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(CNN)If walls could talk, Buckingham Palace would certainly have some fascinating conversations. The headquarters of the British Monarchy is currently undergoing a 10-year electrical update, and the project is uncovering the next best thing -- pieces of history, balled up here and there, hidden for decades. The re-wiring project, which will replace the aging wiring throughout the 775-room complex, requires work below the floorboards, above the ceilings and in nooks and crannies around the palace where people rarely go. Which is why workers find things like, say, this piece of an old edition of the "Evening Standard" newspaper, published on November 27, 1889, during Queen Victoria's reign -- nearly 130 years ago. Historically, there have been plenty of smokers in Buckingham Palace, as evidenced by these cigarette packages from bygone eras. Also unearthed was a trio of vintage cigarettes packets. pic.twitter.com/2VuHaUGfdDβ The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) January 19, 2018
The Royal Family shared these interesting tidbits on social media, along with some more information about the Palace's electrical situation. Did you know the complex has 6,500 plugs and 5,000 light fittings? No wonder it's going to take ten years -- and plenty of little historical discoveries -- to get it all sorted. | 3news
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(CNN)Despite expected temperatures of nearly 30 degrees Celsius, the women's marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar will go ahead as planned on Friday, organizers say.Sixty nine women are on the start list with the race scheduled to start a minute before midnight (local time).In a statement, organizers said that the temperature at the start time would be at or below 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). "This is within the range (28 to 30.9 degrees) that has been predicted and planned for in the past six months," said the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) -- track and field's governing body -- in a statement.In a meeting on Thursday, team leaders and doctors were given a briefing about race conditions.Read MoreREAD: Christian Coleman: 'I don't do drugs'READ: 'I don't see this as a personal issue,' says Seb Coe on Caster Semenya case"Any decision to alter the starting time of the event will be made by 10.30 p.m., on the recommendation of the IAAF Medical Delegate, who also has the authority to withdraw any athlete before or during the event if he believes the athlete is experiencing any type of severe distress," added the IAAF statement.Organizers have increased refreshment points along the course and recruited "leading experts" as part of the medical team to minimize potential heat-related risks.Unfortunately for the marathon runners, the state of the art cooling systems inside the Khalifa International Stadium -- which will help keep the scorching heat at bay during the championships -- will not come to their aid on the outdoor route. The World Championships run between September 27 and October 6. | 5sport
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Story highlightsArsenal has signed a $240 million sponsorship deal with EmiratesShirt deal will remain until 2018/19 season with naming rights maintained until 2028.Deal is worth an estimated $48 million a season to the EPL clubArsenal have tied up a $240 million deal with Emirates as the club looks to end its seven year trophy drought.The EPL club has extended its shirt partnership with Emirates until the end of the 2018/19 season, while the airline will also continue its hold on naming rights of the stadium until 2028.The sponsorship, which is estimated to be worth around $48 million a year, has been hailed as a deal 'all about football' by Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis, who insisted money would be available for player investment in June 2013 when the club receives the first payment from Emirates.The latest agreement, according to Gazidis, will give Arsenal, "the resources in what we believe is a responsible and well managed way, to be able to invest in what we put onto the pitch for our fans."Manchester United sends DHL packingIn July Manchester United signed a seven-year shirt deal with U.S. car giant Chevrolet worth $72 million a season up until 2021, while Liverpool's four-year shirt deal with Standard Chartered which was signed back in 2009 is worth $128 million in total.JUST WATCHEDA day in the life of Cristiano Ronaldo ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHA day in the life of Cristiano Ronaldo 00:58 Photos: Match-fixing in football Photos: Match-fixing in footballIn-play betting β The Secret Footballer says in the early days of in-play betting players used to make money by manipulating elements of the match such as who would win the first throw in.Hide Caption 1 of 4 Photos: Match-fixing in footballLundekvam speaks out β Former Southampton man Claus Lundekvam has insisted that whilst he and the other players knew what they were doing at the time was illegal, it was never considered more than a bit of fun. Players, he claims, would bet on anything from who would get carded to the recipient of the first throw-in. En route to away matches everything was fair game for a flutter, he says, except for the score.Hide Caption 2 of 4 Photos: Match-fixing in footballBohinen's concern β Lars Bohinen enjoyed eight successful years in the Premier League, and played alongside Lundekvam at international level for Norway. He explains that whilst he heard talk of spot-fixing, he never fully bought into the idea. It is only now, years after his retirement, that he considers that gambling talk between the players was more than a harmless joke. He also believes that there is far more addiction amongst top-flight players than people see. "You could sense it from the way they gambled", he says.Hide Caption 3 of 4 Photos: Match-fixing in footballAdams' addiction β For former Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams holds the matter of addiction amongst professioanl footballers much more seriously. After overcoming drug and alcohol problems he fouded the Sporting Chance Clinic, dedicated to help other sportsmen and women do the same. The Professional Footballers' Association and ex-Gunner Paul Merson are also patrons.Hide Caption 4 of 4Manchester City signed a 10-year deal with Etihad for naming rights and shirt sponsorship worth a reported mammoth $641 million only last years.But Arsenal insist that only United's shirt deal is worth more and that their deal with Emirates is the second most valuable in Europe.However, the club receives around $85 million from sponsorships, which is far less than that of its rivals including Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United.And while it posted the third-best sales figures for the year ending May 31 of $389 million, it still lags behind its rivals on the field.The Gunners' inability to win a trophy since 2005 under manager Arsene Wenger has led to supporter frustration with the team's inability to challenge for top honors. Photos: Top European football transfers Photos: Top European football transfersMaicon -- undisclosed fee β From Inter Milan to Manchester City: The reigning English Premier League champions have snapped up right-back Maicon for an undisclosed fee to help boost their bid for domestic and European honors in 2013. The Brazilian international has been at the San Siro for the past six seasons and made 235 appearances for the club. Hide Caption 1 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersRafael van der Vaart -- $16 million β Spurs to Hamburg: The Dutch international returns to the Bundesliga after a successful two-year spell at the north London club. Van der Vaart played for Hamburg from 2005 to 2008 before joining Spanish champions Real Madrid. Hide Caption 2 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersDimitar Berbatov -- undisclosed fee β Manchester United to Fulham: With the arrival of Robin van Persie from Arsenal earlier this month, the chances of Dimitar Berbatov playing even more of a bit part at Old Trafford have only increased. Fulham have been the benefactors of Alex Ferguson's growing indifference to the player he signed for $47 million from Tottenham Hotspur in 2008. The 31-year-old Bulgarian rejected suitors in Italy, notably Juventus and Fiorentina, to stay in the English Premier League.Hide Caption 3 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersLucas Moura - $55M β Sao Paulo to Paris Saint-GermainThe $55 million paid by PSG for 19-year-old midfielder Lucas Moura broke the Brazilian transfer record for the third time this year, eclipsing the fee the French club spent on Thiago Silva and Chelsea's deal for Oscar. He will move to Paris in January, becoming the sixth Brazilian at the club.Hide Caption 4 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersThiago Silva - $50.75M β AC Milan to Paris Saint-GermainAt $50.75 million, Thiago Silva is the world's most expensive defender in terms of upfront transfer fees -- though the largest including add-ons remains Rio Ferdinand's move from Leeds to Manchester United, which eventually rose to $150,000 more than the Brazilian's total). The 27-year-old spent three years in Italy with AC Milan and is an established international.Hide Caption 5 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersJavi Martinez - $50M β Athletic Bilbao to Bayern MunichSpain midfielder Javi Martinez completed a "complicated" move to the Bundesliga giants after activating a $50 million buyout clause in his contract that left him having to foot some of the bill.Hide Caption 6 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersLuka Modric - $50M β Tottenham to Real MadridLuka Modric completed his long-awaited switch from English club Tottenham Hotspur to Spanish champions Real Madrid for a reported $50 million. After attempting to force a transfer ahead of the 2011-12 season, the Croatian has finally got his move away from White Hart Lane.Hide Caption 7 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersEden Hazard - $49.5M β Lille to ChelseaEyebrows may have been raised upon seeing the size of the $49.5 million transfer fee Chelsea paid for Eden Hazard, but the 21-year-old Belgium winger is one of Europe's biggest talents, having being selected for the Ligue 1 Team of the Year three times in a row.Hide Caption 8 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersOscar - $39.25M β Internacional to ChelseaAfter a protracted saga of a transfer, Chelsea finally gave in to Internacional president Giovanni Luigi's demands and paid a Brazilian transfer record $39.25 million for 20-year-old midfielder Oscar. Only time will tell if the talented young playmaker is worth the money, but with so many creative options at Roberto di Matteo's disposal he may well have to make an immediate impact or risk spending a season on the bench.Hide Caption 9 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersRobin van Persie - $37.5M β Arsenal to Manchester United Robin van Persie, the English Premier League's top scorer last season, stunned Arsenal fans by joining rivals United for $37 million after refusing to sign a new contract.Hide Caption 10 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersEzequiel Lavezzi - $36.25M β Napoli to Paris Saint-GermainArgentina international forward Ezequiel Lavezzi arrives at PSG with a $36.25 million price tag and a big reputation following his five years in Italy. He will link up with another former Serie A star in Zlatan Ibrahimovic.Hide Caption 11 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersShinji Kagawa - $26.25M β Borussia Dortmund to Manchester UnitedThose who cynically write off $26.25 million signing Shinji Kagawa as nothing more than a ploy to boost United shirt sales in Asia do so at their own peril -- the 23-year-old is a top-level player with excellent credentials: two Bundesliga titles, one German Cup, an Asian Cup and more than 30 appearances for Japan.Hide Caption 12 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersJack Rodwell - $24M β Everton to Manchester CityYoung England international Jack Rodwell was Roberto Mancini's first signing since winning Manchester City's first English league title in 43 years. At $24 million he is far from the most expensive player at the Etihad Stadium, but the highly-rated 21-year-old midfielder is seen as a long-term investment.Hide Caption 13 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersZlatan Ibrahimovic - $24M β AC Milan to Paris Saint-GermainUntil last season, Zlatan Ibrahimovic had won the league eight years in a row with five different clubs. The Sweden striker's $24 million move to PSG pushed him further ahead of Nicolas Anelka as the most expensive player of all time, with total transfers of more than $210 million.Hide Caption 14 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersAlex Song - $23.7M β Arsenal to BarcelonaFor the second year in a row, a key Arsenal player has been lured to Spain by Barcelona. Last August it was Cesc Fabregas, this time it's Cameroon midfielder Alex Song. The 25-year-old moved for $23.7 million on a five-year contract, with a release clause of $100 million. Hide Caption 15 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersSanti Cazorla - $23.5M β Malaga to ArsenalSpain star Santi Cazorla was one of Malaga's marquee signings last season, but is the first of the troubled Spanish club's high-profile players to depart in the midst of financial problems. The winger's $23.5 million fee is similar what he cost when joining from Villarreal.Hide Caption 16 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersMarco Reus - $21M β Borussia Monchengladbach to Borussia DortmundFinishing fourth in both goals scored and assists last season, Marco Reus almost single-handedly pushed Borussia Monchengladbach to a fourth-place finish in Germany and Champions League football. Champions Dortmund see the 23-year-old, who cost $21 million, as the ideal replacement for Shinji Kagawa -- and if his brief appearances at Euro 2012 are anything to go by he could become much more.Hide Caption 17 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersLuuk de Jong - $18.5M β FC Twente to Borussia MonchengladbachAfter much interest from all corners of Europe, FC Twente's top-scoring target man Luuk de Jong decided to join Borussia Monchengladbach in an $18. 5 million deal. The 21-year-old, who scored 25 goals in 32 appearances last season, went to Euro 2012 but did not appear for the Netherlands.Hide Caption 18 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersOlivier Giroud - $18.5M β Montpellier to ArsenalWith the eyes of the English Premier League's fans firmly set on the Robin Van Persie transfer saga, many have neglected the man coming in to replace him -- $18.5 million France international Olivier Giroud. For all the money PSG spent last season, it was Giroud and his 21 goals which spurred underdogs Montpellier to a first Ligue 1 title.Hide Caption 19 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersJordi Alba - $17M β Valencia to BarcelonaNew Barca boss Tito Villanova acted quickly to fill the gap left since Eric Abidal's liver transplant, bringing in Spain's Euro 2012 surprise standout player Jordi Alba for a bargain $17 million to fill the left-back slot before the tournament had even finished.Hide Caption 20 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersFabio Borini - $17M β AS Roma to LiverpoolNew Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers paid $17 million for 21-year-old striker Fabio Borini, whose nine goals in 24 appearances at Roma earned him selection for Italy's Euro 2012 squad. He returns to Britain following an earlier loan spell with Rodgers' former club Swansea.Hide Caption 21 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersLukas Podolski - $15.75M β FC Cologne to ArsenalLukas Podolski has left his childhood club Cologne for the second time, having struggled to make an impression at Bayern Munich following his 2006 transfer. The Germany star cost Arsenal $15.75 million after scoring 18 Bundesliga goals last season -- which was not enough for "the Billy Goats" to avoid relegation.Hide Caption 22 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersMario Mandzukic - $15.75m β Vfl Wolfsburg to Bayern MunichA surprise star of Euro 2012, Mario Mandzukic scored three times in three games for Croatia to be the tournament's equal top scorer. Bayern paid Bundesliga rivals Wolfsburg $15.75 million for the 26-year-old striker's services.Hide Caption 23 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersJan Vertonghen - $11.5M β Ajax to Tottenham HotspurBelgium international Jan Vertonghen is already being touted by Tottenham fans as the long-term replacement for injury-plagued former captain Ledley King in the center of defense. His protracted $11.5 million transfer could prove key to the fortunes of new Spurs boss Andre-Villas Boas.Hide Caption 24 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersCesar Azpilicueta - $11m β Marseille to ChelseaChelsea took its spending in the current transfer window to over $100m with the signing of Spanish full back Cesar Azpilicueta from French team Marseille.Hide Caption 25 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersMarko Marin - $9.5M β Werder Bremen to ChelseaGermany midfielder Marko Marin agreed his $9.5 million move to Chelsea before last season had even finished, and the 23-year-old is expected to make a big impact for the European champions with the skills that have seen him dubbed "the German Messi."Hide Caption 26 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersCassano/Pazzini - Swap β AC Milan to InternazionaleAntonio Cassano has left AC Milan to join city rivals Inter, while fellow Italy striker Giampaolo Pazzini went in the other direction. Milan had to pay a reported $8.7 million extra for Pazzini, who at 28 is two years younger than his former Sampdoria teammate. Cassano, meanwhile, recovered from heart surgery to help Italy reach the final of Euro 2012.Hide Caption 27 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersDiego Forlan - Free transfer β Internazionale to InternacionalDiego Forlan struggled to impress in his one season in Italy after seven prolific years in Spain's top flight, but the 33-year-old Uruguay striker could prove to be a free-transfer bargain in Brazil for Internacional. He was named best player at the 2010 World Cup, where he was joint top scorer, and has led the goal charts twice in Europe.Hide Caption 28 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersRiccardo Montolivo - Free transfer β Fiorentina to AC MilanMidfielder Riccardo Montolivo agreed to join Milan on a free transfer before helping Italy reach the final of Euro 2012, having spent seven years at Fiorentina. Hide Caption 29 of 30 Photos: Top European football transfersNurhi Sahin - Season loan β Real Madrid to Liverpool Turkey midfielder Nuri Sahin failed to impress in in his one season at Real Madrid after being snapped up from German champions Borussia Dortmund, and has been given the chance to kickstart his career in the English Premier League.Hide Caption 30 of 30 Photos: Spanish football hit by sponsorship cutbacks Photos: Spanish football hit by sponsorship cutbacksSpanish duopoly β Barcelona's Lionel Messi (left) and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (right) -- widely considered the two best players in the world -- shake hands before the 'El Classico' derby between Spain's two biggest clubs. But is the huge wealth of Barca and Real damaging the rest of Spanish football?Hide Caption 1 of 8 Photos: Spanish football hit by sponsorship cutbacksRevenue dwarfs rivals β Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho (left) and Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova (right) shake hands at the derby between the two clubs. Real's revenue is $695 million, $42 million more than Barca and $526 million more than that of Valencia.Hide Caption 2 of 8 Photos: Spanish football hit by sponsorship cutbacksTalent at a price β Barcelona's Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo were all nominated for the prestigious Balon d'Or award this year. The last time the Barca-Real league monopoly was broken was in 2004 when Rafael Benitez's Valencia won La Liga.Hide Caption 3 of 8 Photos: Spanish football hit by sponsorship cutbacksWill Falcao stay at Atletico? β Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao is arguably the best striker in the world, but the Colombian is likely to be sold at the end of the season.Hide Caption 4 of 8 Photos: Spanish football hit by sponsorship cutbacksOviedo fans show support β Real Oviedo fans show their support for the club in the Estadio Carlos Tartiere with a banner reading "For the future of Real Oviedo". The third-tier club's financial problems are so great that they have turned to their fans for help, offering them the right to buy shares in Oviedo.Hide Caption 5 of 8 Photos: Spanish football hit by sponsorship cutbacksFund raising β The Real Oviedo team huddle on the pitch before taking on Real Madrid's reserve team in Asturias. Oviedo need to raise $2.4 million to save the club.Hide Caption 6 of 8 Photos: Spanish football hit by sponsorship cutbacksFans protest β Real Oviedo fans hold up banner as they march through the city on their way to the league match to protest against the possible closure of the club due to financial difficulties.Hide Caption 7 of 8 Photos: Spanish football hit by sponsorship cutbacksSpanish austerity β The Spanish financial crisis has led to a raft of anti-austerity measures. Protests against cuts have been seen on the streets of Madrid, where a minority of protesters have been involved in violent clashes with the police.Hide Caption 8 of 8Daniel Geey, an associate for Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP and an expert on finance within football, believes Arsenal's sponsorship deal is a sign of the impact that Financial Fair Play is starting to have on the Premier League.Fair play? Football clubs seek to beat financial offside trap"The Arsenal deal will however only begin in time for the 2014-15 season which means the financial uplift is still some time away," Geey told CNN."Depending on how the revenues are apportioned between the shirt and stadium deal, only the future Manchester United Chevrolet $72 million a season shirt deal (also starting in 2014-15) is significantly higher in the Premier League. "It means that in the Premier League alone, there have been some very large recent sponsorship deals with Liverpool's $128 million four-year shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered in September 2009 and Manchester City's reported 10 year $641m shirt, stadium and community deal with Etihad. "Bearing in mind the latest bumper UK and foreign broadcasting deals that have been announced by the Premier League (forecasted to be around $8bn )and the prospect of some type of salary cap being proposed in the Premier League, it is clear that owners are looking to aggressively maximize revenues whilst to some degree constraining wages."It may well be that FFP has had the desired 'belt tightening' effect."Under the new FFP rules, owners can only contribute a maximum of $55.5 million for the 2013-14 and 2015 seasons together, and $37 million during the period covering 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18.Current rules state that should clubs incur losses in excess of $60 million over a three-year period, they will be hit with sanctions as well as exclusion from the Champions League and Europa League. | 5sport
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(CNN)Sen. Sherrod Brown says he could defeat President Donald Trump in Ohio and New York in 2020, even though he won't say if he's running for president yet. "I would say that I will beat Trump in Ohio, where they know me best. I'll beat him in my home state and I'll beat him in his home state of New York, where they know him best," the Ohio Democrat told Van Jones on CNN's "The Van Jones Show," airing Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. Brown said he is still weighing a presidential bid with his family and said he likes the diversity and energy in an increasingly crowded Democratic field. He is going on a listening tour about "the dignity of work" in four early primary states."Too many national Democrats think that we either speak to the progressive base or you speak to the workers," Brown said. "When in fact, it's not an either-or, you got to do both."Brown secured his re-election by 6 points in a state that Trump won by 8 points in the 2016 election. In his victory speech, Brown called his win "the blueprint for our nation in 2020."Read MoreBrown also called Trump a racist and said the President's messaging doesn't represent average voters looking toward 2020. "I think it's so self-evident that the President is a racist, just like it's self-evident that the President lies a lot," he said.Watch the full interview on "The Van Jones Show," airing Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on CNN. | 4politics
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(CNN)A horse named after slain Louisville woman Breonna Taylor ran its way into the winner's circle on Thursday in a Derby Week race at Churchill Downs.The three-year-old filly, named Breonna, is owned by JS Stables, LLC -- a thoroughbred racing operation run by attorney Sam Aguiar, who represents Taylor's family, and his wife Janelle.The Kentucky Derby returns to its regular race day, but fewer fans will attend because of Covid-19The horse overcame wet, muddy conditions and beat the five other horses by a wide margin.Aguiar watched the race at his office with Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, CNN affiliate WAVE reported.Taylor, a 26-year-old aspiring nurse, was killed last March in a botched police raid on her apartment. US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Monday that the Justice Department would investigate practices at the Louisville Metro Police Department, which conducted the deadly raid.Kentucky Derby overshadowed by calls for Sheikh Mohammed's horse to be banned amid concerns over his daughter Read MoreAguiar told WAVE that it was his wife's idea to name the horse after Taylor, because it is "resilient and beautiful." Race horses get their names during their second year of life, and the names can be changed any time before their first race, according to The Jockey Club rules.Janelle Aguiar celebrated the win on Facebook."Any time we win a horse race is exciting ... But it takes it to a new level when you name your horse Breonna in honor of #BreonnaTaylor, the horse wins at Churchill Downs on Derby week, and you hear so many people #SayHerName," she wrote in a post. | 5sport
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Story highlights28 hospitals release reports into abuse by Jimmy Savile of patients and staffHealth secretary: "Savile was a callous, opportunistic, wicked predator"Reports detail rapes, abuses and claims of sexual behavior with dead bodiesTV star used his popularity "to perpetrate and cover up his own evil acts," health secretary saysDJ and TV host Jimmy Savile was a larger-than-life personality. And a report released Thursday confirms he was also an extravagant sexual predator, using his access to hospitals as a volunteer porter and fundraiser to abuse victims aged from 5 to 75.The review of Savile's behavior at 28 hospitals across the United Kingdom makes shocking reading, detailing a catalog of abuses against some of Britain's most vulnerable people over the course of decades.Protected by his celebrity and exploiting a network of relationships he built in hospitals, he carried out rapes, other sexual abuse and displayed an unhealthy interest in dead bodies in a hospital mortuary.Worse, the abuse went unchecked and unpunished, since the BBC entertainer died before the allegations against him were made public.UK Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt apologized in the House of Commons on Thursday to all the victims abused by Savile while in the care of the National Health Service -- and said the system had let down those who were brave enough to raise the alarm but had their complaints ignored.JUST WATCHEDUK PM handed 'pedophile' list on live TV ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHUK PM handed 'pedophile' list on live TV 02:00JUST WATCHEDBBC star raped dozens, police sayReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBBC star raped dozens, police say 03:05JUST WATCHEDTV icon sex abuse scandal rocks the BBC ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTV icon sex abuse scandal rocks the BBC 02:40"Savile was a callous, opportunistic, wicked predator who abused and raped individuals, many of them patients and young people, who expected and had a right to expect to be safe. His actions span five decades -- from the 1960s to 2010," Hunt said."The family favorite loved by millions courted popularity and used it to perpetrate and cover up his own evil acts."Victims who complained were "time and again" ignored, or if heard, little or no action was taken, Hunt said. "People and institutions turned a blind eye.""As a nation at that time we held Savile in our affection as a somewhat eccentric national treasure with a strong commitment to charitable causes," Hunt said. "Today's reports show that in reality he was a sickening and prolific sexual abuser who repeatedly exploited the trust of a nation for his own vile purposes."Victims' ages from 5 to 75'Abused and raped patients without scruple'For a generation who grew up watching Savile on TV's "Top of the Pops" and his children's program "Jim'll Fix It," the revelations that first emerged in 2012 were deeply disturbing.Thursday's report into the full extent of his offending against children and adults, patients and staff, in 28 hospitals -- particularly Leeds Infirmary and Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security psychiatric institution -- will do nothing to reassure them.The Leeds Infirmary report reveals a sexual predator who, while volunteering as a porter, "abused and raped patients without scruple," said Hunt. Some 60 people reported abuse to the Leeds investigation, including a teenager who believed she was pregnant as a result of Savile's actions, he said."Two witnesses told the investigation Savile claimed to have had jewellery made from glass eyes taken from bodies in the mortuary," Hunt added, saying that other claims were too horrific to recount in parliament.The report cites one witness who tells how Savile recounted making trips to the hospital mortuary, where he claimed to have manipulated bodies before rigor mortis set in, taken photographs and performed sex acts on them.The report's authors say they have "no way of proving Savile's claim that he interfered with the bodies of deceased patients in the mortuary." However, it is established that he "publicly declared his interest in the dead," that he visited a friend who worked in the mortuary and that controls were lax for many years."In light of the claims about the glass eye jewellery and Savile's interference with the bodies of the deceased, it is evident his interest in the mortuary was not within accepted boundaries," it concludes.'Very manipulative'The report from Broadmoor said 10 people had alleged they were sexually assaulted by Savile, plus a case of indecent exposure involving a minor. The investigation concluded that at least five people were sexually abused and a sixth was more likely than not to have been. Five other victims could not be contacted for detailed accounts.The report gives an insight into how Savile was able to gain a position of influence at the secure institution that included giving him keys to wards and allowing him to watch female patients undress to bathe."Savile could be charming and persuasive, at least to some, but at the same time he was grandiose, narcissistic, arrogant and lacking any empathy," it states. "He was also very manipulative, and many staff were convinced that he had close connections in high places and had the power to have them dismissed."Una O'Brien, permanent secretary of the Department of Health, said in a statement that "inadequate processes" had allowed Savile to gain the position of authority at Broadmoor that aided his abusive behavior."While much has changed in the intervening years we will leave no stone unturned to make sure such appalling actions can never be repeated; our thoughts today are with the people who suffered and continue to suffer from these terrible crimes," she said.The UK's NSPCC children's charity said more must be done to safeguard children and ensure that an apparent "culture of turning a blind eye" to abuse is not repeated."To hear that some hospital staff may have actively facilitated Savile's abuse of children is sickening and takes the scandal of his crimes to yet another abhorrent level," said Peter Watt, national services director for the charity. "Savile escaped justice because people didn't want to hear or believe what children were saying. Ministers now need to be satisfied that this could never happen again and that children and vulnerable adults in hospitals or any government facility are safe today."Savile died in October 2011 at age 84, soon after being treated in a hospital for pneumonia. His long history of abuse emerged only a year later, thanks to a TV documentary by UK broadcaster ITV.The BBC, where he worked as a radio DJ and TV presenter, has set up a separate inquiry into abuses he carried out on BBC premises.READ: Victims' ages from 5 to 75: Jimmy Savile sex abuse revealedREAD: Ex-Scout tells of abuse at hands of SavileREAD: Celebrity publicist Max Clifford sentenced to 8 years for assaults on teenage girls | 3news
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(CNN)After a petroleum leak contaminated drinking water and sickened military families and children in Hawaii, the US Navy says it will follow an order from state health officials to halt operations at its Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage facility.The announcement came the day before a Tuesday hearing about the water crisis by the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and weeks after the Navy said it would contest the Hawaii Department of Health's order.Hawaii health officials order Navy to clean up contaminated drinking water after families are forced out of their homesThe fuel facility sits 100 feet above the Red Hill aquifer, which supplies drinking water to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and other parts of Hawaii. Nearly 1 million people on Oahu rely on it for water, according to the Hawaii Board of Water Supply.Since November, members of the military and other residents have reported getting violently sick after drinking the water."It happened very quickly," said Army Maj. Amanda Feindt, whose husband and two children also fell ill.Read More"First, it was my 1-year-old son and my husband. And two days later, it ended up being my daughter -- she's 4 -- and myself. It was pretty severe abdominal pain. I've told people the only thing I can compare it to is labor pains, like contractions in my belly." Feindt and her children ended up in a hospital emergency room, she told CNN's Brianna Keilar on Tuesday. "We were all treated for throwing up, diarrhea, severe dehydration. My husband was having ocular migraines all the time, chronic coughing. It was really rough." On November 28, the Navy shut down its Red Hill well after reports of people living on base suffering nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches and skin-related problems. Testing revealed petroleum hydrocarbons and vapors in the water, the Navy said. US Pacific Fleet Deputy Commander Rear Adm. Blake Converse later confirmed a petroleum leak was the cause.The Hawaii Department of Health recommended all Navy water system users stop using their water for drinking, cooking or oral hygiene, including for pets.The military offered alternative housing for all service members and civilian employees living near the base. Officials said they covered the cost of hotel rooms for more than 700 people. 'My house began to smell like a gas station' "My house began to smell like a gas station and I couldn't breathe. I was choking," resident Bonnie Russell told CNN affiliate KGMB/KHNL in December. "I opened all the windows for the ventilation, but it still took quite a while for the fumes to clear."Another woman demanded answers from the military during a town hall meeting last month. Navy reports contamination at a second water shaft servicing Hawaii base, state officials say"My children took a bath and for 45 minutes afterward they complained of burning skin," the woman said during the town hall, according to KGMB/KHNL. And another resident at a town hall meeting said her toddler got violently sick after drinking the water. "I'm here to ask why you weren't a wingman to protect my 13-month-old son when I was bathing him, when I was giving him a sippy cup full of water from my faucet, when he has been throwing up for days on end," she asked Navy officials."I'm here to ask why you weren't my wingman as my husband and I have had mysterious serious symptoms such as sore throats, burning in my stomach, profuse, unusual sweating, headaches unable to be mitigated, requiring multiple ER visits for additional medications, vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritation."Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro has called the situation "not acceptable." "The safety, health and well-being of our service members, civilians, contractors, their families and our communities here in Oahu is of the utmost importance to me," Del Toro said in a December statement."This is not acceptable, and the Department of the Navy will take every action to identify and remedy this issue. We will continue to coordinate with federal, state and local entities to restore safe drinking water to the community."Hawaii health officials ordered the Navy to take actionHawaii's state health department ordered the Navy in December to halt operations at the fuel storage facility.This 2018 photo shows a tunnel inside the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility at Pearl Harbor.The health department also demanded the Navy install a drinking water treatment system at the Red Hill well; submit a plan to assess system integrity; and defuel the Red Hill underground storage tanks within 30 days of corrective action, Gov. David Ige said.The Navy previously said it would contest the health department's order but agreed to pause operations at the fuel storage facility pending the outcome of an investigation.The Navy also said it would bring in a third party to assess operations and integrity of the facility and to suggest any necessary changes.Monday's shutdown of the Red Hill fuel storage facility was confirmed by Capt. Bill Clinton, director of public affairs and outreach for US Pacific Fleet.The Red Hill fuel facility, located at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, supports US military operations from all branches of service in the Pacific, according to the Navy."Unlike any other fuel facility in the United States, Red Hill can store up to 250 million gallons of fuel. It consists of 20 steel-lined underground storage tanks encased in concrete, and built into cavities that were mined inside of Red Hill."CNN's Tina Burnside, Natasha Chen and Amy Simonson contributed to this report. | 3news
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Story highlightsPolice say they will question suspect Mark Bridger againHundreds of police, volunteers and mountain rescue workers are looking for the 5-year-oldPrime Minister David Cameron also appeals for anyone with information to contact policeApril was snatched from the street on Monday as she played with a friendThe desperate hunt for a 5-year-old girl abducted in Wales entered its fourth day Thursday, with hundreds of police officers, volunteers and mountain rescue workers combing a rural area for any trace of April Jones.Police continue to question a man arrested on suspicion of her abduction but said they urgently need help from the public to trace his movements during the crucial hours after April was snatched from a street Monday.Mark Bridger, 46, remains in police custody and will be questioned again Thursday, said Detective Superintendent Reg Bevan, of Dyfed-Powys Police. A team of officers is working around the clock to try to piece together Bridger's movements between Monday evening and his arrest Tuesday afternoon, Bevan said, using forensic analysis and witness statements.But, he said, more help is still needed from people who may have seen or spoken with Bridger at that time."We are appealing for anyone who has had contact with Mark; we don't have the complete picture yet," Bevan said.British Prime Minister David Cameron added his voice Thursday to the plea for information made by April's family, an unusual intervention by the country's leader in an ongoing police search."My heart goes out to April Jones's family. I appeal for anyone who saw or heard anything to talk to the police," he said via his official Twitter feed.Speaking at Downing Street, Cameron also mentioned the extra concern prompted by the news that April has cerebral palsy, a condition his late son Ivan also suffered.The girl's abduction as she played with a friend on a street near her home in Machynlleth, mid-Wales, has shocked the small, close-knit community -- and made headlines across the United Kingdom. There has been no trace of the pretty brown-haired child since she was seen Monday evening, climbing into a vehicle that then drove off.April's mother, Coral Jones, made an emotional televised plea for help Wednesday."It has been 36 hours since our April was taken from us," she said, breaking down in tears. "There must be someone out there who knows where she is and can help the police find her."We are desperate for any news -- April is only 5 years old. Please, please help us find her."Local volunteers have joined police and rescue teams in searching the town and surrounding area, a task made more difficult by poor weather, flooding rivers and hilly terrain.Police said Wednesday that the search was focused on more than 20 different areas, including houses, outbuildings, river banks and open countryside."The geography is very challenging and everyone is working in a hostile environment -- by that I mean the terrain is difficult, waterlogged, working near to flooded rivers with the potential for mine shafts and unstable ground," police Superintendent Ian John said.Police dogs, coast guard teams, kayakers and mountain rescue specialists have been called in to assist in the search. | 3news
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Story highlightsShore worker earns role on Oracle Team USAPromoted to sailing crew due to hard workHelped build team's new base in Bermuda (CNN)America's Cup racing is for the best of the best.The world's top sailors compete on hi-tech boats funded by billionaire businessmen, seeking the sport's ultimate prize.But beneath all the glitz and the glamor, there's one attribute that pays off -- sheer hard work."At the very beginning I was sort of just a hired helper," says Cooper Dressler, whose willingness to graft has landed him a dream role on board America's Cup champion Oracle Team USA."A bit of labor, random things, packing containers. I learned how to drive a forklift pretty well ... I never thought I'd learn how to weld."Read MoreA couple of years ago, Dressler was an aspiring sailor who'd signed up to help build Oracle's Bermuda base for the team's 2017 title defense."This whole place, it's got a little of my blood, sweat and tears," he tells CNN's Sailing Success show.Read more: America's Cup - What price the ultimate prize?"I had a hand in everything and I was always really drawn to -- especially the systems on board -- how everything is controlled, whether it be hydraulically or electronically or with ropes. I ended up helping out with the rope."There would be times when I was up in the rafters, and I'd be looking down at this amazing machine and thinking, 'That's crazy, I would never find myself sailing on that, it's just such top level."That would be #OracleTeamUSA's Joey Newton opposite Cooper Dressler's helmet cam. #AskAQuestionDay pic.twitter.com/TAxZItbNAMβ ORACLE TEAM USA (@OracleTeamUSA) March 14, 2016
However, Dressler's hard-working enterprise was noted by Jimmy Spithill, the skipper who led Oracle to its first America's Cup success in 2010 and was again at the helm for the remarkable victory against Team New Zealand three years later, when the American syndicate came from 8-1 behind."The strength of our program in my mind is the Oracle Team shore crew -- I saw it last time when we made that comeback," the Australian tells CNN. "They do more hours than anyone, here before anyone, go out on water, servicing, stay late, getting boats ready for the next day. They really are the unsung heroes of our team."Cooper is just a fantastic story. We get people ask us, 'How do I join the America's Cup team or the sailing team?' The most important thing is your attitude and your work ethic.Read more: Tea baron who became 'the best of all losers'"He came in and he just wanted to help the team, wanted to work, initially for free. And then he was involved with working with our shore team, even to the point of running electrical wires, digging trenches. "It didn't matter what job he was doing, he was always upbeat, motivated -- a great attitude. We all saw that and we thought, 'We've just got to have this guy on our team.'"Last year, Dressler was promoted to the sailing crew and given the role of grinder -- a physically taxing job operating the winches that raise the sails and move the boom."I really didn't expect it at all -- it was sort of a surprise attack," the 25-year-old says. "I remember I had to take a little walk after that because it really was one of those 'pinch me I must be dreaming' moments."Meet Cooper Dressler: From the @RedBull Youth America's Cup to grinder with #OracleTeamUSA. #AmericasCup @RBYAC https://t.co/2f8jDCTCnXβ ORACLE TEAM USA (@OracleTeamUSA) December 18, 2015
Dressler graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz but spent just two months working for a geotechnical engineering firm before deciding he wanted to be a full-time sailor.He competed in the 2013 Youth America's Cup, but never expected to make the step up to the top level."I never had an attitude as if, 'Oh I should be sailing on the boats -- I have a sailing background, I shouldn't be working on other stuff when I could be out there sailing,'" he says."I never once thought that way, and I think having the right attitude is a big part of it because it's a really small community. It's a small team and you just have to work as hard as you can."Dressler says he has no intention of forgetting where he came from."There's no separation between who does the hard labor at night and who's actually out on the boat going fast. It's one big team and everyone gets along that way."Follow @cnnsport
Can Oracle retain the Cup? Tell us on our Facebook pageCNN's Sailing Success show goes behind the scenes in America's Cup racing Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017SoftBank Team Japan will get the opportunity to race on home waters after organizers confirmed that Fukuoka will host a two-day World Series event on November 18, 2016. Hide Caption 1 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017SoftBank Team Japan β The new syndicate is backed by telecommunications and internet multinational SoftBank Group, whose founder Masayoshi Son is worth a reported $11.2 billion despite losing several times that amount in the dotcom crash of 2000. Hide Caption 2 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017SoftBank Team Japan β Dean Barker, Team New Zealand's skipper in the 2007 and 2013 final defeats, is tasked with leading Japan's bid for a first title.Hide Caption 3 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017SoftBank Team Japan β Barker will be supported by general manager Kazuhiko Sofuku. The 49-year-old is taking part in his fourth America's Cup, having made his debut in 1995 as bowman on Nippon Challenge. Hide Caption 4 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017SoftBank Team Japan β Representing Kansai Yacht Club, this is the first Japanese-flagged entrant since 1999.Hide Caption 5 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017Oracle Team USA β Formed in 2000, the American team is seeking to win its third successive America's Cup, having triumphed in 2010 and 2013. Hide Caption 6 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017Oracle Team USA β Backed by billionaire Larry Ellison, CEO of software company Oracle, the team lost in the final of the 2003 Louis Vuitton Challenger series, and then in the semis four years later. Hide Caption 7 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017Oracle Team USA β Australian skipper Jimmy Spithill helped Oracle become the first U.S. winner since 1992, as challenger in 2010, then backed that up with an extraordinary rally from 8-1 down to defeat Team New Zealand as defending champion three years later. Hide Caption 8 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017Emirates Team New Zealand β The Kiwi syndicate was America's Cup champion in 1995 and 2000, but lost to Swiss entrant Alinghi in the 2003 and 2007 finals.Hide Caption 9 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017Emirates Team New Zealand β Backed by Emirates airline and the New Zealand government, the team is led by Grant Dalton -- a former ocean racer who joined following 2003's defeat on the home waters of Auckland.Hide Caption 10 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017Emirates Team New Zealand β Glenn Ashby has taken over as skipper for this campaign. The Australian is a multiple world champion in multihull classes who had previously been a member of the Oracle team. Hide Caption 11 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017Team Land Rover BAR Britain β Despite its long history in sailing's premier competition -- which dates back to 1851 -- the UK is still seeking its first title. Hide Caption 12 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017Team Land Rover BAR Britain β Ben Ainslie, the most successful Olympic sailor with four gold medals, has taken a step up to lead his own team following his role as replacement tactician with Oracle in 2013. Hide Caption 13 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017Team Land Rover BAR Britain β Ainslie's team has had support from the British government and the royal family -- including Prince William (R) and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.Hide Caption 14 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017Groupama Team France β Despite its success in other top sailing events, France has never won the America's Cup. Hide Caption 15 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017Groupama Team France β Skipper Franck Cammas, 43, has won some of sailing's most prestigious competitions, including the Volvo Ocean Race, the Transat Jacques Vabre and Route du Rhum. Hide Caption 16 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017Groupama Team France β Cammas has been backed since 1998 by French insurance multinational Groupama, whose director general Thierry Martel is pictured.Hide Caption 17 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017Team Artemis Racing Sweden β The Swedish syndicate took part in the 2013 Louis Vuitton Challenger series, losing in the semifinals. British crew member Andrew Simpson earlier died during a training accident in one of the 72-foot vessels being used for the 34th edition of the America's Cup.Hide Caption 18 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017Team Artemis Racing Sweden β Named after the ancient Greek goddess Artemis, the team was formed in 2006 by Swedish billionaire Torbjorn Tornqvist, co-founder of Gunvor Group -- one of the world's largest commodities conglomerates.Hide Caption 19 of 20 Photos: Key players ahead of Bermuda 2017Team Artemis Racing Sweden β Its Australian skipper Nathan Outteridge (pictured) was a gold medalist at London 2012, while team manager/tactician Iain Percy is a two-time Olympic champion for Britain who made his America's Cup debut in 2005.Hide Caption 20 of 20 | 5sport
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Story highlightsReal Madrid 1-1 VillarrealLos Blancos miss chance to set new La Liga win recordReal goes two points clear at top of table (CNN)Real Madrid missed the chance to set a new La Liga record of 17 consecutive league wins after drawing with Villarreal.Zinedine Zidane's men had equaled the previous best of 16, set by Barcelona, in their previous match against Espanyol, but a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu Wednesday put an end to its hopes of extending that run.Follow @cnnsport
The draw puts Real two points clear of Sevilla at the top of La Liga, after Barcelona drew with Atletico Madrid at the Nou Camp to remain three points behind."We did not start the game well," Zidane told Real Madrid TV. "The second half we had many chances, but you cannot always win in the last minute."More work is needed at the beginning of the game. It's a shame not to break the record.Read More"I want a draw (between Barcelona and Atletico), so we will all stay same. But really I'm not worried about that result, just my team."While Real has become synonymous with individual Galacticos over the years, coach Zinedine Zidane has demanded a collective team effort, ordering his players to "run more" in the wake of a defeat to its Madrid rival Atletico -- the last match before the 16-game streak began.FT #RealMadridVillarreal 1-1Villarreal end Madrid's winning streak in #LaLiga to maintain unbeaten start to season. pic.twitter.com/uRuceb6zrKβ LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) September 21, 2016
Attacking flair has often been quelled with the Frenchman favoring a more pragmatic approach, as the hard-working defensive midfielder Casemiro has provided balance to a sometimes top-heavy team.This new work ethic was evident in the opening 45 minutes against Villarreal. The visiting team, understandably, adopted a reserved approach with unwavering commitment to its defensive duties.Read: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid banned by FIFA from signing playersBut Real matched its opponents stride for stride.The home side, unsurprisingly, started the match on the front foot, bombarding the Villarreal defense with corner after corner, but the 'Yellow Submarine' stood firm to ride out the wave of early pressure.The game's first real chance came just shy of the 20-minute mark. Marcelo's deep cross into the box was headed back across goal by Gareth Bale, but keeper Sergio Asenjo was on hand to acrobatically deny Karim Benzema.Just under 10 minutes later, Villarreal had its first sight of goal. Forward Denis Cheryshev latched onto the end of a deft flick from Samu Castillejo, before firing towards the top corner, only to find the outstretched palm of Kiko Casilla in his way.Cheryshev, you might remember, inadvertently knocked Real out of last season's Copa del Rey, after then manager Rafael Benitez fielded the Russian in a tie against Cadiz, only to later discover he was ineligible.45' 0-1 | GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL!!! Bruno the captain with a cheeky chip! COME ON YOU YELLOWSSSSS!!!! #RealMadridVillarreal #CVFEnglishβ Villarreal CF (@VillarrealCF) September 21, 2016
With just a minute remaining before half time, Villarreal had a golden chance to take the lead. With Marcelo off the pitch receiving treatment, Nicola Sansone found himself clear through on goal.Several seemingly unnecessary step-overs allowed Raphael Varane to get back and make a challenge, before the ball broke to Cheryshev but his weak effort was blocked into the hands of Casilla.Villarreal must have thought its best chance of the half had come and gone, but up stepped Sergio Ramos.The Real Madrid captain deliberately stuck an arm in the air to block a goal-bound shot and proceeded to pretend as though the ball had struck him in the face.An Oscar-worthy display in Real's last game against Espanyol saw him employ the same tactics to get away with another handball, but he wasn't acting his way out of this one.Read: Real Madrid starts title defense with dramatic late showCaptain Bruno stepped up to take the penalty and his impudent chip down the middle of the goal sent Casilla the wrong way, ensuring Villarreal took a shock, but deserved lead going into half time.While Zidane isn't known for losing his temper as a manager, whatever he said at half-time had the desired effect.πΈβ½This is how @SergioRamos scored our equaliser against @VillarrealCF!#RMLiga #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/4nToYwDTpSβ Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) September 21, 2016
His side came out after the break with a renewed energy and the bombardment of Villarreal's goal soon commenced.Before the half was even three minutes old, Real found the equalizer. Ramos rose high at the far post to head home James Rodriguez's corner and atone for his earlier costly error.And the barrage showed no signs of subsiding, as a minute later Benzema got his head onto Mateo Kovacic's chipped ball into the box, but could only look on as it floated inches wide.Real Madrid was unrelenting and carved out yet another chance just after the hour mark.Brilliant interplay saw Bale play Dani Carvajal in down the right and his low cross across the six-yard box missed Ronaldo's toes by a whisker.Substitute Alvaro Morata, on for Benzema, headed another Carvajal cross into the turf to draw an acrobatic save out of Asenjo.Real continued to press and Ronaldo squandered his side's best chance, firing a shot straight into Asenjo's grateful arms when in space inside the 18-yard box. Despite the disappointment of being unable to extend its winning run, Real maintains its unbeaten start to the season and extends its lead over second place Sevilla to two points.Barcelona missed the chance to close the gap to just one point after its draw with Atletico.The Catalan club was dealt a further blow with the news Lionel Messi would be out of action for three weeks with a groin injury, after limping out of the clash at the Nou Camp. | 5sport
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(CNN)Christian Eriksen "was gone" before being resuscitated from cardiac arrest, Denmark's team doctor said at a press conference Sunday. The Danish soccer player collapsed on the pitch during his team's opening Euro 2020 match against Finland."Well, what should I say? He was gone. And we did cardiac resuscitation and it was cardiac arrest. How close were we? I don't know," said Morten Boesen. "We got him back after one 'de-fib,' so that is quite fast," the team doctor added, referring to the defibrillator used to revive Eriksen. "The details...I am not a cardiologist, so the details about what happened and further I will leave to the experts."Eriksen sent greetings to his Danish teammates from hospital where he is recovering after falling on the pitch shortly before halftime. Read More"This morning we have spoken to Christian Eriksen, who has sent his greetings to his teammates. His condition is stable, and he continues to be hospitalized for further examination," the Danish Football Association said on Sunday. The match was suspended following prolonged efforts from the medical staff to resuscitate Eriksen with CPR and the defibrillator. Denmark's players gather as paramedics attend to midfielder Christian Eriksen (not seen) during Saturday's match.UEFA later announced that the match would resume. When the match restarted, Finland won 1-0 thanks to a 59th minute goal from Joel Pohjanpalo."We would like to thank everyone for the heartfelt greetings to Christian Eriksen from fans, players, the Royal Families from both Denmark and England, international associations, clubs, etc.," the Danish FA also said in Sunday's statement. Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand said that Eriksen wanted his teammates to play and that he was more concerned with his teammates and his family. The 29-year-old midfielder currently plays club football for Inter Milan, moving to the Serie A side in 2020 after seven years with Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League."The important thing is that he is well, but there had never been any episode that, even remotely, had hinted at a problem, neither when he was at Tottenham, nor at Inter. In Italy, controls are very rigorous," Inter Milan team doctor Piero Volpi told Gazzetta dello Sport Sunday. Christian Eriksen is pictured during Saturday's match between Denmark and Finland, shortly before he collapsed on the pitch.Inter Milan chief executive Giuseppe Marotta said Eriksen has never had Covid-19 and was never vaccinated. "We don't want to be intrusive because it's right for the player to be calm. He is a champion," he told Italian television channel Rai Sport, according to Reuters. The Danish talisman, who has more than 100 caps for his country, came through the youth ranks at Ajax and started his professional career with the Dutch club.Denmark next play Thursday against Belgium. Hjulmand added that he will try to get the team back to a normal routine on Monday.'Christian Eriksen, I love you'After he collapsed, Eriksen's Danish teammates formed a wall around him to protect the Inter Milan star from view as he was receiving treatment. Players from both teams, as well as fans in the stadium, were visibly distressed as Eriksen was being attended to by medics.In Group B's other match, Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring for Belgium over Russia and ran over to the camera to send a message of support to his Inter teammate. "Chris, Chris, sterkte jongen (Dutch for 'wish you strength/all the best'). I love you!" he said.Lukaku, who scored a second goal late in the game, told journalists in his post-match interview that he "cried a lot" and "was scared" when he first heard news of Eriksen's collapse. "I spend more time with him than with my family, so my thoughts are with him, his girlfriend, his two kids and his family," he added. In Goyang, South Korea, Eriksen's former teammate Son Heung-Min scored a goal in his team's 2-1 victory over Lebanon in a World Cup qualifier, and shouted "Christian Eriksen, I love you", according to a tweet from his club Tottenham. Other goodwill messages from around the world flooded social media. Harry Kane, the England captain and former teammate of Eriksen, sent his love to the Danish talisman and his family in a tweet Saturday. "Stay strong mate," said Kane, who will be playing in his first game of Euro 2020 Sunday afternoon. Chris. I'm sending all my love to you and your family. Stay strong mate. ππβ Harry Kane (@HKane) June 12, 2021
Saturday's incident was reminiscent of Fabrice Muamba's collapse in 2012, after the footballer suffered a cardiac arrest during Bolton's FA Cup match against Tottenham. Muamba eventually recovered but had to cut his playing career short."Please God," Muamba tweeted following Eriksen's collapse."All of our thoughts are with Christian Eriksen and his family," Eriksen's former club Tottenham tweeted, while his Inter Milan teammate Ashley Young wrote: "PLEASE BRO PLEASE."The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paid tribute to the medics who ran onto the pitch to help Eriksen, and to referee Anthony Taylor, who stopped the game immediately. "Encouraging news about Christian Eriksen, we are all thinking about him and his family. Well done to the medical team and Anthony Taylor for their calm and swift action," said a tweet from the royals' official Twitter account, signed off "W."Matias Grez and Nada Bashir contributed to this report. | 5sport
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(CNN)Since Lewis Hamilton became vegan, weekends have not been the same for the four-time Formula One world champion. Never has he woken with such anticipation and expectation. The Briton has always looked forward to his bread and butter, of course. Grand Prix weekends will always set the pulse racing. But it is his morning routine which has been transformed. Breakfast has never been so mouthwateringly tasty. Follow @cnnsport
"I used to get to my summer or winter break and the first thing I'd do when I arrived in the morning was have a stack of pancakes," Hamilton tells CNN's The Circuit. "It's exciting when you've gone the whole year not having them, but now I'm having them every weekend and they still taste amazing. Read More"It's crazy. I'm not putting more weight on because, with this new plant-based diet, I can have more carbs which is contradictory of what you'd normally have thought diet-wise, but I'm not going to complain, I love pancakes so it's great."READ: Mental strength key to historic fourth title - Hamilton READ: Hamilton has 'come of age'JUST WATCHED'It's crazy that I have four world titles'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH'It's crazy that I have four world titles' 03:36It was in September that Hamilton revealed that, for health and environmental reasons, he was to become a vegan, removing all animal-based products -- meat, seafood, dairy, even honey -- from his diet. There were those who questioned this mid-season lifestyle change. They talked of the potential harm to his "racing edge," of a possible drop in testosterone, and of protein, iron and Vitamin D deficiency, all nutrients which meat easily provides. But such a dietary change during the F1 campaign did not do the 32-year-old any harm. Two months after announcing his switch, Hamilton won the world title, creating history in the process by becoming the first Briton to win four F1 world titles. Far from being a negative, the new diet has made Hamilton feel, he says, "better than ever.""I feel amazing. It's the best I've ever felt in my life," Hamilton says."Physically I feel the best I've ever felt. I feel incredibly clean and healthy."Poor nutrition can be catastrophicThe Briton has said he had decided to change his diet after watching a documentary about the meat industry and its potential effects on the environment, animal welfare and human health. Many studies have been conducted on the impact the livestock sector has on global greenhouse gas emissions -- an assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations indicated it exceeded that of transportation.A large amount of methane and nitrous oxide are generated through livestock-raising activities.READ: Go vegan, save the planetREAD: English team is the 'world's first vegan football club'READ: Are Germans leading a vegan revolution?There is also plenty of evidence to support the health benefits of a plant-based diet.Followed correctly, it tends to contain oodles of fiber, antioxidants, potassium, magnesium and vitamins A, C and E, while it is also a diet low in saturated fat, which can reduce heart disease by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure. A study carried out by the Vegan Society, which was formed in 1944, found that the number of vegans in Britain had grown by 360% in the last 10 years, with some 542,000 people aged 15 or over adopting a plant-based diet. It has never been easier to be vegan and though Hamilton is not the first sportsperson to go meat free -- tennis greats Serena and Venus Williams became vegans in 2012 -- it is still rare for elite athletes to solely follow such a diet. Hollywood celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Ellen DeGeneres and Brad Pitt may enthusiastically talk of the virtues of veganism, but they do not rely on their athletic prowess to fuel their greatness. it is not essential to their trade that their bodies be machine-like in efficiency. For elite athletes poor nutrition is catastrophic. Too little protein and the mind will start to lose focus when speed of thought is of the essence, too many carbohydrates and the body may begin to slow under the weight of the extra brawn. Tofu is a good source of protein for vegans.For those striving for sporting perfection, every nutrient has a purpose, every calorie must be accounted for. But discipline and focus is part of an athlete's habitual routine which is why nutritionist Tara Ostrowe, a consultant for top athletes and teams -- she worked with French Ligue 1 champions Monaco last season -- says it is possible for elite athletes to get all the nutrients they need from a vegan diet. "He needs to be extra disciplined ... it sometimes makes it a little bit more difficult being a vegan athlete," Ostrowe tells CNN Sport, reflecting on the dietary challenges potentially faced by Hamilton and other vegan athletes."Racing is both physically and mentally demanding so he needs to make sure he's getting top nutrition to obtain peak performance in the car and that he's following good recovery practices. "He has to be careful that he's meeting his protein needs, but he can absolutely get that in his diet, as long as he's making some good choices." Protein, a macronutrient commonly found in animal products, is essential to building muscle mass and is particularly important after exercise when muscles are receptive to protein synthesis. Someone who exerts as much energy as the 1.74m Hamilton needs, according to Ostrowe, around 1.4g of protein per kilogram of bodyweight, which equates to 95g of protein a day. Those of us who do not follow Hamilton's lung-busting training routines will need about 0.8-1.0g of protein per kilo. While 251g of steak would have given Hamilton 62g of protein, 248g of tofu only provides 20g of protein and 200g of chickpeas has about 39g of protein. His dietary change will have given him plenty of food for thought. "If his protein sources are low, I'd recommend a protein shake 30 minutes after training. That is something I'd recommend for vegan athletes anyway," says Ostrowe.For a man whose annual income makes him, according to Forbes, the 10th highest-paid sportsperson of 2017, it is perhaps easier for Hamilton to adjust to this lifestyle change than most thanks to the nutritional and training advice at his disposal. But there are potential pitfalls, even for multimillionaire vegans (The Sunday Times reports that the Briton has a Β£131 million [$174 million] fortune).Iron deficiency can be a problem for many athletes, be they carnivores or vegans. "Animal protein is a high source of iron so he needs to make sure when he has iron-rich food he combines it with food rich in vitamin C food because that helps with absorption of the iron from non-meat sources," says Ostrowe."For example, if he's having oatmeal in the morning, then he needs to add strawberries or blueberries to help with the absorption."Every single day he would need to take additional multi-vitamins. In a vegan athlete, vitamin D -- which plays a huge role in a lot of body functions -- and calcium tend to be difficult to get and B12, crucial in the formation of red blood cells, is very difficult to get."JUST WATCHEDThe Baja 1000: ο»ΏAn unforgettable race adventureο»ΏReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH (15 Videos)The Baja 1000: ο»ΏAn unforgettable race adventureο»ΏMax Verstappen on becoming Formula 1 World ChampionChristian Horner: Red Bull aren't the favorites for F1 titleNASCAR champion Kyle Larson experiences the lowest-lows and the highest-highsValtteri Bottas: F1 title race will go down to the wireLewis Hamilton on the US Grand Prix and championing change off the trackPecco Bagnaia: MotoGP's rising Italian starTeen off-road racer proves herself in male-dominated sportMonaco Grand Prix to be cut to three-day format in 2022, says F1 CEOCharles Leclerc on Ferrari, Euro 2020 and Cristiano RonaldoMick Schumacher on the 'big privilege' to carry his legendary surname into F1Stephanie Travers: From Zimbabwe to an F1 podiumLife after seeing death: Romain Grosjean's journey back to racingSebastian Vettel on whether he ever considered walking away from F1Max Verstappen: Red Bull star aims for back-to-back podiums in BahrainDr Rob Child, a performance biochemist who has worked with F1 teams McLaren and Ferrari, told the BBC that a vegan diet reduces free testosterone levels, a hormone which contributes to aggression, a must-have trait for drivers competing in a sport where even a hundredth of a second matters. "For Lewis, he's probably taking in a lot of healthy fat to be able to make that testosterone," says Ostrowe."In terms of the normal individual, there are a lot of mixed reviews out there in terms of how the vegan diet can affect testosterone. If you're getting the right nutrition and, again, getting those healthy fats in then I don't think there's that much impact."Healthy fats, usually monounsaturated and polyunsaturated, are also good for heart health and supply plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, essential for brain function and cell growth. A man who puts himself under draining gravitational forces needs an efficient cardiovascular system to counter the stress. Competing in countries such as Malaysia and Singapore will also add to the heat and humidity of the cockpit. With his fourth world title, Hamilton established himself as the greatest British racing driver of all time."As a racing driver, to be heart healthy is really important because the heart rate goes up so much during driving and following a vegan diet is very heart healthy," says Ostrowe. "Avocados, walnuts, olives, flaxseeds, chia seeds or pumpkin seeds are full of healthy fats."Hamilton has himself said that his on-the-go lifestyle has made his new diet taxing at times. During the F1 season, held from March to November, drivers will compete in 20 races in 20 countries. "Some [countries] don't understand what a vegan is," he tells CNN's The Circuit. π€ A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton) on Oct 10, 2017 at 1:35pm PDT "It's not easy, particularly I would say more so on the road and I'm on the road all the time."What makes traveling more challenging for vegan athletes is the need to eat regularly. There can be no running out of steam during a high-intensity workout or in the 56th lap of a 61-lap race. But, again, the burden of eating on the go may not weigh heavily on Hamilton's shoulders. It is easy to travel in style when you own a private jet. Ostrowe, who recommends that the Briton takes snacks with him when traveling, says: "Maybe a vegan diet takes an extra bit of planning, but any athlete needs to be on top of their diet so I don't think it takes too much extra effort at all."He would need to eat every two to four hours to make sure his blood sugar levels are steady."Staying fit and lean is super important for a racing driver and eating every two to four hours keeps the metabolism running efficiently for weight management, as well as energy and focus. He also needs to make sure he's hydrating well because flying is very dehydrating. "Lewis needs somewhere around four-and-a-half liters of water per day, making sure he's getting those electrolytes. He will be sweating a lot in the car and he needs to make sure he's replenishing those electrolytes and fluids." JUST WATCHEDHow beet juice could win the Champions LeagueReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHow beet juice could win the Champions League 02:47On the back of his success this season, on his elevation to a racing great, will other sports superstars follow Hamilton down the road from which he says there is no return? "Once you cross the line, once you go over that hill, I can't imagine going back," Hamilton tells The Circuit.Hamilton's conversion to veganism was a gradual process. He cut out red meat two years ago, then decreased his intake of white meat until removing animal-based products from his diet entirely. Ostrowe says she has had a number of athletes asking her about veganism, but does not anticipate plant-based diets to one day be the norm for elite athletes.JUST WATCHEDMy First Car: Lewis HamiltonReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMy First Car: Lewis Hamilton 01:11 Visit CNN.com/sport for more news and videos"It's becoming more and more common, and it's becoming more common because there are more supplements that can help a vegan athlete," she says. "Years ago it was a little bit more challenging. Now more restaurants are offering some good vegan choices, it's easier to do."What I've seen is that many athletes are having at least one plant-based meal in their day. That's going to be more the trend. They're still including fish, dairy and egg, but they're including much more fruit and vegetables." | 5sport
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Story highlightsPolice are planning a large security operation for Margaret Thatcher's funeralThe service will be attended by the queen, as well as UK and foreign dignitariesThere are concerns that anti-Thatcher protests could turn violentThe security operation will close rail stations and roads, and police will be out in forceAnyone who is in London when Margaret Thatcher's funeral takes place next Wednesday can expect it to "look very different" as a huge security operation swings into action, police said Friday.Roads and Underground stations will be closed, police officers will be out in force, and members of the armed forces will line the route that the cortege will follow from Westminster to St. Paul's Cathedral.With Queen Elizabeth II and many other dignitaries among the more than 2,000 guests, the "ceremonial"-style funeral for Britain's first female prime minister was bound to be a security headache.The threat of possible demonstrations by anarchists and fears that dissident Irish Republicans may try to act have heightened concerns.Thatcher was the target of a hotel bombing in Brighton by the Irish Republican Army in 1984, and two of her close colleagues were killed in attacks. Read: Thatcher led in fighting terrorismHer political legacy remains highly divisive, in part because many people blame her for creating soaring unemployment as she reduced or eliminated many government subsidies to businesses and took on unions.JUST WATCHEDInvite list for Thatcher's funeralReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHInvite list for Thatcher's funeral 01:18JUST WATCHEDBlair on Thatcher: 'A towering figure'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBlair on Thatcher: 'A towering figure' 03:23JUST WATCHEDWas Thatcher an inspiration to women?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWas Thatcher an inspiration to women? 03:27JUST WATCHEDDoes Thatcher deserve a state funeral?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDoes Thatcher deserve a state funeral? 06:08Police were called out Monday in London's Brixton neighborhood, as well as in Bristol and Glasgow, after people gathered to "celebrate" the news of her death.Anarchist groups are reportedly planning a big "party" Saturday in Trafalgar Square. The square, in the heart of London, was the scene of rioting in 1990 against a hugely unpopular levy brought in by Thatcher, the poll tax.Reflecting the anger she still provokes among some people, sales of the "Wizard of Oz" song "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" have skyrocketed this week. A Facebook campaign is encouraging people to buy the track to celebrate the prime minister's death.No violence, no crimeCommander Christine Jones of London's Metropolitan Police declined to comment on any specific groups that might pose a treat to public order.But she told CNN that anyone planning to cause trouble on the day of the funeral can expect to be swiftly dealt with."We absolutely support people's lawful right to express themselves -- but it is a qualified right," she said. "That right is expunged if people decide that they are going to come to London to either commit acts of violence or crime. And we will deal with that."The Metropolitan Police has called for anyone intending to hold a protest Wednesday to get in touch to discuss their plans.Read: Thatcher's legacy in focus as UK plans funeralSaturday's "party" in Trafalgar Square is not being viewed by police as a demonstration at present, she said. If people want to get together peacefully to share views, "there is no issue for the Met Police around that for public safety," she added.Residents and visitors are urged to be aware that their freedom to move around may be affected."London is going to look very different on that day," said Jones."There will be parts of London that are not available. The transport system will look different. There will be various station closures and other changes to the London landscape which people may not be prepared for. And they may also want to be in a place where frankly we will not allow them to be." The two-mile route along which Thatcher's coffin will be taken on a horse-drawn gun carriage passes some of London's most iconic landmarks, so tourists can expect to be among those affected.'Our bread and butter'The Met Police will be working with the City of London Police, who cover the capital's financial district, and the British Transport Police, as well as the country's intelligence agencies and other partners to keep the city safe, Jones said.At the same time, she sought to downplay concerns that things may get out of hand despite the large scale of Wednesday's operation."We have a lot of experience in the Metropolitan Police -- in fact, really, this is our bread and butter," she said. The threat level assessment from Britain's intelligence experts has not changed, she said.Read: World media reaction to death of 'Iron Lady'Last year, policing efforts were dominated by the Diamond Jubilee, celebrating the queen's 60 years on the throne, and the London Olympics, which passed off peacefully. The wedding of Prince William and Catherine in April 2011 also involved a major policing operation.Public confidence in police was shaken, however, by several nights of riots and looting that rocked London and other English cities in the summer of 2011.The Olympics security operation included warships moored in the Thames, Typhoon jet fighters and Puma helicopters on standby, and, perhaps most controversially, surface-to-air missiles on apartment buildings near the Olympic Stadium.Jones would not give any detail of extra measures to be taken Wednesday, saying only that police "will deploy the resources we need to ensure that this is a safe and secure event.""Protective measures for the royal family, visiting heads of state and others -- that is normal practice, and it is absolutely tried and tested tactically," she said."It's the way we have managed to secure so many very successful events in London against a backdrop where we often have counterprotests going on." | 3news
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(CNN)A "special" Australian kelpie has sold for a record-breaking 35,200 Australian dollars ($27,090) at a working dog auction in the country's Victoria state.Two-year-old kelpie Hoover was sold at the Australian Premier Working Dog Auction in the town of Casterton on Sunday, CNN affiliate 7News reports.The sale has broken a national record in Australia, with Hoover receiving the highest price for a working dog in the country.The dog was bought by an unnamed sheep and cattle grazier, according to the Casterton Kelpie Association.The kelpie -- a working dog that rounds up sheep, cattle and goats -- was described by the auction catalog as the "complete package with a cool personality."Cow named after Posh Spice breaks world sales recordRead More"He really connects with you. He's full of energy and life," Sarah Lee told 7News. Her partner, David Lee, added that the kelpie was "quite a character."Sarah is originally from England, where she grew up on a farm. She moved to Australia in her twenties after meeting her husband and the couple now run a farm in Victoria.She told CNN Tuesday that dogs were "a love that we've always had."The couple bought Hoover from a friend two years ago, when the kelpie was just four months old.David Lee has owned Hoover since the dog was four months old."[David is] really happy that he's gone to a really good home," she said. "We knew he was special." She added that the pair "had an inkling" the dog could break the national record as there had been "just so much interest in him." "It's sad as well. He's been a big part of our lives but we did buy him specificallyΒ for the sale," she said.The sale tops the previous national record, set in 2019 after a working kelpie sold for 25,000 Australian dollars ($19,240).The most expensive working dog purchased worldwide remains a border collie from the UK, sold in February for more than $38,000, according to the BBC. | 3news
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(CNN)On Tuesday afternoon, Liliana Bustos, a 27-year-old waitress in El Paso, Texas, brought her 2-year-old son to see the growing memorial outside the Walmart commemorating the 22 people killed in the mass shooting there on Saturday. The shooting, Bustos said, "changes everything." She now plans to go to the grocery store and places like Walmart alone, without her son. "I don't want to risk him," she said, adding that she's now fearful of sending him to school one day. "I think my best option will be homeschool instead of putting him in danger," Bustos said. "He's the only thing I have right now."Read More Nearly 2,000 miles away, inside a Target store in the Washington, DC, suburbs of Fairfax, Virginia, that same sentiment was echoed by another Hispanic mother, 35-year-old Colombian-born Melanie Cepeda, who says she's also considering homeschooling to keep her daughter safe from gun violence. "It's one thing if you hear about these shootings, but when you know they're targeting brown people, it's very alarming," Cepeda said as her daughter, heading into the fifth grade, placed a sparkly bookbag into their Target shopping cart.For her, the problem is simple: too many people have access to too many guns. The government, she says, should put more restrictions on who can own guns."Just anyone can get them," Cepeda said. Police believe the El Paso shooter targeted Latinos. These are the victims' stories In nearby Manassas, Virginia, 23-year-old Ian Foster bristles at the idea that guns are the problem. Foster, an employee at C & R Firearms, gets frustrated when people blame gun owners after mass shootings, and argues that the "overwhelming majority" of them are responsible. "It kind of hurts when someone says it's your fault," said Foster. For the most part, the weekend's mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio, have prompted politicians in Washington to retreat to their corners. But across the country, Americans are having more nuanced conversations about gun violence. In more than a dozen interviews with people across the country, from Greeley, Colorado, to Manassas, Virginia, from Southern California to the Maryland shore, and in El Paso and Dayton, the sites of the most recent tragedies, CNN has attempted to capture the tenor of that conversation. Some say they are numb to the increasing frequency of mass shootings. Several say they are planning to make changes to their daily lives, and that the steady stream of killings makes them cautious about doing everyday activities. Others express a palpable sense of resignation that mass shootings are not something to be solved so much as a terrible fact of life to be managed. The data shows how complex the debate over guns and mass shootings is. For starters, America has more guns than people, with one estimate from the Small Arms Survey coming in at 393 million guns in the United States. According to the Pew Research Center, 57 percent of adults say gun laws should be stricter than they are today. Large majorities support banning sales of "assault guns" and instituting background checks for private gun purchases, but large numbers of Americans also support more concealed carry laws and putting guns in the hands of school officials and employees as a way to deter mass shootings. This complexity is also apparent in how people responded to questions from CNN. Many expressed a concern for safety; others an outrage about the lack of action by lawmakers to restrict gun access. Some were fearful that Second Amendment rights would be threatened, while others worried that ethnic and racial minorities would be increasingly targeted. Others still grappled with the desire for positive change while recognizing the limits of stopping people bent on killing. The one constant that emerges from these interviews is that something needs to change. The problem is coming to an agreement on what that "something" is. Latinos in fearWhat makes this weekend's shootings unique is not just that they happened within 24 hours of each other, but that they intertwined with two other issues dividing the country: immigration and race. Many Latino and Hispanic communities around the country are already on edge given the rhetoric from President Trump. The shooting in El Paso has only heightened the anxiety. Every day outside the Home Depot on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California, 50 to 70 Latino men gather in the parking lot waiting for contractors or homeowners to come by with unofficial offers for work. On Tuesday morning, a man who identified himself as Elias and who did not want to give his full name, said he wasn't surprised that Latinos were the target of a mass shooting, and worries that it could happen again. "Of course we are scared of some random person coming to harm us," Elias said in Spanish, noting that most of the men are undocumented and speak little to no English. "Some people get upset just because we are here, trying to find work, and for no other reason, but I do think there is strength in numbers and there are so many of us here." The men gathered here are pessimistic, Elias added. They don't believe the Texas shooting will change the racism directed toward them, or the President's rhetoric toward Latinos. He and a man nearby he identified only as Jose think it will get worse before it will get better.Fabiola Lucas with her two daughters. Across town later that afternoon, families gathered at the historic Mexican marketplace on Olvera Street expressed similar feelings of fear and anxiety. "It is scary to think it can happen anywhere, we are so vulnerable," said Fabiola Lucas as she and her family strolled around the plaza after lunch at a nearby taqueria. "We can't go to the store, to shop, without thinking about where your kids are, where the exits are. Anyone can have a gun." Born in Mexico, Lucas has lived in Los Angeles for 20 years. She said racism toward Latinos has always existed, but what's changed in her view is that racists now feel validated by Trump's rhetoric to lash out. "Everyone says how Mexico is so violent, but the violence there, I believe, is among cartel members, while in the US, anyone can be a victim. It is so random and no place is safe," said Lucas, "Not one of these mass shooters has been a Latino. They all have been white males. The president keeps blaming us for the crime and the violence. Why?" No more business as usualIt's not just Latinos feeling unsafe. The Dayton shooting that killed nine people has rocked residents in this Ohio city that was already suffering from the opioid epidemic.Andre Ortiz and his fiancΓ©e Caysee Brown frequent Dayton's Oregon entertainment district where the shooting took place. Ortiz, 34, and Brown, 36, knew one of the victims, Lola Oglesby. "It feels a little different to even leave the house these days," said Brown. "It just doesn't feel like you can go anywhere. Can't go to Walmart. Can't go to church. Can't go to a movie theater without the fear of something happening or something going wrong."Caysee Brown, 36, and her fiancΓ© Andre Ortiz, 34. Ortiz said he's had to talk with the couple's four kids about what happened, and that he's skeptical that anything will be done in the aftermath of the twin shootings. "It doesn't sound like a problem we're ready to embrace or speak truthfully about," he said. "It's not video games. It's not dark corners of the internet. It's not just purely mental illness." He added: "There is a hatred that is built in." Dayton resident Dale Banks, 46, lives half a mile from the site of the shooting. A gun owner, Banks said background checks to identify mentally ill people before they buy a gun would be a "start." He said that "responsible gun owners" shouldn't be punished but then wondered aloud why anyone would need 100-round clips to enjoy an AR-15 rifle.Banks' wife, 59-year-old Christie Wishon, cut in. "Stop the long rifle," she said. "I don't think that an arsenal weapon that can kill nine people in 30 seconds should be allowed for a normal person to have. I think it should be in the military."Dale Banks, 46, and Christie Wishon, 59.Scared at the beachThe wave of the mass shootings has some Americans feeling unsafe in places that would normally be considered secure, like on their summer vacation. Keeping cover from some afternoon rain underneath a novelty shop along the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland, David and Hanh Waskeiwicz, with their 17-month-old daughter in tow, told CNN on Tuesday that the recent shootings have made them reconsider going places with large crowds. "This is why we don't want to go to big events, because things like this happen and it scares me," Hanh said, adding that she has thought about how she could best shield her young daughter if an attack were to take place. David said that the shootings have made him more aware of his surroundings and have changed where β and when β his family goes places, including the beach. "We've actually been avoiding large crowds," he said. "Today, for the most part, we're kind of happy we chose Tuesday. We figured it would be the least busy time to come." While waiting at a bus stop with his family after spending the day at the beach, Baltimore resident Ray France said that while he's always aware of his surroundings, the recent mass shootings have made him far more alert. "I don't talk about it to my family, but I keep my eyes open," said France. "It could happen anywhere, especially where there's lots of people. Just like on the boardwalk today, someone could jump out and just start shooting." Back to school concernsAs summer break winds down and students across the country prepare to head back to the classroom, school officials are reviewing security protocols and grappling with the risks of gun violence. Many public systems began their school years on the Monday after the shootings, including several in the metro Atlanta area. A spokesman for Gwinnett County Public Schools told CNN the systems schools have begun using visitor management systems to monitor who is entering elementary and middle schools. Erin Weir, 17, says security measures have noticeably changed at Roswell High School in Fulton County, Georgia, where she is a senior. "They totally buffed up security after the Parkland shooting," said Weir while at her home in Roswell, a north Atlanta suburb. "We used to not have lockdowns and intruder drills that much but now we have them like once a month." Sitting inside their family living room, Erin's mother Katy, a 50-year-old elementary school teacher in the metro Atlanta area, says she's talked with her own children about the potential for gun violence at school. She says her school has an annual meeting with faculty about how to respond to an intruder and that schools are increasing the number of security measures by requiring badge access for certain doors and upping the drills for potential active shooters. Despite all that, Katy Weir said she's frustrated there are no straightforward solutions to the problem. "A mad person with a gun on their hands is much more likely to do damage than one without one. But I understand we need to be able to own guns to protect ourselves," she said. "Something needs to be done," she added. "I just don't know what it is." Gun enthusiasts have their sayAcross the country, gun enthusiasts and gun industry workers insist that more gun laws aren't the answer. David Becker, 50, who owns the Miami Armory gun store in Dayton, said the solution is to enforce existing laws, rather than pass new ones. If that was done, "You would certainly mitigate some of the crime that you see," said Becker, who expressed skepticism that mental health and juvenile delinquent screenings could effectively find would-be killers because of the nation's privacy laws.David Becker, 50, is the owner of Miami Armory in Dayton. When it comes to solutions, Becker said the pro-gun community is wary of the "red flag" laws proposed by Trump earlier this week. The perception is they would be difficult to enforce without violating due process and could lead to tighter restrictions for all gun owners. In the end, he's not sure anything could have prevented what happened. "What could we have done differently? Not a thing." When Lindsey Murphy, a clerk at Clark Brothers Gun Shop in Fauquier County, Virginia, sees reports of mass shootings on the news, she doesn't question gun laws. She questions what's changed in American society to cause a rise in the number of shootings the country is experiencing. "Why is it now and not then? Why is it nowadays? What has changed with society, with, maybe there's something more to it than just you know as a lot of people bring up mental issues or something," Murphy said. "There's more to it than changing a gun law's going to fix."Inside a barbecue restaurant in Greeley, Colorado, a more conservative city an hour north of Denver, there was a palpable sense of hostility toward the idea that restrictions on guns would be fair or effective. The restaurant is hosting a concealed carry class this week. Trump backs 'red flag' gun laws. What do they actually do? One farmer, a father and gun owner eating dinner with his family who declined to give his name, said that Americans "are numb" to the rise in mass shootings, and argued that the lack of guns, not the prevalence of them, are the bigger problem. "If you have a gun-free zone, what does that broadcast to the world?" he asked. "You're advertising to a shooter this is a gun-free zone." He did say that "deeper and more intense background checks and maybe even waiting period" would help keep guns out of the hands of the wrong people. At a table nearby, local mom Amy Flores said guns are not the problem plaguing the country β it's a wayward culture. "It used to be that parents set boundaries. Now they are afraid of their own kids," Flores said, sitting next to her 5-year-old son. She added that protective action, not words, will help prevent mass shootings. "You can only prepare your kids so much. You can't walk on eggshells. You have to live life," Flores said.Devin Hamlin, 23. Back in Dayton, 23-year-old Devin Hamlin has lived a life scarred by gun violence. He lost a younger brother in a shooting two years ago and lives just blocks away from the site of this weekend's shooting. Hamlin says something must be done to fix what's broken, but he's torn over what should be done. "I definitely want somebody to be able to protect themselves, like I'd want to be able to protect myself," said Hamlin. "But at the same time, you're letting the wrong people get ahold of them. That's where the problem is. It's hard to weed out who's the good guys and the bad guys." Hamlin continued, repeating the undefined refrain now familiar to countless Americans across the country: "Something needs to change."CNN's Eric Bradner, Ellie Kaufman, Holmes Lybrand, LaRell Reynolds, Sara Weisfeldt, Madeline Burakoff and Michaela Pocock contributed to this report. | 4politics
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Story highlightsGolfer Brandt Snedeker reveals a bone disease has been affecting his formThe American has brittle ribs but says new medication is helping him focus on golfSnedeker is the FedEx Cup champion but says defending the title will be toughThe FedEx Cup playoffs begin at Liberty National in New Jersey this weekBreaking four ribs in six years has turned out to be more than just bad luck for golfer Brandt Snedeker.After another rib injury saw his early season form vanish, the American World No. 7 discovered he had a debilitating bone disease."It's something called low bone turnover," Snedeker told CNN World Sport. "For some reason my rib cage doesn't generate the right amount of bone it should do."It boils down to the fact that I have brittle ribs. I'm now on medication to try and counteract it. It's been helping a lot. "I haven't had any issues in the last few months and it's nice to get that behind me and focus more on golf."Getting back on course, literally, will be a relief to Snedeker, who is targeting a big finish to the season in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs -- which start this week with The Barclays at Liberty National in New Jersey.After winning the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February, the 32-year-old was forced to take a month long break from the game.JUST WATCHEDEurope triumphs at Solheim CupReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHEurope triumphs at Solheim Cup 02:30JUST WATCHEDObama golfs with 'Seinfeld' co-creatorReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHObama golfs with 'Seinfeld' co-creator 00:49JUST WATCHEDDufnering back in style after PGA winReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDufnering back in style after PGA win 03:28That hiatus interrupted what he considered to be a halcyon period on the golf course."I played the best golf of my career in the first couple of months (of the year)," Snedeker explained."Then I got injured and I had to fight my way back from that."I've had some glimpse of playing some great golf again but I haven't had the consistency I had at the beginning of the year -- hopefully I can get back to that, I'm close."Getting back to his best saw Snedeker clinch a three-shot victory at the Canadian Open at the end of July and climb to third in the FedEx Cup standings.Read: Snedeker profits from Mahan new arrivalSnedeker is the defending FedEx Cup champion and this week heads to New Jersey for the first of four playoffs.But with Tiger Woods, who has won five times this season, leading the tournament rankings from fellow American Matt Kuchar, the golfer from Nashville is under no illusions about his chances of becoming the first person to successfully defend the crown."It's going to be really, really tough," said Snedeker. "I'm excited to be in a good position going into the playoffs but you never really know what's going to happen until you get in the mix of it. "Tiger is leading that race and he is going to be a formidable guy going into the final stretch."But there are four tournaments and these are all great golf courses culminating at East Lake in Atlanta and it should be a lot of fun."The FedEx Cup sees player accrue ranking points throughout the season with the top 125 taking part in the first playoff. The field is whittled down with a final 70 players competing for the $10 million prize purse at the Tour Championship in Atlanta in September. | 5sport
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(CNN)For the second straight year, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was named AP NFL Most Valuable Player. The award, announced at Thursday's NFL Honors Awards, marks the fourth of his 17-year career, as he also won for his play in the 2011, 2014 and 2020 seasons.Rodgers finished the 2021 season throwing for 4,115 yards, 37 touchdowns, and four interceptions while leading the Packers to the top seed in the NFC with a 13-4 record. The Packers would go on to lose in the NFC Divisional Round to the San Francisco 49ers.Aaron Rodgers claims his 'divisive' vaccination status was the 'only reason' people wanted Packers to lose in the playoffsThe 38-year-old has played his entire career in Green Bay and won Super Bowl XLV in 2011, where he was named the game's most valuable player. Only one other player has won more season MVPs in his career, according to the team's website -- Peyton Manning with five. Rodgers, who has been unclear about his future in the league, said after winning the award, "It's been an amazing 17 years. So thankful for the memories and the moments over the years." | 5sport
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French Budget Minister Jerome Cahuzac has resigned as prosecutors said they had opened a preliminary investigation into allegations that he had an undeclared bank account in Switzerland, officials said Tuesday.His resignation was announced in a statement from the presidential palace. French President Francois Hollande removed Cahuzac at his request and appointed Bernard Cazeneuve to serve in his place, it said.The announcement came shortly after prosecutors said they had launched the preliminary investigation into tax evasion in January. | 3news
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(CNN)The family of Nathan Valencia, the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) student who died days after a charity boxing match, said his death "could have been avoided."Cynthia Valencia told CNN's Brianna Keilar Monday she was worried when her son first mentioned he was going to participate in UNLV's Kappa Sigma fraternity's "Fight Night" November 19."But he kept telling us 'no, this is for people who didn't have prior boxing experience,' because he never was a boxer. He truly was just doing this because it was for a charity," she said.Nathan, 20, died four days after collapsing at the end of the fight. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, another fraternity.Nick Lasso, an attorney for the Valencia family said, "This was an event that was known to the university, it's been held many times in years past." Read MoreAccording to an online flyer for the bout, the event was a fundraiser for Center Ring Boxing, a Las Vegas-based organization that establishes youth boxing programs for area children and their families.Lasso said it appears safety protocols were not followed, claiming there were no professional referees or paramedics on-site. "It just appears that there were safety failures, every single step of this process," he said.CNN has reached out to the university, the fraternity and Center Ring Boxing for comment, but has not heard back.Cynthia Valencia said, "In the past, they've always had professional referees," but said "we've heard this time they just pulled some random guy from Kappa [Sigma fraternity]... that's what we believe."Cynthia added after her son collapsed, he was lying "on the floor, waiting for paramedics for about 15 minutes 'cause they didn't have paramedics on standby at the site."In a statement over the weekend, UNLV and the Kappa Sigma fraternity released separate statements saying they were saddened over the tragic loss of Valencia, with the university noting the event was held off-campus.Valencia's official cause of death has not been released. | 3news
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Story highlightsVenus Williams withdraws from Wimbledon champions because of injuryBack problem caused her problems at last month's French Open in Paris2013 championships will be first Venus has missed since Wimbledon debut in 1997Five-time champion Venus Williams has pulled out of next week's Wimbledon championships because of injury. The 33-year-old has not missed a tournament at the grass court finals since making her debut in 1997 but has struggled with a back injury in recent months. "Unfortunately, I will not be able to participate in Wimbledon this year," the American wrote on her Facebook page. "I am extremely disappointed as I have always loved The Championships, but I need to take time to let my back heal. I look forward to returning to the courts as soon as possible." Read: Back problem forces Venus out of Miami MastersWilliams suffered her earliest French Open exit in 12 years last month when she crashed to a first-round defeat to Poland's Urszula Radwanska.She said her back had troubled her during the match and then pulled out of the doubles with her sister Serena, the world number one, because of the problem. JUST WATCHEDWilliams wins 2nd French Open titleReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWilliams wins 2nd French Open title 01:26JUST WATCHEDSerena: Venus was a great role modelReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSerena: Venus was a great role model 01:55JUST WATCHEDSerena Williams' rise to greatnessReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSerena Williams' rise to greatness 07:37In March, the seven-time grand slam champion was forced out of the Miami Masters because of the same injury to her lower back. Venus' withdrawal denies the world No. 34 the chance to get ahead of Serena at the championships, with both sisters tied on five singles titles apiece. Read: Serena wins 2013 French OpenVenus, who lost in the first round for the first time last year, won her titles in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008, while Serena is the defending champion. Serena aside, the women's field only has two other ladies that have managed to win the title: Maria Sharapova, who succeeded in 2004, and 2011 champion Petra Kvitova. Despite her recent injury troubles, Venus' opponents may be relieved by the absence of a player who last contested the final in 2009, when she was beaten by her younger sister. "My goal (is) to return on July 8 in Washington," the elder Williams said. "Many thanks to my fans for the love and support and I will be seeing you very soon back on the courts." Venus' absence means she will be unable to defend the doubles title she won last year with Serena, their fifth triumph at Wimbledon. The duo, who have contested four singles finals against one another at Wimbledon, also triumphed on Center Court last year when winning a gold medal in the doubles at the London Olympics. | 5sport
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Story highlightsAmy Wright is 2017 CNN Hero of the YearWright advocates for people with disabilitiesShe employs dozens of people with physical and intellectual challenges at her coffee shop (CNN)"My children are not broken," Amy Wright insists. Most parents don't have to declare their children's fundamental value, but after two of 2017 CNN Hero of the Year Amy Wright's kids were born with Down syndrome, it was clear that she would have to back them up every step of the way."When you become a parent of a child with special needs, you are instantly thrust into becoming an advocate," Wright explained. "Trying to make people see the beauty in their lives that we see." Wright's advocacy took the form of a coffee shop. She opened Bitty & Beau's Coffee in January 2016, named for her two children.On Sunday, it was clear that Wright, Bitty, Beau and the 40 disabled employees at the Wilmington, North Carolina, shop have an army of supporters.Read MoreWright was named the 2017 CNN Hero of the Year for her efforts to advocate for disabled people. The award is determined by online voters who selected Wright from among the top 10 CNN Heroes finalists. Wright will receive $100,000 to grow her cause. All of the top 10 CNN Heroes for 2017 will receive a $10,000 cash award. Donations made to each of their designated nonprofit organizations are also being matched up to $50,000. Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'Amy Wright operates a coffee shop that employs dozens of people with disabilities. She won the 2017 CNN Hero of the Year award for her work and will receive $100,000 to grow her cause. Click through the gallery to see inspiring moments from this year's awards show:Hide Caption 1 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'Co-hosts Kelly Ripa and Anderson Cooper speak onstage during 2017's CNN Heroes tribute gala, held on December 17 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.Hide Caption 2 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'Actress Diane Lane introduces 2017 CNN Hero Amy Wright, one of the top 10 finalists. Later, Wright would win Hero of the Year.Hide Caption 3 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'Wright speaks while accepting her Top 10 CNN Hero award.Hide Caption 4 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'Kelly Ripa introduces the first of five Young Wonder honorees.Hide Caption 5 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'"Stranger Things" star Gaten Matarazzo introduces 2017 Young Wonder Sidney Keys III.Hide Caption 6 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'Young Wonder honoree Sidney Keys III and Gaten Matarazzo pose backstage during "CNN Heroes All-Star Tribute."Hide Caption 7 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'2017 CNN Hero Khali Sweeney accepts his award onstage.Hide Caption 8 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'2017 CNN Hero Samir Lakhani poses with his award.Hide Caption 9 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'Actor Christopher Meloni introduces 2017 CNN Hero Stan Hayes.Hide Caption 10 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'2017 CNN Young Wonder Christina LiHide Caption 11 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'Actor Andrew Rannells welcomes 2017 CNN Hero Leslie Morissette.Hide Caption 12 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'Anderson Cooper poses with 2017 CNN Young Wonder Ryan Hickman.Hide Caption 13 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'Comedian Jim Gaffigan introduces 2017 CNN Hero Andy Manzi.Hide Caption 14 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'2017 CNN Hero Andy Manzi accepts his award.Hide Caption 15 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'A view of the audience during the 2017 "CNN Heroes All-Star Tribute" at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.Hide Caption 16 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'2017 CNN Hero Jennifer Maddox Hide Caption 17 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'2017 Young Wonder Campbell Remess Hide Caption 18 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'2017 CNN Hero Mona PatelHide Caption 19 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'Actress Alfre Woodard speaks onstage.Hide Caption 20 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'2017 CNN Hero Rosie Mashale accepts her award.Hide Caption 21 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'2017 CNN Young Wonder Haile ThomasHide Caption 22 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'2017 CNN Hero Aaron Valencia, left, accepts his award from actor Christian Bale.Hide Caption 23 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'Andra Day performs onstage.Hide Caption 24 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'Anderson Cooper poses with CNN's Young Wonders, from left to right: Campbell Remess, Ryan Hickman, Haile Thomas, Christina Li, and Sidney Keys IIIHide Caption 25 of 26 Photos: Inside 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute'Anderson Cooper and Kelly Ripa with the 2017 Top 10 CNN Heroes, from left to right: Andrew Manzi, Samir Lakhani, Rosie Mashale, Stan Hays, Leslie Morissette, Anderson Cooper, Amy Wright, Kelly Ripa, Jennifer Maddox, Mona Patel, Khali Sweeney, and Aaron Valencia.Hide Caption 26 of 26"I am bringing this home to the 40 employees who work at Bitty & Beau's because they are my heroes. And most of all to my two youngest children, Bitty and Beau, who are my inspirations," Wright said, hugging her CNN Hero of the Year award. She had a special message for her children."I want you to know, because I know you are watching, that I would not change you for the world, but I will change the world for you."After all, people with physical and intellectual disabilities can be judged by their appearance alone. When Wright and her husband learned that 70% of the disabled are unemployed, they decided to become a part of the solution -- for their children and others.JUST WATCHEDCNN Heroes: 'Welcome to Bitty & Beau's!'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCNN Heroes: 'Welcome to Bitty & Beau's!' 02:45"It hit me like a lightning bolt: a coffee shop!" Wright said. "I realized it would be the perfect environment for bringing people together. Seeing the staff taking orders, serving coffee -- they'd realize how capable they are."Wright was presented with her top 10 CNN Hero award by actress Diane Lane, who said: "She opened a business where people like her son and daughter could work and shine."Sunday's CNN Heroes tribute show was a night of shining stars, salutes and tears -- and a few laughs, too.Hosts Kelly Ripa and Anderson Cooper kicked things off live from New York's American Museum of Natural History with a unique rendition of "Wind Beneath My Wings," complete with jazz hands by Kelly. Presenters Christian Bale, Diane Lane, Alfre Woodard, Christopher Meloni, Gaten Matarazzo and others added star power to the night.Singer Andra Day and rapper-actor Common serenaded the crowd with their hit "Stand Up for Something" to wrap up the inspirational evening."This is emotionally taxing," joked comedian Jim Gaffigan. 'A new lens'Heading to New York City to be honored among the other top 10 CNN Heroes was a special moment for Wright."I'm so emotional, just reflecting on this journey," she said during Saturday's rehearsal. "I would've never imagined 13 years ago, when my son Beau was born, that I would be doing what I'm doing today. I'm just overwhelmed with emotion thinking about where we've been and where we hope to go."Wright told CNN her goal with the shop is to improve the lives of employees and change the viewpoints of customers."Bitty & Beau's Coffee is a new lens, one that changes the way people see other people. It's about human value. It's about acceptance. It's about inclusion. It's about much more than a cup of coffee."It's working."Bitty & Beau's has helped me a lot with my confidence," said employee Matt Dean."My employees are not broken; 200 million people across the world living with an intellectual or developmental disability are not broken," Wright said Sunday night, when accepting her top 10 CNN Hero award. "What is broken is the lens through which we view people with disabilities." All of the top 10 CNN Heroes are impacting their communities in immeasurable ways:Stan Hays, a Grand Champion pitmaster uses his barbecuing skills to feed people in need during disasters through Operation BBQ Relief.Samir Lakhani established the Eco-Soap Bank, which recycles used hotel soap for better hygiene and job creation in Cambodia.Jennifer Maddox's after-school program, Future Ties, provides a safe space for more than 100 children to learn, grow and succeed in Chicago.Andrew Manzi's nonprofit, Warrior Surf, provides free six-week surf camps for veterans and their families, complete with therapy sessions on the beach.Rosie Mashale and the organization Baphumelele provide care for more than 5,000 orphaned, abandoned or sick children in South Africa, many of whom have lost parents to AIDS.Leslie Morissette's project, Grahamtastic Connection gives computers, iPads and robots to ill kids so they stay connected to friends, family and school.Mona Patel created the San Antonio Amputee Foundation, which offers peer support, education, recreation and financial help for people who need prosthetic limbs.Khali Sweeney's Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program provides around 100 Detroit children with training and academic tutoring five days a week.Aaron Valencia founded the Lost Angels Children's Project, an after-school program that focuses on classic car restoration. Also honored at Sunday's event were the 2017 CNN Heroes Young Wonders, kids and teens who got an early start with their passion for giving. This group is determined to promote literacy, environmentalism, coding skills, nutrition and compassion.Donations made to the designated nonprofit organization of each Top 10 CNN Hero, via CNNHeroes.com and crowdrise.com/cnnheroes, will be matched up to $50,000 per CNN Hero through January 7, 2018.Now in its 11th year, the Peabody Award and Emmy-winning "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" has profiled more than 300 heroes and has received upward of 85,000 nominations from more than 100 countries.To learn more, like CNN Heroes on Facebook, follow @CNNHeroes on Twitter and use hashtag #CNNHeroes. Behind-the-scenes images can be seen on the CNN Heroes Instagram account.CNN's Kathleen Toner contributed to this report. | 3news
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Story highlightsDaniella Zalcman juxtaposed her subjects against their former residential schools in CanadaA commission last year officially labeled the old residential school system as "cultural genocide" (CNN)When Daniella Zalcman visited Canada for the first time in 2014, she was shocked by the poverty and desperation she witnessed in parts of Saskatchewan's indigenous community.The photographer captured scenes of neglected homes against stark, rolling landscapes, and she encountered weary individuals ravaged by alcoholism and addiction.Nearly everyone she spoke to passed through the residential school system, a dark chapter in Canadian history that was the government's form of cultural assimilation. The government-funded, church-run schools, which started in the 1870s, attempted "to kill the Indian in the child." More than 150,000 First Nations, Metis and Inuit children were taken from their families and placed in schools across the country, where they were forbidden from speaking their language or practicing their culture.The schools began closing in the 1980s, and the last school closed in 1996 amid reports of sexual and physical abuse. The Canadian government made its first formal apology for the residential school system in 2008, and a Truth and Reconciliation Commission officially labeled it "cultural genocide" in 2015. Photographer Daniella Zalcman"They created a new way of subjugating and marginalizing people; they were essentially trying to wipe out the indigenous community," Zalcman said. Read MoreAs she dug deeper into the history of these schools and listened to people's stories of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, she realized her photographs barely scratched the surface. She returned to Saskatchewan last year and spent three more weeks taking portraits. Images from the two trips culminated in "Signs of Your Identity," winner of the 2016 FotoEvidence Book Award. The title references the formal apology from the Anglican Church, which operated many of the residential schools along with the Catholic Church: "I am sorry, more than I can say, that we tried to remake you in our image, taking from you your language and the signs of your identity," Archbishop Michael Peers said in 1993 (PDF).For her project, Zalcman used double-exposure portraits, juxtaposing people against sites of the former schools to create meditations on memory and the psychological legacy of the schools. The idea came about while Zalcman was at an AIDS conference in Australia, another country that has gone through the truth and reconciliation process with its indigenous community. She was stunned to learn that Canada's First Nations people had one of the highest-growing rates of HIV in the world, despite the country's reputation for pioneering needle exchanges and other harm-reduction strategies.Social mediaFollow @CNNPhotos on Twitter to join the conversation about photography."I believe these public health crises that the First Nations community is facing now is the direct result of the legacy of these residential schools," she said.Most of the 45 people she spoke to attended two schools in Saskatchewan from the 1950s and 1970s, a documented period of intense sexual and physical abuse. Students at George Gordon First Nation, north of Regina, were sexually abused for decades.Other subjects attended Beauval Indian Residential School in Battleford, where at least one person has been held accountable for numerous instances of sexual abuse. Zalcman was astounded by their vivid memories, as if they'd been waiting to tell their stories. She felt ashamed that their stories had been excluded from the history books."When we collectively think about the awful things done to the Native American, we talk about things that happened hundreds of years ago," she said."This is modern history."Photographer Daniella Zalcman splits her time between London and New York. Her "Signs of Your Identity" project was funded by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. She is the co-founder of @echosight, and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram. | 3news
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Story highlights Two rescued passengers were South Koreans on their honeymoonThe captain is being investigated for abandoning ship and manslaughterAn estimated 126 Americans were among the 3,200 passengersScores of people are unaccounted for, but may be at hospitals and sheltersRescuers reached two trapped honeymooners in the interior of a cruise ship more than 24 hours after it ran aground off a picturesque Italian island, killing three people, injuring 20 and leaving dozens unaccounted for.The South Korean passengers, each 29, heard searchers calling out on the Costa Concordia, Italy's ANSA news agency reported early Sunday. They were located in a cabin and taken ashore. Video showed them being taken to a waiting ambulance.The captain of the ill-fated vessel, which turned over on its side after the grounding, was arrested late Saturday and was being investigated for abandoning ship and manslaughter, a local prosecutor said.With perhaps up to 50 people unaccounted for, divers suspended their efforts at dark, with plans to resume the search in the azure waters off the island of Giglio at dawn Sunday. Accounts of the chaos from many of the 3,200 passengers were reminiscent of a maritime disaster 100 years ago this April -- the loss of the RMS Titanic."For me, the worst part of the whole ordeal" was when a lifeboat crew member told those boarding that it was "women and children first," said passenger Benji Smith of Boston."All these families who were clinging to each other had to be separated," Smith told CNN. Francesco Schettino, captain of the Costa Concordia, is taken into custody Saturday.Some passengers fell into the chilly waters during the rescue, ANSA reported.Questions abounded: Why was the colossal ship so close to the shore? How fast was it moving? How well did the crew respond? According to many passengers, the evacuation was disorganized and no one seemed in charge."Every crew member who walked past shouted instructions, but the instructions contradicted each other," Smith said.Concordia's captain, Francesco Schettino, was interviewed earlier Saturday about what happened when the ship struck rocks in shallow water off Italy's western coast Friday evening, said officer Emilio Del Santo of the Coastal Authorities of Livorno. Local fishermen say the island coast of Giglio is known for its rocky sea floor. Schettino said "that rock was not indicated on the chart," according to ANSA. "Me and the crew, we were the last to abandon ship," he said.The ship was 2.5 miles off route when it struck the rocky sandbar. "There are rocks, they are on the maps," said Capt. Cosimo Nicastro of the Italian Coast Guard. "What we know is the ship went really close to these rocks. ... We don't yet know why."The ship began taking on water Friday evening and the crew kept going because they believed the vessel could normally keep sailing, Nicastro said. Realizing there was a significant safety problem, the commander steered the Costa Concordia closer toward port.Authorities also were looking at why the ship didn't hail a mayday during the accident. "At the moment we can't exclude that the ship had some kind of technical problem, and for this reason moved towards the coast in order to save the passengers, the crew and the ship. But they didn't send a mayday. The ship got in contact with us once the evacuation procedures were already ongoing," Del Santo said prior to the announcement of the captain's arrest.Giuseppe Orsina, a spokesman with the local civil protection agency, said 43 to 51 people were missing, though authorities are reviewing passenger lists to confirm the exact figure."These people could be still on the island of Giglio, in private houses or in hospitals," Orsina said.JUST WATCHED'Chaos' as cruise ship hits rockReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH'Chaos' as cruise ship hits rock 02:21JUST WATCHEDCaptain of cruise ship arrestedReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCaptain of cruise ship arrested 01:36JUST WATCHEDWitnesses talk about cruise ship accidentReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWitnesses talk about cruise ship accident 03:36Two French tourists and a crew member from Peru were killed, Port authorities in Livorno said. One of the victims was a 65-year-old woman who died of a heart attack, according to authorities. Nautilus International, a maritime employees trade union, called the accident a "wake-up call" to regulators."Nautilus is concerned about the rapid recent increases in the size of passenger ships -- with the average tonnage doubling over the past decade," said Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson in a statement. "Many ships are now effectively small towns at sea, and the sheer number of people onboard raises serious questions about evacuation."Gianni Onorato, president of Genoa-based Costa Cruises, expressed "deep sorrow for this terrible tragedy," but said the cruise line was unable to answer all the questions that authorities are now investigating.The vessel, plying the waters from Civitavecchia to Savona, Italy, struck a submerged rock, Onorato said in a statement before the announcement of the captain's arrest."Captain Schettino, who was on the bridge at the time, immediately understood the severity of the situation and performed a maneuver intended to protect both guests and crew, and initiated security procedures to prepare for an eventual ship evacuation," he continued. "Unfortunately, that operation was complicated by a sudden tilting of the ship that made disembarkation difficult," Onorato said. Rosalyn Rincon, a member of the cruise ship staff, said the captain told passengers there was an "electrical problem."Concordia was carrying about 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew members when it ran aground."I'm not surprised that it (the ship) would wind up tipping like this," said Neil Gallagher, professor of naval architecture at the Webb Institute on Long Island, New York. "Something had to go wrong with either the controls or the navigation to get it to this condition."Chris B. McKesson, adjunct professor of naval architecture at the School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the University of New Orleans, said, "from the size of the gash, she must have been steaming at a pretty good pace."Fear and panic aboard crippled shipPanic spread as people scrambled to find lifeboats in the dark as the ship quickly leaned to one side late Friday. Access to some lifeboats was hampered by the ship's tilt into the water.With the ship's staircases flooded, Smith and others made rope ladders to climb from the outer fourth deck to the third. They were eventually rescued more than three hours later by a lifeboat that had returned from dropping passengers ashore.At least three lifeboats, each with a capacity of more than 100 people, apparently malfunctioned due to technical or crew error, Smith said. "The people manning these boats were just cooks and shopkeepers," Smith said. Cmdr. Buddy Reams, chief of the U.S. Coast Guard's Cruise Ship National Center of Expertise, said, "when it comes to cruise ships, in the event of emergency, cabin stewards or others would have safety roles," he said.The Coast Guard inspects foreign-flagged cruise ships in U.S. waters twice a year, studying the competency of the crew during fire and abandon-ship drills, Reams said.Many passengers asked why they had not yet received an obligatory safety briefing when disaster struck around dinner time, only hours into their journey. The timing of the safety briefings and muster drills depend on the length of the cruise, Reams told CNN.JUST WATCHEDPassengers face problems off cruise shipReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHPassengers face problems off cruise ship 01:46JUST WATCHED3 killed after cruise ship runs agroundReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH3 killed after cruise ship runs aground 01:34JUST WATCHEDItaly cruise ship evacuated ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHItaly cruise ship evacuated 03:32Many of those rescued in the early hours were taken to small churches and other buildings around the island for shelter. Some were still wearing the pajamas and slippers they had on as the ship went down.Vivian Shafer, a passenger from Maryland, told CNN there was no initial announcement after the vessel began its tilt. Others reported being unable to clearly hear instructions.Once ashore, no one from the crew assisted them, Shafer said. Rather, it was up to islanders."There didn't seem to be anybody in charge," she said.Costa Cruises, owned by parent company Carnival Corp., said it was focusing on the final stages of the emergency operation and helping passengers and crew return home."It is a tragedy that deeply affects our company. Our first thoughts go to the victims and we would like to express our condolences and our closeness to their families and friends," the line said on its website.The Concordia, built in 2006, was on a Mediterranean cruise from Rome with stops in Savona, Marseille, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Cagliari and Palermo.Most of the passengers on board were Italian. CNN affiliate America Noticias, in Peru, said a group of 32 Peruvians were also onboard. Brazil's state-run Agencia Brasil said 53 Brazilians were on the cruise ship. An estimated 126 Americans were also on board, according to the U.S. State Department. There were no reports of injured Americans though the U.S. Embassy in Rome said it was unable to account for all U.S. citizens believed to be on board the ship at the time of the accident.Another Costa ship was involved in a deadly 2010 accident when the Costa Europa crashed into a pier in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh during stormy weather, killing three crew members. | 3news
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(CNN)While America slept and Asia worked, the shape of Europe changed. UK voters decided they wanted out of the European Union, triggering international shock and concern. World markets switched to crisis mode, with the Dow plunging more than 600 points Friday and the value of the pound falling to a 30-year-low. Here's the rundown: UK voted to get out of the EU: The final vote came to 51.89% for LEAVE and 48.11% for REMAIN. How the heck did that happen? The final results map highlights a telling split between London and the rest of England and Wales. Here's how each region voted. Read MoreBritish Prime Minister David Cameron resigned: He campaigned for the British to stay in the EU. Obviously that didn't work. So he announced that a new leader should be in charge by early October. His speech hereSo who's going to lead Britain now? Although nothing is set in stone, former London Mayor Boris Johnson is a serious contender to succeed Cameron. Brexit vote results create turmoil in Britain: Four senior opposition Labour Party members of Parliament resigned from Labour's shadow Cabinet and a fifth was sacked in the wake of Thursday's referendum and they're calling for new leadership but party leader Jeremy Corbyn won't resign. World leaders are divided on the news: British officials have expressed concern over the uncertainty that's sure to follow the decision. Across the pond, presumptive U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump called Brexit "great." Other European leaders were relatively silent preceding the vote.Petition calling for second EU vote: More than 3 million people signed an online petition calling for a second referendum on whether Britain should leave the EU. Coincidentally, its creator has sought to distance himself from the petition because he is a Leave voter. Public figures and regular people alike are reacting passionately: There seem to be a lot of British celebrities who are upset about the news, but there will always be differing opinions. Markets are hemorrhaging: Stocks across the globe got hammered amid the panic. Both the pound (now at its lowest level since 1985) and the euro have plunged. Here's why it matters: The UK is the world's fifth biggest economy and any slowdown will hurt the anemic global growth. It's going to take about two years for the divorce proceedings: The UK is so intricately entwined with the EU, it could even take longer than that.What happens then? Much like a real divorce, it depends on whether the parties decide to split amicably, or through strife and diplomatic conflict. What does the Brexit mean for you? That depends on who you are.What does the decision mean for Europe? The UK is the first to leave the European Union, and experts say its exit will be sorely felt by the rest of the EU. | 3news
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Story highlightsIOC "exploring legal options" over Russia banRussian officials lined to report to be refused accreditationIOC will retest samples from 2014 Winter Games (CNN)It's one of the traditional powerhouses of Olympic sport, but Russia's place at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro hangs in the balance over allegations of "state-sponsored doping." Just 24 hours after the International Olympic Committee was told it should consider banning Russian athletes from the Rio Games, the tournament's governing body said it would be "exploring legal options" over such a move.Russia came fourth in the medal table at the 2012 Games and the absence of the nation's athletes at Rio would hark back to the Cold War era when the U.S. boycotted the Moscow Olympics in 1980 and the then Soviet Union snubbed the Los Angeles Games four years later.A ban is being considered after Russia was accused Monday of "a shocking and unprecedented attack on the integrity of sport and on the Olympic Games" following an independent World Anti-Doping Agency commissioned report.Follow @cnnsport
IOC president Thomas Bach said in a statement that his organization "will not hesitate to take the toughest sanctions available against any individual or organization implicated."Read MoreThe Russian track and field team has already been banned -- but that decision is contested at the Court of Arbitration for Sport with a decision likely to be announced by the end of the week.And with just 17 days until the Games get underway in Rio, the IOC doesn't have time on its side.Will Russia compete at the Olympics?Russia's athletes face a nervous wait to see if a blanket ban will be imposed with the IOC announcing it will retest all of its athletes which competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.That's because an independent report published by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren found urine samples of Russian competitors were manipulated across the "vast majority" of summer and winter Olympic sports from 2011 through to August 2015.Russia came top of the medal table at Sochi -- winning 33 medals, 13 of them gold.But McLaren concluded Russia's "Ministry of Sport directed, controlled and oversaw the manipulation of athlete's analytical results or sample swapping, with the active participation and assistance of the FSB, CSP, and both Moscow and Sochi Laboratories."JUST WATCHEDOn GPS: Russian athletes under investigationReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHOn GPS: Russian athletes under investigation 01:41The FSB is Russia's federal security service while the CSP is involved in the training of Russian athletes.Meanwhile, in a statement Monday, WADA called on "the IOC and the International Paralympic Committee to consider, under their respective charters, to decline entries, for Rio 2016, of all athletes submitted by the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and the Russian Paralympic Committee."The Russian track and field team has already been barred by from competing in the 2016 Games by the International Association of Athletics Federation -- or the IAAF as its known for short.Around 80 athletes have filed petitions to compete under the Olympic flag.Read: Doping in sport -- counting the human costWhat is the IOC doing?On Tuesday the IOC revealed a whole list of steps it was taking against Russia including whether it can issue a collective ban of all the nation's athletes.While it seeks legal opinion on that, it has already stated that Russia will not be allowed to host any events including the European Games scheduled for 2019.The IOC is also encouraging each sport federation to make their own checks on whether competitors contravened the WADA code.JUST WATCHEDRussia's doping scandal continuesReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRussia's doping scandal continues 03:15On top of that, Russian officials from the Ministry of Sport or anyone implicated in the report will be refused accreditation for Games in Rio.Then there's the forensic analysis and full inquiry into all the Russian athletes who competed at the Winter Games two years ago -- as well as coaches and support staff.The IOC has also asked McLaren to name names of those implicated in allegations of manipulating drug tests. It gets worse for Russia -- the IOC has asked McLaren to continue with his investigation.Read: Russian pole-vaulting great contest Olympic banWhat are the Russians saying?Russian president Vladimir Putin reacted to the report by claiming that "accusations against Russian athletes are based on the testimony of one person, a man with a scandalous reputation."In a statement he added that the officials named in the report would be temporarily suspended.Vitaly Mutko, the Russian sports minister, told the R-Sport news agency he had suspended his anti-doping advisor Natalia Zhelanova as well as Irina Rodionova, deputy head of Russia's state-funded Sports Preparation Centre, and two other officials.Russian doping: 'An unprecedented attack on the integrity of sport & the Olympic Games'According to the McLaren report, Zhelanova and Rodionova had worked closely with Russian Deputy Sports Minister Yury Nagornykh to cover up positive doping tests.Nagornykh was suspended on Monday after the report's publication."The fact that the commission didn't give any recommendations to ban Russian team from the Olympics in Rio is a positive fact," the head of the Russian Olympic committee Alexander Zhukov told the state run news organization TASS, adding that the report needed to be studied in greater detail before he could comment further.Read: New WADA report gives fresh allegations of Russian dopingWorld reactionJUST WATCHEDReport: Russia ran an Olympics doping program ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHReport: Russia ran an Olympics doping program 06:34U.S. Anti-Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart -- the man who brought down Lance Armstrong -- said McLaren's report "has concluded, beyond a reasonable doubt, a mind-blowing level of corruption within both Russian sport and government that goes right to the field of play." WADA chief spokesman Ben Nichols tweeted that his organization would recommend that Russians be banned from all international competition, including Rio, until "culture change" is achieved.In a series of tweets, Nichols condemned what he called the "most deliberate and disturbing abuse of power ever seen in sport" while saying that the scale of the accusations across 30 sports means "there can no longer be a presumption of innocence" where Russian athletes are concerned.IAAF President Sebastian Coe added: "The institutionalized and systematic doping in Russian athletics is the reason the IAAF suspended, and then upheld the suspension of, RusAF's membership and consequently the exclusion of their athletes from international competition."Meanwhile, Toni Minichello, coach of British Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill, has called for a rethink in how much money is spent on fighting doping."Who are the real victims here?" Minichello told BBC Radio 4. "The real victims are athletes that missed out on medals. Let's ban these hundreds of athletes, retest them all and not allow them to go to Rio or any future Olympics. That decimates a Russian team anyway."There needs to be a huge investment in anti-doping at major championships to make sure things don't happen again." | 5sport
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Beijing (CNN)In public statements and at international summits, Chinese officials have attempted to stake out a seemingly neutral position on the war in Ukraine, neither condemning Russian actions nor ruling out the possibility Beijing could act as a mediator in a push for peace. But while its international messaging has kept many guessing as to Beijing's true intentions, much of its domestic media coverage of Russia's invasion tells a wholly different story. There, an alternate reality is playing out for China's 1.4 billion people, one in which the invasion is nothing more than a "special military operation," according to its national broadcaster CCTV; the United States may be funding a biological weapons program in Ukraine, and Russian President Vladimir Putin is a victim standing up for a beleaguered Russia. To tell that story, major state-run news media outlets -- which dominate China's highly censored media space -- have been largely echoing Russian state media stories or information from Russian officials. A CNN analysis reviewed nearly 5,000 social media posts from 14 Chinese state media outlets during the first eight days of Russia's invasion posted onto China's Twitter-like platform, Weibo. The analysis found that of the more than 300 most-shared posts about the events in Ukraine -- which were each shared more than 1,000 times -- almost half, about 140, were what CNN classified as distinctly pro-Russian, often containing information attributed to a Russian official or picked up directly from Russia's state media.Read MoreThe analysis, which focused on stories that got the most play on social media, may not be representative of all posts shared by state media outlets on Weibo. But it provides a snapshot of the state media-produced information that is most visible to the more than half a billion monthly users on the popular platform. It's not clear the extent to which these posts may be explicitly the result of a coordinated propaganda campaign between the two countries, but it is consistent with an ongoing pattern in which Russian and Chinese media have amplified and reinforced their often-interchangeable talking points on issues such as the treatment of Russian dissidents, Hong Kong pro-democracy protests, the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, or the supposed American role in fomenting "color revolutions" against authoritarian regimes. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping walk down the stairs as they arrive for a BRICS summit in Brasilia, Brazil in 2019. Such mutual reinforcement has also spilled over into the extensive overseas and English-language propaganda operations that both countries have built to promote their views globally -- a route made more important with Russia's state media outlets being banned on air and online in parts of the West. In China's top-down government-controlled media environment, all state-affiliated content is vetted and issued in accordance with government directives. That China has chosen to follow Russia's lead in deliberately mischaracterizing the war only serves to underline Beijing's closeness to Moscow -- and almost makes a mockery of China's self-proclaimed impartiality in helping to engage with Russia and bring an end to the violence. The playbookRussian assurances that civilian sites will not be targeted -- despite extensive evidence to the contrary, descriptions of Ukrainian soldiers using "Nazi" tactics, and misinformation regarding the whereabouts of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are all stories that have been funneled from Russian sources into China's enclosed social media ecosystem -- where many Western news outlets are blocked -- by its state media outlets in recent days. That dynamic was at play on Monday morning, when China's state broadcaster CCTV released a package in its morning newscast highlighting Moscow's erroneous claim that Washington had funded the development of biological weapons in Ukrainian labs. That insinuation is used to support the narrative that Ukraine -- characterized by Moscow as an American puppet state -- threatens Russia, and not the other way around. The source? Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov, who on Sunday said Russian forces uncovered "evidence" of the "hasty measures to conceal any traces of the military biological program finance(d) by the US Department of Defense," and referenced documents he said detailed the destruction of hazardous pathogens at these facilities on the order of the Ukrainian Health Ministry. In a statement on Twitter Wednesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki pushed back on "Russia's false claims about alleged US biological weapons labs and chemical weapons development in Ukraine" and noted the "echoing" of those "conspiracy theories" by Chinese officials. "This is preposterous. It's the kind of disinformation operation we've seen repeatedly from the Russians over the years in Ukraine and in other countries, which have been debunked, and an example of the types of false pretexts we have been warning the Russians would invent," Psaki said, adding that the US was "in full compliance" with its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention and "does not develop or possess such weapons anywhere.""Now that Russia has made these false claims, and China has seemingly endorsed this propaganda, we should all be on the lookout for Russia to possibly use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, or to create a false flag operation using them. It's a clear pattern," Psaki said. The subject was also raised in a Senate hearing on Tuesday, when Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland, asked if Ukraine had biological weapons, said it has biological research facilities, which the US was concerned Russian forces may be seeking to control. "We are working with the Ukrainians on how they can prevent any of those research materials from falling into the hands of Russian forces, should they approach," Nuland said. Residents watch a TV screen showing news about Ukraine at a shopping mall in Hangzhou, in China's eastern Zhejiang province on February 25, 2022.Minutes after the CCTV report aired, an affiliated news outlet released an online post repeating the claims from Russia's Defense Ministry and started a related hashtag on Weibo, which began trending. The hashtag was viewed more than 45 million times over a period of hours that day. The next day, after Russia doubled down on the biological weapons claims with further statements, without evidence, CCTV released a new television segment, which was again shared by prominent state media outlets on Weibo, gaining further traction. The story then moved into the narrative of China's officials when a state media reporter at a regular Foreign Ministry press briefing asked a question about the laboratories, prompting the spokesperson to read a lengthy prepared response that repeated Russian disinformation. "We once again urge the US to fully clarify its biological militarization activities both inside and outside its borders and accept multilateral verification," spokesperson Zhao Lijian said.Within hours, at least 17 state media outlets, including CCTV, Xinhua, and the People's Daily, posted Zhao's response on Weibo, where the topic racked up more than 210 million views. A related hashtag rose to be the top trending topic on Weibo by the following afternoon. The pattern is just one example of a playbook that enables China to cover the war through the lens of Russian rhetoric and disinformation. Other examples include stories, such as repeated false claims that Zelensky fled the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv -- sourced to a single Russian lawmaker, which were picked up and amplified by both Chinese and Russian state media outlets on their domestic and international platforms. A CNN analysis sought to understand how large a role such stories play in China's tightly controlled media ecosystem, first by combing through nearly 5,000 social media posts from the Weibo accounts of 14 of China's most influential state media outlets, focusing on the first eight days of the invasion and news about the events in Ukraine.Next, CNN analyzed which of those posts were the most highly engaged with, identifying more than 300 posts shared on Weibo more than 1,000 times. Of those more than 300 posts, an analysis found that nearly half showed Russia in a positive light -- a category CNN defined as news sourced solely from Russian officials or Russian media, content that describes Ukraine negatively, misinformation about Zelensky, or pro-Putin coverage. While about 140 posts showed Russia in a positive light, the analysis identified fewer than 15 posts that portrayed Ukraine positively.A look at other characterizations showed only around 90 of these posts were neutral -- for example, purely factual reports from reliable sources, news about humanitarian aid or updates on the evacuation of Chinese citizens from Ukraine.Just over a third were what CNN classified as anti-West or anti-US, for example: stories airing views that Russia was pushed to action in Ukraine by the expansion of NATO, or criticizing Western media coverage of the crisis. CNN reporters classified some posts into more than one category. A look at the distribution shows posts that depicted Russia in a positive light were more frequent than any other category.Because CNN only studied posts with high engagement, the findings may not be representative of all posts produced by state media.In response to CNN's request for comment, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Thursday the country is a victim of disinformation."Some anti-China forces and media have fabricated too many lies, rumors and disinformation about China on issues that include the situation in Ukraine," it said in a statement. "They have smeared the image of China, poisoned the media environment and misled public worldwide. Such actions are hypocritical and despicable."The backdropThe findings contrast the apparent middle line that China has tried to walk in its international diplomacy.Though Beijing has stood apart from the Western response to Russia's invasion, with its diplomats refusing to condemn the invasion, or even call it such, and decrying Western sanctions, it has also frequently repeated that "all countries' legitimate security concerns" should be addressed. In a virtual summit with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for negotiations to bring about "peaceful outcomes" and stressed China's promises to contribute humanitarian aid to Ukraine. "There is a difference between the way China talks to the international audience and the way it talks to the domestic audience ... for the domestic audience, it's important to preserve this partnership with Russia, because that's a political priority for Xi," said Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow and the chair of the Russia in the Asia-Pacific Program at the Carnegie Moscow Center.He points to the increasingly close relationship between China and Russia in recent years, a strategic partnership strengthened, in part, by shared friction with the West. "So (China's leaders) need to shape public perceptions about this, and explain why dealing with Russia is morally justified or is the right thing to do -- and (China's media coverage) serves this purpose," he said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian at a daily media briefing in Beijing, China, March 19, 2021. A glimpse into how China may seek to control its coverage was given in the days prior to the invasion, when an internal directive that was apparently accidentally shared on social media showed Chinese state media outlet Beijing News ordered its employees not to publish news reports that were "negative about Russia or pro-West." Beijing News did not respond to requests for comment. Maria Repnikova, director of the Center for Global Information Studies at Georgia State University, said Russia-leaning coverage was in line with historical precedent: "Stories that are critical of Russia or are portraying Russia in an unfavorable manner are generally censored," she said."As a result of that, it is expedient to use Russian state media sources because they're the ones portraying the (Ukraine) conflict with a more favorable eye or view from the Russian perspective," she said.Another sign of this has been which voices have been allowed to thrive on China's heavily censored social media platforms in the wake of the invasion. There, pro-Russia and anti-Western, nationalistic voices have also dominated, while there has been a suppression of pro-Ukrainian or anti-war messages on platforms and across the media landscape. One glaring example came Friday, when CCTV broadcast a speech from International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons, at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Paralympic Games, in which many parts of the speech were muffled and were not translated. The offending context? Parsons' "message of peace," in which he did not name Russia or Ukraine but said he was "horrified at what is taking place in the world."Those voices from within China who have tried to speak up -- including five history professors who penned an open letter voicing their strong opposition to "Russia's war against Ukraine" -- have seen their posts swiftly deleted or social accounts suspended. "We have seen alternative, critical voices -- some subtle critique or attempts to present scenes from the war zone and talk about humanity and empathy toward Ukraine -- (but) a lot of these messages have been censored," said Repnikova.Social media platforms in China have taken action against extremist nationalist voices in recent weeks, with Sina Weibo "punishing" around 75 accounts and screening out more than 1,500 posts and video-streaming platform Douyin removing over 6,000 illegal videos, according to the state-owned Global Times. But the nationalistic voices that have dominated social media platforms fall in line with what Repnikova describes as "a significant spike in digital nationalism, (with) the US and the West (as) the key target of this nationalistic sentiment."Break the monopoly That nationalist sentiment -- fueled by a deep distrust of the US and concern about its role as the leading global power -- are a critical part of the glue that has firmed up the Russian and Chinese relationship in recent years. It's also filtered in the kinds of media coverage that each have shared overseas, as both Russia and China have sought to deepen their propaganda efforts, launching social media-friendly news brands in English and other languages, like China's CGTN and RT (formerly Russia Today). While experts say it's unclear if top media officials from the two countries are discussing news coverage at an operational level and some official coordination is more symbolic in nature, there is a growing push in recent years for alignment and content-sharing.A large Ukrainian flag with the slogan "We Stand With Ukraine" written on it in Chinese characters is seen on the outside wall of the Canadian Embassy on March 1, 2022 in Beijing, China. A number of content-sharing arrangements exist between Chinese and Russian media outlets, and the shared vision is clear: these outlets together can "break the monopoly of Western media," as a Global Times report on a China-Russia media forum in 2015 put it. Fast-forward to the crisis in Ukraine and the upside of that collaboration, for one partner anyway, is clear. In the European Union, Kremlin-backed media outlets RT and Sputnik were officially banned as of last Wednesday, with companies like Meta, parent of Facebook and Instagram, and Google's YouTube stepping in to block their content.But, on China's channels like CGTN and Global Times, which continue to operate, those Russian talking points are still getting through.Already this week, posts from those accounts have suggested Ukraine and the US have pro-Nazi leanings, repeated Russian misinformation on the laboratories, and cited Russia denying that it plans to overthrow the existing government in its "special military operation" in Ukraine.How CNN reported this story:Since international reporting is a highly controlled and regulated industry in China, only a select number of state media organizations, such as Xinhua and CCTV, have permission to report international news. For this story, we selected 14 Chinese media accounts with nearly or more than 10 million followers on Weibo, a Twitter-like platform that reaches more than half a billion monthly users and is popular in China. These accounts included major outlets such as Xinhua, China News Service, CCTV, the People's Daily, and the Global Times. We collected all of the posts related to Russia or Ukraine via a keyword search published by these accounts between February 24 and March 3, the first eight days of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.We then examined posts that were shared more than 1,000 times and evaluated each of these β more than 300 β about their political preference. Reporters classified posts as neutral, pro-Russia, pro-Ukraine, anti-US/West and pro-China. Posts were sometimes categorized in multiple categories, such as pro-Russian and anti-West. We analyzed the source and wording of the news stories to determine their categories.Because the analysis focused on stories that got the most play on the highly-controlled social media platform, CNN's findings may not be representative of of all posts shared by state media outlets on Weibo. | 3news
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(CNN)Anna Heusler was riding her bike down from the hills toward Adelaide, South Australia on Thursday with a group of cyclists when she saw a koala sitting in the middle of the road. A cyclist stopped in the middle of the road to give a thirsty koala waterIt wasn't the first time Heusler had seen koalas out and about on the roads while riding -- but this koala's reaction amazed her. View this post on Instagram There were about a dozen cyclists around me watching this (all men) and several commented that it was genuinely the best thing they've witnessed. What a truly wonderful experience. Check out my previous posts this morning for explanation. : : : #cyclingtips #cycling #roadcycling #roadbike #roadbikelife #lifeonabike #travelbybike #cyclingphotography #cycleshots #rideyourbike #instacycle #veloclub #cyclinglife #fromwhereride #switchbacks #roadslikethese #cyclingpassion #cyclingworld #whenindoubtpedalitout #womenonbikes #womenriders @cyclingtips @veloclub.cc @iamspecialized @iamspecialized_wmn @womenridebikes #rideadelaide #radelaide #adelaide #adelaidehills #southaustralia #koala #koalabear #koalabears #australia A post shared by Lulu (@bikebug2019) on Dec 26, 2019 at 4:22pm PST
"We stopped the bikes to help the koala get off the road otherwise they get hit by cars. But the koala walked up to me very quickly, he was obviously very thirsty," Heusler told CNN. "As I was giving him a drink from our water bottles, he climbed up into my bike. I've never seen a koala move this quickly. They're usually not people animals, they stay up on the trees and people admire them from afar."A cyclist stopped in the middle of the road to give a thirsty koala water When the koala had drunk from both Heusler's and her partner's water bottles, it was moved safely off the road. Read MoreA second heatwave hit parts of South Australia last week, with temperatures reaching 42 degrees Celsius on Friday afternoon, according to CNN affiliate 7News. Up to 30% of koalas may have been killed in Australia's New South Wales bushfires, says environment ministerResidents of several towns in the southeastern state of Victoria were urged to evacuate immediately as devastating wildfires continue to rage across the region."There's nothing but tragedy in Australia. It's burning out of control," Heusler said. "I hope this episode helps spread awareness. The firefighters are the real heroes, not me." | 3news
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Story highlightsMyanmar's military says it did not kill, rape or torture any Rohingya civilians in recent monthsAmnesty says report is attempt to sweep serious violations under carpet (CNN)Myanmar's military has acquitted itself of any wrongdoing against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State in an internal report, denying widespread reports of murder, rape and destruction in the west of the country.Since late August, at least 615,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled across the border from Myanmar into Bangladesh, bringing with them grim stories of physical and sexual violence perpetrated by the country's military. The UN and the UK have described it as ethnic cleansing. In the report released Monday, Myanmar's military, known as the Tatmadaw, blamed the violence on members of the Rohingya militant group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ASRA), which it said attacked 30 police posts and an army battalion headquarters on August 25. Accounts of rape, burning children and murder"Security forces did not commit shooting at innocent villagers and sexual violence and rape cases against women. They did not arrest, beat and kill the villagers," the report said. It also cleared security forces of robbing Rohingya, as well as burning their mosques and villages.Amnesty International described the report as an attempt by the military to "sweep serious violations against the Rohingya under the carpet."Read More
"There is overwhelming evidence that the military has murdered and raped Rohingya and burned their villages to the ground," Amnesty said."After recording countless stories of horror and using satellite analysis to track the growing devastation we can only reach one conclusion: these attacks amount to crimes against humanity."The military said the report, which posted on the military's official Facebook page, was based on interviews with more than 2,800 Rohingya and other ethnic groups between October 13 and November 7. The report comes as Myanmar's State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi met for a bilateral discussion with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday behind closed doors.The two met in Manila during the 31st summit of the Association of South-east Asian Nations, or ASEAN. Following the meeting they shook hands in front of waiting media but didn't take any questions.Tillerson will be heading to Myanmar on Wednesday where US officials say he will push for a solution to end the violence against the Rohingya.'They killed and killed and piled the bodies up high'In an exclusive CNN report published Monday, refugees described surviving mass killings and rape before reaching the relative safety of the camps, where conditions are dire."They killed and killed and piled the bodies up high. It was like cut bamboo," said Mumtaz, a Rohingya woman from the village of Tula Toli in western Myanmar, who woke up to find herself on a mound of charred bodies."In the pile there was someone's neck, someone's head, someone's leg. I was able to come out, I don't know how."The Myanmar military report attributed the mass exodus of refugees and the repeated reports of military violence to a campaign of misinformation perpetrated by ARSA."ARSA Bengali terrorists torched houses and fled to Bangladesh, and were reported to have threatened villagers, saying 'Run away or be attacked by the government troops with launchers, the village will be torched'," the report said.The Myanmar government does not refer to the Muslim residents of Rakhine State as Rohingya, instead calling them Bengalis, a slur term that implies they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.Rohingya crisis: How we got hereIn their report, the Myanmar government estimated the number of "Bengali terrorists" attacking the military were as high as 10,000 people, although CNN has no way to verify this. A February interview CNN did with the Rohingya militant group suggested they were lightly armed and under-equipped, fighting barefoot with little more than sticks and knives.Rohingya Muslims that have fled to Bangladesh have repeatedly told international media, including CNN, they have witnessed Myanmar's military killing men and children, raping women and burning people alive.The report said that the refugees "made up news about Myanmar's Tatmadaw committing genocide and ethnic cleansing when international diplomats and media arrived there."JUST WATCHEDFrom above: The Rohingya mass exodusReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFrom above: The Rohingya mass exodus 00:56A spokesman for UK Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday the violence inside Rakhine State against Rohingyas looked like "ethnic cleansing.""We've been appalled by the inhumane violence that's taken place in Rakhine State. It's a major humanitarian crisis. It's been created by Burma's military and it looks like ethnic cleansing," the spokesman said, using the traditional name for the country." | 3news
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Story highlightsBarcelona vs. Real Madrid on SaturdayXabi Alonso likens Nou Camp to ColosseumArjen Robben recalls Barca guard of honor (CNN)You stand in the tunnel -- 87 years of complex sporting and political rivalry behind you, a must-win match ahead. Welcome to El ClΓ‘sico.Follow @cnnsport
"I remember my first one when we went to the Nou Camp," former Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso tells CNN, with the two La Liga rivals due to meet in Barcelona on Saturday."When we came onto the pitch, the whistles -- the sound of the whistles was unbelievable. So many people, 100,000 people just whistling. It was like music for us. A Colosseum."And then you lose. That day in 2009, Alonso and his teammates were unable to quieten the hostile Barcelona crowd, going down 1-0 to a Zlatan Ibrahimovic volley.Alonso likens the derby day atmosphere to Rome's Flavian amphitheater, which once hosted spectacular shows and gruesome gladiatorial battles.Read MoreAlonso moved to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2014, but the Spaniard looks back on his five-year spell in Madrid with affection, having won his first ever league title and helped the club attain La Decima -- the coveted tenth Champions League trophy -- after beating city rivals AtlΓ©tico 4-1 in Lisbon.Now 35, Alonso admits he continues to pay close attention to the endeavors of his former teammates."I keep an eye on all my clubs: Real Sociedad, Liverpool and Real Madrid," he says. "Of course, El Clasico especially ... The projection it has all over the world is unbelievable, and whenever you play for Real Madrid at the Nou Camp you know that you're not having the warmest welcome!" READ: Chapecoense keeper feels survivor's painREAD: Football team's 'fairy tale' story ends in tragedyREAD: The four people who skipped fatal flightREAD: Can Chapecoense recover from tragedy?The flying DutchmanRobben celebrates a goal against Barcelona at the BernabΓ©u in 2008.Another Bayern Munich player who knows all about the infamous hostility of El ClΓ‘sico is former Real Madrid winger Arjen Robben.He may have chalked up little over 50 appearances for Los Blancos, but the 32-year-old Dutch international has experienced the highs and lows of Spain's fiercest derby more than most. "It begins a long time before the match even starts," the Dutchman tells CNN, alluding to the intense global media spotlight on the fixture. "I have some good memories [of El ClΓ‘sico], and also some not so good memories when we lost."Notably when Robben was on the wrong end of a chastening 6-2 defeat at the BernabΓ©u during his final season at the club, shortly before things turned sour and he left for Bayern. READ: Barca signs new mega kit dealJUST WATCHEDBorn to Follow: Bayern MunichReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBorn to Follow: Bayern Munich 02:28Unsurprisingly Robben prefers to look back on the good times, having added a La Liga medal to his trophy cabinet during his first season in Madrid.Then, after wrapping up the league title with three games to spare, Robben and his teammates received a guard of honor from the Barcelona players at the Nou Camp. "My best memory was when we had just won the Spanish league, and the first game after we'd won it we played Barcelona," he reflects. "They had to make a pasillo and we had to go through."Real Madrid went on to win 4-1 -- the club's biggest home league win against Barcelona since an Ivan Zamarano hat trick guided Los Blancos to a 5-0 victory in 1995.Robben helped them on their way with a fine header, and the Dutchman grins as he recalls the squad's preparation for that famous victory, having sealed the title earlier in the week at Osasuna. "After [winning the title] we were partying for three days, but we still won the game 4-1... I think that's my best memory of El ClΓ‘sico.""It's just amazing to play because it's two world class teams facing each other. It's a special feeling"READ: Guardiola on mentor CruyffThe enduring duo No player has scored more El ClΓ‘sico goals than Lionel Messi; the Argentine leads the way with 21, followed by Alfredo di Stefano (18), Cristiano Ronaldo (16) and Raul (15). If the two teams on show are "world class," many have suggested Barca's Lionel Messi and Real's Cristiano Ronaldo are from another planet entirely. JUST WATCHEDIs this the female Messi? Watch this wonder goalReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHIs this the female Messi? Watch this wonder goal 00:50"I think it's extraordinary what we're seeing in the last few years from these two guys," Alonso tells CNN. "They are, it's fair to say, well above any other player. Just in numbers, it's unbelievable what they're reaching now. "They are different: Cristiano is so ambitious and he has the goal in his mind. He's been able to adapt, because now he's no longer the player he was at Manchester United eight years. "Now he's in the box and, when he gets the ball, it's a goal -- with the head and with both feet. "And I've played against Messi many times and it's so difficult to control him. In every position, he's dangerous.Visit cnn.com/football for more news and videos"Each one has their own qualities but both -- they are great. "For the beautiful game, to see them play each week, it's a joy to watch." | 5sport
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(CNN)Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz's death penalty trial is set to begin in January 2020, according to a court order issued Thursday by Florida Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer.Cruz is facing 34 counts of premeditated and attempted murder for the massacre of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day in 2018. Cruz did not make a plea, and instead Judge Scherer entered a not guilty plea on Cruz's behalf.The Broward state attorney is seeking the death penalty. Pretrial motions will be heard on January 13, and jury selection is set to begin on January 27, the court order states.The question at trial is not about his guilt -- Cruz has confessed to the crime -- but about whether he receives the death penalty.Parkland school shooter told detective he heard a demon in his head, transcript showsHis defense team has offered a guilty plea in exchange for life in prison without the possibility of parole, but only if prosecutors take the death penalty off the table. Prosecutors have rejected the plea.Read MoreCruz has been in jail since the shooting at his former school in February 2018. After he was taken into custody, he told a detective he had a "demon" in his head, according to a transcript. He said the voice told him to buy the AR-15 weapon and take an Uber to Stoneman Douglas the day of the shooting.Cruz's attorney described him in February as a "deeply disturbed, emotionally broken" young man.In November, he allegedly tackled and repeatedly punched a jail guard, then took his stun gun in a fight, an arrest report shows.CNN's Faith Karimi and Eric Levenson contributed to this report. | 3news
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Story highlightsPendant found at the site of the former Nazi extermination camp, SobiborFrank had a similar pendant according to experts (CNN)A pendant discovered at the site of a former Nazi death camp could be linked to Holocaust diarist Anne Frank, according to researchers. Archeologists say the pendant is the only specimen of its type ever discovered -- apart from an almost identical one owned by Frank. Experts at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust study center in Jerusalem, say the pendant belonged to a girl called Karoline Cohn. Cohn, like Frank, was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Because the pendants are so similar, researchers think there might be a direct connection between Cohn and Frank.The pendant was found with the word "Mazal Tov" engraved in hebrew. The center is hoping that further research will be able to reveal whether the two knew each other -- and whether there were family connections between them.Eva Kor: Survivor of Auschwitz Nazi experiments preaches forgivenessRead More"This pendant demonstrates once again the importance of archaeological research of former Nazi death camp sites," Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist Yoram Haimi said in a statement."The moving story of Karoline Cohn is symbolic of the shared fate of the Jews murdered in the camp. It is important to tell the story, so that we never forget."According to photos released by the center, the triangular pendant has the words "Mazal Tov" which means congratulations in Hebrew, engraved upon it along with Cohn's date of birth and home city.READ: Anne Frank's arrest might not have stemmed from betrayalOn the other side, there are three stars of David as well as the Hebrew letter "Hay," representing the name of the deity.The reverse of the pendant shows the letter 'Hay' and three Stars of David.The pendant was discovered at the site of the former death camp at Sobibor.According to Yad Vashem, Cohn was deported to Minsk on November 11, 1941. It is not known whether she ever was at Sobibor, but her necklace arrived at the camp, in Nazi-occupied Poland, sometime between November 1941 and September 1943.It is thought the pendant belonging to the 14-year-old was dropped along the path towards the gas chambers and buried for 70 years before being found by a team excavating the site.The excavations at SobibΓ³r uncovered signs of mechanical equipment used by the Nazis to dismantle the camp. Yad Vashem researchers say the most recent excavations have centered on an area where victims were forced to disrobe and have their heads shaved. Several personal items, including watches and metal charms, have been found during excavations that first began in 2007.JUST WATCHEDEva Kor: Auschwitz's ultimate survivorReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHEva Kor: Auschwitz's ultimate survivor 01:53 According to records held by Yad Vashem, 250,000 people died at Sobibor.Frank and her sister Margot both died at Bergen-Belsen in October 1944.Frank's diary was published in 1947 and has been read by millions. | 3news
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Story highlightsVladimir Putin appears to have had a very busy week with legal and military movesThe West has bristled at possible human right violations and military aggression (CNN)When Vladimir Putin makes a move, the world sits up and takes notice. And this week, he's been particularly busy, making decisions on internal and international matters that have ramifications far beyond Russia's borders. Here's a look back at the Russian President's busy week -- and why the moves matter. SUNDAY: Put NGOs on noticeJUST WATCHEDPutin's plans for a new offensiveReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHPutin's plans for a new offensive 02:26What he did: Read MoreNongovernmental organizations in Russia awoke Sunday to a new reality -- that they operate now under a law Putin signed allowing the government to prosecute them on the grounds they are 'undesirable.' Russians working for them could wander behind bars for up to six years. Why it matters: The U.S. State Department and human rights guardians see the law as a tool to repress internal political opponents. In the past, a few of them -- and critical journalists -- have ended up dead or in jail. Tanya Lokshina, Russia program director for Human Rights Watch, said the new law had "the potential to severely damage our work in Russia."But she was more concerned about Russian citizens, fearing that even those retweeting "undesirable" NGOs posts could land in jail.MONDAY: Announced surprise military drillsJUST WATCHEDRussia conducts surprise military drillsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRussia conducts surprise military drills 01:40What he did: Moscow deployed 12,000 troops, 250 combat planes and helicopters and 689 units of "various weapons and military equipment" in its northwest corner for unannounced military exercises, Russian state media announced Monday.It may have been a show of strength in response to a long-planned European fighter jet drill led by Norway, called the Arctic Challenge Exercise. The Russian exercises have dwarfed the NATO members' 4,000 participants.And it involves cruise missiles aimed at an "imaginary enemy," the TASS news agency reported.Why it matters: Huge Russian drills make NATO particularly nervous. The alliance says past ones were used to deploy troops to annex Crimea and support Russian separatists fighting the government in Ukraine. NATO also did not like that the Russian drill was unannounced.WEDNESDAY: Drew harsh words from White HouseJUST WATCHEDVP Biden on what Putin is doing in UkraineReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHVP Biden on what Putin is doing in Ukraine 01:15What he did: On Wednesday, he incurred the wrath of the White House. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden got his fill of tensions between Russia and the West, and he let loose on Putin. He said the White House is still mulling sending arms and equipment to besieged Ukrainian troops fighting Russia-backed rebels.Biden criticized Putin for what he called "brutal aggression" in Ukraine, and said the Russian president was also responsible for "aggressive repression at home." Why it matters:Top military brass, including Defense Secretary Ash Carter and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey, have expressed support for transferring more weapons to Ukraine as it battles Russian-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country. President Barack Obama, faced with skepticism from European partners, has so far resisted supplying Ukrainians with lethal aid.THURSDAY: Spoke out against FIFA caseJUST WATCHEDRussia reacts to FIFA probeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRussia reacts to FIFA probe 01:33What he did: Putin told the United States to butt out of FIFA's affairs. Swiss authorities arrested high-ups from the world's soccer governing body -- on corruption charges brought by the FBI -- just days before its head, Sepp Blatter, stood for re-election."The USA definitely (has) nothing to do with this," the Russian President said of FIFA, which is based in Switzerland. "This is yet another obvious attempt to spread their jurisdiction to other (countries)."Why it matters: FIFA awarded the 2018 World Cup, a coveted event to host, to Russia. It is to be one of Putin's crowning moments in his second term as President.There was a lot of pressure on Blatter to prevent the cup from going to Russia, and Putin suggested it's one reason U.S. authorities went after FIFA.Opinion: Yes, Putin, this IS America's businessAlso THURSDAY: Declared military deaths secretJUST WATCHEDRussia using mobile crematoriums to burn dead soldiers?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRussia using mobile crematoriums to burn dead soldiers? 03:00What he did: For years, the tally of Russian troops who died at war has been a state secret. Now, Putin says his government won't reveal the number of military deaths during peacetime either -- particularly during special operations.Why it matters:"Not only is this decree a blatant attack on freedom of expression, it also has sinister undertones that will intensify speculation President Putin has something to hide," said Amnesty International director John Dalhuisen.A Kremlin spokesman denied any connection to Ukraine, saying it's just to protect national interests in general. Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinRussian President Vladimir Putin is a popular but polarizing figure who has dominated Russian politics for more than a decade. Click through to see images of his life and career.Hide Caption 1 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin, bottom, wrestles with a classmate in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1971. Hide Caption 2 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin poses with his parents, Vladimir and Maria, in 1985.Hide Caption 3 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinFrom 1991 to 1994, Putin served as the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the City Council in St. Petersburg. Before becoming involved in politics, he served in the KGB, a Soviet-era spy agency, as an intelligence officer.Hide Caption 4 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinRussian President Boris Yeltsin, right, shakes hands with Putin during a farewell ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow in December 1999. Putin rose quickly through the political ranks, becoming the second democratically elected president of the Russian Federation in 2000.Hide Caption 5 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPresident-elect Putin watches the tactical exercises of Russia's Northern Fleet in the Barentsevo Sea in April 2000.Hide Caption 6 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin takes the presidential oath next to Yeltsin in May 2000.Hide Caption 7 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin dances with a young girl in Kazan, Russia, while taking part in mid-summer festivities in June 2000.Hide Caption 8 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin and U.S. President Bill Clinton talk in Moscow in June 2000.Hide Caption 9 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin meets Pope John Paul II in Rome in June 2000.Hide Caption 10 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin speaks to his wife, Lyudmila, as they pose in front of the Taj Mahal in India in October 2000.Hide Caption 11 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin shakes hands with famous Russian gymnasts Alina Kabayeva, center, and Svetlana Khorkina in March 2004.Hide Caption 12 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin attends an inauguration ceremony for President-elect Dmitry Medvedev in May 2008. Putin was constitutionally obliged to stand down as President, but he stayed close to power, becoming Prime Minister.Hide Caption 13 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinThis image, supplied by Time magazine, shows Putin on the cover after being named the magazine's 2007 "Person of the Year."Hide Caption 14 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin skis in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia, in February 2008.Hide Caption 15 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin shakes hands with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in November 2008.Hide Caption 16 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin vacations outside the town of Kyzyl in Southern Siberia in 2009. Over the years he has earned a reputation as a "strongman," declaring a crackdown on Chechen militants a priority in his first presidential term. Hide Caption 17 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinU.S. President Barack Obama meets Putin at his home in Novo Ogaryovo, near Moscow, in July 2009. Putin said Russia was pinning its hopes on Obama to revive ties with the United States.Hide Caption 18 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinMedvedev and Putin ski together in Krasnaya Polyana in January 2010.Hide Caption 19 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin takes part in a judo training session at a sports complex in St. Petersburg in December 2010. Putin holds a black belt in judo.Hide Caption 20 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinIn April 2011, Putin attends the first Global Ministerial Conference on Healthy Lifestyles and Noncommunicable Disease Control. The event was held in Moscow.Hide Caption 21 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin receives a medical consultation in August 2011 during a visit to the Smolensk Regional Hospital in Russia. Putin said he hurt his shoulder during morning judo practice.Hide Caption 22 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin speaks to supporters at a Moscow rally in February 2012. He won the presidential election one month later with just under 65% of the vote. Former President Medvedev became his Prime Minister.Hide Caption 23 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinDuring a massive rally of his supporters in Moscow, tears run down Putin's face in March 2012 after he was elected President for a third term.Hide Caption 24 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinA topless protester shouts at Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a visit to the Hanover Industrial Fair in central Germany in April 2013. Human rights groups say civil liberties and democratic freedoms have suffered during Putin's rule.Hide Caption 25 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin addresses the media during his visit to Hanover.Hide Caption 26 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin and his wife, Lyudmila -- seen here in 2012 -- announced the end of their marriage in June 2013.Hide Caption 27 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin poses for a photo with Russian Olympic athletes in Sochi, Russia, in February 2014. Russia hosted the Winter Olympic Games and won the most medals.Hide Caption 28 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinFrom left, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, Putin and Medvedev look at their watches before the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in February 2014.Hide Caption 29 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin, center, and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, left, arrive to watch a March 2014 military exercise at the Kirillovsky firing ground in Russia's Leningrad region.Hide Caption 30 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin, left, controls the puck during an ice hockey game between Russian amateur players and ice hockey stars at a festival in Sochi in May 2014.Hide Caption 31 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin takes part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside Moscow's Kremlin Wall in June.Hide Caption 32 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin speaks with Obama in November, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Beijing.Hide Caption 33 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinPutin puts a shawl on Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, as they arrive to watch a fireworks show in Beijing in November. Hide Caption 34 of 35 Photos: Russian President Vladimir PutinSeveral world leaders gather in Minsk, Belarus, in February to negotiate a ceasefire to the fighting in Ukraine. Putin is second from left, next to Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko on the far left. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is on the far right. At center, German Chancellor Angela Merkel gestures in front of French President Francois Hollande. Fighting between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian rebels in the country has left more than 6,000 people dead since mid-April, according to the United Nations.Hide Caption 35 of 35CNN's Don Melvin, Greg Botelho and Catherine E. Shoichet contributed to this report. | 3news
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Story highlightsWorld must restore "balance between humanity and nature," Indian leader saysFrench President Francois Hollande: "Never have the stakes been so high"Talks open amid intense security two weeks after Paris terror attacksBe part of CNN's COP21 coverage: We'd like to hear from you on how climate change could affect your local community. Upload your video here or tag #2degrees on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. (CNN)World leaders opened pivotal climate talks Monday in Paris saying the stakes are too high to end the conference without achieving a binding agreement to help slow the pace of global climate change."A political moment like this may not come again," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told leaders gathered for the conference. "We have never faced such a test. But neither have we encountered such great opportunity."The talks began with a moment of silence for victims of the November 13 terror attacks in Paris, and the tragedy served as a touchstone for world leaders urging unity and action."What greater rejection of those who would tear down our world than marshaling our best efforts to save it," President Barack Obama said in his speech.French President Francois Hollande noted that "never have the stakes been so high because this is about the future of the planet, the future of life."Read More"And yet two weeks ago, here in Paris itself, a group of fanatics was sowing the seeds of death in the streets," he said.Legally binding agreementLeaders of 150 nations, along with 40,000 delegates from 195 countries, are attending the conference, called COP21. COP stands for Conference of Parties, an annual forum to try to tackle climate change on a global political level. The leaders have one mission: Agree on legally binding reductions in greenhouse gas emissions meant to hold global average temperatures short of a 2 degrees Celsius increase over preindustrial global temperatures. Speaking aboard the papal plane on his way back to Rome, Pope Francis said that the time to do something was now or never."We are on the brink. We are on the brink of a suicide, to use a strong word, and I am sure that most of those at the COP have this conscience, and want to do something," he said.JUST WATCHEDChina looks to make progress with climate changeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHChina looks to make progress with climate change 02:32On Monday, the leaders of the main players necessary to achieve the ambitious goal -- China and the United States -- sat down together at the COP21. They are the largest producers of greenhouse gases.Obama told the conference that the United States recognizes its role in creating climate change and its role in solving the issue.But he said the agreement should be global in nature, assertive and flexible."Here in Paris, let's secure an agreement that builds in ambition, where progress paves the way for regularly updated targets," he said.He also addressed economic issues associated with climate change, saying recent economic growth in the United States has come despite a lack of growth in carbon emissions, proving that climate advancements need not come at the expense of the economy or individual livelihoods. "That's what we seek in these next two weeks -- not simply an agreement to roll back the pollution we put into the skies, but an agreement that helps us lift people from poverty without condemning the next generation to a planet that is beyond its capacity to repair," he said.David Attenborough's climate conversionHe also said developed countries must help island nations and others that have contributed little to climate change but are the first to be feeling its effects.Chinese President Xi Jinping said that the conference "is not a finish line, but a new starting point" and that any agreement must take into account the differences among nations."Countries should be allowed to seek their own solutions, according to their national interest," he said.Russian President Vladimir Putin called climate change "one of the greatest threats humanity is facing.""Russia not only prevented the increase of greenhouse emissions, it has reduced them," he said, promising a 70% reduction in emissions from 1990 levels by 2030.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a "comprehensive, equitable and durable agreement that leads us to restore balance between humanity and nature."And German Chancellor Angela Merkel reminded the leaders of the "billions of people pinning their hopes on what we do in Paris.""Let us do everything we can not to dash those hopes," she said.Terror, security, clashesThe conference is being held amid even more intense security than usual for such a gathering of global leaders following the terror attacks that left 130 people dead this month.COP21: France introduces massive security measures ahead of climate summitActivists laid out shoes where demonstrators might have stood.Authorities have clamped down on anti-global warming demonstrations in the city out of security concerns.Nevertheless, disappointed demonstrators turned out Sunday, and brief clashes erupted with police at the Place de la Republique, where peaceful protesters had placed rows of shoes and name tags to represent the crowds not allowed to show up.But violent protesters pelted officers with shoes and bottles. Police said that protesters even threw candles taken from memorials to those killed in the terror attacks, and that they arrested more than 200 people.Paris police Chief Michel Cadot said taking the candles and using them against police showed "an extreme lack of respect to those events."Riot police responded with tear gas.Tension #placedelarepublique pic.twitter.com/PVFs8oEQnDβ Sophie Perez (@sophie_perez10) November 29, 2015
Hollande called the clashes "scandalous." The French President said authorities knew "troubling elements" would arrive in Paris for the talks, and that is why "these sorts of assemblies were banned and some were ordered to stay home."In many countries, people gathered to protest against human-made climate change Sunday. There is a broad consensus among scientists that global warming is driven by human activity, foremost the burning of fossil fuels.Opinion: Climate change is a form of terrorPrevious failuresA look at previous global climate change negotiations illustrates the challenge in achieving this year's goals, especially when it comes to the biggest greenhouse gas emitters. Photos: Climate change is real Photos: Climate change is real A single summer stole more than 200 feet (60 meters) of ice from the snout of SΓ³lheimajΓΆkull, a glacier in Iceland, seen in April 2006.Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: Climate change is real What a difference a few months made for SΓ³lheimajΓΆkull, seen from the same vantage in October 2006. The glacier has withdrawn a third of a mile (0.5 kilometer) over the past decade, in step with rising temperatures.Hide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: Climate change is real Years ago, says a veteran skier, "conditions were fantastic" at the world's highest ski area, on 17,250-foot (5,260 meters) Chacaltaya Glacier near La Paz, Bolivia.Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: Climate change is real Today, few attempt the ski run down Bolivia's Chacaltaya Glacier, even after a snowfall. The glacier has shriveled in the past decade, turning much of the slope into a boulder field.Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: Climate change is real As icons such as Montana's once well-formed Grinnell Glacier vanish, "people feel a sense of loss," says Dan Fagre of the USGS. Hide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: Climate change is real Montana's Grinnell Glacier, a robust body of ice decades ago, is melting. Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: Climate change is real Mount Everest's East Rongbuk Glacier lost some 350 vertical feet of ice between August 1921 (above) and October 2008 (next).Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: Climate change is real Mount Everest's East Rongbuk Glacier lost some 350 vertical feet of ice between August 1921 (previous) and October 2008 (above).Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: Climate change is real Columbia Glacier in Alaska has retreated 11 miles since 1980. Since then, it has diminished vertically an amount equal to the height of New York's Empire State Building. Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: Climate change is real Columbia Glacier in 2012. Hide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: Climate change is real The November 2015 issue of National Geographic magazine.Hide Caption 11 of 11Probably the best-known milestone to come out of a previous conference was the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol, a nonbinding agreement by 192 parties to lower greenhouse gas emissions to 5% below 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. The United States did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol and dropped out of it completely in 2001. Canada dumped it, too, and China, India and other developing countries were exempt from it. It has taken 20 years of U.N. negotiations to reach this attempt at a legally binding global emissions agreement, according to conference organizers.CNN's Holly Yan, Jethro Mullen, Kevin Wang and journalist Melia Ljuljanovic contributed to this report. | 3news
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Brisbane (CNN)With their rear lights flashing, two huge trucks slowly backed down the suburban Australian driveway, delicately carrying two-thirds of a 100-year-old house.Workers had spent two days sawing the house's timber frame into three pieces 30 meters (98 feet) long and 8 meters (26 feet) wide, so it could be moved from Bald Hills, an outer suburb of Brisbane, to a town 170 kilometers (105 miles) away -- and reassembled for new owners. Two bedrooms and the reception room were strapped on to one truck, with the dining room, a third bedroom and the living room on the other. The sun room and kitchen would follow later.Usually it is homeowners who move, not houses. But in the state of Queensland, at least 500 properties were moved last year, according to estimates from several companies.
The house wobbles as it goes over a traffic island. Credit: Hilary Whiteman/CNN
Most, like Number 36 -- as it was known before the move -- are Queenslanders. Read MoreNamed after the Australian state, these timber properties, typical at the turn of the 20th century, were built on stilts to let the humid summer air flow beneath them.Queenslanders fell out of fashion in the 1930s, when homeowners started to look to the US and Europe for art deco and Spanish mission-style brick homes. But in recent years, the classic local design with its wide verandas has become highly sought after.But buyers often can't -- or don't want to -- live in the homes in their original locations, and so are taking the extraordinary step of cutting up and moving them. It's relatively affordable to move a Queenslander, due to their timber design, and trying to replicate the style in a new build misses the point. "People who live in one of these won't build a new house," said John Wright, who has been relocating Queenslanders for 40 years. "No walls are ever perfectly level and straight, and they certainly have a classic sort of character to them." Experts say the trend is both a boon -- it is preferable to the properties being demolished -- and a loss for conservation: it divorces the properties from their past. Local historians say each time a Queenslander is moved, leaving behind an empty plot or making way for a new development, the character of a suburb subtly changes. And, the stories of each home like Number 36 become harder to find. Photos: Inside Number 36The interior of Number 36 was from another era. Patterned carpet clashed with embossed wallpaper and the previous owners' love of embellishment had even spread to the ceilings. Alan Brough painted the white plaster, and spent decades touching it up, according to his son Dean.Hide Caption 1 of 8 Photos: Inside Number 36The formal lounge seemed to have been frozen in time. In the corner was an old Mason & Hamlin pump organ. Dean Brough said it was another one of his father's impulse purchases, this time from a car show.Hide Caption 2 of 8 Photos: Inside Number 36When they learned that Alan Brough had made the copper kitchen cabinets by hand, the MacGeorges decided to incorporate them into their new kitchen design.Hide Caption 3 of 8 Photos: Inside Number 36A wooden antique phone hung on the kitchen wall. Dean Brough said there was another one downstairs -- the family used them like an intercom system.Hide Caption 4 of 8 Photos: Inside Number 36Queenslanders are notorious for being poorly insulated. Older homes had fireplaces to heat them in winter.Hide Caption 5 of 8 Photos: Inside Number 36The Broughs raised their two young sons in the house. It was sold in 2020, after Alan died.Hide Caption 6 of 8 Photos: Inside Number 36The MacGeorges fell in love with the house's painted ceilings -- white plaster in four of the rooms had been painted to complement the decor.Hide Caption 7 of 8 Photos: Inside Number 36The Broughs used every spare inch of the house to display their antiques and souvenirs bought on overseas holidays.Hide Caption 8 of 8For sale Number 36 was advertised for sale earlier this year as "a grand old home" that "boasts character and charm rarely seen in the market." Images with the listing showed rooms from another era, lined with patterned carpets, embossed wallpaper and antiques. It was the first time the property had been on the market since the 1960s. We didn't want any Queenslander, we wanted a house with a bit of historyDiane McClay-MacGeorgeBut there was a catch: only the house was for sale -- the land it stood on had already been bought by a property developer who planned to clear the site for a new childcare center. If unsold, the house would be demolished. Diane McClay-MacGeorge, a support worker for people with disabilities, and Chris MacGeorge, a hydrological engineer, had been searching for a new home for four years. The couple, in their early 60s, fell in love with the Queenslander's painted plaster ceilings, including the gold-trimmed burgundy hallway, which they had suspected was the handiwork of a local artist.They could see the house had a story and wanted it to be part of theirs. "We had always dreamed of getting a Queenslander, but we didn't want any Queenslander, we wanted a house with a bit of history," said McClay-MacGeorge.The couple had already bought a block of land at Wolvi, a rural area home to fewer than 500 people about two hours' drive north of Brisbane, the state capital. The house would sit on the banks of a man-made lake, surrounded by dense Australian bush. "From the road you'd be looking down across the water to the property, which will then be backdropped by the trees that surround the natural river and landscape," said MacGeorge. The scene was set for the house -- they just had to get it there.Moving a house Brothers John, Kevin, and Simon Wright have been moving houses since they were barefoot teenagers, starting off working for pocket money at their father's company. Queensland House Removers is now a third-generation company. Over the decades, the brothers think they've moved more than 7,500 homes. "You've got to be a truck driver, you've got to be a carpenter, you got to be all sorts of different trades," said John Wright.Not all houses can be moved. The wooden frames need to be in decent condition and not damaged by termites or covered with asbestos, the fibrous building material that was popular in Australia before it was banned in 2003 for causing certain types of cancer. "A lot get knocked down because they're too expensive to move, there's too much renovation to do," said John Wright. For those that pass muster, each move follows a similar process. The interior is cleared of all possessions and anything that could become damaged during transit, such as light fittings and balcony railings. The roof is dismantled to bring the height of the house down to about 5 meters (16 feet), low enough to fit under bridges. Special hydraulic trailers are reversed under the house to support its weight while workers knock out the stumps from beneath it. The wooden frame is then cut from front to back, along the edges of rooms, so the pieces are as structurally sound as they can be for the journey. Extra beams are sometimes added for support. At the new site, the house is reconstructed. Timber beams are fixed to the old frame, making the structure even stronger than it was before. The roof is also rebuilt, in the same style as the original. The longest part of any move is getting local council approval, which can take months. Often roads have to be closed, and every power line along the route must be measured to ensure it is high enough to clear the load. Other hazards, such as traffic islands, can be negotiated with the trailer's hydraulics."Sometimes we'll have to tilt the house so one side is nearly down on the ground, going over an embankment or something like that. And we'll tip one side down to go under power lines and keep the other side up so it stays level," said John Wright. The trailers are made in New Zealand, where some people also relocate wooden homes.Number 36 isn't the oldest or the biggest house the Wrights have ever moved, but its painted plaster ceilings required extra protection. "We've been assured that they can bring it intact because its four ceilings are just magical, just beautiful," said McClay-MacGeorge, before the move.Scaffolding was added so the plaster didn't crumble during the trip. With a neat, solid load, the trucks can travel up to 90 kilometers per hour (56 miles per hour). For this move, they'd sit on around 55 kph (35 mph). The forgotten USBWhen Alan and Leona Brough bought Number 36 in 1966, the house was surrounded by pastures with grazing dairy cattle, says their son Dean Brough, who grew up there with his brother David. "It was a quiet road in front, just a suburban street," he said. Before long, the government acquired part of the front yard and widened the road outside to four lanes. More traffic brought more people, and more modern bungalows started appearing in the area."The house was too close to a major road (but) my parents loved it, it didn't worry them," said Dean Brough. When his father died last year, he put his parent's home on the market. His mother moved in with him, and they started the painful process of selling decades of memories. "There were thousands and thousands of items," Dean Brough said. "They'd been there since the 1960s, so they just collected and collected."Leona and Alan Brough bought the house in 1966.As he prepared the house for sale, he gave most of his parent's prized possession to an auction house -- just before the city went into coronavirus lockdown. "They had some online auctions but not many. We didn't get that much money, but that's life," he said.By the time the MacGeorges bought the house, it had been cleared of its contents. Then, workers who were preparing to move the house found a USB stick in a pile of debris. It contained dozens of images of how the interior had looked two years ago. Photos: The ground floor of Number 36A lost USB stick found beneath the house revealed a crowded interior packed with antiques and memorabilia collected over 60 years. These photos were taken in December 2018, more than one year before the house was sold to new owners and dismantled, ready to be moved.Hide Caption 1 of 5 Photos: The ground floor of Number 36The Broughs' memorabilia included old-fashioned arcade machines. Here, a wooden claw machine can be seen on the right, filled with old toys. The claw was operated by hand, after depositing sixpence in the slot.Hide Caption 2 of 5 Photos: The ground floor of Number 36On the left sat a Rowe Ami jukebox from the 1960s, advertising hits of the era from Elvis Presley and Dean Martin. Along the back wall, a coin-operated punch strength tester invited users to pull the ball down gently, then take a "good straight punch."Hide Caption 3 of 5 Photos: The ground floor of Number 36One corner of the room was devoted to sailing mementos, including buoys, life preservers and model ships. To complete the theme, a book about the Titanic sat on the table.Hide Caption 4 of 5 Photos: The ground floor of Number 36Alan Brough had modeled part of the room on a traditional British saloon bar. An antique Anker cash register sat on the counter surrounded by glassware and silver tankards.Hide Caption 5 of 5The photographs showed a house crammed with memorabilia: vintage arcade machines, jukeboxes, antique wall phones, wooden wheelchairs, a coin-operated punch strength tester, a silver Anker register, bar signs and model boats. The images had been taken by Alan's grandson as a keepsake for his grandfather.To the MacGeorges, the photos provided a glimpse of what the house had been like -- and what it could become.
Number 36 stood on Strathpine Road for almost 100 years. Before the move, the home's roof was flattened to comply with height limits. Then it was cut into three pieces and tied to hydraulic trailers for the journey north. Credit: Hilary Whiteman/CNN
Buying and sellingPeople sell Queenslanders for many reasons. Increasingly, it's to subdivide older, larger blocks of land to build new, smaller houses to sell at a profit. Removing an unwanted home can subsidize the cost of a new build -- instead of paying for its demolition, they can sell it on. In an ideal scenario, houses are moved straight to their new site. When that's not possible, the house movers take it to a holding lot, much like a used car yard, until the owner is ready to receive it. One house has been in the Wright's lot for more than three years. The owner sold her land to developers, Kevin Wright said, but couldn't bear to part with the house. She pays them weekly rent to store it.If houses can't move directly to a new block, they sit here in the Queensland House Removers holding yard until their new owners are ready to take them.House researcher Marianne Taylor is conflicted about the relocation of houses. On one hand, it saves some from demolition. On the other, it severs the house's connection with the site and erodes their historical value."From the heritage perspective, we're taught in best practice that the context of a building is crucial to its history as well. That's why relocating houses is only ever supposed to be a last resort when you're trying to protect a building," said Taylor. It's also much harder to learn the origins of a relocated home -- especially if it's been moved by different owners more than once. Researcher Magnus Eriksson advises talking to neighbors, scanning satellite images and searching newspaper archives for clues. He says that each year, the task is getting easier as more old records are digitized. "Never give up and walk away. Park it for a few years and then go back -- you're going to know more 10 years down the line than you do now," he said.Diane McClay and Chris MacGeorge followed the house as it was driven onto their new property at Wolvi, Queensland.A new beginning It's thought Number 36 was built in the 1920s, decades after Scottish European settlers first arrived in Bald Hills in the mid-1800s. They cleared the land for farming, but the area proved better suited for dairy cows that supplied milk to Brisbane city, 21 kilometers (13 miles) away.Despite its age, there were no restrictions on moving Number 36, to the disappointment of some neighbors who were sad to see it go. "When I saw them starting to board up the leadlight windows, I thought, this is going to be a fairly historic move," said one local, Scott Benson.In total, the MacGeorges paid 1 million Australian dollars (about $730,000) for their new home. That breaks down to 130,000 Australian dollars ($95,000) to buy the house, and 140,000 Australian dollars ($102,000) for the move, including raising it on new foundations, with the rest going on the land. Renovating and extending the home will cost even more. The MacGeorges plan to double the size of the house by building underneath and adding an extension to the back. Eventually, they hope to have enough rooms so their eight children and their families can come and stay.They're also planning to provide holiday accommodation.Some of the Broughs' memories will live on, however. Having learned that Alan made the hand-beaten copper cabinets, the MacGeorges have incorporated them into their new kitchen design. They're also renovating an old commercial range cooker they hoped had been part of the original property. Dean Brough confirms his father bought it on a whim while picking up a secondhand jukebox when he was a kid -- they never used it. The house now sits a long way from any main roads. Surrounded by bushland, it'll look out onto a lake, where guests can take a boat to a small island.The plaster ceilings also survived the four-hour trip on the back of the truck and will be preserved as a feature. Leona Brough didn't paint the ceilings, as the MacGeorges suspected. That was Alan, who spent decades touching up the paint. Leona was a landscape painter, whose work can be seen in the photos, hanging in many of the rooms before the home was emptied.She's in her 80s and doesn't paint much now. "I took her out the last time to see the house before it sold. And she was, yes, that's how it is, we have to sell," said Dean Brough."It's pleasing that people who bought the house are obviously quite interested in the integrity and the history of the house," he added. "It's excellent the house will have a new life with new owners." | 3news
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Story highlightsCo-hosts finish top of Group C after 1-0 win over Tunisia in FrancevilleNiger lose to Morocco 1-0 to finish bottom of group with no pointsCo-hosts Gabon beat Tunisia 1-0 on Tuesday night to seal top spot in Group C and maintain their 100% record in this year's Africa Cup of Nations. Both teams had already guaranteed their passage through to the knockout stages with both winning their opening two matches, but it was The Panthers who came out on top in a close encounter in Franceville. A 62nd-minute goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang proved enough against an under-strength Tunisian side, who chose to rest some of their top players including skipper Karim Haggui, Khaled Korbi and Mejdi Traoui,Nevertheless, the 2004 champions proved a handful as they had the better of the opening exchanges. But it was Gabon who came closest to scoring in the first half when Tunisia failed to clear their lines from an Aubameyang cross. JUST WATCHEDSudan a big surprise at Africa Cup ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSudan a big surprise at Africa Cup 02:44The resulting chance fell to skipper Daniel Cousin but he conspired to drag his shot wide. Four minutes after Aubaneyang scored, Cousin was presented with another chance to score but once again his shot was off-target. The win left him and his teammates with nothing to rue as they claimed the three points, setting up a meeting with the runners-up in Group D in Libreville next Sunday.Tunisia will face the winners of Group D. In Group C's other match, Morocco took all three points beating Niger 1-0. Both teams were pointless heading into the game and had no chance of progressing to the quarterfinals, but it was the Atlas Lions who restored some pride as Younes Belhand scored ten minutes from the end. | 5sport
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(CNN)Brazil won their Copa AmΓ©rica semifinal match 1-0 against Peru at the EstΓ‘dio Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, taking them through to the final.The hosts were persistent in the first half, with attempts from both Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar and Everton forward Richarlison in the 18th minute. But Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese denied both players, making key saves throughout the match, despite his side's defeat. Brazil eventually got on the scoreboard thanks to Lucas PaquetΓ‘. Neymar overcame three defenders with some nifty footwork before crossing the ball to his teammate, who found the back of the net in the decisive 34th minute. Peru pressed for an equalizer in the second half -- with Benevento striker Gianluca Lapadula forcing Ederson to make a crucial save in the 49th minute -- but despite their efforts, Peru failed to capitalize on any chances. Pedro Gallese made key saves throughout the match, despite his side's defeat. 'Brazil will win'Read MoreDefending champions Brazil, who beat Peru to lift the trophy in 2019, are looking to win their 10th Copa AmΓ©rica title, having played nine finals in the last 14 editions of the competition. The hosts will go on to face the winner of the second semifinal match on Wednesday between Lionel Messi's Argentina and Colombia. "I want Argentina, I am cheering them on," Neymar said. "I have friends there, and in the final, Brazil will win."Both sides last met in a Copa AmΓ©rica final in 2007, when Brazil won 3-0 against Argentina with two goals from JΓΊlio Baptista and Dani Alves, and an infamous own goal from former Argentina captain Roberto Ayala. Brazil celebrate their ticket to the final, where they will meet either Argentina or Colombia on Sunday. Marred in controversySouth America's premier football competition has been marred in controversy as hosts Brazil struggle to contain the coronavirus pandemic. As of July 5, the country has had over 18.7 million cases, and over 524,400 deaths. Public support for the competition has been divided, and players have also been vocal, with Argentine superstar Messi expressing concerns early on about contracting the virus while with his national team Brazilian national team players and staff published a letter on their social media accounts in June criticizing the organization of the tournament but confirming their participation nonetheless.In June, nine days into the tournament, at least 140 Covid-19 cases were detected among players, members of delegations and service providers, according to Brazil's health ministry. With the final scheduled to take place on Sunday, July 11, the draw promises an entertaining match at the iconic Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. | 5sport
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(CNN)A central Texas sheriff's deputy died Thursday while going door to door and helping people evacuate as several wildfires ravaged the area, authorities said. Deputy Sgt. Barbara Fenley, 51, was assisting evacuation efforts in Carbon and was last heard from when she was on her way to check on an elderly person, the Eastland County Sheriff's Office said. But with deteriorating conditions and low visibility from the smoke, Fenley ran off the roadway and was killed by the flames, the office said."Sgt. Fenley gave her life in the service of others and loved her community," it added. Fenley is survived by her husband and three children, the sheriff's office said. "She will be deeply missed."There are 23 active wildfires across the state, Texas A&M Forest Service spokesperson Erin O'Connor told CNN on Sunday. "Many of these are new starts so we won't have an accurate acreage. The largest active wildfire is the Eastland Complex in Eastland County and consists of four wildfires," O'Connor said.Read MoreOfficials responded to 175 wildfires that burned through 94,840 acres throughout Texas in the past seven days, according to O'Connor.Gov. Greg Abbott signed a disaster declaration Friday evening for 11 Texas counties, including Eastland, and said more counties may be added to the list as needed. Dozens of homes were lost in the flames and shelters were open for impacted residents, while authorities focused on containing the blazes, the governor said in a news conference. Deputy Sgt. Barbara Fenley began her law enforcement career in 2003 as a patrol officer with the city of Gorman, the Eastland County Sheriff's Office said.The Eastland Complex fire, in the middle of the state, reached at least 54,015 acres by Sunday morning, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. It was 30% contained by Sunday afternoon, the service said.The complex is among multiple wildfires scorching areas across the state amid dry and windy conditions. The Texas A&M Forest Service's forecast fire danger map for Sunday showed a "very high to extreme potential for a wildfire to ignite" and potential for "significant" fires in numerous counties.Rain in the forecast Monday could help in knocking remaining flames down, CNN meteorologist Gene Norman said."One message that I would like to exaggerate and express is that we are not out of danger yet for our high hazard fire risk," Eastland Fire Chief Joe Williamson said in a news conference Friday. "So we just ask that the community take sincere caution in your outdoor activities and practice fire safety."A family walks through smoke Thursday after evacuating a mobile home park in Abilene, Texas. Dozens of homes lostAt least 50 homes had been lost in the flames across three communities that were under evacuation orders a day earlier, Abbott said in a Friday evening news conference. "Probably as we are able to better surveil damages here in the coming days we will find more than that," the governor said. The Eastland Complex prompted the orders across parts of Eastland, Brown and Comanche counties Thursday, CNN previously reported. Residents of those communities were allowed to return Friday, forest service spokesperson Angel Lopez told CNN Friday afternoon. All three counties were included in the governor's declaration Friday.One family in Carbon found just ashes and rubble when they returned home. Debbie Copeland posted a video on Facebook sharing what she saw when she returned early Friday: nothing there but the home's sidewalk. Her family told CNN affiliate WFAA they had lived in the home for more than two decades. A neighbor lost her home, too, the affiliate reported."We did lose a lot of Carbon, Texas," Eastland County Judge Rex Fields said in Friday's news conference. "It's devastating."Parts of Texas are under 'extremely critical' fire weather risk today -- the highest threat levelStructures in Carbon were "heavily impacted" Thursday afternoon when one of the four blazes -- the Kidd Fire -- passed through, officials said in a Friday morning update on the national Inciweb wildfire information system. Thursday night, roughly 475 homes were evacuated in Gorman, also in Eastland County. The Kidd Fire, by far the biggest of the four in the complex, started Thursday and had charred 42,333 acres by Sunday morning, the Texas A&M Forest Service reported Sunday morning. It was 25% contained.A total of 142 structures have been reported lost from the Kidd Fire, the Texas A&M Forest Service said. "Kidd fire still continues to be the main fire of concern. For operational plans today, crews will focus on completing containment lines around the Kidd fire," according to the service.In the small town of Ranger, about 10 miles northeast of Eastland, a church and several downtown buildings burned Thursday, affiliate KTVT reported."I've been fire chief here 40 years and when you have something like this ... it hurts. It hurts the whole community," Ranger Fire Department Chief Darrell Fox said. "This church had been here for 100 years."At least one other fire of the complex, the Oak Mott Fire, burned close to the town of Rising Star, according to Friday's Inciweb update. There were "multiple reports of structures saved through efforts of responders," the update said, but officials said during Friday night's news conference the town was continuing to face threats from the flames.The Oak Mott Fire had burned more than 4,000 acres and was 60% contained by Sunday morning, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.A woman waits for her companions to retrieve belongings from their home Thursday as an Abilene police officer checks on other people evacuating a mobile home park. A fire on the border between nearby Coleman and Runnels counties was 90% contained as of Sunday afternoon, the forest service said.The Crews Gap Fire has burned 8,100 acres since it began a week ago.The Coleman Fire Department said early Friday that residents returning to their homes should "stay alert and aware."CNN's Amanda Musa, Melissa Alonso and Andy Rose contributed to this report. | 3news
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(CNN)Tennis star Nick Kyrgios has announced that he will not play at the upcoming US Open due to the coronavirus pandemic. World No. 40 Kyrgios has been an outspoken critic of exhibition tournaments staged amid the pandemic, most notably the Adria Tour organized by Novak Djokovic.In pulling out of the US Open, which is scheduled to begin in New York on August 31, he follows fellow Australian Ashleigh Barty, who said earlier this week she would not compete in what will be the second grand slam of the year. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, videos and features"Let's take a breath here and remember what is important, which is health and safety as a community," Kyrgios said in a video released by Uninterrupted.Read MoreNick Kyrgios reached the third round of last year's US Open."We can rebuild our sport and the economy but we can never recover lives lost. "I will not be playing this year at the US Open. It hurts me at my core not to be out there competing in one of the sport's greatest arenas, the Arthur Ashe Stadium. "But I'm sitting out for the people, for my Aussies, for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have lost their lives, for all of you."READ: WTA Tour return to go ahead as planned despite player's positive coronavirus testKyrgios added that he has no problem with organizers staging the tournament, nor with players who compete and act "appropriately" and "safely."However, he did appear to continue his criticism of the Adria Tour, after which a number of players, including world No. 1 Djokovic, tested positive for Covid-19.JUST WATCHEDDjokovic 'deeply sorry' for Adria Tour after Covid-19 positive testReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDjokovic 'deeply sorry' for Adria Tour after Covid-19 positive test 01:52"Tennis players, you have to act in the interests of each other and work together," said Kyrgios."You can't be dancing on tables, money-grabbing your way around Europe or trying to make a quick buck hosting an exhibition."That's just so selfish."READ: Serena Williams helps to donate 4.25 million face masks to schoolsThe Adria Tour was scheduled to be played in four cities across the Balkans from June 13 to July 5, but was canceled when Djokovic, his wife Jelena, three other players, three coaches and one player's pregnant wife tested positive for the virus.After his positive test, Djokovic apologized for causing harm and said the events had been organized "to finally unite people for philanthropic reasons."World No. 3 Dominic Thiem, who competed in the Adria Tour, has also defended Djokovic, telling CNN Sport last month that the events "didn't break any law."JUST WATCHEDUltimate Tennis Showdown brings new attitudeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHUltimate Tennis Showdown brings new attitude 02:49Strict measures have been proposed by organizers to enable the US Open to take place, including the idea of creating a bubble for players at an airport hotel outside Manhattan -- where most players stay -- and restricting entourage numbers to just one.The first WTA tournament since March is scheduled to get underway on Monday as preparation for the US Open begins. It was announced one player had tested positive for coronavirus ahead of the Palermo Ladies Open, but that the tournament would still go ahead as planned. | 5sport
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(CNN)On December 14, 2020, nurse Sandra Lindsay rolled up her left sleeve at a New York City hospital and became one of the first people in the US to get vaccinated against Covid-19.The vaccine was from Pfizer/BioNTech, and it had been authorized for emergency use only three days earlier by the FDA -- the first counterblow against a deadly virus that had crippled the country and shut down much of the world. Authorization for Covid-19 vaccines from Moderna and Johnson & Johnson soon followed.Sandra Lindsay, a nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, getting vaccinated against coronavirus on December 14, 2020. A year later, millions of people in the US -- and billions around the world -- have been vaccinated against the coronavirus. The pandemic is still with us. But the vaccines have saved countless lives, reduced hospitalizations and helped restore some normalcy to our social activities. They also have been greeted with skepticism and fear by many people who refuse to get them. Vaccine mandates have sparked protests, pitted companies against employees and complicated international travel. And vaccine doses have disproportionately gone to wealthier countries, leaving poorer ones less protected.Read MoreAs we mark one year of these vaccines, the world is fighting pandemic fatigue and the threats of new variants. But hundreds of thousands of people still are getting vaccinated each day in the US. Here's a look at Covid-19 vaccines, by the numbers:At least 485 million The number of coronavirus vaccine doses administered so far in the United States. Nearly 60% of doses administered have been Pfizer/BioNTech, while another 38% have been the Moderna vaccine. Less than 4% of doses administered have been from J&J.
At least 202 million The number of people of all ages who are fully vaccinated in the US -- about 60.9% of the total population -- according to figures this week from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccination coverage in the US increases by age group. More than 87% of seniors are fully vaccinated, compared to less than 60% of adults under the age of 25 and about half of adolescents age 12 to 17. Racial disparities in vaccination persist, but the gaps are not as wide as they were in the early months. 23.4%The percentage of eligible people in the US, including all adults and children ages 5 and over, who have not received a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, according to CDC data. That's roughly 73 million people. The CDC notes that first doses may be overestimated in their data, as records don't always include enough information to determine whether a shot was administered as a first dose, second dose or booster.Vaccination uptake varies widely state to state. More than three-quarters of people in Vermont are fully vaccinated, for example, but there are still six states where less than half of residents are fully vaccinated, according to CDC data: Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi and Wyoming.2 millionThe average number of doses being administered each day in the US. For the first month of the vaccination campaign in the United States, an average of less than 1 million doses were being administered each day. That jumped to a peak of about 3.4 million doses per day in mid-April once eligibility expanded to all adults. The pace of vaccinations dropped dramatically over the summer, but is ticking up again, with booster shots accounting for more than half of the doses administered each day. The daily pace of boosters has risen quickly in recent weeks since the Omicron variant was identified.
16.7% The percentage of children ages 5 to 11 in the US who've received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, according to a report this month by the Kaiser Family Foundation. "After a short period of high demand, the rate of new vaccinations slowed significantly leading into the Thanksgiving holiday, and has continued at the slower pace since," the report says. CDC data put that figure closer to 19%, but the agency notes that first doses may be overestimated. About 10% of kids in this age group are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.About 3 in 10 The share of parents who have concerns about the safety of Covid-19 vaccines for children and say they will "definitely not" vaccinate their kids, according a survey in November by the Kaiser Family Foundation. In recent months the rate of vaccinations has slowed among adolescents ages 12 to 17, the KFF said. 35% The percentage of pregnant women in the US who have received the vaccine, according to the CDC. "People who are pregnant or were recently pregnant are at increased risk for severe illness from Covid-19, including ICU admission, ventilator use and death," the CDC says. The risk of hospitalizations for pregnant people has skyrocketed since the Delta variant became predominant. 8.5 billion The number of vaccines administered around the world so far. But despite international efforts, vaccine inequity remains a concern. The World Health Organization has pushed for equal access to vaccines among rich and poor countries, but wealthier countries still have a much higher vaccination rate."The vast majority have been administered in high- and upper-middle-income countries," the World Health Organization says. "If these doses had been distributed equitably, they would have been enough to cover all health workers and older people globally."
47%The share of the world's population that is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to Our World in Data, an online publication by a team of researchers at the University of Oxford. High-income countries have administered more than twice as many vaccine doses per capita than low-income countries. At least 65% The percentage of people at least partially vaccinated in high-income countries such as France, Japan and United States, according to the United Nations. That works out to roughly two in three people in those countries.At least 8.35% The percentage of people at least partially vaccinated in low-income countries such as Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Sudan, according to the UN. That's about one in 12 people.Nearly 800,000The number of coronavirus deaths reported in the United States. 5.3 millionThe number of coronavirus deaths reported worldwide. | 2health
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Story highlights Scottish nurse Pauline Cafferkey is in serious condition at a hospital isolation unitHealth officials say she has an "unusual late complication" from an earlier Ebola infectionShe was initially treated for Ebola in December but was discharged the following monthLondon (CNN)The first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United Kingdom is back in the hospital with a complication from the virus, and doctors say her condition is serious.Pauline Cafferkey, who was initially discharged from a hospital in January after recovering from the virus, is being treated in a high-level isolation unit at London's Royal Free Hospital.The hospital said in a statement Friday that the 39-year-old nurse was in serious condition.It said that Cafferkey had been admitted early Friday "due to an unusual late complication of her previous infection by the Ebola virus."She had been transferred there from Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, where she had been treated in the infectious diseases unit since Tuesday after feeling unwell, according to a statement from the National Health Service, or NHS.Read MoreDr. Emilia Crighton, director of public health for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said in a statement that the risk to the public from Cafferkey's condition was "very low.""In line with normal procedures in cases such as this, we have identified a small number of close contacts of Pauline's that we will be following up as a precaution," she said.The virus can be transmitted only by direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person.Worked in Sierra LeoneIn December, the Glasgow resident became the first person to be diagnosed with the virus on UK soil shortly after returning from Sierra Leone. Cafferkey contracted the virus while working with Save the Children at an Ebola treatment center, said Michael von Bertele, humanitarian director at that organization.Five days later, the Royal Free Hospital announced her condition had deteriorated to critical. But in January, she was discharged, with British Prime Minister David Cameron among those tweeting his congratulations.Ebola in 'recovered' patient's eyeCafferkey is not the first medical professional to have problems after being diagnosed as Ebola-free.American doctor Ian Crozier was treated for Ebola in Atlanta last year and declared free of the virus in his blood. But less than two months after being discharged, Crozier started experiencing problems with his vision, and doctors were stunned to find traces of the virus in fluid from his eye. Despite the presence of the virus, samples from tears and the outer eye membrane tested negative, which meant the patient was not at risk of spreading the disease during casual contact, the hospital said at the time.Crozier received steroids and an antiviral agent, and his eye gradually returned to normal. His case prompted a warning to doctors to watch Ebola survivors for eye problems.According to the World Health Organization, there have been 11,297 deaths, and 28,421 confirmed, probable and suspected cases in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, the most affected countries, since the outbreak began.The spread of the disease has slowed, with no confirmed cases of Ebola reported in most affected countries in the week to October 4 -- the first time that had happened since March 2014, according to the WHO. READ MORE: U.S. Ebola survivors -- where are they now?CNN's Susannah Cullinane and Max Foster contributed to this report. | 3news
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Story highlightsQueen Harrison on Will Claye's proposal: "It was perfect"Helped by fans, Claye climbed 20 feet to the stands to get to his now-fiancΓ©e (CNN)When two athletes fall in love, it's not just Olympic rings you have to think about.That's why, minutes after Will Claye won the silver medal for his finish in the men's triple jump on Tuesday, he knew what he had to do. American flag still in hand and aided by fans, he leaped 20 feet into the stands, ran to his girlfriend and fellow Olympian, hurdler Queen Harrison, and asked her to marry him."I think had it been any other time, she wouldn't have been surprised. She probably would have saw it coming. I think this was the perfect way to surprise her," said Claye, 25. As for Harrison, let's just say her new fiancΓ©'s plan worked."I just thought, like, sometimes after competition, he'll jump into the stands and hug his family, his Mom, us. We'll congratulate him and give him a bunch of love," said Harrison, 27.Read MoreBut then Claye dropped to his knees. "I'm like touching his face, like are you okay, and then I'm like, wait a minute. The only thing you're doing is dropping my jaw! Because, literally, I could not believe he was doing that. I was stunned!" said Harrison."There were so many people around, but somehow, it felt like it was just us two," she said, adding "it was perfect."For an ecstatic Claye, who's now returning from Rio with both a medal and a marriage on his mind, the two things went hand in hand."It felt like the perfect thing to do at that moment," he said. "During the competition, I looked up in the stands and I kept looking at Queen, like this is about to be the lady that I'm with for the rest of my life," he added.For Harrison, it's "so difficult, because it is like, what do we focus on! I'm so ecstatic!" she said, adding "once we get home, we'll debrief. And then start planning!" | 5sport
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Story highlightsPolice release photos of two suspects, warn they could be armed and dangerousA police operation is underway in Reims, France, CNN affiliate reports (CNN)French police say two suspects in Wednesday's terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine are still on the loose after escaping onto the streets of Paris.In a statement on their website, French national police ask for information on the whereabouts of suspects Cherif Kouachi and Said Kouachi, warning that both could be armed and dangerous.Police released photos of the two men, who Paris Deputy Mayor Patrick Klugman told CNN are brothers in their 30s.Cherif Kouachi, left, and Said Kouachi, right, are suspects in the Paris attack.Police found an ID document of Said Kouachi at the scene of the shooting, CNN affiliate BFMTV reported. "It was their only mistake," said Dominique Rizet, BFMTV's police and justice consultant, reporting that the discovery helped the investigation.Citing sources, the Agence France Presse news agency reported that an 18-year-old suspect in the attack had surrendered to police. CNN has not independently confirmed whether the suspect has surrendered.Read MorePolice fanned out across France in an intense manhunt for the suspects, who were masked and dressed in black when they burst into the satirical magazine's office Wednesday, killing 12 people.A tactical unit was deployed in an operation about a 144 kilometers (about 90 miles) from Paris in Reims, France, following the attack, CNN affiliate BFMTV reported. Authorities haven't revealed details about the target of the operation, but speculation surged in French media that investigators could be closing in on the suspects.French authorities vowed to step up security and apprehend those responsible."Everything will be done to arrest (the attackers)," French President Francois Hollande said in a speech Wednesday night. "... We also have to protect all public places. Security forces will be deployed everywhere there can be the beginning" of a threat.It's too soon to say whether the suspects were operating alone, CNN terrorism analyst Paul Cruickshank said.Some experts warned that how well the gunmen wielded their weapons, hid their identities and apparently planned their escape showed a marked difference from previous "lone wolf" attacks -- and could be a game changer. Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attack Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackGerman President Joachim Gauck gives a speech in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate as political and religious leaders attend a Muslim rally to condemn the Paris terror attacks, promote tolerance and send a rebuke to a growing anti-Islamic movement on Tuesday, January 13.Hide Caption 1 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackA woman in Tel Aviv, Israel, holds a pencil Sunday, January 11, showing solidarity for the 12 people who were killed in a shooting last week at the Paris office of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Her cell phone shows four people who were killed in a Paris standoff several days after the Charlie Hebdo attack.Hide Caption 2 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackThe Empire State Building in New York is lit in the colors of the French flag on January 11, paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack.Hide Caption 3 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackA man holds up a pen, signifying freedom of expression, during a gathering Friday, January 9, at JFK Plaza in Philadelphia. Hide Caption 4 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackLights on the Arc de Triomphe say "Paris est Charlie" (Paris is Charlie) on January 9.Hide Caption 5 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackJournalists and other people in Hong Kong hold up pens and hold signs that say "Je suis Charlie" (I am Charlie) during a vigil on January 9.Hide Caption 6 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackWorkers install a giant banner on the Cannes Festival Palace in Cannes, France, on January 9. Hide Caption 7 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackPeople gather in front of the French Embassy in Mexico City on Thursday, January 8.Hide Caption 8 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackA crowd gathers in Sydney on January 8 to show their support for Charlie Hebdo.Hide Caption 9 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackIn remembrance of the victims, the Eiffel Tower goes dark on January 8.Hide Caption 10 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackA man holds a pencil in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral during a moment of silence January 8 in the French capital. Hide Caption 11 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackPolice observe a moment of silence January 8 in Rennes, France.Hide Caption 12 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackPeople in Istanbul pay tribute to the victims of the attack on January 8.Hide Caption 13 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackJournalists and supporters of press freedom hold placards saying "I am Charlie" outside the Foreign Correspondents' Club in Hong Kong on January 8.Hide Caption 14 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackWomen hug each other during a solidarity rally outside the office of Charlie Hebdo on January 8.Hide Caption 15 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackA Romanian military member walks past a condolence book outside the French Embassy in Bucharest, Romania, on January 8.Hide Caption 16 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackPeople in Toulouse, France, observe a moment of silence in front of City Hall on January 8.Hide Caption 17 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackFrench journalists and their families show solidarity with the Paris victims outside the French Embassy in New Delhi on January 8.Hide Caption 18 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackMourners hold signs depicting victims' eyes during a rally in New York on Wednesday, January 7.Hide Caption 19 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackPeople hold candles during a gathering at Place de la Republique, a square in Paris, on January 7.Hide Caption 20 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackPeople gather in Paris on January 7.Hide Caption 21 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackFlowers are placed at a candlelight vigil near the French Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia, on January 7.Hide Caption 22 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackPeople in Rio de Janeiro hold a sign that reads "We're all Charlie" on January 7.Hide Caption 23 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackPapers with "I am Charlie" written in various languages are left near candles at a vigil in front of the French Embassy in Berlin.Hide Caption 24 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackEmployees put up a sign as a woman prepares to place a bouquet of flowers at the front gate of the French Embassy in Washington on January 7.Hide Caption 25 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackPeople in Brussels, Belgium, hold candles during a vigil on January 7.Hide Caption 26 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackPeople gather near candles in Lyon, France, on January 7.Hide Caption 27 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackPeople in Paris hold candles on January 7. Hide Caption 28 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackA man holds a candle and a sticker that translates to "I am Charlie" during a vigil in Paris on January 7.Hide Caption 29 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackPeople gather in London's Trafalgar Square on January 7.Hide Caption 30 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackPeople gather in front of city hall in Rennes on January 7.Hide Caption 31 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackA portrait of French cartoonist Georges Wolinski, another victim of the shooting, is seen in Marseille, France, on January 7.Hide Caption 32 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackPeople hold up pens as a show of support in Rennes on January 7.Hide Caption 33 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackPeople light candles during a vigil in Geneva, Switzerland, on January 7.Hide Caption 34 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackJournalists with Agence France-Presse hold signs reading "I am Charlie" as they observe a minute of silence on January 7.Hide Caption 35 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackA man in Paris raises a pen on January 7.Hide Caption 36 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackPeople gather at the Place Royale in Nantes, France, on January 7.Hide Caption 37 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackThe French national flag flies at half-staff on the roof of the French Embassy in Berlin.Hide Caption 38 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackPeople light candles at the Place de la Republique on January 7.Hide Caption 39 of 40 Photos: Reactions to Paris terror attackPeople hold signs during a gathering in Paris on January 7.Hide Caption 40 of 40Charlie Hebdo: Satirical magazine is no stranger to controversyVideo shows gunman target seemingly wounded manThese developments come after at least two heavily armed men entered the Charlie Hebdo office in Paris' 11th district, close to Place de la Bastille, and opened fire, Paris Prosecutor Francois Molins said.Map: Charlie Hebdo HQ, ParisThe gunmen said they were avenging the Prophet Mohammed and shouted "Allahu akbar," which translates to "God is great," Molins said. A witness who works in the office opposite the magazine's told BFMTV that he saw two hooded men, dressed in black, enter the building heavily armed."We then heard them open fire inside, with many shots," he said. "We were all evacuated to the roof. After several minutes, the men fled, after having continued firing in the middle of the street."JUST WATCHEDGunmen fire, shout 'Allahu Akbar'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGunmen fire, shout 'Allahu Akbar' 00:29The men reportedly spoke fluent French with no accent.One unsettling video, posted to YouTube, shows two men shooting on a Paris street, then walking up to and firing point-blank at a seemingly wounded man as he lay on the ground.Video shows a gunman approaching his getaway car and raising his finger in the air in what appears to be a signal, possibly to another vehicle or other people who might have played a role in the attack, a Western intelligence source briefed on the French investigation told CNN.In addition to the 12 dead, 11 people were wounded, including four in "serious condition," the prosecutor said. Two police officers were among those killed, the French President said. Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacks Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksCharlie Hebdo editor and cartoonist Stephane Charbonnier, known as Charb, was among the 12 people killed in a terror attack Wednesday, January 7, at the magazine's offices in Paris. On January 9, four hostages were killed when a gunman seized a Jewish grocery store and killed them before police moved in. Hide Caption 1 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksJean Cabut, also known as Cabu, was one of the well-known Charlie Hebdo cartoonists killed in the attack. London's Daily Mail described him as "an almost legendary cultural figure in France." Hide Caption 2 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksCartoonist Georges Wolinski, 80, was a political cartoonist. "He was a great satirical artist," said Mexican cartoonist Felipe Galindo, a friend of Wolinski, who once presented him with an award. "Nothing was sacred for him. He would touch anything. But he was also a very gentle, very kind man."Hide Caption 3 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksCartoonist Bernard Verlhac, also known as Tignous, was a man "who enjoyed freedom to its fullest in his artistic creativity and published his cartoons without fear," said Ecuadorian cartoonist Xavier Bonilla.Hide Caption 4 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksEconomist Bernard Maris was among the magazine's contributors. He wrote about economic issues under the byline of "Oncle Bernard," contributed to mainstream broadcasts and taught at UniversitΓ© Paris 8, the Globe and Mail reported.Hide Caption 5 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksCartoonist Philippe HonorΓ©, also known as HonorΓ©, was born in wartime France, in Vichy in 1941.Hide Caption 6 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksMichel Renaud was a visitor at the newspaper office. He was known for his work on the cultural life of Clermont-Ferrand and held several positions in the municipality, France 3 Auvergne reported.Hide Caption 7 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksElsa Cayat, the only woman killed in the newspaper attack, was a psychoanalyst and twice-monthly columnist for the paper. Hide Caption 8 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksAhmed Merabet was a member of the 11th arrondissement police force that pursued the attacker of the newspaper office. Merabet was Muslim, his brother Malek told reporters. "He was killed by false Muslims," the brother said. "Islam is a safe religion."Hide Caption 9 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksYoav Hattab, 21, one of the four hostages killed at the kosher grocery on January 9. He was the son of the chief rabbi of Tunis, Tunisia, JSSNews reported.Hide Caption 10 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksYohan Cohen was a 22-year-old student, according JSSNews and a French news outlet. He liked rap, particularly French rapper Booba.Hide Caption 11 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksPhilippe Braham was in his 40s, and no further details were immediately available, JSSNews reported.Hide Caption 12 of 13 Photos: Victims of the Paris terror attacksFranΓ§ois-Michel Saada, 63, was a retired senior executive, according to French news outlets RTL and Agence-France Press.Hide Caption 13 of 13Charlie Hebdo editor and cartoonist Stephane Charbonnier, known as "Charb," is among the dead in the attack, a police spokesman in the district where the office is located told CNN. At least three other well-known cartoonists -- known by the pen names Cabu, Wolinski and Tignous -- were also killed.'Parisians will not be afraid'At an event in Paris' Place de la Republique, demonstrators held up pens in honor of the slain cartoonists and chanted, "We are Charlie!" Pictures posted online showed similar demonstrations in other cities, including Rome, Berlin and Barcelona. "Parisians will not be afraid," Klugman said. "We will fight terrorism with our common values, freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of the press. ... We are at war, but we still want to behave as a leading democracy."Armed soldiers could be seen standing guard outside monuments, in transit stations and elsewhere in well-trafficked spots around France by Wednesday evening.Prime Minister Manuel Valls raised France's security to its highest level -- "attack alert" -- after the Charlie Hebdo bloodshed. That means there will be reinforced security at media company offices, major stores, religious centers and on public transport, his office said in a statement. U.S. counterterrorism agencies are looking at a number of groups, including ISIS and al Qaeda, that might be responsible for the attack. Charlie Hebdo has been singled out as a target for Islamist extremists in al Qaeda's publication, Inspire.Police impounded a black Citroen in northeastern Paris similar to the one purportedly used by the attackers as a getaway car. Video from CNN affiliate BFMTV shows the vehicle being towed from Porte de Pantin, in Paris' 19th district. Investigators will do a complete DNA work-up on the Citroen, including soil signatures that might suggest where the gunmen came from, a Western intelligence source briefed on the probe told CNN.The same source said that French authorities are searching all travel records from the past 17 days to see whether any of the attackers entered the European nation over the holidays. This includes checks at Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, as well as whatever limited information is available from train stations.Thursday will be a national day of mourning for those killed in the attack, Hollande said. He asked for a moment of reflection Thursday and said flags will be at half-staff for three days.Satirical magazine has drawn angerCharlie Hebdo is no stranger to controversy for lampooning a variety of subjects, including Christianity. But what it's done on Islam has gotten the most attention and garnered the most vitriol.Its last tweet before Wednesday's attack featured a cartoon of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The magazine has a controversial history of depicting Mohammed, often in an unfavorable light, which has angered many Muslims around the world. JUST WATCHEDKilled cartoon editor in 2012: 'Disarm them with humor'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHKilled cartoon editor in 2012: 'Disarm them with humor' 00:35Earlier cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed spurred protests and the burning of the magazine's office three years ago. In November 2011, Charlie Hebdo's office was firebombed the day it was due to publish a cover making fun of Islamic law. A year later, in an interview with Le Monde newspaper, Charbonnier gave little indication that he planned to change Charlie Hebdo's ways."It may sound pompous," he said, "but I'd rather die standing than live on my knees."The attack on the magazine spurred a wave of support for the publication and its practices around France and the world. On social media, people tweeted past covers from the magazine as well as the words "Je suis Charlie," or "I am Charlie." Solidarity for #CharlieHebdo attack victims spreads with #jesuischarlie: "I am Charlie." http://t.co/WXxhMZqnX1 pic.twitter.com/LFzsGCaIRPβ CNN (@CNN) January 7, 2015
Translated versions found on the Charlie Hebdo website.Tweets from https://twitter.com/cnni/lists/france-magazine-attack!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");CNN's Jim Bittermann, Ben Brumfield, Alanne Orjoux, Deborah Feyerick, Laura Smith-Spark, Jason Hanna, Pierre Meilhan, Hala Gorani, Jake Tapper, Wolf Blitzer, Allison Brennan, Paul Cruickshank, Margot Haddad and Evan Perez contributed to this report. | 3news
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Story highlightsRussia holds "unprecedented" large-scale parades across Russia and overseas to celebrate Navy DayRussian President Vladimir Putin attends St. Petersburg celebrations, which include Chinese navy ships (CNN)Russia's full naval might was on display Sunday as the country celebrated its annual Navy Day in multiple time zones, with parades and demonstrations held in all four corners of its vast territory, as well as at Russian bases abroad -- including in Syria and in annexed Crimea. The celebrations began in the far eastern city of Vladivostok, where dozens of navy vessels and submarines from the country's Pacific Fleet put on a public display, according to Russian state media. Russian sailors stand in attention on a military vessel carrying a replica of a boat of Peter The Great during a naval parade in St. Petersburg.The scale of the Navy Day celebrations is "unprecedented," according to military analyst Tyler Rogoway, and along with a huge parade held by China's armed forces the same day, a "reminder of rising global military competition" faced by the US. Celebrations were also held on the other side of the country in Baltiysk, the western base of Russia's Baltic Fleet. A Russian training ship, the Khersones, during a naval parade to mark Russian Navy Day in Sevastopol, Crimea. Other celebrations included the display of the navy's flagship aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, near its base in the northern city of Severomorsk.Russian Navy veterans celebrate Navy Day in St Petersburg.Read MoreThe main events of the day were carried out in St. Petersburg, where Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw a parade featuring 50 combat ships and submarines, and a further 40 aircraft. More than 5,000 sailors from the Baltic, Black Sea, Northern, Pacific fleets and the Caspian Flotilla participated in the parade."Russia's history is inseparable from the victories of its courageous and fearless Navy," Putin said in a speech that drew heavily on naval history, in which he outlined the continued importance of the country's fleet. "Much is being done today for the development and renovation of the Navy. New ships are being commissioned, the fleet's combat training and readiness are being perfected," he said. The celebrations came as US Vice President Mike Pence visited Estonia, the first leg of an Eastern European trip that will also take him to Georgia and Montenegro to show US support for them and NATO in the face of what the administration has called Russia's destabilizing activities in Ukraine and elsewhere.A Russian Navy vessel sails along the Neva River during the naval parade for Russia's Navy Day in St. Petersburg.Several carrier-based Su-33 and MiG-29K fighter jets, recently deployed in operations in Syria, took part in an aerial display, according to Russia Today. The state media outlet reported that Putin announced the addition of 30 new vessels to the Russian fleet in the coming year. Two Chinese warships, the guided-missile destroyer Hefei and frigate Yuncheng, also took part in the main celebration in St. Petersburg. The presence of the vessels is a "major symbol of the deepening military ties between Moscow and Beijing," according to Rogoway, the military analyst. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, President Vladimir Putin, and the commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy Adm. Vladimir Korolev review a naval parade in St. Petersburg.The presence of the vessels intrigued Russians and were a source of pride for expatriate Chinese living and working in Russia. "I am very proud to see Chinese vessels here," said St. Petersburg-based Chinese national Tian Haowen, during an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV."Because I feel the strength of my motherland, which is a power backing for the security of the Chinese citizens who work overseas as I do."Fireworks go off to mark Russian Navy Day in St. Petersburg.More controversially, Russian vessels took part in events held in Sevastapol, the Crimean port annexed by Russia in 2014, and in Tartus, the Syrian military base from which the Russian military has launched operations against Syrian rebels, providing assistance to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad. Russian navy frigates fire missiles during Russia's Navy Day celebration in Sevastopol in Crimea.Established in 1939, Russian Naval Day was originally celebrated on July 24 and was changed to the last Sunday in July in 1980. | 3news
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Story highlightsNico Rosberg retains F1 championship lead after finishing second in BahrainMercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton wins race after overtaking Rosberg at startHamilton is slowed down by safety car after spectacular accidentSergio Perez claims Force India's second podium finish in team's historyBernie Ecclestone had called it "unacceptable," while Ferrari's president chimed in on the lack of engine noise and apparent "taxi driving" enforced by fuel restrictions -- but Formula One delivered what its fans most want on Sunday.Pure racing. The exhilarating sight -- if not sound -- of drivers overtaking and pushing the limits.While, like last season, there is clearly one dominant team -- this time Mercedes -- the introduction of new design rules and the smaller, yet seemingly more powerful turbo engines has added an element that had been lacking when Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull dominated so comprehensively in 2013."I strongly dislike coming second to Lewis, but on the other hand that was the most exciting race I've ever had in my career," Mercedes' championship leader Nico Rosberg said after being beaten into second place in Bahrain by Englishman Hamilton."Today was a great day for the sport, and hopefully you had a lot of fun watching on television."Hamilton triumphed by just over three seconds, having overtaken pole-sitting teammate Rosberg at the start but then being hauled back by the safety car following a collision between Lotus' Pastor Maldonado and Sauber's Esteban Gutierrez. The Mexican escaped unscathed despite his car's spectacular somersault.JUST WATCHEDWhy is F1 so lucrative?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWhy is F1 so lucrative? 02:59JUST WATCHEDCaterham boss changes tacticsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCaterham boss changes tactics 02:47JUST WATCHEDF1's big design changesReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHF1's big design changes 02:44"It was exciting. Nico drove fantastically well, very fair, and it was hard to keep him behind at the end," said 2008 world champion Hamilton, who moved up to equal 10th on the all-time victories list with the 24th checkered flag of his career."I was on a knife edge the whole time. It was a relief when I crossed the line."The childhood friends and rivals have dominated this season, winning all three races and claiming all three pole positions -- Rosberg now has an 11-point advantage at the top, with Nico Hulkenberg a further 22 back from Hamilton in third.It has been a big turnaround for Mercedes, which finished second in last year's constructors' standings -- a massive 236 points behind Red Bull.But the German manufacturer has adapted best to the new rules -- reflected in the Mercedes-powered Force India claiming a surprise podium placing at Sakhir as Hulkenberg's teammate Sergio Perez came in third, some 23 seconds behind Rosberg.Red Bull, struggling this season with its Renault engines, did manage fourth place as Daniel Ricciardo upstaged Vettel by overcoming the 10-place penalty that put him 13th on the start grid.Hulkenberg was fifth in a notable double for Force India, ahead of his fellow German and four-time world champion Vettel -- winner of the past two races in Bahrain.Mercedes-powered Williams took seventh and eighth through Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas respectively.Massa's former Ferrari teammate Fernando Alonso came home in a disappointing ninth, disconsolately punching the air in irony as he crossed the line ahead of new colleague Kimi Raikkonen.McLaren, also powered by Mercedes, had a disappointing outing as 2009 world champion Jenson Button retired two laps from the end in his 250th race while rookie Kevin Magnussen -- second in the season opener and ninth in Malaysia -- quit after 40 of the 57 laps.Maldonado was given a five-place penalty for the next race in China and three points against his Super Licence after hitting Gutierrez on lap 41.Marussia's Jules Bianchi was given two penalty points -- a total of 12 means a one-race ban -- for ending the race of Gutierrez's Sauber teammate Adrian Sutil, who has a five-place penalty for China after an infringement in Saturday's qualifying.The F1 caravan will head to Shanghai in two weeks with the sport's chief executive Ecclestone demanding changes after criticisms over the perceived lack of atmosphere at races."People buying tickets are expecting to see what Formula One used to be, and as I've mentioned before, I've had letters from promoters," the 83-year-old told reporters in the paddock before the Bahrain race, which was celebrating its 10th anniversary."They're all worried if they lose spectators then they are going to be in trouble. "What is important is that the teams know the problem, the engine manufacturers know the problem, and they're trying to sort it."Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo also voiced his concerns."I don't want to think of the decline of Formula One, and if we look at it today, we have a race that is no longer Formula One," the Italian said before the GP. "We have to give back to Formula One its characteristics. We cannot have an economy formula. It has to be extreme, with racing from the first lap to the last. "Formula One is also about the engine music -- not noise -- and we also have to make sure it is not too complicated with regard to the rules." However, the head of motorsport's governing body said the 2014 changes had been necessary due to "environment legislation" which was restricting the use of circuits for F1, and said teams had to adapt to the new challenges."If you ask Hamilton and Rosberg if they are driving like taxi drivers ... if you have an efficient car you don't have any problem," said FIA president Jean Todt, formerly team boss at Ferrari when Michael Schumacher was the dominant force of F1."It seems Mercedes is stronger. I don't have the power to say 'Let's slow them down.' If they are quicker than the others I think it is a challenge for the other teams to catch them."It is completely unfair to punish a team who has been doing a better job."Read: Rosberg promises 'fantastic show' in BahrainRead: F1 stars welcome Schumacher newsRead: Schumacher shows signs of consciousnessRead: Hamilton dedicates win to flight victims | 5sport
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Story highlights"It's like they're introducing the child to a tribe," Carrie Fisher said of parents screening "Star Wars"You know your own kid and when they're old enough to begin the training, but it's probably not before age 5 Go Ask Your Dad is parenting advice with a philosophical bent as one dad explores what we want out of life, for ourselves and our children, through useful paradigms and best practices. Share your insight at the CNN Parenting Facebook page. (CNN)Assuming you already know why "Star Wars" is so important (which I detailed in a previous genuflecting column), I'll make the jump to light speed and get to a parenting question to which I have given a disproportionate share of thought: How to properly introduce my children to the greatest never-ending mythic space opera.I grew up seeing the original trilogy on big screens and then ad nauseam on VHS and the early days of cable. I feel lucky to have been born in the early 1970s so I could get the full impact of their unfolding, including Kenner toys, pop culture ubiquity and influence, and even scholarly review. And to the degree that I can share my devotion to this ancient religion with my own children, I want to get it just right. Princess Leia understood. In her final book, "The Princess Diarist," actress and writer Carrie Fisher explained the significance of parents showing their kids "Star Wars" for the first time.
Go Ask Your Dad is parenting advice with a philosophical bent as one dad explores what we want out of life, for ourselves and our children, through useful paradigms and best practices. It considers old problems in new ways, and new problems that previous generations didn't face.
"It's like they're introducing the child to a tribe," she wrote. "There's a ritual -- you ... place them down as an offering, and say, 'Watch this.' Then you watch him watching 'Star Wars,' trying to find out how much you have in common with your kid. It's as if (parents) know they have this great gift to bestow, and they want to bestow it as perfectly as possible -- the perfect time, the perfect place, the perfect situation for passing on this life-defining experience. And the kids will always remember for their entire lives how they first felt when they first saw their now favorite movie. And they were given this gift from their parents, and now can share it together. Truly a family affair."It's important to me that I be there when my daughters see the films for the first time, and I won't cede it to friends, parties or sleepovers. And not only do I want to curate the experience, but it's risky to show them too early, lest their introduction to the Jedi, the Sith and the Force leaves them scared, confused or -- worst of all -- bored.Read MoreThis requires patience. You know your own kid and when they're old enough to begin the training, but it's probably not before age 5 that they'll really get it. With my older daughter, I had to do something to ease my urge before she was ready to see the first movie. Luckily, when she was 3, she had an insatiable appetite for bedtime storytelling. So after exhausting the limits of my own imagination, I turned to what I can only describe as the "Star Wars" Oral Traditional, told by me, as if these were legends handed down by storytellers over the centuries. Star Wars: Revenge of the MythIt took months. I did sound effects. She was riveted. (When I tried this years later with my younger daughter, age 4 at the time, she shut it down because my Vader impression was giving her nightmares. We tried again with more success a year later.) Of course, my oral tradition version occasionally required ridiculous explanations such as "remember the Abominable Snowman from 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?' Well, a creature like that, on the ice planet Hoth, attacked Luke Skywalker while he was riding his smelly snow kangaroo."Finally, just after I described to my older daughter Ewoks dancing around Darth Vader's funeral pyre, she begged for more. Instead of fan fiction, I said, "well, there are some more stories about how young Anakin became Vader in the first place. Would you like to hear those?" And so we did the prequels.Why did you become a parent? The answer could help you be a better oneThat took only days. Not because I was reluctant -- I'm actually something of a prequel apologist and feel they contain some scenes, humor and myth that are on par with the originals -- but because the details just were not seared into my brain; I'd seen them only a couple of times each instead of dozens. After that, I found the old picture book adaptations of each movie and read them to her. Finally, we listened to the public radio teleplay version of the first film. It's longer than the movie with added scenes, plus it has the film's sound effects and John Williams' score and made for compelling listening on long car rides (though my wife may disagree).When I finally screened the original "Star Wars," it was perfect. We were on vacation on a favorite island off the East Coast. My daughter had a big bowl of popcorn on her lap. There were no distractions, and she absorbed every frame in full attention. My good friend Jesse joined the two of us to partake in, and be witness to, the great ritual. When it was over, I asked her what she thought, nervous she might say something like "It's OK." But her answer was a two-word review: "googolplex fantastic!"A googolplex is the number 1 followed by 100 zeroes. That is how great "Star Wars" is. And how great she is. And I was enormously happy to have curated this double googolplex experience. Join the conversation on CNN Parenting's Facebook pageSee the latest news and share your comments with CNN Parenting on Facebook.As for showing rest of the canon, you must do what you think is right, of course. But for me, the perfect unfolding for my older daughter went like this: Episode IV, the original "Star Wars" (when she was nearly 6); then two years later IV again; then Episode V: "The Empire Strikes Back"; then "E.T." (on Halloween, with a bowl of Reese's Pieces in her lap, for the payoff of a single joke in which the alien is out on Halloween and turns, arms outstretched, to a kid dressed in a Yoda costume while longingly saying "Home!"); and then Episode VI, "Return of the Jedi." This original trilogy screening was perfectly timed just before the theatrical release of Episode VII, "The Force Awakens." Then we watched Episodes I and II, the titles of which I forget. Then I waited another year for Episode III because it's extra violent and so we'd time it perfectly to see it in this succession: III, "Rogue One," IV and VII again, just before Episode VIII: "The Last Jedi" in the theater. And on and on it will go.I may have overthought it, but then again, how could I have not? And may the Force be with you.David G. Allan is the editorial director of CNN Health, Wellness and Parenting. He also writes "The Wisdom Project" about applying philosophy to our daily lives. You can subscribe to it here. | 2health
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Story highlightsWorld No. 1 Serena Williams defends her title at the Family Circle Cup in CharlestonAmerican rallies to defeat Jelena Jankovic 3-6 6-0 6-2 in Sunday's finalSerbian's compatriots through to semifinals of Davis Cup, beating U.S. in IdahoChampion Czech Republic team will play Argentina in the other semifinalDefending champion Serena Williams edged towards another milestone with the 49th WTA Tour title of her career on Sunday, coming from behind to beat Jelena Jankovic in the final of the Family Circle Cup in South Carolina.The world No. 1, who is seeking to become only the 10th woman to have reached a half-century, triumphed for the third time on the green clay at Charleston as she won 12 of the last 14 games.The American, who had a similar run in vanquishing Maria Sharapova to claim a record sixth Miami title last weekend, posted a 3-6 6-0 6-2 victory in just under two hours.Jankovic, herself former top-ranked player but 18th going into this event, had hopes she might repeat her 2008 Rome win on red clay over Williams as she won a 45-minute opening set.But, after an argument over the Serbian apparently trying to take her serve too quickly, the 15-time grand slam champion stepped up a gear to control the match.Read: Subdued Serena overpowers Venus"I felt so close in that first set. I felt like I could have been up 3-0,"said Williams, the only woman to have won more than $40 million in prize money."She was playing really, really well, but it was just a shot here, a shot there, and she played really well in the big points. And I had so many opportunities that I missed. She took advantage of that, and she went on to glory in that first set."After that I just got really relaxed and was like, 'Serena, you have to chill out and not get crazy and if you win, great. If not, you're trying. Just do the best you can.' "She won despite double-faulting on her first match point and hitting the net with a forehand on her second, but still managed 27 winners against 13 unforced errors in those last two sets, having been 12-123 in the first.JUST WATCHED Radwanska: Playing Serena was toughReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH Radwanska: Playing Serena was tough 04:36JUST WATCHEDTommy Haas: My daughter motivates meReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTommy Haas: My daughter motivates me 02:26Read: How women cracked tennis' glass ceilingThe 31-year-old, who beat older sister Venus in Saturday's semifinals, took her career record to Jankovic to 6-4 and extended her record to 75-4 since the start of the 2012 clay season a year ago.Jankovic had won 14 of her last 16 matches, reaching the semis in Miami and winning the 13th title of her career in Colombia."I thought I played pretty well in that first set -- I was holding my serve and then waiting for my chance to break," Jankovic said. "In the second set I had 40-15 in that first game and then again in another couple of games I had 40-15, 40-0. I should have focused and gotten those games."Meanwhile, the Czech Republic became the first team through to the semifinals of the men's Davis Cup competition on Sunday, completing a 3-1 win over Kazakhstan in Astana.Lukas Rosol won 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 over Evgeny Korolev to earn a home clash with Argentina in September.It also put the defending champions top of the ITF nation rankings, ending Spain's four-year reign.Argentina went through with a 3-2 win at home to France, as world No. 71 Carlos Berlocq upset 13th-ranked Gilles Simon 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4 in the decisive rubber.JUST WATCHEDChris Evert: Grooming future championsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHChris Evert: Grooming future champions 04:22JUST WATCHEDRafael Nadal returns to the courtReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRafael Nadal returns to the court 06:19World No. 8 Jo Wilfried-Tsonga had leveled the tie by earlier beating Juan Monaco 6-3 6-3 6-0.In the other quarterfinals, Serbia won 3-1 against the United States as world No. 1 Novak Djokovic battled to a 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 6-0 victory over Sam Querrey in Idaho.Djokovic suffered an injury scare when he twisted his ankle in the third game of the match, but was able to continue with painkillers while the usually strong-serving Querrey struggled with his own shoulder problem.The Serbs took a 2-1 lead in Saturday's epic doubles rubber, as Ilija Bozoljac and Nenad Zimonjic defeated top-ranked Bob and Mike Bryan 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-1) 5-7 4-6 15-13 in a match lasting almost four and a half hours.Serbia, the 2010 champions, will next face Canada or Italy. That quarterfinal was 2-1 in the home team's favor after Saturday's doubles in Vancouver. | 5sport
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Story highlightsCarriage racing set to star in London this weekWorld stars competing at top horse showAround 90,000 fans to attend event (CNN)Power, adrenaline, thousands of screaming fans and "The Devil's Horseman" -- welcome to the world of carriage racing.Follow @cnnsport
Forget the Roman chariots racing around Circus Maximus, it's all about the world's best drivers trying to steal the show at London's Olympia this week.The FEI World Cup Driving competition comes to the UK, with home favorite Dan Naprous -- known as "The Devil's Horseman" -- hoping to thrill fans with victory in Friday and Saturday's competitions.Around 90,000 fans will flock to the London International Horse Show, where carriage racing features alongside dressage and showjumping.But it's the pulling power of the four-horse speedsters which gets people off their seats as riders try to navigate their way around some of the trickiest courses in the sport.Great morning filming with @CNN and GB Carriage Driver Dan Naprous showing off a few stunts ahead of @olympiahorse pic.twitter.com/DLzmpGcD4Bβ Revolution Sports (@RevolutionSport) December 11, 2015
Read More"When you enter the ring, you're focused," Naprous told CNN."As soon as you enter the ring, there are four horses, two guys and a course you need to get around as fast as possible. "The rest of it doesn't come into it until the last buzzer when you're leaving, and then you can appreciate the surroundings."I think I'm a gracious loser but inside I'm a bad loser. You don't want to lose, it's not a nice feeling." Naprous races in his spare time when he's not training horses or performing as a stuntman in movie and TV productions, such as Harry Potter and Game of Thrones.He says competing at OIympia is one of the most exciting experiences in the sport.Riders must negotiate their way around a course full of obstacles, with the fastest time taking victory.Naprous will be up against the likes of reigning champion Boyd Exell, who has won the overall World Cup title on six occasions.Don't miss a moment of the #FEIWorldCupDriving @CHIGeneve - watch live on https://t.co/jjr5rAmhzN now! #CHIGeneve https://t.co/N5Qvj9N0wJβ The FEI (@myfei_home) December 13, 2015
The Australian won last year's event by four seconds, and is favorite to triumph once again.But Naprous is hoping home advantage plays a part. He says the London venue, especially at such a festive time of year, remains the place to be."It is spectacular because you've got that Christmas feeling, a great atmosphere and they really look after the drivers there," he added."You'll find the majority of the drivers at Olympia will be there at the finals because it's the show they all want to come to."When you go to Olympia it's a completely different atmosphere to being on a film set. You want to be in there for as short a time as possible because that means you win, so it's very intense."You don't really feel the fatigue of it until later that evening when you sit down and analyze what happened. When you're in the ring, you're just on auto."Read: It's polo - but not as you know itVisit CNN's EQ page for more equestrian newsWe're getting ready for the #FEIWorldCupDriving @CHIGeneve as we get out what happened last time. Live on #FEITV https://t.co/bmDXI9OK3Aβ The FEI (@myfei_home) December 13, 2015
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Story highlights The U.S. congratulates the new non-permanent members of the Security CouncilSlovenia drops its bid after 16 rounds of votingAzerbaijan and Slovenia had been deadlocked over the fifth seatCountries are voted onto the Security Council by all 193 U.N. member nationsAzerbaijan was awarded the open seat on the U.N. Security Council Monday after Slovenia dropped its bid.Four countries, including Pakistan, were elected last week to join the Security Council in January as non-permanent members for two-year terms. Also elected, via secret ballot, were Guatemala, Morocco and Togo.They join the Security Council's five permanent members -- China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States -- plus five countries elected to two-year, non-permanent membership last year -- Colombia, Germany, India, Portugal and South Africa.Azerbaijan and Slovenia were locked in a contest for the fifth seat this year. Azerbaijan was the clear front-runner and after 16 rounds of voting, Slovenia decided to pull out.Voting was conducted in the U.N. General Assembly. Countries are voted onto the Security Council by all 193 U.N. member nations."Our campaign was always for Slovenia, for the values that we represent. We were never campaigning against any other candidate," said Samuel Zbogar, Slovenia's foreign minister, by way of announcing his country's decision to withdraw."We don't approve (of) the way this campaign was held and we don't approve (of) the way these elections were held. However, the current result speaks for itself," he said.When contacted by CNN later to elaborate on the county's objections, the Slovenian Mission to the United Nations declined to elaborate.Representatives from various countries lined up to extend their sympathies to the losing candidate. Slovenia entered the race for a Security Council seat some 11 years ago.Starting in January, the council will have as members seven of the nine nations known to have nuclear weapons: China, France, India, Pakistan, Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom. Absent will be Israel and North Korea.Guatemala will serve on the council for the first time after a failed 2006 bid. That race, against Venezuela, lasted three weeks and 48 rounds of voting, the third-longest in U.N. history.U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice released a statement late Monday, congratulating the new non-permanent members of the Security Council."In the coming year, the Security Council will address many pressing global challenges, including nuclear non-proliferation, counter-terrorism, conflict prevention and resolution, promotion of democracy and human rights, and the oversight of complex UN field operations, and the United States looks forward to strong partnership with the incoming members," it read.Leaving the council will be Brazil, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Gabon, Lebanon and Nigeria. | 3news
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(CNN)Cuba's Supreme Court sentenced more than 100 protesters in Havana to prison terms that ranged between four and 30 years for violence committed during demonstrations last year, it announced Wednesday in a statement. "The citizens are accused of committing and provoking serious disturbances and acts of vandalism, with the purpose of destabilizing public order, collective security and citizen tranquility," the Supreme Court said.Last July, hundreds of Cubans across the country defied the government and took to the streets against chronic shortages and lack of basic freedoms. Despite widespread calls following the protests for amnesty, the Cuban government has come down hard on demonstrators -- meting out lengthy prison sentences.Shortly after the protests started, police and special forces went door to door looking for those who participated.Read MoreProtesters demonstrate in rare protests in Havana, Cuba, on July 11, 2021.Cuban courts have since been trying hundreds of protestors in mass trials that have been criticized by international observers for their lack of transparency and due process. "They threw stones and bottles at various officials, law enforcement officers National Revolutionary Police facilities, patrol cars; They overturned a motorcycle and cars...and caused injuries to other people and serious material damage," reads the statement from the Supreme Court. They dared to protest last July. Now these Cubans are facing years in jail The protests, from July 11 to 12, rapidly spread across the island as Cubans openly defied the communist-run government -- which blames Cuba's economic woes on US sanctions -- in a way not seen since the 1959 revolution.Cubans chanted "freedom" at last year's protests, showing their rage about food shortages, medicine, and electricity when Covid-19 cases had skyrocketed in the country. In Havana, a CNN team witnessed demonstrators being forcibly arrested and thrown into the back of vans by police officers. There were also violent clashes, where protesters turned over a police car and threw rocks at officers.Those protests -- and now the trials -- mark a before and after in the island's history for many Cubans. Some of the protesters' family members say regardless of the mass trials and harsh sentences, anti-government resentment will continue to simmer. | 3news
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Story highlightsWarmbier was imprisoned in January 2016Source close to his family says he's in "bad shape"Washington (CNN)New details are emerging about US efforts to secure the release of American college student Otto Warmbier after more than 17 months in detention in North Korea. The 22-year-old contracted botulism and is in "bad shape" but en route back to the United States, a source close to the family told CNN on Tuesday.The diplomatic process began on June 6 when State Department Special Representative Joseph Yun met with North Korean UN Mission Ambassador Pak Kil-yon in New York City and learned of Warmbier's deteriorating health condition, according to a senior State Department official. Otto Warmbier, American student released by North Korea, is in a comaAfter that meeting in New York, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson consulted with President Donald Trump and instructed Yun to prepare to travel to North Korea with the intent of bringing Warmbier back to the United States, the official told CNN. A US delegation made up of Yun and a medical team was sent to North Korea on Monday to secure Warmbier's release, the official said, adding that they demanded to visit Warmbier upon arrival in Pyongyang. Read MoreYun and two doctors visited Warmbier that morning, marking the first time the US was able to confirm his status since he was sentenced in March 2016. Yun immediately demanded that Warmbier be released on humanitarian grounds and arrangements were made for him to leave North Korea. On Tuesday, Warmbier was evacuated from North Korea, accompanied by a medical team and a State Department representative. He will travel to Ohio where he will be reunited with his family. The sequence of events leading to Warmbier's release was provided to CNN by a senior State Department official:January 2016: American college student Otto Warmbier is imprisoned in North Korea. March 2016: Warmbier is sentenced to 15 years of hard labor.March 2016 to present: The United States consistently urges that North Korea allow Sweden consular access to Otto and three other American citizens, and pushes for their release. February 2017 to present: Secretary Tillerson briefs President Trump on the situation. President Trump directs Secretary Tillerson to take all appropriate measures to secure the release of American hostages in North Korea. Tillerson begins the effort and routinely updates the President.May 2017: US State Department Special Representative for North Korea Policy Joseph Yun meets high-level representatives from the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oslo, Norway, and the North Koreans agree that the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang will be authorized to pay a consular visit to all four American detainees.May 2017: After Sweden is granted visitation rights to a detained American, the North Koreans urgently request to have an in-person meeting with the United States in New York City.June 6, 2017: State Department representative Joseph Yun meets in New York City with DPRK UN Mission Ambassador Pak. During this meeting, Yun learns about Mr. Warmbier's condition. June 6 to June 11, 2017: After consulting with President Trump, Secretary of State Tillerson instructs State Department representative Yun to prepare to travel to North Korea with the intent of bringing Warmbier back to the United States. The State Department promptly organizes a medical team and an airplane to travel to North Korea. North Korea is informed a delegation will travel to Pyongyang. June 12: The North Koreans meet the American delegation in Pyongyang and upon arrival State Department representative Yun demands to visit Warmbier. Yun and two doctors visit Warmbier that morning marking the first time the US is able to confirm his status since he was sentenced in March 2016. Yun immediately demands the North Koreans release Warmbier on humanitarian grounds and arrangements are made for him to leave North Korea. June 13: Warmbier is evacuated from North Korea, accompanied by a medical team and a State Department representative. A senior State Department official told CNN that the US has not yet accepted the North Korean version of events in terms of the timing and cause of how Warmbier went into a coma. Detained Americans Fast FactsThe US maintains that it had been pressing North Korea to allow Swedish representatives to see the four detained Americans. Once the Swedish delegation was finally granted permission for a visit, the North Koreans immediately asked for the meeting with Yun.During that meeting in New York, Yun was told that Warmbier contracted botulism a year ago and went into a coma after taking a sleeping pill, according to the senior US official."All we know so far is what they have told us," the official said. "This is the North Korean version of events. We won't know anything for sure until doctors are able to fully evaluate Otto's condition." | 4politics
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Story highlightsGermany is expelling four members of Syrian EmbassySyrian ambassador called to German Foreign Ministry and notifiedGovernment "made clear position to not accept actions against Syrian opposition member"Expulsion follows arrest of two men accused of spying for SyriaGermany is expelling four members of the Syrian Embassy, citing the arrest this week of two men suspected of spying on Syrian opposition groups in Germany, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in a statement released Thursday. "After the arrest of two persons suspected of spying for Syria, I have ordered the expulsion of four members of the Syrian Embassy in Berlin," Westerwelle said. The Syrian ambassador was called to the Foreign Office on Monday where the "German government made clear its position to not accept actions against Syrian members of the opposition in Germany," according to the statement. The expulsion comes at a critical time for the Syrian government, which is under fire for a brutal crackdown on anti-government demonstrators calling for the end of the regime. Earlier this week, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (the GCC), a politically and economically aligned group of countries bordering the Persian Gulf, announced it would expel their Syrian ambassadors and withdraw its Gulf State envoys from Syria.Tunisia also announced plans to expel the Syrian ambassador from Tunis in response to the recent killings in Homs, Syria's third-largest city that has become a flashpoint in the 11-month long uprising. JUST WATCHEDDoctors: Syria withholding basic careReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDoctors: Syria withholding basic care 04:53JUST WATCHEDJournalist describes despair in Syria ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHJournalist describes despair in Syria 02:13JUST WATCHEDActivist: We we will all die in SyriaReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHActivist: We we will all die in Syria 01:00JUST WATCHEDHoms residents: Strikes come from afarReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHoms residents: Strikes come from afar 03:00In Germany, federal prosecutors announced the arrests of Mahmoud El A., a 47-year-old with German and Lebanese citizenship; and Akram O., a 34-year-old Syrian, who they accused of having "systematically gathered information on Syrian opposition groups in the Federal Republic of Germany for years."Acting on arrest warrants issued January 31, some 70 federal and state police officers also searched the apartment of six other suspects, prosecutors said.The Berlin Prosecutors' Office denied any connection between the suspects arrested Tuesday and those involved in an attack on the Syrian opposition activist and Green Party politician Ferhad Ahma in Berlin last December.The Syrian government has been accused of seeking retribution against relatives of Syrian activists working against the al-Assad regime from abroad.The U.S. State Department announced last year that it had received reports that Syrian mission personnel had been conducting video surveillance of people participating in peaceful demonstrations in the United States. Other Syrian activists living abroad have also declined to be named or appear on camera for fear of reprisals against their families at home.In August, a rebel military leader living in exile in Turkey disappeared from a refugee camp and reappeared days later in Syrian government custody. Evidence also suggested that the government carried out reprisal attacks against the man's family. | 3news
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(CNN)A surfer is missing after a suspected shark attack along the south coast of Western Australia, authorities said Friday -- the latest incident in a year that has already seen six people killed by the ocean predators across the country.The surfer, believed to be an adult male, was surfing at Kelp Beds Beach near the town of Esperance when he was "involved in a serious shark bite incident" Friday morning, according to a statement from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).The man's surfboard has been found, but he has not been located, police said in the statement.This surfer had no idea how close he came to a shark -- until he saw the drone footageShortly after the attack, authorities received a public report of a shark sighting at the beach, the DPIRD said. The species was unknown. Beaches in the area have since been closed. Water police are conducting a marine search and rescue operation, with additional vessels deployed to assist.Read MoreThere have been at least six deadly shark attacks off the country's beaches this year, according to the Australian Shark Attack File at the Taronga Conservation Society Australia. There were no fatal shark attacks in Australia last year and only one in 2018, according to the society's database.Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan called the latest suspected attack a "very difficult and potentially tragic situation" on Friday, CNN affiliate Seven News reported.McGowan said the state's south coast, especially near Esperance, was a known breeding ground for sharks like great whites.Esperance is about 720 kilometers (447 miles) southeast of the state capital, Perth, and is a popular diving spot.Australian surfer dies after shark attack at a popular Gold Coast beachThere have been a number of shark attacks near Esperance in recent years -- most notably in 2017, when 17-year old Laeticia Brouwer was killed while surfing with her father.In January this year, a diver went missing in the area after a suspected great white attack. His body was never found.Numerous attacks have also been reported in other Australian states including Queensland, New South Wales, and Tasmania in recent months. | 3news
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(CNN)Former Boston Red Sox player David Ortiz has had a third surgery, coming weeks after a gunman shot him in the back in his native Dominican Republic, his wife said in a statement Thursday."Earlier this week, David underwent a third surgery for complications resulting from his gunshot wound," Tiffany Ortiz said. "The operation was performed by Dr. David King at Massachusetts General Hospital. David is recovering well and is in good spirits."A gunman shot Ortiz in the lower back on June 9 while he was sitting on a crowded bar patio in Santo Domingo. The bullet passed through him, perforating his intestines and internal organs. It then hit his friend, TV talk-show host Jhoel Lopez, in the leg.Following surgery in the Dominican Republic, Ortiz was flown to Boston, where he underwent a second operation. On June 22, Tiffany Ortiz said her husband was moved out of intensive care.Authorities in the Dominican Republic say Ortiz was not the intended target of the shooting.Read MoreA friend of Ortiz -- who shared a table with him at the bar -- was the target of the bungled hit, according to Attorney General Jean Alain RodrΓguez Sanchez.Several people have been arrested, including Victor Hugo Gomez Vasquez, the alleged mastermind of the plot. | 5sport
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(CNN)The Trump campaign and its allies were dealt additional blows in Michigan, Nevada, Wisconsin and Arizona on Friday as courts rejected their attempts to challenge the presidential election results. The quartet of decisions are the latest losses in court for President Donald Trump's campaign and his backers as they try to overturn President-elect Joe Biden's election win last month. Dozens of lawsuits have been dismissed at the state and federal levels in states across the country since the push to overturn the vote began in November.Trump has yet to concede the race, though he has alluded on occasion to no longer being in office next year.MichiganIn Michigan, judges from the state's Court of Claims ruled 2-1 against the Trump campaign, saying its request to challenge election results is "moot" because the State Board of Canvassers has already certified the results. The judges added that the campaign missed its window to call for a recount, which was the only legal remedy it could have pursued.Read MoreThe court criticized the campaign for not correcting issues with its initial November 6 filing until 11:21 p.m. on November 30. The Wayne County Board of Canvassers certified the results of its election on November 17, and the State Board of Canvassers certified the election on November 23. "Because plaintiff failed to follow the clear law in Michigan relative to such matters, their action is moot," the judges wrote.Biden won the state by more than 154,000 votes, and there has been no evidence of fraud in the election. Every court case filed by Trump or his orbit in Michigan has been lost or withdrawn. Rudy Giuliani took his parade of misinformation and false claims about the election to the Michigan House Oversight Committee earlier this week, where he did not testify under oath and brought forward witnesses who made recycled, previously disproven claims about the election. NevadaDistrict Judge James Russell rejected a Republican attempt to declare Trump the winner of Nevada's electoral votes.One day after a lengthy evidentiary hearing, Russell wrote that "contestant did not prove under any standard of proof" a long list of accusations against the Biden-Harris campaign, including paying voters to cast ballots. He denied the request to replace Democratic electors with Republican ones."While we appreciate the court's consideration of evidence submitted, we disagree with the dismissal of the contest," a Nevada Republican Party spokesperson said in a statement. "The case and evidence we presented was compelling and overwhelming. President Donald J. Trump's Nevada Elector's will immediately appeal this denial to the Nevada Supreme Court. The fight continues for clean and fair elections."ArizonaA state court late Friday dismissed a lawsuit seeking to either void Biden's win in Arizona or force another recount.In a brief order, State Superior Court Judge Randall Warren said the plaintiffs had failed to prove fraud, misconduct, illegal votes or an erroneous count. The plaintiff -- Kelli Ward, the state's Republican Party chair and a Trump presidential elector -- said before Warren's ruling that she would appeal any adverse outcome to the Arizona Supreme Court. This is the fifth election-related suit brought by Trump allies to be dismissed or dropped in state court in Arizona since the election.In recent weeks, Ward has relentlessly promoted a wide range of baseless election conspiracy theories on social media and in public statements. Her suit, filed against the 11 Biden electors, alleged that errors in Maricopa County, the state's most populous and home to Phoenix, had cost Trump enough votes to potentially alter the result. The suit focused on alleged issues with verifying voters' signatures on mail-in ballot envelopes and claims that votes had been flipped in the duplication of ballots that couldn't be read by tabulation machines.But during a two-day trial that included reexamining 1,626 duplicated or signature-verified mail-in ballots, officials found a total of nine errors that would have cost Trump a net of six votes. State elections officials and their attorneys said extrapolating that error rate to the 27,859 duplicated ballots in Maricopa County would potentially mean Trump could have lost roughly 100 votes -- nowhere near enough to make any difference, given that Biden won Arizona by a margin of 10,457 votes.Seven GOP election observers raised allegations of machines or software flipping votes, or of other errors, in their testimony. But elections officials testified that the alleged errors largely would have been addressed during the process of verifying the votes.Attorney Marc Elias, representing the Biden electors, argued that the plaintiffs provided "no evidence about misconduct, no evidence about fraud, no evidence about illegal votes." He said the "garden-variety errors" they described "don't come anywhere near showing the results should be overturned.""Joe Biden won this election," Elias said. 'Nothing you heard over the last two days ... could plausibly change that." WisconsinFor the second day in a row, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled 4-3 against a lawsuit attempting to invalidate the results of the state's presidential election.The latest comes from the Wisconsin Voters Alliance alleging "material violations of Wisconsin law" by state elections officials and asking the court to prevent certification of the election by the Wisconsin Elections Commission so the "state legislature can lawfully appoint the electors."As part of the concurring opinion, Justice Brian Hagedorn wrote they were being asked to perform an "unprecedented" task, opining, "We are invited to invalidate the entire presidential election in Wisconsin by declaring it 'null' -- yes, the whole thing. And there's more. We should, we are told, enjoin the Wisconsin Elections Commission from certifying the election so that Wisconsin's presidential electors can be chosen by the legislature instead, and then compel the Governor to certify those electors." He continued, "Once the door is opened to judicial invalidation of presidential election results, it will be awfully hard to close that door again. This is a dangerous path we are being asked to tread. The loss of public trust in our constitutional order resulting from the exercise of this kind of judicial power would be incalculable."Chief Justice Patience Roggensack dissented, writing, "This is the third time that a majority of this court has turned its back on pleas from the public to address a matter of statewide concern that requires a declaration of what the statutes require for absentee voting."On Thursday, the court had declined to hear a lawsuit filed by Trump seeking to remove more than 221,000 votes from Wisconsin's certified presidential election vote total.Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, certified the results of the presidential election on November 30, granting Biden the state's 10 electoral votes. | 4politics
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(CNN)The Florida Legislature passed a bill Thursday prohibiting so-called sanctuary cities in the state. "Sanctuary city" is a broad term applied to jurisdictions that have policies in place intended to limit cooperation with, or involvement in, federal immigration enforcement actions. Many of the largest cities in the country have such policies. The bill passed the state Senate 22-18 and the state House 68-45. It now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis' desk to be signed. The Republican governor praised the bill Thursday and said in a statement, "We are a stronger state when we protect our residents, foster safe communities and respect the work of law enforcement at every level." The bill requires "state entities, local governmental entities, and law enforcement agencies to use best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law," according to its text. Read MoreIt prohibits restrictions "by the entities and agencies on taking certain actions with respect to information regarding a person's immigration status," and authorizes "a law enforcement agency to transport an alien unlawfully present in the United States under certain circumstances." The Florida Democrats' Twitter account posted, "Our state was once a place that welcomed immigrants looking for a better future. Under #SB168, Florida would become the Republicans' deportation and family separation machine."President Donald Trump has frequently attacked sanctuary cities and made them a target of his administration. In his first few weeks in office, Trump signed an executive order trying to keep federal funds from going to sanctuary jurisdictions that has since been blocked or constrained by federal courts. Earlier this month, Trump said his administration is "strongly looking at" the possibility of releasing immigrants into sanctuary cities, in part to retaliate against Democrats. CNN's Rosa Flores contributed to this report. | 4politics
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Story highlightsPolice investigating possibility of manslaughter charges in Grenfell Tower disasterFire in London apartment block left at least 79 people dead or presumed deadBlaze started in fridge-freezer, but spread rapidly to much of the 24-story buildingLondon (CNN)London's Metropolitan Police Service is considering manslaughter charges among the criminal offenses that may have been committed in relation to last week's deadly Grenfell Tower fire.The police investigation is focused on how the blaze started, how it spread so fast and whether any person or organizations should be held responsible, Detective Chief Superintendent Fiona McCormack told a press briefing Friday. Documents have already been seized, she said.McCormack said the number of people dead or presumed dead remains at 79, but she fears the true number could be higher. She appealed for people to come forward with information about anyone who may have been in the building on the night of the fire. UK authorities have given assurances that they will not check anyone's immigration status as a result of information given to police in relation to the blaze. The 24-story high-rise was home to 125 families, but visitors may also have been in the building when the flames took hold. Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockBurning debris falls from Grenfell Tower as a massive fire engulfs the London apartment building early on June 14, 2017. Seventy-two people are confirmed to have died in the fire.Hide Caption 1 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockSmoke rises from Grenfell Tower hours after the fire.Hide Caption 2 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockA woman cries as she tries to locate a missing relative.Hide Caption 3 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockA woman runs near paramedics working near the fire.Hide Caption 4 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockWitnesses reported terrifying accounts of people trapped in the tower. Some people were reported to have jumped from the tower.Hide Caption 5 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockPeople watch as Grenfell Tower is engulfed by fire.Hide Caption 6 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockEmergency service members work at the scene.Hide Caption 7 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockResidents of nearby Whitchurch Road watch smoke streaming from the tower.Hide Caption 8 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockEmergency personnel prepare in an open area near the blaze. Hide Caption 9 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockPeople watch as smoke rises from the tower.Hide Caption 10 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockMichael Paramasivan and his daughter Thea Kavanagh managed to escape the fire.Hide Caption 11 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockPolice officers asked people to step back so they could expand the cordon and make more space for emergency services.Hide Caption 12 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockPolice stand near debris from the fire.Hide Caption 13 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockA security cordon holds people back as Grenfell Tower burns.Hide Caption 14 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockChildren wear masks that were distributed near the site of the fire.Hide Caption 15 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockThe building, built in the 1970s, was home to 125 families.Hide Caption 16 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockEmergency services respond to the fire.Hide Caption 17 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockFirefighters battle the massive blaze.Hide Caption 18 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockSmoke could be seen billowing over the heads of residents who gathered in nearby streets to watch the blaze.Hide Caption 19 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockResidents from nearby Barandon Walk wait outside their building. The building was evacuated around 2 a.m. Police told residents that heat emanating from the fire could affect the structure of their building.Hide Caption 20 of 21 Photos: Fire engulfs West London apartment blockWitness Michael Kyriakou told CNN the fire spread quickly, with one side of the building ablaze around 15 minutes after it started. "Within an hour it had engulfed the top part of the building," he said. "There are people in bathrobes and slippers all around us, so hopefully as many as possible got out."Hide Caption 21 of 21The investigation is one of the most complex ever undertaken by the Metropolitan Police, McCormack said. Work at the scene of the fire is "difficult and distressing," but search teams are endeavoring to recover everything possible so it can be returned to victims' families and survivors.Read More"Such is the devastation inside, our forensic search and recovery may not be complete by the end of the year," she said. "There is a terrible reality that we may not find or identify all those who died due to the intense heat of the fire, but we will do absolutely everything we can with the utmost sensitivity and dignity."Failed safety testsSpeculation has focused on the role that cladding used in a recent refurbishment of the tower may have played in the fire, which appeared to spread quickly up the building's exterior in the early hours of June 14.Samples of insulation from the tower and equivalent aluminum composite tiles sent by police for analysis have failed safety tests, McCormack said. "Such are the safety concerns with the outcome of these tests we have immediately shared the data with the Department for Communities and Local Government, who are already sharing that information with local councils throughout the country," she said.Investigators are also looking at the insulation behind the cladding and how the tiles were installed, she said.The ruined Grenfell Tower, seen Friday in London, was destroyed by fire last week.With the inquiry now in its second week, police have started taking witness statements from those who were in the tower, McCormack said, and have listened to all of the more than 600 emergency calls made that night to get a full understanding of how the fire spread. "Some of those calls are over an hour long and truly harrowing in their content," she added.McCormack also urged any residents of Grenfell Tower who had previously reported or had concerns about the building's safety to get in touch with police.Refugee fled Syria violence only to die in the London fire"We will identify and investigate any criminal offense and, of course, given the deaths of so many people we are considering manslaughter, as well as criminal offenses and breaches of legislation and regulations," she said. The fire was not set deliberately but started in a Hotpoint fridge-freezer that was not previously part of any product recall, McCormack added. Police are talking to the manufacturers.In a statement, Whirlpool -- which owns Hotpoint -- offered its condolences to the fire victims and said it was "working with the authorities to obtain access to the appliance so that we can assist with the ongoing investigations."Suspect cladding found on 11 high-risesThe UK government said Thursday it was carrying out tests on 600 high-rise buildings across England that are covered in cladding, with at least 11 high-rise buildings so far identified as having combustible panels.Grenfell Tower victim Khadija Saye's art is now on display at Tate BritainThe affected buildings, housing potentially thousands of residents, are in eight local authority areas, including Manchester, Plymouth and Camden in north London, Communities and Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid said in a letter to lawmakers.Addressing Parliament earlier Thursday, Prime Minister Theresa May said a statement on the test results of the cladding samples taken from Grenfell Tower would be made in the next 48 hours.She added that the government could test more than 100 samples a day, through the Building Research Establishment, with the results coming within hours.In total, 151 homes were destroyed in the fire, May said. So far, 164 properties have been found to house displaced residents and are currently undergoing inspection, she added.Members of the emergency services work on the top floor of the gutted Grenfell Tower on June 17.Camden residents fear fire threatCamden Council said it was preparing for the immediate removal of cladding from five tower blocks on its Chalcots Estate after tests revealed that the panels were made of aluminium with a polyethylene core -- similar to those used on Grenfell Tower, although fitted differently -- and that it had introduced extra fire safety measures in the interim.These include round-the-clock fire patrols on estate corridors and additional fire safety checks, it said. The council said it had told the contractor that installed the panels it was taking urgent legal advice.The hole where a panel of cladding was removed from a tower block on the Chalcots Estate in north London."I cried when I heard the news, I was in shock," Chalcots resident Simon Morris told CNN. "I still am shocked, but along with the other residents I'm suffering a combination of shock and anger."Fellow resident Sayed Meah said: "We've never had any fire evacuation rules, any plans, any procedures, nothing. So we're scared, we're genuinely scared (for) our lives."Grants for survivors, victims' familiesAdditional financial help was announced Friday for victims' families and survivors of the fire in the form of charitable grants.Mixed welcome for London fire victims at luxury complexThe next-of-kin of those killed will receive an initial Β£20,000 (about $25,400), while those seriously injured will be given up to an initial Β£10,000, according to a statement from the Charity Commission. Those made homeless will get a "fresh start" grant of Β£10,000 once they are permanently rehoused, it said.The money will come from several bodies which have been coordinating fundraising efforts for the victims. More than Β£10 million has been raised so far.The government has also promised medical and financial aid to those affected, as well as committing to rehousing them within three weeks.CNN's Lindsay Isaac, Simon Cullen, Rebecca Wright, James Masters and Ivana Kottasova contributed to this report. | 3news
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Story highlightsIn Australia, women were not allowed to become licensed jockeys and race against men until 1979Wilhemena Smith lived her live as a man in order to follow her passion for horse racing (CNN)Until 1979 in Australia, women were forbidden from competing against men in horse racing. In a small country town in Far North Queensland, however, was a woman who at an early age decided she wasn't going to let gender get in the way of her passion. Wilhemena Smith -- otherwise known as Bill "Girlie" Smith -- secretly lived her life as a man to pursue her dream of becoming a licensed jockey and trainer in the early 1900s.She disguised her identity so well that no one knew that she was a woman until she died in 1975 -- four years before women like Pam O'Neill and Linda Jones went down in Australian history as the first registered female jockeys to ride against men.READ: The legend of Sergeant Reckless, an American war heroRead More"Simply put, she's an enigma," Ivan Searston -- who is editor of the book, Ghosts of a Mining Town, which details the little that's known about Smith's extraordinary life, told CNN."She carved out a life for herself and her life depended on her being male."For 70 years, Smith lived her life as a recluse in order to find employment easier and pursue her dreams. Orphaned at a young age, Smith was born in 1886 and grew up in Western Australia."At the grand age of 16 she decided she had enough and somehow got on a ship and ended up in North Queensland," Searston said."When she came into North Queensland we're uncertain but we have been able to trace her to working in a brewery in Cairns, she did some mining just to the west of Cairns and in probably around her 30s she became very interested in horses and that seemed to resonate with her so she became a licensed jockey and a licensed trainer."Herberton racecourse pictured in 1945, where Bill 'Girlie' Smith is said to have raced.READ: Meet Big Jake and Thumbelina: The tallest and smallest horse in the worldREAD: Racing's 'Everest' aims to win back 'Snapchat' generation'We didn't have a clue'Under the alias of Bill Smith, she found success on the racetrack in the 1940s and 1950s, competing in several Queensland towns such as Cairns, Mareeba, Mount Garnet, Innisfail and Herberton."At a region level, she was fairly successful. She wasn't on the same level as say Michelle Payne, Australia's leading woman jockey at the moment who won the 2015 Melbourne Cup, but she was in small country district racing," said Searston -- who is a Herberton local.CNN MapREAD: Horses can make facial expressions just like humansEighty-seven-year-old Bill Jessop told CNN that he remembers when he was 12 years old how his parents and Bill Smith became friends."He used to come to our house as we lived behind the racecourse. He was very quiet," he remembers."He raced at Mount Garnet and around the place and I can remember he had a big stallion that used to buck."We didn't have a clue Bill was a woman, it didn't come out until years after he died."She was very convincing. She wore a little gray hat and she always wore a suit when she came to visit us in the morning. She'd always wear a vest tight around her chest."'A number of people had their suspicions'However, not everyone was convinced. The softly spoken jockey earned the nickname Bill "Girlie" Smith as her fellow jockeys became suspicious of her behavior; Smith rarely used the change rooms and would arrive before each race in her racing colors underneath her clothes.Her identity was almost revealed on several occasions -- including when she and another jockey were thrown from their mounts and he tried to help her by undoing her trousers when she became winded. READ: Transgender jockey inspired by Caitlyn JennerThere's also stories, Searston says, of Smith being cornered in the changing rooms where her competitors tried stripping her. Jessop also remembers hearing that some jockeys tried to sneak behind the shower curtain to see whether she was male or female. However, Searston says there were some who looked out for her."The steward made sure all the other chastised, so she was protected," Searston says."There were people who were suspicious and there were people who were protective enough."She was in a world where she was performing well and outing her would destroy her life. She didn't upset people, she did her job confidently, rode confidently, trained confidently and that was it. "People may have been suspicious but they just left it alone. She was a great person, she was working in a job she enjoyed, she was confident enough in it and that was it."Nurse kept Smith's lifelong secretEventually, Smith retired and moved to a small town called Innot Hot Springs to live out her days quietly, and alone. She never married and had no known relatives in Australia, Searston says."She retired on an Australian government pension still as a man and that took her all the way through. Just a little house at this tiny little town and again was left to live her life as she wanted," he said."My opinion is once she took on a persona of a male so entirely she had to be a loner because getting too close to someone would mean that her masquerade would be unearthed.""Australia's first licensed female jockey," Smith's tombstone reads.At 88 years old Smith became ill and was admitted into hospital, and it was only then that medical staff quickly realized "Bill" was a woman."When she was in hospital in Herberton in her last days she became very good friends with a nursing sister there and they swapped yarns together. "That nursing sister picked up a whole lot of information about Bill and one of the pictures that are in our collection is a painting that was painted by the nursing sister who looked after her."It was through that nursing sister that we got validation of some of her history, but unfortunately for us she was sworn to secrecy about what they were sharing and bless her soul, she stuck to her guns."Until 2005, Smith was buried in an unmarked grave.Visit CNN.com/horseracing for more news, features and videosAfter Smith died in 1975, she was buried in Herberton in an unmarked grave until Herberton Lions Club discovered her story and organized to put a tombstone on her grave."In loving memory, Wilhemena 'Bill' Smith, 1886 - 1975" it reads. "Australia's first licensed female jockey."The tribute sought to finally give Smith the recognition she did not receive -- or seek -- 30 years after her death. | 5sport
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(CNN)A British Transport Police officer who was seriously injured in the terror attack at London Bridge has been hailed for his "outstanding" bravery. JUST WATCHEDLondon: Resilience and fearReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLondon: Resilience and fear 01:52Armed only with just a baton, the unnamed officer tackled the attackers and suffered injuries to his head, face and leg. Assailants struck the heart of London on Saturday night. The attackers drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge before leaping out and launching a stabbing spree at nearby Borough Market. Seven people were killed and another 48 wounded in Saturday's attack, which unfolded in eight minutes. The three attackers were shot dead by police. 'Enormous courage'Read MoreBTP Chief Constable Paul Crowther said he had visited the officer in hospital and heard his first-hand account of the attack. London attack: 8 minutes of terror and mayhem"Although he is seriously unwell, he was able to recount how he faced the attackers armed only with his baton, outside London Bridge station," Crowther said in a statement. "It became clear that he showed enormous courage in the face of danger, as did many others who were at the scene and rushed to help." "For an officer who only joined us less than two years ago, the bravery he showed was outstanding and makes me extremely proud." The BTP officer, who has not been named, is now said to be in stable condition.CNN's James Masters contributed to this report. | 3news
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(CNN)Poetry and football. Two words you don't often hear in the same sentence.One is a lyrical, niche art form. The other is a violent, mass-consumed sport. There's something discordant about putting them together, like a mash-up gone wrong or two mismatched people on a bad date. And yet Amanda Gorman, fresh off her stunning appearance at President Biden's inauguration, will recite an original poem today at Super Bowl LV in Tampa. It'll mark the first time poetry has been an official part of America's biggest unofficial holiday. Poetry has no business at a football game, you might say. Football games are for stirring renditions of the national anthem, neck-twisting military flyovers, the unfurling of vast American flags at stadiums packed with cheering fans. Pageantry, not poetry. Poetry, on the other hand, is for Elizabethans, swooning lovers, starving writers and dreamy prep school boys under the spell of Robin Williams. It is traditionally consumed quietly, in a personal pact between poet and reader, without marching bands or Bud Light commercials. Read MoreThe two seem SO different. After all, football is measured in yards, poetry in meters. There's no crying in baseball. And there's no poetry in football. That's the perception, anyway. The perception is wrong."At their best, football and poetry both reach sort of a state of grace," says Quentin Ring, executive director of Beyond Baroque, a literary arts center in Venice, California, where Gorman took poetry workshops as a teenager. "When you see somebody like Tom Brady when he's in the zone, it's sublime. And poetry is also something that large numbers of people can be enraptured by."Consider:Football and poetry have a history"Football combines two of the worst things in American life," George Will once said. "It is violence punctuated by committee meetings."Poetry, on the other hand, has been called nothing less than "the history of the human soul."But yes, there is poetry in football. There's the graceful arc of a perfectly thrown spiral, the slow-motion ballet of a halfback weaving through tacklers, ESPN's Chris Berman rhapsodizing about "the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field."There's also history.The Baltimore Ravens are named for "The Raven," the famous poem by Edgar Allan Poe, who spent the later part of his life in the city.The Baltimore Ravens are named for an Edgar Allen Poe poem.The climax of the Marx Brothers' 1934 movie "Horse Feathers" is a college football game in which Chico calls out plays with rhyming verse. "Hi diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle," he says, "This time I think we go through the middle."And the battle hymn of the Raiders franchise, dating back to their early days in Oakland, is "The Autumn Wind," a poem adapted by Steve Sabol and narrated by NFL Films' John Facenda, whose thunderous baritone earned him a nickname, "The Voice of God." Its last verse goes like this:The Autumn Wind is a raider,Pillaging just for fun.He'll knock you 'round and upside down,And laugh when he's conquered and won.It's not Shakespeare, but Raiders fans still blast the poem from their trucks at tailgates.And speaking of the Bard of Avon ... did you know that William Shakespeare played football? No, not that one. The other one, William V. Shakespeare, who was an All-American halfback at Notre Dame in the 1930s. Among his many colorful nicknames: "The Merchant of Menace." NFL players write poetryCleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, the first overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft, is 6-foot-4, 272 pounds and hell on opposing quarterbacks. He also loves the poetry of Maya Angelou, and writes poems in his spare time."If I'm feeling stress or anxiety, I'll escape into another world. With books, you're going on an adventure, imagining and wondering. Poetry is different," he told ESPN. "When you're a poet, or reading poems, you feel every single word."Defensive end Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns.Garrett is just one of numerous NFL players who have dabbled in writing verse.Another, Seattle Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett, wrote a poem, "Reality vs. Perception," about social injustice and the prejudices Black men face in America. It goes, in part:When I look in the mirror, I see more than a Black manBut what do you see, America?An entertainer? An athlete? What else do you see? A gangbanger? A drug dealer? A criminal? A lowlife?Why not a lawyer? Why not a doctor? Why not a son? Why not a father?A video of Lockett and other star NFL players reciting the poem is on the NFL's website.Even Tom Brady has been known to share poetry as a way of getting fired up for a game -- as he did on Instagram before his last Super Bowl appearance two years ago. It must have worked. He won.Poets have written poems about footballBaseball, with its sepia-toned mythology and leisurely rhythms, has long been seen as the more literary sport. From "Casey at the Bat" to John Updike's tribute to Ted Williams at his last home game, writers have waxed poetic about its sun-dappled ballparks, crafty pitchers and heroic batters striving for bursts of glory.Football, not so much. After all, Alfred Lord Tennyson didn't write, "'Tis better to have played and lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars than never to have played at all." Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He likes poetry, too.But there is a vibrant subgenre of football poems by professional poets. Their verses describe graceful young bodies in their prime, touch football games in the street and fans huddled on rickety school bleachers on Friday nights.One, "football dreams" by Jaqueline Woodson, begins like this:No one was fasterthan my father on the football field.No one could keep himfrom crossing the line. Thentouching down again.Coaches were watching the way he moved,his easy stride, his long arms reachingup, snatching the ball from its soft pocketsof air.Poetry spoken aloud has a 'physicality'This evening in Tampa, Amanda Gorman will not be reading a poem about football.Instead she will recite an original poem recognizing three honorary captains at the Super Bowl -- a nurse, a teacher and a veteran -- "who served as leaders in their respective communities during the global pandemic."It's just the latest in a flurry of recent triumphs for Gorman, the nation's first-ever youth poet laureate.JUST WATCHEDYouth poet laureate recites her stunning poem at Biden inaugurationReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHYouth poet laureate recites her stunning poem at Biden inauguration 05:32Ring remembers Gorman from her years in the poetry program at Beyond Baroque and was immediately struck by her precocious talent."It was pretty clear that she was destined for great things," he says. Ring couldn't have imagined those great things would include bringing the ancient art of poetry to America's biggest sports spectacle.But he says the pairing of poetry and football is not the shotgun marriage it may seem. Like football, spoken-word poetry is a communal activity. And like football, its carefully chosen words can land with impact."There's a physicality to it," he says. "People can actually feel it when Amanda is reading her poetry."Some, watching Gorman tonight, will feel it. Some will shrug and turn back to their chicken wings. But the Super Bowl will never be quite the same. | 3news
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Story highlightsPrince William says he was in a hurry to get off the phone to go play"I do remember ... regretting for the rest of my life how short the phone call was," Harry says (CNN)Prince William and Prince Harry have spoken of their regret at the brevity of their final phone call with their mother, Princess Diana, just hours before her 1997 death in a car crash in Paris.In a new documentary set to release on Monday by ITV in Great Britain and HBO in the United States, Prince Harry recalls how quickly he got off the phone with his mother. The two brothers were at Balmoral Castle in Scotland when Diana called from Paris."I can't necessarily remember what I said, but all I do remember is regretting for the rest of my life how short the phone call was," Harry told ITV. Diana, Princess of Wales, on holiday with Prince Harry."If I'd known that that was the last time I was going to speak to my mother, the things I would have said to her," he said. "Looking back at it now -- it's incredibly hard. I have to deal with that for the rest of my life: not knowing that it was the last time I'd speak to my mum, how differently that conversation would have panned out if I'd had even the slightest inkling that her life was going to be taken that night."Read MoreIn the documentary, Prince William said he and his brother had been "running around, minding our own business, playing with our cousins and having a very good time" and were in a rush to say "goodbye, see you later, can I go off?""If I'd known what was going to happen I wouldn't have been quite so blasΓ© about it," the Duke of Cambridge said. "That phone call sticks in my mind quite heavily."'Kid through and through'Diana, Princess of Wales, holding Prince William while pregnant with Prince Harry.The ITV documentary, "Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy," celebrates the life and work of Diana, Princess of Wales, in the 20th year since her death, according to a press release by the network. The Duke of Cambridge said the time felt right to talk about their mother."There's not many days that go by that I don't think of her. Her 20th anniversary year feels like a good time to ... remember, you know, all the good things about her and hopefully provide maybe a different side to her that others haven't seen before," he said. Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyPrincess Diana remains a beloved figure more than 20 years after her untimely death. See more photos of the British icon and the legacy she left behind.Hide Caption 1 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana, seen here on her first birthday, was born Diana Frances Spencer on July 1, 1961. She was born into a noble family in Sandringham, England. Her father, John, was Viscount Althorp before becoming the 8th Earl Spencer in 1975.Hide Caption 2 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana circa 1965. Growing up, she attended private schools in England and Switzerland.Hide Caption 3 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana poses with her brother, Charles, in 1968. She also had two sisters, Sarah and Jane.Hide Caption 4 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana, far right, is photographed with her father, John, and her three siblings circa 1970. Sarah is on the far left and Jane is next to Diana. When Diana was 7 years old, her parents divorced and her father was given custody of the children.Hide Caption 5 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyA teenage Diana receives a "kiss" from her pony, Scuffle, in 1974. A year later, she became Lady Diana after her grandfather died and her father became the 8th Earl Spencer.Hide Caption 6 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyAfter finishing school, Diana worked various jobs, including cook, nanny and kindergarten teacher. Here she is in 1980 with two children she looked after as a nanny.Hide Caption 7 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana and Camilla Parker-Bowles visit the Ludlow racecourse in October 1980, where Prince Charles was competing as a jockey. Diana and Charles would be engaged just a few months later. Prince Charles admitted in 1994 to a relationship with Parker-Bowles while still married to Diana; Charles and Camilla wed in 2005.Hide Caption 8 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana looks startled after stalling her new car outside her London apartment in November 1980.Hide Caption 9 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana is surrounded by photographers shortly before it was announced that she was engaged to Prince Charles.Hide Caption 10 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana and Charles pose at Buckingham Palace after the announcement of their engagement on February 24, 1981.Hide Caption 11 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana and Charles arrive at Goldsmith Hall in London for a charity recital in March 1981.Hide Caption 12 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyThe couple poses with Charles' mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in March 1981.Hide Caption 13 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyThe royal wedding was held July 29, 1981, at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. It was estimated that more than 700 million people watched the ceremony on television.Hide Caption 14 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyCharles and Diana kiss on the Buckingham Palace balcony after being married.Hide Caption 15 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDuring their honeymoon, Charles and Diana leave Gibraltar on the royal yacht Britannia.Hide Caption 16 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyThe couple spends part of their honeymoon in Scotland.Hide Caption 17 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyCharles and Diana attend the Grand National horse race in April 1982.Hide Caption 18 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyIn June 1982, Diana gave birth to her first child, William.Hide Caption 19 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana greets a child while visiting Wrexham, Wales, in November 1982.Hide Caption 20 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyCharles, William and Diana pose for a photo at Kensington Palace in February 1983.Hide Caption 21 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana gave birth to a second son, Harry, in September 1984.Hide Caption 22 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyCharles kisses his wife after a polo match in Cirencester, England, in June 1985.Hide Caption 23 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana watches her boys play at the piano in Kensington Palace in October 1985.Hide Caption 24 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana helps William with a puzzle in October 1985.Hide Caption 25 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana attends a polo match that her husband played in Palm Beach, Florida, in November 1985.Hide Caption 26 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana dances with actor John Travolta at the White House in November 1985. Dancing behind Travolta are US President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan. A few years ago, Diana's blue velvet dress -- nicknamed the "Travolta dress" -- was auctioned for 240,000 British pounds ($362,424 US).Hide Caption 27 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana holds up Harry in the garden of Highgrove House, a royal residence in Gloucestershire, England, in July 1986.Hide Caption 28 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyWilliam rides a miniature pony at Highgrove House.Hide Caption 29 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyPrince Harry shows a bit of his personality on the Buckingham Palace balcony in June 1988.Hide Caption 30 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana and her two boys walk outside the Wetherby School in London in April 1990.Hide Caption 31 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana and her sons go skiing in Lech, Austria, in April 1991.Hide Caption 32 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana and Charles sit together during a royal tour of Toronto in October 1991.Hide Caption 33 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana visits Egypt in May 1992.Hide Caption 34 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyCharles and Diana attend a memorial service during a tour of South Korea in November 1992. A month later, it was announced that they had formally separated.Hide Caption 35 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana and her sons visit Thorpe Park, a theme park in Surrey, England, in April 1993.Hide Caption 36 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana arrives at the Serpentine Gallery in London in June 1994.Hide Caption 37 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyA police officer holds back a photographer as Diana walks by in July 1996. It had just been announced that Diana and Charles had divorced.Hide Caption 38 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana talks to amputees in Angola, where she traveled in January 1997 to bring attention to the anti-land mine campaign of the International Red Cross. Sitting on her lap is Sandra Thijica, a 13-year-old who lost her left leg to a land mine.Hide Caption 39 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana wears protective gear as she visits minefields in Angola in January 1997.Hide Caption 40 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana visits Cape Town, South Africa, and meets with South African President Nelson Mandela in March 1997.Hide Caption 41 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana holds hands with Mother Teresa after they met in New York in June 1997.Hide Caption 42 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyThis photo, taken from surveillance video, shows Diana arriving at the Ritz Hotel in Paris on August 30, 1997. It is one of the last photos of her alive.Hide Caption 43 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana is seen in a Ritz Hotel elevator with her boyfriend, Dodi Fayed. After leaving the hotel, the couple was killed in a high-speed car crash in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris.Hide Caption 44 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyWreckage is lifted away after the car Diana was in crashed into a pillar on August 31, 1997. Fayed and driver Henri Paul died at the scene. Diana died at a Paris hospital a few hours later. A French investigation concluded that Paul was legally drunk at the time and responsible for the accident. In 2008, a British coroner's jury found that Diana and Fayed were unlawfully killed because of the actions of Paul and pursuing paparazzi.Hide Caption 45 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyOn the eve of Diana's funeral, the Queen and Prince Philip look at floral tributes left outside Buckingham Palace. More than 1 million bouquets of flowers were left at Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace and St. James's Palace in the wake of Diana's death.Hide Caption 46 of 47 Photos: Princess Diana: Her life and legacyDiana's coffin is carried into London's Westminster Cathedral in September 1997. Watching at the bottom, from left, is Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Charles Spencer, Prince William and Prince Philip.Hide Caption 47 of 47While looking through an old photo album during the documentary, the princes recall some of the most joyful moments from their childhood. Prince Harry said Diana was a "kid through and through." "When everybody says to me, you know, so she was fun, give us an example ... all I can hear is her laugh in my head. And that sort of crazy laugh of where there was just pure happiness shown on her face."The brothers told the documentary makers that their mother made them feel loved."We felt, you know, incredibly loved, Harry and I ... and I'm very grateful that that love still -- still feels there," Prince William said.His brother added: "It was that love that -- that even if she was on the other side of a room ... that you, as a son, you could feel it."Princes William and Harry said their last conversation with their mother, Princess Diana, had been brief.Prince William also shared a story about when Diana surprised him with a meeting with his favorite supermodels.She had arranged "when I came home from school to have Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell waiting at the top of the stairs," Prince William said."I was probably 12 or 13-year-old boy who had posters of them on his wall. And I went bright red and didn't quite know what to say and sort of fumbled, and I think I pretty much fell down the stairs on the way up." "Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy" will air Monday at 9 p.m. on ITV in the UK and at 10 p.m. ET on HBO in the US. | 3news
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(CNN)Hundreds of motorcycle riders and enthusiasts are arriving in Sturgis, South Dakota, for the 80th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally despite objections from a majority of its residents.The celebration -- which nearly 500,000 people attended last year -- will take place as the coronavirus pandemic remains out of control in cities across the country and health experts warn against large gatherings that help fuel the spread.This year the city of 7,000 people is expecting about 250,000 people at the rally. "As in most years, the opening weekend is very busy," said Christina Steele, spokeswoman for the city. "Normally the number of visitors will likely peak around Wednesday and will then begin to taper off."Hundreds of motorcyclists have already arrived for the 80th Sturgis Motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota.The local hospital system, Monument Health has added 172 "Covid beds" in preparation for the rally, according to Mark Schulte, market president for Monument Health. The hospital system is also prepared to offer 1,300 Covid-19 tests to anyone who is asymptomatic but concerned about the disease after the rally ends, Schulte said.Read More'A huge party'Officials are worried that social distancing will not be possible given the large crowds. The event, which began as a small gathering of enthusiasts in the late 1930s, stretches for miles beyond the city and brings in thousands of tourists and dozens of vendors each year from across the country. "They're not going to be able to handle any kind of social distancing, there's a significant amount of alcohol involved, it's a huge party," says Laura Armstrong, city council president in Rapid City, the largest town near Sturgis. "They can infect our Native American population, our law enforcement, potentially our bar staff, our tourist attractions, our hotels and motels, and even our grocery stores."The total coronavirus cases are low, but rising in South Dakota. But the state's testing positivity rate is between 8 and 9%, above the World Health Organization's recommendation of 5% or lower for at least 14 days before opening. But South Dakota never closed, so the rally isn't breaking any laws.Bikers ride down Main Street in Sturgis, South Dakota, on Friday.Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious disease professor at Emory University, said he's not worried about the rally itself, because it will mostly be outside."It's not the actually motorcycle rally but what happens afterward," he said. "People go to restaurants, go to bars, they are going to congregate at places, so the risk of transmission is not actually the rally but what happens after the rally, when people go indoors."He said he worries about any large gathering, no matter what the reason, during a pandemic, but especially the motorcycle rally because it attracts people from all over the country."I think because of that, I'm quite concerned that this event could potentially be a disaster," he said. "There could not only be a lot of transmission there, but a lot of people could get infected there and go back to their home states and take the virus over there."'Ride free, take risks'At the Sturgis Buffalo Chip, a massive campground spanning about 600 acres, the owner, Rod Woodruff, says he's not concerned about the rally."Ride free, take risks. That's our motto," he said. "That doesn't mean you don't calculate them. And these people calculate their risks every time they get on a motorcycle." A woman wearing a Trump flag dances while watching a band perform at the 80th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally on Friday in Sturgis, South Dakota. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem says that to hold events like the rally, people should be given information that lets them protect their health, but still enjoy their way of life. Woodruff agrees with that sentiment.But Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen has expressed frustration at the fact the event has been allowed to proceed during the pandemic. "It's been apparent what the city of Sturgis can do, we cannot stop people from coming," Carstensen said on CNN's "New Day" Thursday. "We have had a tremendous amount of visitors already."Carstensen said that while masks will not be required, the city will provide sanitation stations and is asking attendees to follow CDC guidelines. "Again, back to personal responsibility. We encourage people to stay, you know, social distance as much as possible. Stay with your pods of people you are already interacting with. Just be respectful of others," Carstensen said.But when the city surveyed its residents earlier this year, 60% said they preferred that the event not be held at all. | 3news
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Story highlightsHaving overcome a shoulder injury, Maria Sharapova plans on playing for 4-5 more years She won her first major post-surgery at last year's French Open to complete her collection Russian says she enjoyed proving her doubters wrong by returning from injury She competes on tour while balancing business interests, including candy lineWhen Maria Sharapova underwent shoulder surgery five years ago, many thought her tennis career wouldn't last. But there is now a good chance the four-time grand slam winner will play into her 30s before fully turning her attention to her numerous business interests. "I think she's going to play another four to five years and through the Rio Olympics (in 2016) if she stays healthy and hungry," her long-time agent and close friend Max Eisenbud told CNN's Open Court. Sharapova's motivation has never been an issue in the past, and the Russian -- who turned 26 last week -- is now fully fit. That, however, wasn't the case in 2008, when the shoulder injury ruled her out for nine months and cast doubt on Sharapova's professional career, which began on the day she turned 14. She had been experiencing discomfort in her right -- and serving -- shoulder, with initial tests leading doctors to believe inflammation was the cause. When the pain intensified after a win at a tournament in Montreal in July 2008, she underwent an MRI that revealed two small tears in the tendon of her shoulder. JUST WATCHEDThe story behind Sharapova's successReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe story behind Sharapova's success 06:26JUST WATCHEDMaria Sharapova's greatest hits ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMaria Sharapova's greatest hits 05:02JUST WATCHEDSharapova's road to IstanbulReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSharapova's road to Istanbul 00:27JUST WATCHEDTennis star launches candy lineReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTennis star launches candy line 01:05So began the long process of rehabilitation, surgery, another stint of rehab and dealing with another injury, a bone bruise. It was a difficult time for Sharapova. "The shoulder, it's a huge part of the tennis game," she told Open Court. "The serve is huge and my game is all about being aggressive and powerful strokes, so when you're out of the game nine months, when you don't have too many examples of athletes coming back after such an injury, of course you have doubters."Sharapova never lost faith that she would recover, but she would have to wait another three years before reaching another grand slam final, losing at Wimbledon in 2011. Thankfully for Sharapova, no such serious injuries have reoccurred, although she was troubled by an ankle problem later that year. "I had to work through a lot of things, and more mentally as well because I always thought that during those months that I was away, everyone was working and everyone was training and everyone was playing so it kind of felt like I was left behind a little bit," she said.Eisenbud's pronouncement about Sharapova's future comes as a boost to the women's tennis tour due to Sharapova's enormous star power and fan base, which increased when she won the French Open last June to cap her comeback and become just the 10th woman to capture all four majors. Forbes listsSharapova was last year named by Forbes as the world's 71st most powerful celebrity. She was the highest-ranked female athlete on the list, ahead of Serena Williams, despite the American now owning 11 more grand slam titles. Sharapova is, according to Forbes, the world's highest-paid female athlete, pulling in almost $28 million -- more than her career prize money -- over a 12-month period that ended last July. Read: Sharapova's sweet plan for successSponsors including Samsung, Evian, Nike, Tiffany & Co., Head, Cole Haan and, most recently, Porsche help pad Sharapova's wallet. The Florida-based Russian has also launched Sugarpova, her own premium candy line, in the U.S. and plans on expanding to China, Japan, India and England.JUST WATCHEDMaria Sharapova wins 2012 French OpenReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMaria Sharapova wins 2012 French Open 01:21JUST WATCHEDSharapova wins French Open, career slamReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSharapova wins French Open, career slam 03:25JUST WATCHEDWomen's tennis top stars talk personalReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWomen's tennis top stars talk personal 01:14But Sharapova remains adamant that success on the court is her first priority. The rest will follow. "Do I want my candy to sell? Do I want my partnership to continue for many years? Of course I do," Sharapova said. "That's a no-brainer. But at the end of the day all the things that have come to me, that I've been able to be a part of, is because I'm a tennis player, not because I'm a model or because of acting. The core of what I have is my tennis." Her results in 2013 confirm Sharapova's drive. Known as one of tennis' toughest competitors and hardest workers, she has showed no signs of slowing down. The power baseliner has reached at least the semifinals in all four of her tournaments and almost completed a rare double at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and Miami's Sony Open. She won the title in California in March but was defeated by Williams in the finale in Florida two weeks later.Her poor record against Williams might add to her hunger. Williams beat Sharapova for the 11th straight time, although Sharapova won a set off the world No. 1 for the first time in five years. Missing gold Sharapova lacks an Olympic gold medal, too, having been crushed by Williams in the gold medal match at London 2012 and missing 2008 in Beijing with the shoulder injury. "I always feel like I can be better and when I do step on the court, I feel a certain power with what I'm doing," Sharapova said. "I feel strong and I feel like I'm good at what I do."I want to keep working, and I want to keep getting better because you can't stand still. Everyone's working. I'm sure everyone's getting stronger and getting faster and hitting the ball harder. You have to do it as well." Sharapova begins her clay-court swing as defending champion in Stuttgart this week before competing at the Madrid Open and Italian Open in Rome ahead of her title defense at Roland Garros, which starts May 26. Photos: How do you solve a problem like Maria? Photos: How do you solve a problem like Maria?You've been served β Maria Sharapova, who won the Indian Wells title in 2006, took the first set 6-2 as she took control of the final in some style.Hide Caption 1 of 6 Photos: How do you solve a problem like Maria?Hard times β Caroline Wozniacki, currently ranked No.10 in the world, failed to cope with the pace and power of her opponent in the opening stages.Hide Caption 2 of 6 Photos: How do you solve a problem like Maria?Caught short β The Dane made a poor start to the second set, losing her opening service game with a double fault but she continues to fight and sees off two more break points in the fifth game to trail 2-3.Hide Caption 3 of 6 Photos: How do you solve a problem like Maria?Real muscle β The World No.3 held a 4-2 record against Wozniacki and never looked like losing as she reeled off three straight games to take the second set 6-2.Hide Caption 4 of 6 Photos: How do you solve a problem like Maria?Time to celebrate β Sharapova celebrates after winning the title in just 81 minutes -- it was her first triumph since the 2012 French Open.Hide Caption 5 of 6 Photos: How do you solve a problem like Maria?For the trophy cabinet β Sharapova has now won at least one title in each of the past 11 years. "This is what I do all the work for is these moments," she told reporters. "You feel like everything has paid off."Hide Caption 6 of 6 Photos: Wimbledon's great serve and volley players Photos: Wimbledon's great serve and volley players The great serve and volley players β Ivan Lendl, twice Wimbledon runner-up and now Andy Murray's coach, believes serve and volley is a dying art in tennis.Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: Wimbledon's great serve and volley players Boris Becker β Boris Becker, Wimbledon's youngest men's champion at the age of 17 in 1985, was renowned for his trademark diving volleys. The German was powerful in the serve and wonderfully athletic at the net. Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: Wimbledon's great serve and volley players John McEnroe β Feisty New Yorker John McEnroe was not blessed with great serving power but his speed, aggression and razor-sharp reflexes enabled him to finish off many a rally with a perfectly executed volley.Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: Wimbledon's great serve and volley players Ken Rosewall β Australian Ken Rosewall adopted serve and volley during his career as a way of shortening rallies and therefore boosting his longevity. It was no coincidence that he played in his last Wimbledon final at the age of 39.Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: Wimbledon's great serve and volley players Stefan Edberg β Sweden's Stefan Edberg could not match the serve of his rival Becker, but his sublime volleying ability helped him to several notable wins over the German. He sometimes employed slower serves to afford himself more time to get to the net.Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: Wimbledon's great serve and volley players Pat Rafter β One of the most naturally gifted serve and volley players, Pat Rafter combined pinpoint placement with silky work at the net. The Australian twice fell short in the Wimbledon final but won two U.S. Opens in the late 1990s.Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: Wimbledon's great serve and volley players Rod Laver β Australian legend Rod Laver, four times a Wimbledon champion during the 1960s, played serve and volley better than anyone in an era where the technique was more common.Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: Wimbledon's great serve and volley players Martina Navratilova β Martina Navratilova was one of the few serve-volleyers in the women's game, and the style helped the Czech-American star win a record nine Wimbledon titles.Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: Wimbledon's great serve and volley players Richard Krajicek β Big-serving Richard Krajicek's 1996 success is testament to Wimbledon's benefits for serve and volley players. The Dutchman's triumph at the All England Club was his solitary grand slam title.Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: Wimbledon's great serve and volley players Pete Sampras β Wimbledon's most successful male player, Pete Sampras, had a phenomenal all-round game, and the American's serve and volley expertise was one of his most potent weapons as he won seven titles and 14 grand slams overall.Hide Caption 10 of 10 Photos: 15-love: Top tennis romances Photos: 15-love: Top tennis romancesAndre Agassi and Steffi Graf β Tennis' ultimate poster couple are still going strong after 10 years of marriage since reportedly getting together at the champions' ball after both won the French Open in 1999. They have two children and still play the odd charity match, but rarely battle each other. As their website reveals: "Andre says his problem playing Steffi is not watching the ball."Hide Caption 1 of 15 Photos: 15-love: Top tennis romancesRoger and Mirka Federer β Roger Federer met Mirka Vavrinec at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 when they both represented Switzerland. Mirka says her husband's glittering career has eased her pain after injury forced her retirement in 2002. Of his wife, Roger told the Telegraph newspaper: "I developed faster, grew faster with her. I owe her a lot."Hide Caption 2 of 15 Photos: 15-love: Top tennis romancesCaroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy β She is the former world No. 1 waiting to land her first major title -- he's the baby-faced golfer whose capitulation at the 2011 Masters, and subsequent victory at the U.S. Open, entranced the sport. Together since September last year, Denmark's Wozniacki and McIlroy, from Northern Ireland, go by the moniker of "Wozilroy" and say they lean on each other's experiences to help their sporting performance.Hide Caption 3 of 15 Photos: 15-love: Top tennis romancesAna Ivanovic and Adam Scott β World No. 8 Adam Scott's appearance at last month's Australian Open confirmed that another powerful golf and tennis combo are back on the scene. They split in 2010, but 2008 French Open champion Ivanovic told Australian newspaper the Herald Sun: "Sometimes you need time apart to figure things out."Hide Caption 4 of 15 Photos: 15-love: Top tennis romancesLleyton Hewitt and Kim Clijsters β Hewitt and Clijsters, both former world No. 1s, met at the Australian Open in 2000, reportedly after Kim's sister Elkie asked her to get Lleyton's autograph. They announced their engagement in 2003 but split in October 2004. Both decried the "malicious gossip" that followed their separation.Hide Caption 5 of 15 Photos: 15-love: Top tennis romancesChris Evert and Jimmy Connors β Chris Evert's romance with Jimmy Connors was one that captivated the sporting world after they both won Wimbledon singles titles in 1974, but a planned wedding in November that year was called off. Tennis writer Peter Bodo famously said of the couple: "It was a match made in heaven, not on Earth, which is probably why it didn't last."Hide Caption 6 of 15 Photos: 15-love: Top tennis romancesAnna Kournikova and Enrique Iglesias β The courtship of former world No. 8 Kournikova and pop star Iglesias was the very definition of a high-profile romance when they started dating in 2001. The Russian appeared in the video for Iglesias' song "Escape," causing a media frenzy. They are still together, 10 years on.Hide Caption 7 of 15 Photos: 15-love: Top tennis romancesSue Barker and Cliff Richard β British pop star Cliff Richard revealed in his 2008 autobiography "My Life, My Way" that he nearly asked 1976 French Open winner Sue Barker -- now a TV presenter -- to marry him in 1982. The couple's relationship attracted much press attention. "I seriously contemplated asking Sue to marry me," he wrote. "But in the end I realized that I didn't love her quite enough to commit the rest of my life to her."Hide Caption 8 of 15 Photos: 15-love: Top tennis romancesTomas Berdych and Lucie Safarova β They grew up in the same town and were instantly dubbed the "Czech mates" when they started dating in 2003. But they split in 2011, with Czech model Ester Satorova seen watching world No. 7 Berdych at November's season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London.Hide Caption 9 of 15 Photos: 15-love: Top tennis romancesChris Evert and John Lloyd β After her split with Connors in 1974, 18-time grand slam winner Evert married British tennis pro John Lloyd in 1979, the same year he reached the Australian Open final. Evert's alleged affair with late British pop star Adam Faith threatened to derail their marriage. They reconciled, but then divorced in 1987.Hide Caption 10 of 15 Photos: 15-love: Top tennis romancesMartina Hingis and Radek Stepanek β Former women's No. 1 Hingis became engaged to Stepanek in 2006 but a year later the couple announced through the ATP Tour they had split. Hingis, who won five grand slam titles, retired in 2007 after testing positive for cocaine during Wimbledon. Stepanek married fellow Czech Nicole Vaidisova in July 2010.Hide Caption 11 of 15 Photos: 15-love: Top tennis romancesChris Evert and Greg Norman β A third entry to the list for Evert, whose romance and susbsequent marriage to Australian golfer Greg Norman -- known as the "The Great White Shark" -- captured headlines in 1998. Evert even caddied for the two-time British Open winner at the Masters during a par-three tournament. The couple split 15 months after their wedding.Hide Caption 12 of 15 Photos: 15-love: Top tennis romancesAndy Roddick and Brooklyn Decker β Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick famously began dating Brooklyn Decker in 2007 after asking his agent to track down a phone number for the Sports Illustrated model. They were married in 2009 at a ceremony that included Agassi and Graf as guests.Hide Caption 13 of 15 Photos: 15-love: Top tennis romancesMaria Sharapova and Sasha Vujacic β The romance between Russian tennis ace Sharapova and Slovenian basketballer Vujacic blossomed in 2009 before their engagement was announced in October the following year. The former L.A. Lakers star can often be seen courtside, cheering the three-time grand slam winner on at major tournaments. He now plys his trade in Turkey.Hide Caption 14 of 15 Photos: 15-love: Top tennis romancesAndre Agassi and Brooke Shields β Before Agassi teamed up with Graf, he married actress Brooke Shields in 1997 after a four-year courtship. Agassi, winner of three grand slam titles by then, and Shields, star of TV sitcom "Suddenly Susan," were a box office hit but split after less than two years of marriage in 1999.Hide Caption 15 of 15Her titles in Stuttgart and Rome in 2012 served as the springboard to her success in Paris, where Sharapova downed Italian Sara Errani in the final. Having come back from the abyss that her career-threatening injury presented, Sharapova savored the success -- especially after being written off by many critics while she was rebuilding her career, suffering some morale-sapping defeats."Losing is never easy, especially when you've achieved so much great success and having lifted beautiful trophies," she said. "And especially when you hear it from people that, you know, they sit there and comment on what you're doing and they don't comment on the work that you put in before something like that, before getting to the stage of a match in front of thousands of people."But it makes you so much stronger, and I've looked back and, you know, the people I felt had that connection with me, I've certainly spoken with them about it and especially had a few words with them after the French Open. "But it's sport. It's normal. I think the world revolves around comments and opinions, and I have absolutely nothing against it." | 5sport
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(CNN)Police in Australia are investigating links to a "satanic ritual" after human remains were stolen from a cemetery on two separate occasions, CNN affiliate 7 News reported. Detectives said a number of items, including a crucifix, candles and letters to Satan, were left at the Footscray General Cemetery in the city of Melbourne, according to 7 News.Nearly 200 human spines found threaded onto posts in PeruThe first incident occurred overnight from Thursday to Friday, police in the state of Victoria said in a statement Wednesday. Human remains were removed from a mausoleum, which was found desecrated after a plaque and plaster board inside it were removed, police said.A second incident at the same cemetery took place overnight from Monday to Tuesday."It's believed unknown offenders forced entry to a mausoleum before stealing partial human remains," the statement said. "Detectives established crime scenes at both incidents and are investigating whether they are linked." Read More"The human remains were the primary focus of the offender and that is what we are focusing on," Acting Inspector Ben Jarman told 7 News. "It's very distressing for the families. They expect their loved ones to be put to rest at peace."Hillsong Church leader steps down to defend charge of concealing child sex abuseNo other grave sites were damaged during the incident, police said. "This is a very rare event, we're not sure what person is motivated to do this," Jarman told local radio station 3AW.He added that the offenders must have used some kind of tool to gain access to the mausoleums."It would have to be something substantial," Jarman said.Police have increased security at the cemetery and have been working closely with site managers, they added. They urged the public to come forward if they witnessed suspicious activity over the past week. | 3news
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Story highlightsThe cargo ship was carrying a load of scrap metal11 crew members were on boardEurope and Eastern Europe have been in the grip of a cold spellTurkish authorities have scrambled divers, helicopters and coast guard ships in an effort to find and rescue eight crew members missing after a cargo ship sank in a storm off Turkey's Black Sea coast Tuesday night.An official from Turkey's transportation ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity according to Turkish bureaucratic custom, told CNN the Cambodian-flagged ship Vera sank "due to bad weather conditions" after it anchored off the coast of the Turkish town of Eregli.Three members of the 11-person crew were rescued after the ship initially went under, authorities said. Ten Ukrainians and a Georgian crewed the ship, which departed from the Russian port of Rostov carrying a load of scrap metal.For several days, unusually cold weather and snow have slammed central and western Turkey, as well as other regions of Europe and Eastern Europe.In Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, the municipality mobilized more than 2,400 personnel and some 870 vehicles to try to keep roads open, as snow reached depths of up to 47 centimeters (1.5 feet).The unusual snowfall forced the cancellation and delay of scores of flights, as visibility was occasionally reduced to less than 50 meters mid-morning Wednesday. Istanbul also suspended its high-speed sea bus service, which ferries passengers up and down the Bosphorus Strait and stretches of the Marmara Sea.According to the Istanbul municipality's website, at least 378 homeless citizens have been brought to shelters and hotels to escape the freezing temperatures. | 3news
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Story highlightsJorge Lorenzo wins the MotoGP San Marino Grand PrixThe Spaniard leads the world championship by 38 points with five races remainingLorenzo's championship rival Dani Pedrosa crashes out on the first lap of the raceValentino Rossi finishes second at the track named after his late friend Marco Simoncelli Jorge Lorenzo moved closer to the MotoGP world championship on Sunday with a decisive win at the San Marino Grand Prix.The Yamaha Factory Racing rider is now 38 points clear at the top of the riders' standings with just five races remaining, after his nearest rival Dani Pedrosa crashed out on the first lap.It was an emotional weekend at the track which is now named after Marco Simoncelli, the Italian who lost his life following a crash in Malaysia in October 2011.Simoncelli's compatriot and close friend Valentino Rossi produced his best ride of the season to finish behind 2010 champion Lorenzo in second place."This second place is something special," seven-time riders' champion Rossi told BBC Sport after the 13th race of 2012.JUST WATCHEDFernando Alonso recovers from car crashReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFernando Alonso recovers from car crash 02:55JUST WATCHEDStirling Moss: A history of SilverstoneReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHStirling Moss: A history of Silverstone 03:01JUST WATCHEDVettel on Bahrain F1 uncertainty ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHVettel on Bahrain F1 uncertainty 01:38"I have a lot of fans in Misano, my hometown is only a few minutes away, but more importantly this is in the name of Marco."This result is for him and for his family. I think Marco helped me to achieve this today."It was a miserable race for Repsol Honda's Pedrosa, who had qualified for the grand prix in pole position.The first race start had been abandoned, due to Karel Abraham stalling his Ducati, before Pedrosa was forced to start from the back of the grid after experiencing a problem with his front tire.When the race eventually got underway, a nightmare Sunday for Spain's Pedrosa was completed when he was forced off the track and out of the race by Hector Barbera of the Pramac Racing Team.The 14th round of the 2012 championship will take place at Motorland Aragon in Spain on September 30. | 5sport
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Story highlightsPoroshenko says Russia needs to help bring peace to eastern UkraineRussian FM Lavrov says Russia respects choice but has some concerns about voteGunbattles break out at Donetsk airport as troops try to clear out separatist gunmenBillionaire Petro Poroshenko leads all candidates with 54% of the vote counted in Ukraine's presidential election, the Central Elections Commission reported Monday.He declared victory a day earlier, following preliminary exit polls that suggested he had secured a majority of the vote.His closest challenger, Yulia Tymoshenko, a former Ukrainian prime minister and the leader of the Batkivshchyna party, conceded the election after exit polls showed her with 13% of the vote, which matched Monday's early official tally.Poroshenko, a candy tycoon known as the "Chocolate King," is also a seasoned politician known for his pro-European Union views.At a news conference in Kiev, he reiterated that European integration would be his priority. He added that in Sunday's vote, the President and the whole of Ukraine had changed.He said Russia needs to participate in bringing peace to eastern Ukraine.Voters were picking a successor to the ousted pro-Moscow President, Viktor Yanukovych, in a country torn apart by Russia's takeover of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula and a bloody conflict involving pro-Russia factions.JUST WATCHEDBillionaire declares victory in UkraineReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBillionaire declares victory in Ukraine 01:00JUST WATCHEDGunmen storm Ukrainian airportReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGunmen storm Ukrainian airport 01:56JUST WATCHEDUkraine votes for new presidentReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHUkraine votes for new president 02:07JUST WATCHEDUkraine's contentious electionReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHUkraine's contentious election 04:07JUST WATCHEDMilitants burn polling place in UkraineReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMilitants burn polling place in Ukraine 01:54The unrest has centered in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where separatists have claimed independence after a disputed referendum this month -- and many there did not get to cast ballots Sunday.Reports from the region indicated that perhaps 75% of polling stations were closed, according to regional officials.More violence was reported overnight as authorities suspended flights at Donetsk airport after separatist gunmen stormed the terminal building, airport spokesman Dmitriy Kosinov said Monday. Ukraine military forces moved in by air and on the ground and gunbattles broke out. From the city, smoke could be seen rising from the airport.Intimidation in Eastern UkraineIncreasing violence in the east has led the authorities in Kiev to accuse Russia, which they say is backing the armed separatists, of seeking to disrupt the vote. Russia denies having direct influence over the militants, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will respect Ukrainians' choice in the election.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated that stance Monday during a news conference in Moscow.But Lavrov also said Russia hopes that the new president will put an end to all "extremist activities" in eastern Ukraine and end the anti-terrorist operation in the eastern regions.Amid heightened tensions, instances of intimidation in eastern Ukraine appeared widespread. A large separatist rally was held in a central Donetsk city square around lunchtime Sunday. The protesters, who chanted pro-Russia slogans as they were addressed by separatist leaders, were joined by a substantial number of militants on trucks, some firing guns into the air. On the back of some of the trucks were armed men who appeared to be Chechen. Two told a CNN team they were from the Chechen capital, Grozny, and one indicated that he was formerly a policemen in Chechnya and was in Donetsk to serve the Russian Federation.The men, who as Chechens are Russian citizens, said they were there as "volunteers." But if their accounts were true, their presence in Donetsk would appear to indicate some kind of acquiescence by the Russian government at the least.Residents of Ukraine's southeastern city of Mariupol saw new billboards on the streets Sunday urging them not to cast their ballots. The billboards were not at those locations the night before, residents said. Photos: Photos: Crisis in Ukraine Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A man looks at a bullet shell next to a destroyed car after a gunfight between pro-Russian militiamen and Ukrainian forces in Karlivka, Ukraine, on Friday, May 23. Much of Ukraine's unrest has been centered in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where separatists have claimed independence from the government in Kiev.Hide Caption 1 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β The body of a pro-Ukrainian militia fighter lies along a road in Karlivka on May 23.Hide Caption 2 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A woman walks past a destroyed car after Ukrainian government forces fired mortar shells during clashes with pro-Russian forces in Slovyansk, Ukraine, on May 23.Hide Caption 3 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A pro-Russian activist carries a ballot box away from a polling station in Donetsk, Ukraine, as he prepares to smash it on May 23.Hide Caption 4 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Local citizens help support a woman at a rally protesting shelling by Ukrainian government forces in the village of Semyonovka, Ukraine, on Thursday, May 22.Hide Caption 5 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Bodies covered with blankets lie in a field near the village of Blahodatne, Ukraine, on May 22, as a Ukrainian soldier smokes next to his armored infantry vehicle.Hide Caption 6 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A Ukrainian soldier rests inside an armored personnel carrier at a checkpoint near Slovyansk on Wednesday, May 21. Hide Caption 7 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Yekaterina Len cries outside her home after it was hit by mortar shells during fighting between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian soldiers in Slovyansk on Tuesday, May 20. Hide Caption 8 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A Ukrainian soldier stands guard on the road from Izium, Ukraine, to Slovyansk on Monday, May 19.Hide Caption 9 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A new recruit gets his hair cut at a training camp for the Donbass Battalion, a pro-Ukrainian militia, in the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine on May 19.Hide Caption 10 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian armed militants guard a checkpoint in Slovyansk on May 19, blocking a major highway to Kharkiv.Hide Caption 11 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian militants detain three men on Sunday, May 18, in Kramatorsk, Ukraine. The men are suspected of spying for the Ukrainian government.Hide Caption 12 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A bodyguard of insurgent leader Denis Pushilin stands in front of a statue of Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin during a pro-Russia rally in Donetsk on May 18.Hide Caption 13 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian militants guard a checkpoint outside Slovyansk on Saturday, May 17.Hide Caption 14 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Employees of the Ukrainian company Metinvest clear away debris in a government building in Mariupol, Ukraine, on Friday, May 16, after pro-Russian separatists relinquished their hold on it. Hide Caption 15 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian activists argue in Mariupol about how to thwart the upcoming Ukrainian presidential elections.Hide Caption 16 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian gunmen take up positions to fight Ukrainian national troops at a checkpoint outside Slovyansk on Thursday, May 15.Hide Caption 17 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A mortar shell sticks out of the ground at a checkpoint near Slovyansk on May 15.Hide Caption 18 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A man surveys the damage to his home after a mine exploded during an exchange of fire between pro-Russian militants and government troops outside Slovyansk on May 15.Hide Caption 19 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A man examines ballots at a printing house in Kiev, Ukraine, on Wednesday, May 14. The ballots will be used in early presidential voting on May 25.Hide Caption 20 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β People collect mortar shells in front of a burnt-out Ukrainian military vehicle near Oktyabrskoe, Ukraine, on May 14.Hide Caption 21 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Two men collect parts of a Ukrainian armored personnel carrier, destroyed May 14 in what the Ukrainian Defense Ministry called a terrorist attack near Kramatorsk.Hide Caption 22 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A member of a "self-defense" squad smashes a slot machine with a sledgehammer Monday, May 12, at an illegal club in Slovyansk.Hide Caption 23 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β People celebrate with fireworks in Donetsk on May 12 as separatists declared independence for the Donetsk region.Hide Caption 24 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Roman Lyagin, a member of a rebel election commission, shows referendum results to journalists at a May 12 news conference in Donetsk. Pro-Russian separatists staged the referendum asking residents in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions whether they should declare independence from Ukraine. Hide Caption 25 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β An armed pro-Russian separatist takes up a position near Slovyansk on May 12.Hide Caption 26 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A man with a "self-defense" unit checks people's identification in Slovyansk on Sunday, May 11. Hide Caption 27 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A person leaves a voting booth in Luhansk, Ukraine, on May 11. The Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine voted on controversial referendums to declare independence from the government in Kiev. Acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov called the vote "propagandist farce."Hide Caption 28 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Two men react after Ukrainian national guardsmen open fire on a crowd outside a town hall in Krasnoarmiysk, Ukraine, on May 11.Hide Caption 29 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A Ukrainian woman votes at a polling station in Donetsk on May 11. Hide Caption 30 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainians line up to cast their votes at a polling station in Donetsk on May 11.Hide Caption 31 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A voter casts her ballot in eastern Ukraine's independence referendum in Slovyansk on May 11.Hide Caption 32 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β An armed pro-Russian man sits below a flag of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic at the barricades on a road leading into Slovyansk on May 11. Hide Caption 33 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Black smoke billows from burning tires used to prevent government troops' armored personnel carriers from passing through in Mariupol on Saturday, May 10. Hide Caption 34 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β The mother of Dmitriy Nikityuk, who died in a fire at a trade union building during riots in Odessa, Ukraine, cries next to his coffin during his funeral on Thursday, May 8. Hide Caption 35 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A Ukrainian soldier keeps guard at a checkpoint near Slovyansk on May 8.Hide Caption 36 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A pro-Russian activist stands with a Russian national flag outside the regional Interior Ministry building in Luhansk on Wednesday, May 7.Hide Caption 37 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, right, inspects an armored personnel carrier in Slovyansk on May 7.Hide Caption 38 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β An armed pro-Russian separatist takes a position by the railway lines near Slovyansk on Tuesday, May 6.Hide Caption 39 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A relative mourns by the body of 17-year-old Vadim Papura during a service in Odessa on May 6. Papura died after jumping out of a burning trade union building during riots on May 2.Hide Caption 40 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A pro-Russian gunman holds his weapon while guarding the local administration building in Slovyansk on May 6.Hide Caption 41 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian supporters lead blindfolded men in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk on Monday, May 5.Hide Caption 42 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian policemen check documents at a checkpoint near the northeastern city of Izium on May 5.Hide Caption 43 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian soldiers stand at a checkpoint near Slovyansk on May 5.Hide Caption 44 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian Cossacks sit outside the regional administration building in Donetsk on May 5.Hide Caption 45 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian militants who were arrested during a Ukrainian unity rally are greeted on Sunday, May 4, after being freed by police in Odessa. The men released Sunday had been detained after bloody clashes in Odessa, which ended in a deadly blaze. Forty-six people were killed in the bloodshed.Hide Caption 46 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A pro-Russian militant reacts after being freed on May 4 in Odessa. Hide Caption 47 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian militants clash with police as they storm the police station in Odessa on May 4.Hide Caption 48 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β An Orthodox priest, in front of the administration building in Donetsk, blesses a pro-Russian activist May 4 as people gather to honor the memory of fallen comrades in Odessa.Hide Caption 49 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Red carnations are left inside the burned trade union building in Odessa on May 4. Flowers, candles and photos of the dead piled up outside the charred building, a day after brutal clashes and the fire claimed 46 lives.Hide Caption 50 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian protesters light candles in Donetsk on Saturday, May 3, to honor the memory of fallen comrades in Odessa.Hide Caption 51 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A woman cries in front of the burned trade union building in Odessa on May 3.Hide Caption 52 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A man walks past burning tires near Kramatorsk on May 3.Hide Caption 53 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian activists beat a pro-Ukraine supporter trying to save the Ukrainian flag that was removed from a flagpole outside the burned trade union building in Odessa.Hide Caption 54 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian protesters gather in Donetsk to honor the memory of comrades who died in Odessa.Hide Caption 55 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A portrait of Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin is part of a barricade in the center of Slovyansk on May 3. The city has become the focus of an armed pro-Russian, anti-government insurgency that aspires to give the eastern regions of Ukraine full autonomy. Hide Caption 56 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A pro-Russian activist sits in front of policemen guarding the burned trade union building in Odessa on May 3.Hide Caption 57 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β People lay flowers and candles at the burned trade union building in Odessa on May 3.Hide Caption 58 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian soldiers arrive to reinforce a checkpoint that troops seized Friday, May 2, in Andreevka, a village near Slovyansk. Two helicopters were downed Friday as Ukrainian security forces tried to dislodge pro-Russian separatists from Slovyansk, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said.Hide Caption 59 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Police take cover under shields as pro-Russian activists storm the prosecutor's office in Donetsk on Thursday, May 1. Eastern Ukraine was a heartland of support for President Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted in February.Hide Caption 60 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A pro-Russian activist is wounded after storming the prosecutor's office in Donetsk and clashing with riot police on May 1. Hide Caption 61 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian activists storm the prosecutor's office in Donetsk on May 1. Police fired tear gas and stun grenades in an effort to disperse the activists.Hide Caption 62 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β An injured Pro-Russian activist speaks with an armed protester during clashes with police in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk on May 1.Hide Caption 63 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian activists storm an administration building in the center of Luhansk on Tuesday, April 29. Hide Caption 64 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russia militants, armed with baseball bats and iron bars, hold flares as they attack people marching for national unity in Donetsk on Monday, April 28. Hide Caption 65 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Detained observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe arrive to take part in a news conference Sunday, April 27, in Slovyansk. Vyacheslav Ponomarev, the self-declared mayor of Slovyansk, referred to the observers as "prisoners of war."Hide Caption 66 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian troops stand guard behind a barricade made of sandbags at a checkpoint about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from Slovyansk on April 27.Hide Caption 67 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Relatives and friends of a man killed in a gunfight participate in his funeral ceremony in Slovyansk on Saturday, April 26.Hide Caption 68 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β U.S. troops arrive at an air force base near Siauliai Zuokniai, Lithuania, on April 26. The United States is conducting military exercises in Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. The exercises are, in part, a response to the ongoing instability in Ukraine.Hide Caption 69 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian government troops in armored vehicles travel on a country road outside the town of Svyitohirsk in eastern Ukraine on April 26.Hide Caption 70 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russia armed militants inspect a truck near Slovyansk on Friday, April 25. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused the West of plotting to control Ukraine, and he said the pro-Russia insurgents in the southeast would lay down their arms only if the Ukrainian government clears out the Maidan protest camp in the capital, Kiev. Hide Caption 71 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russia militants keep records of their duty in Slovyansk on April 25.Hide Caption 72 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian troops take position near burning tires at a pro-Russian checkpoint in Slovyansk on Thursday, April 24. Hide Caption 73 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian special forces take position at an abandoned roadblock in Slovyansk on April 24.Hide Caption 74 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A Ukrainian special forces member takes position in Slovyansk.Hide Caption 75 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Cossacks carry a coffin into a church in Slovyansk on Tuesday, April 22, during a funeral for men killed in a gunfight at a checkpoint two days before.Hide Caption 76 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, left, talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk during a meeting in Kiev on April 22.Hide Caption 77 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β An armed pro-Russian man stands on a street in Slovyansk on Monday, April 21.Hide Caption 78 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Demonstrators attend a pro-Russian rally outside the secret service building in Luhansk on April 21.Hide Caption 79 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Cars are burned out after an attack at a roadblock in Slovyansk on Sunday, April 20.Hide Caption 80 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A resident inspects burnt-out cars at a roadblock on April 20. Hide Caption 81 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A pro-Russian militant is seen at the roadblock near Slovyansk on April 20.Hide Caption 82 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Armed pro-Russian militants stand guard at a roadblock near Slovyansk on April 20. Hide Caption 83 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A masked man stands guard outside a regional administration building seized by pro-Russian separatists in Slovyansk on Friday, April 18. Hide Caption 84 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β People walk around barricades April 18 set up at the regional administration building that was seized earlier in Donetsk.Hide Caption 85 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to the media after a nationally televised question-and-answer session in Moscow on Thursday, April 17. Putin denied that Russian forces are involved in the unrest in eastern Ukraine, though he did say for the first time that Russians were active in Crimea before the peninsula voted to join the country.Hide Caption 86 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian riot police officers stand guard during a pro-Ukrainian demonstration in Donetsk on April 17.Hide Caption 87 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Masked pro-Russian protesters stand guard in front of the city hall in Mariupol on April 17.Hide Caption 88 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reaches out to shake hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the start of a bilateral meeting to discuss the ongoing situation in Ukraine. The meeting took place April 17 in Geneva, Switzerland.Hide Caption 89 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A masked gunman stands guard near tanks in Slovyansk on Wednesday, April 16. Hide Caption 90 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A Ukrainian helicopter flies over a column of Ukrainian Army combat vehicles on the way to Kramatorsk on April 16.Hide Caption 91 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A masked pro-Russian gunman guards combat vehicles parked in downtown Slovyansk on April 16.Hide Caption 92 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A man talks with Ukrainian soldiers as they are blocked by people on their way to Kramatorsk.Hide Caption 93 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian soldiers sit atop combat vehicles on their way to Kramatorsk.Hide Caption 94 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian Gen. Vasily Krutov is surrounded by protesters after addressing the crowd outside an airfield in Kramatorsk on Tuesday, April 15.Hide Caption 95 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian activists guard a barricade April 15 outside the regional police building that they seized in Slovyansk.Hide Caption 96 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian troops receive munitions at a field on the outskirts of Izium on April 15.Hide Caption 97 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Armed pro-Russian activists stand guard on top of a Ukrainian regional administration building in Slovyansk on Monday, April 14.Hide Caption 98 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A pro-Russian activist carries a shield during the mass storming of a police station in Horlivka, Ukraine, on April 14.Hide Caption 99 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Russian supporters attend a rally in front of the security service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Luhansk on April 14.Hide Caption 100 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A man places a Russian flag over a police station after storming the building in Horlivka on April 14.Hide Caption 101 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Men besiege the police station in Horlivka.Hide Caption 102 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β The Horlivka police station burns on April 14.Hide Caption 103 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A Ukrainian police officer receives medical care after being attacked at the police station in Horlivka on April 14.Hide Caption 104 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian supporters beat a pro-Ukrainian activist during a rally in Kharkiv on Sunday, April 13.Hide Caption 105 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian activists escort a man outside the secret service building in Luhansk on April 13.Hide Caption 106 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian protesters guard a barricade in Slovyansk on April 13 outside a regional police building seized by armed separatists the day before.Hide Caption 107 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Armed pro-Russian activists carrying riot shields occupy a police station in Slovyansk on April 12.Hide Caption 108 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A group of pro-Russian activists warm themselves by a fire Friday, April 11, in front of a Ukrainian Security Service office in Luhansk.Hide Caption 109 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk speaks April 11 during his meeting with regional leaders in Donetsk. Yatsenyuk flew into Donetsk, where pro-Russian separatists occupied the regional administration building and called for a referendum.Hide Caption 110 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian young men look over the fence of a military recruitment office in Donetsk on Thursday, April 10.Hide Caption 111 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Armed pro-Russian protesters occupy the Security Service building in Luhansk on April 10.Hide Caption 112 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Members of the self-proclaimed government the "Donetsk Republic" vote April 10 during a meeting at the seized regional administration building in Donetsk.Hide Caption 113 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian lawmakers from different parties scuffle during a Parliament session in Kiev on Tuesday, April 8.Hide Caption 114 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Workers clean up on April 8 after pro-Russian separatists and police clashed overnight in Kharkiv.Hide Caption 115 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian protesters burn tires near a regional administration building in Kharkiv after police cleared the building on Monday, April 7.Hide Caption 116 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A masked man stands on top of a barricade at the regional administration building in Donetsk on April 7.Hide Caption 117 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Protesters wave a Russian flag as they storm the regional administration building in Donetsk on Sunday, April 6. Protesters seized state buildings in several east Ukrainian cities, prompting accusations from Kiev that Moscow is trying to "dismember" the country.Hide Caption 118 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian protesters clash with police as they try to occupy a regional administration building in Donetsk on April 6. Hide Caption 119 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian activists hold a rally in front of a Ukrainian Security Service office in Luhansk on April 6. Hide Caption 120 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A young demonstrator with his mouth covered by a Russian flag attends a pro-Russia rally outside the regional government administration building in Donetsk on Saturday, April 5. Hide Caption 121 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A Ukrainian soldier guards a road not far from Prokhody, a village near the Russian border, on April 5. Ukrainian and Western officials have voiced alarm about Russia's reported military buildup on Ukraine's eastern border. Hide Caption 122 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian cadets at the Higher Naval School embrace a friend who has decided to stay in the school during a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on Friday, April 4. Some 120 cadets who refused to take Russian citizenship left the school to return to Ukraine.Hide Caption 123 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Soviet military veterans take part in a flower-laying ceremony at the Soviet-era World War II memorial in Sevastopol on Thursday, April 3. Hide Caption 124 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian soldiers conduct a training session on the Desna military shooting range northeast of Kiev on Wednesday, April 2. Hide Caption 125 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Russian soldiers prepare for diving training in front of a Tarantul-III class missile boat Tuesday, April 1, in Sevastopol.Hide Caption 126 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β People pass by barricades near the Dnipro Hotel in Kiev on April 1. Hide Caption 127 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β People walk past a train loaded with Russian tanks Monday, March 31, in the Gvardeyskoe railway station near Simferopol, Crimea.Hide Caption 128 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A Russian solder sits in a tank at the Ostryakovo railway station, not far from Simferopol on March 31.Hide Caption 129 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev speaks about the economic development of Crimea during a meeting March 31 in Simferopol.Hide Caption 130 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Members of the Ukrainian National Guard take part in military exercises on a shooting range near Kiev on March 31.Hide Caption 131 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A woman cries Sunday, March 30, during a gathering to honor those who were killed during protests in Kiev's Independence Square.Hide Caption 132 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A woman and child walk past a line of police officers during a rally in Kharkiv on March 30.Hide Caption 133 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian soldiers take part in a training exercise at a military base in Donetsk on Saturday, March 29.Hide Caption 134 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Demonstrators protest Friday, March 28, in Kiev, displaying police vehicles they seized during earlier clashes with authorities.Hide Caption 135 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Members of the Right Sector group block the Ukrainian parliament building in Kiev on Thursday, March 27. Activists called for Interior Minister Arsen Avakov to step down after the recent killing of radical nationalist leader Oleksandr Muzychko, who died during a police operation to detain him. Muzychko and the Right Sector are credited with playing a lead role in the protests that toppled Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych.Hide Caption 136 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian tanks are transported from their base in Perevalne, Crimea, on Wednesday, March 26. After Russian troops seized most of Ukraine's bases in Crimea, interim Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov ordered the withdrawal of armed forces from the Black Sea peninsula, citing Russian threats to the lives of military staff and their families.Hide Caption 137 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian marines wave as they leave a base in Feodosia, Crimea, on Tuesday, March 25. Hide Caption 138 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Russian sailors stand on the deck of the corvette ship Suzdalets in the bay of Sevastopol on March 25.Hide Caption 139 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian militia members remove a resident as Russian troops assault the Belbek air base, outside Sevastopol, on Saturday, March 22. After its annexation of Crimea, Russian forces have consolidated their control of the region.Hide Caption 140 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Soldiers in unmarked uniforms sit atop an armored personnel carrier at the gate of the Belbek air base on March 22. Hide Caption 141 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A Russian sailor holds the Russian Navy's St. Andrew's flag while standing on the bow of the surrendered Ukrainian submarine Zaporozhye on March 22 in Sevastopol.Hide Caption 142 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Russian President Vladimir Putin signs the final decree completing the annexation of Crimea on Friday, March 21, as Upper House Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, left, and State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin watch. Hide Caption 143 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A Ukrainian serviceman leaves a Ukrainian military unit that Russian soldiers took control of in Perevalne on March 21.Hide Caption 144 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian border guards run during training at a military camp in Alekseyevka, Ukraine, on March 21.Hide Caption 145 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Russian soldiers patrol the area surrounding a Ukrainian military unit in Perevalne on Thursday, March 20.Hide Caption 146 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian protesters remove the gate to the Ukrainian navy headquarters as Russian troops stand guard in Sevastopol on Wednesday, March 19.Hide Caption 147 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russian forces walk inside the Ukrainian navy headquarters in Sevastopol on March 19.Hide Caption 148 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A member of pro-Russian forces takes down a Ukrainian flag at the Ukrainian navy headquarters in Sevastopol on March 19. Hide Caption 149 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Alexander Vitko, chief of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, leaves the Ukrainian navy headquarters in Sevastopol after pro-Russian forces took it over on March 19.Hide Caption 150 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A Russian flag waves as workers install a new sign on a parliament building in Simferopol, Crimea's capital, on March 19.Hide Caption 151 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Russian military personnel surround a Ukrainian military base in Perevalne on March 19.Hide Caption 152 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Nameplates on the front of the Crimean parliament building get removed Tuesday, March 18, in Simferopol.Hide Caption 153 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β From left, Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov; Vladimir Konstantinov, speaker of the Crimean parliament; Russian President Vladimir Putin; and Alexei Chaly, the new de facto mayor of Sevastopol, join hands in Moscow on March 18 after signing a treaty to make Crimea part of Russia.Hide Caption 154 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Demonstrators hold a Crimean flag at Lenin Square in Simferopol on March 18.Hide Caption 155 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint near Strilkove, Ukraine, close to Crimea on Monday, March 17.Hide Caption 156 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Former boxer and Ukrainian politician Vitali Klitschko addresses reporters in Kiev on March 17.Hide Caption 157 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Ukrainian troops stand guard in front of the Ukrainian Parliament building in Kiev on March 17.Hide Caption 158 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A Ukrainian man applies for the National Guard at a mobile recruitment center in Kiev on March 17.Hide Caption 159 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Civilians walk past riot police in Simferopol on March 17.Hide Caption 160 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A Ukrainian soldier stands on top of an armored vehicle at a military camp near the village of Michurino, Ukraine, on March 17.Hide Caption 161 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Policemen stand guard outside the regional state administration building in Donetsk during a rally by pro-Russia activists March 17.Hide Caption 162 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Armed soldiers stand guard outside a Ukrainian military base in Perevalne on March 17.Hide Caption 163 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A man holds a Crimean flag as he stands in front of the Crimean parliament building in Simferopol on March 17.Hide Caption 164 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Crimeans holding Russian flags celebrate in front of the parliament building in Simferopol on Sunday, March 16.Hide Caption 165 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A Ukrainian police officer tries to shield himself from a road block thrown by pro-Russia supporters in Kharkiv on March 16.Hide Caption 166 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β Pro-Russia demonstrators storm the prosecutor general's office during a rally in Donetsk on March 16.Hide Caption 167 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine β A woman leaves a voting booth in Sevastopol on March 16. See the crisis in Ukraine before Crimea votedHide Caption 168 of 168JUST WATCHEDExplosions are precursor to Ukraine voteReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHExplosions are precursor to Ukraine vote 03:54JUST WATCHEDFormer heavyweight champ for mayorReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFormer heavyweight champ for mayor 02:21JUST WATCHEDDeadliest day for Ukrainian troopsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDeadliest day for Ukrainian troops 03:08Also in Mariupol, people talked on social media about being asked by local Russia supporters to boycott the election. The city is one of several where deadly clashes have erupted in recent weeks.The self-declared mayor of rebel stronghold Slovyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, has said that anyone who tried to vote there would be arrested.Also, an Italian journalist was killed Saturday near the flashpoint town, the Italian Foreign Ministry announced Sunday. The man, named as Andrea Rocchelli, was killed along with a Russian citizen, the ministry said. Reports suggested there had been mortar fire in the Slovyansk area.International monitorsBesides the presidential race, candidates were also running in municipal elections in some cities. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe deployed 900 observers for the election, the largest such mission in its history. At a news conference Monday, OSCE Parliamentary President Joao Soares said the election was fair and represented the will of the Ukrainian people, despite major problems in two eastern provinces. He said the election sent a message to the pro-Russia militants: "You cannot win by breaking the rules."Oleksandr Turchynov, Ukraine's acting President, called the polls open and transparent."The voting was free, without artificial restrictions and administrative pressure," Turchynov said in a statement.U.S. President Barack Obama congratulated Ukrainians for casting their ballots Sunday and criticized Russia-backed separatists, whom he accused of trying to block voting."Despite provocations and violence, millions of Ukrainians went to the polls throughout the country, and even in parts of eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatist groups sought to disenfranchise entire regions, some courageous Ukrainians still were able to cast their ballots," he said in a written statement."We commend the resolve of all those who participated, as well as the efforts of the Ukrainian government to conduct these elections in the face of those threats."But Russia's Lavrov offered a different view Monday, saying that not all candidates were given an equal opportunity to present themselves to the nation and campaign properly. He said many even faced threats to their lives, and others were assaulted.Ukraine's 'Chocolate King' aims for top jobOpinion: Free elections good for Ukraine, but could be bad for PutinPutin's 48 hours in St. Petersburg | 3news
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(CNN)Juventus and Barcelona meet in the Champions League final Saturday to compete for European club football's biggest prize. It's a welcome return to matters on the pitch after a week dominated by scandal at the sport's world governing body, FIFA.Ahead of the game in Berlin, we look back at 10 of the best finals in the competition's illustrious 59-year history.Follow @cnnsport
AC Milan 4-1 Ajax -- 1969Ajax became the first Dutch club to qualify for a European Cup final in 1969, but despite possessing the skills of a certain Johan Cruyff, it entered the game at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu as the clear underdog. AC Milan was the team to be feared, having knocked out the previous two champions en route to the final, and with the talent of Gianni Rivera and Pierino Prati in attack it fancied it chances of landing a second European Cup. The Italian team would not disappoint. Ajax was blown away by its opponent, finding itself 2-0 down at the break, while the dangerous Prati would go on to bag a hat-trick -- still the last man to do so in the final. Ajax would be back and with a bang -- they went on to win three consecutive European Cups between 1971 and 1973 -- but this night belonged solely to Milan. Only Real had now won the competition more times.Read MoreBarcelona 3-1 Manchester United -- 2011In a repeat of the 2009 Champions League final, Manchester United came into this clash at Wembley with revenge on its mind after a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Catalans two years earlier. But if that season's English champion had banked on it being a tighter affair this time around, it was set to be disappointed. Despite Wayne Rooney's fine first-half finish canceling out Pedro's opener, Barcelona handed out a tiki-taka footballing masterclass to Sir Alex Ferguson's men, who were outplayed, outthought and outclassed. Lionel Messi and David Villa grabbed the decisive goals, with Messi at the heart of all that was good for Barca. And there was plenty of it. "Nobody's given us a hiding like that," Ferguson said after the final whistle. "In my time as manager, it's the best team I've faced." At that moment Barca was also the best team on the planet and at the peak of its powers, with this victory cementing the legacy it had been building under Pep Guardiola during the previous three success-filled seasons.Celtic 2-1 Inter Milan -- 19671967 was the year that Celtic won it all. The Scottish league title, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup were all in the bag and then followed the biggest of the lot. Facing two-time European Cup winner Inter Milan in Lisbon, Celtic's attacking flair was ultimately too much for its defensive-minded opponent, despite the Italians taking an early lead. Tommy Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers' second-half strikes turned the tie around, however, and the 'Lisbon Lions' had become the first non-Latin side to ever win the European Cup. "We did it by playing football; pure, beautiful, inventive football," Celtic coach Jock Stein said afterwards. "There was not a negative thought in our heads." What's more, Stein's team did it with all 11 players having been born within a 30-mile radius of its city, Glasgow -- a feat that seems unlikely to be repeated in the modern game.The Celtic team line up before their European Cup Final match against Inter Milan in Lisbon.Manchester United 4-1 Benfica -- 1968Manchester United might have become the first ever English side to lift the European Cup with this win, but more importantly, the triumph marked the culmination of a 10-year period of rebuilding for the club after the horror of the 1958 Munich air disaster. That tragedy stripped the core out of Matt Busby's team but a decade on and the Scot, left fighting for his life by the crash, had formed another side capable of going all the way to the top. Three goals in extra-time for United made sure of that, with George Best's solo effort the pick of the bunch. Captain Bobby Charlton, a survivor himself of the disaster, was soon on his way up the famous Wembley stairs to lift the European Cup. "I knew there was an understanding that something was over, something that dominated our lives for so long," Charlton later wrote in his autobiography. "I walked to the dressing room and downed two bottles of beer."Real Madrid 4-3 Stade de Reims -- 1956The European Cup first touched down for the 1955-56 season and rather fittingly, given the calibre of games it would throw up over the next 59 years, its maiden final was an instant classic. Those lucky enough to be inside Paris' Parc des Princes to see football's first ever European champion be crowned were treated to a seven-goal thriller that went back and forth like a yo-yo. Stade de Reims stormed into a two-goal lead with just 10 minutes on the clock, only for Real Madrid to draw level, through Alfredo Di Stefano and Hector Rial, with just half an hour gone. Michel Hidalgo soon reclaimed the lead for Reims, but Madrid would mount another comeback -- Marquitos equalised, with Rial then grabbing his second to ensure Madrid would be the first team to get its hands on the brand spanking new European Cup.AC Milan 4-0 Barcelona -- 1994The winner of this final, before a ball had even been kicked, was Barcelona -- or at least that was the common consensus in the build-up to the game. Underdog AC Milan, which had failed to win any of its last six Italian Serie A matches, was missing Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta through suspension, while Marco van Basten and Gianluigi Lentini were also out with injury. The 'Dream Team' of Barcelona, meanwhile, was able to call on the likes of Romario, Hristo Stoichkov and Pep Guardiola, and was playing some of the finest football Europe had ever seen under Johan Cruyff. A second European title in three years was surely a formality. Well, not if Milan had anything to do with it. The Italian side dominated its opponent for a brutal 60 minutes, and a 60 minutes in which it managed to score four times through Dejan Savicevic, Marcel Desailly and a Daniele Massaro brace. All over with half an hour to spare. "It was not that we played badly," Cruyff said afterwards. "It was that we did not play at all."AC Milan's Paolo Maldini holds the European Cup aloft.Benfica 5-3 Real Madrid -- 1962The European Cup final of 1962 brought together the only two teams to have won the competition -- Real Madrid and Benfica. Madrid had been the dominant force on the continent, winning all five of the very first five finals, while Benfica was the new kid on the block and current holder, having dethroned the Spanish champion the previous season. Any suggestions that Madrid would have to step aside for the young pretender were dismissed after 23 minutes, with Ferenc Puskas putting his side two goals to the good. Benfica, however, had a 20-year-old named Eusebio on its side determined to alter the balance of power -- the youngster went on to hit a brace, with the scores tied at 3-3, to swing the pendulum and back-to-back European Cups the Portuguese side's way. Benfica coach Bela Guttman would leave the club shortly afterwards due to a pay dispute and with the parting shot: "Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever be European champion." Fifty-three years on and his prediction is still looking good...Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich -- 1999While the actual 90 minutes of this final were nothing much to write home about, bar Mario Basler's early opener, it is for what happened in injury time at Barcelona's Camp Nou that makes it truly great. Behind for 84 minutes and with its hopes of a first ever Treble going up in smoke, Manchester United went on to produce the latest of late drama, thus denying Bayern Munich in heart-wrenching fashion. It was to be two substitutes that would be responsible for the club's finest hour -- Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. First Sheringham came up with the 'get-out-of-jail card,' firing home from close-range to surely take the match into extra-time. But if that is what Bayern had begrudgingly accepted, then it had another thing coming. With the clock on 93 minutes, it was the turn of Solksjaer to come up trumps, prodding home at the far post with one of the final kicks of the game. United players went wild; Bayern's Samuel Kuffour pounded his fists against the turf in anger. "Football, bloody hell," United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said on the final whistle. Indeed.Nicky Butt and David Beckham of Manchester United celebrate victory over Bayern Munich after the UEFA Champions League Final at the Nou Camp in Barcelona, Spain.Real Madrid 7-3 Eintracht Frankfurt -- 1960The most one-sided final in the European Cup's history saw the continent's greatest team dish out a footballing lesson to remember at the peak of its powers. And all in front of a crowd of over 127,000 at Glasgow's Hampden Park -- one of football's largest attendances of all time. Eintracht Frankfurt actually had the nerve to take the lead through Richard Kress but, in hindsight, that proved to be something of a mistake. The beast was awoken from its slumber as 53 minutes of football later, Real Madrid had found the back of the net a stunning seven times to put the match well out of sight. Two of the game's greats in Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo Di Stefano combined to wreak havoc on their shell-shocked opponent, with Di Stefano notching a hat-trick and Puskas going one better -- to this day, the Hungarian remains the only player to manage such a feat in a European Cup final. Real had secured the trophy for the fifth time in what was only the fifth ever final in the competition's short history. The European Cup had known nothing other than Real Madrid domination.Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan (3-2 on penalties) -- 2005One of the greatest of footballing comebacks in one of the greatest European Cup finals of all time left those lucky enough to have witnessed the most absorbing of 120 minutes, plus penalties, in a state of utter astonishment. "I don't think one can explain what happened," AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said afterwards. He was right. There is no explaining how a Liverpool side which conceded after just one minute, and found itself 3-0 down by the end of a first half in which it had been ripped to pieces, would emerge as champion of Europe; or how an AC Milan team containing heavyweight stars such as Kaka, Andriy Shevchenko and Hernan Crespo proceeded to succumb to an opponent boasting the lesser lights of Steve Finnan, Djimi Traore and Harry Kewell. The Liverpool fans who left the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul at the break certainly wouldn't have foreseen it either. But this is football and so that is exactly what happened, thanks to three second-half goals from Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso, as well as the display of Jerzy Dudek in goal -- a miracle double save in extra-time was followed by his penalty shoot-out heroics to clinch the tie. The impossible had been made possible. Just don't try and explain how.Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard (left), and manager Rafa Benitez, celebrate after winning the 2005 Champions League final.Read: Can you pick the perfect Champions League XIRead: Lionel Messi's top 5 Champions League goals | 5sport
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This was excerpted from the March 29 edition of CNN's Meanwhile in America, the daily email about US politics for global readers. Click here to read past editions and subscribe. (CNN)Georgia just made it a crime to hand a waiting voter a bottle of water.Republican Governor Brian Kemp has signed what voting rights groups say is the most draconian bid to suppress Black votes since the 1960s. The expansive measure makes it harder to register to vote and to fulfill the ultimate democratic right -- part of a national Republican effort to influence future elections after Trump's 2020 loss.Every Election Day, there are scenes of long lines outside polling stations, of people patiently waiting in line for hours to vote. Those videos mostly feature African American faces, because access to polling places is limited in urban areas where minority and poor people often live. This is why the ban on bottles of water seems so crucial, and targeted.The law also allows state authorities to intervene in county election offices and remove local officials, prompting fears that Republican state officials could overrule authorities in heavily Democratic counties -- exactly what Trump tried to force them to do after Joe Biden's win in November. Voters will also now face less time and more restrictions to cast mail-in ballots. While the bill expands early voting across the state, it curbs some access granted during the pandemic in populous counties where minorities live.This is happening countrywide. In Texas, for instance, Republican leaders argue it's unfair for people to have wider access to voting in a big crowded (Democratic) city like Houston, than citizens in a small, sparsely rural county.Read MoreRepublicans dismiss claims that they are deliberately targeting Black voters or trying to hold back a tide of increasingly diverse Americans who reject their hardline White, cultural conservatism. They claim voters no longer believe the system is fair. But those doubts were fanned by Trump's flagrant lies about fraud that didn't exist in 2020. Most evidence suggests that the GOP, desperate to cling onto power, is systematically trying to make its supporters' votes more valuable than others'. That is the antithesis of democracy. But it's a familiar trick in US history. 'Is this patriot enough?'An elected official in Ohio, fed up with people questioning his patriotism, bared his chest as proof during a town meeting last week. Lee Wong came to America when he was 18, and retired from the Army after two decades of active duty service. "There are some ignorant people that will come up to me and say that I don't look American or patriotic enough. Now that just gets my goat," Wong, 69, said during a meeting of the West Chester Township Board of Trustees. Noting that he has been a US citizen longer than many of his constituents have been alive, he opened his shirt and pointed to scars from his military service. "Here is my proof. Now is this patriot enough?"'All of the rest of them, in my mind, could have been mitigated or decreased substantially.'Dr. Deborah BirxOne of the top doctors behind the Trump administration's botched pandemic response has come to a haunting conclusion: Hundreds of thousands of Americans could have been saved.In a major CNN documentary, Dr Deborah Birx says that the previous White House's failure to slow the spread of Covid-19 had a huge human cost. "I look at it this way. The first time we have an excuse," Birx said. "There were about a hundred thousand deaths that came from that original surge. All of the rest of them, in my mind, could have been mitigated or decreased substantially."By the end of this week, more than 550,000 Americans are expected to have died from Covid-19. The thought that most of those who died could still be alive but for better leadership in the White House, states and cities is a terrible one.Certainly Trump, who aggressively pushed for the country to remain open in defiance of scientific advice, deserves blame. As do several Republican governors who caused another wave by reopening in the summer. But Birx's remarks also raise deeper questions: Is the United States, with its natural distrust of centralized authority, reverence for individual freedom, and deep political divides simply constructed in a way that makes fighting a pandemic more difficult? And what is the right balance between saving lives by following the advice of medical professionals and sustaining livelihoods by protecting the country's economic health? President Joe Biden has pleaded with Americans to stay strong for a few more months until most people are vaccinated. But many state governors are already dropping restrictions at shops, restaurants, bars and for businesses β a suggestion that more than half a million deaths, with more to come, is simply the price they're willing to pay. | 3news
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Story highlightsWorld champions Spain beat Nigeria 3-0Top Confederations Cup Group B with 100 percent recordUruguay rout Tahiti to confirm semifinal qualificationAbel Hernandez scores four goals for Copa America championsAll-conquering Spain marched on at the Confederations Cup Sunday with a 3-0 win over Nigeria to top Group B.Two goals from Jordi Alba and a further strike from substitute Fernando Torres made it a comfortable night in Fortaleza for the World and European champions.Copa America winners Uruguay also confirmed their passage to the semifinals with a 8-0 rout of Pacific Islanders Tahiti in Recife, but both sides had a man sent off.Uruguay will now face hosts Brazil in Belo Horizonte Wednesday in a potentially explosive all South American semifinal.JUST WATCHEDWhy Brazilians are protestingReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWhy Brazilians are protesting 02:28JUST WATCHEDBrazilian FM responds to protestsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBrazilian FM responds to protests 07:04JUST WATCHEDBrazilians back on streets to protestReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBrazilians back on streets to protest 02:09Read: Brazil top Group A after thrilling win over ItalySpain take on fellow European powerhouses Italy in Fortaleza the following night.Their third victory in a row was almost guaranteed from the moment left back Alba opened their scoring in the third minute with a superb solo effort.African champions Nigeria briefly rallied, but Spain took total command in midfield and might have added further to the scoreline before the break.Chelsea's Torres eventually emerged from the bench to score with a brilliant diving header from Pedro's cross just past the hour mark. It was his fifth goal in the tournament.Alba rounded off the proceedings with another fine lone effort, sprinting clear from halfway to beat the Nigeria offside trap.Abel Hernandez was in the goals for Uruguay, who merely needed to beat Tahiti to progress.His 79-second strike was the fastest in Confederations Cup history.Read: Spain prove merciless against minnows TahitiThe Palermo striker headed home Nicolas Lodeiro's corner and went on to grap three more goals.JUST WATCHEDBrazilian protester: Where do taxes go?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBrazilian protester: Where do taxes go? 10:13JUST WATCHEDBeer at World Cup stirs controversy ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBeer at World Cup stirs controversy 06:32JUST WATCHEDBrazil prepares for World Cup in 2014ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBrazil prepares for World Cup in 2014 03:09Diego Perez, Lodeiro and substitute Luis Suarez with a late double were also on target.The red cards came in the second half, the first to Andres Scotti for a second yellow after he had seen his penalty saved by Gilbert Meriel.Tahiti were also reduced to 10 men when Teheivarii Wagemann picked up a second yellow.The defeat marked the end of their fairytale inclusion in a top level FIFA tournament, losing to Nigeria, Spain and now Uruguay and conceding 24 goals to just one scored.But they have proved ever popular underdogs and provided a rare lighter note in a tournament marked by mass demonstrations outside stadiums by Brazilians protesting against poor public services and corruption. | 5sport
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Story highlightsDonald Trump's Scottish golf course cost $150 million to createIts creation was hugely unpopular with locals and environmental groupsGolf World magazine has already ranked the course as the eighth best in BritainIt opens to the public this Sunday and green fees will be same as a round at St. AndrewsAfter seven years of planning and construction costing over $150 million, Donald Trump's dream to open a golf course in Scotland was finally realized on Tuesday.The U.S.-based billionaire hit the ceremonial first tee shot at Trump International Golf Links, having weathered a storm of controversy involving environmentalists, local residents and politicians."It's been worth it," he told CNN during his rain and wind-swept round at the venue. "This is truly the greatest golf course anywhere in the world. Everybody knows it. Most people are saying it and most of the golf people are saying it, most importantly."Trump welcomed guests from the European Tour and the Ryder Cup organizing committee, and told them: "There's really nothing like it."Set on the east coast of Scotland, eight miles north of the city of Aberdeen, the course occupies part of the private Menie Estate, bought by Trump in 2006. The opening of the championship course is the first step towards the American tycoon's goal of creating a resort featuring a second golf course, a hotel, luxury holiday homes and a residential village.JUST WATCHEDA tour of Trump International LinksReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHA tour of Trump International Links 04:41JUST WATCHEDTrump threatens to sue ScotlandReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTrump threatens to sue Scotland 07:23 Photos: Trump threatens to sue Scotland Photos: Trump threatens to sue ScotlandTrump blown off course? β Donald Trump appeared at the Scottish parliament to express his objection to a proposed wind farm off the coast of his new golf course and hotel complex in Aberdeenshire. He claims he was misled by Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond over the offshore development.Hide Caption 1 of 8 Photos: Trump threatens to sue ScotlandDivided opinion β Protestors on both sides of the argument gathered outside parliament in Edinburgh as Trump gave evidence inside. The Trump International Golf Links have attracted praise and scorn in equal measure.Hide Caption 2 of 8 Photos: Trump threatens to sue ScotlandScotland welcomes Trump β Donald Trump received a bagpipe welcome on one of his visits to the site of his championship course in Aberdeenshire.Hide Caption 3 of 8 Photos: Trump threatens to sue ScotlandClassic links course β The 3rd hole of the championship course is cut hard against the Aberdeenshire coastline.Hide Caption 4 of 8 Photos: Trump threatens to sue ScotlandCarved from giant dunes β Architect Martin Hawtree has sculpted the course using giant sand dunes with a perfect example the 10th hole.Hide Caption 5 of 8 Photos: Trump threatens to sue ScotlandWind farm plan angers Trump β A illustrative depiction of the proposed wind farm installation off the Aberdeenshire coast near Menie. Trump says he wouldn't have even considered building his golf complex if he thought it would the proposal would go ahead.Hide Caption 6 of 8 Photos: Trump threatens to sue ScotlandFirst Minister must decide β Scoltand's first minister Alex Salmond is a keen golf fan but his government faces a difficult decision over the off shore windfarm.Hide Caption 7 of 8 Photos: Trump threatens to sue ScotlandGolf course plans in the balance β Is the sun about to set on Donald Trump's plans for a golf complex capable of hosting Ryder Cups and the British Open? Hide Caption 8 of 8 Photos: Golf's luxurious holiday resorts Photos: Golf's luxurious holiday resortsChina's impressive complex β Mission Hills lies in the volcanic region of Hainan Island, China. The resort has 10 courses, with each one incorporating the native lava rock formations. There are also 518 guest rooms and suites, a three-story clubhouse and 12 restaurants in this impressive complex.Hide Caption 1 of 8 Photos: Golf's luxurious holiday resortsThe stunning Shark's Tooth β The WaterColor Inn and Resort on Florida's Gulf of Mexico offers luxurious waterfront accommodation and two 18-hole courses. The Shark's Tooth, as the name would imply, was designed by Greg Norman and is only available to guests at the resort.Hide Caption 2 of 8 Photos: Golf's luxurious holiday resortsHawaiian sunset haven β The sumptuous St. Regis bar allows golfers to unwind after 18 holes with beautiful views of the Hawaiian sunset. Great for jazz lovers too, with Sundays traditionally hosting a jam session.Hide Caption 3 of 8 Photos: Golf's luxurious holiday resortsSouth Pacific style β Perched on Hawaii's northern shore, the St. Regis Princeville Resort has 252 luxury rooms with 51 ocean-view suites. The 9,000-acre site provides stunning views of Hanalei Bay and the towering cliffs that served as the backdrop for the movie South Pacific. There are 27 holes at the Makai Golf Club, 18 of which were renovated and reopened in 2010. Hide Caption 4 of 8 Photos: Golf's luxurious holiday resortsGo round in the Rockies β The Jasper Park Lodge Golf Club has been rated as the best golf resort in Canada by SCOREGolf Magazine. Originally opened in 1925, it is located deep in the heat of the Canadian Rockies in a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Hide Caption 5 of 8 Photos: Golf's luxurious holiday resortsRelax in the Emerald Lounge β Elk, deer and wildlife roam free on the golf course at Jasper Lodge. Should an elk disrupt your chip to the green, a relaxing drink at the resort's luxurious Emerald Lounge bar is sure to calm your nerves!Hide Caption 6 of 8 Photos: Golf's luxurious holiday resortsPrtistine golf at Pristine Bay β Located on the tropical island of Roatan, 35 miles off the coast of Honduras, the Pristine Bay Resort is situated on a 400-plus acre site adjacent to the Caribbean Sea. The 120-room, five-star Resort and Spa at Pristine Bay is scheduled to open January 2012.Hide Caption 7 of 8 Photos: Golf's luxurious holiday resortsThe pearl of Honduras β The world's second-largest barrier reef provides a stunning backdrop to the Black Pearl Course on the island of Roatan. The 11th hole also has its own unique features.Hide Caption 8 of 8Trump expects the total bill for the development to exceed a billion dollars, although the next stage of building is currently on hold while he contests plans to build an offshore wind farm nearby.Rarely has a new golf course had such criticism and hype. Accusations of bullying from local residents and objections from environmental groups were documented in the movie "You've Been Trumped," while sport writers have been thrilled at every new photo revealing the dramatic holes.The sheer amount of money pumped into the project enabled English golf architect Martin Hawtree to manipulate the land on an unprecedented scale."This is one of the most extraordinary golf links sites you have seen or will ever see," Hawtree said at the opening ceremony. "There is no doubt in my mind it will be in the top three in the world. I just don't know who'll be number two or three!"Before the opening, Golf World magazine announced that the course has gone straight into its UK course rankings at number eight, ahead of several British Open venues including Royal Lytham & St. Annes, which will host the golf season's third major tournament next week.Trump's ultimate goal is to bring a major tournament to his latest course, and the European Tour chief executive George O'Grady hinted that it may not be far away."Great courses need great tournaments," said O'Grady, "We will work with Mr. Trump to bring the right event here."Sandy Jones of the Great Britain and Ireland Professional Golfers' Association made the only reference to the saga of controversy and criticism around the course's planning: "Golf is a responsible business. It embraces the environment. I wish the environmentalists would embrace golf," he said.On the course, Trump was joined by one of the European Tour's most successful players, Colin Montgomerie, who described the course as "dramatic and spectacular."On the question of whether Trump International will ever host the British Open or a Ryder Cup event, the Scottish golfer was optimistic."There's no doubt that tournament golf will come here," the 49-year-old former European Ryder Cup captain said. "It's a fantastic opportunity for people locally, nationally and internationally to come to this area."Trump championed his Scottish family ties throughout the planning process, and continued the theme at the opening ceremony as he gave out whiskey and shortbread to invited guests.The tale of how an American billionaire's dream became reality across the pond has made Trump International Golf Links one of the hottest tickets of the summer, with tee times already in short supply.The course opens to the public on Sunday, with green fees costing $310 on a weekend or $233 on a weekday, the same price as the summer rate on the prestigious Old Course at St. Andrews, known as "the home of golf." | 5sport
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(CNN)Time seemed to slow down as Romain Grosjean's car -- split in half from the force of hitting the race barriers -- was enveloped in flames. "Twenty-eight seconds I was in the flames, if you look," the racing driver tells CNN Sport as he remembers the crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix last November."If you ask me how long it was, I would have said a minute ... minute-and-a-half." That Grosjean was able to climb out of the wreckage and into a medical car shortly after the crash appeared nothing short of miraculous. What must make the Frenchman's memories of the crash more troubling is knowing that if the car had become angled slightly differently, or if the barrier had not shifted as much as it did, then he might not have made it out alive. Read More"I remember everything about it, every single detail -- from the moment I started undoing my seat belt, to the moment I realized I was stuck in the car thinking it was okay, they [race safety staff] would come and help me to jump out, then realizing there's fire," says Grosjean."I realized after a few attempts of jumping out that I was completely stuck and thinking that I'm going to burn here. I asked myself: where is it going to start? By the foot? By the hands? By the head? Is it going to be painful or not?"Grosjean's car caught fire after colliding with the barrier on the first lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix. Then he thought of his family, thousands of miles away back home. "I was in peace and accepting it, but then that's where I thought about my kids and that I couldn't leave three kids without a dad," says Grosjean of sons Sacha and Simon and daughter Camille."I had to try a last attempt. That moment was more like a reset button for my brain."The race in Bahrain proved to be Grosjean's last in Formula One. His hands blistered from burns suffered during the crash, the 34-year-old says he still has work to do to regain full mobility."It's two, two-and-a-half months now and two-and-a-half months that I am in pain," says Grosjean. "I could use painkillers, but psychologically I stopped painkillers, so I don't want to get back at it."Still battling the physical repercussions of the crash, Grosjean has also had time to consider its emotional consequences as he prepares to get back behind the wheel and race again. READ: Fernando Alonso, two-time F1 champion, has undergone a successful operation after cycling crashGrosjean and his wife Marion walk in the paddock ahead of the Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain.After an F1 career that saw 10 podiums in 179 race starts, he has signed up to compete in IndyCar in the United States with Dale Coyne Racing. His first testing session takes place on Monday. "Driving on my own won't be a problem at all," says Grosjean. "I think the question that I have and can't answer right now is how is it going to be in the peloton with other drivers, the race starts, and so on; is it going to bring back memories? Is it going to frighten me? But I'm optimistic that it's going to be alright."IndyCar races are contested across different types of track -- ovals, street circuits and road courses. Grosjean has decided for now that he won't race at oval events, which includes the iconic Indy 500, in light of the crash in Bahrain. "If I was 25 and single, I would go and do the ovals, that wouldn't be a problem," he says. "But what I cannot accept right now is putting my wife and my kids in the same situation as they were in Bahrain. "Ovals, we know it's risky, we know it's very high speed. And the crashes -- even though, touch wood, most of the time drivers are okay -- are very impressive. I don't want them to be again in front of the TV, see a big crash and ask themselves: how is he doing?"READ: Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes agree one-year deal with joint commitment for 'greater diversity and inclusion'Grosjean's car is removed from the track following his crash. Grosjean knows that it's thanks to the halo, a mandatory protection device on F1 cars, that he's able to return to racing. A titanium structure that shields drivers in their cockpits, the halo was developed following the death of Jules Bianchi -- a close friend of Grosjean who died in 2015, nine months after suffering head injuries at the Japanese Grand Prix."I never stopped thinking about Jules and I always kept in touch with mainly his father," says Grosjean, who keeps one of Bianchi's helmets on his desk at home and wears "JB17" on his own helmet during races. He also acknowledges Anthoine Hubert, the Formula 2 driver who died following a crash at the Belgian Grand Prix in 2019. "I was one of the guys against the halo. I didn't like it," adds Grosjean. "I didn't think it was great for motorsport. I must say I changed my mind big time and that I won't race a car with no halo because it's saving our lives. "Jules saved my life with the introduction of the halo. We're going to learn from Anthoine and from myself and just make sure that we get better and better."It's never going to be safe. Motorsport is dangerous, we know that. But if we can learn, if we can make it better and if we can bring that to real life road cars, then it's very impressive."JUST WATCHEDRomain Grosjean: Team Haas boss says halo saved driver's lifeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRomain Grosjean: Team Haas boss says halo saved driver's life 05:34While IndyCar remains Grosjean's immediate priority, the IMSA championships in North America, the prestigious Le Mans 24 hour race in France and the Dakar Rally are all potentially on his radar. The crash in Bahrain, Grosjean says, helped him to recognize what he really wants at this stage of his career: "new things, new tracks, new people, new atmospheres."He says he's been overwhelmed by the support he's received over the past few months -- from people in the streets, in supermarkets, on social media, and, of course, from his family; the incident has cemented his children's view that he's a superhero."I don't feel like a superhero, I feel like a dad that has done what he had to do to go and see his kids," Grosjean says of the crash."That was really the target when I was in the fire, it was jumping out to go and see my kids. They were the energy that I had." | 5sport
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(CNN)A hungry and exhausted young polar bear was spotted wandering in the suburbs of the Siberian industrial city of Norilsk this week, hundreds of miles from its usual habitat.This is just the latest recent sighting of a bear in a Russian urban area, but the last time a polar bear appeared near Norislk was more than 40 years ago, Anatoly Nikolaichuk, head of the Taimyr Department of the State Forest Control Agency, told Russian state news agency TASS. Oleg Krashevsky, a local wildlife expert, took these photos of the emaciated animal."He is very hungry, very thin and emaciated. He wanders around looking for food. He almost doesn't pay attention to people and cars," Oleg Krashevsky, a local wildlife expert who filmed the animal close up, told CNN. "He is quite young and possibly lost his mother.""He probably lost orientation and went south," Krashevsky added. "Polar bears live on the coast which is more than 500 kilometers (310 miles) away from us. How he got to Norilsk is not clear."Sea ice across the Arctic is rapidly retreating due to climate change, forcing the bears to travel farther to find food.Read MoreLocal residents were warned to be careful entering the tundra zone of the Talnakh region, where the bear was seen, according to an announcement from the local civil defense and emergency situations ministry on TASS. The animal was first seen by a group of teenagers, who filmed it and posted the video on Instagram, Krashevsky said. "I saw it was not fake and raised the issue with local authorities," he said. "As an expert on bears, I went to look for him ... I found him in the middle of the day."Local news site NGS24.RU on Wednesday quoted Andrei Korobkin, the head of the state department of wildlife protection, as saying that experts would be arriving from Krasnoyarsk to examine the bear and determine possible symptoms of exhaustion or physical trauma. The specialists will bring provisions as well as medicine to restore the bear's health, NGS24.RU reported.Polar bears are on the International Red List of Threatened Species and in the Red Book of Russia of endangered species. Citing experts, TASS said there are 22,000 to 31,000 polar bears in the world. In the north of Krasnoyarsk, a vast administrative region in Siberia, the bears inhabit the coast and islands of the Arctic Ocean, the agency added.In April, a starving polar bear was spotted in the village of Tilichiki in the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, also hundreds of miles from its usual habitat. In February, the remote Russian archipelago of Novaya Zemlaya declared a state of emergency over what local authorities described as an "invasion" by dozens of the hungry animals. | 3news
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(CNN)The chemotherapy dripped through a catheter in his chest. Cancer patient Robert Goodman had burned through his paid sick days while undergoing surgery and chemotherapy for colon cancer.The Florida public school teacher figured he needed at least 20 additional sick days to deal with more chemotherapy, days he just didn't have. So on July 23, right there in a room at Tomsich Health and Medical Center of Palm Beach County, Goodman took a selfie, posted it on Facebook and appealed for help. Within four days he had enough sick days to cover an entire semester."I couldn't believe it happened so fast," Goodman, 56, told CNN.Teachers, staff members, administrators and even lunchroom workers who pay into the Florida retirement system transferred 75 sick days to Goodman.Read More"Educators all over the country were reaching out to me to donate their sick days, even professors over at Florida Atlantic University," he said. "I felt guilty because I knew there were people who had it much worse than me."A terrifying diagnosis, a stunning responseGoodman, who has taught history at Palm Beach Gardens Community High School for 23 years, learned he had stage III colon cancer in April. "It was terrifying," he said. He began documenting his journey on Facebook."It was the easiest way to let people know how I was feeling and at the same time inspire people who were going through something similar," Goodman said.The response to his appeal for more sick days was remarkable."I wasn't surprised that teachers were giving. Teachers are always giving all the time," he said. " When one of their own needs help they'll always step up.And there was the outpouring of support from students. "Students sharing stories of how I've positively influenced them was a good reminder of why I chose to teach and why I can't wait to get back," Goodman said.Missing school, but still teaching a lessonDuring his cancer battle, Robert Goodman finds solace in writing and recording music at PeaceField Studio.Classes at Goodman's school started on August 13th. For now, he isn't there. As Goodman continues to fight cancer, the self-proclaimed "teacher by day, singer-songwriter by life" is working on songs. He hopes to use his experience to inspire more good in humanity. "Anybody can get cancer, but not everyone is willing to help," Goodman said. "We all have it in us, but it's good to get back in touch with our compassion." | 2health
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Story highlightsSource says French investigators now believe this was in all likelihood a terrorist attackShooting shuts down the Champs-Elysees, an area normally teeming with touristsParis (CNN)A man who killed a police officer on the Champs-Elysees Thursday night was known to French security services and had shot and wounded an officer in the past, a source close to the investigation told CNN.The suspect, who was shot dead by French police, was on the radar of the French domestic security service DGSI, the source said. The man was a French national who shot two officers in 2001 after being stopped by a police car, the source said. He was taken into custody but while being questioned grabbed another officer's gun and shot him three times. He was convicted in that attack and had a criminal record because of involvement in violent robberies, the source said. The source said French investigators now believe this was in all likelihood a terrorist attack. They believe there was just one attacker, and the danger is likely over, the source said. ISIS issued a statement saying an Islamic State "fighter" carried out the attack. The ISIS claim comes via a statement released by the group's media wing, Amaq. The ISIS statement identified the attacker and called him "the Belgian." CNN has not confirmed the attacker's association with Belgium. Read MoreParis Prosecutor Francois Molins said he will reveal the shooter's identity on Friday at a news conference. He said officers are searching the man's residence in Chelles, Seine-et-Marne, a Paris suburb, and are trying to determine if he had accomplices.The shooting has not officially been declared a terrorist act but anti-terrorist forces are leading the investigation, French President Francois Hollande said."The people who were present have been evacuated and we are convinced that the leads which point us to this case, and which will allow us to uncover the truth, are of a terrorist nature," he said.Elections on SundayThe shooting happened about 9 p.m. local time (3 p.m. ET) when a car stopped at 102 Champs-Elysees in front of a police van, Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre Henry Brandet said. A man emerged from the car and opened fire on the van with an "automatic weapon," killing one officer instantly, he said. The man "then ran away, managing to shoot and wound two other policemen. Other policemen engaged and shot and killed the attacker," Brandet said.The slain officer was 30 years old, Molin said. One of the wounded officers was critically injured but is improving, he said. Also wounded was a female tourist.The shooting shut down the famed Champs-Elysees, one of Paris' top tourist attractions and home to the iconic Arc de Triomphe monument. The avenue was clear of residents and tourists but teeming with security officers Thursday night.It comes three days before French voters start elections for a new president. Candidates went ahead with a debate Thursday night.France has been in a state of emergency since the 2015 Paris attacks, which left 130 people dead. Parliament voted in December to extend the extraordinary provisions to ensure the protection of upcoming presidential and general elections.Security has been tight because of the vote. Just two days ago French authorities arrested two men in Marseille who were allegedly planning an attack in a run-up to the election. Police officers block access to the Champs-Elysees.At least three underground train stations of the Paris Metro -- the Champs-Elysees-Clemenceau, George V and F. Roosevelt stations -- have been "closed off" near the site of the police operation on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, BFMTV reported. Photos: Champs-ElysΓ©es shootingPolice officers block access to the Champs-ElysΓ©es in Paris after a shooting on Thursday, April 20. One police officer and an attacker were killed, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV and the French Interior Ministry.Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: Champs-ElysΓ©es shootingBystanders raise their hands in the air as they approach police who were clearing the streets around the Champs-ElysΓ©es.Hide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: Champs-ElysΓ©es shootingEmergency crews work near the site of the shooting.Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: Champs-ElysΓ©es shootingPolice survey the Champs-ElysΓ©es as they work to secure the area.Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: Champs-ElysΓ©es shootingPeople evacuate passers-by from the scene with their hands raised. The Champs-ElysΓ©es, a top tourist attraction in Paris, is lined with restaurants, cafes, exclusive designer boutiques and tourist shops. Hide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: Champs-ElysΓ©es shootingA forensic team investigates the scene where an attacker opened fire on police with an automatic weapon.Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: Champs-ElysΓ©es shootingA French soldier stands guard after the shooting.Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: Champs-ElysΓ©es shootingA police van is towed away from the scene.Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: Champs-ElysΓ©es shootingPolice, who are on high alert, monitor the scene of the shooting.Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: Champs-ElysΓ©es shootingAuthorities closed the world-famous shopping street and told people to avoid the area.Hide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: Champs-ElysΓ©es shootingThe Eiffel Tower is seen in the background as police officers block the entrance to the Champs-ElysΓ©es.Hide Caption 11 of 11Trump: 'What can you say?'Paris resident Daoud Kal, 29, said he was walking in the area near a metro station when he heard four to five shots. He looked around, but couldn't identify where the shots were coming from. People panicked and ran away from the scene and he joined them.The CNN Paris bureau is on this street and staffers reported hearing a dozen shots. At least 20 police vehicles were seen on the street.#ChampsElysees #alerte pic.twitter.com/EHEPq7wwQkβ Alexandre de Konn (@lexandredekonn) April 20, 2017
Officers could be seen forcibly removing innocent citizens from the area as they attempted to get them to safety.President Donald Trump, speaking at a news conference in Washington with the visiting Italian Prime Minister, offered condolences to the people of France after the shooting, saying it "looks like another terrorist attack.""What can you say? It never ends," the President said.The Champs-Elysees is a main road lined with restaurants, cafes, exclusive designer boutiques and tourist shops. At one end is the Arc de Triomphe, surrounded by a several-lane-wide roundabout, and the other end stops at the Place de la Concorde, known for its obelisk monument.The presidential palace, the Elysee, is a few blocks away.French police tweeted, "Police intervention underway in the area of the #ChampsElysees avoid the sector and follow the instructions of the police forces."French candidates respondThe US State Department put out a cautionary tweet, saying: "If you're in #Paris, monitor local news. #ChampsElysees has been closed. Authorities are telling people to avoid the area after a shooting."One police officer was killed in a shooting on the Champs-Elysees.The shooting comes three days before French general elections and Paris was already in a state of heightened alert. French politicians immediately reacted on social media.Beginner's guide to the French electionsFrench far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen tweeted, "My emotions and solidarity for the police, once again targeted." Conservative French presidential hopeful Francois Fillon tweeted, "Paying homage to police who give their lives to protect ours, #ChampsElysees."Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve tweeted: "Paying homage to the policeman killed on the champs elysees. Thoughts are with his family. Solidarity with his injured colleagues and those close to them."Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy tweeted: "To our law enforcement: support, strength, courage. They are paying again a heavy price. Our Nation's tribute must be total NS"Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo tweeted: "We won't give up, not bow and remain united facing these odious and insidious threats that weigh on our cities." She also extended a message of solidarity and thanks to the retailers on the Champs-Elysees who gave people shelter during the attack.Correction: This story has been updated to clarify the extent to which French intelligence authorities were monitoring the perpetrator before the attack.CNN's Pierre Buet in Paris and Julia Jones, Hamdi Alkhshali, Emanuella Grinberg and Nadeem Muaddi in Atlanta contributed to this report. | 3news
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Barcelona, Spain (CNN)Hundreds of thousands of Catalans have taken to the streets since last weekend's bitterly contested independence referendum to voice their support for a split from Spain.The issue has divided opinion within the northeastern region, and the wider country. Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Protesters march through Barcelona during a demonstration to support the unity of Spain on October 8. A bitterly contested independence referendum on October 1 has stoked fierce divisions in the northeastern region of Catalonia and across Spain. Hide Caption 1 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Thousands of people gather in Barcelona to rally for unity in Spain on October 8.Hide Caption 2 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Protesters hold Spanish flags during a demonstration against independence for Catalonia on October 8.Hide Caption 3 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Demonstrators urge a peaceful dialogue to resolve the crisis over Catalan independence on Saturday, October 7, in Madrid, Spain.Hide Caption 4 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Crowds raise their hands during a demonstration October 7 in Barcelona encouraging talks to ease tensions over independence. Catalan nationalists argue the region is a separate nation with its own history, culture and language. But many Catalans also oppose separatism from Spain.Hide Caption 5 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis People show their hands painted in white during a demonstration urging dialogue on October 7 in Madrid. Neither the Catalan regional government nor the national government in Madrid has been willing to give ground since the referendum. Hide Caption 6 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis A woman wears a sticker with the Spanish word for "peace" at a demonstration in Madrid on October 7.Hide Caption 7 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Protesters with Spanish flags gather to demonstrate against independence for Catalonia in Madrid on October 7.Hide Caption 8 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis People attend a protest in Barcelona on Monday, October 2, a day after hundreds were injured in a police crackdown during the banned referendum. The Catalan government claimed victory after pushing forward with the vote despite Spain's Constitutional Court declaring it illegal.Hide Caption 9 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Catalan President Carles Puigdemont greets regional government workers before a meeting at the Palace of the Generalitat in Barcelona on October 2.Hide Caption 10 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Independence supporters gather in Barcelona after Catalonia's separatist government held a referendum to decide if the region should split from Spain on Sunday, October 1.Hide Caption 11 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis A member of the Catalan National Assembly cries at the end of the voting day on October 1.Hide Caption 12 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Spanish riot police remove fences thrown at them as they try to prevent people from voting in Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday, October 1. Hide Caption 13 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Pro-referendum supporters clash with members of the Spanish National Police after police tried to enter a polling station to retrieve ballot boxes.Hide Caption 14 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Pro-referendum supporters lock a gate to a polling station as members of the Spanish National Police arrive to control the area during voting at the Escola Industrial of Barcelona.Hide Caption 15 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Spanish National Police clash with pro-referendum supporters in Barcelona.Hide Caption 16 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Pro-independence supporters cover a mock ballot box with Estelada Catalan flags in Pamplona, northern Spain.Hide Caption 17 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Spanish National Police clash with pro-referendum supporters in Barcelona.Hide Caption 18 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis People play games in a square where a giant pro-independence Estelada Catalan flag is displayed.Hide Caption 19 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis A woman celebrates after voting at a polling station in Barcelona on October 1.Hide Caption 20 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis People help a man injured by a rubber bullet fired by Spanish police officers outside the Ramon Llull polling station in Barcelona.Hide Caption 21 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Pro-referendum supporters embrace as Spanish National Police try to remove them from the Ramon Llull school in Barcelona.Hide Caption 22 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis People queue to vote at a school in Barcelona.Hide Caption 23 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis A woman casts her vote at a polling station in Barcelona.Hide Caption 24 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Spanish riot police shoot rubber bullets at people trying to reach a voting site designated by the Catalan government in Barcelona. The deputy mayor of Barcelona said police fired rubber bullets at people as they attempted to vote in the referendum, which Spain's top court has declared illegal. There were reports that police in Girona, Spain, used batons.Hide Caption 25 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis A protestor shouts as he holds a Catalan flag during a demonstration called by far-right groups in Barcelona.Hide Caption 26 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Catalan President Carles Puigdemont, center, arrives to inspect a sports hall as police interve in Girona, Spain. Puigdemont condemned "indiscriminate aggression" against peaceful voters.Hide Caption 27 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis A Spanish riot police officer swings a club against would-be voters near a school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona.Hide Caption 28 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Riot police drag a member of the public away from a school being used as a polling station. Regional authorities said 337 people were injured after Madrid deployed the national police force to close down polling stations. Catalan emergency services confirmed the number to CNN.Hide Caption 29 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis People clash with Spanish National Police outside the Ramon Llull school, designated as a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain, early Sunday, October 1. Catalan pro-referendum supporters vowed to ignore a police ultimatum to leave the schools they are occupying to use in a vote seeking independence from Spain.Hide Caption 30 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis People try to offer flowers to a civil guard at the entrance of a sports center, assigned to be a referendum polling station by the Catalan government in Sant Julia de Ramis, near Girona, Spain, October 1.Hide Caption 31 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis People attend a demonstration against a referendum on independence for Catalonia on October 1 in Madrid, Spain.Hide Caption 32 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis A woman casts her vote in a ballot at a polling station in Barcelona, on October 01 during a referendum on independence for Catalonia.Hide Caption 33 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Members of Spain's national police force clear people from a polling station where Catalan President Carles Puigdemont had been expected to vote, in Sant Julia de Ramis, near Girona, Spain on October 1. Catalan pro-referendum supporters said they would not comply with a police order to leave the schools they are occupying to use in a vote seeking independence from Spain. Hide Caption 34 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis A woman celebrates outside a polling station after casting her vote in Barcelona, on October 01 in a referendum on independence for Catalonia.Hide Caption 35 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis Family members comfort each other after they were unable to vote in the referendum after Spanish police closed their polling station October 1 in Sant Julia de Ramis, Spain. Hide Caption 36 of 37 Photos: Divisions in Spain over Catalonia crisis People wait at the doors of the Moises Broggi school to start voting during the Catalan independence referendum in Barcelona, Spain on October 1.Hide Caption 37 of 37Catalan nationalists argue the region is a separate nation with its own history, culture and language, and that it should have increased fiscal independence. But there are also many Catalans who oppose separatism.Some pro-independence Catalans spoke to CNN in Barcelona on Friday about why they favor going it alone.'Tired of subsidizing'Henrique Aparici wants greater fiscal autonomy for Catalonia.Read MoreRetired industrial engineer Henrique Aparici, 74, said Catalonia -- a wealthy region -- was "tired of subsidizing practically the rest of Spain" while receiving no help from Madrid."Both sides are very angry. They don't want to talk, particularly Madrid does not want to talk. Here they are always with their doors open for dialogue, but I think this will end badly," he said.JUST WATCHEDWhy these Catalans are against independenceReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWhy these Catalans are against independence 01:19Unless there is a U-turn, he said, the Spanish state "will annul the autonomy, more repression, more police forces and we will have a military intervention." Aparici said the motivation for Catalonia's separatists has always been gaining greater fiscal autonomy."We're subsidizing Andalucia, we're subsidizing Extremadura, we're subsidizing, subsidizing, subsidizing ... and it comes a time where we don't feel like subsidizing any more. So the only thing that could happen here is that, by force, they make us carry on subsidizing," he said."This is what we wanted with the referendum, to know if we were the majority or not."'They have made us angry'Mireya Jimenez says Madrid's handling of the October 1 referendum has made Catalans angry.Mireya Jimenez, 25, a journalism student, said the way the October 1 referendum was handled has hardened people's views in favor of independence. Hundreds of people were injured last weekend as police sent from Madrid tried to prevent the referendum going ahead."I didn't feel that repressed until what happened on October 1," she said. "I think a couple of years ago there were more people who didn't want it (independence), but after all that has happened, I think there are more people who want it."I don't think there is turning around. I think that whatever they do, they have made us angry, and I think we have seen that a ... part of Spain doesn't like us, the King doesn't like us either and so I think that, also because of how they've treated us just now, there is no turning back."Jimenez said she doesn't feel represented by Spain because of its policies and the way it treats Catalans."I believe that by being independent we could ... manage ourselves better; we would have another kind of benefits that don't exist within Spain," she said. 'A better country'Raul del Hoyo says he believes Catalonia has the potential to be a better country on its own.Raul del Hoyo, 56, a logistics technician, said he feels Spanish as well as Catalan but believes in the region's bid for independence."We believe we have sufficient economic potential, social cohesion and initiative to be able to make a better country," he said. "I'm very sad to have seen how the police took people who were only expressing or demonstrating, democratically, their right to vote, and their right to demonstrate on the street in order to achieve a political objective."He said he believes there will be negotiations and that the two sides will find a solution that works for them both."There could be violence, but if there is violence, I am sure it will be institutional. Catalonia, for decades, not just now, for decades, has always demonstrated democratically its claims," he said."It's the part of the peninsula, or the part of Spain, that has always voted more in favor of Europe, of democratic values, of its anti-Franco struggle. It's a peaceful people, a people that organized itself around a set of values to grow more. We're not going against anything."'They didn't listen to us'Ana, a retiree, says she hopes for dialogue to resolve the situation peacefully.Ana, who didn't want to give her last name for fear of repercussions, said Catalan independence is essential."We need to have it. So that all of us take everything that the state from Madrid takes from us," she said.A 68-year-old retired administrative executive, Ana has been angered by the central authorities' treatment of Catalans in recent days."We've been very peaceful. They didn't listen to us and attacked the people, elderly people, children, very bad," she said."We hope that they engage in dialogue, that they talk and they fix this because we've never had an issue, between people who don't want independence and people who want it."She said she hopes the recent tensions won't deter foreign visitors to Barcelona and the region, saying they will be welcomed with open arms.CNN's Laura Smith-Spark contributed to this report. | 3news
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(CNN)Welcome to our final weekend sports guide -- without college football. Yes, a cheeky start, but next week kicks off five straight months of college football that will dominate your Saturdays. It will culminate in mid-January with the National Championship in the Big Easy.So while we still can, let's take some time to highlight three non-college football events happening this weekend:UFC 241: Nate Diaz's comeback and Cormier vs. MiocicIf you ask casual sports fans who Nate Diaz is, the usual reaction is a pursing of the eyes. The name resonates, but the details are fuzzy. Read MoreDiaz is the man who knocked Conor McGregor off his perch when the brash Irishman was at the pinnacle of the mixed martial arts mountain. The shocking 2016 upset was quickly followed by a rematch later that year at UFC 202, which McGregor won via a majority decision. Nate Diaz chokes Conor McGregor at UFC 196.Then, poof! Diaz disappeared from the octagon and the mainstream. It's been almost three years since Diaz has been featured on a fight card. He told ESPN this week that after his rematch loss to McGregor, UFC essentially wanted him to "get out of here." UFC President Dana White disputes the claim.Giant-killer Diaz returns to the octagon (probably with a chip on his shoulder) on Saturday night to face Anthony Pettis at UFC 241.Despite the hyped Diaz resurrection, the Pettis bout isn't the headliner. That honor belongs to Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic, who will go toe-to-toe for a second time. The first edition ended with Cormier knocking Miocic out within five minutes and leaving the building with the Clevelander's belt. UFC 241: 'I try to honor the people that I've lost,' says Daniel CormierCormier -- who is the UFC heavyweight champion, the No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world and the first and only UFC fighter to defend titles in two weight classes -- says Saturday's fight could be his last.When asked about retirement, Cormier told CNN on Thursday that "everybody asks about it, but that's what happens when you turn 40. I feel great. I wanna get through this weekend, and then I'll sit with my family, and we'll figure out what's going on. It's a real thing, though. Father time catches up to everybody."Sounds like this could be the last time to witness the former Olympian in action. We'll be watching.Watch it: Saturday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ pay-per-view International viewers, check local listings.Little League World SeriesWho's fired up for the Little League Baseball World Series? This guy!That feeling when you finally make it to Williamsport. #LLWS pic.twitter.com/2IHpnmO3b5β Little League (@LittleLeague) August 11, 2019
The tournament began Thursday, featuring 16 teams from around the world -- eight squads from the United States and eight from other countries -- playing a double-elimination, bracket-style tournament with the champion crowned August 25. This year's edition is conjuring up memories of pure joy. It's hard to believe that five years have passed since Mo'ne Davis became a national sensation. Davis, then a 13-year-old pitching phenom, became the first girl to throw a shutout in the Little League World Series. A Sports Illustrated cover, a meeting with the Obamas and a Spike Lee-directed documentary all followed. wow! Dream to come true... thank you to my team, the city of Philly and Sports Illustrated @SInow for this #Thecover pic.twitter.com/8Zk5jdprnFβ Mo'Ne Davis (@MoNeDavis) August 19, 2014
Davis' legacy will particularly shine in the coming days at quaint Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Playing second base for Minnesota's Coon Rapids/Andover team (representing the Midwest Region) is Maddy Freking, the first girl to take part in the Little League World Series since Davis, now a freshman at Hampton University, where she plans to play softball in the spring. Freking is the 19th girl to take part in the 73-year history of the tournament. The last girl from Minnesota to play in Williamsport was @KrissyWendell. Maddie Freking is about to change that. #GirlsWithGame pic.twitter.com/KZesgMBScJβ Little League (@LittleLeague) August 10, 2019
The spotlight on her will no doubt intensify as the team advances. Her manager, Greg Bloom, is ready to help, telling the Minneapolis Star Tribune, "we told her if [the attention] gets to be too much, just let us know, us coaches, and we'll try to tell people to take a break ... but I've warned her to expect to get a lot of attention. This doesn't happen very often."Freking just thinks "it's cool."Coon Rapids/Andover has started the World Series strong -- winning their first game on Friday 2-1 over the team representing the Great Lakes Region. Freking and her teammates will play again on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET.But wait! There's more. Come Sunday night, Major League Baseball will host its third annual MLB Little League Classic at a minor league stadium just 5 miles from Lamade Stadium. The special regular-season game featuring the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates will be played in front of the participating Little League teams and families plus local Williamsport youth baseball and softball organizations.We're going back to Williamsport this weekend! #LittleLeagueClassicREAD: https://t.co/RVhLbmwJXo pic.twitter.com/cD89qe0K2sβ Pirates (@Pirates) August 15, 2019
Watch it: Games continue all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday; the full schedule is available online.Sunday: Midwest Region vs. Southeast Region, 11 a.m. ETSunday: Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates in MLB's Little League Classic, 7 p.m. ET on ESPNInternational viewers, check local listings.NASCAR at Bristol Motor SpeedwayThis midseason night race at iconic Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee was already on our must-watch list for this weekend. But after famed NASCAR driver and analyst Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his family escaped serious injury in a fiery plane crash on Thursday, this race takes on special meaning.A look at Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s NASCAR careerEarnhardt, who was slated to be a part of NBC's Saturday night coverage, is now taking the weekend off. But he'll be there in spirit.Beyond being grateful for Earnhardt's safety, pay attention to the No. 1 and No. 18 rides. Remarkably, the Busch brothers, Kurt and Kyle, have dominated the slingshotting short track, winning 14 times between them. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway. What really packs 'em in at Bristol is the constant paint swapping that goes down inside the "bullring"; rarely a race goes by without incidents of mayhem. So if you have ever dreamed of turning your evening commute into a NASCAR race -- without the legal ramifications -- the night race at the self-proclaimed "Last Great Colosseum" is for you.Watch it: Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSNInternational viewers, check local listings. | 5sport
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(CNN)Armenia was thrown into political turmoil on Tuesday after the ruling party blocked a bid by the leader of the country's burgeoning protest movement to become prime minister.Nikol Pashinyan, 42, the sole candidate in the parliamentary vote, called for a nationwide day of protest on Wednesday after losing the vote. Mass demonstrations led by Pashinyan's movement forced the resignation of veteran leader Serzh Sargsyan last week. But Pashinyan's bid to lead the country was thwarted by the Republican party in parliament, which holds a majority in parliament and, after hours of bad-tempered debate, refused to back him.Shortly after the vote, Pashinyan told thousands of supporters at a rally in the capital Yerevan that their struggle was far from over, and called for a strike the next day."Our counter-move against the action of the Republican faction will be very rapid. Tomorrow total strike is declared," Pashinyan said, according to state-run Armenpress. "We block all the streets, communications, subway and the airports starting from 8:15. Our struggle cannot end in a failure."Nikol Pashinyan addresses supporters in downtown Yerevan.Read MoreAs the vote took place, thousands of Pashinyan's supporters flooded into Yerevan's Republic Square, watching the Parliament session on giant screens. Many had hoped Pashinyan would fill the power vacuum left after Sargsyan resigned, following weeks of anti-government protests.A Pashinyan supporter in Yerevan, ahead of the vote. The European Union urged civility. "It remains crucial that all parties involved, including the law enforcement agencies and those exercising their right of freedom of assembly and expression, avoid confrontation and show restraint and responsibility, as has been the case in recent days," the EU said in statement on its website. Pashinyan led the protests after Sargsyan was appointed Prime Minister on April 17. Sargsyan had previously served as Armenian president for 10 years, and the thousands of protesters who hit the streets of Yerevan saw his latest appointment as an unconstitutional power grab.Under constitutional changes Sargsyan promoted in 2015, the prime minister became more powerful than the president, leading to concerns of authoritarian rule descending on the small former Soviet republic, which borders Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran and Georgia. As the protests entered their 11th day, Sargsyan stepped down as Prime Minister. His deputy, Karen Karapetyan, was then named acting Prime Minister at an emergency Cabinet meeting. Armenian policemen detain an opposition supporter during a rally in Yerevan on April 21.Pashinyan, of the opposition Civil Contract party, cut a rebellious figure during the protests. His black cap, camouflage T-shirt and bandaged hand, reportedly injured on barbed wire, were in stark contrast to the suited Prime Minister Sargsyan.A televised meeting between the two leaders at the Marriott Hotel in Yerevan two weeks ago dramatically broke down when the Prime Minister walked out. Shortly after, Pashinyan was arrested at an anti-government rally, but was released last Monday before the announcement that Sargsyan would resign.Former Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan during the televised meeting with Nikol Pashinyan last month.According to Laurence Broers, an associate fellow at the Chatham House think tank's Russia and Eurasia program, discontent with Sargsyan had been brewing for years.Armenians have seen their country, once the poster child for democratization after the collapse of the Soviet Union, stagnate in the hands of an entrenched oligarchy while many citizens choose to leave, Broers said.Broers doesn't ascribe sole credit to Pashinyan for the latest protests, but said the opposition figure "has been very successful in harnessing that desire and that energy for change."The crunch now, Broers said, is whether Pashinyan can turn his hand to coalition-building skills.CNN's Laura Smith-Spark contributed to this report | 3news
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Story highlightsLuis Enrique will step down as Roma coach at the end of this seasonFormer Barcelona player moved to Italian Serie A club in JuneThe 42-year-old says he needs to take time out from the gameClub says departure will not mean end of new playing philosophyAS Roma hired Luis Enrique hoping a little Barcelona magic might rub off on the Serie A club, but the experiment came to a forlorn end on Saturday when the coach confirmed he was quitting after less than a year in charge.Roma boldly appointed the Spaniard last June, despite the fact that the 42-year-old had never played outside Spain and his only coaching experience was a three-year spell with Barcelona's B team.Ahead of the final round of the season, Roma are seventh in Serie A and may not qualify for Europe. They have been beaten 14 times.Amid increasing rumors about the coach's future, Roma general director Franco Baldini insisted the club wanted Luis Enrique to stay but the Spaniard has confirmed he will step down after Sunday's final game of the season."I'm leaving because I feel very tired and drained," Luis Enrique said in a statement posted on the Roma website. "I've given everything this season."I don't think I'll be able to recover my energy over the summer -- not the energy needed to motivate a group. I definitely won't be coaching next season, though I don't know if I'd even have had any offers."JUST WATCHEDHow Juventus won the Italian title ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHow Juventus won the Italian title 02:46JUST WATCHEDGuardiola to end Barcelona reign ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGuardiola to end Barcelona reign 05:25Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola also cited fatigue when he announced he would quit the Catalan club at the end of this season.Luis Enrique will become the 20th coaching change in Serie A this season. He arrived at Roma in the wake of a takeover by a group of American investors led by Thomas DiBenedetto last April.On announcing the appointment, Roma's sporting director Walter Sabatini said: "Luis Enrique represents an idea of football that we would like to follow, which imposes itself today through Spain and Barcelona."I was looking for someone outside of Italian football. Uncontaminated."Luis Enrique was charged with overhauling an aging squad and bringing flair to the team in a notoriously defense-minded league.The 35-year-old club icon Francesco Totti was left on the bench for some games, while Barcelona attacker Bojan Krkic was brought in, but failed to sparkle."I still believe you can play attractive football in Italy and I think the best way to do that is with attacking football," Luis Enrique said. "I know that I have to improve defensive aspects and I will, don't worry about that."Baldini said Luis Enrique's departure wouldn't spell the end of the club's new philosophy."The project hasn't failed," he said. "We want to carry on playing a certain type of football, and from league statistics Roma is the team that has had more possession than any other, and is third behind Juve and Milan for territorial dominance and pass completion."This says a lot about the quality of play. The failure has been how our league campaign went, but the style of play was want we wanted from the beginning."Luis Enrique said he planned to stay in the Italian capital for several months to get to know the city better and that he would never regret his decision to try coaching in Italy.However, he said he wouldn't miss the local media."Nearly everything that's been written was lies," he said. "And we're still hearing them now." | 5sport
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Story highlightsDebris from a SpaceX rocket is found across the Atlantic OceanEncrusted in barnacles, the debris shows a U.S. flag and the words "Falcon 9"Some Reddit users believe it is debris from a space station resupply mission that blew up in JuneLondon (CNN)A large chunk of debris from a SpaceX rocket has been found floating off a remote British island, more than 4,000 miles (6,500 kilometers) from where it took off.The barnacle-encrusted debris -- which measures about 33 feet by 13 feet (10 meters by 4 meters) and is decorated with a U.S. flag -- is believed to have come from an unmanned Falcon 9 rocket, designed by Elon Musk's private aerospace company, which blew up in June shortly after launch. The rockets are launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. But the object was found off the Isles of Scilly, a small archipelago southwest of the British mainland.The words "Falcon 9" were visible on the debris, said Joseph Thomas, a boat captain who spotted the object in the water between the islands of Bryher and Tresco on Thursday afternoon.CNN Map"My first thoughts were, it might be a whale or something dead floating on the surface, because there were seabirds feeding off it," said Thomas, a skipper for Tresco Boat Services. "It turned out they were feeding off goose barnacles."Read MoreMarkings that appeared to be letters were visible on the debris, so there were fears it could have come from a plane. The reality was even more remarkable."Once we got it ashore with the help of another vessel, (the coast guard) scraped some of the goose barnacles off, and it just so happened the first place they scraped, they found the flag," Thomas said.The words "Falcon 9" are visible on the debris.A group of users on the website Reddit analyzed images of the object and came to the conclusion that it was debris from SpaceX CRS-4 -- a resupply mission to the International Space Station that was launched from Cape Canaveral in September 2014.Meanwhile Martin Leslie, coastal area commander for the coast guard, said in a statement that he believed the debris was "most likely to be (from) the unmanned SpaceX Falcon 9 which blew up shortly after takeoff from Cape Canaveral in June."SpaceX didn't have any immediate comment on either claim.Local resident Pete Hicks, who was involved in bringing the debris to shore, tweeted, "Towed in and beached a piece of flotsam earlier. Thoughts were could be aviation parts... didn't imagine space race."towed in and beached a piece of flotsam earlier. thoughts were could be aviation parts ..didnt imagine space race pic.twitter.com/f7esX0ixGbβ pete hicks (@Hicks_PG) November 26, 2015
The debris is now on a beach on the island of Tresco, where authorities were checking it for serial numbers and communicating with SpaceX to identify which mission it had come from. | 3news
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Story highlights Berezovsky was in "an immediate liquidity squeeze" but had assets, friend saysExiled Russian tycoon's death consistent with hanging, autopsy findsHe fled to the UK after a falling out with the Kremlin Detective: No evidence at this stage to suggest "third-party involvement"Exiled Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky's death is "consistent with hanging" with no sign of a violent struggle, British investigators announced late Monday. The 67-year-old Berezovsky was found dead at a country estate south of London over the weekend, triggering speculation about the fate of a onetime tycoon known for his opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin."The results of the post-mortem examination, carried out by a Home Office pathologist, have found the cause of death is consistent with hanging," Thames Valley police reported. "The pathologist has found nothing to indicate a violent struggle."Investigators are still waiting for toxicology test results, which could take several weeks, the statement said. And the house in Ascot will remain under guard while investigators continue to probe his death, police added. He was found in the locked bathroom of a guest suite, police confirmed. Police scouring the scene Sunday said they had not found any sign of "third-party involvement," a detective said. Photos: Boris Berezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarch Photos: Boris Berezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarchBerezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarch β Boris Berezovsky began his working life as a math professor, and then a systems analyst, before switching to more lucrative jobs, according to CNN's Jill Dougherty. He is pictured here at Moscow airport in 1999.Hide Caption 1 of 9 Photos: Boris Berezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarchBerezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarch β Berezovsky became a deputy of the State Duma but fled Russia for Britain once Vladimir Putin became president in 2000. Hide Caption 2 of 9 Photos: Boris Berezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarchBerezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarch β In 2007, Berezovsky was involved in establishing a foundation to investigate the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.Hide Caption 3 of 9 Photos: Boris Berezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarchBerezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarch β In July 2007, Berezovsky told media that UK police had warned him that they believed his life was under threat from a Russian assassin.Hide Caption 4 of 9 Photos: Boris Berezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarchBerezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarch β Berezovsky said he had briefly fled abroad because of threats against him.Hide Caption 5 of 9 Photos: Boris Berezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarchBerezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarch β In 2011, Berezovsky alleged a breach of contract over business deals with fellow Russian and Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich. Hide Caption 6 of 9 Photos: Boris Berezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarchBerezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarch β Berezovsky leaves the High Court in London with his partner Yelena Gorbunova, left, in 2011.Hide Caption 7 of 9 Photos: Boris Berezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarchBerezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarch β On August 31, 2012, Berezovsky lost his lawsuit against Abramovich.Hide Caption 8 of 9 Photos: Boris Berezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarchBerezovsky: Colorful Russian oligarch β On March 23, 2013, Berezovsky's son-in-law said on Facebook that the tycoon had died.Hide Caption 9 of 9JUST WATCHEDHow Berezovsky lost 6 billion dollarsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHow Berezovsky lost 6 billion dollars 01:55JUST WATCHEDCause of Berezovsky's death undeterminedReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCause of Berezovsky's death undetermined 03:54JUST WATCHEDBoris Berezovsky dead in LondonReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBoris Berezovsky dead in London 02:29JUST WATCHED2012: Battle of the billionaires ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH2012: Battle of the billionaires 04:19Speculation about Berezovsky's cause of death ran the gamut from suicide to heart attack with some pointing to his declining fortune as a possible clue. He is believed to have been in serious financial difficulties after running up huge legal fees in recent years, including what was reportedly Britain's biggest-ever divorce settlement and a losing lawsuit against a former friend and ally, Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich. A close family friend, speaking to CNN on condition of anonymity, said that Berezovsky was found dead by a bodyguard -- a former member of the Israeli spy agency Mossad, as Berezovsky's bodyguards all were. He normally had three, but only one was working at the time he died, the friend said.The home where Berezovsky died is owned by his ex-wife Galina, the friend said, but Berezovsky had been staying there for a month because few people knew how to reach him there. He believed his houses were bugged had repeatedly re-written his will over the last few years; in addition, the source said, he had discussed the importance of returning to Russia and was contemplating having his body repatriated to his homeland. He was not on medication, as far as the source was aware. Another source characterized Berezovsky's finances as "an immediate liquidity squeeze, but long-term, he had assets." Over the weekend, close associates had denied that Berezovsky may have committed suicide, Russia's state-owned RIA Novosti news agency reported. The agency said a family friend told Russian media that Berezovsky had suffered a heart attack.The colorful Berezovsky had been a Moscow math professor and systems analyst before the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991. In the freewheeling era that followed, he made a fortune selling cars and parlayed those riches into political influence by buying into Russian media outlets. He supported Boris Yeltsin, Russia's first post-Soviet president, and was an early backer of Putin. But after winning his Kremlin office in 2000, Putin's government began trying to collect on tax claims against "oligarchs" like Berezovsky. Berezovsky fled Russian and began agitating against Putin from Britain, calling for a coup to oust the Russian president. In 2003, as Russia was seeking his return, Berezovsky was granted political asylum by British authorities after they realized he was wanted on political grounds, not criminal ones, according to published reports at the time.The case strained relations between Moscow and London. Berezovsky was convicted of fraud and tax evasion in absentia by a Russian court in 2007. Berezovsky also blamed the Kremlin for the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, who was poisoned by radioactive material in London. For years, Berezovsky bankrolled the effort of Litvinenko's widow to push for an inquest into her husband's death. In a deathbed statement, Litvinenko blamed Putin, an accusation the Kremlin strongly denied.Read: Where did it all go wrong for oligarch?Moscow is ready to consider burying him in Russia, if it receives such a request, Russian media said, quoting presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov. | 3news
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Story highlightsAS Monaco swoop for a pair of Porto players Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez sign five year dealsPromoted Monaco pay $90 million for the duoMonaco owned by Russian billionaire Dimitri RybolovlevAS Monaco signaled their intention to use their financial muscle in the summer transfer window with an audacious double swoop Friday for Porto pair Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez,Monaco, backed by Russian billionaire owner Dimitri Rybolovkev, will return to France's Ligue 1 next season after wrapping up the second-flight title, and other high profile signings are expected. Portuguese champions Porto said the deal was worth 70 million euros ($90.6 million) with 21-year-old Colombian international striker Rodriguez valued at 45 million euros and midfielder Moutinho worth 25 million euros.A statement on their website described the deal as the "biggest in Portuguese football history" and the club has made a profit of over 50 million euros from the original fees they paid for the players in 2010. Read: Becks bows out as PSG celebrate titleJUST WATCHEDPrince Albert of Monaco on tax and spaceReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHPrince Albert of Monaco on tax and space 03:52JUST WATCHEDCNN FC: Beckham retiresReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCNN FC: Beckham retires 23:51JUST WATCHEDCNN FC stars preview CL finalReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCNN FC stars preview CL final 02:42Monaco confirmed that both had signed five-year deals.The 21-year-old Rodriguez, who has helped Porto to three straight domestic titles, was reportedly a target for English Premier League champions Manchester United, while Moutinho nearly join their EPL counterparts Tottenham Hotspur last season.Monaco, coached by Italian Claudio Ranieri, have also been linked with Atletico Madrid's Colombian striker Radamel Falcoa, who carries a 60 million euros price tag and is wanted by a clutch of Europe's elite clubs.Watch: What makes Ibrahimovic tick?With money apparently no object, the team from the principality, will look to rival the new French champions Paris-Saint Germain, who have Qatari backing, enabling to sign such names as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the now-retired David Beckham.Monaco were regular participants in European club competition, reaching the final of the Champions League in 2004.But a steady decline set in, culminating in their relegation to Ligue 2 in 2011. Rybolovkev took over at the end of that year and has pumped in money to help the return quickly to the top flight under the stewardship of former Chelsea coach Ranieri. | 5sport
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Story highlightsThe women's team final starts at 3 p.m. ET at the Rio Olympic ArenaTeam USA is led by Simone Biles, who's looking to take 5 gold medals (CNN)The first set of results is in, and it's confirmed: The US women's gymnastics team is that good.JUST WATCHEDCNN speaks with Simone BilesReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCNN speaks with Simone Biles 00:57And barring a major disaster, the question heading into the team final Tuesday afternoon at the Rio Olympic Arena won't be whether these five American women will win gold. It will be which teams get silver and bronze behind them.On Sunday, Team USA dominated team qualification. The US led all countries with a total score of 185.238, almost 10 points higher than the second-best team, China (175.279).Simone Biles expected to dominate in Rio OlympicsThe US women are also on a winning streak. In addition to winning team gold in London in 2012, Team USA has won team gold at the world championships three consecutive times -- 2011, 2014 and 2015 (the team event was not held in 2013).In short, this is the team to beat.Read More"They were not only physically prepared, but mentally prepared, and that's a nice place to be because you don't have to snap anybody into place," US Olympic coach Aimee Boorman said, according to the USA Gymnastics website. "It was fantastic."The other teams that qualified for the team final are Russia (174.620), Great Britain (174.064), Brazil (174.054), Germany (173.263), Japan (172.564) and the Netherlands (171.929).The US lineup for the team final looks like this:Vault: Laurie Hernandez, Aly Raisman and Simone BilesUneven bars: Biles, Gabby Douglas and Madison KocianBalance beam: Raisman, Hernandez and BilesFloor exercise: Hernandez, Raisman and BilesDomination in team qualificationAs usual, Team USA was led Sunday by Biles, who is right on target to win five gold medals. The 19-year-old led the field in qualification in all-around (62.366), vault (16.050), beam (15.633) and floor (15.733). She's the favorite to win all of them, including team gold on Tuesday."Simone is Simone," US national women's team coordinator Martha Karolyi said. "She is a big talent, but she proved also at controlling herself and how she is able to perform under pressure. There's a reason why she's three-time world champion. Simone is doing gymnastics because she wants to prove to the world how good she is."Why the internet loves Aly Raisman's nervous parents On Sunday, the US had the top three all-around finishers. After Biles, Raisman (60.607) finished second and Douglas (60.131) was third. Both were members of the "Fierce Five" gold-medal winning team from the 2012 London Games. It will be Raisman's second appearance in an Olympic individual all-around final; she finished fourth in London.However, while the top 24 qualify for the individual all-around final, which is Thursday, only two are eligible from each country for that competition. That means Douglas, the reigning Olympic all-around champion, has been left out for Thursday.But Douglas' performance wasn't wasted, as she qualified for event finals with a third-place finish on uneven bars (15.766)."It's not really a bummer," Douglas said. "I wanted to go out there and defend my title, but it is what it is. I'm still rejoicing. I'm pretty pleased with everything overall because there's nothing to be ashamed about." U.S. women's gymnastics team is ready to rule RioIn fact, all of Team USA qualified for the event finals, which will begin Sunday. Kocian had the highest score on bars (15.866), while Hernandez (15.366) was second on beam. Raisman, who took home gold in the London Games in 2012 on floor, was second in the event on Sunday with a 15.275."I think everyone out there, we all performed how we trained, and that's all very special -- something we have to keep for team finals and any event finals that we qualified for," Biles said.But on Tuesday afternoon, the focus is squarely on the team final. And the five will have to deliver again.Follow Jill Martin on Twitter | 5sport
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New York (CNN Business)A version of this article first appeared in the "Reliable Sources" newsletter. You can sign up for free right here.Disney versus Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is far from over. And Disney is the state's largest private-sector employer, so this is a battle between giants -- one that DeSantis clearly welcomes as he plots a run for president.At issue: Florida's Parental Rights in Education bill, dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill, that would ban classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity before fourth grade. Disney CEO Bob Chapek tiptoed around the bill at first, was pilloried by employees, and then publicly criticized the bill after it passed the state's legislature. Chapek apologized to LGBTQ employees, but his words did little to lower the temperature. Some employees staged brief walkouts last week, ahead of a "full day walkout" slated to take place on Tuesday.How many will participate? No one knows. "It's unclear whether it will draw a crowd" among studios employees, CNBC's Julia Boorstin wrote, "as only a fraction of employees have been coming in to work on the lot."But the earlier walkouts garnered a lot of attention, and "the act of protest will culminate" on Tuesday, as The AP's Mike Schneider put it. Three new stories have outstanding insight into this issue...Read MoreChapek's decision backfiredThe WSJ's Robbie Whelan, Erich Schwartzel and Joe Flint nailed it with this lead:"Chapek made a decision at the start of the year: Disney was staying out of politics. The strategy was meant in part to help the entertainment giant avoid the culture clashes between executives and employees that have plagued many companies in recent years, said people familiar with his thinking. Instead, it backfired."Chapek's mishandling of the Florida fight "managed to offend both progressives, who wanted the company to do and say more to fight the bill, and conservatives, who wanted Disney to stay out of the debate and now claim it is bowing to liberal agitators within its ranks.">> Chapek's contract is up for renewal next February, so "several current and former Disney executives described the next 11 months as a critical period for the CEO," the WSJ team added...The view from FloridaCNN's expert in all things Florida politics, Steve Contorno, is out with an excellent new story about how the Disney dispute has further bolstered DeSantis's standing within the GOP. It has also "exposed a widening chasm between the current crop of Republican leaders and the corporations that have traditionally curried favor with the GOP," Contorno wrote...>> Christopher Miles, a Miami-based GOP consultant, told Contorno that watching a Florida governor go after Disney was "not a world I expected to be living in a couple of years ago." But DeSantis, like Donald Trump, has gained popularity by bucking conventional wisdom...Chapek and Iger at oddsIn media insider circles, the weekend's #1 read was Alex Sherman's story for CNBC about the falling out between Chapek and his predecessor Bob Iger. It's a rift that now "looms over Disney's future."In the wake of the Florida debacle, several Disney employees have called Iger "to express their disappointment in Chapek," Sherman reported. But "while public controversies generate headlines, it's likely to be Chapek's internal changes, and how successful they become, that will determine his future as Disney's CEO."One of the key changes is the elevation of Kareem Daniel, who has profit and loss oversight over Disney's media and entertainment businesses. Daniel has "one of the most powerful jobs ever created in media," Sherman wrote. Daniel has not given any interviews since his October 2020 promotion. Read all about the internal intrigue here...Moments of silence on ESPNWe noted on Friday that ESPN announcers Carolyn Peck and Courtney Lyle showed solidarity with fellow employees by going silent for two minutes at the start of the NCAA women's tournament. During Sunday's tournament coverage, they did it again, remaining silent "for about two minutes as the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Miami Hurricanes tipped off," per Analis Bailey of USA Today."Announcers Stephanie White and Pam Ward also observed a moment of silence during Saturday's game in Connecticut," Bailey added. And Elle Duncan mentioned the walkouts on the air on Friday... | 0business
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Story highlightsVijay Singh under scrutiny for alleged use of banned productSingh admits in published interview that he used deer antler sprayPGA Tour officials tell CNN they are reviewing the situation The 49-year-old Fijian skips Phoenix Open due to back injuryFormer World No.1 Vijay Singh says he has been left '"shocked" and "angry" after the revelation that he used a spray which may have contained a banned substance under the PGA TOUR Anti-Doping Policy.The PGA Tour said Wednesday that it was investigating claims that Singh had used a banned drug contained in deer antler spray.The 49-year-old Fijian star told Sports Illustrated that he used the spray "every couple of hours..every day."He is quoted as saying: "I'm looking forward to some change in my body. "It's really hard to feel the difference if you're only doing it for a couple of months." Read: Phoenix Open latest scoresBut the spray is reported to be contain a substance called IGF-1, which is a "natural, anabolic hormone that stimulates muscle growth."JUST WATCHEDDeer antler spray gives athletes an edgeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDeer antler spray gives athletes an edge 01:43JUST WATCHEDHow PEDs affect the bodyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHow PEDs affect the body 02:11JUST WATCHEDWho was Greg Norman's toughest opponent?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWho was Greg Norman's toughest opponent? 02:17JUST WATCHEDGolfer Rory McIlroy signs with NikeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGolfer Rory McIlroy signs with Nike 05:29IGF-1 is banned by several professional sports organizations, including the PGA Tour. StatementIn a statement issued through the PGA Wednesday, Singh said he had no idea that the spray may contain a banned substance."While I have used deer antler spray, at no time was I aware that it may contain a substance that is banned under the PGA Tour Anti-Doping Policy," said the statement."In fact, when I first received the product, I reviewed the list of ingredients and did not see any prohibited substances. "I am absolutely shocked that deer antler spray may contain a banned substance and am angry that I have put myself in this position. "I have been in contact with the PGA Tour and am cooperating fully with their review of this matter. I will not be commenting further at this time." Singh upstages McIlroy and WoodsTwo years ago, 1999 British Open champion Mark Calcavecchia was advised by golf officials to stop using the spray.It is manufactured by an Alabama-based company Sports With Alternatives to Steroids (SWATS), who have links to other major sports in the United States.Deer velvetCNN Senior Managing Editor of Medical News Tim Langmaid says the spray, which is also known as deer velvet, is purportedly used to boost strength and endurance, while it also improves immune system function.JUST WATCHEDBranden Grace on remarkable winsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBranden Grace on remarkable wins 06:41JUST WATCHEDTop golfers' expectations for 2013ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTop golfers' expectations for 2013 01:44JUST WATCHEDGolf course architect ready for Rio?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGolf course architect ready for Rio? 04:45He said: "It contains small amounts of deer IGF-1, or Insulin-like Growth Factor-1, which mediates the level of HGH in the body."It comes from the deer velvet that covers the growing bone and cartilage that develop into deer antlers."It's the IGF-1 that is on WADA's banned substance list. Excessive use in humans can lead to metabolic dysfunction, including glucose intolerance."The spray is derived from deer harvested in New Zealand.The Sports Illustrated article claimed Singh paid $9,000 for the product. A PGA spokesman told CNN that the "matter regarding Mr Singh is pending review" but could not give an indication of how long the investigation would take. "There is no timetable at the moment," he addedThe 49-year-old Singh was scheduled to play in the Phoenix Open in Arizona starting Thursday, but pulled out citing a back injury, the PGA Tour website reported. ControversySingh's illustrious career has in the past been dogged by controversies, not least back in 1985 when he was banned from the Asian Tour over allegations he changed his scorecard to his advantage during a round.He shrugged off that setback to gradually make his mark, first on the European Tour, then over in the United States, where he has campaigned on the PGA Tour since 1993.He has won three majors and was the money list winner in 2003, relegating Tiger Woods to second spot. But the same year, Singh's veiled criticism of women's No.1 Annika Sorenstam for competing against the men in the Colonial tournament led to negative publicity. However, in 2004 Singh took the No.1 spot in the rankings from Woods and won the PGA Championship, his final major.Despite his advancing years, he qualifies for the Champions Tour next month, Singh has continued to compete at the highest level of golf and is regularly in the upper reaches of the leader board in PGA events. | 5sport
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(CNN)The massacre of 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh was felt around the nation and the globe. Here are some of the statements of condolences from world leaders,Pope FrancisPope Francis"I express my closeness to the city of Pittsburgh, in the United States of America, and in particular to the Jewish community, struck yesterday by a terrible attack in the synagogue," the Pope said during his traditional Sunday Angelus address from the window of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican."May the Most High welcome the deceased in his peace, comfort their families and sustain the injured. In reality, we are all wounded by this inhuman act of violence," the Pope said. "May the Lord help us to end the outbreaks of hate that develop in our society, reinforcing a sense of humanity, respect for life, moral and civil values and a holy fear of God, who is Love and Father of all."Read MoreIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Netanyahu issued a video statement, posted to Twitter. "The entire people of Israel grieve with the families of the dead," he said. "We stand together with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh. We stand together with the American people in the face of this horrendous anti-Semitic brutality."I was heartbroken and appalled by the murderous attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue today: pic.twitter.com/NBMO31lMU2β Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) October 27, 2018
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau The hearts of his nation's people are with the Jewish community, Trudeau said."May the families of those murdered be comforted, and may the injured recover quickly and fully," he wrote on Twitter. Canadians' hearts are with the Jewish community in Pittsburgh today, as they endured a horrific anti-Semitic attack while at prayer. May the families of those murdered be comforted, and may the injured recover quickly and fully.β Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 27, 2018
German Chancellor Angela MerkelThe people killed and wounded were victims of "blind anti-Semitic hate," Merkel said. "My sympathies are for the families; I wish for strength + recovery for the victims. We all must stand resolutely against anti-Semitism -- everywhere," she said, according to spokesman Steffen Seibert, who tweeted her comments in German.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres In a statement, Guterres called anti-Semitism "a menace to democratic values and peace.""The Secretary-General calls for a united front -- bringing together authorities at all levels, civil society, religious and community leaders and the public at large -- to roll back the forces of racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and other forms of hatred, bigotry, discrimination and xenophobia gaining strength in many parts of the world," he said.First lady Melania Trump The violence needs to stop and the people of the United States need to unite through God, the first lady said on Twitter."My heart breaks over the news out of #Pittsburgh," she wrote.My heart breaks over the news out of #Pittsburgh. The violence needs to stop. May God bless, guide & unite the United States of America.β Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 27, 2018
Ivanka TrumpThe President's daughter and close adviser said Americans support Jews."America is stronger than the acts of a depraved bigot and anti-semite," she tweeted. "All good Americans stand with the Jewish people to oppose acts of terror and share the horror, disgust & outrage over the massacre in Pittsburgh. We must unite against hated & evil. God bless those affected"America is stronger than the acts of a depraved bigot and anti-semite.All good Americans stand with the Jewish people to oppose acts of terror & share the horror, disgust & outrage over the massacre in Pittsburgh.We must unite against hatred & evil.God bless those affectedβ Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) October 27, 2018
Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to the United NationsThe outgoing ambassador said her heart was breaking."An attack on the most sacred of places is the cruelest and most cowardly act a person can do," she tweeted. "There is and will never be any tolerance for hate."CNN's Melissa Gray and Delia Gallagher contributed to this report. | 3news
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Story highlights Opposition denounces vote, calls for protestsVenezuelans voting for country's governorshipsCaracas, Venezuela (CNN)Venezuela's political opposition denounced the results of Sunday's regional elections, after President Nicolas MΓ‘duro claimed victory.The regional elections held Sunday had 23 gubernatorial seats up for grabs. It was the first major election since July's controversial and deadly vote for a constituent assembly, and is also the country's first contested election since December of 2015.With 95.8% of the votes counted, Venezuela's National Electoral Council said that MΓ‘duro's party was favored in 17 states and the opposition coalition Mesa de la Unidad DemocrΓ‘tica (MUD) in five. The outcome in the remaining state was not yet clear, it said in a statement.MΓ‘duro called Sunday's vote "a success for Venezuela and the revolutionary democracy, for the socialist democracy."But opposition politician Gerardo Blyde early Monday demanded a complete audit on all of Sunday's results.Read MoreBlyde, a campaign coordinator of the opposition coalition MUD, has called for street protests later Monday.Before the vote, government loyalists held all but three governorships, but observers had said there was a chance for the opposition to make gains."If the vote were to be completely free and fair, the (opposition) would likely win between 18 and 21 states," according to a pre-election analysis by the Eurasia Group, a political risk research and consulting firm.Vzlans hit the polls to elect State governors amid chaos on candidates, voting centres.. flier tells u exactly what to cross #ThisIsVzla pic.twitter.com/dDf8LzbIBIβ stefano pozzebon (@StePozzebon) October 15, 2017
In the lead-up to election day, the opposition accused electoral authorities of making the ballots confusing and moving polling locations in opposition strongholds in an effort to boost pro-government candidates. The US State Department condemned Venezuela's National Electoral Council last week, saying its actions call into question "the fairness of the electoral process."The Venezuelan Electoral Council called the US statement an "aggression perpetrated against our sovereignty," and said changes were made for security reasons. My day so far.. #regionales2017 #ThisIsVzla #newToys A post shared by Stefano Pozzebon (@stepozzebon) on Oct 15, 2017 at 7:42am PDT Concerns that the Electoral Council's changes would sow confusion appeared to have come to fruition Sunday, with many voters unsure about where they were supposed to vote. Long, slow-moving lines greeted voters at polling stations. Ludmilla Velez Lascar said she was determined to cast her ballot despite her polling location being changed. "Maybe they don't want my vote," Velez Lascar said. "But we have to vote. We have to elect ... our governors."Last election erupted in violenceVenezuelans headed to the polls Sunday less than three months since the last major vote, when violent clashes erupted between protesters and police, leaving at least six people dead. More than 120 people were killed in months of protest leading up to that vote, the Venezuelan attorney general's office said. Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaA costumed demonstrator in Caracas, Venezuela, protests the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday, August 6. Unrest continued to sweep through the country after a new legislative assembly was inaugurated following a controversial election on July 30. The new assembly has wide-ranging powers and is expected to rewrite the Venezuelan constitution at Maduro's behest. Opposition supporters, who see the vote as a power grab and an erosion of democracy, boycotted and staged demonstrations against the vote.Hide Caption 1 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaSoldiers stop a vehicle and detain its passengers on the Paramacay military base in Valencia, Venezuela, on August 6. According to authorities, two people were killed when an anti-government paramilitary attack was quelled at the base.Hide Caption 2 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaAnti-government activists stand near a flaming barricade in Valencia on August 6.Hide Caption 3 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaA man is arrested in Valencia during clashes between anti-government activists and the National Guard on August 6.Hide Caption 4 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaMembers of the Venezuelan armed forces fly over Valencia in a helicopter while citizens demonstrate in support of a group that staged a paramilitary uprising at the Paramacay military base on August 6.Hide Caption 5 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaVenezuela's Chief Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz, third from left, is surrounded by employees of the General Prosecutor's office as she is barred by security forces from entering her office in Caracas on Saturday, August 5.Hide Caption 6 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaDiosdado Cabello, a member of Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly, holds an image of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez as delegates gather for a group photo following their swearing-in ceremony on Friday, August 4.Hide Caption 7 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaOpposition activists protest against the newly inaugurated National Constituent Assembly on August 4.Hide Caption 8 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaA woman in Caracas attends a vigil Monday, July 31, for anti-government activists who have died in the country's recent unrest. More than 120 people have been killed in Venezuela since early April, according to the attorney general's office.Hide Caption 9 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaOpposition lawmaker Juan Requesens addresses a rally in Caracas on July 31. Two other leading opposition figures, Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio Ledezma, were rounded up from their homes, according to their families.Hide Caption 10 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaMaduro celebrates the results of a national vote on Sunday, July 30. His opponents boycotted the election and demonstrated against it for weeks, saying he orchestrated it to get around the existing National Assembly, which the opposition has controlled since 2015. Maduro has argued that the Constituent Assembly will help bring peace to a polarized country, with all branches of the government falling under the political movement founded by his late mentor and predecessor, Hugo Chavez.Hide Caption 11 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaMembers of Venezuela's national police are caught in an explosion as they ride motorcycles near Altamira Square in Caracas on July 30. Venezuela has seen widespread unrest since March 29, when the Supreme Court dissolved Parliament and transferred all legislative powers to itself. The decision was later reversed, but protests have continued across the country, which is also in the midst of an economic crisis.Hide Caption 12 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaA wounded anti-government demonstrator is helped by medics during clashes with police in Caracas on July 30.Hide Caption 13 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaA demonstrator shouts slogans through a traffic cone during an anti-government protest in Caracas on July 30.Hide Caption 14 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaA protester wounded by a pellet gun receives attention July 30 during a demonstration against the vote for a Constituent Assembly.Hide Caption 15 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaA member of the National Guard fires at protesters during clashes in Caracas on Friday, July 28. Hide Caption 16 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaA demonstrator dressed as Venezuelan independence hero Simon Bolivar is silhouetted against a national flag in Caracas on Monday, July 24.Hide Caption 17 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaVenezuelan police Officer Oscar Perez joins in an anti-government protest in Caracas on Thursday, July 13. Perez allegedly piloted a stolen police helicopter used to attack the Venezuelan Supreme Court with grenades on June 27.Hide Caption 18 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaVenezuelan lawmakers Luis Stefanelli, left, and Jose Regnault appear stunned in a corridor of the National Assembly after a clash with demonstrators in Caracas on Wednesday, July 5. Supporters of Maduro stormed the building and attacked opposition lawmakers, witnesses said. At least seven legislative employees and five lawmakers were injured, according to National Assembly President Julio Borges. Journalists said they were also assaulted.Hide Caption 19 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaNational Guard members clash with deputies of the National Assembly in the Parliament's courtyard in Caracas on Tuesday, June 27.Hide Caption 20 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaA boy runs under a national flag during a June 27 protest in Caracas.Hide Caption 21 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaProtesters tear down a fence at the La Carlota airbase outside Caracas on Friday, June 23. A soldier shot a demonstrator through the fence at the base on the previous day, killing him.Hide Caption 22 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaHide Caption 23 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaProtester David Jose Vallenilla is shot through a fence by a member of the National Guard near a military base in Caracas on Thursday, June 22. Vallenilla later died in the hospital after suffering three gunshot wounds to the chest. Hide Caption 24 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaMaduro holds up a copy of the Venezuelan constitution during a news conference at the presidential palace in Caracas on June 22. Maduro has called for changes to the constitution amid the unrest.Hide Caption 25 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaA protester hides behind a barrier in Caracas on June 22.Hide Caption 26 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaAn opposition activist displays bullet shells during an anti-government demonstration on Monday, June 19.Hide Caption 27 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaPeople flee during a clash between opposition demonstrators and riot police in Caracas on June 19.Hide Caption 28 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaOpposition activists aim projectiles toward riot police during a demonstration on June 19.Hide Caption 29 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaDemonstrators stand in front of a police vehicle on June 19.Hide Caption 30 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaA street in eastern Caracas is painted with the names of people killed during more than two months of protests.Hide Caption 31 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaDuring a "Grandparents' March" in Caracas, a man is blocked by police from reaching the Government Ombudsman's Office on Friday, May 12.Hide Caption 32 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaOpposition activists scuffle with riot police in Caracas on May 12.Hide Caption 33 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaThousands of Venezuelan protesters march on a Caracas highway on Wednesday, May 10.Hide Caption 34 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaOpposition activists clash with riot police in Caracas on Monday, May 8. Hide Caption 35 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaHide Caption 36 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaAn armored National Guard vehicle runs over a protester in Caracas on Wednesday, May 3. The protester, 22-year-old Pedro Michell Yaminne, survived, his mother told CNN. Interior and justice minister Nestor Reverol told reporters that the "lamentable" incident was under investigation. He said that moments before Yaminne was run over, demonstrators hurled a Molotov cocktail at the armored vehicle, opened the side door and "brutally assaulted" the driver.Hide Caption 37 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaA demonstrator catches fire during protests in Caracas on May 3. It happened as protesters clashed with police and the gas tank of a police motorcycle exploded. Other photos from the scene showed the man being attended for burns to his body.Hide Caption 38 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaA demonstrator stands in front of an armored vehicle during protests in Caracas on Wednesday, April 19.Hide Caption 39 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaOpposition leader Henrique Capriles reacts to tear gas during a protest on April 19.Hide Caption 40 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaRiot police clash with demonstrators while tear gas fills the air in Caracas on April 19.Hide Caption 41 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaRescue workers tend to a demonstrator hit by a tear gas canister during anti-government protests on April 19.Hide Caption 42 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaA demonstrator reacts during a march in Caracas on Saturday, April 15.Hide Caption 43 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaA protester suffering from the effects of tear gas is carried away on Thursday, April 13.Hide Caption 44 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaClouds of tear gas spread across a highway in Caracas during clashes on Monday, April 10.Hide Caption 45 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaDemonstrators help a journalist whose leg was injured while covering clashes in Caracas on April 10.Hide Caption 46 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaThousands of demonstrators protest against Maduro in Caracas on Saturday, April 8.Hide Caption 47 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaVenezuelan police line up before clashing with opposition activists on Thursday, April 6.Hide Caption 48 of 49 Photos: Crisis in VenezuelaDemonstrators fight with national police officers in Caracas on Tuesday, April 4.Hide Caption 49 of 49The vote allowed MΓ‘duro to establish a new institution called the Constituent Assembly, which was stacked with his supporters. It replaced the National Assembly, which had been controlled by Maduro's opponents. The new Constituent Assembly gave MΓ‘duro the power to rewrite Venezuela's constitution.In wake of the election, London-based Smartmatic -- which provided the voting technology -- said turnout figures were manipulated.The US Treasury Department called the July election "illegitimate" and slapped new sanctions on Maduro.CNN's Sheena Jones and Susannah Cullinane contributed to this article. | 3news
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Story highlightsCamel racing is one of the oldest traditional sports in the UAE.Debuted in 2015, the 15-mile (24km) marathon is the longest and most arduous races in the country's history. The second annual National Day Camel Marathon took place on December 3.Abu Dhabi (CNN)One hour, eight minutes. That's how long it took Salem Al Hammadi to win Dubai's second annual National Day Camel Marathon. Narrowly passing 10 opponents in the final 6 miles (10km) of the grueling race, Al Hammadi was the first of 100 men on camel back to gallop over the finish line in the sweltering desert heat.Dating back to 7th century, camel racing is one of the oldest sports in the United Arab Emirates and draws tens of thousands of fans and competitors from all over the region each year. The 2016 National Camel Day Marathon kicks off in Dubai. The 15-mile (24km) marathon is the longest and most arduous camel race in the country's history. Read MoreThe race on December 3 marked the country's 45th UAE National Day Celebrations, which showcase traditional Emerati sports, such as camel racing, shooting, falconry and diving.Riding through historyIn the Middle East, camels are man's best friend.For centuries, the creatures have been a prized commodity, reared for their meat and milk, and commonly used as caravans to cart goods across the region's deserts. A racing camel can reach speeds of up of 18 miles per hour (30kmh), making for an action-packed marathon that's not without risks.Al Hammadi, for example, took a tumble earlier in the race, before stealing the lead in the last stretch.Camel races are popular across the region. Pictured here, the district of Kabad, southwest of Kuwait City, held a race in October. A lifelong pursuitNow 23 years old, Al Hammadi has been racing camels since he was 8."(Racing) is something I am very passionate about and plan on continuing to do until my body cannot anymore," he tells CNN.This year marked his second time competing in the marathon -- he came in 3rd against 71 other competitors in 2015. Sevens World Series: How to win 30 million fans in six daysAl Hammadi this month rode the same camel as last year, saying that his connection with this animal was a crucial factor in his success."I made sure not to over-exert her during the first 22.5km," says Al Hammadi. "I know what my camel is made of and I know her endurance, temperament and skill."The times are changingOver the past 50 years, the sport has changed dramatically with the introduction of new technology and commercial sponsors. Though "robot jockeys" -- machines that ride camels -- are prohibited in the actual marathon, it's not uncommon to see trainers operating remote-controlled jockeys from 4x4s in other races. "Back (when I was a young boy), all camel races were done with actual humans, as opposed to robot jockeys," says Al Hammadi.The 'Hollywood' retirement home for horses That's not the only change. As the sport commercialized in recent years, typical purse winnings have increased, too.In the past, racers would compete for simple rewards -- a hat or a handful of dates. Today, modern camel races often fetch prizes to the tune of millions of dirhams. The winner of the National Day Camel Marathon takes home a new car, while second and third place jockeys win Dh70,000 ($19,000) and Dh30,000, respectively. | 5sport
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(CNN)After saying he "shouldn't have played" in his French Open fourth round match due to Covid-like symptoms, tennis star Alexander Zverev has said he's tested negative for the virus.In a story posted on Instagram, the world No.7 screenshotted his negative test as well as saying: "Wanted to update everyone that I have again tested negative for Covid."I wasn't 100% yesterday and will now take a few days to recover. Also wanted to say full credit to Jannik (Sinner) for a great match. Best of luck the rest of the way," added Zverev, referring to the Italian teenager who beat him in four sets on Sunday at Roland Garros.Afterwards, the German told reporters that he played despite feeling sick and having a high fever. He admitted that he "shouldn't have played" because of how he was feeling.READ: 'Wouldn't give to a dog to chew': Tennis players complain about new balls at French OpenRead MoreZverev leans on the net during his match against Pierre-Hugues Herbert at the French Open."I'm completely sick. I can't really breathe, as you can hear by my voice," the 23-year-old told reporters at the post-match press conference."I had fever, you know, as well. Yeah I'm not in the best physical state, I would say. I think that had a little bit of an effect on the match today. I warmed up today; I shouldn't have played."Zverev said that he had a 100.4Β° temperature following his victory over Marco Cecchinato in the third round on Friday.Zverev's case raised questions marks about the French Open's Covid protocols, notably that the German tennis star told Eurosport Germany's 'Matchball Becker' show that he received cold medicine from the tournament doctor between his third and fourth round matches. "The tournament knew it," Zverev said on Monday. The French Open didn't respond immediately to CNN's request for a comment.The US Open runner-up, who was not wearing a mask during the match against Sinner, was inspected during the first set of the match by medical officials and was given nasal spray for which he used on both of his nostrils.Last month, during the trophy presentation at the US Open, Zverev revealed his parents had tested positive for Covid-19 and couldn't be with him during that tournament.Per the French Tennis Federation (FFT), any accredited person showing symptoms including a fever or breathing difficulties, should "report to the stadium infirmaries" for a test in a dedicated room, according to the New York Times.Zverev serves against Sinner.In a statement sent to CNN from the FFT, it confirmed that Zverev "did not consult the tournament doctors before his match."Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videos"Zverev is up to date on his tests, which have all been negative. His last test was on September 29, with results received on September 30. Today he received a reminder for his next test, to be carried out within 5 days of the previous results. He did not consult the tournament doctors before his match."Later on Tuesday, Sinner plays 12-time French Open winner Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals. | 5sport
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Story highlightsIcy comments come in wake of fresh US sanctions over CrimeaRussia hopes for "constructive dialogue" under Trump presidency (CNN)The frosty relationship between the United States and Russia has become even more icy after Moscow said communications between the countries were at the bare minimum."Nearly all levels of our dialogue (with the US) has been frozen," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview Wednesday with Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti."We do not talk to each other. Or we do it to a minimum," he said.What millennials think of Putin's RussiaBut US State Department spokesman John Kirby had a different take, saying in a statement: "Diplomatic engagement with Russia continues across a wide range of issues."Indeed, US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke on the phone this week with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about the situation in Syria, Kirby said.Read MoreSo why the cold words from Moscow? Fresh US sanctions over Crimea Peskov's comments come a day after the United States imposed fresh sanctions on several Russian businessmen and companies. The sanctions were in connection with Russia's occupation of Crimea and the conflict in Ukraine, the US Treasury said in a statement.Russia reacted angrily to the sanctions, with Peskov saying it "seriously harms our bilateral relations." "We can only once again express regret and misunderstanding over this destructive persistence of our US colleagues," he said, adding that Russia "will take adequate measures."Russia annexed Crimea, a territory in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine, in 2014 following tensions with its neighbor.World leaders managed to install a shaky peace deal in 2015. But violence continues in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine, and 2016 has seen an increase in casualties.Syria talks break down It's not just Crimea sparking a war of words between the countries."Are you truly incapable of shame?" Samantha Power, US ambassador to the United Nations, said in a scathing attack on the Syrian regime and its allies -- including Russia -- last week. Russia is the most powerful ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, and has carried out airstrikes in the country since September 2015 to prop up the embattled leader.JUST WATCHED'Are you truly incapable of shame?'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH'Are you truly incapable of shame?' 00:51Power slammed Syria, Russia and Iran for the humanitarian crisis in eastern Aleppo, saying "you bear responsibility for these atrocities." But Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, hit back, accusing Power of acting like "Mother Teresa" despite America's "track record" in the Middle East.Accusations of hacking in US electionThen there are accusations from Washington that the Kremlin was involved in cyberattacks in the US presidential election.JUST WATCHEDObama: I told Putin to cut it out on hackingReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHObama: I told Putin to cut it out on hacking 00:59Those hacks resulted in the public release of thousands of stolen emails, many of which included embarrassing revelations about the Democratic Party and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the party's nominee.Moscow has steadfastly denied meddling in the US election. "We have not seen a single fact, a single proof," Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, told CNN's Christiane Amanpour in an interview.A friendlier relationship under President Trump?Will relations between the countries be warmer under Donald Trump?The President-elect has already indicated he wants a friendlier relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying on the campaign trail: "Wouldn't it be nice if we got together with Russia and knocked the hell out of ISIS?"The good, bad and ugly of warmer US-Russia relationsHowever, former US Ambassador Christopher Hill urged caution, telling CNN: "Trump needs to understand that their (Russia's) interest and their attitude (do) not align with ours."When asked whether relations between the countries could thaw under a Trump presidency, Peskov told CNN: "We don't have rose-tinted spectacles or any illusions that things will change in a second. "But we do hope for constructive dialogue."CNN's Matthew Chance, Alla Eshchenko and Adam Levine contributed to this report. | 3news
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Washington (CNN)Immigrant rights advocates across the United States say they've seen few signs of the ICE raids that Trump administration officials had warned would begin Sunday. But a senior administration official told CNN that parts of the ICE deportation operation began on Saturday and would be expanded into other cities over the coming days. "I wouldn't expect a big splash that matches the hysteria we've heard over the last several days," that official said.President Donald Trump insisted Monday that the raids had started and had been "very successful." A senior immigration official who has seen the operation plans told CNN the list of target cities and individuals remains the same. The official had not received any details about total arrests so far. Officials previously have said ICE agents in 10 cities would be seeking 2,000 undocumented immigrants who'd been ordered removed from the United States.Read MoreICE raids are looming. Panicked immigrants are skipping work, hiding out and bracing for the worstSuch ICE operations are not unprecedented. But it's uncommon for officials to talk about them so extensively before they occur. Some advocates questioned whether the President and his administration had released details about raids simply as a scare tactic. Others cautioned that it's too soon to say. "It's very quiet. Let's hope it stays that way," said Jose Mario Cabrera of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, speaking to CNN Sunday afternoon.Jennaya Dunlap of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice in Ontario, east of Los Angeles, also said she hadn't seen signs of sweeps."The way we see it with all the rumors and hysteria, we're telling the community that ICE is always conducting operations," she said Sunday. "This is nothing new. It's a daily reality for us. "There also haven't been any confirmed reports of migrants being apprehended in Baltimore, Chicago or New York, immigrant advocacy groups and officials in those cities told CNN. "We don't have any information that the ICE raids actually occurred," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told WNYC. "If he does have ICE raids, our law enforcement will not cooperate with them. I don't put it past him to actually deport people to make a political point, which would be reprehensible, but I wouldn't put it past him. But we see no evidence of it thus far." Trump insists 'many were taken out on Sunday'President Trump said Monday that planned immigration raids had begun over the weekend and resulted in the capture of many undocumented immigrants."People came into our country illegally," Trump said at the White House. "Many were felons. Many were convicted of crimes. Many, many were taken out on Sunday. You just didn't know about it."Without providing any details about the number of arrests that occurred, Trump insisted that the raids were successful. He said he'd spoken to the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and that it was a "very successful day.""But you didn't see a lot of it," Trump said. "I'm not sure they should be telling you, but it was a lot." Officials have said raid are slated for Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and San Francisco. New Orleans is also on the list, but the city tweeted last week that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it would suspend operations through the weekend in areas hit by Tropical Storm Barry, which weakened to a tropical depression Sunday.Acting US Citizenship and Immigration Services chief says he does not know details of ICE raidsWhat to know about the planned ICE raidsBecause these are targeted operations, there wouldn't be large numbers of agents visible, the senior immigration official said. The operations plan allowed apprehensions only between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., the official said.ICE officials told CNN the agency would not release specific details about operations "due to law-enforcement sensitivities and the safety and security of U.S. Immigrant and Customs Enforcement personnel.""As always, ICE prioritizes the arrest and removal of unlawfully present aliens who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security," the official said, while also noting that anyone who's violated immigration laws may be subject to arrest, detention and possible deportation.ICE personnel have encountered one problem since the operation began, the senior administration official said: Potential targets of raids were not home when agents arrived. Those people may have relocated temporarily, the official said, as a result of the media coverage of the operation before it began -- including comments from President Donald Trump, who said the raids would start on Sunday.Fear spreads in immigrant communitiesKen Cuccinelli, acting director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services, told CNN Monday that he didn't know how many people had been arrested in this operation because the acting director of ICE hadn't told him.Asked why he didn't have details, Cuccinelli said, "presumably because operational details are kept contained within the agency executing the operation, as they should be."JUST WATCHEDCuccinelli: Coverage of raids shows how far we've fallenReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCuccinelli: Coverage of raids shows how far we've fallen 02:57On Sunday Cuccinelli characterized the raids as normal ICE business and pointed to statistics showing ICE has deported fewer people under President Trump than it did under President Barack Obama. "This is their job every day. We've got compassionate, loyal ICE agents who are just doing their job," he said. "It shows you how far we've fallen in that it's become news that they would actually go deport people who have removal orders."Word of the planned raids has sent fear rippling through immigrant communities.Across the United States, advocacy groups have been canvassing neighborhoods, handing out fliers telling people what to do if ICE agents show up at their door. Advocates told CNN they're not letting down their guard."I'm worried they may conduct sweeps Monday or Tuesday," Cabrera said. "They may not. But lying to us could be part of the game."New York's Legal Aid Society said they were thankful the ICE raids so far had been unsuccessful."However, we remain on high alert as we know that this administration will stop at nothing to carry out their xenophobic deportation agenda," the society said in a statement Monday.Alejandra Lopez of the Legal Aid Society told CNN's Polo Sandoval that calls have been streaming in to the society's immigration helpline.The majority of them, she said, came from frightened children who are US citizens and were trying to help their immigrant parents prepare for the raids.CNN's Kevin Liptak, Eliott C. McLaughlin, Paul Vercammen, Rosa Flores, Devan Cole, Monica Haider, Polo Sandoval, Priscilla Alvarez, Kevin Liptak, Taylor Romine and Jake Tapper contributed to this report. | 4politics
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Melbourne, Australia (CNN)Serena Williams' hunt for a 24th grand slam title goes on.After being defeated by Naomi Osaka in the US Open final when Williams called chair umpire Carlos Ramos a "thief" and accused him of sexism, Williams departed the Australian Open at the quarterfinal stage in dramatic circumstances. READ: Osaka wins US OpenREAD: Nadal through to semisThere was no umpire controversy this time, rather a left ankle injury to Williams that surely contributed to squandering a massive 5-1 advantage and four match points to Karolina Pliskova -- even if the 37-year-old played down the problem and its effect on the outcome. Read More"I don't think it had anything to do with my ankle per se," said Williams. "I just think she was just nailing and hitting shots. Obviously I made some mistakes but she played really well after that." The Czech, who also beat Williams at the 2016 US Open, prevailed 6-4 4-6 7-5 in a shade past two hours in Melbourne. Serena Williams lost to Karolina Pliskova in the Australian Open quarterfinals. Williams will thus have to wait for that record-tying 24th grand slam title and rematch with Osaka, who earlier swept past WTA Finals champion Elina Svitolina 6-4 6-1 in much more straightforward fashion. Williams' last title success at a major came in Melbourne in 2017 while pregnant. Former world No. 1 Pliskova might believe destiny is on her side following the proceedings at Rod Laver Arena. If she does land a maiden major, she would follow in the footsteps of the likes of Caroline Wozniacki, Angelique Kerber and Li Na here. They all lifted the trophy Down Under having saved match points along the way. A double-digit grand slam winner in the men's game, Novak Djokovic, didn't have nearly as much drama in his quarterfinal. The 15-time major winner advanced in under an hour when Kei Nishikori retired trailing 6-1 4-1 with a thigh injury. The 2014 US Open finalist paid the price for playing three five-setters, including going five hours in the fourth round against Pablo Carreno Busta. Djokovic meets 28th seed Lucas Pouille on Friday. France's Pouille upset Milos Raonic 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 to reach his first grand slam semifinal. Rafael Nadal, who owns 17 majors, battles 'Next Gen' star Stefanos Tsitsipas on Thursday in the other semifinal. Momentum changerNot for the first time, Williams, 37, rallied from a set and break deficit at a grand slam to put herself in a winning, seemingly impregnable position. But serving at 5-1, 40-30, Williams turned her left ankle on her first match point while changing direction. She double faulted on the next point, part of a stretch where she didn't claim another point on serve in the set, losing 10 in a row. Williams, though, never called for the trainer. "I like to just tough it out," said Williams.She, however, had three more match points at 5-4. On one, the trajectory of a Pliskova second serve initially threatened a double fault but looped in to the world No. 8's relief. When Williams struck a forehand into the net on her foe's third match point, a jubilant and probably disbelieving Pliskova officially advanced. Comebacks like the one she engineered against Williams are unheard of. "I think it's ... the best comeback, so far, in my life," Pliskova said. Williams had looked sharp throughout this fortnight, too, breezing through three rounds prior to beating current world No. 1 Simona Halep in a high-quality, three-set tussle Monday. Losing in the last eight at a major is exceedingly rare for her -- she had been 14-1 at this stage in her last 15 grand slam appearances. Rare quarterfinal lossBut her last loss came here in Melbourne in 2013, ousted that day as injuries also played a part against Sloane Stephens. Visit cnn.com/sport for more news and videos"Obviously when you go over your ankle, it's not the best thing that can happen during a match," Pliskova's coach, former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, told CNN."It was unfortunate for Serena and I think she was actually thinking of her foot. I saw she had tape on both her ankles so, yeah, but this is tennis," added the Spaniard, referring to the tape Williams opted for before the outing. "Karolina also woke up with a sore knee today, something new, so you gotta go through the pain and stay in the match ... and yeah. It can happen to everybody." Overall it was Williams' earliest departure at a grand slam -- not including a withdrawal -- since a third-round showing at Wimbledon in 2014. Returning to action last year after giving birth to daughter Alexis Olympia in September 2017, Williams impressively made finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, falling to Angelique Kerber and Osaka, respectively. "From day one I expect to go out and quite frankly, to win," said Williams. "That hasn't happened. But I do like my attitude. I like that I don't want to go out here and say, 'I expect to lose' because I had a year off. "I don't have that attitude." JUST WATCHEDSerena Williams beats sister Venus for second Wimbledon titleReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSerena Williams beats sister Venus for second Wimbledon title 00:43Her motivation is "absolutely" still there, she added. When Williams and Osaka met in the final in New York in September, it turned out to be one of the most memorable grand slam finals in recent history.READ: Osaka wins US OpenAnd not for the forehands and backhands on display, of course. The controversy overshadowed Osaka's terrific play, but the Japanese star has admirably kept it going. The 21-year-old became the first female player since Kim Clijsters in 2006 to reach a grand slam semifinal after winning her maiden major at the previous grand slam. Pliskova to kick on?Is Pliskova on course for a maiden major herself? The 26-year-old is ever dangerous and some might say has underachieved at grand slams given her massive game. Like Williams, her sister plays tennis, in this case twin sister Krystyna. Perennially one of the biggest servers in tennis, Pliskova found all her serving spots in the early going. Williams didn't manufacture a break point until the second set, by which time Pliskova grabbed a set lead. That didn't bode well for Williams, since she was 2-6 on her comeback when losing the first set. Naomi Osaka was all smiles at the Australian Open after reaching the semifinals. Close to pulling off the upset at 3-2 in the second -- yes an upset, no matter what the current rankings suggest -- Pliskova blinked and was broken to love for 3-3. "Al little chance and Serena is gonna take it," said Martinez. "Karolina didn't serve as good that game, then she got a bit more passive so things got complicated, very, very complicated. But what we saw after the 5-1 is unbelievable."Williams had the momentum and pounced in the final game of the set, breaking after Pliskova led 40-15. In that game, Pliskova failed to take any of her five game points. Follow @cnnsport
β¨A break in the fourth game of the third seemingly set Williams on her way prior to the incredible proceedings on that first match point. "I saw a chance and I just took it," said Pliskova. A simple statement in a topsy-turvy quarterfinal. | 5sport
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Story highlightsFederer missed last year's clay swing to focus on Wimbledon Back to No. 1, the Swiss star is playing some of his best tennis"King of Clay Rafael Nadal is currently injured Federer won his lone French Open title in 2009 (CNN)With the clay-court season only three weeks away, tennis fans are asking: Will Roger Federer play the French Open? Federer plans on deciding after the Miami Open, which ends on April 1, and the men's record 20-time grand slam winner says that his choice won't be based on the state of the two biggest rivals in his career, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. READ: Federer wins No. 20The "King of Clay" with 10 French Open titles, Nadal is currently nursing his latest injury, a hip issue, while Djokovic is finding the road back from an elbow complaint difficult. The 12-time grand slam champion was upset in his Indian Wells opener this week by Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel. "If I play the clay or not does not depend on Rafa or Novak or if they play or they don't play," Federer told reporters in Indian Wells, where he beat Jeremy Chardy 7-5 6-4 on Wednesday to remain unbeaten in 2018 and move closer to defending his title in the California desert.Read More"It really depends on what do I want to do, how do I keep myself injury free, how do I keep the fire burning, what is my head telling to myself? "What am I in the mood to do, basically? It's pretty simple." Photos: Federer conquers Roland Garros 2009 Roger Federer celebrates after he completed his grand slam collection by winning the French Open in 2009. Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: Federer conquers Roland Garros 2009 Federer didn't have to beat clay giant Rafael Nadal (right) that fortnight, as the Spaniard lost to Robin Soderling in the fourth round. Hide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: Federer conquers Roland Garros 2009 Soderling handed Nadal his first ever defeat at the French Open after the Mallorcan's titles in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: Federer conquers Roland Garros 2009 The next day Federer felt the pressure -- his big rival was gone and now he was the favorite -- and almost lost to friend Tommy Haas. Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: Federer conquers Roland Garros 2009 Federer escaped, rallying from two sets down to defeat the German in five sets. He was relieved. Hide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: Federer conquers Roland Garros 2009 But his five-set battles didn't end there. He also beat Juan Martin del Potro in five sets, before the Argentine suffered all his wrist injuries. Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: Federer conquers Roland Garros 2009 Federer was now one win away from grabbing that first French Open crown and faced ...Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: Federer conquers Roland Garros 2009 Soderling in the finale. Federer swept through the first set and once he won the second in a tiebreak, the Swiss wouldn't be denied. Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: Federer conquers Roland Garros 2009 After losing to Nadal at the French Open the previous four seasons, he was the last man standing on the red clay at Roland Garros. Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: Federer conquers Roland Garros 2009 Federer got his hands on the famous Coupe des Mousquetaires. Hide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: Federer conquers Roland Garros 2009 Federer said he would reveal his 2018 clay-court plans after the Miami Open and following his loss Saturday to Thanasi Kokkinakis, said he wouldn't compete at Roland Garros. Hide Caption 11 of 11Federer has always been meticulous in his scheduling and things worked out perfectly for him last year when he returned from a knee injury that blighted his 2016 campaign. He opted to skip the clay-court swing to prepare for Wimbledon -- and won at the All England Club without surrendering a set. It was likely easier for Federer to bypass the clay back then because he was in the infancy of his comeback. However, after he gave the French Open a miss last year, Federer's longtime coach and friend Severin LΓΌthi told The New York Times: "I'm very confident that Roger will play the French Open again."Madrid on the cards? If Federer avoids the dirt again it would undoubtedly aid his 36-year-old body and boost his chances of a repeat success at Wimbledon. He has already said he won't play in Monte Carlo next month, so that would leave Madrid and Rome in May as targets if he is to realistically feature at Roland Garros, which is the second grand slam of the season.And given his dominant form, Federer must be tempted. JUST WATCHED Federer as you've never heard him before ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH Federer as you've never heard him before 02:11He returned to No. 1 in February after a five-year absence -- becoming the oldest No. 1 -- and has defeated Nadal five straight times after the Spaniard had routinely won their duels. None of those victories were on clay but this season indeed could mark Federer's greatest opportunity of topping Nadal at the French Open -- something he has never done -- including if the Mallorcan is 100% fit. "If he plays, he'd be one of (Nadal's) biggest rivals," Nadal's uncle and traveling coach through last season, Toni, told a group of reporters at a conference in Murcia, Spain on Thursday. Federer is 0-5 against Nadal on the Parisian clay, suffering one of his worst ever defeats in the 2008 final when he claimed just four games. Nadal meanwhile has toppled Federer at the grand slam the latter is most associated with, Wimbledon, a month later in 2008 in what many consider the greatest tennis match of all time. JUST WATCHEDFederer on rivalry with king of clay Rafael Nadal ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFederer on rivalry with king of clay Rafael Nadal 03:55When Federer captured his lone French Open crown in 2009, he didn't have to go through Nadal. He beat Robin Soderling in the final after the Swede engineered one of tennis' biggest ever shocks by ousting Nadal in the round of 16. "Sure I'd love to play Rafa on clay, best of five set match, don't get me wrong," said Federer. "I'd like to see what would happen now. "But there is absolutely no guarantee that I would have a better chance now than before. I still think he's the guy to beat on clay and he forever will be maybe the greatest player of all time on clay, hands down." 'I am a clay-court player' If Nadal wasn't in his way, where would Federer be on that list? Somewhere near the top. As it stands he holds the 14th best winning percentage of men's players on clay according to the ATP -- after losing his first 11 top-level matches on the surface. Nadal of course leads the way. Had a nice day at the office with no βοΈ and all β pic.twitter.com/8puTjgh377β Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) March 13, 2018
Despite his more recognized success on grass and hard courts, Federer grew up on clay. "I am a clay-court player, essentially," he said after his Match for Africa charity outing in San Jose in early March. "I played even indoors on clay, that was my court in the winter."I was enjoying playing on clay. At the beginning on the tour it was hard because I lost my first 11 and then at the French Open it took time to win and then people thought, 'He doesn't like clay.'"Maybe because on the other (surfaces) results came easier and faster."Over time, because you have more success on hard, grass, indoors, you also start to make your schedule a little bit more around that."READ: Venus cuts short Serena's comebackVisit our tennis page for more tennis storiesBut he added: "I am really happy with my clay-court career."Tennis fans would be happy to see Federer at the French Open, which starts May 27. | 5sport
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(CNN)The 2020 Masters will take place on November 9-15 without patrons or guests in attendance because of the coronavirus pandemic. Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, announced the decision on Wednesday, and called hosting the major without fans "deeply disappointing.""Since our initial announcement to postpone the 2020 Masters, we have remained committed to a rescheduled Tournament in November while continually examining how best to host a global sporting event amid this pandemic," Riley said in a statement. PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa 'wants more' glory after debut major victory"As we have considered the issues facing us, the health and safety of everyone associated with the Masters always has been our first and most important priority."Throughout this process, we have consulted with health officials and a variety of subject matter experts. Ultimately, we determined that the potential risks of welcoming patrons and guests to our grounds in November are simply too significant to overcome.Read More"Even in the current circumstances, staging the Masters without patrons is deeply disappointing. The guests who come to Augusta each spring from around the world are a key component to making the Tournament so special. Augusta National has the responsibility, however, to understand and accept the challenges associated with this virus and take the necessary precautions to conduct all aspects of the Tournament in a safe manner."READ: The golfer who drove over 4,000 miles across the US to play in tournamentsTiger Woods celebrates after winning the 2019 Masters. Fans possessing coveted 2020 tickets will be guaranteed tickets to next year's event. The tournament is planning a return to its traditional April spot in the golf calendar come 2021.The 2020 Masters will be the third major of the year to be held without fans on the course. The PGA Championship took place last week in San Francisco with just a handful of stewards and media personnel joining the players and their caddies. US golfer Collin Morikawa claimed his first major victory at TPC Harding Park.The US Open -- which was postponed from June 18-21 to September 17-20 -- will also be held, at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York, without fans, the USGA announced last month. David Close contributed to this report. | 5sport
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(CNN)For eight long years, Juventus has dominated Serie A without much of a challenge from those below it.This season, however, Italy's top three coaches will lock horns in what has the potential to be one of the most exciting title races in almost a decade.Inter Milan, AC Milan and eight-time defending champion Juve have all changed manager since the end of last season and a flurry of transfer activity sees all three enter the new campaign with revamped squads.Maurizio Sarri returns to Serie A after a one-year stint at Chelsea with the task of leading Juventus to domestic and European glory, while Antonio Conte arrives at an exciting, new-look Inter with genuine belief he can challenge for the Scudetto.The pair could be joined in a thrilling title race by Carlo Ancelotti, who is now in his second season with Napoli and looking to close the 11-point gap between his side and Juve last season.Read More"It's become a little bit boring in Serie A over the last few seasons," Italian football expert Mina Rzouki told CNN Sport. "So having these three Italian coaches back in the Italian league I think is going to make it a lot more interesting."You just feel like nobody can really get close to Juventus but for the first time ever, when you mention these names and you know that Carlo Ancelotti has a great squad and you know his name alone inspires fear; you know Antonio Conte is back and he's with the biggest rival that Juventus have."JUST WATCHEDJuventus: Season preview 2019/20ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHJuventus: Season preview 2019/20 04:17READ: Maurizio Sarri diagnosed with pneumonia, in doubt for season openerREAD: Angolan teenager humbles star-studded PSGSarri-ballThe Old Lady, bolstered by the addition of $84 million signing Matthijs de Ligt and the arrival of free transfers Adrien Rabiot and Aaron Ramsey, rightly go into this season as heavy favorite to retain its crown and win a record-extending ninth Serie A title.Massimiliano Allegri's departure after five years in charge as head coach paved the way for Sarri's return to Italy following his one season in England with Chelsea.Sarri's favored style of play -- known as Sarri-ball -- thrilled viewers across Europe in his final season at Napoli, as the Italian narrowly missed out on leading his hometown club to a first Serie A title since 1990.Allegri, conversely, employed a more conservative and pragmatic style and Sarri's main task will be trying to convert a squad that has known nothing else for the past four seasons."I spent time with Juventus in pre-season and one of the things that Sarri said is that this team has been coached one way for four years and reeducating them, getting them to change, is going to take some time," journalist James Horncastle told CNN."It is an interesting fit because you had players in the Premier League (at Chelsea) who like to carry the ball, they like to dribble with the ball and that is something Cristiano Ronaldo does."So when it comes to opening teams up with this quick Sarri-ball combination play, there are some players in the team that I think are not conducive to that -- and one is the biggest star of the team in Cristiano Ronaldo."Cristiano Ronaldo is aiming to win the Champions League in his next two seasons at Juve.READ: Cristiano Ronaldo back in the headlines -- without kicking a ballREAD: Mohamed Salah warns opponents VAR will win him more penaltiesChampions League or bust?Given its total domestic dominance, Juventus' obsession -- indeed, the reason it signed Ronaldo -- has become winning the Champions League.The Portuguese himself said he believes this team can win the European Cup within the next two seasons and, at 34 years of age, the clock is ticking for Ronaldo to add to his haul of five.But few clubs know Champions League heartbreak like Juventus.Since last winning the competition in 1996, the Bianconeri went on to lose two consecutive Champions League finals and its luck hasn't changed in the intervening two decades, losing three further finals (2003, 2015, 2017) to reach an unwanted tally of five consecutive final defeats."This team in some respects does have a short window in order to deliver," Horncastle said. "They've signed Ronaldo to deliver the Champions League; Ronaldo is not enough on his own to win the Champions League."We saw that last year, he did it in both legs against Ajax -- it wasn't enough even with him turning up. I think, ultimately, this is why they've taken a punt on Sarri."If the new coach, who ahead of the new season's start was laid low by pneumonia, can quickly implement Sarri-ball and get this team purring like his Napoli of old, this new-look squad could be Juve's most exciting yet.Cristiano Ronaldo is looking to add to his tally of five Champions League titles.But should Juve take its eye off the ball domestically, the new and improved sides will be ready to take advantage."I don't think (Juve) will dominate quite like last year because I think the competition has got better," Horncastle says of the Bianconeri's Serie A opponents. "And there are some question marks about the new manager."In that, is he a good fit for Juventus? They're trying to do something very different with a manager who is very different from ones they've had in the past."But it's a very ambitious appointment and if he can implement that style of play with this group of Juventus players, it could be the best Juventus we've ever seen."Pretenders to the throneInter Milan is arguably best placed to steal Juventus' crown this season and not solely down to the signings it has made on the pitch.Conte returns to his domestic league for the first time since leaving Juve in 2014 for a two-year stint as head coach of the Italian national team.The 50-year-old, who won the Premier League and FA Cup in two seasons at Chelsea, is in charge of an exciting new crop of youngsters headed up by the experienced arrivals of Uruguayan defender Diego Godin and Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku."With Antonio Conte at the helm of Inter, he will stop at nothing to win the Scudetto and put Inter back where he feels they rightly belong," Horncastle said."Conte, for me, is one of, if not the biggest signing that the league has had, be it a coach or player, this season. I think Inter will be a formidable opponent for Juventus this year and it will go very close."Could Antonio Conte's Inter dethrone Juventus at the top of Serie A?Already in the mix from recent seasons is Napoli, whose settled squad could be ready to mount another title challenge after finishing 11 points back in second last term during Ancelotti's first, transitional season in charge."I think one of the reasons those guys have come back is because Serie A has an appeal again that it has lost," Horncastle said. "I think they, particularly Conte, want to win and if he doesn't believe he can assemble a winning team, then he's not interested."More Milan misery?Meanwhile, AC Milan has recently appointed its sixth manager since 2014 after failing to qualify for the Champions League for the fifth consecutive season.Former player Gennaro Gattuso was the latest coach to walk out of Milan's revolving managerial door and was replaced by Marco Giampaolo following his good work with Sampdoria."Milan has been somewhat of an enigma over the last few seasons," football journalist Mina Rzouki told CNN Sport. "And this is going to be the task that Giampaolo has, to instill something into this new team that has been regenerated once again."Having them play beautiful and progressive football -- which is what the style is at Milan and we always know they are a glamorous team, they're not the hardworking Juve but they're the beautiful Milan -- and when you have coaches such an Ancelotti and Conte, I'm not entirely sure he can compete with them."However, without the appeal of Champions League football, Milan has been forced to approach the transfer market from a different angle to its rivals.Marco Giampaolo in his last home match as Sampdoria manager.An influx of exciting young talent, headlined by striker Rafael LeΓ£o and Real Madrid defender Theo Hernandez, provides an ideal template for Giampaolo to work with."This has the potential to be quite exciting," Horncastle said. "One of the reasons why Milan has signed Giampaolo is not only because his teams play really good football, they're great to watch and they do well against the big teams, but also for a team club that doesn't own its own stadiu and isn't getting into the Champions League -- how to you make money?"You make money by signing young players who you develop and then sell on in some cases. Giampaolo has been fantastic at that."Among those talented youngsters to be sold during his time in charge at Sampdoria were Milan Ε kriniar, Lucas Torreira, Bruno Fernandes and Patrik Schick.Two seasons ago, when Napoli pushed Juventus to the penultimate match of the campaign and led the league table for long periods, it looked as though the Turin club's era of dominance was coming to an end.However, last year's title procession reaffirmed that the best of the rest were still light years behind Italy's powerhouse.This season, though, that could be about to change. | 5sport
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Story highlightsSince 2009, London's O2 Arena has hosted the ATP World Tour FinalsThe event is played out between world's top-ranked male singles and doubles starsThe O2 is predominantly a music venue, playing host to artists like RihannaThe O2 Arena's deal to host season-ending event runs until 2013For most of the year London's O2 Arena, located on the south bank of the famous River Thames, plays host to the world's biggest music acts. But since 2009, the venue has also spent one week in November staging tennis' season-ending showpiece -- the ATP World Tour Finals.The event pits the world's top eight male tennis players and doubles pairings against each other in a round-robin contest, with an unbeaten winner pocketing a check for $1.63 million.But before the elite of the game can do battle on the court, the O2 must be transformed from a concert venue to a world-class tennis facility. That's where World Tour Finals tournament director Chris Kermode and his team come in.Can Federer make World Tour Finals history?"The build time that we have is very short," Kermode told CNN. "Rihanna was here on Tuesday night until midnight and we moved in at 1am in the morning on Wednesday. JUST WATCHEDMilos Raonic talks tennis ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMilos Raonic talks tennis 02:12"We had two days to turn the O2 Arena from probably the greatest music venue in the world into the greatest sporting venue in the world."The electric blue court, neon digital displays and dazzling lights give the 17,500 fans packed into the O2 an experience which is poles apart from the regal aura which surrounds the grass courts of Wimbledon -- located just 10 miles away."The O2 is pretty much a music venue," explains Kermode. "Laying the court might sound quite basic but it's actually quite time consuming. "We stage it in a very different way. So there's big screens, there's light shows, lots of digital boarding around the court. "We build a 7,000 square meter fanzone, we also build a sponsors village with a practice court in the middle. So there's a lot to do in a very short space of time."The work done transforming the O2 is certainly appreciated by the fans who flock to the week-long tournament. The 2010 event saw over 250,000 spectators come to see the action across the seven days of competition.Tennis fan Thav Phouthavong was taking in the action on Thursday and was struck by the transformation the venue had undergone."It's my first time here at the O2 (watching tennis) but I've been to music gigs here," he said. "It's completely transformed with the tennis memorabilia, practice courts and fan zones. Normally it's an empty space."Spanish spectator Luis Rodriguez was also impressed with the arena, saying it surpassed previous tennis experiences in his homeland."It's my first time here," he said. "I've been to the Barcelona tournament before, I prefer this. The size of the O2 is a lot bigger and better. They've got restaurants, it's really spacious and there's a lot more to do."Prior to the event moving to London in 2009, Shanghai served as the location for what was then called the Tennis Masters Cup. Kermode explained how the timing was perfect for the O2 to take on the mantle from the Chinese city."The chairman of the ATP was looking where to take it from Shanghai and decided bringing it to the UK, and London, was a good move. The O2 was just about to be opened; it was a perfect synergy to match the two together."In addition to giving tennis a futuristic face-lift, Kermode also believes hosting the World Tour Finals at a venue such as the O2 opens the sport up to a wider audience."Where the O2 has been so successful is the acts that they've had over the years has made this venue a destination venue in it's own right," he said of the arena which has been converted from the Millennium Dome attraction. "So what we've managed to create here is almost attracting a new audience to tennis that historically maybe couldn't get tickets to Queens and Wimbledon. People who had maybe never seen live tennis before. So we've got the core tennis fans and we've got sporting fans who are seeing the game for the first time."Neil Harman is the tennis correspondent for British newspaper The Times. He is full of praise for the show put on by the O2, saying the way in which tennis has flourished at the arena is reminiscent of when the finals were played at New York's Madison Square Garden between 1977 and 1989."To my mind it's a very natural venue for tennis, much like Madison Square Garden was in terms of an indoor venue," said Harman. "The way it's set up, the way the tennis court itself is spot-lighted ... There are certain places you feel tennis was made for and I think this is definitely one of them."Harman is also convinced the event is creating new fans for the sport, with tickets more obtainable than they are for one of the tennis' four grand slams."Very few people get to go to Wimbledon. Here, there's more of a sense of the general population getting in and being able to feel the pulse of the sport."To get that close to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal is something special. The whole thing is designed to draw people into the sport and I think that's what we need to do."It's not a surprise to me that places like Madison Square Garden, like the O2, although they are ostensibly concert venues, with a bit of imagination, a bit of thought and a bit of foresight, can be transformed into great sporting venues."The O2's deal to host the World Tour Finals expires in 2013, with the ATP yet to make a decision on where the event will move onto next.Wherever the tournament ends up, Harman believes the O2 Arena has raised the bar and helped increase tennis' global profile."It's setting a benchmark; the next venue has got to step up. When it moves from here, and I'm sure it will because the message of tennis has to be global, it's going to be a very tough act to follow."Everywhere across the world we have to portray the message that tennis is a superb sport to come and watch, but very few do it as well as this." | 5sport
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(CNN)It is a very bad idea -- for all concerned.Yet the drumbeat towards another war in Ukraine is amplifying itself, taking on a life of its own, in a huge, high-risk maneuver by either the Biden administration or Moscow, or both."I really don't know where this all came from," is a phrase I have heard Western officials sigh multiple times over the past months. Yes, Russia's military is on the move, and massing in perhaps larger numbers than in the other years when we have seen similar posturing. Yes, a source familiar with the intelligence tells me there are indications that Russian officials are not just theorizing about an invasion but are actually working out how they might enact one, if ordered to do so.Read MoreBut some of their positions are more than a hundred miles from Ukraine's border. And the reasons why Russia really wouldn't want to occupy any more of its neighbor's territory are the same as they have ever been.Tensions are high on Ukraine's border with Russia. Here's what you need to knowFirstly, this would not be the invasion of Ukraine, but the re-invasion. Ukraine has already been invaded twice, even if Moscow pretended that the "little green men" who took Crimea weren't theirs, and that the "concerned locals" who swarmed Donbas had purchased all their armored personnel carriers in army surplus stores. Part of Russia's problem is that these were incomplete moves, carried out quickly and without a full plan for the future. Renewed Russian action could finish what they left undone and bring longer term benefits to Moscow. But their incompleteness is also a daily reminder that such conflicts are full of unknown unknowns which disrupt plans.De facto invasionRussia's critics and admirers alike are bound by a rare unity when they see the Kremlin's every action as purposeful, and guileful. But that is rarely the case. After it barged into Crimea in 2014, Moscow was left without a land corridor linking the peninsula to the Russian motherland, and only finished in 2018 a thin bridge across the Kerch Strait for utilities and supplies. Its de facto invasion of Donbas ended in 2015, yet Russia still props up a chaotic and messy separatist movement there. This rump of mercenaries and outliers come at a cost, with little benefit; Moscow is unlikely to profit from the area, since it is not the industrial heartland it once was.The arguments that the Kremlin needs a land bridge to Crimea and a more certain status for Donbas are often central to explanations for why it may invade Ukraine a third time in eight years. But most military options would come at extraordinary cost.Putin presents a profound threat to peace in Europe as 'drumbeat of war' sounds on Russia-Ukraine borderAt its most minor, Russian action could involve "normalizing" the country's grip on the Donbas region by sending in Russian troops to lock down their control of the area, or even to slightly widen its buffer zone against the rest of Ukraine. There could be benefits from that, but it would likely trigger costly sanctions and formalize Moscow's expensive position as the battered region's sponsor.Other analysts suggest that a narrow land corridor along the Azov Sea, through the city of Mariupol, would reduce the cost of maintaining energy and water supplies to Crimea, and could be easily achieved through an amphibious landing on the Azov Sea coast. Yet a thin strip of land running along the shoreline would be hard to defend and less profitable as a commercial supply route if it was constantly at risk of attack from Ukrainian forces.The next option passed around the cottage industry of Ukraine war-gaming is a wider invasion. Under this scenario, Russia might push all the way up to the Dnieper River, taking Kharkiv, Poltava and even breathing down the neck of the capital Kyiv. But this is where the theorizing gets a bit silly. I heard one reputable analyst speculate about the invasion of all of Ukraine. ALL of it. A country slightly larger than France, from Luhansk in the East to Lviv in the West. That's more than a 16-hour drive for one of Russia's newest tanks -- running flat out, at its highest known speed -- with nobody in its way, and no stops to refuel.Sanctions riskThe idea of occupying a large area of Ukraine may have seemed possible in 2014, but after seven years of war, Ukraine is noticeably short on nostalgia for its former Soviet neighbor. An occupation would be bloody, cost many Russian lives, require hundreds of thousands of Russian troops, and likely be an embarrassing reminder to the Kremlin, as its forces become overstretched, of how decrepit its military was just over a decade ago, before their swift modernization. Sanctions would also damage, if not cripple, the Europe-facing parts of Russia's economy.First on CNN: US intelligence indicates Russia preparing operation to justify invasion of UkraineEven a small invasion is really a bad idea for Moscow. Proponents of how likely an invasion is often remark that Putin is not a rational actor, arguing that he is prone to unpredictable sweeping moves. They note that, as a superannuated autocrat without any checks, balances, or real elections to worry about, he is free to decide anything, at any hour. The Kremlin chief's decision-making has long been deliberately opaque. And after 21 years at the helm and nearly two years in a Covid-19 isolation bubble, where his interactions are significantly limited, it is possible to imagine the information he is getting is far from balanced.Which is why the Biden administration's decision to amplify the likelihood of an invasion is so intensely risky. Sounding the alarmThere are clear warning signs -- and possibly starker undisclosed intelligence -- to support the possibility of an attack. Perhaps ensuring your allies are aware and ready for it is better than staying silent and seeming unprepared.But by sounding the alarm so loudly, the White House has given Putin a choice: Act now, or make it seem like you gave in to pressure from the West. And surely that is something that would be tough for the Russian leader, who believes his country was starkly humiliated at the end of the Soviet Union, to take? Forcing him to make such a choice cannot have seemed the best option to CIA head and former US ambassador to Moscow, Bill Burns, or the other students of Russia policy in the Biden White House. You have to hope they know something everyone else does not. Have they calculated -- or learned -- that Putin simply cannot afford to invade Ukraine again? Or have they determined that the invasion is inevitable? Putin's big miscalculationIf there is any doubt, this US operation to raise awareness of the risk could tip the scales and force Russia to do something it probably knows will end badly.And so now -- given the non-starters Russia requested at its talks with the US in Geneva and the apparent stalling, if not collapse, of those negotiations -- Ukraine is stuck, facing an appalling eight week-wait while the ice remains hard enough to allow tanks to roll across the Russian border. After that the mud will set in, and along with it another summer of mild tension.Perhaps the long-term gain of these months of febrile speculation and shrill panic will be judged to be shoring up NATO and Europe against the threat of Russia, and proving to Moscow that the costs of any further adventurism would be unpalatable, or at least met with a united front. Perhaps the Biden administration simply wanted to show Russia that the US is back in Europe, reversing the Trump years' cosiness with Moscow.But Ukraine, which has already endured the loss of more than 10,000 people in this war, has found itself at the center of a high-stakes game of brinkmanship, with the US-Russia relationship front and center. People are once more paying attention to its plight, but it risks looking like an afterthought, trapped in the middle as Washington and Moscow duke it out.Putin has the global attention and US engagement he perhaps craves. But with the chips laid down, all in, this huge diplomatic gamble risks a major land war in Europe. | 3news
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(CNN)Longtime NFL reporter John Clayton, who was known as "The Professor" because of his encyclopedic knowledge of the game, died Friday, according to both ESPN, where he was an analyst, and Seattle Sports, where he hosted a radio show. Clayton was 67."John was a pioneer as an NFL insider but also one of the kindest men you could ever work with,'' ESPN vice president and executive producer Seth Markman said, according to the network."He literally never said no to a show that asked him to come on -- from 6 a.m. to midnight, if you asked for the Professor, he was there for you. I'll also personally remember how he loved and cared for his beloved wife Pat as she has battled multiple sclerosis. We will all miss John greatly.''Clayton, a native of Pittsburgh, began his sports reporting career in 1972 covering the Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Sports reported. Read More"We are very saddened to learn of the passing of John Clayton," the Steelers said in a tweet. "He was a Pittsburgh media icon who covered the Steelers for over a decade in the 1970s and 1980s ... Our thoughts are with his wife, Pat, during this difficult time." Later in his career, Clayton would cover the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune, said the Seahawks, who said they were "heartbroken" to have learned of his passing. The Pro Football Hall of Fame, of which Clayton was a selection committee member, expressed its condolences on Instagram, saying Clayton's, "impact and contribution to the game of football will be missed." Russell Wilson, the former star quarterback for the Seahawks, said he would miss Clayton's "words and brilliance." | 3news
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(CNN)The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Green Bay Packers 13-7 on Sunday, with the Packers missing their star quarterback Aaron Rodgers who is in Covid-19 protocols. Patrick Mahomes threw for a touchdown and the Chiefs' defense throttled Rodgers' replacement, second-year quarterback Jordan Love. Love, who was making his first career regular season NFL start, threw an interception as well as a late touchdown to give the Packers hope. 2018 NFL Most Valuable Player Mahomes and his array of offensive weapons were able to run out the remainder of the fourth quarter though to clinch a vital victory as the struggling Chiefs search for some consistency. Mahomes throws a pass during the third quarter in the game against the Green Bay Packers.But it was the Chiefs' defense that was the star of the show, stifling the Rodger-less Packers, something Chiefs coach Andy Reid praised afterwards.Read More"I thought our defense did a nice job. We didn't hold back," Reid told the media. "Guys played hard and aggressive, and you've seen things happen when teams are favored. You have to bear down every week the best way you can."To put the inexperienced Love under pressure, the Chiefs chose to blitz at a higher rate than normal, at a 54.3% rate, the highest in a game for the Chiefs since 2018. And after the defeat, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur put some of the blame for Love's struggles on his shoulders. "Within plays, there are longer developing plays, and if you can't protect, it's kind of hard to throw from your back," LaFleur told the media. "There were a couple plays where he got out of some stuff ... but I'm disappointed that we didn't deal the ball faster and call things that might show a little bit quicker for him."L'Jarius Sneed reacts after intercepting a pass during the fourth quarter against the Packers.Lacking a punchMissing the NFL's reigning MVP, it wasn't surprising the Packers looked slightly toothless. Last week, it was announced Rodgers would miss the game against the Chiefs as he was placed in the NFL's Covid-19 protocols. Although LaFleur declined to comment on whether Rodgers had tested positive or had been vaccinated, appearing on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Friday, Rodgers said he had contracted Covid-19 and that he is unvaccinated against the virus.Having previously announced back in August that he was "immunized," Rodgers went on to say on Friday that he was "in the crosshairs of the woke mob right now" over his vaccination status and that the media was on a "witch hunt" to find out which players were vaccinated.Rodgers said he did not get vaccinated because he has an allergy to an ingredient in the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines and was scared about the possible side effects from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosLove is tackled by Tershawn Wharton during the second quarter at Arrowhead Stadium.The 37-year-old's handling of the situation has led to criticism directed at the star quarterback. "This is a huge unforced error by a man who has transcended football and wants to have a career ... whether it's hosting 'Jeopardy!' or on other parts of our culture," CNN sports analyst Christine Brennan told "The Lead with Jake Tapper.""What a shock, what a surprise that this is the guy we thought was so smart and well-read, and it turns out that he doesn't even have the courage or the guts to say he wasn't vaccinated, probably because he was fearful of that 'woke mob.'"Rodgers could return for the Packers' next game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. According to the NFL's Covid-19 protocols, an unvaccinated player must quarantine for 10 days from the date of his positive test. | 5sport
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(CNN)Huge numbers of protesters are preparing to descend upon the streets of London when US President Donald Trump arrives for his first official state visit to the UK on June 3. While this could make for a less than warm welcome for Trump, it will not be the first time Queen Elizabeth II has welcomed a controversial leader to the British capital. As the country's longest-serving monarch, the Queen has entertained a variety of heads of state with grace and diplomacy during her 67-year reign. Here's a look back at some of the world leaders whose trips have raised eyebrows. Xi JinpingRead MoreThe Queen accompanies Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, during their state visit in 2015. Protesters gathered in central London to demonstrate against China's human rights record during President Xi Jinping's 2015 visit, which was aimed at strengthening economic ties between China and the UK. George W. Bush US President George W. Bush and the Queen at the end of a three-day state visit to the UK in 2003. Anti-war demonstrators swarmed the British capital when US President George Bush made a state visit to the UK in 2003. Vladimir Putin Putin and the Queen share an open carriage along the Mall following his arrival in London in 2003. President Vladimir Putin made the first state visit to the UK by a Russian leader in more than 125 years when he arrived in London in 2003. The trip was met with protests over Russia's role in the Chechnya conflict and concern over the Kremlin's support for Iran's nuclear program. It also came on the heels of tensions between the two countries over the US-led Iraq war, which Britain supported but the Kremlin opposed. Bashar al-Assad Queen Elizabeth II receives Asma and Bashar al-Assad on December 17, 2002 at Buckingham Palace.In 2002, President Bashar al-Assad became the first Syrian leader to make an official visit to the UK. While it wasn't a state visit, but he still met the Queen at Buckingham Palace. The four-day trip was partly sidetracked by a public disagreement between Assad and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair over a possible war in Iraq. Saudi King Abdullah The Queen, Prince Charles (R) and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia look on during a ceremonial welcome for the King at Horse Guards Parade in London in 2007.The Saudi monarch's 2007 visit attracted controversy for a number of reasons, including the Kingdom's treatment of women and the gay community. Robert Mugabe President Robert Mugabe has visited the UK on multiple occasions over the years, pictured in 1994. Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe was greeted by the Queen and her husband, Prince Phillip, at Buckingham Palace during his state visit in 1994. He was given an honorary knighthood during the trip, though he would later be stripped of the award. Mugabe resigned as his country's president in 2017 after 37 years of autocratic rule. Nicolae Ceausescu The Queen with Ceausescu in 1978.Queen Elizabeth hosted the Romanian communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1978. Ceausescu ruled Romania from 1965 using secret police to brutally repress his people. The Queen was apparently so displeased that Ceausescu had been invited to the UK that she hid behind a bush on the ground of Buckingham Palace to avoid speaking to him, Reuters reported.Mobutu Sese Seko Mobutu Sese Seko with the Queen in December 1973.Mobutu Sese Seko, President of Zaire -- now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo -- embarked on a UK state visit in 1973. He seized power in 1965 and led one of the most brutal African regimes for the next three decades. Western support for the dictator waned in the early 1990s after years of allegations of human rights abuses and rampant corruption, and he died in exile in 1997. | 3news
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Story highlights Indian dentist was denied abortion for her miscarrying fetus, her widower saysPraveen Halappanavar says he hopes the inquest will get to the truth of his wife's deathSavita Halappanavar died October 28 of blood poisoning, aged 31The Irish government is to introduce new abortion laws by the summerThe husband of an Indian dentist whose death sparked anger over Ireland's abortion laws told an inquest on Monday that her requests for a termination for her miscarrying fetus had been denied.Praveen Halappanavar told the hearing in Galway that he was told that because Ireland is a Catholic country, an abortion could not be done while the fetus was still alive.He was one of the first witnesses to give evidence at the inquest, which is expected to last several days.The death of Savita Halappanavar at University Hospital Galway on October 28 prompted anger in Ireland and elsewhere and sparked demands for Ireland to introduce new abortion laws. Doctors and nurses from the Galway hospital are also due to testify at the inquest.Praveen Halappanavar said as he arrived at the courthouse that he hoped the inquest would get to the truth. He has previously said that his wife was advised her unborn baby would likely die, and that she was in extreme pain.Savita, 31, went into the hospital on October 21, complaining of back pain. She was 17 weeks pregnant at the time.Three days after the request for a termination was made, the fetus died and was removed. Four days later, Savita died of a blood infection.The coroner, Dr. Ciaran McLoughlin, opened the hearing with a promise to Halappanavar to help find out what happened to his wife. An inquest by a coroner is standard procedure in cases of sudden, unexplained or unnatural deaths in Ireland.Opinion: If Ireland had abortion rightsStrict lawsThe couple, who married in India, had moved to Ireland four years before Savita's death and were excited to be starting a family, Praveen Halappanavar told CNN last year.He said the family was left stunned and grief-stricken by her death."Every single person in the family asked me, 'How could this happen in a place like Ireland in the 21st century?' -- because it was just so simple," he said."When they knew the baby was not going to survive, why not think about the bigger life, which was the mother, my wife, Savita? And they didn't."A number of inquiries were set up by Irish authorities after Halappanavar died, including one by the Health Service Executive.The Health Service Executive report has not yet been published but details of the draft text have been leaked to the Irish media.The Irish government plans to introduce new abortion legislation by the summer.Minister of Health James Reilly announced late last year that the proposed changes would clarify that abortions are permissible when the life -- but not just the health -- of the mother is at risk.That would bring the country's laws in line with a 1992 Irish Supreme Court ruling that established a woman's right to abortion when her life is at risk, including by suicide. | 3news
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