and lead to the need for a more restrictive approach to the public health and social measures that need to be in place, so that rates of transmission can decrease," WHO's Senior Emergency Officer for Europe, Catherine Smallwood, said at the time. That has now happened. Germany's center for disease control announced on March 10 that the UK variant had become the dominant strain in Germany. The new variant is also responsible for the majority of new cases in France and Italy, according to health officials there. In Spain, B.1.1.7 is now the dominant strain in nine of the country's 19 regions.The worsening situation in Europe is becoming a cautionary tale for the United States. The variant causing a renewed crisis across the continent is also spreading fast in the US. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has projected it will become the dominant strain in the United States by the end of this month or early April.But there is another reason why US experts are worried about what is happening in Europe right now. Germany, France, Italy and Spain all avoided the huge spikes in infections that had paralyzed the United Kingdom after the Christmas holiday. Their infection levels were either stable or or showing signs of decline just a few weeks ago. With vaccination rollouts starting, albeit slowly, across the continent, people were starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.But while the trends looked promising, the case numbers were still very high. And that became a major problem when the new wave started -- making the new lockdowns necessary, Grimaldi said."It's not easy to do lockdowns, because of the economic despair it brings ... the life style change it brings," he said. "But they are indispensable in trying to make the virus stop."He said that data from a recent study by the University in Bologna has shown that the most stringent lockdown measures, refered to as "the red zones" in Italy do work -- leading to as much as 91% drop in number of Covid-related deaths.A delay in the decision to impose lockdowns can be deadly. The Resolution Foundation, a British think tank, said Thursday that an extra 27,000 people died of Covid-19 because the government delayed the start of the country's latest lockdown until January, despite evidence of fast rising cases in December.A man walks near a closed bar in Piazza Vittorio in Turin on March 17, 2021.American public health officials are worried the US is heading in the same direction -- with some states starting to ease up on safety measures even as case numbers remain high. "When you see a plateau at a level as high as 60,000 cases a day, that is a very vulnerable time to have a surge, to go back up. That's what exactly happened in Europe," Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN. He observed that after promising declines in Covid-19 numbers, some European countries "pulled back on public health measures" which has led to the new spikes.Mike Tildesley, an infectious disease modeling expert at the University Warwick and a UK government scientific adviser, said that the slower rollout of vaccines in many European countries means they are facing a higher risk of seeing large waves of new cases. "Sadly until nations get close to herd immunity we are likely to see waves of infection occurring as countries cycle between phases of lockdown," he said.Grimaldi said that while vaccination plays a major role in fighting the epidemic, it has to come hand-in-hand with the safety measures, because the more the virus keeps circulating in the population, the higher the chance it could mutate further. "The virus will try to survive despite the vaccine, so lockdowns are really the only way to stop the virus from circulating," he said. Without a global vaccine plan, coronavirus variants could lead to untold number of deathsThe World Health Organization on Thursday warned that Europe's vaccination campaigns aren't yet slowing transmission of the coronavirus. The continent recorded more than 1.2 million new infections last week, and more than 20,000 people a week are dying of Covid-19. "The number of people dying from COVID-19 in Europe is higher now than it was this time last year, reflecting the widespread hold this virus has," Dr. Hans Kluge, the WHO's regional director for Europe, said.And the pandemic is "moving eastwards," Kluge added, with infection rates and deaths in central Europe, the Balkans and Baltic states among the highest in the world.A new model published in The Lancet journal on Thursday showed that vaccinations alone might not be enough to contain the epidemic, stressing the need for gradual easing of the restrictions rather than a big bang reopening.Hill, the French epidemiologist, added that testing must also remain a key part of the strategy. "To control the epidemic one needs to test massively the population in order to find and isolate the carriers of the virus," she said, pointing to the estimated 50% of infections that are caused by individuals who do not know they have Covid-19.The new wave of higher case numbers isn't limited to Europe. Case numbers have increased 10% globally over the past week to over 3 million new reported cases, according to WHO's latest situation report. The number of new cases peaked in early January, but then declined for four weeks in row before increased for the past three weeks. The number of people dying is still declining and has dropped to below 60,000 per week last week, the first time this happened since early November. CNN's Eliza Mackintosh contributed to this report.

3news

Story highlightsPope Francis addresses conference on climate change and human trafficking at VaticanHe calls on the United Nations to take action against human traffickingSixty-five mayors and local politicians from around the world join Pope (CNN)Pope Francis joined 65 mayors and local politicians from around the world Tuesday at a Vatican-sponsored conference on climate change and modern slavery."The Holy See can make nice speeches," Pope Francis said in remarks to participants, "but the most important work goes from the peripheries to the conscience of human kind." The Pope told the mayors they were the ones most able to affect those in the peripheries.Francis also touched on the problems of addiction, unemployment, health and human trafficking experienced by those in urban areas as well as deforestation of the Amazon and excess technology affecting forced migration."Ecology is human," he said. "We cannot separate man from everything else."The two-day conference, titled "Modern Slavery and Climate Change: The Commitment of the Cities" and "Prosperity, People and Planet: Achieving Sustainable Development in Our Cities," is the latest in a series of public efforts on the part of the Vatican to influence the debate on climate change and human trafficking. Read MoreThe summit follows the Pope's landmark letter on the environment, "Laudato Si," which slammed a slew of modern trends -- the heedless worship of technology, our addiction to fossil fuels and compulsive consumerism -- and warned that humanity's "reckless" behavior has pushed the planet to a perilous "breaking point."Pope Francis: 'Revolution' needed to combat climate changeIn September, the United Nations will vote on sustainable development goals, and member nations will submit plans to combat climate change this winter in Paris. "I have a great hope in the Paris summit in December," Pope Francis said to conference participants.Watch 'Children for Sale: The Fight to End Human Trafficking'Tuesday: 9 p.m. ET and PT / 3 a.m. CET Wednesday / 9 a.m. HKT Wednesday Wednesday: 7 a.m. ET and PT / 1 p.m. CET or 7 p.m. HKT;11 a.m. ET and PT / 5 p.m. CET / 11 p.m. HKT;3 p.m. ET and PT / 9 p.m CET / 3 a.m. HKT Thursday.Join the conversation at #endsextrafficking."I really do hope that a fundamental basic agreement is reached. The U.N. (needs) to take a very strong position on this issue, in particular trafficking of human beings."Sex trafficking: The new American slaveryNew York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that his city, the largest in the world to commit to reducing greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050, is now committing to a 40% reduction by 2030, following a similar initiative taken by California."I hope the scale of our efforts," de Blasio said, "inspires others to go even farther."California Gov. Jerry Brown quoted the founder of the Italian Communist Party, Antonio Gramsci, "pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will," to encourage mayors to not be, "in any way confident or complacent," in the fight for change."We have very powerful opposition," Brown said, "that at least in my country, spends billions on trying to keep from office people such as yourselves and elect troglodytes and other deniers of the obvious science."Kochi, India, Mayor Tony Chammany said his country has the most slaves in the world, but that it has enacted laws to protect children from forced labor and to ensure them the right to schooling as well as a 2005 law, named after Gandhi, that aims to guarantee Indians the right to work.The mayor and town council members in Madrid walk and use public transport, according to Manuela Carmena, the mayor of Spain's capital."We can't entrust everything to laws," she said. "We must set a good example."The Vatican conference was also an opportunity for local leaders to meet each other.Vincent N'Cho Kouaoh, deputy governor of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, marveled at the coincidence that he was speaking just after the mayor of Lampedusa, the small southern Italian island that has struggled to cope with mass immigration from Africa in recent years."God always has a plan," the Ivory Coast official said on the coincidence of the lineup."I wish to take this opportunity to express my solidarity to the mayor and to congratulate her on all she is doing."Conference participants closed the day by signing, together with the Pope, a "Joint Declaration Against Modern Slavery."CNN's Daniel Burke and Slma Shelbayah contributed to this report.

3news

(CNN)He sprinted his way to fame at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning three gold medals and setting a trio of world records -- and all powered by a diet of fast food.Usain Bolt's love of junk food -- especially chicken nuggets -- has been well documented, but now at the age of 28, the Jamaican is ready to change the way he refuels.Follow @cnnsport "Food wise, I have to eat a lot more vegetables," he explained to CNN's Amanda Davies, almost sounding like a boy being told by his mother to finish his greens. "I have to cut junk food out. I think that's one of the biggest things for me, because I get a lot of urges at late nights, just to eat junk food. For me, that personally is one of the biggest sacrifices."And it really is a sacrifice given Bolt estimates in his autobiography "Faster than Lightning," that he had devoured 1,000 McDonald's chicken nuggets during his 10 days in Beijing -- a whopping 5000 calories and 300 grams of fat a day, all because he found Chinese food "odd."Read MoreVegetables may be a new addition on the Bolt menu, but don't expect him to be cooking them."I can't cook, that's the one thing I can't do, though I can make scrambled eggs," he confessed ahead of the Anniversary Games in London. Team Bolt we remain strong and we continue to work hard towards the goal at hand.. Thanks all the love and support my peeps and keep believing anything is possible..No Limits #ForeverFaster A photo posted by Usain St.Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) on Jul 24, 2015 at 3:21pm PDT But if you ever feel guilty about breaking a diet, you shouldn't, as even the world's greatest athletes are still prone to the odd slip-up."Sometimes you do think about just going out or just not training, or just eating a million hot wings. It's hard sometimes, because you crave it, because you're used to doing a certain thing."It's hard to just walk away and not slip up sometimes. So it happens, but I try to not make it happen on the regular. I try to just contain myself as much as possible."As well as resisting deep-fried chicken temptations, Bolt has also become more conscious of his body clock and whether that is helping or hindering his athletic performance."Oh, I think it's just not sleeping [is my biggest weakness.] I'm so used to staying up at night, especially playing video games or just watching movies."I think that's one of my hardest things to overcome, trying to go to bed early. Even when I want to sleep, I tend to try to fight the sleep and not go to bed."It would appear Bolt's new healthy diet and early bedtimes are starting to pay off, as he recorded his fastest time of the season -- 9.87 seconds -- at the Anniversary Games to take the gold medal in the 100m on the same track he tasted Olympic glory on at London 2012.100m final 1st @usainbolt 9.87, 2nd Rodgers 9.90, 3rd Bailey-Cole 9.92 #AnniversaryGames— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) July 24, 2015 The British capital has been the backdrop to some of the greatest moments in Bolt's career and it will set the scene for his curtain call.The date of Bolt's retirement has been set for after the 2017 World Championships for some time and, by the sound of it, the world's fastest man will unlikely be tempted to postpone."Yes, that'll be it for me. I think there's nothing else for me to either accomplish after those next two seasons. So why stay in the game?"Despite his impending retirement and inability to resist unhealthy food, Bolt is confident his waistline won't be expanding in the future."Hell no [I won't get fat]," he said, chuckling at the thought. "That's one thing I'm determined not to have. I have a bet with a couple of people."I have a bet with Ricky Sims (Bolt's agent,) I have a bet with my coach (Glen Mills.) I have a bet with a few people because everybody says I'm really lazy, so in like two years after I retire I'm going to have a big gut. The Winning Team #CoachMills #Guru #ForeverFaster A photo posted by Usain St.Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) on Jun 12, 2015 at 12:27pm PDT "I have to take up something, I don't know what I'll have to take up. But for sure I'll be doing something. Just not running."Bolt's last hurrah at the Olympics will come at Rio 2016 and, with just under a year to go, it is very much on his mind."I think the closer it [Rio] gets, I think about it way more," the six-time Olympic gold medallist said."Initially, it wasn't that much, I didn't think about it. But now it's really been on my mind. I think it's because it really means so much to me, I really want to go to Rio and do so well. "I've even talked to my friends already. I said: 'Listen to me, you guys got to keep me focused next season, make sure I stay on top of things.' So I've already tried to start putting things in place. "But I really think about it a lot. I just tell my friends because I know sometimes I'll just be up and I was like: 'Yo, let's go hang out.'"I tell them: 'Listen to me, say no sometimes. Say no, let's not hang out today.'Above all, though, it's the prospect of not letting down his coach Glen Mills that keeps Bolt on the straight and narrow."My coach most of all. He really stays on top of things, and he knows me very well," he said. "I think just looking at me he can tell when I have done something wrong. I feel sometimes he's bluffing, but when you're guilty, it plays on your conscience. "But he knows well because I show up at training sometimes and he goes: 'You went out last night, didn't you?' And I go: 'No.' "But I can tell he knows what's going on."The Jamaican is known for his on-track showmanship and love and enjoyment for what he does. However, from now until Rio, we'll be seeing an altogether more serious Bolt..@usainbolt talks to CNN ahead of tomorrow's Sainsbury's Anniversary Games at the Olympic Park in London. pic.twitter.com/PoT1fb5aUe— CNN Sport (@cnnsport) July 23, 2015 "It's going to be all work next season. I think there's going to be zero fun next season for me," he said with a serious tone. "That season is very important to do the Olympics back-to-back. For me, that's the biggest thing in my career. So I know what it will take and I know what I have to do. "So next season, strictly work."Bolt's "Double-Triple" -- gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in Beijing and London -- is an historic feat in itself, but the Jamaican is supremely confident of recording an unprecedented "Triple-Triple."Just how sure is he of writing a new page in the history books? "A hundred percent. As long as I'm fit, I have no doubt."I know my capability, I know what it takes and that's the key thing."That's what I always explain to people."Before he does bid his farewell to athletics, Bolt is equally confident he will set his own bar even higher and continue to break records."Yes, without a doubt [I can break them.] I think -- and I've said it every year -- if I just could get a season where I just go through with no problems, then I know that I'll be breaking world records easy."So for me, I think next season I'll go to my doctor more, get more check-ups, be aware just of everything around me and my surroundings and just things that I need to do to stay in shape. "I think I'll be much more aware of these things because I need to be at the best when I go to Rio, at my absolute best."I don't want what happened this season to happen next season, people doubting me that if I'm going to do great, if Usain's going to win. "I don't want that at any point in the season, so I'm going to make sure I stay on top of my game." Read: Usain Bolt gunning for Justin Gatlin

5sport

(CNN)Rafael Nadal has tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving back in Spain from Abu Dhabi, the 20-time grand slam champion said on Monday.Nadal, who didn't confirm the specific variant of Covid-19, had been making his comeback from injury in the Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition event in Abu Dhabi last week.It was Nadal's first tournament appearance since the Citi Open in Washington in August.In a Twitter thread, the 35-year-old said he had tested positive for the virus following a PCR test taken on arrival back in Spain.Nadal added that he had tested negative at all times when he was in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi and had last tested negative on Friday.Read More"I am experiencing some unpleasant moments but I hope that I will improve little by little. I am now confined at home and have informed those people who have been in contact with me of the result," Nadal wrote."As a result of the situation I have to have complete flexibility with my calendar and will be analysing my options depending on my progress. I will keep you informed of any decision about my future tournaments," Nadal added.The first grand slam of the 2022 season is the Australian Open, which starts on January 17.

5sport

Story highlightsJose Mourinho sacked as Chelsea managerSocial media responds by mercilessly mocking the Portuguese (CNN)Jose Mourinho's miserable 2015-16 season goes from bad to worse -- and we'd recommend he swerves social media for a while after Chelsea confirmed Thursday that they had "parted company" with the Portuguese manager by "mutual consent."Chelsea Football Club and Jose Mourinho have today parted company by mutual consent. https://t.co/YYJaxxdE36— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 17, 2015 Were Chelsea right to sack Jose Mourinho? https://t.co/AOVqB0CyMV #CFC— CNN Sport (@cnnsport) December 17, 2015 Rival clubs' fans showed little sympathy, basking in the glory of one of the Premier League's most successful managers being sacked by Chelsea for the second time.Mourinho has had many public spats with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger over the years and unsurprisingly there was plenty of schadenfreude from Gunners fans, specifically relating to the poor form of Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who used to play for the north London team.Good work, Agent Fabregas. We're bringing you in.— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) December 17, 2015 One of Mourinho's jibes at Wenger was that the Frenchman was "a specialist in failure," providing an open goal for some Arsenal fans reveling in the misfortune of one of their club's greatest adversaries.Mourinho sacked. Specialist in failure. pic.twitter.com/MIjphICaEC— Renato (@th14Renato) December 17, 2015 Other social media users referenced Mourinho's public falling out with former Chelsea club doctor Eva Carneiro as a reason for Mourinho's demise.Read MoreJUST WATCHEDLooking back on Mourinho's Chelsea reign ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLooking back on Mourinho's Chelsea reign 02:36There was plenty of speculation as to who might replace Mourinho, with the British media recently linking former Tottenham Hotspur manager Juande Ramos with the job...Juande all of this will be yours... pic.twitter.com/DhyR7SVuOp— Who Ate All The Pies (@waatpies) December 17, 2015 ... and where Mourinho might end up next -- would he be tempted by the challenge of lower league English football team Luton Town?Mourinho sacked on the same day Luton part with John Still- coincidence? Jose's gonna love it at Kenny Road...— Natalie Pirks (@Natpirks) December 17, 2015 Or how he could go about finding his next job."Hello. I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn." pic.twitter.com/CQFe2nRZSr— Lev Parikian (@LevParikian) December 17, 2015 When you're unemployed it can be tough finding a new job, with plenty of hoops to jump through before you land that dream post.@ChelseaFC We've received a CV from Mr Jose Mourinho. He's applied for a job as pizza chef. Please can you send through a reference. Thanks.— Pizza Hut UK (@pizzahutuk) December 17, 2015 While the UK's Prime Minister assured him there were plenty of vacancies out there.PM spokesman on #JoseMourinho sacking: PM is always sad to see anyone lose their job but he would point to the 740k vacancies in UK economy— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) December 17, 2015 But what of his legacy? In July, Mourinho suggested he and his Chelsea team could dominate for years to come.and what a decade it was pic.twitter.com/SunEg6wxrZ— scott (@smcney14) December 17, 2015 If Fabregas hasn't enjoyed the most successful of seasons the Spanish midfielder was polite enough to send his best wishes to Mourinho.Thank you for all you have done for me. I owe you a lot and we will all miss you. Good luck in the future. pic.twitter.com/RQlOTFrtzU— Cesc Fàbregas Soler (@cesc4official) December 17, 2015 For Chelsea fans despondent with the news that the most successful manager in the club's history had been shown the door, it was very much a case of what might have been ...230 days ago.. pic.twitter.com/vLtidiBVvI— Mourinholic (@Mourinholic) December 17, 2015

5sport

Story highlightsJames Holmes is accused of killing 12, wounding 70 at a movie theater in July 2012Holmes said he knew killing was wrong but needed "points" from each slain victimHe has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity; expert says he was rational Centennial, Colorado (CNN)It is a rare glimpse into the origins and psyche of a mass shooting. And it is completely unsettling. The capital murder trial of James Eagan Holmes has, for more than a week, been taking a jury inside the "broken" mind of a young man who really didn't like other people. Prosecutors say Holmes should pay with his life for the killings of eight men, three women and a little girl at a Colorado movie theater nearly three years ago.Hours of tape-recorded sessions with a psychiatrist appointed by the court to evaluate his sanity have become part of the evidence as well as a notebook in which Holmes sought to explain his actions.Holmes hasn't taken the witness stand, but he might as well have. His videotaped voice, flat and monotonous, has filled the suburban courtroom here. After weeks of gruesome and emotionally gripping testimony, the focus of Holmes' trial shifted in week six from the carnage to the man prosecutors hold responsible for it -- and to the central questions in this case: Read MoreWhat was Holmes' state of mind on July 20, 2012, when he opened fire at the midnight showing of the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" at the Century 16 multiplex in the Denver suburb of Aurora. Was he sane or insane? The jury's answers to these questions could very well determine whether the 27-year-old former grad student is executed or spends the rest of his days in a Colorado prison or mental hospital.Most defendants testify to try to save themselves. But Holmes' words are providing the pillar for the prosecution's case against him."The mission" is how Holmes referred to the shootings that killed 12 and wounded 70. After 22 hours of sessions, court-appointed psychiatrist William Reid concluded that Holmes was mentally ill but legally sane. He invoked a diagnosis unfamiliar to most laymen: schizotypal personality disorder. In other words, the expert said, Holmes was indeed sick and anti-social, but he was rational. JUST WATCHEDAccused theather shooter has 'regrets' about shootingReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAccused theather shooter has 'regrets' about shooting 02:52The defendant acknowledged to Reid that shooting people is "legally wrong." "You get punished for killing," Holmes said. He also stated with conviction, "It's wrong to kill children."And yet ... Holmes bought a ticket for "The Dark Knight Rises" and entered Theater 9 around midnight, choosing a front-row seat. He pretended to take a phone call and left through an emergency exit, propping the door open with a plastic doorstop. He returned 18 minutes into the movie, tossing a tear gas grenade into the audience. As panicked moviegoers scrambled for the exits, he fired a 12-gauge pump action shotgun into the seats, then opened fire with an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle with a high-capacity clip that jammed. He also fired several shots with a Glock 40-caliber pistol.The first of 41 calls to 911 came in at about 12:30 a.m., reporting explosions and 10 to 20 shots fired, with people down. The police station is close by, and the first officers arrived about a minute later. They were greeted by a horrific scene: Blood, body tissue and spilled popcorn were everywhere, the air was filled with tear gas and gun smoke, and panicked people were screaming. Cell phones were going off, but nobody was answering them. Ten people lay dead in the theater, and two more were pronounced dead at hospitals. Thirty-three shots found their mark: Four struck 6-year-old Veronica Moser-Sullivan, and six found a 24-year-old aspiring sports journalist, Jessica Ghawi, who had narrowly missed a deadly mass shooting a few weeks earlier at a Toronto food court. Photos: Colorado shooting victimsJonathan T. Blunk, 26, served for five years in the U.S. Navy. He died shielding a friend from the gunfire inside the theater.Hide Caption 1 of 12 Photos: Colorado shooting victimsAlexander J. Boik, 18, was remembered by friends and loved ones as a "great person" whose "craziness touched hundreds," according to a Facebook page created in his memory.Hide Caption 2 of 12 Photos: Colorado shooting victimsAir Force Staff Sgt. Jesse E. Childress, an Air Force reservist, was a cybersystems operator on active duty. He was 29.Hide Caption 3 of 12 Photos: Colorado shooting victimsGordon W. Cowden, 51, took his two teenage children to the theater. His children escaped unharmed.Hide Caption 4 of 12 Photos: Colorado shooting victimsJessica Ghawi, 24, was an aspiring sports reporter. She grew up in Texas before moving to Denver to try break into the television market there. Hide Caption 5 of 12 Photos: Colorado shooting victimsPetty Officer 3rd Class John Thomas Larimer, 27, served in the Navy like his father and grandfather. He had been in the service for about a year. Hide Caption 6 of 12 Photos: Colorado shooting victimsMatthew R. McQuinn, 27, died trying to provide cover for his girlfriend, Samantha Yowler, during the shooting, according to a family attorney. Yowler survived. Hide Caption 7 of 12 Photos: Colorado shooting victimsMicayla C. Medek, 23, known to her friends as Cayla, was "very spiritual and close to God," cousin Anita Busch told CNN. Hide Caption 8 of 12 Photos: Colorado shooting victimsVeronica Moser Sullivan, 6, was the youngest victim of the Aurora theater shooting. She had just learned how to swim. Hide Caption 9 of 12 Photos: Colorado shooting victimsAlex M. Sullivan, 27, went to the movie to celebrate his birthday with his wife, two days before their first wedding anniversary.Hide Caption 10 of 12 Photos: Colorado shooting victimsAlexander C. Teves, 24, recently graduated from the University of Denver with a master's degree in counseling psychology. He died protecting his girlfriend.Hide Caption 11 of 12 Photos: Colorado shooting victimsRebecca Ann Wingo, 32, joined the Air Force after high school, became fluent in Mandarin and served as a translator, according to CNN affiliate WFAA.Hide Caption 12 of 12James Holmes told psychiatrist he has 'regrets' over theater shootingsHolmes told Reid, the court-appointed psychiatrist, that he felt remorse, especially about the little girl's death."I think it's wrong to kill children," he stated. "I chose to minimize child fatalities by choosing a midnight showing of a PG-13 movie," he explained. "I felt sad that a child had died. It wasn't my intention to kill children or leave them parentless." In Holmes' skewed worldview, each life he took was worth a point, adding value to his own life. If his life had value, he reasoned, he wouldn't have to kill himself. But he said he never wanted to build life points by taking the lives of children. By the end of the movie theater shooting, Holmes believed he had raised his "life capital" to 13, while an ordinary person's would simply be worth a single point. "The dead can't be repaired," he told Reid. "It's kind of irreversible." Instead, he said he absorbed their life experiences as well as their hopes and dreams into his own life.He had accomplished his mission, even if getting arrested was the price he had to pay. But he said he gained nothing from injuring people or leaving them behind to grieve for the dead. He spoke of the 70 people wounded as "collateral damage." JUST WATCHEDTheater shooter describes 'homicidal thoughts' in video ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTheater shooter describes 'homicidal thoughts' in video 02:34Holmes sat down with Reid last summer after entering his insanity plea. The defense has objected to Reid's testimony, saying it violates Holmes' Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. But Judge Carlos Samour has twice turned down defense demands for a mistrial, saying Holmes' attorneys should have raised the issue before Reid took the stand. More insights into Holmes' psyche -- some little more than disjointed ramblings -- are contained in a composition book he mailed to the office of Lynne Fenton, a psychiatrist who was treating him at a campus clinic at the University of Colorado's Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. He sent the notebook the day before the shootings, seeking to explain how and why he had done it. It was important to him that people understand, Holmes later told Reid. The notebook was found unread in a mail bin and seized by police. It is dedicated to "Goober, Chrissy and Bobbo" -- pet names for his mother, sister and father -- and includes the message, "Love yuhs." One lengthy passage bears the title "Insights into the Mind of Madness." It posits questions about life and death, and contrives a formula under which the two seem to cancel each other out. An odd symbol resembling a combination of an infinity sign and the face of a space alien appears three times in the notebook. Holmes referred to the symbol as "Ultra-ception," explaining the meaning: "Any problem can be solved with death." "What is the meaning of life?" he asks. "What is the meaning of death?"The word "Why?" is written over and over, covering seven pages. But the notebook includes many signs of lucidity as well, demonstrated by Holmes' ability to plan the attack and carry it out. There is a logic, even if it seems warped. His thoughts, however off, hold together, Reid noted. They aren't scattered or disorganized. Holmes rejected using bombs as well as chemical or biological agents as his weapons. They were too complicated. He might blow himself up. He thought about serial killings but ruled them out, again listing his reasons: "too personal, too much evidence, easily caught, few kills." He focused instead on a mass shooting, mostly because he believed he could actually pull it off with "maximum casualties." He rejected carrying out his mission at an airport -- too much security. Instead, he chose a movie theater because it would be crowded and there would be a limited number of exits. He seems to have spent considerable time "casing the place" and sketching detailed maps into the composition book. Holmes faces 166 counts, almost all alleging murder or attempted murder. The murder counts carry a possible death penalty. Holmes had offered to plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence, but Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler rejected any plea deal, stating, "For James Eagan Holmes, justice is death." Prosecutors said they spoke with some 800 shooting survivors and family members of the 12 people slain before deciding to seek the ultimate penalty for Holmes. Holmes pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and the court appointed two psychiatrists to conduct independent evaluations; both concluded he was sane, Brauchler told jurors in his opening statement. In many states, it is left to the defense to prove insanity. But in Colorado, prosecutors bear the burden of proving a suspect sane. They must show that Holmes knew what he was doing was legally and morally wrong. Reid videotaped his sessions with Holmes, some 22 hours in all. Most of the recordings were played last week in court. As the trial's focus shifted in the sixth week of testimony to Holmes, the seating area reserved for shooting survivors and relatives of the dead thinned noticeably. Sandy Phillips, the mother of Jessica Ghawi, said it was difficult to hear Holmes attempt to justify what he has done."It's excruciatingly painful. He's so devoid of any human kindness, expression, empathy. That's hurtful," she said. "When you're considered collateral damage as a parent who has lost their child in the theater, that's hard to sit and listen to." Her husband, Lonnie, agreed. "It's adding insult to injury when you have to go through this. He decided he wanted to live. He didn't want the pain and misery. He wanted to protect himself, and it's all about him." Voices of Aurora: Coping with grief, conquering lifeIt is disconcerting to see Holmes, dressed in street clothes, sitting stiffly at the defense table under a screen showing him sitting just as stiffly in jailhouse blues. On the screen, he speaks with Reid, who recorded his interviews with Holmes last summer. Holmes speaks in short phrases, volunteering little information.JUST WATCHEDJames Holmes' parents in court every dayReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHJames Holmes' parents in court every day 02:02In court, Holmes swivels in his chair but otherwise shows little animation. He parents sit stoically, several rows back. His father, Robert, a mathematician with degrees from Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley, chews on his fingernails. His mother, Arlene, a nurse, looks straight ahead, occasionally writing in a notebook. James Holmes trial: His parents, changing hair color, medicationIt's first time the public has heard Holmes talk about the now-infamous mass shooting, one of the worst in recent history. After his arrest, he ended police questioning after eight minutes by asking for a lawyer. To some he comes across as cold, to others he seems completely disconnected. It is unusual for a suspect in a mass killing to survive and go to trial, much less describe an attack in detail. Usually, the suspects die by their own hand or are killed by police, an outcome popularly known as "suicide by cop." But Holmes meekly surrendered to police in the parking lot outside the theater. And so, earlier this week, the jury heard him describe what it was like to walk into a packed movie theater, toss a tear gas grenade into the crowd and open fire. Jurors also heard him explain why he felt he had to do it. The victims had to die, Holmes said, so he wouldn't. He told Reid about gearing up, donning bullet-proof pants, gloves and a gas mask and slinging the AR-15 rifle over his shoulder, tucking the Glock into his belt and picking up his loaded shotgun. He said he couldn't see well in the dark because of the gas mask. As he stepped out of his car outside the theater, he said he called a mental health hotline at the university. It was one last chance to "stop the mission" and back out.But no one picked up the phone.Even if someone had tried to talk him down, Holmes said, he or she likely would have been "overruled." He waited nine seconds and then grew certain that the mission was a go. "It was really going to happen," he said.He felt "calm and collected" as if he was on "autopilot" as he started shooting. He knew he was well-prepared.He doesn't remember hearing gunshots or panicked screams; he had techno music blasting through the ear buds he wore. He didn't view his targets as people. He didn't even know them, he said. They were just "amorphous" numbers, sacrifices to his peculiar point system. Jurors have also learned about Holmes' family and what makes him tick. He has believed since he was a teenager that his mind was "broken." He said he had been obsessed with killing for more than a decade. Brauchler said in his opening statement that Holmes killed to make him feel better about himself after a series of personal setbacks, including failing at school and breaking up with his girlfriend.JUST WATCHEDJames Holmes' notebook lists pros and cons of crimeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHJames Holmes' notebook lists pros and cons of crime 03:32Holmes wrote in his notebook that he studied neurology in college and grad school in a failed attempt to fix his own "broken mind." His childhood was haunted by night terrors in which "Nail Ghosts" hammered on the walls. Shadows and "flickerings" danced in his peripheral vision. He has been depressed and obsessed with murder since about age 14, he says, because it was the only viable alternative to suicide. No voices commanded Holmes to kill. The idea was completely his own, he told Reid. "I'd say I was on my own authority."He said he considered carrying out the mass shooting at the movie theater since the day he bought the shotgun -- May 28, according to court records. He listed a host of physical maladies -- from schizophrenia to Asperger's to restless leg syndrome -- in a section called "Self-Diagnosis of a Broken Mind." He complained of fatigue, catatonia, insomnia, social awkwardness and isolation, hyperactivity and problems with his eyes, ears, nose -- "constant dripping" -- and even his penis, which he said he injured as a child. He studies himself and his "physical shortcomings" in the mirror obsessively. But perhaps the biggest symptom of his broken brain, he said, was the difficulty he has forming his thoughts into words. He simply cannot communicate, and contact with other human beings makes him very uncomfortable. It feeds his hatred for "humanity." He struggles with an "odd sense of self," waging a constant battle between his "real self" and his "biological self." He noted that he had recently "lost" the battle by allowing himself to fall in love. "So always, that's my mind," he wrote. "It is broken. I tried to fix it. I made it my sole conviction but using something that's broken to fix itself proved insurmountable."He pursued knowledge as a cure, but it didn't work. "Neuroscience seemed like the way to go but it didn't pan out. In order to rehabilitate the broken mind, my soul must be eviscerated. I could not sacrifice my soul to have a 'normal' mind."He said he "fought and fought" until the end. To relieve his personal torture, he sought to escape by distracting himself or ignoring the problem. Still, his depression and low opinion of himself persisted. And so, in the end, he made a choice and noted it in his composition book: "The last escape, mass murder at the movies." Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreThe public gets its first glimpse of James Holmes, then 24, the suspect in the Colorado theater shooting during his initial court appearance July 23, 2012. With his hair dyed reddish-orange, Holmes, here with public defender Tamara Brady, showed little emotion. He is accused of opening fire in a movie theater July 20, 2012, in Aurora, Colorado, killing 12 people and wounding 70. Holmes faces 166 counts, almost all alleging murder or attempted murder. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. More photos: Mourning the victims of the Colorado theater massacreHide Caption 1 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacrePolice release the official photo from Holmes' booking after the shooting.Hide Caption 2 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreHolmes often had a blank stare during his July 23, 2012, court appearance, seeming to be in a daze. Hide Caption 3 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreVictims and their relatives and journalists watch the proceedings in 2012.Hide Caption 4 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreFlags fly at half-staff on July 23, 2012, at the Arapahoe County Courthouse in Centennial, Colorado, where the movie theater shooting suspect had his first court appearance. The murder counts against Holmes carry a possible death penalty.Hide Caption 5 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreArapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers talks to reporters July 23, 2012, before heading into the courthouse. The murder counts against Holmes carry a possible death penalty. Hide Caption 6 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreFamily members of the victims arrive at the courthouse July 23, 2012, for the suspect's first court appearance.Hide Caption 7 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreThe Century Aurora 16 multiplex in Aurora becomes a place of horror after a gunman opened fire July 20, 2012, in a crowded theater. Hide Caption 8 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreHolmes is accused of opening fire during a midnight screening of the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises." Holmes purchased four weapons and more than 6,000 rounds of ammunition, police say.Hide Caption 9 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacrePolice investigate outside the Century 16 multiplex July 21, 2012, a day after the mass shooting. Hide Caption 10 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreAgents search the suspect's car outside the theater.Hide Caption 11 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreAurora police escort a sand-filled dump truck containing improvised explosive devices removed from Holmes' booby-trapped apartment on July 21, 2012. Authorities have said they believe the suspect rigged his place before leaving for the movie theater. Hide Caption 12 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacrePolice break a window at the suspect's apartment July 20, 2012, in Aurora.Hide Caption 13 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreLaw enforcement officers speak with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, center, outside the suspect's apartment July 21, 2012.Hide Caption 14 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreLaw enforcement officers prepare to disarm the booby-trapped apartment July 21, 2012.Hide Caption 15 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreOfficials tow cars outside Holmes' apartment July 21, 2012. Police disassembled devices and trip wires set up in the apartment.Hide Caption 16 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreOfficers prepare to place an explosive device inside the apartment.Hide Caption 17 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreDebris flies out a window, right, after law enforcement officers detonate an explosive device inside the apartment July 21, 2012.Hide Caption 18 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacrePeople mourn the victims during a vigil behind the theater where a gunman opened fire on moviegoers in Aurora.Hide Caption 19 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreA woman grieves during a vigil for victims behind the theater.Hide Caption 20 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreA distraught woman receives counseling from the Rev. Quincy Shannon, left, in front of Gateway High School in Aurora, where the families of the missing met after the shooting.Hide Caption 21 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreLin Gan of Aurora holds back tears as she speaks to reporters about her experience in the Century 16 theater.Hide Caption 22 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacrePeople embrace before a vigil for victims behind the theater where a gunman opened fire on moviegoers.Hide Caption 23 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreInvestigators work on evidence near the apartment of James Holmes on July 20, 2012.Hide Caption 24 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreMembers of the Aurora Police Department SWAT unit walk near the Holmes' apartment. Hide Caption 25 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreTelevision news crews gather in front of the home of Robert and Arlene Holmes, parents of suspect James Holmes, in San Diego on July 21, 2012.Hide Caption 26 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreA popcorn box lies on the ground outside the Century 16 movie theater.Hide Caption 27 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreAdariah Legarreta, 4, is comforted by her grandmother Rita Abeyta near the Century 16 Theater in Aurora.Hide Caption 28 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreJessica Ghawi, an aspiring sportscaster, was one of the victims.Hide Caption 29 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreA woman waits for news outside Gateway High School, a few blocks from the scene of the shooting at the Century Aurora 16.Hide Caption 30 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreAurora police chief Daniel J. Oates speaks at a press conference near the Century 16 Theater on July 20, 2012.Hide Caption 31 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreAgents search the trash container outside the suspect's apartment in Aurora.Hide Caption 32 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreA Federal ATF officer carries protective gear onsite at the home of the shooting suspect.Hide Caption 33 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacrePresident Obama speaks on the shootings at a July 20, 2012, event in Fort Myers, Florida. Hide Caption 34 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreMoviegoers are interviewed at the Century Aurora 16.Hide Caption 35 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreOfficers gather at the theater July 20, 2012.Hide Caption 36 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreInvestigators were a common sight at the theater on July 20, 2012.Hide Caption 37 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreAuthorities gather at the shooting suspect's apartment building in Aurora. Police broke a second-floor window to look for explosives the suspect claimed were in the apartment. Hide Caption 38 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreScreaming, panicked moviegoers scrambled to escape from the black-clad gunman, who wore a gas mask and randomly shot as he walked up the theater's steps, witnesses said.Hide Caption 39 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreOnlookers gather outside the Century Aurora 16 theater.Hide Caption 40 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreA woman sits on top of her car near the crime scene. Hide Caption 41 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacrePolice block access to the Town Center mall after the shooting. Hide Caption 42 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreCell phone video taken by someone at the theater showed scores of people screaming and fleeing the building. Some, like this man, had blood on their clothes.Hide Caption 43 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreWitnesses told KUSA the gunman kicked in an emergency exit door and threw a smoke bomb into the darkened theater before opening fire.Hide Caption 44 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacreWhat is believed to be the suspect's car is examined after the shooting. Hide Caption 45 of 45CNN's Jack Hannah and Alberto Moya contributed to this report.

3news

Story highlightsDati says Desseigne is the father of her daughter, who was born in 2009Desseigne says he wasn't Dati's only lover at that timeThe president of the Lucien Barriere casino group refuses to take a DNA testDati now serves as a European Parliament deputy and mayor of a Paris districtFormer French justice minister Rachida Dati is launching a paternity suit Tuesday against a French businessman she claims is the father of her daughter, an attorney for the businessman confirmed.In the case filed at a Versailles court, Dati formally identifies Dominique Desseigne as the biological father of Zohra, who was born in 2009. But the 68-year-old president of the Lucien Barrière casino group, which owns the luxurious Le Fouquet's hotel, refuses to take a paternity test to confirm or exclude him as the father, and alleges that he was not Dati's only lover in the year her daughter was conceived.Dati, 46, served as justice minister in former President Nicolas Sarkozy's government from 2007-2009. She is now a deputy of the European Parliament and mayor of Paris' posh 7th arrondissement.In a weekend interview with the French newspaper Le Monde, Desseigne's lawyer, Michèle Cahen, alleges that Dati had up to eight lovers in the year Zohra was conceived. Cahen confirmed his comments to CNN Monday. The list allegedly includes Sarkozy's brother, a Qatari attorney-general, a television broadcaster and a former Spanish prime minister."I will not give in to this because I behaved correctly and I have nothing to be reproached for," the newspaper quoted Desseigne as telling friends, referring to his right to refuse a paternity test.Dati's attorneys did not immediately return calls for comment from CNN.Her pregnancy in 2008 was shrouded in deep mystery after she refused to reveal the father's identity, with whom she did not pursue a relationship. Last month, a French newspaper revealed that Dati would file a paternity case against Desseigne.In Le Monde's article, a friend of Desseigne explained that the businessman did not want a child with Dati and broke off the relationship in 2008, after which Dati allegedly sent him threatening letters and demanded money from him.Cahen told CNN that the Versailles court is expected to deliver its verdict in the next month on whether Desseigne will be legally obliged to take a DNA test.

3news

Story highlightsPope Francis will create new cardinals of the Catholic Church on February 22Cardinals are the highest-ranking clergy in the Catholic Church below the popeThe ceremony at which new cardinals are created is known as a consistoryThere are currently 201 cardinals in the Catholic ChurchPope Francis will create new cardinals of the Catholic Church for his first time on February 22, the Vatican announced Thursday. Cardinals are the highest-ranking clergy in the Catholic Church below the pope, and they're the ones who elect popes, so Francis will be appointing his first group of men who will ultimately help choose his successor.There are now 201 cardinals. However, once a cardinal reaches 80 he is no longer permitted to participate in the election of a pope -- this falls to a group of 120 "cardinal electors."In a statement announcing the news, Father Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman, said a meeting of all the existing cardinals would be held before the ceremony to elevate the new cardinals, known as a consistory."Pope Francis has decided to communicate his decision to convoke February's consistory in advance in order to facilitate the planning of other meetings involving the participation of cardinals from different parts of the world," Lombardi said.JUST WATCHEDBoy refuses to leave the Pope's sideReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBoy refuses to leave the Pope's side 01:55Jack Valero of Catholic Voices said that by February, the number of cardinal electors was likely to have dropped. He said usually a pope would name as many cardinals as was needed to raise the number of cardinal electors back to 120 and as many cardinals aged over 80 as he wanted.Next year's consistory would be significant because it would be the first since Francis was elected in March this year, Valero said."At the moment there is a sort of bias towards Europe and especially towards Italy. It will be interesting to see whether the new Pope will nominate cardinals from the rest of the world to restore the balance," he said."Forty percent of Roman Catholics are in South America, but they have a tiny number of cardinals."The cardinals will also be the first to be chosen since Francis formed the Council of Cardinals, a group of eight cardinals from around the world tasked with looking into ways to reform the church. Read more: Pope Francis tasks cardinals with studying reform"In the past the Pope decided everything on his own. Now Francis has selected these eight cardinals to help him," Valero said. He said it was "quite possible" that Francis would ask the cardinals for advice."But we've not been in that situation before -- it's all completely new."Valero said popes typically elevated bishops from large places to the position of cardinal but that Francis was "full of surprises -- so we don't know who he'll name."Read more: Pope appoints 22 new cardinals

3news

Paris (CNN)Gérard Depardieu is under formal investigation in France for alleged rape and sexual assault, judicial sources have confirmed to CNN. The movie star has been under investigation since December last year, they said. The complainant is a young actress who accused the actor of several rapes and sexual assaults in the summer of 2018, the sources added. Depardieu's lawyer, Hervé Temime, told CNN the actor disputes the allegations of wrongdoing and reminds of the presumption of innocence and that this case was initially dropped last June. The case was recently reopened by the judiciary. In 2018, the French actor was accused of rape and sexual assault by a 22-year-old woman, prompting a "preliminary investigation" according to the Paris public prosecutor's office. In the French judicial system, formal investigation ensues if officials find grounds for pursuing the matter further. Read MoreTemime said in 2018 when Depardieu was first accused that his client was "shocked" by the accusation and "totally denies any assault, any rape and any criminal act." He added then, "I have strong elements to show that no offense took place," and that the offense was "the opposite" of Depardieu's personality. The complaint was filed on August 27 and went to the Paris prosecutor on August 29. "I regret that this investigation was not kept secret as usual," Temime added. Also in 2018, Temime confirmed that Depardieu knows the woman who accused him, but denied he was with her during the dates mentioned in the complaint. Depardieu is known for his roles in films like "Green Card," "The Man in the Iron Mask" and "Life of Pi." He was also nominated for an Oscar in 1991 for his leading role in "Cyrano de Bergerac." He was granted Russian citizenship by Vladimir Putin after saying he was going to give up his French passport in protest at government plans for a tax hike on the richest.

3news

Story highlights The first victim to be identified is a Peruvian woman named Adelma Marina Tapia RuízISIS claims responsibility for the terror attacks at the airport and a metro station in Brussels, BelgiumThe world responds with words of unity and strength and with safety measures (CNN)Attacks in Belgium's capital killed at least 20 people at the Maelbeek metro station and at least 10 more at the international airport on Tuesday. ISIS claimed responsibility.Adelma Marina Tapia Ruíz, a wife and mother of two, died during the airport attack. The first victim to be identified is Adelma Marina Tapia Ruíz, who was killed during the attack at the airport, according to Peruvian state news agency Andina.Originally from Peru, Tapia Ruíz had lived in Belgium for six years and was at the airport with her husband and twin 3-year-old daughters waiting to board a plane when the blasts went off. The city remains largely on lock down and the airport stayed closed Tuesday. Much of Brussels transportation system has been interrupted although some services have resumed operation. Multiple countries including the U.S., UK, and Netherlands are advising against travel to Brussels. Here's what we know:Read MoreThe attacksAirport: About 8 a.m. local time, two explosions struck the departure lounge of Brussels Airport in Zaventem.JUST WATCHEDVideo: They saw the Brussels attackReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHVideo: They saw the Brussels attack 01:45One was a suicide bombing, according to Belgian prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw. The other remains under investigation.One blast took place outside the security checkpoints for ticketed passengers and near the airline check-in counters, according to an airline official briefed on the situation. A bystander's video captured the horror of the aftermath, with people motionless on the floor and dust hanging in the air, obscuring visibility.A third bomb was left at the airport but didn't go off, according to Belgian Interior Minister Jan Jambon.Metro station: About an hour after the airport explosions, another blast rocked the Maelbeek metro station toward the end of rush hour. The station is in the heart of the city, where European Union institutions are based, a symbolic target for terrorists. NATO is also headquartered in Brussels.Bystander video depicted passengers stepping down from the cars in a dark tunnel, with a child crying.The investigationSuspects: Belgian authorities released an image of three suspects in Tuesday's Brussels Airport attack.JUST WATCHEDBrussels under attackReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBrussels under attack 00:59Two of them carried out suicide attacks, and a third one is believed to have been a guide to ensure the other two would carry out the attacks, according to Van Leeuw and experts.That third individual, dressed in a light jacket and hat, is being sought, the prosecutor said.Information on suspects in the metro station attack wasn't immediately available.Belgian authorities have shared with security counterparts in the United States and elsewhere the names of several people they believe may have some role in the attacks, according to multiple U.S. officials. The names are being run through databases of suspected or known terrorists. But the identities of the bombers aren't clear to U.S. authorities, either because Belgian authorities haven't completed identification or haven't shared that information with counterterrorism officials in the U.S., the officials said. Investigators have used surveillance video to track the movements of the three men seen in the photo released, one U.S. official said. The three are seen leaving a taxi and moving through the airport, according to two officials. The third man, dressed in white, left the airport after accompanying the two. That appeared to be planned, the officials said. Raids: Police raids connected to Tuesday's attacks were happening in the Brussels region, with authorities looking for suspects linked to the explosions, Belgian broadcaster RTBF reported, citing judicial sources.A taxi driver who drove the suspects to the airport told investigators the location where he picked up the three men. He recognized the men from the surveillance images, officials said.Investigators were searching residences, but they weren't saying where, Van Leeuw said.At least one police helicopter with a sniper hovered over the Schaarbeek neighborhood as darkness fell Tuesday. The chopper apparently provided cover for raids unfolding on the ground, analysts said."During a house search in Schaarbeek, investigators found a nail bomb, chemical products, and an ISIS flag," the federal prosecutor said in a statement.Airport discovery: Belgian media reported a Kalashnikov assault rifle was found in the departure hall of the Zaventem airport.Suitcase bomb? Investigators are looking at whether one of the airport explosions may have been caused by a bomb inside a suitcase, while the other was a suicide bombing, according to a U.S. official briefed on early evidence from the investigation.This investigation is only just beginning and there's much that's not yet known, the source added.Working theory about airport: Investigators suspect the attack was one of opportunity, targeting a large group of people in an area near airline ticket counters, two officials say.JUST WATCHEDVideo shows aftermath of Brussels airport attackReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHVideo shows aftermath of Brussels airport attack 00:58There's no indication so far the attackers tried to go past the security screening checkpoint, but investigators will have to do more investigation, including reviewing surveillance footage, to be sure, the officials say.Authorities have yet to provide details on what they think the attackers' strategy was at the train station.The backdrop"The Belgians have been sitting on a ticking time bomb," one U.S. counterterrorism official said.U.S. intelligence officials say they weren't surprised about an attack in Brussels because there have been general concerns about terror threats, particularly in the wake of recent raids and the arrest of key Paris attack suspect Saleh Abdeslam last week.Belgium has been a top concern for counterterrorism officials for years because of the large number of Belgian foreign fighters who traveled to join ISIS and other terror groups in Syria and Iraq. Many have been returning.Last Friday, after more than four months on the run, Paris attack suspect Salah Abdeslam was captured after being wounded in a gunfight with Belgium police in Molenbeek. Days later, Belgium and French authorities warned of more attacks. On March 15, police killed an Algerian, Mohamed Belkaid, during a raid in a Brussels suburb. Prosecutors believe he directed the Paris attackers via calls from Belgium. An ISIS flag was found during the raid. In January, prosecutors announced they had identified three homes in Belgium used by the Paris attackers. They found bomb-making materials in one of them. Global responseUnited States: "This is yet another reminder that the world must unite," President Barack Obama said from Cuba, where he's on a historic visit. "We must be together regardless of nationality or race or faith in fighting against the scourge of terrorism."JUST WATCHEDObama: 'The world must unite'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHObama: 'The world must unite' 00:51France security: France is deploying an additional 1,600 police officers around the country, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Tuesday.U.S. security: At Washington's Union Station, police were pulling random passengers, as they were boarding, to go through luggage security checks. ‎Bomb-sniffing dogs were also out on the tracks doing sweeps.Authorities in other U.S. cities, including New York and Chicago, are taking special precautions, such as increased K9 sweeps of subways and additional police patrols.The FBI is also boosting checks on the whereabouts of suspected extremists who are already being monitored and checking for any intelligence indicating possible threats in the United States, officials say. Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsAirport workers and their relatives in Brussels, Belgium, hold a candlelight vigil Wednesday, March 23, to pay tribute to those who were killed in terrorist attacks the day before. On Tuesday, explosions rocked the city's airport and a subway station.Hide Caption 1 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsBelgian national flags are projected onto the National Gallery in London's Trafalgar Square on March 23.Hide Caption 2 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsA woman in Brussels pauses after people observed a minute of silence at the Place de la Bourse on March 23.Hide Caption 3 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsTeresa Mancheno, a maintenance worker at Newark Liberty International Airport, attends a vigil in Newark, New Jersey, on March 23.Hide Caption 4 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsEuropean Union flags fly at half-staff outside the European Commission in Brussels on March 23.Hide Caption 5 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsA young girl lights a candle at the Place de la Bourse in Brussels on Tuesday, March 22.Hide Caption 6 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsAn image of the Belgian flag is displayed on the Trevi Fountain in Rome on March 22.Hide Caption 7 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsThe Eiffel Tower is lit up with the colors of the Belgian flag on March 22.Hide Caption 8 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsServicemen with Azov, a Ukrainian volunteer battalion, hold torches during a tribute ceremony at the Belgian Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine, on March 22.Hide Caption 9 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsU.S. President Barack Obama and his family observe a moment of silence as they attend a baseball game in Havana, Cuba, with Cuban President Raul Castro, right, on March 22.Hide Caption 10 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsA woman reads messages written on the ground at Brussels' Place de la Bourse on March 22.Hide Caption 11 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsA New York City church holds Mass for victims of the Brussels attacks on March 22.Hide Caption 12 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsA man places flowers outside the Belgian Embassy in Moscow on March 22.Hide Caption 13 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsA man looks at flowers and messages outside the stock exchange in Brussels on March 22.Hide Caption 14 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsDemocratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, center, stands for a moment of silence during a roundtable with tribal leaders in Puyallup, Washington, on March 22.Hide Caption 15 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsA woman leaves a bouquet of flowers at the base of the Belgium and European Union flags, which were flying at half-staff March 22 at the Belgian Embassy in Washington.Hide Caption 16 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsActivists in Multan, Pakistan, condemn the Brussels attack on March 22.Hide Caption 17 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsA woman lays flowers at the steps of the Belgian Embassy in Berlin on March 22.Hide Caption 18 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsA boy at a makeshift migrant camp shows support for the victims near the village of Idomeni, Greece, on March 22.Hide Caption 19 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsMayors of Istanbul districts walk with consuls from various countries, including Belgium, during a protest condemning terrorism on March 22.Hide Caption 20 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsPeople in Turin, Italy, take part in a rally to remember the victims on March 22.Hide Caption 21 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsFrance's Parliament observes a minute of silence on March 22.Hide Caption 22 of 23 Photos: World reacts to Brussels bombingsMembers of Quebec's National Assembly have a moment of silence on March 22.Hide Caption 23 of 23Additionally, U.S. national security officials are on guard for possible copycat attacks, though there is no specific indication of any plots in the United States tied to the Brussels attacks, officials said.Britain security: British police have increased their presence at certain locations, including transport hubs such as London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports, according to Scotland Yard.NATO security: The alliance is raising its level of alert, it said in a statement.Follow @MMartinezCNN

3news

Story highlightsMovies from Tommy Lee Jones and Bennett Miller will compete at CannesRyan Gosling's directorial debut will also premiere at the film festival This year's event will run from May 14 to May 25Nicole Kidman's "Grace of Monaco" will be the opening night filmBennett Miller's "Foxcatcher," starring Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo and Steve Carell, was one of the high-profile movies that was announced Thursday for competition in next month's Cannes Film Festival. Also competing for the Palme d'Or is "The Homesman" from director Tommy Lee Jones, and David Cronenberg's "Maps to the Stars," which features Robert Pattinson.Ryan Gosling's directorial debut, "How to Catch a Monster," starring Christina Hendricks and Eva Mendes, will premiere in the Un Certain Regard side category."How to Train Your Dragon 2" will also premiere at Cannes, with an out of competition screening.Oscars set dates for 2015 award seasonCannes runs May 14-25 this year, and "Grace of Monaco," starring Nicole Kidman as Grace Kelly, will be the festival's opening night film. Jane Campion is presiding over this year's jury.See below for a full listing of Cannes films:OPENER"Grace of Monaco," Olivier DahanCOMPETITION"Sils Maria," Olivier Assayas"Saint Laurent," Bertrand Bonello"Winter Sleep," Nuri Bilge Ceylan"Maps to the Stars," David Cronenberg"Two Days, One Night," Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne"Mommy," Xavier Dolan"The Captive," Atom Egoyan"Goodbye to Language," Jean-Luc Godard"The Search," Michel Hazanavicius"The Homesman," Tommy Lee Jones"Still the Water," Naomi Kawase"Mr. Turner," Mike Leigh"Jimmy's Hall," Ken Loach"Foxcatcher," Bennett Miller"La Meraviglie," Alice Rohrwacher"Timbuktu," Abderrahmane Sissako"Wild Tales," Damian Szifron"Leviathan," Andrei ZvyagintsevTribeca Film Festival's must-see moviesUN CERTAIN REGARDOPENER: "Party Girl," Marie Amachoukeli, Claire Burger and Samuel Theis"Jauja," Lisandro Alonso"The Blue Room," Mathieu Amalric"Misunderstood," Asia Argento"Titli," Kanu Behl"Eleanor Rigby," Ned Benson"Lost River" (a.k.a. "How to Catch a Monster"), Ryan Gosling"Amour fou," Jessica Hausner"Charlie's Country," Rolf de Heer"Snow in Paradise," Andrew Hulme"A Girl at My Door," July Jung"Xenia", Panos Koutras"Run," Philippe Lacote"Turist," Ruben Ostlund"Beautiful Youth," Jaime Rosales"Fantasia," Wang Chao"The Salt of the Earth," Wim Wenders and Juliano Ribeiro Salgado"Away From His Absence," Keren YedayaOUT OF COMPETITION"Coming Home," Zhang Yimou"How to Train Your Dragon 2," Dean DeBloisSee the original story at EW.com.

3news

Story highlightsFormer Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic on trial for crimes against humanityMladic is accused of being involved in slaughter of 8,000 Muslims at SrebrenicaMladic is charged with leading 1992 siege against city of Sarajevo, an assault that lasted two yearsTrial could usher in political backlash from Bosnian electorate, some of whom consider Mladic a heroRatko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb army commander who went on trial Wednesday for crimes against humanity, is a notorious name synonymous with the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the Balkan wars of the 1990s and the bloody assaults on Sarajevo and Srebrenica.During the five-day orgy of slaughter at Srebrenica, which Mladic is accused of being directly involved in, up to 8,000 Muslims were exterminated in what was described by the U.N. war crimes tribunal as "the triumph of evil." A judge at The Hague tribunal described what happened there in July 1995 as "truly scenes from hell written on the darkest pages of human history."Born in Kalnovik, Bosnia-Herzegovina, during the height of World War II, the 70-year-old was a career soldier who served in Yugoslavia's military before that nation dissolved in the early 1990s. Mladic was shaped by the war when his father was killed by Croat Nazis when he was two years old. In 1965 he graduated from a military academy and joined the Communist Party in Yugoslavia, an ethnic stew of six states -- Bosnia, Serbia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Croatia, and Montenegro.Over the following three decades he rose rapidly through the ranks of the Yugoslav army. By the time he took Bosnia's battlefields he had become a hero to many Serbs, seen as defender of their dwindling fortunes..In May 1992, Bosnia's Serbian political leaders picked him to head their forces and lead the assault on their enemies. Bosnia's Muslim leaders wanted independence while the Serbs wanted to remain part of Yugoslavia -- and the ethnic majority.JUST WATCHEDBosnia Serb war criminal on trialReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBosnia Serb war criminal on trial 00:10JUST WATCHED2011: Ratko Mladic capturedReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH2011: Ratko Mladic captured 03:31Mladic wasted no time galvanizing his heavily armed forces to besiege Sarajevo, cutting the city off from the outside world by shelling and sniping at its poorly prepared civilian population in the valley below them. More than 10,000 people, most of them civilians, were killed.Over the course of the three-year war that raged across the whole country more than a quarter million people died, making the conflict the bloodiest in Europe since World War II.A French policeman who collected evidence from Bosnian Muslims, Jean-Rene Ruez, told The Hague tribunal in 1996 that Bosnian Serb forces killed and tortured refugees in Srebrenica at will. Streets were littered with corpses, he said, and rivers were red with blood. Many people committed suicide to avoid having their noses, lips and ears chopped off, he said.Among other lurid accounts of mass murder, Ruez cited cases of adults being forced to kill their children or watching as soldiers ended the young lives."One soldier approached a woman in the middle of a crowd," he said. "Her child was crying. The soldier asked why the child was crying and she explained that he was hungry. The soldier made a comment like, 'He won't be hungry anymore.' He slit the child's throat in front of everybody."As the war ended in the fall of 1995, Mladic went on the run. Over the years, he eluded authorities while his cohort, Karadzic, was apprehended and is facing various charges at the court in The Hague. Their mentor, former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, died in jail in 2006 during his trial at The Hague.Eventually, more than 16 years later, he was captured an hour's drive from the Serbian capital living on a farm with a cousin. World leaders and human rights groups described the arrest as "historic" and "an important step forward."Key dates in hunt for MladicU.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called it a "historic day for international justice. This arrest marks an important step in our collective fight against impunity." Interpol called Mladic "Europe's most wanted war crimes suspect" while Amnesty International's law chief Widney Brown said "at last the people who suffered have hope he will be brought to justice."The arrest meant a major hurdle that once stood between Serbia and its long-awaited entrance into the European Union was overcome, but the trial could also usher in political backlash from the country's electorate, some of whom consider Mladic a hero.Speaking to a Serbian Radical Party demonstration outside Belgrade's parliament building immediate after the arrest, Darko Mladic described his father as "a freedom fighter." The elder Mladic "defended his own nation, defended his people, which was his job," his son said.Robertson: Bosnia's future is tied to justiceHis family and lawyer have tried to use his poor health to prevent his extradition to the International Criminal Tribunal on the Former Yugoslavia in the Netherlands, but they failed.In the court room at The Hague last year Mladic appeared to have lost none of his visceral dislike of his enemies. CNN's Nic Robertson said he saw the defendant drawing his finger across his throat, "a gesture aimed directly at at some of the Srebrenica widows sitting in front of me, whose husbands he is accused of killing."

3news

(CNN)Novak Djokovic has been named on the entry list for next month's Australian Open, while Serena Williams has withdrawn on medical grounds. There is still uncertainty around nine-time Aussie Open champion Djokovic's participation in the tournament after players were told they would have to be fully vaccinated in order to participate. Djokovic, who is tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on 20 grand slams, has not revealed his vaccination status; last month, his father said he is likely to skip the tournament over the vaccine mandate. This week, the world No. 1 was named in Serbia's team for the season-opening ATP Cup in Sydney, New South Wales. To play without being vaccinated, the state government would have to apply for an exemption for Djokovic and he would have to undergo a 14-day quarantine upon arrival.Djokovic competes for Serbia in the Davis Cup in Madrid earlier this month. Elsewhere in the men's draw, Nadal will compete for the first time since August, while last year's finalist Dominic Thiem will make a comeback from a wrist injury at Melbourne Park. Read MoreAshleigh Barty headlines the women's singles draw as she bids to win her first grand slam title on home soil. Alongside her will be defending champion Naomi Osaka and US Open champion Emma Raducanu, who will make her Australian Open debut. Seven-time champion Serena Williams has announced that she will not be competing in Melbourne, saying: "Following the advice of my medical team, I have decided to withdraw from this year's Australian Open. While this is never an easy decision to make, I am not where I need to be physically to compete."Melbourne is one of my favorite cities to visit and I look forward to playing at the AO every year. I will miss seeing the fans, but am excited to return and compete at my highest level."The tournament, the first grand slam of the tennis calendar, runs from January 17 to January 30.

5sport

Story highlightsHe will be the fourth Pope to visit the U.S., Catholic organization saysThe Pontiff goes to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of FamiliesChallenges that families face are a hallmark topic for the PopePope Francis is to make his first trip to the United States as the head of the Catholic Church in September, the Vatican said Monday.He will travel to the World Meeting of the Families, said Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi. The Catholic public event, which celebrates the family as the basic building block of society, is to be held in Philadelphia next year."It is the answer to the countless prayers of so many people who have asked God to guide Pope Francis to Philadelphia, the culmination of many months of hopeful anticipation, and the fulfillment of my own confidence that the Holy Father would grace us with his presence next year," Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput said in a statement. At a news conference, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter heralded the occasion as "something truly to be excited about.""Pope Francis has demonstrated grace, vision and wisdom in these first few years of his papacy," the mayor said. "He's been committed to building consensus, embracing diversity and celebrating faith. We must follow his example and work to encourage and engage with others in the same way." Photos: Pope Francis Photos: Pope FrancisColombian President Juan Manuel Santos, left, reads aloud words engraved on a pen as he meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Friday, December 16, 2016. The words "The bullets have written our past, education will write our future" are engraved on the pen, made from a recycled bullet once used in the civil war between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The pen was later used to sign the peace agreements between the parties earlier this year. Santos, who was awarded the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the region's longest-running conflict, presented Pope Francis with the pen.Hide Caption 1 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis accepts a letter from a child he visited at a pediatric hospital in Rome on Thursday, December 15, 2016.Hide Caption 2 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis poses with members of the International Catholic Rural Association at the Vatican on Saturday, December 10, 2016.Hide Caption 3 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis salutes the faithful upon his arrival in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican for the Special Jubilee Papal Audience on Saturday, October 22, 2016.Hide Caption 4 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis looks on with joy as he releases a dove as a symbol of peace during a meeting with the Assyrian Chaldean community at the Catholic Chaldean Church of St. Simon Bar Sabbae in Tbilisi, Georgia, on September 30, 2016.Hide Caption 5 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis passes the main entrance to Auschwitz-Birkenau, the former concentration camp in Poland, on Friday, July 29, 2016. The Pope was there to pay tribute to those who died in the Holocaust.Hide Caption 6 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis looks on as Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II celebrates the Divine Liturgy at the Apostolic Cathedral in Etchmiadzin, outside Yerevan, Armenia, on June 26, 2016.Hide Caption 7 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis arrives to celebrate an extraordinary Jubilee Audience as part of ongoing celebrations of the Holy Year of Mercy in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City on May 14, 2016.Hide Caption 8 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis hugs a child at the Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos on Saturday, April 16, 2016. Pope Francis received an emotional welcome on the island during a visit showing solidarity with migrants fleeing war and poverty.Hide Caption 9 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis confesses in St. Peter's Basilica during the Vatican's Penitential Celebration on Friday, March 4, 2016.Hide Caption 10 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis tries on a traditional sombrero he received as a gift from a Mexican journalist on Friday, February 12, 2016, aboard a flight from Rome to Havana, Cuba. The voyage kicked off his weeklong trip to Mexico. With his penchant for crowd-pleasing and spontaneous acts of compassion, Pope Francis has earned high praise from fellow Catholics and others since he succeeded Pope Benedict XVI in March 2013.Hide Caption 11 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis arrives for his visit with prisoners in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on Friday, July 10, 2015. The Pope emphasized the plight of the poor during his eight-day tour of South America, which also included stops in Ecuador and Paraguay.Hide Caption 12 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisBolivian President Evo Morales presents the Pope with a gift of a crucifix carved into a wooden hammer and sickle -- the Communist symbol uniting laborers and peasants -- in La Paz, Bolivia, on Wednesday, July 8, 2015.Hide Caption 13 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis greets a crowd of Italian Catholic boy scouts and girl guides at St. Peter's Square on Saturday, June 13, 2015.Hide Caption 14 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisRussian President Vladimir Putin, left, meets Pope Francis at the Vatican on Wednesday, June 10, 2015. The Pope gave Putin a medallion depicting the angel of peace, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said. The Vatican called it "an invitation to build a world of solidarity and peace founded on justice." Lombardi said the pontiff and President talked for 50 minutes about the crisis in Ukraine and violence in Iraq and Syria.Hide Caption 15 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis meets with Cuban President Raul Castro at the Vatican on Sunday, May 10, 2015. Castro thanked the Pope for his role in brokering the rapprochement between Havana and Washington. Hide Caption 16 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisThe Pope prays face down on the floor of St. Peter's Basilica during Good Friday celebrations at the Vatican on Friday, April 3, 2015.Hide Caption 17 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis touches a child's face as he arrives for a meeting at the Vatican on Friday, March 6, 2015.Hide Caption 18 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisHindu priest Kurukkal SivaSri T. Mahadeva presents a shawl to Pope Francis in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Tuesday, January 13, 2015.Hide Caption 19 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisThe Pope attends Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City in December 2014.Hide Caption 20 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I address the faithful in Istanbul on Sunday, November 30, 2014.Hide Caption 21 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis speaks during the feast-day Mass while on a one-day trip to Italy's Calabria region in June 2014. The Pope spoke out against the Mafia's "adoration of evil and contempt for the common good," and declared that "Mafiosi are excommunicated, not in communion with God."Hide Caption 22 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis prays next to a rabbi at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City in May 2014. The Pope went on a three-day trip to the Holy Land, and he was accompanied by Jewish and Muslim leaders from his home country of Argentina.Hide Caption 23 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisThe Pope meets the faithful as he visits the Roman Parish of San Gregorio Magno in April 2014.Hide Caption 24 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisQueen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, have an audience with the Pope during their one-day visit to Rome in April 2014.Hide Caption 25 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisFrancis speaks with US President Barack Obama at the Vatican in March 2014.Hide Caption 26 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisThe Pope blesses the altar at Rome's Basilica of Santa Sabina as he celebrates Mass on Ash Wednesday in March 2014.Hide Caption 27 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisDaniele De Sanctis, a 19-month-old dressed as the pope, is handed to Francis as the pontiff is driven through the crowd in St. Peter's Square in February 2014.Hide Caption 28 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisWind blows the papal skullcap off Pope Francis' head in February 2014.Hide Caption 29 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisA lamb is placed around Francis' neck in January 2014 as he visits a living nativity scene staged at a church on the outskirts of Rome.Hide Caption 30 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis meets with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at the Vatican in December 2013. Benedict surprised the world by resigning "because of advanced age." It was the first time a pope has stepped down in nearly 600 years.Hide Caption 31 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis marked his 77th birthday in December 2013 by hosting homeless men at a Mass and a meal at the Vatican. One of the men brought his dog. Hide Caption 32 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis embraced Vinicio Riva, a disfigured man who suffers from a non-infectious genetic disease, during a public audience at the Vatican in November 2013. Riva then buried his head in the Pope's chest.Hide Caption 33 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisPope Francis jokes in November 2013 with members of the Rainbow Association Marco Iagulli Onlus, which uses clown therapy in hospitals, nursing homes and orphanages.Hide Caption 34 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisA young boy hugs Francis as he delivers a speech in St. Peter's Square in October 2013. The boy, part of a group of children sitting around the stage, played around the Pope as the Pope continued his speech and occasionally patted the boy's head. Hide Caption 35 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisFrancis has eschewed fancy cars. Here, Father Don Renzo Zocca, second from right, offers his white Renault 4L to the Pope during a meeting at the Vatican in September 2013.Hide Caption 36 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisFrancis has his picture taken inside St. Peter's Basilica with youths who came to Rome for a pilgrimage in August 2013.Hide Caption 37 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisDuring an impromptu news conference in July 2013, while on a plane from Brazil to Rome, the Pope said about gay priests, "Who am I to judge?" Many saw the move as the opening of a more tolerant era in the Catholic Church.Hide Caption 38 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisCrowds swarm the Pope as he makes his way through World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro in July 2013. According to the Vatican, 1 million people turned out to see the Pope. Hide Caption 39 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisFrancis frees a dove in May 2013 during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square.Hide Caption 40 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisFrancis embraces a young boy with cerebral palsy in March 2013 -- a gesture that many took as a heartwarming token of the Pope's self-stated desire to "be close to the people."Hide Caption 41 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisThe Pope washes the feet of juvenile offenders, including Muslim women, as part of Holy Thursday rituals in March 2013. The act commemorates Jesus' washing of the Apostles' feet during the Last Supper. Hide Caption 42 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisFrancis stands at the reception desk of the Domus Internationalis Paulus VI residence on March 14, 2013, where he paid the bill for his stay during the conclave that would elect him leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.Hide Caption 43 of 44 Photos: Pope FrancisFrancis, formerly known as Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected the Roman Catholic Church's 266th Pope in March 2013. The first pontiff from Latin America was also the first to take the name Francis.Hide Caption 44 of 44JUST WATCHEDRock star Pope shakes up the VaticanReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRock star Pope shakes up the Vatican 01:39The trip will make Francis the fourth reigning Pontiff to visit the United States, the World Meeting of the Families said.The challenges that families face in modern times have been a hallmark topic for Pope Francis. He is to hold a Mass on Philadelphia's broad central city avenue, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, on September 27.World of the Family Meetings were instituted by St. John Paul II and have taken place every three years, starting with the first one in Rome in 1994.

3news

Story highlightsCNN compiles a list of "your favorite rivers" from submissionsThe list includes the Tunga, in India; the Arno, in Italy; and the Hue, in VietnamiReporter Sandi Kubbs: "Who I became is intrinsically tied" to the Little Wabash River in IllinoisWhat rivers are we missing? Nominate your favorite waterway at CNN iReportLeave it to an old naturalist to make rivers sound sexy."The rivers flow not past, but through us," John Muir wrote in the 1870s, "thrilling, tingling, vibrating every fiber and cell of the substance of our bodies, making them glide and sing."If only we still felt that way in 2014.Today, rivers aren't thrilling much of anybody. They're invisible. We don't travel by river, rarely visit their banks. We don't know their stories. That's most of us, at least. I've discovered as part of my reporting on rivers for CNN's Change the List project, that there remains a vital sect of pleasantly anachronistic River People. They're folks who don't mind smelling like mildew; who affix clips and carabineers to everything in sight; and who still value adventure over efficiency. John D. SutterRelated: My trip down 'Apocalypse River'I learned many of you are among them. When I put out a request for readers to send in photos and stories about their favorite rivers, I wondered if anyone would respond -- if anyone still took photos of rivers, still cared about them. But, to my delight, 89 people have submitted stories on CNN iReport -- and dozens more have uploaded images to Instagram.You're people like Darren Palm, who sent in black-and-white photos of his grandfather catching salmon on California's Kings River; like Julee Khoo, who wrote that her trip on the Yangtze River "will forever link me to my grandmother who was born and raised in China"; like Maureen Moore, who's photographed the Hudson River in New York when it's covered in ice and when it's teeming with boats; and Sandi Kubbs, a Polio survivor, who wrote that, "who I became is intrinsically tied up with my life rowing up and down the Little Wabash."If anyone is going to save our rivers, it's you. The good people at CNN iReport have compiled these submissions into a list of "Our favorite rivers." This list isn't clickbait, nor is it nature porn. For many, it's nothing short of a protest -- an assertion that a river-first view will lead to a better world. As rivers have become invisible, they've started to dry up -- and without much public alarm. The Colorado, the Rio Grande, the San Joaquin (which I recently spent three weeks kayaking). These mighty waters often fail to reach the ocean. And many others are gunked up with pollution. The Mississippi -- which one of you, Neal Moore, traveled from source to sea -- dumps so much fertilizer into the Gulf of Mexico that it creates an aquatic dead zone the size of Connecticut. We've strangled that river with so much concrete that it can't bring enough life-giving sediment to the coast. A football field of wetlands floats away each hour.We're trashing our rivers, but there is an antidote: Telling their stories.Thanks to all of you for honoring these precious waterways. And, if you see one that's missing, there's still time to tell us about your favorite river.

3news

Story highlightsAn Italian mafia boss Antonio Pelle is caught emerging from his kitchen cupboardPelle has been on the run since 2011 (CNN)Some infamous criminals hide from the law in dingy underground tunnels. Others opt for secret holes in kitchen cupboards.Italian mafia boss Antonio Pelle was arrested at his home in Reggio Calabria in southern Italy Wednesday, after being found in a hole cut into the walls of his house, Italian State Police said in a statement.Italian mafia boss Antonio Pelle emerges from his cupboard hideout.A video released by Italian police shows Antonio Pelle emerging from behind a kitchen cupboard and scowling at police. The video zooms behind Pelle to reveal a hidden room with a small mattress and pillow, toilet paper and a portable fan.According to Italian news agency ANSA, Pelle, also known as "Mamma," made an escape from a hospital bed after being arrested in 2011 and was listed among Italy's 10 most dangerous fugitives.Read MoreANSA says Pelle was known as a boss in the 'Ndrangheta mafia in 2014. Italian officials said the group is linked to drug trafficking in South and Central America, Canada and the United States. In 2007, a feud within Pelle's clan led to the execution-style killing of six men in the German city of Duisburg.Italian mafia boss pulled from his cupboard hideout.According to the FBI, the 'Ndrangheta -- formed in the 1860s -- is involved in kidnappings, corruption, drug trafficking, gambling and murders.Pelle has been on the run since 2011. He could serve up to 20 years in prison for drug trafficking and for being associated with a mafia group.CNN's Emi Jozuka contributed to this report

3news

(CNN)"From early on there was a lot of, 'You lot sit over there near the toilets,' the word 'P***' was used constantly, no one ever stamped it out," said former cricketer Azeem Rafiq as he laid bare this week his experience of racial abuse at one of England's top clubs. November 16, 2021 may come to be remembered as cricket's day of reckoning; in the aftermath of Rafiq's testimony, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) -- the sport's regulator in those two countries -- spoke of taking the "necessary action" and the need to "learn lessons as a game." The ECB has quite a job on its hands.Rafiq's detailed account of his time at Yorkshire County Cricket Club hardly shocked Taj Butt, who worked for the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation, the club's charity and community arm, between 2014 and 2017."As depressing as it was listening to him ... some of the things he faced didn't come as a surprise to most people involved in the game, whether it's at a grassroots level or at the highest level," Butt tells CNN Sport. Read More"These are the sort of things that unfortunately do still happen on an everyday basis." During his testimony to UK lawmakers on Tuesday, Rafiq detailed some of the appalling behavior he was subjected to while playing for Yorkshire, adding that he believes he lost his cricket career to racism. In an interview with CNN, Rafiq also said he would stop his children from getting into cricket as he doesn't want his "son or daughter to be in pain." The hours-long testimony was the culmination of a 16-month period, during which Yorkshire undertook an independent review into more than 40 allegations of racism and bullying made by Rafiq. Following the review, the club accepted that Rafiq had been the "victim of inappropriate behavior" at Yorkshire, although no one at the club was disciplined as a result of the independent investigation. On Tuesday, former Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton, who resigned from his role amid the handling of Rafiq's allegations, said the club is institutionally racist. Hutton said that the ECB "declined to help" when he approached the governing body after learning of Rafiq's allegations.For Butt, who has been involved in the sport in the Yorkshire area for much of his life, the lack of accountability in response to Rafiq's allegations has been stark. "The institution has been quite arrogant about the fact that they felt they could actually get away without having to do anything," he says. "That's actually shown in the way they've dealt with Azeem Rafiq and the whole situation. We certainly hope that the first thing they do is recognize that there is a problem. "That's one thing they have never done, they've never seen it as a problem ... But I think they're still at that denial stage." CNN has contacted Yorkshire for a response to Butt's comments. Rafiq plays a shot against Middlesex in September 2016.On Thursday, Rafiq apologized for anti-Semitic comments he said he made in 2011 following the emergence of a screenshot of messages. "I am incredibly angry at myself and I apologise to the Jewish community and everyone who is rightly offended by this," Rafiq said.In response to the apology, Marie van der Zyl, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: "Azeem Rafiq has suffered terribly at the hands of racists in cricket so he will well understand the hurt this exchange will cause to Jews who have supported him. "His apology certainly seems heartfelt and we have no reason to believe he is not completely sincere." Kamlesh Patel, who recently took over from Hutton as chair of Yorkshire, has vowed that the club will change. "There is no quick fix to the clear problems which have been identified, and the issues are complex, not least the charge of institutional racism which must be addressed head on," he said in a statement. "Azeem noted that this is not about individuals, but rather the structure and processes of the Club, and we need to tackle this. "It is clear that we have good people at Yorkshire County Cricket Club and that gives me hope that we can." JUST WATCHEDMonty Panesar on the Azeem Rafiq testimony to UK lawmakersReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMonty Panesar on the Azeem Rafiq testimony to UK lawmakers 04:57'Glass ceiling' While Rafiq's testimony has made headlines this week, Butt says the Yorkshire region has been mistreating South Asian cricketers for decades, even at a grassroots level. He currently serves as chair of the Quaid-e-Azam Sunday Cricket League (QeASCL), which was formed in 1980 in an attempt to create more opportunities for Asian cricketers in Yorkshire and its surrounding areas. "For a young Asian person to go and join the local club, that was simply a no-go area for them," Butt explains of the reasons behind the league's formation. He adds: "In the sport of cricket, there is a great divide if you happen to be from the South Asian community and from an inner-city area and don't go to a [fee-paying] public school. "You are going to face a great disadvantage in participation in the sport of cricket because your access to facilities, grounds and all the other things that go on to make things more accessible unfortunately is lacking." Over the years, a handful of players who starred for teams in the QeASCL have gone on to play professional cricket, including Yorkshire and England's Adil Rashid. Yorkshire is home to a large South Asian population, but the county side only lifted its rule of selecting Yorkshire-born players in 1992."We've always known for our young people to progress, they're going to have to be twice as good as their White counterparts in order to develop further," says Butt. "Clearly, once they get into the system and the higher up they go ... there seem to be barriers, there still seems to be that glass ceiling. And clearly, young people are still being discriminated against." Yorkshire County Cricket Club has promised to address racism problems within the organization.Pathway restrictions are not just unique to Yorkshire. According to the ECB, South Asian communities account for 30% of all cricket players in England and Wales, but just 4% of first class county cricketers are of South Asian origin. The ECB operates a South Asian Action Plan to create more opportunities for -- and to better engage with -- South Asian communities. 'Significant moment for change' The week before Rafiq's testimony in UK Parliament, during which he described cricket's racism problem as "worse than society," those with experience of discrimination in the sport have been urged to submit their perceptions and experiences to the Independent Commission for Equity on Cricket (ICEC). Cindy Butts, chair of the ICEC, told the BBC that more than 1,000 people came forward to share their experiences in the week after the call for evidence was made. "In years to come, we will see this as a significant moment for change in cricket and society," former England cricketer Monty Panesar told CNN this week. "Azeem Rafiq should be applauded for his brave comments. He's willing to work with the ECB and Yorkshire County Cricket Club to address some of the issues in our game."

5sport

London (CNN)Faced with a surge in coronavirus cases across the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced new measures to combat the virus, including a 10 p.m. curfew for restaurants and bars, and restrictions -- enforceable by the police -- on how people can socialize. Johnson issued a plea for those who are able to work from home to do so until the virus is under control -- just weeks after the government launched a high-profile campaign encouraging people to return to their offices and workplaces. And he announced that face masks will be made mandatory for staff in the hospitality and retail sectors, and for passengers in taxis. Masks are already required on public transport, and for customers in shops. Moreover, the masks mandate will become law, not just guidance.Addressing the nation from 10 Downing Street in a pre-recorded message, the Prime Minister said: "Never in our history has our collective destiny and our collective health depended so completely on our individual behaviour. If we follow these simple rules together, we will get through this winter together. There are unquestionably difficult months to come. And the fight against covid is by no means over."He described his reluctance "to make any of these impositions, or infringe anyone's freedom," but added that "unless we take action, the risk is that we will have to go for tougher measures later."Read MoreCitizens and businesses who violate the rules will face fines; the government is to provide extra police funding to help them enforce the restrictions. The police will even have the option to request military support, should they become overwhelmed. That doesn't mean troops patrolling the streets: Downing Street said the military could be used to fill office roles and to guard protected sites, freeing up the police to enforce the virus response.Johnson said the measures could remain in place for six months if the situation didn't improve, meaning large gatherings over Christmas could be impossible for many families.The new rules apply only to England. Health policy in the UK's other three nations, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is determined by their devolved administrations; they are also expected to tighten restrictions in the coming days. The UK's doubling coronavirus cases mean Boris Johnson can't wake up from his Covid-19 nightmareThe announcement comes at a critical time for the UK, a country whose first wave of Covid-19 led to the most deaths of any European country and the worst recession of any major economy. On Monday, Johnson's chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser told the nation that the number of infections was doubling every seven days, and warned that without further intervention, the UK could see infections rise from the 4,368 recorded on Monday to 50,000 by mid-October. This, in turn, could lead to 200 deaths a day by mid-November. But exactly what should be done to tackle the UK's huge coronavirus problem is a matter of fierce political debate. Johnson's new measures will displease members of his own governing Conservative party on both sides of the debate, including those in his own Cabinet. The pandemic has revealed a split between those who think the government should prioritize the UK's economic recovery, after GDP dropped by 20.4% in the second quarter of 2020, and those who believe that avoiding a second wave of Covid-19 has to be the priority.Senior figures on the right of the party fear the long-term impact of economic damage and job losses will be more costly than the virus itself; those on the other side of the debate say the economic hit of a second, short, "circuit breaker" lockdown is worth it to save lives. JUST WATCHEDBoris Johnson: Signs of a second coronavirus wave in EuropeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBoris Johnson: Signs of a second coronavirus wave in Europe 01:03The relatively modest measures unveiled by Johnson on Tuesday appear to be an attempt to appease both sides; the PM told parliament he would "not listen those who say let the virus rip," nor to those who want a state of "permanent lockdown."Critics have already noted that Johnson's government only recently urged the nation to get back to the office, in order to save high street businesses like sandwich shops and pubs that have suffered from the lack of day-to-day trade from commuters. The government also introduced a popular "Eat Out to Help Out" scheme, which saw diners offered discounts of up to 50% per head to eat at restaurants whose doors had earlier been forced to close by the pandemic. Johnson has been facing the toughest few months of his difficult premiership. Not long ago, public health experts were talking about the real prospect of a second wave meaning the government would have to choose between pubs and schools. At the time, government officials said that this framing was crude and that the pandemic could not be viewed as a zero-sum game. They believed it was possible to have their cake and eat it. But with cases rising and the country preparing for what could be a brutal winter, Johnson may soon have to make choices that will be framed as the economy versus public health, or personal freedoms versus national lockdown. And that is not a position any small-state, liberal Conservative Prime Minister ever dreamed they'd be in. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misstated how long the new restrictions will be in place for. The story has been updated to reflect that they could be in place for six months, depending on circumstances.

3news

(CNN)International shipping giant Maersk has suspended five crew members and launched an investigation in the wake of an explosive blog post from a student at a federal service academy who said she was raped in 2019 on one of the company's ships when she was 19 years old.The anonymous author of the post said she is a current senior at the US Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, New York, which trains students to become commissioned officers in the armed forces and licensed Merchant Marine officers who work on ships transporting cargo and passengers worldwide. She wrote last month that she was the only female on a Maersk ship during her Sea Year, a mandatory program when students work on commercial vessels and experience what the school describes as their "first real opportunity for self-reliance." In her account of what happened, she said that after leaving a port in the Middle East, engineers on the ship forced her and her fellow cadet, who is male, to down shot after shot of hard liquor one night, and that she woke up naked in her bed early the next morning and began to panic. "There was blood on my sheets, and I knew immediately that I had been raped," she wrote. "I was a virgin and had been saving myself, and as soon as I woke up I could feel that I was very sore and knew exactly what had happened."Read More What should we investigate next? Email us: [email protected]. She wrote that her supervisor on the ship, a senior engineer in his 60s and the second in command of her department, had been sexually harassing her for weeks leading up to this night. She said while she couldn't remember the actual rape due to the alcohol, she remembered this same man in her room, getting undressed, standing over her and forcing himself on her.According to her post, he called her hours after she woke up and realized what happened and asked her to come to his room, saying they needed to talk. The woman said she went to his room and when she accused him of forcing himself on her, he denied it, saying he had just helped her back to her room and "Whatever you believed happened, you wouldn't tell the captain would you?" She said he proceeded to put his hand on her thigh, and that when she got up to leave he told her no one would ever believe her."Back in my room I decided that the only thing I could do was to tough it out," she wrote in her post on the website of Maritime Legal Aid & Advocacy, a nonprofit run by a USMMA graduate who said he was a victim and witness of sexual harassment and abuse on a Maersk ship. "No one was going to believe me, and toughing it out was the only option I felt like I had. I was trapped." For the next 50 days, she said she had to continue to work for the man who had raped her — seeing him every day. What she says prompted her to speak outWhile she confided in the other USMMA cadet onboard about the alleged rape, she didn't officially report it at the time. But upon returning to campus and working as a victim's advocate, she learned of at least nine other female students currently enrolled at the academy who said they had been raped during their Sea Year. This prompted her to speak out, she said, and her story quickly made rounds in the industry and federal government. "She was sickened by the number of young women getting raped at sea," said her attorney Ryan Melogy, founder of the nonprofit that published her story. "Nothing was being done about the problem. She wants to see real change and real accountability for what happened to her and far too many others."Her post has also sparked media attention and dozens of comments expressing support and sharing similar experiences from both men and women, including alumni, students, academy parents and others in the maritime industry. CNN Investigates: Police officers convicted of rape, murder and other serious crimes are collecting tens of millions of dollars during retirementDenmark-based Maersk, which is the world's largest container shipping company, said in a statement issued Friday, as previously reported in Danish and industry media, that its US subsidiary is working closely with the academy, the labor unions that represent the officers and crew, and the US government, and that five crew members would remain suspended until the inquiry is complete. "We are shocked and deeply saddened about we have read. We take this situation seriously and are disturbed by the allegations made in this anonymous posting which has only recently been brought to our attention," said Bill Woodhour, CEO of Maersk Line, Limited, the company's US subsidiary. "We do everything we can to ensure that all of our workplace environments, including vessels, are a safe and welcoming workplace and we've launched a top to bottom investigation."The U.S. Maritime Administration, which oversees the academy, said in a statement that it was aware of the allegation and that the USMMA Superintendent referred the blog post to the Coast Guard Investigative Service the day after it was published. "We have zero tolerance for sexual assault and sexual harassment at USMMA and in the maritime industry," the statement said. "As we determine the appropriate steps required to increase and ensure the safety of USMMA students, we pledge to listen to and work closely with the entire USMMA community including students, parents and alumni." A spokesperson for the agency also noted that the woman said in her post that she did not choose to report the alleged assault and said that the academy and government officials would be undertaking a review of the current requirements imposed on commercial vessels to ensure the safety of students. Sea Year has been previously suspended The USMMA's partnerships with shipping companies previously came under scrutiny in 2016, when Sea Year was suspended amid reports of sexual assault and harassment. It was reinstated the next year, after the school and the federal government touted new rules for the program and a zero tolerance policy for sexual assault and harassment.The federal government said last year that reports of sexual assault of academy students had decreased in the 2018-2019 academic year but that there were nine allegations of sexual assaults during this time, as well as two claims of sexual harassment and one report of retaliation.The Department of Transportation also noted that the school's culture remained "heavily influenced by the higher ratio of men compared to women" — making some female students feel like they have to act like "one of the boys" — and said there are still a number of reasons victims don't feel comfortable coming forward, including "fear of reprisal from peers, social stigmatization, and ostracism." The woman behind the blog post wrote that of more than 50 women in her senior class at the academy, she has "not spoken to a single one of those women who has told me that she has not been sexually harassed, sexually assaulted, or degraded at some point during the last 3 years at the Academy or during Sea Year. Most people, and even the leaders of our school, do not seem to understand how serious this problem is, especially at sea."Prior to Maersk's announcement about its investigation, the US Deputy Secretary of Transportation and acting maritime administrator co-authored a letter posted on the school's website expressing the agency's "unwavering support" for the woman who came forward.Congressman Tom Suozzi and US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand also issued a statement last week demanding an immediate investigation and saying they will "continue to work closely with the Merchant Marine Academy to put systems in place to ensure timely and thorough reporting." Do you have an experience or information to share about the US Merchant Marine Academy or the maritime industry? Email us at [email protected].

0business

(CNN)Chris Froome will hold the yellow jersey going into the second week of the Tour de France but his Team Sky team was left to rue a missed opportunity in the team time trial Sunday.Starting last in the 28km test, Sky led by five seconds at the foot of the final gradual climb to the finish in Plumelec only to concede first place on the stage to BMC Racing by a single second.Follow @cnnsport Froome and his teammates had to back off to wait for Ireland's Nicolas Roche, who could not keep up with their fierce pace, and the pain of defeat was plain to see at the finish."I don't have any words to explain my disappointment," Roche told Eurosport.Read: Huge crash mars stage threeRead MoreAmerican Tejay Van Garderen of the BMC team has moved up to second place overall, but Froome has gained more time on his other major rivals.Rivals distancedMovistar's Nairo Quintana lost just three seconds as his team took third on the stage, but Alberto Contador conceded nearly half a minute with his fourth-placed Tinkoff-Saxo squad.Les champions du monde @BMCProTeam ont frappé fort ! / what a race of the TTT world champions #TDF2015 pic.twitter.com/MZzovvjUaq— Le Tour de France (@letour) July 12, 2015 Defending champion Vincenzo Nibali was further back, 35 seconds down on BMC with his Astana team, and Froome has opened up a two minute 22 second advantage over the Italian."I didn't expect Nibali to have lost so much time by now," Froome told the official Tour de France website. "To be totally honest, before the Tour I thought he'd be the one of my rivals who would have gained the biggest time in the first week."Read: Eritrean makes Tour historyThe 2013 champion also had words of consolation for Roche and his teammates at missing out on the stage win."We would have loved to win today's stage but we can't be disappointed by our performance. "At the end everyone has seen that Nicolas Roche was struggling a bit but this is the nature of team time trial. "He has given so much before!. BMC did better than us and that's it."Slim marginsThe team time trial -- where the time of the fifth rider in each team is taken -- has proved a decisive factor in previous editions of the Tour de France, but the slim margins Sunday still leave the race open heading into the second week.Ahead of the riders lie the Pyrenees -- with Tuesday's stage following a rest day.There are seven mountain stages with five summit finishes set to test Froome and the other pretenders to the yellow jersey.Van Garderen, 12 seconds down on the leader, is still upbeat about his chances of springing an upset."In the Pyrenees we'll see who is fit enough to win the Tour and in the Alps, we'll see who has the resources to win," he said."I'm pretty close to Froome but we'll only know in the third week who can do what. The Tour is a marathon. We aren't close to the end."Contador, who trails Froome by one minute and three seconds, is bidding to do a rare double of Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in the same year.Read: Froome wins 2013 Tour de France

5sport

Story highlightsPolice: Those killed were among two groups of skiers from the Czech Republic who were in the areaThis comes a month after another Alps avalanche, in France, killed 2 students and a Ukrainian adult (CNN)Five people who were among two groups of Czech skiers died Saturday in an avalanche in western Austria, a police spokesman said.Helmut Schutz, a spokesman for police in Tirol state, told CNN that four more suffered injuries in the midday avalanche in Wattener Lizum, which is about 15 miles (25 kilometers) southwest of Innsbruck. They were among 17 skiers, total, in the area when the avalanche struck.No children were involved, according to the police spokesman, unlike another Alps avalanche that occurred last month.That incident, in an off-limits area of France's Les Deux Alpes ski resort, killed three people, including a 16-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy. Both of the teens had been students at the St.-Exupery school in Lyon.A schoolteacher who went with those students onto that closed slope faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, a prosecutor later announced.Read MoreA Ukrainian skier, who appeared to be alone, also died.

3news

Story highlights "No time should be lost" in defusing crisis, Biden tells YanukovychGovernment pledges amnesty, end to anti-protest lawsJailed Yulia Tymoshenko calls on opposition to stand firmThe Ukrainian parliament will hold a special session TuesdayUkraine's embattled government has agreed to scrap harsh laws limiting protests and give amnesty to demonstrators who seized the Justice Ministry headquarters, a top official announced late Monday. With Ukraine's political crisis deepening, protesters left the ministry after Justice Minister Olena Lukash warned that she would call for a state of emergency. But at the end of the day, Lukash said the anti-protest laws that went into effect on January 16 would be repealed and the protesters who occupied her ministry would receive amnesty -- as long as they cleared out of "all seized premises and roads." The statement came after another round of talks between the government of President Viktor Yanukovych and an opposition whose followers have massed in and around central Kiev's Maidan Square to demand Yanukovych's ouster and new elections. Police and protesters have fought pitched battles in the streets, leaving scores injured and several dead. Anti-government demonstrators seized the Justice Ministry building on Sunday night. They cleared out Monday after Lukash threatened to impose a state of emergency -- a step opposition spokeswoman Lesya Orobets warned could lead to the use of military units to suppress protests."We as an opposition spent the whole day trying to negotiate with people who actually captured the premises to get out of there, not to give them any legal base for a state of emergency," Orobets told CNN's Amanpour program. Oleksandr Danylyuk, the leader of one of the protest factions, said the groups retreated to avert difficulties in negotiations between the government and opposition. But while the protesters left the ministry, they remained outside, where a sign and front window were smashed, creating a blockade. They jumped up and down, thumping sticks on the ground and shouting, "Bandits out."The violence that has rattled Kiev for weeks spread outside the capital Sunday, with reports of protesters seizing municipal headquarters in other towns. Ukraine's parliament was expected to hold a special session on the protests Tuesday, and the European Union's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, was headed for Kiev in a bid to help defuse the standoff. Ashton urged the government not to impose a state of emergency, saying the move "would trigger a further downward spiral for Ukraine, which would benefit no one.""What is urgently needed is a genuine dialogue to build a new consensus on the way forward," Ashton said in a written statement late Monday. "I hope that the Ukrainian parliament will set a clear path during tomorrow's session towards a political solution. This must include revoking the package of laws passed on 16 January."And U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called Yanukovych on Monday night to reiterate American support for "a peaceful, political solution to the crisis," the White House said. "Underscoring that no time should be lost, the vice president urged President Yanukovych to pull back riot police and work with the opposition on immediate measures to de-escalate tensions between protesters and the government," a White House readout of the call stated. "He also urged the government to take concrete steps during tomorrow's parliamentary session to respond to the full and legitimate concerns of the Ukrainian people, including by repealing the anti-democratic laws passed on January 16."Ukraine opposition rejects president's offer; protestor mournedGovernment offer rejected Ukraine, a former Soviet republic, is home to 45 million people. The clashes there are an escalation of weeks of largely peaceful public protests prompted by Yanukovych's decision in November to spurn a planned trade deal with the European Union and turn toward Russia instead. Among the snowy rooftops of Kiev, smoke can often be seen billowing from the city center, where thousands of demonstrators have massed despite freezing weather, setting up makeshift barricades and bombarding police with gasoline bombs. Scenes of fires, burnt tires, smashed windows and the drumbeats of sticks on corrugated metal have become familiar occurrences on the city's central arteries.More recently, protesters, old and young, have been voicing their anger about anti-protest laws passed this month. The controversial new laws have sparked concerns that they could be used to put down demonstrations and deny people the right to free speech. They're also calling for changes to the country's constitution. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, imprisoned since 2010 on charges the United States and Europe have called politically motivated, called on the opposition to remain firm in a statement Monday evening."The people of Ukraine went out onto the Maidan not for the opposition leaders to be given government posts, and not even for revoking of the dictatorial laws," Tymoshenko said. "The people want fundamental changes in their lives, justice in Ukraine and a path to European values. This is their last chance."Opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk has refused Yanukovich's offer to be prime minister, Lukash said Monday night. Yatsenyuk, who heads the Fatherland Party, would have become the prime minister and would have been able to dismiss the current government, which has been one of the protesters' demands.Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko, the former heavyweight boxing champion, said Sunday that he had rejected the post of deputy prime minister on humanitarian issues. His announcement was greeted by loud cheers from the crowd -- but his Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reforms party, or UDAR, said it was ready to continue negotiations with the government.Yanukovych also said he would agree to a working group to look at changes to the constitution, according to the President's website. Read more: Is Ukraine becoming a dictatorship?Read more: Ukraine protests - 5 things you need to know

3news

Story highlightsThe Solheim Cup takes place this weekend between Europe and United StatesIt is the 12th edition of the biennial tournament with the U.S. leading 8-3England's Laura Davies is the only player to compete in every Solheim CupAmerican Juli Inkster, 51, is the oldest Solheim Cup competitorThis weekend some of the world's highest-paid sportswomen will battle for supremacy in Ireland, with the most prestigious team prize in their sport up for grabs.Golf's Solheim Cup is the female equivalent of the Ryder Cup, but it has yet to garner such a big reputation, despite a rich history and intense competition over the years.With this in mind, CNN gives the lowdown on a great sporting event that deserves your attention...From humble beginnings:To trace the origins of the competition, we need to go back to 1959 and a garage in Redwood City, California.It was in this garage that a 48-year-old Norwegian engineer and golf lover, fed up with the putters he was using to play the game, decided to use his in-depth knowledge of science to manufacturer his own putters by hand.From these humble beginnings, the world famous PING brand of golfing equipment was born.That man was Karsten Solheim and it was he, alongside his son John and the U.S. and European ladies golf tours , who developed the concept of a women's team event between the two continents. The inaugural tournament, bearing Solheim's name, was held in 1990 at the Lake Nona club in Florida. Two teams of eight players faced each other, with the American side running out comfortable winners 11 1/2 to 4 1/2.In 1996 the tournament was increased to 12 players per side, a number that stands to this day and it has become the leading team event in women's golf, with players earning their place either through their own tour money lists, or as a captain's pick -- exactly the same as in the men's Ryder Cup.There have been 11 tournaments in total, with the United States leading 8-3, but the European team have not won any of the six competitions played on American soil.The football-loving legend:No look at the Solheim Cup can be taken without mentioning Laura Davies. Quite astonishingly, the Englishwoman, who turns 48 next month, has appeared in all 11 previous tournaments and, once again, she is a member of the European team at Kileen Castle.Davies is a phenomenon in women's golf. As well as her achievements on the course -- which include winning four majors amongst her 81 victories -- she has been a flag-bearer for promoting the game, most notably when, in 2004, she became the first woman to compete on the men's European Tour.Davies is sports daft and is a keen racehorse owner as well as an avid follower of Liverpool Football Club. However, her love of football got her into trouble with tournament organizers in the 1996 Evian Masters, when she was fined for watching a match on a portable TV during the final round of that tournament.It didn't seem to hamper her game -- she won that particular tournament by four strokes!Swedish legend Annika Sorenstam appeared in eight Solheim Cups, winning 22 of her 37 matches, while compatriot Sophie Gustafson, another member of the current side, and European captain Alison Nicholas have also starred in eight tournaments.As for the Americans, you have to look hard to find a bigger legend than Juli Inkster. Despite reaching the age of 51 to become the oldest-ever competitior, the Californian is once again facing the European side this year, her ninth appearance in the event.Breaking the mould:The Solheim Cup has never really seen a player like Christina Kim before. Not only is the 27-year-old Californian a lucky charm for the United States, appearing in the winning teams of 2005 and 2009 -- claiming five out of eight points in the process -- her infectious personality, undiluted enthusiasm, larger-than-life character and wacky dress sense has been a highlight of recent competitions.Kim is known for her bawdy sense of humor and occasional bouts of bad language that occasionally land her in hot water with golfing authorities.Describing her fist-pumping celebrations in the 2009 Solheim Cup, former LPGA star Dottie Pepper wrote in a column for Sports Illustrated: "I know Christina Kim loves the galleries and is a ham, but she should be a little more respectful of the game. In the NFL, she would have been given 18 excessive celebration penalties."Despite becoming the youngest-ever player to reach $1 million in career earnings, Kim has not won on the LPGA Tour since 2005 and last year her autobiography, "Swinging from My Heels: Confessions of an LPGA Star", was released to critical acclaim.Chaos and controversy:Don't be deceived by the genteel nature of women's golf. The passion and will-to-win is as high as the men, but that spilled over into acrimonious scenes in 2003.The Barseback Golf and Country Club in Malmo, Sweden provided the setting for the eighth Solheim Cup and the first to be played away from either the United States or Great Britain.Scotland's Catriona Matthew secured victory for Europe on the 17th green, resulting in wild scenes of celebration.However, there were still quite a few singles matches still out on the course, including Norway's Suzann Pettersen against American Cristie Kerr.An excited Pettersen incurred Kerr's wrath by encouraging the crowd to make more noise in celebration as Kerr was about to putt on the 15th green.Kerr missed the putt and Pettersen won the hole. But, sensing her opponent's annoyance, Pettersen turned to Kerr on the 16th green and conceded the match, before joining the European celebrations.The same thing happened between the aforementioned Laura Davies and opponent Meg Mallon on the 14th hole but, as the match was all square, the pair both walked up to the tournament referee to concede at the same time, causing confusion.The Beth Daniel-Mhairi McKay match also came to an abrupt end with the score in the balance resulting in American captain Patty Sheehan telling reporters: "I have never seen that before. All of a sudden, everyone just quit. It wasn't quite right."Trophy on trophy:Appropriately enough, as the tournament is in Ireland this year, the Solheim Cup trophy is made of Waterford Crystal glass, which originates just down the coast from the Killeen Castle resort.The urn-shaped trophy is 19 inches high, weighs more than 20 pounds and sits atop a wooden base.It was designed in 1990 for the inaugural tournament, but what makes it unusual is an engraving of the trophy on the trophy -- a panel on one side of the crystal is engraved with the Solheim Cup logo, and the logo incorporates the trophy itself.Following the men:The competition is now a complete mirror image of the men's prestigious Ryder Cup, involving the same amount of players, format, points on offer and rivalry.But with the American team bidding for a fourth successive victory, the pressure is on for the Europeans to stop the rot, especially as another defeat will increase the clamor for the tournament to be changed to allow Asian players to compete.Asian golfers rule the roost in the women's game, with six of the world's top 10 players coming from the continent.In 1979, worried by the one-sided nature of the competition, Ryder Cup organizers decided that their biennial competition between the United States and Great Britain should be altered to make it Europe instead of Britain.The change completely altered the nature of the event, making it closer and more exciting. Another American victory, taking their overall lead to 9-3, will certainly intensify that particular debate.

5sport

Story highlightsRussian President Vladimir Putin says his country's surveillance isn't as broad as that in the U.S."We do not have the money or the means to do that," he tells the fugitive intelligence leakerPutin says he and the former NSA contractor "can speak in a professional language"Months after accepting asylum in Russia, fugitive U.S. intelligence leaker Edward Snowden on Thursday asked Russian President Vladimir Putin about Moscow's own surveillance practices."Does Russia intercept, store or analyze in any way the communications of millions of individuals?" Snowden asked in English via a video link during Putin's annual question-and-answer program, which was broadcast on state television. "And do you believe that simply increasing the effectiveness of intelligence or law enforcement investigations can justify placing societies, rather than their subjects, under surveillance?"Putin responded that Russia has a special service that bugs telephone conversations and Internet communications to fight crimes, including terrorism, but only with court permission and only "for specific citizens.""So, the mass character is something we do not have and cannot have," Putin said in Russian.JUST WATCHEDSnowden's NSA leaks earn Pulitzer PrizeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSnowden's NSA leaks earn Pulitzer Prize 01:55"On such a mass scale ... we do not allow ourselves to do this, and we will never allow this. We do not have the money or the means to do that," he said.Putin, a former intelligence agent, noted that his questioner, a former National Security Agency contractor, shares that background. "So, we can speak in professional language," he said.Snowden last year disclosed details of the vast U.S. surveillance network put in place after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, including the government's record keeping on billions of phone calls.Anticipating legal consequences, he fled to Moscow.U.S. authorities have charged him with espionage and theft of government property.Last month, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, told National Public Radio that U.S. officials must plan for the possibility that Russia has access to American battle plans and other secrets."If I'm concerned about anything, I'm concerned about defense capabilities that he may have stolen from where he worked, and does that knowledge then get into the hands of our adversaries -- in this case, of course, Russia," Flynn said.He cited intelligence capabilities, operational capabilities, technology and weapons systems as potential subjects that Snowden -- and now Russia -- may have."We have to assume the worst case and then begin to make some recommendations to our leadership about how do we mitigate some of the risks that may come from what may have been compromised," Flynn said.Last October, Lon Snowden visited Moscow, where he told reporters that his 30-year-old son told him he had had no contact with Russian security or intelligence.In January, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told the Senate Intelligence Committee that the Snowden leaks caused serious damage to U.S. security."What Snowden has stolen and exposed has gone way, way beyond his professed concerns with so-called domestic surveillance programs," Clapper said then. "As a result, we've lost critical foreign intelligence collection sources, including some shared with us by valued partners."The nation's adversaries were "going to school on U.S. intelligence sources' methods and trade craft, and the insights that they are gaining are making our job much, much harder," he told the committee.READ: Stories about NSA surveillance, Snowden leaks win Pulitzers for two news groupsREAD: Edward Snowden speaks at SXSW, calls for public oversight of U.S. spy programs

3news

Story highlightsMichelle Javian's father spent years in and out of a New York City hospital after a heart attackShe met families from out of town who sacrificed to get their loved ones world-class careJavian co-founded Harboring Hearts to aid costs of transport, lodging, food and childcareDo you know a hero? Nominations are open for 2014 CNN HeroesNew York (CNN)Michelle Javian remembers the exact moment she got the news that her father had a massive heart attack.She was driving her car. Her mother called her."I just remember stopping in the middle of the street, just in complete shock," Javian said.Doctors were able to save her father's life that day, but he spent the next two years in and out of a New York City hospital to treat his heart disease.Fortunately, Javian and her family lived near the city and could easily travel to and from the hospital. But she met countless families in the hospital who were not as lucky. Read More"They were living in the waiting rooms day in and day out, taking showers wherever and whenever they could, eating really unhealthy," said Javian, 31. "They were emotionally drained."New York City boasts world-class hospitals for cardiac care. But it is also one of the most expensive cities, putting hotels, transportation and even food out of reach for some families. Michelle Javian's nonprofit assists families dealing with heart disease.After her father passed away in 2008, Javian teamed up with a friend to co-found Harboring Hearts. The New York City nonprofit provides financial and emotional relief to families battling heart disease. "We try to help them with what they would normally be able to handle on their own, but because of their attention and focus and dedication to their family member, they're unable to meet those needs," Javian said.Harboring Hearts helps cover expenses such as transportation, housing, meals and child care.Keeping family togetherJavian and her group consult with social workers from three hospitals to identify families who need them the most. For families such as the Gambinis, the support they receive from Harboring Hearts can be a lifesaver. Brandon Gambini had a heart transplant when he was 5 weeks old. Since then, the now 13-year-old has required medication and regular tests at the hospital to make sure his body is not rejecting his heart.We try to help them with what they would normally be able to handle on their own, but because of their attention and focus and dedication to their family member, they're unable to meet those needs.Michelle JavianHis mother, Jacqueline, was introduced to Harboring Hearts in 2012, after Superstorm Sandy flooded the family's home and car. A single mother of three, Jacqueline had nowhere to turn to find a safe, clean place for her son. The family went to a crowded shelter, but because of Brandon's weak immune system, they could not stay there.Do you know a hero? Nominations are open for 2014 CNN Heroes "It was a really bad time. I had no money. I lost everything at once," Jacqueline said. "I told the hospital I needed help."Within 48 hours, Javian's group was able to find a hotel for the family. The organization also helped cover their mortgage and purchase new furniture for their house once they were able to move back in.Recently, the group funded the Gambinis' transportation to New York City and a hotel room near the hospital during Brandon's stay."Having them is like having part of the family, and having someone you can ask when you need help," Jacqueline said. "It's a support -- something I don't have right now." From one heart to anotherSince 2009, Harboring Hearts has helped cover more than $150,000 in services for families, Javian said. The group also hosts roughly six community events a year, where recipient families can connect with each other. Nearly 3,000 families have participated in the events."They can really relate to one another," Javian said. "Whether it is similar financial experiences or it is emotional, they connect and bond." For Javian, her efforts are a chance to keep her father's memory alive. "After my father passed away, it was really difficult, and I wanted to do something positive from the loss," she said. "I feel like it's one of my life's purposes ... to do good and bring happiness and relief and support to the families in need."Want to get involved? Check out the Harboring Hearts website at www.harboringhearts.org and see how to help.

2health

Story highlightsFourth seed David Ferrer out of U.S. Open, beaten by France's Gilles SimonRoger Federer reaches last 16 as he continues bid for sixth New York titleCaroline Wozniacki reaches women's quarterfinals, beating Maria Sharapova Belinda Bencic, 17, becomes youngest U.S. Open quarterfinalist since 1997Fourth seed David Ferrer was sent crashing out of the U.S. Open by Frenchman Gilles Simon on Sunday, becoming the biggest men's scalp to be taken so far during the final grand slam of the tennis season, while former women's champion Maria Sharapova also exited.In oppressively humid conditions at Flushing Meadows, Simon and Ferrer traded the first two sets 6-3 before Simon found another level to wrap up the final two sets 6-1 6-3. The 26th seed took advantage of some sloppy play by Ferrer, who made 52 unforced errors and appeared to be struggling physically with the heat in the third-round tie.It was a timely victory for Simon, who had lost five of his past six meetings against the Spaniard."He destroyed me five times before," Simon said after the match."I just tried to stay loose and relaxed and enjoy myself on court. But I am tired. The weather forecast said it would be cooler today but it didn't feel like it. We ran so much and I am happy to finish in four sets because I knew that against David it would be really hard in the fifth."JUST WATCHEDAlthea Gibson's Tennis legacyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAlthea Gibson's Tennis legacy 04:50JUST WATCHEDU.S. Open by the numbers ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHU.S. Open by the numbers 01:24JUST WATCHEDAna Ivanovic fights to regain number 1 statusReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAna Ivanovic fights to regain number 1 status 03:20Simon will play Croatian 14th seed Marin Cilic, who beat South Africa's Kevin Anderson in four sets. "I always have a tough fight with Marin," Simon said after Cilic's victory. Simon has beaten Cilic in his last four encounters but is not taking anything for granted. "Yes, but did you check the scores?! It was always in five sets! We know each other well. It will be a tough fight." Roger Federer continued his bid to become the first man to win six U.S. Open titles as he reached the last 16 with a rain-interrupted win against Spain's Marcel Granollers.The 17-time grand slam champion came from behind to triumph 4-6 6-1 6-1 6-1 against the world No. 42, setting up a fourth-round clash with another Spaniard, Roberto Bautista Agut.The 17th seed equaled his best grand slam performance, matching his achievement of reaching the last 16 at January's Australian Open, as he beat France's Adrian Mannarino in straight sets."I feel very explosive, quick," second seed Federer said. "The coordination is there, as well. I feel like I've gotten used to the hard courts by now. It's really working well. I'm very pleased."Seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov also came from behind to beat Belgium's David Goffin in four, and the Bulgarian will next play French 20th seed Gael Monfils.Monfils upset 12th-seeded compatriot Richard Gasquet in straight sets to reach the last 16 in New York for the first time since 2009.Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych also progressed, beating Russia's Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-3 6-2 6-4 to set up a clash with Austrian debutant Dominic Thiem.Thiem, who turns 21 on Wednesday, eliminated Spanish 19th seed Feliciano Lopez 6-4 6-2 6-3 as he continued his best showing at a grand slam, having lost in the first round at Wimbledon and the second at the Australian and French Opens.Meanwhile former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki put a nightmare 2014 firmly behind her by knocking out five-time grand slam winner Sharapova 6-4 2-6 6-2 and book her place in the quarterfinals.JUST WATCHEDA workout with David Ferrer ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHA workout with David Ferrer 03:59JUST WATCHEDCaroline Wozniacki's biggest yearReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCaroline Wozniacki's biggest year 05:25JUST WATCHEDTeen sensation with the X factorReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTeen sensation with the X factor 04:02French Open champion Sharapova was the strong favorite at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, but the Dane dug deep to win the third set and give her a great chance of winning her first grand slam. "She made me hit a lot of balls," Sharapova told reporters. "That's always been her strength. But she did extremely well today. She's a great retriever, especially in these types of conditions. I just felt like I maybe went for a little too much."Of all the female players left in the draw, only world No. 1 Serena Williams and formerly top-ranked Victoria Azarenka have ever won a grand slam."It means so much to me," said Wozniacki after her victory over the fifth seed, who won the 2006 U.S. Open and reached the semifinals in her last appearance in 2012."It's been a bit up and down for me this season ... To win today against a champion like Maria is an unbelievable feeling."Wozniacki, seeded 10th this year, was runner-up in 2009 and made the semis in 2010-11 but has not reached the last four of a grand slam since then.The 24-year-old, who split with golf star Rory McIlroy this year ahead of a planned wedding, will next face Italian 12th seed Sara Errani.Errani, a semifinalist in 2012 after losing in the French Open final earlier that season, ended the dream run of former child prodigy Mirjana Lucic-Baroni as she beat the 32-year-old Croatian 6-3 2-6 6-0.Lucic-Baroni, who came through qualifying and beat world No. 2 Simona Halep in round three, was playing in the last 16 of a grand slam for the first time since 1999 -- when she was a semifinalist at Wimbledon.Belinda Bencic beat former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 to become the youngest U.S. Open quarterfinalist since 1997, when Martina Hingis went on to win the title.The Swiss 17-year-old, who has trained at the academy run by Hingis' mother, will next play China's Peng Shuai -- who likewise progressed to the last eight of the singles competition for the first time in a grand slam.While Bencic is playing in majors for the first time this year, the 28-year-old Peng made her debut a decade ago and has twice won doubles titles, including the French Open in June.Peng ousted 14th-seeded Czech Lucie Safarova 6-3 6-4, having upset world No. 5 Agnieszka Radwanska in round two. "The last couple of times I was in the fourth round I would always lose to good players," said Peng, who reached the last 16 at Wimbledon after first-round exits in Melbourne and Paris."I knew if I was going to win these matches I needed more courage on the court."Read: Wimbledon champion beaten by qualifierRead: Bencic - The 'new Hingis?'

5sport

Story highlightsBarriers are being put up in several cities to guard against truck attacksExtra security preps due to an abundance of caution, no credible threatsLondon (CNN)Holiday gatherings of large crowds always require extra security, but even more protective measures are being put in place for New Year's Eve festivities in European capitals and the US this year.The moves follow truck-ramming attacks in Berlin and Nice, France; as well as bomb attacks in Istanbul, Turkey, and stabbings and shootings in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK and Denmark.BerlinUp to 4,600 extra police officers will be deployed around the German capital, more than double the number of additional personnel who were deployed for New Year's Eve last year. Police armed with machine guns will be on patrol throughout the city, traffic checkpoints will be set up and bag checks will be conducted. Police will cordon off the Brandenberg Gate, a focal point of celebrations where one million revelers are expected to gather.JUST WATCHEDBerlin truck caught on dashcamReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBerlin truck caught on dashcam 00:55Twelve people were killed and at least 48 more injured when a truck plowed through an open-air Christmas market in Berlin on the evening of December 19.JUST WATCHEDBerlin attack suspect vowed loyalty to ISISReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBerlin attack suspect vowed loyalty to ISIS 02:27Read MoreAnis Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian who pledged allegiance to ISIS in a video before the attack, is accused of hijacking the steel-filled tractor-trailer, killing the Polish driver and plowing through the crowded market. He fled Berlin after the attack and was killed in a shootout with Italian police in Milan on December 23.ParisThe City of Light has mobilized 10,300 police, gendarmes, military and fire personnel for New Year's Eve. According to Paris police chief Michel Cadot, 1,700 police officers will be deployed on the French capital's Champs-Elysées, where bag and coat checks will be conducted at 24 checkpoints around the area. In addition, 230 private agents have also been hired by the mayor's office, a first for the city.JUST WATCHEDFrench resort town reels from terror attackReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFrench resort town reels from terror attack 01:36In response to the truck attack in Berlin earlier this month and one in Nice on July 14 -- in which Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel drove a 20-ton truck into crowds on the Promenade des Anglais seafront during a fireworks celebration, killing 85 and injuring more than 200 -- concrete studs are being added as a preventative measure around the perimeter of the Champs-Elysées. Officials have canceled the fireworks launch from the Eiffel Tower, replacing it with a light and pyrotechnic show.LondonAround 3,000 officers will be on duty across central London on New Year's Eve, both within and outside the ticketed areas where events are taking place. Armed officers regularly patrol the London Underground system and these patrols will be extended through Sunday, as was the case last New Year's Eve.JUST WATCHEDMeet the high-tech cops fighting terrorReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMeet the high-tech cops fighting terror 01:16A British Transport Police spokesman told CNN that the decision to extend patrols was taken many months ago, before the Berlin attack, and is not in response to any specific intelligence or threat. Across the country, police officers will be deployed at train and tube stations.RomeMore than 1,000 uniformed and plain clothes officers will patrol the Italian capital over New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The officers will be mainly deployed around the Circus Maximus and along bridges over the Tiber river. Vehicles will be barred from the bridges and barriers will be places around gathering areas.Heightened security is in place for New Year's Eve festivities in Rome.In a statement, Rome police said the measures "are designed to achieve the maximum security without generating excessive barriers or concerns." Police have also launched a social network campaign with the hashtag: #dacciunamano, or "give us a hand," which will allow revelers "to share with the authorities any notice of strange or alarming situations.. Police say there is no specific information on a threat to the city.In Naples, an extra 800 security agents will be patrolling the streets, officials said.New YorkThe New Year's Eve celebration in the Big Apple will for the first time have 65 sand trucks around the area of Times Square, New York Police Commissioner James O'Neill said at a briefing Thursday. Chief of Departments Carlos Gomez said the vehicles will be placed in strategic locations.Preparations are under way in Times Square ahead of the New Year's Eve celebration.The enhanced security measures are not based on any new credible threat or intelligence, but are purely a precaution due to the continued calls from ISIS for its sympathizers to carry out truck-style attacks, a law enforcement source previously told CNN.O'Neill said that "at this time we have no direct concerns related to terrorism, to Times Square specifically, or New Year's Eve in general" adding that the NYPD monitors and assesses threats 24 hours a day and confers regularly with law enforcement.There is no specific or credible threat to NYC, but if you see something, say something -- alert an officer, call 911 or 888-NYC-SAFE. #NYE pic.twitter.com/068UpnzOmj— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 30, 2016 Mayor Bill de Blasio said on New Year's Eve, people will see "extraordinary" assets deployed from the NYPD, including the Critical Response Command and Strategic Response Group, and there is a lot "you will not see."As many as 7,000 NYPD officers will work the event, Gomez said. There will be highly visible heavy weapons teams in Times Square and other areas outside the city, he added. Explosive detecting canines will be deployed in Times Square and through the subway system, Gomez said. Police details have also been increased at Coney Island and Central Park -- which will also be ringed by sand trucks and blocker cars, NYPD Assistant Chief Terry Monahan said.CNN's Livia Borghese, Nadine Schmidt, Hillary McGann, Camille Verdier, Jamie Gray and Kristina Sgueglia contributed to this report.

3news

Story highlights Cardinals may not set the date on Monday for the election for a new popeVatican: Benedict slept well and is spending his first day in retirement reading and prayingThe cardinals are summoned to a first meeting on Monday morningHis resignation Thursday was a historic moment for the Roman Catholic ChurchWith the dust still settling from Benedict XVI's historic resignation as pope, the focus in Rome turns to the future Friday as Roman Catholic cardinals prepare to meet to discuss a timetable for picking the new pontiff.A letter issued by the dean of the College of Cardinals on Friday calls the cardinals to come together Monday morning for the first in a series of meetings, known as general congregations.There will be a second session Monday afternoon, according to the letter from Cardinal Angelo Sodano.Interactive: A look at possible papal contendersOne of the cardinals' first tasks will be agreeing when to hold the secret election, or conclave, in which they will pick Benedict's successor.However, the date for the conclave may not be set Monday, Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said Friday.JUST WATCHEDCardinals set to begin pope selectionReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCardinals set to begin pope selection 01:56JUST WATCHEDCardinal: CNN influence in pope processReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCardinal: CNN influence in pope process 02:56JUST WATCHEDSun sets on Benedict's papacyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSun sets on Benedict's papacy 01:49JUST WATCHEDPope Benedict's last dayReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHPope Benedict's last day 04:09The cardinals will also hold important discussions on the future direction of the church, which has been beset by scandal in recent years, and the kind of leader they want to see at the helm.CNN Vatican Analyst John Allen, also a correspondent with the National Catholic Reporter, wrote that the cardinals' scheduled afternoon session represents a break from practice last time around."The first order of business is to establish the start date for the conclave, and the fact they're going back to work in the afternoon suggests there's a desire to try to get that nailed down as quickly as possible," he said.Gambling with God: Staking a wager on the next popeAll the cardinals attend the general congregations, but only cardinals who are younger than 80 are eligible to vote for the new pope in the conclave. They are expected to number 115, the Vatican has said.How many cardinals are now gathered in Rome is not yet known, Lombardi said. Some will have received the invitation to Monday's general congregation by fax, others via e-mail, he added.Quiet lifeBenedict, meanwhile, has embarked on the first day of his new life of seclusion following his televised departure from Vatican City on Thursday.Watch for the smoke: How is a new pope elected?Benedict, who will now be known as pontiff emeritus, will spend the next few weeks at the papal summer residence, Castel Gandolfo, before moving to a small monastery within the Vatican grounds.After his resignation took effect Thursday night, he had a good dinner, watched Italian TV newscasts about his last day, performed his regular evening prayers and read messages sent to him about his retirement, according to the Rev. Thomas Rosica, another Vatican spokesman.The pope emeritus also went for an after-dinner walk in the corridors of the centuries-old Castel Gandolfo, sited on a quiet hilltop overlooking a lake.Benedict XVI slept well, Rosica said, citing his personal secretary, Georg Gaenswein.In the weeks leading up to his retirement, the pope played piano every night after dinner, but didn't on the night of his retirement because he was watching TV, Rosica said, citing Gaenswein.The pope emeritus brought several books of theology and church history to Castel Gandolfo, the spokesman said. He is also expected to resume playing the piano after dinner.On Friday, he celebrated morning Mass and will spend time in the Castel Gandolfo gardens, saying the rosary.He is the first pope to resign in six centuries, and his departure -- after nearly eight years at the head of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics -- ushers in a period of great uncertainty for the church.'Just a pilgrim'Benedict's final public words were given to about 10,000 people who had gathered at Castel Gandolfo to bid him an emotional farewell."I am no longer the pope, but I am still in the church. I'm just a pilgrim who is starting the last part of his pilgrimage on this earth," he said."I would still -- with my heart, with my love, with my prayers, with my reflection and with all my inner strength -- like to work for the common good and the good of the church and of humanity."Whoever steps into Benedict's red papal shoes will be expected to deal with unresolved questions about alleged corruption, child sex abuse by priests, leaks from inside the Vatican and, most recently, Italian media reports alleging an episode involving gay priests, male prostitutes and blackmail.On his last day as pope, Benedict made a pledge of "unconditional obedience" and respect to whoever takes up the reins.His promise came in a final meeting with the cardinals who will pick his successor, almost certainly from within their own ranks.More than half the 115 cardinal-electors expected to take part in the conclave were appointed by Benedict, suggesting his influence will live on. However, the Vatican has said that he won't interfere in the new pope's running of the church.The situation of having a living pontiff in retirement is almost unprecedented for the church.Video footage released by the Vatican on Friday showed the doors to the papal apartment there being ceremonially sealed by senior officials. They will remain closed until a new pope enters.The Vatican has said it wants to have the next pontiff in place for the week of services leading up to Easter Sunday on March 31.CNN iReporter Rummel Pinera, a blogger and campaigner from the Philippines, said Benedict's departure raises interesting questions for the Catholic Church -- such as whether to accept women priests, or a pope from Africa or Latin America, and whether to approve stem cell research."I'm hoping that Benedict XVI's successor will be open to progressive ideas, so that the Roman Catholic Church would be seen as a dynamic institution that can adopt to modern day situations," he said.

3news

Story highlightsAubameyang vs. Bolt: Who wins?Dortmund star has run 30m in 3.7 seconds. (CNN)Usain Bolt has fended off many challengers, but how would he do against lightning fast football star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang?In 2013, Borussia Dortmund's Gabon international clocked 3.7 seconds in a 30-meter training run -- eight hundredths of a second faster than Bolt over the same distance during the Jamaican's Berlin 100m world record sprint seven years ago.Follow @cnnsport And now Aubameyang has thrown down the gauntlet to Bolt."I'm waiting for you man," Aubameyang exclusively told CNN, challenging the nine-time Olympic gold medalist to a 30m showdown. "I hope to see you one day, and let's do this challenge!"Aubameyang's acceleration has already helped him score 13 goals in 11 league appearances this season -- putting him in pole position in the race for the European golden shoe. "It's no joke"—Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has confirmed Usain Bolt is coming to train with the #Bundesliga side ⚡ pic.twitter.com/iY9XS5SCBC— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) November 14, 2016 Read MoreBolt, however, remained unfazed.Usain Bolt has a message for Jose Mourinho ..."People are always trying to call me out," laughed the Jamaican, speaking to CNN ahead of the release of the bio-pic "I am Bolt." "He knows I'm going to win ..."Who would win a 30m sprint between Bolt and Aubameyang? Have your say on CNN Sport The two speedsters could soon have the chance to go head-to-head on the track.The world's fastest man recently revealed he'll be training with Borussia Dortmund after the World Athletics Championships in August 2017.On your marks, get set, go ...

5sport

Story highlightsPolice confirm Rebekah Brooks is among those arrested Five of 6 journalists arrested Tuesday are granted bail, police sayThe new arrest could mean Brooks faces additional charges in an ever-widening scandalShe had previously been arrested July 17Rebekah Brooks, the former editor of the British tabloid News of the World and a confidante of its owner, Rupert Murdoch, was arrested Tuesday in connection with a phone-hacking investigation, police said.London's Metropolitan Police refused to name her, but said the woman arrested Tuesday had previously been arrested July 17, the date Brooks was arrested. She was the only one arrested in connection with phone hacking that day.News International's head of security, Mark Hanna, was also arrested, according to an internal message sent to staff by the company's chief executive, Tom Mockridge, the Times newspaper reported. The Times is one of News International's titles.Dozens of current and former employees of News International, the News Corp. subsidiary that publishes Murdoch's British newspapers, have been arrested on suspicion of bribing police or illegally intercepting voice mail or e-mail. No one has been charged.Accusations of widespread phone hacking on behalf of News of the World prompted its publisher to fold the publication last July.JUST WATCHEDFormer Murdoch executive rearrestedReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFormer Murdoch executive rearrested 03:06JUST WATCHEDTension high at "The Sun" newspaperReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTension high at "The Sun" newspaper 03:34JUST WATCHEDMurdoch to meet with staffReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMurdoch to meet with staff 01:40JUST WATCHEDBernstein criticizes Murdoch's standardsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBernstein criticizes Murdoch's standards 04:19Brooks had previously been arrested in connection with phone hacking and police bribery, and was released on bail after a day of questioning.She was among six people detained Tuesday on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, police said.She was also presumably one of the five people reported by Metropolitan Police as having been bailed out on Tuesday. She is "to return pending further inquiries to an Oxfordshire police station on a date in April," police said in a statement. Again, the police did not identify her by name, but did say a 43-year-old woman had been granted bail. Brooks is 43.The sixth person, identified only as a 38-year-old man, remained in custody at a central London police station, police said.The widening scandal has spawned three police investigations, two parliamentary committee investigations and an independent inquiry.Brooks' husband, racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks, was also arrested Tuesday, according to reports in Murdoch outlets, including the Wall Street Journal and Sky News. Charlie Brooks did not return a voice mail message from CNN on Tuesday.He had been expected to attend the opening day of Britain's Cheltenham horse racing festival Tuesday but was not seen there.Rebekah Brooks, a former editor of the News of the World and the daily tabloid The Sun, served as chief executive of News International until she resigned days before her arrest in July.Police investigating phone hacking say that about 5,800 people, including celebrities, crime victims, politicians and members of the British royal family, may have been targets of the practice by journalists.The hacking involves illegally eavesdropping on voice mail by entering a personal identification number to access messages remotely.

3news

Story highlightsA lively Manchester City side thrash Tottenham 5-1 in the English Premier LeagueCity knock Arsenal off the top of the table and now hold a two-point leadChelsea are held to a 0-0 draw by a plucky West Ham sideIn Germany, Bayern Munich stretch their unbeaten league run to 43 matchesManchester City brought misery to a rainy Wednesday in north London as they defeated Tottenham to knock rivals Arsenal off their perch at the top of the English Premier League.A lacklustre Arsenal had dropped valuable points at Southampton and Man City took advantage to move two points ahead of the Gunners with a free-flowing 5-1 victory against Tottenham.But manager Manuel Pellegrini poured cold water on any talk of City now being title favorites despite the London rout."I think it's too soon to be the favorites -- there's a lot of matches to play," he was quoted on the club website."If we continue to play the way we are, we will have chances to win but it's early."Agile Argentine Sergio Aguero pounced after 15 minutes to give City the lead only to hobble off the pitch with a right leg injury just before half time.Even without Aguero, who has now scored 50 EPL goals, Manuel Pellegrini's men found their scoring boots in the second half.JUST WATCHEDChampagne: Football has lost credibilityReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHChampagne: Football has lost credibility 01:59JUST WATCHEDCristiano Ronaldo: A star like no otherReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCristiano Ronaldo: A star like no other 02:46JUST WATCHEDThe business of the World CupReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe business of the World Cup 02:16Yaya Toure stroked home the ball from the penalty spot after Danny Rose was shown a red card for a lunge on Edin Dzeko in the penalty area.Dzeko got in on the act as he clipped in David Silva's rebounded shot from close range before substitute Stevan Jovetic added to the scoreline with his first league goal. City captain Vincent Kompany polished off the victory over 10-man Spurs late on.Chelsea missed their chance to close the gap on Arsenal and Man City as they were held to a 0-0 draw by a gutsy West Ham side.Even with a whopping 39 attempts on goal, Jose Mourinho's men could not find the back of the net as the relegation threatened Hammers dug in.It looked as if there might be a reprieve for Chelsea as seven minutes of extra time were added on but Demba Ba, Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o and Frank Lampard were all denied.Lampard clasped his hands to his face in disbelief at the final whistle as Chelsea missed their chance to go second in the table and for now stay third, three points off the leaders.A frustrated Mourinho commented on Sky Sports: "If I was at home watching for sure I would turn off or change to another match."Maybe the match the Portuguese manager should have watched was Aston Villa's pulsating 4-3 victory over West Bromwich Albion.It may not be the game that settles the thrilling title fight but it was arguably the match of the night Wednesday.In Germany, Bayern Munich were back in business in the Bundesliga as they rallied to beat Stuggart 2-1 and stretch their unbeaten league run to an astonishing 43 matches.Pep Guardiola's league leaders had Thiago Alcantara and Claudio Pizarro to thank for getting back on terms after Vedad Ibisevic had put the home side ahead.Bayern's record run in the German league dates back to October 2012 and, as if one record wasn't enough, they also notched up their 28th away match in the Bundesliga without defeat.In Italy, intensity was the key for Rafael Benitez as he watched his Napoli side book a place in the Coppa Italia semi-final, which are staged over two legs.A solo strike from Gonzalo Higuain was enough to sweep aside holders Lazio and book a last four meeting against Roma. Udinese host Fiorentina in the other semifinal.There was rain in Spain as Barcelona braved the weather to complete a 5-1 victory over Levante at a soggy Nou Camp to advance to the Copa del Rey semifinals.Goals from Adriano, Carles Puyol, Alexis Sanchez, who scored twice, and Cesc Fabregas sealed a 9-2 win on aggregate.Holders Atletico Madrid set up a hotly anticipated semifinal with city rivals Real Madrid after beating Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Wednesday.

5sport

(CNN)Boris Johnson's list of losses is getting longer. The UK Prime Minister suffered yet another bruising defeat on Monday when Parliament rejected his bid to hold an early election in December. A total of 299 MPs voted in favor of the election; 70 voted against it, and large numbers of MPs abstained, meaning it failed to secure the necessary two-thirds majority. Speaking immediately after the result was announced, Johnson said his Government would introduce a short bill calling for an election on December 12. The UK has messed up Brexit. Now Boris Johnson is trapped in hellSuch a bill would require a simple majority, rather than the two-thirds required by the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, and could effectively override the current election law. Read MoreHowever, there are two issues with that approach: Johnson doesn't have a majority in the House of Commons, because he fired 21 MPs after they voted against him in early September. Others have resigned.Another problem: Just like any legislation in Parliament, a one-line bill will be open to amendments. Johnson runs the risk that the opposition could team up with Conservative rebels to change the bill in ways that could potentially hurt him. The Liberal Democrats and the SNP have already suggested lowering the voting age to 16, which they could try to force through an amendment. 'Spot the fakes': British political journalism faces a reckoning The Liberal Democrats also announced their own plan to introduce another bill calling for an election on Tuesday. They want the early election to happen on Monday, December 9. The move is likely motivated at least in part by the party's desire to target student voters, who would be heading home for vacation at the end of the week, making a December 12 vote tricky. Students and younger voters are an important source of support for the party, and many are registered to vote at their term-time addresses.Johnson had said a vote on December 12 was part of his new Brexit timetable. He wanted to dissolve Parliament after November 6 for the election campaign.Johnson said that the new Parliament would meet before Christmas, giving it some extra time to deal with Brexit before the new year -- and the new January 31 departure deadline.A Downing Street source told CNN the Brexit deal that Johnson agreed with Brussels will not be brought back to Parliament while lawmakers debate the early election. Lawmakers have rejected the deal earlier this month. EU approves three-month Brexit extension as UK nears election Labour had said ahead of the vote that it would not agree to an election until a no-deal Brexit is "off the table." Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn did not clarify exactly what would have to be done to satisfy that requirement.European leaders announced Monday they would grant the UK a three-month Brexit extension, averting a no-deal split on Halloween but extending the political saga into next year.The bloc's 27 remaining leaders agreed to a "flextension" until January 2020, Donald Tusk, president of the EU Council, tweeted on Monday.The delay -- the third granted by the EU this year -- will be cut short if Johnson passes his exit deal before then. However, it does not remove the risk of a no-deal Brexit in case he fails to pass the deal.CNN's Rob Picheta and Luke McGee contributed to this article.

3news

(CNN)When Alejandro and Julian Navarro first started playing rugby, they sometimes had to stop training because they could hear gun battles between rival gangs approaching the pitch. The situation was so bad in their home city of Medellin in the early 2010's that a murder seemingly was not even much of an event. "It was routine," Julian, a rapid scrumhalf of 23, told CNN Sport. A lot has changed since those days.Medellin, Colombia's second largest city, has left behind its infamous label of a "cocaine capital" to become one of the most vibrant cities of South America, as it strives to attract tech start-ups and music labels.Read MoreAlejandro and Julian, who learned to tackle on gravel pitches, are now part of Colombia's first professional rugby team, and still marvel at the idea of being paid to play the sporot. Colombian Julian Navarro vies for the ball against Argentina in the Six Nations Cup.What is Cafeteros?The Navarro brothers play for Cafeteros Pro, the latest experiment in international club rugby. Trying to replicate the success of Argentina's Jaguares in Super Rugby, the Colombian Rugby Federation (CRF) created Cafeteros as its national franchise to develop talent and introduce professionalism in the country.While the game in Colombia remains amateur at the moment, 20 of the best Colombian players have been put under contract, with 10 more Argentine prospects, to play for Cafeteros in the Superliga Americana de Rugby, a new international club competition, which comprises Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay. The Superliga is set to start on March 16 in Chile and, pandemic permitting, will crown South America's first club champion, similar to football's Copa Libertadores. By creating Cafeteros, the CRF hopes to form a core group of international players to compete for the national team. Colombia has never reached the final stage of a Rugby World Cup, but the goal is to make it by 2031, according to the CRF's head of high performance David Jaramillo.With a little envy in his eyes, Jaramillo -- a former player himself -- showed CNN Sport the world-class facilities where the Cafeteros players train, located in a working-class neighborhood. In his playing days, Jaramillo says he would play in whatever position was required, sometimes starting at scrumhalf and finishing the game in the front row. Cafeteros players now train twice a day and on top of rugby and time in the gym, they have video analysis and tactics sessions. "We want [the players] to work in rugby, to live rugby, to dream rugby all the time ... that has always been our dream and we work to make the dream reality for them," said Jaramillo. Tourism has been key to the re-imagining of Medellin and Colombia. Opportunities for everyoneAt the helm of Cafeteros is Rodolfo Ambrosio, an Argentine coach who led Brazil to their first ever victory in Europe, and a placement in the top 30 of the World Rugby rankings for the first time in its history. Ambrosio is adamant Latin America will become a force in rugby in the future as much as it is in football now, fueled by genetics and necessity. Countries like Brazil and Colombia, he says, are blessed with plenty of young athletes like Julian and Alejandro, who are knocking on the doors of professional sports. While Colombia has already witnessed an explosion in professional cycling -- Egan Bernal was crowned as the first Colombian to win the Tour de France in 2019 -- rugby will be next, according to Ambrosio. "All over the world, rugby is becoming a genuine job opportunity, it's growing and giving prospects to players like these at Cafeteros to go abroad and have a successful job," Ambrosio told CNN, citing the developing professional leagues in the US and Asia as future employment opportunities. At home, Cafeteros has been supported by public funding from the Colombian Olympic Committee and World Rugby, but despite the disruption that the pandemic created, the CRF has already launched an investment call to attract private capital to the franchise. Julian and Alejandro are all too aware of the difference that a real job opportunity makes around Medellin. While the two brother's journey from slum kids to professional athletes is in itself a metaphor of Colombia's recent economic progress, they say too many of their fellow citizens remain trapped between meager job opportunities and a criminal life. They hope rugby can help change that. "Until now, we only had football. Rugby is a new door that is opening for us to get out and live off it, and to stay away from the streets," says Alejandro, who is 22 and plays on the wing. READ: Chaos, scandal and anger: Barcelona faces seminal presidential electionsA history of drugs and violence has plagued Colombian society.Transformation in the barrioAt home, Julian and Alejandro's parents are all too proud of their children's achievements. Their father works as a manual laborer in a slaughterhouse down the road; their mum Gladys is a substitute mother, taking in young children from difficult backgrounds for a period of time to educate and one day return them to their families. The stories of the kids that the family hosts are those of so many in the slums of Latin America. Stories of drugs, violence, family abuse and absent parents. Right now, Julian and Alejandro have four little stepbrothers who look at them as an inspiration. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features and videosTheir biggest victory, the two players say, is to keep the new generation away from crime and the gangs before, hopefully, passing them their rugby sparkle. "By 2031, I will be 32, it will be hard to be there, as a winger," Alejandro says: "But maybe one of these little ones could well be, one of the first Colombians to play against the All Blacks!"

5sport

London (CNN)It's known as the "mother of parliaments" -- one of the oldest legislatures in the world. But in the last two days, the British Parliament has been the center of the mother of all battles.The new British Prime Minister has fired 20 of his own lawmakers, rebel MPs have seized control of parliamentary business, Johnson's call for a snap general election was rejected and members of the House of Lords squabbled until late in the night on Wednesday.Government chief whip announces government cave-in at 1.20 am - they are lifting the filibuster after 10 hours, with a commitment that the EU Bill will pass by 5pm Friday. We have stopped no deal - & we can now go home 🆒😊😍🇪🇺— Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis) September 5, 2019 The world has watched as the very foundations of British politics shifted in front of their eyes.On Tuesday, 1.5 million people tuned into BBC Parliament to see an alliance of rebel lawmakers deal the UK government a humiliating blow, seizing control of the Brexit agenda and forcing embattled Prime Minister Boris Johnson to call for a snap general election.It was the biggest single-day audience for the channel -- which, for Americans, is something like the UK's answer to C-SPAN -- even competing with the popular (and, by contrast, highly soothing) baking show, the Great British Bake Off.Read MoreMany Britons were left torn about whether to watch "biscuit week" or see their government fall to pieces.Watching Bake Off on +1 and second screening BBC Parliament is the only way to spend a Tuesday night. pic.twitter.com/usK6yaEVzP— Richard Jones (@rlwjones) September 3, 2019 Those who chose the latter were treated to a truly unparalleled spectacle. Johnson lost the first vote under his government, a moment unprecedented in the modern era. Members of his own party who voted against him -- including figures like "Father of the House" Kenneth Clarke, who has been in politics longer than some MPs have been alive, and Winston Churchill's grandson, Nicholas Soames -- were purged in short order from a party they've devoted their political lives to. Soames, close to tears, said Wednesday he was "truly very sad that it should end in this way," and called on MPs to "rediscover the spirit of compromise, humility and understanding."Taking a parting shot at Johnson, he said he always supported ex-PM Theresa May's Brexit plans, "which is more than can be said for the prime minister ... whose serial disloyalty has been an inspiration to so many of us." Clarke also slammed the Prime Minister for being "disingenuous."JUST WATCHEDWatch Boris Johnson's unusual insult ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWatch Boris Johnson's unusual insult 00:29The drama didn't end there. In his first Prime Minister's Questions to date, Johnson referred to the opposition Labour Party's economic policy as "shit" and Sikh lawmaker Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi received an unusually raucous round of applause after accusing the PM of fueling racism in the UK. Later, British lawmakers delivered Johnson yet another stunning defeat, passing a bill aimed at preventing a no-deal Brexit through the House of Commons.But the drama unfolding in Parliament has not only left viewers at the edge of their seats, it has also raised serious questions about the stability of one of the oldest continuous representative assemblies in the world.The Brexit process has drawn attention to the detail of Britain's constitution, procedures, rules, and how strong they are -- or not. And a breakdown of longstanding conventions has raised fears over a full-blown constitutional crisis in the country. Johnson's plan to suspend Parliament in particular has been branded a "constitutional outrage" for limiting the time that MPs have to debate Brexit.Boris Johnson lost his second Brexit vote in two daysBritain's constitution is unwritten, meaning it is sustained largely through precedent, which has left some commentators wondering whether it is still fit for purpose."There is a fundamental question this [Brexit] is posing to the UK, about whether its uncodified constitution was doing the job they thought it was," said Catherine Haddon, a senior fellow at the Institute for Government, a London-based independent think tank. "Others argue it is not the constitution that's struggling, but politics that are failing.""It is calling into question constitutional conventions that felt to experts to be strong and intrinsic to our system of government, but you now see political actors starting to talk about whether or not they would adhere to them or how binding they are," Haddon added. All of this together casts doubt over one of the key messages of the campaign to leave the European Union: that by ending the UK's membership within the bloc, it would "bring back sovereignty" to British Parliament. JUST WATCHEDSpeaker tries to maintain control of UK's ParliamentReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSpeaker tries to maintain control of UK's Parliament 00:30In reality, the government is often in conflict with Parliament, the opposition and even their own back benches. And that tension has ratcheted up as the clock ticks down to October 31, the current deadline for the UK to quit the EU. If the seizure of Parliament Wednesday by a cross-party alliance or rebel lawmakers is any indication, a majority of members in the House feel that Johnson's government doesn't show enough respect for the institution. Labour, in particular, has tried to convey that the government is attempting to thwart democratic practices. While the government in turn has argued that the opposition is trying to thwart Brexit, and, by extension, the will of the people.JUST WATCHEDLeader of the House of Commons told to 'sit up'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLeader of the House of Commons told to 'sit up' 00:41"Both sides are using constitutional practices and parliamentary conventions in new ways that some feel is an abuse and that has led to great mistrust and disrespect," Haddon said.Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg seemed to be the physical embodiment of that contempt on Tuesday night as he reclined on the front bench of the chamber, eyes closed and nearly horizontal while the debate raged around him.A photo of the arch Brexiteer shared by Labour MP Anna Turley subsequently went viral, spawning innumerable memes. In one, Rees-Mogg's languid body charts the decline of the government's working majority in Parliament, which has dropped to zero.The physical embodiment of arrogance, entitlement, disrespect and contempt for our parliament. pic.twitter.com/XdnFQmkfCS— Anna Turley MP (@annaturley) September 3, 2019 To critics, Rees-Mogg was a caricature of the smug, privately educated elite leading Britain blindly to a no-deal Brexit, which is expected to trigger economic chaos, as well as food fuel and medical shortages. All that was missing was a monocle and top hat.

3news

Story highlightsGareth Bale scores Tottenham's late winner against SouthamptonBale has won a host of awards for his EPL performances this seasonNorth London rivals Arsenal up to third after 1-0 win over QPR Wigan revive hopes of avoiding relegation with victory at WBAThe English Premier League's man of the moment Gareth Bale kept Tottenham Hotspur's Champions League hopes alive with a stunning late winner against his former club Southampon Saturday.The White Hart Lane faithful were fearing the worst and a disheartening goalless draw when Bale brushed aside Luke Shaw before crashing home an 86th minute winner from outside the penalty area.It was his 25th goal of the campaign -- topping off a week when he was named the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year to go with his double success at the Professional Footballers' Association awards.The value of the winning goal and the subsequent three points was highlighted when North London rivals Arsenal continued their fine late season run with a 1-0 win at already relegated Queens Park Rangers in the late kickoff.Read: Bale destined for greatness? Theo Walcott scored the only goal of the match after just 21 seconds, the fastest in the EPL this season, to lift his team to third in the standings on 67 points after six wins in eight games. JUST WATCHEDFriedel: 'Bale can be world's best'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFriedel: 'Bale can be world's best' 02:39JUST WATCHEDCNN Football Club: Bayern dominate BarcaReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCNN Football Club: Bayern dominate Barca 23:03Chelsea, who are playing newly crowned champions Manchester United Sunday, trail by two points with two games in hand. Tottenham also have 65 points and have played one game less than Arsenal in a desperately tight battle for the top four qualification spots for the Champions League next season.At the bottom end of the table, perennial relegation escapees Wigan stepped up their bid to survive again with a dramatic 3-2 win at West Bromwich Albion.They twice trailed before Callum McManaman side footed the late winner after brilliant work by Shaun Maloney.Shane Long and Gareth McAuley had given WBA their leads, canceled out by strikes from Arouna Kone and substitute James McArthur, who netted with his first touch.Read: Chelsea to play Benfica in Europa finalMcManaman grabbed the third in the 80th minute and Roberto Martinez's men held on for a precious three points.The FA Cup finalists are just two points below fourth-bottom Sunderland, who host Stoke City Monday, and three points adrift of Newcastle United, who could only draw 0-0 at West Ham United.JUST WATCHEDHargreaves: Scholes is the bestReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHargreaves: Scholes is the best 02:43JUST WATCHEDCNN Football Club: German giants riseReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCNN Football Club: German giants rise 22:54Norwich are also looking over their shoulders after Gabriel Agbonlahor completed a fine week for Aston Villa with a 2-1 away win at Carrow Road.Villa hammered Sunderland 6-1 earlier in the week and on 40 points look assured of another season in the English top flight.Elsewhere, deposed champion Manchester City were held to a 0-0 draw at Swansea City while already doomed Reading scored a fine 4-2 win at Fulham.On the final day of action in the second flight, Hull City secured a place in the Premier League for next season after drawing 2-2 at home to champions Cardiff City.Watford, Brighton and Hove Albion, Crystal Palace and Leicester City will contest the play-offs for the third promotion spot to the riches of the EPL.

5sport

Story highlightsRoger Federer to play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Paris Masters finalFederer sweeps past Tomas Berdych in straight setsTsonga has to battle past John Isner in three hour marathon matchFederer has now reached the final of all nine Masters 1000 tournamentsRoger Federer will play home hope Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for the Paris Masters title after the pair secured contrasting semifinal victories Saturday.Federer made it career win number 801 with a routine straight sets defeat of Tomas Berdych, but Tsonga was locked in a mighty battle with John Isner of the United States before coming through.Tsonga had to fend off three match points in the deciding set before winning the tiebreak 7-3 to wrap up a 3-6 7-6 7-6 victory in just short of three hours.Isner, best known for his marathon match at Wimbledon against Nicolas Mahut, has served notice of his promise towards the back end of 2011 and shocked fourth seed David Ferrer of Spain to reach his first Masters 1000 semifinal.He took the first set on a single break and threatened in the middle of the second to take the match away from French No.1 Tsonga.But urged on by a partisan crowd in the Bercy Arena, Tsonga forced a tiebreaker and then swept through it for the loss of a single point.The third set was also a tense affair and Isner came back from 0-40 down to protect his service in the ninth game.With Tsonga serving at 5-6 it was the giant American's turn to exert pressure and he forced three match points, all saved as the match went into a deciding tiebreaker.Tsonga was the first to gain the mini-break and eventually closed it out with a forehand winner to earn a final match-up with Federer.The Swiss maestro had been at his best to beat Berdych 6-4 6-3 in the opening semifinal to reach the final of the annual indoor tournament in Paris for the first time in his career.A break of serve in the first game of each set was all the 16-time grand slam winner needed to end the challenge of Berdych, who surprisingly beat second seed Andy Murray in a grueling quarterfinal Friday."I really liked the way I played today," said Federer, whose win over Juan Monaco in the last eight saw him reach the 800 wins milestone. "After winning my 800th match, reaching the final here for the first time and becoming the first player to reach the finals of the nine Masters is great," he told AFP.Federer has slipped to number four in the world, but will be looking for back-to-back titles after winning in Basel last week.

5sport

(CNN)A South Carolina man was sentenced to 28 years in prison Tuesday after he fled from a burning car and left his 19-month-old daughter to die in the blaze in order to escape a police chase, according to a news release from the Spartanburg County Solicitor's Office.State troopers tried to stop Imhotep O. Norman, 28, in April 2019 for speeding, the release said. Norman drove over a median and onto Interstate 85 with flames and heavy smoke spewing from his car, the release said. After troopers forced him to the right lane of the road, Norman jumped out of the burning vehicle and left his daughter, Xena R. Norman, in her car seat, the release said. Norman later told investigators he thought law enforcement officials would rescue her, according to the release.Norman's daughter died due to acute carbon monoxide poisoning and thermal burns, the release said.Norman told the judge during his first bond hearing in 2019 that he did not know the car was on fire when he got out, according to CNN affiliate WHNS. Read More"I just know that the car wasn't on fire when I got out the car," Norman said. "I would have stayed in that car with my daughter. I would have never got out the car while the car was on fire. I seen sparks coming from under the tires when I tried to stop and I couldn't stop at that point. I don't know why what happened to the car were I couldn't stop."Norman pleaded guilty to homicide by child abuse, failure to stop for a blue light and siren, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, trafficking methamphetamine and possession of with intent to distribute amphetamine, possession of oxycodone, and possession of xanax, the release said. Norman's lawyer, Randy Chambers, tells CNN his client intended to go to trial, but said that "for whatever reason, he (Norman) had a revelation to take responsibility for what happened." He said Norman was absolutely "heartbroken by the death of his daughter." He added that after two years of representing Norman, he got the impression his client was "intelligent, thoughtful" and "a good person who really made a bad choice" when he decided to flee from police. Chambers indicated to CNN that Norman didn't have any priors before this incident.

3news

Story highlightsTomatillo, clone of eventing great Tamarillo, reaches 18 months old. Will he compete like his 'dad'?Rules changed in 2012 to let clones compete in sport, but experts say focus on breeding for nowTwo clones of Irish sporthorse sire Cruising revealed in February after years of speculationWould an Olympic Games with every competitor on a clone of the same horse actually be a fairer contest?Follow us at @CNNSport and like us on Facebook (CNN)To the untrained eye, Tomatillo looks like any horse.To those in the know, the 18-month-old looks like one horse.Tomatillo is the clone of Tamarillo -- a famous eventing horse who reached the Olympics in 2004.Twelve years have passed since humans first successfully cloned a horse. The science is developing fast, but remains imperfect.The current process takes a sample of cells from a horse's neck, swaps the nucleus of one of those cells into an equine egg, then gives that egg a small electric shock to stimulate development before it is placed inside a recipient mare and carried to term.Read MoreYet Tomatillo, and a handful of others, represent near-exact replicas of sporting excellence and pose an important question: are we going to start seeing clones at the world's top equestrian events?At the Olympic Games of the future, will a horse compete against itself for gold?Tomatillo's owners are Finn and Mary Guinness, who also own Tamarillo.The Guinnesses watched British eventer William Fox-Pitt ride the latter to glory at the Olympics, World Equestrian Games and a succession of other major events until Tamarillo's retirement in 2008.At that point, there arose a problem.Like many horses at the top of equestrian sport, Tamarillo is a gelding -- in other words, the horse has been castrated, in the belief that geldings are calmer, easier to handle and therefore more readily prepared for the rigors of competition.But the decision to castrate the horse is taken well before it's apparent that the horse carries world-class genes."When you've finally got your champion, it's too late, because it's a gelding," in the words of Finn Guinness, who brings a learned background to ownership of Tomatillo. Guinness was a one-time student of cloning at Edinburgh University and holds a doctorate in genetics.His wife, Mary, adds: "When Tamarillo turned out to be this treasure, my husband was regretting it like anything, because he was just interested in keeping the genetics going with the animal."And now we can."A different breedThe Guinnesses have cloned Tamarillo not to replace the horse in the arena, but in the bedroom.Without a clone, Tamarillo's world-beating genetics would be lost when the horse died. Now, Tomatillo can do the breeding in Tamarillo's place."They have the same head, the same personality, the same coloring. It's completely uncanny when you deal with them all the time," says Mary.Eric Palmer: "Is cloning the future of breeding? No. I think cloning is one tool among many others.""It's especially in the eyes, for me. Looking at the eye, the eye is so similar. They are similar in the way they move, too, and my husband is obsessed with the swirls on his head."We are going to try to breed from him, not this year but next year, to see what sort of animals he produces before we go on the open market."This is in keeping with a broader trend in equine cloning: the focus is on breeding, not sport.In mid-February this year, two clones of Irish stallion Cruising were revealed.Cruising died last year at the age of 29. Now, the existence of two clones (Cruising Encore and Cruising Arish) allows his phenomenally successful genes to continue, or so the breeder in question -- Mary McCann -- hopes."Cruising would be the number one Irish sporthorse stallion in terms of producing both showjumpers and eventing horses," says Dr Tom Reed, a fellow breeder based in Ireland at Morningside Stud.Dr Reed says the Irish Sport Horse stud book -- or registry of horses, used by breeders -- "would be very interested in encouraging the owners to clone the horse."The stud book has struggled to find horses of Cruising's genetic caliber, he believes, and cloning represents a roll of the dice to preserve its greatest equine asset.Dr Reed sees that as a bad thing. "They're basically counting on 26-year-old genetics to bring the showjumping side of the stud book back into relevance and that's not going to happen," he argues.Fertile ground?Yet for Eric Palmer, that is the joy and purpose of his work.Palmer founded Cryozootech, in France, in 2001. He has since become a world-leading authority on the cloning of horses, responsible for the cloning of champion showjumpers like ET (one of the first to be cloned) and Quidam de Revel (the first horse cloned in the U.S.)"The job I'd done before involved technologies for reproduction, like artificial insemination. All the time, the reason for these technologies was giving people a tool to increase their genetic progress," Palmer tells CNN."When I saw that cloning was possible, I realized it could be used to make fertile animals out of infertile ones. For me, this is the ability to make a gelding become a stallion."In 2005, Palmer worked with Dr Katrin Hinrichs, at Texas A&M University, on the cloning of Quidam de Revel.A decade later, Hinrichs still finds it hard to comprehend why anyone would clone a horse for sport, rather than breeding."As a scientist and as a horse owner myself, it never occurred to me that people would want to clone horses to compete them. That's totally sideways," says Dr Hinrichs."The reason these horses compete is to show they are really good at what they do, so you can choose the animals to breed to and improve the breed. It's because we want to know which horses are good, so we can choose the stallions and mares we want to breed, so the next generation is better."If you compete a clone, what good is that? If the original animal showed great talent, then of course the clone will -- it can't really improve the breed."And yet some of the advantages are obvious. If you own a champion horse and want to carry on winning medals in future, a clone prolongs your access to that horse's winning genetics for a decade or two. The cost of cloning, at a shade above $150,000, is a fraction of the seven-figure sums routinely spent on champion jumping or dressage horses.Despite that, Palmer says clients at Cryozootech don't typically have their hearts set on sporting achievement from cloning. Rewriting the rule bookIf they do, his advice is: cloning is not a sure thing."Of the few cloned horses starting to compete, Levisto Alpha Z [the clone of Levisto Z], was a champion at four years old in Belgium, showing that clones can do sport," says Palmer. "So it may happen, but it's not really a good reason to make a clone. "When you clone a big champion, remember he had everything going for him: the best genes but all the rest, too. He formed a good combination with the rider. "Genetics is only 30%, 70% is other factors. So there's little chance that you will get all 100% of the factors being optimum."I would say it's a bet. It's a bet where you have control over 30% of your chances, but you still have 70% that you have not yet controlled."Not only that, the science does not yet deliver a perfect replica -- as might be implied by the word "clone."The process produces a foal that is almost, but not 100%, identical to the original horse. Moreover, Dr Hinrichs says it's only successful around a third of the time."Cloning is such a science-fiction thing -- the idea that you can duplicate somebody," she says."But this doesn't work the way it does in science fiction. The best simile is that it's an identical twin, born years and years later. It's going to have many of the same genetics but it's going to be very different, too."In 2012, the FEI -- equestrian sport's world governing body -- changed its rules to allow clones to compete, arguing that the move would encourage the preservation of the genes of leading geldings.That was the moment that concerns first surfaced in the wider media about the presence of clones in events.In reality, though, it appears more likely that the offspring of clones will be future Olympic champions, rather than the clones themselves.Returning to the theory that stallions are harder to train for sport than geldings, it's a given that for your clone to breed, they cannot be castrated. However, there is nothing to stop you turning the clone's offspring into geldings.Like today's stallions, clones are set to be used to sire hundreds of foals -- raking in money for their owners and spreading the clone's genes far and wide.Why castrate your clone and their expensive, world-beating genetics for sporting purposes when, a few years down the line, you can take your pick between dozens of the clone's foals? "We are sure that offspring of clones will be there in competition," says Palmer.From blood line to production line?Dr Reed worries about the concept."I have a couple of fundamental problems," he says. "I have questions about the possible long-term effects. We don't know whether there will be negative outcomes associated with these clones that, once introduced into a population, could be detrimental to that population. "Another problem I have is that we're horse breeders, not horse manufacturers. What we basically have here is some very wealthy people getting hold of some genetic material and trying to gain some competitive advantages in breeding, and potentially in the arena, through cloning."And once you let cloned genetics into your population, how do you get rid of it?"Dr Reed agrees is probably a matter of time until clones, or their offspring, show up in the sporting arena."I'm not aware of any of them in sport [but] the door's been opened and there is no turning back, at this point, in terms of international sport," he says.It's unlikely that Tomatillo will be among them. But it isn't out of the question."Who knows? it's very interesting to watch Tomatillo trotting, he does seem pretty similar to Tamarillo," says Finn Guinness."I don't think we're going to be able to resist taking him a little way [in eventing], anyway. My main interest is getting his foals. We'll see. We're some way off all that."Mary Guinness says Fox-Pitt, the rider of Tamarillo, is preparing to have his second look at Tomatillo -- just in case there is something there. If anyone gets to ride Tomatillo in competition, she adds, it will be him."People are so nervous about cloning," she continues. "I remember 35, 36 years ago when they had the first IVF baby and everybody thought it was a freak of science. Now it's the norm. I tend to think that cloning will be a fairly common thing in 30 years' time -- we're just ahead of the game, as it were. "Tomatillo looks absolutely like any other horse you would see in the field. He doesn't have five toes coming out of a hoof or anything like that. He's just normal. That's what people can't get their heads around."Dr Hinrichs, in pondering the prospect of clones in sport, comes up with a suggestion many people are unlikely to get their heads around."I was just in a meeting," she recalls, "where somebody argued that if you want to test the ability of a person to train a horse and ride it to the top of the field, the ultimate challenge would be to have everybody riding the same clone."Everybody receives a clone of the horse 10 years ago, trains it up and competes it at the Olympics. Then the variable would be the training, the upbringing, the handling and the riding."Is the Olympics a test of the training and riding ability, or of the horse? It's probably the former. The Olympics is all about people, right?"

5sport

Nicole Bachaud is an economist at Zillow. The opinions expressed in this commentary are her own. The nation's sizzling housing market is a double-edged sword: millions of existing homeowners have gotten a boost as they watch their equity grow, but millions more would-be homeowners are struggling to get their foot in the door — especially buyers of color. As of January of this year, the typical US home has gained more than $50,000 in value from the year prior — a jump of almost 20% — as millions of buyers bid against each other in a market defined by historic low inventory. The Sun Belt, which has been a relatively affordable alternative to the ultra-expensive coastal markets, was especially hot, with home values in major markets gaining as much as 45%.It increasingly looks like this year will be more of the same. Home value growth has already reaccelerated well ahead of the typical spring shopping season, and we just saw the largest inventory drop in at least three years. Zillow's economic research team predicts home values will gain another nearly 20% by year's end.While that's good news for homeowners watching their equity grow, millions of Americans who are trying to buy a home for the first time are watching that dream slip further away. That's especially true for Black Americans, who were hard hit by pandemic-related job losses. The Black homeownership rate is lower today than it was a decade ago. A big part of the problem is that Black Americans typically have lower incomes and less wealth, making it more difficult to save for a down payment. And they are more likely to have no credit history and be denied a mortgage.The typical Black household has less than a quarter of the wealth of a typical White household — a $3 trillion gap that has widened in the past decade. Housing disparities — brought by generations of systemic inequality, such as redlining and disparate credit access — account for nearly 40% of that gap. Black-owned homes are worth about 18% less than White-owned homes.Read MoreCombined, all these factors mean Black families are likely to fall further behind despite unprecedented growth in the real estate market. And because homeownership is a major driver of generational wealth in America, their children and grandchildren will also potentially fall further behind. But there are steps we can take to prevent the wealth gap from growing even further:Build, build, buildIt's going to take adding inventory of all types to significantly slow price growth and unlock homeownership for more Americans.More than 60% of homes in the United States are single-family detached houses, with many of those neighborhoods created and kept that way largely through decades-old zoning restrictions. They also skew more White and tend to be more expensive than the broader metro area they're in.Easing zoning rules to allow modest densification in single-family neighborhoods would add millions of homes to our choked housing supply. And it's something a majority of homeowners — and two-thirds of Black homeowners — agree should be allowed. Zillow research has shown that allowing an additional unit on just 10% of single-family lots can yield more than 3 million new homes across just 17 metro areas. That's especially important for households of color, which are more likely to live in higher-density housing, including condos and townhomes. Reform the credit systemPeople with structural access to credit and strong credit histories are more likely to own a home. Black Americans are more likely than Whites to have no credit history, and those with marginal, poor or non-existing credit will struggle to get a loan and will pay more for it. Majority Black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities also have less access to traditional financial services and are closer to predatory services, such as payday lenders and pawn shops. We must create a credit reporting system that routinely takes into account things like rental history and utility bill payments (and that doesn't weigh so heavily on credit cards, auto loans and mortgages), and work to provide equitable financial services to underserved communities. Fannie Mae recently started allowing rental payment history to be taken into account to give some buyers a better chance to qualify. Help with down paymentsAffording a down payment is an increasingly difficult barrier to homeownership. First-time buyers should expect to spend a year longer saving for a down payment than they would have needed to just five years ago. There is help — in fact, more than 2,000 counties have 10 or more programs available that provide grants or loans to help with down payments and closing costs. But buyers generally aren't aware of the help that's available, and there needs to be more.The economy is recovering fast. But we need to ensure it works for everyoneIn addition, first-time buyer savings accounts give people a tax-free way to save for a down payment and closing costs, similar to programs allowing tax-free college savings. Such accounts are available now in some states, but the federal government should take the lead in providing for them everywhere.Bias training and safeguardsEveryone should be able to shop for and find a home free from bias, discrimination and racism. Anyone responsible for real estate license renewal requirements should mandate implicit bias training. That way, industry professionals have the tools they need to ensure they aren't creating barriers for people to access certain communities or opportunities. Similarly, more states should require fair lending training that addresses the effect of bias, and lenders should review and update their training to ensure it's addressed. The industry should also embrace remote desktop appraisals, which rely on visual technology, such as 3D-tours and digital floorplans, rather than an in-person visit to the property. That can mitigate bias in the appraisal process so existing BIPOC homeowners can tap into their equity more equitably, and be protected against discriminatory practices.Nobody alive today will see America reach racial housing equality. We will need a renewed investment in these and other solutions to keep the gap from widening during this overheated market and set us on the right path to ensure housing market growth is equitable, fair and beneficial.

0business

Story highlightsProperty is the biggest single-fenced estate in the U.S.Realtor has rejected offers in the hundreds of millionsRanch on brink of $725m sale says realtor, Bernard UechtritzUechtritz evaluated OJ Simpson's house after infamous double murder (CNN)The final countdown to the real estate sale of the century has begun.Bigger than New York City and Los Angeles combined, Waggoner Ranch in Texas spans half-a-million acres, boasts more than 100 properties within its boundaries and oil reserves.Potential buyers had until Oct 20 to submit their bids and according to the Wall Street Journal the ranch will be sold by the end of the year, with a price tag of $725 million.Bernard Uechtritz, an Australian realtor living in Texas, has been tasked with the sale of the equestrian estate that has stayed in one family for its entire 165-year existence. He had to used to turning down the advances of some of the world's richest people in the sale."I can tell you it's not often you can dismiss out of hand an offer for several hundred million dollars -- you're not even getting on the dance floor with several hundred million dollars," he told CNN.The realtor behind the sale of the property, Bernard Uechtritz.Read MoreUechtritz, of Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty, has a history of selling unusual properties. He was in charge of the sale of Jose and Kitty Menendez's Beverly Hills mansion after the couple were killed by their two sons in 1989, and evaluated both OJ Simpson's Brentwood mansion and his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson's apartment in Santa Monica where she was killed with her friend Ronald Goldman"I've done this for 30 years and I've been involved in some interesting and hairy deals, and I've seen money arrive in suitcases at the court house," he said.Waggoner Ranch, though, is different and is by no means a hard sell. Although Uechtritz has invested nearly two years of his life in the project, there have been 600 inquiries and he stands to make millions himself if the asking price is met.The cowboy hat-wearing Uechtritz is no stranger to the hard sell but is adamant that it's not been required with this Texas property."It stands head and shoulders above everything else as it is head and shoulders above everything else," he said. "It's truly a one of a kind.JUST WATCHEDPart 2: The world's best battle it out in AachenReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHPart 2: The world's best battle it out in Aachen 08:48"Where can you go with half-a-million acres under one fence with oil, cattle, natural resources and intellectual property. Nowhere, it's just not out there."Located near Vernon in northwest Texas, Waggoner is America's largest ranch within a single fence spanning six counties in all.It has enough water in one lake on the property to source the whole of the 105,000-strong population of nearby Wichita Falls and boasts 14,000 cows, 500 horses and 30,000 acres of arable land.To view even a modicum of its vast borders requires a helicopter ride and a lot of time."If I take buyers on a viewing it takes about an hour and 45 minutes in a helicopter to get the rough overview," said Uechtritz. "I can then show you the highlights in one or two days but a more intensive tour takes three or four days."But it's worth it. It's just so beautiful, as I said, one of a kind. This is going to make ranching history."As the realtor for the property, he has got to know the 120 staff that work across its boundaries and the families that rely on a smooth purchase for their own futures.That, argues Uechtritz, brings with it a big responsibility."I'm driven by the scenario whereby it's win-win where the buyer of this ranch that has never been sold in 165 years continues the legacy and protects his or her purchase for another 165 years.JUST WATCHEDFor Jessica Springsteen, horses take center stage ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFor Jessica Springsteen, horses take center stage 03:02"It's a very important part of cowboy culture and the greatest equestrian of all is the cowboy, it's from that that all other equestrians are born."But there is a tremendous amount of responsibility to the 120 families and cowboys that are the heart of this remarkable ranch. They're relying on me to put this in the right hands. I think the prospects for the new owner are great. We've already got some good quality buyers in our buying pool."The reality is that only a limited number of people on the planet have the funds to purchase such a ranch.Jim Taylor, of Denver-based rural estate firm Hall & Hall, estimated in an interview with Bloomberg that tying down potential purchasers "you're looking for people with a net worth of $7 or $8 billion."Uechtritz told CNN Money in May the ranch is being sold because the trust that manages it is being liquidated. He said the trust has been "winding up" the estate since 1990.JUST WATCHED$160 million on a plane to VegasReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH$160 million on a plane to Vegas 02:16Said to be a favorite of the former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, the estate has a remarkable history.There have been quirky family members from Electra Waggoner who during the 1920s spent $90,000 -- around $1.2m in today's money -- on a facelift of her Dallas mansion to house her wide range of fashion accessories, to her older brother Guy who was famous for marrying eight times.Uechtritz admits there will an element of sadness when the day of sale comes as "it's been part of my life for a couple of years and you grow attached."He admits to sometimes shaking his head how an Australian born in Papua New Guinea came to oversee the "the sale of the century.""I know this equestrian world so well," he says. "I feel like it's in my DNA. I remember being on a horse from the age of five but am told I was on one even earlier. I'm an equestrian, a rancher, a polo and polocrosse player."For anyone rich enough to have the funds there is just one catch to the sale -- 25% of the mineral rights will remain in the possession of the current owners. To date around one tenth of the ranch's land has been explored for oil.Correction: Bernard Uechtritz evaluated both OJ Simpson's Brentwood mansion and his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson's apartment in Santa Monica where she was killed with her friend Ronald Goldman. A previous version of this story stated that Brown was killed at the home she shared with Simpson.

5sport

(CNN)As impeachment hearings play out on Capitol Hill, Iowans on both sides of the political spectrum see the inquiry as a boost to their party's chances of winning the general election next November, according to a new CNN/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll.That sentiment is stronger among registered Republicans who do not plan to attend the Democratic caucuses, with 60% saying the impeachment inquiry is more likely to make it easier than harder (26%) for President Donald Trump to win re-election. Among likely Democratic caucusgoers, 45% say the inquiry would make it easier for the Democratic nominee to win in 2020 compared to 24% who believe it will make it harder. The share of those who say they are not sure what impact the inquiry will have is roughly the same across both voter groups.For their part, likely Democratic caucusgoers are more likely to report following the impeachment proceedings than are registered Republicans. Nearly seven-in-10 likely Democratic caucusgoers say they are following the proceedings, including 46% indicating they were following them very closely. Of those following very or fairly closely, 52% say the proceedings will make it easier for the Democratic nominee to win the general election. That compares to just 36% of those who are following the inquiry somewhat closely or not at all who feel it will make it easier.More on the first impeachment hearingWhat the first public impeachment hearing tells us about the path forwardQuick timeline of Trump-Ukraine events that led to impeachment hearingsImpeachment hearing testimony further connects President to Ukraine pressureAfter one day of TV hearings, the impeachment battle lines remain the sameTakeaways from the first day of public impeachment hearingsThe findings come on the heels of the first week of public testimony in the inquiry with another eight witnesses slated to testify in open hearings this week. The poll was largely conducted before public hearings began.When it comes to registered Republicans, 30% say they're following the inquiry very closely, with another 25% saying they're following them fairly closely. Among those Republicans following the proceedings very or fairly closely, 72% say they'll make it easier for Trump to win re-election, while just 46% of those who are tracking it somewhat closely or not at all say that's the case.Read MoreAn overwhelming majority of these registered Republicans (72%) say the President did not use his office improperly to gain a political advantage against a potential 2020 opponent. Just 14% think he did -- but nearly half of those who say they would consider or definitely vote for someone other than the President in the general election (47%) say he used his office improperly.Trump's sky high GOP supportThe President's standing among this group of Iowa Republicans is as strong as ever, with 85% approving of his job performance, gaining four points since March. Separately, 83% say they have a favorable view of Trump. Views of the President are roughly even across different age groups, but there is a gender divide, with more men (88%) holding a more favorable view of Trump than women (79%).As strong as the President's job performance rates with Republicans, they like his handling of the economy even more -- with 89% voicing approval. He also receives high marks on his handling of immigration (76%), trade with China (75%) and foreign policy (74%). One weaker spot for Trump is ethanol, with a slight majority (53%) approving of his handling of that issue.Vice President Mike Pence is as popular among these Republicans as the President, with 82% saying they have a favorable view of him.GOP critics of the President -- including two primary challengers -- don't fare as well. Sen. Mitt Romney's favorable rating is now upside-down, with 46% viewing him unfavorably and 36% seeing him favorably. The Utah senator had a favorable rating of 65% in December 2018. Then, just 21% viewed him unfavorably.A pair of the President's primary opponents, former Gov. Bill Weld and former Rep. Joe Walsh, receive more negative than positive marks, though both are largely unknown among these Republicans. Walsh's favorable rating is 8% compared to 12% unfavorable. It's 4% favorable and 11% unfavorable for Weld.Overall, 76% say they definitely plan to vote to re-elect the President, up nine percentage points since March, with clear majorities across nearly every demographic group. The only exception is moderates, with 47% saying they plan to vote for Trump.These registered Republicans are also optimistic about Trump's chances against the top four Democratic challengers with clear majorities saying they think the President is almost certain to win each potential matchup. Confidence is highest about defeating Bernie Sanders, with 62% saying they are almost certain the President will defeat the Vermont senator. That's compared to 59% who say that about Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, 58% for former Vice President Joe Biden and 56% for South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg.There is slightly more uncertainty among registered Republicans about the outcome of a potential Trump -- Buttigieg matchup, with 15% saying they are not sure what would happen in such a contest. For the other three Democrats tested that number is in the single-digits.Loyalty testThere is about an even split on the question of whether Iowa registered Republicans feel more allegiance to the GOP or Trump, with 43% choosing the Republican Party and 41% naming the President.Those siding with the GOP include Republicans under the age of 35 (49% to 36%, respectively), those with a college degree (51% to 37%) and self-described moderates (55% to 31%).The groups with the strongest allegiance to Trump include those who call themselves very conservative (52% side with Trump versus 34% who side with the party), evangelicals (46% to 41%) and those who live in rural areas (47% to 37%).While some states look to cancel nominating contests to benefit Trump, nearly three-in-four of these Republicans (72%) approve of the Iowa GOP's decision to hold a caucus with a vote for a nominee in 2020. However, interest is fairly low, with just 30% of registered Republicans saying they will definitely or probably attend the GOP caucuses.The CNN/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll was conducted by Selzer & Co. of Des Moines, Iowa, November 8 through 13 among a random sample of 500 likely Democratic caucusgoers and 502 registered Republicans not planning to participate in the Democratic caucuses reached on landlines or cell phones by a live interviewer. Results for the full samples of likely caucusgoers and of registered Republicans each have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

4politics

Story highlights Garcia, Hoffman, Pieters, Fowler lead at -4McGirt at -2 Couples -1; Spieth, Mickelson level (CNN) Five years ago at Augusta he said he wasn't "good enough" to win a major, now Sergio Garcia shares the halfway lead with Charley Hoffman, Thomas Pieters and Rickie Fowler at the Masters.Garcia fired a three-under 69 on another breezy day in Georgia to reach four under and erase the four-shot overnight lead of Hoffman, who added a 75 to his opening 65 to slip back.Follow @cnnsport Belgian debutant Pieters, 25, who played a starring role for Europe on his Ryder Cup debut in September, hit 68, while the ever-improving Fowler joined the quartet late Friday with a 67. The foursome were two shots clear of 40-year-old debutant William McGirt, but 15 players finished within five shots of the lead.And with past champions Fred Couples, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott lurking, world No. 2 Rory McIlroy still in contention, and some of the game's rising stars such as Spaniard Jon Rahm in the mix, the third round promises to be a shootout in warmer, stiller conditions.Read MoreThe 37-year-old Garcia, for so long golf's nearly man, is playing in his 73rd major as a professional but is still chasing a first win. Could the stars finally be aligning for him, or is it just a little too perfect? Sunday, after all, coincides with what would have been fellow Spaniard Seve Ballesteros' 60th birthday. Ballesteros, who died in 2011, was the first European to win the Masters in 1980 and backed it up with another green jacket in 1983. Watch @TheSergioGarcia's second round in under three minutes. #themasters pic.twitter.com/1zkXVJqwzK— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 7, 2017 Garcia's talent has been evident since he came second to Tiger Woods in the 1999 US PGA as an ebullient 19-year-old, but his tantalising career has also been racked by self-doubt, a tendency to bemoan his misfortune, and a less than warm relationship with Augusta.In 2012, after a frustrating third round, he told Spanish reporters: "I'm not good enough and today I know it. "I've been trying for 13 years and I don't feel capable of winning. I don't know what happened to me. Maybe it's something psychological. After 13 years, my chances are over. I'm not good enough for the majors. That's it."But Garcia, who is engaged to be married later this year, reckons he is "a bit calmer now" and is "working on trying to accept things." He duly accepted birdies on his first three holes despite the stiff early wind Friday and kept up the pressure as he bids to better tied fourth in 2004. READ: Danny Willett's guide to Amen Corner READ: Tiger Woods -- 20 years of iconic imagesREAD: All you need to know about Augusta and the MastersREAD: Former champ Mize relives outrageous winning chip'Intense'American Hoffman, who breezed around a blustery Augusta Thursday, wobbled in the wind Friday but kept his nerve as the pack closed in as he chases a first major title at the 23rd attempt. "I obviously wasn't going to follow up yesterday's round with another but I'm happy with the way I finished," the 40-year-old, who came ninth in 2015, told Sky.Watch @hoffman_charley's second round in under three minutes. #themasters pic.twitter.com/B2NEkTWGYD— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 7, 2017 The highlight of Pieters' round was an eagle three at the stunning par-5 13th. A birdie to follow at 14 took him into a share of the lead and he parred his way home. The last player to win the Masters on his debut was Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, but Pieters is not one to dwell on peripheries."I don't overthink stuff," explained the unflappable Pieters, who won four of his five matches against the USA at Hazeltine. "It is a special course and special tournament but it's still just golf."I'm going to take the experience from the Ryder Cup -- that was great pressure and this is intense, too. I like it." Photos: The Masters 2017Sergio Garcia of Spain celebrates with the Masters Trophy during the Green Jacket ceremony after he won in a playoff during the final round of the 2017 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, April 9, in Augusta, Georgia. Hide Caption 1 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Garcia embraces fiancee Angela Akins after winning his first major title in a playoff with England's Justin Rose for the Masters.Hide Caption 2 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Olympic champion Rose won the 2013 US Open and was bidding to become the first European to win the Masters and US Open in his career.Hide Caption 3 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Close friends Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler were playing together in the penultimate group Sunday, with Spieth chasing a second green jacket and Fowler a first major title.Hide Caption 4 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Spieth was second on his debut in 2014, won the following year and was second last year after an infamous collapse on the back nine Sunday. Hide Caption 5 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017The 37-year-old Garcia was chasing his first major title in 74 attempts. Hide Caption 6 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Rory McIlroy posted a fourth consecutive top 10 at the Masters but needs a win to complete the career grand slam of all four major titles. Hide Caption 7 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Olympic champion Justin Rose of England fires a third-round 67 to reach six under and take a share of the lead with Sergio Garcia into the final round of the Masters on Sunday.Hide Caption 8 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Spain's Garcia is chasing a first major title at the 74th attempt. Could a big one finally come his way Sunday at Augusta?Hide Caption 9 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Jordan Spieth, the 2015 champion, has finished no worse than second on three visits to Augusta and hit back from a quadruple-bogey nine Thursday to be within two of the lead.Hide Caption 10 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Phil Mickelson was hoping to mount a challenge for a fourth Masters green jacket but struggled to catch fire Saturday and faces an eight-shot deficit to the leaders.Hide Caption 11 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Rory McIlroy needs the Masters to complete the career grand slam of all four majors but says he needs "the round of my life" if he is to have a chance Sunday. Hide Caption 12 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Fred Couples won the Masters 25 years ago, and the 57-year-old is in contention again, although Saturday's third round didn't quite go in the right direction. Hide Caption 13 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Young American Rickie Fowler is chasing a first major title and sits one stroke off the lead heading into the climax Sunday. Hide Caption 14 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Charley Hoffman hits a shot on Friday. He led by four shots when the second round started, but he came back to the field with a 3-over 75.Hide Caption 15 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Garcia hits out of a bunker on Friday. He shot a 3-under 69.Hide Caption 16 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Pieters lines up a putt on the 10th hole Friday.Hide Caption 17 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017From left, Garcia, Lee Westwood and Shane Lowry wait together on a green.Hide Caption 18 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Adam Hadwin jumps across Rae's Creek while playing the 13th hole.Hide Caption 19 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Paul Casey, left, and caddie John McLaren visualize a shot.Hide Caption 20 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Golfers walk up to the first fairway on Friday.Hide Caption 21 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017William McGirt reacts to a missed birdie putt on Friday.Hide Caption 22 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Ryan Moore watches a shot from the pine straw on the 17th hole.Hide Caption 23 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Former Masters winner Charl Schwartzel hits a shot on No. 7.Hide Caption 24 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Hoffman drives the ball on the 18th hole on Thursday, April 6. He shot a 7-under 65 to take a four-shot lead after the first round.Hide Caption 25 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Billy Payne, the chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club, places Arnold Palmer's jacket on a chair at the honorary start of the tournament. Palmer's wife, Kathleen, looks on. Palmer, a four-time Masters winner, died in September at the age of 87.Hide Caption 26 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Jack Nicklaus raises his cap to the sky, honoring Palmer before hitting a ceremonial tee shot.Hide Caption 27 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Dustin Johnson, the world's No. 1 player, talks to the media after withdrawing from the tournament on Thursday. Johnson hurt his back Wednesday after falling down a staircase.Hide Caption 28 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Phil Mickelson reacts after making an eagle on the second hole Thursday. Mickelson, who has won the Masters three times, shot a 1-under 71.Hide Caption 29 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Pieters hits a drive during the first round. The Belgian took an early morning lead and finished at even par.Hide Caption 30 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017McGirt lines up a putt. He finished in second place Thursday after a 3-under 69.Hide Caption 31 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Jordan Spieth plays his second shot on the 18th hole Thursday. Spieth, the Masters winner in 2015, shot a 3-over 75.Hide Caption 32 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017The crowd watches Jason Dufner, Ernie Els and Bernd Wiesberger play the 16th hole on Thursday.Hide Caption 33 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017A detailed view of the main leaderboard near the first fairway.Hide Caption 34 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Brandt Snedeker, left, high-fives a crew member after making a putt on the fourth hole.Hide Caption 35 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017A fan wears a pin in honor of Arnold Palmer.Hide Caption 36 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Soren Kjeldsen plays a shot from the bunker on Thursday.Hide Caption 37 of 38 Photos: The Masters 2017Jamie Lane, caddie for Matthew Fitzpatrick, lines up a putt.Hide Caption 38 of 38Couples in contentionFowler, 28, who finished in the top five in all four majors in 2014 but has yet to win one of golf's big events, began his charge with an eagle at the long second when he holed from the greenside bunker. "I'm excited, I'm looking forward to the weekend, it's going to be fun," Fowler told Sky Sports.American McGirt, 37, bogeyed the last for a 73 to remain in the hunt at two under. Watch Fred Couples almost hole out from 171 yards on No. 18. #themasters pic.twitter.com/E0HCs6lWPj— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 7, 2017 The only other players to break par -- at one under -- were American Ryan Moore, exciting young Spaniard Rahm, England's 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose, and veteran Couples. The 57-year-old Couples shot 70 to keep alive a dream of a second green jacket 25 years after his first. The laid-back American is invigorated by Augusta and shares the record of 23 consecutive cuts made at the Masters with three-time champion Gary Player. He has also had five top-20 finishes since turning 50."I love the place, I've said that for 33 straight years," Couples told Sky Sports. "In conditions like this I almost feel better. In the bad weather it's a battle and by playing here so many times I feel I can save shots."Phil the thrillTwo-time major champion Spieth, who has finished second, first, second in his three visits to Augusta, birdied three of his last six holes for a 69 to climb back to level par after suffering a quadruple-bogey nine at the 15th in a round of 75 Thursday."I think the course is going to get very firm, keeping the ball below the hole is so key when the nerves at the weekend come up," Spieth told Sky Sports.Three-time champion Mickelson, who at 46 and nine months could also overtake Jack Nicklaus as the oldest Masters winner should he triumph Sunday, reached three under at one point but dropped three shots in his last five holes to slide back to level par. Alongside him was 2013 champion Scott of Australia. Mickelson, who won his last Masters in 2010, is looking forward to calmer weather at the weekend which should offer perfect scoring opportunities. "I'm expecting us to be able to get after it and make a lot of birdies and eagles," he said. McIlroy battlingNorthern Ireland's McIlroy mixed four birdies, including a chip-in at the sixth, with five bogeys -- the last after his approach to the 28th hit the pin and bounced off the green -- to shoot 73 for one over par.JUST WATCHEDGolf icons remember Arnold PalmerReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGolf icons remember Arnold Palmer 02:52McIlroy needs the Masters to become only the sixth player to win all four of golf's major titles -- along with Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen. Of that illustrious group, only Sarazen achieved the feat at Augusta. "It was another day you just had to battle and make a lot of pars and pick up the odd birdie here and there," McIlroy told Sky Sports. "Going into the weekend. I feel like I can put a run of 31 or 32 together and get a bit closer to the leaders."'Golf is tough'The weekend cut fell at seven over and claimed defending champion Danny Willett, who followed up his opening 73 with a five-over 78. The Englishman, who began his second round with a quadruple-bogey eight, became the first champion to miss the cut since Canadian Mike Weir in 2004. WIllett will have to remain at Augusta until Sunday to present the winner with the green jacket.British Open champion Henrik Stenson finished eight over to also miss the cut alongside two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson.Visit CNN.com/golf for more news and videosTesty left-hander Watson told reporters: "Golf is tough; I don't know if you've ever played it. But writing articles is easy."

5sport

Story highlightsGovernor says state denied Devin Kelley's request for a license to carry a weaponNeighbor says he heard an unusual amount of gunfire from Kelley's property last week (CNN)In retrospect, the warning signs were there.Before Devin Patrick Kelley carried out the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history on Sunday, the former airman had displayed a pattern of violent and disturbing behavior.Domestic violence. Sexual assault accusations. Animal cruelty. Escape from a mental health facility. Threatening text messages. An obsession with guns and mass shootings.The signs may seem obvious now, though psychiatrists caution against what they call hindsight bias. But in the moment, none of it prevented Kelley from buying the semi-automatic rifle he used to kill 25 people and an unborn child at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs.Read MoreAs investigators piece together a portrait of the dead gunman, questions remain about what set him off and what possibly could have been done to prevent the massacre, renewing fierce debates over gun control.Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, killed 26 people at a Texas church, police say. President Donald Trump called the mass shooting a "mental health problem at the highest level," not a "guns situation." Though Kelley's mental health history has not been fully disclosed, experts cautioned against focusing on that factor to the exclusion of others. No single factor on its own, including a diagnosis of mental illness, can predict how a person will act. But, certain indicators carry more weight than others, said Duke University professor Jeffrey Swanson. "A history of violent behavior is a far better predictor of future violence than mental illness," said Swanson, a professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University who specializes in gun violence and mental illness. Though prevention is elusive, he said, "we could have better criteria for buying guns based on actual risk, and legal tools to remove guns based on risk."'Somebody really dropped the ball'Certain measures exist to prevent people like Kelley from obtaining firearms. His domestic violence record alone should have barred him under Texas law from purchasing four guns between 2014 and 2017. But his name did not show up in the federal database that licensed gun dealers are required to check before selling someone a firearm. "Somebody really dropped the ball," former Air Force chief prosecutor Col. Don Christensen told CNN. The Air Force acknowledged Monday it did not appropriately relay Kelley's court-martial conviction for domestic assault to civilian law enforcement, preventing it from appearing in three databases, including the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)."Had his information been in the database, it should have prevented gun sales to Kelley," the Air Force said in a statement.The Air Force said the Air Force inspector general is conducting an investigation into what happened. In total, the shooter bought four weapons -- two in Colorado and two in Texas, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said. Two handguns were found in his vehicle. A Ruger AR-556 rifle was found in front of the church where Kelley dropped it in a standoff with a local resident. Kelley bought the rifle in April 2016 from an Academy Sports + Outdoors store in San Antonio, a law enforcement official told CNN. When Kelley filled out the background check, he did not check the box indicating he had a disqualifying criminal history, the official said. He listed an address in Colorado Springs, Colorado, when he bought the rifle, the official said.At one point, the shooter tried to get a license to carry a gun in Texas, but the state denied it, officials said. In Texas, a permit is not required to buy a handgun or a long gun, and gun owners do not have to be licensed.Loopholes notwithstanding, convictions for misdemeanor domestic violence and felonies are entered into the NICS databases. So are domestic violence restraining orders and dishonorable discharges from the military. But Kelley did not receive a dishonorable discharge for his assault convictions. After serving 12 months in a military prison, he received a bad conduct discharge in 2014.A history of domestic violence Kelley served in logistics readiness at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge for assaulting his then-wife and stepson. The two married in 2010 and divorced in 2012, according to court records.While he was awaiting his court martial in June 2012, he escaped from Peak Behavioral Health Systems in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, according to documents from the El Paso Police Department obtained by CNN affiliate KVIA. Officers were told that Kelley "suffered from mental disorders and was a danger to himself, having previously been caught sneaking firearms on the base, the documents said. Kelley had made death threats toward his chain of command.When officers found Kelley, he did not resist or make any comments about harming himself or others to the officers, the documents said. Kelley initially faced multiple charges, according to military records: assault and battery against his spouse, aggravated assault against his stepson and four charges involving firearms, including two of pointing a loaded firearm at his wife and two of pointing an unloaded firearm.Military prosecutors dropped the firearms charges before trial in an agreement in which Kelley pleaded guilty to aggravated assault against the child and assault against his wife.As part of his plea, Kelley admitted to hitting his stepson on the head and body "with a force likely to produce death or grievous bodily harm." As for his then-wife, Kelley admitted to hitting and kicking his her, choking her and pulling her hair.Kelley repeatedly shook the boy, leading to injuries that fractured the young boy's skull and caused internal bleeding, Christensen told CNN. The nature of the crimes suggested a propensity for violence that should have been taken more seriously, Christensen said. But the military justice system doesn't offer adequate treatment or services for transitioning to civilian life, leaving Kelley's history of violence unaddressed, he said. Allegations of animal cruelty and sexual assault After his release in 2014, Kelley landed in an RV park in Colorado Springs, Colorado. While there, a neighbor told police he saw him punch a dog. Kelley denied the allegation but eventually pleaded guilty in October 2014 to an animal cruelty charge, according to court records. He was ordered to pay more than $500 in fines and restitution and complete an animal cruelty evaluation as part of a deferred sentence of 18 months of unsupervised probation. In March 2016, after Kelley met the terms, the guilty plea was withdrawn and the case was dismissed, the records show.Meanwhile, in his hometown of New Braunfels, Texas, Kelley had started dating Danielle Shields, who would become his second wife. The couple married in April 2014, when she 19 and he was 23.About two months before their marriage, a friend of hers contacted the Comal County Sheriff's Office to report that Shields said her boyfriend was abusing her, according to law enforcement records. When members of the sheriff's office showed up, they were told it was a "misunderstanding and teenage drama," according to notes from the incident. It was not Kelley's first contact with the Comal County Sheriff's Office. In October 2013, he was investigated for an alleged sexual assault. By then, he was divorced from his first wife, but she was listed as a witness. "The alleged sexual assault investigation stalled sometime in October 2013," the sheriff's office said, leaving its status unclear. CNN has been unable to reach the women who accused Kelley of sexual assault.Co-worker: 'He wasn't chatty'Kelley was supposed to show up Sunday at his security guard job at the Summit Vacation Resort in New Braunfels, manager Claudia Varjabedian told CNN. His shift started at 4 p.m. No one had heard from him when they turned on the news. "We couldn't get our mouths to close. We were all shocked," Varjabedian said.He had only worked at the family resort for five weeks, she said, describing him as quiet. "He wasn't chatty with people, but he was polite."He never let on to his plans, she said. On Friday, he asked for clarification on a policy related to vehicles on the property. "He didn't seem like he had any plans to leave or do anything," she said. "I wish I could help by telling other people what to look out for to prevent this in the future."In June, Kelley was registered as a noncommissioned security officer, affiliated with Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Resort in New Braunfels, where he lived, according to the state Department of Public Safety. In order to complete the registration, Kelley would have submitted fingerprints and fees. Kelley worked at the waterpark for 5½ weeks this summer as a seasonal unarmed night security guard before he was terminated, Schlitterbahn representative Winter Prosapio told CNN. The park has not provided a reason for his termination.JUST WATCHEDNeighbor saw shooting, held young survivorReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNeighbor saw shooting, held young survivor 01:38Troubling Facebook postsKelley was consumed by a dispute with his mother-in-law, investigators said. He sent threatening text messages her law and texted her as recently as Sunday morning -- not long before he opened fire in the church. He fled the scene after an exchange of gunfire with a local resident and was found dead in his car a few miles down the road. He had shot himself. Kelley's social media posts suggested a fascination with mass shootings, according to a law enforcement official.In addition to "non-God beliefs, atheism," his recent Facebook posts included "a lot of gun violence" and weapons that he was into," high school classmate Christopher Leo Longoria said. Kelley had been launching personal attacks against friends on Facebook, too, Longoria said, leading him to unfriend Kelley about a month ago. He didn't want to see the posts on his Facebook feed. A screenshot of an October 29 Facebook post, ostensibly from Kelley, shows a picture of a rifle. In the status field above the picture is the message, "She's a bad bitch."Kelley's Facebook page was taken down Sunday, hours after the shooting. But people in the Sutherland Springs area confirmed its existence and contents with CNN.A gun expert told CNN that the weapon in the picture could be a Ruger AR-556, the type of gun used in Sunday's shooting. It is not clear whether the rifle in the picture was the gun from the massacre. Neighbor heard target practiceRobert Gonzalez lives near Kelley's residence in New Braunfels, about 35 miles north of Sutherland Springs. In the week before the shooting, he heard gunfire from Kelley's property every morning. "A load of rounds that would always be going off this time," he told CNN. "I was concerned because it was so close to our house."Gonzalez said his time in the armed forces helps him identify guns by their sound. What he heard from his neighbor's house could have been a .45 or an assault rifle, a burst of rapid fire all of a sudden, he said. It's not unusual for people in the area to practice firing on targets, said Gonzalez. This time, though, it was an unusual amount of gunfire.Correction: A previous version of this story misidentified the style of rifle Kelley used.CNN's Joe Sterling, AnneClaire Stapleton, Brian Todd, Dugald McConnell, Sara Sidner, Rosa Nieves, Ed Lavandera, Ryan Browne, Evan Perez, Jason Hanna and Shimon Prokupecz contributed to this report.

3news

Self-driving cars. Robotic surgeries. Toothbrushes that detect when you're sick. This is the future 5G technology promises in less than a decade's time; internet connections so fast they'll support an entirely new way of life.But for now, I'm standing on an avenue in downtown Chicago waving my Samsung Galaxy 5G smartphone around to find coverage that's not blocked by the tree to my left. I finally take a few steps back from the lamppost, adorned by a hard-to-miss, clunky black antenna, and bam, my Netflix download begins: a complete download of a two-hour film in less than 10 seconds — in stark contrast to the seven-or-so minutes it'd typically take on 4G. This was my experience testing the newly launched Verizon 5G network in Chicago last month. When it worked, it really worked, often hitting over 1 gigabit per second in speed tests — an incredible feat for a piece of technology that fits in your pocket. 4G LTE in the United States averages about 35 megabits per second. 5G, the fifth generation of cellular network technology, is nearly 30 times faster — and about 10 times faster than the average American home broadband speed. Read MoreBut 5G isn't just about speeds on smartphones. Other technologies will be made possible with its ability to handle much more bandwidth, allowing the data from sensors, thermostats, cars and robots to work together in real time.Samantha Kelly, CNN Business tech editor, tested 5G networks in New York (pictured here), Chicago and Dallas.Think of it like this: If 3G is a two-lane highway and 4G is six lanes, 5G will turn it into 12 lanes. It'll handle significantly more traffic and bandwidth with zero latency, a word that refers to immediate response times for data transfers — will allow self-driving cars to process all the information they need to make life-or-death decisions in the blink of an eye, or the health care industry to help power the next generation of telemedicine and robotic surgeries. (A surgeon in China recently conducted a liver transplant on an animal from a location 30 miles away by controlling a robotic arm running on 5G. The same procedure on a 4G network would have increased the chance for mistakes). Mobile carriers are pouring billions of dollars into 5G. The new networks and associated technologies are expected to add $17 trillion to the global GDP by 2035, according to ABI Research. But there will be a significant lag between 5G's rollout and that financial impact. It's not dissimilar to the 3G iPhone — an impressive piece of standalone technology that didn't make a big economic impact until a year later with the arrival of the App Store. A few years after that, 4G paved the way for on-demand apps such as Uber, mobile video consumption on Netflix and FaceTime, real-time rerouting via Google Maps and social sharing on Instagram and Snapchat.We've maxed out the 4G capabilities of what our phones can do, but 5G could offer a doorway into what's next. However, carriers have a long way to go before they deliver on that promise. My 5G network tests, often performed via the Speedtest app, were inconsistent. If I turned a street corner on Verizon, 5G went out of range — a major drawback to the high-frequency spectrum approach being adopted by some carriers. That technology delivers lightning-fast speeds but doesn't cover wide areas, penetrate indoors and can be blocked by rain or, in my case, leaves. Inside a Verizon store on Michigan Avenue, I looked out at the cellular radio equipment hanging on another lamppost 20 feet away, unable to get on the network from the other side of the glass window. It poetically captured the current state of 5G: The future was staring right at me but I couldn't quite access it. Rollout bluesVerizon was my first experience with 5G: I've since tested the networks for Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T, CNN's parent company. Each provided a different experience. My speed tests on AT&T dominated, reaching an impressive 1.6 Gbps in a Dallas park and downloading "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse" in 5 seconds. (Think of all the movies you could download in the 60 seconds you have on the tarmac before a flight takes off.) I also tried Sprint, which uses a lower frequency for its 5G network, in Chicago. It was the most consistent in terms of coverage — I was able to duck into a Starbucks, turn street corners and hop into a car without dropping from the network. But its speeds were slower than some of the other networks; I downloaded a movie in about 15 seconds. (This is still mind-blowingly fast.) Rollouts for past networks weren't always pretty, resulting in calls dropped, spotty coverage and drained batteries. As Jon Stewart put it in 2011 on "The Daily Show," "Those of us in the 'iPhone community' have sacrificed one thing for the ability to carry around every photograph we've ever taken, or song we've ever listened to, or home video, or compass. We have sacrificed the ability to make phone calls. For years, for years."Now the past could repeat itself. Upgrading tens of thousands of cell sites in the US to 5G will take six to eight years to catch up to 4G's footprint, according to Dan Hays, executive advisor at consulting firm PwC."It's an enormous program involving tens of thousands of people all over the country, and not everyone has the skill set to climb the towers to swap antennas," he said.5G, which uses similar equipment to 4G, operates on two main types of cell sites: large macro-cell sites that can be installed on towers or rooftops (or hidden in fake cacti and trees), where they are typically housed in enclosures like cabinets or a large closet; and small cells the size of a pizza box, which hang on a light pole, wall or ceiling inside of a building. The latter is a method already in use by 4G networks, but on 5G, it'll move some functions to the cloud, Hays explained. Eventually, many 5G cell sites will need to be closer together in areas previously covered by a single 4G cell. "Not all 4G cell sites are easily upgradable," Hays said. "Some could be upgradable with as little as a software update while others may need to be replaced completely."A Verizon 5G small cell in Indianapolis.You have 5G. Now what?Even in the areas where 5G is already up and running, getting onto the network can be tricky. To start, you'll need one of the few, pricey, 5G-compatible phones, such as the $1,300 Samsung Galaxy S10 5G or $999 LG V50 5G. (Some testers from the Wall Street Journal and PCMag reportedly overheated when the devices reached a certain temperature. I didn't have similar issues).When more devices start to offer 5G — and consumers organically upgrade to these new models — we'll likely see a surge in adoption; that is, if the networks are up and running in more places by then. By 2024, Ericsson Mobility projects more than half of mobile subscriptions will run on 5G in the US. (Apple is expected to launch a 5G iPhone in the fall of 2020). For now, one of the biggest challenges in testing 5G coverage is finding it. I was given a map from Sprint highlighting spots in downtown Chicago where I could pick up 5G. I seamlessly navigated neighborhoods without dropping off the network, envisioning what life will be like when I can download an entire TV season in the few seconds before my coffee order is ready. But without a map on hand in Dallas, I was left guessing which areas would give me 5G Sprint coverage (I was usually wrong). In Chicago on Verizon, 5G worked well on main avenues but not on the side streets — the equipment hadn't yet made it over to those blocks. On T-Mobile in New York City, I several times found myself automatically connected to 5G while wandering around different neighborhoods. But other times, I could see the carrier's cell sites on buildings nearby and still struggled to get onto the network. Different carriers, different approachesThe four major mobile carriers' approaches to 5G vary based on the spectrum each company already owns. This is why Verizon can say its network is all about speed, Sprint promises continuity, T-Mobile wants to be nationwide first in 2020 and AT&T is doubling down on connecting businesses. Wireless companies have traditionally used low-band spectrums for cell phone service because they travel farther and penetrate walls better than higher frequencies. But higher frequencies offer much faster speeds. The frequencies AT&T and Verizon, known as millimeter wave or "mmWave", are using are significantly higher than Wi-Fi. It is the fastest and most responsive form of 5G but doesn't travel far. Sprint's mid-band spectrum casts a much wider net of coverage, allowing 5G users the ability to access it both inside and outdoors. However, my tests on Sprint's network often showed half the speeds of what I often saw on the high-band spectrum. (Sprint has committed to covering 11 million people with 5G by the end of the year.) Meanwhile, T-Mobile is focused on deploying low-band spectrum, but in New York City, its network runs on high-band spectrum — a move that could allow the company to build out its existing infrastructure in the area to get its foot into the 5G race. If it merges with Sprint — a deal that was recently approved by the Justice Department — it'll be that much closer to reaching its coverage goal.Beyond phonesNarrowly focused on businesses, AT&T's 5G network is only open to companies and developers, and not available to the general public (though it will be soon). But it's already being used by Rush University Medical Center in Chicago to deliver near real-time remote healthcare monitoring and the ability to transmit large imaging files quickly. It aims to eventually support artificial intelligence to help patient care and augmented reality to train medical students.Meanwhile, AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, is the first stadium with 5G in the country, where beige high-frequency 5G antennas blend into the industrial, modern aesthetic of the football-shaped venue. The world's most valuable sports franchise plans to give workers, such as parking lot attendants and food service staffers, 5G devices to make everything from in-seat hot dog deliveries to virtual reality fan activations even faster. In July, I performed a series of speed tests inside the stadium that brought in results close to what I experienced outside at the Dallas park, over 1 Gbps per second. "We need to understand what 5G is and how it will enhance our fan experience," said Matt Messick, chief information officer of the Dallas Cowboys. "We're one of the first to start asking questions. It's one thing to start talking about it then to have it and start testing it."Messick didn't elaborate on what exactly to expect, but stadium-goers are competing with a limited pool of bandwidth; the ability to make calls, check the internet for stats and post videos to social media without lag times is as good of an incentive as any to offer fans in the stands.Mo Katibeh, CMO of AT&T Business, envisions future cities not needing stop lights as self-driving cars automatically communicate with other connected vehicles nearby. Experts project this could become a reality as soon as 2026. "Everything will be interconnected and 'talk' to each other," Katibeh said.A 'dose of reality'5G is expected to have a major impact on the economy, but exactly how that will look is mostly unknown."Right now, job creation is all about the deployment of the network, such as from the tower climbers and equipment technicians," said Hays, adding it could create a whole new economy just like the internet did. 5G could create up to 3 million new jobs across various industries in the US, from smart city development to robotics and food services, according to Accenture. But Hays called most projections around 5G "overly optimistic," considering for now it's only a faster version of 4G. "There is a dose of reality that needs to come when you talk about 5G," he said. Some of America's 5G ambitions will confront the realities of red tape, costs and other practicalities. For example, some experts say millions of delivery drones could one day be supported by 5G coverage, but the networks today aren't built to work 1,000 feet in the air. Augmented reality could come to car windshields, serving up turn-by-turn directions or even pop-ups of job listings as you drive by businesses. But because US states require glass replacement each time a rock cracks a window, it'll be harder for insurance companies to agree to pay for new windshields."Technology development is certainly becoming more feasible, but the question of who will pay also remains," Hays said.In Samantha Kelly's test of 5G networks, it took longer to download a movie on T-Mobile's network in New York than it did on other carriers. But even so, 38 seconds to download a nearly 2-hour film is mind-blowingly fast.Consumers aren't looking to pony up for the benefits of 5G either. According to a recent PwC study, about two thirds of respondents said they weren't willing to pay more for 5G than what they're already spending on 4G. (More than half said they already pay too much for internet access). Verizon originally announced it would charge an extra $10 a month for 5G coverage, but has since delayed the additional charge for an undetermined amount of time.Edward Oughton, senior research associate at the University of Oxford who closely studies 5G development, likened the technology to the Concorde, the high-speed turbojet-powered supersonic passenger airliner that flew at twice the speed of sound."[It] did not revolutionize global travel; the jumbo jet did," Oughton said. "The technology is very fast but only a few wealthy users will be able to afford it at least initially — most of whom will be in urban and suburban areas." He argued getting the cost per bit of data transfer down is key. "This is where the biggest productivity benefits will lie; not in faster access in cities," he said. All four major US mobile carriers declined to share how many people are currently using their 5G networks, but said they're continually adding new customers. "Early users might be disappointed with 5G in the beginning as carriers work out kinks," PwC's Hays said. "Consumers should lower their expectations in the months and years ahead." I took his guidance ahead of my final 5G test with T-Mobile in New York City. The carrier's 5G network wasn't the fastest — it took me longer to download "Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse" on T-Mobile than any other network (about 38 seconds) — but my reaction reminded me how quickly we judge new technologies. When I reached for my 4G phone hours later and a mere app took nearly five times as long to download, I had a newfound appreciation for 5G, even with its limitations. It'll inevitably produce headaches, with spotty service requiring expensive devices to access it — but eventually, we will look back on this time trying to remember what life was like without it.

0business

(CNN)The United Kingdom's vote to leave the European Union is part of a tsunami of anti-establishment sentiment washing over a bitterly divided region.The decision upended global markets, led to UK Prime Minister David Cameron's plans to resign and blew a cloud of uncertainty over Europe. And the UK isn't alone. Anti-establishment leaders in France and other countries are already pushing similar referendums. Here's a look at where anti-establishment resistance has shaken up power bases: ItalyRead MoreThis month, Rome got its first female mayor in its almost 2,800-year history. Virginia Raggi, 37, a lawyer from an anti-establishment party, won a landslide victory in the Italian capital. Her political experience is limited to a few years on Rome's City Council.Raggi's Five Star Movement party got nearly two-thirds of the vote.Comedian and blogger Beppe Grillo founded the protest party in 2009.UK referendum: Full coverageWhy do the Brits want out?How Europe should respondWhy the U.S. is freaked outDoes this mean Trump will win?Results map tells a big storyCould this man be next UK PM?Anger in bedroom, joy on streetsReasons why Brexit could be goodCould Scottish independence be next?Britain voted 'Leave,' what's next?What will Brexit mean to me?World markets in crisis after BrexitGrillo declared the party ready for central government after it won the mayoralty in 19 out of the 20 towns and cities where it put up candidates.AustriaIn May, the left-leaning Alexander Van der Bellen narrowly defeated far-right candidate Norbert Hofer for Austria's presidency in a tightly fought contest.The win placed Austria at the head of a populist groundswell sweeping Europe amid frustration over the EU's failure to deal with the economic and migrant crises.But the victory held off Hofer, of Austria's Freedom Party, from becoming the EU's first far-right head of state. A Hofer win would have been hugely encouraging to other far-right parties across Europe. Photos: UK votes to leave EU: How politicians have reacted Photos: UK votes to leave EU: How politicians have reactedHide Caption 1 of 8 Photos: UK votes to leave EU: How politicians have reactedHide Caption 2 of 8 Photos: UK votes to leave EU: How politicians have reactedHide Caption 3 of 8 Photos: UK votes to leave EU: How politicians have reactedHide Caption 4 of 8 Photos: UK votes to leave EU: How politicians have reactedHide Caption 5 of 8 Photos: UK votes to leave EU: How politicians have reactedHide Caption 6 of 8 Photos: UK votes to leave EU: How politicians have reactedHide Caption 7 of 8 Photos: UK votes to leave EU: How politicians have reactedHide Caption 8 of 8Nevertheless, the presidential election ushered in change in the political landscape of Austria, dominated by two centrist parties since the end of World War II.Van der Bellen ran as an independent, although the Green Party, of which he was a former leader, financially backed his campaign.The migrant crisis had radically altered the race.When Germany opened its borders in September, Austria followed suit and was applauded internationally, welcoming thousands of migrants trapped in their attempts to transit through Hungary -- which was widely criticized for its hard-line stance in defending its borders.Now, almost half of the Austrian population has expressed support for a party that campaigned on a Euroskeptic, anti-migrant and anti-establishment platform.It's been a meteoric rise for the Freedom Party.GermanyAn anti-Islam movement called PEGIDA -- or Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West -- was born in Dresden and swelled as the refugee crisis approached Germany's doorstep.It started in 2014 after former professional soccer player Lutz Bachmann posted a Facebook rant against Turkish immigrants in Germany.It eventually grew into a movement of thousands. They gathered every week in front of Dresden's Opera House, singing nationalist songs and waving flags and signs. They had one goal: To stop refugees from coming into Germany, which welcomed more than 1 million asylum seekers in 2015.Critics across Europe heard echoes of Nazism in the rhetoric of PEGIDA movement. Bachmann eventually stepped down as leader after a photo surfaced of him dressed as Hitler. A German court convicted Bachmann of hate speech in June. The charges came after a Facebook post with comments describing refugees, mostly Muslims, as "cattle," "filth" and "scum."FranceMarine Le Pen, leader of France's National Front, has congratulated the "Brexit" side. Her party has suggested the French would also hold an "out" referendum if she assumed the presidency. France is holding presidential elections next year."The Eurozone has among the weakest growth in the world," Le Pen said last weekend. "Things get more precarious every day. ... The EU had no idea how to respond to the migrant crisis."Le Pen and others blame immigrants for the lack of jobs and a stagnant economy and have called for tighter borders and endorsed bans on refugees due to the threat of terrorism.The National Front leader is among a handful of European politicians who have embraced U.S presidential candidate Donald Trump.GreeceGolden Dawn, one of Europe's most far-right parties, became a true political power during Greece's 2012 elections. The party was fueled by harsh austerity measures, high unemployment and illegal immigrants coming over Greece's borders.Golden Dawn, which wants to create a nationalist state and has a logo echoing the swastika, tapped into a level of fear as the country faced a crippling financial crisis.In three years, it went from a fringe party to a political force. Buffeted by protests on the streets, Greece's parliament last month voted -- by a razor thin margin -- to cut pensions and increase taxes.Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' coalition passed pension and tax reforms, which cover the majority of a 5.4 billion euro ($6.2 billion) package of austerity measures requested by creditors. The vote was an effort to convince Eurozone finance ministers that Greece is serious about financial reform -- a necessary condition for a further rescue package -- and, crucially -- Greek debt relief from the Eurozone.Tsipras campaigned on a platform of opposition to EU-imposed austerity. However, the perilous state of the Greek economy has forced him to accept the necessity of the measures, which remain unpopular with voters.Denmark Danish lawmakers in January voted in favor of controversial legislation empowering authorities to seize cash and valuables from asylum seekers to help cover their expenses.The passing of the so-called jewelry bill allows the seizure of valuables worth more than 10,000 Danish kroner (about $1,500).Items of "special sentimental value" such as "wedding rings, engagement rings, family portraits, decorations and medals" are exempted, according to the Danish Ministry of Immigration, Integration and Housing. But "watches, mobile phones and computers" can be confiscated.The legislation was criticized across the political spectrum, appalling many in the northern European nation, which has a longstanding reputation for tolerance and promotion of liberal, social democratic values.Rights group Amnesty International slammed the law, saying it reflected a "dismal race to the bottom" by European countries in response to the migrant crisis.The policy reflected a hardening of attitudes toward migrants across Scandinavia -- and Europe in general -- in the face of a historic influx of immigrants hailing predominantly from the Muslim world, many fleeing the war in Syria.ScotlandScotland will likely seek independence for a second time this decade after the historic vote for the United Kingdom to leave the EU, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Friday.Sturgeon's Scottish National Party was elected on a platform that vowed, in part, to revisit the independence issue -- last decided in a failed 2014 referendum -- should the country be "taken out of the EU against our will," Sturgeon said.Scotland is one of four countries that make up the United Kingdom. England, Wales and Northern Ireland are the others.In the 2014 vote, 31 of Scotland's 32 councils rejected independence, but Sturgeon said Friday that many of those who voted against independence then are reassessing their positions in light of Thursday's decision.SpainSpaniards go to the polls Sunday, and the Brexit vote could help Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. Rajoy has taken a hard line on migration but last year agreed to the European Commission's request that Spain take some 17,000 of the current tide of refugees entering Europe. Some cities led by left-wing parties had taken the initiative on providing shelter and support to refugees.Polls ahead of national elections show the insurgent Podemos overtaking the Socialists as the main party of the left.Podemos is strongly opposed to austerity programs designed to keep the country within euro rules.The NetherlandsAnti-immigration leader Geert Wilders hopes to become the next prime minister of the Netherlands. He has called for a referendum on his country's EU membership."Hurrah for the British! Now it is our turn. Time for a Dutch referendum!" he tweeted Friday. Wilders has called for stricter immigration policies in the wake of November's Paris terror attacks. He has advocated for immediately sealing the Dutch border. And Wilders is a supporter of Trump. Northern IrelandThe pro-independence Sinn Fein party has called for an Irish unity referendum -- taking Northern Ireland out of the UK."The British government can no longer claim to represent the political or economic interests of the North in Europe," Declan Kearney, Sinn Fein national chairman, told CNN.Northern Ireland's backing for continued EU membership provoked a call by Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness for a poll on a united Ireland.His Sinn Fein party has longed back a union with the Republic of Ireland, which is an EU member -- a position bitterly opposed by their unionist partners in the government of Northern Ireland who want to preserve their position within the United Kingdom.CNN's Faith Karimi, Tim Hume, and Julia Manchester contributed to this report.

3news

London (CNN)Another day of Brexit drama ends, and Theresa May is still more-or-less Prime Minister of the more-or-less United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. On Wednesday, she survived a vote of no confidence in her government by a narrow majority of 19. At a glance, this might surprise those who have been following the tempestuous melodrama that has befallen the UK since it voted to leave the European Union in 2016. How, in spite of this bedlam, has May managed to hold onto her job?It's a good question and one which has a few answers.Politically, the UK is in an odd spot. May has no parliamentary majority, but she and her government formally command the confidence of both the House of Commons and her own lawmakers (you'll remember in December she survived a leadership challenge brought by rebels from her own party).Trade wars. Brexit. Government shutdown. Uncertainty is everywhereYet they have rejected her Brexit plan. She suffered a bruising defeat in the Commons on Tuesday night, 432 votes to 202. Of that 432, 118 of her own Conservative MPs voted against her.Read MoreUnder normal circumstances, a Prime Minister under such fire from members of her own party would have to go.But nothing is normal in Brexit-era Britain. The UK is suffering a near-debilitating case of Brexit Paralysis. Every attempt to pass legislation is an uphill struggle for the government because of the rumbling of Brexit in the background.As May said after losing the vote on her deal Tuesday, Parliament indicated what it is against but left us all guessing as to what it could agree on. For conservatives, sick of zombie governance, a new leader might be an exciting prospect. But the reality is that any new leader and their supporters would have to step up and provide a plan that can make it through Parliament.And it has long been true that there is no credible alternative to May -- or her Brexit plan. "A bizarre balance of forces has meant that for all the various factions, her remaining in place has more often than not been the least bad option for everyone," James Kirkup, director of the Social Market Foundation think tank, told me.This was the case when her own party challenged her leadership. However much they disliked May, the other options were deemed to be much worse.JUST WATCHEDWhat's next for BrexitReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWhat's next for Brexit 00:57This same avoidance of a worse option is the chief reason that her party swung behind her in Wednesday's Commons confidence vote. Only in this instance, it is someone else whose leadership presented a greater concern.Conservatives are terrified at the prospect of Jeremy Corbyn's opposition Labour Party winning an election and forming a government. Corbyn, a long-standing hard-left parliamentarian, is anathema to conservatives. He wants to nationalize public services and introduce a form of socialism that they believe would drag the country backwards.Also scared of a Labour government are the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist party, whose 10 MPs prop up May in Parliament. They rebelled on the Brexit vote on Tuesday but backed the PM on Wednesday. The DUP have not forgotten Corbyn's refusal to single out the IRA -- the Irish republican paramilitaries who ran a campaign of terror during Northern Ireland's troubles -- for condemnation.For their part, the Labour Party currently has a single objective: to force a general election and take power from the Conservatives. Even in the face of huge pressure from his supporters and pro-European Union MPs, Corbyn has consistently resisted calls to back a second referendum. There is a simple reason for this: right now, he doesn't see it as a vote winner.A source familiar with Corbyn's thinking told me, "there is no evidence a clear majority of the public support for a second referendum or that a large number of people have changed their mind since 2016. That's before it is even known whether or not this policy would help achieve a Labour government or instead undermine achieving one by turning away voters Labour needs to win a general election."How will a no-deal Brexit hit travel in and out of the UK and Europe?In practice, this means that Labour is reluctant to move until it is certain that it could win a general election. This has created a perfect stalemate: a government that cannot govern and an opposition that cannot oppose.So for the time being, it's not obvious what the next step is. May has to present a Plan B to Parliament before the end of the week in the coming days. It seems likely that will mean reaching across the divide and appealing to people in both the Labour Party and the DUP who might be able to knock their heads together and find a majority for something that May can take to the EU.Meanwhile in Brussels, the EU's negotiators are shifting their expectation to the UK moving towards something much softer than May's deal. An EU source familiar with the talks told me on Tuesday night that "the expectation here is that the UK will move" to potentially accepting membership of the single market and some sort of customs union with the EU, along with all the obligations that accompany them. Curiously, this is a question May refused to answer in the commons on Wednesday.So on we stumble. Unless the people who make the UK's laws can get a little more creative, this stalemate will continue. And if the government doesn't revoke or request an extension of article 50, then on March 29, the UK leaves with no deal. It really is that simple.

3news

Story highlightsRoger Federer plays Slovenia's Grega Zemlja in his opening match MondayHe won U.S Open five times in a row from 2004, but is now ranked seventhNick Bollettieri says his performances in New York and Australia will dictate his futureThe 32-year-old faces a potential quarterfinal against in-form rival Rafael NadalHe's the greatest player in the modern tennis era, perhaps even of all time, but is Roger Federer's stellar career fading to twilight?The 17-time grand slam champion is "in a very vulnerable state" ahead of his opening match at the U.S. Open on Monday, according to top coach Nick Bollettieri.Federer regained the world No. 1 ranking with last year's record-equaling seventh Wimbledon title, but since then he has struggled with both his game and his fitness, and is seeded just seventh for the season's closing grand slam in New York."Roger Federer is great for the game. He's fantastic on court and fantastic off court. He's well respected, and he respects all the opponents that he plays," Bollettieri told CNN."Roger is in a very vulnerable state. He's in a vulnerable position because he's moved down to No. 7 now. Remember Pete Sampras went through a tough period. Fortunately for Pete he won a big one before he left the tour. Read: Why women 'owe' Billie Jean King"My Andre Agassi went from No. 1 to No. 142 in the world, and he left on a pretty good note. What we don't want to remember is Roger Federer leaving on a low note. JUST WATCHEDSerena faces test in US OpenReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSerena faces test in US Open 02:35JUST WATCHED'Golden Bear' on tennis loveReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH'Golden Bear' on tennis love 03:10JUST WATCHED'Little Giant' aims for Grand Slam gloryReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH'Little Giant' aims for Grand Slam glory 03:47"He's been fantastic, he moves beautifully, he does everything with ease. This is a big tournament for Roger Federer."Being seeded so low, the 32-year-old faces a possible quarterfinal clash with his old rival Rafael Nadal, who recovered from serious knee problems to retain his French Open title in June and has now bounced back from his shock first-round loss at Wimbledon with Masters victories in Montreal and Cincinnati."He is playing unbelievable, he has brought a new dimension to his game," Bollettieri said of Spain's world No. 2. "He can move back eight to 10 feet or he comes forward and hits the ball very early. "He's improved his serve and he's a lefty -- he's very dangerous. He's full of confidence, so watch out!"The power of players such as Nadal is making it so much harder for the classically elegant Federer, says Bollettieri.The Swiss has this year experimented with using a bigger racquet such as his rivals employ, but has switched back again.Read: Serena Williams 'pumped up' for U.S. Open"When you get a Nadal hitting those heavy crosscourt lefties, and then serving out wide, it is difficult," said the 82-year-old, who has coached 10 world No. 1 players across the men's and women's game."However, I believe that the U.S. Open and the Australian Open (in January) is going to tell the story."Federer is coached by Paul Annacone, a former student of Bollettieri who also worked with Sampras for several years."I believe right now Roger cannot win just standing on the baseline. I believe he has to come in," Bollettieri said.Bollettieri is concerned that an underwhelming end to his career could undo the Federer legacy. "It would be a shame if people forgot who he was," he said. "Look at what he brought to the game. He brought class. He lived a beautiful private life. JUST WATCHEDKing still fights for tennis equalityReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHKing still fights for tennis equality 05:49JUST WATCHEDSecret to beating tennis' big fourReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSecret to beating tennis' big four 05:40"He's quiet. He's always respectful of the sport. He's respectful of his opponents. You don't find too many people who represent life, whether it be business or sports, like this guy."[Roger] has been an ambassador on the court, and an ambassador off the court. How can you be much better than Roger Federer? He's just a credit to the tour. He's a credit to his foundation. So it'll be awful tough to replace Roger Federer.""The sport is very lucky to have had a Roger Federer."While Federer's future may seem uncertain, Bollettieri said that of Serena Williams is entirely in her own hands.The world No. 1 can match Federer's grand slam haul if she retains her U.S. Open title at Flushing Meadows. She also begins her campaign Monday, along with older sister Venus.Read: Sharapova out of U.S. OpenTurning 32 on September 26, Serena will be the oldest female winner of the hard-court tournament if she does triumph.The American won the French Open for the second time in June, but surprisingly lost in the last 16 at Wimbledon. Although she bounced back from that with titles in Bastad and Toronto, a defeat in the Cincinnati final to second-ranked Victoria Azarenka -- just her fourth in 64 matches this year -- again showed that she is not invincible."When Serena wants to play the game and she's happy within herself, to me she's the best player in the history of the game of tennis," said Bollettieri, who has worked with both the Williams sisters."When Serena's taking the ball early, she's dangerous. When she moves back behind the baseline, she's vulnerable."It's all up to Serena. She's won a lot of money, she's done great things for the sport, but it's what she has inside her -- does she still want to compete?"Williams' bid for a fifth New York crown has been made slightly easier by the withdrawal of Maria Sharapova due to shoulder problems, though she has dominated the Russian in big matches.Bollettieri said Sharapova, who came to his famed Florida academy as a young girl, will always have weaknesses in her game since the shoulder surgery in 2008 that almost ended her career."When you have a shoulder operation, that affects the forehand and it affects the serve," he said. "When you have a shoulder injury and you cannot serve big-time, you're in trouble because the returns today on the tour are dangerous. "The girls are standing on the baseline -- if you have a tentative serve they're going to put you to sleep or put you on the defense."

5sport

Story highlightsFIFA surprisingly extend voting for Ballon d'Or by two weeksNew deadline means Ronaldo's World Cup hat-trick can now be taken into accountFranck Ribery had been favorite to win award for various critics prior to unexpected changeFirst he mocked him, then he praised him and now FIFA President Sepp Blatter has handed Cristiano Ronaldo his best chance of winning his second World Footballer of the Year award. For in an unexpected move, the world governing body extended the deadline for national team coaches and captains, as well as participating journalists, to vote for their top three players of 2013. The initial date had been last Friday, just hours after the first legs of the European play-offs had ended, but the closing date to vote for this year's Ballon d'Or winner is now November 29. Read: Ronaldo hat-trick fires Portugal to World CupThe reason given for the delay has been the 'low turnout of votes' so far. With Lionel Messi, who has won the last four crowns, out injured, Ronaldo will never have a better chance to impress a panel for an award where form at voting time often counts as much as previous exploits in the year. Fresh from his stunning hat-trick which fired Portugal to the World Cup when eliminating Sweden 4-2 on aggregate (with Ronaldo scoring all his nation's goals in the tie), the Real Madrid star may begin to feel that his recent row with FIFA is beginning to turn his way. JUST WATCHEDA different side of Cristiano RonaldoReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHA different side of Cristiano Ronaldo 01:14JUST WATCHEDMessi claims fourth Ballon d'OrReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMessi claims fourth Ballon d'Or 02:31JUST WATCHEDExclusive: What makes Ibrahimovic tick?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHExclusive: What makes Ibrahimovic tick? 03:48JUST WATCHEDCNN FC: Champions League finalReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCNN FC: Champions League final 22:57JUST WATCHEDPele on Neymar and MourinhoReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHPele on Neymar and Mourinho 01:42Last month, Blatter was involved in an extraordinary impersonation of the Portuguese star while addressing the famous Oxford Union in England, during which he claimed Ronaldo spent "a lot more at the hairdresser's" than his Barcelona rival Messi. Ronaldo swiftly hit back, writing on his Facebook page how the video showed "the respect and consideration that FIFA has for me, my club and my country. Much is explained now." Read: Ronaldo criticizes Blatter's behaviorOn Tuesday night, Blatter -- who has been watching his words carefully since -- was effusive in his praise for the former Manchester United player's match-winning display in Sweden. "Fantastic performance by @Cristiano," the Swiss tweeted. Hours later, it was announced that the voting had been extended, meaning Ronaldo's stunning Solna display can now be taken into account. Quite what France international Franck Ribery makes of it all is anyone's guess, with the Bayern Munich star having been tipped to win the award when voting was thought to have ended last week. He is now behind the Portuguese in the running according to widespread opinion, as is Messi -- with the Argentinian seemingly a victim of his own staggeringly high performances of recent years. Read: Can anyone dethrone Messi? Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Brazilian Neymar are outsiders to win the award, with FIFA having named a 23-man list of players to be considered for the prize in October. The three-man shortlist for the award will be announced next month, with the winner of the 2013 Ballon d'Or set to be unveiled at an awards ceremony in Zurich in January. Read: Qatar 'rife with migrant worker abuse'In a separate development, FIFA announced on Wednesday that "fair working conditions must be introduced quickly, consistently and on a sustained basis in Qatar," the 2022 World Cup host nation. The statement followed a meeting in Zurich between Blatter and the International Trade Union Confederation, and came shortly after an Amnesty International report suggested that worker abuse is rife in Qatar's construction sector. In response to Amnesty's allegations, the director of the Human Rights Department at Qatar's Foreign Ministry said laws are in place to protect workers from mistreatment.

5sport

Story highlights PM Cameron says he would be heartbroken by split as he campaigns in EdinburghCameron: "Let no one in Scotland be in any doubt: we desperately want you to stay"Energy giant BP urges Scotland to stay in the United KingdomPalace: The Queen "is above politics" and doesn't want to influence outcome of voteUK Prime Minister David Cameron is campaigning in Scotland Wednesday in a last-minute bid to persuade voters to stick with the United Kingdom ahead of an independence referendum in eight days.Also north of the border are Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats, partners with Cameron's Conservatives in the coalition government, and opposition Labour Party leader Ed Miliband.The trip comes as the latest opinion polls indicated that the pro-independence and pro-union campaigns are neck-and-neck.If Scotland's voters choose independence on September 18, it will mean the breakup of a 307-year-old union between England, Wales and Scotland as Great Britain.Cameron and Miliband canceled their usual weekly clash at Prime Minister's Questions in Parliament to make the trip. They are campaigning separately as they seek to win over the undecided voters who will be key to the outcome of the landmark vote.JUST WATCHEDBetter Together: Push to keep UK intactReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBetter Together: Push to keep UK intact 02:47JUST WATCHEDWould independence mean end of monarchy?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWould independence mean end of monarchy? 01:33JUST WATCHEDShould Scotland break from the UK?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHShould Scotland break from the UK? 02:01JUST WATCHEDAlex Salmond: The man behind independenceReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAlex Salmond: The man behind independence 02:40The Prime Minister appealed to the emotions in a speech to an audience in Edinburgh, saying, "I care hugely about this extraordinary country, this United Kingdom, that we have built together."He would be heartbroken, he said, "if this family of nations was torn apart."'Last gasp piece of desperation'Opinion polls suggest the pro-independence "yes" campaign, led by Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond of the governing Scottish National Party, has the momentum as the vote nears.Speaking to supporters Wednesday, Salmond said the politicians' visit from London was "counterproductive" for the "no" campaign and would be seen by Scotland as "a last gasp piece of desperation from the Westminster establishment."He added, "I mean they're not popular in England, never mind popular in Scotland."The latest poll of polls on Scottish independence shows the "no" camp hanging on to a narrow lead over the "yes" camp, but the gap continues to close. The poll of polls, by ScotCen, an independent research center, shows "no" at 52% and "yes" at 48%.Almost anyone living in Scotland age 16 or over on the day of the referendum will be able to vote. But voters in the rest of the United Kingdom -- England, Wales and Northern Ireland -- do not get a say on what could be a historic change. That includes Scots who live outside Scotland's borders.'We desperately want you to stay'Cameron also used emotive language in an opinion piece published in the Daily Mail newspaper Wednesday in which he recalled the United Kingdom's historic achievements -- and promised that more are to come if it sticks together."Let no one in Scotland be in any doubt: we desperately want you to stay; we do not want this family of nations to be ripped apart," he wrote. "Across England, Northern Ireland and Wales, our fear over what we stand to lose is matched only by our passion for what can be achieved if we stay together."The three parties have all promised that Scotland, which already has devolved government, would be granted increased powers, for example over taxation and social welfare programs, if it votes to stay in the United Kingdom."There is a lot that divides us -- but there's one thing on which we agree passionately: the United Kingdom is better together," the three party leaders said in a joint statement Tuesday."We want to be listening and talking to voters about the huge choices they face. Our message to the Scottish people will be simple: 'We want you to stay.' "Former PM warns of damageA YouGov poll carried out Monday suggests that people in England and Wales are opposed to Scottish independence by a substantial majority, with 60% opposed to 19% in favor.Former Conservative Prime Minister John Major, writing Wednesday in the Times of London, warned that if Scotland votes for independence, it and all the United Kingdom would suffer as a result."The UK would be weaker in every international body and, most damagingly, within the European Union," he wrote. "Our chance of reforming the EU would be diminished, and the risk of our exit from it enhanced."Cameron has promised to hold a referendum on UK membership of the European Union by the end of 2017 if he remains Prime Minister after the general election next year.Campaigners for Scottish independence have said they want to remain part of the European Union. EU leaders have indicated that an independent Scotland would have to apply to join like any other nation.Will the oil last?The independence issue has polarized Scotland, with much argument over the potential economic costs or benefits, particularly with regard to the North Sea oil and gas found in Scottish waters. The Scottish government says it would manage the energy reserves better than the UK government, benefiting the Scottish people. But some experts have warned against over-reliance on a finite resource.Energy giant BP came out Wednesday against Scottish independence and voiced caution over North Sea prospects it described as "smaller and more challenging to develop" than before. "Our business invests for decades into the future. It is important our plans are based on a realistic view of the North Sea's future potential and the challenges the industry faces in continuing to operate here," it said."As a major investor in Scotland -- now and into the future -- BP believes that the future prospects for the North Sea are best served by maintaining the existing capacity and integrity of the United Kingdom."Queen 'is above politics'Buckingham Palace has made clear that Queen Elizabeth II will not take a position on the Scottish referendum amid UK media reports that lawmakers are urging her to intervene on behalf of the union."The Sovereign's constitutional impartiality is an established principle of our democracy and one which the Queen has demonstrated throughout her reign," a palace statement said. "As such, the Queen is above politics, and those in political office have a duty to ensure that this remains the case."Any suggestion that the Queen should wish to influence the outcome of the current referendum campaign is categorically wrong. This is a matter for the people of Scotland."The queen would remain head of state of an independent Scotland.Read: Scottish vote: 5 reasons to worryRead: What happens if Scotland leaves UK?

3news

Story highlightsPopole Misenga was part of the first Olympic refugee team in RioHe was rescued by Unicef, aged nine, after his mother diedA year on, he has been reacquainted with family members (CNN)At first glance a Rio de Janiero favela would seem an unlikely place to find an athlete who was one of the sporting stories of the last Olympics.Judoka Popole Misenga -- one of the stars of the refugee team at the Rio 2016 Games -- lives with his partner and children in the Bras de Pina favela in the northern part of the sprawling Brazilian city.Follow @cnnsport It's a place that, on some days, isn't safe enough for him to jog through. Its streets are frequented by drug dealers and occasional police presence.In the first two months of 2017, at least 182 people were killed during police operations in Rio's favelas -- a 78% increase on the same period in 2016, according to official figures, reported by Amnesty International.But Misenga, who ran away from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) team camp at the 2013 World Championships in Rio, remains eternally grateful the city gave him a home, helping him compete at the Summer Games last year. Read More"My life really changed after the Olympics," Misenga told CNN. "I have a good life now. I don't need to worry every day if I can feed my family. "I've been supported by the IOC [International Olympic Committee] and Visa since last year," he added referring to the US financial services company.Popole Misenga in the Rio favela where he now calls home.Read: Rio refugee team a year onRescueJudo has given Misenga the life he has longed for since he was orphaned at the age of nine when his mother was killed."I was separated from my family when I was nine," said the 25-year-old. "My mum got killed and I ran for days in the woods and I was rescued by UNICEF."It was at a training camp in the DRC that Misenga was first introduced to judo, where his robust physical frame caught the eye of the coaches.JUST WATCHEDLegends of judo: Teddy Riner, the best ever?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLegends of judo: Teddy Riner, the best ever? 01:15He gradually rose up the ranks, although he confesses it was more under sufferance than because of any great love for the sport."I was entered for the national team but things were difficult back there," he says. "They just wanted us to win medals and, if we failed, we would suffer."The DRC's Olympic Committee did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment regarding Misenga's description of his treatment.Walking the streets in RioFour years ago in Rio, he finally saw the chance to escape. Another Congolese competitor, Yolande Mabika, made the decision to abscond from the team before returning to fetch Misenga a few days later."It was a very hard time," he says. "I didn't have a home, money or food. Everything was missing in my life."I was hungry and it was a lot to suffer. So I decided to stay here, that I'm going to find a way, that someone will help me but I won't go home."The pair walked the streets until they met another refugee from Angola who introduced them to the Bras de Pina favela, and Misenga scraped around for any work he could get.That changed in 2015 when he was introduced to the Insituto Reacão where he was invited to train by Brazilian judoka and Olympic bronze medalist Flavio Canot.The institute is run to help disenfranchised youth affected by poverty and crime. There, he benefited from the tutelage of the institute's co-founder and veteran Olympic coach Geraldo Bernardes. Photos: From Presidents to Princes, some of the world's most famous people have fallen for judo. Russian President Vladimir Putin is just one of a host of well-known names to have a penchant for judo.Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: From Presidents to Princes, some of the world's most famous people have fallen for judo. Putin is apparently the first Russian to be given 8th dan black belt status and has even co-authored books on the sport.Hide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: From Presidents to Princes, some of the world's most famous people have fallen for judo. Before she became one of the star attractions in the world of UFC, Ronda Rousey was an Olympic judoka. The Californian was the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in the sport. Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: From Presidents to Princes, some of the world's most famous people have fallen for judo. The American actor James Cagney was a judo black belt and performed some of his moves in the film Blood on the Sun.Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: From Presidents to Princes, some of the world's most famous people have fallen for judo. Peter Sellers was no stranger to self defence in the Pink Pather film series, and the comic actor was also a keen judoka and one-time president of the London Judo Society.Hide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: From Presidents to Princes, some of the world's most famous people have fallen for judo. Former United States President Theodore Roosevelt practiced judo up to three times a week, reportedly the first world leader to do so and reaching the level of brown belt in the process.Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: From Presidents to Princes, some of the world's most famous people have fallen for judo. William Hague (far right), former leader of the UK Conservative Party, credits judo for increasing his confidence on the political stage.Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: From Presidents to Princes, some of the world's most famous people have fallen for judo. Better known as the lead singer of Duran Duran, Simon le Bon and wife Yasmin are keen exponents of the sport.Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: From Presidents to Princes, some of the world's most famous people have fallen for judo. Former Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm (second from left) has been seen on the judo mat -- until she required knee surgery when injured in a celebrity contest against Miss World Azra Akin.Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: From Presidents to Princes, some of the world's most famous people have fallen for judo. American actor Chuck Norris is renowned for his love of martial arts, both on and off the screen. He is a brown belt in judo. Hide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: From Presidents to Princes, some of the world's most famous people have fallen for judo. Prince Albert of Monaco adds a regal air to this list. The Prince, whose athletic achievements are considerable, is a black belt.Hide Caption 11 of 11READ: Meet judo's history makerWith limited preparation for Rio, Misenga made the refugee team and, against the odds, won his opening contest against India's Avtar Singh.Seemingly on his way out of the competition in a hold, chants of "Popole" spurred him off the mat to perform a shoulder throw to win the contest outright.One round away from the quarterfinals, he then faced world No. 1, Gwak Dong-han, lasting the near four-minute duration of the bout before being beaten."It was an amazing time in my life -- I couldn't believe it was happening," he said of his Olympic experience."I think people really liked the refugee team. I didn't dare hope we would have people cheering for us but, when I came to the judo mat, I heard the crowd calling my name. It was really amazing."JUST WATCHEDLegends of judo: Masashi EbinumaReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLegends of judo: Masashi Ebinuma 01:14READ: How judo 'saved my life'Olympic medal targetIn some ways, his fame was short-lived -- although he is still well known in his favela. And the financial backing has afforded him simple pleasures.He has bought a new fridge for the home he shares with his Brazilian wife Fabiana and the couple's two children, Helias and Maria-Eliza, as well as Fabiana's three other children."People don't now recognize me on the streets," he said. "Only in my community because only they know the whole story."Misenga had set himself three core ambitions at the Rio Games. One was to raise the profile of the world's 65 million refugees, another was to win a medal, and most importantly to become reunited with his family back in Africa.Visit cnn.com/sport for more news and videosHe has since made contact with one of his brothers for the first time in almost 15 years -- his first words to him down the telephone were "I'm alive!" A video posted by CNN Creative (@cnncreative) on Aug 8, 2016 at 9:07am PDT His judo ambitions are to make an Olympic return at Tokyo in 2020."I still compete when I have the chance and this year I won a bronze medal at the Judo Open tournament in Rio," he said."I am training a lot so I can go to the Olympics again, and this time it will be difficult to overcome me. I will win a medal."

5sport

(CNN)A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for the three men convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery as he ran through their south Georgia neighborhood on February 23, 2020. Travis McMichael, his father Gregory McMichael and their neighbor William "Roddie" Bryan are scheduled to again appear before Judge Timothy Walmsley, the judge who presided over their state trial, on Friday, January 7, at 10 a.m. JUST WATCHEDWatch moment men found guilty of killing Ahmaud ArberyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWatch moment men found guilty of killing Ahmaud Arbery 05:26The hearing will be held in the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick, Georgia, the same courthouse where the men were convicted in November. The McMichaels and Bryan are currently being held in the Glynn County Detention Center, where they are also awaiting trial on separate federal hate crime charges, stemming from an April 28, 2021, federal grand jury indictment. Jury selection in the federal trial is scheduled to begin on February 7, 2022. The McMichaels each face an additional charge of using, carrying, brandishing and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The men have pleaded not guilty.Read MoreThe November verdict, delivered by nine White women, two White men and one Black man, came after more than 11 hours of deliberation spanning two days. It followed eight days of testimony, involving 23 witnesses.Men charged in Ahmaud Arbery's killing plead not guilty in federal courtThe McMichaels and Bryan were arrested more than two months after Arbery's killing in the Satilla Shores neighborhood outside Brunswick.The men said they believed 25-year-old Arbery, who was Black, had committed a crime. Evidence introduced in the trial showed the men chased Arbery through the streets as he repeatedly tried to elude them. The McMichaels, who were armed, were in one vehicle, while Bryan, who joined while the chase was underway, followed in his own truck, assisting in and recording the chase. Arbery was unarmed and on foot.Video of the killing showed Travis McMichael exit his truck and confront Arbery before fatally shooting him as the two tussled. McMichael's father watched from the bed of the truck.The men pleaded not guilty, with the McMichaels claiming they were conducting a citizen's arrest and acting in self-defense, and Bryan saying he took no part in the killing.JUST WATCHEDMother of Ahmaud Arbery describes the moment she heard guilty verdictReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMother of Ahmaud Arbery describes the moment she heard guilty verdict 03:02Arbery was on a jog -- a common pastime, according to those who knew him -- when the McMichaels grabbed their guns and pursued him. Gregory McMichael, a former police officer and ex-investigator in the county prosecutor's office, told authorities Arbery and his son had struggled over his son's shotgun and Travis shot Arbery after he was attacked, according to a police report.The McMichaels were arrested on May 7, 2020, and Bryan was taken into custody two weeks later. The case soon dovetailed with the killings of three Black people -- Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, George Floyd in Minneapolis and Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta -- reigniting concerns over racial injustice and prompting civil unrest nationwide.

3news

(CNN)Olympic athlete Pita Taufatofua has yet to make contact with his father after the "devastating" tsunami hit Tonga.The disaster was triggered by Saturday's huge eruption of the underwater Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano and caused "unprecedented" damage to the Pacific nation. Taufatofua, who became widely recognized after being his country's flagbearer at the Summer and Winter Olympics, is currently in Australia and hasn't yet heard from his father who lived on the main island of Tongatapu. "I have no idea what has happened to him," he told CNN Sport's Amanda Davies."I am optimistic he will be OK, and hopefully, he is out there working in the community. That is probably my guess, but that is just me speculating. Read More"It is very tough, but I have no choice. In times like this, you've got to stand up. There are people all around the world who are standing up as well, it's not just me, it's many, many thousands of people."READ: Tonga faces 'unprecedented disaster' as New Zealand warns of further eruptionsPita Taufatofua of Tonga led his country out during Tokyo 2020.Widespread devastation The "volcanic mushroom plume" extended to cover all of the country's roughly 170 islands -- of which 36 are inhabited -- impacting the entire population of more than 100,000 people.Tongan Prime Minster Siaosi Sovaleni said all houses on the island of Mango, where 36 people live, were destroyed during the disaster. Only two houses remain on Fonoifua island, and extensive damage was reported on Nomuka island, home to 239 people, he said.Tonga's government on Tuesday confirmed the deaths of three people and several other injuries.First contactless aid flights arrive in disaster-hit Tonga as islands aim to keep Covid-19 outOn Wednesday, Taufatofua posted a message on Instagram assuring people that his family home was still standing, but he's still not been able to speak to his father. In order to help with the relief effort, the taekwondo and cross-country skiing athlete established a GoFundMe fundraising page, which CNN has verified.The funds will go "towards those most in need" as well as repairs of infrastructure, and schools and hospitals that were damaged."We have no choice, we can't run to our rooms and sit there and cry and wish. Now is the time for us to work and help our country," he added."We started a GoFundMe page and people have been so generous." Taufatofua says there are now issues with the "thick layer of ash" across the country as well as water filtration concerns and communication problems. He has urged people to keep sharing information about the disaster so the world is aware of the tiny nation trying to recover. "When you are there in Tonga, everything is lush, it's green, it's blue, it's full of life," he said. "When you look at it now, it looks like a 1910 black and white film and everything is covered in ash. It's not the Tonga you remember.""If anyone out there has a spare satellite, please send it our way. Our communications were shut down."Elon Musk, if you're watching, send Starlink our way, we need help. We need to communicate with our loved ones."JUST WATCHEDNew satellite images show Tonga communities covered in ash ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNew satellite images show Tonga communities covered in ash 00:31'We are sons of the earth'Taufatofua had been training for taekwondo as well as attempting to qualify for sprint kayaking for the 2020 Tokyo Games, a sport he was picking up as a nod to his ancestors, as well as for environmental reasons.He failed to qualify in the sprint kayak, meaning he competed solely in taekwondo.Despite the widespread damage caused by the tsunami, Taufatofua says he still has respect for Mother Nature and the oceans which play a huge part in Tonganese life. "Mother Earth is God's greatest creation and it's certainly something that we have to respect," he said. "So even with a volcano devastating the island, we still have respect for the volcano, for the oceans, for nature. We have no hate or animosity. "We understand, as Tongans, that we are sons of the earth. From dust we came, from ashes we will eventually return. "We still have nothing but love for the oceans, it makes no difference."

5sport